Network image forming apparatus having an information exchange function among users and method of controlling an operation thereof

Abstract

A network image forming apparatus and method that facilitate an information exchange among users on a network. The network image forming apparatus and method are connected to a plurality of user terminals on a network and print data transmitted from the plurality of user terminals. The network image forming apparatus and method include an interface unit for transmitting and receiving specified data to and from the user terminals, and a storage unit for storing shared information if the shared information on the network is transmitted from one of the user terminals. Accordingly, the network image forming apparatus and method provide an announcement function for sharing information among a plurality of user terminals on the network, and the message function enabling the message transfer between the plurality of the user terminals on the network.

1 . A network image forming apparatus, connected to a plurality of user terminals on a network, for printing print data transmitted from the plurality of user terminals, comprising: 
 an interface unit for transmitting and receiving to and from the user terminals; and    a storage unit for storing shared information transmitted from one of the user terminals.    
     
     
         2 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, when an operation start command is received from one of the plurality of the user terminals, the shared information stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the user terminal transmitting the operation start command.  
     
     
         3 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for transmitting the shared information stored in the storage unit, when an operation start command is received from one of the plurality of user terminals, to the user terminal transmitting the operation start command.  
     
     
         4 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shared information includes at least one of information data input through the user terminal, identification data of the user terminal, and time data for inputting the information data.  
     
     
         5 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the image forming device comprises a printer.  
     
     
         6 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a local area network (LAN).  
     
     
         7 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein data transmitted and received through the interface unit comprises at least one of the shared information, the print data, and the operation start command.  
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling an operation of a network image forming apparatus, connected to a plurality of user terminals on a network, for printing print data transmitted from the plurality of user terminals, comprising the steps of: 
 storing shared information transmitted from one of the user terminals;    receiving an operation start command from one of the user terminals; and    transmitting the stored shared information to the user terminal transmitting the operation start command.    
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the shared information includes at least one of information data input through the user terminal, identification data of the user terminal, and time data for inputting the information data.  
     
     
         10 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the image forming device comprises a printer.  
     
     
         11 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the network comprises a local area network (LAN).  
     
     
         12 . A network system connecting a plurality of user terminals to an image forming apparatus for printing print data transmitted from the plurality of user terminals, comprising: 
 the plurality of user terminals for transmitting the shared information on the network to the image forming apparatus; and    the image forming apparatus for storing the shared information transmitted from one of the user terminals, wherein, if an operation start command is transmitted from one of the user terminals, the image forming apparatus transmits the stored shared information to the user terminal transmitting the operation start command.    
     
     
         13 . The network system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the user terminal comprises: 
 a first interface unit for transmitting and receiving the shared information to and from the image forming apparatus;    a setting view generation unit for generating an announcement view for displaying and recording the shared information; and    a first control unit for controlling the setting view generation unit to generate the announcement view corresponding to the shared information if the shared information is received.    
     
     
         14 . The network system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein, if specified information data is recorded on the announcement view, the first control unit controls the first interface unit to transmit the information data, the identification data, and the time data to the image forming apparatus.  
     
     
         15 . The network system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: 
 a second interface unit for transmitting and receiving the shared information to and from the user terminal;    a storage unit for storing the shared information transmitted from the user terminal; and    a second control unit for controlling the second interface unit to transmit the shared information stored in the storage unit to the user terminal transmitting the operation start command if the operation start command is received from one of the user terminals to the second interface unit.    
     
     
         16 . The network system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the shared information includes at least one of information data recorded by the user terminal, identification data of the user terminal, and time data for inputting the information data.  
     
     
         17 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the image forming device comprises a printer.  
     
     
         18 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the network comprises a local area network (LAN).  
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling an operation of a network system connecting a plurality user terminals and an image forming apparatus for printing print data transmitted to the plurality of user terminals, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) transmitting shared information on a network input to the user terminal to the image forming apparatus; and    (b) transmitting the pre-stored shared information to the user terminal transmitting an operation start command if the operation start command is transmitted from one of the user terminals.    
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the (a) step further comprises the steps of: 
 generating and displaying an announcement view for displaying and recording the share information;    recording specified information data using the announcement view;    detecting identification of the user terminal and time data for recording the information data; and    transmitting the information data, the identification data and the time data to the image forming apparatus.    
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the (b) step further comprises the step of: 
 storing the shared information transmitted from one of the user terminals, wherein, if the operation start command is transmitted from one of the user terminals, the image forming apparatus transmits the stored shared information to the user terminal transmitting the operation start command.    
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the shared information includes at least one of information data recorded by the user terminal, identification data of the user terminal, and time data for inputting the information data.  
     
     
         23 . The network image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the network comprises a local area network (LAN).  
     
     
         24 . A method of controlling an operation of a network system comprising a plurality of user terminals including first and second terminals and an image forming apparatus for printing print data transmitted from the plurality of the user terminals, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) generating a user list relating to information on users of the user terminals; and    (b) selecting a particular user from the generated user list and transmitting a message input to the first terminal to the second terminal used by the selected particular user.    
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the (a) step further comprises the steps of: 
 transmitting from the first terminal to the second terminal a command requesting the user list including information on the image forming apparatus;    determining whether there is a response to the command from the second terminal; and    storing information on the user of the second terminal in the first terminal if there is a response to the command.    
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising the steps of: determining whether the first terminal receives a command requesting the user list including the information on the image forming apparatus if there is no response to the command; 
 determining whether the information on the image forming apparatus included in the command requesting the user list is identical to information on an image forming apparatus used by the first terminal if the command requesting the user list is received; and    transmitting information on the user of the first terminal to a user terminal transmitting the command requesting the user list if the information on the image forming apparatus are identical.    
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the information on the image forming apparatus comprises one of an identification data of the image forming apparatus and an information provider (IP) address.  
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the information on the users comprises at least one of names of the users and IP addresses of the user terminals.  
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the (b) step further comprises the steps of: 
 detecting an IP address of the particular user from the information on the users; and    transmitting the message to the detected IP address.    
     
     
         30 . A network system comprising a plurality of user terminals and an image forming apparatus for printing print data transmitted from the plurality of the user terminals, the network system comprises the plurality of the user terminals for transmitting a message between users of the user terminals by using information on the users of the user terminals.  
     
     
         31 . The network system as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the user terminals respectively comprise: 
 a second interface part for transmitting and receiving the message between the user terminals;    a first setting view generation unit for generating a user-to-user message service view to indicate and record the message and displaying the information on the users; and    a second control unit for generating a user list using the information on the users and controlling the first setting view generation unit to generate the user-to-user message service view corresponding to the message if the message is received.    
     
     
         32 . The network system as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the information on the users comprises at least one of names of the user and information provider (IP) addresses of the user terminals.