CN100451945C

CN100451945C - Print system, server system, and job control method

Info

Publication number: CN100451945C
Application number: CNB2006101712954A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 北形圭; 武藤晋
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2005-12-28
Filing date: 2006-12-28
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-28
Also published as: JP2011253568A; CN1991741A

Abstract

In a print system communicable with an information processing apparatus and print apparatus, the information processing apparatus holds one or a plurality of print jobs in a readable form based on identification information common to a plurality of print jobs transmitted from the print apparatus. When the print apparatus issues a request accompanying identification information to the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus receives the issued request, and reads one or a plurality of print jobs on the basis of the identification information contained in the received request. Then, the information processing apparatus outputs the read print job to the print apparatus.

Description

Print system, server system and job control method

Technical field

The present invention relates to print system, server system and job control method, and relate in particular to according to mechanism from the request output print operation of printing device.

Background technology

Proposed a kind of system, printing device intended target print data wherein receives print job based on the target print data or the based target print data of appointment via communication line, and based on the data printout that is received.This system is called as directly (pull-print) system that prints.For example, the open No.08-263414 of Jap.P. discloses this technology.

Yet in the system that directly prints, the user must use the operating unit of printing device to specify the job title of the print job that will receive from printing server.This system forces the user to carry out hard work.Also known a kind of technology, it is by the position (so-called URL) of the operating unit of printing device and the prompting user intended target print data of directly prining, rather than the title of print job.This technology also has forces the user to carry out the problem of hard work.

Summary of the invention

Propose the present invention overcoming traditional shortcoming, and its objective is in the system that directly prints intended target print data easily.

Another object of the present invention is easily to control print job.

According to one aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of and printing device server in communication system, comprising: the operation generating apparatus is used for generating print job according to print command; Holding device is used for based at least one print job that keeps with readable form for the public identifying information of a plurality of print jobs of transmitting from printing device being generated by the operation generating apparatus; First receiving device is used for receiving the request that is attended by identifying information from printing device; And output unit, be used for reading at least one print job, and the print job that output is read is to printing device based on the identifying information that is included in the request that first receiving device receives.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a kind of print system is provided, wherein messaging device and printing device communicate with one another, and wherein messaging device comprises: the operation generating apparatus is used to generate print job; And holding device, be used for based on keeping at least one print job with readable form for the public identifying information of a plurality of print jobs from the printing device transmission, printing device comprises distributing device, be used to issue and be attended by the asking of identifying information to messaging device, and messaging device also comprises: first receiving device is used to receive the request that distributing device is issued; And output unit, be used for reading at least one print job, and the print job that output is read is to printing device based on the identifying information that is included in the request that first receiving device receives.

And, according to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of by the job control method that can carry out with printing device server in communication system, comprising: operation generates step, generates print job according to print command; Keep step, in holding unit, generate at least one print job that is generated the step based on remaining on operation with readable form for the public identifying information of a plurality of print jobs of transmitting from printing identification; First receiving step receives the request that is attended by identifying information from printing device; With the output step, read at least one print job based on the identifying information that is included in the request that is received in first receiving step, and the print job of being read is outputed to printing device.

And, according to another aspect of the present invention, the job control method that provides a kind of print system that communicates with one another by wherein messaging device and printing device to carry out, comprising: operation generates step, makes information processing identification generate print job; Keep step, make messaging device in holding unit based on keeping at least one print job with readable form for the public identifying information of a plurality of print jobs from the printing device transmission; Issuing steps makes the printing device issue be attended by the request of identifying information to messaging device; First receiving step, the request that makes messaging device be received in the issuing steps to be issued; With the output step, read at least one print job based on the identifying information that is included in the request that is received in first receiving step, and read print job to printing device from messaging device.

Further feature of the present invention will be from below in conjunction with obviously drawing the explanation of accompanying drawing to exemplary embodiment.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a block scheme, and it illustrates the example according to the configured in one piece of the print system of an embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a block scheme, is used to explain the example of the hardware configuration of the network printer (being also referred to as printing device) according to this embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a block scheme, and the example of the configuration of directly print server and the peripheral software in client's PC thereof is shown;

Fig. 4 is a block scheme, is illustrated in the example of the print job sequence of printing in directly print server and the peripheral software thereof;

Fig. 5 is a block scheme, and the example of the software arrangements of the network printer is shown;

Fig. 6 is a block scheme, and the example of software arrangements of the user application of the network printer is shown;

Fig. 7 illustrates the chart of printing the example of sequence between the server of directly prining, device scheduler, LPD/RAW and the printer controller;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic sketch of explaining the schematic operation of this embodiment;

Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B are process flow diagrams, are illustrated in the example of the process of registration operation in the server of directly prining;

Figure 10 is the diagrammatic sketch that the example of the print-job information managed by the server of directly prining and task management formation is shown;

Figure 11 is the diagrammatic sketch that the example of the Printer Information managed by the server of directly prining and output port information is shown;

Figure 12 is a process flow diagram, illustrates by the agency that directly prints (pull-print agent) and obtains the example that customer identification information is also notified this information the process of the server of directly prining;

Figure 13 is the diagrammatic sketch that the example of acting on behalf of the information that is sent to the server of directly prining from directly prining is shown;

Figure 14 is a process flow diagram, is illustrated in the example of the sequence before these data of Server Transport of directly prining after the specifying print data;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic sketch, and the customer information of being managed by device scheduler and the example of customer account management formation are shown;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic sketch, and the job information of being managed by device scheduler and the example of task management formation are shown;

Figure 17 is a process flow diagram, illustrate by the example that communicates to connect the process that administrative unit carries out, wherein communicate to connect administrative unit and handle from the request of the server of directly prining and notice, from the notice of device management unit with to the request and the notice of task management unit;

Figure 18 is a process flow diagram, is illustrated in the example of the process sequence that acceptance carried out by the management and running unit of device scheduler before up to program management unit issue finishing scheduling (schedule up) after from the dispatch request of the server of directly prining;

Figure 19 is a process flow diagram, illustrates from accepting from the job state notification event of the device management unit example to the process of accepting the job list request;

Figure 20 is a process flow diagram, the example of the performed process of device management unit when being illustrated in acceptance from the equipment state of printer controller or job state notice;

Figure 21 is a process flow diagram, the example of the performed processing sequence of server of directly prining when being illustrated in acceptance from the notice of device scheduler or order;

Figure 22 is a process flow diagram, is used to explain the example of the performed process of server of directly prining when receiving job delete and hold instruction;

Figure 23 is a chart, illustrates according to the example of printing sequence between the server of directly prining, device scheduler, LPD/RAW and the printer controller of second embodiment;

Figure 24 is a process flow diagram, is illustrated in from directly prining after the request of server receiving scheduling up to device scheduler is finished print procedure by finishing scheduling before by the example of the performed process of device scheduler.

Figure 25 A and 25B are process flow diagrams, are used to explain the example by the performed job control procedure of the server of directly prining;

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic sketch, and the job information example of being managed by the server by utilizing task management formation of directly prining is shown; With

Figure 27 is a block scheme, and the example that print job keeps mechanism is shown.

Embodiment

Describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention now with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.

[first embodiment]

＜system configuration 〉

Fig. 1 is a block scheme, and the configured in one piece according to the print system of first embodiment is shown.Print system comprises client PC (computing machine) 101 to 103 that is used as messaging device and the

network printer

104 and 105 that is used as printing device (printing device).Thereby these equipment are connected to each other by network cable 106 and form network and do as a whole.

The executable print control program of client PC 101 to 103 storages.Client PC 101 to 103 has the function that management is included in employed file and monitoring network busy state on the network printer 104 in the print system and 105 function and the cumulative network.More particularly, client PC 101 to 103 has the function of self creating print job and issuing dispatch request to the scheduler of the network printer 104 and 105.Client PC 101 to 103 has the function that begins to transmit print data according to the instruction from the scheduler of the

network printer

104 and 105.

The

network printer

104 and 105 is a physical printed equipment, and it receives the print data that comprises print job from client PC 101 to 103, and analyzes and print the print job that is received.As the

network printer

104 and 105, all types of printing device all can be utilized, and comprise laser beam printer, ink-jet printer that uses ink ejecting method that uses electrophotographic method and the printer that uses heat-transferring method.

The

network printer

104 and 105 have acceptance from the print request of client PC 101 to 103, determine the order of the print request accepted and issue the function of print command and to have the state that monitors the print job that is sent to the

network printer

104 and 105 and the

network printer

104 and 105 and print and finish and the function of printer modes to client PC 101 to 103 notices.

The communication that is included in the equipment room in the print system can be to utilize

The wire communication of cable etc. or utilize the radio communication of radiowave, light etc.

Fig. 2 is a block scheme, is used to explain the hardware configuration according to the print system of first embodiment.The network printer 104 and 105 (following will be called as the network printer) mainly comprises two equipment, i.e. the printer controller 219 of network printing server 220 and the different control system of management.In network printing server 220, network printing server CPU 201 (following will be called as CPU 201) carries out various control operations based on being stored in the control program that can rewrite among the flash ROM 203.For example, CPU 201 use the network controller (LANC) 205 that is connected to system bus 204 control with a plurality of external unit (not shown)-such as the principal computer that is connected to Local Area Network 212-communicate by letter.In this communication, (for example printer control instruction) asked in print data and various data transmission/reception that CPU 201 uses predetermined network communication protocol to control comprehensively and sends from external unit.201 pairs of printer controllers 219 that connect via expansion interface controller (EXPC) 207 of CPU are carried out suitable data and are transmitted control.

RAM 202 is as the scratchpad area (SPA), such as primary memory and the workspace of CPU 201.LED 206 is indicators, and it flashes the different operating state of pattern and color indication network printing server 220 by LED.Shown mode of operation for example is electrical connection (LINK) between network controller (LANC) 205 and the LAN (Local Area Network) (LAN) 212 and network communication mode (for example 10Base, 100Base, full duplex or half-duplex).

The expansion interface 217 that connects network printing server 220 and printer controller 219 comprises the connector (not shown).Network printing server 220 is dismountable, is formed by for example printed circuit board, and also can be installed on another printer with same structure.

In printer controller 219, printer controller CPU 208 controls the visit to the various device that is connected to system bus 211 comprehensively.CPU 208 waits this control of execution based on the control program, the resource data (resource information) that are stored in control program among the ROM 209 etc. or be stored in the external memory storage 210 that connects via Magnetic Disk Controller (DKC) 215.For example, CPU 208 makes grating controller 223 generate output image information based on the print data that receives from the network printing server 220 that is connected via expansion interface controller (EXPC) 213.The picture signal that CPU 208 is generated Printer Engine 216 outputs.Printer Engine 216 adopts known printing technique.The preferred example of printing technique is electrophotographic printer (laser beam printing), inkjet printing, (sublimation printing) printed in distillation and hot transfer printing is printed.

RAM 214 is as the primary memory of CPU 208, workspace etc., and storage capacity can be expanded by the optional RAM that is connected to the Extended Capabilities Port (not shown).Guidance panel (operating unit) 218 has and allows the user that the button of the network printer 104 operator schemes etc. is set, and carries out the operation such as the cancellation print data.Guidance panel 218 also has indicator (for example LED) and presents the liquid crystal panel of the network printer 104 modes of operation.Exterior I/O interface 222 and external unit 221 exchange messages.

To explain the software arrangements (Fig. 3) of the server 305 of directly prining in each client PC 101 to 103 of print system below.The server of directly prining is called as server system sometimes owing to being made of a plurality of software functions.Use term " server of directly prining " in below describing.Fig. 3 is a block scheme, and it illustrates the software arrangements in the server 305 of directly prining.Arrow between the module represents how to handle the drawing command that contains print job from application issued.Provide software arrangements by in client PC, carrying out the predetermined control program by box indicating by the CPU (not shown).In Fig. 3, the printing device 306

expression network printers

104 and 105.

Usually after receiving print command, general purpose application program 301-is such as Microsoft

-generate a series of drawing commands via OS (operating system).PDL (page-description language) driver 302 that receives these drawing commands from host application program via OS generates the print job that comprises the PDL file that can be explained based on described a series of drawing commands by the

network printer

104 and 105.

For print job being sent to printing device 306, PDL driver 302 is sent to spooler 303 with the print job that is generated.This embodiment adopts

OS, so spooler 303 is

Spooler.Yet the OS of the computing machine that the present invention can be applicable to is not limited to

And the present invention may be used on other OS, as long as this OS supports drawing command.

Spooler 303 implementation (arrows a) print job being passed to and port monitor (304) appointment selected via user interface by the user, and send this print job to printing device 306, such as the network printer 104 or 105.The following description supposition prior designated port monitor 304 of user (the following operation control port monitor that slightly is called) is so that be sent to the server 305 of directly prining with print data, and appointment is printed.

Operation control port monitor 304 also receives print setting information (for example, antiquarian and bookbinding instruction) via the printer driver interface.Operation control port monitor 304 sends print jobs and print setting information to the print service server 305 (arrow b) of directly prining is provided.In client PC 101 to 103, the job login application program 309 of directly the print server 308 different with the server 305 of directly prining prints data to the server 305 of directly prining (arrow g) via API 310 inputs.By this way, first embodiment can be applicable to host application program and is present in the situation of a plurality of positions.

The server 305 of directly prining has the print job of administrative institute's transmission and the function of equipment state.The server 305 of directly prining also has information (for example equipment state or job state) that management sent from printing device 306 and the function that predetermined instruction is published to printing device 306.This function is corresponding to the facility information of a plurality of printing device of management (in this example, the network printer 104 and 105) and the function of job information.Sending print data to the printing device 306, the server 305 of directly prining sends the print job sequence management function of print request to printing device 306.When having arrived the opportunity of execution printing based on the sequence management function, the server 305 of directly prining sends print data to printing device 306 (arrow c, d, and e) according to the print command from printing device 306.When agency 606 (Fig. 6) can not detect existing of authorization information recording medium 521 in print procedure if directly print, (S2203) printed in the server 305 indication printing device of directly prining 306 cancellations (stopping/interrupting).Directly print the operation of server 305 will be below with reference to figure 6 and 22 and describe in detail.

Printing device 306 is given the server 305 (arrow f) of directly prining with the state notifying of printing device 306.For example, after confirming that print data is finished, printing device 306 is finished printing and is notified to the server 305 of directly prining.

Print manager 307 provides directly the print program of user interface of the state of print job in the server 305 and demonstration and operation print job of customer inspection that allows.Print manager 307 is via software interface (API: application programming interfaces) with directly print server 305 exchange messages and instruction.Print manager 307 provides demonstration based on the information that is exchanged.Print manager 307 has the status information of mainly obtaining the printing device 306 of being managed by the server 305 of directly the prining function as incident.The event notice type is that mistake/warning message notice is (for example about the warning of remaining toner quantity not sufficient, directly print server and communication between devices the failure, insufficient memory capacity, or delivery tray overload) and expression return to the normal information notice of normal condition from error condition.Another event notice type is job scheduling (for example printing/discharge the quantity or the print job done state of face).The server 305 of directly prining have acceptance can via the state of each equipment (printing device) of network service (for example print, the function of the notice of power state of a control or failure message (paperboard).

As more detailed process, print manager 307 distribution apparatus allocate events are to the server 305 of directly prining.The state that the server 305 of directly prining is discerned by the specified equipment of the incident of being issued, and will give print manager 307 based on the result notification that monitors.

＜print job sequence 〉

306 print job sequence will be described from application program 301 to printing device with reference to figure 4.Represent identical software element with Reference numeral identical among Fig. 3.

As shown in Figure 4, PDL driver 302, spooler 303 and operation control port monitor 304 are conceptually prepared to be used for each printing device 306 or 306A.When OS is

The time, these elements are called as sometimes together

Print system 400.Printing device 306 and 306A are corresponding to the

network printer

104 and 105.

The server 305 of directly prining comprises print queue 401 and 401A and quantity and printing device 306 and corresponding output port 402 of 306A and 402A.Directly print server 305 based on many information management print queues 401 shown in Figure 10 and 11 and 401A and output port 402 and 402A.

Employed title is associated among the IP address of output port 402 and 402A and corresponding printing device or the DNS (domain name system).Based on IP address or title assignment dispatch request destination and operation transmission destination, thus transmission (output) operation.

In printing, application program 301 specific printers also send print command.Operation control port monitor 304 will be sent to the server 305 of directly prining based on the print job that print command generated by PDL driver 302.When print job is when directly prining, the server 305 of directly prining remains on print job (being used for directly prining) print queue 401.When print job is when generally printing, the server 305 of directly prining remains on print job (be used for general print) print queue 401A, and indication output end mouth 402 is accepted print job.Just, when registration print job in formation, the server 305 of directly prining sends dispatch request (701 among Fig. 7) immediately.Output port 402 is accepted print job.It is directly to print or general the printing that the user can set print job by the user interface that the PDL driver is provided.

Agency 606 (Fig. 6) that directly print detect the predetermined information (Fig. 5) that is read from authorization information recording medium 521, and this will be discussed in more detail below.According to detection, agency's 606 information 1301 (Figure 13) that will comprise customer identification information and device address of directly prining send to the server 305 of directly prining.Customer identification information is meant the information that is used to discern the information of particular individual or is used to the department that discerns.This information for example is text data or bit data.One or morely comprise customer identification information or during with operation that customer identification information is associated when existing, the server 305 of directly prining sends dispatch request and gives printing device 306 corresponding to the device address.More particularly, the server 305 of directly prining sends the device scheduler (Fig. 7) that dispatch request is given the target printing device.The operation that scheduling is accepted from a plurality of servers 305 of directly prining based on the scheduling feature of device scheduler of the device scheduler of printing device 306, and send the print command server 305 of directly prining to each.Behind receiving printing orders, the server 305 of directly prining arrives printing device 306 via output port 402 output printing datas.

Agency 606 can not detect the existence of authorization information recording medium 521 in print procedure if directly print, the server 305 indication printing device of then directly prining 306 cancellation print jobs (S2202 among Figure 22 that the back will illustrate).Device scheduler is cancelled print progress according to instruction, and job scheduling (as printing/discharge the quantity of the page) is notified to the server 305 of directly prining (S814 among Fig. 8).Corresponding to print job, the server 305 of directly prining keeps job status information (having printed or discharged the quantity of the page) based on the process of being notified.Job status information is to be used to discern the information of having printed how many print jobs.In other words, job status information can be heavily to export the page or printer page, as long as the server 305 of directly prining can be discerned the heavily output start page of print job.When the agency 606 that directly prints detected authorization information recording medium 521 once more, the server 305 of directly prining was corresponding to the printing surface number beginning output operation of the customer identification information that is sent from the agency that directly prints from being kept.

Fig. 5 is the block scheme of the software arrangements of the control program stored in the memory device that is used for explaining according to printer controller 219 in the print system network printing server 220 of first embodiment and the printing device 306.Software arrangements among Fig. 5 is represented major part of the present invention, and in practice, control program comprises other software arrangements that is used to carry out the printout process.The CPU of each opertaing device (CPU 201 or 208) analyzes and handles each control program shown in Fig. 5.

The master data I/O control of operating system 501 monitor network printing servers 220.Operating system 501 comprises file system 505, expansion interface driver 507 and network interface driver 506.File system 505 controls to/from program/data storage cell 508 with authorize the I/O of storage unit 509.Expansion interface driver 507 control is communicated by letter via expansion interface 217 and printer controller 219.Network interface driver 506 control LANC 205 via the communication media of Local Area Network 212 and external unit-such as the principal computer (not shown)-communicate by letter.

Application programming interfaces (API) 502 provides the various functions of operating system for application program.The example of application program is the user application 503 of operation on network printing server 220 and the management application program 504 that is used for registration and management printing device 306 and user application.Application programming interfaces 502 provide following function (API).Just, data transmission API provides print data transmission function.Resource control API controlling resource data-such as bitmap images and display message-I/O.The initialization of the restarting of printer control API control printing device 306, setting value and setting etc.The cancellation of operation control API control print job, beat again seal instruction etc.What printing server control API carried out network printing server 220 restarts the startup of the initialization of setting value and setting and application program, registration and deletion.

The various process control operations of the operating system 512 monitoring printer controllers 219 of printer controller 219.Operating system 512 comprises Printer Engine control module 514 and file system 515.514 controls of Printer Engine control module are communicated by letter with Printer Engine 216.File system 515 controls to/from relationship model resource (model dependence resource)/program storage unit (PSU) 516 with authorize the I/O of storage unit 517.Relationship model resource (for example bitmap images or error message) that relationship model resource/program storage unit (PSU) 516 storage networking printing servers 220 are quoted and and the relationship model application program on the network printing server, moved.

Expansion interface control module 513 control is communicated by letter via expansion interface 217 and network printing server 220.Expansion interface control module 513 will be sent to operating system 512 from the instruction that network printing server 220 is asked via each logic interfacing, and the result transmission is turned back to network printing server 220.As the logic interfacing of expansion interface control module 513, Fig. 5 shows data transfer logic interface, resource control logic interface, printer control logic interface and operation steering logic interface.The data transfer logic interface is the I/O of each control types control print data.The I/O of the various data of resource control logic interface control store in relationship model resource/program storage unit (PSU) 516.The initialization of the restarting of printer control logic interface control printing device 306, setting value and setting etc.The cancellation of operation steering logic interface control print job, beat again seal instruction etc.

In network printing server 220, USB control module 518 obtains the existence information of authorization information and authorization information recording medium via authorization information fetch equipment 520 from authorization information recording medium 521, and wherein authorization information fetch equipment 520 is as the external unit that connects through USB cable 519.Authorization information is corresponding to the above-mentioned customer identification information that is included in the print job.Whether existence information representation authorization information recording medium 521 is inserted in the authorization information fetch equipment 520.The existence of authorization information recording medium 521 or discharge also and can and use the signal that is detected to discern by detection validation information recording carrier 521 physically as existence information.By detecting existence information, can not import the Any user identifying information state, be that removing of authorization information recording medium 521 is can be detected.

Authorization information fetch

equipment

520 and 521 conducts of authorization information recording medium that first embodiment adopts USB to connect are used to detect the equipment that there is or specifies and verify the user in the user.Yet the present invention is not limited to this.For example, replace authorization information fetch equipment 520 and authorization information recording medium 521, contact-type nonvolatile recording medium (for example IC-card), all can be used as authorization information by detection users such as infrared ray, texture (vein) Authentication devices, fingerprint authentication/fetch equipment, retina checking/fetch equipment, speech verification/fetch equipment etc. and obtain equipment.Therefore, the USB control module 518 shown in Fig. 5 is not limited to " USB control ", and the connection protocol of equipment is obtained in control corresponding to the authorization information of being installed.

When network interface driver 506 was accepted notice via LAN 212 from client PC 101 to 103, network control unit 511 was accepted reception notification.Based on this notice, which server 305 communication of directly prining network control unit 511 can determine, and can control communication.

LPD/RAW 510 is modules that control is used to accept the agreement of the print data that sent by the server 305 of directly prining.LPD/RAW 510 can be sent to the print data of being accepted printer controller 219.

User application 503 is stored in the program/data storage cell 508 of the relationship model resource/program storage unit (PSU) 516 of printer controller 219 or network printing server 220.When printing device 306 starts, CUP 201 will be stored in that user application 503 in program/data storage cell 508 or the relationship model resource/program storage unit (PSU) 516 held authorizes and remains on the mandate of authorizing in the

storage unit

509 or 517 and compare, and determines whether consistent each other these authorize.If consistent, then CPU 201 determines that application program is believable, and application program is loaded among the RAM 202 of network printing server 220.

To and carry out the agency's 606 that directly prints who directly prints software arrangements according to first embodiment with reference to figure 6 explanation facilities schedulers 600.

The device scheduler 600 and the agency that directly prints be 606 corresponding to the user application on the equipment 503, and have the scheduling feature of print system and the print job management function that management is accepted from the server 305 of directly prining.

Communicate to connect the connection status of administrative unit 601 managing customer PC 101 to 103 and will send to the information of the server 305 of directly prining.Communicating to connect administrative unit 601 uses customer account management formation 1501 to come client's that Management Representative connects customer information 1502 (Figure 15).Communicating to connect administrative unit 601 communicates by letter with the server 305 of directly prining with network interface driver 506 via the data transmission API of application programming interfaces 502.

The print job that 602 scheduling of management and running unit are accepted from the server 305 of directly prining of client PC 101 to 103.Management and running unit 602 has task management unit 603 and device management unit 604.Dispatch request that task management unit 603 management is sent from the server 305 of directly prining of client PC 101 to 103 and the operation of directly prining server 305 request printings.Task management unit 603 uses task management formation 1601 (Figure 16) to manage the information (job information 1602 among Figure 16) of the operation of printing about server 305 requests of directly prining.Device management unit 604 is accepted the information (incident) of the expression printer modes or the print job state of accepting from printer controller 219 via event handler 605.Device management unit 604 will be given from the event notice that printer controller 219 is accepted and be communicated to connect administrative unit 601 and task management unit 603.

The agency 606 that directly prints comprises USB administrative unit 607, server communication unit 608 and device management unit 609.USB administrative unit 607 is obtained authorization information (customer identification information) via USB control module 518, and is sent to server communication unit 608.Device management unit 609 is obtained the address information of printing device etc., and they are sent to server communication unit 608.The information that server communication unit 608 transmission are obtained is to the server 305 of directly prining.

Fig. 7 illustrates when the server 305 of directly prining of each client PC 101 to 103 to accept authorization information and send the chart of the process that dispatch request finishes up to printing to printing device 306 from the agency 606 that directly prints.

After accepting authorization information, the server 305 of directly prining starts the session connection with device scheduler 600.After starting session connection, the server 305 of directly prining transfers to device scheduler 600 with connection request, (comprises by the represented content of customer information among Figure 15 1502) so that the expression customer information of the server 305 of will directly prining being notified to device scheduler 600.Directly print server 305 requesting service schedulers, 600 registering events so that to the server 305 notice operation/equipment states of directly prining.The server 305 of directly prining sends the job list that obtains by the job information of its scheduling of device scheduler 600 management and obtains order, and obtains the job list.When accepting connection request, device scheduler 600 is registered in the customer information 1502 (Figure 15) that is comprised in the customer account management formation 1501 (Figure 15).When accepting the event registration request, device scheduler 600 is set in the registering events of respective client information 1502 (Figure 15).After accepting the job list request, the tabulation that device scheduler 600 will be registered in the job information 1602 in the task management formation 1601 (Figure 16) is transferred to the server 305 of directly prining as the job list.

Then, the server 305 of directly prining sends the dispatch request order keep to print.Dispatch request contains the job information 1002 (Figure 10) of target print job." operation ID " is set to by device scheduler 600 and generates and sends the operation ID that returns according to " dispatch request " among Fig. 7.

When accepting dispatch request, device scheduler 600 is registered job information 1602 (Figure 16) in task management formation 1601 (Figure 16).Consistent or corresponding among operation ID among Figure 16 and Figure 10, and by 603 issues from the task management unit.Job information 1602 comprises the information such as document title.Device scheduler 600 determines whether printing device 306 can accept print data (method of determining will be described below).If device scheduler 600 is determined printing device 306 and can accept print data that then it specifies operation to be processed according to task management formation 1601, and sends directly the print server of the finishing scheduling of operation to this operation of request.Customer information 1502 and job information 1602 all write down " client IP address ".By reference client IP address, can determine which customer information of registration in the customer account management formation 1501 is corresponding with the job request client.The finishing scheduling of being sent is pointed out the server 305 beginning transfer printing data of directly prining.After sending finishing scheduling, the job state in the job information 1602 of device scheduler 600 these operations of renewal is " finishing scheduling ".

After accepting finishing scheduling, the server 305 of directly prining begins to transmit print data to LPD/RAW 510, and after beginning transmission, it is notified to device scheduler 600.Receive transmitted begin notice after, the job state that device scheduler 600 is upgraded in the job information 1602 of these operations is " in the transmission ".

After accepting print data, LPD/RAW 510 transfers data to printer controller 219.Printer controller 219 starts based on the data that transmit from LPD/RAW 510 to be printed.After printing beginning, printer controller 219 is notified to device scheduler 600 with the print state of operation.Device scheduler 600 is notified to the server 305 of directly prining based on the registering events information of customer information 1502 (Figure 15) with the print state of operation.

Transmitting print data to LPD/RAW 510 end, the server 305 of directly prining sends and transmits end notification to device scheduler 600.After receiving the transmission end notification, the job state that device scheduler 600 is upgraded job informations 1602 is " transmitting ".

When printer controller 219 finished print procedure, the print state that printing is finished as operation was notified to device scheduler 600.Device scheduler 600 is finished to the server 305 notice print jobs of directly prining based on the registering events information of customer information 1502 (print state notice).

After the print state Notification Validation printing of finishing according to the expression print job was finished, the server 305 of directly prining did not require any notice from printing device.Therefore, the server 305 of directly prining sends the registering events that incident cancellation request is associated with event notice from device scheduler 600 with cancellation.After accepting incident cancellation request, device scheduler 600 is provided with the not information of notice incident in the registering events of customer information 1 502.

The server 305 of directly prining sends the request of disconnecting finishing and being connected of device scheduler 600, thus end session.After accepting to disconnect request, device scheduler 600 is deleted corresponding customer information from customer account management formation 1501, and the session of the end and the server 305 of directly prining.

Fig. 8 is the view that the first embodiment schematic operation is shown.Will be with reference to the schematic operation of figure 8 explanations according to the print system of first embodiment.

In S801, the task of directly print agency 606 and device scheduler 600 is initialised.In initialization procedure, registering events (event registration) is (S802) in Printer Engine control module 514 for device scheduler 600.This process be for via the generation of wrong (for example paperboard or loam cake are opened) in the change of device scheduler 600 job state when server 305 notice of directly prining is being handled operation in the Printer Engine 216, the change of equipment state-such as printer-etc.As mentioned above, after finishing initialization procedure, device scheduler 600 enters the circulation of waiting event.After finishing initialization procedure, agency's 606 circulations that also enter waiting event of directly prining.

Agency 606 detects authorization information recording medium 521 and is inserted in the authorization information fetch equipment 520 if directly print, then the authorization information (S803) of its reading and recording on authorization information recording medium 521.The authentication mechanism (not shown) is specified the owner of card (authorization information recording medium 521), and obtains customer identification information.The agency 606 that directly prints obtains the configuration information (S804) of printing device via Printer Engine control module 514.The configuration information that obtained this moment comprises consumable information (for example the surplus of paper or ink powder has or not) and facility information (for example whether double surface unit or binding device (reorganizer) be available).

The device configuration information of directly prining agency's 606 customer identification informations that will be obtained and being obtained in S804 in S803 is notified to the server 305 (S805) of directly prining.First embodiment is defined as the session initiation notice with this notice.After receiving the session initiation notice, the server 305 of directly prining is selected printable operation from customer identification information and device configuration information.To this process be described with reference to Figure 14.

In order to print, the server 305 of directly prining carries out event registration and job scheduling keeps (S806).Event registration has been described with reference to figure 7.To describe scheduling with reference to Figure 14 keeps.Server 305 slave unit schedulers 600 receiving schedulings of directly prining finish (S807).The details of the process of server 305 after receiving scheduling finishes of directly prining will be described with reference to Figure 22.After receiving scheduling finished, the server 305 of directly prining read one or more print jobs corresponding to the prior customer identification information of notifying from the formation of directly prining, and the print job that output is read is to Printer Engine control module 514 (S808).More particularly, the server 305 of directly prining is sent to LPD/RAW 510 with print data, and LPD/RAW 510 forms image with print data and transmits this image to printer controller 219.

Agency 606 detects authorization information recording medium 521 and is removed and can not imports customer identification information (S809) if directly print, and then it sends notice corresponding to this detection to the server 305 (S810) of directly prining.For example, the agency 606 that directly prints sends cancellation instruction and operation hold instruction to the server 305 of directly prining, as the notice of removing detection corresponding to authorization information recording medium 521.Fig. 8 illustrates " job delete and hold instruction ", but content of announcement is not limited to this.The agency 606 that directly prints can be notified to the server 305 of directly prining with the information that expression authorization information recording medium 521 is removed, and server 305 determines whether to control print job as long as this notice allows directly to print.According among the S810 from the notice of printer, the server 305 of directly prining send cancellation instruction as the operation steering order to device scheduler 600 (S811).After receiving the job delete instruction, device scheduler 600 is sent job delete and is instructed Printer Engine control module 514 (S812).After receiving the job delete instruction, Printer Engine control module 514 is cancelled this operation by the process that finishes to be associated with ongoing printing.After this operation of cancellation, Printer Engine control module 514 sends incident job delete is notified to device scheduler 600 (S813).After the job delete notice that receives from Printer Engine control module 514, device scheduler 600 is notified the quantity (S814) of the printer page of having printed and having discharged to the server 305 of directly prining.Server 305 keeps this operation so that print later on if the quantity of the printer page of being notified less than the total quantity of the operation page, is then directly printd.The details of this process will be with reference to the flowchart text of Figure 22.

Fig. 9 A and 9B explain the process flow diagram of registering the process of the operation of directly prining in the server 305 of directly prining.

Fig. 9 A illustrates the process of registration from the operation of application program 301.In S901, application program 301 is created operation, specific printer, and send print command.In S902, PDL driver 302 generates print job based on print command, and via spooler 303 print job is sent to operation control port monitor 304.Operation control port monitor 304 is sent to the server 305 of directly prining with print job.The server 305 of directly prining is carried out the process of S903 in the S906.

More particularly, the server 305 of directly prining obtains customer identification information in S903, opens in S904 it is embedded in the print job.In first embodiment, the job information 1002 that the server 305 of directly prining generates corresponding to print job, and in job information 1002, customer identification information is described.Customer identification information is identical with authorization information on being recorded in authorization information recording medium 521.In first embodiment, by the GUI (not shown) being provided and pointing out user's input information to obtain authorization information.Card reader can read identifying information from the IC-card that keeps identifying information, thus with identifying information as customer identification information.

In S905, the server 305 of directly prining is changed into job state " stopping ".In step S906, the server 305 of directly prining will " stop " operation and be arranged in the print queue 401 that is used for directly prining.

According to the job login method, application program 301 registration operations, but job login application program 309 also can be registered it.In this case, job login application program 309 can be present in the client PC different with the server 305 of directly prining, as shown in Figure 3.As job login application program 309, can use the catalogue output application program of the application program of for example exporting form (form) print data or output directory (catalogue) print data.

Fig. 9 B explains the process flow diagram of registration from the process of the operation of job login application program.In S911, the print job that 309 selections of job login application program utilize the PDL driver to be created.Job login application program 309 is obtained customer identification information in S912, and in S913 it is embedded in the selected print job.For example, customer identification information is described to job information 1002 " customer identification information ".Customer identification information is identical with authorization information on being recorded in authorization information recording medium 521.

In S914, job login application program 309 is changed into job state " stopping ".In step S915, job login application program 309 is arranged in operation the print queue 401 that is used for directly prining via API 610.

By above-mentioned enrollment process, comprise common user's identifying information by a plurality of print jobs that the specific user created.The user directly imports customer identification information via the predetermined user interface, but the customer identification information management method is not limited to this.For example, the user ID that is recorded on the storage card can be read out and be used as customer identification information.Also can obtain customer identification information, and customer identification information is associated with print job corresponding to the customer identification information ground leading subscriber ID that is used for directly prining among first embodiment corresponding to specified user ID.In first embodiment, customer identification information is specified the print job in directly prining.In above-mentioned registration, customer identification information is embedded in the print job (job information) and with type information and is associated, but can utilize link information to be associated.

Figure 10 is the diagrammatic sketch of example that the example that is added to the data structure of the job information 1002 from the ordering request that the server 305 of directly prining sends for printing is shown and is used for the data structure of the task management formation 1001 by many operation information of server 305 management of directly prining.The server 305 of directly prining keeps task management formation and the job information shown in Figure 10.Task management formation 1001 shown in Figure 10 is not a management operations information itself, but the operation ID of the link of management indication job information.Task management formation 1001 is corresponding to print queue among Fig. 8 401 and 401A.

Job information 1002 is the print-job informations that are added to the dispatch request that startup that the server 305 of directly prining sent prints.In job information 1002, the document title of " document title " expression print job, the operation ID that " operation ID " expression is sent by task management unit 603.Operation ID is according to being sent to the server 305 of directly prining with reference to described dispatch request such as figure 7 by slave unit scheduler 600, and by server 305 management of directly prining." user's name " is illustrated in the user's of client terminal start-up printing name." page number " expression operation page number, and the state of " job state " expression print job.Whether " operation maintenance mark " expression keeps this operation when operation is cancelled.As " beating again the seal start page ", the start page when beating again the seal operation is registered based on the job scheduling information of representing the page that the interruption print job is finished.By restarting printing from beating again the seal start page, interrupted print job can be restarted from the position of interrupting.In printing for the first time, " beating again the seal start page " is 0." customer identification information " is described in the above.

In the S814 of Fig. 8, " beating again the seal start page " is corresponding to the job status information that calculates based on the information of expression printing progress.Yet job scheduling information is not limited to " beating again the seal start page ".Job scheduling information can adopt another information, as long as printer is imported customer identification information once more, and the output start page of the print job of reading corresponding to the customer identification information of being imported can be designated.For example, also can in S814, directly store announcement information (job scheduling information), replace " beating again the seal start page ", after importing customer identification information once more, beat again the seal start page then based on the announcement information calculating of being stored.

When can not detecting authorization information recording medium 521, and when carrying out job delete (S2202 will be described below), the operation of job information 1002 keeps mark to be set to out (ON) so that operation is remained in the server 305 of directly prining.At this moment, after the cancellation operation, device scheduler 600 will be printed the page and be notified to the server 305 of directly prining.The server 305 of directly prining adds 1 with the value of being notified, and the value after job information 1002 " beating again the seal start page " located increase is set.If authorization information recording medium 521 is detected once more, the server 305 of then directly prining is beaten again the operation that seal is preserved.This beats again the page of seal from setting in " beating again the seal start page " place.

" job state " is illustrated in the server 305 of directly prining and sends and print after the dispatch request up to there not being the job state of operation before being retained in the printer.Job state comprises " printing is waited to hit ", " finishing scheduling state ", " in the transmission ", " transmission is finished " and " printing is finished ".

" operation ID " is included in as the operation ID in the print data of the information of being added during job state in printing server notice printer controller 219 in printing device.

Task management formation 1001 is the administration queue that are used for management operations information 1002.After the print request of accepting from host application program, task management formation 1001 registration job informations 1002.When end is printed in print job, the corresponding job information of deletion from task management formation 1001.

When sending the printing dispatch request, also managed with task management formation 1001 and job information 1002 related ground about the information of specified output destination.Figure 11 illustrates this state.Figure 11 illustrates the example of the data structure of the Printer Information 1101 managed by the server 305 of directly prining and port information 1102.

The print queue information that Printer Information 1101 expressions are managed by the server 305 of directly prining.Printer Information comprises the information such as " printer name ".The output port information that port information 1102 expressions are managed by the server 305 of directly prining.Port information 1102 comprises the information such as printing device " IP address ".

After specifying print queue and output port among the S1402 that will describe in the back, the device address from 606 information transmitted 1301 of agency (Figure 13) of directly prining is set at " the IP address " of port information 1102.Equipment disposition from 606 information transmitted of agency of directly prining is set in " equipment disposition " of port information 1102.

Figure 12 is a process flow diagram, and it is notified to server 305 process before of directly prining up to agency's 606 information that will directly print necessary authorization information recording medium 521 of directly prining after being illustrated in and detecting authorization information.

The state of authorization information fetch equipment 520 detection validation information recording carriers 521 changes.For example, when authorization information fetch equipment 520 was card reader, the change of the state of authorization information recording medium 521 meaned such as the variation of removing or inserting authorization information recording medium 521 (card).For example, when authorization information fetch equipment 520 used infrared sensor to wait detection validation information recording carrier 521, the state variation of authorization information recording medium 521 meaned whether exist (the having/do not have) of authorization information recording medium 521 changes.This also is applied to the equipment (utilizing the checking of the textured pattern of palm) of checking user when the user is placed on hand etc. on the authorization information fetch equipment 520.In this case, the user keeps hand is placed on the authorization information fetch equipment 520 in the process of directly prining.In S1201, the agency 606 that directly prints changes from the state that authorization information fetch equipment 520 receives detected authorization information recording medium 521.

If detecting the state of authorization information recording medium 521, authorization information fetch equipment 520 changes, and definite authorization information recording medium 521 exists, then process forwards S1203 to from S1202, and the agency 606 that directly prints obtains authorization information (customer identification information) from authorization information recording medium 521.In S1204, the agency 606 that directly prints obtains the device address that is used to specify this equipment from printing device, and obtains device configuration information (S804 among Fig. 8).The configuration information that is obtained comprises consumable information (for example paper surplus or ink powder has/do not have) and facility information (for example whether double surface unit or binding device (reorganizer) be available).In S1205, directly print agency's 606 identifying informations that will be obtained in S1203 and the device address that is obtained in S1204 and device configuration information are notified to the server 305 (S805) of directly prining.

If there is not authorization information recording medium 521 in S1202, then determining does not need input validation information, and process forwards S1206 to.At S1206, the agency 606 that directly prints carries out branch process based on printing the continued access mark to process.Printing the continued access mark is stored in the authorization information recording medium 521 in advance.Authorization information fetch equipment 520 reads from the authorization information recording medium and prints the continued access mark, and will print the continued access mark and be input to the network printer 104.Note, can set from the operating unit of the network printer 104 and print the continued access mark.Replacedly, print job can comprise prints the continued access mark, and the network printer 104 can read the printing continued access mark that is comprised.

Be labeled as pass (OFF) if print continued access, then process forwards S1207 to.At S1207, the agency 606 that directly prints is notified to the server 305 (S810) of directly prining with print job cancellation and hold instruction.As described in S810 among Fig. 8, the server 305 that is enough to allow directly print of the notice among the S1207 determines whether to control print job.For example, notice can be the information that expression authorization information recording medium 521 is removed.Be labeled as ON if print continued access in S1206, then process finishes and need not cancellation operation among the S1207.

Figure 13 is illustrated among the S1205 diagrammatic sketch of example of data structure that sends to the information of the server 305 of directly prining from the agency 606 that directly prints.After authorization information fetch equipment 520 detected authorization information recording medium 521, information table 1301 registrations sent to the information of the server 305 of directly prining from the agency 606 that directly prints.The content of information table 1301 is " device address ", " customer identification information ", " device configuration information " and " printing the continued access mark ".

" customer identification information " expression is used to specify the information of the operation that will directly print.First embodiment adopts the job creation person's (user's name) who is associated with each operation, so that specify the operation that will directly print, but customer identification information is not limited to this.The operation ID or the job title that are used for discerning uniquely operation also can be utilized.

A kind of like this pattern of ON value representation of " printing the continued access mark " even promptly authorization information fetch equipment 520 can not detect authorization information recording medium 521 in print procedure, is printed also and is continued, and need not to cancel any operation.When the value of " printing the continued access mark " was OFF (default value is OFF), if authorization information fetch equipment 520 can not detect authorization information recording medium 521, then operation was cancelled.

Figure 14 is a process flow diagram, is used for explaining the server 305 performed print data transport process when the agency 606 that directly prints accepts information shown in Figure 13 of directly prining when client PC 101 to 103 each client PC.

In S1401, the server 305 of directly prining obtains device address, customer identification information and device configuration information (Figure 13) from the agency 606 that directly prints.In S1402, the server 305 of directly prining is specified print queue 401.In S1403, the server 305 of directly prining checks that print queues 401 (being used for directly prining) are whether to the job queue of match user identifying information.If the operation of coupling is lined up, device address and device configuration information that the server 305 of then directly prining is set among the S1401 in the Printer Information 1101 of Figure 11 and port information 1102 in S1404 to be obtained, and process forwards S1405 to.Do not lined up if mate operation, then process enters into S1420 from S1403, and the server 305 of directly prining is given the agency 606 that directly prints with error notification, and process finishes.

In S1405, the server 305 of directly prining determine device scheduler 600 whether do not register any incident or directly print server 305 whether slave unit scheduler 600 accept the finishing scheduling order that indication begins to transmit print data.If there is not incident to be registered, then process forwards S1406 to.The event registration whether the energy basis has been carried out among the S1407 determines whether not have incident to be registered.Server 305 is accepted the finishing scheduling order if directly print, and then process forwards S1410 to.

When not having incident to be registered, be performed by 701 represented communications among Fig. 7.At first, in S1406, the server 305 of directly prining sends the connection request order that is connected to device scheduler 600.Connection request comprises the IP address (client IP address) of the server 305 of directly prining.After the server 305 of directly prining sent connection request, the information (will describe with reference to Figure 17 below) of the server 305 of directly prining was registered in the customer account management formation 1501 (Figure 15) of device scheduler 600.This registration allow directly to print server 305 and device scheduler 600 exchange messages.Then, in S1407, the server 305 of directly prining is registered Job events and device events in device scheduler 600.By this process, necessary incident is registered in the registering events corresponding to the customer information 1502 of the server 305 of directly prining.Behind the registration Job events, the status change notification of the operation that device scheduler 600 will be printed by the server 305 of directly prining or the operation of being printed by another client is given the server 305 of directly prining.After the registering apparatus incident, device scheduler 600 is given the server 305 of directly prining with the status change notification of printing device 306.

In S1408, the server 305 of directly prining obtains the tabulation (the job list) of the operation ID of registration in the task management formation of being managed by device scheduler 600 1601.The job list and the Job events server 305 that allows directly to print is grasped the operation print state of being managed by device scheduler 600.As the result of said process, printing is ready to complete.In S1409, the server 305 of directly prining is selected print job with the customer identification information coupling from the print queue that is used for directly prining, so as with this job login in device scheduler by the specified printing device in device address.The server 305 of directly prining sends the job information and the dispatch request of selected print job, so that selected print job is registered in the device scheduler 600.Process turns back to S1405, to wait for next instruction.Dispatch request among the S1409 makes the task management formation 1601 registration and management target print jobs of device scheduler 600.

Server 305 slave unit schedulers 600 are accepted the finishing scheduling order that the indication print data transmits if directly print, and then process forwards S1410 to.At S1410, " beating again the seal start page " of the job information 1002 of the server 305 target setting print job in print job of directly prining.In S1411, the server 305 of directly prining begins to transmit specified operation.After beginning to send print data, the server 305 of directly prining transmits beginning (transmission initial state) to device scheduler 600 notices in S1412.Being delivered among the S1413 of print data finishes, and the server 305 of directly prining transmits end to device scheduler 600 notices in S1414.

Figure 15 illustrates to communicate to connect the customer information 1502 that administrative unit 601 managed and the diagrammatic sketch of customer account management formation 1501 by device scheduler 600.

Customer information 1502 comprises by communicating to connect administrative unit 601 distributes to " Customer ID " of each client PC that is connected and " the client IP address " of the IP address of the client PC of representing to be connected.Customer information 1502 also comprises " registering events " of expression by the type of the incident of server 305 registrations of directly prining of the client PC that is connected.Event type is represented the equipment state incident sent by printer controller 219 or the type of job state incident.

The customer information 1502 of the server 305 of directly prining that 1501 pairs of customer account management formations are connected is ranked.When the session with the client began, administration queue was registered corresponding customer information, and when session disconnected, corresponding customer information was deleted from administration queue.

Figure 16 illustrates to be added to the dispatch request sent by the server 305 of directly prining so that the task management formation 1601 of the job information that the diagrammatic sketch of the job information of printing 1602 and administrative institute generate.Printing device keeps task management formation 1601 and job information 1602.

Job information 1602 is to be added to the dispatch request sent by the server 305 of directly prining so that the print-job information that begins to print." the operation ID " that job information 1602 comprises print job " document title ", sent by the task management unit 603 of device scheduler 600, direct " page number " of server 305 of prining with its " user's name " that begins to print and operation.Job information 1602 comprise expression print job state " job state ", be included in " the client IP address " of the IP address of the server 305 of directly prining that " work data ID " from the print data that the server 305 of directly prining transmits and expression request print this operation.

" job state " is illustrated in the server 305 of directly prining and sends and print after the dispatch request up to there not being the state of operation before being retained in the printer.Job state comprises " printing is waited to hit ", " finishing scheduling state ", " in the transmission ", " transmission is finished " and " printing is finished "." work data ID " is included in the operation ID in the print data, and it is added during job state in announcement printer controller 219.

Task management formation 1601 is the administration queue that are used for management operations information 1602.When the dispatch request accepted from the server 305 of directly prining, administration queue registration job information 1602.When the corresponding print job of printing finished, corresponding job information was deleted.

To explain with reference to the process flow diagram of Figure 17 and handle from the request of the server 305 of directly prining and notice, from the notice of device management unit 604 with to the performed process of administrative unit 601 that communicates to connect of the request of task management unit 603 and notice.

In S1701, communicate to connect notice or request that administrative unit 601 is accepted from the server 305 of directly prining, device management unit 604 or task management unit 603, and determine the type of notice or request.

If request of being accepted in S1701 or incident are that then process forwards S1702 to from the connection request of the server 305 of directly prining.At S1702, communicate to connect administrative unit 601 and in customer information 1502, set by communicating to connect directly the print IP address of server 305 of Customer ID that administrative unit 601 sent and request.Then, communicate to connect administrative unit 601 and in customer account management formation 1501, register customer information 1502.If request of being accepted in S1701 or incident are that then process forwards S1703 to from the event registration of the server 305 of directly prining.At S1703, communicate to connect administrative unit 601 and in the registering events of customer information 1502, set server 305 requests event type registration and that will be announced of directly prining.Event type comprises the Job events that the announcement job state changes and announces the device events that equipment state changes.

If request of being accepted in S1701 or incident are from the device events of device management unit 604 or from the Job events of task management unit 603, then process forwards S1704 to.At S1704, communicate to connect administrative unit 601 setting, and determine whether to exist the server of directly prining to want notified with incident with reference to the customer information registering events in all customer informations 1502 that are registered in the customer account management formation 1501.Determine that the existence server of directly prining wants notified with incident if communicate to connect administrative unit 601, the IP address of its server that keeps directly prining then, and in S1705, incident sent to and want notified all servers of directly prining with this incident.

If request of being accepted in S1701 or incident are that then process forwards S1706 to from the disconnection request of the server 305 of directly prining.In S1706, communicate to connect administrative unit 601 and from customer account management formation 1501, delete directly the print customer information 1502 of server 305 of target.

Figure 18 is used to explain know that management and running unit 602 accepts from the dispatch request of the server 305 of directly prining and send before the finishing scheduling process flow diagram by the performed process in management and running unit 602.

In S1801, the notice that management and running unit 602 is accepted from the server 305 of directly prining, and determine that this notice is dispatch request or " transmission is finished " state notifying (the transmission end notification among Fig. 7).If notice is a dispatch request, then process forwards S1802 to.In S1802, job information 1602 is created in management and running unit 602, wherein sets operation ID that is sent by task management unit 603 and the information that is added to dispatch request.Accepting the ordered registration dispatch request of dispatch request, and process enters S1803 in the task management formation in management and running unit 602.If notice is " transmission is finished " state notifying, then process directly enters into S1803 from S1801.

In S1803, the job state of the job information 1602 in the task management formation 1601 is confirmed to be registered in management and running unit 602.If job state is represented " finishing scheduling " or " in the transmission ", the then current server of directly prining is instructed to transmit print data, so management and running unit 602 return courses are to S1801.If job state represents that neither " finishing scheduling " do not represent " in the transmission " yet, the server 305 of then directly prining will not transmit print data.Therefore, process forwards S1804 to, and finishing scheduling is prepared to send in management and running unit 602.In S1804, management and running unit 602 is with the operation in the order affirmation task management formation 1601 of accepting dispatch request.If management and running unit 602 detects the operation of waiting for scheduling, then process forwards S1805 to.In S1805, management and running unit 602 notifies finishing scheduling to begin to transmit print data to the destination client.In S1806, management and running unit 602 is updated to the finishing scheduling state with the job state of job information 1602, and process forwards S1801 to.

Figure 19 is a process flow diagram, task management unit 603 is shown accepts the job state notification event and accept the performed process of the job list request from the server 305 of directly prining for slave unit administrative unit 604.

In S1901, task management unit 603 is from communicating to connect administrative unit 601 or device management unit 604 is accepted notice, and determines that this notice is from the job state notice of device management unit 604 or from the job list request of the server 305 of directly prining.

If it is the job state notice that notice is determined in task management unit 603, then process forwards S1902 to from S1901, and task management unit 603 upgrades the job state of corresponding job information.In the process of S1903, task management unit 603 determines whether the job state notice is to print to finish notice.If job state notice is not to print not finish notice, then process forwards S1904 to, and task management unit 603 will send the job state incident to client's instruction notification to communicating to connect administrative unit 601.

If the job state notice is to print to finish notice in S1903, then process forwards S1905 to.At S1905, task management unit 603 is from task management formation deletion target job.At S1906, task management unit 603 sends operation and finishes the instruction of incident (operation finish and delete notice) to the server 305 of directly prining to communicating to connect administrative unit 601 notice.After this, process is back to S1901.

If the job list request that task management unit 603 is accepted from the server 305 of directly prining in S1901, then process enters S1907.At S1907, task management unit 603 is notified to the job information tabulation and communicates to connect administrative unit 601, the server 305 so that the tabulation request that is sent to of the job information 1602 that will be registered is directly printd in task management formation 1601.

As another embodiment, device scheduler 600 can be notified to the agency 606 that directly prints with printer page at every turn when printing one page.The agency 606 that directly prints prints this printer page on authorization information recording medium 521.This process makes it possible to carry out and beat again seal based on being recorded in the printer page quantity on the authorization information recording medium 521, even the printer page count information can not be notified to because printing device is closed suddenly or network disconnects when directly prining server 305.

Figure 20 is a process flow diagram, is illustrated in the performed process of device management unit when being notified to task management unit 603 or communicating to connect administrative unit 601 from printer controller 219 accepting device states or job state notice and with it via event handler 604.

When device scheduler 600 starts, device management unit 604 in S2001 (S802) via event handler registering events in printer controller 219.Device management unit 604 registering events, so as when equipment state to change or is changed by the state of printer controller 219 handled print jobs the state of notice corresponding units.

At S2002, device management unit 604 is received in the incident that is generated in the printer controller 219 via event handler 605.After accepting this incident, device management unit 604 determines that this incident is Job events or device events.If incident is a Job events, then device management unit 604 is notified to Job events task management unit 603 in S2003.Then, process forwards S2002 to.

If incident is a device events, then process forwards S2004 to, and device management unit 604 keeps equipment state (state cache).At S2005, device management unit 604 is notified to device events and communicates to connect administrative unit 601.Then, process forwards S2002 to.

Figure 21 is a process flow diagram, illustrates when slave unit management scheduler 600 is accepted notice or order by the performed process of the server 305 of directly prining.

At S2101, the server 305 of directly prining determines still received the job list from the Job events of device scheduler 600 notified.If directly print server 305 notified Job events, then process forwards S2102 to; If it receives the job list, then forward S2108 to.After receiving the job list, at S2108, the server 305 of directly prining is set from the job information that the job list obtained in the job information 1002 that the task management formation of being managed by the server 305 of directly prining 1001 is managed.

In S2101, the server 305 of directly prining determines that the Job events notice from device scheduler 600 is that notice is finished in operation or job state changes notice (state notifying).Change notice (state notifying) if the Job events notice is a job state, the server 305 of then directly prining upgrades the job state of corresponding job information 1002 in S2109.

Finish notice if the event notice of being accepted is operation, then process enters into S2103 from S2102.At S2103, the server 305 of directly prining is deleted corresponding job information from task management formation 1001.At S2104, the server 305 of directly prining confirms whether still to exist unprinted operation in task management formation 1001.If still there is unprinted operation, then directly print server 305 must with device scheduler 600 exchange messages.For the connection that continues directly to print between server 305 and the device scheduler 600, then process forwards S2101 to.If there is not client's operation, then process forwards S2105 to, and the server 305 of directly prining begins to finish the process that is connected with device scheduler 600.

In S2105, Job events and device events that server 305 requesting service schedulers 600 cancellations of directly prining are registered when connecting beginning.Respond this request, the content of the event registration of device scheduler 600 deletion customer informations 1502.If there is not event registration information, the server 305 of then directly prining is not notified with any incident, even the state of the operation of being managed by device scheduler 600 changes.In S2106, the 305 pairs of device scheduler 600 of server of directly prining are sent the request of disconnection.When accepting to disconnect request, device scheduler 600 is from the corresponding customer information 1502 of customer account management formation 1501 deletions.At S2107, the server 305 of directly prining disconnects the session with device scheduler 600.Then, process turns back to S2101, and server 305 standbies of directly prining.

Figure 22 is a process flow diagram, is used for explaining when the performed process of the server 305 of directly prining during corresponding to the notice of S810 (or S1207) from agency's 606 receptions of directly prining.In S2201, the server 305 of directly prining receives job delete and hold instruction (corresponding to the notice of S810 (or S1207)) from the agency 606 that directly prints, and process enters into S2202.In S2202, the print job (S811) of server 305 indicating equipment schedulers 600 cancellations of directly prining corresponding to the customer identification information of the notice that in S2201, is received.

As description, be instructed to cancel the device scheduler 600 indication Printer Engine control modules 514 cancellation operations (S812) of operation with reference to figure 8.Simultaneously, device scheduler 600 will represent that the printer page number of print job progress is notified to the server 305 (S814) of directly prining.The printer page number of being notified is the page number (=number of pages) of printing or discharging when printing according to the cancellation order fulfillment.In S2203, the server 305 of directly prining receives the printer page counting notice (S814) from device scheduler 600.

In S2204, directly print server 305 relatively the printer page count information and the operation page total number (number of pages in the job information 1602) of slave unit scheduler 600 notices.If the printer page count information is consistent with the page total number of operation, the server 305 of then directly prining determines that the operation printing is complete, and the operation in the job information 1002 keeps mark to be set to " OFF " in S2206.If the total number of pages of printer page count information and operation is inconsistent, then in S2205, the server 305 of directly prining is set operation and is kept being labeled as " ON ", so that beat again seal subsequently.Described operation and kept mark with reference to Figure 10.In S2207, the server 305 of directly prining increases by 1 with the printer page number of being notified (printer page number), and prints the value of setting in the start page (job scheduling information) after increasing beating again of job information 1002.If print queue 401 keeps one or more operations of not specifying finishing scheduling (in S2403 for being), the process of 0 (printing device is printed/discharged page number and regard 0 as) is regarded the progress of these operations as in server 305 execution of then directly prining.The device scheduler 600 deletion operations of notified cancellation and the event registration (S1706) that cancellation is associated with this operation.

In the description of the process flow diagram of Figure 22, the server 305 performed print jobs controls of directly prining are job deletes, but this also can be applied to another print job control.For example, above-mentioned control also can be applicable to print job control to stop to carry out print job from directly print server 305 output print operations and time-out.Those skilled in the art will be easy to expect that the print job that the process flow diagram among Figure 22 also can be applicable to be used to suspend is controlled.

As mentioned above, first embodiment discloses a kind of print system, and wherein client PC (messaging device) can be communicated by letter each other with printing device (printing equipment).In this system, the server 305 of directly prining keeps one or more print jobs of being generated by application program 301 grades in the formation of directly prining, so that based on from customer identification information that printing device transmitted and read them.Customer identification information is an identifying information of distributing to the print job that is generated by given user jointly, and is public for one or more print jobs.In printing device, authorization information fetch equipment 520 reads authorization information from authorization information recording medium 521.Printing device is by using authorization information as the identifying information request of sending (S805 and S807).The server 305 of directly prining receives the request of being sent, and the identifying information in the request that receives based on being included in reads one or more print jobs, and the print job that output is read is to printing device.

Just, according to first embodiment, and preserve customer identification information operation-relatedly.Printing device is imported identifying information, and it is notified to the server of directly prining.Corresponding to the operation of identifying information by from directly prining downloaded and be printed output.Different with the tradition system that directly prints, the user does not need directly to specify the operation from printing device.For example, the operation that is associated with each user ID is registered every morning by general headquarters in server, and in the card reader that card is inserted into printing device is connected of user with him.The user ID that printing device will be recorded on the card is notified to server, thereby allows the user to print at an easy rate.

First embodiment is associated customer identification information with print job, and uses customer identification information to specify print job in directly prining, but customer identification information is not limited to this.For example, customer identification information can be associated with a plurality of print jobs publicly, and can be the identifying information self that is assigned to print job.

[second embodiment]

In the system that directly prints described in first embodiment, when print to keep arriving or during print data was transmitted, the principal computer that prints reservation may stop operation and maybe garble may occur.In this case, printing device 306 (network printer 104 and 105) can keep waiting for the transmission end notification from principal computer, and postpones the print data transmission course from another principal computer.The structure that second embodiment addresses this problem description.

Figure 23 is illustrated in server 305 acceptance of directly prining to act on behalf of 606 authorization information from directly prining and send the chart of dispatch request to printing device 306 processes of back before printing is finished.

Directly print between server 305 and the device scheduler 600 session after in beginning and to receive identical among process and Fig. 7 before notifying from the print state of device scheduler 600 up to direct printing server 305.

As described in reference to Figure 7, when print data transmitted beginning, device scheduler 600 was notified to the client based on the registering events information of customer information with the operation print state.Further, in a second embodiment, the server 305 of directly prining will transmit notice with the reporting interval of print data delivery status and be sent to device scheduler 600, finish up to transmitting print data.The reporting interval of print data delivery status can be included in the finishing scheduling or in advance by default.

Up to the end notification that the server 305 of directly prining will transmit print data give LPD/RAW 510 and the conversation end between server 305 and the device scheduler 600 of directly prining before process identical with shown in Fig. 7.

How explained later device scheduler 600 is used is being transmitted notice.Figure 24 is a process flow diagram, be illustrated in reception from after the dispatch request of the server 305 of directly prining up to device scheduler 600 is finished print procedure by finishing scheduling before the performed process of device scheduler 600.

In S2401, the dispatch request that device scheduler 600 receives from each client's (PC 101 to 103) the server 305 of directly prining, and at S2402, in the ending place registration job information of task management formation.At S2403, device scheduler 600 has determined whether that job information is registered in the task management formation.If there is job information, then process enters into S2404.At S2404, device scheduler 600 transmitting and scheduling ending request are positioned at client's (server of directly prining) of the job information at task management formation top to registration.The finishing scheduling request comprises the reporting interval information that print data transmits request and print data delivery status.

At S2405, device scheduler 600 initialization also start timer to measure the receive time-out of print data delivery status.At S2406, device scheduler 600 determines whether to have received print data and transmits end notification.If device scheduler 600 does not also receive any transmission end notification, then process enters into S2407, and device scheduler 600 determines whether to have received and carrying out delivery status (transmitting notice).Carry out delivery status if device scheduler 600 has received, then process turns back to S2405, and device scheduler 600 initialization also start timer once more.If device scheduler 600 does not also receive any delivery status of carrying out, then process enters into S2408 from S2407, and device scheduler 600 is determined the overtime of timer.If do not take place overtimely, then process turns back to S2406.If taken place overtimely, then device scheduler 600 has determined to take place the receive time-out of delivery status, thereby and process enter into S2409 and stop to receive print data.In S2410, device scheduler 600 is notified to operation deleted (cancellation) the operation control print service that goes up operation in client (PC 101 to 103).Process enters into S2411, and device scheduler 600 is from task management formation deletion job information, and process is back to S2401.

If device scheduler 600 has received print data and transmitted end notification in S2406, then process enters into S2412.At S2412, device scheduler 600 is finished print job and is notified to the server 305 of directly prining.At S2411, device scheduler 600 is from task management formation deletion job information, and process is back to S2401.

According to second embodiment, for example, stop operation or garble takes place if print the principal computer of reservation, then device scheduler 600 can transmit notice and discerning this situation by receiving.Second embodiment can solve owing to the postponement that causes of principal computer fault of garble or the transmission data problem from the print data transmission course of another principal computer.

[the 3rd embodiment]

First and second embodiment described according to the agency 606 that directly prints whether detect authorization information (Figure 12 and 22) carries out print job control, such as cancelling or the structure of Suspend Job.Yet, when the authorization information that detects from authorization information recording medium 521, print job can be according to another improvement Be Controlled.The 3rd embodiment will explain this improvement.

For example, when not having authorization information recording medium 521 among the S1202 at Figure 12, thinking does not need input validation information, and the server 305 of directly prining is instructed to control print job.Yet, in S1202, replace determining whether to exist authorization information recording medium 521, can detect the authorization information that detects whether again or once more from authorization information recording medium 521.For example, when the authorization information recording medium is removed, and when after based on authorization information checking user, detecting it once more and inserting, can think that the user has cancelled the input of authorization information.

For example, in the S803 of Fig. 8, authorization information fetch equipment 520 detects the user via radio communication and place authorization information recording medium 521 near authorization information fetch equipment 520.At this moment, authorization information fetch equipment 520 can be set to about 10 centimetres via the distance of radio communication detection validation information recording carrier 521.This setting has reduced error-detecting by the possibility through near the authorization information recording medium 521 that the people handed.This radio communication can be utilized enforcements such as RFID technology.Notice that RFID represents radio-frequency recognition system.

In case authorization information fetch equipment 520 detects authorization information recording medium 521, it is detection validation information recording carrier 521 again not in the given time.The user is placed on 520 last times of authorization information fetch equipment with authorization information recording medium 521, and through after the schedule time, places it in once more on the authorization information fetch equipment 520.This operation is equal to the authorization information of cancellation input validation information recording carrier 521 among first and second embodiment.In case authorization information fetch equipment 520 detects authorization information from authorization information recording medium 521 by radio communication, authorization information fetch equipment 520 just can think that authorization information is imported once more becoming in the time of can not being detected.

In this mode, even, also can realize the various processes among first and second embodiment by distinct methods from authorization information recording medium 521 detection validation information.

[the 4th embodiment]

In first to the 3rd embodiment, the server 305 of directly prining is carried out print jobs control, such as detected state cancellation or the Suspend Job according to the performed authorization information of the agency 606 of directly prining.Yet directly the print agency 606 and the server 305 of directly prining can be fitted to each other to carry out various print job control operations.To explain the object lesson of print job control with reference to the process flow diagram of figure 25A and 25B.

Carry out with reference to Figure 14 described S1406 process in the S1409 when the server 305 of directly prining, send dispatch request at least, and when carrying out print job control then, the process in the step of Figure 25 A and 25B begins.Subsequent step among process in S1410 and Figure 14 (finishing the back at receiving scheduling) is also carried out these processes afterwards between the output print operational period.

Process flow diagram among＜Figure 25 A 〉

In S2501, the server 305 of directly prining determines whether to receive information as shown in figure 13.Information among Figure 13 is corresponding to the information that sends to the server 305 of directly prining when authorization information fetch equipment 520 detects authorization information recording medium 521 from the agency 606 that directly prints, as described in first embodiment.For example, when authorization information recording medium 521 was discerned after once being identified once more, process among the S2502 and step subsequently began.

In S2502, the server 305 of directly prining checks whether print queues 401 (being used for directly prining) rank to the operation of the customer identification information shown in coupling Figure 13, is similar to the S1403 described in first embodiment.At this moment, the number of the number of the print job that search for and detected print job can be one or more.The operation of any match user identifying information if print queue 401 is not lined up, then process is back to the definite process among the S2501.If the operation of the one or more match user identifying informations of print queue 401 queuings, then process forwards S2503 to.Be process among each operation execution S2503 and step subsequently.

In S2503, the server 305 of directly prining determines whether each operation that is determined with the customer identification information coupling is suspended (whether operation experiences the stopped process among the S2513, the back explanation) in S2502.For in S2502, being determined the number of determining printer page with each operation of customer identification information coupling.In other words, carry out process among S2503 and step subsequently in S2502, being determined with each operation of customer identification information coupling.

If at S2503 for being that then process forwards S2508 to.If be not in S2503, the server 305 slave unit scheduler 600 in S2504 of then directly prining receives the printer page counting notice about operation.Printer page number identical with described in the S2203.

In S2505, be similar to S2204, printer page count information and operation page total number (number of pages in the job information 1002 or job information) that the server 305 of directly prining is notified slave unit scheduler 600 compare.If the printer page count information is consistent with operation page total number, the server 305 of then directly prining determine that the printing of operations has been finished and in S2514, carry out with S2206 in identical process.Because identical among the process of S2514 and the S2206 will be so detailed description will be omitted.If in S2505 for not, the server 305 identical process among execution and S2205 and the S2207 in S2506 and S2507 of then directly prining.Notice that the job information of mentioning is identical with shown in Figure 10 substantially, but the job information in Figure 10, also comprise the device address (obtaining) of printout destination printer from the information shown in Figure 13 in S2205.

Among the figure S2508, the device address among Figure 13 that the server 305 of directly prining is determined in S2501 to be received whether the device address from be included in advance the job information of preserving with the form of Figure 10 change.If for being, then process forwards the process flow diagram (S2515 and step subsequently) among Figure 25 B in S2508, thereby when being changed, printer carries out job control procedure.If confirm the coupling of device address in S2508, the server 305 of then directly prining is determined not change printer, and in S2509 the checkout facility state.

Directly print server 305 based on " device address " shown in Figure 13, obtain equipment state from printer with arbitrary timing.Also can buffer memory with equipment state that arbitrary timing was obtained.In this case, directly print server 305 can with the nonsynchronous timing query facility of the timing state that obtains equipment state from printer.

Server 305 determines that in S2509 equipment state is unusual if directly print, and then it cancels the process of print job in S2512, and process turns back to S2501.This process can be handled such situation, and wherein for example printing device uses up paper, and the user wishes to cancel print job.Just, when printing device used up paper, the user can cancel operation by making printing device identification authorization information recording medium 521.

Server 305 determines that in S2509 equipment state is normal if directly print, and then it determines in S2510 whether the operation that is determined with the customer identification information coupling just is suspended in S2502.Should determine and to make by " job state " field that inquiry packet is contained in the job information of interested operation, as shown in figure 10.If in S2510 for being (job state is " stopping "), then directly print server 305 in S2511 once more output operation to printer.If be not in S2510, the server 305 of then directly prining suspends interested operation (being determined the operation with the customer identification information coupling in S2502) in S2513.Process among the S2511 is corresponding to S1410 among Figure 14 and S1411, and the process among the S2513 is corresponding to the process among Figure 22.The process flow diagram of Figure 25 A also can be realized operation control, and cancellation or time-out such as print job are similar to Figure 22.This process allows the user by make printing device identification authorization information recording medium 521 and Suspend Job at arbitrary timing during the standby that is used for the job scheduling end or during print job.

Process flow diagram among＜Figure 25 B 〉

Process flow diagram among Figure 25 B will be described in detail.If in S2502, find the coupling operation, and the print agent that is different from previous printer is notified to the server 305 of directly prining with the information among Figure 13, the server 305 of then directly prining determines that in S2508 printer changes, and process forwards the process flow diagram of Figure 25 B to.For example, when the user made the previous printing device detection validation information recording carrier 521 that is different from previous detection validation information recording carrier 521, the print agent of the printer that these are different was given notice.

In S2515, whether the server 305 of directly prining is determined corresponding to the state of the printer that is included in the device address (device address before changing) in the interested job information normal.The equipment state acquisition methods is described in S2509.Server 305 determines that in S2515 equipment state is unusual if directly print, and then it is carried out to substitute in S2516 and step subsequently and prints.Server 305 determines that in S2515 equipment state is normal if directly print, and then it is carried out in S2519 and later step and disperses to print.

＜substitute and print

At first will explain to substitute and print.In S2516, the operation of the server 305 cancellation printer before changing of directly prining.Job delete can by with S2202 shown in Figure 22 and later step in identical process realize.Identical in S2507 and the S2514 of the process of S2203 in the S2207 and S2504.Just, repeat the process of S2504 in S2507 and the S2514 by in S2516, carrying out S2203 to the process among the S2207.Therefore, S2203 also can omit in S2516 to the process among the S2207.

In S2517, the device address (device address make directly print server 305 determine printers among S2508s change) of the server 305 of directly prining by another printer after will changing is set to the device address of job information and upgrades job information.This job information identical with shown in Figure 10, and have the structure shown in Figure 26 among the 4th embodiment.For example, the printer before changing is when the printer after changing is corresponding to device address B corresponding to device address A, and the job information 2601 that remains in the server 305 of directly prining is changed into job information 2602.

In S2518, thereby substituting output procedure, server 305 execution of directly prining export operation to alternative printer, so that based on the follow-up not printer page of job information printout after upgrading.After this, process turns back to S2501.

Notice that when process was interrupted in printing by Figure 22, first embodiment also can be different from used so far printing device detection validation information recording carrier and carries out to substitute and print by making.Just, another printing device detection validation information recording carrier, S1410 is performed to the process among the S1414 among Figure 14 then.Therefore, printer can be carried out according to user's intention and substitute printing arbitrarily.Even in the 4th embodiment, arbitrarily printer also can be carried out to substitute and print according to user's intention, is similar to the process in the S1414 of S1410 among Figure 14.

＜disperse to print

When determining that in S2508 printer has changed, server 305 determines that in S2515 equipment state is normal if directly print, then its by will be assigned to change before the Partial Jobs of printer distribute to printer after changing and carry out and disperse to print.More particularly, in S2519, the server 305 of directly prining is created the operation that makes another printer prints part (for example half) distribute to the operation of printer before changing.For example, directly print server 305 is created and is printed the operation of the back page (a for example false add 1 of all pages) that start pages are operations of printer before changing.

In S2520, server 305 the new job creation job information (Figure 26) of directly prining in S2519, being created, and in corresponding task management formation (corresponding to shown in Figure 10), register newly-generated operation ID.The server 305 more freshly sepd job informations of directly prining but not the print range (end printer page) of the new job information of creating.

In S2521, the server 305 of directly prining is carried out and is disperseed to print by exporting the printer with the agency that directly prints that the user is placed on it authorization information recording medium 521 based on the operation of the job information of new establishment to.

As mentioned above, the 4th embodiment carries out various print job control operations after receiving from the notice of the expression identifying information input state of printing device (printing equipment).For example, carry out different work control according to the notice of the printing device (S2508) of representing printing device state (S2509), job state (S2510) or output notice.For example, the time-out (S2513) that operation is carried out, substituting printing (S2516 is to S2518) and disperseing one in the printing (S2519 is to S2521) is to carry out as per advice.

The 4th embodiment can utilize 521 cancellation or the time-out printing operations of authorization information recording medium.In addition, the 4th embodiment can substitute printing or disperse printing by another printing device detection validation information recording carrier 521 is carried out.

[the 5th embodiment]

In first to the 4th embodiment, the print job that remains in the server 305 of directly prining comprises customer identification information or related with it.When the agency 606 that directly prints is notified to customer identification information when directly prining server 305, the server 305 of directly prining is specified and output comprises customer identification information of being notified or the print job that is associated with it.

Yet, how in the server 305 of directly prining, to keep one or more print jobs to be not limited thereto according to the present invention.For example, maintenance function as shown in figure 27 can keep one or more print jobs.To explain how to keep one or more print jobs with reference to Figure 27.

The server 305 of directly prining among Figure 27 is corresponding to the server of describing with reference to figure 8 of directly prining.In Figure 27, Reference numeral 401A is corresponding to the print queue 401A among Fig. 8.

In Figure 27, the arrow of S805 in Reference numeral 2701 presentation graphs 8.The formations of Reference numeral 2702 expression virtual printing, it is accumulated one or more print jobs and replaces accumulation print job in the formation 401 of directly prining (not being the print queue 401A among Fig. 8) at Fig. 8.Reference numeral 2703 another virtual printing formations of expression.

The feature of the 5th embodiment is that customer identification information is related with virtual printing formation 2702 and 2703.In Figure 27, " customer identification information n " is related with virtual printing formation 2702, and " customer identification information n+1 " is related with virtual printing formation 2703.When the agency 606 that directly prints is notified to arbitrary customer identification information when directly prining server 305, the server 305 of directly prining is searched the virtual printing formation corresponding to the customer identification information of being notified.The agency 606 that directly prints is to remove authorization information recording medium 521 with the condition that customer identification information is notified to the server 305 of directly prining, as previously discussed.

After the server 305 of directly prining was specified the virtual printing formation, print queue 401A registered one or more print jobs in specified virtual printing formation.After registration, the server 305 of directly prining sends dispatch request to device scheduler 600 immediately.In Figure 27, the server 305 of directly prining is notified with " customer identification information n+1 ", and searches virtual printing formation 2703 based on " the customer identification information n+1 " that notified.Then, the print job of a registration in virtual queue 2703 of print queue 401A registration.

As shown in figure 27, the one or more print jobs that will print can only be specified by the customer identification information of searching the virtual printing formation at an easy rate, are included in the print job or the customer identification information related with it and do not need to use.And, in the 5th embodiment, being similar to first and second embodiment, print job can comprise customer identification information or related with it.

Can keep one or more print jobs by different-format based on the server 305 of directly prining that keeps one or more print jobs from the customer identification information that printing device sent with can read.

[other embodiment]

Purpose of the present invention also can realize in the following manner.Just, for providing record, system or equipment is used to carry out the storage medium of the software program code of the foregoing description function.The program code that is stored in this storage medium is read and carried out to the computing machine of system or equipment (or CPU or MPU).

In this case, the program code of reading from storage medium is carried out new function of the present invention, and program code stored storage medium constitutes the present invention.

The present invention can adopt any form, such as object code, by the performed program of interpreter or offer the script data of OS, as long as this program has program function.

Be used to provide the storage medium of program to comprise floppy disk, hard disk, CD, magneto-optic disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, tape, Nonvolatile memory card, ROM and DVD.

In this case, the program code of reading from storage medium is carried out the function of the foregoing description, and program code stored storage medium constitutes the present invention.

Program also can following form provide.Just, client computer is connected to internet webpage via the browser of client computer.Client computer downloads to recording medium from webpage with computer program of the present invention or the compressed file that comprises automatic installation function, on hard disk.Program also can be grouped into a plurality of files by the program code that will form program of the present invention and carry out from different page download files.Just, claim of the present invention also comprises and allows a plurality of user's download program files so that computing machine is carried out the www server, ftp server of functional process of the present invention etc.

Program of the present invention also can be encrypted, be stored in storage medium, in CD-ROM, and is distributed to the user.The user who satisfies predetermined condition is prompted through the Internet from page download decryption key information.The user utilizes the program after the deciphering of secret key information and executing, and this program is installed in computing machine.

When carrying out the program code of being read, carries out by computing machine the function of the foregoing description.And, carry out the function of the foregoing description when Yun Hang OS (operating system) etc. carries out some or all of real process based on the instruction of program code on computers.

The function of the foregoing description also can followingly be carried out.Just, the program of reading from storage medium is written to the storer that inserts the expansion board the computing machine or is connected in the storer of functional expansion unit of computing machine.Then, the CPU of the expansion board of functional expansion unit carries out some or all of real processes based on the instruction of program code.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing description, and can make various modifications (organic assembling that comprises embodiment) based on purport of the present invention.These modifications are not excluded outside scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, different with traditional system that directly prints, the user can obtain target printout material at an easy rate, and need not to be forced to do hard work.

The present invention also can control print job at an easy rate.

Though reference example embodiment has described the present invention, should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to disclosed exemplary embodiment.The scope of following claim should be consistent with explanation the most widely, so that comprise modification and equivalent construction and the function that all are such.

Claims

One kind can with printing device server in communication system, comprising:

The operation generating apparatus is used for generating print job according to print command;

Holding device is used for according to for public customer identification information for a plurality of print jobs that described printing device sent, the print job that keeps at least one to be generated by described operation generating apparatus with readable form;

First receiving device is used to receive the request that is attended by described customer identification information from described printing device; And

Output unit is used for reading at least one print job based on the described customer identification information that is included in the request that described first receiving device receives, and the print job of being read is outputed to described printing device.
2. the system as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

Second receiving trap is used for receiving the notice of representing the input state of customer identification information described in the described printing device from described printing device; And

The operation control device is used for receiving described notice and controlling print job in response to described second receiving trap.
3. system as claimed in claim 2, whether wherein said operation control device changes according to state, job state or the described printing device of described printing device and carries out the different work control operation.
4. system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said different work control operation comprises in the time-out of operation execution, alternative printing and the dispersion printing.
5. system as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the notice that is received by described second receiving trap represented that described printing device can not be imported the state of described customer identification information, described operation control device was carried out print job control in response to receiving described notice.
6. system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said print job control comprises one that stops in print job and the cancellation print job.
7. system as claimed in claim 5 further comprises:

The 3rd receiving trap, being used to receive will be by the notice of the progress of the print job of described operation control device control; With

The retentive control device is used to control described holding device, thereby according to wanting controlled print job, notifies and the maintenance job status information based on the progress that described the 3rd receiving trap received.
8. system as claimed in claim 7, wherein when described job status information was held according to the print job of reading based on the described customer identification information that is included in the request that described first receiving device receives, described output unit was exported described print job once more based on described job status information.
9. the system as claimed in claim 1 further comprises informing device, is used for being output at interval with preset time to the print job of described printing device notice, and described output unit is exported described print job simultaneously.
10. the system as claimed in claim 1 further comprises output destination setting device, is applicable to set the output destination information that is included in the request that is received by the described first receiving device output destination as described at least one print job.
11. a print system, wherein messaging device and printing device can communicate with one another, wherein

Described messaging device comprises:

The operation generating apparatus is used to generate print job; With

Holding device is used for keeping at least one print job according to public customer identification information for a plurality of print jobs of sending from described printing device with readable form,

Described printing device comprises distributing device, and the request that is used for being attended by described customer identification information is issued to described messaging device, and

Described messaging device further comprises:

First receiving device is used to receive the request that described distributing device sends; And

Output unit is used for reading at least one print job based on the described customer identification information that is included in the request that is received by described first receiving device, and the print job that output is read is to described printing device.
12. the job control method by carrying out with printing device server in communication system comprises:

Operation generates step, generates print job according to print command;

Keep step,, will generate at least one print job that is generated in the step in described operation with readable form and remain in the holding unit according to for public customer identification information for a plurality of print jobs that described printing device sent;

First receiving step receives the request that is attended by described customer identification information from described printing device; With

The output step reads at least one print job based on the described customer identification information that is included in the request that is received in first receiving step, and the print job that output is read is to described printing device.
13. method as claimed in claim 12 further comprises:

Second receiving step receives the notice of representing the input state of customer identification information described in the described printing device from described printing device; With

The operation controlled step is controlled print job in response to reception notification in second receiving step.
14. method as claimed in claim 13, whether wherein said operation controlled step changes according to state, job state or the described printing device of described printing device and carries out the different work control operation.
15. method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said different work control operation comprise time-out that operation carries out, replace print and disperse to print in one.
16. method as claimed in claim 13, wherein when the notice that is received in described second receiving step represented that printing device can not be imported the state of described customer identification information, described operation controlled step was carried out print job control in response to receiving described notice.
17. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print job control comprise one that stops in print job and the cancellation print job.
18. method as claimed in claim 16 further comprises:

The 3rd receiving step, reception will be in described operation controlled step the notice of the progress of controlled print job; With

The retentive control step according to wanting controlled print job, keeps job status information based on the progress notice that is received in the 3rd receiving step.
19. method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when keeping described job status information according to the print job of reading based on the described customer identification information that is included in the request that is received in described first receiving step, described output step is exported described print job once more based on described job status information.
20. method as claimed in claim 12 further comprises and informs step, just is output with predetermined time interval to the print job of described printing device notice, described output step is exported described print job simultaneously.
21. method as claimed in claim 12 further comprises output destination setting step, sets the output destination information that is included in the request that is received in described first receiving step output destination as described at least one print job.
22. a job control method of being carried out by print system, in described print system, messaging device and printing device can communicate with one another, and described method comprises:

Operation generates step, makes described messaging device generate print job;

Keep step, make described messaging device according to readable form at least one print job being remained on the holding unit for customer identification information public for a plurality of print jobs that described printing device sent;

Issuing steps, the request that described printing device is sent be attended by described customer identification information is to described messaging device;

First receiving step makes described messaging device be received in the request of being sent in the described issuing steps; And

The output step reads at least one print job based on the described customer identification information that is included in the request that is received in described first receiving step, and the print job of being read from the output of described messaging device is to described printing device.