JP2000069077A - Remote print controller, remote print control method, remote print control system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the remote print controller to select automatically a printer proper to remote print and to allow the printer to print out an electronic mail by selecting a printer to print out the received electronic mail and transferring the electronic mail to the selected printer. SOLUTION: An electronic mail user interface section 103 displays an electronic mail received under the control of an electronic mail transfer section 102 for the user. A data analysis section 104 analyzes the electronic mail as to whether or not a print command is added to the mail. In the case that the print command is added to the electronic mail, the data analysis section 104 analyzes the electronic mail as to whether or not a printer identifier to designate a printer is added to the electronic mail. In the case that the printer identifier is added to the electronic mail, the data analysis section 104 gives the printer identifier to a printer selection section 106 to designate a printer to execute printing. Furthermore, in the case that no printer identifier is added to the electronic mail, the printer selection section 106 selects a proper printer from a printer selection table automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a technique for selecting a printing apparatus when performing remote printing using an electronic mail system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for remote printing using an electronic mail system, a "printer sharing system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-2541 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-13055
No. 4, “E-mail processing device and remote print processing method using e-mail”, JP-A-5-46513, “Message processing device”, JP-A-8-30551
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8 (1994) No. 8 discloses a "printer device".

The above-mentioned "printer sharing method" starts a program by an e-mail printing process, and the "e-mail processing device and e-mail remote printing processing method" is used for an e-mail printing process. In addition, by attaching a mail identifier to the e-mail and creating a delivery notification or a non-delivery notification in accordance with the print processing result, when printing fails, as information indicating the print processing result It is configured to send a non-delivery notice to the caller.

The "message processing apparatus" stores a processing content in a processing determination information storage unit in advance, and performs an appropriate process on an e-mail to execute printing or the like. , Information indicating whether or not to perform processing is added, and when a processing procedure is specified, a processing procedure is also added.

[0005] The "printer device" is a device in which a function of transmitting and receiving electronic mail is added to the printer device.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional example, when performing remote printing using an e-mail system, a printing device can be designated, but an appropriate device such as a destination personal computer can be used. Since a printer cannot be selected, there are the following problems.

That is, when performing remote printing using an electronic mail system, rather than sending an electronic mail to a predetermined destination, the sender himself uses the electronic mail system to use the printed matter. In many cases, remote printing is performed, but in such a case, it is troublesome to select and specify an appropriate network printer, such as a network printer located closest to the print job issuing source.

[0008] Further, when printing with the designated network printer fails, only a notification indicating the print result is made. Even if there are a plurality of network printers, another network printer is automatically selected. Could not print. For this reason, the remote print job issuer has to specify another network printer and issue the remote print job again, which is cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to automatically select an appropriate printing device when performing remote printing using an e-mail system and to perform printing. Is to do so.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a remote printing control apparatus for performing remote printing using an electronic mail system.
The apparatus includes a selection unit for selecting a printing device for printing the received e-mail, and a transfer unit for transferring the e-mail to the printing device selected by the selection unit.

According to the present invention, in a remote printing control method for performing remote printing using an e-mail system, a selecting step of selecting a printing apparatus on which the received e-mail is to be printed is provided. And a transfer step of transferring the electronic mail to the printing device.

According to the present invention, in a remote printing control system for performing remote printing using an e-mail system, a selection unit for selecting a printing apparatus for printing the received e-mail, and a selection unit selected by the selection unit. Transfer means for transferring an e-mail to the printing apparatus.

Further, the present invention is a storage medium storing a program for performing remote printing using an electronic mail system, wherein the program includes a selection device for selecting a printing device for printing the received electronic mail. Routines,
And a transfer routine for transferring an e-mail to the printing device selected by the selection routine.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects a printing device based on the source information of the email.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects the printing device based on the source information of the electronic mail and the selection conditions registered corresponding to the source information.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
In the routine, a printing apparatus is selected based on a distance from an electronic mail source as a selection condition.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects a printing device on condition that it is located on the same floor as the source of the email.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects the printing device using the source information of the e-mail and the printing accuracy registered corresponding to the source information as selection conditions.

Further, in the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects the printing device using the source information of the e-mail and the printing speed registered corresponding to the source information as selection conditions.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
In the routine, when the specified information of the printing device is added to the received e-mail, the printing device specified by the specified information is selected.

Further, according to the present invention, the transfer means, the process,
In the routine, the received e-mail is rasterized and transferred to the printing device selected by the selecting means, step, and routine.

Further, according to the present invention, the transfer means / process /
Determining means for determining whether or not the electronic mail transferred by the routine has been normally printed by the transfer destination printing device;
The selecting means / step / routine selects another printing apparatus when it is determined by the determining means / step / routine that printing was not performed normally.

Also, in the present invention, the discriminating means / process /
If the routine determines that printing was successful,
It has a notifying means, a process, and a routine for notifying the identification information of the printing apparatus that has normally performed printing to the sender of the e-mail.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects a printing device based on the selection conditions added to the received e-mail.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means, the step,
The routine selects a printing device for printing the received e-mail from a plurality of printing devices including at least a multifunction device having a printing function as well as a printing-only device.

Further, the present invention has access means, steps, and routines for periodically accessing an electronic mail addressed to the mail server to the mail server.

Further, according to the present invention, when print instruction information is added to an electronic mail, a mail server for actively transferring the electronic mail to a destination or notifying the destination of the arrival of the electronic mail is provided. I have.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a remote printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
At least one mail server MS mounted with a mailbox MB and functioning as a host computer for managing transmission and reception of electronic mail on the network N;
It has a plurality of client computers PC equipped with the e-mail system 100 and a plurality of network printers NP shared by the client computers PC on the network N.

The network printer NP is not limited to a printer-only machine having only a printer function, but may be a multifunction machine (such as a digital copying machine) having a scanner function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, etc. in addition to the printer function. Is also possible. Further, in the present remote printing system, it is possible to use a printer directly connected to a parallel port or the like of the client computer PC.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the electronic mail system 100. The electronic mail system 100 includes a network interface unit 101 for communication, a mail transfer unit 102 for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, and an electronic mail user for displaying received electronic mail. An interface unit 103, a data analysis unit 104 for analyzing the received e-mail, a raster image data generation unit 105 for generating raster image data based on the analysis result of the e-mail, and a printer for printing the generated raster image data are selected. And a printer selection unit 106 for performing the operation.

When remote printing is performed, the client computer PC equipped with the e-mail system 100 transmits data to be printed in the form of e-mail as image data. This e-mail format print data is
It is stored in the mailbox MB corresponding to the destination address in the mail server MS. When sending the data to be printed in e-mail format, if you want to print remotely for your own use only, you may use the destination address as your own printing address. May be designated collectively.

The e-mail system 100 accesses its own print mailbox MB in the mail server MS under the transfer control of the e-mail transfer unit 102, thereby addressing itself via the network interface unit 101 ( Get the e-mail of the destination for printing. The protocol used for communication is SMTP (Simple Ma
il Transfer Protocol), POP
(Post Office Protocol), IM
AP (Internet Message Access)
Protocol or other commonly used protocol or a unique protocol.

The electronic mail user interface unit 103 displays the electronic mail received under the control of the electronic mail transfer unit 102 to the user. Data analysis unit 10
Step 4 analyzes the electronic mail to determine whether a print command has been added. If the print command has not been added, the process ends. The data analysis unit 104
Analyzes whether a printer identifier specifying a printer is added when a print command is added. When a printer identifier is added, the data analysis unit 104 sends the printer identifier to the printer selection unit 106 to specify a printer to execute printing. Further, the data analysis unit 104 analyzes the electronic mail, separates the image data portion, and sends the separated image data to the raster image data generation unit 105.

The raster image data generating unit 105 rasterizes the sent image data to generate mark data, and transmits the print data to the printer selected and designated by the printer selecting unit 106.

When no printer identifier is added, the printer selection unit 106 automatically selects an appropriate printer from a printer selection table T described later. As a condition for selecting a printer, for example, a sender is specified from an address indicating a sender of an e-mail, and a printer located closest to the sender is selected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the mail server MS and the client computer PC. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a ROM;
Is a main memory, 303 is a CPU, 304 is a network interface, 305 is a disk controller,
306 is a hard disk device.

An operating system, a character generator, and the like are stored in a ROM 301, and various application programs stored in a hard disk device 306 are developed in a main memory 302.
It is executed by the CPU 303. It should be noted that the hard disk device 306 has an electronic mail system 100 (FIG. 5,
A program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and a printer selection table T are also stored.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the printer selection table T. The printer selection table T includes a selection condition table T1 (see FIG. 4A) in which selection conditions are registered in correspondence with an e-mail source address, and an identifier of a printer that satisfies the selection conditions in correspondence with the selection conditions. Is registered in a printer registration table T2 (see FIG. 4B).

As shown in FIG. 4A, the selection conditions include the distance between the sender of the e-mail and the printer, the printing accuracy (resolution) and printing speed of the printer, a monochrome / color printer, and the like. ing. Note that the distance between the sender of the e-mail and the printer is actually based on whether or not both are installed on the same floor.
For example, when the sender address (client client PC of the sender) is installed on the third floor (the third floor), the printer selection condition is 3F. Further, only one selection condition is not necessarily registered for one transmission source, and a plurality of selection conditions may be registered.

As the printer identifier, the printer ID No. A network address or the like can be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when registering a plurality of printers having the same selection condition in the printer registration table T2, the printers are registered in the order of performance. For example, when registering a plurality of printers having a print accuracy of “medium”, the printers are registered in the order of print accuracy.

[First Embodiment] Next, a remote printing process according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the CPU 303 of the client computer PC obtains an electronic mail addressed to itself (print destination) from the mail server MS and spools it (steps S401, S402). Then, the spooled e-mail is analyzed, a print command is searched, and the presence or absence of the print command is determined (steps S403 and S40).
4). As a result, if there is no print command, the remote print processing ends.

The e-mail acquisition processing in step S401 is performed by the CPU of the client computer PC.
It is preferable to perform this by periodically accessing its own print mailbox MB when the printer 303 is in the idle state.

On the other hand, when there is a print command, the printer specifying information (printer identifier) is searched to determine the presence or absence of the printer specifying information (steps S405 and S40).
6). As a result, if there is no printer designation information, the selection condition corresponding to the source of the e-mail is recognized from the selection condition table T1 in the printer selection table T, and the identifier of the printer meeting the selection condition is entered into the printer registration table T2. , A printer is selected (step S407). In this case, if there are a plurality of printers that meet the selection condition, the printer registration table T2
In the order of registration in the system, that is, those with high performance are selected with priority.

Next, image data in the electronic mail is rasterized to create print data (step S40).
8). If there is no printer designation information, step S40
7 skips the printer selection process and proceeds to step S40.
The print data of No. 8 is created. Then, the print data is sent to the designated or selected printer (step S409), and the process ends.

As described above, even if the sender of the e-mail does not specify the printer, an appropriate printer is automatically selected and the e-mail (print data) is remotely printed.
The burden on the user can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the electronic mail system according to the second embodiment, and the first embodiment shown in FIG.
A printer status acquisition unit 200 for acquiring status information of a printer that has sent print data and a reprint control unit 201 are added to the electronic mail system according to the embodiment.

The printer-shaped bear obtaining unit 201 obtains status information of the printer by communicating with the printer that has sent the print data. When the printer of the communication partner is a network printer, IPP (Inter) is used.
net Printing Protocol), TCP
(Transmission Control Pro
Tocol) or a unique protocol may be used. If the communication partner printer is a printer directly connected by a parallel port or the like, the status of the printer may be obtained via the corresponding printer driver.

When the acquired status information indicates an error in the printing process, the reprint control unit 201 determines whether the selection condition used in the previous printer selection, that is, the selection condition used when the printer in which the printing error occurred, is selected. Control is performed such as selecting another printer according to the same selection condition as the selected selection condition and executing printing.

Next, remote printing processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Following the processing of steps 401 to 409 in FIG. 5, print status information is received from the printer that sent the print data (step S501). Then, the received print status information is searched to determine whether or not there is a print error (step S502). If there is no print error, the identification information of the printer that has performed the printing is notified to the sender of the e-mail ( Step S508), the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a print error, the received print status information is further searched (step S50).
3) It is determined whether or not reprinting is possible by the printer causing the printing error (step S50).
4).

As a result, if reprinting is possible with the printer that caused the printing error, the flow advances to step S507. On the other hand, if reprinting is not possible, another printer according to the same selection condition is searched in the printer registration table T2 (step S505), and whether another printer according to the same selection condition is registered or not. Is determined (step S506). As a result, if another printer has not been registered, the process ends. On the other hand, if another printer is registered, the print data is sent to that printer (step S507). If it is determined in step S504 that reprinting is possible by the printer that caused the printing error, in step S507,
The print data is sent again to the printer that caused the print error.

By returning to step S501, for example, if a printing error occurs in the second or third selected printer, the fourth and subsequent printers having the same selection conditions are automatically selected. , Remote printing is executed. Therefore, the sender of the e-mail
Even without specifying a printer, it is possible to reliably perform remote printing of e-mail (print data) by an appropriate printer.

[Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment,
As in the first and second embodiments, the mail server MS does not have the printer selection function and the printer status acquisition / reprint function in the client computer PC.

That is, although not shown in the third embodiment, the e-mail system 100 (including the printer selection table T shown in FIG. 4) shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. I have. In addition, the client
The computer PC includes a printer selection unit 106 and a printer status acquisition unit 2 from among the components of the e-mail system 100 shown in FIG. 2 or FIG.
00 and the reprinting unit 201 are excluded.

In the third embodiment, when performing remote printing, the client computer PC, which is the source of the e-mail, sends the e-mail to be remotely printed to the mail server MS by adding a print command. Send. Then, on the mail server MS side, by executing the processing shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7, a printer suitable for the transmission source of the e-mail is selected, and the e-mail is transferred to the printer and printed.

As described above, in the third embodiment, when a print command is added to an e-mail, the mail server MS selects an appropriate printer as a source of the e-mail, and sends the e-mail to the e-mail. By directly transferring the mail and printing it, the mail functions as a print server. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the overall data transfer amount on the network N.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when a plurality of printers meeting the same selection conditions are registered, the printers are sequentially selected from those having the highest performance. Then, without sending print data each time, the current status of printers meeting the same selection conditions is queried at once, and a non-busy printer is selected first, and a plurality of non-busy printers are selected. If there is, by selecting the printer with the highest performance among them and sending print data to this printer, it is possible to reduce the number of times print data is sent and to improve processing efficiency.

If the print command is added to the e-mail without regularly accessing the e-mail from the e-mail system (client computer), the mail server actively sends the e-mail. The mail server may transfer the e-mail to the destination, or notify the destination of the arrival of the e-mail to be remotely printed. Further, the sender can add the printer selection condition to the electronic mail on the sender.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a remote printing control device for performing remote printing using an e-mail system, a selection unit for selecting a printing device for printing the received e-mail, and transferring the e-mail to the printing device selected by the selection unit And a transfer unit for performing the remote printing using the e-mail system, it is possible to automatically select an appropriate printing device and perform printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a remote printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mail server and a client computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer selection table.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating remote printing processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an electronic mail system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a remote printing process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: E-mail system, 101: Network interface unit, 102: Mail transfer unit, 103:
E-mail user interface unit, 104: data analysis unit, 105: raster image data generation unit, 106
... Printer selection unit, 200 ... Printer status acquisition unit, 20
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reprint part, 301 ... ROM, 302 ... Main memory, 303 ... CPU, 304 ... Network interface, 306 ... Hard disk device, N ... Network, NP ... Network printer, MS ... Mail server, MB ... Mail box, PC ... Client computer, T: printer selection table, T1: selection condition table, T2: printer registration table.

Claims (60)

[Claims] 1. A remote printing control device for performing remote printing using an e-mail system, comprising: a selection unit for selecting a printing device for printing a received e-mail; and a printing device selected by the selection unit. And a transfer means for transferring the e-mail. 2. The remote printing control device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a printing device based on information on a source of an electronic mail. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection unit selects a printing apparatus based on transmission source information of the electronic mail and selection conditions registered corresponding to the transmission source information.
A remote printing control device as described. 4. The remote printing control device according to claim 3, wherein said selection means selects a printing device based on a distance from a source of the electronic mail as a selection condition. 5. The remote printing control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selecting means selects a printing apparatus on condition that the printing apparatus is located on the same floor as the source of the e-mail. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit selects a printing apparatus based on transmission source information of the e-mail and printing accuracy registered in correspondence with the transmission source information. Remote print controller. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit selects the printing apparatus using the source information of the electronic mail and the printing speed registered corresponding to the source information as a selection condition. Remote print controller. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects the printing device specified by the specification information when the received electronic mail includes printing device designation information. A remote printing control device as described. 9. The remote print control device according to claim 1, wherein said transfer unit rasterizes and transfers the received e-mail to the printing device selected by said selection unit. 10. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether the electronic mail transferred by the transfer unit has been normally printed by the transfer destination printing apparatus. 2. If it is determined that there is no printing device, another printing device is selected.
10. The remote print control device according to any one of claims 9 to 9. 11. A notifying unit for notifying a sender of an e-mail of identification information of a printing apparatus that has successfully printed when it is determined by the determining unit that the printing has been normally performed. Item 11. The remote print control device according to Item 10. 12. The remote printing control device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a printing device based on a selection condition added to the received e-mail. 13. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selecting unit selects a printing apparatus for printing the received e-mail from a plurality of printing apparatuses including at least a multifunction apparatus having a printing function as well as a printing apparatus. 13. The remote printing control device according to claim 1, wherein 14. The remote print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an access unit for periodically accessing an electronic mail addressed to the mail server to the mail server. 15. A mail server for actively transferring an electronic mail to a destination when print instruction information is added to the electronic mail, or notifying the destination of the arrival of the electronic mail. 14. The remote print control device according to any one of claims 13 to 13. 16. A remote printing control method for performing remote printing using an electronic mail system, comprising: a selecting step of selecting a printing apparatus for printing a received e-mail; and a printing apparatus selected by the selecting step. And a transfer step of transferring an e-mail. 17. The remote printing control method according to claim 16, wherein said selecting step selects a printing device based on information on a source of an electronic mail. 18. The printing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said selecting step selects a printing apparatus based on source information of the electronic mail and a selection condition registered corresponding to the source information. Remote printing control method. 19. The remote printing control method according to claim 18, wherein said selecting step selects a printing device using a distance from an electronic mail source as a selection condition. 20. The remote printing control method according to claim 19, wherein the selecting step selects a printing apparatus on condition that the printing apparatus is located on the same floor as the source of the e-mail. 21. The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the selecting step selects a printing apparatus using, as a selection condition, transmission source information of the electronic mail and printing accuracy registered corresponding to the transmission source information. Remote printing control method. 22. The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the selecting step selects a printing apparatus using source information of the electronic mail and a printing speed registered corresponding to the source information as a selection condition. Remote printing control method. 23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the selecting step selects a printing apparatus specified by the specifying information when the specified information is added to the received e-mail. The remote printing control method described in the above. 24. The transfer step according to claim 16, wherein the received electronic mail is rasterized and transferred to the printing apparatus selected in the selecting step.
3. The remote printing control method according to 3. 25. A discriminating step of judging whether or not the e-mail transferred in the transferring step has been normally printed by a transfer destination printing device, and the selecting step includes a step of judging whether the electronic mail is normally printed by the discriminating step. 25. The remote printing control method according to claim 16, wherein when it is determined that there is no printing device, another printing device is selected. 26. A notifying step of notifying a sender of an e-mail of identification information of a printing apparatus that has successfully printed when it is determined in the determining step that printing has been normally performed. Item 30. The remote print control method according to Item 25. 27. The remote printing control method according to claim 16, wherein said selecting step selects a printing device based on a selection condition added to the received e-mail. 28. The selecting step includes selecting a printing device for printing the received e-mail from a plurality of printing devices including at least a multifunction device having a printing function as well as a printing-only device. 28. The remote printing control method according to claim 16, wherein: 29. The remote print control method according to claim 16, further comprising an access step for periodically accessing an electronic mail addressed to the mail server to the mail server. 30. A mail server for actively transferring an electronic mail to a destination when print instruction information is added to the electronic mail, or notifying the destination of the arrival of the electronic mail. 29. The remote print control method according to any one of claims to 28. 31. A remote printing control system for performing remote printing using an e-mail system, comprising: a selection unit for selecting a printing device for printing the received e-mail; A remote printing control system, comprising: transfer means for transferring an e-mail. 32. The remote printing control system according to claim 31, wherein said selecting means selects a printing device based on information on a source of an electronic mail. 33. The printing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the selection unit selects a printing apparatus based on transmission source information of the electronic mail and selection conditions registered corresponding to the transmission source information. Remote print control system. 34. The remote printing control system according to claim 33, wherein said selecting means selects a printing apparatus based on a distance from a source of the electronic mail as a selection condition. 35. The remote printing control system according to claim 34, wherein said selecting means selects a printing apparatus on condition that the printing apparatus is located on the same floor as the source of the e-mail. 36. The printing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the selection unit selects the printing apparatus using the source information of the electronic mail and the printing accuracy registered corresponding to the source information as a selection condition. Remote print control system. 37. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the selection unit selects a printing apparatus using the source information of the electronic mail and the printing speed registered corresponding to the source information as a selection condition. Remote print control system. 38. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the selection unit selects the printing device designated by the designation information when the designation information of the printing device is added to the received e-mail. A remote print control system as described. 39. The transfer device according to claim 31, wherein the transfer unit rasterizes and transfers the received e-mail to the printing apparatus selected by the selection unit.
9. The remote print control system according to item 8. 40. A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the e-mail transferred by the transfer unit has been normally printed by a transfer destination printing device, wherein the selecting unit has been normally printed by the discriminating unit. 40. The remote printing control system according to claim 31, wherein when it is determined that there is no printing device, another printing device is selected. 41. A notifying means for notifying a sender of an e-mail of identification information of a printing apparatus which has normally printed when the discriminating means determines that printing has been normally performed. Item 41. The remote print control system according to Item 40. 42. The remote printing control system according to claim 31, wherein said selecting means selects a printing device based on a selection condition added to the received e-mail. 43. A printing apparatus for printing a received e-mail from a plurality of printing apparatuses including at least a multi-function apparatus having a printing function, as well as a printing-only apparatus. 43. The remote printing control system according to claim 31. 44. The remote printing control system according to claim 31, further comprising access means for periodically accessing an electronic mail addressed to the mail server to the mail server. 45. An electronic mail server having a mail server for actively transferring an electronic mail to a destination when print instruction information is added to the electronic mail, or notifying the destination of the arrival of the electronic mail. 44. The remote print control system according to any one of items 43 to 43. 46. A storage medium storing a program for performing remote printing using an e-mail system, the program comprising: a selection routine for selecting a printing device for printing a received e-mail; A transfer routine for transferring an e-mail to the printing device selected by the selection routine. 47. The storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said selection routine selects a printing device based on information on a source of an electronic mail. 48. The printing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the selection routine selects a printing apparatus based on source information of the electronic mail and selection conditions registered corresponding to the source information. Storage medium. 49. The storage medium according to claim 48, wherein said selection routine selects a printing apparatus based on a distance from an electronic mail source as a selection condition. 50. The storage medium according to claim 49, wherein said selection routine selects a printing apparatus on condition that the printing apparatus is located on the same floor as the source of the e-mail. 51. The selection routine according to claim 48, wherein the selection routine selects the printing device using the source information of the e-mail and the printing accuracy registered corresponding to the source information as a selection condition. Storage medium. 52. The selection routine according to claim 48, wherein the selection routine selects the printing device using the transmission source information of the e-mail and the printing speed registered corresponding to the transmission source information as a selection condition. Storage medium. 53. The selection routine according to claim 46, wherein when the received e-mail includes printing device designation information, the printing device designated by the designation information is selected. The storage medium according to the above. 54. The storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said transfer routine rasterizes and transfers the received e-mail to the printing device selected by said selection routine. 55. A discriminating routine for discriminating whether or not the electronic mail transferred by the transfer routine has been normally printed by the transfer destination printer, and the selection routine is normally printed by the discriminating routine. 55. The storage medium according to claim 46, wherein when it is determined that there is no printing device, another printing device is selected. 56. A notifying routine for notifying a sender of an e-mail of identification information of a printing apparatus that has successfully performed printing when it is determined by the determining routine that printing has been normally performed. Item 55. The storage medium according to Item 55. 57. The storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said selection routine selects a printing device based on a selection condition added to the received e-mail. 58. The selecting routine selects a printing device that prints the received e-mail from a plurality of printing devices including at least a multifunction device having a printing function as well as a printing-only device. Claims 46-57
The storage medium according to the above. 59. The storage medium according to claim 46, further comprising an access routine for periodically accessing an e-mail addressed to the mail server to the mail server. 60. A mail server for actively transferring an electronic mail to a destination when print instruction information is added to the electronic mail, or notifying the destination of the arrival of the electronic mail. 59. The storage medium according to any one of claims 58 to 58.