JP2004259129A - Online document generation server device, online document generation method and online document generation program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To meet the convenience of a client user requesting generation of a business form. <P>SOLUTION: When the user operates a button on a business screen displayed on a window W1, a Web browser of a client device 4 transmits a business form generation request M104 to a server device 10 and simultaneously opens a new window W2 according to a direction written on a business screen M102 transmitted from the server device 10. The Web browser of the client device 4 performs polling M109 for confirming the business form generation state from the window W2 until the business form generation is completed according to the directions M106, M108 sent from the server device 10. Meanwhile, the client user continuing the business processing using the window W1 is let to know the completion of business form generation by a notice M110 sent to the window W2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【００５０】
そして、サーバ装置１０が帳票生成要求Ｍ１０４を受信すると（Ｓ１０１，Ｓ１０２，Ｓ１０４）、帳票生成部２４は、帳票生成要求Ｍ１０４に応じて電子帳票の生成を開始する（Ｓ１０５）。そして、生成状態通知部２６は、帳票生成状態ポーリング画面へのリダイレクト指示を含む応答Ｍ１０６をクライアント装置４へ送信する（Ｓ１０６）。このリダイレクト指示を含む応答Ｍ１０６を送信するのは、図８に例示したようにウィンドウＷ２のＵＲＬ指定欄Ｆ１には、帳票生成要求用のＵＲＬ（図８における例では“ｈｔｔｐ：／／ｒｅｐｏｒｔ．ｉｎｔｒａ／ｒｅｑｕｅｓｔ．ｈｔｍｌ？ｉｎｖｏｉｃｅ＝１２３４”）が設定されているので、ＵＲＬを変更して帳票生成状態に関する情報を表示させる画面、すなわち上記帳票生成状態ポーリング画面を表示させるためである。
【００５１】
応答Ｍ１０６を受信したクライアント装置４は、応答Ｍ１０６に含まれている指示に従い帳票生成状態要求Ｍ１０７を送信する。ここで、応答Ｍ１０６に含まれている指示について説明すると、応答Ｍ１０６には、指定された時間でクライアント装置４が画面を更新する（すなわち帳票生成状態要求を再送信する）指示が記述されている。以下は、クライアント装置４に１５秒間隔で画面を更新する指示の記述例である。
＜ｍｅｔａ ｈｔｔｐ−ｅｑｕｉｖ＝”ｒｅｆｒｅｓｈ” ｃｏｎｔｅｎｔ＝”１５”＞
【００５２】
これにより、クライアント装置４は、帳票生成状態要求Ｍ１０７を送信し、また、その送信後、後述する帳票参照画面Ｍ１１０が送信されてくるまでの間、ポーリングＭ１０９を繰り返し行うことになる。
【００５３】
帳票生成状態要求Ｍ１０７が送信されてくると、サーバ装置１０の生成状態通知部２６は、帳票の生成が完了していなければ帳票生成状態ポーリング画面Ｍ１０８をクライアント装置４へ送信する（Ｓ１０７〜Ｓ１０９）。この帳票生成状態ポーリング画面Ｍ１０８には、現時点における電子帳票の生成状態に関する情報と、応答Ｍ１０６のときと同様にウィンドウＷ２に表示している画面を更新させるためのポーリング指示（すなわち、ポーリングＭ１０９を送信させる指示）が記述されている。生成要求した帳票の生成状況が表示される帳票生成状態ポーリング画面Ｍ１０８の表示例を図９に示す。図９に示したように、帳票状態ポーリング画面は要求元であるところのクライアント装置４の新たに開かれたウィンドウＷ２に表示される。
【００５４】
ところで、本実施の形態においては、前述したようにクライアント装置４からポーリングを自動発信させるようにしているが、本実施の形態では、更に図９に示したように更新ボタンＦ３を設けてユーザが任意のタイミングで生成状況を知ることができる機能を設けている。すなわち、帳票生成状態ポーリング画面Ｍ１０８のＨＴＭＬファイルには、クライアントユーザが更新ボタンＦ３をマウスで選択すると帳票生成状態要求Ｍ１０７が再度送信されるような指示が含まれている。これにより、サーバ装置１０から最新の帳票生成状態が応答されてくる。
【００５５】
サーバ装置１０は、帳票生成状態要求Ｍ１０７が送信されてきたとき帳票生成部２４により生成処理が完了していることを確認すると、参照画面送信部２８に帳票参照画面Ｍ１１０を送信させる（Ｓ１１８，Ｓ１１０）。ウィンドウＷ２に表示される帳票参照画面の例を図１０に示す。この例では、画面中に生成された帳票へのハイパーリンクＦ４が含まれている。なお、帳票参照画面Ｍ１１０には、クライアント装置４が画面を更新するポーリング指示を含めない。
【００５６】
クライアントユーザが帳票へのハイパーリンクＦ４をマウスで選択すると、クライアント装置４からサーバ装置１０に帳票送信要求Ｍ１１１が送信される。サーバ装置１０は、帳票送信要求Ｍ１１１を受信すると、帳票送信部３０に指示された帳票データを送信させる（Ｓ１１１，Ｓ１１２）。クライアント装置４が受信した帳票データがウィンドウＷ２に表示されたときの表示例を図１１に示す。なお、受信した帳票データが何らかのアプリケーション、例えば富士ゼロックス社製のＤｏｃｕＷｏｒｋｓの形式で生成されているときには、ＤｏｃｕＷｏｒｋｓの表示ソフトウェアが起動されて（Ｍ１１３）、その帳票データが表示される（Ｍ１１４）。その後、クライアントユーザは、表示ソフトウェア等のプリント機能を用いて表示されている帳票をプリンタ装置６に出力する（Ｍ１１５）。
【００５７】
本実施の形態によれば、以上のようにクライアント装置４に帳票生成状態を知るためのポーリングを発信させるようにし、そして、帳票の生成が完了したときには帳票参照画面を送信するようにしたので、クライアントユーザは、帳票生成の完了を知るための操作を何もしなくてすむ。特に、本実施の形態においては、クライアントユーザが対応していたウィンドウＷ１とは別に新たなウィンドＷ２を開き、そのウィンドウＷ２に帳票生成状態を表示させ、また、帳票生成の完了を通知するようにした。すなわち、ウィンドウＷ１に対して帳票生成状態及び生成の完了を通知するようにしたならば、帳票の生成が完了するまでの間ウィンドウＷ１は、帳票生成処理の終了を長時間待たされたり、あるいはＷｅｂブラウザがタイムアウトエラーとなってしまうところを、本実施の形態においては、サーバ装置１０主導のもと新たなウィンドウＷ２を開き、ウィンドウＷ１を解放するようにしたので、クライアントユーザは、帳票生成の完了を待つことなくウィンドウＷ１において帳票生成要求送信前に行っていた処理を継続して行うことができる。
【００５８】
なお、本実施の形態においては、新たなウィンドウＷ２を開かせる指示を、要求画面送信部２２が送信する業務画面（帳票生成要求画面）Ｍ１０２に含めるようにしたが、帳票生成要求がウィンドウＷ１を占有する時間が多少長くなるものの生成状態通知部２６が送信する応答Ｍ１０６若しくは帳票生成状態ポーリング画面Ｍ１０８に含めるようにしてもよい。これは、例えば、ＪａｖａＳｃｉｐｒｔ等を用いて、ウィンドウを新たに生成するための記述を帳票状態ポーリング画面に含めることにより実現できる。
【００５９】
また、上記説明では、帳票の生成が完了したときに帳票参照画面Ｍ１１０を送信し表示させるようにしたが、帳票参照画面Ｍ１１０を表示せずに帳票を直接送信するようにしてもよい。すなわち、図４におけるシーケンスＭ１１０〜Ｍ１１１を省略してもよい。
【００６０】
また、クライアント装置４では、帳票データを受信した際に、その帳票データを表示する手順で説明したが、表示させることなくプリンタ装置６にそのままリダイレクトするようなソフトウェアをクライアント装置４に組み込んでおいてもよい。
【００６１】
また、サーバ装置１０を複数台のサーバ装置で構成するようにしてもよい。例えば、ＷｅｂブラウザのウィンドウＷ１と通信するサーバ装置と、ウィンドウＷ２と通信するサーバ装置とを別の装置としてもよい。
【００６２】
実施の形態２．
上記実施の形態１においては、生成した電子帳票データを、帳票生成要求を発したウィンドウＷ１とは別のウィンドウＷ２に送信するように動作した。本実施の形態では、電子メールを利用して電子帳票データを送信するようにしたことを特徴としている。
【００６３】
図１２は、本発明に係るオンライン帳票生成サーバ装置の実施の形態２を利用したオンライン業務システムの全体構成図である。本実施の形態におけるオンライン業務システムは、サーバ装置１０、ユーザ認証を行うと共にメールアドレス等のユーザ情報を保持している認証サーバ装置３２、メールサーバ装置３４、クライアント装置４及びプリンタ装置６をネットワーク接続することで構築される。サーバ装置１０の基本的な構成及び作用は、実施の形態１と同様であるが、本実施の形態において特徴とする構成等は追って詳述する。また、クライアント装置４には、Ｗｅｂブラウザに加えて電子メーラが必要になる。プリンタ装置６は実施の形態１と同じでよい。
【００６４】
以上の構成において、クライアント装置４は、要求電文（ＨＴＴＰコマンド）をサーバ装置１０に送信する。サーバ装置１０は、受信した要求電文に含まれているクライアント装置４又はクライアントユーザの識別情報等の帳票生成要求元を識別可能な情報に基づいてクライアントユーザの認証情報並びに電子メールアドレスを認証サーバ装置３２に照会する。そして、サーバ装置１０は、メールサーバ装置３４を経由して電子メールをクライアント装置４へ送信する。クライアント装置４は、プリントプロトコルの電文によりプリンタ装置６に印刷要求する。
【００６５】
本実施の形態を説明するためには、図１２に示したように、各装置を１台ずつ設ければよいので、図１２には便宜的に１台ずつ示した。もちろん、複数台をネットワークに接続するようにしてもよい。例えば、ネットワークの構成等によっては、複数台のメールサーバ装置３４が必要になり、サーバ装置１０は、複数台のメールサーバ装置３４を経由して電子メールをクライアント装置４へ送信するかもしれない。また、ユーザの認証情報と電子メールアドレスとを異なる認証サーバ装置により管理するようにしてもよい。以降の実施の形態においても同様にシステム構成を適宜変更可能である。
【００６６】
図１３は、本実施の形態におけるサーバ装置１０のブロック構成図である。図１３には、要求画面送信部２２、帳票生成部２４、メール送信部３６及び送信先取得部３８が示されている。メール送信部３６は、帳票生成部２４による電子帳票の生成が完了したときに、生成が完了した電子帳票を電子メールにて送信する。送信先取得部３８は、メール送信部３６が送信する電子メールの送信先を認証サーバ装置３２に問い合わせることにより取得する。
【００６７】
次に、本実施の形態においてクライアント装置４が帳票生成の依頼をサーバ装置１０に発してから帳票がプリンタ装置６から出力されるまでの処理の流れを、図１４に示したシーケンス図と図１５に示したサーバ装置１０における処理のフローチャートを用いて説明する。
【００６８】
サーバ装置１０は、ネットワーク経由で電文の受信を示す事象を検知した場合、受信した要求電文を読み出す（Ｓ２０１，Ｓ２０２）。ここで、要求電文中にユーザの認証情報（Ｃｒｅｄｅｎｔｉａｌ）が付加されていない場合、未承認（Ｕｎａｕｔｈｏｒｉｚｅｄ）エラーＭ２０２を応答する（Ｓ２０３，Ｓ２０４）。ＨＴＴＰプロトコルでは、Ａｕｔｈｏｒｉｚａｔｉｏｎヘッダに認証情報が示される。また、未承認応答を受信したクライアント装置４のＷｅｂブラウザは、ユーザ名とパスワードを入力するダイアログを表示し、ユーザにユーザ名とパスワードの入力を促す。クライアント装置４は、ユーザによってユーザ名とパスワードが入力されると（Ｍ２０３）、認証情報を生成し、生成された認証情報を付加して要求Ｍ２０４をサーバ装置１０へ再送信する。
【００６９】
サーバ装置１０は、ネットワーク経由で送られてきた要求電文に認証情報が付加されている場合、付加された認証情報を検証する（Ｓ２０１〜Ｓ２０３，Ｓ２０５）。すなわち、サーバ装置１０は、要求電文に付加されていた認証情報を認証サーバ装置３２へ送信し、検証結果を受信することで認証情報を検証する。
【００７０】
認証結果が不可であれば、未承認エラーＭ２０２を応答するが、ＯＫの場合であって要求の内容が業務画面の送信要求である場合、要求画面送信部２２は、帳票生成要求画面として業務画面Ｍ２０６を送信する（Ｓ２０６〜Ｓ２０８）。また、要求の内容が帳票生成要求であった場合、帳票生成部２４は、電子帳票を生成を開始する（Ｓ２０７，Ｓ２０９，Ｓ２１０）。このとき、帳票生成部２４は、帳票生成ジョブのジョブＩＤ等に対応付けてユーザの認証情報を一時記憶しておく（Ｓ２１０）。生成した電子帳票とその要求元のユーザとの対応関係を維持するためである。なお、クライアント装置４が業務画面Ｍ２０６を受信し、また、帳票生成要求Ｍ２０７を送信する処理は、実施の形態１における業務画面Ｍ１０２、帳票生成要求Ｍ１０４の送信と同じなので説明を省略する。
【００７１】
帳票生成処理が正常に開始されると、サーバ装置１０は、帳票生成要求受理応答Ｍ２１０をクライアント装置４へ送信する（Ｓ２１１）。帳票生成要求受理応答Ｍ２１０を受信することにより、クライアントユーザは、帳票生成要求が受理されたことを認識すると、この後は電子メールにて帳票が送られてくるまでウィンドウＷ１で継続中の業務を行うことになる。
【００７２】
サーバ装置１０の内部で事象が検知された場合であって（Ｓ２０１，Ｓ２１３）、その内部事象が帳票生成完了の事象である場合（Ｓ２１４）、送信先取得部３８は、帳票生成ジョブに関連付けて記憶されたユーザの認証情報をもとに認証サーバ装置３２に問い合わせることにより、生成した帳票の送信先とする電子メールアドレスを取得する（Ｓ２１５）。そして、メール送信部３６は、電子帳票データを添付した電子メールＭ２１２を電子メールサーバ装置３４経由でその宛先へ送信する（Ｓ２１６）。その後、クライアントユーザは、帳票ビューワを起動し（Ｍ２１３）、電子メールとして送られてきた、あるいは電子メールの添付ファイルである電子帳票データを表示し（Ｍ２１４）、そして帳票ビューワ等の印刷機能を用いてプリンタ装置６に出力する（Ｍ２１５，Ｍ２１６）。なお、帳票ビューワを用いることなく電子メールの印刷機能を用いて帳票出力を行うようにしてもよい。
【００７３】
本実施の形態によれば、以上のように生成した帳票を電子メールによって自動配信するようにしたので、ユーザは帳票の生成完了を待つことなく別の業務を継続することができる。また、クライアントユーザの電子メールアドレスは、ユーザの認証情報に基づき自動的に取得するようにしたので、ユーザが認証情報を明示的に入力する必要がない。このように、帳票を生成するためのユーザの操作性を大幅に向上させることができる。
【００７４】
なお、上記説明では、電子メールに帳票データを添付するようにしたが、帳票データを参照するための情報、例えばＵＲＬ等を電子メール中に記載するようにしてもよい。この場合、クライアント装置４では電子メーラを用いて参照情報から帳票データをダウンロードし、表示ソフトを起動して表示することが可能である。また、電子メールを印刷指示として受付け可能なプリンタ装置４でシステムを構成する場合は、クライアント装置４からプリンタ装置６に電子メールを転送するようにしてもよい。
【００７５】
また、上記における認証方式では、クライアント装置４においてクライアントユーザによって入力されたユーザ名とパスワードに基づき認証情報を生成し要求に付加する方法を示したが、その他の認証方式を用いてもよい。また、ＨＴＴＰ応答で未承認応答を返し、ブラウザがログインダイアグラムを表示する方法について述べたが、サーバ装置１０からログインの入力画面を送るようにしてもよい。また、ＨＴＴＰ要求のＡｕｔｈｏｒｉｚａｔｉｏｎヘッダに認証情報を付加する方法を示したが、クッキー等の他のＨＴＴＰヘッダやその他の方法で認証情報を送るようにしてもよい。また、以上の例では、要求の認証情報を毎回検証する方法を示したが、検証済である旨を示す情報をクッキーに書き込み次回以降はこのクッキーを検査する方法に代替してもよい。また、この検証済である旨を示すクッキーにタイムスタンプや有効期限を付加し、検証済であることの有効期間を制御するようにしてもよい。
【００７６】
また、上記説明においては、ユーザの認証情報から電子メールの宛先を取得する方法を示したが、帳票の送信先とする電子メールアドレスをユーザに入力させ、帳票生成要求時にサーバ装置１０へ送るようにしてもよい。
【００７７】
また、認証サーバ装置３２を用いて認証情報を検証する方法を示したが、サーバ装置１０にユーザ情報のデータベースを保持し、サーバ装置１０においてユーザ認証を行うようにしてもよい。更に、電子メールアドレスの取得に関しても認証サーバ装置３２に持たせる手段をサーバ装置１０に持たせてサーバ装置１０において行えるようにしてもよい。あるいは、別のサーバ装置を参照するようにしてもよい。
【００７８】
また、電子メールによって帳票生成結果を通知するように説明したが、その他の種々の事象を通知するようにしてもよい。例えば、帳票生成処理の待ち行列の長さ、進行状況、異常終了等を通知するようにしてもよい。このようなその他の情報を付加することは、帳票生成要求受理応答Ｍ２１０にも当てはまる。
【００７９】
また、本実施の形態においても実施の形態１と同様に業務画面Ｍ２０６を受信した後に新たなウィンドウＷ２を生成したり、帳票生成状態を通知するためにポーリングを行うようにしてもよい。すなわち、クライアントユーザは、一つの方法で帳票を取得できれば十分であるが、本実施の形態の電子帳票データを電子メールで送信する方法と、実施の形態１の特徴である新たに開いたウィンドウＷ２へ送信する方法とを組み合わせて実施するようにしてもよい。
【００８０】
実施の形態３．
上記各実施の形態においては、生成した電子帳票データをクライアント装置４へ返すようにした。本実施の形態においては、電子帳票データをサーバ装置からプリンタ装置へ直接送信し印刷するようにしたことを特徴としている。
【００８１】
図１６は、本発明に係るオンライン帳票生成サーバ装置の実施の形態３を利用したオンライン業務システムの全体構成図である。本実施の形態におけるオンライン業務システムは、サーバ装置１０、認証サーバ装置３２、メールサーバ装置３４、クライアント装置４及びプリンタ装置６をネットワーク接続することで構築される。システム構成は、実施の形態２と同じでよく、サーバ装置からプリンタ装置へ直接電子帳票データを送信するようにしたことに伴うサーバ装置１０等の処理内容が異なっている。但し、本実施の形態における認証サーバ装置３２は、ユーザ情報として、各ユーザの認証情報と電子メールアドレスに加えてユーザのアカウント情報のデータベースを有している。
【００８２】
以上の構成において、クライアント装置４は、要求電文（ＨＴＴＰコマンド）をサーバ装置１０に送信する。サーバ装置１０は、受信した要求電文に含まれているクライアント装置４又はクライアントユーザの識別情報等の帳票生成要求元を識別可能な情報に基づいてクライアントユーザの認証情報、印刷終了の通知先となる電子メールアドレス並びに実質的な帳票生成要求元であるユーザのアカウント情報を認証サーバ装置３２に照会する。そして、サーバ装置１０は、プリントプロトコルの電文によりプリンタ装置６に印刷要求を送信する。この印刷要求には、先に照会されたユーザのアカウント情報及び電子メールアドレスが付加されている。印刷が終了すると、プリンタ装置６は、メールサーバ装置３４を経由して印刷終了通知メールをクライアント装置４へ送信する。
【００８３】
図１７は、本実施の形態におけるサーバ装置１０のブロック構成図である。図１７には、要求画面送信部２２、帳票生成部２４、情報取得部４０、印刷部４２及び情報付加部４４が示されている。情報取得部４０は、クライアント装置４から送られてきたクライアントユーザの識別情報等の帳票生成要求元を識別可能な情報に基づいて認証サーバ装置３２に問い合わせることによって電子帳票の出力先となるプリンタ装置のアドレス、クライアントユーザの認証情報及びクライアントユーザのアカウント情報を取得する。印刷部４２は、情報取得部４０が取得したアドレスに対応したプリンタ装置へ直接、帳票生成部２４が生成した電子帳票の印刷要求を送信する。情報付加部４４は、印刷部４２が送信する印刷要求に、帳票生成要求元を識別可能な情報を付加する。
【００８４】
次に、本実施の形態においてクライアント装置４が帳票生成の依頼をサーバ装置１０に発してから帳票がプリンタ装置６から出力されクライアント装置４へ印刷終了が通知されるまでの処理の流れを、図１８に示したシーケンス図と図１９に示したサーバ装置１０における処理のフローチャートを用いて説明する。なお、図１９に示したフローチャートのＳ３０１〜Ｓ３１４は、実施の形態２で説明した図１５におけるＳ２０１〜Ｓ２１４と明らかに同じ処理なので説明を省略する。以下では、帳票の生成が完了したと判断されたとき以降の処理について説明する。
【００８５】
帳票生成部２４による帳票生成が完了すると（Ｓ３１４）、情報取得部４０は、Ｓ３０５において認証済みのユーザ認証情報に基づいてユーザが使用するプリンタ装置６のアドレスを認証サーバ装置３２から取得する（Ｓ３１５）。ユーザが使用するプリンタ装置６というのは、認証サーバ装置３２によりユーザの個人情報に対応付けられて管理されているプリンタ装置である。また、情報取得部４０は、これと同時に印刷が終了したことを帳票生成要求をしたユーザへ通知するための電子メールアドレスを取得する（Ｓ３１６）。更に、プリンタ装置６を使用する際のアカウント情報を取得する（Ｓ３１７）。そして、印刷部４２は、情報取得部４０が取得したアドレスに対応するプリンタ装置６に対して、帳票生成部２４が生成した電子帳票の印刷要求Ｍ３１２を送信する（Ｓ３１８）。このとき、送信される印刷要求Ｍ３１２には、情報取得部４０により取得された通知先メールアドレス及び及びユーザのアカウント情報が情報付加部４４によって付加される。
【００８６】
プリンタ装置６は、サーバ装置１０から送られてきた印刷要求に応じて印刷を実行する（Ｍ３１３）。このとき、プリンタ装置６は、印刷要求に付加されたユーザのアカウント情報を確認し、そのアカウント情報を印刷要求元として印刷を実行することになる。そして、印刷が終了すると、プリンタ装置６は、印刷要求に付加された通知先メールアドレスを宛先として印刷終了を通知する（Ｍ３１４）。
【００８７】
以上のように、本実施の形態によれば、クライアントユーザは帳票印刷の結果を待たずに別の業務をウィンドウＷ１にて継続可能となるので、帳票印刷するためのユーザの操作性が大幅に向上する。また、サーバ装置１０からプリンタ装置６へ印刷要求が直接送信される状況下であっても、クライアント装置６のユーザのアカウントで印刷要求を行うことができるので、ユーザのアカウントに基づくプリンタ装置６のアクセス権制御が可能となる。また、プリンタ装置６の利用状況や課金等の利用統計も可能となる。
【００８８】
なお、以上の処理から明らかなように、本実施の形態においては、ユーザの認証情報、印刷終了の通知先メールアドレス及びユーザのアカウント情報の各データベースを認証サーバ装置３２に持たせ、サーバ装置１０は、認証サーバ装置３２からユーザの認証情報に基づきユーザ認証及び情報の取得をするようにしたが、これらのうち少なくとも一つをサーバ装置１０に持たせてサーバ装置１０において必要な情報が取得できるように構成してもよい。
【００８９】
また、本実施の形態においては、各情報を取得するために用いるユーザの認証情報というのは、ユーザ名、ユーザ名とパスワードの組、Ｘ．５０９証明書等、セキュリティ技術として知られる種々の認証情報が利用可能である。また、各情報を取得するためにユーザの認証情報ではなくクライアント装置４の認証情報を用いるようにしてもよい。
【００９０】
また、本実施の形態では、プリンタ装置６のアドレス取得の一手法としてユーザとプリンタ装置６のアドレスとを対応付けて認証サーバ装置３２に保持させるようにしたが、アドレス取得の方法は、これに限定されるものではない。例えば、ユーザが所属する組織から対応するプリンタ装置６が選択されるようにしてもよいし、ユーザの勤務場所から対応するプリンタ装置６が選択されるようにしてもよい。あるいは、クライアント装置６から帳票生成要求時等に明示的に指定させるようにしてもよい。また、ユーザのアカウント情報等も同様に帳票生成要求時等にクライアントユーザに指定させるようにしてもよい。
【００９１】
また、以上の例では、プリンタ装置６のアドレス、通知先メールアドレス、プリンタ装置６へ送信するアカウント情報を取得する場合を例示したが、それ以外の情報を取得可能としてもよい。例えば、プリンタ装置６に印刷要求する際に用いられる通信プロトコルや、通知するための通信プロトコルを取得するようにしてもよい。
【００９２】
また、本実施の形態では、プリンタ装置６に印刷結果をユーザに通知するように説明したが、プリンタ装置６へ送信する印刷要求に、プリンタ装置６が電子帳票の印刷の際に発生した事象を当該クライアント装置４へ通知させる指示を情報付加部４４に付加させるようにしてもよい。これにより、プリンタ装置６は、サーバ装置１０からの指示に応じて印刷開始、印刷中の用紙切れ等の事象を当該クライアント装置４へ通知することになる。なお、クライアント装置４には、その発生した事象の内容に応じて単独で通知されたり、印刷結果と共に通知されたりする。また、これらのどの事象を通知するかという設定を、ユーザの認証情報から取得可能なようにしておいてもよい。また、プリンタ装置６の管理者等への通知を行わせる指示も併せて設定してもよい。また、電子メール以外の通信プロトコルを用いて通知するようにしてもよい。この場合、通知の宛先が、ユーザが保有する電子メールアドレスではなく、クライアント装置等の装置アドレスとなる場合もある。また、本実施の形態では、印刷終了をプリンタ装置６からクライアントユーザへ直接通知するようにしたが、サーバ装置１０がプリンタ装置６での印刷状況をモニタすることによりサーバ装置１０からクライアントユーザへ印刷出力完了を通知するようにしてもよい。
【００９３】
また、サーバ装置１０がプリンタ装置６に印刷要求を送信する際に（Ｓ３１８）、ユーザの印字開始指示を受け付けるまで印字を開始せず、電子帳票データのまま、または、電子帳票データを画像展開後、データを保持するような指示を付加するようにしてもよい（以降、このような印刷方法を「親展プリント」と称する）。この場合、プリンタ装置６は、ユーザからの指示が送られてきてはじめて印刷を開始することになる。上記説明したように、印刷終了をクライアントユーザに通知することで出力帳票がプリンタ装置６に放置されることによる機密管理上の問題を改善することができる。親展プリントを可能とすることにより、ユーザがプリンタ装置６まで帳票を取りに行けるタイミングで印刷を開始させることができるので、機密管理上の問題をより一層改善することができる。なお、印刷要求には、ユーザのアカウント情報が付加されているので、プリンタ装置６は、待機中の印刷要求元となるユーザと印刷開始指示をしたユーザとを対応付けることができる。また、帳票、帳票種別、帳票の機密レベル等に応じて親展プリントを使用するか否かを定義できるような構成を付加するようにしてもよい。
【００９４】
また、本実施の形態では、１台のプリンタ装置６のアドレスを取得する例で説明したが、代替となるプリンタ装置を取得できるようにしてもよい。この場合、プリンタ装置６がダウンしている場合、ジョブの待ち行列が長い場合などに代替プリンタを選択できるようにするなどが可能である。また、種々の条件に応じてプリンタ装置を選択できるようにしてもよい。例えば、帳票や帳票の種別に応じて使用するプリンタ装置を切替えられるようにしてもよいし、時間帯に応じてプリンタ装置を切替えられるようにしてもよい。さらに、帳票や帳票の属性に応じて、プリンタ装置を選択するようにしてもよい。ここでの帳票の属性は、用紙サイズやカラー、解像度等の属性である。
【００９５】
実施の形態４．
本実施の形態は、上記実施の形態３と同様に電子帳票データをサーバ装置からプリンタ装置へ直接送信し印刷するようにしたものである。本実施の形態におけるオンライン帳票生成サーバ装置を利用したオンライン業務システムの全体構成は、実施の形態３（図１６）と同じでよい。
【００９６】
図２０は、本実施の形態におけるサーバ装置１０のブロック構成図であり、図から明らかなように、実施の形態３の構成に情報更新部４６を付加した構成を有している。各クライアントユーザは、帳票生成要求をサーバ装置に送信することによって電子帳票を生成させその印刷結果を取得することになるが、この電子帳票が印刷される際に必要な印刷関連情報としては、ユーザの認証情報、電子メールアドレス、ユーザのアカウント情報があり、これらの情報は認証サーバ装置に保持されていた。もちろん、これらの情報はサーバ装置において保持されていてもよいが、情報更新部４６は、これらの情報をユーザの認証情報に合致するクライアントに更新させる機能を有している。なお、図２０では、同じ情報を扱うことから情報取得部４０と情報更新部４６を含む情報管理部４８として表した。
【００９７】
次に、本実施の形態における動作について説明するが、クライアント装置４が帳票生成の依頼をサーバ装置１０に発してから帳票を取得するまでの基本的な処理の流れは、実施の形態３と同じでよいため省略し、ここでは、本実施の形態の特徴とする印刷関連情報設定処理について図２１に示したフローチャートを用いて説明する。なお、図２１に示したフローチャートのＳ４０１〜Ｓ４０６は、実施の形態２で説明した図１９におけるＳ３０１〜Ｓ３０６と明らかに同じ処理なので説明を省略する。以下では、ユーザ認証後以降の処理について説明する。
【００９８】
ユーザ認証後（Ｓ４０６）、クライアント装置４から送られてきた要求が印刷関連情報設定画面の送信要求であった場合（Ｓ４０７）、既設定の印刷関連情報を取得する（Ｓ４０８）。なお、クライアント装置４から送られてきた要求の内容判別を行う処理（Ｓ４０７，図１９のＳ３０７，図１５のＳ２０７）を併合することにより、本実施の形態における処理は、実施の形態３あるいは実施の形態２にも容易に結合することができる。
【００９９】
情報管理部４８は、印刷関連情報設定画面の送信要求に付加されていた認証情報に基づき既設定の当該クライアントユーザに対応する印刷関連情報を認証サーバ装置から取得する（Ｓ４０８）。そして、取得した既設定の印刷関連情報を埋め込んだ印刷関連情報設定画面をクライアント装置へ送信する（Ｓ４０９）。このクライアント装置へ送られ、Ｗｅｂブラウザにより表示された印刷関連情報設定画面の例を図２２に示す。
【０１００】
図２２において、Ｆ５は認証時に用いられたユーザの識別子が表示される。Ｆ６はデフォルトで使用されるプリンタのアドレスの入力欄である。Ｆ９は代替プリンタのアドレスの入力欄である。Ｆ７，Ｆ１０は、親展プリントの際に印刷開始を指示するためのパスワードの入力欄である。ユーザはプリンタ装置の操作パネル又はネットワークを介したインタフェースにより、プリンタ装置にユーザ識別子とパスワードが入力されることによりプリンタ装置が保留している印刷ジョブを印字開始することができる。ユーザ識別子を用いずに、メールボックス識別子とパスワードを用いて、親展プリントの際の印刷開始操作をするようにすることも可能である。Ｆ８，Ｆ１１は、印字結果を出力するメールボックス識別子である。ここでいうメールボックスというのは、プリンタ装置の物理的な排紙トレイ、例えば多段の排紙トレイであってユーザ毎に割り当てられた特定の出力段である。あるいは、記憶装置中に設けられた複数の論理的な領域であってユーザ毎に割り当てられた特定の領域でもよい。排紙トレイの場合は印字された帳票が出力され、論理的な領域の場合は印字前の電子帳票データが格納される。Ｆ１２は、印刷に関する事象を通知する通知先の入力欄である。Ｆ１３は、通知される事象の種類を選択する入力欄である。親展プリントの印字指示待ちになった旨の事象（ｐｅｎｄｉｎｇ−ｈｅｌｄ）、印字完了した旨の事象（ｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅｄ）、ジャムや用紙切れ等で印字が中断した旨の事象（ｓｔｏｐｐｅｄ）等が選択可能である。Ｆ１４は各入力欄に入力した印刷関連情報をサーバ装置へ送信指示するためのボタンである。
【０１０１】
サーバ装置の情報更新部４６は、クライアント装置から印刷関連情報を受信したとき（Ｓ４１０）、受信した印刷関連情報を認証サーバ装置に送信することにより既設定の印刷関連情報を認証サーバ装置に更新させる（Ｓ４１１）。この更新結果を認証サーバ装置から受信すると、クライアント装置へ応答する（Ｓ４１２）。
【０１０２】
本実施の形態によれば、以上のように印刷に必要な情報をクライアントユーザに設定変更できるようにしたので、ユーザにとって好適な印刷システム環境を設定させることができる。
【０１０３】
なお、本実施の形態では、印刷関連情報を認証サーバ装置で保持管理させるようにしたが、サーバ装置が保持管理するようにしてもよい。また、印刷関連情報を複数のサーバ装置へ分散させて管理するようにしてもよい。
【０１０４】
また、印刷の度に異なるジョブ識別子またはパスワードが自動的に生成されるようにしてもよい。この場合、ジョブ識別子またはパスワードがサーバ装置またはプリンタ装置から通知されるようにしてもよい。または、サーバ装置に問合せることによって生成されたジョブ識別子またはパスワードを参照可能とするようにしてもよい。
【０１０５】
上記各実施の形態において説明したサーバ装置１０が提供する処理機能は、そのように動作するアプリケーションプログラムをＣＰＵで実行することで実現される。そのＣＰＵで実行されるプログラムは、記録媒体に記録可能である。記録媒体というのは、コンピュータのハードウェア資源に備えられている読取装置に対して、プログラムの記述内容に応じて磁気、光、電気等のエネルギーの変化状態を引き起こして、それに対応する信号の形式で、読取装置にプログラムの記述内容を伝達できるものである。記録媒体としては、例えば、磁気ディスク、光ディスク、ＣＤ−ＲＯＭ、コンピュータに内蔵されるメモリなどが該当する。
【０１０６】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、クライアント装置にＷｅｂブラウザを用いて構築されるオンライン業務システムのオンライン帳票生成機能において、帳票生成の経過時間が長時間かかる場合であっても、ユーザがそのまま他の業務を継続することができ、同時に帳票生成の完了を自動的に知ることができるため、帳票を参照および印刷するためのユーザの操作性が向上する。
【０１０７】
また、サーバ装置からプリンタ装置に直接印字出力する場合においては、サーバ装置からプリンタ装置への印刷要求に帳票生成要求元を識別可能な情報を付加するようにしたので、プリンタ装置にアクセス権制御を行わせることができる。また、プリンタ装置に、帳票生成要求元を識別可能な情報を参照にして印字出力の完了を帳票生成要求元に通知させることができる。これにより、出力帳票がプリンタ装置に放置されることによる機密管理上の問題を改善される。
【０１０８】
また、サーバ装置からプリンタ装置に直接印字出力する場合において、クライアントユーザがプリンタ装置に対して印字開始指示を操作するまで印字動作を保留するモードの印刷要求を送信できるようにしたので、プリンタ装置にユーザからの指示があるまで印刷の実行を待機させることができる。これにより、ユーザは、プリンタ装置まで帳票を取りに行けるタイミングで印刷を開始させることができるので、機密管理上の問題をより一層改善することができる。
【０１０９】
また、使用するプリンタ装置、印字出力の方法、通知方法をクライアントユーザに設定できるようにしたので、データベース管理に要するシステム管理者の労力が軽減される。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係るオンライン帳票生成サーバ装置の実施の形態１を利用したオンライン業務システムの全体構成図である。
【図２】実施の形態１におけるサーバ装置のハードウェア構成図である。
【図３】実施の形態１におけるサーバ装置のブロック構成図である。
【図４】実施の形態１におけるオンライン業務システムのシーケンス図である。
【図５】実施の形態１におけるサーバ装置の処理を示したフローチャートである。
【図６】実施の形態１においてクライアント装置に表示されるウィンドウＷ１の例を示した図である。
【図７】実施の形態１においてクライアント装置のウィンドウＷ１に表示された業務画面の例を示した図である。
【図８】実施の形態１においてクライアント装置に新たなウィンドウＷ２が生成されたときの画面表示例を示した図である。
【図９】実施の形態１においてクライアント装置のウィンドウＷ２に表示される帳票生成状態ポーリング画面の例を示した図である。
【図１０】実施の形態１においてクライアント装置のウィンドウＷ２に表示される帳票参照画面の例を示した図である。
【図１１】実施の形態１においてクライアント装置のウィンドウＷ２に表示される帳票データの例を示した図である。
【図１２】本発明に係るオンライン帳票生成サーバ装置の実施の形態２を利用したオンライン業務システムの全体構成図である。
【図１３】実施の形態２におけるサーバ装置のブロック構成図である。
【図１４】実施の形態２におけるオンライン業務システムのシーケンス図である。
【図１５】実施の形態２におけるサーバ装置の処理を示したフローチャートである。
【図１６】本発明に係るオンライン帳票生成サーバ装置の実施の形態３を利用したオンライン業務システムの全体構成図である。
【図１７】実施の形態３におけるサーバ装置のブロック構成図である。
【図１８】実施の形態３におけるオンライン業務システムのシーケンス図である。
【図１９】実施の形態３におけるサーバ装置の処理を示したフローチャートである。
【図２０】実施の形態４におけるサーバ装置のブロック構成図である。
【図２１】実施の形態４におけるサーバ装置の処理を示したフローチャートである。
【図２２】実施の形態４におけるクライアント装置に表示される印刷関連情報設定画面の例を示した図である。
【符号の説明】
４ クライアント装置、６ プリンタ装置、１０ サーバ装置、１１ ＣＰＵ、１２ ブートＲＯＭ、１３ ＲＡＭ、１４ ハードディスク、１５ ＬＡＮインタフェース、１６ ディスプレイ、１７ キーボード、２２ 要求画面送信部、２４ 帳票生成部、２６ 生成状態通知部、２８ 参照画面送信部、３０ 帳票送信部、３２ 認証サーバ装置、３４ メールサーバ装置、３６ メール送信部、３８ 送信先取得部、４０ 情報取得部、４２ 印刷部、４４ 情報付加部、４６ 情報更新部、４８ 情報管理部。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a server device for generating an electronic form, which receives an electronic form generation request from a terminal device via a network, and distributes the generated electronic form to the terminal device or the printer device via the network. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an online business system has been constructed on each personal computer (PC) used as a terminal using software dedicated to the business system. However, if a system is constructed in this way, it will be necessary to redistribute the dedicated software to each PC every time a bug is fixed or a dedicated software is revised in order to add a function. Imposing a lot of effort.
[0003]
In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, a Web browser and an electronic mailer (software for transmitting and receiving electronic mail) have become standard equipment on a PC. Therefore, by effectively using a Web browser as terminal software for an online business system, it has become possible to greatly reduce the labor for redistributing terminal software and the like. However, on the other hand, since the Web browser is versatile, there may be a drawback that the operability of the user is relatively inferior to the case where dedicated software optimized for a specific task is used. For example, in the case of business processing in which numerical data input on a PC is processed on the server side, if special software is used, if a character string is input or a value outside the allowable input range is input, the special software will be used. Although the acceptance of the input data can be refused when the data is input, the general-purpose Web browser cannot judge the validity of the input specialized for the business process. For this reason, there arises a problem that the business process is inefficiently continued after the input data is transmitted to the server and rejected by the server.
[0004]
Incidentally, many online business systems have a form output function, particularly a function of outputting a form online. For example, in many cases, a system is constructed in such a manner that a Web server dedicated to form generation is provided, and each PC requests the Web server to generate a form. In this case, the Web server prepares in advance a form generation request page for requesting the client (the PC) to generate a form, and a form inquiry page for inquiring the client of the completed form. Then, when a form generation request page is accessed from a client equipped with a Web browser to request form generation, the Web server generates form data in response to the request. When the generation of the form data is completed, the completion is registered in the form reference page. Normally, setting and registering reference information such as the storage location of the generated form data in a file (generally, an HTML file or the like) for displaying the form reference page notifies the client of the completion of the form data generation and the method of obtaining the form data. become. The client user performs a query generation completion inquiry operation by accessing a report reference page of the Web server. After confirming that the generation has been completed, the client user acquires the form data based on the reference information specified on the form reference page, and outputs the form data from the printer.
[0005]
In this way, by using a general-purpose Web browser without using software dedicated to the business system, the Web server can generate and provide a form in response to a request from the client.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-66984
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventionally, in order to obtain the completion of the requested form generation, the client user has to perform an inquiry operation by accessing the form reference page of the Web server by himself and confirm the completion of the form generation. . Therefore, when it is desired to obtain a form immediately, the inquiry operation must be repeatedly performed frequently, which is troublesome. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163,097 discloses a technique of introducing a printing plug-in into a browser and transmitting form data from a server to print the form data. However, according to this conventional technique, a window that issues a form generation request uses a form output form. Until the completion of the form processing, it is occupied by the form processing, and the business processing performed before the form generation request cannot be continued.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an online form generation server apparatus and a method thereof for the convenience of a client user who has requested form generation.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an online form generation server device according to the present invention provides a request screen transmission unit for transmitting a form generation request screen for requesting a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device. A form generation unit for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, information on a generation state of an electronic form before completion of the electronic form generation by the form generation unit, and an instruction to poll the client device. Is transmitted to the client device. Based on the instruction transmitted by the generation state notification means, the client device automatically displays the form generation state by polling without the user's initiative operation.
[0010]
Further, the request screen transmitting means newly opens a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification means when the client device sends out the form generation request. Is included in the transmitted form generation request screen. Further, the generation state notifying means includes an instruction for newly opening a state display window for displaying information regarding the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notifying means when transmitting the information. I do. As described above, the form generation state is executed in the newly activated window, so that the window used before the request can be continuously used to execute another job.
[0011]
Further, when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation means is completed, reference form transmission means for transmitting a form reference screen for causing the client device to refer to the generated electronic form to the client device, The form reference screen is displayed on the status display window on the client device.
[0012]
An online form generation server device according to another invention is a form generation means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and the generation is completed when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation means is completed. And a mail transmitting means for transmitting, by e-mail, the electronic form or information necessary for the client device to refer to the electronic form. By providing the mail transmission means, the form generation result is notified by e-mail, so that the user can continue another task without waiting for the notification in the window that issued the request.
[0013]
In addition, there is provided a transmission destination acquisition unit that acquires a transmission destination of the electronic mail transmitted by the mail transmission unit based on information that can identify a form generation request source. With the provision of the transmission destination acquisition unit, the destination of the electronic mail transmitted by the mail transmission unit can be automatically set.
[0014]
An online form generation server device according to another invention is a form generation means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and an electronic form output destination based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source. Address acquisition means for acquiring an address of the printer device, and printing means for transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation means to a printer device corresponding to the address acquired by the address acquisition means. Features. By providing the printing means, the printout is performed directly from the server device to the printer device, so that the user of the client device can continue another job without waiting for the printout.
[0015]
An online form generation server device according to another invention is a request screen transmitting unit that transmits a form generation request screen for requesting a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device, and a form generation request from the client device. Form generating means for generating an electronic form in response thereto, printing means for transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generating means to a printer, and form generation on a print request transmitted by the printing means to the printer. Information adding means for adding information capable of identifying a request source. By providing the information adding means, the printer device can recognize which client user is based on the form generation request from the sent print request.
[0016]
The information adding unit may add, to a print request transmitted by the printing unit to the printer device, an instruction for notifying the client device of an event that has occurred when the printer device prints an electronic form. And As a result, an event relating to printing is notified from the printer device to the user of the client device. For example, if the event that the form output is completed is notified to the client user, the form is printed out to the printer device. It can be prevented from being left as it is.
[0017]
Further, the printing means transmits a print request in a mode in which a printing operation is suspended until a client user operates a printing start instruction to the printer device. As a result, the printing process can be started only when the client device gives an instruction to the printer device, so that it is possible to prevent a form from being directly printed out from the server device to the printer device and left unattended. Can be.
[0018]
An online form generation server device according to another invention includes a form generation unit that generates an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and print-related information necessary when an electronic form is printed. An information holding unit that holds the electronic form in association with authentication information; a printing unit that transmits a print request of an electronic form generated by the form generation unit to a printer device specified by print-related information corresponding to the client user; Information updating means for allowing a user to update the print-related information held in correspondence with the client user. Thus, the setting change of the print-related information can be executed for each client user.
[0019]
An online form generation method according to the present invention includes a request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for requesting a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device, and a form generation request from the client device. A form generation step of generating an electronic form, and a generation state notification step of transmitting, to the client device, information on a generation state of the electronic form and an instruction to poll the client device before completion of the electronic form generation by the form generation step. It is characterized by having.
[0020]
The request screen transmitting step newly opens a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step when the client device sends out a form generation request. Is included in the transmitted form generation request screen.
[0021]
Further, the generation state notification step includes, at the time of information transmission, an instruction to newly open a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step. I do.
[0022]
Further, when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed, a reference screen transmission step of transmitting a form reference screen for causing the client device to refer to the generated electronic form to the client device, The form reference screen is displayed on the status display window on the client device.
[0023]
An online form generation method according to another invention includes a form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed, the generation is completed. An electronic form or a mail transmitting step of transmitting information necessary for the client device to refer to the electronic form by electronic mail.
[0024]
In addition, there is provided a transmission destination acquisition step of acquiring a transmission destination of the electronic mail transmitted by the mail transmission step based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source.
[0025]
An online form generation method according to another invention provides a form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and an electronic form output destination based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source. An address obtaining step of obtaining an address of the printer, and a printing step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generating step to a printer corresponding to the address obtained by the address obtaining. And
[0026]
An online form generation method according to another invention includes a request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for requesting a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device, and responding to a form generation request from the client device. A form generation step of generating an electronic form by using the form generation step, a print step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer, and a print request transmitted by the print step to the printer. And an information adding step of adding information capable of identifying an element.
[0027]
Further, the information adding step adds, to the print request transmitted by the printing step to the printer device, an instruction for notifying the client device of an event that has occurred when the printer device prints an electronic form. And
[0028]
In the printing step, a print request in a mode in which a printing operation is suspended until a client user operates a printing start instruction to the printer device is transmitted.
[0029]
An online form generation method according to another invention includes a form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and print-related information required when the electronic form is printed. An information holding step of holding the information in association with information; a printing step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer specified by print-related information corresponding to the client user; And an information updating step of updating the print-related information held corresponding to the client user.
[0030]
An online form generation program according to the present invention includes a request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for requesting a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device, and responding to a form generation request from the client device. A form generation step of generating an electronic form, and a generation state notification step of transmitting, to the client device, information on a generation state of the electronic form and an instruction to poll the client device before completion of the electronic form generation by the form generation step. Is carried out.
[0031]
The request screen transmitting step newly opens a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step when the client device sends out a form generation request. Is included in the transmitted form generation request screen.
[0032]
Further, the generation state notification step includes, at the time of information transmission, an instruction to newly open a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step. I do.
[0033]
Further, when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed, a reference screen transmission step of transmitting a form reference screen for causing the client device to refer to the generated electronic form to the client device, The form reference screen is displayed on the status display window on the client device.
[0034]
An online form generation program according to another invention completes the generation when a form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device and the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step are completed. And transmitting an electronic form or information necessary for the client device to refer to the electronic form by electronic mail.
[0035]
Further, a destination acquisition step of acquiring a destination of the e-mail transmitted by the e-mail transmission step based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source is performed.
[0036]
An online form generation program according to another invention is a form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and an electronic form output destination based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source. An address obtaining step of obtaining an address of the printer, and a printing step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generating step to a printer corresponding to the address obtained by the address obtaining. Features.
[0037]
An online form generation program according to another invention includes a request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for requesting a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device, and responding to a form generation request from the client device. A form generation step of generating an electronic form by using the form generation step, a print step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer, and a print request transmitted by the print step to the printer. And an information adding step of adding information that can identify the source.
[0038]
Further, the information adding step adds, to the print request transmitted by the printing step to the printer device, an instruction for notifying the client device of an event that has occurred when the printer device prints an electronic form. And
[0039]
In the printing step, a print request in a mode in which a printing operation is suspended until a client user operates a printing start instruction to the printer device is transmitted.
[0040]
An online form generation program according to another invention includes a form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device, and print-related information required when the electronic form is printed. An information holding step of holding the information in association with information; a printing step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer specified by print-related information corresponding to the client user; And an information updating step of updating the print-related information held corresponding to the client user.
[0041]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.
[0042]
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an online business system using an online form generation server apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This online business system is constructed by connecting the online form generation server device (hereinafter simply referred to as “server device”) 10, the client device 4, and the printer device 6 in the present embodiment to a network. The server device 10 is a Web server having a function of generating a form in response to a request from the client device 4, and a form generation request page for requesting the client device 4 to generate a form, and a form generated by the client And a form reference page for referring to the form are prepared in advance. The client device 4 in the present embodiment is a PC on which at least a Web browser is installed, and a client user requests a form generation by accessing a form generation request page. The printer 6 prints out the generated form.
[0043]
In the above configuration, the client device 4 transmits a request message (HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) command) to the server device 10. The server device 10 responds to the client device 4 with a response message (HTTP response) corresponding to the received request message. The client device 4 makes a print request to the printer device 6 using a message of the print protocol. Note that the arrows shown in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of electronic form data. The same applies to the overall system configuration diagrams shown in the following embodiments.
[0044]
In order to explain the present embodiment, only one server device 10, one client device 4, and one printer device 6 are required, and FIG. 1 shows one device for convenience. Of course, a plurality of units may be connected to the network. In the present embodiment, an intranet is assumed as a network, but the Internet may be used. The present invention can be applied to various types of network configurations by considering access rights and security issues. The same applies to the following embodiments.
[0045]
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the server device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a CPU 11, a boot ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a hard disk 14, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface 15, a display 16, and a keyboard 17. After turning on the power, the CPU 11 executes a program stored in the boot ROM 12. With this program, a program stored in the hard disk 14 is further loaded into the RAM 13 and executed. Here, the executed program is displayed on the display 16 or receives an input from the keyboard 17 to execute interactive processing with the operator. This program controls the LAN interface 15 to transmit and receive data to and from the network. The RAM 13 and the hard disk 14 store work data of a program executed by the CPU 11.
[0046]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the server device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a request screen transmission unit 22, a form generation unit 24, a generation state notification unit 26, a reference screen transmission unit 28, and a form transmission unit 30. The request screen transmission unit 22 transmits a form generation request screen for requesting the client apparatus 4 to generate a form in response to a request from the client apparatus 4. The form generation request screen referred to here corresponds to the form generation request page described above in the Web environment, in which a Web browser mounted on the client device 4 downloads and interprets an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file. To display on the display. The screen display processing by the Web browser is realized by a function of the Web browser, and the same applies to other screens described later. The form generation unit 24 generates an electronic form in response to a form generation request from the client device 4. The generation state notification unit 26 transmits information on the generation state of the electronic form and an instruction to cause the client device 4 to perform polling before the form generation unit 24 completes the generation of the electronic form. When the form generation unit 24 completes generation of the electronic form, the reference screen transmission unit 28 transmits a form reference screen for referring to the generated electronic form to the client device 4. The form transmitting unit 30 transmits the completed electronic form data to the client device 4.
[0047]
Next, in the present embodiment, the flow of processing from the time when the client device 4 issues a request for generating a form to the server device 10 until the form is output from the printer device 6 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of the process in the server device 10 shown in FIG.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the initial window W1 displayed on the display by the Web browser of the client device 4. The client device 4 uses a predetermined URL (in the example of FIG. 6, “http: //sales.intra/order_detail.html”) for requesting the user to generate a form in a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) designation field F1 in the window W1. When ")" is input and the ENTER key is pressed, a business screen request M101 is transmitted. Upon receiving the business screen request M101, the server device 10 transmits a business screen M102. The client device 4 displays the business screen M102 transmitted from the server device 10 in the window W1. FIG. 7 shows an example of the business screen (order detail screen) displayed in the window W1. Subsequently, when the user selects button F2 in the order detail screen with the mouse, a new window W2 is generated as shown in FIG. 8, and at the same time, a form generation request M104 is transmitted from window W2. The form generation request M104 includes request source information capable of identifying the client device 4 or the client user, instructions and data necessary for generating an electronic form. The processing described above will be described in more detail mainly on the server device 10.
[0049]
The business screen request M101 transmitted from the client device 4 corresponds to a transmission request for a form generation request screen. Therefore, when the server device 10 receives the request sent from the client device 4 (S101), when the request is the business screen request M101 (S102), the request screen transmitting unit 22 sends the business screen M102 as the form generation request screen. Is transmitted (S103). The business screen M102 transmitted by the request screen transmitting unit 22 (more precisely, an HTML file for displaying the business screen M102 on a Web browser) includes a new window W2 when the button F2 on the display screen is selected. Is generated, and at the same time, an instruction to transmit a form generation request M104 from the window W2 is described. That is, the request screen transmitting unit 22 includes a description for generating a new window in the hyperlink of the image of the button F2 on the order detail screen. For example, a new window is generated by the attribute target = "_ blank" in the following hyperlink.

[0050]
When the server device 10 receives the form generation request M104 (S101, S102, S104), the form generation unit 24 starts generating an electronic form in response to the form generation request M104 (S105). Then, the generation state notification unit 26 transmits a response M106 including a redirect instruction to the form generation state polling screen to the client device 4 (S106). The response M106 including the redirect instruction is transmitted in the URL specification field F1 of the window W2, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in the form generation request URL (“http: //report.intra in the example of FIG. 8”). /Request.html?invoice=1234 ″) is set, so that the URL is changed to display the information on the form generation state, that is, the form generation state polling screen.
[0051]
Upon receiving the response M106, the client device 4 transmits a form generation status request M107 according to the instruction included in the response M106. Here, the instruction included in the response M106 will be described. In the response M106, an instruction that the client device 4 updates the screen at a designated time (that is, retransmits the form generation state request) is described. . The following is a description example of an instruction to update the screen to the client device 4 at intervals of 15 seconds.
<Metahttp-equiv = "refresh" content = "15">
[0052]
As a result, the client device 4 transmits the form generation state request M107, and after the transmission, repeats the polling M109 until a form reference screen M110 described later is transmitted.
[0053]
When the form generation state request M107 is transmitted, the generation state notification unit 26 of the server device 10 transmits a form generation state polling screen M108 to the client device 4 if the form generation is not completed (S107 to S109). . The form generation status polling screen M108 transmits information on the current electronic form generation state and a polling instruction (ie, polling M109) for updating the screen displayed in the window W2 as in the case of the response M106. Instructions to make it appear). FIG. 9 shows a display example of the form generation status polling screen M108 on which the generation status of the form requested to be generated is displayed. As shown in FIG. 9, the form status polling screen is displayed in a newly opened window W2 of the client device 4 which is the request source.
[0054]
By the way, in the present embodiment, the polling is automatically transmitted from the client device 4 as described above, but in the present embodiment, the update button F3 is further provided as shown in FIG. A function is provided so that the generation status can be known at any timing. That is, the HTML file of the form generation status polling screen M108 includes an instruction such that when the client user selects the update button F3 with the mouse, the form generation state request M107 is transmitted again. As a result, the latest form generation state is returned from the server device 10.
[0055]
When the form generation unit 24 confirms that the generation processing has been completed when the form generation state request M107 is transmitted, the server device 10 causes the reference screen transmission unit 28 to transmit the form reference screen M110 (S118, S110). ). FIG. 10 shows an example of the form reference screen displayed in the window W2. In this example, the screen includes a hyperlink F4 to the generated form. Note that the form reference screen M110 does not include a polling instruction for the client device 4 to update the screen.
[0056]
When the client user selects the hyperlink F4 to the form with the mouse, a form transmission request M111 is transmitted from the client device 4 to the server device 10. Upon receiving the form transmission request M111, the server device 10 causes the form transmission unit 30 to transmit the instructed form data (S111, S112). FIG. 11 shows a display example when the form data received by the client device 4 is displayed in the window W2. When the received form data is generated in some application, for example, in the form of DocuWorks made by Fuji Xerox, DocuWorks display software is activated (M113) and the form data is displayed (M114). Thereafter, the client user outputs the displayed form to the printer device 6 using a print function such as display software (M115).
[0057]
According to the present embodiment, as described above, the client device 4 is made to transmit polling for knowing the form generation state, and the form reference screen is transmitted when the form generation is completed. The client user does not need to perform any operation for knowing the completion of the form generation. In particular, in the present embodiment, a new window W2 is opened separately from the window W1 to which the client user corresponds, the form generation state is displayed in the window W2, and the completion of the form generation is notified. did. That is, if the form generation state and the completion of the form generation are notified to the window W1, the window W1 waits a long time for the completion of the form generation processing until the form generation is completed. In the present embodiment, a new window W2 is opened and the window W1 is released under the initiative of the server device 10 in a case where the browser causes a timeout error. Can be continuously performed in the window W1 without waiting for the transmission of the form generation request.
[0058]
In the present embodiment, an instruction to open a new window W2 is included in the business screen (form generation request screen) M102 transmitted by the request screen transmission unit 22, but the form generation request includes the window W1. Although the occupation time is slightly longer, the occupation time may be included in the response M106 transmitted by the generation state notification unit 26 or the form generation state polling screen M108. This can be realized by including a description for generating a new window in the form status polling screen using, for example, JavaScript.
[0059]
Further, in the above description, the form reference screen M110 is transmitted and displayed when the generation of the form is completed, but the form may be directly transmitted without displaying the form reference screen M110. That is, the sequences M110 to M111 in FIG. 4 may be omitted.
[0060]
In the client device 4, when the form data is received, the procedure for displaying the form data has been described. However, software for directly redirecting the form data to the printer device 6 without displaying the form data is incorporated in the client device 4. Is also good.
[0061]
Further, the server device 10 may be configured by a plurality of server devices. For example, the server device that communicates with the window W1 of the Web browser and the server device that communicates with the window W2 may be different devices.
[0062]
Embodiment 2 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the generated electronic form data is transmitted to a window W2 different from the window W1 that has issued the form generation request. This embodiment is characterized in that electronic form data is transmitted using electronic mail.
[0063]
FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of an online business system using the online form generation server device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The online business system according to the present embodiment connects a server device 10, an authentication server device 32 that performs user authentication and holds user information such as a mail address, a mail server device 34, a client device 4, and a printer device 6 to a network. It is built by doing. Although the basic configuration and operation of the server device 10 are the same as those of the first embodiment, the configuration and the like which are features of the present embodiment will be described later in detail. The client device 4 requires an electronic mailer in addition to the Web browser. The printer device 6 may be the same as in the first embodiment.
[0064]
In the above configuration, the client device 4 transmits a request message (HTTP command) to the server device 10. The server device 10 authenticates the client user authentication information and the e-mail address based on information that can identify the form generation request source such as the client device 4 or client user identification information included in the received request message. Query 32. Then, the server device 10 transmits the e-mail to the client device 4 via the mail server device 34. The client device 4 makes a print request to the printer device 6 using a message of the print protocol.
[0065]
In order to describe the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, only one device needs to be provided, and FIG. 12 shows one device for convenience. Of course, a plurality of units may be connected to the network. For example, depending on the configuration of the network or the like, a plurality of mail server devices 34 are required, and the server device 10 may transmit an e-mail to the client device 4 via the plurality of mail server devices 34. Also, the user authentication information and the e-mail address may be managed by different authentication server devices. Similarly, in the following embodiments, the system configuration can be appropriately changed.
[0066]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the server device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 shows the request screen transmission unit 22, the form generation unit 24, the mail transmission unit 36, and the transmission destination acquisition unit 38. When the generation of the electronic form by the form generation unit 24 is completed, the mail transmitting unit 36 transmits the generated electronic form by e-mail. The transmission destination acquisition unit 38 acquires the transmission destination of the e-mail transmitted by the mail transmission unit 36 by inquiring of the authentication server device 32.
[0067]
Next, in the present embodiment, the flow of processing from when the client device 4 issues a form generation request to the server device 10 until the form is output from the printer device 6 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of the process in the server device 10 shown in FIG.
[0068]
When detecting an event indicating that a message has been received via the network, the server device 10 reads the received request message (S201, S202). Here, if the user's authentication information (Credential) is not added to the request message, an unauthorized (Unauthorized) error M202 is returned (S203, S204). In the HTTP protocol, authentication information is indicated in an Authorization header. Further, the Web browser of the client device 4 that has received the unapproved response displays a dialog for inputting a user name and a password, and prompts the user to input the user name and the password. When the user inputs a user name and a password (M203), the client device 4 generates authentication information, adds the generated authentication information, and retransmits the request M204 to the server device 10.
[0069]
When the authentication information is added to the request message transmitted via the network, the server device 10 verifies the added authentication information (S201 to S203, S205). That is, the server device 10 transmits the authentication information added to the request message to the authentication server device 32, and verifies the authentication information by receiving the verification result.
[0070]
If the authentication result is unacceptable, a non-approval error M202 is returned. However, if the request is OK and the request is a business screen transmission request, the request screen transmitting unit 22 sets the business screen M206 is transmitted (S206 to S208). If the request is a form generation request, the form generation unit 24 starts generating an electronic form (S207, S209, S210). At this time, the form generation unit 24 temporarily stores the user authentication information in association with the job ID or the like of the form generation job (S210). This is to maintain the correspondence between the generated electronic form and the requesting user. Note that the process of the client device 4 receiving the business screen M206 and transmitting the form generation request M207 is the same as the transmission of the business screen M102 and the form generation request M104 in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0071]
When the form generation process is started normally, the server device 10 transmits a form generation request acceptance response M210 to the client device 4 (S211). Receiving the form generation request acceptance response M210, the client user recognizes that the form generation request has been received. Thereafter, the client user proceeds to the window W1 until the form is sent by e-mail. Will do.
[0072]
If an event is detected inside the server device 10 (S201, S213) and the internal event is an event of completion of form generation (S214), the transmission destination acquisition unit 38 associates the form generation job with the form generation job. By inquiring of the authentication server device 32 based on the stored user authentication information, an e-mail address to which the generated form is to be transmitted is obtained (S215). Then, the mail transmitting unit 36 transmits the electronic mail M212 to which the electronic form data is attached to the destination via the electronic mail server device 34 (S216). Thereafter, the client user activates the form viewer (M213), displays the electronic form data sent as an e-mail or an attached file of the e-mail (M214), and uses the print function of the form viewer or the like. (M215, M216). The form output may be performed using the electronic mail printing function without using the form viewer.
[0073]
According to the present embodiment, the form generated as described above is automatically distributed by e-mail, so that the user can continue another task without waiting for the completion of the form generation. Further, since the e-mail address of the client user is automatically obtained based on the authentication information of the user, it is not necessary for the user to explicitly input the authentication information. As described above, the operability of the user for generating the form can be greatly improved.
[0074]
In the above description, the form data is attached to the e-mail. However, information for referring to the form data, for example, a URL or the like may be described in the e-mail. In this case, the client device 4 can download the form data from the reference information using an electronic mailer, activate the display software, and display it. Further, when the system is configured with the printer device 4 that can receive an e-mail as a print instruction, the e-mail may be transferred from the client device 4 to the printer device 6.
[0075]
In the above-described authentication method, a method has been described in which the authentication information is generated based on the user name and the password input by the client user in the client device 4 and added to the request, but another authentication method may be used. In addition, although the method of returning the unapproved response in the HTTP response and displaying the login diagram by the browser has been described, the login input screen may be transmitted from the server device 10. Although the method of adding the authentication information to the Authorization header of the HTTP request has been described, the authentication information may be transmitted by another HTTP header such as a cookie or other methods. Further, in the above example, the method of verifying the authentication information of the request every time has been described. However, information indicating that the authentication information has been verified may be written in the cookie, and the method may be replaced with the method of inspecting the cookie in the subsequent times. In addition, a time stamp or an expiration date may be added to the cookie indicating that the cookie has been verified, and the validity period of the cookie that has been verified may be controlled.
[0076]
In the above description, the method of acquiring the destination of the e-mail from the authentication information of the user has been described. It may be.
[0077]
Also, the method of verifying the authentication information using the authentication server device 32 has been described, but the server device 10 may hold a database of user information and perform the user authentication in the server device 10. Further, regarding the acquisition of the e-mail address, the server device 10 may be provided with a means for providing the authentication server device 32 so that the server device 10 can perform the acquisition. Alternatively, another server device may be referred to.
[0078]
Also, the form generation result is notified by e-mail, but other various events may be notified. For example, the length of the queue for the form generation processing, the progress status, the abnormal termination, and the like may be notified. The addition of such other information also applies to the form generation request acceptance response M210.
[0079]
Also, in this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, after receiving the business screen M206, a new window W2 may be generated, or polling may be performed to notify the form generation state. In other words, it is sufficient for the client user to be able to acquire the form by one method. However, the method of transmitting the electronic form data of this embodiment by e-mail and the method of newly opening the window W2 May be implemented in combination with the method of transmitting to the server.
[0080]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
In each of the above embodiments, the generated electronic form data is returned to the client device 4. The present embodiment is characterized in that electronic form data is directly transmitted from a server device to a printer device and printed.
[0081]
FIG. 16 is an overall configuration diagram of an online business system using the online form generation server device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The online business system according to the present embodiment is constructed by connecting the server device 10, the authentication server device 32, the mail server device 34, the client device 4, and the printer device 6 to each other via a network. The system configuration may be the same as that of the second embodiment, and the processing contents of the server device 10 and the like associated with transmitting electronic form data directly from the server device to the printer device are different. However, the authentication server device 32 in the present embodiment has, as user information, a database of user account information in addition to the authentication information and e-mail address of each user.
[0082]
In the above configuration, the client device 4 transmits a request message (HTTP command) to the server device 10. The server device 10 becomes the client user authentication information and the print completion notification destination based on information capable of identifying the form generation request source such as the client device 4 or client user identification information included in the received request message. The authentication server device 32 is queried for the e-mail address and the account information of the user who is the substantial form generation request source. Then, the server device 10 transmits a print request to the printer device 6 by a print protocol message. The print request is added with the account information and the e-mail address of the user referred to earlier. When printing is completed, the printer device 6 sends a print completion notification mail to the client device 4 via the mail server device 34.
[0083]
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the server device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 17 shows the request screen transmission unit 22, the form generation unit 24, the information acquisition unit 40, the printing unit 42, and the information addition unit 44. The information acquisition unit 40 inquires the authentication server device 32 based on the information that can identify the form generation request source such as the identification information of the client user sent from the client device 4 to output the electronic form to the printer device. , The client user authentication information, and the client user account information. The printing unit 42 sends a print request for the electronic form generated by the form generation unit 24 directly to the printer corresponding to the address obtained by the information obtaining unit 40. The information adding unit 44 adds, to the print request transmitted by the printing unit 42, information that can identify the form generation request source.
[0084]
Next, in the present embodiment, the flow of processing from the time when the client device 4 issues a form generation request to the server device 10 to the time when the form is output from the printer device 6 and the print end is notified to the client device 4 will be described. This will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 18 and the flowchart of the processing in the server device 10 shown in FIG. Steps S301 to S314 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 19 are clearly the same as steps S201 to S214 in FIG. 15 described in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. In the following, a description will be given of processing performed after it is determined that the generation of a form has been completed.
[0085]
When the form generation by the form generation unit 24 is completed (S314), the information acquisition unit 40 acquires the address of the printer device 6 used by the user from the authentication server device 32 based on the user authentication information authenticated in S305 (S315). ). The printer 6 used by the user is a printer managed by the authentication server 32 in association with the user's personal information. At the same time, the information acquisition unit 40 acquires an e-mail address for notifying the user who has made the form generation request that the printing has been completed (S316). Further, account information for using the printer device 6 is obtained (S317). Then, the printing unit 42 transmits a print request M312 of the electronic form generated by the form generating unit 24 to the printer device 6 corresponding to the address obtained by the information obtaining unit 40 (S318). At this time, to the transmitted print request M312, the notification destination mail address acquired by the information acquisition unit 40 and the account information of the user are added by the information addition unit 44.
[0086]
The printer device 6 performs printing in response to the print request sent from the server device 10 (M313). At this time, the printer device 6 confirms the account information of the user added to the print request, and executes printing using the account information as a print request source. When the printing is completed, the printer device 6 notifies the end of the printing with the destination mail address added to the print request as a destination (M314).
[0087]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the client user can continue another task in the window W1 without waiting for the result of the form printing, the operability of the user for printing the form is greatly improved. improves. Further, even in a situation where a print request is transmitted directly from the server device 10 to the printer device 6, the print request can be made with the user account of the client device 6, so that the printer device 6 based on the user account Access right control becomes possible. In addition, usage statistics such as the usage status and billing of the printer device 6 can be obtained.
[0088]
As is apparent from the above processing, in the present embodiment, the authentication server device 32 has the database of the user's authentication information, the mail address of the notification end of the printing, and the user's account information. Performs user authentication and information acquisition from the authentication server device 32 based on the user authentication information. However, the server device 10 has at least one of them to acquire necessary information in the server device 10. It may be configured as follows.
[0089]
In the present embodiment, the user authentication information used to acquire each information includes a user name, a set of a user name and a password, and X. Various authentication information known as security technologies, such as a 509 certificate, can be used. Further, the authentication information of the client device 4 may be used instead of the authentication information of the user in order to obtain each information.
[0090]
Further, in the present embodiment, as a method of acquiring the address of the printer device 6, the user and the address of the printer device 6 are stored in the authentication server device 32 in association with each other. It is not limited. For example, the corresponding printer device 6 may be selected from the organization to which the user belongs, or the corresponding printer device 6 may be selected from the user's work location. Alternatively, the client device 6 may explicitly specify the form generation request or the like. Similarly, the client account information may be specified by the client user at the time of a form generation request or the like.
[0091]
Further, in the above example, the case where the address of the printer device 6, the notification destination mail address, and the account information to be transmitted to the printer device 6 are obtained, but other information may be obtained. For example, a communication protocol used for making a print request to the printer device 6 or a communication protocol for notification may be obtained.
[0092]
Also, in the present embodiment, a description has been given of notifying the user of the print result to the printer device 6. However, a print request transmitted to the printer device 6 includes an event generated when the printer device 6 prints an electronic form. An instruction to notify the client device 4 may be added to the information adding unit 44. Accordingly, the printer device 6 notifies the client device 4 of an event such as printing start or running out of paper during printing in response to an instruction from the server device 10. It should be noted that the client device 4 is notified alone or in accordance with the content of the event that has occurred or together with the print result. Further, the setting of which of these events to notify may be made available from the user authentication information. Further, an instruction for notifying the administrator of the printer device 6 or the like may be set together. Also, the notification may be made using a communication protocol other than the electronic mail. In this case, the destination of the notification may be the device address of the client device or the like instead of the e-mail address held by the user. Further, in the present embodiment, the printing end is directly notified from the printer device 6 to the client user. However, the server device 10 monitors the printing status of the printer device 6 to print from the server device 10 to the client user. The output completion may be notified.
[0093]
Further, when the server device 10 transmits a print request to the printer device 6 (S318), the printing is not started until the printing start instruction of the user is received, and the electronic form data remains as it is, or after the electronic form data is developed. Alternatively, an instruction to retain the data may be added (hereinafter, such a printing method is referred to as “confidential printing”). In this case, the printer device 6 starts printing only after receiving an instruction from the user. As described above, by notifying the client user of the end of printing, the problem of confidentiality management caused by leaving the output form in the printer device 6 can be improved. By enabling confidential printing, printing can be started at the timing when the user can go to the printer device 6 to retrieve a form, so that the problem of confidentiality management can be further improved. It should be noted that since the user's account information is added to the print request, the printer device 6 can associate the user who is the standby print request source with the user who has issued the print start instruction. Further, a configuration may be added so that whether or not to use confidential printing can be defined according to a form, a form type, a confidential level of the form, and the like.
[0094]
Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the address of one printer device 6 is obtained, but an alternative printer device may be obtained. In this case, it is possible to select an alternative printer when the printer device 6 is down or when the job queue is long. Further, the printer device may be selected according to various conditions. For example, the printer to be used may be switched according to the form or the type of the form, or the printer may be switched according to the time zone. Further, a printer device may be selected according to a form or a form attribute. The attributes of the form here are attributes such as paper size, color, and resolution.
[0095]
Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the present embodiment, electronic form data is directly transmitted from a server device to a printer device and printed, similarly to the third embodiment. The overall configuration of the online business system using the online form generation server device according to the present embodiment may be the same as that of the third embodiment (FIG. 16).
[0096]
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of the server device 10 according to the present embodiment, and has a configuration in which an information updating unit 46 is added to the configuration of the third embodiment, as is apparent from the figure. Each client user generates an electronic form by transmitting a form generation request to the server device and obtains a print result. The print-related information required when the electronic form is printed includes Authentication information, an e-mail address, and user account information, and these information are stored in the authentication server device. Of course, these pieces of information may be held in the server device, but the information updating unit 46 has a function of updating these pieces of information to a client that matches the user authentication information. In FIG. 20, since the same information is handled, it is represented as an information management unit 48 including an information acquisition unit 40 and an information update unit 46.
[0097]
Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described. The basic processing flow from when the client device 4 issues a form generation request to the server device 10 to when the form is acquired is the same as in the third embodiment. Here, the printing-related information setting processing, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Steps S401 to S406 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 21 are clearly the same as steps S301 to S306 in FIG. 19 described in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, processing after user authentication will be described.
[0098]
After the user authentication (S406), if the request sent from the client device 4 is a print related information setting screen transmission request (S407), the set print related information is acquired (S408). It should be noted that the processing in this embodiment is performed by combining the processing for determining the content of the request sent from the client device 4 (S407, S307 in FIG. 19, and S207 in FIG. 15) in the third embodiment or the third embodiment. Form 2 can be easily combined.
[0099]
The information management unit 48 acquires, from the authentication server device, the print-related information corresponding to the preset client user based on the authentication information added to the print-related information setting screen transmission request (S408). Then, a print-related information setting screen in which the acquired print-related information is embedded is transmitted to the client device (S409). FIG. 22 shows an example of a print-related information setting screen sent to the client device and displayed by the Web browser.
[0100]
In FIG. 22, F5 indicates the identifier of the user used at the time of authentication. F6 is an input field for a printer address used by default. F9 is an input field for an address of an alternative printer. F7 and F10 are password input fields for instructing the start of printing at the time of confidential printing. The user can start printing a print job held by the printer device by inputting a user identifier and a password to the printer device through an operation panel of the printer device or an interface via a network. Instead of using a user identifier, a print start operation at the time of confidential printing can be performed using a mailbox identifier and a password. F8 and F11 are mailbox identifiers for outputting a print result. The mailbox here is a physical output tray of the printer device, for example, a multi-level output tray, which is a specific output stage assigned to each user. Alternatively, it may be a plurality of logical areas provided in the storage device and a specific area assigned to each user. In the case of a discharge tray, a printed form is output, and in the case of a logical area, electronic form data before printing is stored. F12 is an input field of a notification destination for notifying an event relating to printing. F13 is an input field for selecting the type of event to be notified. An event (pending-held) indicating that the printing instruction of the confidential print is awaited, an event indicating that printing has been completed (completed), an event indicating that printing has been interrupted due to a jam, paper out, or the like (stopped) can be selected. . F14 is a button for instructing the server device to transmit the print-related information input in each input field.
[0101]
When the print-related information is received from the client device (S410), the information updating unit 46 of the server device transmits the received print-related information to the authentication server device, thereby updating the set print-related information to the authentication server device. (S411). Upon receiving the update result from the authentication server device, the device responds to the client device (S412).
[0102]
According to the present embodiment, the information necessary for printing can be changed by the client user as described above, so that a printing system environment suitable for the user can be set.
[0103]
In the present embodiment, the print-related information is held and managed by the authentication server device, but may be held and managed by the server device. Further, the print-related information may be distributed to a plurality of server devices and managed.
[0104]
Further, a different job identifier or password may be automatically generated each time printing is performed. In this case, the job identifier or the password may be notified from the server device or the printer device. Alternatively, a job identifier or a password generated by inquiring the server device may be referred to.
[0105]
The processing functions provided by the server device 10 described in each of the above embodiments are realized by executing an application program that operates in such a manner by the CPU. The program executed by the CPU can be recorded on a recording medium. A recording medium is a type of signal corresponding to a change in energy such as magnetism, light, electricity, etc., caused to a reading device provided in computer hardware resources in accordance with the description content of a program. Thus, the program description can be transmitted to the reading device. Examples of the recording medium include a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a CD-ROM, and a memory built in a computer.
[0106]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the online form generation function of an online business system constructed using a Web browser in a client device, even if the elapsed time of form generation takes a long time, the user can continue another business as it is. Since the completion of the form generation can be automatically known at the same time, the operability of the user for referencing and printing the form is improved.
[0107]
In the case of printing directly from the server device to the printer device, information for identifying the form generation request source is added to the print request from the server device to the printer device. Can be done. Further, it is possible to make the printer device notify the form generation request source of the completion of the print output by referring to the information capable of identifying the form generation request source. As a result, the problem of confidentiality management caused by leaving the output form in the printer is improved.
[0108]
Also, in the case of printing directly from a server device to a printer device, a print request in a mode of suspending a printing operation until a client user operates a print start instruction to the printer device can be transmitted. Execution of printing can be made to wait until there is an instruction from the user. This allows the user to start printing at a timing when the user can go to the printer to retrieve the form, so that the problem of security management can be further improved.
[0109]
Further, since the printer device to be used, the print output method, and the notification method can be set for the client user, the labor of the system administrator required for database management is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an online business system using an online form generation server apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a server device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a server device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the online business system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the server device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a window W1 displayed on the client device in the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a business screen displayed in a window W1 of the client device in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen display example when a new window W2 is generated in the client device in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a form generation status polling screen displayed on a window W2 of the client device in the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a form reference screen displayed on a window W2 of the client device in the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of form data displayed in a window W2 of the client device in the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of an online business system using an online form generation server device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a block configuration diagram of a server device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram of the online business system according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a server device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is an overall configuration diagram of an online business system using an online form generation server device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a server device according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram of the online business system according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing processing of the server device according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a server device according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing processing of the server device according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print-related information setting screen displayed on the client device according to the fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 4 client device, 6 printer device, 10 server device, 11 CPU, 12 boot ROM, 13 RAM, 14 hard disk, 15 LAN interface, 16 display, 17 keyboard, 22 request screen transmission unit, 24 form generation unit, 26 generation status notification Unit, 28 reference screen transmission unit, 30 form transmission unit, 32 authentication server device, 34 mail server device, 36 mail transmission unit, 38 destination acquisition unit, 40 information acquisition unit, 42 printing unit, 44 information addition unit, 46 information Update unit, 48 information management unit.

Claims (33)

Request screen transmitting means for transmitting a form generation request screen for causing a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device; form generation means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from the client device;
Before completion of the electronic form generation by the form generation means, generation state notification means for transmitting to the client device information on the generation state of the electronic form and an instruction to poll the client device,
An online form generation server device comprising: The online form generation server device according to claim 1,
The request screen transmitting means is for newly opening a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification means when the client device sends out a form generation request. An online form generation server device, wherein an instruction is included in the transmitted form generation request screen. The online form generation server device according to claim 1,
Wherein the generation status notifying means includes an instruction for newly opening a status display window for displaying information on the generation status of the electronic form transmitted by the generation status notification means at the time of transmitting the information. Form generation server device. The online form generation server device according to claim 2 or 3,
A reference screen transmitting unit configured to transmit a form reference screen for causing the client device to refer to the generated electronic form when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation unit is completed, to the client device; An online form generation server apparatus, wherein the form display screen is displayed on the status display window by the apparatus. Form generating means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
When the generation of the electronic form by the form generation means is completed, a mail transmission means for transmitting the generated electronic form or information necessary for the client device to refer to the electronic form by e-mail,
An online form generation server device comprising: The online form generation server device according to claim 5,
An online form generation server device, comprising transmission destination acquisition means for acquiring a destination of an electronic mail transmitted by the mail transmission means based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source. Form generating means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
Address acquisition means for acquiring an address of a printer device to which an electronic form is output based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source;
A printing unit for transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation unit to a printer corresponding to the address obtained by the address obtaining unit;
An online form generation server device comprising: Request screen transmitting means for transmitting a form generation request screen for causing a form generation request to the client device in response to a transmission request from the client device; form generation means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from the client device;
A printing unit for transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation unit to a printer device;
Information adding means for adding information capable of identifying a form generation request source to a print request transmitted by the printing means to the printer device;
An online form generation server device comprising: The online form generation server device according to claim 8,
The information adding unit adds, to a print request transmitted by the printing unit to the printer device, an instruction for notifying the client device of an event that has occurred when the printer device prints an electronic form. Online form generation server device. 9. The online form generation server device according to claim 8, wherein the printing unit transmits a print request in a mode of suspending a printing operation until a client user operates a print start instruction to the printer device. Online form generation server device. Form generating means for generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
Information holding means for holding print-related information required when an electronic form is printed, in association with client user authentication information,
A printing unit for transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation unit to a printer device specified by print-related information corresponding to the client user;
Information updating means for causing the client user to update the print-related information held in correspondence with the client user;
An online form generation server device comprising: A request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for causing the client apparatus to request a form generation in response to a transmission request from the client apparatus;
A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
Before the electronic form generation is completed by the form generation step, a generation state notification step of transmitting information on the generation state of the electronic form and an instruction to poll the client device to the client device,
An online form generation method characterized by having: The online form generation method according to claim 12,
The request screen transmission step is for newly opening a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step when the client device sends out a form generation request. An online form generation method, wherein an instruction is included in the transmitted form generation request screen. The online form generation method according to claim 12,
The generation state notification step includes an instruction for newly opening a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step, at the time of transmitting the information. Form generation method. The online form generation method according to claim 13 or 14,
A reference screen transmission step of transmitting, to the client device, a form reference screen for causing the client device to refer to the generated electronic form when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed; An online form generation method, characterized by causing the apparatus to display the form reference screen in the status display window. A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
When the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed, an e-mail transmitting step of transmitting the generated electronic form or information necessary for the client device to refer to the electronic form by e-mail,
An online form generation method characterized by having: The online form generation method according to claim 16,
An online form generation method, comprising: a destination acquisition step of acquiring a destination of an electronic mail transmitted by the mail transmission step based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source. A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
An address acquisition step of acquiring an address of a printer device that is an output destination of an electronic form based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source;
A print step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer corresponding to the address obtained by the address obtaining step;
An online form generation method characterized by having: A request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for causing the client apparatus to request a form generation in response to a transmission request from the client apparatus;
A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
A printing step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer device,
An information adding step of adding information capable of identifying a form generation request source to a print request transmitted to the printer device by the printing step;
An online form generation method characterized by having: 20. The online form generation method according to claim 19,
The information adding step is characterized in that an instruction for notifying the client device of an event that has occurred when the printer device prints an electronic form is added to a print request transmitted by the printing step to the printer device. Online form generation method. 20. The online form generation method according to claim 19,
The online form generation method, wherein the printing step transmits a print request in a mode of suspending a printing operation until a client user operates a printing start instruction to the printer device. A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
An information holding step of holding print-related information required when an electronic form is printed, in association with client user authentication information;
A print step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer specified by print-related information corresponding to the client user;
An information updating step of causing the client user to update the print-related information held in correspondence with the client user;
An online form generation method characterized by having: A request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for causing the client apparatus to request a form generation in response to a transmission request from the client apparatus;
A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
Before the electronic form generation is completed by the form generation step, a generation state notification step of transmitting information on the generation state of the electronic form and an instruction to poll the client device to the client device,
An online form generation program characterized by performing the following. 24. The online form generation program according to claim 23,
The request screen transmission step is for newly opening a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step when the client device sends out a form generation request. An online form generation program, characterized by including an instruction in the transmitted form generation request screen. 24. The online form generation program according to claim 23,
The generation state notification step includes an instruction for newly opening a state display window for displaying information on the generation state of the electronic form transmitted by the generation state notification step, at the time of transmitting the information. Form generation program. The online form generation program according to claim 24 or 25,
A reference screen transmission step of transmitting, to the client device, a form reference screen for causing the client device to refer to the generated electronic form when the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed; An online form generation program, which causes an apparatus to display the form reference screen in the status display window. A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
When the generation of the electronic form by the form generation step is completed, an e-mail transmitting step of transmitting the generated electronic form or information necessary for the client device to refer to the electronic form by e-mail,
An online form generation program characterized by performing the following. 29. The online form generation program according to claim 27,
An online form generation program for performing a destination acquisition step of acquiring a destination of an electronic mail transmitted by the mail transmission step based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source. A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
An address acquisition step of acquiring an address of a printer device that is an output destination of an electronic form based on information capable of identifying a form generation request source;
A print step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer corresponding to the address obtained by the address obtaining step;
An online form generation program characterized by performing the following. A request screen transmitting step of transmitting a form generation request screen for causing the client apparatus to request a form generation in response to a transmission request from the client apparatus;
A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
A printing step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer device,
An information adding step of adding information capable of identifying a form generation request source to a print request transmitted to the printer device by the printing step;
An online form generation program characterized by performing the following. The online form generation program according to claim 30,
The information adding step is characterized in that an instruction for notifying the client device of an event that has occurred when the printer device prints an electronic form is added to a print request transmitted by the printing step to the printer device. Online report generation program. The online form generation program according to claim 30,
The online form generation program, wherein the printing step transmits a print request in a mode of suspending a printing operation until a client user operates a printing start instruction to the printer device. A form generation step of generating an electronic form in response to a form generation request from a client device;
An information holding step of holding print-related information required when an electronic form is printed, in association with client user authentication information;
A print step of transmitting a print request of the electronic form generated by the form generation step to a printer specified by print-related information corresponding to the client user;
An information updating step of causing the client user to update the print-related information held in correspondence with the client user;
An online form generation program characterized by performing the following.

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