JP2008134934A - Print system, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system, a control method and a program which are applicable in setting a printable period in each content in a content server, and controlling the printable period of a storage job for printing of each content distributed to a printer. <P>SOLUTION: This print system is provided with: a means for managing a printable period with respect to each content registered in a content server; a means for distributing content to the client application of the content server to be executed on a printer; a means for storing the distributed content in the storage device of the printer as a storage job for printing; a means for making an inquiry to the content server about the printable period of the stored storage job for printing; and a means for controlling the possibility/impossibility of printing of the stored storage job for printing according to the result of the inquiry of the printable period. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to management of content printable period information in a content server. The present invention also relates to the management of the printable period information by distributing contents to a multifunction device (hereinafter referred to as MFP) or a single function printer (hereinafter referred to as SFP) as a print accumulation job. The present invention also relates to a print system, a control method, and a program comprising the content server and a client application of the content server executed by the MFP or SFP.

  In recent years, large capacity storage devices (hereinafter referred to as HDDs) have been incorporated into MFPs or SFPs (hereinafter collectively referred to as printers). As a result, various files (hereinafter collectively referred to as contents) such as documents, forms, and images that the user desires to print can be stored in the HDD as print accumulation jobs.

  Generally, the HDD built in the printer is mainly used as a temporary storage area for print jobs. A function is provided that automatically sets a deadline for automatic deletion and deletes expired print jobs, assuming that the print requester does not output the print job stored after the temporary storage. ing.

  According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-373066, when a print job is generated on a client PC, prior art for adding a job control information to a page description language (PDL) using a printer driver and controlling the print deadline of the job. Is published. A feature is that control such as making a print reservation from the client PC to the printing apparatus and prohibiting printing after the printing deadline has passed is possible.

In addition, an application execution environment represented by a Java (registered trademark) environment has been provided for printers. If a program that operates in such an environment is developed, the functions provided by the printer can be provided. You can create applications that you use. For example, a content printing application that operates as a client of a content server can be provided according to customer needs. As an example of using the application, a printing system is provided in which content distributed from a content server is stored as a print storage job in a printer HDD, and when the user desires, the target content can be printed immediately and at the highest speed. be able to. In other words, an on-demand printing solution that can store a large amount of expanded data immediately before printing by using a large storage area in the HDD of the printer, and can start printing immediately at any time Is feasible.
JP 2002-373066 A

  As the target content managed by the content server, various contents are assumed according to various business / business conditions. Among them, for example, there is a content that is desired to be set to be printable only for a certain period, such as a campaign flyer effective for one month. When the corresponding content is stored as a print storage job in the HDD of the printer, it is necessary to perform control so that the print storage job cannot be printed outside the designated period. However, it is difficult to control the fine printable period such as enabling printing from the designated date to the designated date for each content only by setting the automatic erasure period of the print job as described above.

  In the present invention, a print system, a control method, and a program that can be applied when setting a printable period for each content in the content server and controlling the printable period of a print accumulation job for each content distributed to a printer The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the printing system of the present invention has the following configuration.

  That is, for each content registered in the content server, a means for managing a printable period, a means for distributing the content to a client application of the content server executed on the printer, and printing the distributed content Means for storing in the storage device of the printer as a storage job for printing, means for inquiring the content server about the printable period of the stored print storage job, and the stored data in accordance with the result of the inquiry about the printable period. And a means for controlling whether or not a print job can be printed. A print system comprising a content server and a client application of the content server executed on the printer.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the content server and the client application of the content server that can be executed on the printer cooperate to manage and control the printable period of the print accumulation job distributed to the printer. Can be possible. Thus, it is possible to finely control the printable period for each content without impairing the advantage of on-demand printing that allows the user to print immediately and at the fastest speed when desired.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a multifunction device (hereinafter, MFP). Reference numeral 101 denotes a single function printer (hereinafter, SFP). A network 102 mediates communication between devices. A server computer 103 is used as a content server. Reference numeral 104 denotes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) used as a client. A gateway device 105 is used when connecting to an intranet / Internet or the like. Note that there is no limitation on which segment of the network each device described here is located. Even in any arrangement form, the present system can be implemented as long as communication between devices is possible.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the MFP 100 of FIG. Reference numeral 200 denotes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as a feeder). Reference numeral 201 denotes a document scanner unit. Reference numeral 202 denotes a user interface (UI) unit. Reference numeral 203 denotes a paper feeding unit. Reference numeral 204 denotes a fixing unit. Reference numeral 205 denotes a paper discharge unit. Reference numeral 206 denotes a finishing device. Reference numeral 207 denotes a paper discharge tray. Although not shown, the SFP 101 is a single-function printer that is not equipped with, for example, the feeder 200 and the scanner unit 201.

  FIG. 3 shows a logical configuration of information processing functions of the MFP 100, the SFP 101, the server computer 103, and the PC 104. A user interface unit 300 provides a user interface to the operator. A network interface unit 301 communicates with an external device via a network. A CPU 302 executes a control program, and a ROM 303 stores a built-in program and data. Reference numeral 304 denotes a RAM which is a temporary memory area. Reference numeral 305 denotes an HDD having a large capacity storage area. Each unit is connected via an input / output interface 306.

  FIG. 4 shows a software configuration capable of executing an application program in MFP 100 and SFP 101. 401 is an example of an execution environment for controlling the MFP and the SFP. Generally, each module or library group of a real-time OS capable of controlling various functions of the MFP and SFP in real time. With the library group, it is possible to control each function including an optional device and an expansion card of MFP and SFP by commanding the CPU. It is realized by a module group that provides an interface command to an application that operates at a higher level. A controller control unit 402 operates on the execution environment 401. The controller control unit 402 includes modules that control each unit of the MFP, such as an MFP scanning unit, an MFP and SFP printer unit, and a PDL processing unit. Reference numeral 403 denotes an optimal execution environment for executing a specific application, which is realized by, for example, a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine. A resource management unit 404 manages resources used by the execution environment 403 and operates on the OS 401. The resource management unit 404 is configured such that when a virtual machine 403 itself that is an execution environment, a framework 405 described later, or all application programs on the OS 401 use a resource resource such as a memory, a resource exceeding a predetermined amount cannot be used. To manage.

  Reference numeral 405 denotes a framework for an application executed on the virtual machine 403, and reference numeral 406 denotes an application programming interface (hereinafter referred to as API) provided by the framework 405. Reference numerals 407, 408, and 409 denote applications executed on the framework 405. Commonly necessary services, frequently used function modules, a library group necessary for controlling each function of the MFP by accessing the controller control unit 402 are prepared in advance in the framework 405. This makes it possible to efficiently develop and execute an application such as 407 using the API 406.

  FIG. 5 is an example of expression in the UI unit 202 of an application such as 407. Reference numeral 500 denotes an entire area used as a screen of the UI unit. Reference numerals 501, 502, and 503 denote button controls for switching individual applications “content print”, “scan document registration”, “document server connection”, and the like. Reference numeral 504 denotes a button control that enables scrolling when all applications cannot be displayed within one screen. Reference numeral 505 denotes a panel control area usable by the application. Reference numerals 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, and the like are examples of various controls that can be used in the application. Reference numeral 511 is an example of a button control that gives a command to start target printing. The application illustrated here is a form accompanied with a UI represented by an applet or the like. However, the application executable by the framework 405 is not limited to this. There may be various application execution forms such as a form capable of providing a Web interface such as a servlet and a form where processing is continued in the background such as a service.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the content server 103. In this configuration example, the function of the content server is hosted in the web application server 604. Reference numeral 605 denotes a functional unit module provided by the content server. Examples of functional modules include data registration, data maintenance, data search, thumbnail generation, selected page combination output, form output, and data download. Reference numeral 606 denotes a search engine that efficiently searches registered data. Reference numeral 607 denotes a database access unit that writes, reads, updates, and deletes necessary information in the database. Reference numeral 608 denotes a utility unit used for file operations, execution of other programs, and calls. The Web application server 604 can be connected to the database system 609 and can store various data managed as a content server in the database. Similarly, using the file system 610, file entities of various contents can be operated, stored, edited, and the like. This configuration example is configured as a Web system, and the client PC 104 can access the Web application server 604 via the network 102 using the browser 601 or the like, and can use various functions of the content server. A plug-in 602 or the like can be arranged in the client PC 104 according to the function to be used. In general, the HTTP server 603 can be arranged according to the application, such as distribution of Web requests.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a table used by the content server for managing content. Reference numeral 700 denotes a table for managing printable period information of each content. A document ID 701 is a key item for uniquely specifying content. A document name 702 stores the name of the content. Reference numerals 703 and 704 denote a start date and an end date of the printable period of the content. Further, there is a related table 710 with the document ID 701 as a common key item. Information indicating the substance of the content is stored in 711. In this example, the content exists as a file, and the file path is stored. What has been described here is a general method of content management, and the application of this system is not limited to this example.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an operation sequence in this system. The print system includes a content server 103, a client PC 104, and an application A407 executed on the printer. The client PC 104 creates a content list and sets a printable period for each content (S801). The content list is a set of arbitrary records with the document ID 701. Since the content list is transmitted and received between the content server 103 and the application A 407, the content list can be expressed in, for example, an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. Further, a printable period can be set for each content, that is, necessary information is stored in the table 700 of FIG. 7 after the execution of step S801. Next, the content server 103 distributes the created content list to the application A 407 (S802). The application A 407 that has received the content list performs a content list expansion process (S803), and downloads each content described in the content list (S804). When the content download is completed, the application A407 generates a print accumulation job from the corresponding content file (S805). The content may take various file formats, and an example is PDF (Portable Document Format). PDF can be downloaded and viewed as Web content, and can be used as a kind of PDL for printer printing, and is a file format suitable for distribution and reuse. When the application A 407 finishes processing all the contents described in the content list, the application A 407 transmits a content list processing completion notification to the content server 103 (S806).

  The application A 407 can use the UI unit 500 as shown in FIG. 5 and can accept a user's print request therefrom. When the user selects a desired document in the controls 506 and 507, a print preview of the target document is displayed in the control 508, and it is possible to specify a color type and the number of copies at the time of printing with the controls 509 and 510 and the like. . The control 511 can instruct the start of printing of the target document. When the application A 407 receives a print start request for a print storage job from the user as described above (S 807), the application A 407 checks the printable period in the content server 103 based on the original document ID of the print storage job. An inquiry is made (S808). The content server 103 searches the table 700 to determine whether or not the current date and time is within the period from the printable start date 703 to the printable end date 704. A result indicating that printing is not possible is returned (S809). The application A407 determines the returned result (S810), and if printing is possible, starts printing the print accumulation job (S811). If printing is not possible, printing is not executed by notifying the user that it is outside the printable period (S812).

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a method for automatically setting a printable period at the time of combined page output that is a function unique to the content server will be described. It is assumed that files 901 and 905 are content files and can include multi-page contents. It is assumed that 902, 903, and 904 are pages of the file A901, and 906 and 907 are pages of the file B905. In the selected page combination output, an arbitrary page of each file can be extracted and combined into one file. In this example, pages 902, 904, and 907 are extracted and combined, and a combined file 908 is output. The table 1000 holds printable time limit information of each content before combining. The content server 103 automatically selects the latest printable start date 1003 and the earliest printable end date 1004 from the contents to be combined at the time of combining. The selected printable start date and printable end date are set in the table 700 as the combined content printable start date 703 and printable end date 704. Thereby, even in the combined content, it is possible to inherit the printable period of each of the plurality of original contents.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a method for automatically setting a printable period when a form is output, which is a function unique to the content server, will be described. Form 1101 records form design information such as form design and field specification of insertion data. A static character string, an image, etc. can be designed like 1102. Moreover, 1103, 1104, 1105, etc. can be prepared as dynamic fields, and data such as variable character strings and images can be inserted. In this example, each item of the data item 1110 corresponds to the dynamic fields 1103 to 1105, and when the value 1111 is inserted into the data, an output form 1120 is obtained. As the target data to be inserted, as shown in a table 1210, a plurality of data can be selected, and an output form after data insertion of the plurality of data can be obtained. In this case, the printable period information of the form is managed in the table 1200, and the printable period information of each insertion data is managed in the table 1210. The content server 103 automatically selects the latest printable start date and the earliest printable end date from the data insertion target form and each inserted data when the form is output after the data is inserted. The selected printable start date and printable end date are set as the content printable start date 703 and printable end date 704 after the form is output. Thereby, it is possible to inherit the printable period of each of a plurality of original forms and original data even in contents after the form is output.

It is the schematic which shows the system configuration | structure in the Example of this invention. It is a detailed view of a multifunction device. It is a figure explaining the logical structure of the information processing function of a multifunction device, a single function printer, a server computer, and a personal computer. 2 is a software configuration diagram of a multifunction device and a single function printer. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of an application which operate | moves on a multifunction apparatus and a single function printer. It is a block diagram of a content server. It is a figure which shows the table of content management information. It is a figure which shows a process sequence. It is a figure which shows the selection page combination output process. It is a figure which shows the table of the content management information at the time of selection page combination output processing. It is a figure which shows a form output process. It is a figure which shows the table of the content management information at the time of a form output process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Multifunction apparatus 101 Single function printer 102 Network 103 Server computer 104 Personal computer 105 Gateway apparatus 200 Automatic document feeding part 201 Scanning part 202 UI part 203 Paper feed part 204 Fixing part 205 Paper discharge part 206 Finishing apparatus 207 Paper discharge tray 300 User Interface unit 301 Network interface unit 302 CPU
303 ROM
304 RAM
305 HDD
306 I / O interface 401 OS
402 Controller Control Unit 403 Virtual Machine 404 Resource Management Unit 405 Framework 406 API
407, 408, 409 Application 500 UI part screen area 501, 502, 503 Application switching button control 504 Scroll button control 505 Panel control area 506, 507, 508, 509, 510 Examples of various controls 511 Examples of button control 601 Browser 602 Plug-in 603 HTTP server 604 Web application server 605 Functional module 606 Search engine 607 Database access unit 608 Utility unit 609 Database system 610 File system 700 Content management information table 701, 702, 703, 704 Each data item 710 Content management information table 711 Each data item 901 Merge source file A
901, 902, 903, 904 File A each page 905 Merge source file B
906, 907 File B each page 908 Merged file 1000 Content management information table 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004 Each data item 1101 Form 1102 Static field 1103, 1104, 1105 Dynamic field 1110 Merged data item 1111 Merged data value 1120 Output form 1200 Content management information table 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204 Each data item 1210 Content management information table 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214 Each data item

Claims (7)

Means for managing the printable period for each content registered in the content server;
Means for delivering content to a client application of a content server running on the printer;
Means for storing the distributed content in a storage device of a printer as a print accumulation job;
Means for inquiring the content server of the printable period of the stored print accumulation job;
Means for controlling whether or not the stored print accumulation job can be printed according to a result of the inquiry about the printable period;
A print system comprising a content server and a client application of the content server executed on the printer.   2. A printing system comprising a content server and a client application of a content server executed on a printer, having means for inheriting a printable period of each content according to claim 1 from a combination source content when a selected page is combined and output.   2. A printing system comprising a content server and a client application of a content server executed on a printer, having means for inheriting a printable period of each content according to claim 1 from an original form and original data when a form is output.   A print system comprising a content server having a means for executing the content server function of claim 1 on a Web application server and a client application of the content server executed on a printer.   2. The content server according to claim 1, wherein the content server and the content management information are managed by a database system and a file system, and the print system comprises a content server and a client application of the content server executed on the printer.   The content distribution unit according to claim 1, further comprising means for distributing a content list from a content server and downloading the content described in the content list. A printing system consisting of client applications.   7. A printing system comprising a content server and a content server client application executed on a printer, characterized by having means for expressing the content list of claim 6 in XML (Extensible Markup Language).

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