JP2008176426A - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system and a printing method enhancing printing efficiency in an environment where an output device having made a print request and a printer belong to different networks. <P>SOLUTION: A client device 1 belongs to a network 7 and outputs a print request command and print data. A file server 2 belongs to the network 7 and receives the print data output from the client device 1. A print server 6 receives the print request command output from the client device 1 and determines whether or not a printer that prints the print data belongs to a network 8 according to the print request command received; if the printer to output the data belongs to the network 8, a request to send the print data is sent to a file server 4 that belongs to the network 8. The file server 4 obtains the print data from the file server 2 according to the request to send the print data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing method for executing printing in an environment in which a print request output device and a printing device belong to different networks.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system including a client device, a print server, a printer, and a print data storage device is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the printing system of Patent Document 1, the following two operation cases are described as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7A shows an example of a case in which print data is directly transmitted from the client device to the printer. First, the client device designates a printer that is an output destination of print data, and sends a print request to the print server (1a). The print server checks the status of the designated printer (2a, 3a), and if the print data can be transmitted to the printer, it notifies the client of a print data transmission request (4a). In response to the print data transmission request, the client device directly transmits the print data to the output destination printer (5a).

FIG. 7B shows an example of a case where print data is transmitted to a printer via a file server. First, the client device stores the print data in the file server (1b). The client device designates an output destination printer and sends a print request including the storage destination on the file server to the print server (2b). The print server checks the status of the output destination printer (3b, 4b). If the print data can be transmitted, the print server sends a print request including the storage destination on the file server to the output destination printer (5b). The printer acquires print data from the file server based on the print request including the storage destination on the file server and prints it (6b).
JP 2000-66854 A

  However, in the above two cases, when a line having a low communication speed is included in the transmission path of the print data, there is a problem that it takes time to execute printing of the print data and printing efficiency is poor. . In particular, in FIG. 7B, when the client device and the file server belong to one network and the print server and the printer belong to another network, the print data indicated by reference numeral 6b in FIG. When a line with a low communication speed is included in the transmission path, it takes time to execute printing of print data, and printing efficiency is poor.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and a printing method capable of improving printing efficiency in an environment in which a print request output device and a printing device belong to different networks.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to claim 1 is a first print data receiving device that belongs to a first network and receives print data output from an output device belonging to the first network. Receiving means for receiving a print request output from the output device; and determining means for determining whether or not a printing device that prints the print data belongs to a second network based on the received print request; A server device comprising: a first transmission unit configured to transmit a print data transmission request to a second print data reception device belonging to the second network when the printing device belongs to a second network; And a second print data receiving device that acquires print data from the first print data receiving device based on a print data transmission request. .

  The printing system according to claim 2 is the printing system according to claim 1, wherein the server device obtains storage destination information of the print data from a print request received by the receiving unit; Second acquisition means for acquiring print data storage destination information acquired by the second print data receiving apparatus from the second print data receiving apparatus, and storage of print data acquired by the first acquisition means Rewriting means for rewriting the destination information with the storage destination information of the print data acquired by the second acquisition means, and second transmission means for transmitting the storage destination information of the print data rewritten by the rewriting means to the printing apparatus It is characterized by providing.

  A printing system according to a third aspect is the printing system according to the second aspect, wherein the printing apparatus includes input means for inputting user information indicating a user and identification information of the print data, and the second information of the server apparatus. The transmitting unit transmits the print data storage destination information rewritten by the rewriting unit to the printing apparatus based on the user information input by the input unit and the identification information of the print data.

  4. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the print request includes network information indicating information of a network to which the printing apparatus belongs, and the server apparatus performs printing. Storage means for storing network information for each apparatus, and the determination means determines whether the printing apparatus is based on the network information for each printing apparatus stored in the storage means and the network information included in the print request. It is characterized by determining whether it belongs to 2 networks.

  5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the print request and the print data include common job identification information, and the storage means includes the first and second print data receiving devices. Table information associating the identification information of the printing device with the network information for each printing device, and the server device belongs to the second network based on the network information and the table information included in the printing request. A specifying means for specifying a second print data receiving apparatus is provided, wherein the first transmitting means transmits print data including job identification information included in the print request and identification information of the first print data receiving apparatus. The request is transmitted to the second print data receiving device specified by the specifying means.

  The printing system according to claim 6 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the printing device includes a printer, a facsimile device, a copier, a facsimile function, a copy function, an electronic mail function, and the like. It is characterized in that it is at least one of the multifunction peripherals having a browser function.

  The printing system according to claim 7 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first data transfer is performed between the first print data receiving device and the second print data receiving device. The speed includes a second data transfer speed between the output device and the first print data receiving device, a third data transfer speed between the output device and the server device, the server device and the first data rate. A fourth data transfer speed between the second print data receiving apparatus, a fourth data transfer speed between the server apparatus and the printing apparatus, and the second print data receiving apparatus and the printing apparatus. It is characterized by being faster than any of the fifth data transfer speeds.

  In the printing method according to claim 8, the first print data receiving device belonging to the first network receives the print data output from the output device belonging to the first network, and the server device receives the print data from the output device. When an output print request is received, and based on the received print request, it is determined whether a printing apparatus that prints the print data belongs to a second network, and the printing apparatus belongs to the second network The print data transmission request is transmitted to a second print data receiving device belonging to the second network, and the second print data receiving device receives the first print data based on the print data transmission request. Print data is acquired from a print data receiving apparatus.

  According to the printing system of claim 1, before printing, the print data can be transmitted to the second print data receiving device belonging to the same network as the printing device in advance, and the print request output device and the printing device are different from each other. The printing efficiency can be improved in an environment belonging to.

  According to the printing system of the second aspect, the printing apparatus can acquire the print data storage destination of the second print data receiving apparatus belonging to the same network.

  According to the printing system of the third aspect, the print data storage destination information of the second print data receiving device can be acquired via the input unit of the printing device. Also, since the print data is acquired from the second print data receiving device, the load on the server device can be reduced.

  According to the printing system of the fourth aspect, whether or not the printing apparatus belongs to the second network is determined based on the network information for each printing apparatus and the network information included in the print request. It is possible to determine whether the network to which the printing apparatus that is the output destination belongs is the second network.

  According to the printing system of claim 5, the second print data receiving device acquires print data from the first print data receiving device based on the job identification information and the identification information of the first print data receiving device. be able to.

  According to the printing system according to claim 6, the printing efficiency is improved in an environment in which a printing request output device and at least one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, and a multifunction machine belong to different networks. Can be achieved.

  According to the printing system of claim 7, since the data transfer speed between the networks through which the print data is communicated is the fastest, the print efficiency can be improved in an environment where the print request output device and the print device belong to different networks. Can be improved.

  According to the printing method of claim 8, print data can be transmitted to a second print data receiving device belonging to the same network as the printing device in advance before printing, and the print request output device and the printing device are different from each other. The printing efficiency can be improved in an environment belonging to.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the printing system includes a client device 1 as an output device, file servers 2 and 4 as first and second print data receiving devices, printers 3 and 5 as printing devices, and a print server as a server device. 6 is provided. The client device 1, the file servers 2, 4 and the print server 6 are constituted by computers.

  The client device 1 and the printer 3 are connected to the file server 2 via, for example, a 10 Mbps low-speed communication line 9. The printer 5 is connected to the file server 2 via a low-speed communication line 9. The client device 1, the printer 3, the file server 4, and the printer 5 are connected to the print server 6 through a low-speed communication line 9. The file server 2 is connected to the file server 4 via, for example, a 10 Gbps high-speed communication line 10.

  The client device 1, the file server 2, and the printer 3 are included in the network 7, and the file server 4, the printer 5, and the print server 6 are included in the network 8.

  FIG. 2A is an example of a configuration diagram of the print server 6, and FIG. 2B is an example of a configuration diagram of the printer 3. The print server 6 is, for example, a computer, a CPU 601 that controls the entire apparatus, a ROM 602 that includes a control program, a RAM 603 that functions as a working area, a hard disk drive (HDD) 604 that includes various data and programs, and inputs such as a mouse and a keyboard. A unit 605, a network interface 606 for connecting to another computer or printer, and a display unit 607 including a liquid crystal monitor or CRT. The CPU 601 is connected to a ROM 602, a RAM 603, a hard disk drive (HDD) 604, an input unit 605, a network interface 606, and a display unit 607 via a system bus 608. The client device 1 and the file servers 2 and 4 are computers and have the same configuration as that of the print server 6, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The printer 3 includes a CPU (not shown) and a rewritable ROM, a control unit 301 that controls the entire apparatus, an operation panel 302 that inputs various information such as user information and job ID, and displays an operation screen, A network interface 303 for connecting to another computer or a printer, and a print unit 304 that executes print output based on input image data are provided.

  The operation panel 302, the network interface 303, and the printing unit 304 are connected to the control unit 301. Since the printer 5 has the same configuration as the printer 3, the description thereof is omitted. The printers 3 and 5 are not limited to this, and may be facsimile machines, copiers, or multifunction machines (equipment having a facsimile function, a copy function, an electronic mail function, a browser function, and the like).

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of a print request command transmitted from the client apparatus 1 to the print server 6, and FIG. 3B is an example of a structure of print data received by the printer. FIG.

  The print request command includes a client ID 30 that is identification information of the client device, a command ID 31 that is identification information of the print request command, user information 32 that indicates a user designation, a job ID 33 that indicates a print job, and storage of print data. The print data storage destination information 34 indicates the destination, and the subnet information 35 indicates the information of the network to which the output destination printer belongs. The print data is composed of a job ID 36 indicating a print job and a data portion 37 indicating specific data of the print data. The subnet information 35 is not an ID for specifying the output destination printer.

  The command ID 31, user information 32, job ID 33, print data storage destination information 34, and subnet information 35 constituting the print request command are created by the client device 1 based on information input by the user via the input unit 605. . Similarly, the print data is created by the client device 1 based on information input by the user via the input unit 605. At this time, the same ID as the job ID 33 is input to the job ID 36 of the print data.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of table information stored in the print server 6. This table information is stored in the HDD 604 of the print server 6. The table information includes data of each item of client ID 40, file server ID 41, printer ID 42 of the printer belonging to the same network as the file server, subnet information 43, job ID 44, print data storage destination information 45, and user information 46. Yes.

  The server administrator inputs data of items of the client ID 40, the file server ID 41, the printer ID 42, and the subnet information 43 via the input unit 605 in advance. Further, the CPU 601 of the print server 6 sets the job ID 33, the print data storage destination information 34, and the user information 32 included in the print request command received from the client device as items of the job ID 44, the print data storage destination information 45, and the user information 46. Enter each.

  Next, an example of the operation of the printing system will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6A and 6B.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printing system. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of commands and print data when the output destination printer is included in the network 7, and FIG. 6B is an example where the output destination printer is included in the network 8. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the command in this case, and print data. In these drawings, the solid line indicates the flow of print data, and the wavy line indicates the flow of command.

  Further, the operation of YES → step S10 in step S1 → step S6 in FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 6A, and the operation of NO → step S20 in step S1 → step S6 in FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 6B. To do.

  First, the user creates a document with the client device 1 and inputs the job ID 33 and the subnet information 35 via the input unit. When the client apparatus 1 accepts a print instruction via the input unit, the client apparatus 1 creates print data based on the original and transmits the created print data to the file server 2 (step S1). At the same time, the client apparatus 1 creates a print request command including the job ID 33 and the subnet information 35 input via the input unit, and transmits the created print request command to the print server 6 (step S2). Regarding the creation of the print request command, the client ID 30, command ID 31, user information 32, and print data storage destination information 34 constituting the print request command are those registered in advance in the hard disk drive (HDD).

  The print server 6 receives the print request command transmitted in step S2 (step S3). The print server 6 records the job ID and the print data storage destination information in the print request command in the items of the job ID 44 and the print data storage destination information 45 of the table information in FIG. 4 (step S4).

  The print server 6 detects the client ID included in the table information of FIG. 4 based on the client ID 33 included in the received print request command (step S5). The print server 6 determines whether or not the subnet information 35 included in the received print request command matches the subnet information included in the table information of FIG. 4 corresponding to the client ID detected in step S4 (step S4). S6). By this determination, the network including the output destination of the print data can be determined.

If the subnet information 35 included in the received print request command matches the subnet information included in the table information of FIG. 4 corresponding to the client ID detected in step S4, the same network as the network to which the client apparatus 1 belongs is used. It is determined to output the print data to the printer 3 belonging to the network 7. On the other hand, if the subnet information 35 included in the received print request command does not match the subnet information included in the table information of FIG. 4 corresponding to the client ID detected in step S5, the network 7 to which the client apparatus 1 belongs. It is determined to output the print data to the printer 5 belonging to the network 8 different from the above.

  If the result of determination in step S6 is YES, the print server 6 enters a hold state (step S7). At this time, the print server 6 does not transmit the print request command to the output destination printer (printer 3).

  When user information and job ID are input to the printer 3 via the operation panel of the printer 3, the printer 3 transmits the user information and job ID to the print server 6 (step S8). The print server 6 receives the user information and job ID, reads out the corresponding print data storage destination information from the table information of FIG. 4 based on the received user information and job ID, and transmits it to the printer 3 (step S9). ).

  The printer receives the print data storage destination information from the print server 6, acquires the print data from the file server 2 based on the received print data storage destination information, and executes printing (step S10).

  When the determination result in step S6 is NO (that is, the subnet information 35 included in the print request command received from the client apparatus 1 is included in the table information in FIG. 4 corresponding to the client ID detected in step S4. If it does not match the subnet information, the print server 6 identifies a file server belonging to the same network as the output destination printer based on the table information in FIG. 4 (step 11).

  Specifically, the print server 6 extracts the file server ID corresponding to the same subnet information as the subnet information 35 included in the print request command received from the client apparatus 1 from the table information in FIG. A file server belonging to the same network as the printer is identified. As a result, print data can be transmitted from a file server belonging to a different network to the output destination printer to a file server belonging to the same network as the output destination printer. Here, the file server 4 belonging to the same network 8 as the output destination printer 5 is specified.

  The print server 6 transmits a print data acquisition request command and the file server ID and job ID corresponding to the client ID detected in step S5 to the file server 4 specified in step S11 (step S12).

  The file server 4 receives the print data acquisition request command, the file server ID, and the job ID, and sends a print data transmission request corresponding to the received job ID to the file server (here, the file server ID corresponding to the received file server ID). This is performed for the file server 2) (step S13). The file server 2 transmits print data corresponding to the job ID to the file server 4 (step S14).

  The file server 4 acquires the print data from the file server 2, and transmits the print data storage destination information regarding the acquired print data and the print data acquisition end notification to the print server 6 (step S15).

  The print server 6 receives the print data storage destination information transmitted in step S15, and overwrites the received print data storage destination information with the corresponding print data storage destination information in the table information of FIG. 4 (step S16). . The rewriting method of the print data storage destination information may be overwriting or replacing. The corresponding print data storage destination information in the table information of FIG. 4 is print data storage destination information corresponding to the file server ID used for specifying the file server in step S11.

  Next, when user information and job ID are input to the printer 5 via the operation panel of the printer 5, the printer 5 transmits the user information and job ID to the print server 6 (step S17).

  The print server 6 detects the user information and job ID in the table information of FIG. 4 that matches the user information and job ID transmitted in step S17, and stores the print data corresponding to the detected user information and job ID. A print instruction including the destination information is transmitted to the printer 5 (step S18).

  The printer 5 acquires the print data from the file server (here, the file server 4) based on the print data storage destination information included in the print instruction transmitted in step S18 (step S19). Thereafter, the printer 5 prints the acquired print data (step S20), and ends this process.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the print server 6 receives a print request command output from the client apparatus 1 and prints print data based on the received print request command. Is transmitted to the file server 4 belonging to the network 8 when the printer belongs to the network 8. The file server 4 acquires the print data from the file server 2 based on the print data transmission request. Accordingly, print data can be transmitted in advance to the file server 4 belonging to the same network 8 as the printer before printing, and the printing efficiency can be improved in an environment where the client device 1 and the printer 5 belong to different networks. .

  The print server 6 acquires the print data storage destination information from the print request command, acquires the print data storage destination information of the print data in the file server 4 from the file server 4, and stores the print data acquired from the print request command. Since the storage destination information is overwritten with the storage destination information of the print data acquired from the file server 4 and the storage destination information of the overwritten print data is transmitted to the printer 5, the printer 5 belongs to the same network 8. The print data storage destination can be acquired.

  The printer 5 includes an operation panel for inputting user information indicating a user and a job ID. The print server 6 transmits print data storage destination information overwritten based on the input user information and job ID to the printer 5. Therefore, the printer 5 can acquire the print data storage destination of the file server 4 belonging to the same network 8 via the operation panel. In addition, since the print data is acquired from the file server 4, the load on the print server 6 can be reduced.

  The print request command includes subnet information indicating information of a network to which the printer belongs. The print server 6 stores the subnet information for each printer as table information in a hard disk drive (HDD), and stores the subnet information for each printer stored. Since it is determined whether or not the printer belongs to the network 8 based on the subnet information included in the print request command, the network to which the printer that is the output destination of the print data can be determined.

  The print request command and the print data include a common job ID, and the hard disk drive (HDD) of the print server 6 has table information in which the file server IDs of the file servers 2 and 4 are associated with the subnet information for each printer. The print server 6 identifies the file server 4 belonging to the network 8 based on the subnet information and table information included in the print request command, and includes the job ID included in the print request command and the file server ID of the file server 2. Since the print data transmission request is transmitted to the file server 4, the file server 4 can acquire the print data from the file server 2 based on the job ID and the file server ID of the file server 2.

  In addition, since data transfer between the networks 7 and 8 is performed via the high-speed communication line 10 that is faster than the low-speed communication line 9, printing can be performed in an environment where the client device 1 and the printer 5 belong to different networks. Efficiency can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the user information and the job ID are input via the operation panels of the printer 3 and the printer 5, but an IC card or a magnetic card including the user information and the job ID is created by the client device 1, and the printer 3 and the printer 5 may be connected to an IC card reader or magnetic card reader so that the IC card reader or magnetic card reader reads user information and job ID included in the IC card or magnetic card. Thereby, a user's operation amount is reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print server 6 and the file server 4 are separated in the network 8, but these may be configured by a single computer. Thereby, the number of apparatuses required in the printing system can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the print server 6 is included in the network 8. However, the print server 6 may not belong to any of the networks 7 and 8. Even in this case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the subnet information indicating the information of the network to which the output destination printer belongs is created by the client device 1 based on the information input by the user via the input unit 605. Based on the information input by the user via the input unit 605, the client device 1 may create information indicating the location to which the output destination printer belongs. In this case, the subnet information item of the table information stored in the print server 6 is rewritten with information indicating the base to which the output destination printer belongs.

  In this embodiment, the network interface 606 whose operation is controlled by the CPU 601 is given as an example of the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit, the second transmitting unit, the first acquiring unit, and the second acquiring unit. It is done. The determining unit, the rewriting unit, and the specifying unit correspond to the CPU 601 that executes a predetermined program stored in the HDD 604, for example. The input means corresponds to the operation panel 302, for example.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 is an example of a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is an example of a configuration diagram of the print server 6, and (B) is an example of a configuration diagram of the printer 3. (A) is a view showing an example of the structure of a print request command transmitted from the client apparatus 1 to the print server 6, and (B) is a view showing an example of the structure of print data received by the printer. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of table information stored in the print server 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the printing system. (A) is a diagram showing an example of the flow of commands and print data when an output destination printer is included in the network 7; and (B) is an example of commands and output when the output destination printer is included in the network 8. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of print data. An example of the operation of a conventional printing system is shown, (A) is a diagram showing an example of a case in which print data is directly transmitted from a client device to a printer, and (B) is a diagram showing print data sent to a printer via a file server It is a figure which shows an example of the case which transmits.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client apparatus 2,4 File server 3,5 Printer 6 Print server 7, 8 Network 9 Low speed communication line 10 High speed communication line 301 Control part 302 Operation panel 303 Network interface 304 Print part 601 CPU
602 ROM
603 RAM
604 Hard disk drive (HDD)
605 Input unit 606 Network interface 607 Display unit

Claims (8)

A first print data receiving apparatus that belongs to the first network and receives print data output from an output apparatus belonging to the first network;
Receiving means for receiving a print request output from the output device; determining means for determining whether a printing device for printing the print data based on the received print request belongs to a second network; and A server device comprising: a first transmission unit configured to transmit a print data transmission request to a second print data reception device belonging to the second network when the printing device belongs to a second network;
A printing system comprising: a second print data receiving device that acquires print data from the first print data receiving device based on the print data transmission request. The server device includes first acquisition means for acquiring the print data storage destination information from the print request received by the reception means, and print data storage destination information acquired by the second print data reception device. A second acquisition unit for acquiring the print data from the second print data receiving device, and storage destination information of the print data acquired by the first acquisition unit for storing the print data acquired by the second acquisition unit The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a rewriting unit that rewrites the destination information; and a second transmission unit that transmits storage destination information of the print data rewritten by the rewriting unit to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes input means for inputting user information indicating a user and identification information of the print data,
The second transmission unit of the server device transmits the print data storage destination information rewritten by the rewrite unit based on the user information input by the input unit and the identification information of the print data to the printing device. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein: The print request includes network information indicating information of a network to which the printing apparatus belongs. The server apparatus includes storage means for storing network information for each printing apparatus, and the determination means is stored in the storage means. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the printing apparatus belongs to the second network based on network information for each printing apparatus and network information included in the print request. The printing system according to claim 1. The print request and the print data include common job identification information,
The storage means has table information that associates the identification information of the first and second print data receiving apparatuses with the network information for each printing apparatus,
The server device includes a specifying unit that specifies a second print data receiving device belonging to the second network based on the network information and the table information included in the print request,
The first transmission means receives the second print data received by the specifying means for a print data transmission request including job identification information included in the print request and identification information of the first print data receiving apparatus. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the printing system is transmitted to the apparatus. The printing apparatus is at least one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, and a multifunction machine having a facsimile function, a copy function, an electronic mail function, and a browser function. The printing system according to any one of 1 to 5. The first data transfer rate between the first print data receiving device and the second print data receiving device is the second data transfer between the output device and the first print data receiving device. Speed, a third data transfer speed between the output device and the server device, a fourth data transfer speed between the server device and the second print data receiving device, the server device and the printing device The fourth data transfer speed between the second print data receiving apparatus and the printing apparatus is faster than any of the fourth data transfer speed between the first print data receiving apparatus and the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1. The first print data receiving device belonging to the first network receives the print data output from the output device belonging to the first network,
The server device receives the print request output from the output device, determines whether the printing device that prints the print data based on the received print request belongs to a second network, and the printing device Transmits a print data transmission request to a second print data receiving apparatus belonging to the second network,
The printing method according to claim 2, wherein the second print data receiving device acquires print data from the first print data receiving device based on the print data transmission request.

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