JP2008305433A - Output management server and data output system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data output system and an output management server capable of attaining a change of an output destination device of an already thrown-in job by a simple user operation. <P>SOLUTION: When an output instruction and output object data specifying a first output device 10a as an output destination from an information processing terminal 20 to a server 30 (P1), the server 30 associates them with a specified output destination, holds them inside, and performs output reservation to the first specified output device 10a (P2, P3). Usually, when the processing of a reservation job becomes executable, the first output device 10a notifies the server 30 of the fact, the server 30 transfers data to the first output device 10a according to notification, however, an output destination change request is received from the information processing terminal 20 before transfer (P11), the server 30 changes the internal management information of the held data to respond to a change of the output destination (P12, P13). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data output system and an output management server for transferring data from an information processing terminal to an output device via an output management server connected to a network.

  In an environment where a large number of output devices such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines and information processing terminals such as personal computers are connected to a network such as a local area network (LAN) in an office, any output device from each information processing terminal Can be used to perform a print job or a facsimile transmission job. However, with the expansion of the scale of the network environment, it is difficult for the method of selecting an output device from a list of device names or the like to identify which output device in each office corresponds to each device name. Inconveniences such as being output to the output device in the place where it does not occur.

  In order to eliminate such inconvenience, a layout image for indicating the arrangement of each device is displayed, and an icon indicating each device is displayed at a position corresponding to the actual arrangement of each device on the layout image. There is a device designation system in which a device corresponding to the icon can be selected as a job execution destination by designating the icon (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 10-320344 A

  In the above technique, an output device can be specified by selecting an icon on the layout image and a print job or the like can be submitted. However, there are many reservations for other preceding jobs in the output device specified by the user, the previous job If a failure such as a jam occurs and the output device remains on standby, the print job submitted this time is not easily executed. In such a case, the user wants to change the output destination. However, since the data of the submitted job has already been transmitted to the output device and is waiting for output in the output device, the user must change the output destination. The problem can only be avoided by deleting the job from the previous output device and then resubmitting the same job to another output device. This gave a great stress to the user.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a data output system and an output management server capable of changing the output destination of a job that has already been input by a simple user operation. .

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] In an output management server in which an information processing terminal and a plurality of output devices are connected via a network,
Receiving means for receiving output target data from the information processing terminal and an output instruction specifying the output device of the output destination;
Holding means for holding the output target data received by the receiving means in association with output destination information indicating an output device designated as an output destination in the output instruction;
The output target data to the output device according to the time when the processing for the output target data can be executed in the output device indicated by the output destination information associated with the output target data held in the holding unit And a transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the output management server.

  In the above invention, job data is held in the output management server until it can be executed at the designated output destination, and the held data is transferred from the output management server to the output destination device according to the time when it can be executed. Forward. In this way, job data is held in the output management server until the timing at which output can actually be performed by the output destination device, so if it is within the holding period, the data can be manipulated on the output management server side. It becomes possible to respond to an instruction to change the output destination. The time at which execution is possible may be notified from the output device to the output management device, or may be predicted on the output management server side based on the amount of data, the processing side of the output device, and the like.

[2] Change instruction receiving means for receiving from the information processing terminal an output destination change instruction for changing the output destination of the output target data held in the holding means from the first output device to the second output device When,
When the output destination change instruction is received by the change instruction receiving unit, the output target data held in the holding unit is changed to a state associated with output destination information indicating the second output device. The output management server according to [1], further comprising: an output destination changing unit.

  In the above invention, the output destination is changed by changing the association between the output target data held in the holding means and the output destination information in the output management server.

[3] A folder created for each output device is used as output destination information, and the output target data is held in the folder to associate the output target data with the output destination information.
The output destination changing means moves or duplicates the output target data from a folder corresponding to the first output device to a folder corresponding to the second output device, thereby changing the output target data to the second output device. The output management server according to [2], wherein the output management server is in a state associated with output destination information indicating the output device.

  In the above invention, the job data is held in a dedicated folder provided for each output device, thereby associating the output destination with the job. The output destination can be changed by changing the job data to the output of the change source. This is performed by internal processing such as moving or copying from the folder corresponding to the device to the folder corresponding to the changed output destination.

[4] When the output destination data is moved or copied from the folder corresponding to the first output device to the folder corresponding to the second output device by the output destination changing unit, the first output device The output management server according to [3], wherein the job set for the output target data in the folder corresponding to is deleted.

  In the above invention, when the output destination is changed, the job in the folder before the change is deleted. To delete a job, the job status information may be changed to “cancel” in addition to deleting the job data from the folder before the change.

[5] The present invention further comprises reservation means for making an output reservation related to the output target data for an output destination device of the output target data held in the holding means. [1] to [4] Output management server in any one of.

  In the above invention, when a job is held in the output management server, an output reservation is made for the output destination apparatus of the job. As a result, the output order in the output destination apparatus can be secured while the job data is held (untransferred) on the output management server side.

[6] The transfer control means outputs the output so that the transfer of the second output target data to the output device is completed at a timing when the output processing related to the first output target data in the output device is completed. The output management server according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein transfer of the second output target data to a device is controlled.

  In the above invention, the transfer of the data of the next job is controlled so that the transfer of the data of the next job is completed at the timing when the output process of the previous job is completed. As a result, after the previous job has been printed, the output apparatus can start processing the next job without time lag. The transfer control method for completing the transfer at the timing as described above may be arbitrary, and can be performed by, for example, control of the transfer speed, transfer start timing, temporary suspension of transfer, and the like.

[7] Display the terminal identification information corresponding to each output device, and change the output instruction or the output destination based on a user operation such as dragging and dropping the data identification information corresponding to the output target data to the terminal identification information [1] to [6], further comprising screen display control means for transmitting display data for causing the information processing terminal to display an operation screen for generating an instruction to the information processing terminal. Output management server.

  In the above invention, an output instruction or an output change instruction can be issued by a user interface such as drag and drop on the operation screen provided from the output management server to the information processing terminal.

[8] The operation screen displays a layout image for representing the arrangement of the output devices, and displays the terminal identification information as an icon on the layout image. [7] Output management server.

  In the above-described invention, it is possible to issue an output instruction or an output change instruction while confirming the arrangement of each output device on the layout image, thereby improving operability and convenience.

[9] In a data output system in which an information processing terminal, a plurality of output devices, and an output management server are connected via a network,
The information processing terminal includes output instruction transmission means for transmitting output target data and an output instruction designating an output destination output device to the output management server,
The output management server
Receiving means for receiving output target data from the information processing terminal and an output instruction specifying the output device of the output destination;
Holding means for holding the output target data received by the receiving means in association with output destination information indicating an output device designated by the output instruction;
The output target data to the output device according to the time when the processing for the output target data can be executed in the output device indicated by the output destination information associated with the output target data held in the holding unit And a transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the data output system.

[10] The information processing terminal sends an output destination change instruction to the output management server to change the output destination of the output target data held in the holding unit from the first output device to the second output device. It further has a change instruction transmission means for transmitting,
The output management server
Change instruction receiving means for receiving the output destination change instruction;
When the output destination change instruction is received by the change instruction receiving unit, the output target data held in the holding unit is changed to a state associated with output destination information indicating the second output device. The data output system according to [9], further comprising: an output destination changing unit.

[11] The output management server associates the output target data with the output destination information by setting a folder created for each output device as output destination information and holding the output target data in the folder.
The output destination changing means moves or duplicates the output target data from a folder corresponding to the first output device to a folder corresponding to the second output device, thereby changing the output target data to the second output device. The data output system according to [9], wherein the output device is in a state associated with output destination information.

[12] The output management server, when the output target data is moved or copied from the folder corresponding to the first output device to the folder corresponding to the second output device by the output destination changing unit, The data output system according to [11], wherein a job set for the output target data in a folder corresponding to the first output device is deleted.

[13] The output management server further includes reservation means for making an output reservation related to the output target data to an output destination device of the output target data held in the holding means. The data output system according to any one of [9] to [12].

[14] The output device includes a reservation receiving unit that receives the output reservation request from the output management server, registers the request as a reservation job, and returns a reservation ID of the reservation job to the output management server;
The output management server holds the reservation ID returned from the output device in association with the output target data,
The output device has job information requesting means for transmitting a job information sending request including the reservation ID to the output management server when processing for the reserved job becomes possible,
When the output management server receives the job information transmission request from the output device, the output management server transfers the output target data associated with the reservation ID included in the job information transmission request to the output device. The data output system according to [13].

  In the above invention, the transfer target data of the job to be executed is managed based on the job ID issued by the output device at the time of reservation.

[15] The transfer control means is configured to transfer the second output to the output device next to the first output target data at a timing when the output processing related to the first output target data in the output device is completed. The data output system according to any one of [9] to [14], wherein the transfer of the second output target data to the output device is controlled so that the transfer of the target data is completed.

[16] Based on a user operation such as displaying terminal identification information corresponding to each output device on the screen of the information processing terminal and dragging and dropping the data identification information corresponding to the output target data to the terminal identification information. The data output system according to any one of [9] to [15], wherein the output instruction or the output destination change instruction is generated.

  In the above invention, an output instruction or an output change instruction can be issued by a user interface such as drag and drop on the screen displayed on the information processing apparatus.

[17] The layout image for representing the arrangement of each output device is displayed on the screen of the information processing terminal, and the terminal identification information is displayed as an icon on the layout image. Data output system.

  In the above-described invention, it is possible to issue an output instruction or an output change instruction while confirming the arrangement of each output device on the layout image, thereby improving operability and convenience.

  According to the data output system and the output management server according to the present invention, the output target data is held on the output management server until it can be processed in the output device designated as the output destination. Is held in the output management server, various changes relating to the output target data can be performed by processing on the output management server. For example, when changing the output destination, there is no need for complicated operations such as deleting the output job from the output destination device and resubmitting the job to another output device, which can be viewed by the user operating the information processing terminal. For example, the output destination can be easily changed for a job that has already been output to the output device.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a data output system 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data output system 5 is configured by connecting a plurality of output devices 10, an information processing terminal 20, and an output management server 30 via a network 2 such as a LAN.

  The output device 10 is a device that performs output processing (including box storage) related to image data, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral. In the example of FIG. 1, a so-called digital multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function is used as the output device 10. The information processing terminal 20 is configured by a personal computer or the like, and is an information processing apparatus having a function of requesting execution of output processing by transmitting a job such as printing or facsimile transmission to an external terminal. The output management server 30 is a server having a communication function, a storage function, and the like. Although only one information processing terminal 20 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of information processing terminals 20 may be used. Moreover, although the 1st, 2nd, 3rd output device 10a, 10b, 10c was illustrated as the output device 10, arbitrary multiple units | sets may be sufficient.

  In the data output system 5, the output management server 30 receives a job (for example, a print job) sent from the information processing terminal 20, and the output device 10 designated as the output destination can execute processing for the job. Until this time, the data related to the job is held in the output management server 30 and at the same time the output device 10 designated as the output destination is synchronized until the job can be executed (transfer timing, etc.) Control). Further, while the data relating to the job is held, the output destination device can be changed from the information processing terminal 20.

  FIG. 2 shows a main functional configuration of the data output system 5. The output management server 30 includes a receiving unit 31, a holding unit 32, a reservation unit 33, a transfer control unit 35, a change instruction receiving unit 36, an output destination changing unit 37, a screen display control unit 38, and layout information. A function as the storage unit 39 is provided. Further, the information processing terminal 20 has functions as an output instruction transmission unit 21 and a change instruction transmission unit 22. The output device 10 has a reservation management unit 11, which functions as a reservation receiving unit 12 and a job information requesting unit 13.

  Although not shown, each device is configured using a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and includes a display device, an operation unit, and the like. . The output device 10 further includes a printer unit, a facsimile control unit, a scanner unit, a data storage unit, and the like.

  The output instruction transmission unit 21 of the information processing terminal 20 outputs an output instruction (including job type (print, facsimile transmission, etc.) including output target data (for example, document data and image data) and information specifying the output device 10 of the output destination. And setting data such as setting information related to output) are transmitted to the output management server 30. The receiving unit 31 of the output management server 30 receives the output target data and the output instruction from the information processing terminal 20, and the holding unit 32 receives the setting data and the output target data based on the output instruction received by the receiving unit 31. It fulfills the function of holding in association with output destination information indicating the output device 10 of the designated output destination. The holding means 32 is composed of, for example, a hard disk device and its control unit.

  The reservation unit 33 reserves output of the job for the output device 10 designated as the output destination of the job held in the holding unit 32. The reservation receiving unit 12 of the reservation management unit 11 included in the output device 10 receives an output reservation from the output management server 30 and internally registers the job in a reservation queue or the like. The job information request unit 13 has a function of requesting the output management server 30 to send setting data and output target data relating to a job when processing for the job reserved for output becomes executable.

  The transfer control unit 35 of the output management server 30 determines, for each job that has been reserved for output held in the holding unit 32, a time when processing for the job can be executed by the output device 10 of the output destination, In accordance with the executable time, transfer of setting data and output target data held in the holding unit 32 to a designated output device is controlled. For example, the job executable time is determined based on the notification from the job information request unit 13 or the estimated processing time in the output device 10 obtained on the output management server 30 side.

  The change instruction transmission unit 22 of the information processing terminal 20 has a function of transmitting to the output management server 30 an output destination change instruction that instructs to change the output destination of a job held in the holding unit 32 of the output management server 30. The change instruction receiving unit 36 of the output management server 30 receives the output destination change instruction from the information processing terminal 20, and the output destination changing unit 37 sets the setting data and output target data related to the job specified by the output destination change instruction. Fulfills the function of manipulating the internal data so as to be held in association with the output destination information representing the changed output destination device.

  The screen display control means 38 of the output management server 30 performs control for causing the information processing terminal 20 to display an operation screen for issuing an output instruction, and the layout information storage unit 39 is layout information relating to the installation location of the output device 10. (Something like map information) is stored. The screen display control unit 38 generates display data of the operation screen to be displayed on the information processing terminal 20 according to the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 39 and the job holding status in the holding unit 32. It has become.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an output operation screen 50 displayed on the display device of the information processing terminal 20 when printing is instructed from the information processing terminal 20. The output operation screen 50 displays a web page provided by the screen display control unit 38 of the output management server 30 using the browser function of the information processing terminal 20.

  On the output operation screen 50, a layout image 51 for displaying the arrangement of the output devices 10a, 10b, 10c is displayed. In the layout image 51, a target such as a desk 52 installed in the floor is displayed in accordance with the actual arrangement, and the output device 10 is positioned at a position corresponding to the actual installation position of the output devices 10a, 10b, 10c. An icon (device icon) 53 corresponding to is displayed.

  Each device icon 53 is assigned ID information of the corresponding output device 10 (here, the machine number of MFP1, MFP2, etc.). In FIG. 3, the first output device 10a shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the device icon 53a, the second output device 10b corresponds to the device icon 53b, and the third output device 10c corresponds to the device icon 53c.

  The output operation screen 50 further displays a data icon 54 that is an icon corresponding to a data file that can be output. The data icon 54 additionally displays the file name of the data file (such as Doc1 in the figure). Further, the position of the information processing terminal 20 displaying the output operation screen 50 (in the figure, the hatched desk 52a) is also clearly shown.

  When the user clicks on the device icon 53 on the layout image 51 or drags any data icon 54 onto the device icon 53, the output device 10 corresponding to the device icon 53 is shown in FIG. The active job list 60 concerning is popped up. The active job list 60 is a list of information on jobs that have been input with the output device 10 designated as an output destination and have not been output. The job number 61, user name 62, A file name 63, a status (printing, waiting, etc.) 64, a job type (printing, facsimile transmission, etc.) 65, etc. are displayed.

  When the data icon 54 is dragged and dropped onto the device icon 53 using the mouse (pointing device) not shown in the information processing terminal 20, the data file corresponding to the data icon 54 corresponds to the device icon 53. A print instruction (output instruction) for printing by the output device 10 is sent from the information processing terminal 20 to the output management server 30. From the viewpoint of the user, it seems that the job is actually transmitted to the output device by the drag and drop operation.

  FIG. 5 shows a data structure in the holding means 32 of the output management server 30. An output destination folder 71 that is a folder corresponding to each output device 10 connected to the data output system 5 is generated in the holding unit 32, and the output destination folder 71 includes the output destination folder 71. A job folder 72 is created for each job in which the output device 10 corresponding to 71 is designated as an output destination. The output destination folder 71 is created with the name of the corresponding output device 10 (MFP 1 or MFP 2) or IP (Internet Protocol) address as the folder name. For example, when an output device 10 is first connected to the data output system 5, the output destination folder 71 corresponding to the output device 10 is automatically generated.

  Each job folder 72 stores setting data and output target data of the job. In the example of FIG. 5, in the job folder 72, the IP address 73 of the information processing terminal 20 that is the job request source, the job ID 74 notified from the output device 10 at the time of reservation, the status information 75 of the job, the job type 76. , Setting information 77, output target data 78 (image), and the like are stored.

  Next, internal control when an output instruction (print instruction) is sent from the information processing terminal 20 to the output device 10 will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows the transition of data in the internal control using the system configuration diagram, and FIG. 7 similarly shows the transition of data in a sequence. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the processes denoted by the symbols P1 to P4 correspond in both drawings. Here, the case where the output destination is the first output device 10a and the file “Sample2.txt” is output target data will be described as an example.

  First, the output instruction generated by the operation method as shown in FIG. 3 and the output target data are transmitted from the information processing terminal 20 to the output management server 30 (P1). The output management server 30 holds setting data, output target data, and the like received from the information processing terminal 20 in the holding unit 32. For example, in the data structure shown in FIG. 5, a new job folder 72a is generated in the output destination folder 71a corresponding to the first output device 10a specified as the output destination, and the output instruction received this time is included therein. Save the setting data and output target data.

  The output management server 30 further acquires the job type and the IP address of the information processing terminal 20 that is the transmission source from the received data from the information processing terminal 20, and makes a reservation for the first output device 10a specified as the output destination. Job information (information indicating the IP address and job type) is transmitted to make an output reservation (P2). The first output device 10a that has received the reserved job information registers the job as an active job of a function (print, facsimile transmission, box storage, etc.) corresponding to the job type.

  The information processing terminal 20 assigns a job ID to the job at the time of job registration, and returns the job ID to the output management server 30 (P3). The output management server 30 that has received the job ID registers the job ID in the job folder 72 of the job that issued the reserved job information. In the example of FIG. 5, the job ID “003” (74a in the figure) is registered in the job folder 72a corresponding to the job of “Sample2.txt”. In addition, “Wait” (75a in the figure) indicating output waiting is registered as job status information.

  When any of the jobs registered as active jobs is newly executable, the first output device 10a transmits a job information sending request including the job ID of the job to the output management server 30. Thereby, the output management server 30 is requested to transmit the setting data and output target data of the job (P4). For example, when the execution of the previous print job is completed, the next print job with the reservation order becomes executable, and a data transmission request (job information transmission request) related to the print job is transmitted to the output management server 30. .

  When the output management server 30 receives the job information sending request from the first output device 10a, the output management server 30 searches the output folder 71a corresponding to the first output device 10a for the job folder 72 in which the corresponding job ID is registered. Then, the setting data and output target data stored in the job folder 72 are transmitted to the first output device 10a (P5). For example, when the job information sending request including the job ID “003” is received from the first output device 10a in the holding state shown in FIG. 5, the setting data and the output target data stored in the job folder 72a are stored in the first output device 10a. Transfer to the output device 10a.

  The output device 10 that has received the transfer of the setting data and the output target data from the output management server 30 executes a job such as print processing according to the received data.

  Next, a case where the output destination of a job already transmitted from the information processing terminal 20 to the output management server 30 is changed to another output device will be described.

  For example, when there are many preceding jobs at the specified output destination, or when a job such as a jam or out of paper has occurred and the job is not being executed, the job corresponding to the output instruction transmitted from the information processing terminal 20 May be waiting for a long time. In such a case, the data output system 5 can change the output destination by a drag and drop operation as shown in the output operation screen 50b of FIG.

  That is, by clicking the device icon 53 on the layout image 51 to display the active job list 60b of the output device 10, selecting a target job from the list, dragging and dropping it on another device icon 53, The output destination of the job is changed to the output device 10 corresponding to the drop-destination device icon 53, and the job is canceled in the original output device 10. In the example of FIG. 7, the job “Doc1” is moved from the first output device 10a to the second output device 10b by dragging and dropping the data icon 74a onto the device icon 53b.

  Next, internal control when a job is moved from the first output device 10a to the second output device 10b will be described.

  FIG. 9 shows the transition of data when the information processing terminal 20 transmits an output instruction specifying the first output device 10a as the output destination and then changes the output destination of the job to the second output device 10b. It is a sequence diagram. The processing indicated by P1 to P3 in the figure is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  When an output destination change operation is performed by a drag and drop operation as shown in FIG. 8, an output destination change instruction indicating the change contents is transmitted from the information processing terminal 20 to the output management server 30 (P11). The output destination change instruction includes the job ID, the IP address of the output device before and after the change, and the like.

  Upon receiving the output destination change instruction, the output management server 30 executes the output destination change process shown in FIG. That is, it is determined whether or not the job has been moved based on whether or not the output device before and after the change received in the output destination change instruction is different (step S101). If there is no job movement (step S101; N) The process ends as it is (end).

  If there is a job move (step S101; Y), a new job folder 72 for the job is created in the output destination folder 71 corresponding to the output device 10 after the change (move destination) (step S102). Various information (setting data, output target data, etc.) relating to the job to be moved is copied to the job folder 72 (step S103). Further, the status information of the job registered in the job folder 72 of the transfer source is changed to “cancel” (step S104), and the processing is ended (END).

  FIG. 11 shows the status of registered data in the holding means 32 before and after the job movement. In the figure, a case where the output destination of the job “Sample2.txt” is changed from the first output device 10a to the second output device 10b is illustrated. After the movement, a job folder 72b corresponding to the job “Sample2.txt” is newly created in the output destination folder 71b corresponding to the second output device 10b, and is registered in the job folder 72a before the movement therein. The setting data and output target data that were being copied are duplicated. In the job folder 72a before movement, the job status information 75a is changed from “wait” to “Cancel”.

  Thereafter, as in the case of the output instruction, reserved job information (information indicating the IP address and job type) is transmitted to the second output device 10b to make an output reservation (FIG. 9, P12), and the second The job ID returned from the output device 10b is registered in the corresponding job folder 72 (P13). In the moved job folder 72b of FIG. 11, the job ID “001” (74b) is registered, and the job status information is “wait” (75b).

  When the output management server 30 receives a job information sending request including the job ID “001” from the second output device 10b (FIG. 9, P14), the output management server 30 stores the setting data and output target data stored in the corresponding job folder 72b. Transfer to the second output device 10b (P15).

  On the other hand, when the output management server 30 receives a job information sending request including the job ID “003” from the first output device 10a that is the output destination before the change (P16), the corresponding job folder 72a (Movement in FIG. 11). Since the job status information is “Cancel” (75a), the various information (setting data and output target data) stored in the job folder 72a and the job folder 72a are stored in the job folder 72a. It erases itself from the holding means 32 and deletes it. Further, a job cancel notification is transmitted to the first output device 10a (FIG. 9, P17).

  The first output device 10a that has received the cancel notification executes a cancel process for the job corresponding to the previous job information sending request, and proceeds to the next job process. For example, the cancel processing in the first output device 10a includes changing the history of the active job list to cancel.

  As described above, since data related to the job (setting data and output target data) is held in the holding unit 32 of the output management server 30 until it can be executed by the output device 10 designated as the output destination, output management is performed. While the data is held in the server 30, the output destination can be changed by internal data processing of the output management server 30. As a result, from the user's point of view, even if a job has already been submitted to the output device, the complicated operation of deleting the job and submitting it to the output device after the change becomes unnecessary. The output destination can be changed by a simple operation such as Therefore, even if the previous job cannot be executed due to a jam or running out of paper on the first specified output device, the job can be easily moved to another output device, and the output destination can be confirmed on the layout image. Therefore, the job can be easily moved to the target output device, and an output environment with high operability and convenience can be provided to the user.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the executable time in the output device 10 is determined based on the job information sending request sent from the output device 10, but in the second embodiment, the output device 10 uses the next job. Is predicted on the output management server 30 side, and data transfer from the output management server 30 to the output device 10 is controlled based on the prediction.

  FIG. 12 shows the flow of processing over time when the data of the next job is transferred from the output management server 30 to the output device 10 after receiving the print end notification of the previous job from the output device 10. If the data transfer of the next job B to the output device 10 is started after confirming the end of printing of the previous job A, a time lag D occurs until the print processing for the next job B in the output device 10 starts. Efficiency is reduced.

  Therefore, in the data output system 5 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the data transfer Sb of the next job B is exactly at the timing Te when the print processing of the job A in the output device 10 is completed. The output management server 30 controls the start time of the data transfer Sb so as to end.

  FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the output management server 30b according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those of the output management server 30 shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The output management server 30b according to the second embodiment has a transfer timing management unit 40 in addition to the one shown in the first embodiment.

  The transfer timing management unit 40 calculates a predicted end time that is a predicted value of the time at which the output process (printing process) for the first output target data transferred to the output device 10 ends at the output destination device. The calculation unit 41 calculates a predicted transfer time that is a predicted value of a required time for transferring the second output target data to be transferred next to the first output target data from the output management server 30 to the output device 10. 2 Start the transfer to set the time before the predicted transfer time calculated by the second calculation means 42 from the prediction end time calculated by the first calculation means 41 and the first calculation means 41 as the transfer start time of the second output target data A time setting unit 43, and a correction unit 44 that corrects the deviation of the predicted value by correcting the transfer start time calculated by the transfer start time setting unit 43 or temporarily interrupting the transfer. It is.

  Based on the example of FIG. 13, the operation of the transfer timing management unit 40 will be described. When the output management server 30b receives a job A file (including print data and the like) from the information processing terminal 20, the output management server 30b stores the file size fa and print settings as basic data for calculation. The transfer timing management unit 40 of the output management server 30b measures the transfer rate r between the output management server 30b and the output device 10 at regular intervals, and the first calculation means 41 uses the job A at fa / r. The transfer time tA is obtained. Further, the print processing time tP in the output device 10 is obtained from the print setting of the file and the performance of the output device 10 that prints the file.

Here, the print processing time tP includes both the data development time and the data printing time. The predicted value (first predicted time tL) of the processing time related to the data development is obtained as the average processing time of the development from the file size f and the CPU capacity (data development performance) of the output device 10. Further, the printing time is calculated from the developed data, the printing performance (printing speed) of the output device 10 and the print setting (double-sided / single-sided, etc.). The first calculation unit 41 obtains a predicted end time that is a predicted value of the time when the printing process in the job A in the output device 10 ends from the current time and (tA + tP).

  Here, when the next job (job B) is waiting, the transfer time tB of the next job B is further obtained by the second calculation means 42. The calculation of the transfer time tB of the next job B can be obtained by tB = fb / r where the file size of the job B is fb, similarly to the calculation of the transfer time of the job A.

  The transfer start time setting unit 43 subtracts the transfer time tB of the job B obtained by the second calculation unit 42 from the predicted end time (tA + tP) of the job A obtained by the first calculation unit 41, thereby relating to the data of the job B. The transfer start time tC is calculated. When the transfer start time tC thus obtained has arrived, the data transfer for the next job B is started, so that the data transfer for the next job B is completed at the timing Te when the printing of the job A is just finished in the output device 10. The output device 10 can start the printing process for job B without time lag.

  In addition, by starting the transfer at such timing, the data of the next job B can be held on the output management server 30b side for the longest time within a range in which no time lag occurs. In the first embodiment, It becomes easy to respond to the output destination change request shown.

  In the output device 10, there is a restriction that the next job cannot be expanded before the previous job is printed, so that the data transfer of the next job is not completed before the previous job is printed. Under the conditions, the transfer start time (tC) obtained by the transfer start time setting means 43 is the earliest transfer start timing.

  Next, the correction operation by the transfer start time setting unit 43 will be described.

  As described above, since the average value is used for the data development time, the transfer start time tC is not always obtained correctly. In particular, when the development time of job A becomes longer than the predicted value, it is against the above condition that the data transfer of the next job is not completed before the printing of the previous job is completed. There is.

  FIG. 15 illustrates a state in which the transfer start time and the temporary suspension of transfer are corrected and controlled based on the difference between the predicted deployment time and the actual deployment time. FIG. 15A shows the predicted transfer state, and FIG. 15B shows an actual case where the actual job A development time is longer by tx than the predicted development time (tL). Indicates the transfer status. If the data transfer of the next job B is started at the transfer start time tC obtained initially as shown in FIG. 5A, the development time of the job A is before actually ending although the development time is increased by tx. At (time tPe), the data transfer of job B ends.

  Therefore, when the expansion process of job A is actually completed, a notification of completion of the expansion process is transmitted from the output device 10 to the output management server 30b, and the expansion from job A is performed even if the predicted expansion time (tL) is exceeded. When the end notification does not arrive, correction according to the difference is performed.

  That is, if the output completion notification of the job A does not arrive from the output device 10 even if the predicted expansion time (tL) is exceeded, and the transfer of the job B has not yet started at this time, the initial transfer start time When tC is temporarily invalidated and then a deployment processing completion notification arrives, the initial transfer start time tC is delayed by a time difference (tx) between the actual deployment time and the predicted deployment time (tL). Then, the data transfer of job B is started at the corrected transfer start time tCr.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15 (c), even if the predicted deployment time (tL) is exceeded, the deployment end notification does not arrive from the job A, and the point of time exceeds the initially predicted transfer start time tC. When the data transfer of the job B has already started, the data transfer from the output management server 30b to the output device 10 is performed when the initially predicted development time (tL) is exceeded, as shown in FIG. The processing is immediately interrupted (hatched portion M in the drawing), and then the data transfer of the suspended job B is resumed at the time tLe when the output device 10 receives a notification of completion of the job A development processing.

  This correction prevents the data transfer of job B from being completed when the print processing of job A is actually completed, and the data transfer of job B from being completed before the printing of job A is completed. In addition, after the printing of job A is completed, the printing process for job B can be started without time lag.

  Next, referring to FIG. 16, when the predicted transfer start time tC of job B is before the transfer completion time tAe of job A, that is, because the transfer time of job B is long, transfer of job A The transfer correction control in the case where the job B printing process cannot be started simultaneously with the end of the printing of the job A unless the job B transfer is started before the completion of the process will be described.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 16A, the data transfer of job A and the data transfer of job B overlap. Normally, the output device 10 cannot receive and process both data at the same time, so the transfer start time for the job B is corrected as shown in FIG. That is, the time tAe at which the data transfer for job A is completed is corrected to the data transfer start time tCr for the next job B. As a result, a slight time lag occurs between the end of printing of job A and the start of printing processing of job B. However, in an environment where simultaneous transfer of a plurality of jobs cannot be performed, printing can be performed with a minimum time lag. it can.

  FIG. 17 shows the flow of transfer control processing performed by the output management server 30b in order to perform the above operation. When a new job B is submitted (step S201), it is determined whether the job A preceding it is being processed (transferring) or scheduled to be processed (step S202), and the preceding job A must be being processed or scheduled to be processed. If this is the case (step S202; N), the transfer of job B is started immediately (step S212), and the process is terminated (end).

  If the preceding job A is being processed or is scheduled to be processed (step S203; Y), it waits for job A to be processed (step S203; Y), and if job A is being processed or is being processed from the scheduled processing When this happens (step S203; N), the transfer start time of job B is calculated as shown in FIG. 13 (step S204).

  When the transfer start time of job B comes during transfer of job A (step S205; Y, corresponding to FIG. 16), the transfer start time of job B is corrected to the transfer end time of job A (step S206). .

  Furthermore, when the print processing time (development processing time) of job A is prolonged by tx time from the prediction (step S207; Y), if job B is already being transferred (step S208; Y, FIG. 15C). , (D)), the transfer of the job B is temporarily suspended for the time tx (step S209). On the other hand, if it is before the start of transfer of job B (step S208; N, corresponding to FIG. 15B), the transfer start time is corrected to a time obtained by adding tx time to the initial transfer start time (step S210).

  Except when the transfer of job B has already started, it waits for the transfer start time set or corrected as described above to arrive (step S211; N), and when the transfer start time is reached (step S211; Y ), Data transfer of job B is started (step S212), and the process is ended (END).

  FIG. 18 shows a sequence for processing a plurality of jobs in the data output system 5 according to the second embodiment. When a print instruction (output instruction) related to job A is transmitted from the first information processing terminal 20a to the output management server 30b (P21), the output management server 30b receives the setting data and output target related to job A received from the information processing terminal 20a. Data and the like are held in the holding unit 32. Further, the output management server 30b transmits the reserved job information to the output device 10 designated as the output destination of the job A and reserves the output of the job A (P22).

  The output device 10 registers job A as an active job based on the reserved job information received from the output management server 30b, and returns the job ID assigned to this job to the output management server 30b (P23).

  When there is no waiting job having a job ID before job A, the output management server 30b becomes the next job, so the print processing time of the previous job, job information of job A (output target data) The transfer start time for the job A is obtained from the data amount, the transfer rate, and the performance of the output device 10 (P24). In the output device 10, the printing of the job preceding the job A is started (P25).

  Thereafter, when a print instruction (output instruction) relating to job B specifying the same output destination as job A is transmitted from the second information processing terminal 20b to the output management server 30b (P26), the output management server 30b The setting data relating to B, the output target data, and the like are held in the holding unit 32, and the reserved job information is transmitted to the output destination apparatus for job B to make an output reservation for job B (P27).

  The output device 10 registers job B as an active job based on the reserved job information received from the output management server 30b, and returns the job ID assigned to the job to the output management server 30b (P28).

  When the transfer start time for job A arrives, the output management server 30b starts data transfer for job A to the output device 10 (P29) and calculates the transfer start time for job B (P30).

  In the output device 10, when the print processing of the previous job is completed, the data transfer related to the job A is completed almost simultaneously, and the print processing of the job A is performed without time lag (P31). A hatched portion Tr in the figure indicates a data transfer period related to the job A.

  Thereafter, when the transfer start time for job B comes during printing of job A, data transfer for job B is started (P32). As described above, the transfer start time is corrected as necessary.

  In this way, the data transfer start time and the temporary suspension of the transfer for the next job are controlled so that the data transfer of the next job is completed when the print processing of the previous job is completed. In addition, the output device 10 can start printing the next job without time lag after the previous job is printed, while holding the data in the output management server 30b as long as possible.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the output destination folder 71 is provided for each output device 10 and the job folder 72 is provided in the output destination folder 71 to associate the job with the output device 10, but the association is performed by other methods. Also good. For example, the output destination device ID of the job may be registered in the job folder 72.

  In the first embodiment, when the output destination is changed, the status information of the original output destination job is changed to “Cancel”, and a job information sending request is received later from the output device 10. Although the job is deleted, when the output destination is changed, the output management server 30 notifies the output destination apparatus of job cancellation, and the output management server 30 sends the job to the original output destination. It may be configured to delete the job. In this case, the job folder 72 in the output destination folder 71 corresponding to the original output destination is moved to the output destination folder 71 corresponding to the changed output destination, and the job ID and the like are notified from the new output destination. It is possible to change the output destination by a procedure such as changing to something.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the job output instruction and the output destination change instruction are issued by a drag and drop operation on the layout image, but the operation on the information processing terminal 20 is not limited to this. For example, an operation for selecting an output destination from a list of device names may be used.

  Further, when the data transfer timing is calculated on the output management server 30 side as in the second embodiment, it is not necessary to make an output reservation for the output device 10, and the job on the output management server 30b side. May be configured to manage all the output order, output timing, and the like.

  Further, in the second embodiment, due to the transfer start time or the temporary interruption of transfer, the transfer completion of the data of the next job does not end before the end of the print processing of the previous job, and as few as possible from the end of the print of the previous job. Although the control is performed so as to complete with a time lag, for example, the transfer end timing may be adjusted by controlling the transfer speed. That is, even if the transfer start time setting means 43 performs control to delay the transfer rate so that the transfer end time is delayed from the beginning by the time tx that delays the transfer start time or temporarily stops the transfer. Good. Also, the transfer start time is set as appropriate (for example, immediately after the previous job is transferred), only the last part of the transfer target data is put on hold, and a print job end notification is received from the output device 10 At this time, a small amount of data that has been put on hold may be transmitted to the output device 10. In this way, a time lag corresponding to the transfer time of the small amount of data is sufficient.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the data output system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main function structures of the data output system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the output operation screen displayed on the display apparatus of an information processing terminal, when printing is instruct | indicated from an information processing terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an active job list. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure in the holding means of the output management server concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows transition of the data concerning an output instruction | indication. It is a sequence diagram which shows transition of the data concerning an output instruction | indication. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the output operation screen at the time of changing an output destination. It is a sequence diagram which shows transition of the data concerning an output change instruction | indication. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the output destination change process which the output management server which received the output change instruction | indication performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the registration data in a holding | maintenance means by contrast before and after a job movement. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing when data of the next job is transferred from the output management server to the output device after receiving a print end notification of the previous job from the output device as time elapses. It is explanatory drawing which represented the process when the output management server of the data output system concerning 2nd Embodiment controlled the transfer start timing as time passed. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the output management server b concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which represented a mode that the transfer start time and the temporary interruption of transfer were correct | amended based on the difference of the estimated expansion | deployment time (1st prediction time tL) and actual expansion | deployment time. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing correction control over time when the predicted transfer start time of the next job is before the completion of transfer of the previous job. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the transfer control process which the output management server concerning 2nd Embodiment performs. It is a sequence diagram which shows transition of the data in the case of processing a some job in the data output system concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Network 5 ... Data output system 10 ... Output device 10a ... 1st output device (MFP1)
10b ... Second output device (MFP2)
10c ... Third output device (MFP3)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Reservation management part 12 ... Reservation reception means 13 ... Job information request means 20 ... Information processing terminal 21 ... Output instruction transmission means 22 ... Change instruction transmission means 30 ... Output management server 31 ... Reception means 32 ... Holding means 33 ... Reservation means 35 ... Transfer control means 36 ... Change instruction receiving means 37 ... Output destination changing means 38 ... Screen display control means 39 ... Layout information storage section 40 ... Transfer timing management section 41 ... First calculation means 42 ... Second calculation means 43 ... Transfer Start time setting means 44 ... correction means 50 ... output operation screen 51 ... layout image 52 ... desk 53 ... device icon 54 ... data icon 60 ... active job list 71 ... output destination folder 72 ... job folder

Claims (17)

In an output management server in which an information processing terminal and a plurality of output devices are connected via a network,
Receiving means for receiving output target data from the information processing terminal and an output instruction specifying the output device of the output destination;
Holding means for holding the output target data received by the receiving means in association with output destination information indicating an output device designated as an output destination in the output instruction;
The output target data to the output device according to the time when the processing for the output target data can be executed in the output device indicated by the output destination information associated with the output target data held in the holding unit And a transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the output management server. A change instruction receiving means for receiving an output destination change instruction for changing the output destination of the output target data held in the holding means from the first output device to the second output device from the information processing terminal;
When the output destination change instruction is received by the change instruction receiving unit, the output target data held in the holding unit is changed to a state associated with output destination information indicating the second output device. The output management server according to claim 1, further comprising: an output destination changing unit. Folders created for each output device are output destination information, and the output target data is held in the folder so as to associate the output target data with the output destination information,
The output destination changing means moves or duplicates the output target data from a folder corresponding to the first output device to a folder corresponding to the second output device, thereby changing the output target data to the second output device. The output management server according to claim 2, wherein the output management server is in a state associated with output destination information indicating the output device. When the output destination data is moved or duplicated from the folder corresponding to the first output device to the folder corresponding to the second output device by the output destination changing unit, the output destination change unit corresponds to the first output device. The output management server according to claim 3, wherein a job set for the output target data in a folder is deleted. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reservation unit configured to make an output reservation related to the output target data with respect to an output destination device of the output target data held in the holding unit. Output management server. The transfer control means sends the second output target data to the output device at a timing when the output processing related to the first output target data in the output device is completed. The output management server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein transfer of the second output target data is controlled. Terminal identification information corresponding to each output device is displayed, and the output instruction or the output destination change instruction is generated based on a user operation such as dragging and dropping data identification information corresponding to output target data to the terminal identification information The output management server according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising screen display control means for transmitting display data for displaying an operation screen to be displayed on the information processing terminal to the information processing terminal. The output management server according to claim 7, wherein the operation screen displays a layout image for representing an arrangement of the output devices, and the terminal identification information is displayed as an icon on the layout image. . In a data output system in which an information processing terminal, a plurality of output devices, and an output management server are connected via a network,
The information processing terminal includes output instruction transmission means for transmitting output target data and an output instruction designating an output destination output device to the output management server,
The output management server
Receiving means for receiving output target data from the information processing terminal and an output instruction specifying the output device of the output destination;
Holding means for holding the output target data received by the receiving means in association with output destination information indicating an output device designated by the output instruction;
The output target data to the output device according to the time when the processing for the output target data can be executed in the output device indicated by the output destination information associated with the output target data held in the holding unit And a transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the data output system. Change in which the information processing terminal transmits an output destination change instruction to the output management server to change the output destination of the output target data held in the holding unit from the first output device to the second output device An instruction transmission means;
The output management server
Change instruction receiving means for receiving the output destination change instruction;
When the output destination change instruction is received by the change instruction receiving unit, the output target data held in the holding unit is changed to a state associated with output destination information indicating the second output device. The data output system according to claim 9, further comprising: an output destination changing unit. The output management server uses a folder created for each output device as output destination information, and associates the output target data with the output destination information by holding the output target data in the folder.
The output destination changing means moves or duplicates the output target data from a folder corresponding to the first output device to a folder corresponding to the second output device, thereby changing the output target data to the second output device. The data output system according to claim 9, wherein the data output system is in a state associated with output destination information indicating the output device. When the output target data is moved or copied from the folder corresponding to the first output device to the folder corresponding to the second output device by the output destination changing unit, The data output system according to claim 11, wherein a job set for the output target data in a folder corresponding to the output device is deleted. The output management server further includes reservation means for making an output reservation related to the output target data to an output destination device of the output target data held in the holding means. The data output system according to any one of 12. The output device includes a reservation receiving unit that receives the output reservation request from the output management server, registers the request as a reservation job, and returns a reservation ID of the reservation job to the output management server;
The output management server holds the reservation ID returned from the output device in association with the output target data,
The output device has job information requesting means for transmitting a job information sending request including the reservation ID to the output management server when processing for the reserved job becomes possible,
When the output management server receives the job information transmission request from the output device, the output management server transfers the output target data associated with the reservation ID included in the job information transmission request to the output device. The data output system according to claim 13. The transfer control means includes a second output target data to be transferred next to the first output target data to the output device at a timing when the output process related to the first output target data in the output device is completed. The data output system according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein transfer of the second output target data to the output device is controlled so that the transfer ends. The output instruction is displayed based on a user operation such as displaying terminal identification information corresponding to each output device on the screen of the information processing terminal and dragging and dropping data identification information corresponding to output target data to the terminal identification information. Alternatively, the data output system according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the output destination change instruction is generated. The data output system according to claim 16, wherein a layout image for representing an arrangement of each output device is displayed on a screen of the information processing terminal, and the terminal identification information is displayed as an icon on the layout image. .

Images