JP2010146353A - Printing system, job processing method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system and a job processing method capable of performing output by printing setting desired by a user and reducing work burdens on the user. <P>SOLUTION: The printing system includes: a job reception part 21 for receiving a printing job; a job storage part 23 for storing the printing job; an input reception part 31 for displaying a list of the stored printing jobs on an operation panel, receiving the selection of the printing job, also displaying a printing condition for specifying processing to be executed by a function provided in an MFP 30 on the operation panel and receiving the setting of the printing condition; and a job working part 25 for working the selected printing job so as to print and output it according to the set printing condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a job processing method, and a computer for realizing the method, in which printing conditions are set on the image forming apparatus side, and the set printing conditions can be reflected in a print job and printed out. The present invention relates to a readable program and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  There are various types of image forming apparatuses such as a printer, such as a monochrome printer, a color printer, a printer capable of duplex printing, and a printer with a finisher capable of punching and stapling. In recent years, the cycle of new product introduction has become shorter and the number of models has been increasing.

  In order to use these image forming apparatuses, it is necessary to install software called a driver for controlling the apparatus. The increase in models affects the development of this driver, and it takes time and money to develop a driver for each model. Therefore, a model common driver that can output print data without depending on the model is increasingly used.

  In addition, as the internal network environment has been improved, there is a case where it is desired to perform printing at a branch office or branch office on a business trip, and the printer installed at the branch office or branch office is not necessarily used by the user normally. It is not always the same model as the device being installed, and if a common model driver is installed in such a case, printing can be performed without installing a separate driver.

  The common driver for each model has compatibility with respect to the functions that are generally common among the models, although there are restrictions on functions and optional configurations unique to each model. Therefore, the print data output using the model common driver can be printed out in accordance with the print settings for the number of copies, the print target, the print range, the font, the margin, the number of rows, the number of columns, and the like.

  When printing, the driver requests the user to make print settings such as the print target, print range, and number of copies. The common model driver displays items that cannot be set depending on the model on the screen, and the user sets them. Making it possible. For this reason, even though the model cannot be stapled, the print setting screen displays a display for selecting whether or not to staple, and allows the user to select.

  If the user does not know that the image forming apparatus cannot perform stapling, set “Perform stapling” and wait for print output. Is not stapled.

  Therefore, a technique for displaying an error screen when printing cannot be performed by the image forming apparatus selected by the user has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the document list display unit displays a list of information of one or more document data that can be printed in the name of a user who has been successfully authenticated, and the print document designation unit displays a list based on a selection operation. Document data to be subjected to image formation is selected from the one or more pieces of document data information, the print format restriction information obtaining unit obtains the user's format restriction information, and the document list display unit obtains each of the one or more document data. When the appearance based on the appearance information attached to the document data is a restriction target based on the acquired appearance restriction information, the fact is further displayed.

In this apparatus, first, a user sends a job to a server during printing, and the server stores the job. Then go to the printer you want to output and select a job. The application included in the printer acquires option information installed in the printer, and checks whether the current job can be printed based on the option information. Then, the application changes to printable print settings automatically or according to a user instruction, and notifies the server of a job acquisition request and print setting information. The server processes the data based on the print setting information and transmits it to the printer, and the printer receives the processed data from the server and executes printing.
JP 2007-320166 A

  In the above device, the print settings are confirmed at the time of printing, whether the user authority and whether or not printing that satisfies the settings can be performed, and if not possible, the user is notified, but in this case, the user performs printing, If the appearance information is inappropriate, the user is urged to set it again, and there is a problem that the user's work load increases.

  Therefore, it is possible to obtain a desired print output with only one setting and to quickly determine whether or not the user can perform desired printing without re-setting by the user. There has been a desire to provide a system and method.

  In the present invention, in view of the above problems, when a print job is input from a client device equipped with a model-specific driver to the print server, the print server accumulates the print job and allows the user to select the print job in the image forming apparatus. The printing conditions of functions available in the image forming apparatus are displayed, and the user is allowed to set the printing conditions. The image forming apparatus receives a print condition setting from the user, notifies the print server together with the selected job, and the print server processes the print job based on the set print condition. Thereafter, the print server sends the processed print job to the image forming apparatus to be printed out.

  In this way, in the image forming apparatus, by displaying the print conditions of available functions and allowing the user to set the print conditions, the print output desired by the user can be obtained with only one setting, and an error is displayed. Thus, since the user is not required to input again, the work burden on the user can be reduced. Further, it can be determined at the time of this setting that the user cannot perform desired printing. Furthermore, processing that requires a lot of resources, such as processing of print jobs, is performed by a print server that has more resources than image forming apparatuses, rather than image forming apparatuses that have fewer resources, thus reducing the overall system load. be able to.

  That is, the above problem can be solved by providing the printing system of the present invention.

  The printing system includes a job storage unit that receives and stores a print job from a client device, a job reception unit that displays a list of stored print jobs on a display unit, and receives a print job selection from a user, and a printing system. Displaying the printing conditions for specifying the processing executed by the function on the display means, and receiving the setting of the printing conditions from the user, and printing the selected print job according to the set printing conditions. Job processing means for processing.

  Function acquisition means for acquiring settable functions and printing conditions for the functions from the configuration information collected by inquiring each component device constituting the printing system when the printing system is started, and identifying the functions And a table storage unit that stores function identification information and printing conditions as association reference tables. In this case, the function accepting unit can display the function identification information of the settable function and the printing condition of the function with reference to the reference table.

  In this way, by storing the printing conditions for each function as a reference table, it is possible to omit the process of acquiring the printing conditions that are required every time printing is performed.

  In addition, among the component devices constituting the printing system, an inquiry is made at regular intervals to the component devices whose availability varies, and information collecting means for collecting information on the component devices is collected. Judgment means for judging the state of the component device from the information can be further included. In this case, the function accepting unit can change the information to be displayed based on the determined state. When the staples are exhausted, information indicating that the staples are exhausted can be acquired, and the information displayed from “can be set” to “cannot be set” can be changed.

  As a result, it is possible to determine that the user cannot obtain the desired print result before actually printing on the paper and outputting it, and it is possible to take appropriate measures.

  Companies and the like often have an authentication server for authenticating users, but this authentication server accepts input of user identification information and determines whether or not it matches the user identification information registered in advance. Thus, the printing condition can be stored for each user in the printing condition storage means.

  Thereby, even when one image forming apparatus is shared by a plurality of people, a desired print result can be obtained efficiently.

  The printing condition storage means can store printing conditions preset by the user. In this case, if the function accepting unit does not accept the setting of the print condition after the job accepting unit accepts the selection of the print job, the job processing unit sets the preset value stored in the print condition storing unit. Printing conditions can be used for processing.

  If the same condition is set every time, it is burdensome for the user to make the setting for each printing. Therefore, by setting a preset condition as a default setting, it is possible to reduce the load on the user.

  The function accepting unit usually displays the printing conditions as described above and prompts the user to set the conditions. However, if the printing condition storage unit stores a preset printing condition, the printing condition setting is performed. It is also possible not to accept.

  Management costs can be reduced by avoiding individual settings and making settings in a batch.

  In the printing system, the job storage unit and the job processing unit may be provided in a server device, and the job reception unit and the function reception unit may be provided in an image forming apparatus. In this configuration, the job storage unit accepts a print job from a client device that outputs a print job that does not depend on the model of the image forming apparatus, and the function accepting unit prints a printing condition for processing executed by a function of the image forming apparatus Can be displayed on the display means, and the setting of the printing condition from the user can be accepted.

  In addition to the above printing system, the present invention can also provide a method for processing a print job by the printing system. This method includes, as processing steps, processing executed by each unit included in the printing system. That is, this method specifies a step of receiving and storing a print job, a step of displaying a list of stored print jobs on a display unit, receiving a selection of a print job, and a process executed by a function provided in the printing system. A step of displaying a print condition to be displayed on the display means and receiving the setting of the print condition; and a step of processing the selected print job so as to be printed according to the set print condition.

  These processing steps can be realized by executing a computer-readable program. For this reason, the present invention can also provide a computer-readable program for realizing the job processing method.

  The program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium. In the present invention, a recording medium on which the program is recorded can also be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a client device 10, a print server 20, and two MFPs 30 that are image forming apparatuses are connected to each other via a network 40. The network 40 can be the Internet or an intranet.

  The client device 10 is installed with a driver for controlling the MFP 30 so that the MFP 30 can be used. Therefore, the client apparatus 10 includes a memory for storing a driver, a processor for reading and executing the driver, and a communication device for communicating with the MFP 30. The client device 10 also stores applications such as a document creation application and a spreadsheet application in order to create print data to be printed, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting characters, and an input A display device for displaying the characters and the like.

  The driver installed in the client apparatus 10 is a model-common driver that can output a print job independent of the model of the image forming apparatus, and generally has compatibility with respect to functions common to the models. Therefore, the print job output using the model common driver can be printed out in accordance with the print settings for the number of copies, the print target, the print range, the font, the margin, the number of rows, the number of columns, and the like. However, depending on the model of the image forming apparatus, for example, the presence or absence of stapling or punching, duplex printing, and the like are set by the user in the MFP 30 described later.

  The driver converts a file such as a document created using an application included in the client device 10 into a print job. The print job is a print request, and includes print data and a series of processing instructions.

  The print server 20 receives and accumulates print jobs transmitted from the client device 10. Further, the print server 20 transmits the accumulated print job to the MFP 30 in response to a request from the MFP 30. Therefore, the print server 20 also communicates with a memory for storing programs for executing these processes, a storage device for storing print jobs, a processor for reading and executing programs, the client device 10 and the MFP 30. A communication device is provided.

  The MFP 30 processes the print job received from the print server 20 and prints it out. For this reason, the MFP 30 includes a printing apparatus. If the printing apparatus is an electrophotographic color printer, a photosensitive drum, a charging unit for charging the photosensitive drum, and an exposure apparatus for irradiating a laser beam to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum A developing unit including a toner cartridge for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, a primary transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to a transfer belt, and paper feeding A secondary transfer unit for transferring the toner image on the transfer belt to the paper, and a fixing unit for fixing the toner image transferred to the paper to the paper.

  The MFP 30 also controls a processor for controlling the entire apparatus, such as the irradiation position, intensity, irradiation time, transfer belt conveyance speed, paper feed speed, and fixing temperature of the exposure apparatus, and causes the processor to execute the control. And a communication device for performing communication with the print server 20.

  Since the MFP 30 is a multifunction device, the MFP 30 further includes a reading device and the like necessary for realizing a copy function, a FAX function, and a scanner function in addition to the printer device. Here, two MFPs 30 are connected to the network 40. For example, one has a finisher capable of stapling or punching, and the other has no finisher, but is capable of duplex printing.

  Communication between the client apparatus 10 and the print server 20 and between the print server 20 and the MFP 30 can be performed using a protocol such as HTTP or FTP. In FIG. 1, one client device 10 and two MFPs 30 are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration is such that two or more client devices, three or more MFPs or printers are connected to the network 40. May be.

  The user creates a document or the like using an application in the client device 10, performs print settings such as character size, number of rows, number of columns, margin, enlargement / reduction, number of copies, paper size, print page number, etc. After the execution, go to the desired MFP 30. When the user already knows the function of the image forming apparatus, the user goes to the image forming apparatus having the function he wants to use, and when he / she does not know the function of the image forming apparatus at the first place to visit, any one of the image forming apparatuses Go to. Therefore, the user sets a print condition for designating a process executed by the selection and function of a print job described later in the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a module configuration of each device illustrated in FIG. 1. The client device 10 is equipped with a model common driver 11 for performing print control.

  The print server 20 includes a job reception unit 21 that receives a print job created by the client device 10 and converted by the driver 11, a job analysis unit 22 that analyzes the received print job, and a job that accumulates the analyzed print job. And an accumulating unit 23. The job analysis unit 22 analyzes a series of processing instructions (commands) included in the print job, and confirms the number of copies, the paper size, the print page number, and the like.

  Further, the print server 20 responds to the request processing unit 24 for processing a request from the MFP 30, the job selected by the user with the MFP 30, and the print conditions of the functions provided in the MFP 30 set by the user. And a job processing unit 25 for processing the print job so as to be printed out according to the printing conditions.

  Examples of functions provided in the MFP 30 include punching, stapling, and duplex printing. The printing condition is setting information indicating how many holes are to be punched at which position if the function is punch. In the processing of a print job, when a punch for making two holes on the left side toward a sheet is specified, a command for executing these processes is generated, and this command is embedded at an appropriate position in a series of processing instructions. . For example, it can be embedded between a print command and a paper discharge command in a series of commands arranged in the order of processing. The process in this case is a process of making a hole at a desired position after printing on a sheet by a print command and then discharging the sheet.

  The request processing unit 24 receives from the MFP 30 a processing request for the job that has selected the printing conditions of the function input for setting in the MFP 30, passes them to the job processing unit 25, and the job processing unit 25 Process print jobs based on print conditions. The job processing unit 25 sends the processed print job to the request processing unit 24, and the request processing unit 24 transmits the print job to the MFP 30.

  The MFP 30 includes an input receiving unit 31 that receives a user input and a print job transmitted from the print server 20, an authentication unit 32 that performs user authentication, and a job request unit 33 that requests a print job stored in the print server 20. Request information creation that creates request information for requesting a desired print job from the device information acquisition unit 34 that acquires information from each component device constituting the MFP 30, and the job selected by the user and the set print conditions And a printing unit 36 that executes a print job.

  Processing performed by the client device 10, the print server 20, and the MFP 30 will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing between the client device 10 and the print server 20.

  First, in the client device 10, the user creates a document by starting a document creation application or the like and inputting characters. When this document is printed, a printer that can be printed is displayed by the driver, and when the user selects one of them, print settings that can be set are displayed. The user performs print settings using the input device and issues a print instruction to the print server 20. In response to this instruction, a print job is input from the model common driver 11 included in the client device 10 to the job receiving unit 21 included in the print server 20.

  The job receiving unit 21 sends the print job to the job analyzing unit 22, and the job analyzing unit 22 analyzes a series of commands included in the print job and confirms the print setting information. Thereafter, the job analysis unit 22 sends the print job to the job storage unit 23 for temporary spooling, and the job storage unit 23 stores the print job.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing between the print server 20 and the MFP 30. When the client device 10 sends a print instruction to the print server 20, the user moves to the desired MFP 30 and inputs user identification information such as a user ID and password to the operation panel of the MFP 30. The input receiving unit 31 included in the MFP 30 receives the input user identification information and sends the user identification information to the authentication unit 32.

  The authentication unit 32 compares user identification information such as a user ID and password registered in advance with the transmitted user identification information, and confirms whether it matches any registered user identification information. If there is a match, the user is authenticated, and the user's operation is permitted. If there is no match, the user's operation is rejected.

  When the input reception unit 31 receives from the authentication unit 32 that the user has been authenticated, the input reception unit 31 requests the job request unit 33 to obtain a list of print jobs instructed by the user. The job request unit 33 transmits an acquisition request for a list of print jobs instructed by the user to be printed to the request processing unit 24 included in the print server 20.

  The request processing unit 24 processes the acquisition request, searches the job storage unit 23 for print jobs instructed by the user, searches them for a list, and returns them to the job request unit 33 as a list. The job request unit 33 sends the list to the input receiving unit 31, and the input receiving unit 31 displays the list and allows the user to select it. The user can select a job from the list, and the input reception unit 31 receives the selected job again.

  When the input reception unit 31 receives a job selection, the input reception unit 31 requests the device information acquisition unit 34 to acquire information on each component device constituting the MFP 30. The device information acquisition unit 34 makes an inquiry to each component device and acquires information on each device. For example, in the case of an MFP with a finisher, an inquiry is made to the finisher to acquire information such as whether punching is possible and there is no stapling. Upon acquiring these pieces of information, the device information acquisition unit 34 sends the information to the input reception unit 31 as configuration information. The input receiving unit 31 displays a print condition for specifying a process to be executed by a function that can be set from the configuration information, and prompts the user to set the print condition. When the user makes a setting such as selection, the input receiving unit 31 receives the setting and sends it to the request information creating unit 35 as information about the selected print job as the set printing condition.

  The request information creation unit 35 requests the selected print job, creates a processing request for processing the print job so as to be printed out according to the printing conditions, and inputs the input reception unit 31 instructing the request. Return to. The input receiving unit 31 sends these requests to the job requesting unit 33 and requests to obtain a processed print job. The job request unit 33 receives the request and transmits the request to the request processing unit 24 included in the print server 20.

  Upon receiving these requests, the request processing unit 24 takes out the requested print job from the job storage unit 23, and sends the processing request and the extracted print job to the job processing unit 25. The job processing unit 25 processes the print job based on the printing conditions included in the processing request. The job processing unit 25 returns the processed print job to the request processing unit 24, and the request processing unit 24 returns it to the job request unit 33 that is the transmission source.

  When the job request unit 33 receives the processed print job, the job request unit 33 sends the processed print job to the input receiving unit 31, and sends the processed print job from the input receiving unit 31 to the printing unit 36. Upon receiving the processed print job, the printing unit 36 executes a series of processing commands in order using the print data included in the print job. For example, the printing unit 36 feeds a set number of sheets of paper of a set paper size so that it is printed in the setting direction, sets the margins of the header and footer, the set number of characters, the size of characters, and the arrangement If printing is performed using the position and color, and “stapling” is set, stapling is performed after printing and output.

  When printing by the printing unit 36 is completed, the printing unit 36 transmits a message to the effect that output has been completed to the input receiving unit 31. When receiving the message, the input receiving unit 31 displays a message such as “printing complete” on the operation panel.

  Here, an example of a screen displayed on a display unit such as an operation panel of the MFP 30 is shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is a screen that shows a list of print jobs, and FIG. 5B is a screen that shows print conditions for functions that can be set.

  In the screen shown in FIG. 5 (a), three jobs are shown, and are displayed with the document name to identify the job. In addition, the number of pages of the document and the date and time when the job was submitted are also displayed. Yes. Here, since the display unit is an operation panel, the user can select a job by touching a desired position.

  The screen displays a print setting button for displaying the screen shown in FIG. 5B, a print button for executing printing, and a cancel button for canceling the selection. These buttons can be pressed by touching the user.

  When the user touches and presses the print setting button shown in FIG. 5A, the screen shown in FIG. 5B can be displayed. In the screen shown in FIG. 5B, the printing conditions indicate that there are functions of stapling, punching, and double-sided printing. Regarding the printing conditions, stapling is not performed, the upper left is stapled, and the upper right is staple. It is possible to select 3 types of “stop”. With regard to punching, 3 types of not drilling, drilling on the left side, and drilling on the right side can be selected. For duplex printing, only one side is available. In addition, it is possible to select three types, that is, side-stitched so that pages are turned left and right on both sides, and top-stitched so that pages are turned up and down on both sides.

  These selections can also be made by touching what the user wants to specify. This screen further displays a determination button that is pressed when setting the selected content, and a cancel button for canceling the selected content.

  When the user touches and presses the enter button, the content is set and the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. When the determination button is pressed after the cancel button is pressed, the selected content is not reflected, the content is confirmed with the setting before the selection, and the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG.

  In the embodiments described so far, in response to a request from the input receiving unit 31, the device information acquiring unit 34 collects information from each component device and returns the configuration information to the input receiving unit 31, However, the information may be collected in advance and stored as configuration information before receiving the request, and may be returned as soon as the request is received.

  For example, when the MFP 30 is turned on and activated, the device information acquisition unit 34 can collect information from each component device and hold the configuration information as a table. As the table, a reference table as shown in FIG. 6 can be held. This reference table includes function names for identifying the functions of the image forming apparatus such as staple, punch, double-sided, and corresponding PDL, and printing conditions corresponding to the function names. Here, four types of upper right, upper left, two right and two left can be set for staple, two right and two left can be set for punch, and double-sided for duplex printing. It can be set to be printable, and the corresponding PDL indicates that three of PCL, PS3, and PDF can be selected.

  Here, PDL is a page description language, and is a language for describing an output image to a printer and instructing the printer when printing a document or an image created on a computer.

  By previously storing the printing conditions as a reference table in this way, processing necessary for each printing can be omitted.

  The input reception unit 31 requests configuration information from the device information acquisition unit 34, receives the configuration information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 34, and displays printing conditions of functions that can be set from the configuration information. For component devices whose presence or absence fluctuates, the device information acquisition unit 34 can inquire at regular intervals and acquire information from the component devices. And the apparatus information acquisition part 34 judges the state of the component apparatus from the acquired information. When information indicating that there is no stapling is acquired, it is determined that stapling is lost and stapling cannot be performed.

  The determination result is sent to the input receiving unit 31, and the input receiving unit 31 is indicated by “x” on the operation panel of the MFP 30 so that the icon indicating stapling as shown in FIG. ing. For this reason, when the user wants to perform stapling, the user can stop printing and perform printing with another image forming apparatus or replenish the staples and execute printing again. In this way, when the print result desired by the user cannot be obtained, it is possible to make a determination before printing and to cope with it.

  In the above-described embodiment, the user performs printing by setting printing conditions each time printing is performed. This is sufficient when printing is performed under different printing conditions every time. However, it is a burden for a user who performs printing under the same printing conditions to make settings for each printing. Therefore, if printing conditions are set in advance, the printing conditions are stored in the MFP 30, and nothing is set at the time of printing, the print job may be processed based on the stored printing conditions. it can.

  Therefore, the MFP 30 further includes a print condition storage unit 37 for storing print conditions as shown in FIG. The case where the stored printing conditions are used can be set as a default setting, thereby reducing the burden on the user. For example, if a document to be printed is preset in the upper right staple and stored in the print condition storage unit 37, and nothing is set during actual printing, the job processing unit 25 executes a print job based on the setting. Based on the processed print job, the printing unit 36 can staple and output the upper right.

  The setting at this time can be set in advance by displaying the screen shown in FIG. 9 on the operation panel of the MFP 30, touching the icon to be selected, touching and pressing the save button.

  Many companies have an authentication server to enhance security. When authenticating the user, this authentication server can also be used. In this case, user authentication can be performed by an IC chip in which user information is recorded. The user places the IC chip on the reading unit, and the reading unit reads the user information recorded in the IC chip. Is sent to the authentication server. The authentication server can perform authentication by determining whether or not the sent user information matches the registered user information.

  As user information, in addition to the user ID and password, information such as the date of birth and the department to which the user belongs can also be included. In this way, print setting information can be stored for each user, and a desired print result can be obtained efficiently even when the MFP 30 is shared by a plurality of people.

  The printing conditions are set in advance and stored in the printing condition storage unit 37, and can be read and used as default settings when nothing is set during printing. If the printing conditions are set, the printing conditions can be used. Can do.

  Although individual settings are possible in the above case, individual settings can be made from the screen shown in FIG. The screen shown in FIG. 10 can be selected by the user. After selecting the user, the user can switch to the screen shown in FIG. 9 by touching and pressing the print condition setting button. In the screen shown in FIG. 9, a desired icon is touched to select it, and a save button is touched and pressed to store the printing conditions in association with the user identification information.

  When there are printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage unit 37, it is possible to make it impossible to make individual settings during printing and to use only the stored printing conditions. For example, even if it is displayed on the operation panel, it can be indicated by “x” as shown in FIG. Moreover, it can also be made not to display.

  If it is desired to force double-sided printing to reduce costs, the user can always set double-sided printing by setting the MFP 30 so that cost reduction can be forced. The setting can be performed on the operation panel of the MFP 30. Further, it may be performed on a UI provided in the print server 20. Furthermore, in the case of an authentication server managed by a group as well as a user, it can be set for each group.

  By doing so, it is possible to reduce the management cost by preventing the setting for each individual user and enabling the setting in a lump.

  The present invention has been described with the above-described embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art will conceive other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, and the like. It can be changed within the range that can be performed, and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the operation and effect of the present invention are exhibited.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. The figure which showed one module structure of each apparatus which comprises a printing system. The figure which illustrated the processing sequence between a client apparatus and a print server. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processing sequence between a print server and an MFP. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a table created and stored when the MFP is activated. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another screen displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. FIG. The figure which showed another module structure of each apparatus which comprises a printing system. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the operation panel of the MFP in the module configuration illustrated in FIG. 8. The figure which illustrated another screen displayed on the operation panel of MFP.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Client apparatus, 11 ... Driver, 20 ... Print server, 21 ... Job receiving part, 22 ... Job analysis part, 23 ... Job storage part, 24 ... Request processing part, 25 ... Job processing part, 30 ... MFP, 31 ... Input accepting unit 32 ... Authentication unit 33 ... Job requesting unit 34 ... Device information obtaining unit 35 ... Request information creating unit 36 ... Printing unit 37 ... Printing condition storage unit 40 ... Network

Claims (15)

A printing system for processing print jobs,
Job storage means for receiving and storing the print job;
A job acceptance means for displaying a list of the accumulated print jobs on a display means and accepting selection of the print job;
A function accepting means for causing the display means to display a print condition for specifying a process to be executed by a function of the printing system, and for accepting the setting of the print condition;
And a job processing unit configured to process the selected print job so that the selected print job is printed out according to the set printing conditions. Function acquisition means for acquiring the settable functions and printing conditions of the functions from the configuration information collected by inquiring each component device constituting the printing system when the printing system is started, and the functions Table storage means for storing function identification information for identifying the print condition and the association reference table as a correspondence reference table,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the function receiving unit displays the function identification information of the settable function and a printing condition of the function with reference to the reference table.   Among the constituent devices constituting the printing system, an inquiry is made to the constituent devices whose availability is fluctuating at regular intervals, information collecting means for collecting information on the constituent devices, and the collected information The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a determining unit that determines a state of the component device from information, wherein the function receiving unit changes information to be displayed based on the determined state.   An authentication unit that receives input of user identification information and determines whether or not the user identification information is registered in advance and performs user authentication; and a printing condition storage unit that stores the printing condition for each user. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   A printing condition storage unit that stores the printing condition set in advance; and when the function receiving unit does not receive the setting of the printing condition after the job receiving unit receives the selection of the printing job, The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the job processing unit uses the preset printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage unit for processing.   The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the function accepting unit is configured not to accept the setting of the printing condition when the preset printing condition is stored in the printing condition storing unit.   The printing system includes a server apparatus including the job storage unit and the job processing unit, and an image forming apparatus including the job reception unit and the function reception unit, and the job storage unit includes the image forming apparatus. Receiving a print job from a client device that outputs a print job that does not depend on the model of the printer, and the function receiving unit causes the display unit to display a printing condition of a process executed by a function included in the image forming apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition setting is accepted. A method of processing a print job by a printing system,
Receiving and accumulating the print job;
Displaying a list of accumulated print jobs on a display means, and accepting selection of the print job;
Displaying a printing condition specifying a process executed by a function provided in the printing system on the display unit, and receiving a setting of the printing condition;
Processing the selected print job so that the selected print job is printed out in accordance with the set printing conditions. Obtaining the settable function and the printing condition of the function from the configuration information collected by inquiring each component device constituting the printing system when the printing system is started, and identifying the function Storing function identification information for printing and the printing conditions as an association reference table,
9. The job processing method according to claim 8, wherein in the step of accepting the setting, the function identification information of the settable function and a printing condition of the function are displayed with reference to the reference table.   Of the constituent devices constituting the printing system, inquiries are made at regular intervals to constituent devices whose availability varies, and collecting information on the constituent devices, and from the collected information The job processing method according to claim 8, further comprising: determining a state of the component device, wherein in the step of accepting the setting, information to be displayed is changed based on the determined state.   Receiving an input of user identification information, determining whether or not the user identification information is registered in advance and performing user authentication; and storing the print condition in a print condition storage unit for each user; The job processing method according to claim 8, further comprising:   The printing system includes a printing condition storage unit that stores the printing conditions set in advance, and after receiving the selection of the print job in the step of receiving the selection, the setting of the printing condition is performed in the step of receiving the setting. 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein, when not received, in the processing step, the preset printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage unit are used for processing. Job processing method.   The job processing method according to claim 12, wherein, in the step of accepting the setting, the setting of the printing condition is not accepted when the preset printing condition is stored in the printing condition storage unit.   A program readable by a printing system for executing the job processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 13.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 14 is recorded.

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