JP2010250549A - Printing system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve high security property while improving usability by authenticating a user by using a room key card of each room in performing confidential printing in a specific facility such as a hotel. <P>SOLUTION: A user terminal 6 obtains the printer driver of a printer 1 from a hotel server 7, and adds room identification information to the print data, and transmits the print data to the printer 1. The printer 1 includes: a card information management table for storing the card information of the room key card of each room and room identification information in association; a print data storage part for storing the print data from the room terminal 6; a card reader 2 for reading the card information from the room key card; a control part for extracting the room identification information corresponding to the card information from the card information management table, and for reading the print data to which the extracted room identification information is added from the print data storage part; and a print output part for printing out the read print data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and method, and more particularly, to a printing system that performs confidential printing using a room key card in a specific facility such as a hotel and a printing method using the system.

  In a printing system that sends print data from the room terminal of each guest room in a specific facility such as a hotel and prints out from a printing device installed in another location, the user authentication information is received from the room terminal of each guest room. In addition, the print data is transmitted, the print data is temporarily stored in a storage device in the printing apparatus, the user moves to a place where the printing apparatus is located, and authentication information such as a personal identification number is input to the printing apparatus. Recognizes this and prints out print data in a storage device. Such a so-called confidential printing function can prevent the printed matter from leaking to a third party, and can improve security (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the above, the user authentication information may be set a password (password) that is unknown to others, or a predetermined reader (card reader) is connected to a dedicated room terminal installed in the guest room in advance. In addition, by inserting an ID card such as a room key card into the reading device, predetermined information on the ID card can be read and added to the print data as authentication information.

JP 2001-333355 A JP 2003-36150 A

  However, when setting a personal identification number, if it is a difficult personal identification number, it may be forgotten, and if a simple personal identification number is used, there will be a problem in terms of security. In addition, a dedicated reading device (card reader) and dedicated software are required to read information on an ID card such as a room key card as authentication information in a room terminal installed in advance in a hotel guest room.

  Here, a business customer (user) who uses a hotel may bring his or her own familiar notebook PC into the hotel, and may want to confidentially print the document data created by the notebook PC application on the hotel printer. A mechanism for connecting a user-owned PC and a hotel printer has not been provided so far. The image information printing systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are intended for printing processing of image data taken with a digital camera (digital camera) or the like, and the room terminal in each room is a media terminal dedicated to image data. Therefore, applications such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, and presentation software cannot be executed, and printing depending on such applications cannot be performed.

  Even if an application can be installed in the room terminal described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to prepare an application for the number of rooms on the hotel side, and the application used by the user varies, It is expensive to prepare all of them, and tourists may not need an application, and such a service is not preferable in view of cost effectiveness.

  Furthermore, even if the user issues a print instruction from the terminal in the guest room, the user may forget to print out from the printing apparatus. In the case of confidential printing, print data is stored in a storage device in the printing apparatus, so that it will remain as unnecessary print data in the storage device unless it is deleted. However, when the print data is managed with a personal password, the hotel cannot grasp the deletion timing of the print data stored in the printing apparatus. In addition, if the print data is deleted immediately after the print data is output from the printing apparatus, if the user wants to reuse the print data, the user must send the print data again from the terminal in the room. However, considering user convenience, it is not so preferable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables confidential printing using a terminal brought in by a user at a specific facility such as a hotel, and authenticates the user using a room key card. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that can realize high security while improving usability and a printing method using the system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the first technical means includes a user terminal device used by a user in each room of a specific facility, a printing device that prints print data transmitted from the user terminal device, and the printing device. A server system capable of providing a printer driver of a printing system connected via a network, wherein the user terminal device accesses the server device and downloads a printer driver from the server device; A room identification information setting unit for setting room identification information for identifying a room in which the user terminal device is used is added to the downloaded printer driver, and the room identification information set in the printer driver is added to the print data. A print data transmission unit for transmitting the print data to which the room identification information is added to the printing apparatus, The printing apparatus includes a card information management table that stores card information related to a room key card for each room and room identification information in association with each other, a print data storage unit that stores print data transmitted from the user terminal device, A card reading unit that reads card information from a room key card, room identification information corresponding to the read card information is extracted from the card information management table, and print data to which the extracted room identification information is added is the print data A control unit that reads from the storage unit and a print output unit that prints out the read print data are provided.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the printer driver is preset in such a manner that a printing condition of the printing apparatus can be changed by a user.

  According to a third technical means, in the second technical means, when the printing apparatus prints out the print data by the print output unit, the printing conditions set by the printer driver can be changed by the user. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the room identification information includes a room number for each room, an IP address fixedly assigned to the user terminal device of each room, and each room. Is one of the passwords set in advance.

  A fifth technical means is any one of the first to third technical means, wherein each of the user terminal devices is connected to the network via a hub device, and the room identification information is used as the room identification information from the hub device. The hub name of the hub device and the port number for each user terminal device are acquired.

  According to a sixth technical means, in any one of the first to fifth technical means, a management terminal device that manages a check-in / check-out state for each room is connected to the network, and the printing device includes: And receiving prior information for checking out a room from the management terminal device, it is determined whether unprinted print data to which room identification information of the room is added is stored in the print data storage unit. When unprinted print data is accumulated, a message for notifying the fact is transmitted to the management terminal device.

  A seventh technical means is the sixth technical means, wherein the management terminal device is connected to another printing device different from the printing device and is stored in the printing device when the message is received. Unprinted data is acquired from the printing apparatus, and the acquired unprinted data can be printed out by the other printing apparatus.

  According to an eighth technical means, in any one of the first to fifth technical means, a management terminal device for managing a check-in / check-out state for each room is connected to the network. For the room registered in the check-in state in the management terminal device, while the room is in the check-in state, the print data to which the room identification information of the room is added is stored in the print data storage unit It is characterized by doing.

  A ninth technical means is the printing according to the eighth technical means, wherein the printing apparatus adds the room identification information of the room when the room is registered in the management terminal device in a checked-out state. The data is deleted from the print data storage unit.

  According to a tenth technical means, in any one of the first to fifth technical means, when the print data accumulated in the print data storage unit is printed out, the printing apparatus reads from the print data storage unit. The print data is deleted.

  An eleventh technical means according to any one of the first to tenth technical means is characterized in that the printing apparatus is connected to a coin vendor for depositing a printing fee.

  According to a twelfth technical means, in the eleventh technical means, the user terminal device and / or the printing device determines whether the user pays by the coin vendor or pays at the time of checkout as a payment method of the printing fee. It is characterized in that it can be set based on the selection by

  According to a thirteenth technical means, in the twelfth technical means, when the printing payment method is set by the user terminal device, the printing device prints print data by the print output unit. The method of paying the printing price set by the user terminal device can be changed by the user.

  A fourteenth technical means includes a user terminal device used by a user in each room of a specific facility, a printing device that prints print data transmitted from the user terminal device, and a server that can provide a printer driver for the printing device A printing method using a printing system connected to a device via a network, wherein the user terminal device accesses the server device to download a printer driver from the server device, and the downloaded printer driver A step of setting room identification information for identifying a room in which the user terminal device is used; the room identification information set in the printer driver is added to the print data; and the print data to which the room identification information is added Transmitting to the printing device, wherein the printing device is the user terminal device The step of accumulating the transmitted print data in the print data storage unit, the step of reading the card information from the room key card for each room, and the room identification information corresponding to the read card information are related to the room key card for each room. A card information management table that stores card information and room identification information in association with each other, a step of reading the print data to which the extracted room identification information is added from the print data storage unit, and the read print data And a step of printing out.

  According to the present invention, confidential printing can be performed using a terminal brought in by a user at a specific facility such as a hotel, and the user is authenticated using a room key card, thereby improving usability and high security. Can be realized.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the top page of the homepage for providing a self-print service from a hotel server to a user terminal. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer driver download / install page of a printing apparatus provided from a hotel server. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen of a printer driver. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data management table stored in a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the IC card information management table memorize | stored in a printing apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the print data reception process by the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the print output process of the print data by the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the adjustment process of the printing price by the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process at the time of checkout by the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the process at the time of the checkout by the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of whole structure of the printing system which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a printing system and a printing method using the system according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a printing device, 2 is a card reading device that reads card information from a room key card for each room, and 3 is Coin vendor for depositing the printing fee, 4 is a management terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a management terminal) for managing the check-in / check-out state for each room, and 5 is a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). , Represented by LAN), 6 _{1 to} 6 _n are user terminal devices (hereinafter referred to as user terminals) used by the user in each room of a specific facility, and 7 is a server device (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) of the printing apparatus 1. 8 is a printer connected to the management terminal 4. The specific facility referred to here includes, for example, accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, or general facilities having a plurality of rooms according to these accommodation facilities. Hereinafter, as a specific facility, a hotel will be described as a representative example.

The printing apparatus 1 is installed in, for example, a hotel lobby and is a multi-function machine (MFP) having a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function, a scanner function, or the like, or a single function machine having only a printer function. There may be. The printing apparatus 1 is connected to user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 _n and a management terminal 4 via a LAN 5, and a card reader 2 and a coin vendor 3 are connected to the printing apparatus 1. Since the coin vendor 3 and the management terminal 4 are not indispensable components, a system configuration without the coin vendor 3 and the management terminal 4 may be used.

A general configuration example of the user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 _n will be described below.
In the case of this example, the user terminals 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ , 6 ₃ , 6 ₄ ,..., 6 _n are users (also referred to as customers) in the respective room numbers 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004,. Is a general-purpose computer such as a notebook PC brought in, such as a control device including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., a storage device such as an HDD (hard disk drive), a keyboard, a mouse (pointing device), etc. An input device, a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a communication device that is a network interface for connection to the LAN 5, and an output device that outputs data by connecting to an external device A system bus that interconnects these control devices, storage devices, input devices, display devices, communication devices, and output devices. . Note that the management terminal 4 is basically a general-purpose computer similar to the user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 _n, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  The card reading device 2 corresponds to a card reading unit that reads card information from a room key card for each room, and may be externally connected to the printing device 1 as shown, or may be provided in a form incorporated in the printing device 1. It may be. As the room key card, for example, an IC card or a magnetic card having a room key function, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) card, or the like is applied, and either a contact type or a non-contact type may be used.

  The room key card stores unique card information for each room. When a hotel guest checks in, the room key card corresponding to the checked-in room is lent to the user and checked out. Sometimes the room key card is collected from the customer. In the case of this room key card, key information unique to each room for unlocking / locking the room is stored, and this key information can be used as the card information of the present invention.

  The management terminal 4 is installed, for example, in a hotel check-in counter, and manages the check-in / check-out state for each room. Further, the management terminal 4 can transmit information about whether each room is checked in to the printing apparatus 1 in response to an inquiry from the printing apparatus 1. In addition, the management terminal 4 can receive printing fee information for each user from the printing apparatus 1 when each room is checked out.

  The management terminal 4 is connected to the printer 8, and when the user's unprinted data is accumulated in the printing apparatus 1 when the user checks out, the unprinted data can be acquired from the printing apparatus 1. it can. The acquired unprinted data can be printed out from the printer 8 by the hotel employee operating the management terminal 4 in response to a user request. As with the printing apparatus 1, the printer 8 may be a multifunctional MFP or may be a single function machine having only a printer function.

The hotel server 7 is a server device for providing a user with a printer driver necessary for using a self-printing service (described later) by the printing apparatus 1, and is connected to the user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 _n via the LAN 5. Yes. The user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 _n can access the hotel server 7, download the printer driver of the printing apparatus 1 from the hotel server 7, and install it. Incidentally, the hotel server 7, as well as the user terminal ₆ 1 to 6 _n, for example, a general-purpose computer.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present invention. In the drawing, a printing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11 corresponding to a control unit that controls the printing apparatus 1, a network interface (network I / F) 12 for connecting to the LAN 5, and an operation for a user to operate the printing apparatus 1. A panel 13, a ROM 14 that is a nonvolatile memory for storing control programs and data for controlling the printing apparatus 1, an IC card information management table (FIG. 7) and a print data management table (FIG. 7) corresponding to the card information management table. 6), a readable / writable memory 15, a print output unit 16 including a paper transport unit, a laser unit, a developing unit, a fixing unit, and the like, a print data storage unit 17 such as an HDD for storing print data, Is provided. The card reader 2 is, for example, a non-contact IC card reader that is externally connected to the printer 1. During operation of the printing apparatus 1, the CPU 11 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 14 into a RAM (not shown), and executes the control program in the RAM, thereby realizing various functions.

The main feature of the present invention is that it is possible to perform confidential printing using a terminal brought in by a user in a specific facility such as a hotel and to authenticate the user by using a room key card, thereby improving usability and high It is to be able to realize security. As a configuration for this, the user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 _n (hereinafter, often referred to as user terminals 6) access the hotel server 7 and download a printer driver from the hotel server 7, and a downloaded printer driver. The room identification information setting unit for setting the room identification information for identifying the room in which the user terminal 6 is used, and the room identification information set in the printer driver are added to the print data, and the room identification information is added to the print. A print data transmission unit that transmits data to the printing apparatus 1.

  As the room identification information, for example, any of a room number for each room, an IP address fixedly assigned to the room terminal 6 of each room, and a password set in advance for each room can be applied. It is assumed that the room identification information matches room identification information set in an IC card information management table (FIG. 7) and a print data management table (FIG. 6) described later.

  In addition, when the room identification information is a room number or a personal identification number for each room, the user may input and set it on the setting screen of the printer driver installed in each user terminal 6, or IP When an address or (hub name + port number) described later is used, these may be automatically set in the printer driver. Each user terminal 6 adds the room identification information set in the printer driver as described above and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 1 when transmitting the print data.

Hereinafter, the case where the room key card for each room is an IC card will be described as a representative example.
The printing apparatus 1 includes a memory 15 that stores an IC card information management table (FIG. 7) that stores IC card information (in this example, key information) related to a room key card for each room and room identification information in association with each other, A print data storage unit 17 that stores print data transmitted from the user terminal 6, a card reader 2 that reads key information from a room key card, and room identification information corresponding to the read key information is obtained from an IC card information management table. A CPU 11 that reads out the print data to which the extracted room identification information is added from the print data storage unit 17 and a print output unit 16 that prints out the read print data are provided.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a top page of a home page for providing a self-print service from the hotel server 7 to the user terminal 6. The self-printing service here refers to a user terminal 6 such as a notebook PC brought into the room by a user and a printing apparatus 1 installed in a hotel via a network (LAN 5), and printing with the user terminal 6 A service that provides confidential printing using the apparatus 1 is assumed.

  The user brings the user terminal 6 into the room where he / she stays and connects the user terminal 6 to the LAN 5 via wired or wireless connection. It is assumed that a connection port for LAN 5 is provided in each room in advance. Then, the user activates the Web browser of the user terminal 6, inputs and accesses a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the home page provided by the hotel server 7, and displays the top page of the home page shown in FIG. Then, when the user clicks the “use” button on the top page shown in FIG. 3, a printer driver download / install page of the printing apparatus 1 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a printer driver download / install page of the printing apparatus 1 provided from the hotel server 7. Here, when the user clicks “Install” on the printer driver download / installation page shown in FIG. 4, the printer driver download process of the printing apparatus 1 is automatically started, and the printer driver is installed in the user terminal 6. Is done. In this printer driver, the printing conditions (paper size, color / monochrome, number of copies, etc.) of the printing apparatus 1 are set in advance so as to be changeable by the user.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen of the printer driver. In FIG. 5, 9 indicates the print condition setting screen. The print condition setting screen 9 includes a print setting 9a, a room identification information setting 9b, a print price setting 9c, and the like. In the print setting 9a, a print condition (here, hotel 1) set in advance in the printing apparatus 1 on the hotel side is set as a default. The print setting 9a can be changed by the user, and the printing conditions changed by the user can be stored.

  In the room identification information setting 9b, as described above, the room number for each room or the personal identification number for each room can be input and set by the user. In this example, the room number “1001” is set. In addition, when the IP address unique to the user terminal or (hub name + port number) is used as the room identification information, the printer driver automatically acquires the IP address and (hub name + port number) from the user terminal 6. -You may make it set.

  The print price setting 9c allows the user to select either the price payment method by the coin vendor 3 or the collective payment at the time of checkout. In this example, if “Use Coin Vendor” is checked, payment by Coin Vendor 3 is selected, and if “Use Coin Vendor” is not checked, collective payment at checkout is selected. Is done. The printing price setting information set in the printing price setting 9c is added to the print data together with the room identification information set in the room identification information setting 9b, and can be transmitted to the printing apparatus 1.

  The printing apparatus 1 recognizes the payment method of the print price of the print data based on the print price setting information added to the print data, and notifies the payment method of the currently selected print price when the user prints out the print data. You may make it display the message for doing. The user can perform payment processing for the printing fee based on the payment method notified by this message (that is, payment by the coin vendor 3 or collective payment at the time of checkout). In addition, by using the collective payment at the time of check-out, the user can collect the print price (number of printed sheets x printing unit price) together with the accommodation fee etc., so the company etc. can be charged with one set of receipts. It becomes easy to do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data management table stored in the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 updates this print data management table every time it receives print data from each user terminal 6. The print data management table is stored in the memory 15 of the printing apparatus 1 and manages the room identification information added to the print data in association with the address information of the print data. The print data transmitted from each user terminal 6 is temporarily stored in the print data storage unit 17, and the address information of the print data at this time in the print data storage unit 17 is associated with the room identification information of the print data. Managed by the print data management table.

For example, FIG. 6A shows an initial state of the print data management table. In this initial state, since the room identification information and the address information of the print data are both 0 (zero), printing is performed from each user terminal 6. Indicates that no data has been received. Also, FIG. 6 (B) is an example of a print data management table when receiving the print data from the user terminal ₆₁ of the room number 1001, information is written in the print data management table of FIG. 6 (A), Update Indicates the state that has been performed. Also, FIG. 6 (C) is an example of a print data management table when receiving the print data from the user terminal 6 ₄ room number 1004, further information is written in the print data management table of FIG. 6 (B), Indicates the updated state. Also, FIG. 6 (D) is an example of a print data management table when receiving the print data from the user terminal 6 ₃ room number 1003, further information is written in the print data management table of FIG. 6 (C), the Indicates the updated state.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an IC card information management table stored in the printing apparatus 1. The IC card information management table associates the IC card information (key information) stored in the room key card with the room identification information, and is stored in the memory 15 of the printing apparatus 1 in advance. The example of FIG. 7A associates key information with a room number, and the example of FIG. 7B associates key information with a fixed IP address. In the case of using a personal identification number for each room or (hub name + port number), it may be associated with the key information in the same manner.

  Here, the printing apparatus 1 stores the print data received from each user terminal 6 in the print data storage unit 17. Then, the user brings the room key card and moves to a place where the printing apparatus 1 is located, and sets the room key card in the card reader 2. When the card reader 2 reads the key information from the room key card, the printing apparatus 1 extracts the room identification information corresponding to the read key information by referring to the IC card information management table shown in FIG. . Then, the address information of the print data to which the extracted room identification information is added is extracted by referring to the print data management table shown in FIG. 6, and the print data is extracted based on the address information of the extracted print data. The data is read from the print data storage unit 17 and printed out.

Specifically explaining the printing system shown in FIG. 1, for example, from the user the user terminal 6 ₃ room room number 1003 and sends the print data added with the room number 1003 as room identification information to the printing apparatus 1, the The print data is accumulated in the print data storage unit 17 of the printing apparatus 1, and the print data management table is updated to the state shown in FIG. The user brings the room key card to the place where the printing apparatus 1 is located, and sets the room key card in the card reader 2. Then, when the card reading device 2 reads the key information (0 ****** 1003 in this example) from the room key card, the printing device 1 displays the room number 1003 corresponding to the read key information in FIG. ) To the IC card information management table. Then, the address information (0x10003000) of the print data to which the extracted room number 1003 is added is extracted from the print data management table shown in FIG. 6D, and based on the extracted address information (0x10003000) of the print data. The print data is read from the print data storage unit 17 and printed out.

  According to this, the user does not need to memorize a complicated personal identification number for confidential printing. Further, in each room, a card reader is connected to the terminal, and the room key card is read by this card reader, and authentication information is included in the print data. There is no need to add. That is, since the user can easily perform confidential printing with the printing apparatus 1 simply by using a PC on hand and an existing room key card, user-friendliness and high-security printing can be performed.

  In addition, by using an existing room key card composed of an IC card, a magnetic card, etc., a hotel user can use one room key card for both unlocking / locking a room and confidential printing. Therefore, the user does not have to manage both the room key and the IC card dedicated to confidential printing, and the troublesomeness is reduced.

  When a room number is set as room identification information, it is possible to perform printing with high security and ease of use only by using an existing room key card. Further, when a room terminal fixed IP address is set as the room identification information, the fixed IP address can be automatically added to the print data without imposing a burden on the user. Even when a complicated password is set as the room identification information, the user does not need to memorize this complicated password when printing out. High-quality printing can be performed.

  Here, when the printing apparatus 1 receives prior information for checking out a room from the management terminal 4, is unprinted print data to which room identification information of the room is added stored in the print data storage unit 17? It may be determined whether or not unprinted print data is accumulated, and a message for notifying the fact may be transmitted to the management terminal 4. Whether or not the print data is unprinted can be determined by, for example, a method of setting a flag for the printed data.

  The prior information is, for example, information transmitted from a check-in / check-out management program included in the management terminal 4, and the check-out process is completed immediately after the check-out room number is input to the management terminal 4. Prior information can be acquired by transmitting the input room number to the printing apparatus 1 as prior information.

  When a message is displayed on the management terminal 4, the employee on the hotel side informs the user that there is unprinted data at any timing at the time of check-out or before check-out. You can take actions such as singing. From the user's point of view, it is possible to prevent forgetting to print out, so that a fine print service can be provided to the user.

  The management terminal 4 is connected to the printer 8. When the management terminal 4 receives from the printing apparatus 1 a message for notifying that unprinted data is accumulated, the management terminal 4 acquires the unprinted data accumulated in the printing apparatus 1 from the printing apparatus 1, The acquired unprinted data may be printed out by the printer 8 in response to a request from the user. If the unprinted data acquired from the printing apparatus 1 is designated for payment by the coin vendor 3, the management terminal 4 changes this to the collective payment at the checkout according to the operation by the hotel employee, and the user At the time of check-out, it may be settled together with the accommodation fee.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 1 stores print data in which room identification information of a room is added to a room registered in the check-in state in the management terminal 4 while the room is in the check-in state. You may make it accumulate | store in the part 17. FIG. As described above, while the user is checking in the room, the user can repeatedly use the print data by holding the print data in the printing apparatus 1. Then, when the room is registered in the management terminal 4 in a checked-out state, the print data to which the room identification information of the room is added may be deleted from the print data storage unit 17. As described above, the corresponding print data is automatically deleted at the time of checkout, so that the free capacity can be appropriately controlled so that the storage capacity of the printing apparatus 1 is not occupied by unnecessary print data. In addition, by doing so, information leakage and the like can be prevented, and security can be improved.

  The printing apparatus 1 may delete the print data from the print data storage unit 17 when the print data stored in the print data storage unit 17 is printed out. In this case, since the print data is immediately deleted from the print data storage unit 17 when the print data is printed out, the user cannot repeatedly use the print data. Is safer. In addition, since the print data is immediately deleted, the storage capacity of the print data storage unit 17 can always have a margin.

  In the above, when deleting the print data from the print data storage unit 17, simply deleting the print data leaves a debris and cannot be completely deleted, which may be a problem from the viewpoint of security. . In such a case, random data may be overwritten a plurality of times in the area where the print data has been written, so that the debris of the print data can be completely eliminated.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of print data reception processing by the printing system according to the present invention. This example will be described based on the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 2, and the printing apparatus 1 is on standby in a state where confidential printing is possible.

  First, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not print data is received from the user terminal 6 (step S1). When print data is received from the user terminal 6 (in the case of YES), room identification information is included in the print data. Whether or not is added is determined (step S2). If print data is not received from the user terminal 6 in step S1 (NO), the print data reception wait state is entered in step S1. This room identification information is, for example, a room number for each room, an IP address fixedly assigned to each user terminal 6, or a preset personal identification number. For the printer driver of the user terminal 6, It can be set by the user or automatically. Note that the room identification information added to the print data as described above is registered in advance in the IC card information management table shown in FIG. 7 in association with the IC card information.

  Next, when it is determined in step S2 that the room identification information is added to the print data (YES), the printing apparatus 1 stores the print data in the print data storage unit 17 as appropriate printing. At the same time, the room identification information and the address information of the print data are written in the print data management table shown in FIG. 6 (step S3). If it is determined in step S2 that room identification information has not been added to the print data (NO), the print data is discarded as inappropriate printing (step S4).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of print data printout processing by the printing system according to the present invention. This example will be described based on the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 2, and the printing apparatus 1 is on standby in a state where confidential printing is possible.

  First, the user brings the room key card to the place where the printing apparatus 1 is located, and sets the room key card in the card reader 2. The printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the key information has been read from the room key card set in the card reader 2 (step S11), and determines that the key information has been read from the room key card (YES) ), The corresponding room identification information is retrieved from the IC card information management table shown in FIG. 7 based on the read key information (step S12), and the printing shown in FIG. 6 is performed based on the retrieved room identification information. The address information of the corresponding print data is retrieved from the data management table (step S13). If it is determined in step S11 that the card reader 2 does not read key information from the room key card (in the case of NO), the room key card reading standby state is entered in step S11.

  Next, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether the address information of the corresponding print data is retrieved from the print data management table shown in FIG. 6 (step S14), and when the address information of the print data is retrieved (step S14). If YES, the corresponding print data is read from the print data storage unit 17 based on the address information of the print data (step S15). If the address information of the print data is not retrieved in step S14 (NO), the process returns to step S11 and is repeated.

  The printing apparatus 1 prints out the print data read in step S15 (step S16), deletes the corresponding information (room identification information and print data address information) from the print data management table, and print data storage unit The print data is deleted from 17 (step S17). Here, the timing of deletion in step S17 may be deleted immediately after completion of the print output, or may be stored for a while and deleted at the time of checkout. In the latter case, since the print data is held until check-out, the user can use the print data repeatedly until check-out.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a printing fee settlement process by the printing system according to the present invention. In this example, as shown in FIG. 1, the coin vendor 3 is connected to the printing apparatus 1, and the user can select whether to pay the printing fee with the coin vendor 3 or to pay at checkout. In addition, since the process of the front | latter stage of step S21 of this flow is the same as the process from above-mentioned step S11 to S13 of FIG.

  Here, even if either the coin vendor 3 or the checkout payment is specified as the payment method for the printing price on the printer driver setting screen shown in FIG. Can be changed. In this case, the payment method changed by the printing apparatus 1 is given priority. Also, the printing conditions set by the printer driver can be changed by the printing apparatus 1. By enabling the printing apparatus 1 to change the printing conditions, for example, when printing fails with the printing conditions set in the printer driver, the printing conditions can be changed on the spot without having to return to the room. Printing can be performed.

  Similarly to step S14 of FIG. 9 described above, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the address information of the corresponding print data has been retrieved from the print data management table shown in FIG. 6 (step S21). When the address information is searched (in the case of YES), it is determined whether or not the coin vendor 3 is used (step S22). For example, a printing price corresponding to the print data is displayed on the display screen of the printing apparatus 1 and a screen for selecting whether to use the coin vendor 3 or to settle at the time of checkout is displayed. The user may be allowed to select. In step S21, if the address information of the print data is not searched (in the case of NO), the process returns to step S11 of FIG. 9 and the process is repeated.

  If the printing apparatus 1 determines in step S22 that the coin vendor 3 is to be used by the user's selection (in the case of YES), for example, a message prompting the coin vendor 3 to make a deposit is displayed on the screen. In response, when the user deposits money into the coin vendor 3 (step S23), printing output of the print data is started (step S25). In step S22, if it is determined by the user's selection that the coin vendor 3 is not used (in the case of NO), it is determined that the printing fee will be settled at the time of checkout (step S24), and the print data is determined in step S22. Print out. Then, after printing out, the corresponding information (room identification information and print data address information) is deleted from the print data management table, and the print data is deleted from the print data storage unit 17 (step S26). If the printing apparatus 1 determines in step S24 that the payment is to be made at the time of checkout, the printing apparatus 1 transmits information on the printing fee to the management terminal 4 (step S27). In this case, at the time of checkout settlement, the printing fee can be settled together with the room charge fee.

  As described above, the user can select the payment method of the printing price, either the coin vendor or the checkout at the time of check-out, in the printing apparatus 1 or the user terminal 6. For this reason, if it is a coin vendor, the printing price can be settled on the spot, and the printing price can be settled together at the check-out of the hotel, so that convenience for the user is improved.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing at the time of check-out by the printing system according to the present invention. This example will be described based on the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 2, and the printing apparatus 1 is on standby in a state where confidential printing is possible. Here, an example will be described in which, when unprinted print data remains before checkout, a message for notifying that is transmitted to the management terminal 4.

  First, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not advance information for checking out a room is received from the management terminal 4 (step S31). This prior information is, for example, the room number of the room that is about to be checked out. If it is determined in step S31 that the advance information has been received (YES), the printing apparatus 1 searches the print data management table shown in FIG. 6 based on the room number notified as the advance information ( In step S32, it is determined whether or not unprinted print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 (step S33). If it is determined in step S31 that prior information has not been received (in the case of NO), a prior information reception waiting state is entered in step S31.

  If the printing apparatus 1 determines in step S33 that unprinted print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 (YES), unprinted print data remains for the management terminal 4. A message for notifying that it is present is transmitted (step S34). If it is determined in step S33 that no unprinted print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 (NO), the process returns to step S31 and the process is repeated. In addition, after a series of processes are complete | finished by the said step S34, you may return to step S31 and may transfer to the reception waiting state of prior information.

  As described above, when unprinted print data remains in the printing apparatus 1, the user can be prevented from forgetting to print by sending a message to that effect to the management terminal 4. The check-out advance information is, for example, information transmitted from a check-in / check-out management program included in the management terminal 4. Immediately after the check-out room number is input to the management terminal 4, check-out processing is performed. Prior to completion of the process, the input room number is transmitted as advance information to the printing apparatus 1 so that the advance information can be acquired.

  Further, when the management terminal 4 receives a message for notifying that unprinted print data remains from the printing apparatus 1, the unprinted data stored in the printing apparatus 1 is transferred to the printing apparatus 1. The acquired unprinted data may be printed out by the printer 8 in response to a request from the user. In this case, if the unprinted data acquired from the printing apparatus 1 is designated for payment by the coin vendor 3, the management terminal 4 changes this to collective payment at the time of checkout according to the operation by the hotel employee, When the user checks out, it can be settled together with the accommodation fee.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another example of processing at the time of checkout by the printing system according to the present invention. This example will be described based on the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 2, and the printing apparatus 1 is on standby in a state where confidential printing is possible. Here, an example will be described in which print data is automatically deleted after checkout.

  First, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not room checkout information has been received from the management terminal 4 (step S41). This checkout information is, for example, the room number of the room where the checkout process has been completed. If it is determined in step S41 that the checkout information has been received (YES), the printing apparatus 1 searches the print data management table shown in FIG. 6 based on the room number notified as the checkout information. Then, it is determined whether or not print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 (step S43). If it is determined in step S41 that checkout information has not been received (in the case of NO), reception of checkout information is awaited in step S41.

  When the printing apparatus 1 determines in step S43 that print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 (in the case of YES), the corresponding information (room identification information and print data address) is obtained from the print data management table. Information) is deleted, and the print data is deleted from the print data storage unit 17 (step S44). If it is determined in step S43 that no print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 (NO), the process returns to step S41 and the process is repeated. Note that after the series of processing is completed in step S44, the process may return to step S41 and enter a checkout information reception waiting state.

  As described above, when print data remains in the print data storage unit 17 for the checked-out room, all information (room identification information) is obtained from the print data management table regardless of whether or not the print data is printed. And the print data address information) are deleted, and the print data is deleted from the print data storage unit 17, so that unnecessary print data is automatically arranged and the free space of the printing apparatus 1 is appropriately secured. it can.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which 10 denotes a hub device. In the case of this example, user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 ₄ are connected to one hub device 10 and connected to the LAN 5 via the hub device 10. It is assumed that the name of the hub device 10 is set as, for example, the hub 1 and the numbers of the four ports included in the hub device 10 are set as 1, 2, 3, 4, for example.

When a plurality of hub devices are connected to the LAN 5, the hub name is uniquely determined, so that the hub device can be identified. Further, since the port number is uniquely determined in each hub device, if the hub name and the port number are known, the user terminals 6 _{1 to} 6 ₄ connected to the hub device can be identified in the LAN 5. Therefore, each user terminal 6 may acquire the hub name of the hub device 10 and the port number for each terminal device from the hub device 10 as room identification information.

In this example, the user terminal ₆₁ is connected to port 1 of the hub 1, similarly, the user terminal 6 ₂ below, is connected to port 2 of the hub 1, the user terminal 6 _3, port 3 of the hub 1 It is connected to the user terminal 6 ₄ is connected to port 4 of the hub 1. Therefore, if the user terminal _{6 1,} "hub 1+ port 1" is the room identification information.

  Specifically, each user terminal 6 acquires the port number of the hub device 7 connected to the LAN 5 by the printer driver, and transmits the print data with the port number added to the print data. In this case, as the IC card information management table shown in FIG. 7, a table in which the IC card information corresponding to the room number and the room identification information consisting of “hub name + port number” are associated with each other may be prepared. . In this way, each user terminal 6 can easily add room identification information to the print data.

  As a method of acquiring “hub name + port number” with a printer driver, for example, a known method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-24682 can be applied. That is, as a function of the hub, a function of embedding the hub name and port number in the information of the auto-negotiation communication between the terminal device and the hub is provided, so that “hub name + port number” is notified to the terminal device. be able to.

  In the above description, the printer driver of the printing apparatus 1 is installed and used in the user terminal 6. However, the printer driver installed in the user terminal 6 performs an appropriate uninstall process when the user checks out the hotel. And deleting from the user terminal 6 is preferable.

  Further, the case where confidential printing is performed by the printing apparatus 1 has been described as an example. However, when the printing apparatus 1 has a scanner function or the like like an MFP, the present invention can be applied to this. For example, the user goes to a place with an MFP with a document, and adds the room identification information corresponding to the card information of the room key card read by the card reader to the document data scanned by the MFP. To hold. Then, the user can return to his / her room and input the room identification information from the user terminal in the room, thereby acquiring the corresponding document data from the MFP, and sending the document data attached to the e-mail. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus, 2 ... Card reader, 3 ... Coin vendor, 4 ... Management terminal device (management terminal), 5 ... Network (LAN), 6 _{< 1 >} -6n ... User terminal device (user terminal), 7 ... Hotel server, 8 ... Printer, 9 ... Print condition setting screen, 10 ... Hub device, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Network I / F, 13 ... Operation panel, 14 ... ROM, 15 ... Memory, 16 ... Print output section, 17 ... print data storage unit.

Claims (14)

A user terminal device used by a user in each room of a specific facility, a printing device that prints print data transmitted from the user terminal device, and a server device that can provide a printer driver of the printing device via a network A connected printing system,
The user terminal device accesses the server device to download a printer driver from the server device, and room identification information for identifying a room in which the user terminal device is used for the downloaded printer driver A room identification information setting unit that sets the room identification information set to the printer driver, and a print data transmission unit that transmits the print data with the room identification information added to the printing apparatus. ,
The printing apparatus includes a card information management table that stores card information related to a room key card for each room and room identification information in association with each other, a print data storage unit that stores print data transmitted from the user terminal device, A card reading unit for reading card information from the room key card; room identification information corresponding to the read card information is extracted from the card information management table; and print data to which the extracted room identification information is added is printed A printing system comprising: a control unit that reads from a data storage unit; and a print output unit that prints out the read print data.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is set in advance so that a printing condition of the printing apparatus can be changed by a user.   The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus allows a user to change printing conditions set by the printer driver when printing data is printed out by the printing output unit.   The room identification information is any one of a room number for each room, an IP address fixedly assigned to a user terminal device of each room, and a password preset for each room. 4. The printing system according to any one of items 3.   Each of the user terminal devices is connected to the network via a hub device, and acquires, as the room identification information, a hub name of the hub device and a port number for each user terminal device from the hub device. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A management terminal device for managing a check-in / check-out state for each room is connected to the network,
When the printing apparatus receives advance information for checking out a room from the management terminal device, whether or not unprinted print data to which room identification information of the room is added is accumulated in the print data storage unit. 6. If unprinted print data is accumulated, a message for notifying the fact is transmitted to the management terminal device. The printing system described in.   When the management terminal device is connected to another printing device different from the printing device and receives the message, the management terminal device acquires unprinted data stored in the printing device from the printing device, and The printing system according to claim 6, wherein unprinted data can be printed out by the other printing apparatus. A management terminal device for managing a check-in / check-out state for each room is connected to the network,
For the room registered in the check-in state in the management terminal device, the printing apparatus displays the print data to which room identification information of the room is added while the room is in the check-in state. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is stored in a storage unit.   When the room is registered in the management terminal device in a checked-out state, the printing apparatus deletes print data to which room identification information of the room is added from the print data storage unit. The printing system according to claim 8.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the print data stored in the print data storage unit is printed out, the printing apparatus deletes the print data from the print data storage unit. The printing system described in.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a coin vendor for receiving a printing fee is connected to the printing apparatus.   The user terminal device and / or the printing device can set whether to pay by the coin vendor or pay at the time of checkout as a payment method of the printing fee based on selection by a user. Item 12. The printing system according to Item 11.   When the payment method for the printing fee is set by the user terminal device, the printing device pays the printing fee set by the user terminal device when printing the print data by the print output unit. The printing system according to claim 12, wherein the method can be changed by a user. A user terminal device used by a user in each room of a specific facility, a printing device that prints print data transmitted from the user terminal device, and a server device that can provide a printer driver of the printing device via a network A printing method by a connected printing system,
The user terminal device accesses the server device to download a printer driver from the server device, and the downloaded printer driver includes room identification information for identifying a room in which the user terminal device is used. Adding the room identification information set in the printer driver to the print data, and transmitting the print data with the room identification information added to the printing apparatus,
The printing device storing print data transmitted from the user terminal device in a print data storage unit; reading card information from a room key card for each room; and room identification corresponding to the read card information The information is extracted from the card information management table that stores the card information related to the room key card for each room and the room identification information in association with each other, and the print data to which the extracted room identification information is added is sent from the print data storage unit. A printing method comprising: a step of reading; and a step of printing out the read print data.

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