JP2013029955A - Network print client facilitating change of print setting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network print system which is capable of easily performing re-printing over and over again by changing print setting contents such as color or monochrome in the network print system comprising a client PC, a server, a printer and a print indicator disposed adjacently thereto.SOLUTION: A server comprising a printer driver holds printer independent print data received from a client PC until explicit deletion, thereby converting the data into a printer dependent print data format over and over again based on an instruction from a print indicator. As a result, printing can be easily performed over and over again in accordance with print setting. Therefore, a user just has to once instruct printing from the client PC and thereafter, only by instructing predetermined print setting contents from the print indicator disposed adjacently to a printer, a print result corresponding to the contents can be obtained repeatedly without returning to the client PC.

Description

  The present invention relates to a network printing system, and more particularly, to a printer that can easily check a change in print settings and a print result reflecting the settings.

  With the spread of computer networks, network printing using network printers has become commonplace. In a general network environment, normally, a plurality of printers are installed, and a printer driver corresponding to the type and number of printers is installed in the client PC. Each printer driver is associated with a print port (output destination port), and the user of the client PC instructs printing by designating which printer to output the print on the client PC.

  Of course, if the number of network printers is large, it is necessary to install many printer drivers on the client PC. Each printer driver must also have a print port set. This is a heavy burden on the network management side. In addition, when printing is performed, the user needs to select a desired printer from among many printer drivers. This places a burden on the user side who uses the network.

  Such inconvenience of network printing becomes more conspicuous as the network becomes larger, and today, when a large-scale network has spread, there has been a need for immediate improvement.

  In order to improve the above-described problem, a network printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The network printing system will be outlined below with reference to FIG.

JP 2009-193091 A

  In the network printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a client PC 101, a server 102, a print instruction device 103, and a printer 104 are connected to a network. The server 102 stores the printer name, printer driver, and print port of the printer connected to the network in association with each other. The print instruction machine 103 and the printer 104 exist as a pair, and there is only one pair in FIG. 1, but actually there exist each according to the number of printers.

  Hereinafter, the flow of printing will be described. First, the user instructs printing on the client PC 101. Specifically, printing is started from word processing software. A general-purpose printer driver independent of the printer is installed in the client PC 101, and the general-purpose printer driver temporarily converts print data into an intermediate data format (non-printer-dependent print data) such as GDI (Graphics Device Interface). Next, the client PC 101 transmits the print data and the ID (user ID) of the user who is the user of the client PC 101 to the server 102. The server 102 receives these, associates them with each other, and stores them in its own temporary storage area.

  Next, the user moves to the print instruction machine 103, and the user issues a print instruction by operating a touch panel provided in the print instruction machine 103. As a result, the printer 104 information (printer name, etc.) and the user ID are transmitted from the print instruction device 103 to the server 102.

  Based on the information of the printer 104 received from the print instruction machine 103, the server 102 compares the printer information list stored in advance with the printer 102 and specifies the printer, and simultaneously checks the received user ID to specify the print data. To do. Thereafter, the server 102 converts the print data in the intermediate data format corresponding to the specified user ID into printer-dependent print data such as PDL (Page Description Language) using a printer driver corresponding to the specified printer. Data is transmitted to the print port corresponding to the printer driver. Finally, the printer 104 prints the received printer dependent print data.

  As described above, the network printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a printer driver in the server 102 in a lump, so that only a general-purpose printer driver needs to be installed in the client PC 101, and the number of printers increases. However, this can be handled simply by installing the printer driver and setting the print destination port in the server 102.

  Incidentally, for example, when performing color printing in a network printing system, there is a problem peculiar to network printing. This applies not only to the conventional network printing system but also to the one disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  When performing color printing, a user may print only a specific page once in monochrome or grayscale, confirm the printing result, and then execute actual color printing. This is done to reduce color printing failures as much as possible because color printing costs are much more expensive than monochrome printing.

  However, this method is particularly problematic for network printing. In general, the client PC, which is the user's PC, and the printer are physically separated from each other. Therefore, after confirming the result of monochrome printing, it is very troublesome to go back to the desk and execute the actual color printing. That is why.

  The invention of the present application is to solve this problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a network printing system, in particular, a network printing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-284001, which can change printing settings such as color and monochrome and can easily perform reprinting any number of times.

  A first embodiment according to the present invention is a network terminal in a network printing system in which a network terminal, a printing instruction machine, and at least one printer are connected to a network, respectively, and the network terminal stores non-printer-dependent print data. Means for continuing to hold in a predetermined place until a predetermined condition is satisfied, predetermined instruction information transmitted from the print instruction machine, printer driver specifying information for specifying a printer driver of a printer that performs printing, Using the means for receiving the instruction information including the print setting contents for the printer that performs printing, and the printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying information, the non-printer dependent print data is reflected in the printer setting contents. Means for converting to print data and a printer driver Network terminal with a destination print port that is set to a specific printer driver by server identification information, and means for transmitting the print data of the printer-dependent after conversion, the.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is reception of a print data deletion instruction transmitted from the print instruction machine.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is that the continuous holding time of the non-printer-dependent print data satisfies a predetermined time.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is a print setting content transmitted from the print instruction machine, the print setting content is received a plurality of times, and a print setting content different from the print setting content received at least once before is received. It is a case.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a network terminal in a network printing system in which a network terminal, a printing instruction machine, and at least one printer are respectively connected to a network are connected to the network terminal. Means for continuing to hold at a predetermined location until the condition is satisfied, predetermined instruction information transmitted from the print instruction machine, printer driver specifying information for specifying the printer driver of the printer that performs printing, and printing Non-printer-dependent print data that reflects the print settings using means for receiving instruction information including print settings for the printer to be executed and the printer driver specified by the printer driver identification information Data conversion means and printer driver special The print port that is set to a specific printer driver as the destination by the information, and means for transmitting the print data of the printer-dependent after conversion, and the program to function.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is reception of a print data deletion instruction transmitted from the print instruction machine.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is that the continuous holding time of the non-printer-dependent print data satisfies a predetermined time.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is a print setting content transmitted from the print instruction machine, the print setting content is received a plurality of times, and a print setting content different from the print setting content received at least once before is received. It is a case.

  According to the present invention, in the network printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the server keeps the non-printer-dependent print data received from the client PC until an explicit deletion instruction is issued, so that what is determined based on a predetermined instruction. Can be converted to a printer-dependent print data format. In other words, the non-printer-dependent print data can be converted to printer-dependent print data reflecting predetermined print setting contents (color, monochrome, etc.) any number of times. For this reason, the user only needs to give a print instruction once from the client PC. After that, the user only needs to instruct the predetermined print setting contents from the print instruction machine arranged adjacent to the printer. Without returning to his / her seat for printing, a print result corresponding to the content can be obtained any number of times from a desired printer (the printer may be changed halfway).

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Example 1]
[System overview]

An overall view of the system according to the present embodiment is the same as FIG. In the following, in order to simplify the description, processing related to user ID authentication in Patent Document 1 is omitted.
[Block diagram of server]

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the server 102 according to the present invention. Referring to the figure, the arrows between the solid lines indicate the flow of print data, and the dotted lines indicate instructions and notifications.

  The network interface 201 is an interface that transmits and receives data to and from the network.

  The print data receiving unit 202 receives non-printer dependent print data transmitted from the client PC 101. The received print data is stored in the temporary storage area 210.

  The print data holding unit 203 is a unit that holds the non-printer-dependent print data saved in the temporary storage area 210 until a predetermined deletion instruction is issued. For example, even if some means reads the print data from the temporary storage area 210, the print data is held in this storage area unless an explicit deletion instruction is issued.

  The print information receiving unit 204 is a unit that receives the print information transmitted from the print instruction machine 103. The print information here is print setting contents including color printing and monochrome printing, and a user ID in addition to the printer name of the printer 104 arranged adjacent to the print instruction machine 103. As the printer name, other information can be used as long as the printer 104 can be uniquely identified. The difference from the prior art is that the received print information includes not only the printer name but also the print setting contents. FIG. 5 is an example of received print information. In the case of this figure, the printer name is printer A, and the print setting content indicates the setting content “monochrome printing, pages 1 to 4, and paper feed is the manual feed tray”.

  The printer driver specifying unit 205 compares the received print information with a printer information list held in advance by the server 102. Here, the printer information list is the one described in FIG. Thereby, the server 103 can specify the printer driver of the printer 104 corresponding to the print instruction machine 103.

  The print data converting unit 206 uses the printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying unit 205 to store the non-printer dependent print data corresponding to the user ID stored in the print data receiving unit 202 and received by the print information receiving unit 204. Convert to dependent print data.

  The print data transmission unit 207 transmits the print data converted into the printer-dependent print data to the printer 104. The transmission destination here is the printer 104 arranged adjacent to the print instruction machine 103, and the print port as the transmission destination address is set in the printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying means 205. is there.

  The deletion instruction receiving unit 208 receives a print data deletion instruction transmitted from the print instruction machine 103. This instruction includes information indicating which print data is to be deleted.

The print data deleting unit 209 deletes the print data that has been instructed to be deleted from the temporary storage area 210. That is, according to the deletion instruction received by the deletion instruction receiving unit 208, the print data held by the print data holding unit 203 is deleted. In other words, there is no means for deleting print data other than this instruction.
[Server operation flow]

  FIG. 3 is an operation flow of the server 103 according to the present invention. As is apparent from the figure, the server 103 is composed of three tasks (a print data reception task, a print task, and a print data deletion task). Further, the operation subject of each step is each means described in FIG. 2, and the corresponding relationship is as illustrated.

  The print data reception task is a task for receiving non-printer dependent print data transmitted from the client PC 101.

  In step 301, it is determined whether or not non-printer dependent print data is received. If received, the non-printer dependent print data is stored in the temporary storage area 210, and in step 302, the print data is held.

  The print task is a task for proceeding with print processing based on the print information transmitted from the print instruction machine 103.

  In step 321, it is determined whether print information has been received. If it has been received, the process proceeds to the next step. If not, the reception determination process is repeated.

  In step 322, a corresponding printer driver is specified based on the received print information.

  In step 323, the print data stored in the temporary storage area 210 is converted into printer-dependent print data using the specified printer driver.

  In step 324, the print data converted into the printer-dependent print data is transmitted to the printer.

  The print data deletion task is a task for deleting the print data stored in the temporary storage area 210 based on the print data deletion instruction transmitted from the print instruction machine 103.

  In step 331, it is determined whether a print data deletion instruction has been received. If it has been received, the process proceeds to the next step. If not, the reception determination process is repeated.

In step 332, predetermined print data included in the print data deletion instruction is deleted.
[Sequence Diagram]

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the network printing system according to the present invention.

  In step 401, the user executes printing from an application on the client PC 101 or the like. The print data generated as non-printer dependent print data by the client PC 101 is transmitted to the server 102 at step 402.

  In step 403, the server 102 holds the non-printer dependent print data in its own temporary storage area 210.

  In step 404, the user who has moved to the print instruction machine 103 gives an instruction for monochrome printing from the panel. Examples of the panel screen are shown in FIGS. In the screen shown in FIG. 6, the user selects print data to be printed and presses a detailed setting button. In the figure, a case where print data “greeting” is selected is illustrated. Then, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and specific print contents can be set for the selected print data. FIG. 7 illustrates a case where monochrome printing is designated. In step 405, this print instruction is transmitted to the server 102 as print information.

  In step 406, the server 102 specifies a printer driver based on the received print information. Using the printer driver specified in step 407, the specified non-printer-dependent print data stored in the temporary storage area 210 is converted into printer-dependent print data. The printer-dependent print data after conversion reflects the print information (monochrome print or the like) transmitted in step 405.

  In step 408, the print data converted into printer-dependent print data is transmitted to the printer 104. In step 409, the printer 104 prints the received print data. In this case, monochrome printing is performed. In step 410, the user who has confirmed the printing result issues a color printing instruction from the panel of the print instruction machine 103 as in step 404 described above.

  Steps 411 to 414 are the same as steps 405 to 408 described above except that the printer-dependent print data is color printing, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step 415, the printer 104 prints the received print data. In this case, color printing is performed. In step 416, the user who has confirmed the print result issues an instruction to delete the print data from the panel of the print instruction device 103 as in step 404 described above. In step 417, this instruction is transmitted to the server 102.

In step 418, the server 102 deletes the print data for which deletion has been instructed from the temporary storage area 210.
[Other Examples]

  In the above embodiment, the print data is deleted based on an instruction from the print instruction machine 103. However, the server 102 manages the time, and the continuous holding time of the non-printer-dependent print data has elapsed for a predetermined time. You may make it delete automatically. As another case, it may be deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed after printing. By doing so, even if the user forgets the deletion instruction, it is possible to prevent the print data from being accumulated cumulatively.

  As another means, for example, assuming that monochrome printing is test printing and color printing is production printing, the printing may be automatically deleted when the color printing is instructed after the monochrome printing. . This is because it is not necessary to execute test printing again when color printing is selected.

In the above embodiment, non-printer dependent print data retention, printer driver identification, print data conversion, print data transmission, and print data deletion are performed in the server 102. However, in an environment where the server 102 does not exist, the client PC 101 itself It is also possible to do this.
[Summary]

According to the present invention, in the network printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the server keeps the non-printer-dependent print data received from the client PC until an explicit deletion instruction is issued, so that what is determined based on a predetermined instruction. Can be converted to a printer-dependent print data format. In other words, the non-printer-dependent print data can be converted to printer-dependent print data reflecting predetermined print setting contents (color, monochrome, etc.) any number of times. For this reason, the user only needs to give a print instruction once from the client PC. After that, the user only needs to instruct the predetermined print setting contents from the print instruction machine arranged adjacent to the printer. Without returning to his / her seat for printing, a print result corresponding to the content can be obtained any number of times from a desired printer (the printer may be changed halfway).

Conventional network printing system Server functional block diagram Server operation flow Network printing system sequence diagram Contents of print information Panel of printing instruction machine (1) Panel of printing instruction machine (2)

203 Print data holding means 204 Print information receiving means 206 Print data converting means 207 Print data converting means

Claims (8)

A network terminal in a network printing system in which a network terminal, a printing instruction machine, and at least one printer are respectively connected to the network;
Means for the network terminal to keep non-printer dependent print data at a predetermined location until a predetermined condition is satisfied;
Receives predetermined instruction information transmitted from the print instruction machine, including instruction information for specifying a printer driver of a printer that performs printing, and print setting contents for the printer that performs printing Means,
Means for converting the non-printer-dependent print data into printer-dependent print data reflecting the print setting contents using a printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying information;
Means for transmitting the converted printer-dependent print data with the print port set in the printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying information as a destination.   The network terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is reception of a print data deletion instruction transmitted from the print instruction machine.   The network terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is a case where a continuous holding time of the non-printer-dependent print data satisfies a predetermined time.   The predetermined condition is a print setting content transmitted from the print instruction machine, the print setting content is received a plurality of times, and a print setting content different from the print setting content received at least once before is received The network terminal according to claim 1, wherein: A network terminal in a network printing system in which a network terminal, a printing instruction machine, and at least one printer are connected to the network,
Means for the network terminal to keep non-printer dependent print data at a predetermined location until a predetermined condition is satisfied;
Receives predetermined instruction information transmitted from the print instruction machine, including instruction information for specifying a printer driver of a printer that performs printing, and print setting contents for the printer that performs printing Means,
Means for converting the non-printer-dependent print data into printer-dependent print data reflecting the print setting contents using a printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying information;
A program that functions as means for transmitting the printer-dependent print data after conversion with the print port set in the printer driver specified by the printer driver specifying information as a destination.   6. The program according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined condition is reception of a print data deletion instruction transmitted from the print instruction machine.   6. The program according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined condition is a case where a continuous holding time of the non-printer dependent print data satisfies a predetermined time. The predetermined condition is a print setting content transmitted from the print instruction machine, the print setting content is received a plurality of times, and a print setting content different from the print setting content received at least once before is received The program according to claim 5, wherein: