JP2015138495A - pull-print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent inhibition of the acceleration in processing speed in image processing of a print job without increasing the number of communications until the reception of the print job.SOLUTION: When a pull-print system receives, from a print server 10, setting change data that is transmitted simultaneously with an instruction for starting printing from an MFP 20 being an image forming apparatus, and of the same data format as that of setting data indicating print settings, transmits a print job to which the setting change data has been reflected to an MFP 20. With this configuration, the number of communications until the MFP 20 receives the print job can be made the same as the number of communications until the MFP 20 receives a print job without a change in the print settings.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pull printing system that performs pull-type printing using a print server on a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, there is a pull printing system in an environment in which an image forming apparatus typified by MFP (Multifunction Peripherals), a client terminal typified by a PC (personal computer) serving as a client, and a print server are connected via a network. Has been built.

  In such a pull print system, a print job is registered in advance from the client terminal to the print server, and the print job registered in the print server is selected and downloaded from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. Can do.

  The print job registered in the print server includes PDL (Page Description Language) data and setting data indicating print settings. When printing by the image forming apparatus, the PDL data is rasterized according to the setting data indicating the print setting.

  Here, settings reflected when rasterizing PDL data include, for example, image quality settings, enlargement / reduction settings, imposition settings, and image sizes. Settings that are reflected when printing raster images obtained by rasterization include image quality settings, recording paper size settings, paper discharge tray settings, enlargement / reduction settings, imposition settings, output number settings, sort settings, There are duplex settings, preview settings, finishing settings such as stapling and punching.

  By the way, as described above, such a pull print system can specify a print job registered in the print server on the image forming apparatus side, download it, and print it, but change the print setting of the print job on the image forming apparatus side. I couldn't. Therefore, when it is necessary to change the print settings, it is necessary to register the print job with the changed print settings again from the client terminal to the print server.

  In order to solve such a problem, in Patent Document 1, the print setting receiving unit receives only the print settings of a print job selected from the print jobs registered in the information processing apparatus, and changes the unit. The print setting is changed and stored in the storage unit, the print job reception unit receives the print job from the information processing apparatus, and the determination unit determines that the print setting is changed, the print setting stored in the storage unit An image forming apparatus that prints data constituting a print job based on the above is proposed.

JP 2010-160617 A

  In Patent Document 1 described above, since the print settings can be changed on the image forming apparatus side, even if the print settings need to be changed, the print job whose print settings have been changed is processed again from the client terminal. There is no need to re-register with the print server.

  However, in such an image forming apparatus, when the print setting is changed, only the print setting of the print job is received from the information processing apparatus, the print setting is changed, and an instruction to start printing is further given to the information processing apparatus. It has become. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of communication between the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus increases in order to receive a print job from the information processing apparatus. Incidentally, if the number of communications between the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus increases, the load on the network increases, and for example, it takes time to download a print job.

  When it is determined that the print setting has been changed on the image forming apparatus side, image processing of the print job is performed based on the changed print setting stored in the storage unit. For this reason, the usage rate of the system resource is increased, and there is a problem in that the processing speed in the image processing of the print job is prevented from being increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and can receive a print job whose print settings have been changed without changing the number of communications until the print job is received. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pull print system that can prevent an increase in processing speed in image processing.

The pull print system according to the present invention includes a client terminal that generates a print job including PDL data and setting data indicating print settings, a print server in which the print job is registered, and a print registered in the print server. A pull print system including an image forming apparatus that downloads and prints a job, wherein the print server transmits setting data indicating the print setting transmitted simultaneously with an instruction to start printing from the image forming apparatus side; When setting change data in the same data format is received, the print job reflecting the setting change data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.
The print server receives a first communication management unit that performs communication management of data transmission / reception between the client terminal and the image forming apparatus, and setting data indicating the print setting when the setting change data is received. On the other hand, a first job processing unit that reflects the setting change data, and a job transmission unit that transmits a print job with a changed print setting or a print job without a change in the print setting to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes at least a change accepting unit that accepts a change in print setting, a setting change data generating unit that generates setting change data indicating a change in the print setting received by the change accepting unit, and the client terminal. Communication management of data transmission and reception with the print server and the setting change data generation means Second communication management means for transmitting the set change data to the print server, and performing image processing on the print job in which the print settings have been changed according to the set data reflecting the set change data, And a second job processing unit that performs image processing on a print job that has not been changed in print settings according to the setting data of the print job.
The setting change data is reflected by rewriting only the changed data among the setting data indicating the print settings.
The setting change data is a printer job language.
Further, the setting change data indicates only the contents of changing the print setting.
In the pull print system of the present invention, when the print server receives the setting change data having the same data format as the setting data indicating the print setting transmitted simultaneously with the print start instruction from the image forming apparatus, the setting change data Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the number of communications until the print job on the image forming apparatus side is received is the same as the number of communications until a print job with no change in print settings is received.
In addition, since the print job from the print server where the print settings have been changed reflects the setting change data, image processing can be performed according to the print settings of the print job whose settings have been changed. The system resource usage rate will not increase.

  According to the pull printing system of the present invention, when setting change data having the same data format as the setting data indicating the print setting is transmitted to the print server server simultaneously with the print start instruction from the image forming apparatus side, the setting change data is reflected. Since the received print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, it is possible to receive a print job whose print settings have been changed without changing the number of communications until the print job is received.

  Further, since the image forming apparatus can perform image processing according to the print settings of the print job whose settings have been changed, the usage rate of the system resource is not increased, and the processing speed of image processing of the print job is high. It can be made so as not to hinder.

It is a figure for demonstrating one Embodiment of the pull print system of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining main parts of a print server and an MFP in the pull print system of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation on the print server side in the pull print system of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation on the MFP side in the pull print system of FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the pull print system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. An example of the image forming apparatus in the following description is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) that is a complex peripheral device equipped with a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a FAX function, and a scan function.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the pull print system includes a client terminal 30 such as a print server 10, an MFP 20, and a PC (personal computer). These are connected to each other via the network 40. As the network 40, a line network such as a LAN, a wireless LAN, or the Internet can be used.

  When a print job is registered in the print server 10 from the client terminal 30, printing can be performed by designating and downloading the print job registered in the print server 10 on the MFP 20 side. In addition, when there is a change in the print settings of the print job, by sending setting change data (described later) from the MFP 20 to the print server 10, it is possible to download the print job whose print settings have been changed from the print server 10. ing.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of main parts of the print server 10 and the MFP 20 will be described. First, the print server 10 includes a control unit 11 and an I / F (interface) 12. The control unit 11 controls the operation of the entire print server 10 based on a predetermined program in a ROM (not shown), and includes a communication management unit 11a, a job processing unit 11b, a job transmission unit 11c, and a memory 11d. .

  When the communication manager 11a receives (downloads) the print job from the client terminal 30 described above via the I / F 12, the communication manager 11a registers the received print job in the memory 11d. Here, the print job includes PDL (Page Description Language) data and setting data indicating print settings. Note that the PDL data and setting data indicating print settings are configured in a PJL (printer job language) data format.

  In addition, when the communication management unit 11a receives setting change data in which the print setting is changed from the MFP 20 via the I / F 12, the communication management unit 11a passes the setting change data to the job processing unit 11b. Here, the setting change data is configured in a PJL data format in the same manner as the above setting data. Further, the setting change data indicates only the contents of changing the print setting.

  When the changed setting change data is received from the communication management unit 11a, the job processing unit 11b reflects the setting change data on the setting data indicating the print setting included in the print job registered in the memory 11d. In other words, only the changed data is rewritten among the setting data indicating the print settings.

  The job transmission unit 11c reads the print job designated from the MFP 20 from the memory 11d and transmits the print job to the MFP 20 via the I / F 12. Here, when there is a change in the print settings, a print job with the changed print settings is transmitted, and when there is no change in the print settings, a print job with no change in the print settings is transmitted. A print job from the client terminal 30 is stored in the memory 11d. The I / F 12 is connected to the network 40 and enables data transmission / reception between the client terminal 30 and the MFP 20 described above.

  On the other hand, the MFP 20 includes a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, a scanner unit 24, a printer unit 25, a FAX unit 26, and an I / F (interface) 27. The control unit 21 controls the overall operation of the MFP 20 based on a predetermined program in a ROM (not shown), and includes a communication management unit 21a, an operation reception unit 21b, a setting change data generation unit 21c, a job processing unit 21d, a memory 21e.

  The communication management unit 21a transmits a print start instruction and setting change data to the print server 10 via the I / F 27. In addition, the communication management unit 21 a receives a print job from the print server 10. The setting change data is transmitted simultaneously with the print start instruction. For this reason, access to the print server 10 when receiving a print job whose print settings have been changed is the same as the number of communications until a print job with no change in print settings is received. The print job received from the print server 10 is transferred to the job processing unit 21d.

  The operation receiving unit 21b receives an operation for designating a print job by the operation unit 22, an operation for changing print settings, and the like. The setting change data generation unit 21c generates setting change data indicating the change contents of the print setting received by the operation reception unit 21b. The setting change data generated by the setting change data generation unit 21c is delivered to the communication management unit 21a. The job processing unit 21d performs predetermined image processing (rasterization) on the print job downloaded from the print server 10. The memory 21e stores a print job downloaded from the print server 10.

  The operation unit 22 is operated when specifying a print job registered in the print server 10, changing a print setting, and the like, and includes, for example, a touch panel. In the pull print system, a login process is performed in order to hold the user's usage authority. This login process is performed via the operation unit 22 or via an IC card reader (not shown). The display unit 23 displays a message for guiding print job specification, print setting change, login, and the like, a list of print jobs that can be printed by the user, and the like.

  The scanner unit 24 inputs image data of a document read by an image sensor (not shown) to the control unit 21 (memory 21e). That is, the scanner unit 24 converts an image signal of a document from an image sensor (not shown) into digital image data and sequentially inputs the digital image data to the control unit 21.

  The printer unit 25 prints an image on a sheet based on the image data output from the control unit 21. That is, the printer unit 25 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum (not shown) by using modulated laser light based on rasterized image data output from the control unit 21. Then, a toner image is formed by the electrostatic latent image by supplying the toner, and this toner image is transferred to a sheet.

  The FAX unit 26 transmits the image data output from the control unit 21 to the counterpart facsimile via the telephone line, and receives the image data from the counterpart facsimile and inputs the image data to the control unit 21. That is, the FAX unit 26 compresses and modulates the image data output from the control unit 21 while controlling the connection with the telephone line by an NCU (Network Control Unit) (not shown), and transmits the image data to the counterpart facsimile. The FAX unit 26 demodulates and decompresses image data from the other party's facsimile while connecting to the telephone line via the NCU, and inputs the image data to the control unit 21. The I / F 27 is connected to the network 40 and enables data transmission / reception between the client terminal 30 and the MFP 20 described above.

  In the copy function job, image data is input from the scanner unit 24 to the memory 21e, and image data is output from the memory 21e to the printer unit 25. In the print function job, the image data rasterized by the job processing unit 21 d is output to the printer unit 25. In the job of the scanner function, image data is input from the scanner unit 24 to the memory 21e, and the image data is output from the memory 21e to the I / F 27.

  In the job of the fax transmission function, image data is input from the scanner unit 24 (or I / F 27) to the memory 21e, and image data is output from the memory 21e to the FAX unit 26. In the job of the fax reception function, image data is input from the FAX unit 26 to the memory 21e, and image data is output from the memory 21e to the printer unit 25.

  Further, when a print job registered in the print server 10 is pulled-printed from the MFP 20, as described above, when a login process for confirming the user's use authority is performed from the operation unit 22 or the like, the user authentication information is displayed on the network. 40 to the print server 10.

  When user authentication is performed on the print server 10 side, a list of print jobs that can be printed by the user on the MFP 20 side is acquired and displayed on the display unit 23. When the user operates the operation unit 22 and selects a job to be printed, the designated print job is downloaded from the print server 10 and stored in the memory 21e. The print job stored in the memory 21e is rasterized by the job processing unit 21d according to setting data indicating print settings included in the print job. Then, an image is printed on a sheet based on the rasterized image data.

(Processing on the print server side)
Next, processing on the print server 10 side will be described with reference to FIG. First, when a print job from the client terminal 30 is received by the communication management unit 11a (step S201), the print job is stored in the memory 11d (step S202). That is, PDL data as a print job and setting data indicating print settings are stored in the memory 11d in the print server 10. Further, as described above, the setting data indicating the print setting is configured in the PJL data format.

  At this time, when user authentication information is received by login from the MFP 20 side, user authentication is performed (step S203). If the user authentication is NG (step S203: NO), the processing on the print server 10 side is terminated. On the other hand, if the user authentication is OK (step S203: YES), the print job list information is transmitted to the MFP 20 (step S204).

  Here, the MFP 20 waits for designation of a print job (step S205: NO), and when a print job is designated (step S205: YES), it waits for a print request (step S206: NO). When there is a print request from the MFP 20 side (step S206: YES), it is determined whether or not setting change data has been received (step S207).

  If no setting change data has been received (step S207: NO), a print job without print setting change is transmitted to the MFP 20 side (step S208). On the other hand, if setting change data is received (step S207: YES), the print setting is changed by the job processing unit 11b (step S209).

  That is, the setting change data is reflected by the job processing unit 11b on the setting data indicating the print setting included in the print job from the client terminal 30 stored in the memory 11d. In this case, as described above, the setting change data indicates only the content of changing the print setting. Therefore, it is possible to rewrite only the changed data among the setting data indicating the print settings based on the contents of the changed print settings. As described above, when only the changed data is rewritten, the print job whose print settings are changed is transmitted to the MFP 20 side by the job transmission unit 11c (step S210).

(Processing on the MFP side)
Next, processing on the MFP 20 side will be described with reference to FIG. First, a login process is performed on the MFP 20 side in order to retain the user's usage authority (step S301). As described above, the login process is performed via the operation unit 22 or an IC card reader (not shown). The login process is performed according to the content displayed on the display unit 23.

  If the user authentication on the print server 10 side is OK as a result of the login processing performed here, when a print job list request is made (step S302), the print job list information from the print server 10 side is displayed in the communication management unit. 21a is received (step S303). Here, it is assumed that print job list information is received from the print server 10 side by making a print job list request, but user authentication on the print server 10 side is OK for the print job list information. In this case, it may be automatically transmitted from the print server 10 side.

  Since the received print job list information is displayed on the display unit 23 (step S304), the print job can be specified via the operation unit 22. Here, when the print job is not designated (step S305: NO) and the user is logged out (step S306: YES), the processing on the MFP 20 side ends.

  On the other hand, when a print job is designated (step S305: YES), it is determined whether or not the print setting has been changed (step S307). Here, when there is no change in print settings (step S307: NO), there is no instruction to start printing (step S310: NO), and logout occurs (step S306: YES), the processing on the MFP 20 side ends.

  On the other hand, when there is a change in the print setting (step S307: YES), when the change of the print setting is received by the operation reception unit 21b, the setting change data indicating the change contents of the print setting is generated by the setting change data generation unit 21c. (Step S308). That is, as described above, the print settings include, for example, image quality settings, enlargement / reduction settings, imposition settings, and image sizes that are reflected when rasterizing PDL data. In addition, image quality settings, recording paper size settings, paper output tray settings, enlargement / reduction settings, imposition settings, output number settings, sort settings, duplex settings, which are reflected when raster images obtained by rasterization are printed, There are preview settings, finishing settings such as stapling and punching.

  These setting changes can be performed via the operation unit 22 in accordance with the contents displayed on the display unit 23. Here, when any setting is changed, setting change data indicating the changed content is transmitted to the print server 10 side (step S309). The setting change data here is configured in the PJL data format as described above. Further, as described above, the setting change data indicates only the contents of changing the print setting.

  Then, when an instruction to start printing is given via the operation unit 22 (step S310: YES), a print job whose print settings have been changed is downloaded (step S312). The downloaded print job is subjected to predetermined image processing (rasterization) by the job processing unit 21d and output to the printer unit 25.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the print server 10 receives the setting change data having the same data format as the setting data indicating the print setting, which is transmitted simultaneously with the print start instruction from the MFP 20 as the image forming apparatus. The print job reflecting the setting change data is transmitted to the MFP 20.

  Specifically, when the print server 10 receives the setting change data and the communication management unit 11a that is a first communication management unit that performs communication management of data transmission / reception between the client terminal 30 and the MFP 20, the print server 10 performs printing. A job processing unit 11b, which is a first job processing unit that reflects setting change data for setting data indicating settings, and a print job with changed print settings or a print job without changed print settings are transmitted to the MFP 20. And a job transmission unit 11c which is a job transmission unit.

  The MFP 20 also includes an operation accepting unit 21b that is a change accepting unit that accepts at least a change in print setting, and a setting change data generating unit that generates setting change data indicating the change contents of the print setting accepted by the operation accepting unit 21b. Communication management of data transmission / reception between the setting change data generation unit 21c, the client terminal 30, and the print server 20, and transmission of the setting change data generated by the setting change data generation unit 21c to the print server 10 The communication management unit 21a, which is the second communication management unit, and the print job whose print setting has been changed, image processing is performed according to the setting data reflecting the setting change data, and the print job has no change in the print setting. On the other hand, the second job processing means performs image processing according to the setting data of the print job. And a job processing portion 21d.

  As a result, the number of communications until the print job is received on the MFP 20 side can be made the same as the number of communications until a print job with no change in print settings is received, and the load on the network 40 is increased. For example, it does not take time to download a print job.

  In addition, since the print job from the print server 10 in which the print setting has been changed reflects the setting change data, it is possible to perform image processing according to the print setting itself of the print job whose setting has been changed. The system resource usage rate will not increase.

  In addition, the setting change data reflected by the job processing unit 11b on the print server 10 side is such that only changed data is rewritten among the setting data indicating the print settings, so printing based on the setting change data is performed. The setting change process can be completed in a short time, and the print job with the changed print setting can be quickly transmitted to the MFP 20.

  The setting change data has the same format as the setting data indicating the print settings configured in the data format of the printer job language of the print job registered from the client terminal 30 to the print server 20. Therefore, when the setting change data is reflected by the job processing unit 11b of the print server 10, the setting change data from the MFP 20 can be used as it is without being converted into a predetermined format.

  Further, since the setting change data indicates only the contents of the changed print settings, the print server 20 side changes the setting data indicating the print settings based on the changed contents of the print settings. Only existing data can be rewritten easily and reliably.

10 Print server 12, 27 I / F
20 MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 11a Communication management part 11b Job processing part 11c Job transmission part 11d Memory 21 Control part 21a Communication management part 21b Operation reception part 21c Setting change data generation part 21d Job processing part 21e Memory 22 Operation part 23 Display part 24 Scanner part 25 Printer unit 26 FAX unit 30 Client terminal 40 Network

Claims (5)

A client terminal that generates a print job composed of PDL data and setting data indicating print settings, a print server in which the print job is registered, and an image that is downloaded and printed on the print job registered in the print server A pull printing system comprising a forming device,
The print server
Upon receiving setting change data in the same data format as the setting data indicating the print setting, which is transmitted simultaneously with the print start instruction from the image forming apparatus side, the print job reflecting the setting change data is transferred to the image A pull print system, characterized by being transmitted to a forming apparatus. The print server
First communication management means for performing communication management of data transmission and reception between the client terminal and the image forming apparatus;
Receiving the setting change data, first job processing means for reflecting the setting change data to the setting data indicating the print setting;
Job transmission means for transmitting a print job with a changed print setting or a print job without a change in print setting to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes:
Change accepting means for accepting at least a change in print settings;
Setting change data generating means for generating setting change data indicating the change contents of the print setting received by the change receiving means;
Second communication management means for performing communication management of data transmission and reception between the client terminal and the print server, and transmitting the setting change data generated by the setting change data generation means to the print server;
The print job with the changed print setting is subjected to image processing according to the setting data reflecting the setting change data, and the print job with no change in the print setting is subjected to image processing according to the print job setting data. The pull print system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second job processing unit that performs.   3. The pull print system according to claim 1, wherein the setting change data is reflected by rewriting only the changed data among the setting data indicating the print settings.   4. The pull print system according to claim 1, wherein the setting change data is a printer job language.   The pull print system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the setting change data indicates only contents of changing the print setting.

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