JP4590429B2 - Printing system, server, printing device, portable terminal device, and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a server, a printing device, a portable terminal device, and a printing method.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional printing system 1Z. Conventionally, in order to efficiently use hardware resources, various methods for sharing a single printing apparatus among a plurality of terminal apparatuses on a network have been proposed and implemented.

  For example, recently, as shown in FIG. 9, a method of sharing the terminal device 2Z using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) as a communication protocol has been proposed. Since IPP is a communication protocol based on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), the terminal device 3Z designates a printing device 2Z as a printing destination by a URL (Uniform Resource Locators), and prints a print job over a router or firewall. 2Z can be transmitted. Therefore, if the terminal device 3Z and the printing device 2Z are compatible with IPP, the printing device 2Z on the Internet can be shared.

  However, if the distance between the terminal device 3Z that requests printing and the printing device 2Z that performs printing is long, the user of the terminal device 3Z can see the contents of the printed material before another user takes the printed material. There is a fear.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to improve information security and cope with a case where the user forgets the portable terminal device or a case where the portable terminal device runs out of battery.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that output printed matter based on print data, a server connected to the printing apparatus via a communication line, and the server via a communication line. In a printing system having a mobile terminal device connected thereto, the server is stored by the storage unit, a print data receiving unit that receives print data, a storage unit that stores the print data received by the receiving unit, and the storage unit. A transmission unit that transmits a URL corresponding to the print data to an e-mail address of a user's portable terminal device, and the portable terminal device displays a URL transmitted by the transmission unit on a display screen. display means, after the URL is displayed on the display screen, instead of the displayed the URL, the display converts the URL in the barcode Barcode display means for displaying on the screen, the printing device based on the barcode read by the barcode reader that reads the barcode displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal device and the barcode reader And a printing unit that acquires the print data and prints the print data.

The invention according to claim 2 is the printing system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device is any one of a mobile phone terminal device, a PHS (registered trademark) terminal device, a notebook personal computer, and a PDA. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, the server extracts the print data requested from the printing apparatus from the storage unit, and the print data extracted by the extraction unit. Transmitting means for transmitting to the requesting printing apparatus, the printing apparatus to the server to transmit the print data to the printing apparatus based on the barcode acquired by the acquisition Requesting means for requesting and receiving means for receiving the print data requested by the requesting means from the server, wherein the printing means prints the print data received by the receiving means. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided print data for receiving print data in a server connected via a communication line to one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that output printed matter based on the print data and a portable terminal apparatus. Receiving means; storage means for storing the print data received by the receiving means; and transmitting means for transmitting a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the storage means to an e-mail address of a user's portable terminal device has the door, and a URL display means for displaying on the display screen the transmitted URL by said transmitting means, after the URL is displayed on the display screen, instead of the displayed the URL, the URL in the barcode a portable terminal device having a bar code displaying means for displaying on the display screen conversion to the bar code displayed on the display screen of the portable terminal device The printer is connected to a printing apparatus having a barcode reader to be read and a printing unit that acquires the print data and prints the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader. It is a server characterized by this.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that outputs a printed matter based on print data, a print data receiving unit that receives print data, a storage unit that stores print data received by the receiving unit, and the storage A server having a transmission unit for transmitting a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the unit to an e-mail address of a user's portable terminal device, and a URL display for displaying the URL transmitted by the transmission unit on a display screen And a barcode display means for converting the URL into a barcode and displaying it on the display screen instead of the displayed URL after the URL is displayed on the display screen. A barcode reader connected via a communication line for reading a barcode displayed on a display screen of the mobile terminal device; Based on the bar code read by the code reader, it acquires the print data is a printing device having a printing means for printing of the print data.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal device connected via a communication line to one or a plurality of printing devices that output printed matter based on print data, and the server, the portable terminal device Print data receiving means for receiving data, storage means for storing the print data received by the receiving means, and a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the storage means for the e-mail of the user's portable terminal device A server having a transmitting means for transmitting to an address, a barcode reader for reading a barcode displayed on the display screen of the portable terminal device, and acquiring the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader A printing unit that prints the print data, and is connected to the printing apparatus via a communication line. A URL display means for displaying the transmitted URL on the display screen, after the URL is displayed on the display screen, instead of the displayed the URL, displayed on the display screen by converting the URL in the barcode A portable terminal device comprising a bar code display means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that output printed matter based on print data and have a barcode reader, a server connected to the printing apparatus via a communication line, and the server In a printing method of a printing system having a mobile terminal device connected to a communication line, a print data receiving step in which the server receives print data, and a print data received by the server in the receiving step A storage step of storing the URL, a transmission step in which the server transmits a URL corresponding to the print data stored in the storage step to an email address of a user's mobile terminal device, and the mobile terminal device includes: A URL display step for displaying the URL transmitted in the transmission step on a display screen; and After the URL is displayed on示画surface, instead of the displayed the URL, and a bar code display step of displaying on the display screen by converting the URL to the bar code, the printing apparatus, the portable terminal device A barcode reading step of reading the barcode displayed on the display screen by the barcode reader, and the printing apparatus acquires the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader and prints the print data A printing step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve information security and cope with a case where the user forgets the mobile terminal device or a case where the mobile terminal device runs out of battery.

  1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing system 1 according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a print server 11, and the like. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus 2. 4 is a diagram illustrating examples of functional configurations of the print data management system 10 and the printing apparatus 2, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in the user information storage unit 1J1, and FIG. 6 is a confirmation screen HG1. It is a figure which shows the example of.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system 1 according to the present invention includes a print data management system 10, a plurality of printing apparatuses 2 (21, 22,..., 2n), a communication line 4, and the like. Each server, such as the print server 11, the user authentication server 12, and the billing server 13, constituting the print data management system 10 and each printing apparatus 2 are connected by a communication line 4.

  As the communication line 4, the Internet, an intranet, a public line, a dedicated line, or the like is used. Further, TCP / IP and its higher level protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3), and IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) are used as communication protocols.

  The terminal device 31 has a Web browser function and an e-mail function, and can exchange data and the like with each device of the printing system 1. A driver for converting a document such as a document, a graph, or an image into a print job that can be printed by the printing apparatus 2 is installed. Hereinafter, this print job is referred to as “print data D1”. As the terminal device 31, a personal computer or a workstation is used.

  A user of the terminal device 31 can receive a service provided by the printing system 1. For example, it is assumed that the printing apparatus 2 is installed in a convenience store, an office service store, a hotel, or a public facility. If the user sends a print command, that is, print data D1, from the terminal device 31 in the company to the print server 11 before going on a business trip, the printed material is sent from any printing device 2 near the business trip destination. Obtainable.

  The mobile terminal device 32 is a portable terminal device that can be connected to a mobile phone line or a PHS line. An electronic mail address for an electronic mail service (so-called mobile mail) provided by a mobile phone company or the like is assigned to the mobile terminal device 32. As the mobile terminal device 32, a mobile phone terminal, a PHS terminal, a notebook personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like is used.

  The print server 11 mainly manages the print data D1 received from the terminal device 31. The user authentication server 12 mainly authenticates whether the user of the terminal device 31 has the authority to use the print data management system 10. The billing server 13 mainly performs processing related to the fee for the service provided to the user of the terminal device 31, management of personal information of members, registration of new members, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, these servers 11 to 13 include a CPU 1a, a magnetic storage device 1b, a ROM 1c, a RAM 1d, an input device such as a mouse 1m or a keyboard 1k, and a display device 1e. The magnetic storage device 1b stores an operating system (OS) and various programs and data for realizing each function described later. These programs are installed in the magnetic storage device 1b from a recording medium ST such as a CD-ROM, MO, or DVD-ROM. These programs and data are loaded into the RAM 1d as necessary and executed by the CPU 1a. As the servers 11 to 13, a UNIX (registered trademark) server, a workstation, a personal computer, or the like is used. The print data management system 10 shown in FIG. 1 performs the above processing by distributing it to three servers. However, the print data management system 10 is 1 depending on the scale of the print system 1 or the number of users who use the print system 1. The configuration may be such that the processing is performed by four servers, or the processing may be distributed to four or more servers.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the printing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 2a, a RAM 2b, a ROM 2c, a communication interface 2d, an operation button 2e, an input / output interface 2f, a printing mechanism 2g, a paper discharge tray 2h, and the like. The ROM 2c stores various programs and data for realizing each function described later. Each program is executed by the CPU 2a.

  As the printing apparatus 2, an IPP compatible printing apparatus is used. Accordingly, the print data D1 is transmitted from the terminal device 31 to the printing device 2 through a router or a firewall provided inside and outside the printing system 1. The print data D1 that has arrived at the printing apparatus 2 is stored in the RAM 2b.

  The printing mechanism 2g prints on a sheet according to a command that the CPU 2a outputs based on the print data D1, and discharges the printed matter to the discharge tray 2h. The input button 2e is used when the user designates print data to the printing apparatus 2 or the like. The input / output interface 2f is used to transmit / receive data to / from the mobile terminal device 32 owned by the user. As the input / output interface 2f, for example, a serial port, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, or the like is used. Alternatively, a wireless interface such as Bluetooth may be used. Data may be transferred using a recording medium such as a memory card.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B, a personal computer 2P may be connected to the printing apparatus 2 via the input / output interface 2f, and a set of printing apparatuses may be configured by the printing apparatus 2 and the personal computer 2P. An application program for controlling the printing apparatus 2 is installed in the personal computer 2P. Thus, the user can specify print data for the printing apparatus 2 by operating the keyboard or mouse of the personal computer 2P instead of the input button 2e of the printing apparatus 2. In addition, since the personal computer 2P transmits and receives data between the print data management system 10 and the portable terminal device 32, the processing load on the printing device 2 can be reduced.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the print data management system 10 includes a user information storage unit 1J1, a print data storage unit 1J2, a user authentication unit 101, a print data reception unit 102, a chargeability confirmation unit 103, Functions such as the URL notification unit 104, the charge billing processing unit 105, the print data extraction unit 106, the print data transmission unit 107, and the user registration unit 108 are realized. Further, the printing apparatus 2 implements functions such as a URL acquisition unit 201, a print data request unit 202, a print data reception unit 203, and a print control unit 204.

  The user information storage unit 1J1 stores personal information of users who can use the service provided by the printing system 1, that is, members' personal information as shown in FIG. Each user is identified by the user identification information D3. As the user identification information D3, for example, the e-mail address of the mobile terminal device 32 owned by each user is used. The card information D2 indicates the number of a credit card that is used by each user to pay a usage fee for the service of the printing system 1.

  The user registration unit 108 performs user registration processing for a user who wishes to become a member of the printing system 1. First, a user who wishes to become a member operates the terminal device 31 or the mobile terminal device 32 to access the print data management system 10, and his / her name, the e-mail address of the mobile terminal device 32, the printing fee, etc. Enter the credit card number to be used for payment. At this time, the user registration unit 108 registers the acquired name, e-mail address, and credit card number in the user information storage unit 1J1 in association with each other.

  The user authentication unit 101 authenticates whether or not a user who intends to use the printing system 1 is registered as a user. For example, when a document created by the terminal device 31 is to be printed, authentication is performed in the following procedure. First, the user inputs the electronic mail address of his / her mobile terminal device 32 to the terminal device 31 and requests the print data management system 10 for authentication. Then, the user authentication unit 101 determines whether or not the received e-mail address matches any user identification information D3 stored in the user information storage unit 1J1. If it can be determined that they match, it is determined that the user is registered as a user, and the fact is notified to the terminal device 31.

  If the authentication is correctly performed, the print data receiving unit 102 is ready to receive the print data D1 transmitted from the terminal device 31 of the authenticated user. After this state is reached, the user can send print data D1 of a document to be printed to the print data management system 10 and issue a print command. IPP is used for transmission of the print data D1. Therefore, the user can designate various options such as printing of a plurality of sheets, double-sided printing, color printing, or enlargement / reduction printing according to the function of the output destination printing apparatus 2.

  The print data D1 received by the print data receiving unit 102 is accumulated (stored) in the print data storage unit 1J2 as a print queue. The storage location of the stored print data D1 is indicated by a URL such as “http://printserver.yyyyy.xx.jp/printjob/print data name” so that it can be referred to from a WWW browser or the like. . However, a unique file name is assigned to the “print data name” in the URL to identify each received print data D1.

  The chargeability confirmation unit 103 makes an inquiry to the user who sent the print data D1 to confirm whether or not the printing fee may be collected (chargeability). First, the confirmation program P4 is transmitted to the e-mail address indicated by the user identification information D3 of the user.

  At this time, in the mobile terminal device 32 that has received the confirmation program P4, the program is executed, and a confirmation screen HG1 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. When the button BN11 is selected on the confirmation screen HG1, the print data management system 10 is notified that the printing fee may be collected.

  In response to the notification, the chargeability confirmation unit 103 updates the printability information D5 corresponding to the print data D1 to “available” as shown in FIG. When the button BN12 is selected on the confirmation screen HG1, the continuation of the printing service is stopped and the print data D1 of the user is deleted from the print data receiving unit 102. The confirmation program P4 is created in a language corresponding to the mobile terminal device 32, such as JAVA (registered trademark).

  After confirming that billing is possible, the fee billing processing unit 105 performs processing related to billing for the printing fee based on the card information D2. That is, first, the printing fee for the user who requested printing is calculated. The calculation of the printing fee is based on, for example, the data amount of the print data D1 received from the user, the number of pages indicated in the print data D1, the number of copies, the type of paper, or whether printing is performed or not. Based on this. Then, the card information D2 is retrieved from the user information storage unit 1J1 based on the user identification information D3 of the requesting user, and the credit card company is charged for the printing fee based on the credit card number indicated in the card information D2. Perform the process.

  The URL notification unit 104 notifies the storage location information D6 indicating the URL of the print data D1 stored in the print data receiving unit 102 to the portable terminal device 32 of the user who is the transmission source of the print data D1. The storage position information D6 is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 32 together with the confirmation program P4. As shown in FIG. 6, the URL of the print data D1 is displayed on the display surface of the mobile terminal device 32 that has received the storage position information D6. The storage location information D6 may be transmitted after the chargeability confirmation unit 103 confirms that chargeability is possible.

  The URL acquisition unit 201 of the printing apparatus 2 acquires the storage position information D6 from the mobile terminal device 32 of the user who visited to receive the printed matter. The storage location information D6 is acquired via an interface such as USB or Bluetooth. The input screen may be displayed on the display panel of the printing apparatus 2 or the display device of the personal computer 2P, and the URL of the storage position information D6 may be input by the user. Thereby, if the URL shown in FIG. 6 is noted in a notebook or the like, it is possible to cope with a case where the user forgets the portable terminal device 32 or a case where the portable terminal device 32 runs out of battery.

  The print data request unit 202 requests the print data management system 10 to transmit the print data D1 at the storage position indicated by the acquired storage position information D6 to the printing apparatus 2.

  In response to this request, the print data extraction unit 106 of the print data management system 10 extracts the print data D1 of the visited user from the print data storage unit 1J2. The extracted print data D1 is transmitted to the requesting printing apparatus 2 by the print data transmitting unit 107.

  The print data D1 is received by the print data receiving unit 203. The print control unit 204 performs processing for printing based on the print data D1 and delivering the printed matter to the user.

  Next, the processing flow of the print data management system 10 and the printing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to flowcharts. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the processing flow of the print data management system 10, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the processing flow of the printing apparatus 2.

  For example, it is assumed that a certain office service company operates the printing system 1 and has branches in various places. This office service company has a print data management system 10 installed in a calculation center of the head office, and a printing apparatus 2 installed in each branch. The printing apparatus 2 is also installed in a facility such as a convenience store, an event hall, a tenant building, a hotel, or a government office that has a contract. Each printing apparatus 2 can be used only by a member of an office service company, that is, a user registered as shown in FIG.

  User C, who is a member of the office service company, will travel to a remote customer for a business talk. The data for the business negotiations has already been completed, but if you print it for the number of people, it will be a large package, and if you send it to the customer using a courier, it will not be in time for the business. Therefore, the user C uses the printing system 1 to prepare materials.

  The user C accesses the print data management system 10 from the company terminal device 31. Then, it inputs the e-mail address of its own mobile terminal device 32 and transmits it to the print data management system 10.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the print data management system 10 determines whether or not the user C is a member based on the electronic mail address acquired from the terminal device 31 (# 101, # 102). That is, it is checked whether or not the acquired electronic mail address is registered (stored) in the user information storage unit 1J1, and if it is registered, it is determined that the member is a member.

  If it is confirmed that the user C is a member (Yes in # 102), the terminal device 31 is notified that the printing system 1 can be used (# 103), and the print data D1 from the terminal device 31 of the user C is sent. Is ready to receive.

  After receiving the notification, the user transmits print data D1 for the business negotiation material to the print data management system 10. When there are a plurality of materials, the print data D1 of each material is transmitted sequentially or collectively.

  The print data management system 10 receives the print data D1 from the terminal device 31 (# 104) and accumulates it as a print queue (# 105). When all the print data D1 is received, the storage position information D6 indicating the storage position of these print data D1, that is, the URL, and the confirmation program P4 are transmitted to the mobile terminal device 32 of the user C (# 106).

  In the mobile terminal device 32, the confirmation program P4 is executed, and a confirmation screen HG1 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. User C selects button BN11 on confirmation screen HG1. Then, the print data management system 10 is notified that charging is permitted.

  When the print data management system 10 receives a charging permission from the user C (Yes in # 107), the print data management system 10 searches the user information storage unit 1J1 for the card information D2 of the user C, and performs a process related to the charge for the print fee (# 108). ). If charging permission has not been received (No in # 107), the print data D1 of the user C is deleted from the print data storage unit 1J2 (# 112), and the series of processing is terminated.

  Thus, the necessary processing is completed before the user C goes out. The user C leaves the company with the mobile terminal device 32 and stops at a branch office or affiliated facility of an office service company near the customer. Then, the storage position information D6 is input to the printing apparatus 2 installed in the branch or facility.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the printing apparatus 2 requests the print data management system 10 to transmit the print data D1 based on the storage position information D6 (# 201, # 202). That is, the print data management system 10 is accessed to request the print data D1 at the storage location indicated by the storage location information D6.

  In response to the request from the printing apparatus 2, the print data management system 10 extracts (searches) the print data D1 from the print data storage unit 1J2, and transmits the print data D1 to the requesting printing apparatus 2 (# 109-). # 111). Note that the print data D1 is deleted from the print data storage unit 1J2 after the transmission is completed or after the notification that the printing is completed in the printing apparatus 2 is received.

  The printing apparatus 2 performs a printing process based on the received print data D1, and discharges the printed material (# 203, # 204). If there are a plurality of materials to be printed, the processes of steps # 201 to # 203 are repeated. Then, the user C receives the printed matter and goes to the customer.

  According to this embodiment, since the user who requested the printing visits the printing apparatus 2 and prints the user's document, it can be seen by others before he / she goes to pick up the printed matter as before. There is no. Therefore, the security (safety) of information can be improved as compared with the prior art. In addition, since the user never forgets to go to the printed matter in spite of issuing the print command as in the prior art, the waste of resources can be reduced. In addition, since the user does not often come to pick up the printed material after printing as in the prior art, the printed material can be prevented from collecting at the printing apparatus 2.

  The user can freely select the printing apparatus 2 that performs printing even after issuing a print command from the terminal apparatus 31. Therefore, for example, even when the business trip destination of the user C is changed in the example of FIGS. 7 and 8 described above, the user C can take the printed material from the printing device 2 near the business trip destination after the change. Can be acquired. Even when the installation location of the printing apparatus 2 cannot be checked due to busyness, a print command can be issued to the print data management system 10 and the company can be left immediately. In this case, at the time that is free on the way to the business trip destination, the mobile terminal device 32 is used to search the Internet or call the employee at the business trip destination to check the location of the nearest printing device 2. Good.

  Since the printing fee payment process is performed using a pre-registered credit card number, the user does not need to input the credit card number each time printing is performed. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the concern about the leakage of the credit card number from the user and promote the use of the printing system 1.

  After the print command is issued, the URL of the print data D1 is notified to the user's own mobile terminal device 32 registered in advance, so that unauthorized use by others can be prevented. In addition, since the user confirms the intention of printing with the confirmation screen HG1, useless printing due to an operation error can be eliminated.

  In the present embodiment, the confirmation of the charge for the printing fee is performed by transmitting the confirmation program P4 to the mobile terminal device 32, but other methods may be used. For example, the print data management system 10 may be provided with a confirmation program using CGI (Common Gateway Interface). An electronic mail for charging may be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 32, and the charging process may be performed when a reply is received. Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 32 may be configured to make a phone call, guide the user to make a charge, and perform a charge process when a predetermined push button is pressed.

  In order to input the URL to the printing apparatus 2, the printing apparatus 2 and the portable terminal device 32 are connected by an interface such as a serial cable or Bluetooth, but other methods may be used. For example, the printing apparatus 2 may be provided with an OCR function, and the URL characters on the confirmation screen HG1 in FIG. 6 may be read. Alternatively, the URL may be converted into a barcode and displayed on the confirmation screen HG1, and the barcode may be read using a barcode reader connected to the printing apparatus 2.

  It is also possible to use the printing system 1 like a facsimile. For example, when the user X transmits a document to the user Y, first, the user X transmits the print data D1 of the document from the terminal device 31 to the print data management system 10. Then, the mobile terminal device 32 of the user X is notified of the URL of the print data D1. User X informs user Y of the URL. User Y can input the URL to the printing apparatus 2 near him and obtain the printed matter.

In addition, the configuration, the processing content, the processing order, the communication protocol, the program language, etc. of the whole or each part of the printing system 1, the print data management system 10, the printing device 2, the terminal device 31, and the portable terminal device 32 are within the scope of the present invention. Can be changed accordingly.
(Supplementary Note 1) Print data that has a print server that manages print data and one or more printing apparatuses that output printed materials based on the print data, and that receives print data from a terminal device. Receiving means; print data storage means for storing the received print data; notification means for notifying a user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the print data of storage position information indicating the storage position of the stored print data; An extraction unit that extracts print data requested from the printing apparatus from the print data storage unit; and a transmission unit that transmits the extracted print data to the requesting printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes: Storage location information acquisition means for acquiring the storage location information notified to the user from a user who has visited the place where the printing apparatus is installed; Request means for requesting the print server to transmit print data at the storage position indicated by the storage position information to the printing apparatus; and print means for performing printing based on the print data received from the print server; And a printing system comprising:
(Supplementary Note 2) A print data management system used in a printing system including one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that outputs printed matter based on print data, the print data receiving unit receiving print data from a terminal device; The print data storage means for storing the received print data, the notification means for notifying the user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the print data of the storage position information indicating the storage position of the stored print data, and designated by the printing apparatus Extraction means for extracting the print data at the storage position indicated by the storage position information from the print data storage means, and transmission means for transmitting the extracted print data to the printing apparatus of the designation source. A print data management system characterized by comprising:
(Appendix 3) User information storage means for storing user identification information for identifying a user for each user, and the user identification of the user of the terminal device when the print data receiving means receives print data from the terminal device User identification information acquisition means for acquiring information, wherein the print data reception means is configured to store the user identification information acquired by the user identification information acquisition means in the user information storage means. The print data management system according to appendix 2, wherein the print data is received when it matches any of the above.
(Supplementary Note 4) The user identification information is an electronic mail address of a portable terminal device owned by a user corresponding to the user identification information, and the notification means notifies the user of the electronic mail. 4. The print data management system according to appendix 3, which is performed by transmitting the storage location information to an address.
(Additional remark 5) It has a billing process part which performs the billing process for charging a printing charge with respect to a user, The said user information storage means is a user's printing charge corresponding to the said user identification information for every said user identification information The billing processing unit stores the billing processing for the print data received by the print data receiving unit in the user identification information received when the print data is received. The print data management system according to appendix 3 or appendix 4, which is performed based on the corresponding billing information.
(Additional remark 6) After the said print data receiving means receives print data from a terminal device, the inquiry means which inquires whether the printing fee about the said print data may be collected with respect to the user of the said terminal device And when the inquiry means obtains a reply from the user that the printing fee may be collected, the claim processing means enables the claim processing, and the transmission means can transmit print data. The print data management system according to appendix 5.
(Appendix 7) A printing apparatus used in a printing system provided with a print server for storing print data, the storage position indicating the storage position of the print data from a user who has visited the place where the printing apparatus is installed Storage position information acquisition means for acquiring information, request means for requesting the print server to transmit print data at the storage position indicated in the acquired storage position information to the printing apparatus, and received print data And a printing means for performing printing based on the printing apparatus.
(Supplementary Note 8) A computer program used in a computer of a printing system composed of one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that outputs printed matter based on print data, the process of receiving print data from a terminal device, and the received printing Processing for storing data in the storage means, processing for notifying storage location information indicating the storage location of the stored print data to the user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the print data, and the storage location designated by the printing device A computer program for causing a computer to execute a process of extracting print data at a storage position indicated by information from the print data storage unit and a process of transmitting the extracted print data to the designated printing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to increase information security and reduce unnecessary printing.

It is a figure which shows the example of the printing system which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a print server or the like. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus 2. FIG. It is a figure explaining the example of a functional structure of a print data management system and a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the information of the user memorize | stored in the user information storage part. It is a figure which shows the example of a confirmation screen. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of a print data management system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the conventional printing system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 2 Printing apparatus 10 Print data management system 11 Print server 101 User authentication part (user identification information acquisition means)
104 URL notification section (notification means)
106 Print data extraction unit (extraction means)
107 Print data transmission unit (transmission means)
1J1 user information storage unit (user information storage means)
201 URL acquisition unit (storage position information acquisition means)
202 Print data request section (request means)
203 Print data receiving unit (print data receiving means)
204 Print control unit (printing means)
D1 Print data D3 User identification information D6 Storage position information

Claims (7)

One or a plurality of printing devices that output printed matter based on print data, a server connected to the printing device via a communication line, and a portable terminal device connected to the server via a communication line Having a printing system,
The server
Print data receiving means for receiving print data;
Storage means for storing print data received by the receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the storage means to an e-mail address of a user's portable terminal device;
The portable terminal device
URL display means for displaying the URL transmitted by the transmission means on a display screen;
Bar code display means for converting the URL into a bar code and displaying it on the display screen instead of the displayed URL after the URL is displayed on the display screen;
The printing apparatus includes:
A barcode reader for reading a barcode displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal device;
A printing system, comprising: a printing unit that acquires the print data and prints the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device is one of a mobile phone terminal device, a PHS (registered trademark) terminal device, a notebook personal computer, and a PDA. The server
Extraction means for extracting print data requested from the printing apparatus from the storage means;
Transmission means for transmitting the print data extracted by the extraction means to the requesting printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes:
Request means for requesting the server to transmit the print data to the printing device based on the barcode acquired by the acquisition acquisition;
Receiving means for receiving print data requested by the request means from the server;
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints the print data received by the receiving unit. In a server connected via a communication line to one or a plurality of printing devices that output printed matter based on print data and a mobile terminal device,
Print data receiving means for receiving print data;
Storage means for storing print data received by the receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the storage means to an e-mail address of a user's portable terminal device;
A URL display means for displaying the URL transmitted by the transmitting means on the display screen, after the URL is displayed on the display screen, instead of the displayed the URL, the display converts the URL in the barcode Based on a portable terminal device having a barcode display means for displaying on a screen, a barcode reader for reading a barcode displayed on the display screen of the portable terminal device, and the barcode read by the barcode reader, A server characterized in that it is connected via a communication line to a printing apparatus having printing means for acquiring print data and printing the print data. In a printing apparatus that outputs printed matter based on print data,
Print data receiving means for receiving print data, storage means for storing the print data received by the receiving means, and a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the storage means are stored in the electronic device of the user's portable terminal device. A server having a transmission means for transmitting to an e-mail address; a URL display means for displaying the URL transmitted by the transmission means on a display screen; and after the URL is displayed on the display screen, the displayed URL is replaced with the URL. Connected to a portable terminal device having a barcode display means for converting the URL into a barcode and displaying it on the display screen via a communication line,
A barcode reader for reading a barcode displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal device;
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that acquires the print data and prints the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader. In a mobile terminal device connected via a communication line to one or a plurality of printing devices that output printed matter based on print data and a server,
The portable terminal device
Print data receiving means for receiving print data, storage means for storing the print data received by the receiving means, and a URL corresponding to the print data stored by the storage means are stored in the electronic device of the user's portable terminal device. A server having transmission means for transmitting to an e-mail address; a barcode reader for reading a barcode displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal device; and the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader A printing unit that obtains and prints the print data, and is connected to a printing apparatus having a communication line,
URL display means for displaying the URL transmitted by the transmission means on a display screen;
After the URL is displayed on the display screen, instead of the displayed URL, the mobile terminal device has barcode display means for converting the URL into a barcode and displaying the barcode on the display screen . One or more printing apparatuses that output printed matter based on print data and have a barcode reader, a server connected to the printing apparatus via a communication line, and a connection to the server via a communication line In a printing method of a printing system having a portable terminal device,
A print data receiving step in which the server receives print data;
A storage step in which the server stores the print data received in the reception step;
A transmitting step in which the server transmits a URL corresponding to the print data stored in the storing step to an e-mail address of a user's mobile terminal device;
A URL display step in which the mobile terminal device displays the URL transmitted in the transmission step on a display screen;
After the URL is displayed on the display screen, the portable terminal device converts the URL into a barcode and displays it on the display screen instead of the displayed URL; and
The barcode reading step by which the printing device reads the barcode displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal device with the barcode reader;
A printing method, comprising: a printing step in which the printing apparatus acquires the print data and prints the print data based on the barcode read by the barcode reader.

Images