JPH11184660A - System and method for selecting output equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an output equipment selection system by which a user can more speedily obtain the optimum output matched with a purpose. SOLUTION: An attribute acquiring part 11 acquires the equipment information of output equipment linked with over a network, and a map preparing part 2 makes the physical position of the output equipment into map while referring to the acquired equipment information. A preservation part 13 preserves that map information. A condition setting part 14 sets the conditions of automatic grouping and based on these conditions, an execution part 15 divides the output equipment into groups. A preservation part 18 preserves the group information of the output equipment. An automatic selection part 19 determines any output equipment group corresponding to an output purpose, and a display part 22 displays the map of the output equipment group determined by the automatic selection part 19 together with the state of every equipment acquired by an information acquiring part 21. A selection part 23 selects a prescribed output equipment on the displayed map of the output equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device selection system capable of selecting a desired output device from a computer and outputting information in an environment where a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network. And an output device selection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a network serving as an infrastructure has been completed in an office, a plurality of computers and a plurality of output devices (for example, a DP scanner / printer) are connected via the network, and a plurality of users share a plurality of output devices. Then, it is becoming common practice to use it according to the purpose.

[0003] In addition, devices for connecting output devices to a network have evolved, and many devices have a function of directly confirming the attributes and status of output devices from a computer. Further, in order to manage a plurality of output devices, a tool for extracting attribute information and status information from the output devices, graphically displaying the information, and managing the output devices is also used. For example, each output device stores its own attribute in advance, the computer creates a map of each output device with reference to the attributes and status of the output device, and selects a predetermined output device from the displayed map. Something has been done.

[0004]

However, as described above, while an environment in which an output device management tool on a complicated network can be used is being prepared, documents and graphics managed by a computer are output. In such a case, the user still needs to know the location and attributes of the available output device from among many output devices and select the output device.

At this time, the output device may be selected incorrectly, and it is necessary to repeat the output operation until printing can be performed as intended. Furthermore, even if a trouble occurs during output,
There is also a problem that an output device that does not exist near the user cannot be immediately sensed, and a prompt action cannot be taken.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an output device selection system and an output device selection method that enable a user to obtain an optimal output that meets a purpose more quickly.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect, in a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, attributes and states of the respective output devices are determined. In an output device selection system that displays a map of output devices based on the output device and selects a predetermined output device from the displayed map, the output devices are automatically grouped according to the attribute of each of the output devices to form a plurality of output device groups. A grouping unit to be created, an automatic group determination unit for automatically determining an output device group according to an output purpose from the plurality of output device groups, and a map of the output device group determined by the automatic group determination unit are displayed. And output device selecting means for selecting a predetermined output device from a map displayed on the display means.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the display means displays a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination means together with the status of each output device in the group. Things.

In a third aspect, in a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the output devices, and the displayed map is displayed. In an output device selection system for selecting a more predetermined output device, a grouping means for designating and grouping each output device on a displayed map of output devices to create a plurality of output device groups, and the plurality of output devices. Group selection means for selecting a predetermined output device group from the group; display means for displaying a map of the output device group selected by the group selection means; and predetermined output equipment based on the map displayed by the display means. And output device selecting means for selecting the output device.

In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the display means displays a map of the output device group selected by the group selection means together with the status of each output device in the group. Things.

In a fifth aspect, in a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the output devices, and the displayed map is displayed. In an output device selection system for selecting a predetermined output device, a first grouping means for automatically grouping output devices according to the attribute of each output device to create a plurality of output device groups; A second grouping means for designating and grouping each output device on a device map to create a plurality of output device groups; and a plurality of output device groups created by the first or second grouping means And an automatic discriminating means for automatically discriminating an output device group according to an output purpose from the first and second grouping means. A group selecting means for selecting predetermined output device group from a plurality of output devices group,
A display unit that displays a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination unit or selected by the group selection unit; and an output device selection unit that selects a predetermined output device from the map displayed by the display unit. It is provided with.

In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the display means is determined by the automatic determination means.
Alternatively, the map of the output device selected by the group selecting means is displayed together with the status of each output device in the group.

In a seventh aspect, in a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the output devices, and the displayed map is displayed. A grouping process for automatically grouping output devices according to the attributes of the respective output devices to create a plurality of output device groups, for the output device selection system for selecting a more predetermined output device; A group automatic discrimination process for automatically discriminating an output device group according to an output purpose, a display process for displaying a map of the output device group discriminated in the group auto discrimination process, and a map displayed in the display process. An output device selection process for selecting a predetermined output device is executed.

In an eighth aspect based on the seventh aspect, in the display process, a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination process is displayed together with a state of each output device in the group. Things.

In a ninth aspect, in a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the output devices, and the displayed map is displayed. For an output device selection system for selecting a more predetermined output device, a grouping process of designating and grouping each output device on the displayed output device map to create a plurality of output device groups,
A group selection process for selecting a predetermined output device group from the plurality of output device groups, a display process for displaying a map of the output device group selected in the group selection process, and a map displayed in the display process. An output device selection process for selecting a predetermined output device is executed.

In a tenth aspect based on the ninth aspect, in the display process, a map of the output device group selected in the group selection process is displayed together with a state of each output device in the group. Things.

In the eleventh aspect, in a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the output devices, and the displayed map is displayed. A first grouping means for automatically grouping output devices based on the attributes of the respective output devices to create a plurality of output device groups, for an output device selection system for selecting a more predetermined output device; A second grouping means for designating and grouping each output device on the map of the output devices to create a plurality of output device groups; and a plurality of output devices created by the first or second grouping means. An automatic discriminating means for automatically discriminating an output device group from a group according to an output purpose; and the first or second grouping means. Group selection means for selecting a predetermined output device group from a plurality of output device groups is provided in advance, and a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination means or selected by the group selection means is displayed. A display process to be displayed and an output device selection process for selecting a predetermined output device from the map displayed in the display process are executed.

In a twelfth aspect based on the eleventh aspect, the display processing includes the step of outputting a map of the output device determined by the automatic determination means or selected by the group selection means to each output device in the group. This is displayed together with the status of the device.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an output device selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an output device selection system. The output device selection system 1 includes an output device attribute acquisition unit 11, an output device map creation unit 12, an output device map information storage unit 13, and an output device grouping condition setting unit 1.
4, output device grouping execution unit 15, output device map display unit 16, output device grouping designation unit 17, output device group map information storage unit 18, output device group automatic selection unit 19, output device group selection unit 20, output It is roughly composed of a device status information acquisition unit 21, an output device group map display unit 22, and an output device selection unit 23.

The output device attribute acquiring unit 11 acquires device information of output devices connected to the network, and the output device map creating unit 12 refers to the device information acquired by the output device attribute acquiring unit 11, A map creator that maps the physical position of the output device to a map. The output device map information storage unit 13 stores the map information created by the output device map creation unit 12.

The output device grouping condition setting section 14 sets conditions for performing automatic grouping. The output device grouping execution unit 15 groups output devices based on the conditions set by the output device grouping condition setting unit 14. The output device map display unit 16 displays a map of the output device based on the map information stored in the output device map information storage unit 13.

The output device grouping designation section 17 allows the user to arbitrarily designate grouping on the map displayed on the output device map display section 16. Then, the output device group map information storage unit 18 stores the group information of the output devices grouped by the output device grouping execution unit 15 or the output device grouping designation unit 17.

The output device group automatic selection section 19 automatically determines an output device group according to an output purpose. The output device group selection unit 20 specifies a predetermined output device group from a plurality of output device groups.

The output device group map display unit 22 obtains the output device state information obtained from the output device group determined by the output device group automatic selection unit 19 or the map of the output device group selected by the output device group selection unit 20. The status is displayed together with the status of each device of the output device group acquired by the unit 21. Then, the output device selection unit 23
Selects a predetermined output device on the output device map displayed on the output device group map display section 22.

An output device selection system 1 having such a configuration
This allows the user to quickly select an output device that suits the purpose.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the output device selection system of the present embodiment will be specifically described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the output device selection system according to the present embodiment.

Reference numerals 101 and 102 in the figure are server computers. The server computer obtains the attributes and status of the output device directly from the output device via the network 100. Reference numerals 103 and 104 denote devices that store information on output devices referred to and grouped information on output devices.

Reference numerals 105 and 106 denote client PCs. This client PC is connected to the devices 10 of the server computers 101 and 102 via the network 100.
Reference is made to the output device information stored in the storage devices 3 and 104, the output devices are grouped, and the output devices are selected.

Reference numerals 107 and 108 denote DP printers connected to a network. A DP printer is a printer equipped with a device (hereinafter, referred to as a DP device) that enables a server machine to refer to printer attributes and printer status. 109 and 110 are DP scanners / printers connected to the network. A DP device is mounted similarly to the DP printers 107 and 108.

Next, an output device selection method of the output device selection system having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a map of output devices, grouping output devices, and selecting output devices by the output device selection system. It should be noted that the program according to this flowchart is executed by the client P
By storing and operating in the storage device in C105 or C106, the following control method can be realized.

In FIG. 3, in step S1, initialization for starting the output device selection system is executed.
In the subsequent step S2, various instruction buttons are displayed to select an operation on the screen, and a map of output devices, grouping of output devices, and selection and output of output devices can be selected using a keyboard or a mouse. When "Create a map of the output device" is selected, a series of operations for creating a map of the output device is started from step S11.

In step S11, the server machine 10
The attributes of the DP printers 107 and 108 and the DP scanners / printers 109 and 110 connected to the network 100 via the PCs 1 and 102 are acquired. The attributes of the printer are information on the capabilities of the printer, such as the printer model, printing method, resolution, monochrome / color, paper size, and printing speed.

In the next step S12, an entire map is created in consideration of the position information of the printer. FIG. 4 is an example of the created map. At this time, if necessary, step S1
The printer attribute acquired in step 1 is referred to. Further, in step S13, the map information of the printer is
1, 102 storage devices.

By the above steps S11 to S13,
A map of the printer is created and saved. Next, step S2
Returning to step S21, if "group output devices" is selected, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, whether to perform grouping automatically or manually is selected. If “perform automatically” is selected, the process moves to step S22 and the grouping condition is input. In FIG. 5, it is specified that color-compatible printers are grouped.

Next, in step S23, the server machine 10
The attributes of the DP printers 107 and 108 and the DP scanners / printers 109 and 119 connected to the network 100 via the PCs 1 and 102 are acquired. In step S24, the printers are grouped according to the conditions specified in step S22 while referring to the attributes of each printer acquired in step S23.

If "manually" is selected in step S21, the process proceeds to step S25, and the process proceeds to step S25.
In step 13, an entire map of the printer is displayed based on the map information of the printer stored in the server machines 101 and 102 (see FIG. 4). Thereafter, in step S26, a printer to be grouped is selected from the map displayed in step S25 with a mouse, a pointer, or the like. Then, in step S27, step S24 or step S26
Save the printer map information grouped by.

By the above steps S21 to S27,
The group map information of the printer is stored.

Returning to step S2, if "select an output device and output" is selected, the process moves to step S31 to select a file to be output. Next, step S3
In step 2, candidate printer groups are determined in consideration of output contents and output conditions. For example, if the output content includes color information, the corresponding group is automatically selected. Also, in step S33, step S3
The status information of each printer included in the output candidate printer group determined in step 2 is acquired via the server machines 101 and 102.

Then, in step S34, the printer map of the output candidate group is displayed together with the printer status information obtained in step S33 (see FIG. 6). Printers marked with “x” in FIG. 6 are printers that cannot be used at present.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S35, where it is determined whether or not the candidate group is changed. To "change"
In step S36, the output candidate group is changed to another group, and the process returns to step S33 to display a printer map of the output candidate group. In FIG. 7, “PrinterGr
The group name can be switched by “up”.

If "no change" is made in step S35,
In step S37, an output device is selected with a mouse or a pointer, and then output processing is performed in step S38.
Then, if it is instructed to repeat the process in step S40, the process returns to step S2, and if it is instructed to end, the process ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, a printer group according to output contents and conditions is automatically selected, and a printer is selected from the selected group map.
The user can obtain the desired output faster.

In this example, the group map is prepared in advance, but it is also possible to select a printer according to the purpose at the time of output and display the map. In addition, although the information acquisition of the DP printers 107 and 108 is performed via the servers 101 and 102, the client PCs 105 and 106 can directly collect the information.

Although the entire system has been described as a system,
Steps S32 to S37 can be separated so that they can be used in a system that handles other file output, and can be used in other systems.

[0049]

As described above in detail, according to the output device selection system according to the first and second inventions and the output device selection method according to the seventh and eighth inventions, the output device according to the purpose of output is provided. A group can be automatically selected, and an output device can be selected from the selected group map, so that the user can obtain an optimal output suitable for the purpose more quickly.
Furthermore, when a trouble occurs during output, even if it is an output device that does not exist near the user, it can be detected quickly, and quick action can be taken.

According to the output device selection system according to the third and fourth inventions and the output device selection method according to the ninth and tenth inventions, an output device group is arbitrarily selected by the user and the selected output device group is selected. An output device can be selected from the group map, and the user can obtain a desired output faster.

According to the output device selection system of the fifth and sixth inventions and the output device selection method of the eleventh and twelfth inventions, an output device group according to an output purpose is automatically selected and selected. An output device can be selected from the group map thus displayed, and the user can obtain an optimal output that suits the purpose more quickly. In addition, an output device group can be arbitrarily selected by the user and an output device can be selected from the selected group map, and the user can obtain a desired output more quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an output device selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an output device selection system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating output device selection control according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall map of an output device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a panel for inputting a grouping condition of an output device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a group map.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a printer selection panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 output device selection system 11 output device attribute acquisition unit 12 output device map creation unit 13 output device map information storage unit 14 output device grouping condition setting unit 15 output device grouping execution unit 16 output device map display unit 17 output device grouping Designation unit 18 Output device group map information storage unit 19 Output device group automatic selection unit 20 Output device group selection unit 21 Output device status information acquisition unit 22 Output device group map display unit 23 Output device selection unit 100 Network 101, 102 Server computer 103 , 104 Information storage device 105, 106 Client PC 107, 108 DP printer 109, 110 DP scanner / printer

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. In a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on attributes and states of the respective output devices, and a predetermined output is displayed from the displayed map. In an output device selection system for selecting a device, a grouping means for automatically grouping output devices according to attributes of the respective output devices to create a plurality of output device groups, and an output purpose from among the plurality of output device groups Group automatic determination means for automatically determining an output device group according to the following; display means for displaying a map of the output device group determined by the group automatic determination means; and a predetermined output device based on the map displayed by the display means. An output device selection system comprising output device selection means for selecting. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination unit together with a state of each output device in the group. Output device selection system. 3. In a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and status of each of the output devices, and a predetermined output is displayed from the displayed map. In the output device selection system for selecting a device, grouping means for designating and grouping each output device on the displayed output device map to create a plurality of output device groups, and among the plurality of output device groups, Group selecting means for selecting a predetermined output device group; display means for displaying a map of the output device group selected by the group selecting means; and output for selecting a predetermined output device from the map displayed by the display means. An output device selection system, comprising: device selection means. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display means displays a map of the output device group selected by said group selection means together with a state of each output device in the group. Output device selection system. 5. In a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the respective output devices, and a predetermined output is displayed from the displayed map. In an output device selection system for selecting a device, a first grouping means for automatically grouping output devices according to the attributes of the respective output devices to create a plurality of output device groups; and displaying the output device on a map. A second grouping means for designating and grouping each output device to create a plurality of output device groups; and outputting from the plurality of output device groups created by the first or second grouping means. Automatic determination means for automatically determining an output device group according to a purpose; and a plurality of outputs generated by the first or second grouping means. Group selecting means for selecting a predetermined output device group from device groups; display means for displaying a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination means or selected by the group selecting means; Output device selection means for selecting a predetermined output device from a map displayed by the means. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a map of the output device determined by the automatic determination means or selected by the group selection means together with a state of each output device in the group. The output device selection system according to claim 5, characterized in that: 7. In a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the respective output devices, and a predetermined output is displayed from the displayed map. For an output device selection system for selecting a device, a grouping process of automatically grouping output devices according to the attributes of the respective output devices to create a plurality of output device groups, and outputting from the plurality of output device groups A group automatic determination process for automatically determining an output device group according to a purpose; a display process for displaying a map of the output device group determined in the group automatic determination process; and a predetermined output device based on the map displayed in the display process. And an output device selection process for selecting the output device. 8. The output device selection according to claim 7, wherein the display process displays a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determination process together with a state of each output device in the group. Method. 9. In a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on attributes and states of the respective output devices, and a predetermined output is displayed from the displayed map. A grouping process of designating and grouping each output device on the displayed output device map to create a plurality of output device groups for the output device selection system for selecting a device; A group selection process for selecting a predetermined output device group from the group; a display process for displaying a map of the output device group selected in the group selection process; and an output for selecting a predetermined output device from the map displayed in the display process. An output device selection method, comprising performing device selection processing. 10. The output device selection according to claim 9, wherein the display process displays a map of the output device group selected in the group selection process together with the status of each output device in the group. Method. 11. In a system environment in which a plurality of computers and output devices are connected via a network, a map of the output devices is displayed based on the attributes and states of the respective output devices, and a predetermined output is output from the displayed map. A first grouping means for automatically grouping output devices according to the attributes of the respective output devices to create a plurality of output device groups, and a displayed map of the output devices; A second grouping means for designating and grouping the output devices to create a plurality of output device groups; and a plurality of output device groups created by the first or second grouping means. Automatic determining means for automatically determining an output device group according to an output purpose; and a plurality of output devices created by the first or second grouping means. And a group selecting means for selecting a predetermined output device group from among the groups, and displaying a map of the output device group determined by the automatic determining means or selected by the group selecting means. And an output device selection process for selecting a predetermined output device from a map displayed in the display process. 12. The display process, wherein a map of the output device determined by the automatic determination means or selected by the group selection means is displayed together with the status of each output device in the group. An output device selection method according to claim 11.