JPWO2006093105A1 - Automatic printing system. - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic printing system capable of automatically printing from a server to a remote printer is provided. It has a database that stores print data and its index, and is equipped with a server that uses a standard http port to process print data download access from the printer side via the Internet. By acquiring a list of print data, automatically downloading the target data, processing the downloaded print data with various printing software, automatically printing it with the client side printer, and holding the printed file name on the client side Print history can be output and reprinted, print processing is performed in the order in which the print data is entered on the server, and printing software arguments corresponding to various extensions are received from the server. A client-side printer system having various means for That.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic printing system that automatically prints from a server to an Internet printer located at a remote location, and more particularly, when printing print data from a server, it does not require a special firewall setting and is used over the Internet. The present invention relates to an automatic printing system that does not require a client computer that performs automatic printing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the conventional Internet-type printer, when the printer 111 is instructed to print a file with the specified URL from the user's client PC 112, the specified file is stored in its own storage device. If it is not stored, a specified file is acquired from the WWW server 114 or the WWW server 115 via the Internet 200 and printed. (See Patent Document 1)

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-163244 (FIG. 1)

However, in the case of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to leave a dedicated port at the time of data transmission as shown in FIG. 5, and an IP address and a dedicated port name are written in the header. There was a security problem with.
In addition, network-compatible printers that can be installed in printers, access the Internet directly using a Web (http) port, automatically log in at a predetermined cycle set by the system, and perform automatic printing are now available. There was a problem that it did not exist.
In addition, when print data is transmitted to the client side, the data format to be handled is limited (fixed), so that the viewer on the client side is also limited (fixed) to the data format transmitted from the server side. .

  Therefore, the present invention can flexibly cope with print data of various file types, and uses a standard Web (http) port, which causes a reduction in security level by setting a special firewall or opening a dedicated port. There is no need to provide an automatic printing system capable of automatic printing via the Internet, which enables automatic printing by directly accessing the Internet from the printer by incorporating a network compatible program capable of automatic printing into the printer itself. The purpose is that.

In order to achieve the above object, an internet printing system for automatically acquiring and printing print data from a server by a remote printer via the internet,
A print data index database for storing print data indexes, and a print data database for storing print data. The print data and index are created and registered, and print data from the printer side via the Internet is stored. A server for processing automatic download access using a standard Web (http) port and updating the number of downloads;
On the client side, an automatic log-in means for automatically logging in to the server at a predetermined cycle and periodically referring to print data to obtain a list of target data, and a target from the list using the standard Web port Automatic download means for automatically downloading the print data of the printer, the installed OS, and the various print software incorporated using the network software to process the downloaded print data and perform automatic printing by the client-side printer Means, a print file name holding means for enabling a print history to be output and reprinted by holding a file name printed by the automatic printing on the client side, and a download order from the server side during the automatic download. Hold and print job overtaking occurs As described above, the job order management means for performing the print processing in the order of IDs when the print data is input in the server, and the printing software corresponding to the print data extensions by various file types are selected and started to print the downloaded file. A client-side printer system comprising: printing software selection means for enabling; and argument receiving means for receiving an argument of printing software corresponding to an extension of the print data to activate the printing software from the server. It is characterized by that.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the print data index includes at least information items such as a creation date and time, a document number, a destination, a download count, a storage location, and whether or not automatic printing is performed.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the print file name holding unit includes at least information items of creation date / time, document number, file name, print status, and download date / time as download information.
The client-side printer system according to claim 4 manually downloads the target print data from the print data list display and manual login means for manually logging in and displaying a list of print data on the Web screen. It further comprises manual download means and print data holding means for storing the downloaded print data in a hard disk.
The print data holding unit according to claim 5 includes at least information items of creation date / time, document number, file name, download count, and last download date / time as download information.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic printing system according to the first aspect, the automatic login means, automatic download means, automatic printing means, print file name holding means, job order management means, printing software selection means. And an argument receiving means are incorporated in the printer itself to constitute an integrated Internet printer, and the printer itself directly downloads print data and automatically prints it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the need for a client PC when performing download printing with a remote printer via the Internet, and since the standard (http) port is used, the security level is not lowered. In addition, automatic printing can be performed over the Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a basic block diagram by one Embodiment of the automatic printing system of this invention, (a) is a figure which divided the printer system into the client machine and the printer, respectively, (b) is the function of a client machine in a printer FIG. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the automatic printing system shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart of the automatic printing system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the conventional internet printer. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional printing system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Server computer 2 Client machine 3 Printer 4 Internet 5 Web (http) port: 80
6 Index Database 7 Print Data Database 8 Index Data 9 HD (Hard Disk)
10 Display Device 11 Download Information A
12 Download information B
13 Local network

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram according to an embodiment of an automatic printing system of the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a printer system in the automatic printing system functionally divided into a client machine and a printer, respectively. (B) is a figure which showed the structure of the printer system which integrated the function of the client machine in the printer side, and was integrated.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a server computer that registers and stores print data in a database, 2 is a client machine that uses a Web port (http port 80) and performs automatic login and automatic printing according to an automatic printing program. 3 is a printer for processing print data, and 4 is the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the automatic printing system shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, 1 is a server computer, 7 is a print data database, and print data for automatic printing is registered and stored in this print data database 7. The data format of the print data may be any print software that can be activated on the client side. For example, PDF (extension pdf), Word (doc), Excel (exl), etc. Anything can be used as long as it can be used by conversion or plug-in program download.
This print data index is created as index data 8, and is registered and stored in the print data index database 6. The print data index data 8 includes items such as creation date and time, document number, destination, file name, number of downloads, storage location, presence / absence of automatic printing, and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a client machine, which automatically downloads print data from the server computer 1 at a predetermined cycle set by the automatic printing system, performs automatic printing by the printer 3, and download information A11 to an HD (hard disk) 9 or the like. Hold in storage or memory. This download information A11 includes items such as creation date and time, document number, file name, printing status such as success or failure of printing, download date and time, and the like.
The above is a case where automatic printing is performed. However, when the user manually downloads and stores the print data and performs distributed printing or reprinting as appropriate, manual login B by the client machine 2 is performed. Then, the information is displayed on the display device 10 and the download information B12 is held in the HD 9. The download information B12 includes items such as creation date / time, document number, file number, number of downloads, and last download date / time. Each time such a download is performed, the server computer 1 updates the download information of the database.

Next, each function displayed as (1) to (12) in FIG. 2 will be described.
In (1), print data and print data index data 8 are created by the server computer 1 and registered / stored in the database.
(2) is a process performed by the client machine 2, and automatically logs in to the server computer 1 by an authentication process using an ID, a password, etc. at a predetermined cycle set by the system (to the automatic login means). Equivalent). When the authentication is performed by login, the index data 8 is periodically retrieved from the client machine 2 at a predetermined cycle to acquire the current print data list.
(3) is a process for selecting the target print data from the acquired list in the client machine 2 and automatically downloading the print data (corresponding to automatic download means). When processing the print data, a dedicated port is used for communication between the server computer 1 and the client machine 2, and a standard http port 80 is used.
(4) is a process for performing automatic printing using the printer 3, and refers to a flag for the presence / absence of automatic printing such as index data 8 of the print data, and performs automatic printing if there is automatic printing ( Equivalent to automatic printing means).
(5) is a process of holding the print result as download information A11 in a storage device such as HD9 or a memory (corresponding to a print file name holding unit). As a result, history output or the like becomes possible.
In addition to this, a print software selection means for selecting software corresponding to the extension (pdf, etc.) of the print data on the client side, an argument receiving means for obtaining the extension name as an argument from the server, and managing the print order of jobs It has functions such as job order management means.

The above is the description of the automatic printing program that runs on the client machine 2, but in this embodiment, manual operation is also possible.
(10) is a function of causing the user to manually log in using the client machine 2 and displaying a list on the display device 10.
(11) is a manual download process for manually downloading print data selected from the list.
(12) is a holding function for saving the downloaded print data in a storage device such as HD9 or in a memory. This facilitates reprinting of print data.

Next, the overall operation of this system will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the automatic printing system shown in FIG.
As shown in the loop of S100 to S108, the automatic printing system performs automatic login, automatic download, and download by a communication procedure using a polling method at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 10 minutes) set by the printer system. An automatic printing system is configured by performing an operation such as automatic printing. In packet communication using various communication protocols such as TCP / IP, for example, a polling cycle set to a cycle that is an integral multiple of a predetermined sampling cycle, etc. Based on the above, communication is performed between the server computer 1 and the client machine 2 to constitute an automatic printing system (S100).
After the automatic login, the client machine 2 authenticates the server computer 1 and makes a search request for the print data index data 8 at the set communication timing of the client machine 2, and the server computer 1 requests the client machine 2. In response, the database 6 is searched, and the current print data list is transferred to the client machine 2 at a predetermined communication timing (S101).

The client machine 2 determines whether or not an automatic print target exists in the list from, for example, a flag indicating that automatic printing is present in the index data 8 of the print data (S102), and automatically downloads the print data. (S103), (S104). During this time, all communications between the server computer 1 and the client machine 2 are performed via the standard http port 80, and it is not necessary to leave some dedicated printing ports open. No special setting is required, and the security level against attacks by port scanning is not lowered.
The client machine 2 operates the printer 3 to perform automatic printing (S106) by an automatic print system that automatically selects and activates a corresponding program based on the extension of the automatically downloaded print data (S105). When printing is completed, the print result is stored in the HD 9 as download information A11.
Thereafter, for example, a designated time Sleep for time adjustment of the automatic printing system by a polling method set at an interval of 10 minutes is performed (S107), and an automatic printing loop is repeated every predetermined time (S108). The automatic printing system operates.

Claims (6)

An internet printing system for automatically acquiring and printing print data from a remote printer via the internet from a server,
A print data index database for storing print data indexes, and a print data database for storing print data. The print data and index are created and registered, and print data from the printer side via the Internet is stored. A server for processing automatic download access using a standard Web (http) port and updating the number of downloads;
On the client side, automatic login means for automatically logging into the server at a predetermined cycle and periodically referring to print data to obtain a list of target data;
Automatic download means for automatically downloading target print data from the list using the standard web port;
An automatic printing means for processing the downloaded print data by various printing software installed using an installed OS and network software and performing automatic printing by a printer on the client side;
Print file name holding means for enabling output and reprinting of a print history by holding a file name printed by the automatic printing on the client side;
A job order management means for holding the download order from the server side during the automatic download and performing print processing in the order of IDs when the print data is input in the server so that no overtaking of the print job occurs
Printing software selection means that enables printing of the downloaded file by selecting and starting printing software corresponding to the extension of print data by various file types;
An automatic printing system comprising: a client side printer system having argument receiving means for receiving an argument of printing software corresponding to an extension of the print data from the server in order to activate the printing software.   The automatic printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data index includes at least information items of creation date / time, document number, destination, download count, storage location, and presence / absence of automatic printing.   2. The automatic printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print file name holding unit includes at least information items of creation date / time, document number, file name, print status, and download date / time as download information. . The client side printer system includes:
Manual login means for manually logging in and displaying a list of print data on the Web screen;
Manual download means for manually downloading the target print data from the list of print data;
The automatic printing system according to claim 1, further comprising print data holding means for storing the downloaded print data in a hard disk.   5. The automatic printing system according to claim 4, wherein the print data holding unit has at least information items of creation date / time, document number, file name, download count, and last download date / time as download information. . The automatic log-in means, automatic download means, automatic printing means, print file name holding means, job order management means, printing software selection means, and argument receiving means are incorporated in the printer itself to constitute an integrated Internet printer, and the printer itself The automatic printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data is directly downloaded and automatically printed.

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