JP2000172462A - Schedule data base linked print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system which automatically prints necessary files before a scheduled event is opened by making use of information stored in a schedule data base. SOLUTION: The system is equipped with a computer 1 which is connected to a communication line network 3 and has a schedule data base 11 by individuals and schedule management software 12, printers 4 to 8 which are connected to the communication line network 3, and a print server 2 which is connected to the communication line network 3 and outputs files to selected printers; and the computer l gives a note to schedule management software 12 by the schedule data base 11 so that printing of files ends before an event occurs and the schedule management software 12 outputs the name of a file used for the event to the printer server 2, which receives the file and the location where the file is necessary from the schedule data base 11 and outputs them to a printer selected according to the place where the file is necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system for printing a file, which is stored in a schedule database and required at the time of holding an event, based on information of the event before the event is held.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a schedule database for managing an individual's schedule using a storage unit and an operation unit of a computer, and information stored in the schedule database has been used for each individual today. Schedule management software is known which has a function of displaying or printing out the schedule of this week, the schedule of this week, and the like, and searching for an event that will occur for each individual in the future from a schedule database. In addition, recent computers use communication networks (networks).
In general, the schedule management software is configured to output a file stored in the schedule database to a printer specified by a computer operator via a printer server. I have.

[0003]

However, in the operation of outputting a file to a printer, it is necessary for a computer operator to manually specify a file name and a printer to be output. That is, the schedule management software notifies each individual (computer operator) of the time and place at which an event during a schedule such as a meeting is held, and the name of a file necessary for the event. When the file is printed out, each individual (operator) who has received the notification has to manually input a print instruction by designating a file name and a printer to be printed. The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problems as described above, and utilizes information stored in a schedule database,
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that automatically prints necessary files before an event during a schedule is held.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a schedule database linked printing system according to the present invention is connected to a communication network and has a time at which an event occurs for each individual. , A location, and a computer having a schedule database for storing files used in the event and notifying before the occurrence of the event, and a schedule management software for managing the schedule database, and connected to the communication network. A schedule database linked printing system comprising: a plurality of printers; and a printer server connected to the communication line network and outputting a file used in the event to a printer selected from the plurality of printers, The computer stores the schedule database. By, and notifies to the schedule management software so that printing of the file before the time when events in the schedule occurs is completed,
The schedule management software outputs a file name used for the event to a printer server. The printer server receives the file to be used and the location where the file is needed from the schedule database, and Is output to a printer selected in accordance with the location where the data is required. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the schedule database linked printing system according to the first aspect, in the event data stored in the schedule database, there is an event that requires a file to be printed out and used. The schedule database notifies the individual of the scheduled time at which the file is to be printed. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the schedule database linked printing system according to the first or second aspect, the schedule management software outputs a print instruction to the printer server based on a file name in the schedule database. The printer server that has received the instruction, based on the file name, stores information on whether or not printing of the file stored in the file in the schedule database as attribute information is necessary or unnecessary, a scheduled end time of printing, and a print designation location. A print job to be output to the printer is set by inquiring of the computer. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the schedule database-linked printing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the printer server includes a printer at a designated print location stored in the attribute information of the file. If the result of inquiring whether or not to print is printable, the file is converted into print data and transmitted to the printer at the timing when the printing of the file is completed before the scheduled printing end time. Features.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of an embodiment of a schedule database linked printing system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the schedule database linked printing system of the present embodiment
A computer 1 connected to a communication line network (network) 3 and having a storage unit and an operation unit; and a printer server 2 capable of outputting print data such as a file received through the network 3 to a designated printer. A printer 4 installed at a location A, a printer 5 installed at a location B, a printer 6 installed at a location C, a printer 7 installed at a location D, and a printer 8 installed at a location E. , Is the communication network (network) 3
Connected by In the computer 1, for example, a schedule database (individual schedule schedule D) that stores an individual schedule such as a conference, a visitor, or an outing, and notifies when the time specified in the schedule has come.
B)) Schedule management having a function of displaying or printing out a schedule or the like of each individual based on data stored in the schedule database 11 and 11 or searching for a specific event and displaying or printing out. Software (scheduler) 12 is provided.
When printing out a file or the like stored in the schedule database 11, the schedule management software 12 sends a file name together with a print instruction to the printer server 2 and performs printing by communicating with the printer server 2. It also has a function of sending data about a file and a printer in charge of printing.

The printer server 2 inquires of the computer 1 about which printer is to print a file for which printing has been instructed, and inquires of a designated printer whether file printing is possible. When the designated printer is not printable, the printer has a function of designating a default printer determined when the system is installed and a function of transmitting a file expanded for printing to a printer capable of printing. For example, assume that the printer 4 at the location A is designated as the default printer. At this time, FIG. 1 shows a case where a meeting that requires a file printed at the location C in the schedule database 11 is scheduled.
The operation of the schedule database linked printing system will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the schedule database linked printing system of FIG.
In step S1, for example, a notification that the print time has arrived from the schedule database 11 to the schedule management software 12 and a file name are sent to the schedule management software 12 a predetermined time before the start of a meeting or the like. In step S2, the schedule management software 12 sends a file name and a print instruction (print instruction) to the printer server 2. Step S3
Then, the printer server 2 inquires of the schedule database 11 about the file having the designated file name, the necessity of printing, the designated data of the printing place, and the like. In step S4, the print data is notified from the schedule database 11 to the printer server 2 together with the designated data of the print location C and the file name. In step S5, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the printer 6 at the designated location C can be used according to the notification from the printer server 2. If the printer 6 can be used (step S5: Yes), the process proceeds to step S6, where If not (step S5: No), the process proceeds to step S7. In step S6, the print data is transmitted to the printer 6 specified by the notification. In step S7, since the printer 6 specified by the notification cannot be used, the print data is transmitted to the printer 4 specified as the default value of the present system.

[0008] By configuring and operating the schedule database linked printing system as described above, when there is an event that requires printing a file in the schedule, each individual or computer operator inputs an operation for printing the file. Without performing the above, the file printing can be automatically executed before the event is held using the information of the schedule database 11, so that each individual or computer operator can perform complicated operation input. Thus, the working hours of each individual and the operator of the computer can be effectively utilized. Furthermore, even when the printer specified by the notification cannot be used, the file is printed by the printer specified by default, so that each individual or the operator of the computer does not have to perform complicated operation input, and business hours can be reduced. It can be used effectively.

[0009]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a file required for an event being scheduled is automatically printed out by a printer at a place where the event is executed, based on the information stored in the schedule database. Therefore, time can be efficiently used without making each individual or computer operator perform a complicated input operation. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the time at which the file is to be printed is notified to each individual and the computer operator, so that the time of each individual and the computer operator can be used more efficiently. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since only the notification of the file name and the printing instruction are performed from the computer to the print server, the print server obtains information necessary for printing by the printer by inquiring the schedule database. The contents input to the schedule database by the individual or the computer operator can be simplified, and the time of each individual or the computer operator can be more efficiently utilized. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the printer at the designated print location is unable to print, the file is printed using the default designated printer. Since printing can be completed within the scheduled time, wasting time by issuing a print instruction again is eliminated, and the time of each individual or computer operator can be used more efficiently. Further, since there is no need to give a print instruction again, the information registered in the schedule database can be utilized without wasting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of an embodiment of a schedule database linked printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the schedule database linked printing system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... computer, 2 ... printer server, 3 ...
..Communication line network (network), 4 to 8 printer, 11 schedule database, 12
Schedule management software

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A schedule database which is connected to a communication network, stores a time and place at which an event occurs for each individual, and a file used in the event, and notifies the event before the event occurs. A computer having schedule management software for managing a database; a plurality of printers connected to the communication network; and a printer connected to the communication network and selected from the plurality of printers. And a printer server for outputting a file to be used in the schedule database. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the computer uses the schedule database so that printing of the file ends before a time at which an event in the schedule occurs. The schedule management software The schedule management software outputs a file name to be used for the event to a printer server, and the printer server receives the file to be used and the location where the file is needed from the schedule database. And outputting the file to a printer selected according to the location where the file to be used is required. 2. If there is an event that requires a file to be printed out and used in the data on the event stored in the schedule database, the schedule database determines the scheduled time at which the file is to be printed. 2. The schedule database linked printing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification is made to an individual. 3. The schedule management software,
A print instruction is output to the printer server according to a file name in the schedule database, and the printer server receiving the print instruction stores the file stored as attribute information in the file in the schedule database based on the file name. 3. A print job to be output to the printer is set by inquiring of the computer about information on whether printing is necessary or unnecessary, a scheduled end time of printing, and a designated print location. Schedule database linked printing system described. 4. The printer server, if a result of inquiring of a printer at a print designated place stored in the attribute information of the file as to whether or not printing is possible can be printed, The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the file is converted into print data and transmitted to the printer at a timing when the printing of the file is completed.