JP2002055918A - System for mediating printing on network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize practical printing between a client and a printer which are connected to a network. SOLUTION: A mediation system which mediates printing is structured by providing a server which is connected to the network. The client sends print data and an identification number specifying a printer as an output destination. The mediation system converts the print data into PDF and outputs it to the printer corresponding to the identification number. On the printer side, the PDF is converted into intrinsic control data of the printer and printing is carried out. On a printing form, information specifying the user and the source of contents is printed together. Thus, the source is made clear and users can avoid get confused with printed matter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for realizing printing between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus by mediating between the client and the printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various printers have been used as output devices of computers. The printer is connected to the computer on a one-to-one basis (hereinafter, referred to as “local connection”), receives data from the computer, and performs printing. An aspect in which a printer is connected to a LAN (local area network) and shared by a plurality of computers connected to the same LAN has also been widespread.

Further, IPP (Internet Printing Prot)
ocol), it has become possible to print between any client and printing device connected to the Internet. However, the output destination is limited to a printing device whose URI (Uniform Resource Indicator) is known.

[0004] In any of the above embodiments,
Normally, the connection state between the printer and the computer is predetermined. In other words, in the past, printing was usually performed at a fixed location for each computer owner.

[0005]

In recent years, the portability of terminals that access the Internet, such as notebook computers and mobile phones, has been improved, and information can be accessed anywhere. Based on this tendency, there has been a demand for a technology that allows easy printing from a portable terminal regardless of location. For example, there has been a demand for a technique capable of performing printing using a nearest printing apparatus immediately after acquiring information. Since printing in which the output destination can be freely selected on the network as described above greatly improves the convenience of the printing apparatus, the realization is desired not only for use from a portable terminal but also for printing.

There are practically various problems in realizing printing in which an output destination can be freely selected on a network. For example, in such a printing environment, there is a possibility that unspecified printing requests from a plurality of unspecified persons may be concentrated on one printing apparatus, so it is necessary to ensure that the printed matter is handed to only the requester. Further, when a printed material different from the content requested by the user is obtained, it is necessary to facilitate the elucidation of the cause.

[0007] The present invention solves these problems and provides a technique for realizing printing between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus with a high degree of freedom in selecting print contents and an output destination. Aim.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in a print mediating method for realizing printing between a plurality of clients connected to a network and a plurality of printing apparatuses and realizing printing between them, a) receiving, from the client, print data and output destination designation information for designating the printing device as an output destination; and (b) mediating the print data to the designated printing device. And

The step (b) includes: (b1) converting the print data into a general-purpose format independent of the model of the printing apparatus; and (b2) information specifying the user who made the print request and the printing. Generating source identification data for printing at least one of data source information in the general-purpose format; (b3)
Mediating the converted print data and the source identification data.

[0010] Each printing device performs printing based on the received print data and the like. Since general-purpose data independent of the model is used, various types of printing apparatuses can be included in the output destination. Here, as the general-purpose format, for example, a PDF format can be used. In addition, a page description language such as Postscript (registered trademark) can be used. The use of these formats has the advantage that the layout of the printed matter can be maintained relatively easily. In addition, since these formats can convert almost all print data, there is an advantage that the present invention can be applied to a wide range of print data.

According to the present invention, at least one of the information for identifying the user (hereinafter referred to as “user information”) and the source information is included in the printed matter as the source identification information. The user information includes a name, an ID for use, and the like. The source information includes the URL (Uniform
Resource Locator) and document name. Such information is stored in a format prepared in advance, user information,
It is printed with the source information etc. embedded. These pieces of information can be printed on a page different from the printed material specified by the user. It may be printed in the margin of the printed material specified by the user.

In the former mode, data in a general-purpose format corresponding to a page including source identification information is prepared.
This data is attached to the beginning, end, etc. of the print data and output to the printing device. In the latter mode, data in which the source identification information is combined with the margin of the print data is generated. This generation may be performed at any timing before the conversion to the general-purpose format, during the conversion process, or after the conversion. The data in which the source identification information is combined is output to the printing device. When the print data covers a plurality of pages, the source identification information may be printed on each page, or may be printed only on any specific page.

In the present invention, the source identification information is printed together with the printed matter, so that when print requests from a plurality of users are concentrated on a specific printing apparatus, confusion of the printed matter between users can be avoided. . This is useful in that when a highly confidential document is printed, the printed matter can be reliably transferred.

When the source information is printed together, there is an advantage that it can be easily confirmed whether or not the content of the obtained printed matter matches the print request. When the user does not obtain a desired print, there is an advantage that the presence or absence of an error in the specification of the print content can be easily confirmed.

The present invention can be configured in various modes such as a print mediation server that implements the above-described print mediation method, a program that implements the print mediation method, various signals that can be regarded as the same, and a recording medium that records the program. It is. Here, as a recording medium, a flexible disk or CD-
ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punch cards, printed matter on which codes such as bar codes are printed, and internal storage devices (RAM and RO
Various computer-readable media can be used, such as memory (e.g., M) and external storage.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described on the basis of working examples by dividing them into the following items. A. System configuration: B. Functional block: B1. Printing of Source Identification Information: B2. Modification of functional block: Print execution example: C1. Aspect 1 Printing of E-mail: C2. Aspect 2 Web page printing:

A. System Configuration: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a print mediation system. This is a system that flexibly selects an output destination and performs printing via the Internet. The Internet INT includes a server SVA for providing contents such as Web pages, a server SV for constructing a print mediation system, printers PRT1, PRT2,
The client computer CC1 and the like are connected. These devices can exchange information via a network. Here, for convenience of explanation and illustration, only a few devices are shown, but as is well known, an infinite number of servers, printers, and clients are connected to the Internet. The Internet INT can be accessed from the mobile phone CP.
The mobile phone CP that can access the Internet can perform almost the same functions as the client computer.

The server SV is configured to function as a print mediation system in the present embodiment. Server S
As described below, V manages information of a client and a printer registered in advance, and performs printing by mediating a print request between the two.

Client computers CC1, CC2
When a user designates any one of the printers PRT1 and PRT2 on the network and issues a print request from the mobile phone CP, the print request is once transmitted to the server SV. The server SV confirms and sets the operation status of the designated printer, and confirms whether or not the user has the right to access the printer. The server SV converts the print data specified by the client into a general-purpose format that can be printed by any printer. In this embodiment, PDF is used as a general-purpose format.
Was used. When data in the PDF format is transmitted from the server SV to the printer, the data is converted into control data unique to the printer by a printer driver prepared on the printer side, and printing is performed.

In the following embodiment, basically, a case in which most of the functions of the mediation system are provided by the server SV will be described, but it may be constructed by a distributed processing system. Further, the application of the embodiment is not limited to the Internet, but can be applied to a relatively limited network such as a LAN or so-called personal computer communication. From this viewpoint, in the following description, the Internet, LAN, and the like are all generically referred to as “network”.

B. Functional block: FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of the mediation system. Mediation system 200
Is constructed in software within the server SV.
FIG. 2 also shows the printer control unit 250 and the client 5. When the printer is directly connected to the network, the printer control unit 250 is a functional block configured as software in a microcomputer built in each printer. When the printer is locally connected to a computer connected to the network, the printer control unit 250 can be constructed in the computer as software.

The printer controller 250 includes a logical printer manager 252, a physical printer manager 254, a data converter 256, and a security module 251. The logical printer management unit 252 is a printer as a unit that handles a print job. For example, when one document is distributedly printed by two printers, the two printers are combined to form one logical printer.

The physical printer management unit 254 has a function of managing the operation state of each printer, for example, the remaining amount of toner and paper. The physical printer management unit 254 is provided for each printer as a machine regardless of the configuration of the logical printer.

The data conversion unit 256 corresponds to the function of a printer driver. It has a function of converting the data received from the mediation system 200 into control data unique to the printer to be controlled, that is, data indicating on / off of dots for each pixel. Security module 251
Has functions such as data encryption to prevent unauthorized access to the printer control unit 250 and transmission / reception authentication.

The mediation system 200 includes a standard function unit 210, an application unit 220, a charging unit 240, and a security module 201. The standard function unit 210 provides a main function for realizing printing via the mediation system 200. The standard function unit 210 includes a data conversion unit 212, a status management unit 214, a job control unit 216, a directory service 218, an API.
(Application Programming Interface) 211 and a security module 202. The functions of the security modules 201 and 202 are
It is the same as the 50 security modules 251.

The data conversion unit 212 has a function of converting print data specified by the client 5 into a general-purpose format independent of the printer model. In this embodiment, PDF is used. The general-purpose format is not limited to PDF, and any format that can be handled by all output destination printers may be used. A plurality of general-purpose formats may be used together. However, PDF
Has the advantage that the page layout of the document is easy to maintain, and that almost all documents can be changed to PDF.

The status management unit 214 has a function of monitoring the operation state of the printer. The operation state refers to the state of each printer related to the execution of printing, such as the remaining amount of ink or toner, the remaining amount of printing paper. The management target is a physical printer. The status management unit 214 manages these by communicating with the physical printer management unit 254.

The job control unit 216 has a function of managing a print job output to the printer control unit 250. As described above, the printer as the output destination can be arbitrarily specified on the network. The job control unit 216 transmits the print job to each output destination according to the designation and manages the history. When an instruction to stop a print job, change a print mode, or the like is issued in the middle of printing, a printer that has transmitted a job corresponding to the instruction is specified, and a function of outputting the instruction to the printer is provided. It is common to a so-called spooler in that it controls the execution of a print job, but differs from a spooler in that it does not control stored print data but also controls transmitted print data.

The directory service 218 has a function of managing information that specifies a user who can use the mediation system 200 and a printer that can output data. The information on the user includes an identification number uniquely given to the user, a use password, information on a billing destination, and the like. The information on the printer includes information required for communication with the printer. For example, information for specifying a printer on a network, such as a URI or an IP address, is included. Also,
It also includes information on how to connect the printer to the network, such as a dedicated line or dial-up connection.

The application section 220 is a functional block for providing various functions for improving user convenience. For example, it provides a function of causing the client 5 to display a screen for designating the content to be printed and the output destination printer. The display screen differs depending on whether the client 5 is a computer or a mobile phone. The application unit 220 is a functional block that is individually prepared according to the type of client, the content to be printed, and the like. In this embodiment, the application unit includes the source identification information generation unit 221. This module has a function of printing source identification information, that is, information for specifying the user who has made the print request, information for specifying the source of the print content, and the like. Details of the function will be described later.

API (Application Programming Interface)
ace) 211 is an interface that mediates between the application unit 220 and the standard function unit 210. It plays a role of transferring data of the individually prepared application unit 220 to the standard function unit 210 in a predetermined format. AP
By interposing the I211, various application units 220 can be prepared for each intermediary system while applying a common module to the standard function unit 210.

The accounting unit 240 performs an accounting process at the time of printing using the mediation system 200. These are functional blocks that are individually prepared according to the type of the client 5 and the like.

B1. Printing of Source Identification Information: FIG. 3 is a flowchart of source identification information addition processing. This corresponds to the function provided by the source identification information generation unit 221. The processing when the source identification information generating unit 221 generates data for printing the source identification information on a page different from the print data for the print content designated by the user has been described.

The source identification information generator 221 first obtains source identification information from the client (step S1).
0). The source identification information includes user information for specifying the user who has issued the print request, and source information for specifying the source of the content to be printed. As the user information, a name of the user, an ID at the time of use, and the like can be applied. Source information is UR for contents on the Internet
L, a document name or the like can be applied to e-mail, a personally created document, or the like.

The source identification information generating section 221 generates source identification information print data based on the information thus obtained (step S12). This process is a process of imposing such information in a predetermined format prepared in advance. The image of the process is also shown in the figure. Data in which the user information, the source information, and the date are respectively inserted at predetermined positions (dashed boxes in the drawing) in the page image P corresponding to one page at the time of printing is generated. The data format is the data conversion unit 2 of the standard function unit 210.
As long as 12 can be converted to the PDF format, any format can be applied.

The source identification information generation unit 221 acquires the print content specified by the user (step S1).
4), the print data of the source identification information and the print content are transferred to the standard function unit 210 together (step S1).
6). Both may be delivered as a series of merged print data, or they may be associated and passed as individual data. The acquisition of the print content can be realized by various methods such as a mode of downloading the content by accessing a URL specified by the user, a mode of receiving the content transmitted from the user, and the like. This function may be performed by a function block other than the source identification information generation unit 221.

The source identification information generator 221 may print the source identification information on each page of the print data. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a source identification information adding process as a modification.

In this embodiment, the source identification information generation unit 221
Acquires the source identification information and the print content, respectively (steps S20 and S22). The print content is printed in a predetermined area of the page P (hatched area in the figure).

The source identification information generating unit 221 combines the two by imposing the source identification information in the margin of the print content (step S24). The user information, the source information, and the date are inserted at predetermined positions (broken lines in the figure) of the margin. The data format at the time of synthesis processing is the same as the standard function unit 2
Any format may be used as long as the ten data conversion units 212 can convert the data into the PDF format. Source identification information generation unit 22
1 transfers the data thus generated to the standard function unit (step S26).

The addition of the source identification information can be realized in various other modes. For example, the processing shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 may be performed on the print content converted into PDF by the data conversion unit 212. PDF
The process shown in FIG. 4 may be performed when converting to. The source identification information may use only one of the user information and the source information. More information may be included.

B2. Modification of Function Block: The function block of the mediation system is not limited to the configuration in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the functional blocks of the mediation system 1.

The mediation system 1 of the modified example includes a basic function block 10, a basic service block 20, a printing service 30, a relation service 50,
Each functional block of a navigation service 40, a directory service block 60, an authentication service block 70, and a billing service block 80 is provided. “S” in the figure indicates a security system. The printing site control service 100 corresponds to the printer control unit 250 shown in FIG.

The basic function block 10, the directory service block 60, and the authentication service block 70 correspond to the standard function section 210 in FIG. The basic function block 10 is configured by a module that provides each function of data conversion, status management, and job control. The authentication service block 70 has a function of determining the presence or absence of an access right to each printer.

The basic service block 20, printing service 30, relation service 50, and navigation service 40 correspond to the application section 220 in FIG. The basic service block 20 functions as an input / output interface when the client 5 accesses the intermediary system 1, particularly, the basic function block 10. Although not shown, the basic service block 20 includes a registration service,
Three detailed function blocks of a basic printing service and a status service are provided, and the above functions are realized by these detailed function blocks.

A functional block called a registration service mainly registers and manages a printer 110 and a content service which are involved in printing using the mediation system.

The basic printing service is
This is a part that performs a function corresponding to an interface when actually performing printing. Basic function block 1
It has a function of controlling each module of data conversion, status management, and job control of 0 to execute printing.

The status service acquires and manages status information for maintenance management of the printer 110 as an output destination. For example, it acquires and manages information about consumables such as toner and printing paper of the printer 110 and information about updating replacement parts such as drums, and outputs the information as needed.

Printing service block 30
Has a function of providing advanced printing using the mediation system 1. For example, it provides advanced printing control that is not realized only by the basic function block 10 and the basic service block 20, such as outputting print data to a plurality of printers registered in advance at a fixed time. The process of adding the source identification information can be realized in the printing service 30.

The relation service 50 has a function of acquiring and recording the printing status performed via the mediation system, and providing usable statistical data. By utilizing the statistical data obtained in this way, for example, it is possible to grasp the difference in the operation rate of each printer, and it is possible to utilize it for maintenance management of the printer.

The navigation service block 40 includes:
It has a function of providing information that assists the user in using the mediation system 1. This corresponds to a help function in the mediation system 1. For example, it is possible to provide information on a printing execution method using the mediation system 1, a list of available printers and content services, and the like.

C. Print execution example: C1. Aspect 1 Printing of E-mail: FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how to print an e-mail using the mediation system. The case where the user prints the e-mail addressed to the user by the operation from the mobile phone CP has been exemplified. It is assumed that the printer is installed in a public place such as a store, a hotel, and the like. It is also possible to use a computer as a client.

When printing an e-mail, the mobile phone CP,
Printer PRT, mediation system PS, mail service R
M, a mail server MS intervenes. Each of these elements is
It is connected to a network and can exchange data with each other.

The printer PRT as an output destination is registered in the mediation system PS in advance, and has a unique identification number given by the mediation service. In the example of FIG.
The identification number of T is “1111”. This identification number is
This code is set irrespective of information specifying the printer PRT on the network, for example, an IP address, a URI, and the like. Since the IP address and URI of the printer PRT are kept secret from the user, unauthorized access can be avoided.

The mediation system PS and the mail service RM may be provided by different traders. It suffices that both are associated in advance. The mail service RM is
As a part of the provided service, a function necessary for printing using the mediation system PS is provided.

A method of printing an e-mail will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the first half of the e-mail printing sequence. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of the interface.

First, the user accesses the mail service RM from the mobile phone CP (communication Cm1 in FIG. 6).
The mail service RM accesses the mail server MS that stores the electronic mail, and displays information such as a sender and a subject on the mobile phone regarding the electronic mail addressed to the user (communication Cm2 in FIG. 6). The user selects an e-mail to be printed from the displayed list of subjects and sends it to the mail service RM (see step st1 in FIG. 7).

The left side of FIG. 9 shows an example of an interface for selecting an e-mail. An e-mail list is displayed on the display unit DISP of the mobile phone CP together with check boxes. In this example, it is displayed that four mails of Mail1, Mail4 have arrived. The user operates the cursor keys of the mobile phone CP to check a check box of an e-mail requesting printing. Here, an example is shown in which two check boxes, Mail2 and Mail4, are checked. In the electronic mail list display, a “print” button is also displayed as shown in FIG. After checking the e-mail requesting printing, the user moves the cursor to the “print” button and presses this button to transmit the mail selection result to the mail service RM. The interface is merely an example, and various interfaces that realize two functions, that is, a function of selecting an e-mail to be printed and a function of confirming the selection result and transmitting the result to the mail service RM can be applied.

As shown in FIG. 7, the mail service RM is
Upon receiving the mail selection result, the communication Cm shown in FIG.
2 to access the mail server MS to acquire the text data of the selected e-mail (steps st2 and st3 in FIG. 7).

Next, the mail service RM transfers the data of the electronic mail to be printed to the mediation system PS by the communication Cm3 in FIG. 6 (step st4 in FIG. 7).
The mediation system PS estimates the number of print pages, the cost, the required time, and the like based on information such as the amount of print data, and returns the simplified print prediction information to the mail service RM (step st5 in FIG. 7).

The mail service RM is provided by the mediation system PS
Is displayed on the mobile phone CP (step st6 in FIG. 7). The display example of the simplified print prediction information is shown on the right side of FIG. Here, the case where the print page, the cost, and the required time are displayed for each e-mail specified by the user has been exemplified.

To execute printing, the user gives an instruction to start printing (step st7 in FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 9, the display unit DISP is displayed together with the simple print prediction information.
Displays an "execute" button. By moving the cursor here and pressing this button, an execution instruction can be given.

The execution instruction given by the user is transmitted to the mediation system PS via the mail service RM by the communications Cm1 and Cm3 in FIG. 6 (step s in FIG. 7).
t7). At the same time, the print data, that is, the text of the e-mail and the attached file are transmitted from the mail service RM to the mediation system PS. With this instruction, the mail service RM completes communication with the mobile phone CP. The subsequent communication is performed in communication Cm4 in FIG. 6, that is, between the mobile phone CP and the mediation system PS.

Upon receiving the print start instruction, the mediation system PS displays a standard menu for printing on the mobile phone CP (step st8 in FIG. 7). An example of the standard menu is shown on the left side of FIG. In the standard menu, the content to be printed, the number of copies, the output destination printer, etc.
You can specify conditions for printing. When the "Printer No." menu is selected, a box IP for inputting an identification number assigned to the output destination printer is displayed. In the box IP, the identification number “1111” assigned to the output destination printer PRT is input. The user
When the "send" button is pressed, the printer identification number is transmitted to the mediation system PS by the communication Cm4 in FIG. 6, and the output printer can be designated (step s in FIG. 7).
t9).

In the intermediary system PS, the identification number of the printer PRT is registered in association with the IP address or URI. This attribute information is managed by the directory service 218 described above with reference to FIG. The mediation system PS acquires the operating state of the designated printer PRT, and when it is determined that printing is possible, calculates detailed print prediction information when printing is performed under the designated printing conditions. Mobile phone C using the communication Cm4 of
The content is displayed on P (step st10 in FIG. 7).

After confirming the displayed print prediction information, the user instructs execution of printing (step st in FIG. 8).
11). In this embodiment, execution of printing is instructed by inputting a user-specific password. Figure 1
In the center of 0, an interface for inputting a password is illustrated. As shown in the figure, after the cost and the required time are displayed as detailed print prediction information, a box for inputting a password is displayed. The user transmits his / her data to the mediation system PS by inputting his / her password and pressing a transmission button.

The user password is registered and managed by the directory service 218 in advance. When referring to this information and confirming that the password is genuine and that the person has the authority to access the designated printer PRT, the mediation system PS displays a print start screen on the mobile phone CP ( Step st1 in FIG.
2). In parallel with this, the mediation system PS communicates with the printer P designated as the output destination by the communication Cm5 in FIG.
Predetermined banner data prepared in PDF format in advance, that is, advertisement data, is transmitted to the RT. On the printer PRT side,
The advertisement data in the PDF format is converted into row data, and printing is performed (step st13 in FIG. 8). At the same time, the mediation system PS performs a display prompting confirmation of whether or not a banner page has been printed on the mobile phone CP (FIG. 8).
Step st14). A display example is shown on the right side of FIG.

After confirming that the banner has been printed, the user presses the “OK” button shown in FIG. 10 (step s).
t15). Upon confirming this input, the mediation system PS converts the e-mail data received and accumulated from the mail service RM into the PDF format, which is a general-purpose format, and then outputs the data to the output destination via the communication Cm5 in FIG. (Step st1 in FIG. 8)
6). At this time, the source identification information is added by the processing described above with reference to FIG. 3 or FIG. In this case, the title of the e-mail is used as the source information. The data in the PDF format is converted into row data on the printer PRT side and printed. When the printing of the e-mail is completed, the mediation system PS outputs the charge data required for printing to the billing destination, and ends a series of processes (step st1 in FIG. 8).
7).

In the above sequence, display of print prediction information and banner printing may be omitted. The process of adding the source identification information and converting the electronic mail into the PDF format may be executed at any timing from when the intermediary system PS receives the data to when the data is output to the printer PRT.

C2. Aspect 2 Web page printing: FIG. 1
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of printing a Web page. We are browsing on the portable computer PC by the user
The case of printing page b has been exemplified. It is assumed that the output destination printer is installed in a public place.

In the mode 2, a computer PC, a printer PRT, an intermediary system PS, and a Web server WS for providing data of a Web page being viewed are interposed. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other.

The user can download data from the Web server WS to the computer PC through the communication Cm21 in FIG. 11 and browse the Web page with a browser. When the user wants to print a web page, the user inputs the URL of the mediation system PS into the browser and accesses the web page of the mediation system.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page provided by the mediation system. This is equivalent to an interface for specifying printing conditions. The user wants to print the We
The content is specified by inputting the URL of page b into the print data box.

At the “net print mediation site”, an input box for designating a printer as an output destination is also provided. Here, as in the case of mode 1, the identification number of the printer is input.

After the print conditions including the output destination are specified, when the "print start" button is clicked, the print conditions specified by the user are transmitted to the mediation system PS via the communication Cm23 in FIG. The mediation system PS communicates with the communication Cm22 in FIG. 11 based on the URL included in the print data.
To access the Web server WS, and acquire data of a Web page to be printed. This function is provided by the application unit 220 of the mediation system. The subsequent sequence is the same as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the print instruction by the computer PC has been described as an example.

According to the above-described mediation system, printing between a client and a printer on the Internet can be realized without knowing the URI or IP address of the printer to be output. By installing a large number of printers registered in the intermediary system in a public place, it is possible to provide an environment in which printing can be performed anywhere.
In this embodiment, the print data is stored in a general-purpose format, that is, P
Since the print data is relayed after being converted to the DF, the relay of the print can be easily realized without unifying the printer models.

According to the mediation system of the present embodiment, the source identification information is printed together, so that when print requests from a plurality of users are concentrated on a specific printer, confusion of printed matter may occur between users. Can be avoided. When a highly confidential document such as an e-mail or a document created by the user is printed, the user can reliably receive the printed material.

Further, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the content of the printed matter matches the print request from the source information. In other words, when the printed material desired by the user is not obtained,
It is possible to easily confirm the presence or absence of an error in the specification of the print content.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above-described control processing may be realized by software or by hardware.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a print mediation system.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of an intermediary system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a source identification information adding process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a source identification information adding process as a modified example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the functional blocks of the mediation system 1.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an electronic mail is printed using an intermediary system.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sequence of an e-mail.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sequence of an e-mail.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing how to print a Web page.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page provided by the mediation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 Client 10 Basic function block 20 Basic service block 30 Printing service block 40 Navigation service block 50 Relation service 60 Directory service block 70 Authentication service block 80 Billing service block 100 Printing site Control Service 110 Printer 200 Mediation System 201 202 Security Module 210 Standard Function Unit 211 API 212 Data Conversion Unit 214 Status Management Unit 216 Job Control Unit 218 Directory Service 220 Application Unit 240 Billing Unit 250 Printer control unit 251 Security module 252 Logical printer management unit 254 Product Printer management unit 256 ... data conversion unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Yasushi Nakaoka 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HJ06 HK04 HK05 HN19 HQ12 HQ17 HS01 2C087 AB06 BA06 BA14 BC12 BC15 BD24 5B021 AA01 EE05 KK01 LG07 NN18

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A print mediation method for mediating between a plurality of clients connected to a network and a plurality of printing apparatuses to realize printing between the two, comprising: (a) printing data and an output destination from the client; Receiving output destination designation information that designates the printing device to be used; (b)
Mediating the print data to the designated printing device, wherein the step (b) comprises: (b1) converting the print data into a general-purpose format independent of the model of the printing device; (B) generating, in the general-purpose format, source identification data for printing at least one of information specifying a user who has made the print request and source information of the print data;
3) a step of mediating the converted print data and the source identification data. 2. A print mediation server that mediates between a plurality of clients connected to a network and a plurality of printing apparatuses to realize printing between the two, and the print data and the output destination are output from the clients. An input unit for inputting a print request including output destination specification information for specifying the printing device; a data conversion unit for converting the print data into a general-purpose format independent of the printing device model; and A source data generation unit that generates source data for printing at least one of the information specifying the user and the source information of the print data in the general-purpose format; and the print data and the source data to the designated printing device. A print mediation device including a mediation job management unit. 3. A computer-readable recording program for causing a print mediation server to realize a function of mediating between a plurality of clients connected to a network and a plurality of printing apparatuses and realizing printing between the plurality of printing devices. A function of inputting a print request from the client, the print data including print data and output destination specification information for specifying the output destination printing apparatus; and a general-purpose format independent of the type of the printing apparatus. A function of converting print data, a function of generating, in the general-purpose format, source data for printing at least one of information for specifying a user who has made the print request and source information of the print data, Recording a program for realizing a function of mediating the source data to the designated printing device Body.