JP2002297699A - System for mediating printing through network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy to confirm the base of billing as to printing through a network. SOLUTION: A system is structured by connecting a client, a server, and a printer to the network. The client specifies contents to be printed and sends a print request to the server. The server makes a specified printer act print through the contents. At this time, the server analyzes items relating to the amount of data of the specified contents, whether a color image is included, and other print charges. The analysis results are printed on the top cover attached to the contents. The analyzed items are printed on the top cover and then the user can easily confirm the base of billing, so trouble can be evaded when the charge is paid, and the practicality of the printing through the network can be improved.

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 via a network by mediating between a client connected to the network and a 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 one-to-one using a predetermined cable such as a bidirectional parallel interface (hereinafter, referred to as “local connection”), and receives data from the computer to perform printing. In recent years, with the spread of a LAN (local area network), a mode in which a printer is connected to a network and shared by a plurality of computers also connected to the network has 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. In other words, simply applying IPP cannot realize highly convenient printing in which an output destination can be freely selected on a network.

[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.

On the other hand, in recent years, with the development of the information infrastructure such as the Internet and the improvement of the portability of terminals accessing the information infrastructure such as so-called notebook computers and mobile phones, information can be accessed anywhere. It has become. Based on this tendency, there has been a demand for a technique capable of performing printing by freely selecting an output destination on a network. For example, there has been a demand for a technique capable of performing printing using a nearest printing apparatus immediately after acquiring information.

[0006]

When a printing destination can be freely selected on a network, the following problems occur in practical use. First, there is a problem regarding transparency of printing cost. Since printing involves costs depending on the content, at least part of the printing must be borne by the user who has performed printing. At this time, it is desirable to provide the user with information sufficient to confirm the validity of the fee.

[0007] The second problem is to investigate the cause of a printing failure. In other words, when printing is performed in a mode different from that requested by the user, it is desirable to provide information for facilitating investigation of the cause.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and has as its object to improve the practicality of printing via a network.

[0009]

In order to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention intervenes between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus, and receives an instruction from the client. In a print mediation server that mediates print data to the printing device,
A content acquisition unit, an analysis unit, an information addition unit, and a transmission unit are provided. Here, the network includes both a wide area network such as the Internet and a limited network such as a local area network and an intranet.

[0010] The content acquisition section acquires content to be printed in accordance with an instruction from the client.
The content means data to be printed, and may be in any file format. The content may be obtained from the client itself, or may be obtained from another server connected to the network according to an instruction from the client. In the latter mode, the client indicates the location of the content on the network.

[0011] The acquired content is analyzed by the analysis unit. The analysis result is added to the content as additional information by the information adding unit. Analysis contents and additional information can be set arbitrarily. The content to which the additional information is added is transmitted by the transmission unit as print data.
The data is transmitted to the printing device and printing is performed.

The user can obtain the above analysis result simultaneously with the printed matter, and can confirm the validity of the printing result based on the analysis result. For example, when a printed material is obtained in a manner different from the request of the user, it is possible to confirm within a certain range whether the error is a printing instruction error or an erroneous process on the print mediation server side based on the analysis information. Examples of analysis contents in such a case include, for example, analysis of the presence or absence of an image, analysis of whether or not the image is a color image, analysis of the format of image data, analysis of a character encoding method,
Includes file format analysis. Unlike printing bibliographic items such as the user's name and file name, the information obtained by analyzing the content is
It is highly useful for improving the practicality of printing via a network.

In the present invention, it is desirable to add the additional information as information on a page different from the content. By doing so, the user can easily confirm the contents of the additional information. Of course, the additional information may be added to a margin of the content or the like.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the content be converted into a general-purpose file that does not depend on the printing device and then transmitted to the printing device. This makes it possible to use a wide variety of printing devices. As the general-purpose file, PDF, Postscript (registered trademark), or the like can be used. The use of these formats has the advantage that the layout of the printed matter can be maintained relatively easily. Also, in these formats,
Since almost all print data can be converted, there is an advantage that the present invention can be applied to a wide range of print data. The file conversion may be performed in the print mediation server or may be performed in another server.

According to the present invention, data used for calculating a fee required for printing can be analyzed. By performing such an analysis, the user can easily confirm the validity of the fee. Such analysis includes analysis of the presence / absence of image data, analysis of color, analysis of content size or data amount, analysis of file format, and the like.

When performing the analysis used for calculating the fee, it is desirable that the additional information includes information on the fee required for printing. For example, when printing is performed by a printing device installed in a store and the charge is settled at the store, a specific charge is output together with the printed matter, so that a simple mistake at the time of checkout can be easily found. It becomes possible.

In the present invention, at least a part of the additional information may be coded so as to be readable by an optical reading device and outputted. For example, a mode in which the additional information is printed as a barcode is included. When printing is performed by a printing device installed in a store, the advantage is that coordination with the store's accounting system can be easily realized by outputting charges and other information encoded with a barcode or the like. is there.

The present invention can be configured in various modes such as a print mediation server and a printing apparatus, as well as a print mediation method. Further, these methods may be configured as a computer program realized by a computer or a signal which can be regarded as the same. Furthermore, you may comprise as a recording medium which recorded these computer programs.

Here, as a storage medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card,
Various media that can be read by a computer, such as a ROM cartridge, a punched card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device (a memory such as a RAM or a ROM), and an external storage device of the computer can be used.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on an embodiment of a system for performing printing via a network. A. Base system configuration: A1. System overview: A2. Function overview: A3. Functional block configuration: B. Information addition:

A. Base system configuration: A1. System Overview: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system. The embodiment exemplifies a system for realizing printing via the Internet. A similar configuration is represented by L
It is also possible to apply to a relatively limited network environment such as AN (Local Area Network) or so-called personal computer communication.

In this embodiment, the Internet INT
Are connected to various servers and clients. For convenience of explanation, the figure shows a hierarchically connected state, but these devices can exchange information with each other via the Internet INT. In addition, for convenience of explanation and illustration, only a few devices are shown, but as is well known, there is no upper limit on the number of connections. The embodiment realizes printing on an arbitrary printer under a system configuration in which a large number of servers, clients, and the like are connected via the Internet INT.

In the embodiment, as a client, a mobile phone MP11 having an Internet access function,
The case where MP12, MP21, MP22, MP31, MP32 and the like are used has been exemplified. These mobile phones MP11 and the like can access the Internet via service providers SP1, SP2 and SP3. The client is not limited to a mobile phone, but may use a personal computer.

[0024] Content providers CP1 and CP2 are also connected to the Internet INT. In the present embodiment, these content providers CP1 and the like are the entities that provide the content to be printed. Content providers include W in the Internet INT
The web page provider is included.

In the embodiment, the printing destination is the printing station PS11 or the like. Printing station PS
Reference numeral 11 denotes a printer capable of exchanging data via the Internet. For example, a printing station can be configured by a combination of a computer connected to the Internet and a printer locally connected to the computer. Printing stations are located in each individual home,
The user may be installed in a relatively limited place such as an office, or may be installed in a public place such as a store or a hotel.

In the embodiment, printing is performed by transferring the content provided from the content provider CP1 or the like to the printing station in accordance with an instruction from the client MP11 or the like. In the embodiment, the mediation of data between the client and the printing station is performed by two types of servers, an upper layer and a lower layer.

The upper layer server is shown as a print mediation system (print portal) PP in the figure. The lower tier servers are the printing service providers PSP1, PS
Indicated as P2.

The lower tier server, ie, the printing service provider PSP1, etc.,
And the like. In the example shown, the printing service provider PSP1 has a printing station P
S11 to PS14 are managed. The printing service provider PSP2 has printing stations PS21-P
Manage S24. Considering a case where the printing stations PS11 and the like are provided in stores, the printing service provider PSP1 and the like can be provided for each business owner. The business owner A uses the printing service provider PSP1 to manage the printing stations PS11 to PS14 provided in its own head office, branch, and the like. The business owner B uses the printing service provider PSP2 to manage the printing stations PS21 to PS2.
4 is managed. By doing so, it is possible to manage the printing stations for each business owner, and it is also possible to add a service unique to the business owner in terms of fees and other factors when mediating print data.

An upper layer server, ie, a print portal PP
Is a printing service provider PSP1, PS
Manage P2. Therefore, the print portal PP indirectly manages the printing station PS11 and the like via the printing service providers PSP1 and PSP2. Printing service provider PSP
Even when the business owners of PSP2 and PSP2 are different, the upper-layer server can provide a function common to them. For example, when the client MP11 or the like executes printing,
A unified interface screen can be provided, and user convenience can be improved.

The upper-layer server and the lower-layer server are functionally divided as described above, and it is not always necessary that each server is constructed by a single server. The functions of the upper-layer server and the lower-layer server described below may be provided by a plurality of servers by distributed processing.

A2. Functional outline: The internal structure and the like of each system of the embodiment will be described later. Here, in order to make it easy to understand the functions of the server and the like, a case where an e-mail is printed as an example
A printing method using the print portal will be specifically described.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the transmission and reception of data when printing an electronic mail. FIG. 3 is a time chart at the time of e-mail printing. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface when printing an e-mail. The function of each unit will be described with reference to these figures. In the case of electronic mail, the mail service CP corresponds to a content provider.

First, the user accesses the mail service CP from the client MP, checks the mail addressed to the user, and selects a mail to be printed. FIG. 4 shows an example of an interface screen displayed on the display unit DISP of the mobile phone. The screen on the left is four mails Mail1 to Ma
il4 has arrived at my address, Mail2 and Mai
14 indicates that it is selected as a print target. This interface is provided by the mail service CP. When the user presses the “iPrint” button on the screen, a print execution request is transmitted from the mail service CP to the print portal PP (see Sa01 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2).

By registering the mail service CP in the print portal PP as a content provider in advance, the installation of the “iPrint” button on the screen is permitted. This button functions as a link to the print portal PP. When printing is requested by the “iPrint” button, the access destination of the client MP is changed to the print portal PP. At the same time, print data, that is, data of Mail2 and Mail4 is transmitted from the mail service CP to the print portal PP (see Sa02 and FIG. 2 in FIG. 3).

Next, the print portal PP provides an interface for designating a printing destination and printing conditions to the client MP (see Sa03 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2). Here, a normal designation method for a printing destination, that is, a method of selecting from a list will be described. The system according to the present exemplary embodiment can specify a print destination without complicated operation using communication between the print station and the client. This aspect will be described later.

In the center of FIG. 4, an example of an interface for specifying a printing destination is shown. In the designation of the printing destination, printing stations available to the user are listed. The output destination list may be displayed step by step. For example,
When "XX store" illustrated in FIG. 4 is selected, each store in the series can be listed. At the first level, a printing service provider may be selected. If there are a large number of selectable printing stations, the hierarchy and the list displayed at each hierarchy will increase.

The right side of FIG. 4 shows an example of an interface for designating printing conditions. The printing conditions include items such as the size, layout, and resolution of printing paper. When the "print paper" menu is selected, detailed settings of print paper such as A4 size and B5 size can be performed. When the “layout” menu is selected, detailed settings such as 1 page / sheet and 2 pages / sheet can be set. The same applies to other menus. The print settings are not limited to these, and various items can be provided in consideration of convenience.

When the user sets the print destination and print conditions using these interfaces, the information is transmitted to the print portal PP (see Sa04 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2). The print portal PP selects the printing service provider PSP1 to which the print job is to be transmitted based on this information, and transfers the job (see Sa05 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2). The printing service provider PSP1 that manages the printing station PS11 designated as the printing destination by the user is selected as the job transmission destination.

The printing service provider PSP1 receiving the print job sends the print job to the printing station PS1.
1 to transfer the job (see FIG. Sa07 and FIG. 2). Printing station PS11 specified by the user
Is selected as the destination.

In the process of being mediated by the print portal PP and the printing service provider PSP1, the print data is converted into a general-purpose format PDF. The PDF file is generated as an encrypted file using a certain password in order to improve security at the time of printing mediation. These file conversion processes will be described later in detail. Printing station PS11
Analyzes the PDF file and executes printing.

As indicated by Sa06 in FIG. 3, prior to the transfer from the printing service provider PSP1 to the printing station PS11, a confirmation display of the printing destination and printing conditions may be performed for the client MP. After the printing is completed, a report of the printing result may be transmitted from the printing station PS11 to the print portal PP. With this report, the print portal PP can detect that the printing has been completed normally, and can perform post-processing such as billing processing.

Here, an example is shown in which printing is mediated by two, such as a print portal PP as an upper layer server and a printing service provider PSP1 as a lower layer server. Dividing the mediation server into two layers has the following advantages.

Since the lower tier server can be constructed for each business line, services unique to each line can be maintained and differentiation from other business owners can be achieved. There is also an advantage that each business owner can relatively easily take in the user and the content provider registered in the print portal PP as their own users.

[0044] Even when the lower-layer servers are constructed by individual systems, the upper-layer servers can provide the user with a unified interface. Therefore, the convenience of the print portal can be improved.

If the user registers with the print portal PP, the user can easily use various lower-layer servers under the management. Since there is no need to perform complicated work such as use registration for each lower-layer server, convenience can be improved. There are similar benefits for content providers. That is, the content provider can easily increase the number of users and print destinations of the content provided by the content provider by registering the use with the print portal PP.

Of course, the print mediation system is not limited to one using a two-tier server. It may be constructed by a single-layer server having the functions of a print portal and a printing service provider.

A3. Functional Block Configuration: FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of the print portal. For convenience of explanation, the reference numerals are changed from those in FIG. 1, but there is no difference in the function of the unit having the same name.

As shown in the figure, the print portal 100 is roughly provided with three functional blocks of a core module 130, a file conversion unit 110, and an application unit 180. In this embodiment, each of these functional blocks is constructed by software.

The file conversion section 110 has a function of converting the format into a predetermined intermediate file when mediating print data. In this embodiment, PDF is used as a general-purpose format.

The application section 180 realizes various additional functions in addition to the main function of the print portal PP for mediating print data. This function includes, for example, content analysis described below, addition of an advertisement acquired from the advertisement content provider 15, and the like. In the present embodiment, in the application unit 180, the analysis unit 184 is provided as a functional block having the former function, and the advertisement setting unit 182 is provided as a functional block having the latter function.

The core module 130 has a function of mediating print data in cooperation with the file conversion unit 110 and the application unit 180. For this reason, the core module 130 also manages communication with the content provider 10, the service provider 30, the printing service provider 50, and the like. The printing service provider 50 is provided with an interface 52 for ensuring the flexibility of the protocol when connecting to the print portal PP.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the core module 130. These are merely examples, and the functional blocks may have various other configurations.

The control unit 132 controls the print portal 100
Of each functional block, and control of information transmission with the outside via the Internet INT. This control includes registration management of a user or the like, control of the status of a print job, acceptance and cancellation of a print request, search for a printer to be an output destination, and the like. Further, it also provides an interface screen for the print portal 100 to communicate with the outside.

The registration management unit 134 stores the print portal P
The user who uses P, the content provider 10, and the printing service provider 50 are registered and managed. The registration management unit 134 provides a function of generating an interface screen for this purpose, and a function of storing and changing registration-related data and the like in a predetermined database.

The queuing system 140 relays the operation of each functional block. In the present embodiment, each functional block is constructed by so-called object-oriented software. Each functional block refers to the message registered in the queuing system 140, detects the presence of a job to be processed, and executes each processing. When the processing is completed, a message indicating that the processing is completed is registered in the queuing system 140. In this way, the queuing system 140 serves as a relay,
The print portal PP realizes a series of processes from the reception of the print request to the completion of printing as each functional block executes each process.

In order to realize a series of processes, the queuing system 140 is provided with a content acquisition queue, a file conversion queue, a job transmission queue, a job cancellation queue, and the like.

The content acquisition section 160 has a function of accessing the content provider 10 and acquiring the content designated as a print target by the user. The acquired content is temporarily held in the content holding unit 162. The content acquisition unit 160 refers to the content acquisition queue provided in the queuing system 140, and performs the above-described operation according to the messages stored therein. After the content is obtained, a message requesting file conversion of the content is registered in the file conversion queue of the queuing system 140.

The file conversion unit 110 converts the contents into P
It has the function of converting to DF format. At the same time as this conversion, an encryption process using a predetermined password is performed. The file conversion unit 110 performs re-conversion to PDF including the encryption process even if the content is a PDF file. Since PDF is a general-purpose format, there is an advantage that it is possible to easily realize output to various printers by converting into such a format and mediating print data. Another advantage is that the layout of the printed matter can be maintained relatively faithfully. Furthermore, since it is possible to convert from almost all print data such as documents and images, there is an advantage that a wide range of contents can be set as a print target. Postsc as a general format
A page description language such as ript (registered trademark) may be used.

In this embodiment, in order to reduce the load on the server,
The file conversion unit 110 is constructed on a server different from the core module 130. Therefore, the DF interface 136 is provided in the core module 130 in order to exchange data with the file conversion unit 110.

The DF interface 136 transfers data to the file conversion unit 110 according to the message stored in the file conversion queue of the queuing system 140. Also, the processed PD from the file conversion unit 110
Upon receiving the F file, the queuing system 140
The print job transmission message is registered in the job transmission queue. The DF interface 136 may be omitted, and the file conversion unit 110 may be configured to access the queuing system 140.

The PSP interface 138 has a function of transmitting a print job to the printing service provider 50. The PSP interface 138 transmits the print job to the designated printing service provider 50 according to the message stored in the job transmission queue of the queuing system 140. The job cancellation message stored in the job cancellation queue is transmitted in the same manner. These transmissions are based on HTTP (Hypert
ext Transport Protocol), etc., according to various protocols set by the printing service provider 50.

Various databases such as a user database 150 and a printer database 152 are easily provided in the core module 130. Here, only two types are illustrated, but a larger number of databases may be prepared. These databases are managed by the registration management unit 134. In addition to the processing in the core module 130, it is also used by the application unit 180.

In the user database, a file is prepared for each user who uses the print portal 100, and a user name, a user ID, and the like are stored as attribute information corresponding to the user. In the printer database 152, a printer name, an identification number, and the like are registered for each printer. The identification number is an index used to specify a printer when printing using the print portal 100.

The system according to this embodiment realizes the printing described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 by the configuration described above.

B. Addition of information: In this embodiment, printing is executed after adding various information to the content designated by the user. Information to be added is roughly classified into information based on the content of the content and advertisement. Both are added by the application unit 180. Below,
The contents of the process regarding the information addition will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of each functional block when information is added. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the information adding process. The information adding process will be described with reference to both.

When a print request is issued, the print portal 100 acquires a user ID and content information from the client MP (Step S10). Content information refers to the U of a web page specified as a print target.
It means information such as RL. In parallel with this, the content acquisition unit 160 acquires the content specified by the user (Step S12).

On the other hand, the analysis section 184 analyzes the content acquired by the content acquisition section 160 (step S14). The content of the analysis can be arbitrarily set, but in the present embodiment, the analysis related to the calculation of the printing fee is performed. Such analysis includes, for example, the following contents. Analysis of the presence or absence of image data; Analysis of color or not; Analysis of content size or data amount; Analysis of file format; Printing fee calculated based on each of the above analysis, etc .; Various settings are possible. In some cases, the content provider sends information that restricts the printing mode of the content, for example, information that permits only color printing, together with the content. In such a case, the analysis of this information may be performed together. The analysis is not limited to the one related to the charge calculation, and can be performed with various contents such as the item related to the required printing time.

The analysis unit 184 processes the analysis result thus obtained into information to be added to the content (hereinafter, referred to as “analysis additional information”). The additional analysis information may be, for example, information indicating the analysis result in characters, or may be information indicating a code such as a barcode.

In response to the issuance of the print request, the print portal 100 confirms whether or not an advertisement can be added to the user at the time of printing. When the addition of the advertisement is permitted, the addition of the advertisement is performed in the following procedure.

The advertisement setting unit 182 refers to the user database 150 based on the user ID, selects an advertisement to be added (step S16), and acquires the advertisement content from the external advertisement content provider 15 (step S18). . For example, when “music” is registered as a hobby in the user database 150, an advertisement related to music is selected. Age, gender, etc. are also considered.

The contents, advertisement contents, and additional analysis information obtained and generated by the above-described functional blocks are transferred to the file conversion unit 110, and each data is arranged based on a preset layout. Thereby, data to which the analysis result and the advertisement are added is generated (step S20).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks when performing layout printing. In the present embodiment, the file conversion unit 110 combines the content and the additional information.

The file conversion unit 110 has the following functional blocks. The PDF conversion unit 111
Perform file conversion to. The content holding unit 112
Hold the converted PDF file. Layout part 1
Reference numeral 13 lays out the content held in the content holding unit 112 on one page. The layout aspect is
It is registered in the template 114 in advance.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the mode of adding information. In this embodiment, the analysis additional information is added to the cover added to the content. Information such as user information and a print date can be printed on the cover. The user information includes a user name, a user ID, and the like.
This is information for specifying the user. Analysis additional information
The advertisement need not always be added to the cover, and may be added to the margin of the content as in the case of the advertisement described below. However, when added to the cover, there is an advantage that the analysis additional information can be easily confirmed.

The advertisement is added to the margin of each page of the cover and the content. At this time, the content of the advertisement may be changed for each page. The advertisement may be added to only one of the cover and the margin.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the layout. FIG. 10 illustrates a case where one page of content is arranged on each page. In the modified example, a case has been exemplified in which the page P is divided into sheets and a banner advertisement and content for four pages are laid out. In each of the divided areas, analysis additional information and contents A and B are respectively arranged. Here, the case where two types of content specified by the same user are merged and printed has been described as an example, but it is naturally possible to arrange only a single content. The analysis additional information may be printed on the cover as shown in FIG.

In addition to the above examples, a plurality of templates may be prepared so that the user can select them. The banner advertisement may be omitted from the template of FIG. In place of the banner advertisement, source identification information such as user information and the URL of the content may be printed. In FIG. 11, the area to which the content is allocated has the same size,
These may be of different sizes.

According to the printing system of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to perform printing by adding information according to the content of the content. In printing via a network, it is practically preferable that the user can easily confirm the basis of billing and the like. According to the printing system of the present embodiment, the data amount and the like of the printed content can be easily confirmed by printing the analysis additional information. In addition, by printing the analysis additional information in a form that can be easily processed by the store, such as a barcode, the payment of the printing fee can be efficiently performed without errors.

Further, by printing the analysis additional information, it is possible to easily confirm when there is a defect in the printing. For example, when the number of printed materials is smaller than the planned number of pages, by checking the analysis additional information, it is possible to easily check whether the obstacle is before or after the content acquisition by the print portal. When the content to be printed in color is printed in monochrome, by checking the additional analysis information, it is possible to check whether the instruction is an error or a limitation of the content itself. In this embodiment,
Since the additional analysis information is printed on the cover, there is an advantage that the analysis information can be easily confirmed even when the printing is interrupted in the middle of the page.

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 processing may be realized by hardware other than software.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing transmission and reception of data at the time of e-mail printing.

FIG. 3 is a time chart at the time of e-mail printing.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an interface at the time of e-mail printing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of a print portal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a core module 130.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of each functional block when information is added.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an information adding process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks when performing layout printing.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an addition mode of information.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the layout.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Content provider 30 ... Service provider 50 ... Printing service provider 52 ... Interface 60 ... Security system 70 ... Printer 72 ... Transmission part 74 ... Acquisition part 76 ... Communication part 100 ... Print portal 110 ... File conversion part 112 ... Content holding part 113 ... Layout unit 114 ... Template 130 ... Core module 132 ... Control unit 134 ... Registration management unit 136 ... DF interface 138 ... PSP interface 140 ... Queuing system 150 ... User database 152 ... Printer database 160 ... Content acquisition unit 162 ... Content holding unit 180: application section 182: advertisement setting section 184: analysis section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Miyazawa 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano F-term in Seiko Epson Corporation 5B021 AA01 EE04

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A print mediation server that intervenes between a client connected to a network and a printing device and mediates print data to the printing device according to an instruction from the client, and a print target server according to an instruction from the client. A content obtaining unit that obtains a content to be a target, an analyzing unit that performs a predetermined analysis on the content, an information adding unit that generates additional information based on the analysis result, and adds the additional information to the content, A print mediation server comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the added content as print data to the printing apparatus. 2. The print mediation server according to claim 1, wherein the information adding unit adds the additional information as information on a page different from the content. 3. The print mediation server according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit converts the content into a general-purpose file that does not depend on the printing device, and performs the transmission. 4. The print mediation server according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit analyzes data used for calculating a fee required for printing. 5. The print mediation server according to claim 4, wherein the additional information includes information on a fee required for printing. 6. The print mediation server according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the additional information is encoded so as to be readable by an optical reading device. 7. A print mediating method for mediating print data to a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to a network, wherein a content to be printed is acquired in accordance with an instruction from the client. Performing a predetermined analysis on the content; generating additional information based on the analysis result; and adding the additional information to the content; and setting the content to which the additional information is added as print data. Transmitting to the printing apparatus. 8. A computer program for mediating print data to a printing device according to an instruction from a client using a printing mediation server interposed between the client and the printing device connected to a network, the computer program comprising: A function of acquiring a content to be printed in response to an instruction from the user; a function of performing a predetermined analysis on the content; a function of generating additional information based on the analysis result and adding the additional information to the content; A computer program for causing the print mediation server to realize a function of transmitting content to which information is added as print data to the printing apparatus. 9. A computer readable recording medium that stores a computer program for mediating print data to a printing apparatus in accordance with an instruction from a client, using a printing mediation server interposed between a client connected to a network and the printing apparatus. A program for acquiring a content to be printed in accordance with an instruction from the client; a function of performing a predetermined analysis on the content; and additional information based on the analysis result. A recording medium which is a computer program for causing the print mediation server to realize a function of generating and adding the content to the content and a function of transmitting the content to which the additional information is added as print data to the printing apparatus.