JP2002304271A - Intermediary system for printing on network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve practical printing between a certain client and a printer which are connected to a network. SOLUTION: A server connected to the network is provided to construct an intermediary system 1 for the intermediation of printing. The client transmits to the system 1 print data and an ID number for identifying a printer to which the data should be output. The system confirms the operating condition of the printer by identifying the printer on the network based on the ID number. Using a driver matching the kind of the printer, the print data are converted into data for the printer, which are in turn output. With the intervention of the system 1, any printers on the network can be freely operated for printing, while avoiding illicit access to the printers connected to the network.

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 computer and a printing apparatus connected to the network.

[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.

[0003]

Conventionally, the connection state between a printer as an output destination and a computer is usually determined in advance, not only in the case of being locally connected to a computer but also in the case of being shared on a network. Met. In other words, in the past, printing was usually performed at a fixed location for each computer owner.

However, in recent years, with the development of information infrastructure such as the Internet and the improvement of 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 trend, regardless of location,
In addition, there has been a demand for a technology that can easily perform printing from a portable terminal. 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, it has been desired not only to use the printing apparatus from a portable terminal but also to realize it.

In recent years, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol)
ol) has been proposed for printing.
This protocol is a protocol constructed for the purpose of realizing printing between any client and printing device connected to the Internet. If printing is simply performed between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus, it can be realized relatively easily by using IPP. However, the IPP is premised on knowing information called a URI that specifies an output destination on a network, and the printing devices that can be used by clients are extremely limited. That is, IPP
By simply applying, it is not possible to realize highly convenient printing in which an output destination can be freely selected on a network.

Further, there is a practical problem when an output destination can be freely selected on a network. For example, there are issues regarding the reliability and stability of printing. That is, it is required to suppress printing from being performed at an unintended output destination due to an erroneous instruction from the client. Since the printing device at the output destination may be located at a place distant from the client, it is also required to ensure that printing failure does not occur even in such a situation. There are also issues related to the cost of printing. Printing using a printing device requires consumables such as printing paper and ink, and costs such as electricity and maintenance for the printing device. You. In order to realize convenient and practical printing on a network, there are various problems in addition to the problems exemplified here.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a technique for realizing high-conventional printing with a high degree of freedom regarding print contents and output destinations between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. As a first configuration, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, the printing apparatus mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. In the print mediation method, (a) a print request including at least data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of print data on a network and output destination specifying information for specifying the printing apparatus serving as an output destination from the client; (B) displaying on the client side at least a part of the designated printing conditions and confirmation information prompting confirmation of whether or not to execute printing under the printing conditions. c) receiving a print agreement input from the client in response to the confirmation information; and (d) the print agreement. In response to the input, to the designated printing device, output the print data or data identification information in a manner that the printing device can handle,
Causing the printing device to perform printing. The computer for print mediation does not need to be a single computer, and the above-mentioned steps may be shared and executed by a plurality of computers. The client can use a so-called general-purpose computer and a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone. Printing on printing media such as printers and facsimile machines,
In addition, various devices that can be connected to the network in some form can be applied.

According to the first configuration, before receiving a print request and performing printing, at least a part of the printing conditions is presented, a print confirmation display is displayed to the client, and a print instruction is issued from the client. Print after confirming the user's agreement. Therefore, it is possible to improve the certainty of executing the printing under the condition according to the user's intention.

For example, if an output destination specified by a user is displayed as a printing condition, the reliability of the output destination can be improved. When printing with a high degree of freedom regarding print contents and output destinations is performed between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus, printing may be performed by a printing apparatus not intended by the user. When printing a highly confidential print, such erroneous output is not allowed. According to the first configuration, erroneous designation of the output destination can be avoided by printing after confirming the output destination.

[0011] As the printing condition, information on cost at the time of printing may be displayed. In this way, the user can perform printing at a cost according to his or her intention without worrying about being charged an unexpectedly high amount.

In the printing mediation method of the first configuration, printing can be performed by transmitting print data possessed by a client to a designated printing device. The print data possessed by the client includes various documents created by the client computer, e-mail received by the client, data downloaded from the Internet by the client, Web pages, and the like. In the print mediation method of the first configuration, printing can be performed by specifying the location of print data. For example, print data stored in a computer other than a client connected to a network can be output to a printing apparatus and printed.
Such aspects include, for example, e-mail data stored in a mail server, data stored in a server for displaying a Web page, and the like.

Generally, data that can be printed by a printing apparatus is limited for each device. On the other hand, print data is in various forms. For example, a variety of formats specific to various application software for generating documents or images, an HTM applied to display a Web page
For example, a description language format such as L or XML is used.
In the print mediation method of the first configuration, printing is realized by converting various print data into data that can be handled by the printing apparatus and outputting the converted data in step (d).

In the conversion, for example, the print data may be converted into a unique data format corresponding to the type of the designated printing apparatus, or the print data may be converted into a general-purpose page description language. It may be converted to a shape. The former conversion is usually a function realized by software called a printer driver. As the latter data format, for example, a page description language called PostScript (registered trademark) can be used. The printing device may include an interpreter that interprets the language and executes printing.

Here, the case where the computer for print mediation converts these data has been described as an example. However, this does not exclude that the print data specified by the client is already in a format that can be printed by the printing apparatus. Absent. For example, the client may include a printer driver suitable for the printing device of the output destination, and output the result of data conversion on the client side as print data to the mediating computer. Also, if the printing device is equipped with a computer with sufficient processing capability,
Data conversion may be performed on the printing device side.

According to a second configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. In the print mediation method mediating between the two, (a) the client cannot directly specify the data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of the print data on the network and the print device on the network. Receiving a print request including a predetermined identifier attached to the printing device in a manner that allows the mediation computer to specify an output destination; and (b) on the network of the printing device specified by the identifier. (C) identifying the printing device at
Outputting the print data or the data specifying information and causing the printing apparatus to perform printing.

According to the second configuration, the printing device can be apparently hidden from the network by using the above-described identifier. For some users who can know the above-mentioned identifier, the printing apparatus is disclosed on the network in a state where selection with a high degree of freedom can be realized. Unauthorized access can be suppressed. Information called a URI used in IPP and an IP address used in TCP / IP, which is a standard protocol of the Internet, are examples of information that can directly specify a printing device on a network. The identifier listed in the second configuration is U
This is an identifier arbitrarily set in a format other than information such as RI and IP address. For example, a registration number given to an available printing apparatus in advance may be used.

According to a third configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. In the print mediation method mediating between the two, (a) from the client, data identification information or print data that identifies the location of print data on a network, and output destination identification information that identifies a printing device to be an output destination And (b) when the operating state of the printing apparatus specified by the output destination specifying information is in a predetermined state that may cause printing defects, the print data to the printing apparatus. And prohibiting the output of the data specifying information.

The third configuration is intended to ensure printing reliability. When printing over a network, the client and the printing device that is the output destination may be located far apart, and printing may be performed in a situation where the user cannot directly grasp the status of the printing device. is there.
According to the third configuration of the present invention, it is possible to perform printing after confirming the operation state of the printing apparatus specified as the output destination, and to prohibit printing when the printing apparatus is in a state where printing defects may occur. Therefore, it is possible to avoid printing defects when performing printing via a network.

The predetermined condition that may cause printing failure includes a condition in which the remaining amount of ink or toner is small, a condition in which the remaining amount of the printing medium is insufficient, and a movable portion such as a drum used for printing is worn out. State. These may be comprehensively determined, or only one piece of information may be used. Techniques for notifying the operating state by communication have already been realized in various modes, and thus the third configuration can also be realized by using these techniques.

Whether or not a predetermined state has been reached may be an absolute judgment or a relative judgment. The absolute determination corresponds to, for example, a mode in which, when the amount of ink becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, it is determined that a predetermined state that may cause printing failure has been reached. The relative determination corresponds to, for example, a mode of determining the shortage of the ink amount based on a relative relationship with print data specified by the client. That is, when the amount of ink is at a certain remaining amount, it is determined that printing failure may be caused when the size of the print data is large, but it is determined that printing failure is not caused when the size is small.

In the printing mediation method of the third configuration, the step (b) may further include a step of feeding back the specified operating state of the printing apparatus to the client. This allows the user to know the status of the printing device via the client computer, thereby improving the convenience of printing via the network.

According to a fourth configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. (A) inputting a print request including designation of print data, designation of a printing device to be output to, and designation of printing conditions from the client; and (b) the designation. (C) confirming the operation state of the printing apparatus designated as the output destination, and adapting the operation settings of the printing apparatus to the designated printing conditions; (D) when the operation state of the printing apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition to be satisfied for realizing proper printing, Converting the data into data in a format that can be handled by the printing apparatus, and outputting the converted data to the printing apparatus.

The fourth configuration, like the third configuration, is designed to ensure reliable printing. When a printing device is specified on the network, the user may not be able to directly set the printing paper size and other conditions. According to the fourth configuration, the operation settings of the printing apparatus are adapted to the printing conditions specified by the client,
Since printing is performed in a state where proper printing can be realized, printing according to the user's intention can be realized. As an example, printing can be performed by selecting a printing paper tray that matches the printing paper size specified by the client. It should be noted that “satisfying a predetermined condition” only needs to satisfy an essential condition to be satisfied at the time of printing, and does not necessarily need to be limited to a case where all the printing conditions specified by the client are satisfied.

The fourth configuration has the advantage that the degree of freedom for the user to set the printing conditions is increased, so that the convenience of printing via the network is further improved. A description will be given by taking the size of the printing paper as an example. If the size of the printing paper cannot be selected, that is, if the printing paper size that can be handled by each printing device is limited to one type, the user can print on a printing paper of a desired size. It is necessary to look for a destination or to compromise on the printing paper size before printing. On the other hand, if the configuration is such that the size of the printing paper can be set, the user can realize desired printing with any printing device, and the convenience is greatly improved.

Although the third configuration and the fourth configuration have been described separately here, a print mediation method to which both the third configuration and the fourth configuration are applied may be realized. This way,
Confirmation of the operation state of the printing apparatus and setting of the operation state suitable for printing can be performed at the same time, and reliability and convenience in printing via the network can be further improved.

According to a fifth configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in response to an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. A print mediation method for mediating between the two, wherein (a) presetting client basic information including at least authentication information for specifying a client capable of executing printing via the mediation computer; and (b) outputting Setting, in advance, output destination basic information including at least information specifying a location on the network and information relating to conditions for permitting access to the printing apparatus in relation to the authentication information, with respect to the printing apparatus to be used; (C) the execution of printing is permitted by comparing the authentication information with the condition for permitting access. It is configured to include a step for prohibiting printing in between the printing device clients not.

If the output destination can be freely selected on the network, it is required in practical terms to avoid unauthorized access. The fifth configuration is intended to avoid such unauthorized access. That is, according to the fifth configuration,
Based on the authentication information of the client, it can be determined whether or not the client is permitted access,
Only legitimate clients to which access has been permitted can print. Here, the client basic information is
The setting may be made uniformly for all the printing apparatuses targeted by the print mediation method, or may be set individually for each printing apparatus.

According to a sixth configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. In a printing mediation method mediating between the two, (a) inputting identification information for identifying a predetermined object involved in the printing; and (b) referring to predetermined attribute information registered in advance with respect to the object. And setting a constraint condition for executing printing using the network, and (c) mediating the printing under the constraint condition.

In printing via a network, many elements are often closely related, such as a client, a user using the client, a printing apparatus, and a server for providing various data as print data. Are collectively called objects. When performing practical printing via a network, it is required to flexibly manage and change various types of information regarding objects. For example, it is required that a printing device accessible by a client can be increased or decreased by a relatively simple operation, instead of being fixed in an initial registration state. There is also a demand for flexibly changing a settlement method for adjusting a fee required for printing.

According to the sixth configuration, attribute information relating to each object is registered in advance, and printing is performed under certain conditions with reference to this attribute information. Various constraints can be flexibly changed. Attribute information is information that identifies what kind of element each object is.
Information indicating the type of the printing device, information indicating a more detailed type of the printing device, information indicating a range in which access to other objects is permitted, and a method for setting a fee for printing for the user. Various information such as information is included. By performing printing using such attribute information, according to the sixth configuration, the convenience of printing via a network can be greatly improved.

In the sixth configuration, the object and the constraint can take various modes. As a first aspect, the predetermined object in the step (a) is a user who executes the printing, and the constraint condition in the step (b) is a condition for specifying a printing device accessible as an output destination. Can be. According to this aspect, it is possible to limit the printing devices that can be accessed in advance for each user, and to flexibly change the range by rewriting the attribute information.

As a second mode, the predetermined object in the step (a) is a user who executes the printing, and the constraint in the step (b) is a charging condition for printing. it can. According to this aspect, printing can be performed under a charging condition preset for each user, and the setting can be flexibly changed by rewriting the attribute information. The charging condition includes, first, a condition relating to a settlement method for adjusting the cost required for printing. Includes information that specifies the type of payment, such as credit card payments and bank account payments, as well as details such as credit card numbers and account numbers that are required according to the payment method, and information such as the maximum amount that can be used. It is. Second, the billing condition can include information on a charge calculation condition according to the user. For example, when charging is performed with a different fee system for each user such as a fixed-rate system or a pay-as-you-go system, information for specifying which fee system is selected by each user may be included.

As a third aspect, the predetermined object in the step (a) is the printing device, and the constraint condition in the step (b) is a condition for specifying a client or a user who can use the printing device. There can be. In this way, clients or users who can access each printing apparatus can be restricted, unauthorized access can be avoided, and the range can be easily changed and managed by changing the attribute information.

As a fourth aspect, the predetermined object in the step (a) is an information providing server for providing information usable by the client on the network, and the constraint in the step (b) is This can be a condition of whether or not printing using the network is possible. On a network represented by the Internet, there is an information providing server that provides various information to clients. Some of these servers may want to place restrictions on printing. According to the fourth aspect, printing can be easily restricted by these information providing servers preliminarily registering print permission / inhibition conditions. The range can be easily changed by changing the attribute information. Examples of the print permission / non-permission conditions include conditions for restricting the range of users, clients, and output destinations permitted for printing, conditions for restricting the number of print copies, and the like.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described print mediation method, but can employ various configurations. According to a seventh configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, In a maintenance information management method for managing maintenance information of a printing device connected to a network,
(A) inputting whether or not a predetermined component set in advance as a management target among components essential for the operation of the printing apparatus has been updated; and (b) setting the mediating computer after the update. Estimating the consumption status of the components of the printing apparatus based on the printing results performed by the printing apparatus via (c) outputting information regarding the update time of the components based on the estimation result And a step of performing the operation.

According to the seventh configuration, the maintenance management of the printing apparatus can be performed comprehensively without excessive load, so that the operation rate of the printing apparatus can be improved. As a result, the convenience of printing via a network can be greatly improved. Various modes are available for outputting the information on the update time. For example, information may be output to an administrator who manages the printing apparatus.
Further, information may be output to a provider that provides the component. According to the latter aspect, there is an advantage that components that have been consumed can be quickly updated.

In the seventh configuration, the constituent elements may be, for example, consumables used in the printing apparatus. That is, ink, toner, printing paper, and the like used for printing can be used. In practical terms, these replenishments need to be performed frequently, and the effectiveness of the application of the present invention is extremely high. The components that form the aspect of maintenance management are not necessarily limited to consumables, such as drums used for printing.
Various components that need to be updated after a certain period of time are included.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in response to an instruction from a client connected to the network. In a print history management method for managing the print execution history,
(A) inputting instructor identification information for identifying a client or a user who instructs the printing;
(B) inputting printing device specifying information for specifying a printing device specified as an output destination from the client; and (c) inputting printing data source specifying information for specifying the location of the print data specified by the client. And (d) storing at least two pieces of information of the instructor identification information, the printing apparatus identification information, and the print data source identification information in association with each printing process.

According to the eighth configuration, it is possible to acquire data on which client, printing device, and print data source are performing printing via the network. When the storage is performed in such a manner that the statistical processing can be performed, statistical data can be obtained. By utilizing these data, the convenience of printing using a network can be further improved. For example, the output destination frequently used by the client can be easily specified by associating it with the attribute information described in the sixth configuration.

According to a ninth configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. (A) receiving a print request including print data and information specifying a printing apparatus to be an output destination from the client;
(B) applying predetermined processing or adding new print information to the specified print data to generate revised print data, and (c) specifying the output destination specified as the output destination. Outputting the revised print data in a printable form by a printing device.

By doing so, printing with added value can be executed via the network, and convenience can be improved. The process that affects the print result means a process in which the output result differs from the print data specified by the user through the client computer. For example, there is one that adds predetermined advertisement information to print data. In this way, printing via a widely used network can be used as an advertising medium. Further, a mode in which an image in which print data specified by a user is imposed on pre-registered background data is printed may be adopted. In addition, various processes can be performed such as a mode in which print data specified by the user is changed to a specific form and output.

In the ninth configuration, it is possible to adopt a mode of selectively generating the revised print data. For example,
Prior to the step (b), a step of checking with the client whether or not the print data can be processed may be provided, and the steps (b) and (c) may be executed only when the processing is permitted. . By doing so, it is possible to realize printing more suitable for the user's intention.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. In the print mediation method mediating between the two, (a) receiving a print request from the client including data identification information for identifying the location of print data on a network and information for identifying a printing device to be an output destination; ,
(B) when a predetermined condition relating to update of the print data specified by the data specifying information is satisfied, the print data is input and the print device specified as the output destination is sent to the print device. And outputting the print data in a printable mode.

In a tenth configuration, after a print request is issued,
In this mode, printing is not performed immediately, but is performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Information created by a third party and stored in the data providing server can be effectively used when the user uses the information. In this mode, the user usually requests that printing be performed after confirming that the information stored in the server serving as the print data source has been updated. According to the tenth configuration, printing is performed when a condition for updating data is satisfied.
It is possible to avoid the inconvenience of printing the already acquired information and the trouble of the user frequently confirming whether or not the information has been updated. Here, the condition for updating the data can be determined based on the time when the data is of a nature that is regularly updated, such as a newspaper article. In this case, a printing method in which a newspaper is printed from the printing device at a certain time can be realized by pre-registering the printing device to which the newspaper article is output by the user.

In printing via a network, an intermediary computer temporarily holds a print request, so that printing can be easily performed when a condition specified by a user is satisfied. it can. In the tenth configuration, a configuration in which such a point is more positively used is exemplified. However, in the first to ninth configurations described above, not immediately after a print request but when a predetermined condition is satisfied. It is also possible to adopt a mode of performing printing. For example, printing may be performed at a certain time, or printing may be started by a user instructing to start printing again.

According to an eleventh configuration of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in response to an instruction from a client connected to the network, an intermediary computer connected to the network is used. (A) receiving a print request including print data and information specifying a printing apparatus to be an output destination from the client;
(B) outputting predetermined data other than the print data to the printing apparatus to perform a test print before printing the print data; and (c) performing the test print from the client. And (d) outputting the print data to the printing device in a form that can be handled by the printing device when the confirmation is input.

When performing printing via a network, there is a possibility that printing may be performed at an unintended location if the user mistakenly specifies the output destination. When printing relatively confidential data such as a document created by a user or an e-mail addressed to the user, such an output error cannot be overlooked. According to the eleventh configuration, since test printing is performed prior to output of target print data, it can be confirmed at this point that printing is surely performed at an intended place.
Therefore, confidentiality during printing can be further improved. Here, as the data for test printing, for example, advertisement data registered in advance can be used. In this case, there is an advantage that printing via the network can be used as an advertisement medium. It is not necessary for the data for trial printing to be registered in the mediating computer, and the location on the network may be registered. For example, a mode may be adopted in which the URL of a Web page of a business operator who wants to supply an advertisement is registered, and the contents of the Web page are printed as test prints. By doing so, the content of the test print is updated together with the update of the Web page, so that the latest advertisement can be provided relatively easily.

In the above description, a case has been exemplified in which the present invention is configured as a print mediation method or another method invention. Such a method is realized by using a specific server connected to a network. Therefore, the present invention can be configured as a server provided for realizing the above-described method.

For example, when printing is performed by a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, a printing mediation server that mediates between the client and the printing device on the network. is there. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to the network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, maintenance of the printing apparatus connected to the network is performed. It may be a maintenance management server that manages information. A print history that manages an execution history of printing when printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network. It can also be a management server.

When the network is the so-called Internet, a server provided in a provider that provides a service for providing subscribers with access to the Internet can be used as the server described above. A server is a computer that manages and controls access to various data and services by users on a network, and thus the various servers described above may be referred to as computers or systems.

In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention can be configured as an apparatus that provides an interface screen for printing via a network to a client. Alternatively, it may be configured as a recording medium on which this program is recorded. The program includes so-called HTM
Although an entity such as L (Hypertext Markup Language) is a so-called text file, it also includes various languages in which display and other functions of the client can be controlled by control symbols such as tags.

Here, as a program for providing an interface, first, it is not possible to directly specify a printing apparatus to be an output destination on the network, but the intermediary computer can specify the output destination in such a manner that the output destination can be specified. A program for realizing a function of displaying on the client an interface screen for inputting a predetermined identifier attached to the printing apparatus is provided.

Secondly, in accordance with a preset correspondence between a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to the network and a hierarchically set group, sequentially specifying from a group located at a higher hierarchical level. And a program for realizing a function of displaying an interface screen for specifying a printing apparatus as an output destination on the client.

Third, a program for realizing a function of displaying on the client an interface screen for inputting predetermined authentication information for determining whether or not the client is permitted to print via the intermediary computer is provided. No.

Fourthly, an interface screen for inputting print agreement information for instructing execution of printing under the conditions while feeding back and displaying at least a part of the printing conditions designated by the client is displayed on the client. And a program for realizing the function of displaying the information. In this case, a function of displaying performance information including a cost associated with printing under the printing conditions specified by the client may be realized.

The above-mentioned interface screens need not always be displayed individually, but may be displayed in an integrated manner. The present invention provides a program itself for providing various interface screens for inputting / outputting various information required for realizing the above-described print mediation method, in addition to the interface screen described above, or a recording medium recording the program. It is also possible to configure.

Here, as a recording medium, a server connected on a network can be used, but the recording medium is not limited to such a mode, and a flexible disk, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk, IC card, ROM
Printed matter on which codes such as cartridges, punch cards, and bar codes are printed, and a computer internal recording device (RA
Various computer-readable media such as an M and a memory such as a ROM) and an external recording device can be used. The interface of the present invention is not limited to the interface displayed by control from the server while connected to the network,
The program may be displayed by installing and executing the program recorded on the flexible disk or other recording medium in the client in advance.
Further, the present invention can also be configured as a client-side device that actually provides the above-mentioned interface, or the interface itself.

The present invention is not necessarily applied only to the Internet and other wide networks, but may be applied to a LAN.

[0060]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples. A. Basic system configuration: Functional block: B1. Basic function block: B2. Basic service block: B3. Printing service: B4. Relation service: B5. Navigation service: C. Print execution example: C1. Aspect 1 Printing of E-mail: C2. Aspect 2 Web page printing: C3. Aspect 3 Printing of Ticket: C4. Aspect 4 Printing created document: C5. Aspect 5 Newspaper distribution 1: C6. Aspect 6 Newspaper distribution 2: C7. Aspect 7 Data processing printing:

A. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a system configuration serving as a printing base in the embodiment. The embodiment implements printing via a network such as a LAN and the Internet. As illustrated, various servers SV and SVA, printers PRT1 and PRT2, a client computer CC1, and the like are connected to the Internet INT.
These devices can exchange information via a network. Here, for convenience of explanation and illustration,
Although only a few devices are shown, as is well known, an infinite number of servers, printers, and clients are connected to the Internet. There are also a client computer CC3 and a printer PRT3 connected to the LAN, which are connected to the Internet INT via the LAN. Devices connected via a LAN can also exchange information with a server or the like connected to the Internet INT. In recent years, the Internet INT
The number of terminals that can access the Internet has increased, and as shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone CP can also access the Internet. Mobile phone C with Internet access
P can perform almost the same function as the client computer. The location of each device on the network is specified based on information such as an IP address.

The embodiment uses the Internet IN
T, which realizes printing between arbitrary clients and printers under a system configuration in which countless servers, client computers, printers, and the like are connected via a LAN. Here, as the most familiar environment, a situation in which various devices are connected to the Internet is illustrated, but the application of the embodiment is not limited to the Internet.
The present invention can be applied to a relatively limited network such as a LAN or personal computer communication. From this viewpoint, in the following description, the Internet, LAN, and the like are all generically referred to as “network”.

In the embodiment, it is assumed that the main function of the mediation system for printing on a network is provided by a server SV connected to the network. In the embodiment, when the client computers CC1 and CC2 and the mobile phone CP or the like designate a printer among the printers PRT1 and PRT2 on the network and issue a print request, the print request is transmitted to the server SV once. Is done. The server SV checks and sets the operation status of the output destination printer, and checks whether the client has the right to access the printer. If it is determined that printing can be performed, the server SV transmits print data to the printer in accordance with the print request received from the client, and performs printing. In the embodiment, thus, on the network,
Several types of methods of interposing an intermediary system between a client and a printer, and realizing a highly flexible and reliable printing by controlling the intermediary system will be described.

In the following embodiment, basically, a case in which most of the functions of the intermediary system are provided by the server SV will be described. However, such functions are usually realized by software, and a plurality of servers are required. It is also possible to realize in conjunction. Therefore, the mediation system does not necessarily need to be provided by a single server, and may be provided by a plurality of servers.

B. Functional Block: FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of the mediation system 1 as an embodiment. As described above, the mediation system 1 is constructed in software in the server SV provided on the network. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the software in the form of functional blocks.

In the intermediary system 1, each functional block of a basic function block 10, a basic service block 20, a printing service 30, a relation service 50, a navigation service 40, a directory service block 60, an authentication service block 70, and a billing service block 80 is provided. Is provided. “S” in the figure indicates a security system. Mediation system 1
The device that exchanges data with the client includes a client 5 corresponding to the computer CC1 in FIG.
A, etc., a content service 120 that provides information on a Web page or the like, the printers PRT1 and PR in FIG.
There is a printing site control service 100 and a printer 110 corresponding to T2 and the like. What is the printing site control service 100?
This is a functional block provided on the printer 110 side, and mainly has a function of controlling data transfer with a network. If the printer 110 is locally connected to a computer by a bidirectional parallel interface or the like, a printing site
The control service 100 can be constructed, and the printer 110 is connected to a NIC (Network Interface Car).
When connected to the network via an adapter called d) or a print server, the NIC or the print server performs the function of the printing site control service 100.

B1. Basic function block: The function of each function block provided in the mediation system 1 will be described below. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the basic function block 10. The basic function block 10 is a functional block that provides a function that is essential when printing is performed by the mediation system 1. The basic function block 10 includes the data conversion module 1
2. Three detailed functional blocks of a status acquisition / setting module 14 and a job control module 16 are provided. In the basic function block 10,
A print request including print data specifying information for specifying print data to be printed, output destination specifying information for specifying a printer to be output, and the like is input from the client 5 via the network.

The job control module 16 has a function of controlling a print job input to the mediation system 1. For example, if there are multiple print requests,
Each execution is prioritized and controlled so as to be processed sequentially. In addition, it controls the number of print copies, interrupts or stops printing, and changes the output destination.

The status acquisition / setting module 14
First, it has a function of checking the type and operation status of the printer 110 specified as the output destination. Printer 110
From the status acquisition / setting module 14, printing, site, control, and the like.
The operation status is confirmed by transmitting the query data to the service 100 and the printer 110 and analyzing the output from the printer 110 for the question data. Of course, it is not limited to such a method. With respect to data with a small variation such as the type of the printer 110, information registered as attribute data of the printer 110 in a directory service 60 described later can be used. Secondly, the status acquisition / setting module 14 has a function of setting the operation state of the printer 110 as necessary, for example, setting for securing an operation state suitable for printing conditions, such as selection of a paper tray, through communication. Play.

The data conversion module 12 has a function of converting the print data passed from the client 5 into data that can be printed by the printer 110. The client 5 may transmit the print data to be printed in the print request directly to the mediation system 1 or may transmit only the information indicating the location of the print data on the network to the mediation system 1 in the print request. In some cases. As an example, both modes of printing a Web page provided by the content service 120 will be described. In a Web page, data written in a language such as HTML provided by the content service 120 is usually downloaded to the client 5 and displayed. Therefore, in the former example, the data itself downloaded to the client 5 is mediated. The transmission is performed to the system 1. On the other hand, the location of the Web page data on the network is specified by a code called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). In the latter example, the client 5 transmits the URL to the intermediary system 1. In the latter case, the mediation system 1 acquires the data stored in the content service 120 specified by the URL by itself, and performs data conversion by the data conversion module 12. As the former mode, there is also a mode in which the client 5 transmits print data generated using various application programs to the mediation system. As the latter mode, there is also a mode in which electronic mail received by a so-called mail server is printed directly from the mail server.

The conversion into data that can be printed by the printer 110 is usually performed by software called a printer driver. The function of the data conversion module 12 is basically that of the printer 110 designated as the output destination.
This is realized by installing a printer driver suitable for the type in the intermediary system 1. However, since the print data specified by the client 5 is not necessarily in a format that can be directly handled by the printer driver, data created by various application programs is not necessarily used. It is desirable to prepare a program that plays the role of an adapter.

As described above, since the mediation system 1 can be constituted by a plurality of servers, the data conversion module 12 does not necessarily have to be prepared in the server SV. The data conversion module 12 can be realized in various modes described below.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode of data conversion. In the case where the server SV on which the main function of the intermediary system 1 is configured to receive the data transmitted from the print data resource and output the data to the printer 110 as an output destination, a variation regarding a part that performs data conversion is illustrated. Here, four cases A to D are shown. In the following, for the sake of convenience, original data that has not been subjected to any conversion is referred to as “print data”, and data that can be directly printed by the printer 110 is referred to as “printer supply data”. I do.

Case A corresponds to a mode in which printer supply data is generated using resources. When print data is directly transmitted from the client 5 to the mediation system 1, the client 5 corresponds to a resource. Only the information indicating the location of the print data is transmitted from the client 5 to the mediation system 1.
Is transmitted to the server, the server specified based on the information corresponds to the resource. Case A corresponds to a mode in which a printer driver is installed in these resources, and data is output in the form of printer supply data. In other words, this corresponds to a case where the data conversion module 12 of the mediation system 1 is provided in the resource. In case A, if it is possible to select an output destination printer from various types, it is necessary to prepare a number of printer drivers according to the type in the resource.

Case B is a mode in which printer supply data is generated in the mediation server SV, and corresponds to a mode in which the data conversion module 12 is provided in the server SV.
As described above, the output destination printer 1 is stored in the server SV.
Printer drivers suitable for 10 types are installed. As in the case A, when the output destination printer 110 can be selected from many types, it is necessary to prepare the number of printer drivers corresponding to the type in the mediation server. In case B, the data format transmitted to the intermediary system 1, that is, the server SV is, as shown in FIG.
Although there are various formats such as ML, XML, text format, JPEG, and other image data, data output from the intermediary system 1 to the printer 110 is unified to printer supply data.

Case C is the printer 110 side, more specifically, the printing site control service 100.
In this embodiment, data conversion is performed to generate printer supply data. A printer driver is installed in the printing site control service 100. Printing site control
Since the type of the printer 110 involved in the service 100 is fixed, only one type of printer driver needs to be prepared. In case C, the data format supplied from the resource to the printing site control service 100 via the mediation system 1 is various, and the format of the printer supply data immediately before being supplied to the printer 110 is It will be unified.

In cases A to C, printer supply data defined in a format unique to each printer 110 is generated. In contrast, case D
Is different from Cases A to C in that general-purpose printer supply data is generated. In the present embodiment, PostScript (registered trademark) is used as the printer supply data in case D.
The case where the data described by is generated is exemplified.
PostScript is a highly versatile page description language. The printer 110 performs printing by sequentially interpreting and executing the contents described in PostScript by an interpreter. In case D, the mediation system 1, that is, the server SV
And software for generating PostScript data from print data. The printer 110 must have an interpreter that can execute PostScript. However, since it does not depend on the type of the printer 110, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of printer drivers. In addition,
In the case D, the case where PostScript data is generated by the server SV has been described as an example.
It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the site control service 100 generates PostScript data. Note that any format other than PostScript may be used as long as the data format has generality.

As described above, the data conversion function 12 can be configured in various modes. Cases A to 4 shown in FIG.
D may be used in combination. For example, the printer 11
If the resource has a printer driver conforming to type 0, the printer supply data is generated in the form of case A, and if the printer 110 supports PostScript, the printer supply data is generated in the form of case D For example, the cases A to D may be properly used depending on the type of the printer.

B2. Basic service block: The basic service block 20 is a system in which the client 5
In particular, it functions as an input / output interface when accessing the basic function block 10. Although not shown, the basic service block 20 is provided with three detailed function blocks of a registration service, a basic printing service, and a status service, and the above functions are realized by these detailed function blocks.

A function block called a registration service mainly registers and manages the printer 110 and the content service that are involved in printing using the mediation system. For example, for the printer 110, information on the connection destination on the network, the connection method, information on the type of the printer 110, information on the printing site control service 100, authentication for judging whether or not access to the printer 110 is permitted. Register and manage basic information such as conditions. Further, the communication between the mediation system 1 and the printer 110 is managed based on the basic information. Similarly, for the content service 120, a communication method, a type of print data, authentication information for judging whether or not information provided in the content service can be printed, a list of printers 110 to which access is permitted, conditions for access, information The registration and management of information such as the accounting conditions for printing, the processing method when an error occurs during printing, and the use designation of the application service are performed. Also, based on these information, the content service 12
Manages communication with 0. Not only the content service 120, but also a client requesting the use of the mediation system 1,
The same information is also managed for the user. The information registered and managed by the registration service is stored in a directory service 60 described later.

The basic printing service is
This is a part that performs a function corresponding to an interface when printing is actually performed. The detailed function blocks provided in the basic function block 10 described above, that is,
It has a function of controlling the data conversion module 12, the status acquisition / setting module 14, and the job control module 16 to execute printing. For example, after performing necessary authentication using a registration service in response to a print request, data conversion of print data,
The status of 10 is confirmed and set, and data is output to the designated printer 110.

The status service manages the status of the printer 110 as an output destination. In addition to confirming the operation status performed at the time of printing, status information for performing maintenance management of the printer 110 is acquired and managed. 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. By using this information, the operator of the mediation system 1 can
Ten consumables and replacement parts can be managed in an integrated manner.

B3. Directory service: The directory service 60 has a function of capturing a printer 110, a content service, a type of print data, a client, a user, and the like involved in printing using the mediation system 1 as an object, and holding the attribute thereof. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the directory service 60. The directory service 60 is provided with a file that holds object attribute data. In the figure, an attribute file relating to a user using the mediation system 1 is illustrated. As shown by the files f1, f2... F5,
An attribute information file corresponding to each user is prepared. Each file stores, for example, information such as a user name, authentication information, and a printer 110 to which access is permitted as attribute information corresponding to the user.

FIG. 5 shows the attribute information on the user. However, the directory service 60 stores the attributes of other objects in the same format. By referring to these pieces of attribute information, it is possible to easily determine what charging conditions should be applied to each user. Also, by changing the attribute information,
The billing conditions can be changed easily and flexibly in response to a change in the fee course. Billing service block 80
Has a function of using the directory service 60 to determine such charging conditions and perform charging.

The function blocks using the directory service 60 include an authentication service block 70.
Is mentioned. The authentication service block 70 refers to an attribute file related to the user among the files stored in the directory service block 60, and based on the authentication information, the user who has issued the print request has authority to access the designated printer 110. It has a function of determining whether or not the user is a user. The strictness of the authentication may be changed for each printer 110 specified as the output destination.

The function blocks using the attribute information stored in the directory service 60 are not limited to the charging service block 80 and the authentication service block 70 illustrated in FIG. 2, and various function blocks can be constructed.

B3. Printing service: The printing service block 30 has a function of providing advanced printing using the mediation system 1. For example,
Printing can be performed in such a manner that print data is output to a plurality of printers registered in advance at a fixed time. When the size of the specified print data is very large, the print data may be divided and output to a plurality of printers arranged in close proximity. When an error occurs during printing, a function of performing printing again may be provided, or an output destination may be changed and printing may be executed again. As described above, the printing service block 30 provides advanced printing control that cannot be realized by the basic function block 10 and the basic service block 20 alone. Printing
The main function of the service block 30 itself is advanced job control for performing printing in the above-described manner. The essential functions for performing printing utilize the basic function block 10 and the basic service block 20.

B4. Relation service: 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 the various functional blocks described above, the intermediary system 1 can grasp which user prints what print data to what output destination. The relation service 50 accumulates such main information of the printing results and performs statistical processing. 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. Further, it is possible to work to increase the number of printers near a printer with a high operating rate. Further, it is possible to know what content service each user uses, and it is also possible to provide a location of information according to each user's taste. Further, by providing the use status to each content service, it is possible to contribute to the enhancement of the content of the content service. As described above, the relation service has a function of utilizing the usage record of the mediation system 1 for improving various services.

B5. Navigation service: The navigation service block 40 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.

By providing each of the functional blocks described above, the mediation system 1 of the embodiment can execute printing with a high degree of freedom between a client and a printer over a network. Along with this, an advanced printing function can be realized. Further, maintenance and management of the printer 110 can be easily performed, and consumables can be supplied and parts can be efficiently replaced. Also,
By utilizing the printing results, the quality of printing via the mediation system 1 and the quality of various services related to the mediation system 1 can be improved.

C. Example of execution of printing: An example of execution of printing using the mediation system of the present embodiment will be described below. The manner of printing using the mediation system can be broadly classified according to the type of resource holding print data and the type of output destination. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the classification of printing modes via the mediation system. As a classification of resources, there are cases where a server other than the client becomes a resource and cases where the client itself becomes a resource.
The former corresponds to, for example, a mode in which mail in the mail server is directly printed, a mode in which web page information is directly printed, and the like. The latter mode corresponds to a mode in which the client 5 prints a document created by various applications, and a mode in which mail or Web page data is temporarily downloaded to the client 5 and then printed.

The output destination is classified into a case where the printer 110 is not under the control of the user and a case where the printer 110 is under the control of the user. Printer 11 outside of user control
0 is the printer 110 installed in a public place.
For example, this corresponds to a case where the printer 110 is installed in a convenience store or the like and is used. Printers managed by the user include printers owned by the user at home and printers used in the office.

As shown in FIG. 6, printing modes can be roughly classified into four types according to the classification of resources and the classification of output destinations. The first category is a case where the resource is other than the client and the output destination is outside the control of the user.
Examples include “e-mail printing”, mode 2 “web page printing”, mode 3 “ticket printing”, and the like. Second
Is a case in which the resource is outside the control of the client itself and the output destination is outside the control of the user, and corresponds to the mode 4 “printing a created document”. The third category is a case where the resource is other than the client and the output destination is under the control of the user, and corresponds to modes 5 and 6 “newspaper distribution”. The fourth category is a case where the resource is under the control of the client itself and the output destination is under the control of the user, and corresponds to the mode 7 “data processing printing”.
Of course, the printing is not limited to these modes, and printing can be performed in various modes in each category.

The contents of each embodiment will be described below. In addition, as a device corresponding to a client that issues a print request, a so-called general-purpose computer and a portable terminal such as a mobile phone can be considered. . Printing can be performed using any of a general-purpose computer and a mobile phone.

C1. Aspect 1 Printing of E-mail: FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how an e-mail is printed using the mediation system. As an example, a case has been described in which a user prints an e-mail addressed to the user by operating the mobile phone CP having a function of accessing the e-mail. It is assumed that the printer uses a printer installed in a public place, for example, a store such as a convenience store, a hotel, or a public hall. This is due to the fact that it is considered to be highly useful when using a printer installed in a public place, and it is also possible to use a printer under its own control such as a home or office. . Here, the mobile phone CP corresponds to the client, but it is also possible to use a computer as the client.

At the time of printing an e-mail, a mobile phone CP corresponding to a client, a printer PRT serving as an output destination,
An intermediary service PS, a mail service RM, and a mail server MS intervene. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other.
In FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, some communication between two parties such as Cm1 and Cm2 is shown, but communication between elements is not limited to these, and a line specific to these communication is provided. Not necessarily. The mediation service PS is a server that configures a mediation system in terms of hardware,
The mediation service PS includes all functions provided by using the server. Similarly, the mail service RM is used in a sense including a service provided using a server on a network.

The printer PRT serving as an output destination is registered in the mediation service PS in advance, and a unique identification number is given by the mediation service. In the example of FIG.
The identification number of T is “1111”. This identification number is
Information for specifying the printer PRT on the network, for example, an IP address used in the TCP / IP protocol,
This is a code set by the mediation service independently of a code called a URI used in the IPP protocol. As will be described later, the user who uses the mediation service specifies the printer PRT as the output destination with this identification number. By setting the identification number that is disclosed to general users independently of the information that specifies the printer PRT on the network, the location of the printer PRT is concealed on the network,
Unauthorized access can be suppressed.

The brokerage service PS and the mail service RM may be provided by different traders. It suffices that both are associated in advance. The mail service RM provides a function necessary for printing using the mediation service PS as a part of the provided service. For example, it includes provision of an interface for a user to specify execution of printing using the mediation service PS, and a function of transferring data necessary for printing to the mediation service PS.

A method for executing printing of an e-mail will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the first half of the e-mail print sequence. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the latter half of the e-mail print sequence. FIG. 10 shows an example of an interface used in the first half when printing an e-mail. FIG. 11 shows an example of an interface used in the latter half when printing an electronic mail.

First, the user accesses the mail service RM from the mobile phone CP (communication Cm1 in FIG. 7).
The mail service RM accesses the mail server MS that stores the e-mail, acquires data on the e-mail addressed to the user, and displays items such as the sender and the subject on the terminal of the mobile phone (communication Cm2 in FIG. 7). ). The user selects an e-mail to be printed from the displayed list of subjects and sends the e-mail to the mail service RM (see step st1 in FIG. 8).

The left side of FIG. 10 shows an example of an interface for selecting an electronic mail. As shown, a list of e-mails addressed to the user is displayed on the display unit DISP of the mobile phone CP together with check boxes. In this example, M
It is displayed that four e-mails, e.g. The user operates the cursor key of the mobile phone CP to check a check box of an e-mail requesting printing. Here, Ma
Illustrated is an example in which two check marks are attached to il2 and Mail4. 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 for realizing two functions, that is, a function of selecting an e-mail to be printed out of the received e-mails and a function of determining the selection result and transmitting the result to the mail service RM can be applied. . When a computer is used as a client instead of a mobile phone, an interface capable of displaying and setting more information than the contents shown in FIG. 10 can be constructed because there is room in the size of the display unit. is there.

As shown in FIG. 8, 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 electronic mail (steps st2 and st3 in FIG. 8). In the example of FIG. 10, by executing this step, the body data of Mail2 and Mail4 is temporarily stored in the mail service RM. It should be noted that a so-called attached file may exist in the electronic mail. The mail service RM executes step st
At 2 and st3, data of the attached file is also acquired.

Next, the mail service RM transfers the data of the e-mail to be printed to the mediation service PS by the communication Cm3 in FIG. 7 (step st4 in FIG. 8).
The mediation service 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 it to the mail service RM as simple print prediction information (step st5 in FIG. 8). The reason for the rough estimation is that at the stage where detailed conditions such as the output destination and the print mode are not specified, there is a possibility that the obtained cost, required time, and the like may include an error. In step st5, the cost and the like are calculated assuming standard printing conditions. Note that step st
In 4, the mail service RM transfers the mediation service PS.
May be information in a range sufficient to calculate the simplified print prediction information. Therefore, it is not always necessary to transfer all the data of the e-mail to be printed, and only the information such as the data amount of the e-mail and the color / black / white discrimination code may be transmitted. If the attached file exists in the e-mail, the data format is analyzed, and whether or not the file is a printable file and its size are fed back together.

[0104] The mail service RM is an intermediary service PS.
Is displayed on the mobile phone CP (step st6 in FIG. 8). A 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. A total value may be displayed for all of the e-mails specified by the user. The information to be displayed is not limited to the contents illustrated in FIG. Only a part of the information in FIG. 10 may be displayed.

The user checks the displayed simple print prediction information and determines whether or not to continue printing. To execute printing, the user gives an instruction to start printing (step st7 in FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 10, "execute" is displayed on the display unit DISP together with the simple print prediction information.
A button is displayed, and an execution instruction can be given by moving the cursor here and pressing this button. Various other methods can be applied to the execution instruction,
Instead of the buttons displayed on the display unit, any buttons originally provided in the mobile phone may be used.

The execution instruction given by the user is transmitted to the mediation service PS via the mail service RM by the communications Cm1 and Cm3 in FIG. 7 (step s in FIG. 8).
t7). At the same time, the print data, that is, the body of the e-mail and the attached file are transmitted from the mail service RM to the mediation service PS. If all the print data has been transmitted to the mediation service PS in step st4 when the simple print prediction information is calculated, only the print start instruction is transmitted. With this instruction, the mail service RM completes the communication with the mobile phone CP, and the subsequent communication is performed between the communication Cm4 in FIG. 7, that is, between the mobile phone CP and the mediation service PS.

Upon receiving the print start instruction, the mediation service PS displays a standard menu for printing on the mobile phone CP (step st8 in FIG. 8). An example of the standard menu is shown on the left side of FIG. In the standard menu, contents to be printed, number of copies, output destination printer, etc.
You can specify printing conditions. The content is a menu for inputting the URL when instructing printing of a Web page from the mobile phone CP. In the example of FIG. 11, an input box appears by selecting a menu for which a condition is to be specified from a menu such as a content, the number of copies, and a printer with a cursor. FIG. 11 illustrates a case where the printer of the output destination is specified. "Printer N
o. Is displayed, a box IP for inputting the identification number assigned to the output destination printer is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, as described above, the identification number assigned to the output destination printer PRT is “1111”, and thus, as shown in FIG.
111 ". Here, the input of “Printer No.” has been described as an example, but the same applies to other menus. When the user specifies the output destination printer and presses the “send” button, the printer identification number is transmitted to the mediation service PS by the communication Cm4 in FIG. 7, and the output printer can be designated (FIG. 8). Step st9). At the same time, conditions such as the number of copies are also transmitted.

As described above, the output destination printer PR
In T, information indicating the location on the network such as an IP address and a URI, information on the type of the printer such as an ink jet printer and a laser printer, and other attribute information are registered in the mediation service PS in advance. This attribute information is managed by the directory service block 60 described above with reference to FIG. The mediation service PS calculates detailed print prediction information when printing is performed under designated print conditions based on the attribute information, and displays the content on the mobile phone CP using the communication Cm4 in FIG. (Step st1 in FIG.
0).

After confirming the displayed print prediction information, the user instructs execution of printing (step st in FIG. 9).
11). In this embodiment, execution of printing is instructed by inputting a user-specific password. This input also indicates that the user has agreed to the printing conditions. An interface for inputting a password is illustrated in the center of FIG. 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 service PS by inputting his / her password and pressing a transmission button. The password is"*
*** ", the input numbers and the like may be displayed as they are. It is preferable to display the identification number of the printer specified as the output destination together with the display of the print prediction information. With such a display,
It is possible to prevent printing from being performed at a place not intended by the user due to an input error of the identification number, which can contribute to maintaining confidentiality when printing personal information such as e-mail.

The password of the user is stored in the mediation service PS
Is registered and managed in advance as one of the user attribute information by the directory service block 60 as shown in FIGS. When referring to the attribute information and confirming that the password is genuine and has authority to access the designated printer PRT, the mediation service PS displays a print start screen on the mobile phone CP ( Step st12 in FIG. 9).
At the same time, through the communication Cm5 in FIG. 7, the mediation service PS transmits predetermined banner data, that is, advertisement data to the printer PRT designated as the output destination, and executes printing of the advertisement (step in FIG. 9). st13). As described above, the mediation service PS holds information for specifying this printer on the network as attribute information of the printer identification number, and uses this attribute information to transmit data by the communication Cm5. Sending can be performed. The conversion of the advertisement data into data printable by the printer is performed by the data conversion module 1 of the mediation service PS.
2, this function can be implemented in the various modes described above with reference to FIG. This advertisement data is data provided from various traders who desire banner printing by the mediation service PS. In addition, a display prompting the mobile phone CP to confirm whether the banner page has been printed is performed (step st14 in FIG. 9). A display example is shown on the right side of FIG.

First, the banner printing has an economical advantage that the advertisement fee can be obtained from a company that desires the advertisement and the cost of the user using the mediation service PS can be reduced. . Second, there is an advantage as a test print before printing an e-mail requiring confidentiality. An intermediary service that prints the target data first after confirming that the printing has been performed reliably without first causing a confidentiality problem even if there is an error in the designation of the output destination. Security and confidentiality when using printing by the PS can be ensured.

When the user prints the banner, FIG.
Is pressed, an input indicating that the printing of the banner has been confirmed is made to the mediation service (step st15). Upon confirming this input, the mediation service PS transmits the data of the e-mail received and accumulated from the mail service RM to the output destination printer PRT through the communication Cm5 in FIG. 7 (step st in FIG. 9).
16). The conversion from the data of the e-mail to the data printable by the printer is realized by the data conversion module 12 of the mediation service PS, and this function can be realized in the various modes described above with reference to FIG. When the transmission of all the data of the e-mail is completed and the printing is completed, the mediation service PS outputs the charge data required for the printing to the charging destination, and ends a series of processes (step st in FIG. 9).
17).

Since various settings can be made for the billing destination, they are not shown in FIG. For example,
If the mail service RM is a paid service,
The billing process may be performed on the mail service RM side. In this case, the billing information is transmitted to the mail service RM. The billing process may be performed by the operating company of the mobile phone CP. In the mediation service PS,
The processing may be performed by the charging service block 80 shown in FIG. The payment may be made at a store or the like where the printer PRT is installed. In addition, it is possible to perform the charging process in various modes.

In the above example, the case where the mediation service PS is constructed in a single server has been described. The mediation service
It can also be composed of a plurality of hardware. As an example, a sequence in a case where an intermediary service is constructed using two pieces of hardware, an intermediary service F and an intermediary service B, will be described as a modification. Here, the mediation service F is a part that mainly fulfills the function of exchanging information with the outside, and the mediation service B is a computer for processing relatively complicated calculations at high speed.

FIGS. 12 to 14 are explanatory diagrams showing a print sequence of an electronic mail according to the modification. The overall processing outline is the same as the print sequence shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. The modified example differs from the sequence of FIGS. 8 and 9 in that the function performed by the mediation service PS requires exchange between the mediation service F and the mediation service B.

Also in the modified example, the print data is transmitted from the mail service RM to the mediation service F in steps st1 to st4 described above. Intermediary service F
Outputs the content information necessary for the calculation to the mediation service B in order to obtain the simplified print prediction information (step st41). The mediation service B obtains simple print prediction information based on this information and returns it to the mediation service F (step st42). Thereafter, the process proceeds in the same steps as in the embodiment, such as displaying the simplified print prediction information on the mobile phone CP (steps st5 to st8). When an output printer is designated by the user to the mediation service F (step st9), the mediation service F outputs content information and information on printer designation to the mediation service B in order to obtain detailed print prediction information (step st9). Step st91). The mediation service B checks the status of the printer, that is, the operation status, based on this information (steps st92 and st92).
93) The detailed print prediction information is calculated, and the result is returned to the mediation service F (step st94). Checking the operation status includes checking whether consumables such as printing paper and toner provided in the printer remain in an amount sufficient to print the designated content. If there is a possibility that printing may be inadequate, such as when the remaining amount of consumables is not sufficient, the intermediary service B transmits “cannot print due to lack of consumables” to the mobile phone CP via the intermediary service F.
Is displayed. Accordingly, the print mediation service F
Stop printing.

If it is determined that there is no defect in printing, the mediation service F displays the detailed print prediction information thus obtained, inputs a password, and displays a print start screen (steps st10, st11, st11). st12), banner printing is started. Therefore, the intermediary service F transmits the banner data to the intermediary service B (step st1).
31). At this point, the banner data is HTML, XM
L and other data that cannot be printed directly by the printer. The mediation service B converts the banner data using a data conversion program suitable for the type of printer, that is, a printer driver, and outputs the banner data to the printer (step s132). A report of the result of banner printing is received from the printer, in other words, it is determined whether or not printing has been completed successfully (step s133). Since the mediation service B and the printer always exchange data while communicating bidirectionally during banner printing, the mediation service B starts the banner printing when the transmission of the banner data is completed without error. It can be determined that it has been completed successfully. Thereafter, the mediation service B transmits the printing result to the mediation service F (step st134).

The intermediary service F prompts the user to print and display the banner page and to confirm and input the result. When the printing of the banner page is confirmed (steps st14 and st15), the electronic mail is printed. The procedure is the same as that of the banner printing. The data of the e-mail is temporarily transmitted from the mediation service F to the mediation service B, converted into a printable format by the mediation service B, and transmitted to the printer. (Steps st161 and st162). Further, it is confirmed whether or not the printing has been completed normally (steps st163 and st164). When the printing is completed, the mediation service F transmits the fee data to the billing destination (step st17).

The function of the mediation service can also be realized by being divided into a plurality of pieces of hardware. In the modified example, the case where the mediation service F and the mediation service B are divided into two is exemplified, but the number may be further divided.
In the modified example, the data conversion into the printer data is performed by the mediation service B. However, as described above, the data may be converted before being supplied to the mediation service, or may be converted by the printer. Is also good.

The sequence shown in the printing of the e-mail described as the first mode is merely an example, and not all the processing is necessarily required. For example, the display of the simplified print prediction information (steps st5 to st7 in FIG. 8) may be omitted. Printing of banner page (st12 to st in FIG. 9)
15) may be omitted. Alternatively, the user may be able to select whether or not to print a banner page.

C2. Aspect 2 Web page printing: FIG. 1
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a Web page is printed using the mediation system. As an example, a user may view a web page being viewed on a portable computer PC at an accommodation location,
That is, the case where printing is performed in a situation where there is no printer locally connected to the computer PC has been described. As a printer serving as an output destination, a printer installed at a lodging place is used. Of course, it is not necessary to be a lodging place, and it is also possible to use a printer under its own management, such as a home or office. Here, the computer PC corresponds to the client, but it is also possible to use a mobile phone as the client.

In the mode 2, the computer PC corresponding to the client, the printer PRT serving as the output destination, the mediation service PS, and the W providing the data of the Web page being viewed are provided.
The eb server WS intervenes. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other. It is assumed that the output destination printer PRT is registered in advance in the mediation service PS as in the first mode.

The user can download data from the Web server WS to the computer PC by communication Cm21 in FIG. 15 and browse the Web page with a browser. When the user desires to print the web page being viewed, the user accesses the intermediary service PS and executes printing with the printer PRT at the accommodation location specified.

Access to the mediation service PS can be realized in various modes. For example, there is a method of preparing a button for instructing the start of printing using the mediation service on the Web server WS side. In the first embodiment, an interface that displays a “print” button together with a list of e-mails has been illustrated (see FIG. 10). A "print" button may be displayed at one corner of the Web page in a format similar to this. If the Web page is configured to transfer the data being displayed to the mediation service when this button is pressed, printing can be realized in the same sequence as in the first mode.

In the mode 2, an example is shown in which no special buttons or the like need to be displayed on the Web page side. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for designating printing via the mediation service in mode 2. The display screen of the browser is shown. Travel agency W including travel coupons and gift vouchers
This is an eb page. When a printer locally connected to the computer PC is prepared, the user often executes printing by using a “print” menu prepared in the “file” menu. In the second embodiment, printing using the mediation service PS is realized by the same interface. As shown in the figure, when the user clicks the “File” menu, a menu for creating a new file, opening a file, etc. appears as a pull-down menu. In this, a “net printing” menu is provided, which means execution of printing using the mediation service PS. When the user clicks the "net print" menu, the Web service provided by the mediation service
It is possible to move to a page (here, referred to as “net print mediation site”). At this time, the URL information of the currently displayed web page of the travel agency is also transmitted to the “internet printing mediation site”. Such processing is easily realized by, for example, previously installing software in a browser of a computer PC on the user side. The software for this purpose may be made public so that it can be downloaded from the “net print mediation site”. Such an interface has the advantage that it is not necessary to prepare a special button on the Web page, and has the advantage that printing via the mediation service can be realized with the same operational feeling as when printing on a locally connected printer.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the screen displayed when the net printing is selected. This shows a state where a Web page provided by the mediation service is displayed on a browser. This corresponds to an interface for specifying printing conditions using the mediation service. Aspect 2
In order to print the Web page, the print data is
The location is specified by RL. When moving to this Web page, since the URL information of the Web page of the travel agency that the user was browsing has been transmitted, this URL is displayed as default information in the print data.

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 the first aspect, it is possible to adopt a method of inputting and identifying the printer identification number, but in the second aspect, an interface of a different format from the first aspect is exemplified.

When the user clicks on a box for designating a printer, a menu classified broadly, such as Aichi, Gifu, Nagano, etc., is displayed. When the output destination printer is located in Aichi Prefecture, when the user clicks on "Aichi", a menu classified by area within the prefecture, such as Nagoya Kita Ward and Nagoya Nishi Ward, is displayed. Clicking on "Nagoya Naka-ku" where the output destination printer is located displays the location of the printer registered in the mediation service PS.
The user can specify the output destination printer PRT by selecting the hotel name of the accommodation destination. As described above, by making it possible to hierarchically select the printers that can be used by the mediation service PS, the printer can be specified even in a situation where the identification number of the printer is unknown. In addition, as in the case of using the identification number, there is an advantage that the printer can be kept secret from the network, thereby preventing unauthorized access.

When the printing conditions including the location and the output destination of the printing data are designated in this way, the user clicks the "start printing" button. As a result, the printing conditions specified by the user are transmitted to the mediation service PS
Sent to. The mediation service PS accesses the web server WS by the communication Cm22 in FIG. 15 based on the URL included in the print data, and prints the web to be printed.
You can get the page data.

The subsequent sequence is the same as in the first embodiment. The mediation service PS performs display of print information, input of a password, confirmation of print execution, and the like on the computer PC through the communication Cm23. When the execution of printing is instructed, the communication Cm
24, the banner data is transmitted to the printer PRT, the banner is printed, and then the printing of the Web page is executed. Conversion of banner data and Web page data to data printable by the printer PRT can be realized in various modes shown in FIG. Display of print information,
Banner printing may be omitted or may depend on user selection. A mode in which a banner and a Web page are simply printed together, that is, banner printing is executed, but a mode in which a Web page is also printed without checking whether or not the printing has been performed may be adopted.

In the second embodiment, the printing instruction by the computer PC has been described as an example. However, the interface shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is not limited to the case where the client is the computer PC, and the mobile phone is used as the client. In such a case, a similar interface can be applied. The printing of the Web page is not limited to the interface and the sequence of the mode 2, but can be realized by the same interface and sequence as the mode 1.

C3. Aspect 3 Ticket Printing: Aspect 1,
In the second embodiment, an example has been described on the assumption that printing is performed on normal paper. In a third embodiment, a case where the printing paper is limited to special special paper will be exemplified. As an example, printing of a ticket will be described. The user accesses the ticket center online or by telephone in advance, and reserves tickets for concerts and the like. At this time, the reservation number is notified from the ticket center. Thereafter, the user accesses the ticket center again, specifies the reservation number, and prints the ticket via the mediation service. However,
Since tickets are a kind of securities, printing on plain paper is not permitted, and it is necessary to print on special paper prepared for ticket printing. In a third embodiment, a method for realizing such printing will be described.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing how a ticket is printed using the mediation system. The user goes to a store where a printer that can print tickets is installed, and
The case where the ticket is printed by the operation from the mobile phone CP having the function of accessing the page b has been described. Mobile phone CP suitable for printing instructions in such a situation
Is used as a client, but a computer may be used as a client.

At the time of ticket printing, a mobile phone CP corresponding to a client, a printer PRT serving as an output destination, an intermediary service PS, and a server of a ticket center TC intervene. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other. The printing sequence is the same as the printing of the e-mail in the first mode.

The user can use the W provided by the ticket center TC through the communication Cm31 in FIG.
Access the eb page. The user designates a reservation number on this Web page and instructs printing by pressing a “print” button. When printing is instructed, the communication Cm in FIG.
With 32, the ticket center TC transmits the print data of the ticket corresponding to the designated reservation number to the mediation service PS. Thereafter, information is exchanged between the mobile phone CP and the mediation service PS.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the mediation service at the time of ticket printing. Mediation service P
S inputs the print data of the ticket from the ticket center TC (step S10), and inputs the identification number of the printer as the output destination (step S12). The user
An identification number designated by the same interface as that shown on the left side of FIG. 11 is received via the communication Cm33 in FIG.

Next, the mediation service PS uses the directory service block 60 based on the printer identification number.
It refers to the attribute information registered in (step S14), and checks whether the designated printer supports ticket printing (step S16). Whether or not ticket printing is supported is stored in advance as one of the attribute information. Here, a printer that supports ticket printing refers to a printer that includes a print tray PTt dedicated to tickets in addition to a normal print tray PTn. For such a printer, the tray number of the print tray PTt dedicated to the ticket is also stored as attribute information for each printer.

If the printer designated by the user is a printer that does not support ticket printing, the intermediary service PS displays a printer change instruction on the mobile phone CP (step S18), and again identifies the printer identification number. An input is executed (step S12).

If the printer specified by the user is a printer that supports ticket printing, a password is entered to confirm that the user is a genuine user (step S20), and the ticket-specific paper tray PTt is used. Is output to the printer (step S22), and the print data of the ticket is output to the printer (step S2).
4). The selection of the paper tray PTt is performed based on the attribute information registered for each printer. The paper tray selection control is realized by the status acquisition setting module 14 (see FIG. 3) in the mediation service PS.

Here, the sequence has been described in a simplified manner. However, display of print prediction information, confirmation of banner printing, and the like may be performed. In ticket printing, it is more necessary to guarantee that the printed matter reaches the user than in normal printing, so banner printing is highly effective as trial printing. In the first embodiment, the case where the confirmation of the banner is performed with the “OK” button is illustrated. However, in order to confirm that the user can take the printed material, a randomly set password is printed together with the banner. Alternatively, this password may be input instead of the “OK” button in FIG. When performing banner printing, it is also desirable to control the selection of the paper tray so as to use the normal paper tray PTn.

C4. Aspect 4 Printing of Created Document: Aspect 1
In the mode 3, it has been described that both a user who performs printing using the mediation service PS and a printer as an output destination are registered in advance in the mediation service. In a fourth example, a case where only the user is registered in the mediation service is illustrated.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing how a document created by the user is printed using the mediation system. As an example, a case has been shown in which a quote created by a user using a portable computer PC1 is printed by a customer's printer at a customer's office. In addition, a case will be described in which data input by the user at the customer's office is transmitted to the company's office, a quotation is created by the computer PC2 in the company's office, and output from the customer's printer. It is assumed that the output destination printer is not registered in the mediation service PS. Of course, if the customer's printer is registered in the mediation service PS, printing can be easily performed in the same sequence as in the first to third aspects.

In the mode 4, the computer PC1 corresponding to the client, the printer PRT as the output destination, the mediation service PS, and the computer P in the user's own office
C2 intervenes. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other.

First, the computer PC owned by the user
A case where an estimate is created and printed in step 1 will be described.
The user accesses the web page “net print mediation site” provided by the mediation service PS by the communication Cm43 in FIG. 20 to perform printing. As described above in the aspect 2, since the printing conditions can be set in this Web page, if the conditions such as the location of the print data and the output destination are designated and “print start” is instructed, 2
The printing can be executed in the same sequence as the above. However, the aspect 4 differs from the aspect 2 in that the data is a file existing in the computer PC1 and that the output destination printer is not registered in the mediation service PS. The specification of the printing conditions in such a case will be described.

For print data, a computer PC
1. When a path indicating the location of the file in file 1 is input, the FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
ol) or the like, the file is transferred to the mediation service PS. The user can specify a path in the computer PC1 from a keyboard, but may use an interface to input by dragging and dropping. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an interface for specifying a file. A browser window displaying the “net print mediation site” on the display DSP of the computer PC1 and a window displaying files in the computer PC1 are open. When the user drags and drops the file "ABC.TXT" to be printed onto the Web page of the "net print mediation site", the path in the computer PC1 is automatically input to the box indicating the location of the print data.

Since the printer is not registered in the mediation service PS, no identification number is assigned. Therefore, in the box for inputting the location of the printer, information capable of specifying the location of the printer on the network is input. For example, IP address, URI used in IPP
And so on. Here, it is assumed that the URI is input.

The sequence after these conditions are input is the same as in the first to third aspects. Mediation service PS
Receives print data and sends it to a printer designated as an output destination. However, in the aspect 4, the mediation service is in a state where the type of the output destination printer is unknown. Therefore, in order to perform data conversion in the mediation service PS, it is necessary to specify the model name of the printer of the output destination in the “net print mediation site”. Mediation service,
A search may be made as to whether or not a printer driver corresponding to the designated model name is provided, and if not, a printer change may be prompted. User's computer P
If the printer driver exists in C1, the file converted in advance is used as the print data as the mediation service P
It may be transmitted to S.

In the above-described example, the case where the file to be printed is transmitted from the user's computer PC1 to the intermediary service PS has been described.
1, a path indicating the location of the file and data indicating the location of the user's computer PC on the network may be transmitted to the intermediary service PS. As described in the second aspect, the mediation service PS can acquire a file to be printed from the computer PC1 based on this information and execute printing.

Next, a case will be described in which the user causes the computer PC2 in his office to create and print an estimate. The user creates data at the customer's computer with the computer PC1, and transmits the data to the computer PC2 at the company office through the communication Cm41. The computer PC2 in the office creates a quote based on the information transmitted from the user, and places the file in a predetermined storage location of the computer PC2. Also in this case, the user can print the quote in the same procedure as when printing data in his or her computer PC1. That is,
It is only necessary to access the “net print mediation site” and specify the URL indicating the quote file in the computer PC2 of the office, the IP address, and the path in the computer PC2 as the location of the print data. Instead of the drag-and-drop interface shown in FIG. 21, the input is from a keyboard. Others are the same as the case of printing the data in the computer PC1.

C5. Aspect 5 Newspaper distribution 1: Aspects 1 to 4 have described the case where printing is executed immediately upon issuing a print request from a client. Also, in the first to fourth aspects, the case where printing is performed only once in response to a print request has been described. In a fifth embodiment, a case will be described in which a time condition and a frequency condition are provided for execution of printing. Of course, it goes without saying that similar printing is possible in modes 1 to 4 depending on the setting of the print request by the user.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing how an electronic newspaper is printed using the mediation service. A case has been described in which a user orders delivery of an electronic newspaper from a computer PC at home and prints with a printer PRT at home. It is assumed that the output destination printer PRT is not registered in the mediation service PS. The specification of the output destination is the same as in the aspect 4,
This is performed using a URI and an IP address.

In the mode 5, a computer PC corresponding to a client, a printer PRT as an output destination, an intermediary service PS, and an electronic newspaper service NS for providing an electronic newspaper are interposed. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other. The electronic newspaper service NS is associated with the mediation service PS.

First, the user uses the communication Cm51 shown in FIG.
Access the eb page and apply for an electronic newspaper. At the time of application, the selection of the electronic newspaper desired to be distributed, the password of the user, the designation of the printer PRT as the output destination, and the designated distribution time are registered. If the home printer PRT is not registered in the mediation service PS, the IPP
The registration is performed using information that can uniquely identify the location of the printer PRT on the network, such as a URI and an IP address used in the protocol. Along with the above-described registration, a subscription period of the electronic newspaper may be designated. The registered information is stored as user attribute information in the directory service block 60 (see FIG. 2) constructed in the mediation service PS. In FIG. 22, a part of the attribute information is shown in a table format. By referring to the attribute information, the intermediary service PS can manage when and to which output destination what kind of electronic newspaper data should be output.

At the time of distribution of the electronic newspaper, no user operation is required. This is because the print request has already been transmitted to the mediation service by the above registration. Printer PR at home
What is necessary is just to make T into operation state. The mediation service PS
Delivery time specified by the user, 7 am in the example of FIG.
At the time, the user accesses the server of the electronic newspaper service NS to which the user desires distribution by communication Cm52 in FIG. 22, and acquires print data of the electronic newspaper. Since the electronic newspaper service NS and the mediation service PS are associated in advance, the mediation service PS can easily acquire the print data of the electronic newspaper.

Thereafter, the print data of the electronic newspaper is output to the output destination printer PRT by the communication Cm53, and the newspaper is distributed. The conversion from the data provided by the electronic newspaper service NS to the data that can be printed by the printer can be performed in various modes shown in FIG. Aspect 1
Unlike the sequence shown in, the necessary authentication information such as the user's password is already registered, so that it is not necessary to confirm it again at the time of printing. The printing of the newspaper may be performed together with the banner page, or the necessity of the banner page may be selected in advance by the user. If information on the necessity of a banner page is also registered as user attribute information in the directory service block 60 in the mediation service PS, control on the necessity of printing the banner page, and charging according to the presence or absence of the banner page Control is relatively easy to implement.

Since the attribute information registered by the user is retained even after printing is completed, the user can obtain an electronic newspaper desired to be distributed at a certain time every day. The information provided by the electronic newspaper service NS is updated sequentially unlike ordinary newspapers. The user can obtain the latest information at an arbitrary frequency by designating a plurality of designated printing times as necessary.

[0157] When the server of the electronic newspaper service NS is updated, a service for printing only the updated portion may be provided. Such printing can be easily realized by transmitting the update information including the update of the information and the print data of the updated portion from the electronic newspaper service NS to the intermediary service PS when the information is updated. It is. Upon receiving the update information, the intermediary service PS refers to the attribute information stored in the directory service block 60 to identify the user who wants to distribute the information at the time of the information update and the output destination thereof. . What is necessary is just to output the print data of the updated portion to the output destination specified in this way. In the fifth embodiment, the electronic newspaper has been described as an example, but the content to be printed is not limited to the electronic newspaper.

C6. Aspect 6 Newspaper distribution 2: In Aspect 5,
The case where printing is periodically performed by the printer PRT at home is illustrated. In a sixth embodiment, a case will be described in which the output destination is temporarily changed while the printing of the fifth embodiment is being performed.
As an example, a case where the distribution of newspapers is temporarily changed to the accommodation when staying at a place other than home is illustrated.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an electronic newspaper is printed at an accommodation using an intermediary service. Aspect 5
As described above, it is assumed that the distribution of the electronic newspaper is normally performed among the computer PC, the printer PRT, the mediation service PS, and the electronic newspaper service NS at the user's home. In the mode 6, in addition to these elements, a mobile phone CP corresponding to a client and a printer Printer of a lodging place corresponding to a temporary output destination are involved. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other. Although the case where the mobile phone CP having the function of accessing the Web page is used as a client in consideration of the use on the go is exemplified as a client, a portability or a computer installed in a lodging place in advance may be used as a client. Absent.

The user uses the mobile phone CP to communicate with the Web of the mediation service PS via the communication Cm54 in FIG.
Access the page and change the output destination. The information for designating the change, that is, the change designation information, includes the password of the user, the information for specifying the printer to be changed, the period for making the change, and the desired distribution time during the change. When the destination printer is registered in the mediation service PS, the printer is specified by its identification number. If not registered, it is specified by information such as a URI and an IP address. Upon receiving the change designation information, the intermediary service PS replaces the information related to the delivery of the electronic newspaper among the user attribute information stored in the directory service block 60 (see FIG. 2) with the contents of the change designation information. . FIG. 23 shows, by way of example, a state in which the output destination of the attribute information is replaced with the printer Photo of the accommodation destination instead of the PRT at home. However, information registered in advance is backed up. After a period of user changes,
The attribute information is replaced with the original registration information again.

Changing the output destination of the electronic newspaper can be realized in various other modes. For example, as attribute information on the electronic newspaper, information specifying a normal output destination, a print designation time, and the like, and change designation information are stored.
The mediation service PS may distribute the electronic newspaper with priority given to the change designation information. By erasing the change designation information when the period for performing the change has elapsed, it is possible to easily change the output destination and other controls.

C7. Aspect 7 Data processing printing: Aspects 1 to
In the mode 6, the case where the content created by the user or the content designated by the user is output as it is is exemplified. In a mode 7, a case is shown in which data transmitted by a user is processed and printed.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing how data is processed and printed using the mediation service. The case where the image data that the user wants to print is imposed on the designated background and printed by the printer PRT at the user's home has been described. Printer PR as output destination
It is assumed that T is not registered in the mediation service PS. The specification of the output destination is performed using the URI or the IP address of the IPP protocol.

In mode 7, a computer PC corresponding to a client, a printer PRT serving as an output destination, an intermediary service PS, and a processing service AS are interposed. These elements are connected to a network, and can exchange data with each other. The processing service AS is associated with the mediation service PS in advance.

The user enters the communication C from the computer PC.
With m71, the user accesses the Web page of the mediation service PS and transmits the image PIC1 desired to be printed. The transmission of the image is performed, for example, by the interface shown in the aspect 4 (FIG.
1). At this time, the user further selects a menu for superimposing the image data, and selects a type of the background image. In addition, the printer PRT as the output destination is specified. Printer PRT
Is not registered in the mediation service PS, the data is processed and printed by pressing the “print start” button displayed on the Web page.

When the execution of printing is instructed, the intermediary service PS outputs the image data PIC1 received from the user and the code information specifying the background to the processing service AS (communication Cm72). In the processing service AS, background data PIC2 corresponding to the designated code information is stored in advance. Processing service AS uses background data PIC
2 generates image data PIC3 in which the received image data PIC1 is imposed, and returns it to the mediation service PS (communication Cm73). The mediation service PS itself may perform such image processing. Mediation service PS
Outputs the received image data PIC3 to the designated printer PRT, and executes printing (communication Cm74). The conversion from the image data to the print data that can be printed by the printer PRT can take various forms shown in FIG. The print sequence after the generation of the image data PIC3 is completed is the same as the sequence described in the first aspect.

The above-described printing may be performed in the following manner. The user accesses a Web page provided by the processing service AS, transmits image data PIC1 desired to be printed to this Web page, and performs overlay processing with the background data PIC2. When the processing is completed, a print instruction is issued via the mediation service PS. This corresponds to the printing of the Web page described in the second embodiment, and can be realized by the same sequence as in the second embodiment.

In the mode 7, the processing of the image data is exemplified. However, the processing of the data transmitted by the user can be performed in various modes. For example, retouch processing may be performed on image data transmitted by the user, or processing for adjusting resolution, color tone, or the like according to the characteristics of the model of the printer PRT specified as an output destination may be performed. The processing target is not limited to image data. For example, text data may be received from a user, processed into a certain format such as a manuscript paper, a document to be submitted to a government office or the like, and then printed. The information received from the user in the form of text data may be printed in a state described in various blank forms.

According to the print mediation system and mediation service of the present embodiment described above, printing via a network can be performed in a practical state. In order to make printing via a network practical, it is necessary to easily and reliably specify a printer as an output destination and confirm the operating state of the printer, and to ensure the confidentiality of the printed matter. These problems can be solved by using the print mediation system of this embodiment. As a result, when obtaining the printed matter, the restrictions on the place and time can be greatly reduced, and the convenience of the printed matter can be improved. Further, as exemplified in modes 5 to 7, printing in a mode that cannot be realized by a conventional printing apparatus can be realized, and convenience can be further improved.

While 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, in the above embodiment, various printing modes on the Internet have been described.
A mediation system may be constructed on a LAN.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a system configuration serving as a printing base in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of an intermediary system 1 as an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of a basic function block 10;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode of data conversion.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a directory service 60.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing classification of printing modes via an intermediary system.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an electronic mail is printed using an intermediary system.

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

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a latter half of an e-mail print sequence.

FIG. 10 is an example (part 1) of an interface used when printing an electronic mail.

FIG. 11 is an example (part 2) of an interface used when printing an electronic mail.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sequence (part 1) of an electronic mail in a modified example.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sequence (part 2) of an e-mail in a modified example.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sequence (part 3) of an e-mail in a modified example.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a Web page is printed using an intermediary system.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for designating printing via an intermediary service in mode 2;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a screen displayed when net printing is selected.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a situation in which a ticket is printed using an intermediary system.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the mediation service at the time of ticket printing.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing how a document created by the user is printed using the mediation system.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an interface for specifying a file.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an electronic newspaper is printed using an intermediary service.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an electronic newspaper is printed at an accommodation using an intermediary service.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing how data is processed and printed using an intermediary service.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mediation system 5 ... Client 10 ... Basic function block 12 ... Data conversion module 14 ... Status acquisition / setting module 16 ... Job control module 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 120 Content Service

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 4, 2002 (2002.7.4)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (47)

[Claims] When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing that mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary method, comprising: (a) printing from a client at least including data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of print data on a network, and output destination specifying information for specifying the printing apparatus to be an output destination; Receiving the request; and (b) at least part of the designated printing conditions and confirmation information for prompting confirmation of whether to execute printing under the printing conditions, in response to the printing request, (C) receiving a print agreement input from the client in response to the confirmation information; d) outputting the print data or data identification information to the designated printing device in a manner that the printing device can handle in response to the print agreement input;
Causing the printing device to perform printing. 2. The print mediation method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (d), the print data is converted into a unique data format corresponding to the type of the designated printing device and then output. Printing mediation method. 3. The print mediation method according to claim 1, wherein said step (d) is a step of outputting said print data in a general-purpose page description language. 4. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing is performed between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediation method, comprising: (a) data identification information or print data that identifies the location of print data on a network from the client; and the mediation computer that cannot directly identify the printing device on the network. Receiving a print request including a predetermined identifier assigned to the printing device in a manner capable of specifying an output destination; and (b) specifying a location on the network of the printing device specified by the identifier. Steps to
(C) outputting the print data or the data specifying information to the specified printing apparatus, and causing the printing apparatus to perform printing. 5. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing that mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary method, comprising: (a) receiving, from the client, a print request including data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of print data on a network and output destination specifying information for specifying a printing apparatus to be an output destination; Receiving steps,
(B) when the operation state of the printing apparatus specified by the output destination specifying information is in a predetermined state that may cause printing defects, output of the print data and the data specifying information to the printing apparatus is prohibited. And a printing mediation method comprising: 6. The print mediation method according to claim 5, wherein the step (b) further comprises a step of feeding back an operation state of the specified printing apparatus to the client. 7. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing is performed between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. (B) inputting a print request from the client including designation of print data, designation of a printing device as an output destination, designation of printing conditions, and (b) print data in response to the designation (C)
Confirming the operation state of the printing apparatus designated as the output destination and adapting the operation settings of the printing apparatus to the designated printing conditions; and (d) determining that the operation state of the printing apparatus is appropriate for printing. Converting the print data into data in a format that can be handled by the printing apparatus and outputting the converted data to the printing apparatus when the printing apparatus is in a state that satisfies a predetermined condition to be satisfied. . 8. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing is performed between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediation method, comprising: (a) presetting client basic information including at least authentication information for specifying a client capable of executing printing via the intermediation computer; and (b) a printing apparatus serving as an output destination about,
Presetting output basic information including at least information for specifying a location on a network and information relating to conditions for permitting access to the printing apparatus in relation to the authentication information; and (c) the authentication information. Prohibiting printing between a client and a printing apparatus that are not permitted to execute printing by collating with a condition that permits access. 9. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing that mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary method, comprising: (a) inputting identification information for identifying a predetermined object involved in the printing;
(B) referring to predetermined attribute information registered in advance with respect to the object, setting a constraint condition when executing printing using the network;
(C) a step of mediating the printing under the constraint conditions. 10. The print mediation method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined object in the step (a) is a user who executes the printing, and the constraint in the step (b) is that A printing mediation method that is a condition for specifying an accessible printing device. 11. The print mediation method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined object in the step (a) is a user executing the printing, and the constraint in the step (b) is A print mediation method that is a charging condition. 12. The printing mediation method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined object in the step (a) is the printing device, and the constraint in the step (b) is that the printing device can be used. A print mediation method that is a condition for identifying a unique client or user. 13. The print mediation method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined object in the step (a) is an information providing server that provides information that can be used by the client on the network. The print mediation method in which the constraint in (b) is a condition of whether or not printing using the network is possible. 14. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network via an intermediary computer connected to the network, in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, the printing apparatus is connected to the network. A maintenance information management method for managing maintenance information of a printing device, comprising: (a) determining whether a predetermined component set in advance as a management target among components essential for the operation of the printing device has been updated; Inputting; and (b) estimating a consumption state of a component of the printing apparatus based on a printing result performed by the printing apparatus via the intermediary computer after the update; (c) )
Outputting information on the update time of the component based on the estimation result. 15. The maintenance information management method according to claim 14, wherein the component is a consumable used in the printing apparatus. 16. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, the print execution history (A) inputting instructor identification information for identifying a client or a user who instructs the printing, and (b) identifying a printing device designated as an output destination by the client. (C) inputting print data source specifying information for specifying the location of the print data specified by the client; and (d) inputting the instruction for each printing process. For storing at least two of the user identification information, the printing device identification information, and the print data source identification information in association with each other. Tsu printing history management method and a flop. 17. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing that mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary method, comprising: (a) receiving a print request from the client, the print data including information specifying print data and a printing apparatus to be an output destination; and (b) outputting a print result to the specified print data. (C) outputting the revised print data in such a manner that the printing device designated as the output destination can print the modified print data by performing predetermined processing or adding new print information that affects the print data. And a printing mediation method comprising: 18. The print mediation method according to claim 17, wherein the step (b) is a step of adding predetermined advertisement information to the print data. 19. The print mediation method according to claim 17, further comprising a step of, before the step (b), confirming whether the print data can be processed by the client, and only when the processing is permitted. The step (b),
A print mediation method for executing (c). 20. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing that mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary method, comprising: (a) receiving from a client a print request including data specifying information for specifying the location of print data on a network and information for specifying a printing apparatus to be an output destination; When a predetermined condition relating to the update of the print data specified by the data specifying information is satisfied, the print device inputs the print data and enables the print device to print to the print device specified as the output destination. Outputting the print data in an aspect. 21. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing that mediates between the two using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary method, comprising: (a) receiving from a client a print request including print data and information specifying a printing device to be an output destination; and (b) printing the print data prior to printing the print data. Outputting predetermined data other than the above to the printing apparatus to perform test printing; (c) receiving confirmation from the client that the test printing has been performed; and (d) confirming that the test printing has been performed. Outputting the print data to the printing device in a form that can be handled by the printing device. 22. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, a printing mediation server that mediates between the client and the printing device on the network. A print request for inputting a print request including at least data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of print data on a network and output destination specifying information for specifying the printing apparatus as an output destination from the client; Input means, at least a part of designated printing conditions, and confirmation information for prompting confirmation of whether or not to execute printing under the printing conditions; Information output means, and a print agreement for inputting print agreement information input from the client in response to the confirmation information Information input means, and in accordance with the print agreement information,
A print execution control unit that outputs the print data or the data identification information in a form that can be handled by the printing apparatus. 23. The print mediation server according to claim 22, wherein the print execution control unit converts the print data into a unique data format corresponding to the type of the designated printing device. A print mediation server including a data conversion unit for outputting. 24. The print mediation server according to claim 22, wherein the print execution control means includes a page description language output means for outputting the print data in a general-purpose page description language form. Server. 25. A print mediation server that mediates between a client and a printing device on the network when printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network. From the client, the data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of the print data on the network, and the printing apparatus cannot be directly specified on the network, but the output destination can be specified for the intermediary computer. Request receiving means for receiving a print request including a predetermined identifier attached to the printing apparatus in a specific mode, and specifying information for specifying the location on the network of the printing apparatus specified by the identifier. Storage means for storing, and a printing apparatus specified based on the identifier with reference to the storage means A print execution control unit that outputs the print data or the data specifying information. 26. A print mediation server that mediates between a client and a printing device on the network when printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network. A print request input unit for receiving a print request from the client, the data specifying information or print data for specifying the location of the print data on the network, and the output destination specifying information for specifying the output destination printing apparatus; When the operation state of the printing apparatus specified by the output destination specifying information is in a predetermined state that may cause printing defects,
A print mediation server comprising: a print prohibition control unit that prohibits output of the print data and the data identification information to the printing apparatus. 27. The print mediation server according to claim 26, wherein said print prohibition control means further comprises a notification means for notifying said client of an operation state of the specified printing apparatus. 28. A print mediating device that mediates between a client and a printing device on the network when printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network. A server, a print request input unit for inputting a print request including designation of print data, designation of a printing device to be output, designation of print conditions from the client, and printing for inputting print data in accordance with the designation Data input means, operation setting means for confirming the operation state of the printing apparatus designated as the output destination, and adapting the operation settings of the printing apparatus to the designated printing conditions; and The print data can be handled by the printing device when a predetermined condition to be satisfied for realizing proper printing is satisfied. And converts the format of the data, the print intermediary server and a print execution control means for outputting to the printing device. 29. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, a printing mediation server that mediates between the client and the printing device on the network. A client basic information storage unit for storing in advance client basic information including at least authentication information for specifying a client capable of executing printing via the mediating computer; and a printing apparatus serving as an output destination, at least on a network. Output destination basic information storage means for storing in advance output destination basic information including information on conditions for permitting access to the printing apparatus in relation to the authentication information, The execution of printing is not permitted based on the comparison with the condition for permitting the access A print mediation server comprising: a print prohibition control unit that prohibits printing between a client and a printing apparatus. 30. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, a printing mediation server that mediates between the client and the printing device on the network. An identification information input unit for inputting identification information for identifying a predetermined object involved in the printing; and an attribute for storing in advance at least a part of the object with predetermined attribute information including information on a constraint condition at the time of printing. An information storage unit, a constraint condition setting unit for setting a constraint condition when executing printing using the network with reference to the attribute information storage unit, and a client and a printing device under the constraint condition. A print mediation server including a print execution control unit that performs printing by performing mediation. 31. The print mediation server according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined object is a user who executes the printing, and the constraint condition is a printing device that the client can access as an output destination. The print mediation server that is the condition to be specified. 32. The print mediation server according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined object is a user who executes the print, and the constraint condition is a charge condition for printing. 33. The print mediation method according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined object is the printing device, and the constraint condition is a condition for specifying a client or a user who can use the printing device. Mediation server. 34. The print mediation method according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined object is an information providing server that provides information that can be used by the client on the network, and the constraint condition is the information. A print mediation server, which is a condition regarding whether information provided from the providing server can be printed using the network. 35. When printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, the printing device is connected to the network. A maintenance management server for managing maintenance information of the printing apparatus, wherein the update is performed to input whether or not a predetermined component set in advance as a management target among the components essential for the operation of the printing apparatus has been updated. Information input means; estimating means for estimating a consumption state of a component of the printing apparatus based on a printing result performed by the printing apparatus via the intermediary computer after the update; A maintenance management server comprising: an update timing information output unit configured to output information on an update timing of the component based on the information. 36. The maintenance management server according to claim 35, wherein the component is a consumable used in the printing apparatus. 37. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network via an intermediary computer connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, the print execution history A print history management server that manages, based on information transmitted from the client to the intermediary computer, instructor identification information for identifying a client or a user who instructs printing, as an output destination from the client At least two of printing device specifying information for specifying a specified printing device and print data source specifying information for specifying the location of print data specified by the client.
A print history management server comprising: input means for inputting information; and history storage means for storing information input by the input means in association with each print process. 38. A print mediation server that mediates between a client and a printing device when printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network. A print request inputting means for inputting a print request including print data and information for specifying a printing apparatus to be an output destination; and a predetermined processing or a new print for the specified print data which affects a print result. A print mediation server comprising: a data processing unit that adds information; and a print execution control unit that outputs the print data in a form in which the printing device designated as the output destination can print. 39. The print mediation server according to claim 38, wherein said data processing means is means for adding predetermined advertisement information to said print data. 40. The print mediation server according to claim 38, wherein a processing confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the processing of the print data is possible to the client, and the data processing unit only when the processing is permitted. A print mediation server including a data processing control unit that operates. 41. A print mediation server that mediates between a client and a printing device when printing is performed by a printing device connected to the network in accordance with an instruction from the client connected to the network. A print request input unit for receiving a print request including data specifying information for specifying the location of the print data on the network and information for specifying a printing device to be output to; and updating the print data specified by the data specifying information When a predetermined condition relating to is satisfied, print data is input based on the data specifying information, and the print data is printed in a mode in which the print device can print to a print device designated as the output destination. And a print execution control unit for outputting the print execution control. 42. When printing is performed by a printing apparatus connected to a network in accordance with an instruction from a client connected to the network, printing is performed between the two by using a mediating computer connected to the network. An intermediary server, comprising: a print request input unit for receiving a print request including print data and information for specifying a print device to be an output destination from the client; and prior to printing the print data, Test printing control means for outputting predetermined data for test printing to the printing apparatus; confirmation input means for inputting confirmation information that the test printing has been performed from the client; and inputting the confirmation information. In this case, the printing device includes a printing control unit that outputs the printing data to the printing device in a form that can be handled by the printing device. Use server. 43. A function of designating information necessary for the printing from the client when realizing printing via the mediating computer using a client, a mediating computer, and a printing device connected to a network. A recording medium on which a program to be realized is recorded, wherein a printing device serving as an output destination cannot be directly specified on the network, but is attached to the printing device in a form capable of specifying an output destination for the intermediary computer. And recording a program for realizing a function of displaying an interface screen for inputting the predetermined identifier on the client. 44. A function for designating information necessary for the printing from the client when realizing printing via the mediating computer using a client, a mediating computer, and a printing device connected to a network. A recording medium on which a program to be realized is recorded, wherein a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to the network and a group located in a higher hierarchy according to a preset correspondence between hierarchically set groups. A program for realizing a function of displaying, on the client, an interface screen for specifying a printing apparatus as an output destination by sequentially specifying the printing apparatus from the client. 45. A function of designating information necessary for the printing from the client when realizing printing via the mediating computer using a client, a mediating computer, and a printing device connected to a network. A function of displaying an interface screen on the client for inputting predetermined authentication information for determining whether or not the client is permitted to print via the intermediary computer, the recording medium recording a program to be realized. Recording medium on which a program for realizing is realized. 46. A function of designating information necessary for the printing from the client when realizing printing via the mediating computer using a client, a mediating computer, and a printing device connected to a network. A recording medium on which a program to be realized is recorded, wherein at least a part of print conditions specified by the client is fed back and displayed, and print agreement information for instructing execution of printing under the conditions is input. A recording medium recording a program for realizing a function of displaying an interface screen on the client. 47. The recording medium according to claim 46, wherein:
The recording medium is a program for realizing a function of displaying performance information including a cost associated with printing under printing conditions designated by the client.