JP2003001878A - Information processing method, information processing system, and device used for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the amount of data stored in a memory card from increasing in an information processing system which inputs and outputs data off-line by utilizing the memory card. SOLUTION: A server device 40 receives job processing information and a job reservation request from an information processing device 10 and generates job information, correlates the job information with the job processing information, and outputs the job information to the information processing device 10. In the job processing device 10, the job information received from the server device 40 is stored in a memory card 60. When the memory card 60 in which the job information is stored is attached, a job execution direction device 30 directs the job information read from the memory card 60 to start the execution of the job and outputs to the server device 40. When the server device 40 receives the job information and the start direction of job execution from the job information direction device 30, the device executes the job according to the job processing information corresponding to the job information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing method for inputting / outputting data offline, an information processing system having a function capable of inputting / outputting data offline,
And various devices used in the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an image input device such as a scanner device or an image output device such as a digital copying machine or a printer device, a detachable storage medium such as a memory card is used to operate a scanner function and a print function offline. An example of a device for making the device is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-933.
No. 76 is proposed.

According to the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-93376, for example, when a storage medium is attached to the apparatus, a method of outputting a job stored in the storage medium, etc.)
Of the image data stored in the same storage medium is searched for job processing information (output control information related to print processing in this example) that has the same file name as the file name described in the job processing information. Read data, print out based on the read image data, etc.
You can activate scanner and print functions offline.

[0004]

However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-93376, the job processing information and the image data are associated with each other by a file name and stored in the same storage medium. The parameter and print data must be on the same storage medium,
Also, it is possible to print out only with that parameter.

Therefore, the storage medium has a smaller area for storing the image data as much as the job processing information is stored. Although the job can be executed offline, only a part of all the functions of the device (print output only with the stored parameters in this example) can be operated, and Many features are wasted, including the inability to reuse. As described above, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-93376 sacrifices the convenience of executing a job offline.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a system capable of executing a job offline without increasing the amount of data stored in a storage medium, and various systems used in the system. The purpose is to provide a device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of operating the functions of the apparatus even when it is off-line, and various apparatuses used in the system.

[0008]

That is, according to an information processing method of the present invention, a job requested to be reserved by receiving job processing information indicating a processing parameter required at the time of job execution processing and a job reservation request. The job information corresponding to is generated, the generated job information is associated with the job processing information, and the generated job information is output.
Thereafter, the job execution start instruction and the job information read from the removable storage medium are received, and the job is executed based on the job processing information corresponding to the received job information.

Also, the information processing system according to the present invention is
An information processing system including an information processing apparatus, a job processing information management server, a job execution instruction apparatus, and a server apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes job processing information indicating processing parameters necessary for execution processing of a job and a job. And the reservation request of the above is output to the server device. The server device receives the job processing information and the job reservation request from the information processing device, generates job information corresponding to the job requested to be reserved, and stores the generated job information and the job processing information management server. The generated job information is output to the information processing apparatus while being associated with the existing job processing information. The information processing device stores the job information received from the server device in a removable storage medium. When a storage medium storing job information is attached, the job execution instruction device outputs the job information read from the storage medium to the server device together with a job execution start instruction. The server device receives the job information and the job execution start instruction from the job execution instruction device, reads the job processing information corresponding to the received job information from the job processing information management server, and based on the read job processing information, the job processing information. To execute.

In the information processing system according to the present invention,
When the server device receives the job information from the job execution instruction device, it outputs job processing information corresponding to the received job information to the job execution instruction device, and the job execution instruction device receives the job information received from the server device. Outputs information indicating whether processing information has been changed to the server device,
When the server device receives the information indicating that the job processing information is changed from the job execution instruction device, the server device may execute the job based on the changed job processing information.

[0011]

In the present invention, when the server device receives the job processing information and the job reservation request, it generates job information corresponding to the job for which the reservation is requested, and outputs the generated job information. At this time, the generated job information and job processing information are associated with each other. After this, the server device
The job execution start instruction and the job information read from the removable storage medium are received, and the job is executed based on the job processing information corresponding to the received job information. As a result, the storage medium need only store the job information corresponding to the job processing information, not the job processing information itself.

Further, when it is necessary to confirm the job processing information corresponding to the job information received by the server device on the job execution instructing device side and change the job processing information,
The job is executed based on the changed job processing information.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the information processing system of the present invention. The information processing system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10 that is an example of an apparatus that generates job data such as print data, a job processing information management server 20 that stores job processing information, and a job for inputting a job execution instruction. The execution instructing device 30 and the server device 40, which serves as a central function for executing job processing, are connected by the network 9. In this example, the information processing device 10
The job processing information management server 20 and the Internet 9
a, the job execution instruction device 30 and the server device 4 are connected.
0 is an intranet 9b such as a local network,
Alternatively, a local connection (LAN connection) is made through an interface using the SCSI standard or the IEEE 1394 standard.
Has been done. Internet 9a and Intranet 9b
And are connected to each other.

Further, when the information processing system 1 is applied as a print system, a printer device 50, which is an example of an image output device for executing this job process, is connected to the job execution instruction device 30 and the server device 40, and the job is executed. The print output can be obtained on the execution finger 30 side or the server device 40 side.

The information processing apparatus 10 stores the job processing information input section 100 for inputting job processing information indicating various processing parameters necessary for job execution processing, and the job processing information input by the job processing information input section. A job processing information output unit 110 for outputting to the server device 40, and a job reservation request unit 120 for outputting a job reservation request to the server device 40 are provided. The job reservation request unit 12
0 may also serve as the function of the job processing information output unit 110. Further, the information processing device 10 receives the job information from the server device 40, and the job information receiving unit 130.
The job information storage unit 1 stores the job information received by the job information receiving unit 130 in the memory card 60, which is an example of a removable storage medium, in association with the job data.
And 40. The information processing device 10 is a mobile information device such as a laptop computer, and can be connected to the Internet 9a as needed.

The job processing information management server 20 stores job processing information and job information in association with each other. The job processing information management server 20 may store only the job processing information prepared in advance in the system, or may update the job processing information every time there is a designation input of new job processing information from the client.

The job execution instruction device 30 includes a job information reading section 300 for reading job information stored in a memory card 60, which is an example of a removable storage medium, and a job execution start instruction and job information reading section 300. A job execution start instruction unit 310 that outputs the read job information to the server device 40. The job execution instruction device 30 further includes a search unit 320 that acquires a job type based on the job information read by the job information reading unit 300 and searches for a server device 40 corresponding to the acquired job type. May be. In this case, the job execution start instruction unit 310 outputs a job execution start instruction to the server device 40 searched by the search unit 320.

The server device 40 receives a job reservation request and job processing information from the information processing device 10 and generates job information corresponding to the job for which the reservation is requested, and a job information generating unit 400. The job processing information associating unit 404 that associates the job information generated by the job processing information management server 30 with the job information generated by the job processing information management server 30, and outputs the job information generated by the job information generating unit 400 to the information processing apparatus 10. And a job information output unit 410 that executes the job information. Also, the server device 40 sends the execution start instruction receiving unit 420 that receives the job information and the job execution start instruction from the job execution instruction device 30, and the job processing information corresponding to the job information that the execution start instruction receiving unit 420 receives. A job execution processing unit 430 that reads out from the processing information management server 20 and executes a job based on the read job processing information. Note that the server device 40 may further include a storage unit and may also function as the job processing information management server 20.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit in the system when the information processing system 1 having the above-mentioned configuration is applied as a printing system. Hereinafter, this aspect will be described as a first embodiment. In this case, the server device 40 functions as a print server device.

The information processing apparatus 10 takes in job data to be printed out (hereinafter referred to as print data in this embodiment) such as image data (S100). The print data may be generated by an application program such as word processing software or graphic software installed in the information processing device 10, or may be captured by a scanner device or a digital camera. May be

When the information processing apparatus 10 is connected to the server apparatus 40 functioning as a print server apparatus via the network 9, a job (print processing in this embodiment) is executed.
User interface screen data for sending reservation request (for example, HTML file; Hypertext Markup
Language) is transmitted from the server device 40 to the information processing device 10, and the screen is displayed on the information processing device 10.
On this display screen, the client (user) specifies job processing information indicating the processing parameters in the print processing, which is the job of this embodiment, such as the number of copies, the type of double-sided printing, and the type of finisher (S10).
2). At this time, any one may be selected from the job processing information menu prepared in advance. Alternatively, the URL of the job processing information existing in the job processing information management server 20 on the Internet 9a (Uniform
source Locators) may be specified. The job processing information is not limited to the number of prints and the type of double-sided printing,
For example, it may include a background image, information about in-page editing of layout information such as an album, information about inter-page editing such as a front cover or a back cover, or N-up print.

In the information processing apparatus 10, the job processing information input unit 100 takes in the job processing information designated by the client. When the job processing information output unit 110 completes loading the job processing information, the job processing information output unit 110 outputs the job processing information and the identifier (HOST code) of the information processing apparatus 10 itself to the server device 4.
0, and the job reservation request unit 120 sends a job reservation request to the server device 40 (S10).
4). For example, the identifier and the reservation request are XML (Extensible
Markup Language), and this XML document is
It is transmitted using TP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). In this case, the job processing information may be substantially transmitted by describing the link destination address in which the job processing information is stored in the XML document.

Next, in the server device 40, when the job information generating section 400 receives the job processing information and the reservation request for the job from the information processing device 10, for example, the reservation request in which information such as the job identifier and the expiration date is described. The job information corresponding to the generated job is generated in association with the identifier of the information processing device 10 (S400). Further, the job processing information associating unit 404 associates the job information generated by the job information generating unit 400 with the job processing information stored in the job processing information management server 30. The job information output unit 410 returns the job information generated by the job information generation unit 400 to the information processing device 10 (S402).

To associate the identifier of the information processing apparatus 10 with the generated job information, the job processing information associating unit 404 assigns a job identifier to the responding job information or uses a management table showing the association. .
When the client specifies job processing information indicating processing parameters in print processing, such as the number of copies to be printed, the type of double-sided printing, and the type of finisher, from among those stored in advance in the job execution instruction device 30, A management table in which information and job processing information are associated with each other may be used. On the other hand, when the client inputs and specifies the job processing information indicating the processing parameter, the job processing information associating unit 404 associates the job processing information with the identifier of the information processing apparatus 10 and the job information, and creates a management table. Not only is the job processing information generated but also the input and designated job processing information is stored (stored) in the job processing information management server 20.

Next, in the information processing apparatus 10, when the job information receiving section 130 receives the job information from the server apparatus 40 (S106), the job information storage section 140 informs the job information received by the job information receiving section 130. A removable memory card 60 such as a compact flash (registered trademark) memory including the identifier of the processing device 10 itself
Then, the corrected job information (including its own identifier) is stored (S108). Furthermore, the job information storage unit 140 is configured so that the recorded job information is not deleted by mistake.
Gives only the read-only right to the job information. As the identifier of itself, for example, an electronic certificate issued by a certificate authority may be used. For example, X. In the case of a certificate of 509 format, information such as user name, expiration date, affiliation, issuer of electronic certificate, public key for falsification prevention, and vendor-specific information are described. The contents of a predetermined tag can be described as job information in the electronic certificate.

After that, the client carries the memory card 60 storing the job information, moves to, for example, a convenience store (convenience store), and stores the memory card in the job execution instruction device 30 installed in the convenience store. 60 is loaded (S300).

Next, in the job execution instruction device 30,
When the memory card 60 is loaded into the job execution instruction device 30, a screen for instructing the execution start of the job (print processing in this embodiment) is displayed (S302). When the client gives a job execution instruction on this display screen, the job information reading unit 300 reads the job information stored in the memory card 60, and the job execution start instruction unit 3
Reference numeral 10 denotes a job information read by the job information reading unit 300 and a job execution start instruction together with the server device 4
It is transmitted to 0 (S304).

Next, in the server device 40, when the execution start instruction receiving unit 420 receives the job execution start instruction and the job information from the job execution instruction device 30 (S40).
4) Based on the job information received by the execution start instruction receiving unit 420, the job execution processing unit 430 refers to or manages, for example, the identifier of the information processing apparatus 10 and the job identifier described in the job information. By referring to the table, the job processing information corresponding to the received job information is acquired from the job processing information management server 20 (S40).
6), by reflecting the acquired job processing information, for example, the self (server device 40) or the job execution instruction device 3
A print processing execution start instruction is issued to the printer device 50 connected to 0, and a job (print processing in this example) is issued.
Is executed (S408). When the execution start instruction is issued to the printer device 50, a response notice indicating that is sent to the job execution instruction device 30.

When the server device 40 includes the expiration information indicating the expiration date of the job corresponding to the job information in the job information and transmits the job information to the information processing device 10, the job execution instruction device 30 sends the job information. When a job is received, a job execution start instruction is accepted, that is, a job process corresponding to the received job information, provided that it is within the expiration date represented by the deadline information included in the received job information. Information may be acquired or a job execution start instruction may be issued.

When the printer device 50 receives the print process execution start instruction from the server device 40 (S).
500), the print data is read from the memory card 60 via the job execution instruction device 30 (S502), and the job development unit 52 develops the print data into a bitmap format printable by a printer engine (not shown) (S504). The expanded bitmap data is written in a memory (not shown) (S506). When the printer device 50 connected to the server device 40 itself performs print processing, the printer device 50 receives the print data via the server device 40. Next, the print control unit 54 controls the printer engine to read the bitmap data created by the job development unit 52 and written in the memory (S508), and prints out the print data on a print sheet (S509).

When the server device 40 obtains the job processing information from the management server 20 (S406), it sends the job processing information to the job execution instructing device 30 before issuing the print processing execution start instruction. Good. In this case, the client confirms the job processing information displayed on the display screen on the job execution instructing device 30, and if the conditions are OK, the job execution instructing device 30 indicates that.
The server device 40 is notified via. Server device 40
On the condition that the confirmation notification is received, the job processing information is reflected to issue the print processing execution start instruction. On the other hand, if the client wants to change the job processing information, the client accesses the server device 40 via the job execution instruction device 30, respecifies the job processing information in the same manner as in step S102, and changes the job processing information. A change notification indicating that there is is issued. Server device 40
When the change notification is received, the job processing information after the change is reflected and a print process execution start instruction is issued.

Further, the server device 40 may receive a print result confirmation notification from the client after the print processing is completed. In this case, if the print result is insufficient, the client accesses the server device 40 via the job execution instructing device 30 and redesignates the job processing information in the same manner as in step S102, thereby performing reprinting. You may get it.

As described above, if the job processing information can be changed before the server device 40 issues a print process execution start instruction or after printing, the device can be reused while reusing the data stored in the storage medium. The job can be executed without wasting the function of the job.

FIG. 3 shows a job reservation request (S102).
3 is an example of a user interface screen displayed in FIG.
The radio button 12 is used to instruct whether the URL of the job processing information is designated or the job processing information is input and designated. Each has a GUI to specify the required parameters
As parts, a URL entry field 14a and a URL reference field 14
b, double-sided 16a, staple 16b, number of prints 1
6c, and a number input field 16d for the number of copies. Further, for example, the path name and file name of the print data can be designated by the reference path 17a of the print data. For example, digital camera data stored in the compact flash memory can be designated. By clicking the reference field 17b, the path name and file name stored in the device can be referenced and specified.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an XML document used at the time of requesting a job reservation (S104) and at the time of its response (S402) in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A, an XML document indicating a job reservation request is
Send by HTTP POST method. An identifier (HOST code) of the information processing device 10 is described in the HTTP header part. In the body of the XML document, C
The reate-Job tag indicates the type of instruction. req
The uest tag requests that Create-Job is requested, the operation tag is a Create-offlineJob command that indicates a stored job creation command, and the operation-attribute tag is a command-specific attribute.
The tag indicates the type of job processing method, and the data tag indicates print data. In this example, jo
A URL to an XML document that describes job processing information is described in the b-tempalte tag, and the substance of the job processing information is described in the linked file indicated by the URL.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the XML document showing the response to the reservation request for the job, H
The TTP header portion (200 OK in the figure) indicates that the POST method has been successfully executed. Also, respo
The nse tag indicates job information, of which status is
The tag indicates that the Create-Job command was successful, j
The job identifier for which the ob-id tag was generated is
The res tag indicates the expiration date of the job.

FIG. 5 shows the job-te in FIG. 4 (A).
An example of an XML document describing the contents (entity) of the job processing information corresponding to the URL described in the mpalte tag is shown. The copies tag indicates the number of copies to be printed, and the sides tag indicates the difference between single-sided printing and double-sided printing.
The ns tag indicates the type of finisher.

FIG. 6 is an example of an XML document used at the time of the job execution instruction (S304) and at the time of the response (S406) in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6A, the XML document indicating the job execution instruction indicates that the job execution start of the job indicated by the job-id tag is instructed. As shown in FIG. 6B, the XML document indicating the response indicates that the HTTP header section (200 OK in the figure) indicates that the job execution start instruction has succeeded.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the job processing information itself is not stored in the memory card 60, but the job information corresponding to the job processing information is stored in the memory card 60. The job processing information indicates various parameters for print processing, and the amount of information is usually larger than the job information. For this reason, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to execute a job (print processing) offline without increasing the amount of data to be stored much larger than the amount of job data.

When executing a job, the server device 40
Must access the job processing information management server 20 to acquire the job processing information necessary for the execution processing, but the amount of communication at that time does not increase so much, and the execution processing is smoothly performed. Further, although the job processing information management server for storing the job processing information is required, since the server 40 itself does not store the job processing information, the memory used by the server does not increase.

When the job processing information is designated, one of the job processing information menus prepared in advance can be selected (see S102), so that the desired job processing information can be selected according to the usage scene. It can be specified and convenience is improved.

Further, in the first embodiment, since the job execution instruction is given via the job execution instruction device 30 connected to the server device 40, the off-line processing is performed as in the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-93376. There is no sacrifice in convenience, and there are no restrictions on where to print, for example.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of each unit in the system when the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is applied as a content distribution system. This aspect will be described below as a second embodiment. In this case, the server device 40
A database server (content server) 42 that stores content for distribution, an account server 44 that performs account processing and billing processing, and a distribution server 46 that reads and distributes data from the database server 42 when a distribution request from a client is received. Prepare The distribution server 46 has the same configuration as the server device 40 of the first embodiment. A user name and billing information associated with the user name are registered in the account server 44.

The contents distributed by the server device 40 are
For example, it is program data such as game software, music data, image data, or magazine articles. Hereinafter, a case where the server device 40 functions as a music data distribution server device that distributes music data will be described.

When the information processing device 10 is connected to the server device 40 (more specifically, the distribution server 46) that functions as a music data distribution server device via the network 9, a job (in this embodiment, a music data distribution process) is processed. User interface screen data for transmitting the reservation request is transmitted from the distribution server 46 to the information processing device 10, and the screen is displayed on the information processing device 10. The client is
On the display screen for this reservation request, the job processing information indicating the processing parameters in the data distribution processing, which is the job of this embodiment, such as the degree of sound quality and the format of the music data to be acquired is designated (S122). At this time, similarly to the first embodiment, any one may be selected from the job processing information menu prepared in advance. Alternatively, the URL of the job processing information existing in the job processing information management server 20 on the Internet 9a may be designated.

When the designation of the job processing information is completed, the client transfers from the information processing device 10 to the distribution server 46.
It sends its own identifier (HOST code) and sends a job reservation request as an XML document (S12).
4).

Upon receiving the job reservation request from the information processing apparatus 10, the distribution server 46 confirms the user's account (S420). The account confirmation is performed by inquiring the account server 44 about the account of the user name described in the predetermined tag in the XML document of the reservation request. Alternatively, S that encrypts and sends HTTP to confirm the client account
An electronic certificate obtained in the process of establishing a secure communication system such as SL or TLS may be used. In the case of this secure communication system, account information such as an electronic certificate and a password is sent from the client, so the account server 44 confirms the received account information.

The delivery server 46 confirms that the account is
If K, for example, job information in which information such as a job identifier and an expiration date is described is created in association with the identifier of the information processing device 10 (S424), and the generated job information is returned to the information processing device 10 (S426). ). Similar to the first embodiment, for example, a management table for associating the identifier of the information processing device 10 with the generated job information is managed in the distribution server 46.

When the information processing apparatus 10 receives the job information from the distribution server 46 (S126), the information processing apparatus 10 includes its own identifier in the received job information, and stores it in the memory card 60 such as a compact flash memory after the correction (identifier). The job information including (including) is recorded (S128). At this time, as in the first embodiment, the electronic certificate issued by the certificate authority may be used as the identifier, or only the read-only right may be given to the job information.

After that, the client carries the memory card 60 recording the job information, moves to, for example, a convenience store, and loads the memory card 60 into the job execution instruction device 30 installed in the convenience store (( S
320).

The memory card 6 is added to the job execution instruction device 30.
When 0 is loaded, the job execution instructing device 30 displays a screen for instructing the start of execution of a job (music data distribution processing in this embodiment) (S322). When the client gives a job execution instruction on this display screen, the job execution instruction device 30 reads out the job information accumulated in the memory card 60 and transmits it to the distribution server 46 (S324).

The distribution server 46 uses the job execution instruction device 3
When the job information is received from 0 (S434), the job processing information corresponding to the identifier of the information processing device 10 and the job identifier described in the job information is acquired from the job processing information management server 20 by referring to the management table. (S43
6) By reflecting the acquired job processing information, the database server 42 is prepared for the music data to be transmitted according to the job processing method specified by the client (S438). After the preparation is completed, the distribution server 46 reads the music data from the database server 42 and transmits the music data to the job execution instruction device 30 as the job data (S440). The database server 42
When the music data is prepared in step 1, the response notification indicating that is sent to the job execution instruction device 30.

The job execution instructing device 30 is the distribution server 4
6 to receive music data, and store the received music data in the designated storage destination of the memory card 60 (S32
8). Upon confirming that the data storage in the memory card 60 has been completed, the client inputs the fact to the job execution instruction device 30. Then, the job execution instruction device 30
Sends a data accumulation completion notification indicating this to the account server 44 (S330).

When the account server 44 receives the data accumulation completion notice from the job execution instructing device 30, the account server 44 charges the music data distribution service (S44).
2) After the charging process is completed, in order to allow the user to actually use the music data distributed to the client side, for example, an access key for using the music data is transmitted to the job execution instructing device 30 ( S444).
The job execution instruction device 30 receives the access key from the account server 44 and stores the received access key in the memory card 60 (S332).

By the series of processes, the music data as job data and the access key are stored in the memory card 60.
After storing in the
Is loaded into the information processing device 10, and the authentication code is input. Then, the information processing device 10 reads the access key from the memory card 60, and performs the release process of the music data stored in the memory card 60. This enables music reproduction on the information processing device 10.

As in the first embodiment, the server device 40 stores the job processing information in the job processing information management server 2.
When it is acquired from 0 (S436), the change of the job processing information may be accepted before the database server 42 prepares the music data to be transmitted or after the music is reproduced. As a result, the job (music reproduction) can be executed without wasting the function of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an example of a user interface screen displayed when a reservation request for music data content distribution is made (S122). As in the case of FIG. 3, the URL entry field 14a and the reference path 14b of the URL are provided as GUI parts for designating whether the URL of the job processing information is designated or the job processing information is designated by the radio button and the parameters required for each are designated. , And click section 18a for designating sound quality
There is also a click section 18b for specifying the format. Further, for example, depending on the data storage destination 19a, the server device 4
It is possible to instruct the storage destination of the music data which has been arranged from 0. Further, by clicking the reference field 19b, the storage destination name stored in the device can be referenced and specified.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an XML document used at the time of the job reservation request (S124) and at the time of its response (S426) in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9A, the XML document indicating the job reservation request is
Send by HTTP POST method. An identifier (HOST code) of the information processing device 10 is described in the HTTP header part. In the body of the XML document, for example, the document-format tag indicates the music data method (in this example, MP3 music layer such as MP3 is used), the copies tag indicates the number of music data to be acquired, and the qualy tag indicates the sound quality level. Shows. Also, requesting-user-nam
The e-tag indicates the account of the user name. X showing the response
The ML document is the same as the description of FIG.

FIG. 10 shows job-t in FIG. 9 (A).
An example of the XML document in which the content of the job processing information corresponding to the URL described in the empty tag is described is shown. The sound-quality tag indicates sound quality, and doc
The document-format tag indicates the distinction between single-sided printing and double-sided printing of music, and the finishhins tag indicates the type of finisher.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an XML document used at the time of job execution instruction (S324) and at the time of response (S438) in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11A, the XML document indicating the job execution instruction indicates that the job execution start of the job indicated by the job-id tag is instructed. XML showing the response
As shown in FIG. 11B, the document indicates that the HTTP header portion (200 OK in the figure) indicates that the job execution start instruction has succeeded, and the data tag of the text indicates distributed music data. Unlike the case of print processing (see FIG. 6B), music data is described in the data tag.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the job information corresponding to the job processing information is stored in the memory card 60, so that the amount of data to be stored is increased. It is possible to execute the job (music reproduction) offline without needing to do so, and to obtain substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment, such as that there is no limitation on the acquisition location of the distribution data.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 12 shows an internal system when the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is applied as a printing system and a virtual server is operated in the information processing apparatus 10. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit of FIG. This aspect will be described below as a third embodiment.

First, the client is the information processing device 10.
In order to function as a virtual print server device, profile information representing the function and characteristics of the server device 40 is acquired from the server device 40. For example, a program such as a JAVA (registered trademark) program is stored in the server device 4
Download from 0 (S140). The function of the virtual print server device is the same as that of the server device 40 that functions as the print server device according to the first embodiment.
This is simulated in the information processing device 10. In the figure, the server device 4 in the first embodiment is shown.
A portion equivalent to the function of 0 is described as the virtual print server device 11.

Next, through the same procedure as in the first embodiment,
The job information is recorded in the memory card 60 such as a compact flash memory, and the memory card 60 is loaded into the job execution instruction device 30 installed in a convenience store or the like (S100 to S300).

The memory card 6 is added to the job execution instruction device 30.
When 0 is loaded, the job execution instructing device 30 displays a screen for instructing to start execution of the job (print processing in this embodiment) (S302). When the client gives a job execution instruction on this display screen, the job execution instruction device 30 reads the job information accumulated in the memory card 60 and inputs it to the virtual print server device 11 (actually, the information processing device 10). Yes (S304). Since the information processing apparatus 10 has the function of the virtual print server apparatus 11 as described above, the information processing apparatus 10
Performs the same function as the server device 40 of the first embodiment, and obtains a print output from the printer device 50 (S4).
04-S509). In addition, at the time of the job execution instruction (S304) and its response (S406) in the third embodiment.
As the XML document used in, the same XML document as that of FIG. 6 of the first embodiment is used.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the first
It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the embodiment can be enjoyed, and in addition, since the virtual print server device 11 is operated in the information processing device 10, the information processing device 10
Uses the Internet 9a to obtain job information.
There is no need to connect to the device, the amount of communication is reduced compared to the first embodiment, and user convenience is also improved.

When it is necessary to acquire dynamic information such as a dollar-yen fluctuation in the billing information, such as dollar-yen, it is preferable to connect to the server device 40 at a proper time (actually). If you are in a location where you cannot connect, you may tentatively use available candidates and previously used data.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 13 shows a system in the case where the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 can use a server device according to the type of job (multi-server system). 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit inside. Hereinafter, this aspect will be described as a fourth embodiment. In this case, the system includes a large number of server devices 40, and the job execution instruction device 3
0 includes a search unit 320. The search unit 320 may use a network protocol such as SLP (Service Location Protocol) or a WEB search engine used in the Internet 9a as a search engine.

First, the various server devices 40 that provide job execution processing register service information that they can provide in the search unit 320 (S480). In addition, on the side of the search unit 320, the administrator of the search unit 320 may register the service information.

The client uses the information processing device 10 to access any server device 40 capable of executing a job as in the first or second embodiment, and stores the job information in the memory card 60 in advance. I will let you. At this time, the information processing device 10 records the type of job in the memory card 60.

In the job execution instruction device 30, the first
Alternatively, when the memory card 60 is loaded as in the second embodiment, the search unit 320 acquires the type of job described in the job information and uses this as a search key.
At present, it is searched whether there is a server device 40 that can process the job (S323). The search unit 320 searches for the server device 40 (in this example, the server device 40 that can execute the music distribution service) corresponding to the type of job,
A job execution start instruction is issued to the found server device 40. At this time, when a plurality of server devices 40 are found, the load of each server device 40, the network distance, etc.
Any one of the server devices 40 is selected so as to be convenient for optimizing the music data download process. Alternatively, the client is notified of information (for example, load and network distance) of the plurality of discovered server devices 40,
It may be instructed on the client side.

In the system of the first or second embodiment, the server device 40 that contributes to the setting of the job processing information.
The (setting server) is the same as the server device 40 (execution server) that actually executes the job, and when the server device 40 is installed, the client sends a job execution request via the job execution instruction device 30. Even if you issue it, you cannot receive the job immediately. On the other hand, according to the fourth embodiment, it goes without saying that the same effects as those of the first or second embodiment can be enjoyed, and in addition, the setting server and the execution server are different. When the setting server is busy, a job can be provided immediately by searching for an empty server device 40 that can execute the same job, which is convenient for the user. The property is improved.

Although the present invention has been described using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment, and a mode in which such changes or improvements are added is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Also,
The above embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. For example, a method similar to that of the third embodiment can be applied to the second embodiment.

In the above description, the case where the information processing system is applied to the print system or the content distribution system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention uses a removable storage medium to perform offline. It can be applied to any information processing system that inputs or outputs data in a state.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, the job processing information itself is not stored in the storage medium, but the job information corresponding to the job processing information is stored in the storage medium. Since the information amount of the job information is usually smaller than the job processing information, according to the present invention, it is possible to execute the job offline without increasing the amount of data stored in the storage medium to be much larger than the job data. become able to.

Also, the job processing information corresponding to the job information received by the server device is confirmed on the job execution instruction device side, and if the job processing information needs to be changed, the job processing information can be reset. Then, the job can be executed based on the changed job processing information. As a result, the job stored in the storage medium can be reused and the job can be executed without wasting the functions of the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit in the system in the first embodiment (print system).

FIG. 3 is an example of a user interface screen displayed when a job reservation request is made in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an example of an XML document used at the time of a job reservation request and its response in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a job-tempalt in FIG.
It is an example of an XML document describing the contents of the job processing information corresponding to the URL described in the e-tag.

FIG. 6 is an example of an XML document used at the time of issuing a job execution instruction and at the time of a response thereof in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit in the system in the second embodiment (content distribution system).

FIG. 8 is an example of a user interface screen displayed when a music data content is requested in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an example of an XML document used at the time of a job reservation request and its response in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10: job-tempal in FIG. 9 (A)
It is an example of an XML document describing the contents of the job processing information corresponding to the URL described in the te tag.

FIG. 11 is an example of an XML document used at the time of issuing a job execution instruction and at the time of its response in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit in the system in the third embodiment (corresponding to a virtual server).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of each unit in the system in the fourth embodiment (multi-server system).

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing system, 9 ... Network, 10 ... Information processing apparatus, 11 ... Virtual print server apparatus, 20 ... Job processing information management server, 30 ... Job execution instruction apparatus, 4
0 ... Server device, 42 ... Database server, 44 ... Account server, 46 ... Delivery server, 50 ... Printer device, 52 ... Job development unit, 54 ... Print control unit, 60
... memory card, 100 ... job processing information input section, 11
0 ... Job processing information output unit, 120 ... Job reservation request unit, 130 ... Job information receiving unit, 140 ... Job information storage unit, 300 ... Job information reading unit, 310 ... Job execution start instruction unit, 320 ... Search unit, 400 ... job information generation unit, 404 ... job processing information correspondence unit, 410 ... job information output unit, 420 ... execution start instruction receiving unit, 430 ... job execution processing unit

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Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A job processing information indicating a processing parameter required at the time of job execution processing and a job reservation request are received, job information corresponding to the job requested to be reserved is generated, and the generated job information and The generated job information is output while associating with the job processing information, and thereafter, a job execution start instruction and the job information read from the removable storage medium are received, and the received job information is added to the received job information. An information processing method characterized in that a job is executed based on corresponding job processing information. 2. An information processing system comprising an information processing device, a job processing information management server, a job execution instructing device, and a server device, wherein the information processing device stores processing parameters required during job execution processing. The job processing information and the reservation request for the job are output to the server device, and the server device receives the job processing information and the reservation request for the job from the information processing device and handles the job for which the reservation request is made. Generate job information, and associate the generated job information with the job processing information stored in the job processing information management server,
The generated job information is output to the information processing device, the information processing device stores the job information received from the server device in a removable storage medium, and the job execution instruction device stores the job information. When the stored storage medium is mounted, the job information read from the storage medium is output to a server device together with a job execution start instruction, and the server device outputs the job information and the job from the job execution instruction device. Is received, the job processing information corresponding to the received job information is read from the job processing information management server, and the job is executed based on the read job processing information. 3. The job identifier included in the job information received from the job execution instruction device, wherein the server device includes a job identifier indicating the job information in the job information and outputs the job information to the information processing device. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the job processing information corresponding to the job information is read from the job processing information management server. 4. The server device includes deadline information indicating the expiration date of a job corresponding to the job information in the job information, outputs the deadline information to the information processing device, and receives the job information from the job execution instruction device. 4. The execution start instruction of the job is accepted on condition that the expiration date represented by the deadline information included in the received job information is within the expiration date. Information processing system. 5. The server device, when receiving the job information from the job execution instruction device, outputs job processing information corresponding to the received job information to the job execution instruction device, The apparatus outputs information indicating whether or not the job processing information received from the server apparatus is changed to the server apparatus, and the server apparatus outputs information indicating that the job processing information is changed from the job execution instruction apparatus. The information processing system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein when received, the job is executed based on the changed job processing information. 6. A job processing information input section for inputting job processing information indicating processing parameters necessary for job execution processing, and a job processing information output for outputting job processing information input by the job processing information input section. Section, a job reservation request section that outputs a job reservation request, a job information receiving section that receives job information corresponding to the job for which the reservation request has been made, and a storage medium in which the job information received by the job information receiving section is removable An information processing device, comprising: 7. A job information reading unit for reading job information stored in a removable storage medium, a job execution start instruction, and a job execution start instruction for outputting the job information read by the job information reading unit. And a job execution instruction device. 8. The job execution unit further comprises a search unit for acquiring a job type based on the job information read by the job information reading unit and searching for a server device corresponding to the acquired job type. 8. The job execution instruction device according to claim 7, wherein the start instruction unit outputs an instruction to start execution of the job to the server device searched by the search unit. 9. A job information generation unit that receives a job reservation request and job processing information and generates job information corresponding to the job for which a reservation request is made, and job information and job processing generated by the job information generation unit. A job processing information correspondence unit that associates the job processing information stored in the information management server, a job information output unit that outputs the job information generated by the job information generation unit, and the job information and the job execution An execution start instruction receiving unit that receives a start instruction and job processing information corresponding to the job information received by the execution start instruction receiving unit are read from the job processing information management server, and the job is executed based on the read job processing information. A server device, comprising: a job execution processing unit. 10. The job processing information associating unit associates the job processing information received by the job information generating unit with the job information generated by the job information generating unit and stores the job processing information in a predetermined storage medium. The server device according to claim 9, wherein the server device is stored. 11. A job processing information management server, wherein job processing information indicating processing parameters necessary for job execution processing and job information are stored in association with each other.