JP2003036151A - Output system of picture and voice through network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the designation of a print destination in printing through a network. SOLUTION: In this system, a client, a server of a print portal, etc., and a printer are connected to the network. The client transmits a printing request specifying contents to be printed to the print portal by communication C1. The printing request is held by the print portal in the state of being specifiable by the address information IPMP of the client. On the other hand, the print portal obtains the address information of the client and the identification information of the printer by direct communication C2 by using weak radio, etc., between the printer 70 and a client MP. In addition, by collating the address information obtained from two systems, the printer specified by this identification information is decided as an output destination. Thus, the output destination is designated easily without complicated operation on the side of the client.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for outputting images, sounds and the like via a 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 on a one-to-one basis using a predetermined cable such as a bidirectional parallel interface (hereinafter referred to as "local connection"), receives data from the computer and prints. In recent years, with the widespread use of LANs (local area networks), a mode in which a printer is connected to a network and shared by a plurality of computers also connected to the network has become widespread.

Furthermore, IPP (Internet Printing Prot)
It has become possible to print between any clients and printing devices connected to the Internet by using the protocol called "ocol". However, the output destination is limited to the printing device whose URI (Uniform Resource Indicator) is known. In other words, simply applying the IPP cannot realize highly convenient printing in which the output destination can be freely selected on the network.

In any of the above-mentioned modes, conventionally,
The connection state between the printer and the computer is usually predetermined. In other words, conventionally, printing has usually been done in a fixed place for each computer owner.

On the other hand, in recent years, with the development of information infrastructures such as the Internet and the improvement of portability of terminals that access the information infrastructures such as so-called notebook computers and mobile phones, it is possible to access information anywhere. Has become. Based on this tendency, there has been a demand for a technique capable of freely selecting an output destination on a network for printing. For example, there has been a demand for a technology that can immediately perform printing by using a nearest printing device as soon as information is acquired. It has been desired that such a print request can be easily executed even from a portable terminal.

[0006]

In printing via a network, the number of print destinations that can be output is very large. The method of presenting a list of printable print destinations to the client and selecting the print destination from the list makes the operation complicated,
The convenience is significantly reduced. Although it is possible to adopt a method of searching the printing apparatus, there is no change in that complicated operations such as inputting search conditions are required. The complexity of the operation cannot be overlooked, especially when printing with a portable terminal.

These problems are not limited to printing, but are common to all output devices such as images, documents, and sounds. The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily designating an output destination when outputting an image or the like via a network.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action / Effect To solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, as a first configuration, between a client connected to a network and a plurality of output devices. In the output mediation server which mediates the output request, the specific information acquisition unit and the transmission unit are provided. The network is not limited to a wide area network such as the Internet, but a LAN (Local Area)
Network), and relatively limited networks such as intranets. The output device includes various devices that output images, documents, sounds, and the like. For example, a printing device that prints images and the like, a projector that displays images and the like, a display device such as a display, and an audio device that outputs sound are included.

The specific information acquisition unit acquires the specific information for specifying the output request through the output device through direct communication between the client and the output device. The direct communication means communication performed between the two without going through the network. The transmission unit transmits an output request that matches the specific information obtained by such communication to the output device that is the acquisition route of the specific information.

In other words, in the first configuration, the output destination is specified by receiving information from the client in two systems and comparing both. The first system is an output request transmitted from the client to the output mediation server. The second system is the specific information acquired from the client via the output device serving as the output destination. Since the specific information is information that can specify the output request, the output mediation server can easily collate the information obtained in the two systems. Based on such collation, it is possible to specify the output device that has communicated with the client, and it is possible to output an image or the like without complicated specification of the output destination. Further, since it is not necessary to search for the output device, there is an advantage that the processing load of the output mediation server is light.

Various kinds of information can be used as the specific information. For example, the identification information attached to the output request can be used. The identification information includes a job number given to the output request, a file name that identifies the output content, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and the like.

The identification information may be identification information that identifies the client or the user as the sender of the output request. The identification information includes address information used by the client during communication, a user ID, and the like.

The output request means a set of data transmitted as the output is executed. In the case of output via a network, output data to the output device can be supplied in at least two ways. The first is a mode in which the client sends the output data itself to the output device. The second is a mode in which the client issues an output request including the location of the content to be output, and the output device or the output mediation server that mediates this output request acquires the specified content and outputs it. . Such an output mediation server can be configured by including a receiving unit that receives an output request from the client, an acquisition unit that acquires the content specified by the client, and a transmitting unit that transmits the output request to the output device specified by the client. is there. In the latter case, the output request is converted from the format of the location of the output data to substantive content. In this specification, the term output request includes such format changes as well.
Essentially, it means a set of data for specifying the content of the output.

In the first configuration, prior to the transmission of the output request, the client specified by the specific information is
It is also desirable to include a presentation unit that presents a list of output devices that have become acquisition routes of the specific information. By doing this,
The client can confirm the output device that is the output destination.

Further, there may be a plurality of output devices with which the client can directly communicate. In such a case, it is desirable that the client can specify the information specifying the output device as the output destination from the displayed list. In this way, the user can arbitrarily select the output device within a practical range, which improves convenience.

The present invention may be configured as an output device that outputs based on an output request, as a sub-combination of the first configuration. Such an output device associates a communication unit that directly communicates with a client, an acquisition unit that acquires specific information for specifying an output request by the communication unit, specific information, and information for specifying an output device in association with each other. It can be configured by including a transmission unit that transmits to the output mediation server.

The present invention is not limited to the mode using the output mediation server. As a second configuration, it is possible to adopt an aspect of an output request device that transmits an output request to the output device connected to the network via the network. In the second configuration, the output device includes a communication unit, an acquisition unit, and a transmission unit.

The communication unit directly communicates with the output device. The acquisition unit acquires location information for specifying the location of the output device on the network from the output device via the communication unit. The location information includes address information, for example.
The transmission unit transmits the output request based on the location information thus acquired.

In the second configuration, since the location information of the output device can be directly obtained through the above-mentioned communication, the output destination can be specified without any complicated operation. Also in the second configuration, direct communication may be established with the plurality of output devices. In such a case, it is desirable that the output requesting device displays a list of output devices that have established communication, and allows the user to specify the output device from the list.

The present invention can also be configured as a sub-combination of the second configuration in the form of an output device that performs output based on an output request from an output request device connected to the network. The output device includes a communication unit that directly communicates with the output requesting device, and a transmitting unit that transmits location information for specifying the location of the output device on the network to the output requesting device via the communication unit. It is composed of

As a third configuration of the present invention, the output requesting device may include a communication unit, a notification unit, a reception unit, and a transmission unit. In the second configuration, the location information of the output device is acquired via the communication unit. On the other hand, in the third configuration, the information is acquired via the network.

That is, in the third configuration, the notifying unit is the first for specifying the location of the output requesting device on the network.
The location information of the above is notified to the output device via the communication unit.
This notification is made by direct communication between both parties. This result enables the output device to send information to the output request device via the network. Such information may include second location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network. The output requesting device can transmit the output request to the output device based on the second location information received by the receiving unit.

Also in the third configuration, since the location information of the output device can be obtained through direct communication between the output device and the output requesting device and the network, the output destination can be specified without any complicated operation. be able to. Also in the third configuration, direct communication may be established with the plurality of output devices. In such a case, it is desirable that the output requesting device displays a list of output devices that have established communication, and allows the user to specify the output device from the list.

The present invention can also be configured as a sub-combination of the third configuration in the form of an output device that outputs based on an output request from an output request device connected to the network. The output device transmits the second location information to the output requesting device through a network, a communication unit that directly communicates with the output requesting device, an acquisition unit that acquires the first location information via the communication unit, and a second location information. It can be configured by including a transmitter.

In the first to third configurations described above, information is directly transmitted and received between the client or the output requesting device and the output device. From the viewpoint of selecting the output device within a practical range, it is desirable that the communicable range of this communication is limited within a predetermined short distance from the output device.

Such communication is realized, for example, by utilizing infrared rays or weak radio waves. In the latter aspect, for example, Bluetooth (trademark) can be used. Further, the communication does not necessarily need to be wireless, and may be performed by connecting the client or the like and the output device by wire.

The present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned output mediation server, output device and output request device, mediation method,
It can be configured in various modes such as an output method via a network and an output request method. Further, these methods may be configured as a computer program realized by a computer itself or a signal that can be regarded as the same. Further, it may be configured as a recording medium recording these computer programs.

Here, as a storage medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card,
Various computer-readable media such as ROM cartridges, punched cards, printed materials on which codes such as bar codes are printed, internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM) of computers, and external storage devices can be used.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an example of a system for performing printing via a network. A. Basic system configuration: A1. System outline: A2. Function outline: A3. Functional block configuration: B. Designation of print destination: C. Printing process by simple designation: D. Second Example: E. Third Example: F. Modification:

A. Basic system configuration: A1. System Overview: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system. The embodiment has illustrated a system that realizes printing via the Internet. Similar configuration is L
It is also possible to apply to a relatively limited network environment such as AN (Local Area Network) or so-called personal computer communication.

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

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

Content providers CP1 and CP2 are also connected to the Internet INT. These content providers CP1 and the like are the subjects that provide the content to be printed in this embodiment. For content providers, W in Internet INT
The provider of the eb page is included.

In the embodiment, the print destination is the print station PS11 or the like. Printing station PS
Reference numeral 11 and the like mean printers capable of sending and receiving data via the Internet. For example, a printing station can be constructed by combining a computer connected to the Internet and a printer locally connected to the computer. The printing station is in each individual home,
The user may be installed in a relatively limited place such as an office, or may be installed in a public place such as a store or a hotel.

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

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

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

Upper layer server, ie, print portal PP
Is a printing service provider PSP1, PS
Manage P2. Therefore, the print portal PP indirectly manages the print station PS11 and the like via the printing service providers PSP1 and PSP2. Printing Service Provider PSP
Even if the business owners of 1 and PSP2 are different, the upper layer server can provide a function common to these. For example, when the client MP11 or the like executes printing,
It is possible to provide a unified interface screen and improve user convenience.

The upper layer server and the lower layer server are functionally divided in this way, and each server does not necessarily have to be constructed by a single server. The functions of the upper layer server and the lower layer server described below may be provided by a plurality of servers by distributed processing.

A2. Function outline: The internal structure of each system of the embodiment will be described later. Here, in order to make it easier to understand the functions of the server, etc.
A printing method using the print portal will be specifically described.

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

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

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

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

An example of an interface for designating a print destination is shown in the center of FIG. When specifying the print destination, the print stations available to the user are listed. The list of output destinations may be displayed in stages. For example,
When the “XX store” illustrated in FIG. 4 is selected, each store in the series can be listed. The printing service provider may be selected in the first layer. If there are many selectable printing stations, the hierarchy and the list displayed in each hierarchy will increase.

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

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

The printing service provider PSP1 that has received the print job is the printing station PS1.
1 is selected and the job is transferred (see FIG. Sa07 and FIG. 2). Printing station PS11 specified by the user
Is selected as the destination.

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

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

Here, the case where the printing is mediated by the print portal PP which is the upper layer server and the printing service provider PSP1 which is the lower layer server has been exemplified. Dividing the intermediary server into two layers has the following advantages.

Since the lower layer server can be constructed for each business line, it is possible to maintain the service unique to each line and to differentiate it from other business owners. There is also an advantage that each business owner can take in the users and content providers registered in the print portal PP as their own users relatively easily.

Even when the lower layer server is constructed in a separate system, the upper layer server can provide the user with a unified interface. Therefore, the convenience of the print portal can be improved.

Further, if the user registers in the print portal PP, etc., various lower layer servers under its control can be easily used. Convenience can be improved because there is no need to perform complicated work such as use registration for each lower layer server. There are similar benefits to content providers. That is, the content provider can easily increase the number of users and print destinations of the content provided by the content provider by registering the use in the print portal PP.

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

A3. Functional Block Configuration: FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the functional blocks of the print portal. For convenience of explanation, the reference numerals are different from those in FIG. 1, but the functions of the units having the same name are not different.

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

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

The application section 180 realizes various additional functions in addition to the main function of the print portal PP that mediates print data.

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

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

The controller 132 controls the print portal 100.
The control of the operation of each functional block, the information transmission with the outside through the Internet INT, and the like are performed. This control includes registration management of users and the like, control of print job status, acceptance and cancellation of print requests, and search for printers that are output destinations. It also provides an interface screen for the print portal 100 to interact with the outside.

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

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

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

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

The file converter 110 converts the content into P
It has the function of converting to DF format. Also, at the time of this conversion, encryption processing using a predetermined password is also performed. Even when the content is a PDF file, the file conversion unit 110 performs re-conversion to PDF including encryption processing. Since PDF is a general-purpose format, there is an advantage that output to various printers can be easily realized by converting to such a format and mediating print data. There is also an advantage that the layout of the printed matter can be maintained relatively faithfully. Further, since almost all print data such as documents and images can be converted, a wide range of contents can be printed. Postsc as a universal format
A page description language such as ript (registered trademark) may be used.

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

The DF interface 136 transfers data to the file conversion unit 110 according to the message accumulated in the file conversion queue of the queuing system 140. In addition, the processed PD from the file conversion unit 110
Upon receiving the F file, the queuing system 140
Register the send message of the print job in the job send queue of. It is also possible to omit the DF interface 136 and construct the file conversion unit 110 so as to access the queuing system 140.

The PSP interface 138 has a function of transmitting a print job to the printing service provider 50. The PSP interface 138 sends the print job to the designated printing service provider 50 according to the message stored in the job sending queue of the queuing system 140. The job cancel message accumulated in the job cancel queue is also sent in the same manner. These transmissions use HTTP (Hypert
ext Transport Protocol) and various other protocols set by the printing service provider 50.

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

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

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

B. Designation of print destination: In the system of this embodiment, the output destination can be easily designated by utilizing direct communication between the printer and the client. Below,
A method of designating a printing destination in such a mode (hereinafter referred to as simple designation) will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration for realizing the simple designation of the print destination. In the simple designation, the print portal PP specifies the print destination by collating the print request received from the client MP through the communication C1 via the network with the information received via the printer 70 via the communication C2.

The print request via the communication C1 is first shown in FIG.
This is as described with reference to FIG. However, since the print destination is not designated in the simple designation, the print request is registered in the queuing system 140 without the designation of the print destination. The print request is issued by the client M used in the communication C1.
It shall be specified by the address information IPMP of P.

On the other hand, the print portal PP acquires information for specifying a print request (hereinafter referred to as specifying information) via the printer 70. In this embodiment, the address information of the client MP is used as the specific information. The job number, the URL of the content to be printed, etc. may be used as the specific information.

The reception of information via the printer 70 is obtained through the following route. As shown in the figure, the printer 70 of the present embodiment is provided with a communication unit 76 for performing direct communication C2 with the client MP. Direct communication is
For example, it can be performed using Bluetooth, infrared rays, or the like. The printer 70 may be provided with a connector for connecting to the client MP. These communications are established when the printer 70 and the client MP are relatively close to each other. Therefore, the establishment of this communication guarantees that the client MP exists near the printer 70.

The printer 70 is provided with an acquisition unit 74. The acquisition unit 74 controls the communication unit 76 to perform communication C
The client MP that can satisfy 2 is regularly detected.
When the client MP is detected, the acquisition unit 74 causes the address information IP of the client MP via the communication unit 76.
Get MP. The acquired address information is transmitted to the transmission unit 7
2 is transmitted to the application unit 180 of the print portal PP. At this time, information for identifying the printer 70 is also delivered. In this embodiment, the address IP70 of the printer is passed as this identification information.

The application section 180 is used by the printer 7
When these pieces of information are received from 0, the queuing system 140 is searched for a job that matches the specific information.
In the figure, job 1 is a print request that satisfies this condition. When the application unit 180 finds a print request that matches the conditions, it identifies the printer 70 as the identification information I of the printer 70.
Record P70. By this processing, the print destination of job 1 is specified.

C. Printing Process by Simple Designation: FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence when the printing process by the simple designation is performed.

First, the client MP issues a print request to the print portal PP (step Sb0).
1). The print request includes address information of the client MP, designation of content to be printed, and the like.

Upon receiving this print request, the core module registers the print request in the queuing system by acquiring the content, converting the content into the PDF format, etc. (step Sb02).

When the client exists near the printer 70, the communication C2 is performed between the client and the printer 70 in parallel with the communication with the print portal PP. The printer 70 acquires the specific information from the client MP by the method described with reference to FIG. 7, and transmits it together with the printer identification information to the application unit 180 (step Sb03).

The application section 180 searches the queuing system for a print request that matches the specific information, and registers the printer identification information received from the printer 70 (step Sb04). In this way, the designation of the print destination is completed. When the core module sends a print request to the designated print destination (step Sb05), printing is executed.

In the above embodiment, the case where only one printer directly communicates with the client C2 is illustrated. In reality, communication C2 may be established with a plurality of printers. In such a case, the application section 1
80 may display a list of printers for which communication C2 has been established on the client (step Sb11), and register the printer designated by the client as the print destination (step Sb12).

According to the embodiment described above, the printer near the client can be designated as the output destination without the need for complicated operations, so that the convenience of printing via the network can be improved. .

In the embodiment, the address information of the client is used as the specific information, but the specific information is not limited to this. Various kinds of information that can identify that the sender of the print request transmitted from the print portal PP to the security system 60 is a client in the vicinity of the printer can be used. For example, a user ID used for printing, a password, a job number included in a print request, a file name that identifies the content, and a UR
Various information such as L and print portal address information can be used.

D. Second Example: In the first example, the print portal PP identifies the print destination by collating the information obtained from the two systems. The second embodiment exemplifies a mode in which the client directly specifies the print destination by directly acquiring the identification information of the printer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the printing process in the second embodiment. The processing contents of the client MP are shown. When printing is started, the user designates contents and the like from the client (step S10). Next, in order to specify the output destination, a search for the printing device that is the output destination is performed (step S12). This search may be automatically performed or may be performed by user's designation. For example, the user can select designation by selection from the list shown in FIG. 4 and simple designation, and if the simple designation is selected, the search in step S12 can be performed.

In the search for the output destination, the client MP
By the direct communication C2 shown in FIG.
The identification information IP 70 of 0 is acquired. Although only one printer is shown here, communication with a plurality of printers C
There is a possibility that 2 will be established. In step S12, identification information is acquired for each printer for which communication C2 is established. Although the client and the printer directly communicate with each other as in the first embodiment, the print request at this point is different from the first embodiment in that the print request is not yet transmitted to the print portal.

Next, a list of printers for which communication C2 has been established is displayed, and the designation of the output destination by the user is accepted. When the output destination is designated in this way, the client MP sends a print request including the designation of the output destination to the print portal PP (step S14). The print portal processes this print request and mediates it to the designated printer 70 according to the procedure described above with reference to FIGS. As a result, printing by the printer 70 is performed.

Also in the second embodiment, the simple designation of the printing destination can be realized by utilizing the direct communication between the client and the printer. The second embodiment also has an advantage that the load on the print portal is light because the process at the print portal is not required when specifying the print destination. Due to this feature, the second embodiment can be applied to printing that does not go through a print portal, such as printing using the Internet printing protocol IPP.

E. Third Embodiment: In the second embodiment, the mode in which the client obtains the identification information of the printer by the direct communication C2 is illustrated. The simple designation can also be realized in a mode of passing the address information of the client to the printer 70 by the communication C2.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the printing process in the third embodiment. The processes performed by the client and the printer are shown in parallel. When printing is started, the user specifies the content and the like from the client (step S20). Next, in order to specify the output destination, the printing device that is the output destination is searched (step S22).

In the search of the output destination, the address information IPMP of the client is notified to the printer 70 by the direct communication C2. When the communication C2 is established with a plurality of printers, the address information is notified to the plurality of printers. The address information is information that enables communication from the printer to the client via the network, and is determined according to the protocol used for communication.

Each printer that has received the address information from the client MP sends its own identification information to the client via the network (step S30). The identification information means information with which the print portal PP can specify the output destination. When printing is performed without going through the print portal PP, the address information is used.

The client MP displays a list of printers for which the communication C2 has been established, and accepts the designation of the output destination by the user. When the output destination is designated in this way, the client MP sends a print request including the designation of the output destination to the print portal PP (step S24), and printing is performed by the designated printer.

Also in the third embodiment, the simple designation of the printing destination can be realized by utilizing the direct communication between the client and the printer. In the third embodiment, it is possible to confirm the establishment of communication with the printer via the network through the process of specifying the print destination. That is, it is possible to avoid the possibility of designating a printer not connected to the network as an output destination although communication with the client is established. As a result, in the third embodiment, it is possible to realize stable printing while improving convenience by simple designation.

The third embodiment is also advantageous in that the load on the print portal is light, as in the second embodiment. The third embodiment can also be applied to printing that does not go through a print portal.

F. Modification: In the embodiment, the output to the printing device is illustrated, but the present invention can be applied to various output devices. For example, it can be applied to a projector that displays images and the like, a display device such as a display, and an audio device that outputs sound.

In the embodiment, printing using the Internet has been exemplified, but it may be applied to a relatively limited network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or an intranet.

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

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing data transfer at the time of printing an electronic mail.

FIG. 3 is a time chart when printing an electronic mail.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface when printing an electronic mail.

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

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

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration for realizing simple designation of a print destination.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence when performing print processing by simple designation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of print processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of print processing according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Content Provider 30 ... Service Provider 50 ... Printing Service Provider 52 ... Interface 60 ... Security system 70 ... Printer 72 ... Transmission unit 74 ... Acquisition unit 76 ... Communication section 100 ... Print portal 110 ... File conversion unit 130 ... Core module 132 ... Control unit 134 ... Registration Management Department 136 ... DF interface 138 ... PSP interface 140 ... Cueing system 150 ... User database 152 ... Printer database 160 ... Content acquisition unit 162 ... Content holding unit 180 ... Application section

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 23, 2002 (2002.10.
23)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yasushi Nakaoka             Seiko, 3-3 Yamato 3-chome, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HP00 HP06 HQ14 HQ17                       HR07                 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB02 BB04 EE04

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An output mediation server that mediates an output request between a client connected to a network and a plurality of output devices, wherein specific information for specifying the output request is provided to the client and the output device. Through a direct communication between the specific information acquisition unit and the transmission unit that transmits an output request matching the specific information to the output device that is the acquisition route of the specific information. An output mediation server comprising: 2. The output mediation server according to claim 1, wherein, prior to the transmission, a list of the output devices that are the acquisition routes of the specific information is presented to the client specified by the specific information. An output mediation server that includes a presentation unit that 3. The output mediation server according to claim 2, further comprising an input unit for inputting, from the client, information designating an output device to be an output destination in the list, wherein the transmission unit includes: An output mediation server that transmits the output request to the output device specified by the input. 4. An output device for performing output in accordance with an output request transmitted via an intermediary of the output intermediary server according to an instruction from the client in a network to which the client and the output intermediary server are connected, the output device being directly connected to the client. The output mediation server by associating a communication unit that performs communication, an acquisition unit that acquires the specific information for specifying the output request by the communication unit, the specific information, and the information for specifying the output device. And an output device for transmitting to the output device. 5. An output requesting device for transmitting an output request to an output device connected to a network via the network, the communication unit performing direct communication with the output device, and the output on the network. An output including an acquisition unit that acquires location information for identifying the location of the device from the output device via the communication unit, and a transmission unit that transmits the output request based on the acquired location information. Requesting device. 6. An output device for performing an output based on an output request from an output requesting device connected to a network, wherein a communication unit for directly communicating with the output requesting device, and a location of the output device on the network An output device including: a location information for identifying the location information, the location information being transmitted to the output requesting device via the communication unit. 7. An output requesting device for transmitting an output request to an output device connected to a network via the network, the communication unit performing direct communication with the output device, and the output device on the network. A notification unit for notifying the output device of the first location information for identifying the location of the requesting device via the communication unit, and a second unit for identifying the location of the output device on the network. An output request device comprising: a receiving unit that receives location information via the network; and a transmitting unit that transmits the output request based on the received second location information. 8. An output device for performing output based on an output request from an output requesting device connected to a network, comprising: a communication unit for directly communicating with the output requesting device; and a communication unit of the output requesting device on the network. An acquisition unit that acquires first location information for identifying the location via the communication unit, and second location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network via the network. And an output unit for transmitting the output to the output requesting device. 9. The output device according to claim 4, wherein the communication unit has a communicable range limited to within a predetermined short distance from the output device. 10. The output device according to claim 9, wherein the communication unit performs communication using infrared rays or weak radio waves. 11. A mediation method for mediating an output request between a client connected to a network and a plurality of output devices, wherein specific information for specifying the output request is provided between the client and the output device. Intermediary method comprising: a step of acquiring via the output device by direct communication between the two; and a step of transmitting an output request matching the specific information to the output device that has become the acquisition path of the specific information. . 12. A method of outputting, in a network to which a client and an output mediation server are connected, performing output based on an output request transmitted via the mediation of the output mediation server according to an instruction from the client,
(A) a step of acquiring specific information for specifying the output request through direct communication with the client; and (b) associating the specific information with information for specifying the output device. And transmitting the output request to the output mediation server, and (c) executing the output based on the output request transmitted from the output mediation server in response to the step (b). 13. An output request method for transmitting an output request to an output device connected to a network via the network, wherein the output device directly communicates with the output device, An output request method comprising: a step of acquiring location information for specifying a location from the output device; and a step of transmitting the output request based on the acquired location information. 14. An output method for performing an output based on an output request from an output requesting device connected to a network, comprising: (a) directly communicating with the output requesting device.
Transmitting location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network to the output request device,
(B) in response to the step (a), executing an output based on the output request transmitted from the output request device. 15. An output request method for transmitting an output request to an output device connected to a network via the network, the output request device on the network by direct communication with the output device. Of the first location information for identifying the location of the output device to the output device, and second location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network via the network. An output request method, comprising: a step of receiving; and a step of transmitting the output request based on the received second location information. 16. An output method for performing output based on an output request from an output requesting device connected to a network, comprising: (a) directly communicating with the output requesting device.
Obtaining first location information for identifying the location of the output requesting device on the network, and (b) obtaining second location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network. An output method comprising: transmitting to the output requesting device via the network; and (c) executing an output based on the output request transmitted from the output requesting device in response to the step (b). . 17. A computer program for mediating an output request by a computer between a client connected to a network and a plurality of output devices, wherein the client stores the specific information for specifying the output request. And a function for acquiring via the output device by direct communication between the output device and the output device, and an output request matching the specific information is transmitted to the output device that is the acquisition route of the specific information. A computer program for realizing functions and a computer. 18. In a network in which a client and an output mediation server are connected, an output device equipped with a computer is made to perform output based on an output request transmitted via the mediation of the output mediation server according to an instruction from the client. And a function for acquiring specific information for specifying the output request through direct communication with the client, the specific information, and information for specifying the output device. And a computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of associating with each other and transmitting to the output mediation server. 19. A computer program for transmitting an output request via a network to an output device connected to a network, the computer program comprising: a computer program for directly communicating with the output device; A computer for causing a computer to realize a function of acquiring the location information for specifying the location of the output device from the output device, and a function of transmitting the output request based on the acquired location information. program. 20. A computer program for causing an output device equipped with a computer to perform output based on an output request from an output requesting device connected to a network, by direct communication with the output requesting device. A computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of transmitting location information for specifying the location of the output device to the output requesting device on the network. 21. A computer program for transmitting an output request via a network to an output device connected to a network using the computer, wherein the network is provided by direct communication with the output device. First location information for identifying the location of the output requesting device above, a function of notifying the output device, and second location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network, A computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of receiving via the network and a function of transmitting the output request based on the received second location information. 22. A computer program for causing an output device equipped with a computer to perform output based on an output request from an output request device connected to a network, by direct communication with the output request device. A function of acquiring first location information for identifying the location of the output requesting device on the network; and second location information for identifying the location of the output device on the network, the network A computer program for causing a computer to realize the function of transmitting to the output requesting device via the computer. 23. A recording medium on which the computer program according to any one of claims 17 to 22 is recorded so that it can be read by a computer.