JP2003140846A - Network print system, data input device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of times of communication between server clients. SOLUTION: A batch type data input part 101 transmits inputted data in a batch to a server 110. A pseudo server 103 receives the data inputted by an interactive data input/output part 102, generates a display screen by vicarious processing on behalf of a server, and allows a client to display the screen. Upon transmission, the inputted data are transmitted in a batch to the server 110.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network print system and data for printing forms and the like based on a request from a client in a network system including a client and a server connected via a communication network. The present invention relates to an input device and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid development of the Internet and the rise of web servers, the web-based business processing is being promoted. A personal computer connected to the network is equipped with a web client capable of displaying and inputting information, for example, a web browser (hereinafter simply referred to as browser), so that business processing can be widely performed via the browser. .

The work using the browser is performed in the following procedure, for example. First, an operator specifies an address (URL) of a server for data processing by a web browser program (hereinafter, simply referred to as a client) of a client terminal, and the data corresponding to a predetermined format is sent from the server to the client at the address. Sent to. The client displays a screen based on the received data, and a data input unit is prepared within the screen according to the definition of the data received from the server. When the operator inputs information from the input unit from the client, the information is transmitted to the web server. The web server receives the information, processes the received information by a program prepared separately, and sends the processed data again to the client. The client displays a screen based on the received data. Such procedures are repeated to carry out the work.

A problem in the business processing via the browser is a portion related to the print processing which is indispensable for the business processing, and in particular, it has been impossible to perform printing according to a predetermined format such as a form. Although a normal browser program has a print function, this function is for printing a hard copy of the image displayed on the browser screen by the printer under the client terminal. The image displayed by the browser program is described in a language called HTML, but since this language is designed for display, the concept of pages, for example, is not introduced, and the image is properly displayed on paper. It is difficult to arrange, and a beautiful print result cannot be obtained at page breaks when printing an image that exceeds the paper size or images that cover multiple pages.

In order to solve this problem, a method has been considered in which an image to be printed is created by the server on the premise of printing and then printed by the server. In this method, the client sequentially transmits the input data to the server according to the procedure described above, and instructs the server to print at a desired opportunity. The server uses the received data to print according to the instruction.

In such a procedure, the server receives each data input from the client, so that the data can be verified each time the data is input. For example, the client advances the process step by step while confirming the response from the server. And has the advantage of excellent operability.

[0007]

However, when there are a plurality of data which are elements for generating a form,
The data is transmitted from the client to the server each time it is interactively input using the web browser. Therefore, the load on the server increases as the number of data to be input exists and the number of data transmissions from the client to the server increases. The same applies when there are many documents to be printed and many print instructions are sent from the client to the server. Moreover, since data is transmitted through the network each time the data is transmitted from the client to the server, the network traffic increases and the response speed of the entire network system decreases. Furthermore, if the network between the client and the server is via a telephone network for circuit switching, the line must be connected during the data input / transmission at the client, and the communication charge is also heavy. Becomes

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and a network print system which realizes reduction of processing load of a server, reduction of network traffic and reduction of line connection time while leaving excellent operability. An object is to provide a data input device and a control method thereof.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

A print system comprising a server device and a client device, wherein the server device has a generating means for generating print data based on information required for printing from the client device, and the client device is A printing system having control means for controlling whether information necessary for a plurality of prints is collectively transmitted to the server device or divided and transmitted to the server device.

More preferably, the generating means synthesizes the information necessary for printing from the client device and the form data to generate print data.

More preferably, the information required for printing is information to be inserted in a form, and the form data is form data for a form.

According to another aspect, the data input device of the present invention includes data input means for inputting data, transmission means for transmitting the input data to another device connected by communication, and transmission timing. And a control means for controlling.

More preferably, the system further comprises a proxy unit for performing a predetermined process performed by the other device based on the input data, the proxy unit performing a process on the data input by the input unit. To do.

More preferably, it further comprises display means for displaying an image, the proxy means holds the input data and creates display data based on the data, and the display means displays the display data. Is displayed.

More preferably, a plurality of data are collectively input by the data input means, a single data is input, or the processing by the proxy means is performed.

More preferably, the switching means switches the processing according to the communication capability of connecting to the other device.

Alternatively, it is a computer program for realizing the above means.

Alternatively, it is a network print system in which the above device is connected to another device having a printing function by communication.

With this configuration, the proxy unit performs the data input interactively by performing a process that is originally performed by another device and affects the procedure for inputting the data.

By changing the input method,
Achieve both operability and reduction of communication load.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a software block diagram of a network print system embodying the present invention. Here, only one server and one client are shown.

<Configuration Example of Network System> In FIG. 1, the client 100 is an information processing device such as a personal computer.

The batch type data input / output unit 101 has an interface for collectively inputting information required when making a print request, and collectively sends the data and the like input through the communication line 3006 to the server 110.

The interactive data input / output unit 102 is the server 1
10 or prompts the operator to input data in response to a request from the pseudo server 103, and stores the input data in the server 1.
Send to 10. As will be described later, the data input by the interactive data input / output unit 102 is transmitted to the server 110 in the batch method in the case of the interactive input with the pseudo server 103, and in the case of the interactive input with the server 110. Is an interactive method in which it is sent each time it is input. Each data input / output unit holds the input data until transmission.

The input format processing unit 104 has a function of selecting a data input method by the client 100 and a data transmission method to the server 110 according to the communication environment of the client. The input format processing unit 104 is the client 1
00 and the server 110 are connected in a high-speed communication environment such as a LAN (local network), the interactive data input / output unit 102 selects interactive data transmission with the server 110, and dial-up connection is performed. When connected by a low-speed communication line such as the one described above, it is characterized in that batch data transfer is selected. In the present embodiment, the user is allowed to preset this communication environment,
If it is a LAN, the interactive type is selected, and if it is not the LAN, a collective type is selected. Of course, the selection criterion is not limited to the communication method, and the user may directly specify in advance whether the method is a collective method or an interactive method. In addition, a switch for selection is prepared in advance on the display screen from the server 110, and the user is prompted to enter the batch type or the interactive type each time, and the client and the server can select the batch type or interactive type depending on the designation. It can also be configured to operate interactively.

The pseudo server 103 acts as a pseudo server by simulating a part of the function of the server 110. The simulated function is the part that implements the interactive input with the server. In the interactive input, the client transmits the input data to the server, receives new data from the server, and displays the data each time the user inputs data, and the interactive input proceeds.
The pseudo server 103 receives the data from the interactive data input / output unit 102, accumulates the data, and passes the next data to the interactive data input / output unit 102 as if the server 110 performed the interactive data input / output unit 102. Shape data input progress. In this way, the pseudo server 103 can collectively perform data transmission to the server by a predetermined trigger while the user interface for data input is interactive. As the processing performed by the pseudo server, in addition to data accumulation, there is processing performed by the server and affecting the client. For example, it is a process of updating the displayed screen according to the input data.

The client terminal of this embodiment is H
Since a general-purpose web browser program that realizes a TTP client is installed, the batch data input / output unit 1
01, the interactive data input / output unit 102, the input / output format processing unit 104, and the pseudo server 103 do not have to be prepared in advance in the client terminal. The client can realize the function of the interactive data input / output unit 102 by interpreting and executing the data described in HTML downloaded from the designated address. Further, by downloading the program linked to the HTML and executing it on the client terminal, complicated processing such as the batch type data input / output unit 101, the pseudo server 103, and the input / output format processing unit 104 can be performed. . Therefore, in this embodiment, the software modules to be executed by these client terminals are prepared in the server 110, and a necessary program is downloaded and executed each time data is input.

On the other hand, the server 110 is a Web server that supports HTTP. In the server 110,
The network communication control unit 111 realizes communication in accordance with protocols such as TCP / IP, which is a basic protocol of the Internet, and HTTP, which realizes the web, in addition to electrical control of the communication line 107. The form template storage unit 112 stores data of form templates to be output by the server 110. The template data is preset and stored corresponding to the HTML document read by the client from the server. Therefore, the server 110 uses the HTM for data input.
When the L data is transmitted to the client 100, the server 110 stores information for identifying the form template corresponding to the data, for example, the form template identifier. In that case, the template stored in the form template storage unit is also stored with the identifier. The data received from the client 110 is stored in the data storage unit 113. The data processing unit 114
Predetermined processing is performed on the data stored in the data storage unit 113. The image generating unit 115 combines the image data of the form with the form and the data overlaid on the form, and creates the image data in a predetermined format that can be interpreted by the print output unit 117. The print output unit 117 converts the data described in a predetermined format into a data format according to the output format of the printer and causes the printer 118 to print the data.
The above-mentioned configuration is comprehensively managed by the system management unit 116. That is, resource allocation and process scheduling in the server 110 are performed by the server OS.
It is managed by the system management unit 114 including the above.

FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the configurations of the client and the server. The configuration of FIG.
In the above configuration, it is realized by executing the program stored in the memory 101b by the CPU 101a. In addition, such programs and data storage unit 10
9 or the form template storage unit 108 is stored in the external memory 101c such as a hard disk. The external memory 101c may use a removable storage medium such as a floppy disk or a CDROM. An image is displayed on the display 117 and is connected to the network 105 and the printer 104 via the I / O interface 101d. Further, the operator makes necessary inputs by using the keyboard or the pointing device 101e.

<Form Print Processing> Next, the data input and print instruction from the web client and the server processing for the data input, which are features of the present invention, will be described.

Generally, the data processing unit 110 of the server 110
Then, accepting data from the client 100, analyzing,
Processing such as data search from the data storage unit 109 and reply of the result to the client is performed according to the received data. At this time, the HTML data to be transmitted to the client 100 may be described so as to be input by a text input box, a selection menu or the like and the result is transmitted to the server 110. The server analyzes the received data based on the HTML data accessed by the client and responds to the browser if necessary.

FIG. 2 is an example of an HTML document displayed by the client 100 for business processing. In FIG. 2, a window 201 is a window displayed on a monitor such as a PC. In the title area 202, the title attached to the displayed document is displayed. In areas 203 and 204, commands that can be specified for the web browser that realizes the display of this document and the input of data are displayed. The command to print the contents displayed in the browser is also normally located at this position. The area 205 is a URL field for inputting and outputting the address of the Web server to be connected, the URL of the document, and the like. HTM
The L document is specified by the URL input here.

The selection fields 206 and 207 are fields for the client user to select. Button 20
Reference numeral 8 is a display button. The form image 209 is an HTML document corresponding to the document address 205 read from the server and displayed.

The send button 214 is a text box for inputting input data and is displayed when the interactive method or the pseudo server method is selected as the input method, and is displayed when the batch method is selected. Not done. The send button 214 is a button for giving an opportunity to send the input data to the server 110. Further, this document has a print button 210.

In the example of FIG. 2, when reading the document of the server 110 from the client 100, first, the client 1
00 starts the browser program. The browser itself may be a commercial product. When the browser is activated, the title area 202 to URL field 205 are displayed,
The other columns are blank or the document designated by the preset URL is displayed. Here, as shown in Figure 2, "http:
If "202.228.102.xxx" is specified, fields 206 to 211
A document including "" is read from the server and displayed.

When a desired value is selected from the selection fields 206 and 207 on this screen and the display button 208 is pressed by the user,
The data to be read is confirmed, and the selected individual and table type are transmitted to the server 110. The server 110 searches the database at the specified URL using the selected personal name and table type as a key, and acquires the data. The data includes a format identifier for designating the format in which the data should be displayed. The server 110 creates an HTML document for displaying the retrieved data in a format corresponding to this identifier and sends it to the client 100. Here, the HTML document corresponding to the format identifier is
Except for the variable data, the remaining part is described in advance, and the index of the data described below is inserted in the variable data part so that it can be recognized as an index. The document to be transmitted from the server 110 to the client 100 is created by inserting the retrieved data in correspondence with each index in the index portion of the document of this format.

The client 100 displays the received data as shown in FIG. If the user of the client 100 presses the print button 210 while displaying this, the document is printed from the server 110 by the procedure described later. These priorities are for smoothing the processing by ordering the processing when the server receives print requests from a plurality of clients and a processing conflict occurs.

The stop button 212 is a button for stopping printing, and the stop button 213 is a button for temporarily stopping printing. The interrupted printing is resumed by pressing the suspend button again or the print button.

In the example of FIG. 2, the yearly total is selected as the table, and the form image 209 for that is selected. When the interactive method or the pseudo server method is selected as the input method, the user selects the text box 211.
Input daily data from and press the send button 214.
The input data is transmitted to the server or the pseudo server, and the server 110 or the pseudo server 103 is sent.
Sends new HTML document data reflecting the input data to the client 100. The client 100 displays it and waits for the next data input.

When the batch method is selected as the input method, the text box 211 is not displayed, and, for example, each column in the table 209 is set as an input column, and the user can enter all the columns for January in that column. After entering the data, send button 2
Press 14. As a result, the data for January is collectively transmitted to the server 110.

As described above, the screens displayed differ depending on the input method, and the programs to be executed also differ. Therefore, when the input method is automatically determined according to the function of the communication network or the client terminal, etc. The client first downloads a program for judgment from the server, and then downloads the necessary screens and program modules according to the judgment result. In this case, only the necessary data and programs need be downloaded from the server according to the determination result.

<Data Input Procedure> The data input procedure in the client will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. These procedures are executed by a web browser executed by the client 100 which receives the HTML data from the server, plug-in software for executing a program downloaded together with the HTML data, and the like.

First, in step S300, the program downloaded from the designated URL of the server 110 is executed to determine what the input method is. There are three types of input methods: interactive type, collective type, and pseudo server collective type. In the present embodiment, as described above, the method is determined depending on whether the client and the server are connected by the LAN. If LAN, interactive type is selected, LAN
Otherwise, the batch type or the pseudo server batch type is selected. Whether to select the collective type or the pseudo server collective type is determined according to the capability of the client terminal, for example. For example, if the program of the pseudo server 103 is executed by an interpreter, the client terminal is required to have sufficient memory capacity and processing capacity. Therefore, the collective type is selected when a free memory having a predetermined capacity or a processor having a predetermined capacity or more is not provided, and the pseudo server type is selected when the free memory is provided.

When interactive type is selected in step S300, data (screen data etc. in FIG. 2) and programs (step S301) necessary for interactive type are selected in step S301.
A program or the like describing the processing from 302 to step S306) is downloaded from the server and data input is started. In this embodiment, the screen downloaded at this time is the screen shown in FIG.

In step S302, the operator is made to perform an operation. The operation includes pressing the print button 210 or the send button 24 in addition to the data input from the text box 211. Input in the text box is step S3.
It can be repeated in 02. Upon depression of the other print button 210 or the send button 214, the process advances to step S303 to transmit the input data to the server 110.

The server 110 receives the data and executes the processing according to the pressed button. For example, in the present embodiment, the data is totaled and the total value and the average value are calculated. Also, the server sends data to the client according to the pressed button. For example, when the send button is pressed, the input data is stored in the data storage unit 113, the data processing unit 114 performs the necessary aggregation processing, and a table in which the template and the input data and the calculated data are combined is generated. , Client 1 along with the other buttons and text boxes shown in Figure 2
To 00. The client 100 receives the data in step S304, and displays an image according to the received data in step S305.

If it is determined in step S306 that the input processing has ended, the input processing ends. The input process ends when the suspend button 213, the stop button 212, the print button 210 is pressed, or the browser program ends.
Then, the next process instructed upon completion of the input process is immediately performed (not shown).

If it is determined in step S300 that it is a batch type, the process proceeds to step S401 in FIG.
In 401, necessary data and programs (such as a program in which the processes of steps S402 to S406 are described) are collectively downloaded from the server, and data input is started. In this embodiment, the screen downloaded at this time is the screen shown in FIG. 2 from which the text box 211 is removed.

In step S402, the operator is given a table 2.
Data is input from a text box provided as each column of 09. The operation includes pressing of the print button 210 and the send button 24 in addition to data input. Table 20
Input to the text box in 9 can be repeated in step S402. Then, triggered by the pressing of the send button 214, step S403
Then, the input data is transmitted to the server 110.

The server 110 receives the data and executes the processing according to the pressed button. Then, the server transmits the data to the client according to the pressed button. For example, if the send button is pressed, the input data is stored in the data storage unit 113, the data processing unit 114 performs the necessary aggregation processing, and a table in which the template and the input data are combined is generated,
Client 1 along with other buttons shown in Table 209
To 00. The client 100 receives the data in step S404 and displays an image corresponding to the received data in step S405.

If it is determined in step S406 that the input processing has ended, the input processing ends. The input process ends when the suspend button 213, the stop button 212, the print button 210 is pressed, or the browser program ends.
Then, the next process instructed upon completion of the input process is immediately performed (not shown).

In this way, in the batch method, a plurality of data are input, they are collectively sent to the server, and the processing result is obtained.

When the pseudo server type is selected in step S300, data (screen data etc. in FIG. 2) necessary for the pseudo server type or a program (a program or the like describing the processing from step S502 to step S509) in step S501. Download from the server and start entering data. In this embodiment, the screen downloaded at this time is the screen shown in FIG.

In step S502, the operator is made to perform an operation. The operation includes pressing the print button 210 or the send button 24 in addition to the data input from the text box 211. Input in the text box is step S3.
It can be repeated in 02. The other print button 210 or the send button 214 is pressed to proceed to step S503. Step S503
Then, it is determined whether the pressed button is the send button 214. If it is determined in step S503 that the send button 214 has been pressed, the input data is transmitted to the pseudo server 103 in step S504. The pseudo server 103 is the text box 21 in this embodiment.
The function of the server 110 is simulated with respect to the function of accumulating the input data in 1 and creating the image data reflecting the input data. That is, in the pseudo server 103,
Functions of the data storage unit 113 and the image generation unit 115 are provided. The pseudo server 103 stores the input data in preparation for transmission to the server 110, updates the table 209 with the input data, and causes the browser to display the screen.

If the pressed button is not the send button 214, the data accumulated by the pseudo server 103 is read out and transmitted to the server 110 at once in step S506. The server 110 receives the data,
A process corresponding to the pressed button is performed. Then, the server transmits the data to the client according to the pressed button. For example, in the server, when the send button 214 is pressed, the input data is stored in the data storage unit 113, the data processing unit 114 performs the necessary aggregation processing, and a table in which the template and the input data are combined is generated. Then, it is transmitted to the client 100 together with the other buttons and text boxes shown in FIG. The client 100 receives the data in step S507, and displays an image corresponding to the received data in step S508.

If it is determined in step S508 that the input processing has ended, the input processing ends. The input process ends when the suspend button 213, the stop button 212, the print button 210 is pressed, or the browser program ends.
Then, the next process instructed upon completion of the input process is immediately performed (not shown).

As described above, by using the pseudo server 103, the client can interactively input data.

<Procedure for Printing> Next, FIG. 6 shows the operation when the print button 210 is pressed in the state of FIG. Similarly to the HTML document, in printing, data is inserted into a template corresponding to the format identifier to create a document to be printed. When the print button 210 is pressed, information indicating that the print button 210 has been pressed is transmitted to the server. The server retrieves the graphic data stored in the form template storage unit 108 as a template for each form, based on the format identifier attached to the data transmitted to the client that requested printing. Each form template is stored so that it can be searched by the format identifier.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a printed form template. Graphic data, which is a form template, will be described with reference to FIG. Graphic data is classified into fixed data and variable data. Character string 1101 of form title, numeral 1102 indicating frame and date, character string and frame 110
3 is fixed data. Also, areas 1104 and 11
A value retrieved from a database or the like is set in the character string Sx or nx of 05. On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a table of variable data to be fitted into the graphic data of FIG.
In FIG. 9, a column 1201 is the variable data s1 of FIG.
It is an index indicating n1, n2 ... n51. Row 1
Reference numeral 202 indicates the size of characters to be displayed. Row 12
03 is an actual number sequence or character string. By merging the form image of FIG. 8 and the data of FIG. 9 by associating indexes with each other, graphic data of the form is created.

This procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the situation where the print button is displayed by the browser, the image of the form is displayed also in the browser, and the data to be displayed is retrieved from the data storage unit 109 of the server and stored in the memory of the server. Be present in the.

6A and 6B show a print button 211.
This is a procedure executed by the server when the server receives information indicating that has been pressed.

First, the print button 2 on the client
When 10 is pressed, the server is notified that the print button 210 has been pressed together with the client identifier and the like.
At this time, the web browser notifies the server of its own uniqueness and maintains continuity of access to the server. Therefore, for example, a unique number is embedded in a character string (URL) indicating the server address. In addition, a plurality of application processes are operating in the server, and a character string (application identifier) for specifying the application is also incorporated in the URL in order to specify the application that processes the message from the client. These numbers and character strings added to the URL to identify the browser are called session numbers here. For example, for one print request, the browser of the client can exchange data and a response concerning the print request while notifying the server of the session number until the completion of the print request.

When the server is notified that the button has been pressed in step S601, in step S602 the server extracts the template of the form from the form template storage unit 112 and inputs data to be combined with the template. A command describing a series of processes for printing such as extraction from the data storage unit 113, merging of the extracted template and data, and the like are stored in the process pool. The form template used can be identified immediately because the corresponding form identifier is stored in association with the HTML document data already transmitted to the client. Further, since the data set incorporated in the template is also stored in association with the client, it can be specified if the client who has notified the print button can be identified.

Next, the server executes FIG. 6 (b) in parallel with the processing of FIG. 6 (a). According to FIG. 6B, the pooled command is read and executed. Step S
In 603, commands are read from the processing pool in a predetermined order, and the read commands are executed in step S604.

FIG. 7 shows details of the processing in step S604 in FIG. First, the form template used in step S702 is recognized from its format identifier and the like.

In step S703, the position of the variable data column to be incorporated in the form template retrieved from the form template storage unit 112 is detected. For example, if the position of variable data is described separately from the part in which fixed data is described and is associated with an index for each data, the position of each variable data can be easily recognized by the index included in the variable data part. it can. Then, the index and size portions are extracted from the data shown in FIG. This data is read when the display request is issued from the client and is stored in the server.

Next, in step S704, index data is created. That is, the already stored data is described so as to match the position of the variable data extracted in step S703 according to the index. In this way, the index data describing the variable data part is created.

Next, in step S705, the image generation unit 115 merges the fixed data portion of the form template obtained in step S702 with the index data created in step S704. In step S706, the image generation unit 111 causes step S7 to be performed.
The data described in the actual image format, that is, the format that can be interpreted by the print output unit 117 is created from the data merged in 05. In step S707, the data created in step S706 is converted into a print image in a page description language that can be output by a printer,
The data is output to the print spool provided in the external memory 101c or the like. In this way, the form template and the data are combined and printed out.

In print output, a print command is issued to the printer, and the print output unit 117 obtains print information including the print job ID, print document name, print job owner, etc. in step S708. . The print information is stored in the system management unit 116 that manages the entire server.
Obtained through. This print information is held corresponding to the application that is the source of the print processing.

When print information is received in step S708, a new page is created in step S709, and control is transferred to the web browser in step S710.
After this, a new page is displayed or input.

In this way, the server 110 once pools print requests, takes out the pooled print requests in a predetermined order, and processes them. Therefore, once pooled, the order can be changed easily.

As described above, the interactive data input / output unit is operated by the procedure of FIG. 3, the collective data input / output unit is operated by the procedure of FIG. 4, and the interactive data input / output unit and the pseudo server are operated by the procedure of FIG. Has been realized. As a result, when batch input is adopted, it is possible to suppress an increase in the load on the server and the network as compared with the interactive method when a large amount of data to be input exists and the number of data transmissions from the client to the server is large. it can.

Further, by selecting the interactive type, it becomes possible to input interactive data, and an interface with good operability can be realized.

Further, by using the pseudo server, interactive data input becomes possible, an interface with good operability can be realized, and since the data is transmitted collectively, the load on the server and the network is increased. It can be suppressed compared to the interactive type.

Further, by switching these methods based on the capability of the client terminal and the capability of the network with the server, it is possible to select an input method suitable for the client and the network environment.

[0078]

Other Embodiments Even when the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including one device (for example, a copying machine). Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer of the system or apparatus ( Alternatively, it can be achieved by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program and the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the operating system (O) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code.
This also includes the case where S) or the like performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
The case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores the program code corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5 described above.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By controlling the number of communication with the server according to the communication environment of the client, it became possible to print comfortably.

Further, it has become possible to reduce the processing load on the server, reduce the network traffic, and shorten the line connection time while maintaining excellent operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network print system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed by a network client according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing form printing in an interactive format.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing form printing in a batch format.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing form printing using a pseudo server.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of template data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of input data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer that realizes a server or a client terminal.

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A print system comprising a server device and a client device, wherein the server device has a generating means for generating print data based on information necessary for printing from the client device, The printing system is characterized in that the apparatus has a control means for controlling whether to send the information necessary for a plurality of printings to the server apparatus in a lump or in a divided manner. 2. The generating unit combines information necessary for printing from a client device and form data,
The print system according to claim 1, wherein print data is generated. 3. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the information necessary for printing is information to be inserted in a form, and the form data is form data for a form. 4. A data input means for inputting data, a transmission means for transmitting the input data to another device connected by communication, and a control means for controlling transmission timing. Data input device. 5. The apparatus further comprises a proxy unit that performs a predetermined process performed by the other device based on the input data, and the proxy unit performs a process on the data input by the input unit. The data input device according to claim 4, wherein 6. A display means for displaying an image is further provided,
The data input device according to claim 4, wherein the proxy unit holds the input data and creates display data based on the data, and the display unit displays the display data. . 7. A switching means for switching between inputting a plurality of data at a time by the data inputting means, inputting a single data, or performing the processing by the proxy means is further provided. The data input device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: 8. The data input device according to claim 7, wherein the switching unit switches processing according to a communication capability for connecting to the other device. 9. A data input step of inputting data, a transmission step of transmitting the input data to another device connected by communication, and a control step of controlling transmission timing. Data entry method. 10. The method further comprises a proxy process for performing a predetermined process performed by the other device based on the input data, the proxy process performing a process on the data input by the input process. 10. The method according to claim 9,
Data entry method described in. 11. A display process for displaying an image is further provided, wherein the proxy process holds the input data and creates display data based on the data, and the display process displays the display data. The data input method according to claim 9, wherein 12. The method further comprises a switching step of switching between inputting a plurality of data in a batch in the data inputting step, inputting a single data, or performing the processing in the proxy step. The data input method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that. 13. The data input method according to claim 12, wherein in the switching step, the processing is switched according to the communication capability of connecting to the other device. 14. A computer realizes data input means for inputting data, transmission means for transmitting input data to another device connected by communication, and control means for controlling transmission timing. Computer program. 15. The computer further realizes a proxy unit that performs a predetermined process performed by the other device based on the input data, and the proxy unit processes the data input by the input unit. The computer program of claim 14, which is executed. 16. A display means for displaying an image is further realized by a computer, the proxy means holds the input data and creates display data based on the data, and the display means displays the display data. 15. The computer program according to claim 14, wherein the computer data is displayed. 17. A switching means for switching between inputting a plurality of data at a time by the data inputting means, inputting a single data, or performing the processing by the proxy means. Computer program according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in. 18. The computer program according to claim 17, wherein the switching unit switches the processing according to the communication capability of connecting to the other device. 19. A computer-readable recording medium for recording the computer program according to any one of claims 14 to 18. 20. A data input device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, and means for printing data input by the data input device according to an instruction input by the data input device. A network print system characterized by being connected to the other device by communication.