JP2004102959A - Hosting printer server system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output printing information by selecting and specifying an optional base network printer. <P>SOLUTION: A hosting printer server 1 has a user management information database 1a holding user management information including at least a user ID and a password, a printer management information database 1b holding printer management information including a printer name, IP address information, and a printing driver of the base network printer, and a printing information storing file 1c storing printing information and carrying out queue management. The printing information is inputted, stored and managed by queue management per each base network printer by an instruction from an information terminal of a user, and printing is carried out by an optional specified base network printer by instructions from information terminals 5 and 6 of the user in a network 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hosting / printer server system that performs printing on a network printer located at an arbitrary site according to an instruction from a user's information terminal on a network.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
Portable information terminals that can access the Internet, such as notebook computers (notebook personal computers), PDAs (Personal Data Assistants), and mobile phones, have been developed to achieve lighter weight, higher functionality, lower prices, and wireless LANs. (Local Area Network), PHS (Personal Handyphone System) The development of communication infrastructure such as a telephone communication network has made it possible to access the Internet from an unspecified number of places.
[0003]
This is also demanding that any information terminal can easily print out to the nearest printer regardless of the location. In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, various services using the Internet have been provided. However, there are some problems when printing such information.
[0004]
For example, when printing a document on a network, a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) is instructed as reference information of the document, and the information terminal side down-line loads the target document from the URL via the Internet and prints it. This is a so-called “pull print” process. At this time, printing may not be performed in a desired format depending on a printer model or the like. Further, when the printer is assumed to be placed in a public place such as a convenience store, there is a problem in operation management such as print quality and billing.
[0005]
There is a headquarters system where printing destinations are geographically separated, a base system, and a print management system that is hierarchized in multiple stages in a terminal system to determine a printing destination and output print information (for example, In this method, a print destination between the specified headquarters system, each base system, and the terminal system is determined based on print management information, and an arbitrary print destination is determined via the Internet. It is not possible to output print information by selecting and specifying.
[0006]
In the Web application system, in the above-described usage form, not only commercial but also general information system backbone business has a problem in printing operation operation, and automatic transmission printing from the hosting application side, so-called ""Pushprint" is required. In addition, there is a demand for realizing operation monitoring management and accounting processing.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-148421 (paragraphs [0010] to [0016], FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to select and designate an arbitrary network printer and output print information.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention is a hosting / printer server system for performing printing on a network printer located at an arbitrary site in accordance with an instruction from a user's information terminal on a network, wherein the hosting / printer server has at least a user ID, A user management information database that holds user management information including a password; a printer management information database that holds printer management information including a printer name, IP address information, and a print driver; A print information storage file for queue management, and by inputting print information together with designation of a printer name from the user's information terminal, performing user authentication in the user management information database and storing the print information storage Each location in file The input print information is stored and managed in a queue for each network printer, and the stored print information is transmitted to a site network printer corresponding to the designated printer name to perform printing. Things.
[0010]
Further, there is provided a hosting / printer server system for performing printing on a base network printer located at an arbitrary base in accordance with an instruction from a user's information terminal on a network, wherein print information is specified together with designation of a printer name from the user's information terminal. A hosting / printer server for inputting and transmitting to the base network printer corresponding to the designated printer name for printing, and performing user authentication based on the user ID and the password to perform an application service, and obtaining information of the result information. A service provider that performs printing to the network printer via a hosting printer server, wherein the hosting printer server includes at least a user management information database holding user management information including a user ID and a password; A printer management information database that holds printer management information including a name, IP address information, and a print driver; and a print information storage file that stores print information for each of the local network printers and performs queue management. The provider has a provision information database holding value information of a service provider depending on an application for implementing the application service, and a user management information database holding user management information including a user ID and a password, The hosting / printer server authenticates a user in the user management information database, accumulates the input print information for each base network printer in the print information accumulation file, manages the information in a queue, and manages the print information in the queue. A user It is characterized in that for printing by transmitting to the information terminal or branch network printer specified by the service provider.
[0011]
In the hosting / printer server system, the hosting / printer server further includes an accounting information database for managing accounting information for a user ID when performing printing and generating accounting information every time printing is performed, The hosting / printer server downloads IP address information of a local network printer and printer management information including a print driver to a user's information terminal in response to a request. The printer has printer list information for managing the printer name of the printer, has printer name list information for managing the printer name of the network printer on the site, and has a site selected from the printer name list information on the user's information terminal. Tsu network IP address information of the printer, is characterized in that a management provider that downline loading the printer management information including a print driver.
[0012]
The printer name includes a name of a group printer that manages printer names of a plurality of base network printers, and the hosting / printer server manages the group printer in the printer management information database, Broadcast printing is performed at each site network printer of the group.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a hosting / printer server system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a database used in the hosting / printer server system according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a hosting / printer server, 2 is a service provider, 3 is a network, 4 is a base network printer, 5 is an information terminal, 6 is a portable terminal, 1a is a printer management information database, 1b and 2a are user management information databases. Reference numerals 1c and 2b denote transaction information databases, 1d denotes a print information storage file, and 2c denotes a provided information database.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, a hosting / printer server 1 inputs and accumulates print information (Page Description Language) (PDL), defines a print unit as a print job, and manages the print unit in a queue for each network printer at a printing destination. Then, each print job is transmitted and printed according to the print conditions for the site network printer 4. Therefore, the hosting / printer server 1 has a printer management information database 1a, a user management information database 1b, an accounting information database 1c, and a print information storage file 1d.
[0015]
The hosting / printer server 1 has a print driver and printer management information of the site network printer 4, and down-loads the print setting information of the user terminal to the information terminal 5 at the request of the user. By performing this setting, the print information of the information terminal 5 can be transmitted to the site network printer 4 and printed.
[0016]
The information provider (service provider) 2 is a service provider that implements an application service and prints the resulting information, and has a user management information database 2a, a transaction information database 2b, and a provision information database 2c. It can be regarded as a Web application server in an information system of a general company.
[0017]
The network 3 is the Internet or an intranet (TCP / IP network), and ADSL, ISDN, a dedicated line, a telephone line, a mobile phone, and the like serve as connection interfaces.
[0018]
The site network printer 4 is a network printer that can perform printing and state management by transmission / reception under a TCP / IP-connected Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and is a commercially available general printer having an IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) interface.
[0019]
The information terminal 5 is a notebook PC, a desktop PC, or the like, and the mobile terminal 6 is a mobile phone, a PHS, a PDA, a telephone, or the like, which instructs a network printer located at a plurality of sites on a network to perform printing. It is an information terminal of a user.
[0020]
For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the printer management information database 1a stores, for each network printer at each site, the installation site, installation site, printer number, printer name, IP address, driver type, group information, etc. The management information of the network printer is held, and the location and the IP address information of the network printer are managed. In other words, it is a management database of the network printer at the printing destination, and has a procedure for preparing a print driver necessary for printing, and distributing and setting the information to the information terminal 5 as necessary.
[0021]
The user management information database 1b holds information such as a user ID, a password, a name, an address, and a mail address for each user who has a contract with the system as shown in FIG. It manages management information and is a security management database.
[0022]
The accounting information database 1c stores, for example, a user ID, a job ID, a paper size, a color / monochrome type, the number of sheets used, payment information, a print start time, a print end time, etc. for each print unit as shown in FIG. , And manages accounting information for one printing unit (job) for a user ID when printing is performed, and generates accounting information every time printing is performed. As post-processing, cooperation with the electronic settlement system is appropriately prepared.
[0023]
The print information storage file 1d stores print information for each network printer on a job-by-job basis and manages the queue. It also has functions such as printing for a specified time, saving for a fixed period after printing, and automatic erasing.
[0024]
The user management information database 2a holds information such as a user ID, a password, a name, an address, and a mail address for each user who has contracted for the information providing service as shown in FIG. 2D, for example. Like the user management information database 1b of the hosting / printer server 1, the security management database manages user management information.
[0025]
The accounting information database 2b holds information such as a user ID, a billing unit, and a billing number for each processing unit of the provided information as shown in FIG. 2E, for example, and relates to information provided by the service provider to the user. It generates and manages user billing information. Post-processing includes cooperation with an electronic payment system.
[0026]
The provided information database 2c is value information of a service provider depending on an application.
[0027]
The hosting / printer server 1 performs the following functions to perform processing. It exchanges and distributes print jobs, performs printing, and performs so-called “push print” to the local network printer 4 on the network (Internet / intranet). In the case of the standard setting, each user prints to the local network printer 4 like a printer owned by the user. The print information flows as HTTP from the information terminal 5, the hosting / printer server 1 to the local network printer 4. Therefore, a standard port is used as the TCP port. Therefore, there is no danger of a security hole that could become an attack target for hackers and the like. Information flows through the Internet under firewall rules. It has the function of simultaneous printing to multiple network printers. Each printer is under security control and controls the independent operation of each client under the authorized authority. Suppress execution operations from other clients. The print information is stored and managed.
[0028]
Furthermore, functions that can be used as needed and can be realized by accumulating and managing print information include printing for a specified time, saving for a certain period after printing, changing the printing status, printing conditions, and It has a monitoring and control function of operation recovery processing for a printing failure, such as a change or a change in the printing order.
[0029]
With the above configuration, the hosting / printer server system according to the present embodiment transmits information terminals (information terminal 5, mobile terminal 6) to a base network printer 4 pre-arranged at a plurality of bases on a network (Internet, intranet) 3. ) Provides a wide area printing system that can print or broadcast print information of the information terminal or the service provider 2 in response to an instruction from the user. Further, simultaneous operation management of a plurality of network printers 4 and a plurality of information terminals is enabled.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the user of the information terminal 5, such as a personal computer, and the user of the mobile terminal 6, such as a mobile phone, a PHS phone, and a PDA, are provided with the hosting / printer server 1 by centrally managing the printing function. When the queue in the middle is designated and printed as a virtual printer, the hosting / printer server 1 collects and distributes the print and prints it on a designated base network printer 4 or broadcasts it to a plurality of designated base network printers 4. I do. That is, the problem is solved by centralizing the print management by the hosting / printer server 1.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a hosting / printer server component, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of the hosting / printer server.
[0032]
The hosting / printer server components include, for example, an IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) server, an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) server, an LPD (Line Printer Daemon) server, a PDL (Page Description Language) component, and a PDL (Page Description Language) component, as shown in FIG. It has components and so on.
[0033]
The IPP server (IPP 1.1 / RFC 2910, RFC 2911) receives standard printer output of Windows, UNIX, and MacOS, spools management, and browses printer and job status using a management console (Windows 2000, Windows XP standard) that supports IPP. Server. The HTTP server (HTTP 1.1 / RFC2068) is a server that browses and manages the statuses of queues, jobs, and printers in a browser in detail. The LPD server (RFC1179) is a server that receives the standard printer output of Windows, UNIX, and MacOS, and manages the spool.
[0034]
The spool kernel performs multi-processing using threads, and guarantees spooled jobs, stops, resumes, deletes jobs, specifies print time, performs accounting, stops queue output, and resumes queue processing.
[0035]
The PDL processing component is made into a component as a DLL (Dynamic Link Library), can be added or removed by a setting file, and can incorporate a PDL processing program such as GhostScript. Since it is made into components, it is easy to add a new PDL and incorporate a new data creation program.
[0036]
The device access performs multi-processing using threads, monitors the status of the printer, transmits print data, performs printing, and monitors the status of the job (IPP).
[0037]
The device connection component is made into a component as a DLL, and can be added or removed by a setting file. In the case of IPP connection, it is possible to check the paper discharge according to the RFC 2911 standard. In the case of SNMP + TCP / RAW connection, SNMP (Simple Network Management) is used. (Protocol) and Printer MIB (Management Information Base) to monitor the status of the printer.
[0038]
In the processing of the hosting / printer server, for example, first, as shown in FIG. 4, when print information from an application (information terminal 5, service provider 2) is input (IPP server or LPD server depending on setting conditions) (step S11), hosting / printer server processing starts. The print job is queued in the print information storage file 1d of the printer server (step S12).
[0039]
Printing is performed by outputting the queued print job from the print information storage file 1d to the specified network printer 4 (step S13). The method of output event is determined by immediate printing, timer, and console (information terminal) specification. Here, security management for managing a plurality of users and a network printer for a plurality of sites is provided. By the optional operation, a delivery destination, a print priority, a time setting print, and the like, which are operation failure recovery processes, are possible. Execute the countermeasure processing from the timer or the browser console. Write the failure to a log file.
[0040]
According to the event, printing is performed by performing file output (step S14), and PDL page counting processing for page accounting is also performed. Depending on whether or not the processing has been completed normally (step S15), if the processing is completed normally, the accounting log is output. This information is passed to the accounting system (step S16). If the processing is not completed normally, the failure log is output. The user is notified of the failure (step S17). In the billing system, in conjunction with the electronic settlement system, the notification of the notification failure to the user is performed via electronic mail.
[0041]
Next, a flow of processing according to an operation from a user will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print designation screen, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a homepage printer setting screen of a hosting / printer server for acquiring printer information. It is.
[0042]
When there is print information to be printed on the information terminal 5 and the print information is to be printed by the site network printer 4, first, in the Windows application, the print menu screen shown in FIG. The printer name is retrieved (step S21), and the printer name of the network printer at the printing destination is searched from the printer name list (step S22). Whether or not there is a printer name of the network printer at the printing destination (step S23), and if so, the printer name is specified by clicking on the printer name and the execution ("OK") is instructed (step S24).
[0043]
If there is no printer name of the network printer at the printing destination, the URL of the hosting / printer server is designated using an Internet browser (step S25), and the printer information is obtained from the homepage (step S26). For example, a printer name is searched on the printer setting screen of the homepage shown in FIG. 7, and a user ID and a password are input and the setting is clicked. The information is downloaded to the terminal, and the process of information acquisition is ended by clicking the end. Then, printer setting is performed on the information terminal (step S27). After that, since the printer information has been acquired, by returning to step S21, it is possible to specify the printer name in steps S22 → S24 and instruct execution.
[0044]
The flow of print information is as follows. The designated printer is designated by the information terminal as a URI (substantially equivalent to a URL), and printing is performed on the designated printer. Actually, the hosting / printer server 1 corresponds to the virtual printer, and is registered in the queue of the designated base network printer 4 and the print information storage file 1d. This queue designation is performed based on the printer management information 1a, and a security check with the user management information 1b is performed when the print information is input. If there is no problem, the process proceeds to the next step. If a problem occurs, the user is notified of the mail and the subsequent procedure is stopped.
[0045]
In actual printing, the host network printer 1 starts printing by transmitting print information to the local network printer 4 connected to the queue 1d. The print information is not released from the queue 1d until printing is completed. After all the print information is printed, the print information is released if there is no save specification, and the print information is discarded from the queue 1d.
[0046]
An example of obtaining printer information on the printer setting screen of the homepage shown in FIG. 7 will be described in further detail. When the printer name "Shinjuku X Store # 05" is specified on the printer setting screen shown in FIG. 7, a list of printer names is displayed in a pull-down menu, for example. Displayed in the name column. Therefore, when the user inputs the user ID and the password and clicks the setting, the print driver and the printer name information of the base network printer of the printer name are down-loaded to the information terminal.
[0047]
In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given assuming that one base network printer is a printing destination. However, a plurality of base network printers are registered as one group printer with the same name as one base network printer. By specifying a name, broadcast printing may be performed on a plurality of base network printers. In this case, for example, the hosting / printer server has a table in which a plurality of site network printer names are registered for each group printer name, and print information of the information terminal 5 is stored in a queue of each site network printer belonging to the group. Broadcast printing can be performed by managing and transmitting and printing the print information to each local network printer.
[0048]
8 shows an example of a group printer update screen, FIG. 9 shows an example of a group printer creation screen, FIG. 10 shows an example of a group printer list screen of a group printer edit screen, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen, FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group printer deletion screen, and FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a processing system of a hosting / printer server.
[0049]
In FIG. 7, an "G update" button is used when creating, editing, and deleting the group printer. For example, the button is as follows. First, when the "G update" button is clicked, the screen changes to a group printer update screen shown in FIG. 8, and by selecting any of creation, editing, and deletion from this screen, the group printer creation screen shown in FIG. To the group printer edit screen shown in FIG. 12 or the group printer delete screen shown in FIG.
[0050]
In the group printer creation screen, when the group printer name is input in FIG. 9 and the creation button is clicked, the screen transits to the group printer editing screen shown in FIG. Here, the site network printer names that belong to the group are searched one by one and designated and added. This search may be similar to the above-described search for obtaining printer information. Then, the group setting is completed by a return button, the screen returns to the group printer creation screen shown in FIG. 9, and the next group setting is performed by inputting the name of the next group printer. Further, a return button on the group printer creation screen shown in FIG. 9 returns to the previous screen, for example, the printer setting screen of the homepage shown in FIG.
[0051]
On the group printer editing screen, first, a list of already registered group printer names is displayed in FIG. 10, and when a group printer name is designated from the list, as shown in FIG. The screen changes to a group printer editing screen, where a list of site network printer names of the designated group printer name is displayed. Here, a new base network printer name is added to the list by addition, the individual network printer names are individually deleted from the list of base network printer names by deletion, update and editing of the group printer are performed, and a return button is pressed to return to the previous screen, for example, FIG. The screen returns to the printer setting screen of the homepage shown.
[0052]
On the group printer deletion screen, a list of group printer names already registered is displayed in FIG. 12, and the group printer name specified by deletion is deleted from the list, and the back button is pressed to return to the previous screen, for example, FIG. The screen returns to the printer setting screen of the homepage shown.
[0053]
On the printer setting screen of the homepage shown in FIG. 7, the group printer name newly set and updated as described above is to be searched together with the name of each local network printer. When the name is displayed in the group printer name and a user ID and a password are input and the setting is clicked, a representative of the group printer name, for example, a base network printer having the group printer name shown in FIG. The print driver and the printer name information of the network printer at the highest position in the name list are down-loaded to the information terminal, and the setting of the glue printer is performed on the information terminal.
[0054]
Accordingly, the hosting printer server manages the group printers in the printer management information database as shown in FIG. 13, so that in the case of a print job for a group printer, the print job is queued for each local network printer of the group. And broadcast printing.
[0055]
In the present embodiment, there are two forms of printing as viewed from the user. The first mode is a mode in which print information generated by the user's information terminal itself is printed. This is a case where, for example, a print instruction is issued using the information terminal 5 of a user having a processing capability, and is not for printing a homepage but for printing an application used by a user. Of course, whether the information terminal 5 is a mobile information terminal or a fixed facility information terminal, the designated print information can be printed on the designated base network printer 4.
[0056]
The second mode is a mode in which the user specifies necessary information by searching or the like, and prints the print information generated by the service provider 2 to which the information is provided. This is a case where printing is instructed using an information terminal of a user having no processing capability such as the mobile terminal 6. This mode is for printing service provider information, but may be an information terminal having a processing capability, such as the information terminal 5, and is intended for printing a service provider application instead of printing a home page. However, printing from the service provider 2 in this case is similar to printing from the information terminal 5, and there is substantially no difference.
[0057]
In the case of information provision (information billing) by the service provider 2, the service provider 2 authenticates the user ID and password input from the user terminals such as the information terminal 5 and the mobile terminal 6 with the user management information database 2a, If a certain user, access to the information providing service is permitted, and accounting is written to the accounting information with the information providing added value of the extracted information.
[0058]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the homepage of the hosting / printer server is specified by the URL, the printer name is searched by the menu of the printer setting screen as shown in FIG. 7, and the print driver and the printer name information are down-lined to the information terminal. Although it is loaded, a dedicated management server may be prepared separately from the hosting / printer server in order to search for a printer name and to down-line load a print driver and printer name information. The search for the printer name may be performed by selecting a location of the printer from a pull-down menu, or by searching a partial character string of the printer name for a required printer. Further, the system configuration includes printer name list information for managing the printer name of the site network printer, and the printer management including the IP address information of the site network printer selected from the printer name list information and the print driver in the user information terminal. A management provider for down-loading information may be provided.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, printing can be performed quickly from the mobile information terminal to the base network printer at the moving point at any time, and if the base network printer is located at the moving point, the printer is used as if it were its own. It can be used like a printer and can print. In addition, it is possible to print to local network printers at long distances as well as at hand, and it can be used as an alternative to facsimile, and output more valuable information hard copy such as print quality, mass printing, color printing, etc. Become. Broadcast printing is also possible.
[0060]
The advantages of centralization by the hosting / printer server include centralized management of accounting (transfer of accounting information to an electronic payment system, etc.), centralized monitoring and management of information terminals, mobile terminals, and network printers at bases. In addition, the cost of introducing equipment such as billing equipment can be reduced, and the operating costs of maintenance and maintenance of remote locations can be reduced. In addition, since the hosting / printer server directly transmits and prints the print information to the network printer at the site, the transmission / reception is performed in accordance with the operation of the printing machine, so that the network bandwidth can be maintained and the wireless LAN / wired LAN hot spot can be maintained. If social infrastructure such as convenience stores, train stations, and hotels are in place, printing can be performed anywhere, which can be expected to increase convenience.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a hosting / printer server system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a database used in the hosting / printer server system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a hosting / printer server component.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing of the hosting / printer server.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print menu screen.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a homepage printer setting screen of a hosting / printer server for acquiring printer information.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group printer update screen.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group printer creation screen.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group printer list screen of a group printer editing screen.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group printer editing screen.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group printer deletion screen.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a processing system of a hosting / printer server.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hosting printer server, 2 ... Service provider, 3 ... Network, 4 ... Network printer, 5 ... Information terminal, 6 ... Portable terminal, 1a ... Printer management information database, 1b, 2a ... User management information database, 1c, 2b: accounting information database, 1d: print information storage file, 2c: provided information database

Claims (8)

What is claimed is: 1. A hosting / printer server system for performing printing on a network printer located at an arbitrary site in accordance with an instruction from a user information terminal on a network, wherein the hosting / printer server includes user management information including at least a user ID and a password. A user management information database that holds
A printer management information database holding printer management information including a printer name, IP address information, and a print driver;
A print information storage file for storing print information for each of the local network printers and managing queues; and inputting print information together with designation of a printer name from the user's information terminal, thereby obtaining the user management information database. Authenticates the user, accumulates the input print information for each local network printer in the print information accumulation file, manages the information in a queue, and associates the accumulated print information with the designated printer name. A hosting / printer server system for transmitting data to a local network printer for printing. A hosting / printer server system that performs printing on a network printer located at an arbitrary site according to an instruction from a user's information terminal on a network,
A hosting printer server for inputting print information together with designation of a printer name from the information terminal of the user, transmitting the information to a site network printer corresponding to the designated printer name, and performing printing,
A service provider that performs an application service by performing user authentication based on a user ID and a password, and prints the resulting information to a site network printer via a hosting / printer server,
The hosting / printer server includes a user management information database that holds user management information including at least a user ID and a password;
A printer management information database holding printer management information including a printer name, IP address information, and a print driver;
A print information storage file for storing print information for each of the base network printers and managing queues;
The service provider,
A provision information database that holds value information of a service provider dependent on an application for performing the application service,
A user management information database that holds user management information including a user ID and a password. The hosting / printer server authenticates a user with the user management information database, and stores each base network in the print information storage file. Hosting characterized by storing the input print information for each printer, managing the input print information in a queue, and transmitting the print information to the information terminal of the user or a network printer designated by the service provider for printing. -Printer server system. 3. The hosting / printer server according to claim 1, further comprising an accounting information database for managing accounting information for a user ID when printing is performed, and generating accounting information each time printing is performed. 2. The hosting / printer server system according to 1. 4. The hosting printer server according to claim 1, wherein the hosting printer server down-loads IP address information of a base network printer and printer management information including a print driver in response to a request to a user information terminal. The described hosting / printer server system. 5. The hosting / printer server system according to claim 1, wherein said hosting / printer server has printer list information for managing a printer name of a site network printer. It has printer name list information for managing the printer name of the base network printer, and down-loads the printer management information including the print driver and the IP address information of the base network printer selected from the printer name list information to the user's information terminal. The hosting / printer server system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a management provider that performs the management. 7. The hosting / printer server system according to claim 1, wherein the printer name includes a name of a group printer that manages printer names of a plurality of network printers. 7. The hosting printer according to claim 1, wherein the hosting printer server manages the group printer in the printer management information database to perform broadcast printing to network printers at each site in the group. Server system.

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