JP2004145554A - Printing management server, its program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing management server capable of estimating a printing completion time point at which a printer completes printing, realizing a smooth process after the printing has been completed. <P>SOLUTION: In response to a print start instruction from a client 1a, the printing management server 3 sends a URL information specifying a location of a Web server 50 to a printer 2 via the client 1a, instructing the printer 2 to perform printing (pull printing). After receiving the URL information, the printer 2 requests to the Web server 50 for download of print data based on the URL information and performs the printing according to the acquired print data. In response to the request, the Web server 50 writes a data acquisition log into an access log within a memory after the download of the print data to the printer 2 (after the printer 2 has acquired the print data). The printing management server 3, periodically acquiring the access log from the Web server 50 and analyzing it, estimates the printing completion time point based on the result of the analysis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print management server, a program for realizing functions (functions according to the present invention) necessary for the print management server (computer), and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a print management server, a print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and obtains print data from the print data management server based on URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information and performs printing (pull printing) on paper. There is a printer which is connected to a printer via a network such as a LAN (local area network) and transmits URL information to the printer to perform pull printing (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-184180 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a print management server, it is not possible to know the print completion time at which the printing (pull printing) by the printer is completed, so that the processing after the completion of the printing cannot be performed smoothly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to enable a print management server to estimate a print completion time at which printing by a printer is to be completed, so that processing after the printing is completed can be performed smoothly. With the goal.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a print management server, a program for realizing functions required for the print management server (computer), and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program to achieve the above object.
The print management server according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on URL information and performs printing on paper. A print management server connected via a network for transmitting the URL information to the printer to perform the printing, and an access log obtaining means for obtaining an access log from the print data management server to the server; An access log analyzing means for analyzing the access log obtained by the means, and a printing completion time estimating means for estimating a printing completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on the analysis result by the means are provided.
[0006]
A print management server according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a print data management server that stores and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on URL information and prints the data on paper. A print management server connected via a network for transmitting the URL information to the printer and performing the printing, wherein the URL information transmission time storage means stores transmission time of the URL information to the printer; And a print completion time estimating means for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on the transmission time of the URL information stored in the printer.
A print management server according to a third aspect of the present invention is the print management server according to the first or second aspect, wherein after the print completion time estimated by the print completion time estimation means has been reached, the print data management server is notified by the printer. Post-processing instructing means for instructing post-processing such as deletion or movement of the acquired print data is provided.
[0007]
A program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on URL information and performs printing on paper. An access log acquisition function for acquiring an access log from the print data management server to the computer having a function as a print management server for transmitting the URL information to the printer and performing the printing, For realizing an access log analysis function for analyzing an access log acquired by the function, and a print completion time estimation function for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on an analysis result by the function. It is.
[0008]
A program according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a print data management server that stores and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on URL information and performs printing on paper. A URL information transmission time storage function for storing, in a memory, a transmission time of the URL information to the printer in a computer, which is connected via the PC and has a function as a print management server for transmitting the URL information to the printer and performing the printing. And a print completion time estimating function for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on the transmission time of the URL information stored in the memory.
[0009]
A program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the program according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the print completion time estimated by the print completion time estimating function is reached, and then the print data acquired by the printer to the print data management server. This is also for realizing a post-processing instruction function for instructing post-processing such as deletion or movement of data.
A recording medium according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print system including a print management server (print system server) embodying the present invention.
This print system includes client computers (hereinafter simply referred to as “clients”) 1a, 1b,..., 1n, a printer 2 (which may be another image forming apparatus such as a digital multifunction peripheral, a digital copying machine), a print management server 3 Are connected to each other by a network 4 including a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet.
[0011]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the clients 1a, 1b,... 1n and the print management server 3. Since the clients 1a, 1b,... 1n and the print management server 3 have basically the same hardware configuration, the configuration of the print management server 3 will be described, and the configuration of the clients 1a, 1b,. Description is omitted.
The print management server 3 is a computer, and includes at least a server main body 31, a display device 32, a keyboard 33, and a mouse.
[0012]
The server main body 31 includes a CPU 35, a memory 36, various I / Fs (interfaces) 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, a bus line 38 for connecting them, and a hard disk device 40 connected to the bus line 38 via the I / F 37a. And a recording medium access device 41 connected to the bus line 38 via the I / F 37b. The keyboard 33 and the mouse 34 are connected to the I / F 37c, and the display device 32 is connected to the I / F 37d.
The CPU 35 is a microcomputer that controls the entire print management server 3 by various programs (loaded from the hard disk device 40 when the power is turned on) including the program according to the present invention in the memory 36.
[0013]
Hereinafter, different examples of the control by the print management server 3 (first to third embodiments) will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of a data flow between the print management server 3, the client 1a (1b,..., 1n), the printer 2, and the Web server 50.
[0014]
Here, the Web server 50 is a server configuring a WWW (World Wide Web) which is an information system on the Internet of the network 4. This example corresponds to a print data management server that stores and manages print data.
In the first embodiment, the CPU 35 of the print management server 3 operates in accordance with the printer management system, which is the program according to the present invention, in the memory 36, so that the access log acquisition unit, the access log analysis unit, and the print completion A function as time estimating means can be realized.
[0015]
When print start is instructed from the client 1a, the print management server 3 transmits URL information, which is information for specifying the location where the Web server 50 exists, to the printer 2 via the client 1a and performs printing (pull printing). ). Upon receiving the URL information from the print management server 3, the printer 2 requests the Web server 50 to download the print data based on the URL information, obtains the print data, and prints it on paper (pull print). I do.
In response to the request, the Web server 50 downloads the print data to the printer 2 (after the print data is acquired by the printer 2), and then stores the data acquisition log (for example, the print data of the print data) in an access log in a memory (not shown) such as a hard disk device. Export (add) the download time).
[0016]
The print management server 3 periodically acquires (Polling) an access log from the Web server 50 to the server 50, and analyzes the acquired access log. Then, a printing completion time at which printing by the printer 2 is completed is estimated based on the analysis result. In this example, if the acquired access log includes a data acquisition log, it can be determined that printing by the printer 2 has been completed, and that time may be set as the print completion time.
As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the print management server 3 can estimate the print completion time at which the printing by the printer 2 is completed, the processing after the print completion can be performed smoothly.
[0017]
[Second embodiment]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of a data flow between the print management server 3, the client 1a (1b,..., 1n), the printer 2, and the Web server 50.
Here, in the second embodiment, the CPU 35 of the print management server 3 operates in accordance with the printer management system, which is a program according to the present invention, in the memory 36, so that the URL information transmission time storage means and the print completion time estimation means Function can be realized.
[0018]
When print start is instructed from the client 1a, the print management server 3 transmits URL information, which is information for specifying the location where the Web server 50 is located, to the printer 2 via the client 1a to perform printing. .
Upon receiving the URL information from the print management server 3, the printer 2 requests the Web server 50 to download the print data based on the URL information, obtains the print data, and prints it on paper.
The Web server 50 downloads the print data to the printer 2 according to the request.
[0019]
The print management server 3 also stores the transmission time of the URL information to the printer 2 in the memory 36, and completes the printing by the printer 2 based on the transmission time (transmission end time or transmission start time) of the URL information. Estimate the time. In this example, a timer (not shown) measures the time from the transmission time (transmission end time) of the URL information to the printer 2, and when the measured time reaches a predetermined time, the print completion time may be set. .
As described above, also according to the second embodiment, the print management server 3 can estimate the print completion time at which the printing by the printer 2 is completed, so that the processing after the print completion can be performed smoothly.
[0020]
[Third embodiment]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a third example of the data flow between the print management server 3, the client 1a (1b,..., 1n), the printer 2, and the Web server 50.
Here, in the third embodiment, the CPU 35 of the print management server 3 operates in accordance with the printer management system, which is a program according to the present invention, in the memory 36, so that the access log acquisition unit, the access log analysis unit, the print completion Functions as time estimation means and post-processing instruction means can be realized.
[0021]
In the third embodiment, the print management server 3, the printer 2, and the Web server 50 perform the same control as the first embodiment.
Further, after the print management server 3 reaches the estimated print completion time (after the printing by the printer 2 is completed), the web server 50 deletes or moves the print data acquired by the printer 2 to the Web server 50 for post-processing. (Delete in this example). As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the print management server 3 can estimate the print completion time at which the printing by the printer 2 is completed, the processing after the print completion can be performed smoothly. Further, post-processing (maintenance) such as deletion or movement of print data after printing is completed in the Web server 50 can be performed in real time.
[0022]
The print management server 3, the printer 2, and the Web server 50 perform the same control as in the second embodiment, and the print management server 3 sends the printer to the Web server 50 after reaching the estimated print completion time. Post-processing, such as deletion or movement of the print data acquired by step 2, may be instructed. In this case, the CPU 35 of the print management server 3 operates in accordance with the printer management system, which is a program according to the present invention, in the memory 36, and as a result, the URL information transmission time storage means, the print completion time estimation means, and the post-processing instruction means. Function can be realized.
.. 1n may be provided with the function as the print management server 3 without providing the print management server 3 in the above-described print system.
[0023]
Further, a recording medium such as a computer-readable optical disk (such as a CD-ROM) in which a program for realizing the function (function as each means) according to the present invention is recorded on the print management server 3 (computer) described above. Recording medium).
Therefore, the recording medium is inserted into the recording medium access device 41 (which may be externally attached) shown in FIG. 3, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read and installed in the internal hard disk device (HDD) 40. By doing so, the function according to the present invention can be realized.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the print management server can estimate the print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed, the processing after the print completion can be performed smoothly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of a data flow between a print management server 3, a client 1a, a printer 2, and a Web server 50 in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print system including a print management server (print system server) embodying the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of clients 1a, 1b,... 1n and a print management server 3 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of a data flow between the print management server 3, the client 1a, the printer 2, and the Web server 50 in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a third example of a data flow between the print management server 3, the client 1a, the printer 2, and the Web server 50 in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b,... 1n: Client 2: Printer 3: Print management server 4: Network 31: Server body 32: Display device 33: Keyboard 34: Mouse 35: CPU 36: Memory 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d: I / F
38: Bus line 40: Hard disk device 41: Recording media access device 50: Web server

Claims (7)

A print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on the URL information and prints on paper, and is connected via a network to the printer. A print management server for transmitting information and performing the printing,
Access log acquisition means for acquiring an access log from the print data management server to the server;
Access log analysis means for analyzing the access log acquired by the means,
A print completion time estimating means for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on an analysis result by the means. A print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on the URL information and prints on paper, and is connected via a network to the printer. A print management server for transmitting information and performing the printing,
URL information transmission time storage means for storing the transmission time of the URL information to the printer;
A print completion time estimating means for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on a transmission time of the URL information stored in the means. The print management server according to claim 1 or 2,
After reaching the print completion time estimated by the print completion time estimation means, a post-processing instruction means is provided for instructing the print data management server to perform post-processing such as deletion or movement of print data acquired by the printer. A print management server. A print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on the URL information and prints on paper, and is connected via a network to the printer. A computer having a function as a print management server for transmitting information and performing the printing is provided with an access log acquisition function of acquiring an access log from the print data management server to the server, and an access log acquired by the function. A program for realizing an access log analysis function for analyzing and a print completion time estimation function for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on an analysis result by the function. A print data management server that accumulates and manages print data, and a printer that acquires print data from the print data management server based on the URL information and prints on paper, and is connected via a network to the printer. A computer having a function as a print management server for transmitting information and performing the printing; a URL information transmission time storage function for storing a transmission time of URL information to the printer in a memory; A program for realizing a print completion time estimating function for estimating a print completion time at which printing by the printer is completed based on the transmission time of the URL information. The program according to claim 4 or 5,
After reaching the print completion time estimated by the print completion time estimation function, a post-processing instruction function for instructing the print data management server to perform post-processing such as deletion or movement of print data acquired by the printer is also realized. Program to let you. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to any one of claims 4 to 6 is recorded.

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