JP2004157867A - Print data management device and print data management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an alternate counter measure available even when a storage server storing printing jobs cannot accept a printing request. <P>SOLUTION: A contact address is set for each printing job stored in the storage server and a message is sent to the contact address that the printing stop scheduled date and time when the printing request cannot be accepted and the printing scheduled date and time are almost coinciding, so that there is a possibility that the printing cannot be carried out.(S108). Furthermore, when there is specification by the user that the printing job is to be automatically transferred, when the printing stop scheduled date and time and the printing scheduled date and time are approximately coinciding, the printing job is automatically transferred to another storage server (S109) and a message notifying the storage server of the transfer destination is transmitted to the contact address (S110). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print data management device that stores a print job used for printing (image formation) and transmits the print job to a printing device in response to a print request from an external printing device or terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, one or a plurality of printing apparatuses (image forming apparatuses), terminals such as personal computers and portable terminals, and a print data management apparatus that stores one or a plurality of print jobs used for image formation in a storage unit such as a hard disk are included. There is a printing system that is configured to be communicable and that transmits a print job specified by the print request to a specified printing device by performing a print request from the terminal to the print data management device for printing. The print data management device is generally called a storage server. Such a printing system is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
Patent Document 2 discloses a printing system in which a print time is set in a print job stored in a storage server, and the print job is automatically transmitted to a printing apparatus at the print time and printed.
With such a printing system, for example, when the storage server and the printing apparatus can communicate with each other via the Internet, a WAN, or the like, the user can perform operations such as acquiring necessary printed materials on a business trip without bringing the printed materials. So convenient.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-169671
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-236192 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the time when the storage server itself or the network to which the storage server is connected is maintained or the system is stopped for troubleshooting is overlapped with the time when the user prints a print job in the storage server. Has a problem that a user cannot obtain a desired printed matter. In particular, there is a problem in that a business trip destination or the like often does not have a personal computer or a backup medium for the user in which the original data of the print job is stored, so that it is not possible to take an alternative measure.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a purpose of the present invention is to allow a user to take an alternative measure even when a print data management device (storage server) cannot accept a print request. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print data management server that enables the above.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus configured to be able to communicate with a printing apparatus, and to store one or a plurality of stored print jobs in a printing request from the printing apparatus or a terminal capable of communicating with the print data management apparatus. A print data management device for transmitting to the printing device in response to the print job, wherein information on contact information is set for each of the print jobs, and the scheduled print suspension date and time storage means stores the scheduled print suspension date and time at which the print request cannot be accepted; The print data management apparatus further comprises a message transmission unit for transmitting a predetermined message to the contact based on the scheduled print suspension date and time.
Thus, for example, each time the scheduled print suspension date and time is set, or at a predetermined cycle, the message transmission unit sends the print suspension to the contact information of each of the print jobs stored in the print data management apparatus. By sending a guidance message of the scheduled date and time, the owner of the print job (the contact person) can know the scheduled date and time when the print request will not be accepted. And other alternative measures can be taken.
[0006]
Further, if information on the scheduled print date and time is set for each of the print jobs, it is possible to provide a more convenient service to the user (the contact partner).
For example, information on the scheduled print date and time is set for each of the print jobs, and the message transmitting unit determines that the contact information on the print job in which the scheduled print suspension date and the scheduled print date and time substantially overlaps with each other. , A predetermined message may be transmitted to the server.
As a result, the message is sent only to the contacts who need to respond.
[0007]
A print job automatic transfer unit for automatically transferring the print job whose scheduled print suspension date and time and the scheduled print date and time substantially overlap with each other to another print data management apparatus; One that transmits a message indicating the transfer destination to which the job was automatically transferred is also conceivable.
By providing such an automatic transfer service for print jobs, the scheduled print suspension date and time in the data management server in which the print job has been registered (stored) in advance and the scheduled print date and time of its own print job overlap. Even in this case, printing can be performed as scheduled.
Of course, a configuration in which a print job is transferred in response to a request from a user is also conceivable. That is, a print job designation transfer means for transferring the print job to another print data management device in response to a predetermined print job transfer request from the printing device or the terminal.
[0008]
A print suspension scheduled date and time acquisition unit for acquiring the scheduled print suspension date and time from another print data management device; and wherein the print job automatic transfer unit and / or the print job designation transfer unit acquires the scheduled print suspension date and time. It is more preferable that the print job is transferred to the other print data management device where the scheduled print suspension date and time obtained by the means and the scheduled print date and time of the print job to be transferred do not substantially overlap. is there.
As a result, even at the transfer destination data management server, it is possible to reliably prevent the scheduled print suspension date and time from overlapping with the scheduled print date and time.
[0009]
Further, the message transmitting unit may transmit a predetermined message to the contact of the print job when the scheduled print date and time of the print job for which the print request has not been received has elapsed.
This allows the user to perform various services (such as message transmission and automatic transfer of a print job when the scheduled print suspension date and time overlap) received by setting the scheduled print date and time for the already registered print job. It is possible to know that the setting of the scheduled printing date and time needs to be changed (corrected) in order to continuously receive the provision.
[0010]
Further, the present invention may be regarded as a print data management program for realizing the functions of the print data management device.
That is, print data that is configured to be communicable with a printing device and that causes a computer to transmit one or more stored print jobs to the printing device in response to a print request from the printing device or a predetermined terminal. In the management program, information on contacts is set for each of the print jobs, and a message transmission procedure for transmitting a predetermined message to the contacts based on the scheduled print suspension date and time when the print request cannot be accepted is sent to the computer. This is a print data management program to be executed.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments and examples are mere examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
Here, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system including the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention as a component, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration of the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a print job transmission screen in a terminal that transmits a print job to the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a stored print job, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration in a data storage unit in which a print job is stored in the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. And FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a message transmission process of the storage server X according to the embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows a message transmitted by the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen of a terminal for making a print job change request to the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a print job change process of the storage server X according to the first embodiment.
[0012]
First, an overall configuration of a printing system including a storage server X according to an embodiment of the present invention as a component will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of storage servers X, a plurality of printing apparatuses 10, a plurality of terminals 20, and a search server 30 are configured to be able to communicate via a network N such as the Internet.
The terminal 20 is a personal computer, a portable terminal, a network scanner (not shown), or the like. The terminal 20 has a function of directly transmitting a print job to the printing apparatus 10 by executing a printer driver installed in advance. To the storage server X, and a function to transmit a print request to the storage server X to transmit the uploaded print job to the desired printing apparatus 10 and to print the print job. It has a function of transmitting a request to change the content of a print job. These functions are performed by using a web browser installed in advance. Normally, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone (an example of the terminal 10) only transmits the print request and the print job change request.
The printing apparatus 10 receives a print job transmitted from the terminal 20 or the storage server X connected to the network, and performs print processing. Of course, the function of the terminal 20 may be provided in the printing apparatus 10 so that the printing apparatus 10 and the terminal 20 may be integrally configured. In this case, the printing device 20 having the function of the terminal 20 can make the print request or the print job change request to the storage server X.
The search server 30 acquires and stores a scheduled print suspension date and time, described later, from all storage servers X connected to the network as needed, and also acquires the print suspension date and time acquired from each storage server X in response to a request from the storage server X. It provides (transmits) the scheduled stop date and time.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the storage server X.
The storage server X is a general server computer, and as shown in FIG. 2, a system control unit 41, a communication unit 46, a real-time clock 42, a data storage unit 49, a scheduled suspension date and time setting unit 43, a print job processing unit. 47, a WWW server 45, a message processing unit 44, and a print job management unit 48.
The system control unit 41 includes a CPU, its peripheral devices, a basic program (so-called OS) executed by the CPU, and the like, and controls the entire storage server X.
The communication unit 46 communicates with the printing device 10 and the terminal 20 via the network N.
The real-time clock 42 has a so-called calendar function and measures the date and time (time).
The data storage unit 49 is a storage device such as a hard disk device that stores the print job 60 uploaded from the terminal 20 and the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 during which the print request cannot be accepted (the print suspension). Example of scheduled date and time storage means).
The scheduled suspension date / time setting unit 43 performs a process of setting the scheduled printing suspension date / time 70 using a keyboard or the like of the storage server X.
The print job processing unit 47 transmits the print job 60 to the printing apparatus 10 when printing the print job 60.
The WWW server 45 transmits screen data (screen data described in HTML, XML, or the like) to the terminal 20 and receives various requests from the terminal 20 and performs processing according to the requests.
The message processing unit 44 transmits a predetermined message to a contact address (an example of information regarding the contact) set for each of the print jobs 60 (an example of the message transmitting unit).
The print job management unit 48 controls the timing at which a message is transmitted by the message processing unit 44 based on the scheduled print suspension date and time 70, and performs a process of transferring the print job 60 to another storage server X. Is what you do.
[0014]
In the present embodiment, the scheduled printing suspension date / time management unit 43, the message processing unit 44, the WWW server 45, the print job processing unit 47, and the print job management unit 48 are executed by the system control unit 41. Computer program. Further, the message processing unit 44 transmits the message by e-mail to the contact address (e-mail address). Similarly, the print job processing unit 47 transmits the print job 60 to the printing apparatus 10 as attached data of an e-mail.
The storage server X includes, besides the input device shown in FIG. 2, an input device such as a keyboard, a display device such as a CRT, and other components provided in a storage server for general print data. The description is omitted here because it is not necessary.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is an example of a print job transmission screen on the terminal 20 when transmitting the print job to the storage server X.
When transmitting (uploading) the print job to the storage server X, as shown in FIG. 3, the storage server name 51 (identification information of the storage server X) of the transmission destination (output destination) and the print target to be printed Data name 52 (file name of print data), job ID 53 for identifying the print job to be transmitted, user password 54, scheduled print date and time 55 of the print job, contact address 56 to the user (for example, An automatic transfer flag 57 for designating whether or not to automatically transfer to another storage server X when the storage server X of the transmission destination cannot accept the print request at the scheduled print date and time 55. Is set. The job ID 53 may be automatically set by the terminal 20 so as not to overlap with other print jobs. Thereafter, the print job is specified (identified) by the combination of the job ID 53 and the password 54. The storage server name 51 is associated with the URL of the storage server X.
When the “OK” button Pb1 is operated after the above settings are made, the web server is connected to the storage server X having the URL corresponding to the storage server name 51 by the function of the web browser, and the print data name 52 The print job including the designated print data and other setting information is transmitted.
When the print job transmission screen is accessed from the storage server X by specifying a predetermined URL from the web browser of the terminal 20, screen data described in HTML, XML, or the like is transmitted from the storage server X to the terminal 20. To be displayed on a web browser.
[0016]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the print job. As shown in FIG. 4, the print job 60 is mainly composed of a header section 61 and the print data 62. Further, the header section 61 includes the job ID 53, the password 54, the scheduled print date and time 55, the contact address 56, and the automatic transfer flag 57. When the print job 60 is transmitted from the storage server X to the printing apparatus 10 in response to a print request from the terminal 20, only the print data 62 is transmitted as a print job.
On the other hand, the storage server X that has received the print job 60 stores the received print job 60 in the data storage unit 49.
FIG. 5 shows a data configuration in the data storage unit 49 in which the print job 60 is stored. As shown in FIG. 5, the print job 60 is assigned a job number 63 for each print job 60 and stored (registered) in the data storage unit 49.
The print job 60 registered in the data storage unit 49 is deleted from the data storage unit 49 after the print request is made from the terminal 20 and transmitted to the printing device 20.
[0017]
Next, a message transmission process controlled by the print job management unit 48 of the storage server X will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Hereinafter, S101, S102,... Represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps).
First, when a predetermined start operation is performed in the storage server X, the data storage unit 49 is referred to and the print scheduled date and time 55 has passed (the current date and time has passed the print scheduled date and time 55). The print job 60 is searched (S101). As described above, the print job 60 transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 after the print request is made is deleted from the data storage unit 55, so that the print job existing in the data storage unit 55 is The print request has not been accepted (ie, has not been printed).
Then, when there is the print job 60 whose print date and time 55 has passed, the message shown in FIG. 7C is sent to the contact address 56 set in the print job 60. The message processing unit 44 transmits the electronic mail (S103). As shown in FIG. 7C, the message transmitted here indicates that the print job has not been printed even after the scheduled date and time has passed, and the setting of the print scheduled date and time 55 is changed as necessary. This is a message to prompt.
The user who has received such a message (owner of the contact address), as it is, receives a message service based on the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 (to be described later). Therefore, if the user wishes to receive the message service, it is necessary to newly set the scheduled print date and time 55. This will be described later.
[0018]
Next, when there is no print job 60 that has passed the scheduled print date and time 55 or after the message transmission in S103 is performed, the print pause schedule set by the pause scheduled date and time setting unit 43 is set. It is checked whether or not the date and time 70 exists (S104). If it is not set, the process returns to S101 to repeat the processing. If it is set, the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 and the scheduled print date and time 55 are set. (Including the case where the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 and the predetermined range before and after the scheduled suspension date and time and the scheduled print date and time 55 overlap. The same applies hereinafter) is searched for (S105).
If the duplicate print job 60 does not exist (NO in S106), the process returns to S101 to repeat the process. If the duplicate print job 60 exists (YES in S106), the automatic transfer flag 57 of the print job 60 is determined. Is checked (S107), and if automatic transfer is set (automatic transfer "OK"), the print job 60 is transferred to another print job management unit 48 (an example of the print job automatic transfer unit). The message is transferred to the storage server X (S109), and the message shown in FIG. 7B is transmitted by e-mail to the contact address 56 set in the print job 60 by the message processing unit 44 (FIG. 7B). S110). As shown in FIG. 7B, the message transmitted here is a message notifying that the print job has been automatically transferred and information (URL) of the storage server X of the transfer destination.
This allows the user to know the storage server X of the transfer destination, and saves the trouble of performing the transfer operation of the print job 60 described later.
Here, it is meaningless that the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 of the transfer destination storage server X overlaps with the scheduled print date and time of the transferred print job 60. Therefore, in the storage server X, before the print job 60 is automatically transferred, the print job management unit 48 (an example of the scheduled print suspension date and time acquisition unit) connects to the search server 30 so that all other print jobs can be connected. The print job suspension date / time 70 of the storage server X is acquired, and the print job is sent to the storage server X in which the acquired print suspension date / time 70 does not overlap with the print job schedule date / time 55 of the print job 60 to be transferred. Transfer 60. Of course, the print job management unit 48 may be configured to directly acquire the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 from all the other storage servers X connected to the network.
[0019]
On the other hand, if the automatic transfer flag 57 of the print job 60 detected in S106 is set to not automatically transfer (automatic transfer is “impossible”) (NO in S107), the print job 60 is set. The message shown in FIG. 7A is transmitted by e-mail to the contact address 56 by the message processing unit 44 (S108). As shown in FIG. 7A, the message transmitted here indicates that the print request date and time 55 of the print job indicate that the print request cannot be accepted (cannot be printed), and that the This message prompts the user to transfer the print job 60 to another storage server X or change the setting of the print scheduled date and time 55 (the transfer or the change of the setting is referred to as a print job change).
As described above, the message indicating that the registered print job 60 may not be printed is transmitted to the user (contact address of the user) in advance based on the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 and the scheduled print date and time 55. Therefore, it is possible to take measures such as printing the print job 60 earlier than expected or transferring the print job 60 to another storage server X.
In this message transmission process, the processes of S101 to S110 described above are repeated at a predetermined cycle.
[0020]
FIG. 8 shows that the user who has received the message shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C requests the storage server X to change the print job 60 (transfer to another storage server X, 7 is an example of a menu screen of the terminal 20 for performing (change of scheduled print date and time 55).
This menu screen is displayed by specifying the URL of the storage server X in which the print job 60 is registered (for example, the URL shown in the messages of FIGS. 7A and 7C) from the web browser of the terminal 20. By accessing the storage server X, screen data described in HTML, XML, or the like is transmitted from the storage server X to the terminal 20 by the WWW server 45 and displayed by the web browser.
The user sets the job ID 53 and the password 54 of the print job 60 to be changed on the menu screen, and then sets a “change storage (transfer)” button Pb2 and a “change scheduled print date and time” button Pb3. , And one of the “delete print job” button Pb4. As a result, a print job change request including the job ID 53 and the password 54 and any one of a print job transfer request, a scheduled print date change request, and a print job deletion request is transmitted to the storage server X.
[0021]
FIG. 9 illustrates a print job change process executed by the print job management unit 48 in the storage server X that has received the print job change request transmitted from the terminal 20 by operating the menu screen illustrated in FIG. It is a flowchart of FIG.
First, it is checked whether or not the print job 60 corresponding to the combination of the job ID 53 and the password 54 specified by the print job change request exists in the data storage unit 49 (S201). A notification to that effect is transmitted to the terminal 20 (not shown), and the process is terminated. If there is, a request content (change content) of the print job change request is checked (S202).
If the request from the terminal 20 is the print job deletion request, the corresponding print job 60 is deleted from the data storage unit 49, and the process ends.
If the request from the terminal 20 is the request to change the scheduled printing date and time, the scheduled printing date and time 55 of the corresponding print job 60 is changed (corrected) and the process ends. At this time, the terminal 10 that has transmitted the print job change request is requested to set (input) the changed scheduled print date and time 55, and the set date and time is set as the new scheduled print date and time 55.
If the request from the terminal 20 is the print job transfer request, the terminal 20 is connected to the search server 30 to acquire the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 of all other storage servers X (S221). By collating the acquired information with the scheduled print date and time 55 of the print job 60 to be transferred, the storage server X in which the scheduled print suspension date and time 70 and the scheduled print date and time 55 do not overlap is determined as a transfer destination candidate. Is selected (searched) (S222).
Further, information on the storage server X selected as the transfer destination candidate (the storage server name 51 is transmitted (provided) to the terminal 20 (S223), and the transfer instruction including the storage server name 51 selected from the selection destination candidates). Is received from the terminal 20 (S224).
Then, after transferring the print job 60 to the storage server X designated by the transfer instruction (S225), the process is terminated (the print job management unit 48 executing this process is executed by the print job designation transfer unit). One case).
As described above, by transferring the print job 60 to another storage server X, it is possible to avoid the overlap between the scheduled print time of the print job and the scheduled print suspension date of the storage server X.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even if the print data management device (storage server) cannot accept a print request, a message is notified to the user in advance, so that It is possible to take alternative measures such as performing a printing process or transferring a print job to another print data management device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system including a storage server X according to an embodiment of the present invention as a component.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print job transmission screen in a terminal that transmits a print job to a storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a data configuration of a print job stored in the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration in a data storage unit in which a print job is stored in the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a message transmission process of the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message transmitted by the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a screen of a terminal for making a print job change request to the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a print job change process of the storage server X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Printing device
20 ... Terminal
30 ... Search server
N ... Network
41 ... System control unit
42 ... Real-time clock
43: Scheduled date and time setting part for suspension
44 ... Message processing unit (message transmission means)
45 ... WWW server
46 ... Communication unit
47 print job processing unit
48 print job management unit (print job automatic transfer means, scheduled print suspension date and time acquisition means, print job designation transfer means)
49 Data storage unit (print suspension scheduled date and time storage means)
51: Storage server name
52 Print data name
53 ... Job ID
54 ... Password
55 ... Scheduled print date and time
56 ... Contact address (contact address)
57: Automatic transfer flag
60 print job
S101, S102,... Processing procedure (step)

Claims (7)

Print data management configured to be communicable with a printing device and transmitting one or more stored print jobs to the printing device in response to a print request from the printing device or a terminal capable of communicating with the print data management device In the device,
Information about contacts is set for each of the print jobs,
Scheduled print suspension date and time storage means for storing the scheduled print suspension date and time at which the print request cannot be accepted;
A print data management apparatus, comprising: a message transmission unit that transmits a predetermined message to the contact based on the scheduled print suspension date and time. Information on the scheduled print date and time is set for each of the print jobs,
2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitting unit transmits a predetermined message to the contact about the print job in which the scheduled print suspension date and time and the scheduled print date and time substantially overlap. Data management device. A print job automatic transfer unit for automatically transferring the print job in which the scheduled print suspension date and the scheduled print date and time substantially overlap with each other to another print data management device;
3. The print data management device according to claim 2, wherein the message transmission unit is configured to transmit a message indicating a transfer destination to which the print job has been automatically transferred. 4. A print job specifying transfer unit for transferring the print job to another print data management device in response to a predetermined print job transfer request from the printing device or the terminal. The print data management device according to the above. A scheduled print suspension date and time acquisition unit for acquiring the scheduled print suspension date and time from another print data management device;
The print job automatic transfer unit and / or the print job designation transfer unit does not substantially overlap the scheduled print suspension date and time obtained by the scheduled print suspension date and time acquisition unit with the scheduled print date and time of the print job to be transferred. The print data management device according to claim 3, wherein the print job is transferred to the other print data management device. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the message transmission unit transmits a predetermined message to the contact of the print job when the scheduled print date and time of the print job for which the print request has not been received has elapsed. The print data management device according to any one of the above. A print data management program configured to be communicable with a printing apparatus and to cause a computer to execute one or more stored print jobs to the printing apparatus in response to a print request from the printing apparatus or a predetermined terminal. At
Information about contacts is set for each of the print jobs,
A print data management program for causing a computer to execute a message transmission procedure of transmitting a predetermined message to the contact based on a scheduled print suspension date and time at which the print request cannot be accepted.

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