JP2004213370A - Printing management server device and printing management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a remotely located printing device efficiently perform printing. <P>SOLUTION: Printing object data and designation information for designating an output terminal device for outputting printing result based on the printing object data are received from a cellular phone or a user terminal device, the printing object data are transformed to printing data outputtable by the output terminal device designated by the designation information, and the printing data are transmitted to the output terminal device designated by the designation information. When printing of printing data is instructed from the cellular phone or user terminal device, the output terminal device retaining the printing data that is the object of this printing instruction is specified, and the control of printing to the specified output terminal device is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print management server device that performs print management, and a print management method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the development of Internet technology in recent years, it has become common practice to use a mobile terminal (portable terminal) such as a notebook computer or PDA to check e-mail and collect information when going out. However, at present, a simple means for printing data on a terminal in a mobile environment is not provided. By using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), it is possible to cause an output terminal connected to the Internet to perform printing from a mobile terminal, but in order to do so, it is necessary to recognize the URL of the output destination. In addition, it was essential to install a driver application for the output terminal on the mobile terminal.
[0003]
Therefore, conventionally, when an intermediary system for mediating printing is installed on the Internet and printing is to be performed from a mobile terminal, an identification number for specifying a file to be printed and output terminal information of an output destination is transmitted to the intermediary system. I do. Then, a system for printing data on a mobile terminal from a designated output terminal when a print permission is granted is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
In another conventional example, an ASP for providing a print service is provided on the Internet, and a file to be printed on a mobile terminal is set. Then, the set file is transmitted to the ASP. A system is disclosed in which a user goes to a place where an arbitrary output terminal managed by the ASP is installed, performs authentication for printing, and after authentication, prints a specified file from the output terminal. (For example, see Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-55911
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-268853
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the former conventional example, the restriction that the mobile terminal having the file to be printed must be located near the output terminal is provided, so that the operator of the mobile terminal can be placed at an arbitrary position. The printing was not performed when the output terminal provided was used for printing.
[0007]
In the latter conventional example, the file to be printed transmitted from the mobile terminal is stored in the ASP, and when a print instruction is input on the output terminal, the ASP outputs the file to be printed to a format in which the output terminal can output the file. And then transmitted to the output terminal, and the output terminal received and output this.
[0008]
However, since the ASP always accepts jobs from many other mobile terminals, every time a print instruction is input from the output terminal, the print file is converted and the converted data is transmitted. If so, there is a problem that it takes time to perform printing.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make a remotely located printing apparatus perform printing efficiently.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, a print management server device of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0011]
That is, a print management server device capable of performing data communication with an external information processing device group and a printing device group,
The designation information for receiving the print target data from the first information processing device of the external information processing device group and specifying a printing device that outputs a print result based on the print target data from the printing device group is described above. Receiving means for receiving from the first information processing device;
A conversion unit that converts the print target data received by the reception unit into print data that can be output by the printing device specified by the specification information;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print data to a printing device specified by the specification information;
The first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus in the external information processing apparatus group instructs to print any print data of the print data transmitted by the transmission unit in the past. A print control unit that specifies a printing device that holds print data to be the target of the print instruction from the printing device group, and controls printing on the specified printing device;
It is characterized by having.
[0012]
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, a print management method of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0013]
That is, a print management method performed by a print management server device capable of performing data communication with an external information processing device group and a print device group,
The designation information for receiving the print target data from the first information processing device of the external information processing device group and specifying a printing device that outputs a print result based on the print target data from the printing device group is described above. A receiving step of receiving from the first information processing device;
A conversion step of converting the print target data received in the reception step into print data that can be output by the printing device specified by the specification information;
A transmitting step of transmitting the print data to a printing device specified by the specification information;
The first information processing device or the second information processing device in the external information processing device group instructed to print any print data of the print data transmitted in the past in the transmission step. A printing control step of specifying a printing device holding print data to be subjected to the printing instruction from the printing device group, and controlling printing on the specified printing device;
It is characterized by having.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print management system according to the present embodiment. Reference numerals 101a to 101c denote mobile phones as mobile terminal devices, each of which allows an operator to select an output terminal device for printing a file (data) to be printed held by the mobile terminal device, and causes the selected output terminal device to select a print target. Can be transmitted via the management server device 105, and printing of the transmitted file can be instructed to the selected output terminal device via the management server device 105. Further, it is also possible to instruct the output terminal device via the management server device 105 to print a file transmitted to the output terminal device by another device (another mobile phone, a user terminal device, or the like).
[0016]
Reference numerals 102a to 102d denote user terminal devices, each of which is a computer such as a PC (personal computer) or a workstation, and which prints a file to be printed held by itself, similarly to the above-mentioned mobile phone. Can be selected by the operator, a file to be printed can be transmitted to the selected output terminal device via the management server device 105, and printing of the file transmitted to the selected output terminal device can be performed by the management server. Instructions can also be given via the device 105. In addition, it is also possible to instruct the output terminal device via the management server device 105 to print a file transmitted to the output terminal device by another device (other user terminal device, mobile phone, or the like). 103 is a network such as the Internet or a LAN.
[0017]
Output terminal devices 104a to 104c each function as a multifunction peripheral, and have a function of performing printing on a recording medium such as paper or OHP based on print data received from the management server device 105. In the following, performing printing in accordance with print data is sometimes referred to as “printing a file”, but is used in an equivalent sense.
[0018]
Further, the output terminal device is not limited to the multifunction device as long as it has such a printing function, and may simply be a network printer, a fax device, or the like. It is assumed that each output terminal device is arranged, for example, at each store of a convenience store, and is installed in a state where visitors of each store can use it.
[0019]
A management server device 105 converts a file to be printed transmitted from the mobile phones 101a to 101c or the user terminal devices 102a to 102d into print data in a format that can be output by the selected output terminal device. Output terminal device that has a function of outputting the print data to the designated output terminal device and prints the print data designated by the mobile phones 101a to 101c and the user terminal devices 102a to 102d. Can be instructed. Further, the management server device 105 manages a group of information described below regarding the transmitted print data.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the management server device 105. A CPU 201 controls the entire management server device 105 using programs and data stored in a RAM 202 and a ROM 203, controls data communication with each device, and instructs a received file to be printed. And the like to convert the output terminal device into a format that can be output by the output terminal device.
[0021]
Reference numeral 202 denotes a RAM, which includes an area for temporarily storing programs and data loaded from the external storage device 207 or the storage medium drive 208 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, and which is necessary when the CPU 201 executes various processes. Provide a work area.
[0022]
A ROM 203 stores programs and data for controlling the entire management server device 105. 204 and 205 are a keyboard and a mouse, respectively, which are used as input devices for inputting various instructions to the CPU 201. A display unit 206 is configured by a CRT, a liquid crystal screen, or the like, and displays various image information, character information, and the like. An external storage device 207 stores an OS (operating system), a driver software group 207a, a print data management table 207b, and various data groups necessary for processing, and these are loaded into the RAM 202 as needed. be able to.
[0023]
The driver software group 207a is a set of driver software for each of the output terminal devices (in FIG. 1, the output terminal devices 104a to 104c) connected to the management server device 105. The print data management table 207b manages print data generated based on a file received from a mobile phone or a user terminal device, and holds various types of information regarding print data. The driver software group 207a and the print data management table 207b will be described later in detail.
[0024]
A storage medium drive 208 reads a program or data stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, and outputs the read program or data to the RAM 202 or the external storage device 207. Reference numeral 209 denotes an I / F (interface) unit for connecting to the network 103. The management server device 105 can perform data communication with another device via the I / F unit 209. Reference numeral 210 denotes a bus connecting the above-described units.
[0025]
Next, a process of transmitting print data based on a file to be printed to the selected output terminal device (print data transmission process) will be described. In the present embodiment, a file to be printed is transmitted from the user terminal device (102a as an example in the following description, but it is obvious that the file may be 102b or 102c) to the management server device 105, and management is performed. The server device 105 converts the file into a format that can be output by the output terminal device selected by the user terminal device 102a (104a is used as an example in the following description, but it is obvious that it may be 104b or 104c). Then, the converted data (print data) is output to the output terminal device 104a, but the device for transmitting the file to be printed to the management server device 105 is not limited to the user terminal device, but is a mobile phone. Or a portable terminal device such as a PDA or a notebook computer.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process performed by the user terminal device 102a, the management server device 105, and the output terminal device 104a in the print data transmission process.
[0027]
Before executing the following processing, the operator of the user terminal device 102a has previously registered with the management server device 105, and the management server device 105 sets the ID (user ID) of the user terminal device 102a. keeping. This user ID is naturally also stored in the user terminal device 102a.
[0028]
First, the user terminal device 102a accesses the management server device 105, and a screen displaying a list of information on all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105 from the management server device 105 (output terminal device selection screen). Is received and displayed on a display screen (not shown) (step S301). At this time, the management server device 105 refers to a table as shown in FIG. 7, acquires information on all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105, and displays a list of the acquired information in a list. To the user terminal device 102a.
[0029]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a table stored in advance in the external storage device 207 of the management server device 105 and in which information on all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105 is registered. . In the present embodiment, this information includes addresses on the network 103 of all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105, and location information indicating where each output terminal device is installed (for example, “ A convenience store YY branch in YY, XX ward, Tokyo, etc.), and a corresponding address and location information are associated with each ID (output terminal device ID) uniquely assigned to each output terminal device. It is registered in the table of FIG.
[0030]
Therefore, the CPU 201 of the management server device 105 can refer to this table and transmit, to the user terminal device 102a, data of a screen on which addresses and predetermined information of all output terminal devices are displayed in a list. Although the data of this screen includes the data of the output terminal device ID of each output terminal device, the output terminal device ID may or may not be displayed.
[0031]
It should be noted that information regarding all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105 is not limited to this, and other information such as, for example, high image quality / low image quality, color printing possible / only monochrome printing, etc. The function of the output terminal device may be included.
[0032]
Then, the operator of the user terminal device 102a uses the output terminal device selection screen to output a file to be printed (text file data, image data, etc.) (in FIG. 1, the output terminal devices 104a to 104c). Is input using the keyboard 204 or the mouse 205, the CPU 201 receives this input, that is, an instruction to select an output terminal device (step S302).
[0033]
Further, since the operator of the user terminal device 102a selects a file to be printed, the CPU 201 receives this input, that is, an instruction to select a file to be printed (step S303). As a selection method, for example, a file name to be printed is input on the output terminal device selection screen. Further, the order of the processing in step S302 and the processing in step S303 is not limited to this.
[0034]
When the operator selects the output terminal device to which the file to be printed is transmitted, and the file to be printed, the output terminal device ID of the selected output terminal device, the data of the selected file to be printed, Then, the held user ID is transmitted to the management server device 105 (step S304). As described above, in this embodiment, the selected output terminal device is 104a.
[0035]
Upon receiving the ID and file transmitted from the user terminal device 102a in step S304 (step S311), the management server device 105 receives the output terminal device ID from the driver software group 207a loaded from the external storage device 207 into the RAM 202. Is specified (that is, driver software corresponding to the output terminal device 104a), the received file is converted into a format that can be output by the output terminal device 104a using the specified driver software, and the print data is converted. It is generated (step S312).
[0036]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the driver software group 207a. Since the driver software group 207a is a set of driver software corresponding to each output terminal device ID, when the output terminal device ID is specified, the driver software corresponding to the output terminal device ID is uniquely determined. Therefore, in step S312, the driver software corresponding to the output terminal device 104a can be specified using the received output terminal device ID.
[0037]
Then, the management server device 105 transmits the print data generated in step S312 to the output terminal device 104a (step S313), and the output terminal device 104a receives this print data (step S321) and holds it (step S322). . The output terminal device 104a basically holds the print data until it receives a print instruction for the print data, but it may automatically delete the print data after a certain period.
[0038]
When the print data transmission process is completed, the management server device 105 generates a password to be input for performing printing in accordance with the print data transmitted to the output terminal device 104a (step S314).
[0039]
Then, it indicates that the transmission of the print data has been completed, and transmits data of a screen for notifying the created password (transmission completion screen) to the user terminal device 102a (step S315). Then, the user terminal device 102a receives this (step S305) and displays it on a display screen (not shown) (step S306).
[0040]
The transmission completion screen may further display the location information of the output terminal device (104a in this embodiment) to which the print data has been transmitted. In this case, the management server device 105 transmits the location information corresponding to the output terminal device ID received in step S311 to the user terminal device 102a by including the location information corresponding to the output terminal device ID received in step S311 in the data of the transmission completion screen. Just fine.
[0041]
On the other hand, the management server device 105 performs a process of registering the information group regarding the print data generated in step S312 in the print data management table 207b (step S316). The print data management table 207b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the print data management table 207b. In the print data management table 207b, a group of information on print data based on a file transmitted from each device is registered for each user ID, and when a plurality of files are transmitted from the same device to the management server device 105, Is registered with information on a plurality of print data for the same user ID.
[0042]
The information on each print data includes the file name of the file that was the original data of the print data, the status of the print data, the address on the network 103 of the output terminal device to which the management server device 105 sent the print data, Then, there is a password to be input in order to perform printing in accordance with the print data generated in step S314.
[0043]
The status of each print data is normally “ALIVE”, but when a print data deletion instruction is received from a mobile phone or a user terminal device, the CPU 201 of the management server device 105 changes the status of the print data to be deleted to “ALIVE”. DELETED ”.
[0044]
As described above, the information (management information) is registered in the print data management table 207b.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the information for specifying a file is a file name, but is not limited to this.
[0046]
With the above processing, the user selects the output device 104a on which the file to be printed is to be printed from the user terminal device 102a, and outputs the file to the selected output terminal device 104a in a format that can be output by the output terminal device 104a. Can be transmitted.
[0047]
Further, according to the above processing, even when a large number of files are transmitted from a mobile phone or a user terminal device, for example, the management server device 105 does not hold the print data of each file and only manages the management information of each print data. Is stored, and each print data is transmitted to the designated output terminal device, so that the load of storing the print data can be distributed.
[0048]
Further, for example, when there is a time lag before performing printing, such as transmitting a file to be printed to the management server device 105 and performing printing at a later date, according to the above-described processing, within this time (the time until printing is performed) Since the print data generation process and the print data transmission process to the output terminal device are performed in advance (within time), the management server device 105 does not perform these processes during printing, and the print process proceeds smoothly. be able to.
[0049]
Next, a case in which the print data held by the output terminal device 104a is output (ie, printed) will be described. In the present embodiment, the password and the file name of the file to be printed are transmitted to the management server device 105 from a mobile phone (101a in the following description, but it is obvious that it may be 101b or 101c). Accordingly, the management server device 105 specifies the output terminal device 104a with reference to the print data management table 207b, and causes the specified output terminal device 104a to perform printing in accordance with the specified print data.
[0050]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process performed by each of the mobile phone 101a, the management server device 105, and the output terminal device 104a in the printing process.
[0051]
First, the mobile phone 101a accesses a homepage provided by the management server device 105, inputs a user ID from the mobile phone 101a on this homepage, and transmits the user ID to the management server device 105 (step S601).
[0052]
Upon receiving the user ID (step S611), the management server device 105 refers to the print data management table 207b illustrated in FIG. 5 and refers to all the file names (the status is “ALIVE”) corresponding to the user ID. Screen data that has an area (list display area) for obtaining a list of acquired file names and an area for entering a password when a file to be printed is selected (password input area) Is returned to the mobile phone 101a (step S612).
[0053]
In the example of FIG. 5, when the user ID received from the user terminal device 102a is “0”, the list display area has the file name corresponding to the user ID “0” and the status “f1” whose status is “ALIVE”. .Dat "and" f2.dat "are displayed.
[0054]
The mobile phone 101a receives the screen data and displays a screen according to the screen data on the display screen (step S602). Then, the operator of the mobile phone 101a selects a file to be printed from the file names displayed in the list display area using the operation unit of the mobile phone 101a (button group provided on the mobile phone 101a), and further selects Password to be printed in order to print the file (the password displayed on the screen transmitted to the user terminal device in step S304 described above, and it is necessary that the operator of the mobile phone 101a also know this password). Is input to the password input area, the selected file name and the input password are transmitted to the management server device 105 (step S603).
[0055]
The management server device 105 receives this (step S613), and determines whether or not the received password is for the file to be printed by referring to the print data management table 207b illustrated in FIG. Step S614).
[0056]
If the received password matches the password for the file to be printed, the output terminal device holding the print data of the file to be printed is referred to by referring to the print data management table 207b illustrated in FIG. (In this embodiment, the address of 104a), and instructs the output terminal device 104a specified by this address to perform printing (step S615). The print instruction includes the file name of the file to be printed.
[0057]
When receiving the print instruction (step S621), the output terminal device 104a performs printing in accordance with the print data specified by the file name of the file to be printed included in the received instruction, from the stored print data group. (Step S622).
[0058]
On the other hand, if the received password does not match the password for the file to be printed, data of a screen (warning screen) indicating that the received password is not for the file to be printed is transmitted to the mobile phone 101a. (Step S616).
[0059]
The mobile phone 101a determines whether or not the printing has been successfully performed based on whether or not the data of the warning screen has been received from the management server device 105, and when the data of the warning screen has been received (step S604), A warning screen according to the data is displayed on a display screen (not shown) (step S605).
[0060]
By the above processing, the print data is held in the output terminal device, and the password is given only to the partner who wants to send the print result of the print data, so that the print result can be sent only to this partner, and Since the print data is transmitted to the output terminal device 104a, printing can be performed at a higher speed than in the related art, and the remote output terminal device 104a can perform printing efficiently.
[0061]
Further, when performing printing, the management server device 105 may present a screen for setting printing (setting of printing paper size, setting of 2in1 or 4in1, etc.) to the mobile phone. In this case, the print settings set in the mobile phone are transmitted to the output terminal device via the server device 105, and the output terminal device performs printing according to the received print settings.
[0062]
[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment, all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105 are displayed as output terminal devices displayed on the output terminal device selection GUI. For example, this file is printed. By designating the nearest area of the recipient to receive on the file transmission side, the management server device 105 displays only the output terminal devices installed in the specified region on the output terminal device selection GUI. Is also good.
[0063]
In the first embodiment, when print data stored in the output terminal device 104a is output (ie, printed), a print instruction is issued from the mobile phone 101a to the output terminal device 104a via the management server device 105. Was sent to the place where the recipient of the print result of the print data was installed on the output terminal device 104a, and the file name of the file to be printed was directly entered using the operation panel of the output terminal device 104a. A password (a password for print data to be printed, which is displayed on the display screen in step S306) may be input, and a file to be printed may be selected and printed.
[0064]
In this case, the password correctness determination process performed by the output terminal device 104a may be performed by acquiring the password corresponding to the file to be printed from the management server device 105 and comparing the acquired password.
[0065]
Further, when the management server device 105 transmits print data to the output terminal device 104a, the password created for the print data is transmitted to the output terminal device 104a together with the print data, so that the password correctness determination process can be performed. At this time, the output terminal device 104a does not need to perform data communication with the management server device 105, and can perform smoother and more efficient print processing.
[0066]
In the first embodiment, the print data is transmitted from the user terminal device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Recently, since a mobile phone also has an image capturing function, the print data is captured from the mobile phone. The image data may be transmitted to the output terminal device via the management server device 105. Further, in the first embodiment, the device for transmitting the print data and the device for instructing the printing are the user terminal device and the mobile phone, respectively, but are not limited thereto.
[0067]
[Other embodiments]
An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus. Can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0068]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function of the program is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU included in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0069]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts (shown in FIG. 3 and / or FIG. 6).
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cause a remotely located printing apparatus to perform printing efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a management server device 105.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process performed by a user terminal device 102a, a management server device 105, and an output terminal device 104a in a print data transmission process.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a driver software group 207a.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print data management table 207b.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process performed by a mobile phone 101a, a management server device 105, and an output terminal device 104a for print processing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a table stored in advance in an external storage device 207 of the management server device 105 and in which information on all output terminal devices connected to the management server device 105 is registered. .
[Explanation of symbols]
101a, 101b, 101c, 101d Mobile phone
102a, 102b, 102c, 102d User terminal device
103 Network
104a, 104b, 104c, 104d output terminal
105 Management server
201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
205 mouse
206 Display
207 External storage device
207a Driver software section
207b print data management table
208 Storage medium table
209 I / F

Claims (8)

An external information processing device group, and a print management server device capable of data communication with the printing device group,
The designation information for receiving the print target data from the first information processing device of the external information processing device group and specifying a printing device that outputs a print result based on the print target data from the printing device group is described above. Receiving means for receiving from the first information processing device;
A conversion unit that converts the print target data received by the reception unit into print data that can be output by the printing device specified by the specification information;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print data to a printing device specified by the specification information;
The first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus in the external information processing apparatus group instructs to print any print data of the print data transmitted by the transmission unit in the past. A print control unit configured to specify a print device holding print data to be the target of the print instruction from the print device group and to control printing of the specified print device. . Further, a driver holding unit for holding a driver for converting the print target data received by the receiving unit into a format that can be output by each of the printing device groups, for each printing device,
The conversion unit uses the driver corresponding to the printing device specified by the specification information received by the reception unit out of the driver group held by the driver storage unit, and converts the print target data received by the reception unit into the driver. The print management server device according to claim 1, wherein the print data is converted into print data that can be output by a printing device specified by the specification information. A print data / printing device specifying information holding unit that stores print data specifying information for specifying the printing data transmitted by the transmitting unit and printing device specifying information for specifying a printing device to which the printing data is transmitted; With
When the transmission unit is instructed to print any of the print data transmitted in the past, the print control unit refers to the information group held by the print data / printing device identification information holding unit. And specifying printing device specifying information corresponding to the printing data specifying information of the printing data targeted for the printing instruction, and performing printing control for the printing device specified by the printing device specifying information. Item 2. The print management server device according to item 1. Furthermore,
Holding means for holding, for each print data, a password to be input for performing printing in accordance with the print data transmitted in the past by the transmission means,
A password receiving unit that receives a first password input to perform printing in accordance with the target print data from the first information processing device or the second information processing device;
A password correctness determining unit configured to determine correctness of the first password and a second password corresponding to the print data of interest from a group of passwords stored in the storage unit;
The printing control unit instructs printing to a printing apparatus that holds the target print data only when the right / false determination unit determines that the first password and the second password match. The print management server device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A print management method performed by a print management server device capable of data communication with an external information processing device group and a printing device group,
The designation information for receiving the print target data from the first information processing device of the external information processing device group and specifying a printing device that outputs a print result based on the print target data from the printing device group is described above. A receiving step of receiving from the first information processing device;
A conversion step of converting the print target data received in the reception step into print data that can be output by the printing device specified by the specification information;
A transmitting step of transmitting the print data to a printing device specified by the specification information;
The first information processing device or the second information processing device in the external information processing device group instructed to print any print data of the print data transmitted in the past in the transmission step. A print control method for specifying a printing device holding print data to be the target of the print instruction from the printing device group and controlling printing on the specified printing device. A program for causing a computer to function as the print management device according to claim 1. A program for causing a computer to execute the print management method according to claim 5. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 6.

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