JP2004252677A - Wide-area printing system, document server, content server, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a printing data provider to send a user to an image forming apparatus set in a desired place and print printing data. <P>SOLUTION: In this wide-area printing system, a document server receives printing data from a content server for providing various pieces of information through the Internet, and the document server transmits the print data to an image forming apparatus set in a remote place to print them. At this time, the document server transmits, when a document ID and store information which are received from the image forming apparatus are matched to a document ID and store information corresponding thereto which are stored in a storage means of the document server, the print data shown by the document ID to the image forming apparatus that is the transmitter of the document ID. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for transmitting information stored in a server connected to the Internet to an image forming apparatus installed in a remote place via the Internet and printing the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Network printing in which information stored in a server on the Internet is called from an image forming apparatus (at least an apparatus having a printer function) installed at a remote place via the Internet and necessary documents can be printed. A system is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this network printing system, a user (print data receiver) sends a document ID to a print service server via the Internet from a printer installed in a convenience store or the like, and the print service server receives the document ID (identification). Then, the print data corresponding to the document ID is searched, the print data is transferred to the printer that has notified the document ID, and the user is charged based on the document ID according to the data amount of the print data. It is supposed to do.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-32205
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Today, a user is notified that an advertisement or the like of a particular store can be printed by e-mail, and the user transmits print data of the advertisement or the like of the store from a server on a network to an image forming apparatus installed in a convenience store or the like. It has been proposed to be able to call and print. In this case, it is desired that a print data provider of an advertisement or the like sends a user to a store operated or operated by the user and causes the image forming apparatus installed in the store to print the advertisement. However, in the network printing system, when printing print data with an image forming apparatus installed in a convenience store or the like, the print data can be called from an image forming apparatus installed in any store. Therefore, since the user can print the advertisement or the like from the image forming apparatus of the store that is not the advertisement target, the user cannot always go to the store or the like that is the advertisement target.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a print data provider that prints print data after sending a user to an image forming apparatus installed at a desired location. And a document server, a content server, and an image forming apparatus.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a document server receives print data from a content server that provides various information via the Internet, and the document server is installed at a remote location. In a wide area printing system for transmitting to an image forming apparatus for printing
The image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an operator; a document ID input to the receiving unit; and information of a store where the image forming apparatus is installed. Transmitting means for transmitting to the server, receiving means for receiving print data from the document server, and output means for printing the received print data,
The document server includes a data transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives various data to / from the content server and the image forming apparatus, print data received from the content server, a document ID of the print data, and permission to print the print data. Storage means for storing information on the store to be stored, and whether the document ID and store information received from the transmission means of the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage means Determining means for determining whether or not the document ID and the store information match each other, and storing the print data indicated by the document ID in the image forming apparatus which has transmitted the document ID; Control means for reading from the means and transmitting the data to the data transmitting / receiving means.
[0007]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document for receiving print data from a content server providing various information via the Internet, transmitting the print data to an image forming apparatus installed at a remote location, and printing the document. A server,
Storage means for storing print data received from the content server, a document ID for specifying the print data, and store information where printing of the print data is permitted;
Data transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving various data between the content server and the image forming apparatus,
Determining means for determining whether the document ID and store information received from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and store information corresponding to the document ID stored in the storage means;
When the determination unit determines that the document ID and the store information match, the print data indicated by the document ID is transmitted to the data transmission / reception unit to the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the document ID and the store information. And control means for causing the
[0008]
According to these configurations, when the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the store information corresponding to the document ID stored in the storage unit of the document server, Print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus side, so that the print data indicated by the document ID can be printed only at a specific store. This makes it possible for a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store matching the document ID.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wide area printing system according to the first aspect, the document server calculates a print fee of the print data stored in the storage unit and stores the billing data. With means,
If the determination unit determines that the document ID and the store information received from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID stored in the storage unit and the corresponding store information, The billing means calculates a print fee to which a fixed amount is added and stores the calculated fee as billing data. The control means causes the print data indicated by the document ID to be transmitted from the data transmitting / receiving means to the image forming apparatus together with the billing data. ,
The image forming apparatus, when the receiving unit receives, from the document server, accounting data indicating the printing fee to which the fixed amount is added, collects a printing fee from a print data receiver based on the accounting data. It has toll collection means.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the wide area printing system according to the fourth aspect, there is provided a billing unit for calculating a print fee of the print data stored in the storage unit and storing the billing data,
If the determination unit determines that the document ID and the store information received from the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID stored in the storage unit and the corresponding store information, the charging unit determines A print fee to which a certain amount of money is added is calculated and stored as billing data, and the control means causes the data transmitting / receiving means to transmit the print data indicated by the document ID together with the billing data to the image forming apparatus. .
[0011]
According to these configurations, if the document ID and the store information corresponding to the document ID stored in the storage unit of the document server do not match the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus, a certain amount of money is charged. Is added, and the user can print the print data. Therefore, a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID is installed in a store where printing of the print data indicated by the document ID is permitted. Motivation to go to the image forming apparatus that is in use, and the print data can be printed even from an image forming apparatus installed in a store where printing of the print data indicated by the document ID is not permitted. .
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wide area printing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control means of the document server stores the document ID and the store ID received from the transmission means of the image forming apparatus. When it is determined that the information does not match the document ID stored in the storage means and the corresponding store information, the print data charging data to which the fixed amount calculated by the charging means is added, Causing the transmission / reception unit to transmit to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a print fee based on billing data received from the document server, and print data that transmits a print data transmission instruction corresponding to the billing data received from the document server to the document server. Instruction transmission means,
When the data transmission / reception unit receives the print data transmission instruction from the instruction transmission unit of the image forming apparatus, the control unit of the document server transmits print data indicated by the document ID from the data transmission / reception unit to the image forming apparatus. Is transmitted to the user.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the document server according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the control unit stores the document ID and the store information received from the image forming apparatus in the storage unit. When it is determined that the stored document ID does not match the store information corresponding to the stored document ID, print data charging data to which the fixed amount calculated by the charging unit is added is sent from the transmission / reception unit to the image forming apparatus. And transmitting the print data indicated by the document ID from the data transmitting / receiving unit to the image forming apparatus when the data transmitting / receiving unit receives the print data transmitting instruction from the image forming apparatus. is there.
[0014]
According to these configurations, if the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage unit of the document server, the user When the user tries to print the print data indicated by the document ID, the display fee of the image forming apparatus is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and the document server transmits the print data of the image forming apparatus. Since the print data is transmitted only when the print data transmission instruction is received from the instruction transmission unit, the user is allowed to add a fixed amount to the print fee, and then the printing by the image forming apparatus is performed. Can be made possible.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 7 is an image forming apparatus that receives and outputs print data from a document server connected to the Internet,
Receiving means for receiving an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an operator;
Transmitting means for transmitting, to the document server, the document ID input from the receiving means and information on a shop where the image forming apparatus is installed,
Receiving means for receiving, from the document server, print data matching the document ID and store information transmitted from the transmitting means to the document server;
Output means for printing the print data received by the receiving means;
It is provided with.
[0016]
According to this configuration, when the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage unit of the document server, the image forming apparatus transmits the document Since the print data is received from the server, the print data indicated by the document ID can be made printable only by an image forming apparatus installed in a preset store. This makes it possible for a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store matching the document ID.
[0017]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the receiving unit collects a print fee from a print data receiver based on the billing data received from the document server. Means.
[0018]
According to this configuration, the print fee required for printing the print data can be directly and reliably collected from the print data receiver.
[0019]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the display means displays a print fee based on billing data received from the document server;
A print data transmission instruction transmitting unit that transmits a print data transmission instruction corresponding to the accounting data received from the document server to the document server;
It is provided with.
[0020]
According to this configuration, after receiving the billing data from the document server, a print data transmission instruction corresponding to the billing data can be transmitted to the document server, so that a certain amount of money is added to the print fee to the user. Accepted, printing by the image forming apparatus can be enabled.
[0021]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content server for transmitting print data to a document server via the Internet and causing the print data to be printed by an image forming apparatus installed at a remote place via the document server.
A data storage unit for storing the print data, a document ID of the print data, and information of a store where printing of the print data is permitted;
A message transmitting unit that transmits a message to the effect that the specific print data stored in the data storage unit is delivered to a user-owned communication terminal device;
Print data distribution instruction receiving means for receiving a print data distribution instruction from the communication terminal device,
When a print data distribution instruction is received from the communication terminal device by the print data distribution instruction receiving unit, the corresponding print data, a document ID of the print data, and printing of the print data are permitted from the data storage unit. Data reading means for reading information of a store to be performed;
Print information transmitting means for transmitting the print data, document ID and store information read from the data storage means by the data reading means to the document server.
[0022]
According to this configuration, the print data, the document ID of the print data, and the information of the store permitted to print the print data are transmitted to the document server based on the print data distribution instruction from the user. In, it is possible to limit the transmission destination of the print data corresponding to the document ID and the store information using the document ID and the store information received from the content server.
[0023]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wide-area printing system in which a server that provides various types of information transmits print data to a remote image forming apparatus via the Internet and prints the print data.
The image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an operator; a document ID input to the receiving unit; and information of a store in which the image forming device is installed. Transmitting means for transmitting to the server, receiving means for receiving print data from the server, and output means for printing the received print data,
The server includes a data transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives various data to / from the image forming apparatus, and a storage unit that stores print data, a document ID of the print data, and information of a store where printing of the print data is permitted. Determining means for determining whether the document ID and the store information received from the transmitting means of the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage means; If the means determines that the document ID and the store information match, the print data indicated by the document ID is read from the storage means and transmitted to the data transmission / reception means for the image forming apparatus which transmitted the document ID. And control means for causing the
[0024]
According to this configuration, when the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage unit of the server, the image formation from the server is performed. Since the print data is transmitted to the apparatus, the print data indicated by the document ID can be printed only at a specific store. This makes it possible for a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store matching the document ID.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a wide area printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wide area printing system according to the present invention. In the wide area printing system 1 according to the present invention, the document server 3 temporarily receives print data stored in the content server 2 connected to the Internet via the Internet, and stores the data in a convenience store 4, a print station 5, and a hotel in a remote place. The document server 3 transmits print target information via the Internet to each of the printers 41, 51, and 61 installed at the printer 6 and the like, and prints the information. The convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like are connected by an Internet network.
[0026]
The content server 2 is a server having a database in which various types of information are stored. For example, the content server 2 distributes print target information (hereinafter, referred to as print data) used by a product distributor or the like for advertisement. The content server 2 assigns, for example, a print data unique number (a number assigned to identify this print data when a certain print data is registered in the content server 2) to a store for each print data provided to the user. A content ID (identification) to which information (described later) is added is given, and a user ID is given to each user (print data receiver). The user ID is a user-specific identification number assigned to each user when the user is registered in the content server 2 for the purpose of printing out print data. The transmission of these IDs to the document server 3 will be described later.
[0027]
The content server 2 distributes print data by electronic mail or the like to communication terminal devices such as a mobile phone 7, a PC (notebook personal computer) 9, and a PDA (personal digital assistants) 10 of each user. Send a message. Further, the content server 2 transmits the print data to be provided to the user and the document ID accompanying the print data to the document server 3.
[0028]
The document server 3 creates a document ID from the content ID and the user ID received from the content server 2, and stores the print data received from the content server 2 in association with the document ID. This document ID is transmitted from the document server 3 to a communication terminal device such as the user's mobile phone 7, notebook PC (notebook personal computer) 9, PDA 10, and the like. When the user inputs this document ID to one of the printers 41, 51, and 61, and the document server 3 receives the document ID from any of the printers 41, 51, and 61, the document server 3 transmits the document under certain conditions. The print data corresponding to the document ID is transmitted to the printers 41, 51, and 61 that have transmitted the ID.
[0029]
The printers 41, 51, and 61 installed at the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like can transmit and receive data to and from the document server 3 via the Internet. The printers 41, 51, and 61 only need to have at least a printer function, and may be a so-called multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile.
[0030]
The provider 8 is an organization that provides an Internet connection service, and enables connection from the document server 3 to communication terminal devices such as a notebook PC (notebook personal computer) 9 and a PDA 10 via the Internet.
[0031]
The telephone company 11 provides a voice call service to the mobile phone 7 and, as a provider, provides an internet connection service for enabling the mobile phone 7 to transmit and receive data. Note that the telephone company 11 itself does not need to provide the Internet connection service, and may enable the Internet connection through the service of another provider group. The mobile phone 7 has a data transmission / reception function in addition to a normal voice call function.
[0032]
The outline of data communication between the user, the content server 2 and the document server 3 in the wide area printing system 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of data communication among the user, the content server 2 and the document server 3.
[0033]
{Circle around (1)} The content server 2 which is the information transmission source of advertisements and the like distributes advertisements (advertisement of products sold in-house, etc.) to communication terminal devices such as the user's mobile phone 7 by e-mail or the like. For example, a message indicating that a catalog or the like of an in-house sold product with an image can be printed by the printers 41, 51, and 61 of the wide area printing system 1 is also delivered.
[0034]
{Circle around (2)} The user who has received the advertisement from the content server 2 transmits an instruction to request printing of the print target by mail transmission, access to an Internet site, or the like.
[0035]
(3) Upon receiving the print request from the user, the content server 2 transmits to the document server 3 the target print data, a content ID indicating the print data, and a user ID of a user who is permitted to print the print data. I do. The content ID includes information (hereinafter, store information) indicating a store that is permitted to print the print data in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like. Therefore, the content ID is the print data unique number with the store information added thereto.
[0036]
This store information may be provided for each branch or for each organization that operates the store. When the store information is added to each branch, for example, it is possible to set whether or not to permit printing of print data for each store such as a convenience store. If store information is added for each organization that operates a store, it is possible to set whether or not to allow printing of print data for each operating organization. Print data can be printed.
[0037]
Note that there may be a plurality of stores or organizations that permit printing of one print data. In this case, the content ID includes a plurality of store information.
[0038]
When the user transmits the content owned by the user or the organization belonging to the user to the document server 3 from the database server or the like of the user connected to the Internet or the organization to which the user belongs, and prints the content, It will function as the content server 2. In this case, the store information is not added, and the store information is not collated by the document server 3 described later, and the printer installed in any of the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like. It is also possible to enable printing of the print data.
[0039]
(4) Upon receiving the print data, the content ID, and the user ID, the document server 3 creates a document ID including the content ID and the user ID. The document server 3 determines the document ID and which store in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, etc. can print the print data (store information included in the content ID received from the content server 2). (A store that is permitted to print the print data) is transmitted to the user (eg, the mobile phone 7).
[0040]
When the user (operator) who has received the document ID and the information on the printable store inputs the document ID into the printer installed in the store, (5) the printer is assigned the document ID, The information such as the printer ID and the print data transmission request is transmitted to the document server 3. The printer ID is obtained by adding information (store information) of the store where the printer is installed to the unique device number of each printer, and is created when the printer is installed in the store.
[0041]
Upon receiving the document ID, the printer ID, and the print data transmission request from the printer, the document server 3 collates the document ID received from the printer with the document ID held by the document server 3, and further receives the printer ID received from the printer. The store information included in the ID and the store information included in the document ID (content ID) held by the document server 3 are collated. If the document ID and the store information match in these checks, the print data to be printed is specified based on the document ID, and (6) the print data is transmitted to the printer that transmitted the printer ID. .
[0042]
The printer at the store receiving the print data prints the print data. The print fee is displayed on a display unit provided on the operation panel of the printer.
[0043]
By performing the above-described data communication between the user, the content server 2 and the document server 3, it is possible to restrict the printing place (printer) of specific print data as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the content to be printed for each provider, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a printable location for each content.
[0044]
For example, when the user prints the content distributed from the content server 2 operated by the advertising agency, the print data transmitted from the content server 2 of the advertising agency to the document server 3 includes each store (convenience store). 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, etc.), by attaching all the store information indicating the content ID to the content ID, the printer can be used from any printer installed in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, etc. The print data can be freely printed.
[0045]
Also, when the user prints the content distributed from the content server 2 operated by the organization B, the organization information stored in the content ID transmitted from the content server 2 of the organization B to the document server 3 is managed by the organization B. By using the store information, it is possible to restrict the user from printing the print data only at stores operated by the organization B. Further, by setting the store information included in the content ID to store information indicating one specific branch among stores operated by the organization B, the user can print the print data only at one specific branch. Can be restricted to
[0046]
Similarly, when the user prints the content distributed from the content server 2 operated by the C hotel, the content ID attached to the print data transmitted from the content server 2 of the C hotel to the document server 3 indicates the C hotel. By including the store information, it is possible to restrict the user from printing the print data only at the C hotel.
[0047]
When the user transmits the content owned by the user or the organization belonging to the user to the document server 3 from the database server or the like of the user connected to the Internet or the organization to which the user belongs, and prints the content, It will function as the content server 2. In this case, the store information is not added, and the store information is not collated by the document server 3 described later, and the printer installed in any of the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like. It is also possible to enable printing of the print data.
[0048]
Next, an outline of the internal configuration of the document server 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the document server 3. The document server 3 includes a print data storage unit 301, a document ID management unit 302, a store information storage unit 303, a billing unit 304, a data search unit 305, a communication unit 306, a print request reception analysis unit 307, a print permission determination unit 308, The control unit 310 is provided.
[0049]
The print data storage unit 301 stores the print data received from the content server 2 in association with the associated document ID. The print data provided to each user is read from the print data storage unit 301 and transmitted to each of the printers 41, 51, and 61.
[0050]
The document ID management unit 302 creates and stores a document ID based on the user ID and the content ID associated with the print data. The store information storage unit 303 stores information on stores or organizations that are permitted to print the print data indicated by the document ID. The billing unit 304 calculates a print fee for printing the print data, and stores the calculated billing data. The data search unit 305 reads print data corresponding to the document ID received from each of the printers 41, 51, and 61 from the print data storage unit 301.
[0051]
The communication unit 306 performs various data communications with each of the printers 41, 51, 61 and the content server 2 via a network interface (not shown) and the Internet. The print request reception / analysis unit 307 analyzes the contents of the print data transmission request based on the document ID and the printer ID, and sends the analysis result to the data search unit 305 and the like. The print permission determining unit 308 determines whether the store information received from each of the printers 41, 51, and 61 matches the store information stored in the store information storage unit 303.
[0052]
The control unit 310 controls the operation of the entire document server 3, and stores print data in the data search unit 305 in response to a print request based on the document ID and store information from each of the printers 41, 51, 61. An instruction to search for print data stored in the unit 301 or an instruction to the communication unit 306 to transmit and receive print data, billing data, and the like.
[0053]
Next, an outline of the internal configuration of the content server 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the content server 2. The content server 2 includes a print data storage unit 201, an ID management unit 202, a communication unit 204, a print request reception analysis unit 205, a data read unit 206, and a control unit 210.
[0054]
The print data storage unit 201 stores print data to be provided to a user. The print data transmitted to the document server 3 is read from the print data storage unit 201 and transmitted.
[0055]
The ID management unit 202 stores and manages a user ID and a content ID attached to the print data in association with the print data. The user ID and the content ID transmitted to the document server 3 are read from the ID management unit 202 and transmitted.
[0056]
The communication unit 204 performs various data communications with a communication terminal device such as the user's mobile phone 7 and the document server 3 via a network interface (not shown) and the Internet.
[0057]
The print request reception / analysis unit 205 analyzes the contents of a print request instruction or the like from a user's communication terminal device such as the mobile phone 7 and sends the analysis result to the control unit 210 and the like.
[0058]
The data reading unit 206 stores the corresponding print data, the user ID and the content ID associated with the print data based on the print data distribution instruction received from the mobile phone 7 or the like owned by the user. It is read from the ID management unit 202.
[0059]
The control unit 210 controls the overall operation of the content server 2, and reads and sends / receives data to / from the data reading unit 206 and the communication unit 204 in response to a print data distribution instruction from the mobile phone 7 or the like by the user. And so on.
[0060]
Next, an outline of the internal configuration of the printers 41, 51, 61 will be described. Since the main parts of the internal configuration of each printer are the same, the printer 41 will be described below as an example. FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the printer 41. The printer 41 transmits the printer ID to the document server 3 in addition to the document ID input by the user, and receives print data corresponding to the document ID from the document server 3 and prints the data.
[0061]
The printer 41 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) display section on which various messages (print fee and the like) necessary for operating the printer 41 are displayed, a touch panel on which operation instructions and a document ID necessary for printing are input by a user, and the like. , A data transmission / reception unit 412 for transmitting / receiving a document ID, a printer ID, print data, and the like to / from the document server 3, and a print output unit 414 for forming and printing an image based on the received print data. A charge collection unit 415 for collecting bills and coins to be charged as a print service charge, a charge detection unit 416 for detecting whether or not a charge has been charged to the charge collection unit 415, and a document server by the data transmission / reception unit 412. 3 control of data transmission and reception, and operation control of the fee collection unit 415 Etc., and a control unit 417 for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus.
[0062]
The processing at the time of printing by the printer of the wide area printing system 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing at the time of printing. When the charge detection unit 416 detects that at least the charge has been input (YES in S1), it is determined whether copy (copy) or print is selected according to the instruction input from the operation panel 411 ( S2). Here, when copy is selected (copy in S2), normal copy processing is performed (S10).
[0063]
If print is selected in S2 (print in S2), a printer ID and a print data transmission request are transmitted to the document server 3 together with the input document ID (YES in S3, S4). When print data and data such as a print fee corresponding to the document ID are received from the document server 3 (S5), the print fee is displayed based on the received print fee data (S6), and the print data is printed (S7). ). Then, an instruction to collect the print fee is issued to the fee collection unit 415 (S8).
[0064]
The processing in the document server 3 will be described in association with the processing on the printer side. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the document server 3 and the printer. When a document ID is input to the printer, the document ID, the printer ID of the printer, and a print data transmission request are transmitted to the document server 3 (P1). The document server 3 receives the document ID, the printer ID, and the print data transmission request (D1), and searches the print data storage unit 301 for print data corresponding to the received document ID (D2).
[0065]
If the print data corresponding to the received document ID exists in the print data storage unit 301 (YES in D3), the store information included in the received printer ID is searched from the store information storage unit 303 (D4). Then, the shop information from the printer is compared with the shop information stored in the shop information storage unit 303 of the document server 3 (D5).
[0066]
If the store information matches in the above collation (YES in D6), the print fee is calculated based on the number of sheets and the size of the paper required for printing the print data (D7), and the print fee data and the print data are calculated. Is transmitted to the printer that transmitted the printer ID (D8, D9). The printer that receives the print data and the print fee displays and collects the print fee (P5), and prints the received print data (P6).
[0067]
If there is no print data corresponding to the received document ID in the print data storage unit 301 (NO in D3), data indicating that the print service cannot be received is transmitted to the printer (D13). In the printer receiving this data, a message indicating that the print service cannot be received is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 411 (P4).
[0068]
Further, if the shop information received from the printer does not match the shop information stored in the shop information storage unit 303 (NO in D6), the number of sheets and the sheet size required for printing the print data Is calculated by adding a fixed amount to the print fee calculated based on (D10). Then, data of the print fee to which the fixed fee is added and a message to the effect that the fixed fee is added are transmitted to the printer (D11). In the printer that has received the print charge data and the message, a message indicating that the fixed charge is added to the print charge and the fixed charge is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 411 (P2).
[0069]
After a message indicating that the fixed charge is added and a message indicating that the fixed charge is added is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 411 of the printer, and a print execution instruction corresponding thereto is input to the printer by the user, A print execution instruction is transmitted from the printer to the document server 3 (P3).
[0070]
When the document server 3 receives the print execution instruction from the printer (YES in D12), the target print data is transmitted to the printer (D9), and the received print data is printed (P6).
[0071]
If a print execution instruction has not been received from the printer (NO at D12), a message indicating that printing is not possible is transmitted to the printer (D13). In the printer receiving this message, a message indicating that printing is not possible is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 411 (P4).
[0072]
According to the above process, if the store information included in the printer ID received from the printer does not match the store information held by the document server 3, the user must pay the print fee to which the fixed amount has been added. Since the user cannot print the print data, the user who wants to print the print data can be motivated to go to a printer installed in a store set by the content server 2.
[0073]
Another embodiment of the processing in the document server 3 will be described in association with the processing on the printer side. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the processing of the document server 3 and the printer. The description of the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 8 will be omitted. In the processing shown in FIG. 8 described above, if the store information included in the printer ID received from the printer does not match the store information held by the document server 3 in association with the document ID, the document server 3 The print fee to which the amount has been added is calculated and transmitted to the printer. However, if the store information received from the printer and the store information held by the document server 3 do not match, the document server 3 performs printing. A message to the effect that transmission is not possible may be transmitted to the printer (D30), and the process may be immediately terminated. The printer that has received this message displays a message indicating that printing is not possible (P12). That is, if the store information received from the printer does not match the store information held in the document server 3 in association with the document ID, the printing of the print data indicated by the document ID is not permitted at all. I do. In the case of this processing, the user who wants to print the print data must go to (the printer installed in) the store set by the content server 2, so that the operating organization of the content server 2 desires the store. It is more likely that the user will be dispatched to.
[0074]
Next, when the shop information received from the printer does not match the shop information held in the document server 3 in association with the document ID, and a fixed amount is added to the print fee, each print data is provided. The process of calculating the additional money reception amount for each user will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the received amount calculation process.
[0075]
When a fixed amount is added to the print fee (YES in S11), the amount of the additional print fee added to the normal print fee calculated based on the number of sheets and the size of the sheets required for printing is: It is stored together with the stores (convenience store 4, print station 5, hotel 6, etc.) that actually collected the added amount from the user (S12).
[0076]
At the same time, the amount of the added print fee is stored together with the print data provider (store operating organization) that should originally receive the added print fee (S13).
[0077]
When a predetermined period (for example, the end of the month or the end of the month, etc.) has elapsed (YES in S14), the collection amount of the added print fee is counted for each store (S15), and each print data provider (store operation) The total amount of the additional print fee that should be originally received by the organization is totaled for each print data provider (operating organization of the store) based on the amount stored in S13 (S16).
[0078]
Here, if the operating group of the printer installation store that actually collected the additional print fee and the print data provider (store operating group) that should originally receive the additional print fee can offset each other's amount Then, the offset is calculated, and the amount of additional money to be finally received by each print data provider (operating organization of the store) is calculated (S17).
[0079]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the processing shown in FIG. 8, when a fixed amount is added to the print charge, a message indicating that the fixed amount is added to the print charge and the fixed amount are transmitted, and a print execution instruction is issued from the printer side. Is received, the corresponding print data is transmitted to the printer. Alternatively, the print data can be output only when the print fee after the addition of the fixed amount is actually collected. It may be.
[0080]
In the above embodiment, the document server 3 creates the document ID based on the content ID and the user ID received from the content server 2, but the content server 2 creates the document ID based on the content ID and the user ID. May be created, and the document ID may be transmitted from the content server 2 to the document server 3.
[0081]
In the above embodiment, the content server 2 provides the print data, and the print data is transmitted to the printer 41 and the like installed in the convenience store 4 and the like via the document server 3. The print data is directly transmitted from the server 2 to the printer 41 or the like via the Internet, or the document server 3 becomes the print data provider and the print data is transmitted from the document server 3 to the printer 41 or the like. You may. In this case, any one of the content server 2 and the document server 3 performs all the above-described processes such as provision of print data, management of data transmission / reception with a printer, management of billing information of print data, and the like. Will do.
[0082]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configurations and processes of the content server 2, the document server 3, the printer 41, and the like are shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. However, these processes are merely examples, and the wide area printing system according to the present invention. The configuration and processing of No. 1 are not limited to the above.
[0083]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the document ID and store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus, the document ID stored in the storage unit of the document server, and the corresponding If the store information matches, the print data is transmitted from the document server to the image forming apparatus side, so that the print data indicated by the document ID can be printed only at a specific store. This makes it possible for a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store matching the document ID.
[0084]
According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the document ID stored in the storage means of the document server and the store corresponding to the document ID and store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus are stored in the document ID and store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus. If the information does not match, the user is allowed to print the print data after adding a certain amount of money, so the user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID is given the print data indicated by the document ID. Can be motivated to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store where printing of the document ID is permitted, and the image forming apparatus installed in a store where printing of the print data indicated by the document ID is not permitted can be performed. The print data can be made printable.
[0085]
According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus, the document ID stored in the storage means of the document server, and the store corresponding thereto are stored. If the information does not match, when the user attempts to print the print data indicated by the document ID, the display unit of the image forming apparatus displays a print fee to which a certain amount of money has been added, and the document server: Since the data transmission / reception unit transmits the print data only when the print data transmission instruction is received from the print data instruction transmission unit of the image forming apparatus, the user is permitted to add a fixed amount to the print fee. Above, printing by the image forming apparatus can be enabled.
[0086]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage means of the document server. Since the image forming apparatus receives the print data from the document server, the print data indicated by the document ID can be printed only by an image forming apparatus installed in a preset store. This makes it possible for a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store matching the document ID.
[0087]
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, it is possible to directly and reliably collect a print fee required for printing print data from a print data receiver.
[0088]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, after receiving billing data from the document server, a print data transmission instruction corresponding to the billing data can be transmitted to the document server. By allowing the amount to be added, printing by the image forming apparatus can be enabled.
[0089]
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the print data, the document ID of the print data, and the information of the store permitted to print the print data are stored in the document server based on the print data distribution instruction from the user. Since the document ID is transmitted, the document server can use the document ID and the store information received from the content server to limit the transmission destination of the print data corresponding to the document ID and the store information.
[0090]
According to the eleventh aspect, the document ID and the store information transmitted from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the store information corresponding to the document ID stored in the storage unit of the server. In this case, since the print data is transmitted from the server to the image forming apparatus, the print data indicated by the document ID can be printed only at a specific store. This makes it possible for a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID to go to an image forming apparatus installed in a store matching the document ID.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wide area printing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating data communication among a user, a content server, and a document server.
3A is a diagram illustrating contents to be printed for each provider, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a printable location for each content.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a document server.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a content server.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of the printer.
FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart at the time of printing by a printer of the wide area printing system.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a document server and a printer.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the processing of the document server and the printer.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of calculating an additional money received amount for each print data provider.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 wide area printing system
2 Content server
3 Document server
4 Convenience store
5 print station
6 Hotels
7 Mobile phone (communication terminal equipment owned by user)
9. Laptop PC (user-owned communication terminal equipment)
10 PDA (user-owned communication terminal equipment)
41, 51, 61 Printer (image forming apparatus)
201 print data storage unit (data storage unit)
202 ID management unit (data storage means)
204 communication unit (message transmission means, print information transmission means)
206 Data reading unit (data reading means)
301 print data storage unit (storage means)
302 Document ID management unit (storage means)
304 Billing unit (billing means)
306 Communication unit (data transmission / reception means)
308 Print permission determination unit (determination unit)
310 control unit (control means)
411 Operation panel (display means)
412 Data transmission / reception unit (reception means, transmission means, print data transmission instruction transmission means)
414 Print output unit (output means)
415 Charge collection section (charge collection means)
416 Charge detection unit (charge collection means)

Claims (11)

In a wide area printing system, a document server receives print data from a content server providing various information via the Internet, and the document server transmits the print data to an image forming apparatus installed at a remote place to print the data.
The image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an operator; a document ID input to the receiving unit; and information of a store where the image forming apparatus is installed. Transmitting means for transmitting to the server, receiving means for receiving print data from the document server, and output means for printing the received print data,
The document server includes a data transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives various data to / from the content server and the image forming apparatus, print data received from the content server, a document ID of the print data, and permission to print the print data. Storage means for storing information on the store to be stored, and whether the document ID and store information received from the transmission means of the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage means Determining means for determining whether or not the document ID and the store information match each other, and storing the print data indicated by the document ID in the image forming apparatus which has transmitted the document ID; Control means for reading the data from the means and transmitting the data to the data transmission / reception means. The document server includes a billing unit that calculates a print fee of print data stored in the storage unit and stores billing data,
If the determination unit determines that the document ID and the store information received from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID stored in the storage unit and the corresponding store information, The billing means calculates a print fee to which a fixed amount is added and stores the calculated fee as billing data. The control means causes the print data indicated by the document ID to be transmitted from the data transmitting / receiving means to the image forming apparatus together with the billing data. ,
The image forming apparatus, when the receiving unit receives, from the document server, accounting data indicating the printing fee to which the fixed amount is added, collects a printing fee from a print data receiver based on the accounting data. The wide area printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a fee collection unit. The control unit of the document server determines that the document ID and the store information received from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage unit. And causing the transmission / reception unit to transmit to the image forming apparatus charging data of a print fee to which the fixed amount calculated by the charging unit is added;
The image forming apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a print fee based on billing data received from the document server, and print data that transmits a print data transmission instruction corresponding to the billing data received from the document server to the document server. Instruction transmission means,
When the data transmission / reception unit receives the print data transmission instruction from the instruction transmission unit of the image forming apparatus, the control unit of the document server transmits print data indicated by the document ID from the data transmission / reception unit to the image forming apparatus. The wide area printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wide area printing system is configured to transmit the information. A document server that receives print data from a content server that provides various types of information via the Internet, transmits the print data to an image forming apparatus installed in a remote place, and prints the print data.
Storage means for storing print data received from the content server, a document ID for specifying the print data, and store information where printing of the print data is permitted;
Data transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving various data between the content server and the image forming apparatus,
Determining means for determining whether the document ID and store information received from the image forming apparatus match the document ID and store information corresponding to the document ID stored in the storage means;
When the determination unit determines that the document ID and the store information match, the print data indicated by the document ID is transmitted to the data transmission / reception unit to the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the document ID and the store information. A document server comprising: A charging unit for calculating a print fee of the print data stored in the storage unit and storing the charging data,
If the determination unit determines that the document ID and the store information received from the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID stored in the storage unit and the corresponding store information, the charging unit determines A print fee to which a fixed amount is added is calculated and stored as billing data, and the control unit causes the print data indicated by the document ID to be transmitted from the data transmitting / receiving unit to the image forming apparatus together with the billing data. The document server according to claim 4, wherein: The control unit, when it is determined that the document ID and the store information received from the image forming apparatus do not match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage unit, By causing the transmission / reception unit to transmit the charge data of the print fee to which the calculated fixed amount is added to the image forming apparatus, the data transmission / reception unit receiving a print data transmission instruction from the image forming apparatus, 6. The document server according to claim 4, wherein the print data indicated by the document ID is transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit to the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus that receives print data from a document server connected to the Internet and outputs the print data,
Receiving means for receiving an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an operator;
Transmitting means for transmitting, to the document server, the document ID input from the receiving means and information on a shop where the image forming apparatus is installed,
Receiving means for receiving, from the document server, print data matching the document ID and store information transmitted from the transmitting means to the document server;
An output unit for printing the print data received by the receiving unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a fee collection unit configured to collect a print fee from a print data receiver based on the accounting data received by the reception unit from the document server. Display means for displaying a print fee based on billing data received from the document server;
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a print data transmission instruction transmitting unit that transmits a print data transmission instruction corresponding to the accounting data received from the document server to the document server. . A content server that transmits print data to a document server via the Internet and causes the print data to be printed by a remotely located image forming apparatus via the document server.
A data storage unit for storing the print data, a document ID of the print data, and information of a store where printing of the print data is permitted;
A message transmitting unit that transmits a message to the effect that the specific print data stored in the data storage unit is delivered to a user-owned communication terminal device;
Print data distribution instruction receiving means for receiving a print data distribution instruction from the communication terminal device,
When a print data distribution instruction is received from the communication terminal device by the print data distribution instruction receiving unit, the corresponding print data, a document ID of the print data, and printing of the print data are permitted from the data storage unit. Data reading means for reading information of a store to be performed;
A content server comprising: a print information transmitting unit that transmits print data, a document ID, and store information read from the data storage unit by the data reading unit to the document server. In a wide area printing system in which a server providing various information transmits print data to a remote image forming apparatus and prints the same via the Internet,
The image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an operator; a document ID input to the receiving unit; and information of a store in which the image forming device is installed. Transmitting means for transmitting to the server, receiving means for receiving print data from the server, and output means for printing the received print data,
The server includes a data transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives various data to / from the image forming apparatus, and a storage unit that stores print data, a document ID of the print data, and information of a store where printing of the print data is permitted. Determining means for determining whether the document ID and the store information received from the transmitting means of the image forming apparatus match the document ID and the corresponding store information stored in the storage means; If the means determines that the document ID and the store information match, the print data indicated by the document ID is read from the storage means and transmitted to the data transmission / reception means for the image forming apparatus which transmitted the document ID. A wide-area printing system comprising:

Images