JP2004252679A - Data management device and wide-area printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability by reducing the production cost of an image forming apparatus used in a wide-area printing system and simplifying the structure of its operation panel part. <P>SOLUTION: In this data management device 42 for receiving print data from a server on the Internet and transmitting the received print data to an image forming apparatus, a data transmission and reception part 4213 receives the print data from a document server 3, transmits them to a printer 41, and receives charging data for printing of the printing data from the printer 41 after the transmission of the print data. A printing rate calculation part 4223 calculates the printing rate based on the charging data, and a printing rate collection part 4224 collects the printing rate from a device operator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data management apparatus that receives print data from a server on a network such as the Internet and sends the received print data to an image forming apparatus, and a wide area printing apparatus including the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a wide area printing system in which print data stored in a server on a network such as the Internet can be called and printed from an image forming apparatus installed at a remote place via the Internet. The image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system has a function of receiving print data from a server on the Internet, a function of printing the received print data, and a printing charge for the print data to calculate an apparatus operator (printer). A function of collecting data from a user who is a data receiver (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-32205
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system has a function of receiving print data from a server on the Internet and an operation required for receiving the print data, as compared with a general-purpose image forming apparatus having general functions. Is added from the device operator, and the function of calculating the print fee for the print data and collecting the print fee from the device operator is added, which complicates the configuration of the image forming apparatus. However, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased. For example, in addition to a print execution instruction button and the like, the operation panel unit of the image forming apparatus also needs an operation unit and the like for specifying a server that calls the print data. May be difficult to operate.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to reduce the manufacturing cost of an image forming apparatus used in a wide area printing system, simplify the configuration of an operation panel unit, and improve operability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data management device and a wide-area printing device that can perform the printing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data management apparatus for receiving print data from a server on the Internet and transmitting the received print data to an image forming apparatus.
Print data receiving means for receiving print data from the server;
Print data sending means for sending the print data received by the print data receiving means to the image forming apparatus;
After sending the print data from the print data sending unit, from the image forming apparatus that has received the print data, a billing data receiving unit that receives billing data for printing the print data,
A printing fee calculation unit that calculates a printing fee based on the accounting data received by the accounting data receiving unit;
A print charge collecting unit that receives a print charge calculated by the print charge calculation unit from an apparatus operator and permits the image forming apparatus to perform printing.
[0007]
According to this configuration, the print data receiving unit receives the print data from the server and sends it to the image forming apparatus, and the print fee calculating unit prints the print data based on the accounting data received from the image forming device by the print fee data receiving unit. Calculate the fee, receive the printing fee from the device operator, and allow the printing fee collecting means to print to the image forming device, so intervening between the server on the network and the image forming device, The print data can be received from a server on the network and printed by the image forming apparatus.
[0008]
Therefore, even an image forming apparatus that does not have a function such as a data transmission / reception function via the Internet or a function of calculating and collecting a printing fee can be applied to a wide area printing system. As a result, even a general-purpose image forming apparatus having a function of printing print data from an externally connected storage device or the like can be applied to a wide area printing system. There is no need to complicate the configuration of the device, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide many operation buttons on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to improve the operability of the image forming apparatus during wide area printing.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data management apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a document ID receiving unit that receives an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an apparatus operator;
ID transmitting means for transmitting the document ID received by the document ID receiving means to the server,
The print data receiving unit receives, from the server, print data matching the document ID transmitted from the ID transmitting unit to the server.
[0010]
According to this configuration, the document ID receiving unit receives the input of the document ID from the apparatus operator, the ID transmitting unit transmits the document ID to the server, and the print data receiving unit receives the print data matching the document ID. . Thus, the document ID for specifying the print data to be transmitted from the server can be transmitted to the server without complicating the configuration of the image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 3 is the data management device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ID transmission unit, together with the document ID, determines a store where the data management device is installed. Sending information to the server,
The print data receiving means receives print data matching the document ID and store information transmitted from the ID transmission means to the server from the server.
[0012]
According to this configuration, the print data that matches the document ID and store information transmitted to the server is received by the print data receiving unit from the server, so that the print data indicated by the document ID can be printed only at a specific store. be able to. This makes it possible to give a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID motivation to go to a specific store without complicating the configuration of the image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data management apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the apparatus main body receives a print charge input and a change return instruction input; An operation unit is provided separately from the main unit, and an instruction necessary for data transmission and reception with the server and printing of print data received from the server is input by an apparatus operator,
The operation unit is rotatably attached to an upper surface of the apparatus main body.
[0014]
According to this configuration, since the operation unit is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the device main body, the operation unit can be rotated at an angle that is easy for the device operator to visually recognize. The visibility is further improved.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data management device according to the fourth aspect, wherein an upper surface of the device main body portion is formed as an inclined surface having a lower front side, and is protruded from the upper surface portion. The upper surface of at least the printing fee input section and the change return instruction button is at an angle substantially parallel to the installation surface of the apparatus main body.
[0016]
According to this configuration, the upper surface of the apparatus main body is at an angle (such as an angle toward the eyes of the apparatus operator) that is easy for the apparatus operator standing in front of the data management apparatus to visually recognize. Since the upper surface of the change return instruction button is at an angle at which the device operator can easily press the button or perform the charge input section, the operability and visibility of the device operator are improved.
[0017]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data management device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
A print control unit for generating a print job signal based on print data from a print data transmission unit of the data management device; and a print data transmission unit of the data management device according to the print job signal generated by the print control unit. Printing means for printing the received print data, billing data creating means for creating billing data for printing by the printing means, and billing data created by the billing data creating means to receive billing data from the data management device. An image forming apparatus having billing data sending means for sending to the means, and being separate from the data management apparatus;
And a wide area printing device.
[0018]
According to this configuration, since the data management device that receives the print data and collects the printing fee is separate from the image forming device, the general-purpose image forming device that does not have the data transmission / reception function, the printing fee collecting function, and the like. The device can be applied to a wide area printing system. As a result, any general-purpose image forming apparatus having a function of printing print data from an externally connected storage device or the like can be applied to the wide area printing system. There is no need to complicate the configuration of the device, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide many operation buttons on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to improve the operability of the image forming apparatus during wide area printing.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a data management device and a wide area printing device 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 including a data management apparatus and a wide area printing apparatus according to the present invention. In the wide area printing system 1, the document server 3 temporarily receives print data stored in the content server 2 connected to the Internet via the Internet, and installs the data in a convenience store 4, a print station 5, a hotel 6, and the like in a remote place. The document server 3 transmits print data (information to be printed) via the Internet to the wide area printing apparatuses 40, 50, and 60 that have been printed, and prints them. The convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like are connected by an Internet network.
[0020]
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.
[0021]
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.
[0022]
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. The document ID is transmitted from the document server 3 to communication terminal devices such as the user's mobile phone 7, notebook PC (notebook personal computer) 9, and PDA 10, and print data is transmitted via the Internet to the convenience store 4, the print station 5, and the like. The information is transmitted to the wide area printing devices 40, 50, and 60 installed in the hotel 6 and the like.
[0023]
The wide area printing devices 40, 50, and 60 installed in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like each include a data management device and a printer connected to the data management device. The data management devices 42, 52, and 62 are connected to the Internet, and are interposed between the document server 3 and the printers 41, 51, and 61 to transmit print data received from the document server 3 to the printers 41, 51, and 61. It is designed to be sent. Further, the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 receive the input of the document ID from the user and transmit the document ID to the document server 3, and collect the printing fee from the user based on the billing data received from the printers 41, 51, and 61. It has the function to do.
[0024]
When the user inputs the document ID to any of the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 and the document ID is transmitted from any of the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 to the document server 3, the document server 3 After the document ID is authenticated, the print data corresponding to the document ID is transmitted to the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 that transmitted the document ID.
[0025]
The printers 41, 51, and 61 installed in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like need only have at least a printer function, and are so-called multifunction machines having a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile. It may be.
[0026]
The provider 8 is an organization that provides an Internet connection service, and is capable of connecting from the document server 3 to communication terminal devices such as a notebook PC (notebook personal computer) 9 and a PDA (personal digital assistants) 10 via the Internet. I have to.
[0027]
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.
[0028]
An example of data communication between the user, the content server 2 and the document server 3 in the wide area printing system 1 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.
[0029]
{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.
[0030]
{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.
[0031]
(3) Upon receiving the print request from the user, the content server 2 transmits 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. 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.
[0032]
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.
[0033]
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.
[0034]
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 print the print data.
[0035]
(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).
[0036]
The user (apparatus operator) receiving the message of the document ID and the printable store stores the document ID in, for example, the data management device 52 of the wide area printing device 50 installed in the store indicated by the message. Upon input, (5) the data management device 52 transmits the document ID, a unique printer ID of the printer 51 connected to the data management device 52, a print data transmission request, and the like 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.
[0037]
When the document server 3 receives the document ID, the printer ID, and the print data transmission request from the data management device 52, the document server 3 collates the document ID received from the data management device 52 with the document ID held by the document server 3, and further, The store information included in the printer ID received from the data management device 52 is compared with the store information included in the document ID (content ID) held in the document server 3. If the document ID and the shop information match in these checks, the print data to be printed is specified based on the document ID, and (6) the print data is transferred to the data management device 52 that has transmitted the printer ID. Send to
[0038]
The store-side data management device 52 that has received the print data sends the print data to the printer 51, and the printer 51 prints the print data. The printing fee is calculated and collected by the data management device 52 based on the billing data sent from the printer 51.
[0039]
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.
[0040]
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.
[0041]
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
[0042]
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.
[0043]
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 print the print data.
[0044]
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 data search unit 305, a communication unit 306, a print request reception analysis unit 307, a print permission determination unit 308, and a control unit 310. Have.
[0045]
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 data management devices 42, 52, and 62.
[0046]
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 data search unit 305 reads the print data corresponding to the document ID received from each of the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 from the print data storage unit 301.
[0047]
The communication unit 306 performs various data communications with the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 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 store information, and sends the analysis result to the data search unit 305, the control unit 310, and the like. The print permission determination unit 308 determines whether the store information received from each of the data management devices 42, 52, and 62 matches the store information stored in the store information storage unit 303.
[0048]
The control unit 310 controls the operation of the entire document server 3 and prints data to the data search unit 305 in response to a print request based on the document ID and store information from each of the data management devices 42, 52, and 62. It instructs a search for print data stored in the data storage unit 301, and instructs the communication unit 306 to transmit and receive print data and billing data.
[0049]
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 printer ID storage unit 203, a communication unit 204, a print request reception analysis unit 205, a data read unit 206, and a control unit 210.
[0050]
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.
[0051]
The ID management unit 202 stores and manages a user ID and a content ID (including shop information) 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.
[0052]
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.
[0053]
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.
[0054]
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.
[0055]
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.
[0056]
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 following description will be made by taking the printer 41 as an example. FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the printer 41. The printer 41 receives and prints the print data sent from the data management device 42, and sends billing data on the print fee of the print data to the data management device 42.
[0057]
The printer 41 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display) display section on which various messages necessary for operation of the printer 41 are displayed, an operation panel 411 including a touch panel on which operation instructions and the like necessary for printing are input by a user, and the like. A data transmission / reception unit 412 for transmitting / receiving print data and billing data to / from the data management device 42; a print control unit 413 for generating a print job signal based on the print data received from the data management device 42; A print output unit 414 that prints the print data in accordance with the print job signal generated by the unit 413; and charging data for printing the print data received from the data management device 42 (based on the print data, Required number of sheets, paper size, color or A charging control unit 415 that determines whether black printing is to be performed and data indicating the determination result is billing data), a data transmission / reception control with the data management device 42 by the data transmission / reception unit 412, and a data transmission / reception unit And a control unit 416 that controls the operation of each unit of the apparatus, such as causing the print output unit 414 to print the print data based on the print permission signal received from the data management apparatus 42 via the 412.
[0058]
The internal configuration of the data management device will be described. Since the internal configuration of each data management device is the same, the data management device 42 will be described below as an example. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the data management device 42. The data management device 42 includes a print data management unit 421 and a billing data management unit 422. The print data management unit 421 receives the print data transmitted from the document server 3 and sends out the print data to the printer 41. The data management unit 422 receives billing data from the printer 41 and collects a printing fee from the user.
[0059]
The print data management unit 421 transmits to the document server 3 a display unit 4211 on which various messages (such as the URL of the document server 3 and the name of the content to be printed) necessary for operating the data management device 42 are displayed. An operation key unit 4212 (corresponding to a ten-key 4323, an arrow key 4324, and a function key 4325 to be described later) into which a document ID or the like is input by the user, and transmission and reception of a document ID, a printer ID, print data, etc. with the document server 3. A data transmission / reception unit 4213 for exchanging print data and the like with the printer 41, and a control unit 4214 for controlling the entire operation of the print data management unit 421.
[0060]
The billing data management unit 422 is based on a billing display unit 4221 for displaying a printing fee and the like, a data transmitting and receiving unit 4222 for exchanging various data such as billing data with the printer 41, and billing data received from the printer 41. A charge calculating unit 4223 for calculating a printing charge by detecting a bill or a coin inputted as a printing charge from the apparatus operator, and collecting a printing permission signal to the printer 41 when the printing charge is collected. It includes a charge collection unit 4224 to send out, and a control unit 4225 that controls the operation of the entire billing data management unit 422.
[0061]
The processing performed by each unit constituting the wide area printing apparatus will be described. Since the internal configuration of each wide area printing apparatus is the same, the following describes the wide area printing apparatus 40 as an example. FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the wide area printing apparatus. In the data management device 42, when the data transmission / reception unit 4213 of the print data management unit 421 receives the print data from the document server 3, the print data is sent to the printer 41.
[0062]
In the printer 41, print data is received from the data management device 42 by the data transmission / reception unit 412 via the interface 418. The print control unit 413 processes the print data and generates a print job signal. The print output unit 414 executes printing based on the print data according to the print job signal. When printing is performed by the print output unit 414, the charging control unit 415 determines the number of sheets required for printing, the paper size, and whether the printing is color or black and white based on the print data. Is transmitted to the data management device 42 via the interface 419.
[0063]
In the data management device 42, the billing data sent from the billing control unit 415 of the printer 41 is received by the data transmission / reception unit 4222 of the billing data management unit 422. The fee calculating unit 4223 calculates the printing fee based on the billing data, and the fee collecting unit 4224 determines whether the printing fee has been input by the user and collects the printing fee. A print permission signal is sent to the printer 41.
[0064]
The printer 41 causes the print output unit 414 to execute printing of the print data based on the print permission signal received from the data management device 42 via the interface 419.
[0065]
The outer shape of the data management devices 42, 52, 62 will be described. Since the internal configuration of each data management device is the same, the data management device 42 will be described below as an example. 9 is a plan view of the data management device 42, FIG. 10 is a front view thereof, FIG. 11 is a side view thereof, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the device main body 431 of the data management device 42, and a partially enlarged view of the upper surface portion 4312. is there. The data management device 42 has a built-in fee collection unit 4224, and performs data transmission and reception between the device main body unit 431 where the device operator inputs a print fee and inputs a change return instruction. The operation unit 432 is used to input instructions necessary for printing the print data received from the server 3 by the apparatus operator. At the lower part of the apparatus main body 431, there are provided legs 4311 for erecting the apparatus main body 431 on an installation surface.
[0066]
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the apparatus main body 431 has an upper surface 4312 formed as an inclined surface having a lower front side (the left side in FIG. 11). Accordingly, when the device operator stands on the front side of the data management device 42, the device operator can easily visually recognize the upper surface portion 4312. In the upper surface portion 4312, a printing fee input portion 4313 into which a printing fee is input by the apparatus operator, and when a surplus is generated in the printing fee input from the printing fee input portion 4313, the surplus is used as change. A change return instruction button 4314 that is pressed to be returned is protruded. Further, the upper surface section 4312 is provided with a charge display section 4221 composed of an LED (light emitting diode) or the like and displaying a print charge or the like calculated by the charge calculation section 4224 (FIGS. 7 and 8). .
[0067]
The upper surface portion 4312 is formed at a standard height assumed to be the level of the user who stands at the front of the data management device 42 and is easy to operate by the user. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper surfaces of the printing fee input unit 4313 and the change return instruction button 4314 are formed at an angle substantially parallel to the installation surface of the apparatus main body 431 (that is, the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431). The angle is different from the inclination angle of the image), so that the apparatus operator can easily press the change return instruction button 4314 from above the upper surface portion 4312 or input a fee to the print fee input portion 4313. In addition, a coin return port 4315 is provided on the front surface of the device main body 431.
[0068]
The operation section 432 is rotatably attached to the rear edge of the upper surface section 4312 of the apparatus main body section 431, as shown in FIGS. The operation unit 432 is configured such that an edge on the front side (the opposite side to the edge on which the mounting portion 4316 is provided) of the device main body 431 has the mounting portion 4316 with the upper surface portion 4312 as a fulcrum. Are configured to move in the direction of contact and separation with respect to the upper surface portion 4312.
[0069]
The operation unit 432 has an operation panel 4321 on a surface facing the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431. The operation panel 4321 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like, and a display unit 4211 on which various information necessary for network communication such as a URL of the document server 3 is displayed, and information such as a document ID and the number of copies are displayed by the user. , An arrow key 4324 for designating an item displayed on the display unit 4211 or scrolling the screen of the display unit 4211, and a function key 4325 for inputting various instructions such as a print execution instruction by the user. Are provided.
[0070]
The operation unit 432 has a substantially spherical back surface 4326 (FIG. 11). The back surface 4326 includes an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from the document server 3 and data to / from the printer 41. An interface (serial port, parallel port, USB port, IEEE 1394, etc.) for transmitting and receiving is provided (all are not shown).
[0071]
The processing performed by the data management devices 42, 52, 62 during printing will be described. The processing of each data management device is the same. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of printing by the data management device. When the fee collection unit 4224 detects that the fee has been input (YES in S1), the document ID input by the device operator is changed to the printer ID of the printer connected to the data management device and the print data transmission. The request is transmitted to the document server 3 together with the request (YES in S2, S3). When print data corresponding to the document ID is received from the document server 3 (S4), the print data is sent to the printer (S5). When the print data is printed by the printer, and billing data for the printing of the print data is sent from the printer, the data management device 42 receives the billing data (S6). The printing fee is calculated based on the printing fee (S7), and the printing fee is collected (S8). Then, after the print fee is collected, a print permission signal is sent to the printer 41 (S9).
[0072]
Next, a process at the time of printing in the printer will be described. The processing of each printer is the same. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing. When print data is received from any one of the data management devices (S11), billing data is created based on the print data by determining the number of sheets and the sheet size required for the printing and whether the printing is color or black-and-white. S12), this accounting data is sent to the data management device (S13). Thereafter, when a print permission signal is received from the data management device 42 (YES in S14), the print data is printed (S15).
[0073]
The processing of the document server 3 and the corresponding processing on the printer side will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing of the document server 3 and the data management device. When the document ID is input to the data management device 42, and the document ID, the printer ID of the printer 41 connected to the data management device 42, and the 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).
[0074]
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 store information included in the printer ID received from the printer is compared with the store information stored in the store information storage unit 303 of the document server 3 (D5). If the two store information match in this comparison (YES in D6), the print data corresponding to the document ID is transmitted to the data management device 42 that transmitted the printer ID (D7). The data management device 42 that has received the print data sends the received print data to the printer 41 (P3).
[0075]
Further, in the document server 3, when the print data corresponding to the received document ID is not in the print data storage unit 301 (NO in D3), the store information received from the data management device 42 side and the store information storage unit 303 If the store information does not match (NO in D6), print data indicating that the print service cannot be received is transmitted to the data management device 42 (D8). In the data management device 42 that has received the print data, a message indicating that the print service cannot be received is displayed on the display unit 4211 (P2).
[0076]
As described above, according to the wide area printing device 40 and the like and the data management device 42 and the like according to the present invention, the printer 41 that does not have a function such as a data transmission / reception function via the Internet or a function of calculating and collecting a printing fee. And so on, it can be applied to a wide area printing system. Thus, even an image forming apparatus such as a general-purpose printer 41 having a function of printing print data from an externally connected storage device or the like can be applied to the wide area printing system 1. It is not necessary to complicate the configuration of the printer 41 used for the above, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since there is no need to provide many operation buttons on the operation panel 411 of the printer 41, the operability of the printer 41 during wide area printing can be improved.
[0077]
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 cannot print the print data. In addition, it is possible to give a motivation to go to a store set by the content server 2.
[0078]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, based on the print data received from the data management device 42 and the like, the printer 41 and the like determine the number of sheets and the paper size required for the print data and send the data to the data management device 42 and the like as accounting data. The data management device 42 or the like calculates the printing fee based on the billing data and collects the printing fee from the device operator. Instead, the document server 3 sends the billing data based on the printing data. Or print charge data indicating the print charge itself is transmitted from the document server 3 to the data management device 42 or the like, together with the print data and the charge data or print charge data. Print fee calculated based on the billing data obtained, or the print fee received from the document server 3 The printing charges based on data, the data management device 42 or the like may be collected from the apparatus operator.
[0079]
In this case, since the printer 41 or the like does not need to have the function of creating the billing data based on the print data (specifically, the billing control unit 415), the configuration of the printer 41 or the like is further simplified. Can be.
[0080]
Further, in the above case, before the data management device 42 or the like sends the print data to the printer 41 or the like, the printing fee is displayed on the fee display portion 4221, and a print execution instruction is input from the device operator to the data management device 42 or the like. Only when this occurs, the print data may be sent to the printer 41 or the like to execute printing. According to this, it is possible for the apparatus operator to determine whether or not to execute printing after confirming the printing fee of the print data, so that the user can be user-friendly by the wide area printing apparatus 40 or the data management apparatus 42 or the like. Services can be provided.
[0081]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the data management device 42 and the like include the print data management unit 421 and the billing data management unit 422. The data transmitting and receiving unit may be configured to transmit and receive print data, a document ID and a printer ID to and from the document server 3 and to exchange print data and billing data with the printer 41 and the like.
[0082]
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.
[0083]
Further, in the above embodiment, the configurations and processes of the content server 2, the document server 3, the printer 41, etc., and the data management device 42, etc. are shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, but these processes are only examples. The configuration and processing of the wide area printing system 1 according to the present invention are not limited to the above.
[0084]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the print data receiving unit receives the print data from the server and sends the print data to the image forming apparatus, and the print charge data receiving unit converts the print data into the accounting data received from the image forming apparatus. The printing fee calculating means calculates the printing fee based on the printing fee, and receives the printing fee from the apparatus operator. The printing fee collecting means permits the image forming apparatus to perform printing. The print data can be received from a server on the network and printed by the image forming apparatus by interposing the apparatus between the apparatuses.
[0085]
Therefore, even an image forming apparatus that does not have a function such as a data transmission / reception function via the Internet or a function of calculating and collecting a printing fee can be applied to a wide area printing system. As a result, even a general-purpose image forming apparatus having a function of printing print data from an externally connected storage device or the like can be applied to a wide area printing system. There is no need to complicate the configuration of the device, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide many operation buttons on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to improve the operability of the image forming apparatus during wide area printing.
[0086]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the document ID receiving means receives the input of the document ID from the apparatus operator, the ID transmitting means transmits the document ID to the server, and print data conforming to the document ID is transmitted. The print data receiving means receives the print data. Thus, the document ID for specifying the print data to be transmitted from the server can be transmitted to the server without complicating the configuration of the image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system.
[0087]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the print data receiving unit receives print data matching the document ID and store information transmitted to the server from the server, the print data indicated by the document ID is specified. It can be made printable only at stores. This makes it possible to give a user who wants to print the print data indicated by the document ID motivation to go to a specific store without complicating the configuration of the image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system.
[0088]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the operating section is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, the operating section can be rotated at an angle that is easily visible to the apparatus operator. In addition, the operability and visibility of the operation unit are further improved.
[0089]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the upper surface of the apparatus main body is easily viewed by an apparatus operator standing in front of the data management apparatus (such as an angle toward the eyes of the apparatus operator). Thus, the upper surface of the printing fee input unit and the change return instruction button is at an angle at which the device operator can easily press the button and perform the fee input unit, so that the operability and visibility of the device operator are improved.
[0090]
According to the invention described in claim 6, the data management device for receiving the print data and collecting the printing fee is separate from the image forming device, so that the data transmitting / receiving function, the printing fee collecting function, etc. A general-purpose image forming apparatus having no printer can be applied to a wide area printing system. As a result, any general-purpose image forming apparatus having a function of printing print data from an externally connected storage device or the like can be applied to the wide area printing system. There is no need to complicate the configuration of the device, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide many operation buttons on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to improve the operability of the image forming apparatus during wide area printing.
[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 block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a data management device.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of the wide area printing apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the data management device.
FIG. 10 is a front view of the data management device.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the data management device.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an apparatus main body of the data management apparatus and an enlarged perspective view of an upper surface of the apparatus main body.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the data management apparatus during printing.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process in the printer.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing of the document server and the data management device.
[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)
40,50,60 wide area printing device
411 Operation panel
412 Data transmission / reception unit (charging data transmission means)
413 Print control unit (print control unit)
414 Print output unit (printing means)
415 Charging control unit (charging data creation means)
416 control unit
42,52,62 Data management device
421 Print Data Management Unit
4211 display part
4212 Operation key section (document ID receiving means)
4213 Data transmission / reception unit (print data reception unit, print data transmission unit, ID transmission unit)
4214 control unit
422 Billing Data Management Unit
4221 Charge display section
4222 Data transmitting / receiving unit (charging data receiving means)
4223 Charge calculation unit (print charge calculation means)
4224 Charge collection section (print charge collection means)
4225 Control unit
431 Main unit
4311 legs
4312 Upper surface
4313 Printing fee input section
4314 Change return instruction button
4315 coin return slot
4316 mounting part
432 Operation unit
4321 Operation panel
4323 Numeric keys
4324 arrow keys
4325 Function key
4326 Back

Claims (6)

A data management device that receives print data from a server on the Internet and sends the received print data to an image forming apparatus,
Print data receiving means for receiving print data from the server;
Print data sending means for sending the print data received by the print data receiving means to the image forming apparatus;
After sending the print data from the print data sending unit, from the image forming apparatus that has received the print data, a billing data receiving unit that receives billing data for printing the print data,
A printing fee calculation unit that calculates a printing fee based on the accounting data received by the accounting data receiving unit;
A data management device, comprising: a print fee collection unit that receives a print fee calculated by the print fee calculation unit from an apparatus operator and permits printing to the image forming apparatus. A document ID receiving unit for receiving an input of a document ID for specifying print data from an apparatus operator;
ID transmitting means for transmitting the document ID received by the document ID receiving means to the server,
2. The data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data receiving unit receives print data matching the document ID transmitted from the ID transmission unit to the server from the server. The ID transmitting unit transmits, to the server, information indicating a store where the data management device is installed, together with the document ID.
The data management according to claim 1, wherein the print data receiving unit receives print data matching the document ID and store information transmitted from the ID transmitting unit to the server from the server. 4. apparatus. An apparatus main body for receiving a print charge input and a change return instruction is provided separately from the apparatus main body, and instructions necessary for data transmission / reception with the server and printing of print data received from the server are provided by the apparatus. It consists of an operation unit input by the operator,
4. The data management device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is rotatably attached to an upper surface of the device main body. The upper surface of the apparatus main body is an inclined surface having a lower front side, and the upper surface of at least the printing fee input section and the change return instruction button protruding from the upper surface is substantially formed on the installation surface of the apparatus main body. The data management device according to claim 4, wherein the data management device has a parallel angle. A data management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A print control unit for generating a print job signal based on print data from a print data transmission unit of the data management device; and a print data transmission unit of the data management device according to the print job signal generated by the print control unit. Printing means for printing the received print data, billing data creating means for creating billing data for printing by the printing means, and billing data created by the billing data creating means to receive billing data from the data management device. A wide-area printing apparatus comprising: a billing data transmitting unit for transmitting the data to the unit; and an image forming apparatus separate from the data management apparatus.

Images