JP2004272779A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system that has a printing device capable of accessing a file server to receive and display list data on files or a file stored in the file server. <P>SOLUTION: The printing system 10 comprises a client device 20 connected to a network 50, the file server 30, and the printing device 40. The printing device 40 has a browser 44, a key operation part 42 and a display panel 48. An input of access to the file server 30 from the key operation part 42 causes data from the file server 30 to be received and then displayed on the display panel 48 via the browser 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system including a printing device connected to a network, a file server, and a client device. In particular, the printing device includes a browser function, accesses the file server from the printing device, and stores the file server in the file server. The present invention relates to a printing system capable of visually confirming a file such as print data obtained by a printing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Due to the development of computers and information and communication technology, offices or a plurality of regional offices are connected by a network, and printing devices, file servers, and client devices such as personal computers used by employees are connected to this network. 2. Description of the Related Art Network systems that perform business by connecting are widely used.
[0003]
In such a network system, a file of image data such as a document, a drawing, and a photograph created by a client (an operator or the like) on each client device can be stored and stored in a storage device provided in the client device. Also, it can be stored and stored in the storage device of the file server. Files such as documents stored in the file server can be shared by a client whose authority is registered within a certain range.
[0004]
These documents, files of image data such as drawings and photographs can be transmitted as a print job from a client device storing the files to a printing device via a network and printed. Further, the client device can access the file server, select a file stored in the file server, transmit the selected file from the file server to the printing device, and print the file.
[0005]
Such a printing system is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the printing system disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) capable of connecting a personal computer, a workstation, a printer, and the like by a protocol such as TCP / IP. 1, a client device 2, a server device 6, and a printer 8 connected to the network 1. The client device 2 is a device such as a personal computer or a workstation that issues a recording request, and includes a memory device 3 such as a hard disk (HDD). The client devices 4 and 5 are similar to the client device 2, but need not include the memory device 3 such as a hard disk. The server device 6 has means for storing the output request and the requesting client device when the client devices 2, 4, 5, etc. make a print output request, and includes the memory device 7, such as a hard disk. I have.
[0006]
The printing system is provided in a server device 6 that manages a printing device 8 by storing an image requested to be recorded by the client device in a first image storage unit provided in each of the client devices 2, 4, and 5. The image requested to be recorded by all the client devices 2, 4, and 5 is stored in the second image storage means. Then, when actually performing the recording operation, the user designates which image storage means to transmit the image stored in the storage device to the storage device according to the screen display.
On the other hand, when a file is transmitted from the client device to the printing device for printing, the image data converted into a print format by the printing device is received by the client device and displayed on a display of the client device, so-called preview. A printing system having a function is disclosed in Patent Document 2 below.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-311068 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-160406 (FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a client prints a desired file from a file server, the client refers to the file name from a file list displayed by accessing the file server. You will need to select a file. For this reason, the client must always keep track of the relationship between the file name and the contents of the file stored in the file server, which has caused a problem that it is very inconvenient.
[0009]
On the other hand, as in a printing system disclosed in Patent Document 2, a client displays preview of a file stored in a file server by a viewer software and a browser installed on a client device and a preview of a file received by a printer. When a print instruction is issued to a printer after confirming the above, there is a problem that a browser function and viewer software need to be installed in each client device, resulting in an increase in system cost. In this case, there is no problem when the client prints from the client device at his / her desk, but when printing the file stored in the file server from the business office on a business trip, the client device of another client at the business office is rented. There was also a problem that it was inconvenient to operate.
[0010]
The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, provided a key operation unit, a browser, a display panel, and other components in a printing device connected to a network, thereby operating the printing device. The present inventors have found that the above problem can be solved by accessing the file server, receiving the data from the file server, and displaying the data on the display panel via the browser, and completed the present invention. is there.
[0011]
That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system having a printing apparatus capable of accessing a file server and receiving and displaying a list of files stored in the file server by solving the above problems. It is intended to do so.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configurations. That is, a printing system according to the present invention is a printing system including a client device connected to a network, a file server, and a printing device,
The printing apparatus is provided with a browser, a key operation unit, and a display panel, performs input for connecting to the file server from the key operation unit, receives data from the file server, and displays the data on the display panel via the browser. It is characterized in that it is displayed.
[0013]
In the printing system, the data received from the file server is preferably file list data and / or a file stored in the file server, and the printing apparatus further includes a key operation unit. Preferably, an arbitrary file is selected from a file list displayed on the display panel and displayed on the display panel. Further, it is preferable that the printing apparatus selects an arbitrary file from a file list displayed on the display panel and prints the selected file using the key operation unit.
[0014]
With such a configuration, when the client prints a desired file from the file server, the client does not always know the relationship between the file name and the content of the file stored in the file server, and the client sends the file from the file server to the file server. The file list data is received, the contents of the file are displayed as a preview, and it is possible to print after confirming the contents of the file.
[0015]
Further, when a client prints a file stored in a file server from a business office on a business trip, he or she only needs to operate a printing device connected to the network. Inconvenience is eliminated. Furthermore, there is no need to install viewer software and a browser on all client devices, and the cost of the printing system can be reduced.
[0016]
The printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the printing device specifies the timing of transmitting data from the file server to the printing device by the key operation unit. According to such a configuration, the client also contributes to improving the use efficiency of the printing apparatus and reducing network traffic by performing operations such as outputting during a time period when the frequency of use is low at night.
Hereinafter, a printing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. The printing system 10 according to the present invention includes a client device 20 connected to a network 50 such as a LAN, a file server 30, and a printing device 40. Each of the client device 20, the file server 30, and the printing device 40 has a general configuration using a microcomputer as a control device, and is connected to the network 50 by a TCP-IP protocol. Communication with the client device 20 and the printing device 40 can be performed. In each device, a microcomputer as a control device and an interface unit are not shown.
[0018]
Although the client device 20 includes the display 22 and the browser 24, the client device 20 may not include the browser 24.
The file server 30 includes document data created by each client device 20 and image input means such as a scanner or a digital camera (not shown, one connected to the network 50 but one directly connected to the client device 20). A file device 36 for storing a file such as image data input from the printer device, a printer driver 34 for sending the file to the printing device 40 as print data, and a spooler 32 for spooling the print data. I have.
[0019]
The printing device 40 includes a key operation unit 42, a browser 44, and a display panel 48 in addition to the printing unit 46, and can perform input for accessing the file server 30 from the key operation unit 42. The data such as a file list is received from the file server 30, and the data such as the file list received from the file server 30 via the browser 44 is displayed on the display panel 48. The key operation unit 42 includes, for example, a mouse or the like, and can perform an input for designating a file to be printed from a file list displayed on the display panel 48 using a mouse or a scroll key.
[0020]
In the printing apparatus 40, a microcomputer (not shown) which is a control device of the printing apparatus 40 is installed with generally used viewer software, and transmits data such as a file list received from the file server 30 via the browser 44. It can be displayed on the display panel 48.
[0021]
In the printing system 10 having such a configuration, the procedure for accessing the file server 30 from the client device 20 and printing the file stored in the file server 30 by the printing device 40 in the same manner as in the related art is described by the arrow {circle around (1)} in FIG. The description will be made based on the data flows indicated by ▼ to ▲ 7７. That is, the client (printer) accesses the file server 30 from the client device 20 (arrow {circle around (1)}). The list data of the files stored in the file device 36 of the file server 30 is sent to the client device 20 (arrow 2) and displayed on the display 22 via the browser 24 (arrow 3).
[0022]
The client selects and instructs a file to be printed from the displayed list of files (arrow 4), and the selected file passes through the printer driver 34 (arrow 5) and the spooler 32 (arrow 6). Then, it is transmitted to the printing unit 46 of the printing apparatus 40 (arrow {circle around (7)}), and printing (arrow {circle around (8)}) is performed in the printing unit 46.
In this procedure, if the client (printing executor) does not know the file name stored in the file server 30 and its contents, erroneous printing or useless test printing is required. In order to eliminate such waste, the viewer software installed in the client device 20 is activated, the contents of the file stored in the file server 30 are previewed in advance, and the print instruction can be given after confirming the contents.
[0023]
In this case, in the access of the arrow (1), data to be printed or a file whose contents are to be confirmed in advance is specified, and the data of the file is received from the file server 30 (arrow (2)). A preview of the file contents is displayed on the display 22 via the browser 24 (arrow {circle around (3)}), and after confirming the file contents, a print instruction is issued to the printing device 40 (arrow {circle around (4)}). The subsequent procedure arrows (5) to (8) are the same as described above.
[0024]
Next, a procedure for accessing the file server 30 from the printing apparatus 40 to select a file stored in the file server 30 and print the selected file on the printing apparatus 40 is indicated by arrows (1) to (8) in FIG. It will be described in the flow of. 3, the flow of data corresponding to FIG. 2 is indicated by the same arrows (1) to (8) as in FIG.
[0025]
For example, when the client prints a file stored in the file server 30 at a business office on a business trip, a print instruction can be issued from the printing device 40 of the business office connected to the network. That is, when the client (printing executor) performs an input for accessing the file server 30 using the key operation unit 42 of the printing apparatus 40, the file apparatus 30 is accessed via the browser 44 based on the input ( Arrow (1)). The list data of the files stored in the file device 36 of the file server 30 is sent to the printing device 40 via the browser 44 (arrow {circle around (2)}), and displayed on the display panel 48 via the browser 44 (arrow {circle around (2)}). 3 ▼).
[0026]
The client selects a file to be printed from the displayed list of files and gives an instruction from the key operation unit 42 (arrow {circle around (4)}). The selected file is transmitted to the printing unit 46 of the printing device 40 via the printer driver 34 (arrow 5) and the spooler 32 (arrow 6) (arrow 7), and is printed by the printing unit 46 (arrow 7). Arrow (8)) is performed. In this case as well, as in the case of FIG. 2, the viewer software installed in the printing device 40 is started, the contents of the file stored in the file server 30 are previewed in advance, and after confirming the contents, a print instruction is issued. be able to.
[0027]
That is, in the access of the arrow (1), data to be printed or a file whose contents are to be checked in advance is specified, the data of the file is received from the file server 30 (arrow (2)), and the browser 44 is accessed. The file contents are preview-displayed on the display panel 48 via the arrow (arrow 3), and after confirming the file contents, a print instruction is issued to the file server 30 (arrow 4). The subsequent procedure arrows (5) to (8) are the same as described above.
[0028]
By configuring the printing system 10 in this manner, a file created by the client device 20 is stored in the file server 30, and another client device or printing device 40 connected to the network accesses the file server 30 to perform printing. can do. In addition, when accessing the file server 30 from the printing apparatus 40, it is possible to specify in advance the timing of transmitting data such as a file list from the file server 30 to the printing apparatus 40 and the timing of starting printing on the printing apparatus 40. Therefore, when a print instruction is issued from the client device 20 to the printing device 40, the timing can be specified in consideration of the time when the print result is to be picked up at the installation location of the printing device 40.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the printing system of the present invention, when a client prints a desired file from a file server, the client uses the file name and content of the file stored in the file server. It is possible to print the file after receiving the file list data of the file server from the printing apparatus, displaying the file content as a preview, and confirming the file content even if the relation of the file is not always grasped.
[0030]
Further, when a client prints a file stored in a file server from a business office on a business trip, it is sufficient to operate a printing device connected to the network, for example, by operating a client device of another client in the business office. Inconvenience is eliminated. Furthermore, there is no need to install viewer software and a browser on all client devices, and the cost of the printing system can be reduced.
[0031]
In other words, the preview confirmation function on the display panel of the printing apparatus makes it possible to easily perform the preliminary confirmation of the print image image, which was conventionally realized only by installing the viewer application on each client terminal. Can also be omitted. By inputting an instruction on the data transmission time from the file server from the operation panel and outputting the data in a time zone in which the frequency of night use is low, the use efficiency of the printing apparatus can be improved and network traffic can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data flow when a file of a file server is printed from a client device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data flow when printing a file of a file server from a printing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional printing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 printing system 20 client device 22 display 24 browser 30 file server 32 spooler 34 printer driver 36 file device 40 printing device 42 key operation unit 44 browser 46 printing unit 48 display panel

Claims (5)

A printing system comprising a client device connected to a network, a file server, and a printing device,
The printing apparatus is provided with a browser, a key operation unit, and a display panel, performs input for connecting to the file server from the key operation unit, receives data from the file server, and displays the data on the display panel via the browser. A printing system characterized by displaying. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the data received from the file server is list data and / or files of files stored in the file server. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing device selects an arbitrary file from a file list displayed on the display panel by the key operation unit and displays the selected file on the display panel. system. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing device selects and prints an arbitrary file from a file list displayed on the display panel by the key operation unit. 5. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing apparatus uses the key operation unit to specify a timing at which data is transmitted from the file server to the printing apparatus. system.

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