JP2005084784A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system for enabling a retrieval with a form-peculiar retrieval condition (a printing form, a filed included therein, etc.) from form storage files stored in a form output server. <P>SOLUTION: In order to enable the retrieval with the form-peculiar retrieval condition (the printing form, the field included therein, etc.) from the form storage files stored in the form output server, the form output server has a retrieval means for storing form storage files delivered from a Web printing server, and for retrieving a form storage file with a retrieval condition in which the printing form and field included in the form storage file concerned and character data associated with the field are designated from the stored form storage files. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a form printing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printers that store form data in a non-volatile storage unit or the like and perform form overlay processing using the form data are known. Further, in the client server system, the form data for printing is distributed to each client, the form data for printing and the print data are superimposed on each client PC, so-called form overlay processing is performed from the printer. Printing methods are widely adopted.

  These form overlay processes have the advantage that printing forms can be easily changed and managed, and if printing forms are not changed during printing, printing can be performed by exchanging only print data.

Furthermore, recently, in response to a print request from a client, the web print server distributes the form storage file generated from the form data and print data to the form output server, and once the form storage file is saved by the form output server, There has been proposed a printing system capable of storing and managing a form by distributing it from an output server to a printing apparatus.
JP 2000-284937 A

  However, in the above prior art, in order to find out the form storage file that the user needs from the form storage file stored in the form output server, there is only a method of searching for the date and the name of the stored form file. There was a problem of being bad.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a search is performed from a form storage file stored in a form output server according to a search condition specific to a form (such as a print form or a field included in the form). An object is to provide a printing system that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing system of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

  That is, a printing system in which a web print server, a form output server, a client terminal, and a printing apparatus are connected to each other via a communication line, and the web print server includes a definition of a field on which character data should be overlaid. Print form storage means for storing the form, control means for generating a form save file including character data associated with the print form and the fields defined in the print form, and delivering the form save file to the form output server A form storage file distribution means, and the form output server stores a form storage file storage means for storing the form storage file distributed from the web print server, and a form storage stored by the form storage file storage means Among the files, the marks included in the form save file Comprising forms, fields, the search condition specified character data associated with the field, and a search means for searching a document storage file.

  As described in detail below, according to the embodiment, from the form storage file stored in the form output server, the form that is a search condition specific to the form and the field associated with the field included in the form A search can be performed by specifying a data value, and a form required by the user can be easily found.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, a printing system which is a premise of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an application server 110, a web print server 120, a client terminal 130, a form output server 140, and a printing apparatus 150 are connected to each other via a communication line 100.

  The communication line 100 is, for example, a LAN such as the Internet or an intranet, a WAN, a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, an ATM, a frame relay line, a communication satellite line, a cable TV line, a data broadcasting wireless line, or a combination thereof. This is a so-called communication network realized by. The communication line 100 only needs to be able to transmit and receive data. The communication means from the client terminal 130 to the application server 110, the communication means from the application server 110 to the web print server 120, and the form output server 140 from the web print server 120. The communication means for communicating with the printing apparatus 150 from the form output server 140 may be different.

  The application server 110 includes a PC server or a UNIX (R) server, and includes a communication unit (not shown). The application server 110 is connected to an external storage device such as a hard disk for storing text data 115 that is the original data of the form to be printed.

  The text data 115 is, for example, XML data composed of tags and data contents corresponding to the tags. However, the text data 115 is not limited thereto, and may be CSV data (comma separated value data) or the like, and has a database format (each column is defined). A tabular database).

  The web print server 120 includes a control unit 122 that generates a form storage file based on the text data 115 and the format information 128 received from the application server 110, and authentication information 126 that confirms whether the request from the client terminal 130 is valid. The authentication unit 121 is determined based on the information, the hard disk that stores the authentication information 126, the hard disk that stores the form information 127, and the hard disk that stores the format information 128.

  The form output server 140 saves the form save file 147 received from the web print server 120, generates a save management information 141, a print control part 142 that controls printing to the printing apparatus, and searches from the client terminal A search processing unit 143 that performs a search process in response to the processing request.

  The client terminal 130 includes, for example, a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a mobile personal computer, and a PDA (personal data assistant), but may be a mobile phone with a built-in program function (such as i-mode (registered trademark)).

  The printing apparatus 150 is a printer (for example, a laser printer) that can be connected to a network. The printing apparatus 150 includes a hard disk that stores print form information 157, a hard disk that stores print information 158 composed of print data including print character data and control data, and a print image that overlaps the print form and the print information. A form overlay unit 154 that generates data, an authentication unit 151 that determines whether a request from the web print server 120 is valid based on the authentication information 156, and a hard disk that stores the authentication information 156 are provided. Further, the printing apparatus 150 may include an error detection unit 152 that detects an error during execution of a print job, and a recovery unit 153 that performs recovery processing when a predetermined error occurs.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration of the web print server 120, form output server 140, and printing apparatus 150 of FIG.

  2, the CPU 21, RAM 22, ROM 23, LAN adapter 24, video adapter 25, input unit (keyboard) 26, input unit (mouse) 27, hard disk 28, and CD-ROM drive 29 are connected to each other via the system bus 20. It is connected. The system bus 20 includes, for example, a PCI bus, an AGP bus, and a memory bus. In FIG. 2, a connection chip between each bus and a keyboard interface, that is, an input / output interface such as a so-called SCSI or ATAPI is omitted.

  The CPU 21 performs various operations such as four arithmetic operations and comparison operations based on an operation system program and an application program, and controls hardware. The RAM 22 stores an operating system program, an application program, and the like read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or CD-R mounted in the hard disk 28 or the CD-ROM drive 29. These programs are executed by the CPU 21.

  The ROM 23 stores a so-called BIOS or the like that controls input / output of data to / from the hard disk 28 in cooperation with the operation system. The LAN adapter 24 communicates with an external device connected via a network in cooperation with an operation system communication program controlled by the CPU 21. The video adapter 25 generates an image signal to be output to the display device. The keyboard 26 and mouse 27 are used for inputting instructions to the application server 110.

  The hard disk 28 stores an operation system and application programs (for example, a control program in the web print server 120, a form overlay program in the printing apparatus 150, and an authentication program).

  The CD-ROM drive 29 is used for installing a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-R / W to install an application program on the hard disk 28. Needless to say, a CD-R drive, a CD-R / W drive, or an MO drive may be used instead of the CD-ROM drive.

  3, 4 and 5 are flowcharts of the printing process in the printing system of FIG.

  In this flowchart, steps S501 to S503 are executed under the control of the CPU (not shown) of the client terminal 130, and step S506 is executed under the control of the CPU (not shown) of the application server 110. Step S516 is executed under the control of the CPU 21 of the web print server 120, steps S520 to S529 are executed under the control of the CPU 21 of the form output server 140, and steps S530 to S534 are controlled by the CPU 21 of the printing apparatus 150. Executed under.

  In FIG. 3, first, in step S501, a print request is transmitted from the client terminal 130 to the application server 110 through a web browser. FIG. 7 shows a print request screen displayed on the web browser of the client terminal 130 at this time. In the print request screen shown in FIG. 7, when a user ID and password are input, a printer to be printed, a text extraction method, and a processing option are selected, and an OK button is pressed, a detailed selection screen corresponding to the text extraction method is further displayed. Then, a file name, a search condition for data extraction, a form name, and a processing program name are selected or designated.

  Next, in step S506, the application server 110 extracts the text data 115 that is the basis of the print data based on the print request in step S501, and transmits the text data 115 to the web print server 120 (step S511). . The text data 115 is in an XML data format in the present embodiment. The text data 115 includes information indicating who has requested the generation of the text data 115 (in this embodiment, the client terminal 130, the user ID, and the like).

  In step S <b> 510, a transmission / reception unit (not shown) of the web print server 120 receives the text data 115. The text data 115 is stored in the RAM 22 of the web print server 120, and then display information for displaying a screen for requesting authentication information to the web browser of the client terminal 130 is transmitted by the authentication program of the authentication unit 121. In step S502, a screen requesting a user ID and password is displayed on the screen of the client terminal 130. The user ID and password are transmitted from the client terminal 130 to the web print server 120, and the process proceeds to step S512.

  In step S <b> 512, the authentication unit 121 of the web print server 120 checks the user ID and password transmitted from the client terminal 130 against the authentication information 126. In step S513, it is determined whether or not the authentication is OK. If the authentication is OK (YES in step S513), the process proceeds to step S515, and the text data 115 and the format information 128 stored in the RAM 22 by the control program of the control unit 122 are obtained. Based on the above, format information is added to the text data 115 (step S515). The format information includes, for example, paper supply / discharge control information, paper size information, resolution designation information, single-side / double-side designation, cassette designation information, toner saving mode information, and the like, and can be changed by the user.

  If the result of determination in step S513 is that authentication is not OK (NO in step S513), an error message is transmitted to the client terminal 130 by the authentication program of the authentication unit 121 (step S514), and the error message is displayed on the web browser of the client terminal 130. Then, the screen returns to step S502 again and a screen for inputting authentication information is displayed (step S503).

  Next, in FIG. 4, a saved form file is generated from the form information 127, the text data 115, and the format information 128 in step S515, and the form saved file with the processing option added in step S516 is transmitted to the form output server 140. Proceed to step S520.

  In step S520, the storage management unit 141 of the form output server 140 determines the processing option received from the web print server 120. If it is determined in step S521 that the storage option is set, the form storage file is determined in step S522. The storage process of 147 is performed. If it is determined in step S521 that the save option is not set, the print control unit 142 determines the processing option again, and determines whether the print option is set (step S523). If it is determined in step S524 that the print option is set, it is inquired whether the form information necessary for the current printing is included in the print form information 157 of the printing apparatus 150 (step S525).

  In step S <b> 530, the print form information 157 of the printing apparatus 150 is searched, and a reply indicating the presence / absence of the print form information 157 is transmitted to the form output server 140.

  In step S526, an answer as to the presence / absence of the print form information 157 from the printing apparatus 150 is determined. In step S527, it is determined whether or not the print form information 157 of the printing apparatus 150 includes the form information necessary for the current printing and the form information is the latest, and the print form information of the printing apparatus 150 is determined. If there is form information necessary for the current printing in 157 and the form information is the latest (YES in step S527), the text information to which the format information 128 is added is transmitted to the printing apparatus 150. (Step S529), the process proceeds to Step S532.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S526 is that there is no form information necessary for the current printing in the print form information 157 of the printing apparatus 150, or the form information is not the latest (NO in step S527), The text information added with the format information 128 and the form read from the form information 127 are transmitted to the printing apparatus 150 (step S528).

  When the printing apparatus 150 receives the text information and the form in step S531, these are stored in the RAM 22 of the printing apparatus 150, the form is added to the printing form information 157, and the process proceeds to step S532.

  In step S532, the form required this time is read from the print form information 157. In step S533, the form and print data are superimposed by the form overlay program of the form overlay unit 154, and print image information is generated. Next, printing is executed in step S534.

  In this embodiment, the web print server 120 and the form output server 140 operate in separate housings, but they may coexist in the same housing.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of a form storage file. The form storage file includes a plurality of form information, and a plurality of page data corresponding to each form information exists. The form information includes a plurality of fields that are conceptual boxes for inserting graphic information and postscript data, and format information associated with each field. The page data is a result of collecting the text data 115 in association with fields defined in the form information in units of print pages. Data associated with a field is called field data. The print data is generated by formatting the field data included in each page data with respect to the form information in accordance with the field format information defined in the form information, and performing overlay processing.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing in the case where a search is performed on a saved form file saved in the form output server in the printing system of FIG. In this case, the client terminal that makes the search request is not necessarily the same as the client terminal that made the print request.

  In this flowchart, steps S601 to S604 are executed under the control of the CPU (not shown) of the client terminal 130, and steps S602 to S603 are executed under the control of the CPU 21 of the form output server 140.

  In FIG. 6, first, in step S601, a search request is transmitted from the client terminal 130 to the form output server 140 through a web browser. FIG. 10 shows a print request screen displayed on the web browser of the client terminal 130 at this time. In the search request screen of FIG. 10, a form name, field name, and field data are input as search conditions, and a field data search method is selected. When the “Search” button is pressed, a search request is transmitted to the form output server. Next, in step S602, the search processing unit 143 of the form output server 140 executes search processing, and the execution result is transmitted to the client terminal 130 in step S603. The client terminal 130 that has received the search result from the form output server 140 displays the search result on the screen (step S604). FIG. 11 is an example of a search result screen displayed on the client terminal. As shown in FIG. 11, a list of information on the form storage file corresponding to the search condition is displayed. The found form storage file can be re-executed on the client terminal by displaying an image at the time of printing on the viewer or by issuing a print instruction.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart describing the search process in step S602 of FIG. 6 in more detail.

  In step S901, the form table of the form storage file is referenced, and in step S902, the form information in the form table is referenced. At this time, the mobilization that matches the form name of the input search condition is determined. If it is determined in step S903 that the form name does not match, the process proceeds to step S912 to determine whether it is the last form in the form table. If it is determined and the final form is determined, the process ends. If it is not the last form, the process returns to step S902 to refer to the next form information in the form table.

  If it is determined in step S902 that the form names match, page data associated with the form information is referred to in step S904. At this time, it is determined whether or not the field name associated with the field data matches the field name of the search condition by referring to the field data in the page data. If it is determined in step S905 that the field names do not match, it is determined in step S910 whether it is the last field data on this page. If it is determined that the field data is the last field data, the current form is displayed in step S911. It is determined whether it is the last page data associated. If it is determined that it is the last page data, the process proceeds to step S912. If it is not determined to be the last page, the process returns to step S904 to refer to the next page data associated with the current form. If it is determined in step S911 that the page data is the last, the process ends.

  If it is not determined in step S910 that the field data is the last field data on this page, the process returns to step S905 to determine whether the next field data in this page matches the field name of the search condition.

  If field data associated with a field that matches the field name of the search condition is found in step S905, the process advances to step S906 to determine whether the field data of the search condition is a search as a character string. If it is determined in step S906 that the search is performed as a character string, the process proceeds to step S907, where the found field data is formatted according to the field data format defined in the form information. In step S908, the field data of the search condition Whether or not is matched. If it is determined in step S906 that the search is not a character string, the field data found is not formatted, and in step S908, it is determined whether the search condition field data matches.

  If it is determined in step S908 that the field data does not match the search condition field, the process advances to step S910. If it is determined in step S908 that the field data matches the search condition field, the saved form file is registered in the search result.

  When the “Register” button is clicked on the screen of FIG. 10, a screen for inputting the registered name of the search condition is displayed following this screen, and the input search condition is registered in the form output server with an arbitrary name. Can do. Once registered, the search conditions can be called at any time.

  In the present invention, a storage medium (or recording medium) storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is supplied. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the storage medium provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU of the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  In addition, the present invention distributes the program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments via a network, so that storage means such as a hard disk or memory of a system or apparatus, CD-RW, CD-R, etc. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage means or the storage medium. Absent.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating basic hardware configurations of a web print server 120, a client terminal 130, a form output server 140, and a printing apparatus 150 in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process according to an embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process according to an embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process according to an embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing for searching a storage form file of the embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on a client terminal in the printing process of the embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a structure of a storage form file of the embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing flow of processing for searching a saved form file of the embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the client terminal in the search process of the embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the client terminal in the search process of the embodiment in the printing system of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

21 CPU
22 RAM
23 ROM
24 LAN adapter 25 Video adapter 26 Input section (keyboard)
27 Input section (mouse)
28 Hard disk 29 CD-ROM drive 100 Communication line 110 Application server 115 Text data 120 Web print server 130 Client terminal 140 Form output server 150 Printing device

Claims (1)

A printing system in which a web print server, a form output server, a client terminal, and a printing apparatus are connected to each other via a communication line,
The web print server includes a print form storage unit that stores a print form including a definition of a field to be overlaid with character data, and a form storage that includes character data associated with the print form and a field defined in the print form. Control means for generating a file; and form storage file distribution means for distributing the form storage file to a form output server,
The form output server includes a form storage file storage unit that stores the form storage file distributed from the web print server, and a form storage file stored in the form storage file stored by the form storage file storage unit. And a search means for searching for a form storage file using a search condition specifying a print form, a field, and character data associated with the field.

Images