JP2006065791A - Printing network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate grasping if registration information is printed to each of the users on real time basis. <P>SOLUTION: A printing network system comprises a printing information storage means for storing file information which should be printed; a printing reservation means for accepting printing reservation information from an external source and recording the file information for the printing reservation in the printing information storage means; a plurality of public printing means which have a printing function and transmit a printing request responding to user input; and a printing request processing means for having the public printing means of a requesting party print by extracting the identified file information from the printing information storage means and giving the information to the public printing means responding to the printing request from any one of the public printing means. The printing request processing means has a printing management part for managing a printing state, that is, if each of the users who should request the printing executes the printing regarding the file information reserved for the printing; and a management result providing part for requesting to provide the management result of the printing management part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print network system, for example, a network system that prints print information such as content instructed from a mobile phone, a personal computer, or the like, using a printer device having a printer function installed in, for example, a convenience store or a station. Is preferred.

In recent years, information on the Internet and the like can be browsed by a portable terminal. However, there is a limit to the amount of information displayed on the mobile terminal. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a network system in which pre-registered information is transmitted to an MMK (multimedia kiosk) terminal installed in a convenience store, a station, or the like, and the MMK terminal prints it with a printer device.
JP 2003-141020 A

  However, in the network system described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that registrants who have registered information in the remote print server cannot grasp whether all users have performed printing based on registered data. .

  For example, when a conventional print network system is adopted as a document management system in a company, for example, even if the general manager (registrant) requests several members to execute printing, the general manager determines whether all the members have executed printing. Could not be confirmed.

  Also, for example, when a conventional print network is applied to a content distribution system, the content holder (registrant) who manages the content shows how many users are printing at what stores in real time. Could not figure out.

  Therefore, there is a need for a print network system that can notify in real time the status of printing performed by the user.

  In order to solve this problem, a print network system of the present invention includes a print information storage unit that stores file information to be printed that is reserved and registered by a user, and a print information storage unit that receives print reservation information from the outside. A print reservation unit that records file information that is reserved to be printed on, a plurality of public printing units that have a print function that can be used by any person, and that sends a print request in response to user input, In response to a print request from the public printing means, the corresponding file information is extracted from the print information storage means based on the file information specific information included in the print request, and is sent to the requesting public printing means. In a print network system comprising print request processing means for giving and printing, the print request processing means And having a print management unit that the user should print request managing print status of whether to start printing, a management result providing unit for providing a control result by the print management unit.

  According to the present invention, a user who has registered file information can easily grasp the user's print status for the file information in real time.

  The best mode for carrying out a print network system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(A) Embodiment In this embodiment, a remote print server arranged on a network temporarily stores registration information, transmits information to an MMK terminal that has received an output request by a user operation, and the MMK terminal A case where the present invention is applied to a print network system that prints out by a printer will be described.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment After describing the overall configuration of the print network system of the present embodiment, the detailed internal configuration of the configuration requirements of the print network system will be described below.

(A-1-1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the print network system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the print network system 10 of the present embodiment includes a storage server 19, a remote print server 18, communication terminals 15 and 16, a mobile phone 17, and an MMK terminal that can be connected to a network 11 or a mobile phone network 12. 13. At least a printer device 14 is provided.

  The network 11 corresponds to, for example, a public network represented by the Internet, but may be a dedicated network. The network 11 may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a communication network that combines these. The mobile phone network 12 is a communication network that enables mobile communication with the mobile phone 17.

  The communication terminal 15 is a communication device operated by a registrant who registers information in the storage server 19. The communication terminal 15 is a user terminal that makes a member registration process, an information storage request, a storage information output request, and the like of the print network system 10 to the storage server 19 by an operation of a registrant. The communication terminal 15 receives print management information of each user indicating whether or not information has been output from the remote print server 18.

  Here, a registrant who registers information in the storage server 19 operates the communication terminal 15 at the time of information registration, specifies a user for printing the storage information, determines / changes the storage information output deadline, For each user and / or information, it is possible to set whether or not notification of print management information indicating whether or not is executed is necessary.

  Note that communication between the communication terminal 15 and the storage server 19 and the remote print server 18 may be access to a Web page or data transmission / reception using an e-mail.

  The communication terminal 16 is a communication device operated by a user who prints out storage information of the storage server 19. The function of the communication terminal 16 has the same function as that of the communication terminal 15.

  The mobile phone 17 is a mobile terminal operated by each user. The function of the mobile phone 17 is also provided with the function of the communication terminal 15.

  The storage server 19 stores information instructed from the communication terminal 15 in a predetermined storage area, and gives the stored information to the remote print server 18 in accordance with an instruction from a registrant or user. The storage server 19 can rewrite and change the contents of the information stored in accordance with an operation instruction from a registrant or the like. The storage server 19 corresponds to, for example, a Web server (for example, a content server).

  Here, the types of information that can be stored in the storage server 19 include, for example, image data, moving image data, document (document) file data, product catalog data, program codes, software packages, and other content data.

  The remote print server 18 functions as, for example, a Web server, and provides various services necessary for the user to finally print out desired information from the MMK terminal 13 (printer apparatus). The remote print server 18 receives information from the communication terminal 15 or the storage server 19 in response to a registrant or user operation, temporarily stores the information, and receives a final output request from the MMK terminal 13. The temporarily stored information is given to the MMK terminal 13. In addition, the remote print server 18 transmits the print management information of each user regarding the printed information to the communication terminal 15 after printing the information. This print management information includes information indicating whether the user has printed the information or not.

  Here, the storage server 19 and the remote print server 18 can be mutually linked, and the storage server 19 can be regarded as a subsystem when paying attention to the remote print service.

  The remote print server 18 may be configured to have the function of the storage server 19. Thereby, the communication terminals 15 and 16 or the mobile phone 17 do not communicate with the storage server 19 but directly communicate with the remote print server 18 to perform member registration processing, information registration request, storage information output request, and the like. Can do.

  The MMK terminal 13 is, for example, a kiosk terminal installed in a convenience store or a station. The MMK terminal 13 is operated by a user (especially a user who is away from home), accesses the remote print server 18, acquires temporarily stored information, and prints the information from the printer device 14 connected thereto. It is something to be made. The MMK terminal 13 captures detailed operations related to user personal authentication processing, information printing instruction processing, and the like during information printing, and performs detailed setting processing related to printing execution. Further, the MMK terminal 13 transmits a print completion notification indicating that the printing is completed to the remote print server 18 after printing.

  The printer device 14 is connected to the MMK terminal 13 and prints out information received from the MMK terminal 13 in accordance with predetermined print control. The MMK terminal 13 may be integrated with the function of the printer device 14.

  In the following, detailed internal functions of the configuration requirements of the print network system 10 will be described with reference to the drawings.

(A-1-2) Internal Function of Remote Print Server Next, the internal function of the remote print server 18 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration and functions of the remote print server 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the remote print server 18 includes at least a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, a member registration database (DB) 24, and a remote print database (DB) 25.

  The communication unit 23 is a communication unit that transmits and receives communication data based on a communication control method corresponding to the network 11. The communication unit 23 may be, for example, a communication unit that transmits / receives an e-mail created by the e-mail function, and performs communication control (for example, TCP connection) that realizes the e-mail communication. Therefore, for example, the communication unit 23 can receive information from the storage server 19 and receive an output request from the communication terminal 15 or 16 by e-mail. The communication unit 23 can also realize transmission of print management information to the communication terminal 15 described later by electronic mail.

  The control unit 21 implements a function executed by the remote print server 18. The control unit 21 corresponds to, for example, a CPU, and implements various functions by reading a processing program recorded in the recording unit 23 and executing the read processing program.

  The storage unit 22 corresponds to, for example, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and stores a processing program for realizing the remote printing server 18 and data necessary for realizing the processing program.

  In the present embodiment, as a processing program included in the remote print server 18, a member registration function unit 22a, a personal authentication function unit 22b, a position information search providing unit 22c, a data transmission / reception unit 22d, a preview function unit 22e, a print management function unit 22f, and the like. There is.

  The member registration function unit 22a registers user information of a user who uses the print network system 10 in the member DB. For example, the member registration function unit 22a may receive user information from the communication devices 15 and 16 or the mobile phone 17 by an operation of a registrant or a user, and register the received user information in the member DB. As this user information, user identification information (user ID), user name (for example, individual user name in the case of an individual, corporate name or department name in the case of a corporation), password, e-mail address (communication terminal 15 of each user) , 16 and mobile phone 17), and portable terminal ID. For member registration, a method is conceivable in which a dedicated Web site is provided and the communication terminal 15 or the like accesses the dedicated Web site and can be realized.

  The personal authentication function unit 22b authenticates the legitimacy of the user or the registrant when accessing from the communication terminal 15.16 or the mobile phone 17 by the operation of the user or registrant. The authentication method by the personal authentication function unit 22b is not particularly limited and can be widely applied. For example, the authentication information is received from the communication device 15.16 or the mobile phone 17, and the member registration DB 14 is referred to. A method for determining the validity can be considered. The authentication information includes a user ID and password, a user ID and portable terminal ID, a portable terminal ID and password, or a user ID and password and portable terminal ID.

  The location information search providing function 22c receives location information of the mobile phone 17 in response to an access from the mobile phone 17 by a user operation, and based on the location information of the mobile phone 17, the MMK located around the mobile phone 17 The position information of the terminal 13 is obtained, and the position information of the MMK terminal 13 is provided to the mobile phone 17. As a method for acquiring the position information of the mobile phone 17, for example, a method of acquiring position information measured using a base station (not shown) or position information measured using GPS is conceivable. In addition, the remote printing server 18 may be provided with map information related to the positional information of the MMK terminal 13 in advance, or by obtaining the map by accessing a map information database of the MMK terminal arranged on the network 11. .

  The data transmitter / receiver 22d transmits / receives communication data. For example, the data transmission / reception unit 22d has an electronic mail transmission / reception function, extracts instructed information stored in the remote printing DB 25, and transmits the information to the MMK terminal 13 by electronic mail. In addition, when the data transmission / reception unit 22d receives a print completion notification from the MMK terminal 13 after executing printing, the data transmission / reception unit 22d transmits print management information by e-mail after completion of print management, which will be described later.

  The preview function unit 22e creates a preview screen based on the requested output information, and displays the preview screen on the display unit of the communication terminals 15, 16, the mobile phone 17, or the MKK terminal 13. Note that the preview function unit 22e may be configured to perform predetermined settings necessary for printing (for example, setting the number of prints, color output setting, etc.).

  The print management function unit 22f manages the printing status and printing history of each user for each registered information, and presents each information or the printing management status of each user according to an instruction from a registrant or the like.

  First, the print management function unit 22f receives a print management setting indicating whether or not to manage the printing status of each user for the registration information from the communication terminal 15 by the operation of the registrant. In response to the print management setting, the print management function unit 22f changes the print status based on the print completion notification notified from the MMK terminal 13, and manages the print management information in the remote print DB 25.

  For example, when the print management function unit 22f receives a print completion notification from the MMK terminal 13, the print management function unit 22f retrieves the print management information of the user from the remote print DB 25, and changes the print status from “unprinted” to “printed”. Note that the print management function unit 22f grasps the contents of the information to be managed in addition to “unprinted” and “printed”, for example, although the information is not printed. In some cases, it can be managed as “content grasped”. Thereby, not only the determination as to whether printing has been executed, but also the user's recognition status can be considered.

  Here, the print management target information may be all registered information or may be information designated by the registrant. The print management target users may be all designated users who should print the registration information, or may be users designated by the registrant among the designated users.

  The print management may be set at the time of member registration or information registration, or may be set by a request from a registrant after information registration.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the specific contents to be managed for printing manage each user to be printed for each registration information, for example. For each user, there are an information registration date, a print execution date (print date), printed store information, the number of copies, whether it is color printing or monochrome printing, and the amount of money required for printing. In addition to the contents shown in FIG. 3, it is also possible to manage the total billing amount required for printing for each piece of information.

  Thereby, it is possible to manage whether or not each user has executed printing based on the print completion notification.

  Further, the print management function unit 22f receives a request from the communication terminal 15 by an operation of a registrant and reports print management information. Accordingly, it is possible to notify the registrant which user has executed printing and which user has not been printed.

  Here, the print management information may be information for each information having the printing status of all users, or may be the printing status for each user for each information. In the present embodiment, the user is aware of the information for each piece of information having the printing status of all users.

  Further, as a printing management information reporting method, for example, a method of notifying the registrant's communication terminal 15 by e-mail can be considered. At this time, the e-mail may be sent whenever each designated user performs printing (every time a print completion notice arrives from the MMK terminal 13) or after all designated users have finished printing. Alternatively, the management status at the time designated by the registrant may be transmitted. As another print management information reporting method, a dedicated Web site related to the print management status may be provided so that the print status can be managed by access from the communication terminal 15 by the registrant.

  Although the notification destination of the print management information is preferably the communication terminal 15 of the registrant of information, it is possible to change or add the notification destination as another destination with the permission of the registrant or the like. .

  Further, the print management function 22f receives an instruction from the registrant or the user, manages a print execution time limit specified by the registrant, a reminder notification function that prompts the user to execute the print, a print execution period extension function, a print status The change function is executed.

  The member registration database 24 is a database that manages user information of users registered as members. FIG. 4 shows an example of items of user information to be managed. As shown in FIG. 4, examples of user information items include a company name, a department name, a user ID, a password, and a registered e-mail address.

  The remote print database 25 is a database that stores information related to print management upon receiving print management settings together with information registration registered by the registrant.

(A-1-3) Internal Function of Communication Terminal Next, the internal configuration and function of the communication terminal 15 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the configurations of the communication terminal 16 and the mobile phone 17 are the same as the functions provided in the communication terminal 15, and therefore the configuration of the communication terminal 15 will be described as a representative here.

  In FIG. 5, the communication terminal 15 includes a control unit 51, an operation unit 52, a display unit 53, a storage unit 54, and a communication unit 55.

  The communication unit 55 functions for communication via the network 11.

  The operation unit 52 transmits an instruction by a user operation, and corresponds to, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. However, in the case of the cellular phone 17, the operation unit 52 corresponds to a push button on the cellular phone.

  The display unit 53 is a display device that performs screen display according to functions of the mailer ML1 and the Web browser B1 installed in the communication terminal 15. For example, when the print management information is received, the display unit 53 displays the received print management information on a screen.

  The control unit 51 reads the processing program in the storage unit 54 and executes the processing program to realize the function. The control unit 51 executes, for example, a mailer M1 function and a Web browser B1 function. Since the Web browser B1 normally also has a function as an FTP client, information can be uploaded in the form of file transfer using the FTP protocol instead of electronic mail. In that case, it is natural that the remote print server 18 that performs information registration needs to have the function of an FTP server.

  The storage unit 54 corresponds to, for example, RAM and ROM, and stores a predetermined processing program and data necessary for executing the processing program. Note that the recording unit 54 may store information to be uploaded.

(A-1-4) Internal Function of MMK Terminal Next, the internal configuration and function of the MMK terminal 13 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the MMK terminal 13 includes a control unit 61, an operation unit 62, a display unit 63, a storage unit 64, an evaluation correspondence unit 65, and a communication unit 66.

  The control unit 61 is a control unit that realizes the function of the MMK terminal 13, and corresponds to a CPU, for example. The control unit 61 implements a function by reading and executing a processing program in the storage unit 64.

  The storage unit 64 stores a processing program executed by the control unit 61 and data necessary for executing the processing program, and corresponds to, for example, a RAM or a ROM.

  The communication unit 66 is a communication unit that receives information to be printed from the remote print server 18. The communication unit 66 transmits a print completion notification to the remote print server 18 after printing.

  The operation unit 62 captures a processing operation necessary for printing registration information, and the display unit 63 displays a necessary screen related to print execution.

  The evaluation handling unit 65 receives a predetermined confirmation operation from the user after printing by the printer device 14, and performs a predetermined process corresponding to the confirmation operation.

  Here, the predetermined confirmation operation includes, for example, a payment operation (for example, inserting a coin into a coin insertion slot) when the printing fee is postpaid. Moreover, the predetermined process corresponding to the predetermined confirmation operation includes, for example, a process of deleting information temporarily stored after payment of a fee.

(A-2) Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the print network system 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(A-2-1) Registration operation of file information to be used for printing First, referring to FIG. 8, a system operation when a user registers file information (document) to be printed by the printer device 14 using the MMK terminal 13 will be described. I will explain. FIG. 7 shows a systematic flow of the print network system 10 and will be referred to as appropriate.

  In FIG. 8, the user operates the communication terminal 15 to perform a file registration Web page extraction operation related to the remote print server 18, and the communication terminal 15 requests the transmission of the file registration Web page selected by the user. Is transmitted to the network 11 (S1). Then, the remote print server 18 returns the file registration Web page to the communication terminal 15 (S2), and the communication terminal 15 displays the file registration Web page (S3).

  The user inputs information for authenticating himself / herself (for example, user ID and password) in a predetermined input field of the file registration Web page, and instructs the transmission, and the communication terminal 15 receives the input authentication information. Is transmitted (S4). The remote print server 18 performs predetermined user authentication based on the authentication information from the communication terminal 15. The remote print server 18 returns the authentication result to the communication terminal 15 (S6), and the communication terminal 15 displays the authentication result (S7).

  At this time, if the authentication result by the remote authentication server 18 is valid, the remote print server 18 requests specific information for specifying a file to be registered from the communication terminal. As a result, the communication terminal 15 transmits file specifying information (such as a document name) to the remote print server 18 (S8), and the remote print server 18 takes in the file information based on the received file specifying information, and the file information Keep. Thereby, the registration of the file information is completed (S9 and S11 and S12 in FIG. 7).

  When the file information is registered in the remote print server 18, a registration completion notification is transmitted with the registered e-mail address of each user (member to be printed) as the destination (S10, S13 in FIG. 7). At this time, the registration completion notification also includes a printing identification number (printing ID) for specifying the registered file information.

  In this embodiment, the case where the file information recorded in the communication terminal 15 is registered in the remote print server 18 will be described. However, the file information stored in the storage server 19 is registered in the remote print server 18. It may be.

(A-2-2) File Information Printing Operation Next, an operation when printing registered file information will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 9, the user moves to the MMK terminal 13 installed in a public place at an appropriate timing, operates the MMK terminal 13 to instruct the print service mode of the registered file information, and authenticates himself / herself. Information is input (S21). The MMK terminal 13 transmits the input authentication information to the remote print server 18, and the remote print server 18 performs user authentication based on the received authentication information and transmits the authentication result to the MMK terminal 13 (S22). .

  If the authentication by the remote print server 18 is valid, the print service of the registered file information is permitted. If the authentication is not valid, the process ends by a series of processes.

  If the authentication is valid, the user inputs the printing identification number to the MMK terminal 13, and the MMK terminal 13 transmits the printing identification number to the remote print server 18 (S23).

  The remote print server 13 extracts the corresponding file information from the remote print DB 25 based on the print identification number, and transmits the file information to the MMK terminal 13 (S24). If the file information corresponding to the print identification number is not in the remote print DB 25, the remote print server 18 sends a message to that effect to the MMK terminal 13 that the print service is not possible.

  When file information is given to the MMK terminal 13, the MMK terminal 13 cooperates with the printer device 14 to give the received file information to the printer device 14 for printing (S25, S14 in FIG. 7). At this time, the file information may be encrypted, and in this case, the printer device 14 may perform a decryption process corresponding to the encryption process. In addition, the user can appropriately operate attribute settings such as the number of copies, variable magnification, color printing, and monochrome printing through the MMK terminal 13 or the printer device 14.

  When printing is executed by the printer device 14, when charging by a predetermined method (for example, charging by a prepaid method or a coin insertion method) is completed, a print completion notification is transmitted from the MMK terminal 13 to the remote print server 18 (S26). , S15 in FIG.

  When receiving the print completion notification from the MMK terminal 13, the remote print server 18 performs a predetermined print management process (S27, S16 in FIG. 7).

(A-2-3) Print Management Process Next, the operation of the print management process in the remote print server 18 will be described with reference to FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a case where the print management is set when file information is registered. FIG. 10 shows a case where the registrant registers documents 1 to 3 in the remote print server 18 and designates three users 1 to 3 as print management targets.

  FIG. 10A shows user information of a registrant. This user information is information stored in the member registration DB 24 and includes, for example, a company name, a department name, a user identification number (user ID), a password, a registered e-mail address, and the like.

  The registrant registers the documents 1 to 3 in the remote print server 18 as described in FIG. At this time, in FIG. 11, the registrant designates users 1 to 3 as print management targets (S 51), and the communication terminal 15 stores the registered document information of the registered documents 1 to 3 in the remote print server. 18 (S52), and each registered document information is stored in the remote printing DB 25. The registered document information may be information included in the file specifying information described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10B is an example of management items for each registered document information. For example, the print identification number (mail ID), date, title, registrant email address, and email address of the user whose print status is to be confirmed. , Destination and so on. In this embodiment, the print management target user is specified by inputting the user's mail address as registered document information. However, the user name is directly input and transmitted to the remote print server 18. However, the user's mail address may be searched from the registered member DB 24 based on the user name.

  In the remote print server 18, print management information is created for each user to be print management included in each received registered document information (S53).

  FIG. 10C is an example of document management for managing print management information of each user. Each print management information is stored in the remote printing DB 25 and includes, for example, a printing identification number (document ID), a document name, a date, a document capacity, a document status (printing status), and the like. The remote print server 18 creates print management information for each user. Each print management information manages the print status for each document. The remote print server 18 sets the print status of each document to “unprinted” at the beginning of print management setting.

  Next, print management processing by the remote print server 18 for which print management is set will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 12, when printing of file information is completed by the printer device 14 using the MMK terminal 13, the MMK terminal 13 transmits a print completion notification to the remote print server 18 (S41).

  When the remote print server 18 receives the print completion notification from the MMK terminal 13 (S42), the remote print server 18 extracts the print management information about the user related to the print completion notification from the remote print DB 25 (S43). Although not shown in FIG. 12, when there is no user print management information corresponding to the print completion notification (that is, when print management is not designated), print management is not performed.

  Then, the remote print server 18 changes the document status (printing status) of the document printed this time from “unprinted” to “printed” in the print management information of the user (S44). Then, the remote print server 18 transmits the print management information to the registrant's communication terminal 15 (S45).

  The communication terminal 15 displays the received print management information (S46). FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen showing print management information. As shown in FIG. 7, the screen displayed on the communication terminal 15 includes a document name, the number of users who have printed the document (printed), the number of users who have not printed the document (unprinted), and a link destination. And a print instruction for sending an e-mail prompting the user to print. When the registrant selects the link destination, the list information of the file information registered by the registrant is displayed, and further, it is possible to link to the print management information for each registered file information.

  Thus, the registrant can receive the print management information and can also grasp the detailed print management information. It is also possible to confirm details of print management information of file information other than the received file information. This detailed print management information can include information such as billing information for each user and total amount of billing required for printing file information.

  The remote print server 18 can also manage printing of registered file information with a print deadline. This printing time limit may be set in the remote printing server 18 in advance, or may be set by a registrant. The printing deadline may be the same deadline common to all file information, or may be a different deadline for each file information.

  Then, when the printing time limit for the registered file information is exceeded, the remote printing management server 18 may transmit a time limit notification to the communication terminals 15 and 16 or the mobile phone 17 as shown in FIG. (S18 in FIG. 7). Examples of the screen display of this deadline notification include a document name, the number of printed pages, the number of unprinted pages, a link destination, and a deadline for requesting the remote printing server 18 to postpone a printing deadline.

(A-3) Effects of Embodiment As described above, according to the present embodiment, the remote print server 18 can manage the printing status of each user for each file information. Thereby, the registrant can grasp which user has executed printing and which user has not been printed.

(B) Modified Examples of Embodiments Although various modified examples have been described in the above-described embodiments, the following modified examples may be applied.

(B-1) Regarding Print Management Setting In the above-described embodiment, the case where print management setting (member designation) is performed when registering file information has been described. However, the print management setting Web page is as follows. You may set using.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of setting print management using a print management setting Web page.

  In FIG. 13, the registrant operates the communication terminal 15 to take out a print management setting Web page related to the remote print server 18, and the communication terminal 15 sends a transmission request for the print management setting Web page to the network. 11 (S31). Then, the remote print server 18 returns a print management setting Web page to the communication terminal 15 (S32).

  Then, the communication terminal 15 displays the print management setting Web page, and the registrant inputs setting items related to print management, such as a member (user) to be subjected to print management, and the communication terminal 15 is input. The transmitted web page is transmitted to the remote print server 18 (S33). The remote print server 18 sets print management for each user based on the received input content (S34).

  Here, FIG. 14 shows a display screen example of the print management setting Web page displayed by the communication terminal 15. In FIG. 14A, the print management setting Web page is a list of all users registered in the member registration DB 24. Then, the registrant checks the user who wants to know the printing status, and the communication terminal 15 returns the checked item to the remote print server 18 (see FIG. 14B). As a result, the remote print server 18 creates print management information for each checked user, and sets so that the document status (printing status) indicating whether or not printing has been performed for each registered file information can be managed.

  Note that the print management setting can be performed at the time of member registration, file information registration, or after file information registration. Also, the print management setting can be set for all registered file information or only for the file information specified by the user. Further, a different member may be designated for each file information.

  When the registrant confirms the progress of printing completion, the registrant operates the communication terminal 15 to access the web page of the print management information, and as shown in FIG. You can check the document status.

(B-2) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the remote print server 18 registers the file information from the communication terminal 15 has been described, but the content server (storage server 19) connectable to a network (for example, the Internet). The storage information may be registered information.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a systematic flow in the case where the remote print server 18 prints and manages information of the storage server 19 functioning as a content server.

  In FIG. 15, those corresponding to the operations described in FIG. Further, in FIG. 15, since it corresponds to the systematic flow described in FIG.

  15 is different from the operation of FIG. 7 in that a content holder (such as an operator of the storage server 19) checks the printing status of each content. In the case of FIG. 7, it has been described that the registrant can confirm detailed print management information on the display screen of the print management information from the remote print server 18, but in FIG. Access the information web page and check the details of the print management information.

  In this way, the print network system 10 can be applied not only to a closed network but also to an open network.

(B-3) In the above-described embodiment, the print management result has been described as being stored in the remote print DB 25 of the remote print server 18.

  However, the print management result may be managed on a database connectable to the network 11, or may be transferred to another database on the network 11 by the remote print server 18. As a result, the print management information can be provided to another manager / operator different from the manager / operator of the remote print server 18.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a print network system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the remote printing server which concerns on embodiment. It is an example of management items of print management information according to the embodiment. It is an example of a management item of user information concerning an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the communication terminal which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the MMK terminal which concerns on embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the systematic flow of the printing network system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the registration operation | movement of the file information which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the printing operation which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the correspondence of the printing management information which concerns on embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print management setting operation according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of print management processing according to the embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a print management setting operation according to a modification of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print management setting screen according to a modification of the embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram showing a systematic flow of a print network system according to a modification of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... print network system, 11 ... network,
12 ... Mobile phone network, 13 ... MMK terminal, 14 ... Printer device,
15, 16 ... communication terminal, 17 ... mobile phone, 18 ... remote print server,
19 ... Storage server, 21 ... Control unit, 22 ... Storage unit,
22a ... Member registration function part, 22b ... Personal authentication function part,
22c: Location information search providing unit, 22d: Data transmission unit,
22e ... Preview function unit, 22f ... Print management function unit, 23 ... Communication unit,
24: Member registration database (DB), 25: Remote print database (DB).

Claims (6)

Print information storage means storing file information to be printed registered by the user, and printing for accepting print reservation information from outside and recording file information reserved to be printed in the print information storage means Reservation means, a plurality of public printing means having a printing function that can be used by any person, and sending a print request in response to user input, and in response to a print request from any of the public printing means, A print network comprising: a print request processing unit that extracts the corresponding file information from the print information storage unit based on the specific information of the file information included in the print request, and gives the print information to the public print unit that is the request source In the system,
The print request processing means is
A print management unit for managing a print status of whether or not each user who should make a print request has performed printing on the file information reserved for printing;
A print network system, comprising: a management result providing unit that provides a management result by the print management unit.   The print management unit receives a print completion notification from the public printing unit that has executed the printing of the file information, and prints the file information based on the user information and the file identification information included in the print completion notification. The print network system according to claim 1, wherein the print network system is determined to have been performed.   The print network system according to claim 1, wherein the management result providing unit transmits the management result information of the print management unit to one or more designated destinations.   4. The print network system according to claim 3, wherein the management result information provided by the management result providing unit is formed by a hyperlink that can call more detailed print management information. A printing time limit means for managing a printing time limit for printing the file information;
5. The print network system according to claim 1, wherein the print time limit means transmits print prompting information to a user who should make a print request for the file information that has exceeded the print time limit. . 6. The printing network system according to claim 5, wherein the printing deadline means can extend the printing deadline in response to at least an instruction from a user who has registered the file information.

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