JP2006072471A - Printing system, information controller used therefor, printer, program, and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system for supporting printing of a printed matter required for a meeting, within a scheduled time, by a proper content and printing mode, in response to the controlled schedule such as the meeting. <P>SOLUTION: This printing system 10 is constituted of an information control server 90 for controlling schedule information input from a terminal, for acquiring print job information about a print job for the printed matter to be printed conformed with the schedule assigned by the schedule information, for setting a schedule for the print job executed conformed with the schedule assigned by the schedule information, for monitoring the printing schedule, and for settling the print job in advance to arrival of the printing schedule, a printer 20 for executing the settled print job after the schedule arrives, and client computers 80a, 80b, via a network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, an information management apparatus used for the printing system, a printing apparatus, a program, and a printing method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique for scheduling a printed product to be printed on the scheduled date of creation, there is known a form automatic printing system for grouping and scheduling a form to be created according to the date on which the form should be created (Patent Document 1). .
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-31583

  However, printed materials are often created as materials necessary for meetings and meetings. There are systems that perform scheduling to store and manage various schedules such as meetings and outings, and such systems can manage schedules, but preparation of documents necessary for meetings etc. is left to human management. This is the current situation. Therefore, when printing these documents in time for the schedule, it is not always easy to print all necessary documents according to the schedule depending on the amount and type of the documents. In addition, the contents and print formats of such documents may be changed immediately before the schedule, and it is not easy to reliably procure documents with appropriate contents and print formats in response to such changes.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in correspondence with a managed schedule such as a meeting, a printing system and information management for supporting printing of a printed matter required for the schedule in an appropriate content and print format in time for the schedule An object is to provide an apparatus, a printing apparatus, a program, and a printing method.

  According to the present invention, the following means are provided to solve at least one of the above problems.

  The printing system of the present invention includes a schedule management unit that manages schedule information input from a terminal, a print job acquisition unit that acquires print job information about a print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by the schedule information, and A print schedule setting means for setting a schedule for the print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by the schedule information, a print schedule monitoring means for monitoring the print job schedule, and the arrival of the print job schedule. The gist of the invention is that it includes a print job determination unit that determines the content of the print job and a print unit that executes the print job that has arrived and is determined.

  According to this printing system, print job information about a printed material to be printed is acquired in accordance with the schedule information, a print job schedule is set, the print job schedule is monitored, and the schedule arrives prior to arrival. The print job is confirmed, the schedule arrives and is confirmed, and the print job is executed. For this reason, a suitable printed matter can be easily obtained according to a schedule. This provides a printing system that supports the procurement of appropriate printed materials smoothly and reliably according to the schedule.

  In this printing system, the print job determination means may be means for outputting print job confirmation request information for requesting confirmation of the contents of the print job to the terminal. In this way, the user of the terminal can finally confirm the contents of the print job prior to the arrival of the schedule, and can execute a print job having an appropriate content.

  In these printing systems, when the print job confirmation information is not input from the terminal, the print job confirmation unit may determine the print job at the time of outputting the print job confirmation request information as a print job. it can. In this way, a print job can be executed without confirmation information from the terminal, and if the print job has already been confirmed, the print job can be confirmed without inputting the print job confirmation information. .

  Furthermore, in these printing systems, when the execution of the print job is completed, it is possible to provide a print end notification means for outputting print end information to the terminal. By doing so, the printed material can be quickly collected from the printing means and the printed material can be easily procured according to the schedule. The print end information includes a notice that printing has ended, schedule information about the completed print job (schedule contents, user name, etc.), print end date and time, printing means used, color; monochrome; printing The number of copies; front and back printing; page printing or other printing formats, or two or more types of information can be included.

  In these printing systems, a network printing system in which the terminal, a printing apparatus including at least the printing unit, and an information management apparatus including at least the schedule management unit can be connected via a network. By doing so, it is possible to easily procure printed matter according to the schedule while efficiently using the printing means. In this case, the information management apparatus can include a print job acquisition unit, a print schedule setting unit, a print schedule monitoring unit, and the print job determination unit.

  In these printing systems, the terminal may include a mobile terminal. By using a portable terminal as a terminal, it is possible to supply schedule information and a print job from anywhere at any time, set a print job schedule in the printing system, confirm the contents of the print job, and execute the print job.

  An information management apparatus used in the printing system of the present invention acquires schedule management means for managing schedule information input from a terminal, and print job information about a print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by the schedule information Print job acquisition means for executing, print job storage means for storing the acquired print job information, print schedule setting means for setting a schedule of the print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by the schedule information, and the printing The gist of the invention is that it includes: a print schedule monitoring unit that monitors a job schedule; and a print job determination unit that determines the contents of the print job prior to the arrival of the print job schedule.

  According to this information management device, the schedule is managed, the print job schedule of the printed matter to be printed is set in accordance with the schedule, the print schedule is monitored, and the print job content is determined prior to the arrival of the schedule. Therefore, it is possible to easily procure appropriate printed materials according to the schedule.

  The printing apparatus used in the printing system of the present invention includes a schedule management unit that manages schedule information input from a terminal in the printing system, and printing for a print job that is executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information. Print job acquisition means for acquiring job information, print job storage means for storing the acquired print job information, and print schedule setting means for setting the schedule of the print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information The printing apparatus comprises: a print schedule monitoring unit that monitors at least the schedule of the print job; and a print job determination unit that determines the content of the print job prior to arrival of the schedule of the print job; Schedule There is summarized as further comprising a printing unit for executing the print job that is confirmed arrival, the.

  According to this printing apparatus, an appropriate printed matter can be easily procured in accordance with the schedule in the printing system.

  The program according to the present invention includes a step of acquiring print job information for a print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by managed schedule information, and the print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information. Setting the schedule of the print job, monitoring the print job schedule, determining the print job prior to arrival of the print job schedule, and executing the print job that has arrived and confirmed And executing the steps. According to this program, appropriate printed materials can be easily procured according to the schedule.

  The printing method of the present invention acquires print job information about a print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by managed schedule information, and the print method to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information. The gist is to set a schedule, monitor the print job schedule, determine the print job prior to arrival of the print job schedule, and execute the print job when the schedule arrives and is determined. According to this printing method, an appropriate printed matter can be easily obtained according to the schedule.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a color laser printer 20, and FIG. 3 is a controller of the color laser printer 20. 6 is a block diagram showing input / output of control signals at 60. FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system 10 according to the embodiment includes a color laser printer 20 functioning as a printing unit, connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 12, client computers (hereinafter simply referred to as clients) 80a and 80b, And an information management server 90.

  The color laser printer 20 is configured as a full-color electrophotographic printing apparatus that employs a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, cyan (C) and magenta (M). And an exposure unit 22 that irradiates a laser on a charged photosensitive member 21 to form an electrostatic latent image by separating an image of each color separated into four colors of yellow (Y) and black (K). A developing unit 23 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 21 as a toner image using the toner of each color supplied from the toner cartridges 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K of each color; The developed toner images of the respective colors are transferred onto the transfer belt 24 so as to be transferred to form a color toner image, a transport unit 27 that transports paper from the paper cassette 26, and a transport unit 27 A secondary transfer unit 28 for transferring the color toner image formed on the transfer belt 24 to the paper, a fixing unit 29 for fusing and fixing the transferred color toner image to the paper, and discharging the paper. Along with this, the movable connecting portion 30 that connects to the storage elements 33C, 33M, 33Y, and 33K attached to the toner cartridges 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K and reads information on the toner color of the cartridge, and the entire color laser printer 20 And a controller 60 for controlling the operation. In the embodiment, the printing apparatus employing the single photoreceptor system and the intermediate transfer system has been described, but other configurations such as a tandem system having a photoreceptor and a developing device for each color may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 60 is configured as a microprocessor including a CPU 61, a RAM 62, a ROM 63, an EEPROM 74, and the like. The controller 60 detects values detected by various sensors (for example, a temperature sensor) and other input signals (for example, , A print instruction signal by the user, etc.) are input via signal lines, and based on these input signals, the exposure device drive control unit 64, the developer drive control unit 65, the primary transfer unit drive control unit 66, and the secondary transfer unit. The exposure unit 22 and the developing unit 23, the primary transfer unit 25, the secondary transfer unit 28, the fixing unit via the drive control unit 67, the fixing unit drive control unit 68, the transport unit drive control unit 69, the movable connection unit drive control unit 70, and the like. The various parts of the color laser printer 60 such as the unit 29, the transport unit 27, the movable connecting part 30, etc. To control. The EEPROM 74 stores a print execution program for the printer 20 to execute a print job in accordance with a schedule such as a meeting schedule.

  The clients 80a and 80b are connected to the color laser printer 20 via the LAN 12 so that a print job execution instruction is possible. The clients 80a and 80b access a schedule management system on the information management server 90, which will be described later. It is possible to input schedules such as conferences, meetings, business trips, etc., and to view the input schedule information. Further, the clients 80a and 80b can receive various notifications about the schedule managed by the information management server 90.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information management server 90 functions as a server connected to the LAN 12, and a controller (not shown) includes a schedule information management system for managing schedule information acquired from the printer 20. Also, the information management server 90 prints printed materials such as meeting materials and meeting materials to be printed in time for the date and time specified by the schedule information input from the client computer 80a or the like to the printer 20. A program for setting a schedule and setting a print support schedule for supporting printing of printed matter in accordance with the print schedule is provided. Further, the information management server 90 includes a management database 92 for managing a print schedule and a print support schedule, and a print job database 94 for storing print job data to be executed in accordance with the schedule. A monitoring program such as a printing schedule for monitoring the arrival of the time specified by the printing schedule or the printing support schedule is also provided.

  Next, the operation of the printing system 10 according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram that sequentially shows an example of each process and exchange between devices in the color laser printer 20, the client 80a, and the information management server 90 constituting the printing system 10 of the embodiment. 8 to 10, 12, and 13 are flowcharts showing an example of processing in each device. Hereinafter, an operation when printing a print file created in the client 80a via the LAN 12 in accordance with the conference schedule will be described as a specific example.

  First, a meeting / print schedule acceptance process (step S110 in FIG. 4) with a print schedule will be described. An example of the flow of the meeting / print schedule reception process is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the conference / print schedule acceptance process in the server 90 is started when the client 80a accesses the schedule management system of the server 90 and inputs the schedule of the scheduled conference (step S100). . The conference schedule input in the client 80a is, for example, whether there is a print schedule to be printed in accordance with the schedule, such as the date and time of the conference, the location of the conference (room number, etc.), the names of attendees, and the number of attendees Do this by typing

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the server 90 detects that the conference schedule has been input (step S120), the server 90 sets the input conference schedule and stores the content in the schedule management database held by the server 90. (Step S130), the data is placed under the schedule monitoring of the schedule management system and output to a schedule table that can be viewed from the client 80a (step S140). Further, it is determined whether or not there is a printing schedule in the received meeting schedule (step S150). If there is no printing schedule, the meeting schedule receiving process is terminated as it is.

  When a print schedule is included in the conference schedule, a print job identification number (hereinafter referred to as a job ID) associated with the input conference schedule is set (step S160), and the job ID is set in the client 80a. In addition to the file name of the printed matter to be output and printed in accordance with the conference schedule, a request is made for input of print job information including print conditions such as the number of copies, print format such as color or monochrome, and page layout (step S170).

  Upon receiving this print job input request, the client 80a inputs print job information including print conditions such as a file name to be printed and a print format to the server 90 (step S180 in FIG. 4). In this way, the server 90 acquires print job information corresponding to the set job ID from the client 80a (step S190).

  When the server 90 acquires the print job information in this way, a schedule for executing the print job (hereinafter referred to as a print schedule) and a print support schedule for supporting the print schedule are set so as to meet the conference schedule (step S200). ).

  The print schedule includes the execution time (start date and time) of the print job considering the conference schedule. The print schedule can be set so as to satisfy the print condition by analyzing the print condition included in the acquired print job information. Setting a print schedule that analyzes the print conditions, satisfies the print conditions, and executes the print job includes the meeting schedule, the number of copies of a document, the number of copies, front and back printing, page layout, color or monochrome printing, etc. And / or setting a print start time in time for the meeting schedule in consideration of other print schedules, or specifying a printer. Therefore, the print schedule includes at least a time when the print job is executed, and can further include designation of a printer that executes the print job.

  If the capability of the printer connected to the LAN 12 is sufficient, the print schedule can be set uniformly before a certain time before the start time of the conference schedule. Here, the printer 20 is selected as the only printer connected to the LAN 12, but when a plurality of printers are connected to the LAN 12, the printer near the meeting place is selected as the print job execution printer. Can be set. When high-resolution color printing is selected in the printing conditions, a printer capable of such color printing can be selected and set as a print job execution printer. Also, for example, if the number of copies of a document reaches a large number and the number of copies is also large, it will take time to print because printing or printing will require sorting. Set the time.

  In addition to such a print schedule, a schedule that supports a print schedule for setting a print job execution time is set. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show the contents of the print schedule and print support schedule and time tables for various times included in the print schedule. As the print support schedule, a print job confirmation time and a print job confirmation request time prior to the print job confirmation time are set prior to the print job execution time. The print job confirmation time is the time when the print job content is confirmed prior to execution of the print job, and the print job confirmation request time is the confirmation request for the user to perform final confirmation to confirm the print job content. Is output to the client 80a. By setting these times, a certain period (print job confirmation request time to print job confirmation time) prior to the print job confirmation time can be set as the print job confirmation standby period.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the print job execution time precedes the conference schedule in time for the conference schedule, is sufficient to complete the print job, and secures time for collecting and procuring printed materials. Is set. The print job confirmation time is set prior to the print start time, and in consideration of the period of information exchange between the server 90 and the printer 20 and the relationship with other print jobs. Furthermore, the print job confirmation request time is a period during which the user can be prompted for final confirmation as to whether the acquired print job specifies an appropriate print file name, print format, etc. The period (definite waiting period) is set to be a certain period during which the final correction is possible. In this embodiment, the print job confirmation time is set 10 minutes before the print schedule, the print job confirmation request time is set 60 minutes before, and the job confirmation standby time is 60 minutes.

  The print schedule and the print support schedule set in this way are associated with each job ID and stored in the management database 92 such as the print schedule of the server 90 (step S210), and the acquired print job information is associated with the job ID and the print job database. 94 (step S220), and the conference schedule acceptance process is terminated.

  The server 90 always performs a process of monitoring whether or not a confirmation request time has arrived for the print support schedule stored in the management database 92 such as a print schedule. An example of the print support schedule monitoring process flow is shown in FIG. This process is repeated at regular intervals. In this process, whether or not the confirmation request time has arrived is detected (step S230). When the confirmation request time has arrived, the execution of the print job confirmation process is instructed with the job ID of the print support schedule ( In step S240), this process ends. If the confirmation request time has not arrived, this process is terminated.

  When execution of a print job confirmation process is instructed in the print schedule monitoring process, the server 90 starts the print job confirmation process (FIG. 4, step S260). An example of this processing flow is shown in FIG. In this process, the server 90 acquires print job information from the print job database 94 using the instructed job ID (step S270), and outputs a confirmation request signal about the print job content to the client 80a (step S270). In step S280, the confirmation information waiting time (60 minutes) timer is turned on (step S290). Whether or not confirmation information about the print job is detected from the client 80a is monitored (step S300). If confirmation information is acquired, the print job in the database is updated with the acquired content (step S310). The process ends. When the confirmation information is not acquired from the client 80a, it is determined whether there is a standby remaining time (step S320). If there is a remaining time, the confirmation information is waited again (step S300). A confirmation process end signal for printing to the client 80a with the contents of the print job at the time of the last update is output to the client 80a (step S330), and this process ends.

  On the other hand, the client 80a executes a print job confirmation process based on the print job confirmation request signal and the confirmation process end signal from the server 90 (FIG. 4, step S340). An example of this processing flow is shown in FIG. When the client 80a receives the print job confirmation request signal from the server 90, the print job confirmation process is started. In this process, the contents of the print job to be confirmed received from the server 90 are displayed on the monitor of the client 80a (step S350). The user confirms the job content and makes corrections as necessary (step S360). It is possible to modify the contents of the print file. Next, the contents of the job that has been confirmed and changed as necessary are output as confirmation information to the server 90 (step S370), and this process ends.

  When the client 80a receives a confirmation process end signal from the server 90, the print job confirmation process ends. For this reason, when the confirmation information is not input by the user until the fixed waiting time in the server 90 elapses, the client 80a forcibly terminates the print job confirmation process, as shown in FIG. Display on the monitor that the job contents were output at the time of the last update (display date and time). The end of the print job confirmation process due to the expiration of the waiting time is performed on the client 80a side, and confirmation information of contents for confirming the print job contents acquired in the print job confirmation process as they are can be output to the server 90.

  Thus, if there is confirmation information from the client 80a by the print job confirmation process, the print job is confirmed based on the content of the confirmation information, and if there is no confirmation information from the client 80a, the information at the time of the last update is displayed. A print job is determined based on the content. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the final confirmed print job is stored in the database 94 ten minutes before the print job execution time).

  As shown in FIG. 12, the server 90 also performs processing for monitoring the print schedule. An example of this processing flow is shown. In this process, the arrival of the print job execution time is monitored (step S380). When the time comes, the detected print schedule is acquired from the database 92, and the print job database is used by using the job ID attached to this print schedule. The print job information is acquired from 94 (step S390), and an execution signal for the print job is output to the printer 20 together with the information (step S400), and this process is terminated.

  The printer 20 executes the print job based on the print schedule and the print job information acquired together with the print job execution signal from the server 90 (FIG. 4, step S410). An example of this processing is shown in FIG. In this process, a print job is executed based on the print schedule and print job information acquired from the server 90 (step S420), and when the execution of the print job is completed, a print end signal is output to the server 90 together with the job ID ( In step S430), this process ends.

  The server 90 to which the print end signal with the job ID is input from the printer 20 deletes the print schedule and the print support schedule for the job ID in the print schedule management database 92 and uses the job ID from the print job database 94 according to the job ID. The associated print job information is deleted (step S440). Thereafter, the server 90 uses a part of the print job contents such as the name of the printed print file, the meeting schedule contents specified by the job ID (user name, date and time of meeting, place, etc.) and the execution of the print job. A print job end signal is output to the client 80a together with information such as identification information of the printer 20 (step S450).

  Upon receiving the print job end signal from the server 90, the client 80a receives the print job end signal and, as shown in FIG. 14, various information input together with the print job end signal on the display unit such as the monitor of the client 80a. Is displayed (step S460).

  In this way, a series of processes until the output of the printed matter in accordance with the meeting schedule accepted by the server 90 is completed. Such a process is performed every time the new meeting schedule and the print job information about the printed matter to be printed are acquired.

  According to the printing system 10 described above, by setting the print schedule necessary for the meeting according to the meeting schedule and printing it, the printing work immediately before the meeting schedule can be performed reliably and in time for the meeting schedule. Can be procured. Further, according to the printing system 10, since the user can confirm the contents of the print job before the arrival of the print schedule, it is possible to reliably procure a printed matter with appropriate contents.

  Here, in the printing system 10 according to the first embodiment, the process executed by the meeting schedule reception process (110 in FIG. 4 and steps S120 and S130 in FIG. 5) executed in the server 90 corresponds to the schedule management unit. 5 is equivalent to the print job acquisition unit, the process executed in steps S150 to S200 is equivalent to the print schedule setting unit, and the print schedule monitoring process is executed in the server 90. (FIG. 8, steps S230 to S240) and the print support schedule monitoring process (FIG. 12, steps S380 to S400) correspond to the print schedule monitoring unit, and the print job determination process (step S260 of FIG. 4) executed in the server 90. (Steps S270 to S330 in FIG. 9) The print job database 94 corresponds to the print job storage unit, the print job end signal output process (step S450 in FIG. 4) corresponds to the print end notification unit, and the printer 20 corresponds to the print unit. The client 80a and the like correspond to a terminal.

  In the printing system 10 of this embodiment described above, the server 90 monitors the arrival of the date and time (print job execution time, print job confirmation request time) specified by the print schedule in the management database 92 such as a print schedule. However, the printer 20 may monitor the schedule database 92 for printing and execute the print job determination process when the print job determination time comes.

  Further, the printer 20 or the server 90 may monitor the print schedule and execute processing for outputting information requesting the client 80a to confirm and execute the print job. By doing so, the execution of the automatic print job by the server 90 can be interrupted, and the contents of the print job can be confirmed and updated until just before the meeting schedule arrives.

  In the printing system 10 of the present embodiment, the print job confirmation request time and the print job confirmation time are set as the print support schedule. However, these are the print schedules associated with the print job execution time of the print schedule. May be included as part of the data. In the printing system 10 of this embodiment, the print job confirmation request time is set by the server 90, but the user can set or change the print job check request time. This ensures that the user can confirm the print job.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the conference schedule is not particularly described as to change. However, the conference schedule can be changed, and the print schedule and the print support schedule can be changed according to the changed contents.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, in the conference schedule reception process, print job information about a print schedule attached to the conference schedule is acquired (step S200). It may be before the schedule arrives. The print job information does not necessarily have to be acquired all at the same time. Only a part of the print job information (for example, the number of copies to be printed, color or monochrome designation) is acquired, and the print target file is printed before the schedule arrives. It may be acquired at the time of job confirmation processing.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the print job end signal is output to the client 80a. However, the print job end signal may be output to the client 80b of another user according to a user designation.

  Further, the printing system 10 of the present embodiment is assumed to be via the LAN 12 as a network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to a printing system consisting of only a terminal and a printer, the Internet network, telephone line network, private line network, etc. It can also be applied to a network configured by combining any of these.

  In the printing system 10 of this embodiment, the terminal 80a is a computer connected to the LAN 12. However, the terminal 80a is a portable terminal, and the portable terminal is connected to the server 90 or the like via a wireless LAN, various telephone lines, the Internet, a dedicated line, or the like. It can be connectable. By doing so, it is possible to set a print schedule that matches the conference schedule from various locations at all times. In addition, as a portable terminal, it can be set as the mobile phone, PDA, computer, etc. which can utilize said various networks.

  Furthermore, in the printing system 10 of this embodiment, the server 90 includes the schedule management unit, the print job acquisition unit, the print schedule setting unit, the print schedule monitoring unit, and the print job determination unit, and the printer 20 includes the printing unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The schedule management means, the print job acquisition means, the print schedule setting means, the print schedule monitoring means, and the print job determination means are provided in an appropriate combination with the terminal 80a, the server 90, the printer 20, or a printer server that manages the terminal 80a. can do. For example, the printer 20 or the printer server may include a schedule management unit, a print job acquisition unit, a print schedule setting unit, a print schedule monitoring unit, and a print job determination unit.

  In the printing system 10 of the present embodiment, the printing apparatus is applied to the color laser printer 20. However, the printing system 10 may be applied to various printers such as a monochrome laser color laser printer and an inkjet color laser printer. The present invention may be applied to a printing apparatus or a multifunction machine other than the above printer. In these cases, the print type or the like may be set according to the printing apparatus.

  In the above-described embodiments, the present invention has been described as a form of the printing system 10. However, the present invention may be in the form of a printing apparatus such as a color laser printer 20 that can be used in the printing system 10 according to these embodiments. It may be in the form of a terminal such as a client 80a that can be used, or in the form of an information management device such as a server 90 that can be used in the printing system 10 of the embodiment. Further, the printing system 10 of the embodiment may be in the form of a printing method, or may be in the form of a program that executes the printing method such as a printer driver or a computer-readable storage medium that stores this program.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you get.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a printing system 10. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a color laser printer 20. FIG. The block diagram which shows the input / output of the control signal in the controller 50. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the exchange between a printer, a server, and a client. The figure which shows an example of the flow of a meeting and a printing schedule reception process. The figure which shows the content of a printing schedule and a printing assistance schedule. The figure which shows the time table about the various time included in a printing schedule and a printing assistance schedule. The figure which shows an example of the flow of a monitoring process of a printing assistance schedule. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of print job determination processing. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of print job confirmation processing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor display when a print job confirmation process is forcibly terminated. The figure which shows an example of the flow of a printing schedule monitoring process. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of print job execution processing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor display at the end of a print job.

Explanation of symbols

  10 printing system, 12 LAN, 20 color laser printer, 21 photoconductor, 22 exposure device, 23 developing device, 24 transfer belt, 25 primary transfer unit, 26 paper cassette, 27 transport unit, 28 secondary transfer unit, 29 fixing unit , 30 Movable connection, 32C, 32M, 32Y, 32K Toner cartridge, 33C, 33M, 33Y, 33K Storage element, 60 controller, 61 CPU, 62 RAM, 63 ROM, 64 Exposure unit drive control unit, 65 Developer drive control 66, primary transfer unit drive control unit, 67 secondary transfer unit drive control unit, 68 fixing unit drive control unit, 69 transport unit drive control unit, 70 movable connection unit drive control unit, 71 information transmission control unit, 72 power supply circuit 74 EEPROM, 80a, 80b Ant computer, 90 information management server, 92 printing schedule, etc. management database, 94 print job database.

Claims (11)

A printing system,
Schedule management means for managing schedule information input from a terminal;
Print job acquisition means for acquiring print job information about a print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information;
Print schedule setting means for setting a schedule of the print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information;
Print schedule monitoring means for monitoring the schedule of the print job;
Print job confirmation means for confirming the contents of the print job prior to arrival of the schedule of the print job;
Printing means for executing the print job that has been scheduled and arrived;
A printing system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print job determination unit is a unit that outputs, to the terminal, print job determination request information for requesting determination of contents of the print job.   3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein when no print job determination information is input from the terminal, the print job determination unit determines a print job at the time of outputting the print job determination request information as a print job.   The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a print end notification unit that outputs print end information to the terminal when the execution of the print job is ended.   5. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is a network printing system in which the terminal, a printing apparatus including at least the printing unit, and an information management apparatus including at least the schedule management unit are connected via a network. The printing system according to any one of the above.   The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the information management apparatus includes a print job acquisition unit, a print schedule setting unit, a print schedule monitoring unit, and the print job determination unit.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal includes a mobile terminal. An information management device used in a printing system,
Schedule management means for managing schedule information input from a terminal;
Print job acquisition means for acquiring print job information about a print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information;
Print job storage means for storing the acquired print job information;
Print schedule setting means for setting a schedule of the print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information;
Print schedule monitoring means for monitoring the schedule of the print job;
An information management apparatus comprising: a print job determination unit configured to determine the content of the print job prior to arrival of the print job schedule. A printing apparatus used in a printing system,
In the printing system,
Schedule management means for managing schedule information input from a terminal;
Print job acquisition means for acquiring print job information about a print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information;
Print job storage means for storing the acquired print job information;
Print schedule setting means for setting a schedule of the print job to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information;
With
The printing apparatus includes at least print schedule monitoring means for monitoring a schedule of the print job;
Print job confirmation means for confirming the contents of the print job prior to arrival of the schedule of the print job;
Printing means for executing the print job that has been scheduled and arrived;
A printing apparatus comprising: Obtaining print job information for a print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by the managed schedule information;
Setting a schedule for the print job to be executed in accordance with a schedule specified by the schedule information;
Monitoring the schedule of the print job;
Finalizing the print job prior to the arrival of the print job schedule;
Executing the print job on which the schedule has arrived and is confirmed;
Run the program. Get print job information about print jobs to be executed according to the schedule specified by the managed schedule information,
Set the print job schedule to be executed in accordance with the schedule specified by the schedule information,
Monitor the schedule of the print job;
Confirm the print job prior to the arrival of the print job schedule;
Execute the print job that has arrived and confirmed
Printing method.

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