JP2006127007A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that achieves a print service making effective use of the functions of various application devices connected to output devices. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming system includes an output device selecting means for selecting the output devices desired by a user in association with the print service that enables a print document to be printed, using a print service server on a network, from the desired output devices provided by the print service; an output device kind identifying means for identifying the kinds of selected output devices; a first print method setting means for the first output device identified by the output device type identifying means; a second print method setting means for the second output device identified by the output device type identifying means; a print document information sending means for sending the print document or both the print document and information about the print document to the output devices; and an image forming apparatus for creating images by using print settings set by the first print method setting means or the second print method setting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system related to control of printing options in a printing service using a printing apparatus such as a printer shared by a plurality of users.

  In recent years, networks have spread and image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers are commonly connected to a network and shared by a plurality of users.

  Furthermore, there is an image forming apparatus system that provides a printing service that allows easy printing of a document from a personal computer, PDA, mobile phone, or the like using the Internet. With this service, a user can use an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier provided by the service without installing a printer driver or setting up a complicated network when going out or on a business trip (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 and 2.)

  FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of the print service. A user uploads a document to a server system using the Internet from an uploadable device such as the mobile phone 1, PDA 2, and personal computer 3. As uploading methods, there are a method using an attached file of an e-mail, a method of uploading from a Web browser, and a method using a corresponding driver. Note that the user needs to register in the server system 4 and acquire an account in advance in order to use the service. The user selects the device he / she wants to output from the output devices such as the printer 5 and the fax 6 provided by the service, and performs printing.

When using e-mail, the ID of the output device is specified by e-mail and an e-mail with an output document attached is sent to the server. When using a Web browser, the server is accessed, an output device is selected, the ID of the uploaded own document is designated, and printing is started. In the method using a compatible driver, an output device ID is set on the driver, and a document is printed in the same manner as normal printing.
JP 2003-141041 A JP 2001-228987 A

  However, when using the printing service of the conventional image forming system, there are the following problems.

  Various types of image forming apparatuses are used as output devices, but it has been difficult to realize compatible drivers for all the devices. In addition, various application devices such as a sorter and a finisher can be connected even with the same output device, but there is a problem that it is impossible to realize a print service that effectively uses the function.

  In view of the above points, according to the present invention, the following measures are taken to solve the above problems, and a print service that effectively uses the functions of various application devices connected to an output device is realized.

  The present invention can solve the above problems by providing the following configuration.

(1) In a print service capable of printing a print document from a desired output device provided by the print service using a print service server on the network,
Output device selection means for selecting the output device desired by the user;
Output device type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the selected output device;
A first printing method setting unit for the first output device determined by the output device type determining unit;
A second printing method setting unit for the second output device determined by the output device type determining unit;
A print document information transmission means for transmitting a print document or a print document and information about the print document to the output device;
An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image by applying the print setting set by the first printing method setting unit or the second printing method setting unit.

  According to the present invention, in a print service, a printer is connected by UPnP from a print service server to acquire printer information and set print options, and in a printer that cannot use UPnP, the printer is set for print service. Providing the screen has an effect of realizing a print service that effectively uses the functions of various application devices connected to the output device.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

[First embodiment]
The first embodiment of the image forming system embodying the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the image forming system embodying the present invention.

  3 is a diagram showing a printing environment using the image forming apparatus embodying the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram inside the image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

  First, a printing service corresponding to this embodiment will be described.

  A printer corresponding to the print service is given a unique ID for specifying the printer as a printer corresponding to the print service, and the print service server specifies a printer to which the printer of the print destination is designated from a client such as a PC via the Internet. When the print job is received together with the ID number, it is held in the storage means in the server.

  The printer corresponding to the print service periodically inquires of the print service server whether there is a print job for the printer. When the print service server receives the inquiry, if there is a print job addressed to the printer ID number, the print job is transmitted to the printer. When the printer receives a print job, it interprets the print job data and performs printing.

  FIG. 3 shows a printing system that can handle both printing using this printing service and printing service in a general LAN environment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 4 denotes a print service client via the Internet. The print job is received together with the ID number of the printer of the print destination, the received ID number and the print job are stored, and an inquiry is made as to whether there is a print job for the printer from the printer with the ID number via the Internet. If there is a print job addressed to the printer having the ID number, the print service server 1 and 3 send the print job to the printer. A print service that sends a print job along with the ID number of the printer you want to print over the Internet Client, 7 for this router router mediates communication between the internet 8 and the local network 9 supports Internet gateway device functions.

  5 has an ID number of the print service, and inquires of the print service server 4 via the local network 9, the router 7 and the Internet 8 whether there is a print job for the printer of the ID number, and there is a print job. Receiving the print job transmitted from the print service server, generating the image data to be printed by interpreting the data included in the received print job, forming an image on the paper, and others via the local network 9 This is a printer capable of printing a print job transferred from the above apparatus by the lpd printing service in the same manner, and a staple sorter is mounted as a paper discharge option in this printer.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a client PC that transmits a print job to the printer 5 via the local network 51 using the lpd print service. Reference numeral 8 denotes a logical network device such as the print service server 4, print service client, and router 7. , The Internet serving as a communication path between each network device, 9 a local network as a communication path between the router 7, the printer 5 and the client PC 10, 18 a printer for performing a print service in the same manner as 5, The printer 18 is a device that supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP).

  The block diagram shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram inside the printer 18 embodying the present invention. In FIG. 4, 18 is a printer embodying the present invention, and 11 is communicating with an external device via the local network 9. A communication unit to be executed, 12 a CPU for executing a control program for controlling the entire printer 5, 13 a RAM serving as a storage means for holding data and image data generated at the time of executing the program, and 14 for holding a program ROM, 15 is a hard disk as a storage means for temporarily storing print job data, and 16 is a printer unit that receives image data generated on the RAM 13 via the internal bus 17 and forms an image on a sheet. , 9 is a local network as a communication path for communicating with an external device, and 17 is a printer. 5, the communication unit 11, CPU 12, RAM 13, ROM 14, hard disk 15, is connected to the printer unit 16, a communication internal bus, a communication path between each of the modules.

  The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG.

  First, the general operation of the printer 18 will be described. When the printer 18 is activated, a program stored in the ROM 14 is executed. The program stored in the ROM 14 is interpreted and executed by the CPU 12. This program is a program for controlling the entire printer 18. A print job received via the communication unit 11 is transferred to the hard disk 15 via the internal bus 17 and temporarily stored in the hard disk 15. Are read from the hard disk 15 via the internal bus 17, the print job data is interpreted by the program, and the image data is stored in the RAM 13. After the image data is generated in the RAM 13, the image data in the RAM 13 is transferred to the printer unit 16 via the internal bus 17, and an image is formed on the paper in the printer unit 16. The printing operation itself is the same for the printer 5.

  Here, it is possible to use various printing methods for receiving a print job. For example, in addition to the commonly used printing methods such as lpd, IPP, and Port 9100, printing is performed using the printing service of the present invention. Is also possible.

  Next, the flow when printing is performed using the printing service of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S202, the user of the print service connects to the print service server 4 from the print service client. In S203, the user logs in after receiving server authentication. If the authentication fails, the process ends in S204. In S205, the user designates the printer ID of the printer to be output and selects the printer. If the printer to be output in S206 does not support UPnP, the process proceeds to S206, and if it is desired to output to the printer 18 that supports UPnP, the process proceeds to S207.

  In 207, information about the printer 18 is acquired from the service client using the UPnP function. First, when the printer 18 is connected to the local network 9, the printer 18 notifies the UPnP controller in the print service server on the network of the presence. The UPnP controller uses SSDP (Simple Discovery Protocol) to exchange minimum information in which a device type related to the printer 18 and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for acquiring detailed device information are described. The UPnP controller acquires detailed information about the printer 18 using the URL described in the exchanged information. The acquired information includes the manufacturer name, model name, serial number, connected accessories, paper type of the paper cassette, paper remaining amount, toner remaining amount, and the like. These pieces of information are described in an XML (extensible Markup Language) format. When the status of the printer 18 is changed, such as when there is no paper, an event notification is issued to notify the UPnP controller that the device information has been changed. Event notification is also described in XML, and GENA (General Event Notification Architecture) is used as a protocol.

  In step S208, print options for output to the printer 18 are set. The printer 18, which is a UPnP device, has a presentation URL that can be used to set printer printing options and the number of copies. The user can set the print option from the browser by following the link from the print service server 4 to the presentation URL of the printer 18. FIG. 5 shows a setting screen.

  FIG. 5 shows a browser window. 51 is a URL for presentation of the printer 18, 52 is a schematic diagram of the printer 18, and here, when a paper discharge option or the like is installed, it is reflected in the schematic diagram, and a cassette pedestal is installed in the printer 18. In this case, this figure is also updated to the figure with the cassette pedestal attached. In 53, information on the cassette 1 is displayed. Similarly, information on the cassette 2 is displayed at 54. The cassette 2 is in a paper-free state in FIG. 5, and an icon for alerting the user is displayed as shown at 55 at that time. Information about toner is displayed at 56. In 57, the user sets the number of output copies. 58 sets the paper feed location. At 59, duplex printing is set.

  In step S209, the print document job is transmitted to the print service server 4. The transmitted print document job is transferred to the print service server 4 via the Internet 8.

  The print service server 4 stores the print document job transmitted from the print service client and waits for an inquiry from the printer having the ID number.

  The printer 18 periodically inquires of the print service server 4 via the local network 9, the router 7, and the Internet 8 whether there is a print document job for the printer 18. If there is a print document job for the ID number assigned to the printer 18 in the print service server 4, the print document job is transmitted from the print service server 4 to the printer 18 via the Internet 8, the router 7, and the local network 8. Is done.

  In S210, the print document job is received via the communication unit 11, the print document job is stored in the hard disk 15, read out from the hard disk 15 in S211, and printing is started.

  If it is desired to output to the printer 5 that does not support UPnP in S206, the process proceeds to S212. In S212, print options are set from the operation panel of the printer 5.

  FIG. 6 shows an operation panel of the printer 5. The printer 5 is a printer based on a copying machine, and is equipped with a staple sorter. The control of the staple sorter is set on the operation panel. 61 is a button for setting a sort operation, 62 is a button for setting a staple sort operation, 63 is a button for setting a group operation, 64 is an OK button for confirming the setting, and 65 is a printer ID for the print service of the printer 5. ing. FIG. 6 shows the case where the user has set the staple sort. This operation screen is applied only to the print job of the print service, independently of the settings of the copying machine and the normal network print settings. The number of copies, duplex settings, and the like are set by a general print service driver on the print service client PC. Moreover, the setting from a Web browser is also possible.

  In step S213, the print document job is transmitted to the print service server 4. The transmitted print document job is transferred to the print service server 4 via the Internet 8.

  The print service server 4 stores the print document job transmitted from the print service client and waits for an inquiry from the printer having the ID number.

  The printer 5 periodically inquires of the print service server 4 via the local network 9, the router 7, and the Internet 8 whether there is a print document job for the printer 5.

  If there is a print document job for the ID number assigned to the printer 5 in the print service server 4, the print document job is transmitted from the print service server 4 to the printer 5 via the Internet 8, the router 7, and the local network 8. Is done.

  In step S214, the print document job is received via the communication unit 11, the print document job is stored in the hard disk, read out from the hard disk in step S215, and printing is started.

[Second Example]
In the print service of the first embodiment, in the case of a printer that does not support UPnP, settings such as a staple sorter can be made on the print option setting screen for the print service. This print setting is set according to the ID of the print service. You may make it switch. The setting screen in this case is shown in FIG. 71 is a button for setting a sort operation, 72 is a button for setting a staple sort operation, 73 is a button for setting a group operation, 74 is an OK button for confirming the setting, and 75 is a user ID for the print service of the printer 5. ing.

  The user presses the option setting button of the print service on the operation panel of the printer. Then, input of UserID is requested | required. When the UserID is entered, the screen shown in FIG. 7 appears, and the user can set his own print options and save them in the printer.

  When a print document is received from the print service server 4, the printer checks the user ID of the print document and searches for a print option setting for the print service registered with the User ID. If there is a registered print setting, printing is started using that setting. If there is no print setting for the print service that matches the UserID, the option setting for the default print service is used.

System configuration diagram of a conventional example Flow chart of the first embodiment System configuration diagram of the first embodiment Block diagram of the printer of the first embodiment The figure which shows the setting screen of the printing option of the printer of a 1st Example Figure 1 shows the printer setting screen of the first embodiment. The figure which shows the operation screen of the printer of a 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3 Print service client 4 Print service server 5 Printer 6 Fax 7 Router 8 Internet 9 Local network 10 Client PC
11 Communication unit 12 CPU
13 RAM (memory)
14 ROM
15 Hard disk 16 Printer unit 17 Internal communication bus 18 Image forming apparatus (printer)

Claims (6)

In a print service that can print a print document from a desired output device provided by the print service using a print service server on the network,
Output device selection means for selecting the output device desired by the user;
Output device type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the selected output device;
A first printing method setting unit for the first output device determined by the output device type determining unit;
A second printing method setting unit for the second output device determined by the output device type determining unit;
A print document information transmission means for transmitting a print document or a print document and information about the print document to the output device;
An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image by applying print settings set by the first print method setting means or the second print method setting means.   2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the output device type determination unit determines whether or not device information of the output device can be transmitted to the print service server.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first output device uses a format in which device information can describe a sentence structure.   2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first printing method setting means acquires the previous device information using a format capable of describing a sentence structure and sets the printing.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the second printing method setting unit sets and stores a printing method dedicated to a printing service.   2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the second printing method setting means sets and stores a printing method dedicated to the printing service for each user who accesses the printing service.

Images