JP2006221437A - Printing service system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing service system and method that increase user convenience by absorbing differences in specifications between printing apparatuses used. <P>SOLUTION: When a printer 125 for print output transfers printer information to a center server 130, the center server 130 generates a user ID, which is displayed on a display 123. The user accesses a prescribed URL through a Web browser 111 on a mobile terminal 110 to enter the user ID on a displayed screen, and when it is collated in the center server 130, is provided with information for access from the mobile terminal 110 to the printer 125. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print service system and method for performing print output with a printing apparatus having various specifications, and in particular, enables printing output by absorbing differences in the specifications of a printing apparatus on the premise of use by an unspecified number of people. The present invention relates to a print service system and method.

  In general, multifunction peripherals and printers having a printing function premised on the use of an unspecified number of people are installed in hotels, convenience stores, public facilities, and the like. Such an apparatus is connected to a network such as a local network area (LAN) configured in the facility, and print output is possible by connecting a mobile personal computer or the like to the LAN. When a printer installed as a local printer is used, print output is possible by realizing P2P (Peer to Peer) which is one-to-one communication.

  However, in order to use a multifunction device or printer that is supposed to be used by an unspecified number of people, a printer driver for the printer to be used is required, and it must be obtained by some method, which hinders convenience. It was. In addition, when using a multifunction device or printer connected to the LAN, set a network address such as an IP address (Internet Protocol address) or subnet mask on the mobile personal computer that makes the print request, and connect the desired multifunction device or printer. There was a need to identify.

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the operation of a copying apparatus (image processing apparatus), different input / output processes can be performed in units of pages, such as output in different output forms for each image data. For example, the image data read by the scanner is stored on the hard disk of the image processing apparatus, and 8 image data is printed on one sheet with respect to the image data. (For example, printing from image data with a short output time) is performed so that printing can be performed.

By applying this technology, a net print system consisting of a processing server, etc., is built as a net printing service for multifunction devices and printers installed in public facilities. There is a technique in which data to be printed out on a hard disk can be temporarily output and printed out by calling up the stored data using a user's desired printer.
JP 06-276374 A

  However, since the net print service to which the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied needs to build a system in advance, a large amount of development costs are required. Also, it becomes difficult to freely add or delete printers of various types and specifications.

  Also, in such a system, a print document managed by a mobile personal computer or the like is once stored in the hard disk of the processing server from the mobile personal computer, even though it is desired to print out with the printer in front of the user. There is a problem in that it is convenient for the user because the print document on the hard disk must be read and printed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a print service system and method that absorbs differences in specifications of printing apparatuses to be used and improves user convenience.

  To achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 comprises a print service terminal for performing a print service, and a center server connected to the print service terminal via a network and supporting the print service in the print service terminal. The center server generates identification information of the user of the print service terminal based on reception of printer information transferred from the print service terminal via the network when the print service terminal starts to be used. Generation means, user identification information transfer means for transferring user identification information generated by the identification information generation means to the print service terminal, and access from a web browser of the user terminal of the print service terminal To transfer the user identification information input screen. Identification information input screen transfer means, identification information for collating user input identification information input from a user terminal on the identification information input screen and user generated identification information generated by the identification information generation means Collation means; and connection information transfer means for transferring connection information of the print service terminal to the user terminal on condition that the input identification information and the generation identification information match by the identification information collation means. And the user terminal uses the print service of the print service terminal by accessing the print service terminal from the web browser via the network based on the connection information transferred by the connection information transfer means. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the printer information includes IP address information on the network of the print service terminal, and the connection information transmitting means is included in the printer information. The connection information is generated based on IP address information and transmitted to the user terminal.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the print service terminal transfers the printer information to the center server via the network when starting to use the print service. And user identification information presenting means for presenting the user identification information transferred by the user identification information transfer means to the user terminal.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user terminal is a mobile terminal that can be wirelessly connected to the print service terminal via the network. And

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at the start of use of a print service in a print service terminal, the printer information is transferred to a center server via a network by the printer information transfer means of the print service terminal, and the center that has received the printer information The server generates identification information of the user of the print service terminal based on the printer by the identification information generation unit, and the user identification information generated by the identification information generation unit is generated by the user identification information transfer unit. Transferring to the service terminal and presenting it to the user terminal of the print service terminal, and using the identification information input screen transfer means, the user's identification information input screen for the access from the Web browser of the user terminal And input from the user terminal on the identification information input screen The user input identification information and the user generation identification information generated by the identification information generation means are collated by the identification information collation means of the center server, and the center server performs the input by the identification information collation means. The connection information of the print service terminal is transferred to the user terminal on the condition that the identification information and the generated identification information match, and the user terminal transfers the connection transferred by the connection information transfer means The print service terminal is used by accessing the print service terminal from the Web browser via the network based on the information.

  According to the present invention, when printing is output from a mobile terminal to a printer connected to the print service terminal, after the user ID issued by the center server is authenticated, the URL information of the print service terminal and the automatic access means are provided. Therefore, it is not necessary to make various settings every time the printer is used, and convenience in using the printer is improved. Furthermore, since installation is possible without worrying about the type of printer to be installed, the expandability and maintainability of the system are improved.

  In addition, since the mobile terminal and the printer communicate on a one-to-one basis after providing the automatic access means, it is possible to prevent transmission of a print document and to prevent a network load. Further, a print network can be established using an existing network line. Since it can be constructed, it is excellent in cost performance.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a print service system and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a print service system configured by applying a print service system and method according to the present invention.

  1, the print service system includes a mobile terminal 110 that makes a print request for an electronic document, a print service terminal 120 that provides a print service based on a print request from the mobile terminal 110, and a mobile terminal 110 to a print service terminal 120. The mobile terminal 110 is configured to include a center server 130 that manages and provides information for realizing seamless data transmission at the time of a print request. The mobile terminal 110 can be connected wirelessly as well as wired.

  The print service terminal 120 is generally provided at a plurality of locations such as a hotel, a convenience store, and a public facility, and a plurality of print service terminals 120 exist on the network. In FIG. 120 is described.

  Similarly, the center server 130 may be configured such that a plurality of center servers 130 exist on the network. For example, a server in which a plurality of servers form a hierarchical structure such as a DNS server (Domain Name System) and each server manages the print service terminal 120 within a specified range. A configuration may be adopted in which the information of the print service terminal 120 is exchanged with each other.

  With this configuration, it is possible to specify a single access destination for access from anywhere in the country, and this is effective for load distribution.

  First, the mobile terminal 110 is a portable user terminal such as a notebook personal computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), and includes a Web browser 111. The Web browser 111 is used to print an electronic document using the printer 125 provided by the print service terminal 120, and the user inputs the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the center server 130 to access the designated home page of the center server 130. To do.

  As a result, a user ID input screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and a user ID as user identification information can be input. The user ID to be input at this time is the user ID displayed on the screen of the print service terminal 120 to be used, and printer information (hereinafter also referred to as “access information”) by inputting an accurate user ID. In response to the provision of the automatic access information, the print service terminal 120 can be accessed.

  Next, the print service terminal 120 is a terminal that provides a print service installed in a hotel, convenience store, or public facility, and includes printer information 121, a print service application 122, and a display 123. The print service terminal 120 is connected to a printer 125 that performs print output.

  Note that a plurality of print service terminals 120 exist on the network because they are installed in various facilities, but as described above, only one is described in the example shown in FIG.

  The printer information 121 indicates access information to a printer connected to the print service terminal 120. For example, network connection information such as an IP address, a subnet mask, and a default gateway allocated to the print service terminal 120, and printer information It holds function information (paper size, double-sided / single-sided, 2-up, enlargement / reduction, etc.).

  The print service application 122 indicates a printer driver for the mobile terminal 110 to realize P2P communication (Peer to Peer) via the network with the printer 125, an application in which an electronic document requested to be printed from the mobile terminal 110 is created, and the like. .

  The display 123 is a user interface that displays a use start screen indicating start of use of the print service and a user ID generated by the center server 130. By pressing a use start button by a user operation, printer information 121 such as an IP address is notified to the center server 130, and the user ID notified from the center server 130 is displayed. By inputting the displayed user ID from the Web browser 111 of the mobile terminal 110, the IP address of the printer 125 is received from the center server 130.

  The printer 125 provides a service for printing out an electronic document as a print service by connecting to the mobile terminal 110.

  The center server 130 generates a user ID based on the printer information 121 transferred from the print service terminal 120, and compares the generated user ID with the user ID input by the user. . The collation of the user ID at this time is performed by transferring a screen on which the user ID can be input to the mobile terminal 110 accessed by the Web browser.

  When the user ID is collated using this screen, an IP address is provided to the mobile terminal 110 as connection information for accessing the print service terminal 120 from the mobile terminal 110.

  Accordingly, the mobile terminal 110 can directly access the print service terminal 120, and the printer 125 can be used by acquiring the printer information 121 and the print service application 122 from the print service terminal 120.

  Further, the center server 130 includes a printer information database 131 and holds information about the printer 125 connected to the network. Since only the name of the connected printer is managed as printer information at this time, it is not necessary to store detailed setting information and printer drivers for each printer, making it possible to build a network with a simple server, maintainability and expansion Excellent in properties.

  If the hierarchical structure is formed as in the DNS server technology described above and the printer 125 of the print service terminal 120 within the specified range is managed, the name information of the printer 125 within the specified range. And the information of the center server 130 connected in a hierarchical structure.

  When the print output is completed by the printer 125 or when the user ID is not input after a lapse of a certain period of time after the user ID is generated, the user ID is invalidated. The print service terminal 120 is opened to the user.

  Through the processing described above, the difference in specifications for each printer 125 provided by the print service terminal 120 is absorbed by the access information (IP address) from the center server 130, and the mobile terminal 110 seamlessly accesses the printer 125. become able to.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen for starting use of the print service displayed on the print service terminal.

  2A is a usage start screen in a printer having a button type operation panel, and FIG. 2B is a usage start screen in a printer having a touch panel type display.

  In FIG. 2A, the display unit 201, the determination button 202, and the cancel button 203 are configured. When the content indicating “print service use start” is displayed on the display unit 201, the determination button 202 is pressed. A print service as shown in FIG. 1 can be executed. The print service can be canceled by pressing a cancel button 203.

  In FIG. 2B, the print service use start panel 204 is provided, and when the print service is used, the print service use start panel 204 is pressed.

  By pressing the determination button 302 or the print service use start panel 204, an IP address for specifying the printer 125 on the network is sent to the center server, and a user ID is generated by the center server.

  These buttons or panels serve as triggers for providing the print service of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen for notifying the user ID displayed on the print service terminal.

  3A is a user ID notification screen in a printer having a button type operation panel, and FIG. 3B is a user ID notification screen in a printer having a touch panel type display. .

  The screens shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are screens showing user IDs input on the Web browser screen of the mobile terminal in order to obtain the printer IP address from the center server.

  FIG. 3A is a screen showing the user ID 301 generated based on the printer information when the determination button 202 is pressed on the use start screen shown in FIG. 3B is a screen showing the user ID 302 to the user when the print service use start panel 204 is pressed on the use start screen shown in FIG.

  The user can specify the printer by accessing the homepage address of the center server designated in advance and inputting the displayed user ID.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen for inputting a user ID.

  FIG. 4 is a screen for inputting the user ID that is displayed when the home page designated by the center server is accessed from the Web browser of the mobile terminal and notified on the user ID notification screen as shown in FIG. 4 includes a user ID input box 401, an OK button 402, and a cancel button 403.

  When a user ID is entered in the user ID input box 401 and the OK button 402 is pressed, the entered user ID is transferred to the center server and collated with the user ID notified to the printer. When the cancel button 403 is pressed, the print service provided by the print service terminal is canceled.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen for designating a condition for printout.

  5 includes a file designation box 501, a reference button 502, a print setting 503, a print button 504, and a cancel button 505, and the user ID input using the screen shown in FIG. 4 is generated by the center server. This screen is transferred from the print service terminal when the user ID matches.

  A file to be printed out is input to the file designation box 501, and a condition for printing out is set by the print setting 503. At this time, it is also possible to designate a file to be printed in the file designation box using the reference button 502.

  By pressing the print button 504, the printer prints out the file based on the file specified in the file specification box 501 and the print setting 503. Also, when a cancel button 505 is pressed, use of the print service is stopped.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a process transition of the present system.

  In FIG. 6, a notebook computer is used as a mobile terminal, and the user moves to the installation location of the print service terminal to print out an electronic document stored in the notebook computer, connects to the network, and starts using the print service terminal. A screen is displayed (S601). In this case, the term “network connection” means that the LAN cable is physically connected to the notebook computer if it is wired, and if it is wireless, it means a state where radio communication radio waves can be transmitted, for example, an antenna is set up.

  When a use start button (decision button 202 or print service use start panel 204) on the displayed use start screen is pressed, the printer information held by the print service terminal is notified to the center server of the management center (S602). As the printer information at this time, in addition to transmitting the IP address assigned to the printer, information on installed functions, and the like, a terminal ID for identifying the print service terminal is also transmitted.

  Upon receiving the printer information notification, the center server of the management center generates a user ID for the user (S603), and sends the generated user ID to the print service terminal (S604). The print service terminal displays the user ID using a screen attached to the printer (S605).

  The user inputs the address (URL) of the center server of the management center stored in advance into the web browser of the notebook computer and accesses the center server (S606). The center server transfers the user ID input screen to the notebook computer (S607), and displays the user ID input screen on the notebook computer screen (S608). When the user ID displayed on the screen of the printer is input to the displayed screen and the OK button is pressed, the input user ID is transmitted (S609).

  When the user ID is transmitted to the center server, the center server collates with the user ID notified to the printer (S610). If the user ID does not match at this time, the user ID has not been generated because the use start screen of the print service terminal has not been pressed, or the user ID has not been input for a certain period of time. This is because the user ID has become invalid. Therefore, a screen notifying that the user ID is acquired may be displayed again on the print service terminal.

  When collation is performed, the URL of the print service terminal to be printed and the access information to the print service terminal of the URL are provided (S611). The access information at this time includes connection information for accessing the print service terminal, and the print service terminal can be automatically accessed by the Web browser (S612).

  The print service terminal transfers a print service screen as shown in FIG. 5 (S613), and also transfers the printer driver of the printer. Then, after the user sets the electronic document to be printed out and print settings on the print service screen (S614), the user presses the print button to notify the printer of the print service terminal of the electronic document and print settings. (S615).

  The electronic document is printed based on the notified setting (S616), and when the print output is completed, a print end notification for the user ID is transmitted from the print service terminal to the center server to release the user ID, and further mobile The data is also transmitted to the notebook personal computer (S617).

  Such a sequence can be used seamlessly even when the printer information of the print service terminal to be printed out on the user's mobile terminal is not included.

  As a result, the user can easily print out from a desired printer.

  Therefore, by applying the present invention, it becomes possible to easily use printers used by an unspecified number of people, and a plurality of printers having different specifications can be installed in public facilities, etc. It is expected that the expandability is improved and the convenience of the user is improved.

  The processing shown in the flowchart can also be realized by a print service program that can be executed by a computer.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope not changing the gist thereof.

  The present invention is applicable to a print service system, method, and program for printing out with a printer used by an unspecified number of people installed in a hotel, convenience store, or public facility. This is useful for easily printing out without setting the type and various setting information by the user.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a print service system configured by applying a print service system and method according to the present invention. The figure which shows the screen which starts utilization of the print service displayed on a print service terminal. The figure which shows the screen which notifies the user ID displayed on a print service terminal. The figure which shows the screen which inputs user ID. The figure which shows the screen which designates the conditions to print-out. The sequence diagram which shows the transition of the process of this system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 Mobile terminal 111 Web browser 120 Print service terminal 121 Printer information 122 Print service application 123 Display 125 Printer 130 Center server 131 Printer information database

Claims (5)

A print service terminal that performs the print service;
A center server connected to the print service terminal via a network and supporting a print service in the print service terminal;
The center server is
Identification information generating means for generating identification information of a user of the print service terminal based on reception of printer information transferred from the print service terminal via the network at the start of use of the print service terminal;
User identification information transfer means for transferring user identification information generated by the identification information generation means to the print service terminal;
Identification information input screen transfer means for transferring the identification information input screen of the user for access from a Web browser of the user terminal of the print service terminal;
Identification information collating means for collating user input identification information input from a user terminal on the identification information input screen and user generated identification information generated by the identification information generating means;
Connection information transfer means for transferring connection information of the print service terminal to the user terminal on the condition that the input identification information and the generation identification information match by the identification information matching means,
The user terminal uses the print service of the print service terminal by accessing the print service terminal via a network based on the connection information transferred by the connection information transfer means. . The printer information is
Including IP address information on the network of the print service terminal;
The connection information transmitting means includes
The print service system according to claim 1, wherein the connection information is generated based on the IP address information included in the printer information and transmitted to the user terminal. The print service terminal
Printer information transfer means for transferring the printer information to the center server via the network when starting to use the print service;
The print service system according to claim 1, further comprising: user identification information presenting means for presenting the user identification information transferred by the user identification information transferring means on the user terminal. The user terminal is
4. The print service system according to claim 1, wherein the print service system is a mobile terminal that can be wirelessly connected to the print service terminal via the network. When starting the use of the print service in the print service terminal, the printer information transfer means of the print service terminal transfers printer information to the center server via the network,
The center server that has received the printer information generates identification information of the user of the print service terminal based on the printer by the identification information generation means,
The user identification information generated by the identification information generation means is transferred to the print service terminal by the user identification information transfer means and presented to the user terminal of the print service terminal, and
Transfer the identification information input screen of the user to the user terminal by the identification information input screen transfer means for access from the Web browser of the user terminal,
The input identification information of the user input from the user terminal on the identification information input screen and the generation identification information of the user generated by the identification information generation unit and the identification information verification unit of the center server are collated,
The center server transfers connection information of the print service terminal to the user terminal on the condition that the input identification information and the generation identification information match by the identification information collating unit,
The user terminal uses the print service of the print service terminal by accessing the print service terminal via a network based on the connection information transferred by the connection information transfer means. .

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