JP2006338128A - Print control program, print controller and print control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control program, a print controller and a print control method for accurately and easily performing two or more copies of print. <P>SOLUTION: When a print request for designating two or more copies is made from a client terminal 10, a print server 30 generates print data for outputting the first copy of printed matter on which a QR code is stamped, and transmits the data to a printer 20. The printer 20 outputs the printed matter on which the QR code is stamped. When confirming the output content, and judging that there is no problem, the user reads the QR code by using a portable telephone 50. The portable telephone 50 instructs the resumption of the second and following copies through a public line network to the printer server 30 based on information embedded in the QR code. The printer server 30 generates the second and following copies of print data and transmits the pertinent data to the printer 20 with the resumption instruction. The printer 20 starts the print processing of the second and third copies similarly as the first copy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control program, a print control apparatus, and a print control method for executing a print control process for outputting a printed matter based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal, and more specifically, printing a plurality of copies. The present invention relates to a print control program, a print control apparatus, and a print control method that can be accurately and easily performed.

  Generally, in an office (company, government office), a school, or the like where a plurality of users perform printing, a computer that uses a printing service (hereinafter referred to as a client terminal) and a computer that provides the printing service to the client terminal (Hereinafter referred to as a print server) creates a printing environment in which a plurality of users can share and use a printing apparatus such as a printer.

  For example, in such a printing environment, when it is desired to output five copies of a printed matter, printing is performed by outputting only the first copy, checking the output contents, and then outputting the remaining four copies. .

  Conventionally, as related to this type of technology, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, when outputting a plurality of copies, only the first copy is output, and the second and subsequent copies are set in a paused state. A technique for resuming printing of the second and subsequent copies after confirming the output contents of the eyes is known.

Further, as described in Patent Document 2, in addition to the technique of Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the output of other jobs from being stopped when the second and subsequent copies are in a paused state, There is also known a technique of transitioning to, and outputting other jobs with priority.
JP-A-10-291356 JP 2002-031990 A

  However, in the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, when resuming the second and subsequent jobs, it is necessary to perform a user operation such as searching for the corresponding job from the operation unit such as the operation panel, or canceling or resuming the job. .

  Therefore, as the number of jobs accumulated in the queue increases, the time until the corresponding job is found increases, and the operation becomes complicated.

  In addition, since the user instructs to cancel the job and restart the job by operating the operation unit, there is a possibility that an erroneous operation such as canceling or restarting another job may occur. Further, in the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, a function for automatically shifting to the hold state is provided. However, such control causes a problem that a job remains in the queue unless the user cancels. .

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a print control program, a print control apparatus, and a print control method capable of accurately and easily printing a plurality of copies.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a print control program for causing a computer to execute a print control process for controlling a printing apparatus based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal and outputting a printed matter. The first step of controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies to a hold state upon acceptance of the print request designating the plurality of copies, and information for controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies are embedded. A second step for generating a stamp, a third step for instructing the output of the first printed material with the stamp generated in the second step, and the stamp embedded in the stamp in the third step. A fourth step of receiving an instruction relating to the output of the second and subsequent copies based on the information, and an instruction relating to the output of the second and subsequent copies received in the fourth step. Characterized in that it comprises a fifth step of performing an instruction relating to output parts subsequent prints.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the fourth step is configured to determine the remaining number of copies based on information for resuming the output of the remaining number read from the stamp attached to the printed matter. The output restart instruction is received, and the fifth step restarts output of the remaining number of copies based on the instruction of restart of the remaining number of copies received in the fourth step.

  Further, in the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, the fourth step is an instruction to cancel the output of the remaining number of copies based on the information for canceling the output of the remaining number of copies read from the stamp. And the fifth step cancels the output of the remaining number of copies based on the instruction for canceling the output of the remaining number of copies received in the fourth step.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the second step generates a QR code in which information for controlling output of the second and subsequent copies is embedded as the stamp. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a print control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal and outputting a printed matter, upon accepting the print request designating the plurality of copies, Generated by the control means for controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies to a hold state, the stamp information generating means for generating a stamp embedded with information for controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies, and the stamp information generating means Output control means for instructing output of the first printed matter with the stamp applied thereon, and receiving means for receiving an instruction relating to output of the second and subsequent copies based on information embedded in the stamp by the output control means; And the output control means performs an instruction relating to output of the second and subsequent copies based on the instruction relating to the second and subsequent copies received by the receiving means. The features.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a print control method for controlling a printing apparatus based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal and outputting a printed matter, upon accepting the print request designating the plurality of copies, The output after the second copy is controlled by the control means to be in the hold state, the stamp embedded with the information for controlling the output after the second copy is generated by the stamp information generation means, and generated by the stamp information generation means The output control means instructs the output of the first printed matter with the stamp added, and the receiving means receives the instruction related to the second and subsequent copies based on the information embedded in the stamp by the output control means. The output control means issues an instruction relating to the output of the second and subsequent copies based on the instruction relating to the second and subsequent copies received by the receiving means.

  According to the present invention, when a print request for a plurality of copies is received, a printed matter with a stamp embedded with information for controlling the output of the remaining number of copies is output to the first printed matter, Since the control related to the output of the remaining number of copies (resume, cancel) is performed by an instruction based on the information read from the stamp, the output of the remaining number of copies can be restarted or canceled using the stamp attached to the printed matter. Instructions relating to the output of the remaining number of copies can be given without being conscious of the job, and complicated operations are not generated. As a result, printing of a plurality of copies can be performed accurately and easily.

  Embodiments of a print control program, a print control apparatus, and a print control method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

  This printing system includes a client terminal 10, a printer 20, a print server 30, and a mobile phone 50. The client terminal 10, the printer 20, and the print server 30 are connected via the LAN 40, respectively.

  Here, a case where each device is connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) 40 will be described. However, if the function of the present invention is executed, the connection is made in a form other than the LAN. It may be configured.

  The client terminal 10 is a personal computer handled by the user, and a plurality of client terminals 10 are connected to the LAN 40. When printing processing is performed from the client terminal 10, printing is always performed by the printer 20 via the print server 30.

  When a print request is made from the client terminal 10 to the print server 30, a print screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display of the client terminal 10, and the user operates the print screen to print. A request will be made. On this print screen, in addition to a print request to the print server 30, operations such as selecting a printer, setting the number of copies, and setting a print range can be performed.

  When a print request specifying a plurality of copies is made from the client terminal 10, a desired number of copies is set in a copy box surrounded by a dotted line in the figure, and a radio box (exclusive selection) provided immediately below the copy box ) To select ON / OFF of confirmation mode.

  When the client terminal 10 turns on the confirmation mode and makes a print request specifying a plurality of copies, the print server 30 instructs the printer 20 to output only the first copy, and the remaining second and subsequent copies. Control output to pending state. Therefore, the user can first confirm the output contents of the first copy that has been output, and if there is no problem, can instruct the output of the second and subsequent copies. On the other hand, when a print request is made with the confirmation mode turned off, all the specified number of copies are output at once.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the print server 30 receives a print request from the client terminal 10, manages the request as a print job, generates print data based on the request, and then prints the print request to the printer 20 managed by the own apparatus. This is a print control apparatus that transmits data and causes the printer 20 to execute print processing.

  When the print server 30 receives a confirmation mode-on print request designating a plurality of copies from the client terminal 10, the print server 30 generates print data for outputting the first copy. This print data is printed with a QR (Quick Response) code in which information necessary for resuming or canceling the output of the second and subsequent copies is printed in addition to the original content necessary for the first copy. Is included.

  The mobile phone 50 reads the information embedded in the stamp from the restart stamp or the cancel stamp printed on the first copy. The read information is sent to the print server 30 via the public network and the LAN 40 as a job resumption instruction or a job cancellation instruction.

  The print server 30 that has received this instructs the printer 20 to resume or cancel the output of the second and subsequent copies based on the received information. In the present embodiment, the case where information is read from the stamp using the mobile phone 50 will be described. However, the information may be read from the stamp by a device other than the mobile phone 50. For example, the information may be read from the stamp to the printer 20. A QR reader for reading may be connected, information may be read from the reader, and the information may be sent from the printer 20 to the print server 30.

  The printer 20 is a printing device that receives print data from the print server 30 and performs print processing based on the data. For example, if print data including the document content and stamp information for printing a QR code is received from the print server 30, as shown in FIG. The printed matter with the stamp for printing is output.

  In the QR code, information including a job ID for identifying a print job, a server ID for identifying the print server 30, and output operation information for instructing either resumption or cancellation is embedded. The mobile phone 50 reads the job ID, the server ID, and the output operation information from the QR code, and instructs the print server 30 to resume the job and cancel the job based on these information. In this embodiment, the stamp is described as a QR code, but it may be a barcode or the like.

  Here, a series of flow of printing processing in this printing system will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the flow of processing in the case where output of the second and subsequent copies is resumed after the first copy is output is shown.

  First, the client terminal 10 transmits to the print server 30 a print request for setting the confirmation mode to ON and printing three copies of the printed material (step S1). After confirming that the confirmation mode is on, the print server 30 generates print data for outputting the first copy printed with the QR code, and transmits the data to the printer 20 (step S2). .

  Upon receiving this data, the printer 20 outputs the printed material stamped with the QR code based on the data (step S3). The user who has performed the first printing process in this way confirms the output contents and, if there is no problem, reads the restart QR code stamped on the printed matter using the mobile phone 50 or the like (step S4). ).

  When the mobile phone 50 is used to read the QR code, based on the information embedded in the QR code, the print server 30 is instructed to resume the second and subsequent jobs from the mobile phone 50 via the public network and the LAN 40. (Step S5).

  The print server 30 generates print data for the second and subsequent copies together with the restart instruction, and transmits the data to the printer 20 (step S6). Upon receiving this data, the printer 20 starts the printing process for the second and third copies as in the first copy (step S7).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the print server 30 according to the present invention. Here, only the constituent elements according to the present invention will be described.

  The print server 30 includes a print request receiving unit 31, a restart / cancel instruction receiving unit 32, a control unit 33, a mode determination unit 34, a print data storage unit 35, and an output control unit 36 as various processing function units. It is comprised and comprises.

  The print request receiving unit 31 is a processing unit that receives a print request from the client terminal 10, and the resumption / cancellation instruction receiving unit 32 is a processing unit that receives a second or subsequent job resumption or cancellation instruction. The determination unit 34 is a processing unit that determines whether or not the print request received by the print request reception unit 31 is a print request with confirmation mode ON, and the print data storage unit 35 prints the print generated by the control unit 33. The output control unit 36 is a processing unit that temporarily accumulates data. The output control unit 36 transmits the generated print data to the printer 20 and instructs the printer 20 to perform printing based on the data.

  The control unit 33 is a processing unit that performs overall control of the print server 30. That is, various processing function units constituting the print server 30 operate according to instructions from the control unit 33. As the main processing of the control unit 33, for example, the print request received by the print request receiving unit 31 is managed as a print job. If the confirmation mode of the request is ON, the second and subsequent jobs are processed. The output is put on hold and the second and subsequent copies are put on hold. Further, inside the control unit 33, a print data generation unit 33a and a stamp information generation unit 33b are provided.

  The print data generation unit 33 a is a processing unit that generates print data based on the print request received from the client terminal 10. Specifically, the print request receiving unit 31 creates image data based on the print request received from the client terminal 10, and generates data specifying the number of output copies as print data.

  The stamp information generation unit 33b is a processing unit that generates stamp information for printing a stamp in which information necessary for restarting or canceling output of the second and subsequent copies is embedded. If a print request with the confirmation mode ON is received from the client terminal 10, the stamp information generated here is added to the print data generated by the print data generation unit 33a.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printing system according to the present invention. Here, an operation mainly performed in the print server 30 will be shown, and a description will be given assuming that a print request designating a plurality of copies is made from the client terminal 10.

  The print server 30 stands by until a print request is received from the client terminal 10 (NO in step S101). When the print request receiving unit 31 receives a print request designating a plurality of copies from the client terminal 10 during this standby (YES in step S101), this process is started.

  When this process is started, the print server 30 determines whether or not the confirmation mode of the received print request is on by the mode determination unit 34.

  As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the confirmation mode is OFF, the print data generation unit 33a creates image data based on the request (step S103), and all the number of output copies designated by the user Is generated (step S104), and the print data is transmitted from the output control unit 36 to the printer 20 (step S105). The printer 20 that has received the print data performs a conventional print process based on the data and ends this process.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the confirmation mode is on, the print data generation unit 33a creates image data based on the request (step S106), and the number of output copies is one. Is generated (step S107). Further, the stamp information generating unit 33b generates stamp information in which information necessary for resuming or canceling output of the second and subsequent copies is generated, and this stamp information is added to the print data (step S108).

  The output control unit 36 transmits the print data with the stamp to the printer 20 (step S109). The printer 20 that has received the print data outputs one copy of the printed matter on which the QR code is stamped based on the data.

  Subsequently, the print server 20 stores the image data created in step S106 and the remaining number of copies in the print data storage unit 35 (step S110), and is instructed to resume or cancel the second and subsequent jobs. (NO in step S111, NO in step S112).

  When the first copy is output from the printer 30, the user confirms the output contents and determines whether there is a problem with the contents. If it is determined that there is a problem, the mobile phone 50 is used to read information from the cancel stamp printed on the printed matter. When the mobile phone 50 reads information from the cancel stamp in this way, the mobile phone 50 is instructed to cancel the job to the print server 30 via the public network and the LAN 40 (NO in step S111, YES in step S112).

  When the print server 20 receives the job cancel instruction at the resume / cancel instruction reception unit 32, the print server 20 cancels the corresponding job by the control unit 33 (step S113). At this time, the image data stored in the print data storage unit 35 is also deleted. Then, this process ends.

  On the other hand, when the user confirms the output content of the first copy and determines that there is no problem with the content, the mobile phone 50 is used to read information from the restart stamp printed on the printed matter. When the mobile phone 50 reads information from the restart stamp in this way, the mobile phone 50 instructs the print server 30 to restart the job via the public network and the LAN 40 (YES in step S111).

  When the print server 20 receives the job resumption instruction at the resumption / cancel instruction reception unit 32, the control unit 33 resumes execution of the corresponding job. Specifically, print data specifying the remaining number of output copies in the image data stored in the print data storage unit 35 is generated (step S114), and the print data is transmitted from the output control unit 36 to the printer 20 (step S114). S115). The printer 20 that has received the print data performs the second and subsequent print processing based on the data, and ends this processing.

  As described above, in the present invention, when a print request designating a plurality of copies is made, first the first copy processing is performed, and the second and subsequent copies are resumed on the first copy. A restarting stamp for printing and a canceling stamp for canceling are printed. Since the information read from one of the stamps is used to control (resume, cancel) the second and subsequent copies, the second and subsequent copies are output using the stamp attached to the printed matter. Can be resumed or canceled, so that it is possible to give instructions regarding the output of the second and subsequent copies without being conscious of the job, and no complicated operation occurs. As a result, printing of a plurality of copies can be performed accurately and easily.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where both the restart stamp and the cancel stamp are printed on the printed matter has been described. However, only one of the stamps may be printed. For example, only a restart stamp may be printed as shown in FIG. 6A, or only a cancel stamp may be printed as shown in FIG. 6B. . By changing the operation setting of the print server 20, it is possible to adjust so that either one or both stamps are printed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, a banner sheet may be output simultaneously with the output of the first copy, and a restart stamp and a cancel stamp may be printed on the banner sheet. Also in this case, as described above, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), only the restart stamp may be printed on the banner sheet. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. Only the stamp for the printing may be printed.

  In the above embodiment, when the second and subsequent copies are output, the print data specifying the remaining number of output copies for the image data used for the output of the first copy is transmitted to the printer 20 to perform the printing process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and image data for the second and subsequent copies is created in advance, and when there is an instruction to resume a job for the second and subsequent copies, this image data is used as print data. The printer 20 may be configured to perform printing processing.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the printer 20 and the print server 30 are separate apparatuses has been described. However, the function of the print server 30 is incorporated in the printer 20 to perform the print control processing according to the present invention. It may be configured.

  In the above embodiment, the print system according to the present invention is configured to perform the print control process according to the present invention. However, the print control method may be configured to be performed by a print control program installed in a computer. Good.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  The print control program, print control apparatus, and print control method of the present invention can be applied to all print control apparatuses that perform print control processing based on a print request from a client terminal, and in particular, multiple copies are frequently printed. Can be used effectively in offices (businesses, government offices) and schools.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print screen displayed on the display of the client terminal 10. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the output result of the 1st copy in which the stamp was printed. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print server 30 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printing system according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the output result of the 1st copy in which the stamp was printed. It is a figure which shows the modification of the output result by which the stamp was printed on the banner sheet.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Client terminal 20 Printer 30 Print server 31 Print request receiving part 32 Resume / Cancel instruction receiving part 33 Control part 33a Print data generation part 33b Stamp information generation part 34 Mode determination part 35 Print data storage part 36 Output control part 40 LAN (Local Area Network)
50 Mobile phone

Claims (6)

A print control program for causing a computer to execute a print control process for controlling a printing apparatus based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal and outputting a printed matter,
A first step of controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies to a hold state upon accepting the print request designating the plurality of copies;
A second step of generating a stamp embedded with information for controlling output of the second and subsequent copies;
A third step for instructing output of the first printed matter with the stamp generated in the second step;
A fourth step of receiving an instruction relating to the second and subsequent copies based on the information embedded in the stamp in the third step;
And a fifth step of issuing an instruction relating to the output of the second and subsequent copies based on the instruction relating to the second and subsequent copies received in the fourth step. The fourth step includes
Receiving an instruction to resume output of the remaining number of copies based on information for resuming output of the remaining number of copies read from the stamp attached to the printed matter;
The fifth step includes
The printing control program according to claim 1, wherein the output of the remaining number of copies is resumed based on the instruction to resume the output of the remaining number of copies received in the fourth step. The fourth step includes
Receiving an instruction to cancel the output of the remaining number of copies based on the information for canceling the output of the remaining number of copies read from the stamp;
The fifth step includes
The printing control program according to claim 1, wherein the output of the remaining number of copies is canceled based on the instruction to cancel the output of the remaining number of copies received in the fourth step. The second step includes
The print control program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a QR code in which information for controlling output of the second and subsequent copies is embedded as the stamp is generated. In a print control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal and outputting a printed matter,
Control means for controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies to a hold state upon accepting the print request designating the plurality of copies;
Stamp information generating means for generating a stamp embedded with information for controlling output of the second and subsequent copies;
Output control means for instructing output of the first printed matter with the stamp generated by the stamp information generating means;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction relating to the second and subsequent copies based on the information embedded in the stamp by the output control means; and
The output control means includes
A print control apparatus that performs an instruction related to output of a second and subsequent printed materials based on an instruction related to output of the second and subsequent copies received by the receiving unit. In a print control method for controlling a printing apparatus based on a print request designating a plurality of copies from a client terminal and outputting a printed matter,
When accepting the print request designating the plurality of copies, the control means controls the output of the second and subsequent copies to a hold state,
The stamp information generating means generates a stamp embedded with information for controlling the output of the second and subsequent copies,
The output control means instructs the output of the first printed matter with the stamp generated by the stamp information generating means,
The receiving unit receives an instruction related to the second and subsequent copies based on the information embedded in the stamp by the output control unit,
A print control method characterized in that an instruction relating to the output of the second and subsequent copies is given by the output control means based on an instruction relating to the second and subsequent copies received by the receiving means.

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