JP2007304798A - Print system, print job generation device, and print state confirmation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system for confirming the state of a print job in a printer, and for reducing a print job even under an environment where it is not possible for a user to perform access through a network to a printer after transmitting the print job through the network to the printer. <P>SOLUTION: After transmitting a print job to a printer 30 (P1), when any set event such as the power source OFF of a print job generation device 10 or the log-out of a user occurs, the print job generation device 10 transmits print information showing the job ID of the print job and the printer 30 at the destination of transmission to a portable terminal 50 (for example, a portable telephone set) designated by the user (P2). The user makes an inquiry for the state of the print job from a portable information terminal 50 to the printer 30 based on the print information (P3), and requests the erasure of the print job or the like from the portable information terminal 50 to the printer 30 in response to an inquiry result (P4) (P5). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that transmits a print job to a printing apparatus via a network for printing.

  In a printing system in which a printing device connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) is shared by a plurality of terminal devices connected to the network, the terminal device and the printing device are usually installed at locations separated from each other. Various problems arise because the printing apparatus is shared by a plurality of terminal devices.

  For example, even if a print job is transmitted from the terminal device to the printing device, if another print job is accumulated in the printing device, the print job requested by the user is not executed immediately, so the timing of printing is accurately determined. It is difficult to recognize. Also, if your own printed material is mixed in with another person's printed material, or you cannot easily get the printed material to a printing device installed at a remote location, the confidential document is printed and left before you go. There is also a case.

  Therefore, a technique for controlling the execution timing of printing using a portable information terminal such as a cellular phone has been proposed. For example, when requesting printing, the terminal device adds identification information and transmits a print job to the printing device, and transmits the identification information to a predetermined mobile phone for storage. When the user holding the mobile phone approaches the printing device, the mobile phone and the printing device communicate wirelessly and execute a print job with identification information that matches the identification information stored in the mobile phone. There is a system that automatically starts (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-49473 A

  By the way, after sending a print job related to confidential documents such as conference materials from a terminal device such as a personal computer to the printing device, the terminal device is turned off, disconnected from the network, and brought to the conference room. A workflow of stopping at an output location and collecting printed matter is often performed, but there are cases where printing has not yet been performed due to the absence of paper, a paper jam, or waiting for processing of another preceding print job.

  At this time, if you give up printing and go to the meeting room, delete your print job spooled in the printing device so that confidential documents are not printed and left unattended during the meeting. I want to go. However, since the terminal device brought in is already disconnected from the network with the power off, the print job cannot be deleted immediately on the spot.

  In addition, if you go to a meeting room without waiting for printing after recovering from a paper jam, it is desirable to be able to check the completion status of printing from the meeting room, but if there is no network in the meeting room, Even if it is deployed, if your terminal device cannot be connected to the network for some reason, you cannot check the printing status from the conference room, go to get the printed matter when the printing is completed, It was not possible to take measures such as deleting a print job from the conference room when it was difficult to print.

  Note that the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is merely a method for automatically starting printing of a print job corresponding to the identification information when the mobile phone storing the identification information of the print job approaches the printing apparatus. It does not make it possible to check the status of a print job or delete a print job after moving from a terminal device that has transmitted the print job to an environment where the print device cannot be accessed.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem. After a print job is transmitted to a printing apparatus via a network, printing is performed even when the user moves to an environment where the printing apparatus cannot be accessed via the network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system, a print job generation apparatus, and a printing state confirmation method capable of confirming the state of a printing job in the apparatus and deleting the printing job.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

(1) A print job generation apparatus that generates a print job and transmits the print job via a network, a printing apparatus that receives and prints the print job via the network, the print job generation apparatus, In a printing system having a portable information terminal capable of communicating with each of the printing devices,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print job generation apparatus includes transfer means for transmitting print information of the print job transmitted to the printing apparatus to the portable information terminal at a predetermined timing.

  In the above invention, a print job generation device that generates a print job and transmits the print job to a printing device via a network, and a printing device that executes print processing according to the print job received from the print job generation device are connected via the network, and In a system environment in which a print job generation device and a portable information terminal capable of communicating with each of the print devices exist, the print job generation device transmits print information of the print job transmitted to the print device to the portable information terminal at a predetermined timing. To do. Thereby, the portable information terminal can inquire or confirm the status of the print job based on the print information received from the print job generating device.

  The predetermined timing may be set arbitrarily. For example, it may be set to an occurrence timing of an event in which the user cannot access the printing apparatus from the print job generation apparatus via the network, such as power-off of the print job generation apparatus, user logout, or disconnection from the network. Since print information is transmitted when such an event occurs, useless transmission of print information is suppressed as compared with a case where print information is transmitted to a portable information terminal each time a print job is transmitted to a printing apparatus.

(2) The print job generation device further includes an input unit that receives input of address information of the portable information terminal, and a storage unit that stores the address information input by the input unit,
The printing system according to (1), wherein the transfer unit transmits the print information to a portable information terminal indicated by address information stored in the storage unit.

  In the above invention, the print information is transmitted to the portable information terminal set and registered in advance.

(3) The printing system according to (1), wherein the portable information terminal includes display means for displaying print information received from the print job generation apparatus.

  In the above invention, the print information transmitted from the print job generation device is displayed on the portable information terminal. The user can confirm the contents of the print information by the display. The display may be automatically performed when print information is received, or the received print information may be stored and displayed when requested by the user.

(4) The portable information terminal receives selection information for selecting a desired print job based on the print information displayed on the display means, and status information corresponding to the print job selected by the selection means. Inquiry means for making an inquiry to the printing apparatus,
The printing system according to (3), wherein the printing apparatus includes job status management means for transmitting status information of the print job to the portable information terminal in response to the inquiry from the portable information terminal.

  In the above invention, when the user selects a desired piece of print information displayed on the portable information terminal, the portable information terminal inquires of the printing apparatus about the status information of the print job corresponding to the selected print information. . In response to the inquiry, the printing apparatus returns the status information of the print job to the portable information terminal. Thereby, the user can confirm what state the print job is in the printing apparatus from the portable information terminal.

(5) A print job generation device that generates a print job and transmits the print job via a network, a printing device that receives and prints the print job via the network, the print job generation device, and the print job generation device. In a printing system having a portable information terminal capable of communicating with each of the printing devices,
The printing system includes transfer means for transmitting status information of the print job to the portable information terminal.

  In the above invention, the status information of the print job is transmitted from the printing apparatus that has received the print job from the print job generation apparatus to the portable information terminal.

(6) The printing system according to (5), wherein the portable information terminal includes display means for displaying status information received from the printing apparatus.

(7) The portable information terminal receives a selection operation for selecting a desired print job based on the status information displayed on the display unit, and status information corresponding to the print job selected by the selection unit. Inquiry means for making an inquiry to the printing apparatus,
The printing system according to (6), wherein the printing apparatus includes job status management means for transmitting status information of the print job to the portable information terminal in response to the inquiry from the portable information terminal.

  In the above invention, the portable information terminal has already received the status information from the printing device, but if the user wants to grasp the latest status, the portable information terminal makes an inquiry about the status information to the printing device from the portable information terminal. In response to the inquiry, the status information of the corresponding print job is transmitted again to the portable information terminal.

(8) The portable information terminal includes a change request unit that displays status information of the print job received from the printing apparatus, receives a change request for processing content for the print job, and transmits the change request to the printing apparatus.
The printing system according to any one of (4) and (6), wherein the printing apparatus includes a job processing changing unit that changes processing contents for the print job in accordance with the change request from the portable information terminal. .

  In the above invention, the user confirms the status of the print job from the result of the inquiry, and if necessary, issues a request for changing the processing content for the print job (for example, a job deletion or execution suspension request) to the printing apparatus. Can be done.

(9) The printing system according to (8), wherein the printing apparatus includes a result notifying unit that transmits a processing result relating to a print job whose processing content has been changed by the job processing changing unit to the information terminal device. .

  In the said invention, the process result with respect to the process content after a change is transmitted from a printing apparatus to a portable information terminal. Thereby, the user can confirm the processing result after a change with a portable information terminal.

(10) Any one of (1) to (4), wherein the transfer unit transmits the print information to the portable information terminal when the print job generating apparatus is powered off. The printing system described in.

  In the above invention, when a power-off operation is performed on the print job generation apparatus, the power is turned off after the print information transmission process to the portable information terminal is executed. That is, when access from the print job generation apparatus to the printing apparatus becomes impossible via the network, print information is transmitted to the portable information terminal.

(11) The printing system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the print job generation device further includes a transmission timing setting unit that receives a setting related to the predetermined timing.

  In the said invention, the timing which transmits print information to a portable information terminal can be user-set.

(12) The print job generation apparatus further includes a selection condition setting unit that receives setting of a selection condition of a print job, and the transfer unit is configured to select a print job that matches the selection condition set by the selection condition setting unit. The printing system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein print information is transmitted.

  In the said invention, the user can set the selection conditions of the print information transmitted to a portable information terminal. The selection condition may set whether or not print information needs to be transmitted for each print job.

(13) The print according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the print information is information that can identify the print job and a printing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the print job. system.

(14) job generation means for generating a print job;
A transmission unit that transmits the print job generated by the job generation unit to a printing apparatus via a network;
Print information necessary for inquiring of the printing apparatus the status of the print job transmitted to the printing apparatus by the transmitting means is predetermined to the print job generating apparatus and a predetermined portable information terminal capable of wireless communication with the printing apparatus. And a transfer means for transmitting at the timing.

(15) The print job generation apparatus according to (14), wherein the transfer unit transmits the print information to the portable information terminal when the print job generation apparatus is powered off.

(16) The print job generation apparatus according to (14) or (15), further including a transmission timing setting unit that receives a setting related to the predetermined timing.

(17) It further includes selection condition setting means for accepting setting of a print job selection condition,
The print job according to any one of (14) to (16), wherein the transfer unit transmits the information for a print job that matches the selection condition set by the selection condition setting unit. Generator.

(18) The print according to any one of (14) to (17), wherein the print information is information that can identify the print job and a printing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the print job. Job generator.

(19) generating a print job and transmitting the print job to a printing apparatus via a network;
Transmitting print information necessary for inquiring of the status of the print job to the printing apparatus at a predetermined timing to a predetermined portable information terminal;
Inquiring the status of the print job from the portable information terminal to the printing device based on the print information.

  According to the printing system, the print job generation apparatus, and the print status confirmation method according to the present invention, after a print job is transmitted from the print job generation apparatus to the printing apparatus via the network, the user prints from the print job generation apparatus via the network. Even when moving to an environment where access to the device is not possible, it is possible to know the presence or absence of a print job, so if the printed material is delayed or output but cannot be picked up, Appropriate measures can be taken to prevent the printed matter from being left on the discharge tray of the printing apparatus, and when the printed matter contains confidential information, effectively prevent leakage of the confidential information. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a printing system 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print system 5 generates a print job, transmits the print job via the network 2, and can receive the print job from the print job generation device 10 via the network 2 and print it. The printing apparatus 30 includes a portable information terminal 50 that can communicate with each of the print job generation apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 30.

  The network 2 is, for example, a LAN or a WAN (Wide Area Network), and can be connected to the print job generation apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 30 and can be of any type. The printing apparatus 30 may be an apparatus having a printer function, and may be a device such as a digital multifunction machine having a facsimile communication function, a copy function, a scanner function, etc. in addition to the printer function. Here, the printing apparatus 30 is configured as the digital multifunction peripheral.

  The print job generation device 10 is configured by a computer device such as a personal computer or a workstation. The portable information terminal 50 may be a mobile phone as well as a portable computer device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Communication between the printing apparatus 30 or the print job generation apparatus 10 and the portable information terminal 50 is performed using e-mail or the like, for example. Although communication between the portable information terminal 50 and the other devices 10 and 30 may be performed via the network 2 in the middle, it is preferable that at least a connection portion with the portable information terminal 50 is wireless communication. The number of print job generation apparatuses 10 and printing apparatuses 30 connected to the network 2 is not particularly limited, and a plurality of print job generation apparatuses 10 and printing apparatuses 30 may be provided, or may be connected one-to-one via the network 2.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 30. The printing apparatus 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) as a main part, an overall control system unit 31 that performs overall control of the operation of the printing apparatus 30, an operation unit 32, a display unit 33, a printer unit 34, and a scanner unit. 35, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 36, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 37, a FAX unit 38, and a network unit 39 are connected.

  The display unit 33 includes a liquid crystal display and displays various screens for user interface such as a setting screen and an operation screen. The operation unit 32 includes a touch panel and operation switches laid on the screen of the display unit 33, and fulfills a function of receiving various user operations.

  The printer unit 34 has a function of forming an image corresponding to input data on a sheet. Here, as a laser printer using an electrophotographic process, which has a paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device. It is configured.

  The scanner unit 35 performs a function of optically reading a document image and outputting corresponding image data, and includes a line image sensor or the like.

  The RAM 36 is a memory for temporarily storing data, and is used as a work memory when the overall control system unit 31 operates, an image memory for storing image data, and the like. The HDD 37 is a hard disk device and functions to store print data and image data in a nonvolatile manner in addition to programs. An image storage box, which will be described later, is created in the HDD 37.

  The FAX unit 38 performs communication control related to facsimile communication. Specifically, at the time of facsimile reception, the compressed image data received from an external facsimile machine or the like via a telephone line is expanded, and the expanded image data is transferred to the overall control system unit 31. Further, at the time of facsimile transmission, the image data transferred from the overall control system unit 31 is compressed, and the compressed image data is transmitted to an external facsimile machine via a telephone line. Image data relating to facsimile transmission / reception can be temporarily stored in the HDD 37.

  The overall control system unit 31 executes a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown), thereby serving as a job forming unit 31a, a job processing changing unit 31b, a job status managing unit 31c, and a result notifying unit 31d. Fulfills the function.

  The job forming unit 31 a functions to newly generate a job in the printing apparatus 30. For example, it functions to generate a FAX transmission job for facsimile transmission of image data obtained by reading a document by the printer unit 34, a copy job for creating a copy of a document image read by the printer unit 34 on a sheet, and the like.

  The job status management unit 31 c functions to manage the status of a print job received from the print job generation apparatus 10. That is, every time a print job is received, in addition to the function of registering the print job at the end of the print queue, if there is an inquiry from the portable information terminal 50 regarding the status of the print job, It fulfills a function of transmitting state information indicating a state (waiting state, executing, executed, error interruption, etc.) to the portable information terminal 50 as the inquiry source. Note that print jobs connected to the print queue are printed by the printer unit 34 in order from the top of the print queue.

  When the job processing changing unit 31b receives a request to change the processing content of the print job from the portable information terminal 50, the job processing changing unit 31b functions to change the processing content of the corresponding print job in accordance with the change request. For example, when a change request for deleting a print job is received by e-mail or the like, the corresponding print job is deleted from the print queue and deleted.

  The result notifying unit 31d has a function of transmitting a processing result related to a print job whose processing content has been changed in response to a change request from the portable information terminal 50 to the portable information terminal 50 that is the transmission source of the change request. The processing result is notified to the portable information terminal 50 by e-mail, for example.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the print job generation apparatus 10. The print job generation apparatus 10 is configured by connecting a CPU 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, an HDD 15, an operation unit 16, a display unit 17, and a communication interface 18 to a bus 11.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration of the print job generation apparatus 10. The CPU 12 of the print job generation apparatus 10 includes a document creation program 21 that creates and edits a document to create document data, a print driver 22, and a print information transfer management program that manages print information transmission operations to the portable information terminal 50. Various functions are realized by executing programs such as 23.

  The print driver 22 functions as a print job generation unit that generates a print job from document data created by the document creation program 21. Specifically, the document data created by the document creation program 21 is converted into data to be printed by the printing apparatus 30 and transmitted from the communication interface 18 to the printing apparatus 30.

  The print information transfer management program 23 functions as a transfer unit 23a, an address management unit 23b, a transmission timing setting unit 23c, a selection condition setting unit 23d, and the like. The transfer unit 23a performs control for transmitting print information of the print job transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 to the portable information terminal 50 at a predetermined timing.

  The address management unit 23b cooperates with the operation unit 16 and the display unit 17, thereby functioning as an input unit that receives input of address information of the portable information terminal 50 from the user, and using the input address information 25 as a storage unit. It fulfills the function of being stored in the RAM 14. The address information and the user ID may be associated with each other and stored in the RAM 14. The transmission timing setting unit 23c cooperates with the operation unit 16 and the display unit 17 to perform a function of accepting a setting related to the timing for transmitting print information to the portable information terminal 50 from the user. The selection condition setting unit 23d cooperates with the operation unit 16 and the display unit 17 to perform a function of receiving a setting relating to a selection condition of a print job to which print information is transmitted from the user.

  Print information relating to a print job transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 is stored in the RAM 14 as a job management list 26. When the transmission timing set by the transmission timing setting unit 23c arrives, the transfer unit 23a registers print information of a print job that matches the selection condition set by the selection condition setting unit 23d in the job management list 26. The extracted print information is sent out to the portable information terminal 50 indicated by the address information set in the address management means 23 b and stored in the RAM 14.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the job management list 26. In the job management list 26, a job ID 26a of a print job transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 and information 26b for specifying a transmission destination are stored in association with each other. The job ID 26 a is identification information uniquely assigned to each print job in the print job generation apparatus 10. The information 26b indicating the transmission destination is identification information for specifying the transmission destination printer 30 and is unique to the transmission destination printer 30 in the printing system 5 in addition to the IP address, the email address, and the like. The assigned machine number may be used. In addition, information such as the date and time when the print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 and the user ID of the user who transmitted the print job may be further managed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the transfer setting screen 28 displayed on the display unit 17 of the print job generation apparatus 10. In the transfer setting screen 28, an address information input field 28a of the portable information terminal 50 that is the transmission destination of the print information, and a selection condition selection field 28b for setting the selection conditions of the print job that is the transmission target of the print information. A transmission timing setting field 28c for setting the transmission timing of the print information is displayed.

  Here, the e-mail address of the portable information terminal 50 that is the transmission destination of the print information is set in the input field 28a. The selection condition selection field 28b selects whether to send print information for all print jobs registered in the job management list 26 or to send print information only for the latest print job. Yes.

  In the transmission timing setting field 28c, any one of when the print job generating apparatus 10 is turned off, when the user logs out, or when the print job generating apparatus 10 enters the sleep mode is selected as the transmission timing of the print information. be able to. The set contents are stored in a nonvolatile manner in the HDD 15 or the like by operating the save button 28d. The setting on the transfer setting screen 28 may be configured to be set for each user. In this case, the setting in the selection condition selection field 28b is a selection condition for a print job transmitted by the user. .

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the portable information terminal 50. The portable information terminal 50 is configured by connecting a CPU 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54, an operation unit 55, a display unit 56, and a communication interface 57 to a bus 51. The CPU 52 executes a program stored in the ROM 53 to control the entire operation of the portable information terminal 50, and also functions as an inquiry unit 52a and a change request unit 52b.

  The communication interface 57 functions to communicate with the print job generation device 10 and the printing device 30. For example, information is exchanged by e-mail by wireless communication. The display unit 56 functions as a display unit that displays print information received from the print job generation apparatus 10. The operation unit 55 functions as a selection unit that receives a selection operation of print information desired by the user from the print information displayed on the display unit 56.

  The inquiry unit 52a functions to inquire the corresponding printing apparatus 30 about the status information of the print job corresponding to the print information selected by the user. The change request unit 52b receives from the user a function for receiving the print job status information sent from the printing apparatus 30 in response to the inquiry and displaying it on the display unit 56, and a process content change request for the print job. A function and a function of transmitting the change request to the corresponding printing apparatus 30.

  Next, the flow of the printing operation in the printing system 5 will be described.

  FIG. 8 shows the flow of the printing status confirmation operation in the printing system 5, and FIG. 10 shows an example of the transition of the display screen displayed on the portable information terminal 50 in the flow. Here, it is assumed that “when power is turned off” in FIG. 6 is set as the print information transmission timing.

  First, a print job is transmitted from the print job generation apparatus 10 to the printing apparatus 30 (P1). Identification information (for example, IP address or device number) for specifying the print job generation apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the print job and the job ID of the print job are added to the print job to be transmitted.

  Thereafter, when the power of the used print job generation apparatus 10 is turned off, print information that matches the set selection conditions is transmitted to the preset portable information terminal 50 (P2).

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of processing when the print job generating apparatus 10 is turned off. The transfer unit 23a waits for a power-off instruction input from the user (step S101; N). When the power-off instruction is received (step S101; Y), the transfer unit 23a is set in advance on the transfer setting screen 28 or the like. It is checked whether or not print information of a print job that matches the selection condition exists in the job management list 26 stored in the RAM 14 (step S102).

  If there is print information of a print job that matches the selection conditions (step S102; Y), the print information is transmitted to the preset portable information terminal 50 (step S103), and then the print job generation device actually 10 is turned off (step S104), and the process is terminated (END). When the print job ID and the user ID of the user who transmitted the print job are managed in association with each other, the print information is transmitted to the portable information terminal 50 for each user based on the user ID. Is also possible.

  As described above, the print information includes the job ID 26a of the print job and information 26b for specifying the transmission destination of the print job. Further, here, identification information (for example, an IP address or a device number) for specifying the print job generation device 10 is transmitted to the portable information terminal 50 as a part of the print information.

  If the print information of the print job that matches the selection condition is not registered in the job management list 26 (step S102; N), the print job generation apparatus 10 is turned off without sending the print information (step S102; N). Step S104).

  The portable information terminal 50 that has received the print information transmitted from the print job generation apparatus 10 (FIG. 8, P2) stores the received print information in the RAM 54, and also indicates that the print information has been received by sound or vibration. The user of the portable information terminal 50 is notified by display or the like. When the user performs a predetermined operation, the print information stored in the RAM 54 is displayed on the display unit 56 of the portable information terminal 50.

  A job list screen 61 in FIG. 10 shows an example of a state in which print information is displayed on the display unit 56 of the portable information terminal 50. The job list screen 61 displays a list of job IDs in the print information, and the user confirms the print job transmitted from the print job generation apparatus 10 to the printing apparatus 30 based on the job ID. In addition to the job ID, date information and the like when the print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 may be displayed. Furthermore, information (IP address, device number, name, etc.) that can identify the printing device 30 may be displayed, or print information for each printing device may be displayed by switching the screen.

  The user selects a job ID of the print job on the job list screen 61 when there is a print job for which the progress of processing in the printing apparatus 30 is to be confirmed or a print job for which the processing content is to be changed is displayed. Then, the detail button 61a is pressed. As a result of this operation, status information regarding the print job with the selected job ID is inquired from the portable information terminal 50 to the corresponding printing apparatus 30 (FIG. 8, P3). A display screen 62 in FIG. 10 is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 56 of the portable information terminal 50 during an inquiry to the printing apparatus 30.

  Since the print information includes information 26b for specifying the print device 30 that is the transmission destination of the print job, the portable information terminal 50 recognizes the print device 30 that is the inquiry destination from the information. In the inquiry, the portable information terminal 50 includes the job ID of the print job to be inquired, the identification information of the print job generation apparatus 10 that has transmitted the print job to the printing apparatus 30, and the address information of the inquiry source portable information terminal 50. To the printing apparatus 30.

  Upon receiving the inquiry, the job status management unit 31c of the printing apparatus 30 checks whether or not the corresponding print job exists in the print queue and whether or not the printing process is interrupted due to an abnormality such as a paper jam. Based on these, status information of the inquired print job is created, and the created status information is transmitted to the inquiring source portable information terminal 50 by e-mail or the like (FIG. 8, P4).

  The print job in the print queue is specified based on the job ID and the identification information regarding the print job generation apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the print job. That is, since a plurality of print job generation apparatuses 10 can exist in the printing system 5, a print job cannot be specified only by the job ID. Therefore, the print system 5 uniquely identifies the print job based on the identification information and job ID of the print job generation apparatus 10 that is the transmission source.

  If the job ID itself includes the device number of the print job generation device 10 and the print job can be uniquely specified within the print system 5 only by the job ID, the identification information of the print job generation device 10 is separately provided. There is no need to manage. Further, the address information notified from the portable information terminal 50 when receiving an inquiry is used to specify the transmission destination of the state information.

  The state information returned from the printing apparatus 30 to the portable information terminal 50 in response to the inquiry is displayed on the display unit 56 of the portable information terminal 50. In addition, when printing for the inquired print job is unprocessed, a change operation screen 63 that prompts the user to change the processing content for the unprocessed print job is displayed. On the change operation screen 63 shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to select whether to delete the corresponding print job or save it in a box provided in the HDD 37 of the printing apparatus 30. When selecting box saving, the box number of the saving destination is designated. Based on the status information of the print job transmitted from the printing apparatus 30, the processing status of the print job and the processing content that can be selected for the print job are displayed.

  When the execution button 63a is operated after selecting deletion or box storage, the change request unit 52b transmits a change request according to the selection content on the change operation screen 63 to the printing apparatus 30 (FIG. 8, P5). In the transmission of the change request, the job ID of the print job to be changed, the identification information of the print job generation apparatus 10 that transmitted the print job to the printing apparatus 30, and the address information of the portable information terminal 50 that is the change request source. It is transmitted from the portable information terminal 50 to the printing apparatus 30.

  The job processing change unit 31b of the printing apparatus 30 that has received the change request changes the processing content of the print job corresponding to the received change request according to the change content instructed by the change request. That is, in the case of a deletion request, the corresponding print job is removed from the print queue, and the job is deleted. In the case of box storage, the corresponding print job is removed from the print queue, and the print job is stored in the HDD 37 with the specified box number.

  When the change process by the job process changing unit 31b is completed, the result notification unit 31d of the print job generation apparatus 10 notifies the processing result to the portable information terminal 50 that is the transmission source of the change request (FIG. 8, P6). The portable information terminal 50 that has received the notification displays a notification screen corresponding to the notified content on the display unit 56.

  In the example of FIG. 10, when deletion of a print job is selected on the change operation screen 63, a notification screen 64 indicating completion of job deletion is displayed on the display unit 56 of the portable information terminal 50. On the other hand, when the box save is selected on the change operation screen 63 of FIG. 10, a notification screen 65 indicating that the print job is saved in the designated box number is displayed.

  If the box storage fails due to the HDD 37 of the printing apparatus 30 being full or the like, a processing error is notified from the printing apparatus 30 and the display unit 56 of the portable information terminal 50 is notified accordingly. A notification screen showing the occurrence of the error and the content of the error is displayed.

  As described above, the print information is transmitted from the print job generation device 10 to the designated portable information terminal 50 at a timing such as when the power of the print job generation device 10 is turned off. Even after the apparatus 10 becomes inaccessible to the printing apparatus 30, the presence or absence of a print job can be grasped. Thereafter, the status of the print job can be further inquired from the portable information terminal 50 to the printing apparatus 30, or the print job can be deleted from the portable information terminal 50.

  Thus, for example, after a print job related to a confidential document such as a conference material is transmitted from the print job generation apparatus 10 to the printing apparatus 30 via the network 2, the print job generation apparatus 10 is turned off and disconnected from the network 2 for the conference. While I was planning to stop at the output location of the printing device 30 and collect the printed material while I was in the room, there might be no printing due to the absence of paper or waiting for processing of another preceding print job. In such a case, it is possible to take measures such as deleting the print job immediately from the location using the portable information terminal 50.

  Further, even when the network environment is not maintained in the conference room where the printed material is not received, the status of the print job can be confirmed from the conference room using the portable information terminal 50. After confirming the completion with the portable information terminal 50, it is possible to go to a place where the printing apparatus 30 is located to pick up the printed matter.

  In addition, even when the time when the document is required at the meeting, if printing is not performed due to the absence of paper or waiting for processing of another preceding print job, the print job can be deleted from the meeting room.

  If printing is executed during a meeting in a state where the printing status cannot be confirmed or deleted, the printed matter containing confidential information is left on the paper output tray of the printing apparatus 30 and the confidentiality is leaked. Although a problem arises, even in an environment where the print job generation apparatus 10 such as a conference room cannot be used by connecting to a network, the portable information terminal 50 can be used to delete a print job that no longer requires output. , Leakage of confidential information can be effectively prevented.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the portable information terminal 50 exchanges information with the print job generation apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 30 by e-mail, but the information exchange method is not limited to this.

  In the embodiment, job deletion and box storage are shown as examples of processing content change requests for print jobs. However, changes to other processing content may be used. For example, the processing priority may be changed so that printing is performed with priority over other print jobs.

  In addition to when the print job generation apparatus 10 is powered off, the print information transmission timing is constant from the front of the print job generation apparatus 10 when, for example, a user-set date and time or an immediate transmission request is received from the user. What is necessary is just to set arbitrarily, for example, when it is detected that the distance is more than the distance (for example, detection is made based on whether the user's mobile phone or personal card with IC tag exists in the vicinity).

  Further, the print information may be transmitted periodically, or these transmission timings can be combined. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a desired print job is selected based on the print information displayed on the portable information terminal, the status information of the print job corresponding to the related print job is inquired, and the status according to the related inquiry Although an example in which information is displayed on the portable information terminal has been shown, the state information may be transmitted to the portable information terminal without an inquiry process. Thereafter, when it is desired to grasp the latest state, it is possible to inquire about the state information and transmit the state information to the portable information terminal in response to the inquiry.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration | structure of the printing system concerning embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus included in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job generation apparatus included in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print job generation apparatus included in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a job management list stored in a print job generation apparatus. FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating an example of a transfer setting screen displayed on a display unit of the print job generation apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the portable information terminal contained in the printing system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the printing status confirmation operation | movement in the printing system concerning embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the power of the print job generation apparatus is turned off. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the transition of the display screen displayed on a portable information terminal in the confirmation operation of a printing state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Network 5 ... Printing system 10 ... Print job generation apparatus 11 ... Bus 12 ... CPU
13 ... ROM
14 ... RAM
15 ... HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... Operation part 17 ... Display part 18 ... Communication interface 21 ... Document preparation program 22 ... Print driver 23 ... Print information transfer management program 23a ... Transfer means 23b ... Address management means 23c ... Transmission timing setting means 23d ... Selection condition setting means 25 ... Address information 26 ... Job management list 28 ... Transfer setting screen 28a ... Input field 28b ... Selection condition selection field 28c ... Transmission timing setting field 28d ... Save button 30 ... Printer 31 ... Overall control system unit 31a ... Job forming unit 31b ... Job processing change means 31c ... job status management means 31d ... result notification means 32 ... operation part 33 ... display part 34 ... printer part 35 ... scanner part 36 ... RAM
37 ... HDD
38 ... FAX unit 39 ... Network unit 50 ... Portable information terminal 51 ... Bus 52 ... CPU
52a ... Inquiry means 52b ... Change request means 53 ... ROM
54 ... RAM
55 ... Operation unit 56 ... Display unit 57 ... Communication interface 61 ... Job list screen 61a ... Detailed button 62 ... Display screen 63 ... Change operation screen 63a ... Execution button 64 ... Notification screen 65 ... Notification screen

Claims (19)

A print job generation device that generates a print job and transmits the print job via a network; a printing device that receives and prints the print job via the network; and the print job generation device and the printing device. In a printing system having portable information terminals that can communicate with each other,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print job generation apparatus includes transfer means for transmitting print information of the print job transmitted to the printing apparatus to the portable information terminal at a predetermined timing. The print job generation apparatus further includes an input unit that receives input of address information of the portable information terminal, and a storage unit that stores the address information input by the input unit,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transmits the print information to a portable information terminal indicated by address information stored in the storage unit. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal includes display means for displaying print information received from the print job generation apparatus. The portable information terminal receives a selection unit that receives a selection operation of a desired print job based on the print information displayed on the display unit, and status information corresponding to the print job selected by the selection unit to the printing apparatus. An inquiry means for making an inquiry,
The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus includes a job status management unit that transmits status information of the print job to the portable information terminal in response to the inquiry from the portable information terminal. A print job generation device that generates a print job and transmits the print job via a network; a printing device that receives and prints the print job via the network; and the print job generation device and the printing device. In a printing system having portable information terminals that can communicate with each other,
The printing system includes transfer means for transmitting status information of the print job to the portable information terminal. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the portable information terminal includes display means for displaying status information received from the printing apparatus. The portable information terminal receives a selection operation for selecting a desired print job based on the status information displayed on the display unit, and status information corresponding to the print job selected by the selection unit to the printing apparatus. An inquiry means for making an inquiry,
The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus includes job status management means for transmitting status information of the print job to the portable information terminal in response to the inquiry from the portable information terminal. The portable information terminal includes change request means for displaying the received status information of the print job, receiving a change request for processing contents for the print job, and transmitting the request to the printing apparatus,
The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the printing apparatus includes a job processing changing unit that changes processing contents for the print job in accordance with the change request from the portable information terminal. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus includes a result notifying unit that transmits a processing result related to a print job whose processing content has been changed by the job processing changing unit to the information terminal device. 5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transmits the print information to the portable information terminal when the power of the print job generation apparatus is turned off. . The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the print job generation device further includes a transmission timing setting unit that receives a setting related to the predetermined timing. The print job generation apparatus further includes a selection condition setting unit that receives setting of a print job selection condition, and the transfer unit stores print information of a print job that matches the selection condition set by the selection condition setting unit. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing system is transmitted. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print information is information that can identify the print job and a printing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the print job. Job generation means for generating a print job;
A transmission unit that transmits the print job generated by the job generation unit to a printing apparatus via a network;
Print information necessary for inquiring of the printing apparatus the status of the print job transmitted to the printing apparatus by the transmitting means is predetermined to the print job generating apparatus and a predetermined portable information terminal capable of wireless communication with the printing apparatus. And a transfer means for transmitting at the timing. The print job generation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transfer unit transmits the print information to the portable information terminal when the power of the print job generation apparatus is turned off. The print job generation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a transmission timing setting unit that receives a setting related to the predetermined timing. It further has selection condition setting means for accepting the setting of the selection conditions for the print job,
The print job generation apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the transfer unit transmits the information for a print job that matches the selection condition set by the selection condition setting unit. . The print job generation apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the print information is information that can identify the print job and a printing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the print job. Generating a print job and transmitting the print job to a printing device via a network;
Transmitting print information necessary for inquiring of the status of the print job to the printing apparatus at a predetermined timing to a predetermined portable information terminal;
Inquiring the status of the print job from the portable information terminal to the printing device based on the print information.

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