JP2008112364A - Print instruction information distribution device and print instruction information distribution program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print instruction information distribution device and a print instruction information distribution program, capable of distributing print instruction information allowing printout by easy operation. <P>SOLUTION: When acquiring image information from an image information generation device such as a computer 26 through a communication means 20, a printer specification part 14a of a mail production part 14 selects a printer based on the image information, and a print condition setting part 14b sets a print condition of the selected printer based on the image information. A print instruction production part 14c produces the print instruction information including the print condition or the like in a format of a URL, and the mail production part 14 produces an electronic mail by a mail body including the print instruction information, and distributes it to a print server 22 or the printer 24 through a communication part 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print instruction information distribution apparatus and a print instruction information distribution program.

  Conventionally, various information has been distributed using electronic mail. In such an e-mail, in order to reduce the amount of transmission data, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of the information is often attached instead of attaching the information itself.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a design data management system that selects and distributes design data necessary for a user department through a local information communication network. Also in this conventional example, a URL indicating the location of the design data is attached to the delivery data.
JP 2001-125942 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, when printing information existing in a URL, it is necessary to download the information, set printing conditions as appropriate, and print out the information, which is cumbersome for the user. There was a problem.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a print instruction information distribution apparatus and a print instruction information distribution program capable of distributing print instruction information that can be printed out with a simple operation. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention of the printing instruction information distribution device according to claim 1 specifies a receiving device for receiving image information and a printing device on which the image information is to be printed based on the image information. A printing apparatus specifying unit; a printing condition setting unit for setting a printing condition for printing the image information based on the image information; information for specifying a storage location for storing the image information; and the specified The printing apparatus includes a printing instruction creating unit that creates printing instruction information including identification information of a printing apparatus and the set printing conditions, and a distribution unit that distributes the printing instruction information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a printing operation is executed by a selection process on the receiving side for the print instruction information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the printing instruction information includes a plurality of printing apparatuses or printing conditions.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the print instruction information distribution apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, an input means for a user to add a desired print condition to the print instruction information. The information regarding is included.

  The print instruction information distribution program according to claim 5 receives image information, specifies a printing apparatus to print the image information based on the image information, and prints the image information based on the image information. Creating printing instruction information including information for specifying a storage location for storing the image information, identification information for the specified printing device, and the set printing conditions, It is characterized by causing a computer to execute processing for distributing print instruction information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to distribute print instruction information that can be printed out with a simple operation.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a print instruction information distribution apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the print instruction information distribution apparatus 10 includes a communication unit 12, a mail creation unit 14, a storage unit 16, and an input unit 18.

  The communication unit 12 is realized by an appropriate communication interface such as a network port, and has a function of exchanging information with other computers, printers, and the like via appropriate communication means such as a network.

  The mail creation unit 14 is realized by a processor such as a CPU (central processing unit) and a program for controlling the processing operation, and is based on information input by the user from the input unit 18 or the like, and is delivered as an e-mail or the like It is a function to create. The mail creation unit 14 also creates a URL including a storage location of image information to be printed, a printer that executes print output, printing conditions, and the like. The mail creating unit 14 includes a printer specifying unit 14a, a printing condition setting unit 14b, and a print instruction creating unit 14c.

  The printer specifying unit 14a has a function of specifying a printer that executes printout of the image information based on the image information. The printer may be specified by storing a list of printers 24 that can be used in advance in the printer database 16a of the storage unit 16 and selecting a printer that satisfies the condition from this list. The printer may be inquired of the printer that can be used via the print server 22. Further, the communication unit 12 may directly communicate with the printer 24 or the like via the communication unit 20 to select a predetermined printer 24.

  The printing condition setting unit 14b is a function for setting printing conditions when printing the image information based on the image information. The printing conditions are determined with reference to printing conditions stored in advance in the printing instruction setting database 16a and the additional printing condition setting database 16b in the storage unit 16.

  The print instruction creating unit 14c prints in the URL format based on the printer specified by the print specifying unit 14a, the print conditions set by the print condition setting unit 14b, and the information specifying the storage location for storing the image information. This function creates instruction information.

  The storage unit 16 is realized by a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk device, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and the like, and is executed by a CPU, data relating to the printer 24, data relating to printing conditions, and data relating to users. Etc. are stored. The storage unit 16 includes a printing condition setting database 16a, an additional printing condition setting database 16b, a user database 16c, and a printer database 16d.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the print condition setting database 16a. In FIG. 2, print instruction setting data is stored as a combination of setting items and corresponding values. Examples of setting items include “maximum number of printers formed in mail”, “standard printing conditions”, “addition of printing option selection destination” and “selection when printer is out of paper and offline”. In addition, 2 is set as the value of the “maximum number of printers to be formed in the mail”, and the paper selection is automatically set and the color setting is automatically set as the value of the “standard printing condition”. "Addition of destination" is to be performed, and "Selection when printer is out of paper, offline" is not to be performed. Note that “adding a print option selection destination” means adding information on an input means (user interface) for a user to input a desired print condition to an electronic mail.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the additional print condition setting database 16b. In FIG. 3, printing conditions, contents of printing conditions to be added when each printing condition is set, and comments to be added to the mail body when adding printing conditions are stored.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the user database 16c. In FIG. 4, a user name, a print request destination print server, a printer selection method, and a print setting method are stored as items in the user database. The print request destination print server is shown as a URL representing the print server. Note that the print instruction information distribution apparatus 10 may directly send a print instruction to each printer 24 and print it out without going through the print request destination print server. The printer selection method includes an “automatic” mode selected by the print server 22 based on an instruction from the print instruction information distribution apparatus 10 and an “individual designation” mode selected from the printer 24 individually designated for each user. Two types are set. Furthermore, the print setting method is information for instructing a print condition setting method. When the print setting method is “automatic”, the value of the print condition setting database 16a shown in FIG. 2 is set as the print condition. When a condition other than “automatic” is set in the print setting method, the set condition is used as the print condition in addition to the values shown in FIG.

  In the additional print condition setting database (FIG. 3) and the user database (FIG. 4) described above, 2up or 4up means that two image data (2up) or four image data (4up) are printed on one page. That means

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the printer database 16d. The printer database 16d indicates the printers 24 connected to the print server “http://red.fujixerox.co.jp/PrintService” and the functions of those printers 24. In FIG. 5, “selectable paper”, “color”, “double-sided printing”, “staple”, and “punch” are shown as functions of the printer 24. Of the above functions, “color” indicates whether the printer is a color printer or a monochrome printer, and “staple” is a function that binds a plurality of printed sheets on one sheet, and “punch”. Is a function for punching holes for binding printed paper.

FIG. 6 shows a flow of an operation example of the print instruction information distribution apparatus 10 according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, image information is acquired from the image information generating apparatus such as the computer 26 shown in FIG. 1 via the communication means 20 (S1). This image information includes image data to be printed generated by the computer 26 and printing conditions for printing the image data. An example of this image information is shown in Table 1 below.

  As shown in Table 1, the image information includes the user name of the distribution destination, the document title, and the printing conditions.

  Next, the printer specifying unit 14a of the mail creating unit 14 selects the print server 22 that is the print request destination from the user database 16c shown in FIG. 4 and the print server based on the distribution destination user name included in the image information. The printer selection method for selecting a printer to be printed out from the printer 24 connected to the printer 22 and the print settings assigned for each user are acquired as printer selection conditions (S2). Here, the printer specifying unit 14a checks whether or not the printer selection method in the user database 16c of FIG. 4 is automatic (S3). If the printer selection method is automatic, a printer list is acquired from the print server 22 (S4). On the other hand, if the printer selection is not automatic in S3, a list of printers set in advance by the user and stored in the printer selection method of FIG. 4 is acquired (S5).

  In the case of Table 1, since the delivery destination user is “Suzuki”, the printer selection method is “automatic” in the user database 16c of FIG. As a result, the printer connected to the print server “http://red.fujixerox.co.jp/PrintService” is acquired from the printer database 16d shown in FIG. In this case, printer A and printer B correspond.

  Next, based on the paper size as a printing condition included in the image information, the necessity of color printing, and the print setting method shown in FIG. A printer to be printed out is selected (S6). The printers 24 selected in this case are all printers that satisfy the printer selection conditions, and a plurality of printers 24 may be selected.

  In the example shown in Table 1, since the paper size that is the printing condition is A4 and color printing is necessary, the printer A is selected. As described above, the selection of the printer also considers the contents of the print setting method shown in FIG. 4, but in the example shown in Table 1, the print setting method of the distribution destination user (Suzuki) is “ “Auto”, which is a print setting method that uses each value in FIG. 2 as a print condition, and does not affect the selection of the printer. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the printer is out of paper or offline, the printer 24 is not selected. Therefore, in the example of Table 1, the printer A may not be out of paper and offline. It is a premise.

  Next, the print condition setting unit 14b checks whether or not the print setting method of FIG. 4 is “automatic” (S7). When the print setting method is “automatic”, the value shown in FIG. 2 is set as the default print condition as the print condition of the acquired printer (S8). If the print setting method is not automatic in S7, the printing conditions designated in advance by the user shown in the print setting method in FIG. 4 are set as the printing conditions for the acquired printer (S9).

  The above step S8 or S9 is performed for all the printers 24 selected in S6.

  In the example shown in Table 1, since the delivery destination user is “Suzuki” and the print setting method of “Suzuki” shown in FIG. 4 is “automatic”, the value of each setting item shown in FIG. Is set in the printer A as a default printing condition.

  The print condition setting unit 14b further refers to the additional print condition setting database 16b in FIG. 3 and checks whether there is a print condition to be added (S10). If there is an additional printing condition, the printing condition setting unit 14b performs processing for adding the printing condition (S11).

  In the example of Table 1, color printing is specified as the printing condition, and the condition of “color = color” is satisfied. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing condition for monochrome printing is added. Also, “black and white printing” is set as a comment to be added to the mail body of the e-mail. In addition, since the number of pages of image data to be printed is 20 and the condition “number of pages = 2 or more” is satisfied, a printing condition is added to the effect that printing is performed as 2up and duplex printing. In this case, “paper saving (2 up, double-sided)” is set as a comment to be added to the mail text of the e-mail. In the above, it is assumed that the printer A has 2up and double-sided printing functions.

  Further, the printing condition setting unit 14b determines whether or not to add a printing option, that is, a user interface screen for the user to input a desired printing condition (S12). If it is determined that a user interface screen for selecting a print option is added, the print condition setting unit 14b creates information regarding the user interface screen for selecting a print option (S13).

  In the example of Table 1, the print setting method of the distribution destination user (Suzuki) is “automatic”, and the values of the setting items shown in FIG. 2 are used. Since “Yes” is set as the value, information on the user interface screen for selecting the print option is created.

  Next, the print instruction creation unit 14c creates print instruction information including the printer A selected in S6 and the print conditions created in S9, S11, and S14 in the URL format (S14). Note that the print instruction information in this case also includes the URL of the print request destination print server shown in FIG. 4, but if the print server 22 is not used, the URL of each printer 24 may be used. Good.

  Next, the mail creating unit 14 creates an e-mail from the print instruction information, the comment added in S11, and the mail text including the document title shown in Table 1, and the print server via the communication unit 12 22 or the printer 24 (S15).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of an e-mail created based on the image information in Table 1 by the steps shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, in addition to the URL indicating the storage location of the document, which is image data, and the title, a printer (printer A) used for print output as a print instruction, standard printing conditions (default printing conditions), monochrome printing conditions, paper saving URLs for selecting printing conditions and options are shown.

Next, another example of the image information is shown in Table 2 below. In this example, it is assumed that the printer A is offline.

  In Table 2, the document title is the same as that in Table 1, and the distribution destination user name and printing conditions are different. On the premise of such a condition, when a printer is selected based on the steps shown in FIG. 6, the user “Yokota” shown in FIG. Designates “4up, double-sided printing” and the printing conditions in Table 2 are “monochrome printing” and “A4 size”, so both printer A and printer B can be selected. Here, since the printer A is offline, the printer B is selected in consideration of the conditions of “selection when offline” shown in FIG.

  Also, since the print setting method shown in FIG. 4 is 4up and double-sided printing, a URL for instructing the printer B to print is created and written in the e-mail.

  Further, based on the additional print condition setting database 16b shown in FIG. 3, the print condition to be added is confirmed, 2up printing and double-sided printing are added, and “paper saving (2up, double-sided)” is added as a comment.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of an e-mail created based on the image information in Table 2 described above. In FIG. 8, the printer B is designated as a printer for printout, and 4up / double-sided printing conditions, paper saving printing conditions, and URLs for selecting options are shown as printing conditions.

1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a print instruction information distribution apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a printing condition setting database. It is a figure which shows the example of an additional printing condition setting database. It is a figure which shows the example of a user database. It is a figure which shows the example of a printer database. It is a flowchart of the operation example of the printing instruction information delivery apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the email produced with the printing instruction information delivery apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the email produced with the printing instruction information delivery apparatus concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print instruction information delivery apparatus, 12 Communication part, 14 Mail preparation part, 14a Printer specific part, 14b Print condition setting part, 14c Print instruction preparation part, 16 Memory | storage part, 16a Print condition setting database, 16b Additional print condition setting database, 16c user database, 16d printer database, 18 input unit, 20 communication means, 22 print server, 24 printer, 26 computer.

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving image information;
Printing device specifying means for specifying a printing device on which the image information is to be printed based on the image information;
Print condition setting means for setting a print condition for printing the image information based on the image information;
Print instruction creating means for creating print instruction information including information for specifying a storage location for storing the image information, identification information of the specified printing apparatus, and the set printing conditions;
Distribution means for distributing the print instruction information;
A printing instruction information distribution apparatus comprising:   The print instruction information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print instruction information is subjected to a printing operation by a selection process on a receiving side.   3. The print instruction information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print instruction information includes a plurality of the print apparatuses or printing conditions.   4. The print instruction information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print instruction information includes information related to an input unit for a user to add a desired print condition. 5. A printing instruction information distribution device. Accept image information,
Based on the image information, a printing device that should print the image information is identified,
Based on the image information, set printing conditions for printing the image information,
Creating print instruction information including information for specifying a storage location for storing the image information, identification information of the specified printing apparatus, and the set printing conditions;
A print instruction information distribution program for causing a computer to execute a process of distributing the print instruction information.

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