JP2008186270A - Network printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience of a user, to efficiently utilize a resource, to improve reliability of a system, and to reduce the device unit price of a printer, or the like, in the network printing system. <P>SOLUTION: This network printing system comprises: a call connection server mediating connection between devices connected on a network; a presence server acquiring a state of the device and notifying a request source device; a print server; and the printer. For example, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) protocol is used for communication between the devices. The print server side has a spooler storing all print data from a client. The printer has a minimum spooler only for processing a print job for one page from the print server, and processes a print job in page units. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network printing system using a digital copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine such as a printer, or a network printer such as an image forming apparatus and a server device, and a plurality of printer resources connected to the network. The present invention relates to a technique for effectively using and improving user convenience during a printing trouble.

  A network in which a plurality of devices having a printer function (hereinafter referred to as network printers) are connected via a network such as a LAN, and a client device connected to the same network efficiently performs print output work using each network printer. Printing system is widely used. A more efficient network printing system is constructed by including a print server (apparatus). Various proposals have already been made for these systems. For example, Patent Document 1: “Remote Printing System” discloses a mechanism capable of remotely printing in the same manner as a conventional printer.

  As the network printing system, a number of network printers having different printing methods and printing performance (including an image printing function) and those having additional functions are used. For example, the configuration of a multi-function multi-function peripheral (MFP) called a “digital multi-function peripheral” is a local storage that is equipped with a large-capacity memory (HDD) as standard in addition to the conventional printer I / F and facsimile functions. The (LS) function and data transfer with a host PC via a network are becoming more multifunctional, and many applications can be provided, which is also utilized in network printing systems.

As shown in Patent Document 2, various devices having a printer function, particularly office devices such as printers, facsimile machines, copiers, etc., have a network connection mechanism inside the device and have a basic protocol on the Internet. A TCP / IP (Transmission
Control Protocol / internet protcol) ”. This function can be realized by using a processor, a memory, an input / output circuit, and the like that already exist in the device, and therefore has an advantage that the necessary extra cost and space are not required.

  An XML format specification called RDF (Resource Descriptor FRAMework) or RSS (RDF Site Summary) has been established as one of means for using this type of network connection function, and is widely used in general. These are mechanisms for describing information as metadata, and facilitate the mutual use of information between different types of devices. For example, Patent Literature 3 discloses an invention related to content generation according to an output device.

In addition, a session initiation protocol: SIP is used to establish communication (such as an IP phone) between two entities (eg, a device or a process embodied by software running on a device).
A protocol called (Session Initiation Protocol) has been widely used (for details of SIP, see Non-Patent Document 1, for example). As an example of using SIP, Patent Document 4 discloses a presence information management system capable of notifying a change of presence information by effectively utilizing a network environment based on SIP and its method.

  Further, in the network printer system, a mechanism for providing an integrated service by linking applications has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 5: “Application integrated management system, apparatus and program, and integrated session management server, system, program” And server housing, communication system, session control server, and integrated application server ”.

  By the way, in a network printing system, when a print job is received while a specific apparatus is performing a printing process, there is a disadvantage that the received job cannot be immediately executed as expected. For this reason, for example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 6, even when data to be printed is received during the printing process by any function in the multifunction device, the multifunction device arranged on the network When a print job is requested while the (image forming device) is executing printing, the print processing being currently processed is interrupted by transmitting print data to another composite device (image forming device) on the network. The received data can be printed as soon as possible. In this technique, the print job transmission side searches for a transmission partner on the network. Accordingly, each image forming apparatus needs to recognize other network printers on the network, and this is a burden in designing and maintaining the system. In other words, the conventional printing mechanism pushes the print data to the printer, so that the print requesting device needs to hold the data or know the data format, and there is a problem in convenience.

  In addition, the conventional printing mechanism requires a printer driver when printing on a printer. For this reason, even if there is a printer nearby, there is a difficulty in printing without the printer driver. Furthermore, in the conventional printing mechanism, the combination of request source apparatuses that can normally print using a specific printer is often fixed. For example, a request for printing at a destination such as a mobile worker is required. There is a difficulty that cannot be met, and there is room for improvement in terms of system utilization and convenience improvement.

In addition, when a jam occurs during printing with a network printer and printing is interrupted, it is common for the user to go to the device to clear the paper jam and reprint. In the worst case, there is also a problem that the user notices a jam after taking out the output sheet and may perform a return operation, which is not convenient.
Also, when printing using a print server, if a problem occurs while transferring a print job, the print job continues to be transferred until the receiving printer can no longer accept it, and it takes time to notice the problem. There was the inconvenience of hanging.

  In conventional print processing, print data described in PDL is received from a client terminal such as a PC, and stored in a spooler of a printer (printing device) to generate a print job, and print output (for example, And Patent Document 7). The invention of “Network Print System” in Patent Document 7 discloses a technique for transferring print data from a client spooler to a server spooler and outputting the print data from a printer connected to the server.

IETF, RFC3261 “SIP: Session Initiation Protocol”, IETF, June 2002, [retrieved November 16, 2006], Internet <URL: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3261.txt> JP 7-152514 A JP-A-10-149242 JP 2002-31243 A JP 2006-235697 A JP 2005-242999 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-275300 Japanese Patent No. 3241278

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in a network printing system that effectively uses a plurality of printer resources connected on a network, a printer in which a print server exists on the network is firstly provided. It is an object of the present invention to improve the convenience of the user by directly or indirectly grasping the driving status of the user and allowing the user to specify an alternative destination and the driving status without searching for the destination. Another object of the present invention is to improve the utilization and convenience of the system by allowing the network printing system to be used from more request sources that can be used while ensuring security. Another object of the present invention is to perform job transfer while confirming that a print job is output for each page, to efficiently use resources and to improve system reliability. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the unit price of the printer by reducing the spooler capacity on the printer side.

  Furthermore, in order to improve the convenience of the user in case of printing troubles, when a printing failure occurs, it is necessary to go to the device to see what kind of failure occurs on which printer and what the printing status is. It is intended to improve the convenience of the user by allowing the user to perceive without any problem. Further, when a printing failure occurs, the user can know which failure has occurred in which printer, and what the printing status is, without visiting the device. Also, if a printing failure occurs, the user can take measures such as selecting whether to cancel printing or output to another printer, as if the user was in front of the device without going to the device. Be able to give operational instructions with a sense. Another object of the present invention is to improve printing reliability and user convenience by enabling a user to output a print page that has not been output to an alternative printer designated by the user without visiting a different device. It is said.

  Another object of the present invention is to expand the range of devices that make a print request to a printer. For example, the present invention proposes a network printing system that makes it possible to make a print request, for example, on a mobile device or a terminal having only a browser and an operation unit, maintain the same use as a conventional printer, and improve user convenience. In addition, in the conventional printing mechanism, the usage status of printing is often managed by logging inside the printer, and there is a problem in billing management for the temporarily used user. The present invention also aims to improve this point.

The network printing system of the present invention includes a call connection server as a first device having means for specifying a location of a device connected on a network, means for mediating connection,
Presence server as a second device having means for grasping the status of a device connected to the network and notifying the request source device, means for communicating with the call connection server and presence server, print request from client terminal A means for generating a print job by generating and processing print data from a print request, a means for transferring to a predetermined device, a means for managing the print status of a print job, and notifying the requesting client terminal of the print status of the print job A print server serving as a third device comprising means for performing the above-mentioned processing, and means for communicating with at least the call connection server, the presence server and the print server, and a print means for executing print processing based on the print job. A printer as a fourth device, and at least one of each device, and a client When there is a print request from a terminal, print data is transferred from the client terminal or from another device to the print server, and the generated print job is transferred to the printer and printed out.

  The print server may include data conversion means for acquiring data on a URL specified by a print request from a print request source and converting the data into print data. The print server includes a spooler that stores print data, and the printer includes a minimum spooler that can process a print job of at least one page for each print request. Only the minimum print job data necessary for printing one page is transmitted to the printer, and it is confirmed that the printer has completed the printing process for the one page. Unit processing for transmitting job data is repeatedly executed until transmission of all print jobs is completed.

  In the present invention, the print server further includes means for acquiring at least capability information of the alternative output destination printer and a driving status from the presence server, and the print job is not output by the printer to which the print job is sent. If it is determined, at least a print job that has not been output is transferred and output to the selected alternative printer. In the present invention, when the print server as the third apparatus determines that the print job has not been output by the printer to which the print job is sent, at least the output destination printer Is notified that the printing has not been completed including the destination identification information and the output result information. Further, when the print server determines that the print job has not been output by the printer to which the print job is sent, the print server includes at least destination identification information and output result information of the output destination printer for the response request source client terminal. You may make it notify that printing has not been completed. The print server further includes means for acquiring at least capability information of the alternative output destination printer and drive status from the presence server, and means for notifying destination identification information of the alternative output destination printer, and sends a print job. When it is determined that the print job has not been output by the previous printer, at least the output of the print job that has not been output is output to the alternative output destination printer, and at least in the notification information indicating that printing has not been completed. The client terminal may be notified by further including destination identification information of the alternative output destination printer, printer capability information, and driving status.

  The printer further comprises means for displaying an operation screen of the printer on the printer and the client terminal, and means for managing operation information input using the displayed operation screen, and has not been printed on the client terminal. It is preferable to include the operation screen formation information in the notification information to that effect. In addition, the print server includes operation information receiving means for receiving a reprint request generated / sent by an operation on the operation screen, and an alternative output destination printer designated by the reprint request from the client terminal. On the other hand, at least a print job that has not been output is transferred and output.

  In each of the above-described configurations, an authentication unit that authenticates a user of the client terminal that uses the network printing system is provided. When the user authentication by the authentication unit is successful, the printer driver of the printer is incorporated in the client terminal. It is more preferable that printing is possible even if it is not. In addition, the call connection server as the first device may also serve as the presence server as the second device. Alternatively, the print server as the third device may serve as a call connection server as the first device and a presence server as the second device.

  Further, in the present invention, in addition to the system configuration as described above, as a fifth device, the function provided by the printer can be managed and configured to include a function management server capable of communicating with the server group, The client terminal is configured to be capable of browsing at least function information via the presence server. In the present invention, as a sixth device, a billing server that can communicate with the presence server and performs billing management corresponding to the function information of the printer used by each user of the network printing system The network printing system is further included.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to expand the range of devices that make a print request to the printer, improving the convenience for the user. In addition, it is possible to realize a network printing system that does not require information registration and management of other network printers connected to the network on the client side or the network printer side, and it is possible to reduce the cost of the printer by reducing the spooler capacity. In the case of including a function management server and a billing server, appropriate billing can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, when a printing failure occurs, the user can find out what kind of failure has occurred in which printer and what the printing status is without going to the device, and the alternative destination printer and its driving User convenience such as being able to give instructions as if they were in front of the device, such as selecting measures to cancel the printing by knowing the situation at hand or to output to another printer. It can greatly improve and contribute to the improvement of printing reliability.

  [First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall system configuration of a first embodiment of a network printing system according to the present invention. The network system NPSYS of this embodiment is installed in an office of a business entity, and is the first (second) for establishing, changing, and ending various media sessions between devices on the network via a network line (network NW). A call connection server 100 as a second type device, a presence server 200 as a second (type) device that manages the state of the device, and a print job generated from print data described in PDL in units of pages. A print server 300 as a third device that transmits a print job to the printer based on the printer information received from the server 200, and a request from the PC is received and print data is directly transmitted to the print server 300, and is generated by the print server 300 Network printer 400A as a fourth device that prints the printed print job and 400B and a desktop personal computer or the like (hereinafter referred to as “client PC: 500” or simply “PC”) incorporating a microcomputer that is a user terminal device (print request device) for a user to issue a print request. It is connected on the same network NW. Although not shown in the figure, normally, a plurality of other client PCs 500 are connected. Of course, another printer may be connected. It should be noted that all devices connected in connection with the system of the present invention can be connected to the call connection server 100 and the presence server 200 and can be used.

  As a network NW (Local Area Network) in this embodiment, a high-speed network capable of simultaneously transferring a plurality of data such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 is assumed. ing. Ethernet (registered trademark) is defined in the IEEE 802.3 standard and is a network standard of the CSMA / CD system. IEEE 1394 is a communication system defined by the IEEE 1394 standard as the name suggests. The network NW uses these communication methods to perform communication by transmitting and receiving data in units of packets based on a communication protocol; TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). In addition to a wired network (LAN), a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11b may be included. Of course, the network NW may be further connected to the Internet.

The form of the network printer (hereinafter also simply referred to as a printer) may be a multi-function multifunction peripheral (MFP: Multi_Function_Printer) such as 400A. Although not shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus (MFP) 400A uses an analog or digital telephone line network such as a general subscriber telephone line or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) in order to use the FAX function.
Connected to Switched Telephone Network. The printer is not limited to an image forming apparatus, and the present invention can also be applied to a case where a facsimile apparatus having a print function and various composite apparatuses having a print function are connected. In this specification, the term “network printer (or printer)” refers to all the above-described devices having a network connection function and a print function.

Hereinafter, each device constituting the network printing system NPSYS will be described in order. First, a printer 400 and a print server 300 that implement the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) according to the present embodiment for configuring a system according to the present invention will be described. 2A and 2B show examples of internal configurations of the printer 400 and the print server 300, respectively. First, the printer 400 in this embodiment is shown in FIG. 2A in addition to a well-known device control unit that performs control processing of the entire device, a RAM that stores system data for controlling the operation of the terminal, various setting information, and the like. Network layer / transport layer protocol such as the Internet [TCP (: Transmission as an IP protocol for controlling communication with the IP network)
TCP / UDP / IP control unit 603 for controlling (Control Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol), a network I / O having a communication control function below the data link layer and for connecting to a network NW (IP network) F: 604, a SIP (Session) for connecting to the call connection server 100 or the like as a session connection control part that performs session connection control via the IP network
Initiation Protocol) call control unit 605 and presence control unit 606 for connecting to presence server 200.

  The printer 400 controls where the print data is transferred when a print request is received from a client PC 500 (hereinafter simply referred to as a PC), that is, the print job based on the presence information of each of the other printers. When a print job is received from the print data control unit 607 and the print server 300 in units of pages from the print server 300 for performing control for distributing the printers to appropriate printers, control for temporarily outputting the print jobs in the spooler 608A is performed. A print job control unit 609A is also provided. The print job control unit 609A also serves as a trigger for notifying the presence server 200 of the information when the printing failure occurs, transmitting the information to the presence control unit 606. In this case, the distribution to an appropriate printer means that the entire print request or at least an unprinted job is transferred (assigned) to a single alternative printer when a printing failure occurs. .

  In addition, the printer 400 includes an operation screen drawing unit 610 and an operation data management unit 611. The operation screen rendering unit 610 and the operation data management unit 611 process normal operation screen display and input operations, and also operate the operation screen management unit 610 and the operation data management unit 611B installed in a print server described later. By linking, the other printer can be operated during printing using the other printer. In this case, the image information of the operation screen is obtained from the print server, and the operation screen drawing unit 610 performs processing to be displayed on the operation unit (hereinafter referred to as an operation) of the device. The operation data management unit 611 performs a process of reflecting operation information (such as pressed button information) input on an operation screen displayed on an operation or an external application on the device.

  As will be described later, when the printer 400 registers its own terminal information in the print server 300 using a REGISTER message, the printer 400 also registers in the print server 300 including printing capabilities such as paper size, printing speed, color, and finisher. (FIGS. 3 and 4). In response to a print request issued from the PC, the printer 400 executes printing in cooperation with the print server 300 or another server. Details of this series of printing execution processes will be described later.

Next, the print server 300 according to the present embodiment has a control function such as a SIP protocol. Like the printer 400, the print server 300 is a known device control unit that performs control processing for the entire device, and a system that controls the operation of the terminal. In addition to RAM for storing data and various setting information, as shown in FIG. 2B, a network layer / transport layer protocol such as the Internet [TCP (: as an IP protocol for controlling communication with an IP network). Transmission
TCP / UDP / IP control unit 603 for controlling (Control Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol), and a network I / O having a communication control function below the data link layer to connect to a network NW (IP network) F: 604, a SIP call control unit 605 for connecting to the call connection server 100 and the like, and a presence control unit for connecting to the presence server 200, as a session connection control part that performs session connection control via the IP network 606.

  Further, the print server 300 performs control for controlling a spooler 608B that can store almost all print data and where the print data is transferred (sorted) when a print request is received from the PC. A print data control unit 607B, and a print job control unit 609B that performs control for sending print data to the printer in units of pages.

  Further, the print server 300 distributes the print job to the optimum one of the plurality of printers 400 connected on the network, thereby effectively using the printer resources. A management unit 613 and an output destination management unit 614 are provided.

  The print data transferred from the PC to the print server 300 is accumulated in the spooler 608B, a print job for each page is generated by the print job generation unit 612, and is managed by the print job management unit 613. Further, the output destination of the print job is managed by the output destination management unit 614, and the output destination management unit 614 provides information (address, device capability, etc.) of valid printers 400 other than the printer 400 that processes the job that received the print request. ) Is also managed. This is based on the assumption that information received from the presence server 200 is received by the presence control unit 606 and managed by the output destination management unit 614.

  In addition, corresponding to the operation screen drawing unit 610 and the operation data management unit 611A provided on the printer 400 side, information (image information, setting information, etc.) necessary for display on the operation of the printer 400 or an external application is managed. An operation screen management unit 615 and an operation data management unit 616 for managing operated information are provided. The difference between the operation data management unit 616 of the print server 300 and the operation data management unit 611 of the printer 400 is that the print server side directly receives operation information from an operation or an external application, but the printer 400 side reflects the operation information from the print server 300 to the device. There is a difference in processing the operation information received to make it happen. However, the print server side may have a function of directly reflecting the operation information on the device.

  Next, the client PC 500 (internal client terminal; reference numeral 500) in the present embodiment may be a known typical one configured from an information processing terminal device such as a personal computer (PC). The operation is well known. A client PC 500 has an I / F for connecting to a network, has a control function such as a SIP protocol, and is connected to a network NW. That is, for example, the client PC 500 has a configuration capable of being connected to the network NW by including a predetermined NIC, and can communicate with the print server 300 or the like via the network.

  As will be described later, the client PC 500 requests the call connection server 100 to execute a print job at any time (transmits predetermined print data via the network). Here, the client PC 500 knows only the information (IP address, print job request method) of the call connection server 100, and does not know the information about each printer 400.

  Further, the client PC 500 of this embodiment includes an operation screen drawing unit and an operation data management unit. In other words, in addition to the display based on the information of the operation screen mounted on the client PC 500 itself and the operation in accordance with this, it does not have the information of the operation screen. Operation screen drawing unit that performs processing to be displayed on the operation unit of the device (hereinafter referred to as an operation) or an external application, operation information input to the operation screen displayed on the operation or external application (pressed button information, etc.) Display / operation by the operation data management unit that performs processing to be reflected in the device is possible, and in cooperation with the operation screen management unit 610 and the operation data management unit 611B installed in the print server 300, at the time of printing using a network printer The printer can be operated. is there. This configuration / function is the same as that of the printer 400 already described. In this case, the process reflected in the device may be performed directly by the operation data management unit or may be left to the print data. The external application here is assumed to be, for example, an application that runs on a PC or a Web browser.

  The message sequence diagram of FIG. 3 shows a basic sequence during normal printing in the present embodiment. When each network printer 400 registers its own terminal information in the print server 300 with a REGISTER message, the network printer 400 also registers the printing capability including paper size, printing speed, color, finisher, and the like. Each printer notifies the presence server 200 whenever the status of the printer changes.

  First, a print request is issued from the PC to the call connection server 100. That is, when the user prints from the PC terminal, the PC terminal includes the print job information in the message body of the INVITE request and transmits it to the call connection server 100. Here, it is assumed that the PC knows the destination of the call connection server 100 in advance. It is assumed that the PC can directly issue a print request to the printer. The print request is notified to the print server 300 by the call connection server 100. Here, it is assumed that a print request is notified by a procedure defined by SIP (conforming to RFC3261) or by extending SIP.

  The call connection server 100 that has received the print request passes the print request to the print server 300. When the print server 300 determines that printing is possible, information necessary for printing is included in the response message (200 OK), and the PC is notified as a print request response through the same route as the print request. That is, the print request response is notified to the printer 400 by the call connection server 100. Here, it is assumed that a print request response is notified by a procedure defined by SIP (conforming to RFC3261) or by expanding SIP.

  When the PC accepts the previous print request and notifies the print request response, the PC transmits all the print data to the print server 300 that is the destination specified in the print request response, and the PC itself is released. Here, the print server 300 is specified as the destination in the print request response, but a control example in which a suitable device other than the print server is specified in the print server is also conceivable. For example, in FIG. 3, the destination is a print server, but the print server 300 can also specify the destination of the printer 400, and the PC may correspondingly transmit to the printer 400 for printing.

  When the print server 300 receives the print data, it once accumulates in the spooler 608B and generates a print job. The print job is managed by the print job management unit for each request. It is assumed that the print server 300 notifies the presence server 200 of the status at any time, such as receiving a print request or receiving print data. It is assumed that the status notified to the presence server 200 can be shared by the PC, the printer 400, and the print server 300. In the print server 300, data generated as a print job is managed in units of pages, and the print server 300 transfers the print job to the printer 400 for each page while confirming a response.

  The printer 400 once spools the print job for one page received from the print server 300 to the spooler 608A, and sequentially performs print output processing. When the printer 400 confirms the print output of the print job, it notifies the presence server 200 of the completion of printing. Upon receiving this notification, the presence server 200 notifies the print server 300 that printing has been completed. If there is a next page, the print server 300 further transfers a print job corresponding to the next page to the printer 400. In this way, transfer, response, and notification for each page are sequentially repeated to process all pages.

  When the print server 300 confirms that all the generated print jobs have been printed out, the print server 300 ends the print processing. In this case, the same means as the print request may be used to notify the PC side that printing has been completed. For example, SIP disconnection processing (BYE request) corresponds to this. Alternatively, the presence server 200 may notify the PC of the completion of printing.

  Next, a description will be given of a case where a printing defect such as a jam occurs in the present invention. FIG. 4 shows that, in the system shown in FIG. 1, when a printing failure (jam) occurs in the printing process as described above in the printer 400A, printing is continued with the alternative printer 400B other than the printer 400A that is currently performing the printing process. Alternatively, a sequence example for reprinting is shown. With respect to the print request, it is assumed that the procedure shown in FIG. 3 described above is executed, and the print server 300 always receives the status of the alternative printer 400B from the presence server 200 during this time. Here, it is assumed that the print server 300 transfers a print job for one page to the printer 400A according to the above-described procedure of FIG. 3, and a jam occurs on the printer 400A side. It is assumed that this applies to all states in which print output cannot be performed.

  The status of jam occurrence is notified from the printer 400A to the presence server 200, and the status is notified from the presence server 200 to the print server 300 (or the printer 400A may directly notify the status to the print server 300). Accordingly, when the print server 300 detects that a printing failure has occurred, the print server 300 notifies the PC of the status information (or may notify the PC via the presence server 200). It is more preferable that the information to be notified may include information on the printer 400A during printing in addition to the status of the printing failure.

  Next, the print server 300 performs a process for transferring operation screen information displayed on the printer to the PC (details of the process will be described later with reference to FIG. 5). When the PC receives the operation screen information, the PC can display the image on a PC application or a Web browser. The operation screen displayed at this time can grasp the coordinate data and the input data, and the information is exchanged with the print server 300 one by one. This can be realized easily and easily with a software-based one such as using a touch panel or moving a marking in conjunction with a key operation. Here, from the print server 300, the destination information of the alternative printer 400B, paper size, speed, capability information such as color / monochrome, drive information indicating whether printing is currently possible, etc. are sent to the PC simultaneously with the transferred operation screen information. Shall be notified.

  The user who made the print request can make a print request on the alternative printer 400B according to the operation screen based on the operation screen displayed on the PC and information on the alternative printer 400B. This print request is notified from the print server 300 to the alternative printer 400B. When the print server 300 receives the print request response from the alternative printer 400B, the print server 300 transfers the print job that failed to print in accordance with the above-described procedure, and performs the print output process in the alternative printer 400B. It is assumed that the print server 300 and the alternative printer 400B may directly communicate with each other or may be performed according to the procedure using the call connection server 100 described above.

  In the network printing system of the present embodiment, the print server 300 can grasp the location and capability of the alternative printer 400B that can be printed by the presence server 200, so that the user's trouble of searching for the alternative printer 400B can be reduced. It is possible to improve convenience, and it is easy to use.

  The above-described procedure for displaying the operation screen on a PC or the like and making it operable, in particular, a sequence example for establishing a channel for exchanging the data will be described with reference to FIG. The print server 300 issues a start request for transferring data for drawing the operation screen on the PC to the call connection server 100. When the destination of the PC is known, a request may be issued directly to the PC without going through the call connection server 100. In particular, when user authentication or the like is required, the call connection server 100 may be used. It is assumed that the PC returns a response to the request through the same route as the request. This exchange establishes a data transfer channel for drawing the operation screen on the PC, and the print server 300 transfers the operation screen drawing data to the PC using the channel. It is assumed that there is an application that performs the above-described control on the PC side. When the operation screen is displayed on the PC, an operation data transfer request is sent to the call connection server 100 in order to establish a channel for exchanging operation data (input coordinate position, input event type, etc.) input by the user from the PC side. To the print server 300. When a response is received by following the same path from the print server 300, a channel for performing operation data transfer is established, the user operation is transmitted to the print server 300 using the channel, drawing of an operation screen, setting of a printer, It can be reflected in processing such as alternative printing.

  In this way, when a printing failure occurs in the network printing system, the print result can be confirmed on the client terminal side by the presence server, and the user can solve the failure that can be solved at least by operation on the operation screen of the device. It is possible to cope with the situation without going to the foot, and the alternative printer 400 can be operated to continue printing, so that convenience for the user can be improved.

  This system is preferably provided with an authentication means for authenticating the user of the client terminal. Digest authentication standardized by SIP can be used for this authentication mechanism. Alternatively, authentication by an external server can be employed.

  As described above, in the network printing system of the present invention, the print server sends the next print job while checking the status and output result of the printer 400 from the presence server for each page. The reliability of printing can be increased. In this case, if the printer 400 has a spooler having a capacity for printing at least one page for each print job, printing can be performed, so that the cost of the device can be reduced.

  In the embodiments described so far, the call connection server, the presence server, and the print server are independent. However, these server functions are appropriately combined to be realized as a single device (SIP server). Can do. For example, the above-described system can be constructed by using a single SIP server as a print server that serves as both the call connection server and the presence server.

  Furthermore, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the network printer is provided with the server function as described above. Each of the server function units described above is realized by a board or a storage device that realizes the server function, and is integrally mounted in a single device. The server function unit is connected to other function units such as a printing unit of a network printer such as a multi-function multifunction peripheral via a predetermined interface, and the server function is added or expanded. As described above, when the print server function is added to the network printer, it is possible to construct a print system in which a plurality of network printers are connected without having to prepare a separate print server.

  [Second Embodiment] Next, FIG. 6 shows an example of the entire configuration of a network printing system in a second embodiment of the present invention. The network system NPSYS 'includes a call connection server 100 as a first (second type) device equivalent to the first embodiment and a second (type) connected via a network line (network NW). A presence server 200 serving as a device, a print server 300 serving as a third device, and a request for receiving a request from a PC to directly transmit print data to the print server 300 and printing a print job generated by the print server 300. Network printer 400C as a device and a user terminal device (client device: 500) for a user to issue a print request. Here, it is assumed that the network NW is also connected to another network or a base station of a radio telephone via the Internet.

  The system is further connected to a function management server 700 as a fifth device, a repository server 800 as a sixth device, and a billing management server 900 as a seventh device. The repository server may be a repository on another network such as a VPN. In addition, this system includes an authentication unit that authenticates the user of the client terminal using digest authentication standardized by SIP, for example. In addition, an authentication mechanism by an external server can be adopted.

  As in the first embodiment, the call connection server 100 is a server that can identify devices of this system and exchange the capabilities of devices. A typical example is a SIP server (SIP is defined in RFC3261). Session Inititation Protocol). The presence server 200 is a server that monitors the status of devices in the system and notifies the status to each device. A typical example is a SIP presence server that uses SIMPLE, which is an SIP extension standard. It is assumed that the print server 300 can create and process print data of the printer 400C of this system. The print server 300 also includes data conversion means for acquiring data on the URL specified in the print request from the print request source and converting it into print data.

  The printer 400C is a device that can acquire print data from the print server 300 and perform printing, and can communicate with the SIP server or the SIP presence server 200. The client terminal 500 that is a print requesting device basically indicates all devices that can handle print data, such as PCs, PDAs, and mobile phones, and can communicate with at least the call connection server 100 and the presence server 200.

  FIG. 7 shows a basic sequence of the printing process in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows an example of printing when print data is stored in a repository server on the same network. As shown in FIG. 7, the flow from when the print requesting device makes a print request to when it is output to the printer is shown. The client terminal 500, which is a print request device, transmits a print request to the call connection server 100, and the call connection server 200 transfers the request to the output destination printer 400C. The print request is transferred from the print server 300 to the repository server 800, and the repository server 800 transfers the print data (print job) generated from the print request to the print server 300. It is assumed that the repository server 800 can establish a data session and transfer data.

  Data received from the repository server 800 is created in a format that can be printed by the printer in the print server 300 and transferred to the printer. It is assumed that the printer capability is acquired from the presence server 200 or included in a print request message that the printer transfers to the print server 300. As a result, the print server 300 can select a data format suitable for the function of the printer. When the print requesting device transfers the print request to the call connection server, the presence server 200 is notified that the print request has been issued, the status of the device and each server is monitored, and printing is finally completed. In this case, the result is notified to the print requesting device, and the flow is completed. (Claim 1) As described above, since the print requesting device can print without holding the print data, printing can be performed without depending on the storage capacity or the data format. In addition, since it is possible to print if it can be ensured that the print requesting device can use the system, the network printing system can be used even if the printer driver is not incorporated in the print requesting device. ).

  In this system, in addition to the print output of the print data described above, it is assumed that the information that exists in the repository server or Web server described above is to be printed while the print requesting device is browsing, and the browse contents Can be printed. In this case, it is assumed that the URL is included in the content of the message requested to be printed to the call connection server 100 in the print requesting device 400C.

  The print server 300 can specify the URL via the call connection server 100, and can acquire data on the URL specified by the data conversion means and convert it into print data. The device that is performing can print by simply specifying the URL (Claim 3). The printing procedure in this case is substantially the same as described above. As a result, if it is possible to connect to the Internet, a network printing system can be used with a simple device such as a portable terminal as a print requesting device.

  As another feature, in the present system, the function management server 700 manages printer capability information designated by the user and can notify the user (claim 11). The notification information may be notified directly from the function management server 700 to the print requesting device or may be notified to the print requesting device via a printer. As described above, since the function management server 700 manages the function information of the printer, it is possible to know the function information of the printer designated by the user from the print requesting device having no printer driver.

  Further, in this system, the billing management server 900 can manage predetermined basic information, and can manage the functions used and billing information collectively (claim 12). That is, the billing management server manages information as shown in FIG. The user ID in FIG. 8 is an ID for uniquely identifying the user who uses the print requesting device, and is not limited to identifying only the printing requesting device. Here, the used device ID indicates a printer. The use function ID is assumed to be a function that can be used by the printer. This function may be different for each user. The billing information is billing information corresponding to the function used for each communication, and the billing cumulative information records the cumulative amount of money used by the user or the print requesting device, and the cumulative unit is arbitrary. To do.

  FIG. 9 shows a sequence diagram for billing management. The billing management server 900 manages each piece of information as shown in FIG. 8, and manages the functions used and billing information. Thus, since the function information for each printer and the billing information for each user are managed in combination, which user can use which function and the accumulated usage fee can be managed (claim 12). The network printing system of this embodiment can provide a printing service in the ubiquitous era by adding user authentication and billing management. Of course, it is possible to use a print server and printer according to the present embodiment that have the same functions as those described in the first embodiment. Correspondingly, a user equivalent to that in the first embodiment can be used. As a result, it is possible to improve convenience and reduce the cost of equipment, and to take measures against printing defects by effectively using alternative printers.

  Also in the second embodiment, for example, a single SIP server that serves as both the call connection server and the presence server is used as a print server. A system can be realized. In addition, the printer may have an appropriate server function described above.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a network printing system according to the present invention. FIG. (a), (b) is a schematic internal block diagram of the principal part relevant to this invention of a printer and a print server. It is a figure explaining the basic sequence at the time of normal printing in 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram explaining the example of a countermeasure with respect to the printing defect in a system of a 1st embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation screen-related data transmission / reception between a print server and a client PC. It is a block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the network printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the basic sequence of the printing process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the management information in a charge management server. It is a figure explaining the sequence of the charge management in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Call connection server 200 ... Presence server 300 ... Print server 400 ... Printer (network printer)
400A ... Network printer (Multifunction MFP (MFP: Multi_Function_Printer))
400B ... Network printer 400C ... Network printer 500 ... Client PC
603 ... TCP / UDP / IP control unit 604 ... Network I / F
605 ... SIP call control unit 606 ... Presence control unit 607 ... Print data control unit 607B ... Print data control unit 608A ... Spooler (printer side)
608B ... Spooler (print server side)
609A ... Print job control unit 609B ... Print job control unit 610 ... Operation screen drawing unit 611 ... Operation data management unit 612 ... Print job generation unit 613 ... Print job management unit 614 ... Output destination management unit 615 ... Operation screen management unit 616 ... Operation data management unit 700 ... function management server 800 ... repository server 900 ... accounting management server network ... NW
NPSYS, NPSYS '... Network printing system

Claims (13)

A call connection server as a first device comprising means for specifying the location of a device connected on the network, means for mediating connection;
A presence server as a second device comprising means for grasping the status of devices connected to the network and notifying the requesting device;
Means for communicating with the call connection server and presence server; means for receiving a print request from a client terminal; generating a print job from the print request; means for transferring the print job to a predetermined device; means for managing the print status of the print job A print server as a third device comprising means for notifying the requesting client terminal of the print status of the print job;
At least one of each of the devices as a fourth device that includes at least means for communicating with the call connection server, presence server, and print server, and that includes print means for executing print processing based on a print job. Each including
Network printing, wherein when a print request is made from a client terminal, print data is transferred from the client terminal or from another device to the print server, and the generated print job is transferred to the printer and printed out system.   The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print server includes data conversion means for acquiring data on a URL specified by a print request from a print request source and converting the data into print data. The print server includes a spooler that stores print data, and the printer includes a minimum spooler that processes at least one page of print job for each print request.
The print server transmits only the print job data necessary for printing one page at a time to the printer, confirms that the printer has completed the printing process for the one page, and prints the next page. 3. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein unit processing for transmitting minimum print job data is repeatedly executed until transmission of all print jobs is completed. The print server further includes means for acquiring at least capability information of the alternative output destination printer and a driving status from the presence server,
If it is determined that the print job has not been output by the printer to which the print job is sent,
4. The network printing system according to claim 3, wherein at least a print job that has not been output is transferred to and output to the selected alternative printer. When the print server determines that the print job has not been output by the printer to which the print job is sent,
4. The network printing system according to claim 3, wherein the response request source client terminal is notified that printing has not been completed including at least destination identification information of the output destination printer and output result information. The print server further includes means for acquiring at least capability information of the alternative output destination printer and driving status from the presence server, and means for notifying destination identification information of the alternative output destination printer, etc.
If it is determined that the print job has not been output by the printer to which the print job is sent,
At least the print job that has not been output is output to the alternative output destination printer, and at least the destination identification information of the alternative output destination printer, the capability information of the printer, and the driving status are included in the notification information indicating that printing has not been completed. 6. The network printing system according to claim 5, further comprising: notifying the client terminal. Means for displaying an operation screen of the printer on a printer and a client terminal, and means for managing operation information input using the displayed operation screen;
The network printing system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein operation screen formation information is included in the notification information indicating that printing has not been completed to the client terminal. The print server includes operation information receiving means for receiving a reprint request generated / sent by an operation on the operation screen;
8. The network printing system according to claim 7, wherein at least a print job that has not been output is transferred and output to an alternative output destination printer designated by the reprint request from the client terminal.   An authentication unit that authenticates a user of the client terminal that uses the network printing system, and when the user authentication by the authentication unit is successful, printing is possible even if the printer driver of the printer is not incorporated in the client terminal. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the network printing system is provided.   The network printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the call connection server as the first device also serves as a presence server as the second device.   10. The print server as the third device serves as both a call connection server as the first device and a presence server as the second device. The network printing system according to item 1. As a fifth device, the printer can further manage a function provided by the printer, and further includes a function management server that can communicate with the server group.
The network printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the client terminal is capable of browsing at least function information via the presence server. The sixth device may further include a billing server capable of communicating with the presence server and performing billing management corresponding to the function information of the printer used by each user of the network printing system. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein: