JP2009064309A - Information system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for changing data without utilizing any servers and without notifying users, while processing the data with a predetermined policy. <P>SOLUTION: The system comprises: a VMM 12 for virtualizing hardware resources 11 and dividing them into a plurality of logical partitions; a user system 23 functioning as each logical partition; a user management system 24 for managing the user system 23; and a data processing section, such as a printer 30, for processing data outputted from the user management system 24. The user management system 24 includes: a data monitoring means for holding a conversion table for associating metadata with setting data used by the printer 30 and monitoring data outputted from the user system 23; and a data change means for changing setting data included in data so as to correspond to the metadata of the conversion table and outputting it to the data processing section, when metadata included in the conversion table is present in the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system having a plurality of logical partitions, and more specifically, monitors data output from one logical partition to a data processing unit from another logical partition, and if necessary, The present invention relates to an information processing system for changing the data and outputting the data to a data processing unit, and a program for realizing the data control method.

  When a document or the like created on a personal computer (PC) is output to a printer, printer settings such as tray designation, paper size designation, and print position designation are performed on the PC printer settings or application.

  In an office, a policy for printer settings is often set, and when a policy is set, it is necessary to adapt the printer settings of all PCs used in the office to the policy.

  If each PC has its own printer settings, it takes a lot of time and labor. For this reason, many setting mistakes also occur. Also, once set, the user who uses the PC can change to another setting at the time of printing, and some users do not follow the policy.

  Therefore, it is desired to provide a system that can suppress the occurrence of setting mistakes without requiring time for setting and can perform printing with printer settings that conform to the policy even if the user changes the settings.

  For example, there has been proposed a print data transfer system that can prevent image data from being transmitted from a host computer to a printer with different settings and execute printing efficiently (see Patent Document 1).

  In this system, when a print command is received, the print execution file of the application software converts the mode set command for instructing the print condition into a transmission code and transmits it according to the device driver file of the mode set at the time of print execution. In the printer, the data received by the CPU is loaded into the memory via the buffer, and while executing or setting the print condition mode, the image code data is bitmap-developed, and the dot data is sent to the printer engine. Then, image formation is performed. This prevents the printer from being automatically set when the print output is executed and the image data being transmitted with different settings.

  Here, a virtualization technology that constructs a plurality of independent virtual machines on a single hardware platform and executes a plurality of operating systems (OS) has attracted attention in the server field and the like. Recently, not only the server field but also a method for managing a client PC by implementing a virtualization technology in a client PC has been proposed. One of them is the Intel (R) vPro platform. This vPro platform is a system in which a user system used by a user and a management system are implemented on a virtualized platform, and the user system is managed without being known by the user.

As a system in which this virtualization technology is implemented, a plurality of logical partitions, a plurality of OSs assigned to independent partitions among the plurality of logical partitions, and a plurality of assignments each assigned to one of the plurality of logical partitions There is a data processing system that includes a possible resource and a hypervisor that emulates a shared resource and provides a virtual copy of the shared resource to each of a plurality of logical partitions (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-6556 JP 2002-41306 A

  A server is used in order to make a printer arranged on a network available from a plurality of computers. Even if there are print requests from a plurality of computers at the same time, this server processes the server appropriately so that the printer performs printing in order.

  This server is also used when the print request from each application of a plurality of logical partitions is appropriately processed and the print execution management of the printer is performed as in the above data processing system.

  The server can also change the print data output by the user, and can perform print control so that printing can be performed with printer settings that conform to a determined policy.

  However, when using an external device such as a server, the external device must be installed separately, which is costly and print data needs to be transmitted to the external device via a network. There is a problem above.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, print data output by a user can be managed and changed without using an external device such as a server, and can be changed without notifying the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system capable of printing with a printer setting adapted to the above.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that can update all print settings with a small amount of work when a policy is changed so that it can be easily managed.

  In the present invention, the above-described virtualization technology is used to virtualize hardware resources and divide the hardware resources into a plurality of logical partitions. The user uses one logical partition and outputs data to the data processing unit. The logical partition is a logical partition, and another logical partition is a second logical partition for managing the first logical partition. The second logical partition is configured to monitor data output from the first logical partition, change the data as necessary, and output the data to the data processing unit. With this configuration, even if the user tries to output with different print settings or security settings, the second logical partition changes the setting information included in the data to the correct setting information without the user's knowledge. Can be sent to the data processing unit and processed by the data processing unit. As a result, even if the user does not know that there has been a change in the policy for the printer setting in the office, printing can be performed with the printer setting that conforms to the changed policy. Also, print management and print control can be realized without using an external device such as a server.

  The first logical partition and the second logical partition can be operated independently of each other. The second logical partition holds correct setting information in order to perform correct setting. For this reason, while the user is using the first logical partition, an administrator or the like uses a computer connected via a network to set setting information to be held in the second logical partition, When setting change is necessary, the setting information can be updated.

  The present invention can be provided as an information processing system. This information processing system includes a plurality of logical partitions and a data processing unit that processes data. One of the logical partitions (first logical partition) performs processing and outputs data. Another logical partition (second logical partition) manages the first logical partition.

  The second logical partition includes a storage unit that stores a conversion table in which metadata and setting information used by the data processing unit to process data are associated with each other. Metadata is information related to data. The second logical partition includes data monitoring means for monitoring data output from the first logical partition, and setting information included in the data when the metadata included in the conversion table exists in the data. And data changing means for changing to setting information corresponding to the metadata and outputting the setting information to the data processing unit.

  By adopting the configuration as described above, the data output by the user using the first logical partition can be changed without using an external device such as a server, and the change process can be performed by the user. Can be executed without knowing.

  The data can be, for example, print data including document print setting information. In this case, the metadata included in the data can be a list of keywords included in the document, and the conversion table can be a table in which keywords and print setting information are associated with each other. The data changing unit refers to the conversion table, and changes the print setting information included in the print data to the print setting information of the conversion table based on the keyword included in the document. The data processing unit has a printing function, can process the print data, print it on paper, and output it.

  The information processing system can further include table updating means for receiving an input to the conversion table and updating the conversion table. By providing this table updating means, printer settings can be managed from the outside. For example, when there is a change in an office print setting policy or a security policy, even if the user does not change in the first logical partition, it can be changed without the user knowing in the second logical partition. In addition, the second logical partition can be accessed from the outside via a network to change the print settings of all machines.

  In the present invention, a program for realizing data control performed by the second logical partition can also be provided. The program monitors the data output from the first logical partition, searches for whether or not the metadata included in the conversion table exists in the monitored data, and indicates that the data exists in the data. If detected, the step of changing the setting information included in the data to setting information corresponding to the metadata of the conversion table is executed.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to the present embodiment. The information processing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a client device 20 connected to the network 10 and a printer 30 connected to the client device 20 via the network 10.

  The client device 20 is, for example, a personal computer (PC), a CPU that executes various processes to realize various functions, a memory that stores various programs and various data, a hardware resource 21 such as a communication line, and a hypervisor. As a virtual machine monitor (VMM) 22.

  The VMM 22 allocates and virtualizes hardware resources 21 to a plurality of virtual machines, and divides the hardware resources 21 into a plurality of logical partitions. Further, the VMM 22 provides a function of processing the OS and an application running on the OS as one system, and recognizing the hardware resource 21 as a virtual machine for each system. That is, the VMM 22 makes it possible for a plurality of systems to share the hardware resource 21 by appropriately allocating the hardware resource 21 to each OS operating in each logical partition.

  Each of the plurality of systems is assigned to each of the plurality of logical partitions. In FIG. 1, a user system 23 including an OS used by the user and an application operating on the OS, and a user system are provided. And a user management system 24 for controlling information output from the computer 23. The user system 23 and the user management system 24 are assigned to different logical partitions. The user system 23 functions as a first logical partition that outputs data, and the user management system 24 functions as a second logical partition that determines whether or not the data is changed and changes the data when the change is necessary. .

  The user system 23 includes an application that creates data such as document data and outputs the data for processing. Examples of this application include CAD software, spreadsheet software, document creation software, and the like. Using these applications, the user creates print data having, for example, print control information and page drawing elements as data. This print data is output via the user management system 24 when the user presses a print execution button or the like.

  The information processing system includes a data processing unit that processes data output from the user system 23. In FIG. 1, the data processing unit is a printer 30 that prints print data. The printer 30 can be directly connected via the printer port which is the hardware resource 21, but is not limited to this, and may be connected via the network 10 via the communication line which is the hardware resource 21. it can. Here, the print data created by the user system 23 is changed as necessary, and then sent to the printer 30 via the network 10 and output from the printer 30.

  The configuration and operation of the user management system 24 will be described with reference to FIG. The print data 40 output from the user system 23 includes print control information 41 and page drawing elements 42. The print control information 41 includes print setting information set by the user or default print setting information of the user system 23 set previously. The print setting information includes information on a printer used for printing and information necessary for printing on paper. Examples of the information include information on paper size, printer address, print layout, duplex printing, stapling, and the like. be able to. The page drawing element 42 is a document that the user wants to print. Note that the output from the printer 30 varies depending on the print setting information.

  The user management system 24 holds a conversion table 25 that associates metadata with print setting information. The user management system 24 includes data monitoring means 26 that monitors print data output from the user system 23. The data monitoring unit 26 searches whether the metadata included in the conversion table 25 exists in the monitored data. Further, when the user management system 24 detects that the metadata exists in the data, the data change to change the setting information included in the data to the print setting information corresponding to the metadata in the conversion table 25 Means 27 are provided.

  Metadata is information related to data, and can include the date and time of creation of the data, the creator of the data, the title, etc., but "email", "confidential" It can be a keyword included in the document, such as “confidential”, “internal material”, “draft”. The print setting information can be set data for setting them, such as “aggregation” and “double-sided”. In this case, the conversion table 25 is such that this keyword is associated with the setting data.

  The data monitoring means 26 refers to the keyword of the conversion table 25 and the keyword exists in the page drawing element 42 in the print data 40 sent from the user system 23 to the printer 30 via the user management system 24, that is, in the document. Search whether or not to do. The conversion table 25 includes a list of keywords, and searches for any keyword in the list.

  When the data changing unit 24 detects that any keyword exists, the setting data included in the print control information 41 in the print data 40 is changed to the setting data corresponding to the keyword in the conversion table 25. To do. Thereafter, the data changing unit 24 outputs the changed print data to the printer 30.

  If no keyword is detected, the data changing unit 24 outputs the print data 40 as it is to the printer 30 without changing the setting data included in the print control information 41 in the print data 40.

  Here, a conversion table is illustrated in FIG. This conversion table includes a list of keywords, and setting data is associated with each keyword. In FIG. 3, “mail”, “confidential”, and “draft” are listed as keywords. For the keyword “mail”, the setting data “aggregate-double-sided”, for “confidential” the setting data “secure print”, for “draft”, “toner save” and “aggregate-double-sided” Setting data is associated. “Confidential” is used here, but it may be “confidential”, “confidential”, or “confidential”. be able to. Also, in the case of “confidential”, “top secret”, “secret”, etc., the setting data can be set to “cancel printing”.

  Note that “aggregation” is a setting when, for example, two pages are reduced and printed on one page. “Secure print” is a setting for requesting the user to input a password or ID, and permitting the printing of the data when the input is in agreement with a password or ID stored in advance. “Toner save” is a setting for printing with a reduced amount of toner in order to save the amount of toner.

  Referring again to FIG. 2, the printer 30 receives the print data 40 and performs printing based on the setting data described in the print control information 41 included in the print data 40. As described above, the user management system 24 can change the print data 40 output by the user without using an external device such as a server by changing the setting data when necessary. The processing can be realized without notifying the user. Also, with this change processing, it is possible to print with printer settings that conform to a determined policy without the user having to worry about it.

  The client device 20 is also connected to the computer 50 of the administrator of the printer 30 via the network 10, and is held in the user management system 24 from the administrator computer 50 via the hardware resource 21 and the VMM 22. The conversion table 25 can be updated as necessary. This update is performed by data update means (not shown) upon receipt of update data from the computer 50 of the administrator. By reflecting the change of the setting data in the user management system 24 in this manner, all users are notified and printing is performed with printer settings that conform to the determined policy without the need for all users to change the setting data. Can be able to.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of processing performed by the user management system 24. When the user starts using the user system 23 (S400), the user management system 24 determines whether it is necessary to control the print data 40 output from the user system 23 (S410). If it is set to monitor the print data 40 and change the print data 40 as necessary, it is determined that it is necessary. If it is not set, it is not necessary to perform processing by the user management system 24. The print data 40 is output as it is to the printer 30 through the VMM 12 (S450). This setting can be set by the administrator using the computer 50, for example.

  When determining that it is necessary, the user management system 24 monitors the print data 40 and searches for whether or not the keyword of the conversion table 25 exists in the page drawing element 42 in the print data 40 (S420). That is, the data monitoring unit 26 of the user management system 24 refers to the keyword list in the conversion table 25 and searches for the same character string as the keyword in the conversion table 25 in the document that is the page drawing element 42. Next, it is determined whether or not the same character string as the keyword is detected in the page drawing element 42 (S430).

  When the same character string as the keyword is detected in the page drawing element 42, the data changing unit 27 acquires setting data corresponding to the keyword from the conversion table 25 and is included in the print control information 41 in the print data 40. The setting data is changed to the acquired setting data (S440). The data changing unit 27 outputs the changed print data to the printer 30 (S450).

  When the same character string as the keyword is not detected in the page drawing element 42, the data changing unit 27 outputs the print data 40 to the printer 30 as it is without performing the process by the user management system 24 (S450).

  By the output to the printer 30, the process of the user management system 24 ends (S 460), and then the printer 30 executes the print process based on the setting data included in the print control information 41 in the print data 40.

  The present invention has been described with the above-described embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, and the like will occur to those skilled in the art. It can be changed within the range that can be achieved, and any aspect is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited. Therefore, the data control as shown in FIG. 4 is realized as a device-readable program for causing the client device 20 to execute, and the program is stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and is read and executed. It can also be done.

The block diagram of the information processing system of this embodiment. The figure which showed the structural example of the user management system. The figure which illustrated the conversion table. The figure which showed the flow of the process which a user management system performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network, 20 ... Client device, 21 ... Hardware resource, 22 ... VMM, 23 ... User system, 24 ... User management system, 25 ... Conversion table, 26 ... Data monitoring means, 27 ... Data change means, 30 ... Printer , 40 ... print data, 41 ... print control information, 42 ... page drawing element, 50 ... computer

Claims (7)

An information processing system having a plurality of logical partitions and a data processing unit for processing data, wherein one of the logical partitions is
Storage means for storing a conversion table in which metadata and setting information used by the data processing unit to process data are associated with each other;
Data monitoring means for monitoring data output from the other logical partitions;
When the metadata included in the conversion table exists in the output data, the setting information included in the output data is changed to the setting information corresponding to the metadata of the conversion table. An information processing system including data changing means for outputting to the data processing unit. The data is print data including print setting information of a document, the metadata included in the data is a keyword included in the document, and the conversion table is a table in which keywords and print setting information are associated with each other. And
The data change unit refers to the conversion table, and changes the print setting information included in the print data to the print setting information of the conversion table based on a keyword included in the document. Information processing system.   The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising table updating means for receiving the input to the conversion table and updating the conversion table.   The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit has a printing function. A program for causing one of the logical partitions of an information processing system having a plurality of logical partitions and a data processing unit to process data to execute a data control method,
The metadata output from the other logical partition is monitored, and the metadata included in the conversion table in which the metadata and setting information used by the data processing unit to process the data are associated with the output Searching for presence in the generated data;
When it is detected that the output data exists, the setting information included in the output data is changed to the setting information corresponding to the metadata of the conversion table and output to the data processing unit A program for executing a step to perform The data is print data including print setting information of the document, the metadata is a keyword included in the document, and the conversion table is a table in which the keyword and the print setting information are associated with each other.
The said changing step refers to the conversion table, and changes the print setting information included in the print data to the print setting information of the conversion table based on a keyword included in the document. Program.   The program according to claim 5, further comprising a step of receiving the input to the conversion table and updating the conversion table.

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