JP2009151430A - Instruction information management program, instruction information management device, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an instruction information management program, an instruction information management device and a printing system by which instruction information high in the possibility of performing a printing processing and instruction information low in the possibility are sorted and stored in a storage area. <P>SOLUTION: A printing system 1A is composed of: a terminal 3 to which instruction information is input; a print server 2 for managing instruction information; and a printer 4A for executing print processing based on the instruction information. A control part 20 of the print server 2 operates according to an instruction information management program 210 to function as an instruction information acquisition means 201 for acquiring instruction information from a normal spooler 211; an index value acquisition means 202 for acquiring an index value related with the acquired instruction information; a determination means 203 for comparing the acquired index value and reference value, and determining whether or not both values satisfy prescribed conditions; and a moving means 204 for, when it is determined that the prescribed conditions are satisfied, moving the instruction information from a normal spooler 211 to a saving spooler 212. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instruction information management program, an instruction information management apparatus, and a printing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an information transmission apparatus that can output necessary information from a terminal device side when necessary (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  According to the information transmitting apparatus, the holding unit that holds the information related to the print data together with the identification code for identifying the user, and the output control that outputs the information held by the holding unit to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device Means.

Japanese Patent No. 3777882

  An object of the present invention is to provide an instruction information management program, an instruction information management apparatus, and a printing system that can separately store instruction information that is highly likely to be printed and instruction information that is not likely to be stored in a storage area. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides the following instruction information management program, instruction information management apparatus, and printing system.

[1] An instruction information acquisition step for acquiring instruction information in which the contents of a printing process for printing image data are recorded from the first storage area, and the printing process using the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition step. An index value acquisition step for acquiring an index value indicating the possibility of being executed and the index value acquired in the index value acquisition step are compared with a reference value, and whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition A determination step of determining, and a moving step of moving the instruction information from the first storage area to the second storage area when the determination step determines that the two values satisfy a predetermined condition; Instruction information management program to be executed.

[2] Further, according to the request, the first or second list information each configured by the instruction information stored in the first or second storage area is created, and the created first or second list information is created. 2. The instruction information management program according to [1], for causing a computer to execute a providing step of providing screen information including the list information of 2.

[3] The providing step includes a switching instruction unit that displays the first list information in preference to the second list information and instructs to switch display of the first and second list information. The instruction information management program according to [3], which provides screen information.

[4] The index value acquisition step acquires an elapsed time when the instruction information is stored in the first storage area as the index value, and the determination step includes the elapsed time and a reference period as the reference value. The instruction information management program according to [1], wherein it is determined whether or not the elapsed time exceeds the reference period.

[5] The index value acquisition step acquires, as the index value, the number of times of printing in which the printing process according to the instruction information has been performed, and the determination step compares the number of printing times with a reference number as the reference value. The instruction information management program according to [1], wherein it is determined whether or not the number of times of printing exceeds the reference number of times.

[6] Instruction information acquisition means for acquiring instruction information in which the contents of print processing for printing image data are recorded from the first storage area, and the printing process using the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition means. The index value acquisition means for acquiring an index value indicating the possibility of being executed, the index value acquired by the index value acquisition means and a reference value are compared, and whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition Determining means for determining, and moving means for moving the instruction information from the first storage area to the second storage area when the determination means determines that the two values satisfy a predetermined condition. Instruction information management device.

[7] A printing unit that executes a printing process for printing image data, a storage unit that receives instruction information in which the contents of the printing process are recorded, and stores the instruction information in a first storage area; An instruction information acquisition unit that acquires the instruction information from the first storage area, and an index that acquires an index value indicating a possibility that the printing process according to the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit is executed A value acquisition unit, a determination unit that compares the index value acquired by the index value acquisition unit with a reference value, and determines whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition; and the both values by the determination unit And a moving unit that moves the instruction information from the first storage area to the second storage area when it is determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  According to the instruction information management program according to the first aspect, it is possible to separate instruction information that is highly likely to be subjected to printing processing and instruction information that is not likely to be stored in the storage area.

  According to the instruction information management program according to the second aspect, it is possible to reduce the total number of instruction information to be created when creating the list information, and to shorten the time required for creating the list information.

  According to the instruction information management program according to the third aspect, it is possible to preferentially display the instruction information that is highly likely to be executed, and switch to the second list information as necessary.

  According to the instruction information management program of the fourth aspect, the first storage is performed by moving the instruction information for which the printing process is not executed even if a predetermined period has elapsed from the first storage area to the second storage area. The total number of instruction information stored in the area can be reduced.

  According to the instruction information management program of the fifth aspect, the instruction information that has been printed in the past is moved from the first storage area to the second storage area, so that it is stored in the first storage area. The total number of stored instruction information can be reduced.

  According to the instruction information management apparatus of the sixth aspect, it is possible to separate instruction information that is highly likely to be subjected to print processing and instruction information that is not likely to be stored in the storage area.

  According to the printing system of the seventh aspect, it is possible to separate instruction information that is highly likely to be subjected to printing processing and instruction information that is not likely to be stored in the storage area.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This printing system 1A is based on a terminal 3 for inputting instruction information related to print processing, a print server (an example of an instruction information management apparatus) 2 that manages instruction information and provides instruction information in response to a request, and instruction information. The printer 4A that executes the printing process, the authentication server 5 that manages the user information and performs the user authentication operation, and the network 10 that interconnects them.

  Here, “instruction information” is information for instructing the printer 4A to perform print processing. The instruction information includes, as the contents of the printing process, for example, the target data name for instructing image data to be printed, the number of copies, the paper size, the instruction information ID for identifying the instruction information, and the print server 2 from the terminal 3. Information such as a reception time at which the instruction information is received, an instruction user that identifies the user who has input the instruction information at the terminal 3, and the number of times of printing indicating the number of times the printing process has been executed based on the instruction information is included.

  The image data to be printed is a document, photograph, chart, etc. stored as digital data, and is not limited to this as long as the data to be printed is stored.

  The network 10 is a local area network such as a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. The network 10 may be a network connected to the Internet.

  In FIG. 1, one terminal 3 and one printer 4A are provided, but the printing system 1A may include a plurality of image management servers and printers.

(Terminal)
The terminal 3 stores a control unit that controls each unit of the terminal 3, a program such as an instruction information creation program and an image creation program, data, and the like, for example, a storage unit realized by a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, etc. Connected to the network 10, for example, a communication unit realized by a network interface card, etc., accepts data input and operation instructions, for example, displays an input unit including a keyboard, a mouse, etc., displays a screen, etc. And a display unit realized by a liquid crystal display or the like.

  Such a terminal 3 can be constituted by, for example, a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like.

  The control unit of the terminal 3 operates according to the instruction information creation program stored in the storage unit, thereby displaying an instruction information input screen for inputting instruction information on the display unit, an instruction information input screen On the basis of the input information input by the input unit, it functions as instruction information generating means for generating instruction information, instruction information transmitting means for transmitting the generated instruction information to the print server 2, and the like.

  Further, the control unit of the terminal 3 operates according to the image generation program to generate image data to be printed and stores it in the storage unit of the terminal 3. The image data to be printed may be stored in another terminal connected to the network 10 or the print server 2, or may be captured via an external recording medium.

(Printer)
The printer 4A is configured in a non-contact manner, for example, from a touch panel display, a display operation unit 40 having a hard key such as a start key, or an IC chip embedded in an authentication card. The apparatus includes a card reading unit 41 that reads a user ID recorded on an IC chip, and includes a printing unit that executes a printing process based on instruction information sent from the print server 2.

  In addition to the display operation unit 40 and the card reading unit 41, the printer 4A includes a control unit that controls each unit of the printer 4A, and a ROM, RAM, and hard disk that store programs such as a printer control program and data. And the like, a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, and a communication unit connected to the network 10.

  The control unit of the printer 4A operates according to the printer control program stored in the storage unit, thereby displaying screen information display means for displaying list information including a plurality of instruction information on the display operation unit 40 as an instruction information selection screen. Instruction information request means for requesting the print server 2 for instruction information selected on the instruction information selection screen displayed on the operation unit 40, and an image for creating an image for print output from the instruction information received in response to the request It functions as a creation means.

  The printing unit prints an image created by the image creating unit on a recording medium, and various methods such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, and a thermal transfer method can be used.

  Instead of the printer 4A, a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions such as copying (copying), printing, scanning, and faxing may be used.

(Print server)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the print server 2. The print server 2 is realized by a control unit 20 that controls each part of the print server 2, for example, a CPU and the like, and stores various programs, data, and the like, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 21 is connected to the network 10 to transmit and receive data. For example, the communication unit 22 is realized by a network interface card and the like, and accepts data input and operation instructions. The unit 23 and a display unit 24 that displays a processing result by the control unit 20 and is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display.

  Such a print server 2 can be constituted by, for example, a personal computer (PC), a workstation (WS) or the like in addition to the server.

  The storage unit 21 stores an instruction information management program 210, a normal spooler 211, a retraction spooler 212, a user information table 213, and the like, and an image data storage area 214 provided in the storage unit 21 stores image data to be printed. Is remembered.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of the normal spooler 211. The normal spooler 211 is a first storage area in which instruction information sent from the terminal 3 is stored. That is, the normal spooler 211 stores, as attributes, an instruction user who records a user ID indicating a user who has input the instruction information, reception time, target data name, number of times of printing, etc., using the instruction information ID as a key.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of the retraction spooler 212. The retraction spooler 212 is a second storage area different from the normal spooler 211, and stores a plurality of instruction information with an instruction information ID as a key and the instruction user, reception time, target data name, number of times of printing, and the like as attributes. This is the same as the normal spooler 212. The instruction information stored in the save spooler 212 is referred to as save instruction information in order to distinguish it from the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information table 213. The user information table 213 stores the presence / absence of save instruction information for each user ID. That is, when the instruction information input by the user indicated by the user ID is stored in the save spooler 212, the presence / absence of the save instruction information for the user ID is stored as “present”, and such instruction information is stored in the save spooler. If it is not stored in 212, “None” is stored.

  The image data storage area 214 stores image data to be printed in association with the target data name of the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211 and the save spooler 212.

  The control unit 20 operates according to the instruction information management program 210 stored in the storage unit 21 to receive instruction information and store it in the normal spooler 211, and an instruction to acquire instruction information from the normal spooler 211 The information acquisition unit 201, the index value acquisition unit 202 for acquiring the index value related to the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit 201, the index value acquired by the index value acquisition unit 202 and the reference value are compared, and both values are A determining unit 203 that determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a moving unit 204 that moves the instruction information from the normal spooler 211 to the retraction spooler 212 when the determination unit 203 determines that both values satisfy the predetermined condition. In response to the request, it is indicated by the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211 or the retract spooler 212. It is to create a list information configured to function as a providing means 205 or the like for providing screen information including the list information in which are the created.

  Here, the “index value” is, for example, a value indicating the possibility of executing the printing process based on the instruction information. This index value is, for example, the elapsed time after the instruction information is stored in the normal spooler 211, the number of times of printing in which the printing process based on the instruction information is executed, and the like.

  The “reference value” is a threshold value for determining whether or not the printing process is executed based on the index value. For example, when the elapsed time is used as the index value, the reference value is a reference period indicating a predetermined period, and when the number of times of printing is used as the index value, the reference value is a reference indicating the predetermined number of times. Is the number of times. The reference value may be set for each user or may be set for each group.

(Authentication server)
Similar to the print server 2, the authentication server 5 includes a control unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, an input unit, and a display unit. The storage unit includes a user authentication program and a plurality of registered users that permit authentication. Is remembered.

  The control unit of the authentication server 5 operates according to the user authentication program, receives the user ID transmitted from the printer 4A, determines whether or not the received user ID is included in the registered user, and the determination result is Certain authentication information is transmitted to the printer 4A.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the printing system 1A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) Reception of instruction information First, when a user instructs the input unit of the terminal 3 to display an instruction information input screen for inputting instruction information using the terminal 3, the input screen display means of the terminal 3 An instruction is received and an instruction information input screen is displayed on the display unit. And a user inputs own user ID, a target data name, etc. with an input part with respect to the displayed instruction information input screen.

  Next, when the instruction information creating means of the terminal 3 receives the input information input by the input unit, the instruction information creating means creates instruction information based on the input information.

  Next, the instruction information transmitting unit of the terminal 3 reads out the image data instructed as a print target by the target data name from the storage unit of the terminal 3, and sends the image data together with the generated instruction information via the network 10. Transmit to the print server 2.

  Next, the storage unit 200 of the print server 2 receives the instruction information and image data sent from the terminal 3 by the communication unit 22 and stores the received instruction information in the normal spooler 211 of the storage unit 21. Is stored in the image data storage area 214.

  As described above, a plurality of users create a plurality of instruction information using the terminal 3, and the storage unit 200 accepts the plurality of instruction information from the terminal 3 as needed and stores them in the normal spooler 211. A plurality of instruction information is accumulated in the spooler 211 as illustrated in FIG.

(2) Monitoring of normal spooler While the storage unit 200 stores a plurality of instruction information in the normal spooler 211, the instruction information acquisition unit 201 sequentially acquires the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211 and acquires the index value. The unit 202 acquires an index value indicating the possibility that the printing process based on the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit 201 is executed.

  Specifically, the instruction information acquisition unit 201 acquires, for example, one instruction information in order of reception time among a plurality of instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211.

  When acquiring the elapsed time as the index value, the index value acquiring unit 202 calculates the elapsed time based on the reception time and the current time as the attributes of the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211, for example. And get. Note that the elapsed time is expressed using a unit of time such as a week, a day, an hour, a minute, or a second, and may be expressed as a combination thereof.

  Further, the index value acquisition unit 202 acquires the number of times of printing as an attribute of the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211 when acquiring the number of times of printing as the index value.

  Next, the determining unit 203 compares the index value acquired by the index value acquiring unit 202 with a reference value corresponding to the index value, and determines whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition.

  That is, when the instruction information acquisition unit 201 acquires the elapsed time as the index value, the determination unit 203 compares the acquired elapsed time with the reference period corresponding to the reference value, and the elapsed time exceeds the reference period. It is determined whether or not.

  In addition, when the instruction information acquisition unit 201 acquires the number of times of printing as an index value, the determination unit 203 compares the acquired number of times of printing with the reference number corresponding to the reference value, and the number of times of printing exceeds the reference number of times. It is determined whether or not. Note that the determination unit 203 determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when, for example, the printing process has been executed based on the printing presence / absence information indicating whether the printing process has been executed, instead of the number of times of printing. You may determine with satisfy | filling.

  The determination unit 203 may perform both determination based on the elapsed time and the number of times of printing, and may determine that a predetermined condition is satisfied when either one is satisfied, or when both are satisfied. It may be determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  Then, the moving unit 204 moves the instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211 to the retraction spooler 212 when the determining unit 203 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

  Further, the moving unit 204 registers the presence / absence of the save instruction information corresponding to the user ID recorded as the instructing user of the moved instruction information in the user information table 213 as “present”.

  Then, the instruction information acquisition unit 201 acquires the next instruction information from the normal spooler 211, and the index value acquisition unit 202 acquires the index value related to the acquired next instruction information. Then, the determining unit 203 determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied for the acquired next instruction information, and the moving unit 204 moves the instruction information when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied. .

  By repeating the above operation, whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied is determined by the determination unit 203 for all instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211, and the instruction information determined to satisfy the predetermined condition is The moving means 204 moves the normal spooler 211 to the retraction spooler 212.

  The series of operations described above are performed at a predetermined timing. For example, the operations may be performed periodically with a certain period of time, day of the week, etc., or when the printing process is performed by the printer 4A. Alternatively, it may be when an instruction is given by the administrator of the printing system 1A.

(3) List display of instruction information When a user holds his / her authentication card over the card reading unit 41 in order to instruct the printer 4A to execute printing processing, the card reading unit 41 is embedded in the authentication card. For example, wireless communication using electromagnetic induction action or radio waves is performed between the IC chip and the user ID recorded on the IC chip. The user ID is obtained, for example, by displaying an authentication screen for inputting the user ID and password on the display operation unit 40, and the user ID input by the display operation unit 40 on the authentication screen is acquired by the user. It may be a thing.

  Next, the control unit of the printer 4 </ b> A transmits the user ID read by the card reading unit 41 to the authentication server 5 via the network 10.

  Then, the control unit of the authentication server 5 determines whether or not to permit authentication as a person who can execute the printing process with the printer 4A based on the received user ID, and provides authentication information indicating whether or not to permit the authentication. Transmit to the printer 4A.

  Next, the control unit of the printer 4A receives the authentication information from the authentication server 5, and if the received authentication information indicates that the authentication is not permitted, the control unit displays the fact on the display operation unit 40 and ends. . On the other hand, if the authentication information indicates that the authentication is permitted, the process proceeds to the subsequent processes.

  Next, as subsequent processing, the screen information display means of the printer 4A designates the user ID read by the card reading unit 41, and includes screen information including list information including instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211. Is sent to the print server 2.

  Next, when the provision unit 205 of the print server 2 receives the request from the printer 4A, the user ID specified as the user ID stored in the attribute of the instructing user among the plurality of instruction information stored in the normal spooler 211 is specified. The instruction information matching the ID is searched, and list information is created as the search result.

  Then, the provision unit 205 of the print server 2 transmits screen information including the created list information to the printer 4A.

  Next, when the screen information display unit of the printer 4A receives the screen information sent from the print server 2, the screen information display unit displays an instruction information selection screen on the display operation unit 40 based on the screen information.

  Here, FIG. 5 is an example of an instruction information selection screen displayed on the display operation unit 40. In the instruction information selection screen 11, the user name 110 of the authorized user and the total number 111 of instruction information included in the list information are displayed in the upper part, and the list information created by the providing unit 205 is displayed in the middle part. Based on the instruction information list 112, various buttons for instructing operations on the instruction information list 112 are displayed, and a start button 117 for instructing the start of the printing process is displayed in the lower part thereof.

  In the middle part of the instruction information selection screen 11, the list information displayed in the instruction information list 112 is switched to the evacuation list information including the evacuation instruction information stored in the evacuation spooler 212 as a button for instructing an operation on the instruction information list 112. A save instruction information acquisition button 113 for updating, an update button 114 for instructing update of the instruction information list 112, an all selection button 115A for selecting all instruction information displayed in the instruction information list 112, and the selected instruction information. All cancel button 115B for canceling all, delete button 115C for deleting instruction information, and when instruction information list 112 includes a plurality of pages, a previous screen button 116A and a next screen button 116B for switching those pages are displayed. ing.

  In the instruction information list 112, check boxes 1120 corresponding to each row displaying instruction information are arranged. In the check box 1120, a check mark 1121 is input by the display operation unit 40 to the check box 1120 corresponding to the instruction information that the user wants to execute the printing process.

  The save instruction information acquisition button 113 is displayed in a state where the save instruction information acquisition button 113 on the display screen can be pressed when the save spooler 212 includes user save instruction information, and invalid when the user does not exist. (Grayed out). The determination as to whether or not user instruction information exists in the evacuation spooler 212 is made by the providing unit 205 based on the presence or absence of the evacuation instruction information stored in the user information table 213.

  The save instruction information acquisition button 113 is an example of a switching instruction unit that instructs to switch display between list information and save list information. For example, a list box, a radio button, or the like is used instead of the button. Also good.

(4) Selection of Instruction Information and Execution of Print Processing Next, the user corresponds to instruction information for which print processing is to be executed from among a plurality of instruction information displayed in the instruction information list 112 of the instruction information selection screen 11. A check mark 1121 is input to the check box 1120 by the display operation unit 40. Then, the user presses the start button 117.

  Next, when the control unit of the printer 4A accepts that the start button 117 is pressed, the instruction information requesting unit transmits the instruction information selected by the user and the image data corresponding to the instruction information to the printer 4A. The print server 2 is requested to do so.

  Next, when the providing unit 205 of the print server 2 receives the request from the printer 4A, it reads out the image data corresponding to the target data name recorded in the selected instruction information from the image data storage area 214, and The read image data is transmitted to the printer 4A together with the selected instruction information.

  Next, when receiving the instruction information and the image data sent from the print server 2, the image creation means of the printer 4A creates an image for print output from the received image data, and the print unit uses the print output image. Is printed on the storage medium in accordance with the contents of the printing process of the instruction information, and the printing process is terminated. Then, the control unit of the printer 4A transmits an end notification for notifying that the printing process has ended to the print server 2.

  When the providing unit 205 receives the end notification, the providing unit 205 performs an increment process of adding 1 to the number of times the instruction information corresponding to the end notification is printed. Note that the moving unit 204 may move the instruction information corresponding to the end notification to the retraction spooler 212.

(5) Selection of instruction information stored in the save spooler and execution of print processing When the user presses the save instruction information acquisition button 113 on the instruction information selection screen 11, the screen information display means of the printer 4A The print server 2 is requested to transmit the save list information by specifying the ID.

  Next, when the providing unit 205 of the print server 2 receives the request from the printer 4 </ b> A, the user ID stored in the attribute of the instructing user and the specified user ID in the save instruction information recorded in the save spooler 212. Is searched for, save list information is created as a search result, and screen information including the created save list information is transmitted to the printer 4A.

  Next, when the screen information display unit of the printer 4A receives the screen information sent from the print server 2, the screen information display unit updates the instruction information selection screen 11 displayed on the display operation unit 40 based on the screen information, and displays the instruction information. The save instruction information based on the save list information is displayed in the information list 112.

  In the same manner as described above, the user inputs a check mark 1121 for the save instruction information for which print processing is to be executed, and presses the start button 117.

  Next, when the control unit of the printer 4A accepts pressing of the start button 117, the instruction information requesting unit transmits the save instruction information selected by the user and the image data corresponding to the save instruction information to the printer 4A. Request to the print server 2.

  Next, upon receiving a request from the printer 4A, the providing unit 205 of the print server 2 transmits corresponding image data together with the selected save instruction information to the printer 4A.

  Next, similarly to the above, the image creating unit of the printer 4A prints on the print medium based on the received save instruction information and the image data, and ends the printing process. Then, the control unit of the printer 4 </ b> A transmits an end notification to the print server 2.

  When the providing unit 205 receives the end notification, the providing unit 205 performs an increment process on the number of prints of the save instruction information corresponding to the end notification and ends.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is an overall view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the printing system 1A according to the first embodiment, the print server 2 moves the instruction information received from the terminal 3 from the normal spooler 211 to the retraction spooler 212, whereas in the printing system 1B according to the present embodiment, The printer 4B moves the instruction information received from the terminal 3 from the normal spooler to the retraction spooler.

  That is, the printing system 1B according to the present embodiment manages the instruction information by receiving the instruction information from the terminal 3 configured in the same manner as the first embodiment and the terminal 3, and converts the instruction information into the instruction information according to the request. The printer 4B executes a printing process based on the network, and a network 10 that interconnects them.

(Printer)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the printer 4B. The printer 4B includes a display operation unit 40, a card reading unit 41, a control unit 42, a storage unit 43, a printing unit 44, and a communication unit 45, similarly to the printer 4A according to the first embodiment.

  The storage unit 43 stores an instruction information management program 430, a normal spooler 431, a retraction spooler 432, a user information table 433, and the like. The image data storage area 434 provided in the storage unit 43 stores image data to be printed. It is remembered. The normal spooler 431, the retraction spooler 432, the user information table 433, and the image data storage area 434 are stored in the instruction information management program 210, the normal spooler 211, the retraction spooler 212, and the user information table 213 according to the first embodiment, respectively. It is equivalent.

  The control unit 42 operates as the storage unit 420, the instruction information acquisition unit 421, the index value acquisition unit 422, the movement unit 424, the provision unit 425, and the like by operating according to the instruction information management program 430 stored in the storage unit 43. To do. Note that these units are the same as the storage unit 200, the instruction information acquisition unit 201, the index value acquisition unit 202, the movement unit 204, and the provision unit 205 according to the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. .

  In the above configuration, the printer 4B stores the instruction information received from the terminal 3 by the storage unit 420 in the normal spooler 431. The instruction information acquisition unit 421 acquires instruction information from the normal spooler 211, and the index value acquisition unit 422 acquires an index value related to the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit 421.

  Next, the determination unit 423 compares the index value acquired by the index value acquisition unit 422 with the reference value, determines whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition, and the moving unit 424 determines the determination unit 423. When it is determined that both values satisfy the predetermined condition, the instruction information is moved from the normal spooler 431 to the retracting spooler 432.

  The providing unit 425 creates list information from the normal spooler 431 or the withdrawal spooler 432 in response to the request, and displays the instruction information selection screen 11 on the display operation unit 40 based on the screen information including the created list information. To do. Then, based on the instruction information selected by the user on the instruction information selection screen 11, a printing process is executed by the printing unit 44.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the print server and printer receiving means, obtaining means, judging means, and control means are realized by the control unit and the instruction information management program. You may implement | achieve by hardware, such as a circuit (ASIC: Application Specific IC).

  Further, when the moving means moves the instruction information from the normal spooler to the retraction spooler, the instruction information ID of the moved instruction information is stored in the user information table, and when the providing means receives the retraction instruction information list request, The save list information may be created based on the instruction information ID stored in the user information table.

  Further, the determination means may consider a storage capacity necessary for storing the target instruction information as a determination condition as to whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  Even when the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition according to each of the above embodiments is satisfied, for example, the instruction information input by the guest user or the instruction information specified by the user so as not to move to the retraction spooler For the above, it may be determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, and the movement from the normal spooler to the retraction spooler may not be performed by the moving means.

  In each of the above embodiments, the normal spooler and the retract spooler are provided in the storage unit of the same device of the print server or printer, but are provided in the storage unit of another device different from the print server or printer. Alternatively, the normal spooler and the retract spooler may be provided in a storage unit included in different devices.

  The program used in each of the above embodiments may be read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM into a storage unit in the apparatus, or from a server or the like connected to a network such as the Internet to the storage unit in the apparatus. You may download it.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3A illustrates an example of the normal spooler 211, and FIG. 3B illustrates an example of the retraction spooler 211. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information table 213. FIG. 5 is an example of an instruction information selection screen displayed on the printer. FIG. 6 is an overall view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a print according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B ... Printing system, 2 ... Print server, 3 ... Terminal, 4A, 4B ... Printer, 5 ... Authentication server, 10 ... Network, 11 ... Instruction information selection screen, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Storage part, 22 ... Communication unit 23 ... Input unit 24 ... Display unit 40 ... Display operation unit 41 ... Card reading unit 42 ... Control unit 43 ... Storage unit 44 ... Print unit 45 ... Communication unit 110 ... User name 111 ... Total number, 112 ... Instruction information list, 113 ... Save instruction information acquisition button, 114 ... Update button, 115A ... All select button, 115B ... All cancel button, 115C ... Delete button, 116A ... Previous screen button, 116B ... Next screen Button 117, start button 200, storage unit 201, instruction information acquisition unit 202, index value acquisition unit 203, determination unit 204, movement unit 205 Means 210 ... Instruction information management program 211 ... Normal spooler 212 ... Retraction spooler 212 ... Normal spooler 213 ... User information table 214 ... Image data storage area 420 ... Storage means 421 ... Instruction information acquisition means 422 ... index value acquisition means, 423 ... determination means, 424 ... movement means, 425 ... provision means, 430 ... instruction information management program, 431 ... normal spooler, 432 ... retraction spooler, 433 ... user information table, 434 ... image data storage area 1120: Check box, 1121: Check mark

Claims (7)

An instruction information acquisition step of acquiring instruction information in which the contents of a printing process for printing image data are recorded from the first storage area;
An index value acquisition step of acquiring an index value indicating a possibility that the printing process according to the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition step is executed;
A determination step of comparing the index value acquired in the index value acquisition step with a reference value and determining whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition;
Instruction information for causing a computer to execute a movement step of moving the instruction information from the first storage area to the second storage area when the determination step determines that the two values satisfy a predetermined condition. Management program.   Further, in response to the request, first or second list information configured by the instruction information stored in the first or second storage area is created, and the created first or second list is created. The instruction information management program according to claim 1, which causes a computer to execute a providing step of providing screen information including information.   The providing step displays the first list information in preference to the second list information, and includes the screen information having a switching instruction unit for instructing switching of the display of the first and second list information. The instruction information management program according to claim 2 to be provided. The index value acquisition step acquires an elapsed time when the instruction information is stored in the first storage area as the index value,
The instruction information management program according to claim 1, wherein the determination step compares the elapsed time with a reference period as the reference value to determine whether the elapsed time exceeds the reference period. The index value acquisition step acquires the number of times of printing the print process according to the instruction information as the index value,
The instruction information management program according to claim 1, wherein the determination step compares the number of times of printing with a reference number of times as the reference value, and determines whether the number of times of printing exceeds the reference number of times. Instruction information acquisition means for acquiring, from the first storage area, instruction information in which the contents of a printing process for printing image data are recorded;
Index value acquisition means for acquiring an index value indicating the possibility that the printing process according to the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition means is executed;
A determination unit that compares the index value acquired by the index value acquisition unit with a reference value and determines whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition;
An instruction information management apparatus comprising: a moving unit that moves the instruction information from the first storage area to the second storage area when the determination unit determines that the both values satisfy a predetermined condition. Printing means for executing a printing process for printing image data;
Storage means for receiving instruction information in which the content of the printing process is recorded and storing the instruction information in a first storage area;
Instruction information acquisition means for acquiring the instruction information stored by the storage means from the first storage area;
Index value acquisition means for acquiring an index value indicating the possibility that the printing process according to the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition means is executed;
A determination unit that compares the index value acquired by the index value acquisition unit with a reference value and determines whether or not both values satisfy a predetermined condition;
A printing system comprising: moving means for moving the instruction information from the first storage area to the second storage area when the determination means determines that the two values satisfy a predetermined condition.

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