JP2009169561A - Printing system, print control method, print control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system, a print control method and a print control program for selecting a scanner function and a print function existing on a network as necessary and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: In a printing system PS1, a scanner SC1 stores the profile information of a printer Pr1 connected to a network NW in a profile management part 106, and decides whether or not printing corresponding to print setting for an image read by the scanner SC1 is possible by referring to the profile information of a profile management part 106 by a determination part 107, and performs the print control of the image based on the decision result. Thus, it is possible to make a printer perform printing by the print setting intended by a user by effectively using equipment on the network NW. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, a printing system, a printing control method, and a printing control that appropriately select a scanner function and a printing function that exist on a network and perform copy processing. The present invention relates to a program and a recording medium.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and printing devices such as printers, facsimiles, and copying machines used for outputting digitized information have become indispensable devices.

  In recent years, networking has progressed, and printing apparatuses are connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and are shared by terminals such as a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) connected to the network. Is common.

  In data processing via a network, conventionally, when processing data with a large load, it is common to perform processing using a large computer such as a mainframe. As a result, a system in which a plurality of personal computers and workstations are connected to each other through a network and data processing is distributed has been adopted.

  As a technique for distributing such data processing, for example, when a print request is conventionally made from a client device on a network to an image processing device such as a printer device, a server device connected via the network is A distributed image processing technique has been proposed in which the state of an image processing apparatus having another equivalent function is grasped and a print job is distributed and distributed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-323351 A

  However, according to the prior art described in the above publication, print jobs are distributed in a state where a server device having a part of the same function as that of a printer device having the same function is connected to the network. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the printing suitable for the printing condition intended by the user efficiently and inexpensively. That is, in a state where all printers having equivalent functions are connected, there is no room for selecting a printing device for performing printing intended by the user, and scanners and printing devices that handle data are at the speed of progress. In addition to being faster, these scanners and printing devices that are usually connected to the network tend to be replaced with lower-function devices or older devices in sequence, and devices with the same function are connected to the network. There are few things. As described above, there are currently connected image processing apparatuses such as printing apparatuses and scanner apparatuses having different functions on the network. Therefore, there is a need for improvement in appropriately printing the printing conditions intended by the user. In particular, when only a scanner and a printer are connected on the network, the conventional technology cannot perform copy processing. In order to perform copy processing, a new copy apparatus is introduced or a scanner is installed in the printer. It was necessary to add a function module.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium that perform a printing process intended by a user at low cost and in combination by combining image processing apparatuses distributed on a network. It is aimed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention holds performance information of the print function of a predetermined number of image processing apparatuses with a print function connected to a network in a performance information holding unit and is connected to the network. Based on the performance information of the performance information holding means, it is determined whether or not printing is possible according to the print setting for the image read by the scanner function of the image processing apparatus with a scanner function, and the print control of the image is performed based on the determination result It is characterized by performing.

  In the present invention, the image processing apparatus with a scanner function includes the performance information holding unit that holds the performance information of the plurality of image processing apparatuses with a print function on the network, and the plurality of performance information is stored. It is characterized in that a determination process for selecting an image processing apparatus with a print function suitable for the print setting is performed.

  Further, according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus with a scanner function transmits the print setting to the image processing apparatus with a print function to inquire whether printing is possible, and the image processing apparatus with a print function The performance information holding means for holding the performance information related to the function is provided, and whether or not printing is possible is determined based on the sent print setting and the performance information of the performance information holding means, and the determination result is sent to the scanner The determination processing to be transmitted to the image processing device with a function is performed, and the image processing device with the scanner function determines the image processing device with the print function as a printing destination based on the determination result sent from the image processing device with the print function It is characterized by doing.

  The image processing apparatus with a scanner function may include the performance information holding unit that holds the performance information of a plurality of image processing apparatuses with a print function connected to the network in the print function. The print distribution device sends an inquiry to the print distribution device to inquire about whether or not printing is possible, and the print distribution device determines whether or not printing can be performed for each image processing apparatus with a print function based on the received print settings and the performance information of the performance information holding unit. The image processing apparatus with the scanner function performs a determination process of transmitting the determination result to the image processing apparatus with the scanner function, and the image processing apparatus with the scanner function performs printing based on the determination result sent from the image processing apparatus with the print function. The image processing apparatus with a print function is determined.

  According to the present invention, the performance information of the print function of a predetermined number of image processing apparatuses with a print function connected to a network is held in the performance information holding means, and the image processing apparatus with a scanner function connected to the network Since whether or not to print according to the print setting for the image read by the scanner function is determined based on the performance information of the performance information holding unit, and print control of the image is performed based on the determination result, Images scanned by image processing devices with a scanner function, such as scanner devices and copy devices, scattered across the network, can be printed with the print settings intended by the user among image processing devices with a print function such as printer devices and copy devices on the network Can be sent to an image processing device with a print function to print the specifications intended by the user. An image processing apparatus using inexpensive and effective, it is possible to perform good printing in print quality.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the configuration of the present invention.

  1 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates the printing system, the printing control method, and the printing control according to the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system PS1 to which a first embodiment of a program and a recording medium is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a printing system PS1 has at least a scanner SC1 and a printer Pr1 connected to a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The scanner SC1 and the printer Pr1 are connected one by one in FIG. However, a plurality of units may be connected, and a personal computer or the like may be connected to the network NW.

  The scanner (image processing apparatus with a scanner function) SC1 has a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 2 and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, A ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, a network module 15, an operation panel 16, a scanner unit 17, and the like are provided.

  The ROM 14 stores an OS (Operating System), a basic program as the scanner SC1, a print control program for executing the print control method of the present invention described later, necessary data, and the like.

  The CPU 11 uses the RAM 13 as a work memory based on a program in the ROM 14 to control each unit of the scanner SC1, executes basic processing as the scanner SC1, and is connected to a module incorporated in the CPU 11 or the CPU 11 by the OS. The printing control method of the present invention is executed by controlling the input / output of various devices that are used, or by executing applications such as printing processing and scanner processing. The RAM 13 is generally a volatile RAM memory, but may have a small amount of nonvolatile RAM memory.

  The network module 15 is connected to the network NW and communicates with at least the printer Pr1 via the network NW.

  The operation panel 16 is provided with various operation keys such as a start key and a function key, and is also provided with a display unit, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation panel 16 uses the operation keys to operate the scanner SC1 as a target operation. Various commands necessary for performing the operation are input and operated, and the display unit displays various command contents input by the operation keys and various information notified to the user from the scanner SC1. In particular, the operation panel 16 performs an operation necessary for executing a print control process to be described later, and displays various information notified to the user by the print control process on the display unit.

  The ASIC 12 is a custom IC (Integrated Circuit) having hardware elements such as image processing and data I / O processing.

  As the scanner unit (scanner function) 17, for example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like is used, and generally includes an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder). A plurality of originals are set in the ADF, and the ADF feeds the set originals one by one to the original reading position of the scanner 17. The scanner 17 scans a document conveyed from the ADF and reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution.

  The printer (image processing apparatus with print function) Pr1 has a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 3, and includes a CPU 21, an ASIC 22, a RAM 23, a ROM 24, a network module 25, an operation panel 26, a printer unit 27, and the like. .

  The ROM 24 stores an OS, a basic program as the printer Pr1, a print control program for executing a print control method of the present invention to be described later, necessary data, and the like.

  The CPU 21 uses the RAM 23 as a work memory based on a program in the ROM 24 to control each part of the printer Pr1, executes basic processing as the printer Pr1, and is connected to a module incorporated in the CPU 21 or the CPU 21 by the OS. The print control method of the present invention is executed by controlling the input / output of various devices that are being executed and by executing applications such as print processing and copy processing. The RAM 23 is generally a volatile RAM memory, but may have a small amount of nonvolatile RAM memory.

  The network module 25 is connected to the network NW and communicates with at least the scanner SC1 via the network NW.

  The operation panel 26 is provided with various operation keys such as a start key, a numeric keypad, and function keys, and is provided with a display unit, for example, a liquid crystal display. Various commands necessary for performing the operation are input and operated, and the contents of the various commands input with the operation keys and various information notified to the user from the printer Pr1 are displayed on the display unit. In particular, the operation panel 26 performs an operation necessary for executing a print control process to be described later, and displays various information notified to the user by the print control process on the display unit.

  The ASIC 22 is a custom IC having hardware elements such as image processing and data I / O processing.

The printer unit (print function) 27 prints out an image on a sheet based on an image sent from the scanner SC1 and subjected to necessary image processing by the ASIC 22 by a printing method such as an electrophotographic method or an ink ejection method. . The printer unit 27 is, for example, in the case of an electrophotographic system.
The scanner SC1 includes ROM, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), DVD (Digital Video). A print control program for executing the print control method of the present invention recorded on a recording medium readable by the printer Pr1, such as a disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or an MO (magneto-optic disc). By introducing this, it is constructed as a scanner SC that executes a print control method for performing copy processing using a scanner SC1 and a printer Pr1 on the network, which will be described later. This print control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  In the scanner SC1 and the printer Pr1, the above-described print control program is introduced into the ROM 14 of the scanner SC1 and the ROM 24 of the printer Pr1, and is executed in the areas of the RAM 13 and the RAM 23, so that the functional blocks shown in FIG. Is done.

  The scanner SC1 includes a network control unit 101, an operation panel control unit 102, a request interpretation unit 103, an image storage unit 104, a scan control unit 105, a profile management unit 106, a determination unit 107, and the like. The printer Pr1 201, an operation panel control unit 202, a request interpretation unit 203, an image storage unit 204, a print control unit 205, and the like are constructed.

  First, each functional block of the scanner SC1 will be described. The network control unit 101 is realized by the network module 15 and exchanges communications with the printer Pr1 and the personal computer on the network NW.

  The operation panel control unit 102 transmits a user instruction by a software key or the like displayed on the operation panel 16 or the display unit to the request interpreting unit 103 or displays information from the request interpreting unit 103 on the display unit.

  A scan control unit (scanner function) 105 controls the scanner unit 17 to acquire an image of a document, and stores the acquired image data in the image storage unit 104 via the request interpretation unit 103.

  The request interpretation unit 103 determines the content of the request from the operation panel control unit 102 or the request from the external device (printer Pr1, personal computer, etc.) received by the network control unit 101, and controls each of the control units 101, 102, 104. Give instructions to ~ 106.

  The profile management unit (performance information holding means) 106 stores profile information (performance information) about the printing performance of the printer Pr1, which is an image processing apparatus connected to the network NW. The profile information is, for example, As shown in FIG. 5, the host name (name of printer Pr1), resolution (for example, 600 dpi), paper size (A3 portrait, A4, A5, etc.), color support (full color, monochrome), continuous copying speed (A3 monochrome: 32 sheets, full color: 28 sheets, etc.), remaining amount of sheets (150 sheets of A3 sheets, etc.), remaining amount of toner (cyan: 500 ml, magenta: 400 ml, yellow: 450 ml, black: 900 ml, etc.). This profile information may be input by the user from the operation panel 16 so that the request interpretation unit 103 identifies it and saves it in the profile management unit 106. The printer Pr1 may be inquired of the profile information via the printer 101, and the profile information transmitted by the printer Pr1 in response to the inquiry may be stored in the profile management unit 106.

  The determination unit (determination unit) 107 executes determination processing for print control using profile information stored in the profile management unit 106.

  Next, each functional block of the printer Pr1 will be described. The network control unit 201 is realized by the network module 25, and exchanges communications with the scanner SC1 and personal computers on the network NW.

  The operation panel control unit 202 transmits a user instruction by a software key or the like displayed on the operation panel 26 or the display unit to the request interpretation unit 203 or causes the display unit to display information from the request interpretation unit 203.

  The image storage unit 204 images and stores a print job acquired from the scanner SC1 via the network control unit 201, and the print control unit 205 controls the print unit 27 to use the image stored in the image storage unit 204 on a sheet. Let it print.

  The request interpretation unit 203 determines the request from the operation panel control unit 202 and the content of the request from the external device (scanner SC1, personal computer, etc.) via the network control unit 201, and controls each control unit 201, 202, 204. , 204 is issued.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the printing system PS1 of this embodiment, the scanner SC1 reads a document, and performs printing control in the printer Pr1 based on the profile information of the printer Pr1 that the scanner SC1 has.

  That is, in the scanner device Pr1, when the user sets an original on the scanner unit 17 and performs an operation for instructing copying from the operation panel 16 and a necessary setting operation, the operation panel control unit 102 requests the content of the instruction operation. As shown in FIG. 6, the request interpreting unit 103 recognizes the copy operation and print settings input by the user from the operation panel control unit 102 (step S101). As this print setting, for example, full color designation as a color, A4 designation as a paper size, and the like.

  The request interpreter 103 causes the scanner controller 105 to drive and control the scanner unit 17 to read the image of the document, receives the image data read by the scanner unit 17, and stores it in the image storage unit 104 (step S <b> 102). ).

  Next, the request interpretation unit 103 causes the determination unit 107 to determine whether printing based on the print settings based on the profile information of the printer Pr1 held by the profile management unit 106 is possible, and the determination unit 107 prints the print settings. It is checked whether or not it has been determined that it is possible (step S103).

  If the request interpretation unit 103 determines in step S103 that printing is possible, the request interpretation unit 103 transmits the image data and print settings stored in the image storage unit 204 to the printer Pr1 (step S104), and displays the transmission result on the operation panel 16. And the process is terminated (step S105). At this time, the request interpreting unit 103 is equipped with a printer driver, and the image data may be converted into print data that can be interpreted by the printer Pr1 as a printing destination and transmitted. When it is installed, it may be transmitted in the state of normal image data. The print data or image data transmitted to the printer 1 is called print target data.

  If the request interpreting unit 103 determines in step S103 that printing is impossible, the request interpreting unit 103 displays on the display unit of the operation panel 16 a message indicating that printing with the specified print settings is not possible with the printer Pr1. The process is terminated (step S105).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the print target data and the print settings are sent from the scanner SC1 via the network NW, the printer Pr1 receives the print target data and the print settings at the network control unit 201 ( (Step S201) After temporarily storing in the image storage unit 204, the printer driver control unit 205 controls the printer unit 27 to perform printing according to the print settings (Step S202). That is, the printer Pr1 prints in color on A4 paper in the case of the print setting.

  As described above, in the printing system PS1 of this embodiment, the scanner SC1 that is an image processing apparatus with a scanner function receives profile information that is performance information of the printer Pr1 that is an image processing apparatus with a print function connected to the network NW. Based on the profile information of the profile management unit 106, the determination unit 107 determines whether or not to allow printing based on the print settings for the image read by the scanner SC1, and the determination unit 107 determines the printability based on the determination result. Image printing control is performed.

  Accordingly, the image read by the scanner SC1 scattered on the network NW is printed only when the printer Pr1 on the network NW satisfies the conditions required by the user, and is printed with the print settings intended by the user. In addition to saving consumables such as paper and toner, it is possible to save time, and to use image processing apparatuses such as the scanner SC1 and the printer Pr1 on the network NW at low cost and effectively. Good printing can be performed.

  Further, the printing system PS1 of the present embodiment includes, as profile information that is performance information, printing image quality, printing speed (ppm: Page Per Minute), paper type of paper to be printed, remaining amount of paper to be printed, toner type, Since at least one piece of information of the remaining amount of toner is retained, the user can perform image quality, printing speed, paper type, number of printed sheets, toner types such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, printable, etc. corresponding to the user's request. It is possible to perform printing only in the printer Pr1 state suitable for the desired print request, further reducing waste and printing with good print quality.

  8 to 10 are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of the printing system, the printing control method, the printing control program, and the recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. 8 illustrates the printing system and the printing control method of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a functional block configuration diagram of a printing system to which a second embodiment of a printing control program and a recording medium is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a printing system similar to the printing system PS1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the same components as the printing system PS1 of the first embodiment are described. The same reference numerals are used to omit the detailed description thereof, and portions not shown will be described using the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as necessary.

  The basic hardware configuration of the printing system PS1 of this embodiment is the hardware configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the print control program is installed in the ROM 14 and the ROM 24 of the scanner SC1 and the printer Pr1. As shown in FIG. 8, the functional blocks constructed by being executed in the areas of the RAM 13 and the RAM 23 are different from those in FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the scanner SC1 includes only the network control unit 101, the operation panel control unit 102, the request interpretation unit 103, the image storage unit 104, and the scan control unit 105, as in the first embodiment. In the printer Pr1, the network control unit 201, the operation panel control unit 202, the request interpretation unit 203, the image storage unit 204, and the print control unit 205 of the first embodiment are built, and the profile management unit 206 and A determination unit 207 is constructed.

  The profile management unit (performance information holding means) 206 stores profile information about the printing performance of itself (printer Pr1), and this profile information is, for example, as shown in FIG.

  The determination unit (determination unit) 207 uses the profile information stored in the profile management unit 206 to print the image data sent from the scanner SC1 according to the print settings sent together with the image data. It is determined whether or not it is possible.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the printing system PS1 of the present embodiment, is it possible to print image data and print settings, which are read by the scanner SC1 and sent to the printer Pr1, based on the profile information provided by the printer Pr1? It is determined whether or not printing is controlled according to the determination result.

  That is, in the scanner SC1, when the user sets an original on the scanner unit 17 and performs an operation for instructing copying from the operation panel 16 and a necessary setting operation, the operation panel control unit 102 interprets the instruction operation content. As shown in FIG. 6, the request interpretation unit 103 recognizes the copy operation and print settings input by the user from the operation panel control unit 102 (step S301). As this print setting, for example, full color designation as a color, A4 designation as a paper size, and the like.

  The request interpretation unit 103 controls the scanner control unit 105 to drive the scanner unit 17 to read the image of the document, receives the image data read by the scanner unit 17, and stores it in the image storage unit 104 (step S <b> 302). ).

  Next, the request interpretation unit 103 transmits the print target data and print settings stored in the image storage unit 204 to the printer Pr1 (step S303), waits for the print result to be transmitted from the printer Pr1, and then prints the print result. Is transmitted, the print result is received (step S304).

  Upon receiving the print result, the request interpretation unit 103 displays the received print result information on the display unit of the operation panel 16 and ends the process (step S305).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the print target data and the print settings are sent from the scanner SC1 via the network NW, the printer Pr1 receives the print target data and the print settings in the network control unit 201 ( In step S401), once stored in the image storage unit 204, the request interpretation unit 203 passes the print settings to the determination unit 207 to determine whether printing is possible according to the print settings. When the determination unit 207 receives the print setting from the request interpretation unit 203, the determination unit 207 interprets the print setting and refers to its own profile information held by the profile management unit 206 to determine whether printing by the print setting is possible. The request interpretation unit 203 checks whether the determination unit 107 determines that the print setting can be printed (step S402).

  If the determination unit 207 determines that printing is possible in step S402, the request interpretation unit 203 controls the printer unit 27 by the printer driver control unit 205 to print the image according to the print setting (step S403). Then, the printing result is transmitted to the scanner SC1, and the process is terminated (step S404). That is, the printer Pr1 prints in color on A4 paper in the case of the print setting.

  If the determination unit 207 determines that printing is not possible in step S402, the request interpretation unit 203 transmits a print result indicating that printing is impossible without printing the received image to the scanner SC1. The process is terminated (step S404).

  As described above, in the printing system PS1 according to the present embodiment, the scanner SC1 transmits print target data and print settings to the printer Pr1 to make a print request, and the printer Pr1 sends its own profile information to the profile management unit 206. The determination unit 207 determines whether printing is possible based on the sent print settings and the profile information of the profile management unit 206, and controls printing based on the determination result. As a result, the non-printable result) is transmitted to the scanner SC1, and the scanner SC1 displays the transmitted print result.

  Accordingly, the image read by the scanner SC1 scattered on the network NW is printed only when the printer Pr1 on the network NW satisfies the conditions required by the user, and is printed with the print settings intended by the user. In addition to saving consumables such as paper and toner, it is possible to save time, and to use image processing apparatuses such as the scanner SC1 and the printer Pr1 on the network NW at low cost and effectively. Good printing can be performed.

  FIGS. 11 to 14 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the printing system, printing control method, printing control program, and recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the printing system, printing control method, and printing control of the present invention. It is a system configuration figure of printing system PS2 to which a 3rd example of a program and a recording medium are applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a printing system similar to the printing system PS1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the same components as the printing system PS1 of the first embodiment are described. The same reference numerals are used to omit the detailed description thereof, and portions not shown will be described using the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as necessary.

  In FIG. 11, the printing system PS2 is connected to the network NW with the scanner SC1, a plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn, the composite apparatus MFP1, and the like. In FIG. 11, one scanner SC1, one printer Pr1 to Prn, and one MFP MFP1 are connected. However, the number of each is not limited.

  The scanner SC1 has the hardware configuration shown in the first embodiment and the functional configuration that does not include the profile management unit 106 and the determination unit 107 shown in FIG. 8 of the second embodiment, and the printers Pr1 to Prn. Has a functional configuration including the hardware configuration shown in the first embodiment and the profile management unit 206 and the determination unit 207 shown in FIG. 8 of the second embodiment.

  Further, the MFP MFP1 has both the hardware configuration of the scanner SC1 shown in FIG. 2 and the hardware configuration of the printer shown in FIG. 3, and the print control program is introduced and executed, so that it is shown in FIG. The functional configuration of the scanner SC1 that does not include the determination unit 107 and the profile management unit 106 is constructed, and the functional configuration of the printer Pr1 that includes the determination unit 207 and the profile management unit 206 illustrated in FIG. Yes.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system PS2 of the present embodiment sends only print settings from the scanner SC1 to the printers Pr1 to Prn, which are all image processing apparatuses with print functions on the network NW, and the MFP MFP1, and whether or not printing is possible according to the print settings. And the printing destination is determined according to the inquiry result and printing is performed.

  That is, in the scanner SC1, when the user sets an original on the scanner unit 17 and performs an operation of instructing copying from the operation panel 16 and a necessary print setting operation, the operation panel control unit 102 requests the content of the instruction operation. As shown in FIG. 12, the request interpretation unit 103 recognizes the copy operation and print settings input by the user from the operation panel control unit 102 (step S501). As this print setting, for example, full color designation as a color, A4 designation as a paper size, and the like.

  The request interpretation unit 103 causes the scanner control unit 105 to drive and control the scanner unit 17 to read the image of the original, receives the image data read by the scanner unit 17, and stores the image data and print settings in the image storage unit 104. (Step S502).

  Next, the request interpretation unit 103 transmits the recognized print settings to the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 via the network control unit 101, and inquires whether printing is possible according to the print settings (step S503). In step S505, the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 receive from the network control unit 101 the determination result of whether or not printing is possible.

  Upon receiving the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 as the result of determination as to whether printing is possible, the request interpretation unit 103 determines whether there are printers Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 that can perform printing according to the print settings (step S505). When there is a printer Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 that can print, the printers Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 to be printed are determined (step S506).

  When the request interpretation unit 103 determines the printers Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 as the print destination, the request interpretation unit 103 transmits the print target data and print settings stored in the image storage unit 204 to the printers Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 as the print destination. (Step S507) Waiting for a print result to be transmitted from the printers Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 as the print destination, and receiving the print result when the print result is transmitted (Step S508).

  Upon receiving the print result, the request interpretation unit 103 displays the received print result information on the display unit of the operation panel 16 and ends the process (step S509).

  If there are no printers Pr1 to Prn or multifunction apparatus MFP1 capable of printing according to the print settings in step S505, the request interpretation unit 103 displays that fact on the display unit of the operation panel 16 and ends the processing (step S505). S509).

  When the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 receive a print setting and a printability inquiry request from the scanner SC1 on the network NW, as shown in FIG. In response to the reception (step S601), the request interpretation unit 203 passes the print setting to the determination unit 207 to determine whether or not printing by the print setting is possible. When the determination unit 207 receives the print setting from the request interpretation unit 203, the determination unit 207 interprets the print setting and refers to its own profile information held by the profile management unit 206 to determine whether printing by the print setting is possible. The request interpretation unit 203 checks whether the determination unit 107 determines that the print setting can be printed (step S602).

  The request interpretation unit 203 transmits the determination result of whether or not printing is possible by the determination unit 107 to the scanner SC1 that has inquired whether or not printing is possible via the network control unit 201 (step S603).

  Then, when the printers Pr1 to Prn or the MFP MFP1 thereafter sends the print target data and the print settings via the network NW from the scanner SC1 that has made an inquiry about whether or not printing is possible, as shown in FIG. Then, the print target data and print settings are received by the network control unit 201 (step S701), the request interpretation unit 203 temporarily stores the data in the image storage unit 204, and then controls the printer unit 27 by the printer driver control unit 205. Thus, printing according to the print setting is performed (step S702). That is, the printers Pr1 to Prn or the multi-function apparatus MFP1 prints in color on A4 paper in the case of the print setting.

  When the request interpretation unit 203 completes printing, the request interpretation unit 203 transmits the print result to the scanner SC1 via the network control unit 201, and ends the processing (step S703).

  As described above, in the printing system PS2 according to the present embodiment, the scanner SC1 sends print settings to the plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 on the network NW to inquire whether printing is possible, and each printer Pr1 to Prn, MFP 1 retains the profile information of its own device in profile management unit 206, and determination unit 207 determines whether printing is possible based on the received print settings and the profile information of profile management unit 206. The determination result is transmitted to the scanner SC1, and the scanner SC1 determines the printing destination based on the transmitted determination result and performs print control.

  Accordingly, the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 that satisfy the conditions required by the user among the plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 on the network NW are selected from the images read by the scanner SC1 scattered on the network NW. The printing can be performed with the print settings intended by the user, and consumables such as paper and toner can be saved and time can be saved, and the scanner SC1 on the network NW can be saved. It is possible to perform printing with good print quality by using image processing apparatuses such as the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 at low cost and effectively.

  15 to 20 are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of the printing system, the printing control method, the printing control program, and the recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the printing system, the printing control method, and the printing control of the present invention. It is a system configuration figure of printing system PS3 to which the 4th example of a program and a recording medium is applied.

  Note that the printing system PS3 of the present embodiment is applied to a printing system similar to the printing system PS1 of the first embodiment or the printing system PS2 of the third embodiment. The same components as those of the printing system PS1 of the first embodiment or the printing system PS2 of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The description will be made using the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 15, the printing system PS3 is connected to the network NW with the scanner SC1, the plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn, the multifunction peripheral MFP1, the server SV, and the like. In FIG. 15, one scanner SC1, one printer Pr1 to Prn, one MFP MFP1 and one server SV are connected. However, the number of units other than the server SV is limited at all. It is not something.

  As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 16, the scanner SC1 has the hardware configuration shown in the first embodiment, and the print control program is installed and executed. A functional configuration that does not include the profile management unit 106 and the determination unit 107 illustrated in FIG. 8 according to the second embodiment is constructed, and the printers Pr1 to Prn include the hardware configuration illustrated in the first embodiment. In addition, by installing and executing the above print control program, a functional configuration that does not include the profile management unit 206 and the determination unit 207 illustrated in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment is constructed. That is, the scanner SC1 and the printers Pr1 to Prn may not include the profile management units 106 and 206 and the determination units 107 and 207.

  The multifunction apparatus MFP1 has both the hardware configuration of the scanner shown in FIG. 2 and the hardware configuration of the printer shown in FIG. 3, and the determination shown in FIG. The functional configuration of the scanner SC1 that does not include the unit 107 and the profile management unit 106 is constructed, and the functional configuration of the printer Pr1 that does not include the determination unit 207 and the profile management unit 206 illustrated in FIG. ing.

  The server (print distribution apparatus) SV has a normal hardware configuration and a server program installed therein, and a computer with a print control program installed therein. The print control program is installed and executed. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 16, a network control unit 301, an operation panel control unit 302, a request interpretation unit 303, a profile management unit 304, a determination unit 305, and the like are constructed.

  The network control unit 301 exchanges communication with the scanner SC1, printers Pr1 to Prn, the multifunction peripheral MFP1 and a personal computer on the network NW, and the operation panel control unit 302 is a user instruction by an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. Is transmitted to the request interpreter 303, and information from the request interpreter 303 is displayed on the display.

  The request interpretation unit 303 determines the content of the request from the operation panel control unit 302 or the request received from the external device (scanner SC1, printers Pr1 to Prn, composite device MFP1, personal computer, etc.) received by the network control unit 301. The printers Pr1 to Prn according to the print settings specified in the print destination selection request from the scanner SC1, which will be described later, are executed by issuing instructions to the control units 301, 302, 304, and 305 and executing the processing as the server SV. Then, the MFP MFP1 is selected, and print control processing for notifying the printing destination information to the scanner SC1 is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the profile management unit (performance information holding unit) 304 stores profile information about the printing performance of the printers Pr1 to Prn and the multifunction apparatus MFP1 which are image processing apparatuses with a print function connected to the network NW. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the profile information is stored for each of the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1, and the contents thereof are the same as those in FIG.

  When there is a print destination selection request from the scanner SC1, the determination unit (determination unit) 305 selects the printers Pr1 to Prn, which are print destinations suitable for the print settings specified in the print destination selection request, and the MFP MFP1. Then, it is determined by referring to the profile information stored in the profile management unit 304, and the determined printing destination information is passed to the request interpretation unit 303. Upon receiving the print destination information from the determination unit 305, the request interpretation unit 303 transmits the print destination information to the scanner SC1 that has issued the print destination selection request via the network control unit 301.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the printing system PS3 of the present embodiment, when the scanner SC1 sends a print setting to the server SV and makes a print destination selection request, the server SV selects a print destination suitable for the print setting, and print destination information is sent to the scanner SC1. Send to.

  That is, in the scanner SC1, when the user sets an original on the scanner unit 17 and performs an operation of instructing copying from the operation panel 16 and a necessary print setting operation, the operation panel control unit 102 requests the content of the instruction operation. As shown in FIG. 18, the request interpreter 103 recognizes the copy operation and print settings input by the user from the operation panel controller 102 (step S801). As this print setting, for example, full color designation as a color, A4 designation as a paper size, and the like.

  The request interpreter 103 causes the scanner controller 105 to drive and control the scanner unit 17 to read the image of the original, receive the image data read by the scanner unit 17, and print setting data together with print settings as an image storage unit It stores in 104 (step S802).

  Next, the request interpretation unit 103 transmits the print settings stored in the image storage unit 204 together with the print destination selection request from the network control unit 101 to the server SV (step S803), and in response to the print destination selection request, the server SV. When the print destination information on which the print destination suitable for the print setting is recorded is sent from the printer, the print destination information is received via the network control unit 101 (step S804).

  Upon receiving the print destination information, the request interpretation unit 103 determines the print destination from the printers Pr1 to Prn and the multifunction peripheral MFP1 specified by the print destination information, and stores them in the image storage unit 104 in the print destination. Send a print target data and print setting to request printing (step S805), wait for the print result to be sent from the print destination, and receive the print result when the print result is sent Then, the received print result information is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 16, and the process is terminated (step S806). If there are a plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn and multifunction device MFP1 designated by the print destination information sent from the server SV, the request interpreter 103 may automatically select an appropriate one, The plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn and the composite device MFP1 are displayed on the display of the operation panel 16 via the operation panel control unit 102, and the user selects the printer Pr1 to Prn and the composite device MFP1 as the print destination. Print.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 19, when the print setting is transmitted from the scanner SC1 on the network NW together with the print destination selection request, the server SV receives the print setting at the network control unit 301 (step S901). The request interpretation unit 303 passes the print setting to the determination unit 305 to determine a print destination suitable for the print setting. When the determination unit 305 receives the print setting from the request interpretation unit 303, the determination unit 305 interprets the print setting, and holds the printers Pr1 to Prn, which are all image processing apparatuses with a print function on the network NW held by the profile management unit 304, the composite With reference to the profile information of apparatus MFP1, a printing destination capable of appropriately performing printing according to the print setting is selected and passed to request interpreting unit 303 as printing destination information (step S902).

  The request interpreter 303 interprets the print destination information selected by the determination unit 305 to the scanner SC1 that has sent the print destination selection request via the network controller 301 (step S903).

  Then, as described in step S805 above, the scanner SC1 determines the printers Pr1 to Prn included in the printing destination information from the server SV and the printing destination from the multifunction apparatus MFP1, and stores the image in the printing destination. The print target data and print settings stored in the unit 104 are transmitted to request printing.

  When the printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 receive print target data and print settings from the scanner SC1 on the network NW, as shown in FIG. 20, the print target data and print settings are transferred to the network control unit. The request interpretation unit 203 temporarily stores the image in the image storage unit 204, and then controls the printer unit 27 by the printer driver control unit 205 to perform printing according to the print settings (step S1001) (step S1001). S1002). That is, the printers Pr1 to Prn or the multi-function apparatus MFP1 prints in color on A4 paper in the case of the print setting.

  When the request interpretation unit 203 completes printing, the request interpretation unit 203 transmits the print result to the scanner SC1 via the network control unit 201, and ends the process (step S1003).

  In the above description, the multifunction apparatus MFP1 is described as an image processing apparatus with a print function. However, the multifunction apparatus MFP1 is positioned as an image processing apparatus with a scanner function, focusing on the scanner function, and the scanner SC1. Similarly, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of operating as a scanner that reads a document image and requests printing.

  As described above, the printing system PS4 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a server that is a printing distribution apparatus that includes the profile management unit 304 that holds the profile information of the plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn and the MFP MFP1 on the network NW and the determination unit 305. The SV is connected to the network NW, the scanner SC1 sends a print setting to the server SV to inquire whether printing is possible, and the server SV uses the determination unit 405 to send the sent print setting and the profile management unit 304. Based on the profile information, the printers Pr1 to Prn and the multi-function apparatus MFP1 determine whether printing is possible, and transmit the determination result to the scanner SC1, and the scanner SC1, the printing destination printer Pr1 based on the transmitted determination result ~ Prn, the MFP MFP1 is determined.

  Therefore, the server SV can collectively manage the profiles and select the printers Pr1 to Prn that can be printed and the MFP MFP1 that the user intends, and the processing efficiency can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible. Moreover, it is not limited to what was demonstrated in 1st Example and 2nd Example, The technique equivalent to these is also contained in the technical scope of this invention.

  The present invention can be used for a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium for printing by effectively using a scanner function and a printer function existing on a network.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of hardware of the scanner in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of hardware of the printer of FIG. 1. 1 is a functional block configuration diagram of a scanner and a printer according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the profile information stored in the profile management part of FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print control processing by the scanner of the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing print control processing by the printer of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block configuration diagram of a scanner and a printer according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing by a scanner according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing by a printer according to a second embodiment. The system block diagram of the printing system of 3rd Example. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing by a scanner according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing when an inquiry is made about whether printing is possible by a printer according to a third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing during printing by a printer according to a third embodiment. The system block diagram of the printing system of 4th Example. FIG. 10 is a functional block configuration diagram of a scanner, a printer, and a server of a printing system according to a fourth embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the profile information which the profile management part of the server of FIG. 16 has. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing by a scanner according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing by a server according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing by a printer according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

PS1 printing system NW network SC1 scanner Pr1 printer 11 CPU
12 ASIC
13 RAM
14 ROM
15 Network Module 16 Operation Panel 17 Scanner Unit 21 CPU
22 ASIC
23 RAM
24 ROM
25 Network Module 26 Operation Panel 27 Printer Unit 101 Network Control Unit 102 Operation Panel Control Unit 103 Request Interpretation Unit 104 Image Storage Unit 105 Scan Control Unit 106 Profile Management Unit 107 Judgment Unit 201 Network Control Unit 202 Operation Panel Control Unit 203 Request Interpretation Unit 204 Image Storage Unit 205 Print Control Unit 206 Profile Management Unit 207 Judgment Unit PS2 Printing System Pr1 to Prn Printer MFP1 Multifunction Device PS3 Printing System SV Server 301 Network Control Unit 302 Operation Panel Control Unit 303 Request Interpretation Unit 304 Profile Management Unit 305 Judgment Unit

Claims (11)

  A printing system in which a predetermined number of image processing devices with a scanner function and a predetermined number of image processing devices with a printing function are connected via a network, and the performance of holding performance information of the printing function of the image processing device with a printing function An information holding unit; and a determination unit that determines whether or not printing can be performed according to a print setting for printing an image read by the scanner function of the image processing apparatus with a scanner function based on performance information held by the performance information holding unit. A printing system comprising: the image processing apparatus with a scanner function or the image processing apparatus with a print function.   The image processing apparatus with a scanner function includes the performance information holding unit and the determination unit that hold the performance information of a plurality of image processing apparatuses with a print function on the network, and the determination unit includes the plurality of performance information. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein an image processing apparatus with a print function suitable for the print setting is selected with reference to FIG.   The image processing apparatus with a scanner function sends the print settings to the image processing apparatus with a print function to inquire whether printing is possible, and the image processing apparatus with a print function receives the performance information related to the print function of the own apparatus. The performance information holding means for holding and the judgment means are provided, and the judgment means judges whether printing is possible based on the sent print settings and the performance information of the performance information holding means, and determines the judgment result. 2. The image processing apparatus with a scanner function transmits to the image processing apparatus with a scanner function, and the image processing apparatus with a scanner function determines an image processing apparatus with a print function as a printing destination based on the transmitted determination result. The printing system described.   In the printing system, a printing distribution device including the performance information holding unit and the determination unit that holds the performance information of the plurality of image processing devices with a print function on the network is connected to the network, and The image processing apparatus with a scanner function sends the print settings to the print distribution apparatus to inquire whether printing is possible, and the print distribution apparatus determines whether the determination unit includes the sent print settings and the performance information holding unit. Based on the performance information, whether or not printing is possible is determined for each image processing apparatus with a print function, and the determination result is transmitted to the image processing apparatus with a scanner function, and the image processing apparatus with a scanner function has been transmitted The printing system according to claim 1, wherein an image processing apparatus with a print function as a printing destination is determined based on the determination result.   The performance information holding unit holds at least one piece of information as the performance information among printing image quality, printing speed, paper type of paper to be printed, remaining amount of paper to be printed, toner type, and remaining toner amount. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:   A print control method for printing an image read by the scanner function of an image processing apparatus with a scanner function connected to a network on one of a predetermined number of image processing apparatuses with a print function connected to the network. A performance information holding process for holding performance information of the print function of the image processing apparatus with a print function in a performance information holding unit, and printing for printing of an image read by the scanner function of the image processing apparatus with a scanner function. And a determination process for determining whether or not printing is possible according to the setting based on the performance information of the performance information holding unit.   In the printing control method, the image processing apparatus with a scanner function includes the performance information holding unit that holds the performance information of the plurality of image processing apparatuses with a print function on the network. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein a process of selecting an image processing apparatus with a print function suitable for the print setting is executed with reference to a plurality of pieces of performance information.   In the print control method, the image processing apparatus with a scanner function transmits an inquiry to the image processing apparatus with a print function by sending the print setting to inquire whether printing is possible. The performance information holding means for holding the performance information related to the print function of the apparatus is provided, and the determination process determines whether printing is possible based on the sent print settings and the performance information of the performance information holding means. The determination result is transmitted to the image processing apparatus with the scanner function, and the image processing apparatus with the scanner function prints the print destination based on the determination result sent from the image processing apparatus with the print function. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein a print destination determination process for determining an image processing apparatus with a function is performed.   In the printing control method, the image processing apparatus with a scanner function includes the performance information holding unit that holds the performance information of a plurality of image processing apparatuses with a printing function connected to the network in the print setting. Each of the image processing apparatuses with a print function based on the sent print settings and the performance information of the performance information holding means. A determination process for determining whether printing is possible and transmitting the determination result to the image processing apparatus with a scanner function. The determination result sent from the image processing apparatus with a print function to the image processing apparatus with a scanner function 7. A print destination determination process for determining an image processing apparatus with a print function as a print destination based on the print destination. Print control method of the placement.   A printing control program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method according to any one of claims 6 to 9.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the printing control program according to claim 10 is recorded.

Images