JP2010128596A - Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, print control method, and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus, an image processing apparatus, a print control method and a print control program for reducing a load to be imposed on communication processing in printing large-size data in a printing system. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 11 divides data D, and transmits divided data SDn in several operations to an image processing apparatus 10, and controls the data processing during that time by message exchange following an SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), and notifies the image processing apparatus 10 that all the data D have been transmitted. On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 10 receives the plurality of divided data SDn from the information processing apparatus 11, and controls the data processing during that time by the message exchange following the SOAP, and when receiving notification that all the data D have been transmitted, restores the data D based on the plurality of divided data SDn, and transmits printable data PD generated based on the restored data to the image forming apparatus 12, and instructs the print processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system in which an information processing apparatus that transmits image data and an image processing apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on the received image data are connected via a network. The present invention relates to a technology for transmitting information from an information processing apparatus to an image processing apparatus via a network.

  In recent years, a web related to printing standardized by PWG (Printer Working Group) of IEEE-ISTO (IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization), a non-profit organization related to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). A printing system using a service PSI (Print Service Interface: see Non-Patent Document 1 for detailed specifications) has been provided.

  For example, in the above printing system including a client PC (Personal Computer), a print server, and a printer, the following printing process is performed.

  (1) First, the client PC transmits a print job start notification including print conditions and bibliographic information to the print server as a SOAP request for the createJob method. The print server receives the SOAP request and determines whether a print job can be generated. Is returned to the client PC as a SOAP response.

  (2) Upon receiving the SOAP response according to (1) above, the client PC sends a SOAP request for the addDocumentByValue method including the document data to the print server, and the print server can receive the data normally upon receiving the SOAP request. Is returned to the client PC as a SOAP response.

  (3) Upon receiving the SOAP response according to (2) above, the client PC transmits a print job end notification to the print server as a SOAP request of the closeJob method. The print server receives the SOAP request and sends a print job end notification. The reception completion is returned to the client PC as a SOAP response.

  (4) When the print server returns the SOAP response according to (3) above, the print server performs predetermined image processing (rendering) on the received document data, converts it into printable data, and transmits the printable data to the printer. . As a result, the document requested for printing from the printer is printed.

As described above, in a printing system using PSI, a transmission source device (for example, “client PC”) that transmits print target data (for example, “document data”) and a transmission destination device (for example, “client PC”) that receives the printing target data (for example, A message is exchanged with a “print server”) according to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) (SOAP request / response is exchanged), and printing processing is performed.
Print Server Interface Version 1.0 (PWG Candidate Standard 5104.2-2005) source information: ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/candidates/cs-psi10-20050225-5104.2.pdf

  However, in the printing system using the conventional PSI as described above, since the data size of the print target data is large, when the transmission destination device cannot receive the data normally, the data is transmitted until it is normally received. Will be repeated. At this time, since the data received during that time is not held in the transmission destination device, the same data transmission is repeated unnecessarily until the cause of the error is resolved.

  As described above, in the printing system using the conventional PSI, if a storage area for temporarily storing received data cannot be secured for some reason in the transmission destination device, resources related to communication processing are wasted. As a result, there is a problem that the load on the entire system increases.

  In order to solve the above problem, if the source device can grasp when the cause of the error occurring in the destination device is resolved, control is performed so that the data is retransmitted at an appropriate timing. be able to.

  Therefore, a method may be considered in which a transmission source device transmits a method for requesting notification of a transmission destination device state before transmitting print target data. However, such a method is not defined in PSI. For example, a dedicated method may be defined for the above purpose. However, in this case, communication can be performed only with a transmission destination device that can interpret the dedicated method, and lacks versatility.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the load on communication processing when printing print target data having a large data size in a printing system. An information processing apparatus, an image processing apparatus, a print control method, and a print control program.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus that requests an image processing apparatus to print image data using a SOAP message, and transmits image data to the image processing apparatus. Means, a response receiving means for receiving a SOAP response indicating that the transmitted image data has been received from the image processing apparatus, and a message indicating that transmission of the image data has been completed when the SOAP response is received. Message sending means for sending a SOAP message to the image processing apparatus, and the image data sending means divides the image data into a plurality of times by sending divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed. And the message transmission means transmits the SOAP response to each of the transmitted divided data. If all received, and increase the transmission of the SOAP message.

  With such a configuration, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention divides the data to be printed, divides the obtained divided data into a plurality of times, and transmits the divided data to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus notifies the image processing apparatus that all the print target data has been transmitted.

  In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the image data transmitting unit receives a SOAP response indicating that the first divided data has been received by the response receiving unit, The second divided data is transmitted.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the image data transmission unit determines whether the response reception unit receives a SOAP response indicating that the first divided data has been received. Change the data size of other divided data.

  To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an image processing apparatus that receives a print request for image data using a SOAP message from an information processing apparatus, and receives image data from the information processing apparatus. Means, storage means for storing the received image data, message receiving means for receiving a SOAP message indicating that transmission of the image data is completed from the information processing apparatus, and information indicating that the image data has been received. A response transmission unit that transmits a SOAP response to the information processing apparatus, and an image processing unit that executes a printing process of the image data stored in the storage unit. The image data reception unit includes: By receiving the divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed from the apparatus, the image data is The storage means stores the divided data received in a plurality of times as the image data, and the image processing means completes the transmission of the image data from the information processing apparatus by the message receiving means. The gist is that when a SOAP message indicating that it has been received is received, a plurality of pieces of divided data stored in the storage means are combined and a print process of the image data obtained by combining is executed.

  With such a configuration, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention receives a plurality of pieces of divided data obtained by dividing the print target data from the information processing apparatus, and performs data processing therebetween in the message exchange according to SOAP. If the notification that all the print target data has been sent is received, the print target data is restored based on the plurality of divided data held at the time of reception, and the print generated based on the restored data The possible data is transmitted to the printing device (image forming apparatus), and the printing process is instructed.

  In order to achieve the above object, a print control method in an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is a print control method in an information processing apparatus that requests an image processing apparatus to print image data using a SOAP message. An image data transmission procedure to be transmitted to the image processing device, a response reception procedure to receive from the image processing device a SOAP response indicating that the image data transmitted by the image data transmission procedure has been received, and the response reception procedure A message transmission procedure for transmitting a SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed to the image processing apparatus when the SOAP response is received by the image data transmission procedure. By transmitting the divided data obtained by dividing the image data, the image data is Send several times, the message transmission procedure when receiving all the SOAP response to the transmitted the divided data respectively, and transmits the SOAP message.

  In order to achieve the above object, the print control method in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention receives a SOAP response indicating that the image data transmission procedure has received the first divided data by the response reception procedure. Then, the second divided data is transmitted.

  In order to achieve the above object, the print control method in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention receives a SOAP response indicating that the image data transmission procedure has received the first divided data according to the response reception procedure. The data size of the other divided data is changed according to availability.

  According to such a procedure, the print control method in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention divides the print target data, transmits the obtained divided data to the image processing apparatus in a plurality of times, and performs data processing during that time. Then, control is performed by exchanging messages according to SOAP, and an operation of notifying the image processing apparatus that all the print target data has been transmitted is realized.

  To achieve the above object, a printing control method in an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing control method in an image processing apparatus that accepts a print request for image data using a SOAP message from an information processing apparatus. An image data receiving procedure for receiving image data from the apparatus, a message receiving procedure for receiving a SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data has been completed from the information processing apparatus, and the image data receiving by the image data receiving procedure A response transmission procedure for transmitting a SOAP response indicating that the information has been received to the information processing device, and an image processing procedure for executing a printing process of the image data of the storage means for storing the image data received from the information processing device. The image data receiving procedure includes the step of receiving image data to be printed from the information processing apparatus. The divided image data is received in a plurality of times, and the image processing procedure is a SOAP message indicating that transmission of image data from the external device is completed by the message reception procedure. When the message is received, the divided data received in a plurality of times stored in the storage unit is combined, and the combined image data is printed.

  Through such a procedure, the print control method in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention receives a plurality of pieces of divided data obtained by dividing the print target data from the information processing apparatus, and performs data processing therebetween in SOAP. When the control is performed by exchanging messages and a notification that all the print target data has been transmitted is received, the print target data is restored based on the plurality of divided data held at the time of reception. The printable data generated in the above is transmitted to a printing device (image forming apparatus), and an operation for instructing a printing process is realized.

  Thus, in the printing system to which the information processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus according to the present invention are connected, the load on the communication process when printing the print target data having a large data size can be reduced in the printing system. .

  According to the present invention, the transmission source device (information processing device) divides the print target data, divides the obtained divided data into a plurality of times, and transmits the divided data to the transmission destination device (image processing device). Device restores data to be printed based on a plurality of divided data held at the time of reception, sends printable data generated based on the restored data to a printing device (image forming apparatus), and print processing In the printing system, it is possible to reduce a load on communication processing when printing print target data having a large data size.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
First, the configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system according to the present embodiment includes a client PC (hereinafter referred to as “information processing apparatus”) 11, a print server (hereinafter referred to as “image processing apparatus”) 10, and a printer ( (Hereinafter referred to as “image forming apparatus”) 12.

  Each device is connected via a predetermined data transmission path such as a network and / or an electric communication line such as the Internet, and bidirectional data is transmitted using a predetermined communication protocol such as HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or SOAP. Communication can be performed.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 are provided with Web services (hereinafter referred to as “PSI Web services”) 31 and 32 based on PSI. The PSI Web services 31 and 32 can exchange messages with each other according to SOAP, and can use the respective functions.

  In such a system configuration, print control is performed as follows. First, the information processing apparatus 11 transmits print target data D such as document data to the image processing apparatus 10 in accordance with a user instruction. Next, when the image processing apparatus 10 receives the print target data D and accepts the print request, PDL (Page Description Language) data or the like can be printed on the print target data D by predetermined image processing such as rendering. The data is converted into data PD, and the printable data PD is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 12 designated at the time of request. Thereby, the printing process desired by the user is performed.

  In the above system, a printer is described as an example of the image forming apparatus 12. However, a facsimile may be used, and in this case, the image processing apparatus 10 is a facsimile server. In the case of a configuration using a facsimile server and a facsimile, each device is connected via a telephone line or a digital line network of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).

  Further, the communication protocol is not limited to HTTP. For example, other communication protocols such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) may be used.

"hardware"
Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 that are components of the printing system will be described. Since both devices have the same hardware configuration, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 will be described below as a representative.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, an interface apparatus 102, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 103, and an input apparatus 104 that are connected to each other via a bus. And a display device 105, an external recording device 106, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 108, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 109.

  The input device 104 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and is used to input various operation signals to the information processing device 11. The display device 105 is a display or the like and displays various information. The interface device 102 is an interface that connects the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 to a network.

  The HDD 103 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System) and applications and related data. The ROM 108 and the RAM 109 are semiconductor memories, and the ROM 108 stores various programs and related data related to a boot system executed after power-on such as a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System). The RAM 109 temporarily stores programs and data.

  The CPU 101 reads various programs and related data stored in the ROM 108, the HDD 103, and the like into the RAM 109, and executes processing. The external recording device 106 includes various recording media 107 such as a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disc) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and a removable semiconductor memory such as an SD memory card. In addition, the program and data are read / written.

  With such a hardware configuration, the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 perform print control processing using PSI, which will be described later.

  When the image processing apparatus 10 is a facsimile server, the image processing apparatus 10 includes an interface for connecting to a telephone line or an ISDN digital line network.

"software"
Next, a software configuration (software configuration to be implemented) that operates in each device of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 having the above hardware configuration will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that (A) in the drawing shows the software configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 and (B) shows the software configuration of the image processing apparatus 10.

(Information processing device: Client PC)
As shown in FIG. 3A, the software that operates on the information processing apparatus 11 includes an OS 201 and a plurality of applications 202.

  The OS 201 is basic software that realizes an information processing system by controlling hardware and the like included in the information processing apparatus 11 such as UNIX (registered trademark) or Windows (registered trademark). The application 202 is software that provides various functions (services) by executing a program on the information processing system (operating environment). Each software of the application 202 is executed in parallel on the OS 201 as a process.

  The OS 201 and the application 202 are connected by a software interface called API (Application Programming Interface), and the application 202 can use an information processing function (for example, an I / O function) provided by the OS 201 via the API. .

  Further, the application 202 includes a PSI application 203 that performs PSI standard method processing, a divided data generation application 204 that cuts out a part of data or divides data in order to transmit print target data D, and HTTP. And an HTTP processing unit for controlling bidirectional data communication.

  In addition, the PSI application 203 includes an XML processing unit that processes messages written in XML (Extensible Markup Language), a SOAP processing unit that exchanges messages according to SOAP, and a PSI method processing unit that performs PSI standard method processing. Have. The PSI Web service 31 shown in FIG. 1 is included in the PSI application 203.

  The divided data generation application 204 includes a data cutout / division unit that cuts out and divides a part of the print target data D, information indicating the data size of the divided data (hereinafter referred to as “divided data size information”), and divided data. A communication data creation unit that generates communication data by adding various information such as information indicating the transmission order (hereinafter referred to as “transmission order information”) to the divided data, and controls the cooperation processing by each of these functional units And a control unit.

(Image processing device: Print server)
As shown in FIG. 3B, the software operating on the image processing apparatus 10 is also configured with an OS 211 and an application 212, as with the information processing apparatus 11, and is connected via an API.

  Also, the application 212 includes a PSI application 213 and a divided data composition application 214 that combines the divided data received from the information processing apparatus 11 that is the client PC and restores the data to be printed D (original data before the division). The rendering application 215 that generates PDL data (printable data PD) that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 12 based on the restored print target data D, and the printable data PD are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 12 to perform printing processing. A print control application 216 to instruct, an HTTP processing unit, and the like are included.

  Here, when the image forming apparatus 12 is a facsimile, the image processing apparatus 10 is a facsimile server, and instead of the print control application 216, a facsimile control application that transmits data via a telephone line or an ISDN digital line network; Become.

  The PSI application 213 includes an XML processing unit, a SOAP processing unit, and a PSI method processing unit, like the information processing apparatus 11. The PSI Web service 32 shown in FIG. 1 is included in the PSI application 213.

  The divided data composition application 214 synthesizes the divided data and restores the print target data D, analyzes the received communication data, the divided data included in the data, the divided data size information, and the transmission order It has a communication data analysis unit that extracts information and the like, and a control unit that controls cooperation processing by each of these functional units.

  The rendering application 215 activates application software corresponding to the print target data D restored by the divided data composition application 214, and converts it into printable data PD via a printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 12 that executes printing. A rendering processing unit is included. Here, a method of performing rendering processing (conversion to printable data PD) using application software corresponding to the print target data D or a printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 12 has been described. Any other method may be used as long as the later print target data D can be converted into printable data PD. In addition, the above-described rendering processing does not particularly need to operate in the image processing apparatus 10. For example, the rendering processing may be performed by a dedicated device such as a data conversion server and the converted printable data PD may be received. Good.

  When the image processing apparatus 10 is a facsimile server, the rendering processing unit converts the restored print target data D into printable data PD corresponding to the facsimile.

  The print control application 216 includes a print control unit that transmits the printable data PD generated by the rendering application 215 to the image forming apparatus 12 and instructs print processing.

<Print control using PSI>
From here, a functional configuration realized in each device of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 by the above-described software configuration and a linked operation thereof will be described.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Information processing device]
As shown in FIG. 4, first, the print control function of the information processing apparatus 11 includes a message transmission unit 41 that transmits a SOAP message to the image processing apparatus 10 and a response that receives a response by the SOAP message from the image processing apparatus 10. There are a receiving unit 42 and an image data transmitting unit 43 that transmits image data to the image processing apparatus 10.

  In the following, image data will be described as an example of print target data D, but not limited thereto, application data such as document data may be used.

The image data transmitting unit 43 transmits the divided data SDn obtained by dividing the image data, thereby transmitting the image data as the print target data D to the image processing apparatus 10 in a plurality of times. Further, the image data transmitting unit 43 transmits the next divided data SD _{n + 1} in response to the reception of the SOAP response indicating that the divided data SDn has been received by the response receiving unit 42.

  The response receiving unit 42 receives a SOAP response indicating that the image data transmitted by the image data transmitting unit 43 has been received from the image processing apparatus 10, and the message transmitting unit 41 receives the SOAP response from the image processing apparatus 10. In this case, a SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10.

  The message transmission unit 41 transmits a SOAP message to the image processing apparatus 10 when all the SOAP responses to the transmitted divided data SDn are received.

(Message sending means and response receiving means)
When the information processing apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment receives a print instruction from the user, the message transmission unit 41 instructs the image processing apparatus 10 to generate a print job. Specifically, the SOAP message of the creatJob method is instructed by being transmitted from the message transmission unit 41 to the image processing apparatus 10.

  The createJob method is generated by the PSI method processing unit of the PSI application 203, and is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 as a SOAP message via the XML processing unit, the SOAP processing unit, the HTTP processing unit, and the like. As a result, the image processing apparatus 10 transmits a response message to the SOAP message of the creatJob method. In the information processing apparatus 11, the response message is received by the response receiving means 42 and the content thereof is analyzed. At this time, the response message is passed to the PSI method processing unit and analyzed.

  In the information processing apparatus 11, the message transmission unit 41 notifies the image processing apparatus 10 of the completion of the print job. Specifically, the SOAP message of the closeJob method is notified by being transmitted from the message transmission unit 41 to the image processing apparatus 10.

  As with the creatJob method, the closeJob method is generated by the PSI method processing unit of the PSI application 203 and transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 as a SOAP message via the XML processing unit, the SOAP processing unit, the HTTP processing unit, and the like. The As a result, the image processing apparatus 10 transmits a response message to the SOAP message of the closeJob method. Analysis of the response message in the information processing apparatus 11 is performed by the PSI method processing unit.

(Image data transmission means)
The information processing apparatus 11 receives the response message received and analyzed by the response receiving unit 42 and transmits the divided data of the image data that is the print target data D to the image processing apparatus 10.

Generation of divided data The image data transmission unit 43 performs division of image data using the divided data generation application 204. Further, the division process at this time is controlled by the control unit of the divided data generation application 204 as follows.

  The image data transmission unit 43 first stores the image data in the storage device such as the HDD 103 based on the cut-out size (predetermined divided data size) of the image data set in advance by the data cut-out / split unit of the divided data generation application 204. Data is cut out (generation of divided data SDn) with reference to the image data. When the data cutting is completed, the generated divided data SDn is transferred to the communication data creation unit.

  In addition, information indicating the divided data size and information indicating the order of division (1 to n) are passed to the communication data creation unit. Here, “information indicating the divided data size” corresponds to the divided data size information, and “information indicating the order of division” corresponds to the transmission order information. As a result, the communication data creation unit generates communication data to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 from these information and the divided data SDn.

  In the image data transmission unit 43, when the communication data generation by the communication data generation unit is completed, the generated communication data is transferred from the divided data generation application 204 to the PSI application 203. At this time, the control unit of the divided data generation application 204 increments the number of image data cutouts (number of divisions) and stores the value as information indicating the order of division. Accordingly, the stored value is passed to the image processing apparatus 10 as transmission order information at the next divided data transmission.

-Transmission of division data Next, in the image data transmission means 43, transmission of the division data SDn is performed by the PSI application 203. The transmission process at this time is controlled by the control unit of the PSI application 203 as follows.

  The image data transmission unit 43 first sets the generated communication data as a parameter of the addDocumentByValue method for data transmission by the PSI method processing unit of the PSI application 203. Thereafter, the addDocumentByValue method is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 as a SOAP message via the XML processing unit, the SOAP processing unit, the HTTP processing unit, and the like. As a result, the image processing apparatus 10 transmits a response message to the SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method. Analysis of the response message in the information processing apparatus 11 is performed by the PSI method processing unit.

The image data transmission unit 43 repeatedly performs the transmission process of the divided data SDn until the divided data SD ₁ to SDn corresponding to the divided number, that is, all of the image data are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10.

  In the description of the image data transmission unit 43, the case where the divided data size information is included in the communication data has been described as an example. For example, HTTP is used for data communication performed between the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10. When used, the following can be considered.

  When the size information of the transmission data is included in the Content-Length field for describing the size (data size) of the HTTP message body in the header field of the message, as described above, the divided data size information is set to the communication data. There is no need to include it. However, since Content-Length represents the size of the body message, if additional information other than the divided data SDn exists in the body message, such as transmission order information, the data size of the additional information is also included, and the division is performed. It is not a value indicating only the data size of the data SDn. Accordingly, when the image processing apparatus 10 that is the transmission destination of the divided data SDn is used in the determination process of whether or not the divided data SDn has been normally received and the restoration process of the image data based on the received divided data SDn. Requires accurate size information of the divided data SDn.

  Therefore, the image data transmission means 43 uses a method of including the divided data size information in the communication data in order to obtain accurate size information.

[Image processing device]
Next, the functions of the image processing apparatus 10 include a message receiving unit 51 that receives a SOAP message from the information processing apparatus 11 and a response transmission unit 52 that transmits a response to the SOAP message transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11. And image data receiving means 53 for receiving the image data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11. Further, the image processing apparatus includes a storage unit 61 that stores image data received by the image data receiving unit 53, and an image processing unit 71 that executes print processing on the image data stored in the storage unit 61.

  The image data receiving unit 53 receives the divided data SDn obtained by dividing the image data to be printed from the information processing apparatus 11, thereby receiving the image data in a plurality of times. At this time, the divided data SDn received in a plurality of times is stored in the storage means 61.

  When the message processing unit 71 receives the SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed from the information processing apparatus 11 by the message receiving unit 51, the image processing unit 71 synthesizes the plurality of divided data SDn stored in the storage unit 61. Then, print processing of the restored image data is executed.

(Image data receiving means, response transmitting means, and storing means)
The image processing apparatus 10 receives the communication data by the image data receiving unit 53 and transmits the reception result as a response message. The image data reception / response processing at this time is controlled as follows by the respective control units of the PSI application 213 and the divided data composition application 214.

  The image data receiving unit 53 receives the SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 via the HTTP processing unit, the SOAP processing unit of the PSI application 213, and the XML processing unit. The received SOAP message is passed to the PSI method processing unit, and the PSI method processing unit extracts communication data from the parameters set in the addDocumentByValue method. The extracted communication data is transferred to the divided data composition application 214.

  Subsequently, the image data receiving unit 53 analyzes the received communication data by the communication data analysis unit of the divided data composition application 214, and various types of divided data SDn, divided data size information, and transmission order information included in the communication data. Retrieve information. Further, the actual data size value of the extracted divided data SDn is compared with the value of the extracted divided data size information to determine whether or not the values match each other.

  In the image data receiving unit 53, the determination result (“match” / “mismatch”) is passed from the divided data composition application 214 to the PSI application 213.

  The determination is a process performed when the divided data SDn is added to the SOAP request.

  The response transmission unit 52 generates a response message to which information (result information: result code) indicating the determination result is added by the SOAP processing unit of the PSI application 213, and transmits (replies) the response message to the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response. That is, when the determination result is “mismatch”, the response transmission unit 52 requests the information processing apparatus 11 to retransmit.

  Further, the image data receiving unit 53 passes the extracted transmission order information and the divided data SDn to the storage unit 61 when the determination result is “match”. As a result, the storage unit 61 stores (temporarily holds) the received transmission order information and the divided data SDn in a predetermined storage area. That is, the storage unit 61 corresponds to a storage device such as the HDD 103.

The image data receiving unit 53 repeats the above image data reception / response processing until the image processing apparatus 10 receives all the divided data SD _{1 to} SDn, that is, all the image data.

(Message receiving means and image processing means)
The image processing apparatus 10 receives a print job request completion notification from the information processing apparatus 11 via the message receiving means 51, and the image processing means 71 based on the temporarily stored divided data SDn and transmission order information. It is restored to image data (original data before division) which is the print target data D. Thereafter, a printing process is performed on the restored image data. Also, the print job request completion notification reception / image data restoration process at this time is controlled by the respective control units of the PSI application 213 and the divided data composition application 214 as follows.

  When the message receiving unit 51 receives the closeJob method from the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP message of the print job completion notification via the HTTP processing unit, the SOAP processing unit of the PSI application 213, and the XML processing unit, the image data is transmitted. When it is determined that the print job has been completed, the divided data composition application 214 is notified of the fact.

  In the message receiving unit 51, when the divided data SDn is not added to the SOAP request, the image data receiving unit 53 performs the above-described determination process.

・ Restoration of print target data (concatenation / combination of divided data)
The image processing unit 71 includes a plurality of divided data SDn (stored in a storage device such as the HDD 103) temporarily stored in the storage unit 61 by the divided data combining unit of the divided data combining application 214, and each divided data SDn. All the transmission order information corresponding to is read out. As a result, the divided data combining unit concatenates the read divided data SDn according to the order (1 to n) of the transmission order information. At this time, the image processing means 71 stores the combined image data (restored data) in a storage device such as the HDD 103. Further, the storage means 61 is instructed to erase each divided data SDn.

・ Generation of printable data (data conversion)
Next, the image processing unit 71 reads out the combined image data stored in the storage device by the rendering processing unit of the rendering application 215. Subsequently, an application corresponding to the read image data is started, and printable data PD (for example, “PDL data”) is generated via a printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 12 to be printed. That is, the image data is converted into printable data PD.

  The image processing unit 71 transmits printable data PD to the image forming apparatus 12 by the print control unit of the print control application 216 and instructs the print process (executes the print process).

<Functional operation>
Hereinafter, the processing procedure of print control realized by each of the above means will be described. In this print control, the divided data SDn of the print target data D is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 to the image processing apparatus 10. There are two methods for processing related to the divided data transmission. Specifically, there are a method of simultaneously performing a transmission request and divided data transmission and a method of separately performing a transmission request and divided data transmission. Therefore, in the following description, each processing procedure corresponding to the above two methods will be described in order.

(When sending a request and sending divided data at the same time)
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 1) of a print control processing procedure using the PSI according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, first, the information processing apparatus 11 that is a client PC receives a print command from the user to the image processing apparatus 10 that is a print server. At this time, in the information processing apparatus 11, the message transmission unit 41 transmits a SOAP message of the creatJob method to the image processing apparatus 10 (step S101). At this time, the message transmission unit 41 transmits a SOAP message (SOAP request) to request generation of a print job, and print information, printing condition information, and the like regarding the image forming apparatus 12 that is a printer to be printed. In addition, various data for printing including information related to the print target data D to be transmitted (for example, bibliographic information in the case of document data) is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10.

  If the image processing apparatus 10 receives various data from the information processing apparatus 11 and a print job can be generated, the response transmission means 52 responds to that effect to the information processing apparatus 11 that made the request (step S102).

  When the information receiving apparatus 42 receives a response (SOAP response) indicating that a print job can be generated from the image processing apparatus 10 by the response receiving unit 42, the information processing apparatus 11 is divided into a predetermined data size by the image data transmitting unit 43. The communication data including the divided data SDn is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 as a SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method (step S103). At this time, divided data size information and transmission order information are set as DocumentDescription members in the addDocumentByValue method to be transmitted. The DocumentDescription member is permitted to be expanded in the Semantic Model standard (PWG Candidate Standard 5105.1-2004) referred to by PSI, and the above information can be added.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example including an extension member of the addDocumentByValue method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the data shown in FIG. 6, the DocumentOrder member represents the transmission order of the divided data SDn (“5” in the figure), and the DocumentSize member represents the data size of the divided data SDn (“12368” in the figure). Although the Koctets parameter indicating the data size is determined by the Semantic Model standard, it is better to use the DocumentSize member because the data size can be expressed only in units of 1024 octets.

  When the image processing device 10 receives the SOAP message (SOAP request) of the addDocumentByValue method from the information processing device 11 by the image data receiving means 53, the divided data included in the message indicates whether or not the SOAP message has been received normally. The determination is based on the comparison result between the data size value of SDn and the value of the divided data size information. The determination result is returned to the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response by the response transmission unit 52 (step S104).

  Further, when the image data receiving unit 53 receives the SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method, the image data receiving unit 53 extracts the divided data SDn, the divided data size information, the transmission order information, and the like from the received SOAP message. The extracted divided data size information is used for the comparison determination described above, and the extracted divided data SDn and the transmission order information are temporarily held by the storage unit 61.

  In the processing procedure performed between the information processing apparatus 11 (image data transmission means 43) and the image processing apparatus 10 (image data reception means 53) shown in steps S103 and S104, all of the divided image data is transmitted. This is repeated until all the divided data SDn are transmitted (steps S105 to S108).

  When the image data transmission unit 43 transmits all the divided data SDn, the information processing apparatus 11 transmits a close job method SOAP message to the image processing apparatus 10 by the message transmission unit 41 (step S109). At this time, the message transmission unit 41 notifies the completion of the print job by transmitting the SOAP message (SOAP request).

  When the message reception unit 51 receives the SOAP message of the closeJob method and is notified of the completion of the print job, the image processing apparatus 10 notifies the completion of the print job by the response transmission unit 52 and notifies the information processing apparatus 11 that is the notification source. (Step S110).

  Further, upon receiving the print job completion notification, the image processing apparatus 10 causes the image processing unit 71 to change each of the transmission order information corresponding to each piece of divided data SDn held by the storage unit 61 (1 to n). The divided data SDn is concatenated and combined to restore the image data that is the print target data D. (Step S111).

  Further, in the image processing apparatus 10, the image processing unit 71 performs rendering processing on the combined image data to generate printable data PD of the image forming apparatus 12 to be printed (step S112). That is, the print target data D is converted into printable data PD.

  The image processing apparatus 10 uses the image processing means 71 to transmit printable data PD to the image forming apparatus 12, and instructs the image forming apparatus 12 to perform printing processing (step S113). As a result, the image forming apparatus 12 prints the received printable data PD (step S114).

(When sending requests and sending divided data separately)
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 2) of the print control processing procedure using the PSI according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference in processing procedure from “when transmission request and divided data transmission are performed simultaneously” is steps S203 to S212 shown in FIG. In the following description, only this point will be described, and description of similar points will be omitted.

  When the information receiving apparatus 42 receives a response (SOAP response) indicating that a print job can be generated from the image processing apparatus 10 by the response receiving unit 42, the information processing apparatus 11 is divided into a predetermined data size by the image data transmitting unit 43. The communication data including the information indicating the storage destination of the plurality of divided data SDn (hereinafter referred to as “storage destination information”) is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 as a SOAP message of the addDocumentByPush method (step S203). As described above, the addDocumentByPush method includes the storage location information of the divided data SDn in the storage unit 61. By sending the SOAP message (SOAP request), the reference destination to the divided data SDn is an image. This means that the processing device 10 has been notified.

  When the image receiving apparatus 51 receives the SOAP message of the addDocumentByPush method from the information processing apparatus 11 by the message receiving unit 51, the image processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the SOAP message has been normally received. The determination result is returned to the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response by the response transmission unit 52 (step S204).

  When the response receiving unit 42 receives a response (SOAP response) indicating that the SOAP message from the image processing device 10 has been normally received by the response receiving unit 42, the information processing unit 11 divides the data into a predetermined data size by the image data transmitting unit 43. Communication data including the divided data SDn is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 (step S205). At this time, the image data transmission means 43 adds the divided data size information and the transmission order information to the communication data when transmitting the divided data SDn and transmits the communication data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example at the time of divided data transmission according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The data shown in FIG. 8 has an XML structure, and various information related to the divided data SDn to be transmitted can be defined in the Document element surrounded by the “<Document>” tag. For example, in the Number element, identification information of each print job (hereinafter referred to as “print job identification information”) (“2” in the figure) corresponding to the case where a plurality of print jobs are transmitted, and in the Order element, The transmission order information of the divided data SDn (“5” in the figure) and the size element can define the divided data size information (“12368” in the figure) of the divided data SDn. In addition, the Data element, a divided data SDn definable (data embedding shown in the divided data SD ₅ in the figure).

  When the image data receiving unit 53 receives communication data including the divided data SDn from the information processing apparatus 11 (for example, XML data shown in FIG. 8), the image processing apparatus 10 determines whether the communication data has been normally received. judge. The determination result is returned to the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response by the response transmission unit 52 (step S206).

  Further, when receiving the communication data including the divided data SDn, the image data receiving unit 53 extracts the divided data SDn, the print job identification information, the divided data size information, the transmission order information, and the like from the received communication data. . The extracted various information is temporarily stored in the storage unit 61.

  In the processing procedure performed between the information processing apparatus 11 (image data transmission means 43) and the image processing apparatus 10 (image data reception means 53) shown in steps S205 and S206, all of the divided image data is transmitted. (Until all the divided data SDn are transmitted) are repeated (steps S207 to S210).

  When the image data transmitting unit 43 transmits all the divided data SDn, the information processing apparatus 11 transmits a pushDocumentDataDelivered method SOAP message to the image processing apparatus 10 (step S211). At this time, the message transmission means 41 notifies the fact that all of the image data has been transmitted (end of divided data transmission) by transmitting the SOAP message (SOAP request).

  When the message reception unit 51 receives the SOAP message of the pushDocumentDataDelivered method by the message reception unit 51 and is notified of the end of the transmission of the divided data SDn, the response transmission unit 52 informs that the end notification has been received. It responds to the apparatus 11 (step S212).

<Summary>
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the printing system according to the present embodiment divides the print target data D in the information processing apparatus 11 that is the client PC, and obtains the divided data SDn obtained. Are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 that is a print server in a plurality of times, and data processing between them is controlled by message exchange (request transmission / response reception) according to SOAP, and all the print target data D is transmitted. This is notified to the image processing apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 10 receives a plurality of divided data SDn obtained by dividing the print target data D from the information processing apparatus 11, and controls data processing therebetween by exchanging messages according to SOAP. When a notification that all the print target data D has been transmitted is received, the print target data D is restored based on the plurality of divided data SDn retained at the time of reception, and the print generated based on the restored data is possible The data PD is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 12 which is a printer, and print processing is instructed.

  Accordingly, in the present embodiment, in the printing system, data transmission from the information processing apparatus 11 to the image processing apparatus 10 when printing the print target data D having a large data size is within a range that the image processing apparatus 10 can receive. By reducing the amount of data, the number of retransmissions due to reception errors can be reduced, and data processing between devices can be performed efficiently. As a result, the load on communication processing can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, an example has been shown in which divided data transmission divided into a predetermined data size (a constant division amount) set in advance is performed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an example in which divided data transmission divided according to the variable division amount is performed is shown.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described. However, since the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is only that the amount of division is variable as described above, other technical matters are described below. The same drawings and the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are referred to and the description thereof is omitted.

<Print control using PSI>
Now, a functional configuration realized in each device of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment and a linked operation thereof will be described.

<Functional configuration>
The functions of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, the image data transmission unit 43 differs in the following points.

  The image data transmitting unit 43 determines whether or not the response receiving unit 42 has received a SOAP response indicating that the divided data SDn has been received from the image processing apparatus 10, and the divided data according to the determination result (reception availability). The divided data size of SDn is changed.

<Functional operation>
Hereinafter, a print control processing procedure realized by each unit according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, a case where a transmission request and divided data transmission are performed at the same time is described as an example of two processes related to divided data transmission.

(When sending a request and sending divided data at the same time)
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a print control processing procedure using PSI according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference in processing procedure from the print control according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is steps S303 to S310 shown in FIG. In the following description, only this point will be described, and description of similar points will be omitted.

  When the information receiving apparatus 42 receives a response (SOAP response) indicating that a print job can be generated from the image processing apparatus 10 by the response receiving unit 42, the image data transmitting unit 43 causes the image data transmitting unit 43 to receive a predetermined data size (initial value). The communication data including the divided data SDn, the divided data size information, and the transmission order information is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 as a SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method (step S303).

  When the image processing device 10 receives the SOAP message (SOAP request) of the addDocumentByValue method from the information processing device 11 by the image data receiving means 53, the divided data included in the message indicates whether or not the SOAP message has been received normally. The determination is based on the comparison result between the data size value of SDn and the value of the divided data size information. The determination result is returned to the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response by the response transmission unit 52 (step S304).

  In the determination process of step S304, for example, when it is determined that the divided data SDn cannot be normally received because the data size of the divided data SDn is large, the response transmission unit 52 indicates that the data has not been normally received. Responded to the processing device 11.

  In such a case, the information processing apparatus 11 receives a response (SOAP response) from the image processing apparatus 10 indicating that the information has not been normally received by the response receiving unit 42.

  Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11 uses the image data transmission unit 43 to reduce the divided data size by a predetermined amount, and uses the communication data including the divided data SDn re-divided into a new divided data size as a SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method. It transmits to the image processing apparatus 10 (step S305). That is, the divided data size is adjusted, and the divided data SDn divided into the adjusted size is retransmitted.

  When the image data receiving means 53 receives the SOAP message (SOAP request) of the addDocumentByValue method from the information processing apparatus 11 by the image data receiving means 53, the image processing apparatus 10 determines again whether or not the SOAP message has been normally received, and the determination result To the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response by the response transmission means 52 (step S306).

  In the determination process in step S306, for example, if it is determined that the divided data SDn can be normally received because the data size of the divided data SDn is small, the information processing apparatus indicates that the response transmission unit 52 has normally received the divided data SDn. 11 is answered.

  In such a case, the information processing apparatus 11 receives a response (SOAP response) from the image processing apparatus 10 indicating that the information has been successfully received by the response receiving unit 42.

  Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11 uses the image data transmission unit 43 to increase the divided data size by a predetermined amount, and uses the communication data including the divided data SDn re-divided into a new divided data size as a SOAP message of the addDocumentByValue method. The image is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 (step S307).

  When the image data receiving means 53 receives the SOAP message (SOAP request) of the addDocumentByValue method from the information processing apparatus 11 by the image data receiving means 53, the image processing apparatus 10 determines again whether or not the SOAP message has been normally received, and the determination result To the information processing apparatus 11 as a SOAP response by the response transmission means 52 (step S308).

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 10 which is the transmission destination of the divided data SDn, when the problem of the reception error due to the data size occurs and the divided data SDn is not normally received, the fact is notified. In the information processing apparatus 11 that is the transmission source of the divided data SDn, the divided data size is adjusted so that the data size of the divided data SDn is reduced, and the divided data SDn is retransmitted. After that, when the problem of reception error is solved and the divided data SDn is normally received, the information processing apparatus 11 considers transmission efficiency and sets the divided data size so that the data size of the divided data SDn is increased. Readjustment is performed, and other divided data SDn is transmitted.

  That is, the divided data size of the divided data SDn to be transmitted is varied according to the reception state (reception availability) of the data transmission destination.

  In the processing procedure performed between the information processing apparatus 11 (image data transmission means 43) and the image processing apparatus 10 (image data reception means 53) shown in steps S303 to S308, all of the divided image data is transmitted. This is repeated until all the divided data SDn are transmitted (steps S309 to S310).

  The divided data size variable processing described above is performed by the divided data generation application 204 which is one of the functions for realizing the image data receiving unit 53.

(Variable processing of divided data size)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for changing the data size at the time of divided data transmission according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 10 illustrates processing by the divided data generation application 204 operating on the information processing apparatus 11.

  First, the activated divided data generation application 204 first reads initial values such as the cutout size (divided data size) of the image data that is the print target data D from a storage device such as the HDD 103 (step S11).

  Next, based on the read value, the divided data SDn is cut out from the image data, and the image data is divided (step S12).

  Subsequently, the divided data SDn is transmitted (step S13). Here, as described above, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the divided data SDn has succeeded (whether or not it has been normally performed) based on the SOAP response that is a notification indicating whether or not reception is possible from the image processing apparatus 10 (step S14). To do.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the operation is successful (normally performed) (if step S14 is YES), it is further determined whether or not all of the image data (all divided data SDn) has been transmitted (step S14). S15).

  If it is determined in step S15 that all transmissions have not been completed (NO in step S15), the set value of the divided data size is increased in order to increase the amount of data to be extracted (step S16). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12, where re-division and re-transmission are performed. Further, the processing procedure from step S12 to S16 is repeated to adjust the divided data size, and increase the amount of data transmitted at one time to improve the transmission efficiency.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that all transmissions have been completed (if step S15 is YES), the divided data size variable processing is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the process has failed (it has not been performed normally) (if step S14 is NO), some problem that causes a reception error occurs in the image processing apparatus 10 that is the transmission destination of the divided data SDn. In order to reduce the amount of data to be cut out, the set value of the divided data size is reduced (step S17). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12, where re-division and re-transmission are performed. In addition, the processing procedure from step S12 to S17 (excluding steps S15 and S16) is repeated to adjust the divided data size and divide by the data transmission amount that avoids the reception error until the generated problem is solved. Data SDn is transmitted.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the printing system according to the present embodiment divides the print target data D in the information processing apparatus 11 that is the client PC, and obtains the divided data SDn obtained. Are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 that is a print server in a plurality of times, and data processing between them is controlled by message exchange (request transmission / response reception) according to SOAP, and all the print target data D is transmitted. This is notified to the image processing apparatus 10.

  Furthermore, when the divided data SDn is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10, the divided data size of the divided data SDn is determined according to the determination result (reception availability) indicating whether or not a SOAP response indicating that the divided data SDn has been received has been received. The (division amount) is changed, and the print target data D is divided with a data size appropriate for the image processing apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 10 receives a plurality of divided data SDn obtained by dividing the print target data D from the information processing apparatus 11, and controls data processing therebetween by exchanging messages according to SOAP. When a notification that all the print target data D has been transmitted is received, the print target data D is restored based on the plurality of divided data SDn retained at the time of reception, and the print generated based on the restored data is possible The data PD is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 12 which is a printer, and print processing is instructed.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, there can exist an effect similar to 1st Embodiment. Further, even when the amount of receivable data changes depending on the usage status of the image processing apparatus 10, transmission processing can be performed with communication data having an appropriate data amount corresponding to the change.

[Third Embodiment]
The print target data D includes confidential documents. When data is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 to the image processing apparatus 10, it is necessary to prevent information leakage or data falsification due to unauthorized access.

  In the printing system according to each of the above embodiments, a plurality of divided data SDn obtained by dividing the print target data D into a predetermined data size is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 to the image processing apparatus 10. Since the print target data D is divided, some confidentiality is maintained. However, if the transmission order information included in the communication data is known, the print target data D can be restored from the plurality of divided data SDn. .

  As an effective method for maintaining the confidentiality of communication data, an encryption method can be considered, but when communication data itself is encrypted, encryption / decryption is proportional to the data size of the communication data. Processing time also becomes longer. As a result, the processing time required for printing control also becomes longer, resulting in an adverse effect on the feeling of use of the printing system.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration for reducing the influence on the processing time required for the print control performed by the encryption process and performing divided data transmission with high confidentiality will be described.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described. Since the difference between the present embodiment and each of the above embodiments is only that the data at the time of transmission is encrypted, the other technical matters are described above. The description will be omitted with reference to the same drawings and reference numerals as the embodiment.

<Software configuration>
The present embodiment is different from the software configurations of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiments in the following points.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Note that (A) in the drawing shows the software configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 and (B) shows the software configuration of the image processing apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the application 202 operating on the information processing apparatus 11 and the application 212 operating on the image processing apparatus 10 include encryption applications 205 and 217, respectively.

  The encryption application 205 that operates in the information processing apparatus 11 has an encryption processing unit that encrypts the transmission order information of the divided data SDn, while the encryption application 217 that operates in the image processing apparatus 10 is encrypted. A decoding processing unit for decoding the transmission order information of the divided data SDn.

<Print control using PSI>
Now, a functional configuration realized in each device of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment and a linked operation thereof will be described.

<Functional configuration>
The functions of the information processing apparatus 11 and the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment have the same configurations as those of the above embodiments. However, the following points are different.

(Function by cryptographic application that operates on information processing device)
Communication data (for example, a SOAP message and XML data) including the divided data SDn, the divided data size information, and the transmission order information is generated by the image data transmitting unit 43 included in the information processing apparatus 11. For this reason, the encryption processing of the transmission order information is performed by the image data transmission unit 43 by the encryption processing unit of the encryption application 205.

  The image data transmission unit 43 encrypts the transmission order information obtained from the divided data generation application 204 by the encryption processing unit and passes it to the communication data generation unit of the divided data generation application 204.

  Thereby, the information processing apparatus 11 can transmit the communication data including the encrypted transmission order information to the image processing apparatus 10.

(Function by encryption application that operates on image processing device)
On the other hand, the communication data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 is received by the image data receiving unit 53 included in the image processing apparatus 10. Therefore, the decryption processing of the encrypted transmission order information is performed by the decryption processing unit of the encryption application 217 by the image data receiving unit 53.

  The image data receiving unit 53 decodes the transmission order information (obtained from the received communication data) extracted by the communication data analysis unit of the divided data synthesis application 214 by the decoding processing unit, and Pass it to the data synthesizer.

  As a result, the image processing apparatus 10 can combine and combine the divided data SDn based on the transmission order information decoded and extracted, and can restore the image data that is the print target data D.

(Specific example of encrypted data)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example including an extension member of the addDocumentByValue method according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows an example of the data configuration when the image data transmission unit 43 encrypts the value “5” of the DocumentOrder member, which is the transmission order information of the divided data SDn shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data configuration example at the time of divided data transmission according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a data configuration example when the image data transmission unit 43 encrypts the value “5” of the Order element that is the transmission order information of the divided data SDn shown in FIG.

  Transmission order information is data such as numerical values and codes, and has a relatively small amount of information. If the transmission order information cannot be read, the print target data D cannot be restored from the divided data SDn.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the information to be encrypted is limited to only information used when restoring the divided data, and the influence on the processing time required for the printing control performed by the encryption process is reduced. Divided data transmission is performed using highly confidential communication data.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the printing system according to the present embodiment divides the print target data D in the information processing apparatus 11 that is the client PC, and obtains the divided data SDn obtained. Are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 that is a print server in a plurality of times, and data processing between them is controlled by message exchange (request transmission / response reception) according to SOAP, and all the print target data D is transmitted. This is notified to the image processing apparatus 10.

  Further, the divided data SDn to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 is a communication in which transmission order information used when restoring the original data based on the divided data SDn is encrypted, and cannot be restored even if it is illegally acquired at the time of data transmission. It is data.

  On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 10 receives a plurality of divided data SDn obtained by dividing the print target data D from the information processing apparatus 11, and controls data processing therebetween by exchanging messages according to SOAP. When a notification that all the print target data D has been transmitted is received, the print target data D is restored based on the plurality of divided data SDn retained at the time of reception, and the print generated based on the restored data is possible The data PD is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 12 which is a printer, and print processing is instructed.

  Further, when restoring the print target data D, the encrypted transmission order information is decrypted, the divided data SDn is synthesized according to the obtained transmission order, and the original data is restored.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, there can exist an effect similar to said each embodiment. Furthermore, the confidentiality at the time of data transmission can be improved.

  Up to this point, the present invention has been described based on the above-described embodiments. However, the processing related to print control using the PSI according to each of the above-described embodiments is the same as the processing procedures described with reference to the drawings. It can be realized by executing a program coded in a programming language suitable for the operating environment (platform) of the computer. Therefore, the program according to each of the above embodiments can be stored in the computer-readable recording medium 107.

  Therefore, by storing the program in the recording medium 107, the program can be installed in each device via the external recording device 106 that can read the recording medium 107. In addition, since each device includes the interface device 102 that can be connected to a data transmission path such as a network, the program can be downloaded and installed using an electric communication line such as the Internet.

  Finally, the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as combinations of other elements with the shapes and configurations described in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structural example which the information processing apparatus and image processing apparatus which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention have. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 1) of a print control processing procedure using PSI according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure containing the extension member of the addDocumentByValue method which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 2) of a print control processing procedure using PSI according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure at the time of the division | segmentation data transmission which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the process sequence of the printing control using PSI which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which varies the data size at the time of the divided data transmission which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of the information processing apparatus and image processing apparatus which concern on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure containing the extension member of the addDocumentByValue method which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure at the time of the division | segmentation data transmission which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image processing device (print server)
11 Information processing device (client PC)
12 Image forming device (printer)
31, 32 PSI Web service 41 Message transmission means 42 Response reception means 43 Image data transmission means 51 Message reception means 52 Response transmission means 53 Image data reception means 61 Storage means 71 Image processing means 101 CPU
102 Interface device 103 HDD
104 Input device 105 Display device 106 External recording device 107 Recording medium 108 ROM
109 RAM
201, 211 OS
202, 212 Application 203, 213 PSI application 204 Division data generation application 205, 217 Encryption application 214 Division data composition application 215 Rendering application 216 Print control application D Print target data SD Division data PD Printable data

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus that requests an image processing apparatus to print image data using a SOAP message,
Image data transmitting means for transmitting image data to the image processing device;
Response receiving means for receiving from the image processing apparatus a SOAP response indicating that the transmitted image data has been received;
Message transmitting means for transmitting a SOAP message indicating that transmission of the image data is completed to the image processing apparatus when the SOAP response is received;
With
The image data transmission means includes
By transmitting the divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed, the image data is transmitted in a plurality of times,
The message transmission means includes:
An information processing apparatus that transmits the SOAP message when all of the SOAP responses to the transmitted divided data are received. The image data transmission means includes
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the response receiving unit receives a SOAP response indicating that the first divided data has been received, the second divided data is transmitted. The image data transmission means includes
3. The information according to claim 1, wherein the data size of the other divided data is changed according to whether or not a SOAP response indicating that the first divided data has been received is received by the response receiving unit. Processing equipment. An image processing apparatus that accepts a print request for image data using a SOAP message from an information processing apparatus,
Image data receiving means for receiving image data from the information processing apparatus;
Storage means for storing the received image data;
Message receiving means for receiving a SOAP message indicating that transmission of the image data has been completed from the information processing apparatus;
Response transmitting means for transmitting a SOAP response indicating that the image data has been received to the information processing apparatus;
Image processing means for executing printing processing of image data stored in the storage means;
With
The image data receiving means
By receiving the divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed from the information processing apparatus, the image data is received in a plurality of times,
The storage means stores the divided data received in a plurality of times as the image data,
The image processing means includes
When the SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed is received from the information processing apparatus by the message receiving unit, the plurality of pieces of divided data stored in the storage unit are combined and obtained by combining An image processing apparatus that executes print processing of image data. A print control method in an information processing apparatus that requests an image processing apparatus to print image data using a SOAP message,
An image data transmission procedure for transmitting image data to the image processing device;
A response reception procedure for receiving a SOAP response indicating that the image data transmitted by the image data transmission procedure has been received from the image processing device;
A message transmission procedure for transmitting to the image processing apparatus a SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed when the SOAP response is received by the response reception procedure;
Have
The image data transmission procedure includes:
By transmitting the divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed, the image data is transmitted in a plurality of times,
The message transmission procedure includes:
A print control method, comprising: transmitting the SOAP message when all the SOAP responses to the transmitted divided data are received. The image data transmission procedure includes:
6. The print control method according to claim 5, wherein the second divided data is transmitted when a SOAP response indicating that the first divided data is received is received by the response receiving procedure. The image data transmission procedure includes:
7. The printing according to claim 5, wherein the data size of the other divided data is changed according to whether or not a SOAP response indicating that the first divided data is received according to the response reception procedure is received. Control method. A print control method in an image processing apparatus that receives a print request for image data using a SOAP message from an information processing apparatus,
An image data receiving procedure for receiving image data from the information processing apparatus;
A message receiving procedure for receiving a SOAP message indicating that transmission of the image data has been completed from the information processing apparatus;
A response transmission procedure for transmitting to the information processing apparatus a SOAP response indicating that the image data has been received by the image data reception procedure;
An image processing procedure for executing print processing of image data in a storage means for storing the image data received from the information processing apparatus;
Have
The image data receiving procedure includes:
By receiving the divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed from the information processing apparatus, the image data is received in a plurality of times,
The image processing procedure includes:
When the SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed is received from the external device by the message receiving procedure, the divided data received in a plurality of times stored in the storage unit is combined and combined A printing control method, comprising: performing printing processing of the processed image data. A print control program in an information processing apparatus that requests an image processing apparatus to print image data using a SOAP message,
An image data transmission procedure for transmitting the image data in a plurality of times by transmitting the divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed to the image processing device;
A response reception procedure for receiving a SOAP response indicating that the image data transmitted by the image data transmission procedure has been received from the image processing device;
A message transmission procedure for transmitting, to the image processing apparatus, a SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed when all the SOAP responses for each of the transmitted divided data are received by the response reception procedure; A print control program that causes a computer to execute. A print control program in an image processing apparatus that accepts a print request for image data using a SOAP message from an information processing apparatus,
An image data reception procedure for receiving the image data divided into a plurality of times by receiving divided data obtained by dividing the image data to be printed from the information processing apparatus;
A message receiving procedure for receiving a SOAP message indicating that transmission of the image data has been completed from the information processing apparatus;
A response transmission procedure for transmitting to the information processing apparatus a SOAP response indicating that the image data has been received by the image data reception procedure;
When the SOAP message indicating that the transmission of the image data is completed is received from the information processing apparatus according to the message reception procedure, the divided data received in multiple times from the information processing apparatus is stored as the image data. A print control program for causing a computer to execute an image processing procedure for combining a plurality of divided data stored in a storage unit and executing print processing of image data obtained by combining the divided data.

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