JP2010186248A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system considering the earth environment, wherein presence of print consent permission is decided when particularly executing print processing, and ecology print is performed based on decision results thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The printing system wherein a host apparatus, a consent permission device and a printer are connected by a network has: a transmission means transmitting a print consent permission request of print data transmitted from the host apparatus to the consent permission device; a decision means deciding print permission of the print data based on the print consent permission request; and a print control means performing the print processing of the print data based on a consent permission notification from the consent permission device, and performing the ecology print to the print data whose consent permission notification is not notified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system in consideration of the global environment.

Today, the preservation of the global environment is screamed worldwide, and emission regulations for greenhouse gases such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) are being realized, centered on the Global Warming Prevention Conference. Under such circumstances, efforts are being made to reduce CO2 for general electronic devices including printing apparatuses, and related patent applications have been filed.
In such a situation, a printing apparatus in which so-called ecology setting is performed has been proposed in order to reduce CO2, and a printing apparatus that does not permit printing when ecology setting is not performed has also been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 is set in advance to determine whether or not to perform image formation when the subnetwork to which the image information transmitting apparatus (PC) is connected and the subnetwork to which the image forming apparatus is connected do not match. An invention of a printing system that determines whether or not the determination conditions are satisfied and executes image formation when they match is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 uses a recording sheet to which an IC tag is added in a digital multifunction machine having a copying function, reads a document image recorded on the recording sheet, and copies the document image to another recording sheet. In this case, an invention is disclosed in which copying restriction information is read from an IC tag attached to the recording paper to determine whether or not copying of a document image is permitted.

JP 2007-172396 A JP 2007-088720 A

  However, when the above-described ecology setting is not performed, in a printing apparatus that does not permit printing, for example, if the ecology setting is not mistakenly performed, the printing process is rejected. In addition, among the ecology elements, there is a draft printing technique for saving toner. Since draft printing may be used, complicated processing such as setting change is required when printing processing is desired.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a printing system that determines whether or not print approval is permitted at the time of execution of printing processing, and performs printing designated based on the determination result or ecology printing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a host device, an approval permission device, and a printing device are connected via a network, a print approval permission request for print data transmitted from the host device is sent to the approval permission device. A transmission unit that transmits, a determination unit that determines a print permission of the print data based on the print approval permission request, and a print process of the print data based on an approval permission notification from the approval permission device; This can be achieved by providing a printing system having printing control means for performing ecology printing on the print data based on an approval disapproval notification from the approval permission device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which the determination unit displays a web screen stored in the printing apparatus and determines whether the approval is permitted or not permitted by a button operation. Can be achieved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the print approval permission request can be achieved by providing a printing system that is executed by mail.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the input means for inputting the print data notified of the print approval permission based on the print approval permission request or the print data not notified of the print approval permission;
Provided is a printing apparatus having print control means for performing print processing of the print data on the print data based on the approval permission notification and performing ecology printing on the print data not notified of the approval permission notification Can be achieved.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method for a printing system in which a host device, an approval permission device, and a printing device are connected via a network. A transmission process for transmitting to the permission device, a determination process for determining print permission for the print data based on the print approval permission request, and a print process for the print data based on an approval permission notification from the approval permission device. And a printing method for executing a print control process for performing ecology printing on the print data based on an approval non-permission notification from the approval permission device.

  According to the present invention, when a certain condition is satisfied, printing processing other than the ecology setting can be performed, and when the certain condition is not satisfied, the ecology printing is forcibly performed. It is possible to provide a printing system that eliminates the complicated work of resetting and contributes to the preservation of the global environment.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the processing operation of the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the printing apparatus receives print data from a host device 2; 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the printing apparatus receives print approval permission from the host device 3; It is a figure explaining the case of the approval non-permission of Embodiment 1. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the printing apparatus receives a print approval rejection from the host device 3; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing operation according to the second embodiment. It is a figure explaining the case of approval non-permission of Embodiment 2.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to the present embodiment.
In the figure, the printing system of this example includes a printing apparatus 1 and host devices 2 and 3 such as a personal computer (PC) connected to the printing apparatus 1 via a network such as a LAN (local area network). ing.
A main storage device 4 is constructed in the host device 2, and the main storage device 4 includes a printer driver 5, a print spooler 6, and an input device 7. The input device 7 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The host device 2 generates print data according to an application program based on an operation signal from the input device 7 and transmits the print data to the printer driver 5.

  The printer driver 5 converts the print data into an intermediate code corresponding to the printing apparatus 1 and sends it to the print spooler 6. The print data stored in the print spooler 6 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 and sent to the control unit 16 via the receiving unit 14 of the printing apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, the host device 3 functions as an approval permission device in this example and has the same configuration as that of the host device 2, and a main storage device 9 is constructed. The main storage device 9 includes a printer driver 10, a print spooler 11, and an input device 12. Based on an operation signal from the input device 12, it is determined whether or not a print approval permission request to be described later is possible.

  The printing apparatus 1 includes a receiving unit 14, a printing mechanism unit 15, a control unit 16, an auxiliary storage unit 17, a display unit 18, and an input operation unit 19. The print data input to the control unit 16 is analyzed by a command, for example, a bit After being converted into map data, printing is output in accordance with the driving of the printing mechanism unit 15. The display unit 18 and the input operation unit 19 are provided, for example, on the front surface of the printing apparatus 1 as an operation panel, for example. Further, the control unit 16 performs ecology printing for CO2 reduction, and in this example, performs monochrome printing, duplex printing, and ecology printing with 50% toner saving.

Next, the processing operation of this example in the above system configuration will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the processing operation of this example, and the host device 3 functions as an administrator who determines authentication permission.

  First, the host device 2 generates print data according to an application program and transfers it to the printer driver 5. The printer driver 5 executes printing of the transferred print data, and converts the print data into an intermediate code corresponding to the printing apparatus 1 (a. Shown in FIG. 2). In addition, instructions for color printing and single-sided printing are given to the print data, and a print instruction different from the above-described ecology printing is added.

  This print data is transmitted from the host device 2 to the printing apparatus 1 (b. Shown in FIG. 2). The printing apparatus 1 performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether the above-described ecology printing has been set (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). If ecology setting has not been performed, normal printing processing is performed (S2). It should be noted that the same determination as described above is made when printing that is not ecologically set is restricted (YES in S1).

  On the other hand, when the ecology setting is performed (S1 is YES), the print data supplied from the host device 2 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 17 (S3). Then, an ID is assigned to the print data (S4), and an approval permission request is issued to the host device 3 (S5, c. Shown in FIG. 2). A shown in FIG. 2 indicates the contents of the print approval request issued at this time, and is transmitted to the host device 3 by mail. The contents of the print approval request include, for example, information such as a printer device (printing device) name, a document name to be printed, the aforementioned ID (document ID), and link destination information as shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the approval permission request, the host device 3 determines approval permission. Further, B shown in the figure displays (hosts) the web page stored in the printing apparatus 1 on the host device 3 based on the link destination information, and displays the print instruction contents of the print data. In addition, an “approval button”, an “ecology print button”, and a “delete execution button” are displayed.

  Here, the administrator selects the “approval button” shown in FIG. B when permitting the printing of the requested document name (document ID). In this case, an approval permission signal is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 (d. Shown in FIG. 2), and when the printing apparatus 1 receives the approval permission information, the printing apparatus 1 prints the document (shown in FIG. 2). e.).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the printing apparatus 1 receives an approval permission notification from the host device 3. First, the print data of the document ID for which approval has been granted is retrieved from the auxiliary storage unit 17 (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1). Next, when the corresponding document ID is detected from the auxiliary storage unit 17 (YES in ST2), the print data is read from the auxiliary storage unit 17, the above-described printing mechanism unit 15 is driven, and printing processing is performed (ST3).

  By performing the processing in this way, printing processing other than ecology setting can be performed when a certain condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition is, for example, a case where printing other than ecology setting is permitted in the case of a manager in a company organization or charge printing.

On the other hand, if the administrator determines that the requested document name (document ID) should be printed according to the ecology setting, the “ecology print button” shown in FIG. 2B is selected. In this case, an approval disapproval signal is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 (f. Shown in FIG. 5), and when the printing apparatus 1 receives approval disapproval information, the printing apparatus 1 performs print processing of the document (FIG. 2). G.).
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when there is no approval permission by the host device 3 (when there is an approval disapproval notice). In this case, the print data of the document ID that is not approved is retrieved from the auxiliary storage unit 17 (step (hereinafter referred to as STP) 1), and the corresponding document ID is detected from the auxiliary storage unit 17 (STP2 is YES), the print data is read, and the printing process is performed according to the driving of the printing mechanism unit 15 (STP3). In this case, printing is performed according to the setting of ecology printing. That is, as described above, monochrome printing, duplex printing, and 50% toner save printing are forcibly executed.
By processing as described above, when certain conditions are not satisfied, ecology printing is forcibly performed, and it is possible to contribute to maintaining the global environment.
If there is a reason not to permit ecology printing, a “deletion execution button” shown in FIG. 2B is operated to urge deletion of print data supplied to the printing apparatus 1.
In the above description, the print approval is permitted by the host device 3, but a configuration in which a dedicated authentication server or the like is provided may be performed, and the approval processing by the authentication content is performed via a network such as the Internet. May be.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
This example is an invention of a printing apparatus that performs print processing on print data that has been previously approved by the host device 3 or that has not been approved. This will be specifically described below.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the processing of this example. FIG. 7 explains the printing process for print data that has been approved for approval, and FIG. 8 explains the printing process for print data that has not been approved for approval. FIG. First, a print process for print data that has been approved for approval will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this case, the host device 2 first generates print data according to the application program, converts the print data into an intermediate code corresponding to the printing apparatus 1 by the printer driver 5, and then transmits a print approval request to the host device 3 (FIG. 7). A.) Also in this case, the print data is color print, and is print data for which a single-side print instruction has been issued.

When the host device 3 receives the approval permission request, the host device 3 determines approval permission. When the approval of printing is performed under the above-described certain conditions, an approval permission notification is notified to the host device 2 (b. Shown in FIG. 7).
Next, the host device 2 adds the approval permission information and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 1 (c. Shown in FIG. 7). The printing apparatus 1 performs print processing of print data, and performs color single-sided printing as instructed according to the approval permission information (d. And e. Shown in FIG. 7). By performing the processing in this way, printing processing other than ecology setting can be performed when a certain condition is satisfied.

  On the other hand, in the case of print processing for print data that has not been approved as shown in FIG. 8, the host device 2 generates print data according to the application program, and the printer driver 5 uses the intermediate code corresponding to the printing apparatus 1 to generate the print data. Then, the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 (a. Shown in FIG. 8). The printing apparatus 1 prints the supplied print data and forcibly executes ecology printing because there is no approval permission information (b. In FIG. 8). That is, monochrome printing, duplex printing, and 50% toner save printing are forcibly executed (c. Shown in FIG. 8).

By processing in this way, when certain conditions are not satisfied, ecology printing is forcibly performed also in this example, and it is possible to contribute to maintaining the global environment.
In the above description, the approval of print data is performed by the host device 3. However, a configuration in which a dedicated authentication server or the like is provided may be used, and the approval process using the authentication content is performed via a network such as the Internet. You may comprise as follows.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus 2 ... Host apparatus 3 ... Host apparatus 4 ... Main memory 5 ... Printer driver 6 ... Print spooler 7 ... Input device 9 ... Main memory 10.Printer driver 11.Print spooler 12.Input device

Claims (5)

In a printing system in which a host device, an approval permission device, and a printing device are connected via a network,
Transmitting means for transmitting a print approval permission request for print data transmitted from the host device to the approval permission device;
Determination means for determining whether to permit printing of the print data based on the print approval permission request;
A print control unit that performs printing processing of the print data based on an approval permission notification from the approval permission device, and performs ecology printing on the print data that is not notified of the approval permission notification;
A printing system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit displays a web screen stored in the printing apparatus and determines whether the approval is permitted or not permitted by a button operation.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print approval permission request is made by mail. Input means for inputting print data notified of print approval permission based on a print approval permission request, or print data not notified of print approval permission;
Print processing for performing print processing of the print data based on an approval permission notification for the print data, and ecology printing for the print data without approval permission;
A printing apparatus comprising: In a printing method of a printing system in which a host device, an approval permission device, and a printing device are connected by a network,
A transmission process for transmitting a print approval permission request for print data transmitted from the host device to the approval permission device;
A determination process for determining a print permission of the print data based on the print approval permission request;
A print control process for performing print processing of the print data based on an approval permission notification from the approval permission device and performing ecology printing on the print data without the approval permission notification from the approval permission device;
The printing method characterized by performing.