JP2012088924A - Printing system, printing history management device, printing apparatus and printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system which can reduce waste of paper by unnecessary re-printing of identical print data, and provide a printing history management device, a printing apparatus and printer driver that are applied to the printing system.SOLUTION: When printing print data, a printing system prompts an operator to input printing attribute information 6 corresponding to the print data. When re-printing desired print data, the printing system displays the print attribute information 6, a printing method (single-side printing, double-side printing, collective printing etc.) used for printing the identical print data in the past and print information 8 including the print image on a display part of a client computer. The operator can determine whether re-printing is necessary by checking the print attribute information 6. In addition, it is possible to prevent printing by mistake by checking printing method in the past. Therefore, it is possible to reduce wasteful use of paper for printing due to wasteful printing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing history management apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a printer driver. In particular, when reprinting print data, the operator can determine the necessity on the screen of the client apparatus, and the same print data can be re-necessary. The present invention relates to a printing system capable of avoiding printing, a print history management apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a printer driver applied to the printing system.

  Conventionally, a plurality of client devices in which a printer driver is installed, a plurality of printing devices that print print data in response to a printing instruction from the printer driver, and a network that interconnects the plurality of client devices and the printing devices And a printing system that prints desired print data using an arbitrary printing device selected by operating an input unit of a client device (for example, FIG. (See FIG. 2).

  In a printing system described in Patent Document 1, an OS (Operating System) that is basic software, application software for creating or processing print data, or printing instructions for print data, and a printer driver are stored in a storage unit of a client device. Before the printer driver instructs the output destination printing apparatus to output the print data instructed to print from the application software, the printer driver issues an inquiry as to whether or not to permit printing for the contents of the print data. The printer is configured to generate a print job of the print data by receiving a response of the print permission from the inquiry destination in response to the inquiry, and make a print request to the output destination printing apparatus. On the other hand, the printing device stores the history of print jobs that have been printed by the device itself, including the content of print data included in the print job, and in response to an inquiry about the content of print data from the printer driver, It is configured to determine whether printing is permitted or not permitted.

  Therefore, according to the printing system described in Patent Document 1, by configuring the printing apparatus to determine that printing data already printed by the printing apparatus is not permitted in response to an inquiry from the printer driver, for example, Unauthorized or inadvertent reprinting of confidential information or securities can be restricted. In addition, even if print data with the same content is edited using an optional function such as editing or processing of print data and a print instruction is given, it can be recognized as print data with the same content, so reprinting is also restricted for this can do. Furthermore, since no print data instructed to be printed remains on the printing apparatus, information security can be improved.

JP 2007-241414 A

  By the way, this type of printing system is desired to have a function for preventing unnecessary printing in order to contribute to the preservation of the global environment and to reduce printing costs. As described above, the printing system described in Patent Document 1 can restrict reprinting of printed print data, but is configured to be able to set in advance permission conditions when a print job is reprinted. Since it is possible to reprint within the permitted conditions, it is not possible to prevent unnecessary printing data from being reprinted due to carelessness of the operator or unknown printing status. It is not possible to reduce the use of.

  In other words, factors that cause unnecessary reprinting include, for example, single-sided printing where double-sided printing is required, monochrome printing where color printing is required, and printing data for multiple pages on one page of printing paper. Reprinting without knowing that it is caused by carelessness of the operator, such as printing without consolidating the places that should be consolidated, and necessary printed materials are stored in a storage place where anyone can view them. It is possible to print or to print due to the fact that the required number of copies have already been printed, but another operator reprints without knowing it, and so on due to the operator's ignorance of the printing status. However, in the printing system described in Patent Document 1, the operator prints on the client device the print information such as the print image and print format of the past print data, the print purpose of the past print data, the print storage location, and the like. Since the attribute information cannot be confirmed, it is difficult to prevent wasteful printing due to the operator's carelessness or the unknown printing status as described above. To reduce the amount of print paper used, the operator is overloaded. Will be burdensome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of preventing unnecessary reprinting of the same print data and reducing waste of printing paper. Another object of the present invention is to provide a print history management apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a printer driver that are applied to this.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a printing system including a client computer, a printing apparatus, and a file server connected to each other via a network, and printing from the client computer to the printing apparatus on the network. When an instruction is issued, a print history search unit that searches for a past print history of print data related to the print instruction, and a past print history related to the print data related to the print instruction is not searched by the print history search unit , Input request means for requesting an operator to input print attribute information to be added to the print data related to the print instruction, and the print attribute information and the printed print data input in response to the input request from the input request means Print history management means for storing / managing management information of the print data including the print information Display control means for displaying the management information stored in the print history management means on the display unit of the client computer when the print history search means retrieves a past print history related to the print data related to the print instruction. It is provided with.

  According to such a configuration, when printing is instructed from the client computer to the printing apparatus, print attribute information such as the purpose of printing and the storage location of the printed material can be added to the print data related to the printing instruction. The print attribute information given to the print data is stored in the print history management means as management information together with the print method (double-sided printing, single-sided printing or aggregated printing) of the printed print data and print information such as a print image. Is done. Further, when reprinting of the printed print data is instructed from the client computer to the printing apparatus, the management information stored in the print history management unit is displayed on the display unit of the client computer. Therefore, the operator confirms the management information displayed on the display unit of the client computer at the time of reprinting, for example, that the printing intended by the operator has already been performed, or storage of the necessary printed matter. You can know the location and know that there is no need for reprinting. In addition, since it is possible to know the print method and print image of the same print data in the past, it is possible to prevent an error in the print method at the time of reprinting. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of useless printing and the useless use of printing paper due to this.

  In the printing system having the above configuration, the input request unit displays an input request screen having an input field for the print attribute information on the display unit of the client computer, and the print attribute information is displayed on the input request screen. And the print attribute information is stored in the print history management means when an instruction to register the print attribute information is issued from the client computer.

  According to such a configuration, the operator can complete the input of the print attribute information only by inputting the necessary print attribute information in the input field displayed on the input request screen. can do.

  According to the present invention, in the printing system configured as described above, the print history management unit stores the print attribute information and the print information in association with each other when a print instruction is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus. It is characterized by that.

  According to such a configuration, the print information and the print attribute information can be stored in association with the print history management unit, so that each of these data is stored in the print history management unit and each of these data from the print history management unit is stored. Reading can be facilitated.

  According to the present invention, in the printing system having the above-described configuration, the display control unit is stored in the print history management unit when a reprint instruction for the printed print data is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus. The print attribute information and the management information including the print information are read and displayed on a display unit of the client computer.

  According to such a configuration, the print attribute information including the purpose of printing and the storage location of the printed material and the print information including the print method and the print image of the printed print data can be simultaneously displayed on the display unit of the client computer, so reprinting is necessary. It is possible to easily and reliably determine whether or not the printing method is used, and the printing method at the time of reprinting is less likely to be erroneous, so that waste of printing paper due to wasteful printing can be reliably suppressed.

  According to the present invention, in the printing system configured as described above, when the printing apparatus receives a print instruction from the client computer, the print apparatus outputs the print data according to the print instruction in the designated printing method, and the print data Print information including the print image and the print method are transmitted to the print history management means.

  According to such a configuration, the print information including the print image and the print method of the print data actually printed by the printing apparatus is transmitted from the printing apparatus to the print history management unit. Information stored in the means can be associated with each other, and management of each piece of information can be performed reliably.

  The present invention also relates to a print history management apparatus, which is a print history management apparatus interconnected with a client computer, a printing apparatus, and a file server via a network, wherein a print instruction is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus. A storage for storing print information including a print image and a print method of printed print data according to the print instruction, and print attribute information including a print purpose and a storage location of the printed matter assigned to the printed print data. It has the part.

  According to this configuration, the print history management apparatus can collectively manage the print image of the printed print data and the management information including the print attribute information attached to the data, so that when the client computer issues a print instruction to the print apparatus Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent wasteful printing.

  The present invention also relates to a printing apparatus, which is a printing apparatus that is interconnected with a client computer, a print history management apparatus, and a file server via a network, and that responds to the print instruction from the client computer. A print output unit that outputs the print data according to the instructed print method; a data transmission unit that transmits the print image of the print data that has been printed according to the print instruction and print information including the print method to the print history management apparatus; It is provided with.

  According to such a configuration, the print image of the print data actually printed by the printing apparatus and the print information attached thereto are transmitted from the printing apparatus to the print history management means, so the information handled by the printing apparatus and the print history Information stored in the management means can be associated with each other with certainty, and management of each information can be performed reliably.

  The present invention also relates to a printer driver, which is a printer driver installed in a client computer that is interconnected with a printing apparatus, a print history management apparatus, and a file server via a network, and that responds to a print instruction from the client computer. A print request unit that makes a print request to the printing apparatus, a search unit that searches for a print history of print data related to the print instruction, and when the search unit does not search for a print history of the same print data, the client An input request screen is displayed on the display unit of the computer, and an input request screen display control unit for requesting an operator to input print attribute information related to the print data, and a search history for the same print data is searched by the search unit. Print related to the print request stored in the print history management means. It reads the management information over data, characterized by comprising a management information display control unit for displaying on the display unit of the client computer.

  According to this configuration, the printer driver includes a print request to the printing apparatus, display of an input request screen on the display unit of the client computer, reading of print data management information related to the print request from the print history management unit, and client Since the management information of the print data related to the print request is displayed on the display unit of the computer, all these operations can be executed by operating the client computer, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary printing with a simple operation. Can be realized.

  According to the printing system, the printing history management device, the printing device, and the printer driver of the present invention, the operator can confirm the management information displayed on the display unit of the client computer when reprinting the desired print data. It is possible to determine whether or not reprinting is necessary and to know the printing method (single-sided printing, double-sided printing, consolidated printing, etc.) for the same print data in the past and prevent erroneous printing. This can prevent wasteful printing paper.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of each apparatus which comprises the printing system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the attribute information input screen of the printing system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the management information display screen of the printing system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of the printing attribute information to the printing log | history management server which concerns on embodiment, log information, and printing information. It is a figure which shows the printing control method using the printing system which concerns on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a printing system, a printing history management apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a printer driver according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system according to an embodiment includes client computers 1 and 2, a file server 3, and a print history management server 4 that is a print history management device, which are connected to each other via a network N. It is configured with a printing device 5 such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral. Note that the number of devices connected via the network N is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1, and can be any number for each device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the client computers 1 and 2 include a storage unit 11, an input unit 12, a display unit 13, an external interface unit 14, and a CPU 15 that performs overall control of these units.

  The storage unit 11 includes a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk for storing various data and programs. The hard disk includes basic software 11a for managing the entire system, creation and processing of print data, The application software 11b for instructing the printing device 5 to print the print data, the print data and the print information corresponding to the log information 7 and the print information 8 (see FIG. 5) attached to the print data are created and the output destination is printed. A printer driver 11c to be transmitted to the apparatus 5 is installed in advance. As shown in FIG. 5, in this example, the log information 7 is a data group including a printer name 71, a document data name 72, a document data size 73, and a print date / time 74, and the print information 8 is double-sided printing / Data consisting of single-sided printing 81, consolidated printing 82, and printing image 83 is a group. In this specification, the double-sided / single-sided printing 81 and the aggregated printing 82 may be collectively referred to as “printing method”.

  The printer driver 11c in this example creates and transmits the print job described above, and accesses the print history management server 4 when a print instruction is issued from the input unit 12 of the client computers 1 and 2 to the printing apparatus 5. If the print history of the print data related to the print instruction is searched and there is no print history, the attribute information input screen 9 shown in FIG. In some cases, the management information display screen 20 shown in FIG. 4 read from the print history management server 4 is displayed on the display unit 13 of the client computers 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the attribute information input screen 9 includes a printer name input field 90a, a document name input field 90b, a remarks input field 90c, a print purpose selection tab 91, and a print storage location selection tab. 92 and a print instruction button 93 are displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the management information display screen 20 includes a display column 200a for a printer name, a display column 200b for a document name, a display column 200 for a print purpose, a display column 201 for a storage location of a printed material, Display field 202, duplex / single-sided print information display field 203, aggregated print information display field 204, past print image display field 205, current past print image display field 206, print instruction button 207, attribute input button 208 and a cancel button 209 are displayed.

  As described above, the printer driver 11c of this example not only includes a print request unit for creating and transmitting a print job, but also includes a search unit (print history search unit) for searching a print history of print data and an input screen 21. An input request screen display control unit (input request unit) for displaying and a management information display control unit (display control unit) for displaying the management information display screen 20 are included. The other parts are the same as those of a publicly known office personal computer and are not the gist of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the file server 3 includes a storage unit 31 that stores document data created using the application software 11 b and log information assigned in correspondence thereto, an external interface unit 32, And a CPU 33 for overall control of each unit. The storage unit 31 includes a RAM or a hard disk that can be written and read as needed, and stores document data created or processed using the application software 11b and log information added thereto. The document data stored in the storage unit 31 can be opened on the display unit 13 of the client computers 1 and 2 by operating the input unit 12 of the client computers 1 and 2 and specifying log information.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print history management server 4 includes a storage unit 41 that stores printed print data and management information (see FIG. 4) assigned to each print data, an external interface unit 42, And a CPU 43 for overall control of each part. The storage unit 41 includes a RAM or a hard disk that can be written to and read from time to time. Every time printing is performed by the printing apparatus 5, printed print data and management information assigned thereto are stored at any time. The The management information stored in the storage unit 41 is displayed on the display unit 13 of the client computers 1 and 2 in response to the search of the print history from the printer driver 11c.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 5 includes a print output unit 51 that outputs print data related to the print instruction in accordance with a print method instructed according to a print instruction from the client computer, and a print related to the print instruction. A data transmission unit 52 that transmits print information and log information of the completed print data to the print history management server 4 and a CPU 53 that performs overall control of these units are provided. The print output unit 51 includes a storage unit (not shown), an image processing unit, an image forming unit, an operation display unit, a paper feed unit, and the like, and print data related to a print instruction according to a control signal output from the CPU 53. The printed matter is output. The details of each part constituting the print output part 51 are well-known matters and are not the gist of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the data transmission unit 52 transmits log information 7 and print information 8 of the print data actually printed using the print output unit 51 to the print history management server 4. As a result, the log information 7 and the print information 8 handled by the printing apparatus 5 can be associated with the information stored in the print history management server 4, so that each information can be managed reliably. .

  Hereinafter, a printing control method of the printing system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When printing of the document data 31 is instructed from the client computer 1, the printer driver 11c searches the log information 7 stored in the print history management server 4 and confirms the history of whether the same file has been printed in the past (step S100). ).

  If there is no past print history in the print history management server 4 (if NO is determined in step S100), the process proceeds to step S109, and the attribute information input screen 9 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 13 of the client computer 1. Then, the operator is asked to determine whether or not to input the print attribute information 6. If the print data is a document data file to be shared, such as for storage or circulation, it is required to input the print attribute information 6 in order to prevent waste of the print paper, such as personal document data. If there is no possibility that another person will print, it is possible to select not to input the print attribute information 6.

  If the user selects not to input the print attribute information 6 in step S109 (if NO is selected in step S109), printing is executed by the printing device 5 (step S111), and the printed paper is output from the printing device 5. Is done. The printing apparatus transfers the log information 7 and the print information 8 to the print history management server 4 as soon as printing is completed.

  The print history management server 4 acquires the log information 7 and the print information 8. However, since the print attribute information 6 is not acquired, it is determined that the file is not a shared file, and the log information 7 and the print information 8 are automatically deleted. .

  If selection is made to input the print attribute information 6 in step S109 (if YES is selected in step S109), the printing purpose 91 and the print storage location 92 are selected from the attribute information input screen 9 in FIG. The instruction button 93 is pressed. When the print instruction button 93 is pressed, the printer driver 11c transfers the print attribute information 6 to the print history management server 4 (step S108), and simultaneously transfers log information 7 and print information 8 to the printing apparatus 5. When printing is completed in the printing apparatus 5, the log information 7 and the printing information 8 are transferred from the printing apparatus 5 to the history management server 4 (step S112). As a result, the print history management server 4 stores the print attribute information 6, the log information 7, and the print information 8.

  When the print attribute information 6, the log information 7, and the print information 8 have already been stored in the print history management server 4 (when it is determined YES in step S100), the client computer 2 instructs to print the document data 31. Then, the printer driver 11c searches the log information 7 stored in the print history management server 4 and confirms the past print history of the same file (step S100).

  In this case, in step S100, it is determined that there is a past print history in the print history management server 4 (YES), and management information relating to the document data 31 printed in the past, that is, print attribute information 6 and log information 7 is stored. And the print information 8 are sequentially displayed on the display unit 13 of the client computer 2 (steps S101 and S102).

  The operator determines whether printing of the document data 31 is necessary based on the management information displayed on the display unit 13 of the client computer 2 (step S103). When the operator determines that printing is not necessary (when NO is selected in step S103), pressing the cancel button 209 stops printing. On the other hand, when it is determined that printing is necessary (when YES is selected in step S103), the printer driver 11c is checked for settings (step S104). That is, the previous print image 205 displayed on the display unit 13 of the client computer 2 is compared with the current print image 206, and the setting information of the printer driver 11c is set so that the current print image 206 matches the previous print image 205. To change. Thereby, it is possible to prevent wasteful printing due to an error in the printing method.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S105, and the operator is asked to determine whether or not to input the print attribute information 6. In step S105, the operator confirms the print purpose 200, the print storage location 201, and the remarks 202 previously input from the client computer 1, and confirms whether the current print and the print purpose and the print storage location are the same. To do. When the information such as the print purpose and the storage location is different from the operator of the client computer 1 (when it is determined YES in step S105), the operator depresses the attribute input button 208 on the management information display screen 20 to display the client computer 2 The attribute information input screen 9 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 13 and the print attribute information 6 is input from this screen 9 (step S106).

  After the print attribute information 6 is input, when the print instruction button 93 on the attribute information input screen 9 is pressed (step S107), the print attribute information 6 input in step S106 is transferred to the print history management server 4 (step S108). At the same time, the print information 8 is transferred to the printing apparatus. Next, after the printing by the printing apparatus 5 is completed, the log information 7 and the printing information 8 are transferred from the printing apparatus 5 to the print history management server 4 (step S112). As a result, the print history management server 4 stores the print attribute information 6, the log information 7, and the print information 8.

  If it is determined in step S103 that printing is not necessary (NO), printing is stopped. If it is determined in step S105 that input of print attribute information is unnecessary (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to step S107 without passing through step S106.

  By executing the above-described print control method, it is possible to prevent reprinting of document data printed by someone in the past, and to prevent print setting mistakes, leading to the effect of reducing the number of paper used. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer driver 11c has a search unit (print history search unit) that searches the print history of print data, an input request screen display control unit (input request unit) that displays the input screen 21, and Although the management information display control unit (display control means) for displaying the management information display screen 20 is configured, the gist of the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices on the network, for example, a print history management server 4 can be given these functions.

  The present invention can be used in a printing system including a client computer, a printing apparatus, and a file server connected to each other via a network.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client computer 2 Client computer 3 File server 31 Electronic data 4 Print history management server 5 Printing apparatus 6 Print attribute information 61 Printing purpose 62 Print storage location 63 Remarks 7 Log information 71 Printer name 72 Document data name 73 Document data size 74 Print date and time 8 Print information 81 Duplex / single-sided setting information 82 Aggregated setting information 83 Print image 9 Attribute information input screen 91 Purpose selection tab 92 Storage location selection tab 93 Print button 20 Management information display screen 200 Printing purpose 201 Storage location for printed matter 202 Remarks 203 Double-sided / single-sided printing information display 204 Integrated information display 205 Past print image display 206 Current print image display 207 Print button 208 Attribute input button 209 Cancel button

Claims (8)

In a printing system including a client computer, a printing apparatus, and a file server connected to each other via a network,
On the network,
A print history search means for searching a past print history of print data related to the print instruction when a print instruction is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus;
An input request means for requesting an operator to input print attribute information to be given to the print data according to the print instruction when the past print history related to the print data according to the print instruction is not searched by the print history search means;
A print history management means for storing and managing the print data management information including the print attribute information and the print information related to the printed print data input in response to the input request from the input request means;
Display control means for displaying the management information stored in the print history management means on a display unit of the client computer when a past print history related to the print data related to the print instruction is searched by the print history search means; ,
A printing system comprising: The printing system according to claim 1,
The input request unit displays an input request screen having an input field for the print attribute information on a display unit of the client computer, the print attribute information is input to the input request screen, and the print attribute is input from the client computer. A printing system, wherein when a registration instruction for information is given, the printing attribute information is stored in the printing history management means. The printing system according to claim 1,
The printing system is characterized in that the printing history management means stores the printing attribute information and the printing information in association with each other when a printing instruction is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1,
The display control unit includes the management including the print attribute information and the print information stored in the print history management unit when an instruction to reprint the printed print data is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus. A printing system, wherein information is read out and displayed on a display unit of the client computer. The printing system according to claim 1,
When receiving the print instruction from the client computer, the printing apparatus outputs the print data according to the print instruction in the instructed print method, and print information including the print image of the print data and the print method. A printing system that transmits to the printing history management means. A print history management apparatus interconnected with a client computer, a printing apparatus, and a file server via a network,
Each time a print instruction is issued from the client computer to the printing apparatus, print information including a print image and a print method of the print data already printed according to the print instruction, and a print purpose and printed matter assigned to the print data A printing history management apparatus comprising a storage unit for storing printing attribute information including a storage location of the printing history. A printing apparatus interconnected with a client computer, a print history management apparatus, and a file server via a network,
In accordance with a print instruction from the client computer, a print output unit that outputs print data according to the print instruction in an instructed print method, a print image of printed print data according to the print instruction, and the print method A printing apparatus comprising: a data transmission unit configured to transmit print information to the print history management apparatus. A printer driver mounted on a client computer interconnected with a printing device, a print history management device, and a file server via a network,
A print request unit that issues a print request to the printing apparatus in response to a print instruction from the client computer, a search unit that searches a print history of print data according to the print instruction, and the search unit When the print history is not searched, the input request screen is displayed on the display unit of the client computer, and the input request screen display control unit for requesting the operator to input the print attribute information regarding the print data is the same by the search unit. A management information display control unit that reads out management information of print data related to the print request stored in the print history management unit and displays it on the display unit of the client computer when a print history of the print data is retrieved; A printer driver characterized by comprising: