JP2012150534A - Print control device, print control method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control device that performs print control in accordance with a request from a user device even in a network environment where a print control device cannot communicate directly with an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A print server 104 receives a print control request to a printer 107 from a client terminal 101. If the previous instruction method of print control to the printer 107 is a pull type, the print server 104 determines a current instruction method of print control to be a pull type, and issues a print control instruction to the printer 107 via the client terminal 101.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a computer program.

  A technology called a cloud computing system that can use a service (cloud service) using various applications that operate on a server on the Internet has been proposed. In a business environment in which cloud services are widespread, a print server that functions as a print control apparatus is also required to provide a function as a print service on the Internet.

  That is, a printing system that provides a print service as a cloud service using a print server arranged on a large-scale data center can be considered. Such a printing system eliminates the need for hardware management for each customer. Moreover, resources can be easily added according to the load on the server. For this reason, in recent years, a pull-type printing method has been used in addition to a conventional push-type printing method in which print data is directly transmitted from a print server to a printer. The pull-type printing method is a printing method in which a printer acquires print data from a print server via the Internet and a browser. Therefore, a printing system that realizes a function equivalent to that of push type printer control by pull type printer control is desired.

  In a conventional printing system in which a print server and a printer exist in an intranet, the print server sends a printer control command according to a push-type printing method, thereby controlling the printer according to the user's request (print stop, print stop). Etc.).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a network printer control method in which a client terminal having both a server procedure and a browser procedure communicates with a network printer using HTTP. HTTP is an abbreviation for HyperText Transfer Protocol.

JP 11-024870 A

  However, in a printing system that provides a cloud service on the Internet, when a print server (printing control device) and a printer (image forming device) are arranged over a firewall, there are the following problems. That is, the print control apparatus cannot communicate with the image forming apparatus through the firewall, and therefore cannot directly issue a print control instruction to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, even if there is a print control request (print stop, print stop, etc.) from the user device, the print control device cannot issue a print control instruction to the image forming apparatus.

  Further, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary for the client terminal and the network printer to perform bidirectional communication by playing the role of a server / client. However, in an environment where a firewall is provided between the client terminal and the network printer, communication between the client terminal and the network printer may not be possible. In this case, if the external port of the firewall is opened, the network security level may be lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus that executes print control in response to a request from a user apparatus even in a network environment where the print control apparatus cannot communicate directly with an image forming apparatus.

  A print control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a print control request receiving unit that receives a print control request, which is a request related to control of print processing executed by an image forming apparatus, from a Web browser included in a user apparatus via a network. And a control instruction unit that issues a control instruction corresponding to the print control request to the image forming apparatus via the network. The control instruction means refers to the history information of the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past, and is the same method as the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past indicated by the history information. A control instruction is given to the image forming apparatus.

  According to the print control apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to issue a print control instruction via a Web browser even to an image forming apparatus that is arranged in an area where access is restricted by a firewall and cannot directly communicate from the print control apparatus. . As a result, it is possible to perform print control on the image forming apparatus while maintaining security without opening the external port of the firewall.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the printing system of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the function of the printing system of this embodiment. 3 is a detailed configuration example of a print server and a pull print application. It is a figure explaining the example of UI screen which a web browser displays. It is an example of a sequence diagram explaining a print control process 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a print server. It is a figure explaining the example of an operation process of a web browser and a printer. It is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a print control process. It is a figure which shows the html structure of a web page. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a print server. It is a flowchart explaining the example of operation processing of a Web browser. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing of a printer.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of client terminals (101 to 103), a print server 104, and a plurality of printers (105 to 108).

  The print server 104 is a print control apparatus according to the present embodiment. A printer is the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. The print server 104, the client terminal, and the printer are connected via a network (109 to 111). Of course, there may be one client terminal and one printer. The client terminals 101 to 103 have the same configuration. The printers 105 to 108 have the same configuration.

The networks 109 to 111 are, for example, a LAN (Local Area) such as the Internet.
Network) and WAN (World Wide Network). The networks 109 to 111 may be communication networks such as a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) line, a frame relay line, a cable TV line, and a data broadcasting wireless line. This communication network may be realized by a combination of these lines. Further, the communication means from the client terminal to the print server 104 and the printer and the communication means from the printer to the print server 104 may be different.

  The client terminal is a user device operated by a user. The client terminal is, for example, a desktop personal computer, notebook personal computer, mobile personal computer, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), or the like. The client terminal may be a mobile phone with a built-in program execution environment. The client terminal includes a web browser. The web browser is a browser used for using the World Wide Web. This Web browser transmits a print control request to the print server 104 via the network 109.

  The print control request is a request related to control of print processing executed by the printer. The print control request includes, for example, a print request for print processing, a print stop request for canceling print processing, and a print destination change request for changing the printer of the print destination. The print destination change request includes a request for canceling the printing process being executed by the first printer and executing the printing process by the second printer.

  The client terminal is disposed in a local area where access from the outside is restricted, and is blocked from the network 109 by a firewall. One of the printers is disposed in a local area where access from the outside is restricted, and is blocked from the network 109 by a firewall.

  When the print server 104 receives a print control request from the Web browser of the client terminal, the print server 104 issues a print control instruction to the printer corresponding to the print control request. The printer executes an operation according to the print control instruction received from the print server 104.

  In the present embodiment, the print server is provided in the cloud. The cloud is an area where servers in a cloud computing environment are arranged. In a cloud computing environment, a user uses computer processing as a service via a network. The firewall cannot be accessed by a request issued from the print server 104 provided in the cloud. Accordingly, the print server 104 communicates with the client terminal by returning a response to the request from the client terminal.

  The print server 104 issues a print control instruction to the printer that is blocked from the network 109 by the firewall via the client terminal that has issued the print control request. Hereinafter, a print control instruction method for issuing a print control instruction from the print server to the printer via the client terminal is described as a pull-type print control instruction method. A print control instruction method in which a print control instruction is directly issued from the print server 104 to the image forming apparatus (printer) is described as a push-type print control instruction method.

  The print server 104 can directly issue a print control instruction to a printer that is not blocked by the firewall from the network 109 by a request issued from the print server 104. The printing control method of the present embodiment is realized by the printing system shown in FIG. Further, the computer program of the present embodiment causes the computer to execute this print control method.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the printing system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, a hardware configuration example of the print server 104, the client terminal 101, and the printer 107 will be described. Note that the hardware configuration of the client terminal is the same as the hardware configuration of the print server 104.

The print server 104 includes a CPU 202, RAM 203, ROM 204, HDD 205, display 206, keyboard 207, and interface 208. CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit. ROM is Read
It is an abbreviation for “Only Memory”. HDD is an abbreviation for Hard Disk Drive. The CPU 202 to the interface 208 are connected to the system bus 201.

The CPU 202 controls the entire apparatus. The CPU 202 executes an application program, OS, and the like stored in the HDD 205, and performs control to temporarily store information, files, and the like necessary for executing the program in the RAM 203. OS is Operating
Abbreviation for System.

  The ROM 204 stores programs such as a basic input / output (I / O) program, print data used during print processing, and various data such as printer information. A RAM 203 is a temporary storage unit, and functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 202. The HDD 205 is an external storage unit and functions as a large capacity memory. The HDD 205 stores in advance an application program such as a Web browser, a print server program, an OS, and related programs.

  The display 206 is a display unit. The display displays commands input from the keyboard 207, printer status, and the like. An external device I / F (Interface) 208 connects a printer, a USB device, and a peripheral device. The keyboard inputs input information according to a user operation. USB is an abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus.

  The printer 107 includes a controller 209, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 219, a print engine 220, an operation panel 221, and an external memory 223. A controller 209 controls the entire printer 107. The NIC 219 mediates data exchange between the controller 209 and an external device. The print engine 220 executes print processing according to instructions from the controller 209. The print engine 220 is, for example, an electrophotographic (laser beam), inkjet, or sublimation (thermal transfer) print engine 220.

  The operation panel 221 inputs information according to a user operation. The operation panel 221 includes, for example, a user interface for performing a pull print operation and a pull print switching button. The operation panel 221 includes, for example, a button and a liquid crystal panel for performing operations such as setting of the printer operation mode and the like, display of the printer operation status, and copy designation. The operation panel 221 may include a display unit such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 214. The external memory 213 functions as a large capacity memory. The external memory 213 stores, for example, a pull print application program and related programs in advance.

  The controller 209 includes a CPU 210, RAM, ROM, HDD, LED, raster controller 215, DKC (Disk Controller) 216, and device I / F 217. DKC is an abbreviation for Disk Controller.

  The CPU 210 controls the entire apparatus. For example, the CPU 210 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 218. This control is based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 212 or a control program or resource data (resource information) stored in the external memory 223 connected via the DKC 216.

  The RAM 211 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 210. The RAM 211 is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The raster controller 215 is a controller that converts print data into image data. The print data is described in, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) and PDF (Portable Document Format). The device I / F 217 is a connection I / F with an external device that can be connected by USB or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating functions of the printing system according to the present embodiment. The printer 107 in FIG. 3 is arranged in a local area where access from the print server 104 is restricted by a firewall. Accordingly, the printer 107 has a function corresponding to the pull type print control instruction method. The print server 104 includes a web application 302, a web service 303, a printer management service 305, and a print job management service 306.

  The Web application 302 functions as a print control request receiving unit that receives a print control request (request) from the Web browser 301 included in the client terminal 101 via the network. In addition, the Web application 302 requests the authentication service 308 to perform authentication processing for the request received from the Web browser 301. The Web application 302 manages a request that has been successfully authenticated by the authentication service 308 as a session.

  Further, in response to the print control request, the Web application 302 generates a Web page corresponding to a UI screen (a job list screen or a printer list screen described later) on which the user performs an operation according to the print control request. The Web application 302 transmits the generated Web page to the Web browser 301 together with a script (print control instruction script) for issuing a print control instruction to the printer 107 via the network. As a result, the Web application 302 causes the Web browser 301 to issue a print control instruction to the printer 107. That is, the Web application 302 functions as a control instruction unit that issues a control instruction corresponding to the print control request to the printer 107 via the network.

  The print control instruction script includes, for example, a print instruction script for instructing print processing and a print stop script for instructing stop of print processing. The web browser 301 displays a UI screen based on the web page received from the web application. Further, the Web browser 301 issues a print control instruction corresponding to the print control instruction script received from the Web application to the printer 107. Specifically, the Web browser 301 transmits a command (print control command) corresponding to the print control instruction to the printer 107. The print control command is, for example, a print command, a print cancel command, or the like.

  For example, when the Web browser 301 receives a print instruction script, the Web browser 301 issues a print instruction to the pull print application 304 of the printer 107. When the pull print application 304 receives a print instruction from the Web browser 301, it makes a print job acquisition request to the Web service 303 of the print server 104. The print job acquisition request is a request for requesting transmission of a print job according to the print instruction.

  When receiving a print job acquisition request from the pull print application 304, the Web service 303 acquires the print job and returns it to the pull print application 304. Further, the Web service 303 receives the status (execution state) of the print job from the pull print application 304. The status of the print job is associated with, for example, the name of the printer and the name of a document (document) that is to be printed by this printer. Hereinafter, the status of a print job is described as a print status. A printer management service 305 manages printers connected to the print server 104 via a network. Specifically, the printer management service 305 manages printer information corresponding to each printer. The printer information will be described later with reference to FIG.

  A print job management service 306 manages print jobs. The print job management service 306 stores and manages document data and the like input from a predetermined processing unit included in the print server 104 in the storage 307 as print data corresponding to the print job. The storage 307 is a storage device such as an HDD built in the print server 104, an HDD externally connected to the print server 104, or a network storage.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the print server and the pull print application. FIG. 4A shows a detailed configuration example of the print server 104. The print job management service 306 provided in the print server 104 includes a print data management unit 401 and a print job information management unit 402. The printer management service 305 includes a printer information management unit 403. The Web application 302 includes a session management unit 404, a page generation unit 405, and a request reception unit 406. The Web service 303 includes a print job acquisition unit 407, a print status reception unit 408, and a request reception unit 409.

  A print data management unit 401 manages print data. The print data management unit 401 receives a print data acquisition request from the print job acquisition unit 407 of the Web service 303, acquires specified print data from the storage 307, and passes it to the print job acquisition unit 407.

  A print job information management unit 402 manages print job information (print job information) corresponding to print data managed by the storage 307. The print job information includes a job identification ID for identifying print data, a document name, and a job type for identifying a data format such as PDL or PDF. The print job information includes information such as a printer name corresponding to the print job, a print status, a reception date / time, a final print date / time, a user name, the number of pages, a page size, and a print data link destination. The print status includes, for example, statuses such as waiting, transferring, printing, canceling, normal end, cancel end, and error end.

  The printer information management unit 403 of the printer management service 305 manages the printer information shown in FIG. For example, the printer information management unit 403 receives the print status and printer status from the print status reception unit 408 of the Web service 303, and manages the received print status and printer status by setting them as printer information. The printer status indicates the status of the printer (for example, warning status, normal status, etc.). Also, the printer information management unit 403 passes the print status set in the printer information to the print job information management unit 402, and reflects this print status in the print job information.

  When the web application 302 receives a print control request from the web browser 301, the web application 302 notifies the printer management service 305 of the print control request. The print control request includes identification information (printer identification information) that uniquely identifies the printer to be controlled. The printer information management unit 403 searches for and determines a printer to be controlled based on printer identification information included in the printer information illustrated in FIG. The search process for the printer to be controlled is performed only for printers in which the user who issued the print request from the Web browser 301 matches the user included in the printer information.

  The session management unit 404 of the Web application 302 manages a request from the Web browser 301 that has been successfully authenticated by the authentication service 308 as a session. In response to the request from the Web browser 301, the page generation unit 405 generates a Web page for displaying the job list screen 601 shown in FIG. 5A and sends it back to the Web browser 301. The request reception unit 406 receives a print control request from the web browser 301.

  A request reception unit 409 of the Web service 303 receives a print job acquisition request, a print status, and a printer status from the print job acquisition unit 412 of the pull print application 304. The print job acquisition unit 407 issues a print data acquisition request to the print job management service 306 when the request reception unit 409 receives a print job acquisition request.

  The print job acquisition unit 407 receives print data from the print data management unit 401 of the print job management service 306 and returns a print job including this print data to the print job acquisition unit 412. When the request reception unit 409 receives the print status and the printer status, the print status reception unit 408 notifies the printer information management unit 403 of the printer management service 305 of the print status. The print status reception unit 408 notifies the printer status to the printer information management unit 403 when the request reception unit 409 receives the printer status.

  FIG. 4B shows a detailed configuration example of the pull print application 304. The pull print application 304 includes a Web service reception unit 410, a Web service transmission unit 411, a print job acquisition unit 412, a pull print controller 413, a device monitoring unit 414, a print control unit 415, and a print job transmission unit 416.

  The web service accepting unit 410 accepts a print control command from the web browser 301. For example, the Web service transmission unit 411 transmits a print job acquisition request, a print status, and a printer status to the request reception unit 409 of the Web service 303. In addition, the Web service transmission unit 411 receives a print job from the print job acquisition unit 407 of the Web service 303 in response to the print job acquisition request, and passes the print job to the print job acquisition unit 412.

  When the print control command received by the Web service reception unit 410 is a print command, the print job acquisition unit 412 sends a print job acquisition request to the request reception unit 409 of the Web service 303 via the Web service transmission unit 411. Do. The print job acquisition unit 412 receives a print job from the print job acquisition unit 407 of the Web service 303 via the Web service transmission unit 411.

  The print job transmission unit 416 passes the print data included in the print job received by the print job acquisition unit 412 to the controller 209 (see FIG. 2). The controller 209 that has received the print data prints out the print data by performing a drawing process or the like. The print control unit 415 receives the print status from the controller 209. Then, the print control unit 415 transmits the received print status to the request reception unit 409 of the Web service 303 via the Web service transmission unit 411.

  The device monitoring unit 414 receives a printer status acquisition request from the print server 104 or the Web browser 301. The printer status acquisition request is a request for requesting transmission of the printer status. In response to the printer status acquisition request, the device monitoring unit 414 acquires the printer status from the controller 209 and transmits it to the request acquisition unit 409 of the Web service 303 via the Web service transmission unit 411. The pull print controller 413 manages the operation of the entire pull print application 304.

  FIG. 4C illustrates an example of printer information managed by the printer information management unit 403 of the print server 104. The printer information includes a printer name, printer identification information, status, user, and control instruction method history. The printer name is the name of the printer. The printer identification information is printer identification information. The printer identification information is, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), or the like. The status includes a printer status and a print status.

  The status includes, for example, normal, out of paper, jam, cover open, no toner, paper discharge bin full, hard disk full, and other errors. The status includes, for example, statuses such as warming up, calibration, initialization, offline, sleeping, printing, printable, and state unknown. The user is identification information of a user who operates the Web browser 301. The print control instruction method history is history information of a print control instruction method that has been successful in the past from the print server to the printer. The print control instruction method includes a pull type print control instruction method and a push type print control instruction method.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen displayed by the Web browser. In this embodiment, when the Web browser 301 makes a print control request to the print server 104, the print server 104 generates a Web page for generating the job list screen 601 that is the UI screen shown in FIG. To the Web browser 301. Specifically, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 generates a Web page based on the printer information managed by the printer information management unit 403. The web browser 301 generates and displays a job list screen 601 based on this web page.

  On the job list screen 601, a document name 603 corresponding to each job registered in the print server 104, a printer name 604 of a printer that executes the job, and a print status 605 are displayed. On the job list screen 601, a check box 602 for selecting a job that the user wants to control and accept buttons 607 through 607 for various requests (print request, print cancel request, print stop request, print destination change request, etc.). 610 is displayed.

  When the user designates the check box 602 corresponding to the job to be controlled and one of the accept buttons, the Web browser 301 executes the following processing. The Web browser 301 transmits to the print server 104 a request corresponding to the specified reception button regarding the job corresponding to the specified check box 602.

  When a printer is required for a request to the print server 104, such as when changing a printer to be printed, the print server 104 transmits a Web page corresponding to the printer list screen 611 to the Web browser 301. For example, when the user presses the print destination change button 610 after designating a printer (print abort target printer) for canceling print processing on the job list screen 601, the Web browser 301 performs the following processing. The web browser 301 requests the print server 104 to transmit a web page corresponding to the printer list screen 611. The web application 302 of the print server 104 generates a web page corresponding to the printer list screen 611 based on the printer status included in the printer information and transmits it to the web browser 301. Then, the web browser 301 generates and displays a printer list screen 611 shown in FIG. 5B based on the web page received from the print server 104.

  A printer name 613 and a printer status 614 are displayed on the printer list screen 611. When the user designates a check box 612 corresponding to the target printer and a determination button 615 on the printer list screen 611, the Web browser 301 executes the following processing. The Web browser 301 transmits to the print server 104 a print destination change request in which the printer corresponding to the check box 612 is the change destination printer. This print destination change request includes a request for canceling the print processing of the printer to be canceled, and a request for executing the print processing by the change destination printer.

  FIG. 5C shows an html configuration example of a Web page generated by the Web application 302 of the print server 104. This Web page has a Header part, a Body part, and a Script part. The Web application 302 describes header information in the Header part, and describes content information to be displayed on the Body part in the Body part. Further, the Web application 302 describes a script to be executed by the Web browser 301 in the Script part. For example, when the Web browser 301 transmits a print cancel request to the print server 104, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 generates a Web page including a print cancel command (script) in the Script unit and returns it to the Web browser. The Web application executes a print cancel script included in the Web page, and issues a print cancel instruction to the printer that is the target of canceling printing.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating print control processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the Web browser 301 provided in the client terminal 101 sends a print cancel request to the print server 104 in accordance with the user designation on the job list screen 601 (P1).

  Subsequently, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 refers to the printer information of the printer corresponding to the print cancellation request, that is, the printer to be canceled (printer 107 in this example). Then, the Web application 302 acquires a print control instruction method history included in the printer information. The Web application 302 determines the previous print control instruction method included in the acquired print control instruction method history as the current print control instruction method, that is, a method for instructing the printer 107 to stop printing (P2). In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the Web application 302 determines the current print control instruction method as a pull-type print control instruction method.

  Next, the Web application 302 instructs the print job information management unit 402 of the print job management service 306 to update the print status included in the printer information to “Canceled”. Then, the Web application 302 generates a Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 and including a print cancellation instruction script (P3). The Web application 302 includes a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function and the Web application 302 displays a Web page when the current print control instruction method is a pull-type print control instruction method. Write a print cancellation instruction script.

  Next, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 transmits the generated Web page to the Web browser 301 to display the job list screen 601 (P4). Subsequently, the Web browser 301 displays the job list screen 601 and executes a print cancel instruction script described in the Web page, and transmits a print cancel command to the printer 107 (P5). The print cancel command instructs to cancel the print job.

  Upon receiving the print cancel command, the printer 107 cancels the print job according to the instruction of the print cancel command (P6). Then, the pull print application 304 of the printer 107 notifies the print server 104 of the print cancellation completion (P7).

  When the print server 104 receives a print cancellation completion notification, the Web application 302 updates the print status of the canceled job. Further, the Web application 302 updates the print control instruction method history in the printer information corresponding to the printer 107 with the current print control instruction method (P8). 6 illustrates the sequence processing example when the Web browser 301 makes a print stop request, but the sequence processing described with reference to FIG. 6 also when the Web browser 301 makes a print stop request. The same sequence processing is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the print server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of operation processing when the print server 104 receives a print cancellation request for the printer 107 as a print cancellation target from the Web browser 301.

  First, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 acquires the print control instruction method history included in the printer information corresponding to the printer 107 from the printer information management unit 403 (step S1). The Web application 302 refers to the acquired print control instruction method history and determines whether the previous print control instruction method is a push type or a pull type (step S2). If the previous print control instruction method is the push type, the Web application 302 determines that the current print control instruction method is the push type print control instruction method, and issues a print stop instruction directly to the printer 107 (step S10). ). Specifically, the Web application 302 transmits a print cancel command to the printer 107.

  Even when the Web application 302 cannot acquire the print control instruction method history, the Web application 302 directly instructs the printer 107 to cancel printing. Subsequently, the Web application 302 determines whether the transmission of the print cancel command has been successful (step S11). If transmission of the print cancel command fails, the process proceeds to step S3. When the transmission of the print cancel command is successful, the print job information management unit 402 of the print job management service 306 changes the print status in the print job information to “cancelled”. Then, the web application 302 generates a web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 (step S12), and the process proceeds to step S5.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the previous print control instruction method is the pull type, the Web application 302 determines the current print control instruction method as the pull type print control instruction method. Then, the Web application 302 determines whether the Web browser 301 has a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function based on information related to the function of the Web browser 301 stored in advance in the storage unit (step S3). . If the Web browser 301 does not have a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function, a print abort error is determined (step S13). Then, the print job information management unit 402 updates the print status included in the print job information to end with an error (step S9).

  When the Web browser 301 has a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function, the Web application 302 changes the print status in the print job information to “Canceled”. Then, the Web application 302 generates a Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 and including a print cancellation instruction script (Step S4).

  Next, the web application 302 transmits a web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 to the web browser 301 (step S5). The Web browser 301 displays a job list screen 601 corresponding to the Web page and executes a print cancellation instruction script included in the Web page. That is, the Web browser 301 transmits a print cancel command to the printer 107. Then, the printer 107 executes print cancel processing in accordance with the print cancel command received from the Web browser 301. When the printer 107 completes the print cancel process, the printer 107 notifies the Web application 302 of the print cancel process completion. The print cancel processing completion notification is a notification indicating that the print cancel processing has been completed, and includes information indicating that the print cancel processing has succeeded or information indicating that it has failed.

  Next, it is determined whether the Web application 302 has received a print cancellation process completion notification from the printer 107 (step S6). If no print cancel processing completion notification has been received from the printer 107, the process returns to step S6. When receiving the print cancel process completion notification from the printer 107, the Web application 302 determines whether the print cancel process has been successful based on the information included in the print cancel process completion notification (step S7).

  If the Web application 302 determines that the print cancellation process has failed, the process proceeds to step S13. When the Web application 302 determines that the print cancellation process has been successful, the Web application 302 instructs the printer information management unit 403 to update the print control instruction method history in the printer information with the current print control instruction method. (Step S8). Then, the print job information management unit 402 of the print job management service 306 updates the print status included in the print job information to “cancel” (step S9).

  As described with reference to FIG. 7, the Web application 302 refers to the print control instruction method history and issues a print control instruction to the printer 107 in the same manner as the print control instruction method for the printer 107 that has succeeded in the past. Specifically, when the print control instruction method for the printer 107 that has been successful in the past is the push-type print control instruction method (first method), the Web application 302 sends the current print control instruction to the first print control instruction. (See S10). Further, when the print control instruction method for the printer 107 that has succeeded in the past is the pull-type print control instruction method (second method), the Web application 302 performs the current print control instruction using the second method. .

  According to the print server 104 of the first embodiment, a print control instruction can be issued via a Web browser even to a printer that is placed in an area where access is restricted by a firewall and cannot directly communicate from the print server 104. As a result, it is possible to control printing with respect to the printer while maintaining security without opening the external port of the firewall.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing of the Web browser and the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is a flowchart for explaining an example of operation processing of the Web browser 301. The web browser 301 displays the job list screen 601 corresponding to the web page received from the web application 302 of the print server 104 (step S21).

  Next, the Web browser 301 determines whether a print stop instruction script is included in the Web page (step S22). If the Web page does not include a print cancellation instruction script, the process ends. If the Web page includes a print cancel instruction script, the Web browser 301 executes the print cancel instruction script (step S23). Specifically, the web browser 301 transmits a print cancel command to the printer to be canceled (step S23).

  FIG. 8B is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing of the printer. In FIG. 8B, the operation process of the printer 107 will be described as an example. First, the printer 107 receives a print cancel command (step S31). The printer 107 executes a print cancel process for the target job (step S32). Then, the printer 107 notifies the print server 104 of the completion of the print cancellation process (step S33).

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the print server 104 executes print destination change control. In this example, it is assumed that the print server 104 executes print destination change control in which the printer 107 is the change source printer and the printer 108 is the change destination printer. The change source printer is a printer that is the current print destination, and is a printer that stops print processing by print destination change control. The change destination printer is a printer that becomes a new print destination by the print destination change control.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating print control processing according to the second embodiment. First, the Web browser 301 provided in the client terminal 101 sends a print destination change request to the print server 104 in accordance with a user designation on the job list screen 601 (P11). The print destination change request includes a request for canceling the print process being executed by the change source printer (first image forming apparatus) and for executing the print process by the change destination printer (second image forming apparatus). .

  Subsequently, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 acquires printer information of the change source printer (printer 107). The Web application 302 refers to the print control instruction method history included in the acquired printer information, and determines this print control instruction method, that is, a method for instructing the printer 107 to stop printing (P12). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the Web application 302 determines the current print control instruction method as a pull-type print control instruction method.

  Next, the Web application 302 instructs the print job information management unit 402 of the print job management service 306 to update the print status included in the printer information to “Canceled”. Then, the Web application 302 generates a Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 and including a print cancellation instruction script and a polling script (P13). The polling script is a script that instructs the print server 104 to execute polling. FIG. 10A shows the html structure of the generated Web page.

  Next, the Web application 302 of the print server 104 transmits the generated Web page to the Web browser 301 to display the job list screen 601 (P14). The Web browser 301 executes a polling script described in the Web page and starts polling the print server 104 (P15). Further, the Web browser 301 executes a print cancel instruction script described in the Web page, and transmits a print cancel command to the print 107 (P16).

  In response to the print cancel command, the printer 107 cancels the print job (P17). The print server 104 receives a print cancellation process completion notification from the printer 107 (P18). When the print server 104 recognizes that the print cancel process has been completed based on the information included in the print cancel process completion notification, the print server 104 performs print control in the printer information of the printer 107 using the current print control instruction method. Update the instruction method history.

  Next, the print server 104 executes processing for instructing printing to the printer 108 as the change destination printer as follows. First, the print server 104 updates the print status, printer name, and the like of the target job included in the print job information. In addition, the print server 104 acquires printer information of the printer 108. The Web application 302 refers to the print control instruction method history included in the acquired printer information, and determines the previous print control instruction method as the current print control instruction method, that is, the method for issuing a print instruction to the printer 108 (P19). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the Web application 302 determines the current print control instruction method as a pull-type print control instruction method.

  Next, the Web application 302 generates a Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 and including a print instruction script (P21). FIG. 10B shows the html structure of the generated web page. Subsequently, the Web application 302 transmits the generated Web page to the Web browser 301 as a reply to polling from the Web browser 301.

  Subsequently, the Web browser 301 displays a job list screen 601 and executes a print instruction script described in the Web page to transmit a print instruction command to the printer 107 (P24). The print instruction command instructs execution of a print job.

  Upon receiving the print instruction command, the printer 107 starts executing the print job in accordance with the instruction of the print instruction command (P24). Then, the pull print application 304 of the printer 107 sends a print start notification to the print server 104 (P25). The print start notification is a notification that print job execution has started. The print start notification includes information indicating whether the start of execution of the print job has succeeded or failed.

  When the print server 104 receives a print start notification, the Web application 302 updates the print status of the target job. Further, the Web application 302 updates the print control instruction method history in the printer information corresponding to the printer 108 with the current print control instruction method (P26).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the print server according to the second embodiment. The processes in steps S41 to S48 and steps S57 to S59 in FIG. 11 are print cancellation instruction processes for the change source printer (for example, the printer 107). This print cancel instruction process is the same as the print cancel instruction process in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. However, in the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, in step S44, the web application 302 generates a web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 and including a print cancellation instruction script and a polling script. .

  A print instruction process to the change destination printer (for example, the printer 108) will be described. In step S49, the Web application 302 acquires the print control instruction method history included in the printer information corresponding to the printer 108 from the printer information management unit 403 (step S49). The Web application 302 refers to the acquired print control instruction method history to determine whether the previous print control instruction method is a push type or a pull type (step S50).

  If the previous print control instruction method is the push type, the Web application 302 issues a print instruction directly to the printer 108 (step S60). Specifically, the Web application 302 transmits a print instruction command to the printer 108. Even when the Web application 302 has not acquired the print control instruction method history, the Web application 302 directly instructs the printer 107 to print. Subsequently, the Web application 302 determines whether the transmission of the print instruction command is successful (Step S61). If transmission of the print instruction command has failed, the process proceeds to step S51. If the transmission of the print instruction command is successful, the process proceeds to step S53.

  If it is determined in step S50 that the previous print control instruction method is the pull type, the Web application 302 determines whether the Web browser 301 has a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function (step S51). . If the Web browser 301 does not have a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function, a printing destination change error is set (step S62). Then, the print job information management unit 402 updates the print status to “error end” (step S56).

  When the Web browser 301 has a Java (registered trademark) Script cross-domain communication function, the Web application 302 generates a Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 and including a print instruction script (step S52). ). In step S <b> 52, the Web application 302 further transmits the generated Web page to the Web browser 301 as a reply to polling from the Web browser 301.

  The Web browser 301 displays a job list screen 601 corresponding to the Web page and executes a print instruction script included in the Web page. That is, the Web browser 301 transmits a print instruction command to the printer 107. The printer 107 starts executing the print job in accordance with the print instruction command received from the Web browser 301. Next, it is determined whether the Web application 302 has received a print start notification from the printer 107 (step S53).

  If no print start notification is received from the printer 107, the process returns to step S53. When receiving the print start notification from the printer 107, the Web application 302 determines whether the execution of the print job has been successfully started based on the information included in the print start notification (step S54). If the Web application 302 determines that the print job execution has failed to start, the process advances to step S62. If the Web application 302 determines that the execution of the print job has succeeded, the process proceeds to step S55.

  In step S55, the Web application 302 instructs the printer information management unit 403 to update the print control instruction method history in the printer information corresponding to the printer 108 with the current print control instruction method (step S55). Then, the print job information management unit 402 updates the print status during printing (step S56).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing of the Web browser according to the second embodiment. Steps S71 to S73 in FIG. 12 are the same as steps S21 to S23 in FIG. 8A, respectively.

  In step S74, the web browser 301 determines whether a polling script is included in the web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 (step S74). When the polling script is not included in the Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601, the process ends. When a polling script is included in the web page corresponding to the job list screen 601, the web browser 301 polls (requests) the print server 103 at a predetermined interval until a reply is received from the print server 103 (step S75, S76). Thereby, when the print server 104 generates a Web page, the Web browser 301 can receive the Web page from the print server 104.

  Next, the web browser 301 receives a web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 as a reply to polling from the web application 302 of the print server 104, and displays the job list screen 601 (step S77). The web browser 301 determines whether a print instruction script is included in the web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 (step S78).

  If the Web page corresponding to the job list screen 601 does not include a print instruction script, the process ends. When the print instruction script is included in the web page corresponding to the job list screen 601, the web browser 301 transmits a print instruction command to the change destination printer (for example, the printer 108) (step S79). That is, the Web application 302 instructs the change destination printer to execute print processing via the Web browser 301 when the previous print control instruction method for the change destination printer is the pull-type print control instruction method.

  According to the print server of the second embodiment, even in a network environment where there is an image forming apparatus that is arranged in an area where access is restricted by a firewall and cannot be directly communicated from the print control apparatus, the print destination is maintained while maintaining security. Changes can be made. Further, according to the print server of the second embodiment, the user can change the print destination without being aware of whether the print control instruction method for the change destination printer is the push type or the pull type. it can.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation process of the printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13A shows an operation process of the printer 107 which is the change source printer. Steps S81 to S83 in FIG. 13 are the same as steps S31 to S33 in FIG.

  FIG. 13B shows an operation process of the printer 108 which is the change destination printer. First, the printer 108 receives a print instruction command (step S91). Subsequently, the printer 108 acquires a print job instructed by the print instruction command from the print server 104 (step S92). The printer 108 starts executing the print job acquired from the print server 104 (step S93). Then, the printer 108 issues a print start notification to the print server 104 (step S94).

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

101, 102, 103 Client terminal 104 Print server 105, 106, 107, 108 Printer

Claims (5)

Print control request receiving means for receiving a print control request, which is a request related to control of print processing executed by the image forming apparatus, from a Web browser provided in the user apparatus via the network;
Control instruction means for giving a control instruction corresponding to the print control request to the image forming apparatus via the network;
The control instruction means refers to the history information of the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past, and is the same method as the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past indicated by the history information. A print control apparatus that issues a control instruction to the image forming apparatus. The control instruction unit is configured to control the current control instruction when the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past is the first method in which the control instruction unit directly instructs the image forming apparatus. The second method in which the control instruction unit instructs the image forming apparatus via the Web browser to control the image forming apparatus through the first method. 2, the print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current control instruction is given by the second method. The control instruction means includes
When the print control request includes a request for canceling the print process being executed by the first image forming apparatus and executing the print process by the second image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus Instructing to cancel the printing process and determining whether the history information of the control instruction method for the second image forming apparatus that has succeeded in the past indicates the second method,
The print control according to claim 2, wherein when the history information indicates the second method, the second image forming apparatus is instructed to execute a print process via the Web browser. apparatus. A print control request receiving step of receiving a print control request, which is a request related to control of print processing executed by the image forming apparatus, from a Web browser provided in the user apparatus via the network;
A control instruction step for giving a control instruction corresponding to the print control request to the image forming apparatus via the network;
The control instruction step refers to the history information of the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past, and is the same method as the control instruction method for the image forming apparatus that has been successful in the past indicated by the history information. A print control method, comprising: giving a control instruction to the image forming apparatus.   A computer program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method according to claim 4.

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