JP2012203915A - Printing system, print management device, and printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system, a print management device, and a printing device, which allow a user to transmit print data without being conscious of the server of a site, the user transmitting the print data in a temporary storage printing system.SOLUTION: In a printing system that disposes network systems each having a printing device and a print management device at plural sites, with the network systems interconnected via a communication line, the printing device includes: an authentication part; an inquiry part for inquiring presence of print data matching identification information generated by the authentication part by transmitting the identification information to the print management device; and a switching part for inquiring presence of the print data by switching connections to a print management device included in another network system, if a notification to the effect that there is no print data matching the identification information is received from the print management device as a response to the inquiry.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printing system, a printing management apparatus, and a printing apparatus that connect a plurality of systems including a printing apparatus and a printing management apparatus to each other via a network.

In recent years, a PC (Personal Computer) that is an information processing terminal device transmits print data to a server that is a print management device in order to execute printing. The server stores the received print data, and the printing device Temporary storage printing systems that receive print data from a server and execute printing based on a print request from an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) are widely used.
In addition, an integrated printing system in which such temporary storage printing systems are located at multiple locations at a distance and each system is connected to each other via a communication line has been introduced. Are stored as print data on a server installed at the branch office where the business trip is to be made, it is necessary to bring materials to be used for meetings, etc. during the business trip by executing printing from the MFP installed at the branch office. If you lose
However, it is necessary for such a printing system to send print data to a server on a business trip beforehand, and when the address of the server installed on the business trip is unknown or the server of the print transmission destination is wrong Has a problem that the printed matter cannot be obtained at a business trip destination.

JP 2008-140132 A JP 2010-204807 A

  A problem to be solved by the present invention is a printing system, print management apparatus, and printing apparatus in which a user who transmits print data in a temporary storage printing system can transmit print data without being aware of the server at the base Is to provide.

    According to the embodiment, the printing system is a printing system in which a network system including a printing apparatus and a print management apparatus is arranged at a plurality of bases, and each network system is connected to each other via a communication line, The print management apparatus includes: a print data acquisition unit that receives print data transmitted with identification information from an information processing terminal; a storage unit that stores the print data in a storage unit in association with the identification information; A determination unit that receives an inquiry about the presence or absence of print data that matches the identification information transmitted from the printing apparatus, and that determines whether or not print data that matches the identification information is stored in the storage unit; and If it is determined that the print data that matches the identification information is not stored, a response unit that transmits a notification that there is no print data to the printing apparatus The printing apparatus includes: an authentication unit that generates identification information based on authentication information input by a user; and the identification information generated by the authentication unit is transmitted to the print management apparatus to be used as the identification information. In response to an inquiry unit that inquires about the presence or absence of matching print data and a notification that there is no print data that matches the identification information from the print management apparatus as a response to the inquiry, a print provided in another network system A switching unit that switches the connection to the management device and inquires about the presence or absence of print data.

1 is a diagram illustrating a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the information processing terminal which concerns on this Embodiment. 2 is a functional block diagram of a print management apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a print data management table of the print management apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the printing procedure of the information processing terminal which concerns on this Embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print data storage procedure of the print management apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print execution procedure based on a request from the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a base server switching screen of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a base server selection screen of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 4 is a print data selection screen of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

(This embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 1 is a printing system in which a network system 2 arranged at a site A, a network system 3 arranged at a site B, and a network system 4 arranged at a site N are connected by communication lines 50 and 51, respectively. The network systems 2 to 4 installed in the bases A to N are PCs (Personal Computers) 10, 11, and 12 that are information terminal devices, servers 20, 21, and 22 that are print management devices, and printing devices, respectively. It is constructed by connecting MFPs (Multi Function Peripheral) 30, 31, 32 to LANs 40, 41, 42 configured by wire or wireless.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing any one of the base network systems 2 to 4 constituting the printing system shown in FIG. The PC, server, and MFP have the same configuration. Here, the blocks of the PC 10, the server 20, and the MFP 30 will be described.
The PC 10 (the same applies to 11 and 12) includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown). A storage unit 103 that stores application programs and various data, and a storage unit 102 that stores a printer driver 104 for printing. The PC 10 further includes an input unit as an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. 105, a display unit 106 as a display, and a network I / F (interface) 107 that connects the PC 10 to the LAN 40.
The server 20 (the same applies to 21 and 22) includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown), and receives print data transmitted from the PC 10 described later. And a control unit 201 that manages them. The storage unit 202 includes an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and includes a storage unit 203 that stores received print data and a table 204 that stores attribute information of the print data. The server 20 further includes a display unit 205 as a display, an input unit 206 as an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a network I / F (interface) 207 that connects the server 20 to the LAN 40.
The MFP 30 (the same applies to 31 and 32) includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown). A storage unit 302 for storing print data received by the user and image data read by the scanner 305 of the own machine, various setting operations of the MFP, a control panel 303 configured by a touch panel and hard keys for displaying the status of the apparatus, and storage A printer 304 that prints print data stored in the unit 302 and image data on a recording medium, and a network I / F (interface) 304 that connects the MFP 30 to the LAN 40 are provided.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a PC that is an information processing terminal according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the PC plays a role of creating print data and providing the print data to a server described later.
The user authentication unit 111 performs user authentication based on a user's login operation, and holds a user ID serving as identification information. The print data creation unit 112 converts a document created by the application into print data using the printer driver 104 and print setting attribute information, for example, print setting information such as double-sided printing, 2 in 1, and color. And the stored user ID are added to create print data. The print data transmission unit 113 transmits the print data created by the print data creation unit 113 to the server 20 (21 and 22 are the same) via the LAN 40 (41 and 42 are the same).

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a server that is a print management apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the server executes two functions of storing print data transmitted from the PC and supplying print data in response to a print data request from the MFP.
First, the print data acquisition unit 211 acquires print data transmitted from the PC 10 (the same applies to 11 and 12). The analysis unit 212 analyzes the received print data, extracts information related to print settings, and stores the information in the management table 204 as print attribute information. The storage unit 213 stores the print data and attribute information in the storage unit 203 in association with each other using the identification information added to the print data and transmitted as a search key to be described later. The determination unit 214 determines whether or not the print data is stored in the storage unit 203 in response to an inquiry about the presence or absence of print data corresponding to the identification information transmitted from the PC 10 (same for 11 and 12). . When there is print data corresponding to specific identification information based on the determination result of the determination unit 214, the response unit 215 generates response data to that effect, and when there is no print data corresponding to the predetermined identification information. , Response data to that effect is generated. The UI data creation unit 216 creates printing attribute information stored in the table 204 as UI data in response to a print list request from the MFP 30 (31 and 32, which will be described later). The transmission unit 217 inquires the response data created by the response unit 215, the UI data created by the UI data creation unit 216, and the print data saved by the storage unit 203 from the MFP 30 (31 and 32 are the same), respectively. Or send based on request. These data are transmitted via the LAN 40 (41 and 42 are the same) and the communication lines 50 and 51.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the MFP as the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the MFP plays a role of requesting transmission of print data from the server, and executing printing by its own printer when the print data is transmitted from the server.
The authentication unit 311 acquires the user ID input from the control panel 303 or the user ID registered in advance on the IC card by holding it over a card reader (not shown), and the use of the MFP 30 (31 and 32 are the same) is permitted. If the user is authenticated, the user ID is stored as identification information for identifying the user. Based on the identification information stored in the MFP 30 (31 and 32 are the same), the inquiry unit 312 inquires whether print data matching the identification information is stored in the server 20 (21 and 22 are also the same). When the switching unit 313 receives a notification that print data matching the identification information is not stored in the server as a response of the server 20 (21 and 22 are the same) to the inquiry of the inquiry unit 312, Inquire again after switching the base server. In this case, based on the server address registered in advance, the inquiries are sequentially executed as the base server. When the display information request unit 314 receives a notification that print data matching the identification information is stored in the server as a response of the server 20 (21 and 22 are the same) to the inquiry of the inquiry unit 312, it will be described later. Based on the user's instruction, the server 20 (21 and 22 is the same) is requested to transmit display information related to printing attribute information. The display data creation unit 315 creates a print data list screen based on the display information transmitted from the server 20 (same for 21 and 22). The selection unit 316 selects print data to be printed from the print data list screen created by the display information creation unit 315 based on a user instruction to be described later. The print data request unit 317 requests the server 20 (same for 21 and 22) to transmit the print data selected by the selection unit.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing attribute information for printing registered in the server table 204 which is the print management apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is based on print data transmitted from the PC 10 (11 and 12 are the same). , Created by the analysis unit 212. The table configuration includes the identification information sent from the PC together with the print data as a key, the print data document name, the print attributes as color / monochrome, double-sided / single-sided, and the necessity of stapling as post-processing. Setting information is registered. In addition to these, the date and time of receiving print data, the number of pages, and the like are registered as attribute information.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure of the PC that is the information processing terminal according to the present embodiment. First, the PC 10 (11, 12 is the same) performs user authentication based on the user's login operation and holds a user ID serving as identification information (ACT 11). The user starts up the application and creates a desired document or presentation material. The print data creation unit 112 converts the created electronic data such as a document into print data, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) using the printer driver 104, and holds the attribute information for print settings. Print data is created by adding the existing user ID (ACT12). The print data transmission unit 113 transmits the print data to the server 20 (21 and 22 are the same) (ACT 13).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the print data storage procedure of the server as the print management apparatus according to this embodiment. The print data acquisition unit 211 receives print data with identification information transmitted from the PC 10 (11 and 12 are the same) (ACT 21). The analysis unit 212 analyzes the received print data (ACT 22), and extracts printing attribute information (ACT 23). The storage unit 213 stores the identification information transmitted from the PC 10 (11 and 12 is the same) in the storage unit 203 together with the print data and printing attribute information using the search information as a search key.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a print execution procedure based on a request from the MFP which is the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
Before explaining the printing execution procedure, the premise of the temporary storage printing operation of the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the user logs in to the network system 2 with the PC 10 of the site A to which the user belongs, and creates it. When a print instruction is issued from the printer driver, the print data is automatically transmitted to the server 20 installed at the site A and stored unless a destination server is specified. Next, for example, the user moves to the base B as a business trip destination, and executes a printing operation from the MFP 31 installed in the network system 3 at the base B.

When the user inputs a user ID on the control panel 303 of the MFP 31 connected to the LAN 41 at the site B, the authentication unit 311 of the MFP 31 determines whether or not the user is permitted to use the MFP 31. When it is authenticated that the user is permitted, the user ID is stored in a RAM (not shown) of the control unit 301 as identification information for specifying the user (ACT 31). Next, when the user presses a print key (not shown) on the control panel 303 of the MFP 31, the inquiry unit 312 is based on the identification information stored in the MFP 31 and print data that matches the identification information as a search key is based on the identification information. An inquiry is made as to whether it is stored in the server 21 of B (ACT 32). The MFP 31 is programmed so that the server 21 installed in the network system 3 to which the MFP 31 belongs is the first inquiry destination. Next, the determination unit 214 of the server 21 determines whether or not print data that matches the identification information transmitted from the MFP 31 is stored in the storage unit 203 of the server 21 (ACT 33). As a result of determination by the determination unit 214, since there is no print data corresponding to the user identification information, the response unit 215 transmits a response to the MFP 31 that there is no print data that matches the identification information (ACT 34).
Next, the MFP 31 displays on the display unit 320 (FIG. 10) of the control panel that the print server 21 has no matching print data, and whether to display a list of servers at other sites that can be switched. A message to ask is displayed (ACT 35). When the user presses the site list button 324 of the display unit 320 to switch to a server at another site, the switching unit 313 of the MFP 31 performs an inquiry by sequentially switching to the site server registered in advance as the next inquiry destination ( ACT36). The servers 21 and 22 of the bases A to N that have received the inquiry from the MFP 31 determine whether there is print data that matches the transmitted identification information (ACT 37a, ACT 37n), and return the determination result to the MFP 31 (ACT 38a, ACT 38n). ).

  The MFP 31 receives a response from the server arranged at each site, and the list of sites indicating where the print data of the user to be printed is stored on the display unit 320 (FIG. 11) of the control panel. Is displayed (ACT39). When the user selects a site where the print data is stored from the displayed list and presses the enter button 326, the display status request unit 314 of the MFP 31 is stored in the server of the site, here the server 20. A request is made to send out attribute information of the print data that matches the identification information from the print data (ACT 40). Upon receiving the attribute information transmission request, the UI data creation unit 216 of the server 20 at the site A refers to the information registered in the table 204, extracts the attribute information of the print data that matches the identification information, and transmits it to the MFP 31. (ACT41). The attribute information to be transmitted includes the document name, the number of pages, and the reception date / time. Next, the display information creation unit 315 of the MFP 31 that has received the attribute information creates and displays a print data list based on the received attribute information on the display unit 320 (FIG. 12) of the control panel (ACT 42). When the user selects one or a plurality of desired print data on the touch panel screen and presses the print button 327, the print data request unit 317 of the MFP 31 requests the server 20 to transmit the selected print data. (ACT43). Upon receiving the print data transmission request, the transmission unit 217 of the server 20 extracts the print data from the storage unit 203 and transmits the print data to the MFP 31 of the network system 2 via the communication line 50 (ACT 44). The MFP 31 prints out the received print data with its own printer 304 (ACT 45).

Next, transition of the operation screen 320 of the control panel 303 of the MFP that is the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. The operation screen 320 includes a touch panel, and includes an area 321 that displays the state of the MFP, a message display area 322 that displays a message related to the operation, and a selection screen area 323. In the selection screen area 323, display of selection candidate information and a selection button that changes depending on conditions are displayed.
FIG. 10 is a screen that is displayed when there is no print data that matches the identification information for identifying the user in the connected server. A message prompting you to display a list of servers is displayed. When the user presses the base list button 324, a base list is displayed, and when the close button 325 is pressed, the print screen is closed and the operation is ended. FIG. 11 is a screen for inquiring the presence or absence of print data to other sites by pressing the site list button in FIG. 10 and displaying the result in a list. Here, it is shown that print data exists in the server 20 at the site A (network system 1). FIG. 12 is a screen that displays a list of print data that matches the user identification information stored in the site A by selecting the site A in FIG. 11 and pressing the enter button 326. Here, when a document to be printed is selected and the print button 327 is pressed, print data is transmitted from the server 20 and printing is executed on the MFP body. On the other hand, when the delete button 328 is pressed, the print data stored in the server 20 is deleted. The user can delete unnecessary documents from the MFP.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the switch button is pressed on the MFP operation screen to inquire the server at each site. You may make an inquiry to the server of the network system to which you belong, and when you receive a notification that there is no print data, you may automatically make an inquiry to the server at another site. Is done.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system 2, 3, 4 ... Network system 10, 11, 12 ... Information processing terminal 20, 21, 22 ... Print management apparatus 30, 31, 32 ... Printing apparatus 50, 51 ... Communication line 211 ... Print data acquisition part 212 ... Analysis unit 213 ... Accumulation unit 214 ... Determination unit 215 ... Response unit 216 ... UI data creation unit 311 ... Authentication unit 312 ... Query unit 313 ... Switching unit

Claims (5)

In a printing system in which a network system including a printing apparatus and a print management apparatus is arranged at a plurality of bases, and each network system is connected to each other via a communication line,
The print management apparatus includes:
A print data acquisition unit for receiving print data transmitted with identification information from the information processing terminal;
A storage unit that stores the print data in a storage unit in association with the identification information;
A determination unit that receives an inquiry about the presence or absence of print data that matches the identification information transmitted from the printing apparatus, and that determines whether or not print data that matches the identification information is stored in the storage unit;
A response unit that sends a notification that there is no print data to the printing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the print data that matches the identification information is not stored;
With
The printing apparatus includes:
An authentication unit that generates identification information based on authentication information input by a user;
An inquiry unit that transmits the identification information generated by the authentication unit to the print management apparatus and inquires about the presence or absence of print data that matches the identification information;
When a notification that there is no print data matching the identification information is received from the print management device as a response to the inquiry, the connection is switched to a print management device provided in another network system to check whether there is print data. A switching unit for making inquiries,
A printing system characterized by that. A network system including a printing apparatus and a printing management apparatus is arranged at a plurality of bases, and the printing management apparatus in the printing system in which each network system is connected to each other via a communication line,
A print data acquisition unit for receiving print data transmitted with identification information from the information processing terminal;
A storage unit that stores the print data in a storage unit in association with the identification information;
A determination unit that receives an inquiry about the presence or absence of print data that matches the identification information transmitted from the printing apparatus, and that determines whether or not print data that matches the identification information is stored in the storage unit;
A response unit that sends a notification that there is no print data to the printing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the print data that matches the identification information is not stored;
A print management apparatus comprising: An analysis unit that analyzes the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit and extracts print attribute information;
When the determination unit responds to the printing device with a notification that print data matching the identification information is stored in the storage unit, the determination unit stores the print unit in response to a request from the printing device. The print management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a UI data creation unit that creates UI data based on the print attribute information of the print data that matches the identification information among the print data.   The UI data created by the UI data creation unit is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and the storage unit receives a print data transmission request selected from the list of print attribute information created based on the UI data. The print management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print data requested to be transmitted is extracted and transmitted to the printing apparatus. A network system including a printing apparatus and a print management apparatus is arranged at a plurality of bases, and the printing apparatus in the printing system in which each network system is connected to each other via a communication line,
An authentication unit that generates identification information based on authentication information input by a user;
An inquiry unit that transmits the identification information generated by the authentication unit to the print management apparatus and inquires about the presence or absence of print data that matches the identification information;
When a notification that there is no print data matching the identification information is received from the print management device as a response to the inquiry, the connection is switched to a print management device provided in another network system to check whether there is print data. A printing apparatus comprising: a switching unit that performs an inquiry.

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