JP2013092862A - Print instruction supporting system, printer, print instruction support device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily select a printer located in front of a print instruction source among from multiple printers associated with the print instruction source.SOLUTION: When a user presses a printing button at a client terminal, a cloud print server transmits a printer retrieval packet to all image forming devices. A reception unit 41 of an image forming device 30 among the image forming devices receives the printer retrieval packet. When the user presses a printer specification button of the image forming device 30, a transmission unit 49 transmits device specification information including an ID of the image forming device 30 to the cloud print server and a print setting screen for the image forming device 30 is displayed on the client terminal. When the user sets the printer and presses an execution button at the client terminal, the cloud print server instructs the image forming device 30 to print, and a print control unit 47 of the image forming device 30 performs printing and a retrieval packet control unit 42 deletes the printer retrieval packet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print instruction support system, a printing apparatus, a print instruction support apparatus, and a program.

  The information search device obtains the physical use position and sends it to the information search server. The information search server uses the physical position and information address obtained from the position related information included in each information of the distributed database. Using the correspondence table, calculate the distance between the use position of the information retrieval device and the physical position related to each information, and based on the calculation result, select the information address of the short distance information with priority A technique is known in which information is returned to a search device, the information search device displays a list for selecting information to be searched, and search / read is executed according to an operation input (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The client terminal device acquires the mobile terminal device position information regarding the position where the mobile terminal device exists and the printer device position information regarding the position where the printer device exists, and based on the mobile terminal device position information and the printer device position information, A technique for detecting a printer device having printer device position information corresponding to mobile terminal device position information is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  When the terminal device receives the information indicating the access point, the support mode, the printer driver name, and the current location of the terminal device, the terminal device extracts a record that matches the input printer driver name from the printer information database, A query expression is generated based on the input support mode information and information indicating the current position, a record satisfying the query expression is extracted from the extracted record, and the score identification table is referenced to correspond to each extracted record A technique for specifying a score and specifying an IP address of a record having the highest score as a default output destination is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  A priority order for selecting each printer is set from the input means of the host computer based on the distance from the host computer, and stored in a RAM or the like. Based on the stored priority order, the CPU of the host computer performs the host computer processing. There is also known a technique for displaying the degree of distance between each input / output device on a display unit (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

  The positional relationship in which the information about the last logged-in device can be distinguished from the information of other devices from the login history table stored in the login management device by logging in to the device desired by the user A technique is also known in which display data is generated so as to be displayed in a display mode, and the display data is displayed on a display unit of a terminal device (for example, see Patent Document 5).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-21259 JP-A-2005-44024 JP 2007-304981 A JP-A-10-187400 JP 2008-210602 A

  An object of the present invention is to make it easy to select a printing apparatus in front of a printing instruction source from among a plurality of printing apparatuses associated with the printing instruction source.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print instruction support apparatus that supports a print instruction by a print instruction apparatus that instructs to print a document, and a print instruction that is one of the print instruction apparatus and a print instruction person who performs the print instruction. A plurality of printing apparatuses that print the document based on the print instruction information when receiving the print instruction information instructing printing of the document transmitted by the print instruction support apparatus in response to the print instruction The print instruction support device includes a first notification unit that notifies the print instruction device of information related to the plurality of print devices in response to an operation of the print instruction device; and A distribution unit that distributes search information for searching for a printing apparatus that prints the document to the plurality of printing apparatuses, and each of the plurality of printing apparatuses includes the distribution unit. If the receiving means for receiving the search information distributed by the user and an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document are performed on the own apparatus, if the search information is received by the receiving means, Transmitting means for transmitting to the print instruction support apparatus, designated operation information indicating that the designated operation has been performed on the own apparatus, wherein the print instruction support apparatus transmits the specific print that has transmitted the designated operation information. When the designation operation information is received from the apparatus, information prompting the user to select information regarding the specific printing apparatus from among the information regarding the plurality of printing apparatuses notified to the printing instruction apparatus by the first notification unit. A print instruction support system further comprising second notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses associated with a print instruction source that is one of a print instruction apparatus that instructs to print a document and a print instruction person that performs a print instruction by the print instruction apparatus. Receiving means for receiving search information for searching for a printing apparatus that prints the document from the plurality of printing apparatuses, from a printing instruction support apparatus that notifies the printing instruction apparatus according to an operation of the printing instruction apparatus; If the search information is received by the receiving unit when an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document is performed, the information on the own apparatus is selected from the information on the plurality of printing apparatuses. And a transmission unit configured to transmit information for prompting the print instruction apparatus to select information to be transmitted to the print instruction support apparatus. It is a device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the receiving unit receives the search information including the identification information of the print instruction source, and the transmitting unit receives information about the own device from among the information about the plurality of printing devices. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information for causing the print instruction apparatus corresponding to the identification information to notify information prompting selection is transmitted to the print instruction support apparatus.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the transmission unit performs an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document, the receiving unit receives one piece of the search information. For example, information for instructing the print instruction apparatus corresponding to one piece of the identification information included in the one search information to prompt the user to select information about the self apparatus from the information about the plurality of printing apparatuses. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus is transmitted to the printing instruction support apparatus.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document is performed on the apparatus, the plurality of search information is received by the receiving unit. Display means for displaying a plurality of the identification information included in the search information, and the transmission means, when specific identification information is selected from the plurality of identification information displayed on the display means, Transmitting information for instructing the print instruction apparatus corresponding to the specific identification information to the print instruction support apparatus to prompt the user to select information about the own apparatus from among information regarding a plurality of printing apparatuses. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided print instruction information for instructing printing of the document transmitted by the print instruction support apparatus in response to the print instruction in response to the notification of information prompting to select information relating to the own apparatus. , A printing unit that prints the document based on the printing instruction information, and a deletion unit that deletes the search information received by the receiving unit after the document is printed by the printing unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a printing apparatus.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the search information received by the receiving unit is determined in advance after the search information is transmitted by the print instruction support apparatus or after the search information is received by the receiving unit. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes after a predetermined time has elapsed.
The invention according to claim 8 further includes a deleting unit that deletes the search information received by the receiving unit after the print instruction apparatus has moved outside a predetermined range around the apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses associated with a print instruction source that is one of a print instruction apparatus that instructs to print a document and a print instruction person that performs a print instruction by the print instruction apparatus. A first notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus according to an operation of the print instruction apparatus, and search information for searching for a print apparatus for printing the document from the plurality of print apparatuses, When an operation for designating a printing device that prints the document is performed on a distribution unit that distributes to a plurality of printing devices and a specific printing device to which the search information is distributed by the distribution unit, the first Information prompting the user to select information related to the specific printing device from the information related to the plurality of printing devices notified to the printing instruction device by the notification means. A print instruction support device being characterized in that a second notification means for knowledge.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the first notifying unit notifies the print instruction apparatus of information identifying the plurality of printing apparatuses as information regarding the plurality of printing apparatuses, and the second notification. And means for displaying information for displaying a screen for performing print settings when instructing printing of the document in the specific printing apparatus as information for prompting selection of information regarding the specific printing apparatus. The print instruction support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the print instruction support apparatus notifies the apparatus.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, when an operation for designating the specific printing device as a printing device for printing the document is performed, the print data obtained by converting the document into a format that can be processed by the printing device is stored. When the print setting is made on the screen displayed on the print instruction apparatus in response to the notification of the information for displaying the print data generation means and the screen for performing the print setting, the print setting And print instruction information generating means for generating print instruction information for instructing printing of the document on the basis of the print information and the print data generated by the print data generating means. Item 11. The print instruction support apparatus according to Item 10.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printing apparatuses associated with a print instruction source that is one of a print instruction apparatus that instructs a computer to print a document and a print instruction person that issues a print instruction by the print instruction apparatus. Search information for searching for a printing device that prints the document from the plurality of printing devices is received from the print instruction support device that notifies the print instruction device according to the operation of the printing instruction device. If the search information is received when the function and an operation for designating the document as a printing device are performed on the own device, information on the own device is obtained from the information on the plurality of printing devices. A program for realizing a function of transmitting information for prompting selection to the print instruction apparatus to the print instruction support apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the printing device in front of the printing instruction source is selected from the plurality of printing devices associated with the printing instruction source. Becomes easier.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the printing device in front of the printing instruction source is selected from the plurality of printing devices associated with the printing instruction source. Becomes easier.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the printing device immediately before the print instruction source is selected from the plurality of printing devices associated with the print instruction source. Can be returned to the print instruction source correctly.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a single print instruction source searches for a printing device, the printing device in front of the print instruction source can be quickly found compared to the case where this configuration is not provided. You can choose.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when a plurality of print instruction sources search for a printing device, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, the printing device in front of the print instruction source is displayed. You can choose correctly.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the storage capacity due to the search information being stored in the printing device that is not selected as the printing device in front of the print instruction source. The generation of waste can be suppressed.
According to the invention of claim 7, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, the print instruction is improved while improving the operability when the printing apparatus is continuously selected as the printing apparatus in front of the print instruction source. It is also possible to suppress the occurrence of wasted storage capacity due to the search information being stored in a printing device that is not selected as the original printing device.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when a printing device that may be selected as a printing device immediately before the print instruction source is selected, as compared with a case where this configuration is not provided. While improving the operability, it is also possible to suppress the occurrence of waste of storage capacity due to the search information being stored in a printing apparatus that is not selected as a printing apparatus in front of the print instruction source.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the printing device in front of the printing instruction source is selected from the plurality of printing devices associated with the printing instruction source. Becomes easier.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in response to a notification of information for identifying a plurality of printing apparatuses associated with a print instruction source, the print instruction source is immediately present in comparison with a case where this configuration is not provided. It becomes easy to display a screen for performing print settings when instructing printing in a certain printing apparatus.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to start printing of a document on the printing apparatus earlier than in the case where the present configuration is not provided.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the printing device in front of the printing instruction source is selected from the plurality of printing devices associated with the printing instruction source. Becomes easier.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a cloud print system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is the figure which showed the hardware structural example of the client terminal in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function structural example of the client terminal in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function structural example of the cloud print server in embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of the information exchange between the client terminal in the embodiment of this invention, a cloud print server, and an image forming apparatus. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of the information exchange between the client terminal in the embodiment of this invention, a cloud print server, and an image forming apparatus. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of the information exchange between the client terminal in the embodiment of this invention, a cloud print server, and an image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a cloud print system to which the present embodiment is applied.
As shown in the figure, in this cloud print system, first, the client terminal 10 can be wirelessly connected to the network 90 via the access point 20. The image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, and 30c and the cloud print server 50 are connected to the network 90.
Although the image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, and 30c are shown in the drawing, they are referred to as the image forming apparatus 30 when it is not necessary to distinguish them. Although only three image forming apparatuses 30 are shown in the figure, four or more image forming apparatuses 30 may be provided.

The client terminal 10 logs in to a cloud print service, which will be described later, so that the user can view a document or the like in the cloud print server 50, and prints the document or the like on the image forming apparatus 30 according to the user's operation. This is a computer device that instructs the server 50. Here, as the client terminal 10, a mobile computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or the like may be used. In the present embodiment, a client terminal 10 is provided as an example of a print instruction apparatus.
The access point 20 is a device or function that connects the client terminal 10 that performs wireless communication to a network 90 that performs wired communication.

  The image forming apparatus 30 is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium and outputs the image as a printing medium. Here, as the image forming apparatus 30, an apparatus having only a printer function may be used, or an apparatus having other image processing functions such as a scanner function and a facsimile function may be used in addition to this. In the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus 30 is provided as an example of a printing apparatus.

  The cloud print server 50 uses various devices as the client terminal 10 to enable a document to be printed by the image forming apparatus 30 installed at home, office, public place, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “cloud print service”). Is a server computer. Specifically, when generation of print instruction information for instructing printing of a document in the image forming apparatus 30 is requested from the client terminal 10, the print instruction information is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30. Give print instructions. In the present embodiment, a cloud print server 50 is provided as an example of a print instruction support apparatus.

  The network 90 is a communication unit used for information communication between the access point 20 and the cloud print server 50 and between the image forming apparatus 30 and the cloud print server 50, and is, for example, the Internet.

Next, the hardware configuration of the client terminal 10 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the client terminal 10.
As shown in the figure, the client terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that is a calculation means, a main memory 12 that is a storage means, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 13. Here, the CPU 11 executes various types of software such as an OS (Operating System) and applications, and realizes functions described below. The main memory 12 is a storage area for storing various software and data used for execution thereof, and the HDD 13 is a storage area for storing input data for various software, output data from various software, and the like. In addition, when the client terminal 10 is a mobile phone or a smartphone, a flash storage may be used instead of the HDD 13.
Further, the client terminal 10 includes a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “communication I / F”) 14 for performing communication with the outside, a display mechanism 15 including a video memory and a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. And an input device 16.

  Note that FIG. 2 can also be understood as a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the cloud print server 50. In this case, the CPU 11, the main memory 12, the HDD 13, the communication I / F 14, the display mechanism 15, and the input device 16 are referred to as a CPU 51, main memory 52, HDD 53, communication I / F 54, display mechanism 55, and input device 56, respectively. Shall.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 30.
As illustrated, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a CPU 31, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 32, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 33, an HDD 34, an operation panel 35, an image reading unit 36, and an image forming unit 37. And a communication I / F 38.

The CPU 31 implements various functions to be described later by loading various programs stored in the ROM 33 and the like into the RAM 32 and executing them.
The RAM 32 is a memory used as a working memory for the CPU 31.
The ROM 33 is a memory that stores various programs executed by the CPU 31.
The HDD 34 is, for example, a magnetic disk device that stores image data read by the image reading unit 36, image data used for image formation in the image forming unit 37, and the like.
The operation panel 35 is, for example, a touch panel that displays various types of information and receives operation inputs from the user.

  The image reading unit 36 reads an image recorded on a recording medium such as paper. Here, the image reading unit 36 is, for example, a scanner, and a CCD method in which reflected light with respect to light irradiated from a light source to a document is reduced by a lens and received by a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), or an LED light source is sequentially irradiated to a document It is preferable to use a CIS system that receives reflected light with respect to the received light with a CIS (Contact Image Sensor).

The image forming unit 37 forms an image on a recording medium. Here, the image forming unit 37 is, for example, a printer, and forms an image by transferring the toner attached to the photosensitive member to a recording medium to form an image, or ejecting ink onto the recording medium. An ink jet type may be used.
The communication I / F 38 transmits / receives various information to / from other devices via the network.

  Note that FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 30, but this can also be regarded as a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatuses 30 a, 30 b, and 30 c. In this case, each component of the image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, and 30c is represented by subscripts a, b, and c, respectively.

  By the way, in the cloud print system of FIG. 1, the case where the user of the client terminal 10 goes back and forth between a plurality of remote places is considered. In such a case, the user registers the image forming apparatus 30 to be used at each location in the cloud print server 50 in association with his / her user account, and selects the image forming apparatus 30 to be used from among them when printing. Generally, the image forming apparatus 30 that is the output destination is specified.

  However, when there are a large number of image forming apparatuses 30 registered in association with the user account, an operation for the user to specify the image forming apparatus 30 becomes complicated. In particular, if the user wants to use the image forming apparatus 30 in front of him but cannot find the image forming apparatus 30 among the registered image forming apparatuses 30, the user is frustrated. I feel it. In addition, if the image forming apparatus 30 in a place different from the place where the user is is selected by mistake, there is a security risk that the printed matter is left unattended.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user can easily change the image forming apparatus 30 in front of the user from among a large number of image forming apparatuses 30 (requires login processing for inputting a user name and password to the image forming apparatus 30). In addition, the client terminal 10 and the image forming apparatus 30 can be selected even in a state where direct communication is not possible.

  First, the schematic operation of the present embodiment will be described. Here, it is assumed that the user A instructs printing. Further, as the image forming apparatus 30, image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, 30c,... 30x are installed, and it is assumed that the user A desires to use the image forming apparatus 30c.

(1) When the user A operates the client terminal 10 to log in to the cloud print service and selects a document in the cloud print server 50, the cloud print server 50 displays the selected document on the client terminal 10. And make it viewable.
FIG. 4 shows a state when a document can be viewed on the client terminal 10.
Since the print button is displayed together with the document on the client terminal 10, the user A instructs the cloud print server 50 to print the document being browsed by pressing the print button.

(2) The cloud print server 50 creates a list of the image forming apparatuses 30 registered as available for the user A, and displays a printer selection screen including the list on the client terminal 10.
FIG. 5 shows a state when the printer selection screen is displayed on the client terminal 10.
Here, when the user A can easily specify the image forming apparatus 30c to be used, the user A may select the image forming apparatus 30c from the list. However, when a list of a large number of image forming apparatuses 30 is displayed on the client terminal 10, it may be difficult for the user A to select the image forming apparatus 30c from the list.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following operations (3) and (4) are performed. When the user A selects the image forming apparatus 30c from the list, the operation directly moves to the next operation (5) without performing the operations (3) and (4).

(3) The cloud print server 50 transmits a printer search packet for the user A to search for the image forming apparatus 30c to all the image forming apparatuses 30 registered as usable by the user A.
FIG. 6 shows the operation of the cloud print system when the cloud print server 50 transmits a printer search packet to all the image forming apparatuses 30.
Here, the printer search packet includes the user name and user ID of the user A and the search start time that is the time when the search of the image forming apparatus 30c is started.

(4) The user A moves to a place where the image forming apparatus 30c is located and presses a printer specifying button on the operation panel 35c of the image forming apparatus 30c.
FIG. 7 shows the operation of the cloud print system when the user A performs an operation of pressing the printer specifying button.
When the user A performs an operation of pressing the printer specifying button, the image forming apparatus 30c searches for a printer search packet received by the user A.
As a result, when only one printer search packet is received, the image forming apparatus 30c notifies the cloud print server 50 of its own apparatus ID and the user ID included in the printer search packet.
On the other hand, when there are a plurality of received printer search packets, the image forming apparatus 30c displays a list of user names included in all the received printer search packets on the operation panel 35c, and assigns a user name to the user A. Let them choose. Then, the image forming apparatus 30c notifies the cloud print server 50 of its own apparatus ID and the user ID corresponding to the selected user name.
Thereby, the cloud print server 50 determines that the image forming apparatus 30 that the user A wants to use is the image forming apparatus 30c from the received apparatus ID and user ID, and displays the image forming apparatus on the printer selection screen on the client terminal 10. Assuming that 30c is selected, the print setting screen of the image forming apparatus 30c is displayed on the client terminal 10.

(5) User A moves to a location where the client terminal 10 is located, performs various print settings on the print setting screen displayed on the client terminal 10, and then presses an execution button. Then, the client terminal 10 instructs the cloud print server 50 to print the document displayed on the client terminal 10 in (1) by the image forming apparatus 30c based on this print setting.

(6) The cloud print server 50 generates print instruction information for instructing to print the document displayed on the client terminal 10 in (1) based on this print setting, and sends the print instruction to the image forming apparatus 30c. Send information.

(7) User A receives the printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus 30c. Further, when the printing of the document is completed, the image forming apparatus 30c deletes the printer search packet that has arrived in response to the operation of the user A pressing the print button.

(8) The image forming apparatuses 30 other than the image forming apparatus 30c that has printed the document according to the print instruction of the user A deletes the printer search packet when a predetermined time has elapsed from the search start time included in the printer search packet. To do.

  In the above-described general operation, when the user A presses the print button on the client terminal 10 in (1), the cloud print server 50 displays the printer selection screen on the client terminal 10 in (2). In (3), the printer search packet is transmitted to all the image forming apparatuses 30. However, the timing for transmitting the printer search packet is not limited to this. When the user A presses the print button on the client terminal 10 in (1), the printer search button is also displayed when the cloud print server 50 displays the printer selection screen on the client terminal 10 in (2). The cloud print server 50 may transmit the printer search packet to all the image forming apparatuses 30 in (3) by pressing the printer search button at the timing when the search of the forming apparatus 30 is desired to start.

Next, the configuration of the cloud print system in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the client terminal 10.
As illustrated, the client terminal 10 includes a reception unit 21, a display control unit 24, an operation reception unit 25, and a transmission unit 29.

  The receiving unit 21 forms a document selected by the user when the user logs in to the cloud print service, and a list of image forming apparatuses 30 that can be used by the user when the user presses the print button. When the printer specifying button is pressed on the apparatus 30, the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 30 is received from the cloud print server 50.

  When the receiving unit 21 receives a document, the display control unit 24 displays the document. When the receiving unit 21 receives a list of the image forming apparatuses 30, the display unit 24 displays a printer selection screen including the list. When the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 30 is received, control is performed so that a print setting screen for performing print settings for the image forming apparatus 30 is displayed on the display mechanism 15.

  The operation accepting unit 25 accepts an operation in which the user logs in to the cloud print service, an operation in which the user presses the print button, and an operation in which the user performs print settings and presses the execution button.

  The transmission unit 29 provides login information (user ID, password, etc.) when the user logs in to the cloud print service, and information (hereinafter referred to as “print start”) when the user presses the print button. When the user makes print settings and presses the execution button, information for instructing execution of printing (hereinafter referred to as “print execution instruction”) is transmitted to the cloud print server 50, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus 30.
As illustrated, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a reception unit 41, a search packet management unit 42, a search packet storage unit 43, a display control unit 44, an operation reception unit 45, a device identification information generation unit 46, A print control unit 47 and a transmission unit 49 are provided.

  The receiving unit 41 receives a printer search packet (including a user ID and a user name) for searching for the image forming apparatus 30 used by the user when the user presses the print button on the client terminal 10. 10, when the print setting for the image forming apparatus 30 is performed and the execution button is pressed, print instruction information for instructing printing of the document is received from the cloud print server 50. In this embodiment, a printer search packet is used as an example of search information, and a receiving unit 41 is provided as an example of a receiving unit that receives the search information.

  When the receiving unit 41 receives a printer search packet, the search packet management unit 42 acquires the printer search packet and stores it in the search packet storage unit 43. Further, when the user presses the printer specifying button, it is determined whether there is one or more printer search packets in the search packet storage unit 43, and if there is one printer search packet, it is included in the printer search packet. Is specified as the user ID of the user who pressed the printer specifying button. Further, after the document is printed under the control of the print control unit 47 according to the search of the printer search packet, or after a predetermined time has elapsed from the search start time included in the printer search packet, the search packet storage unit 43 Delete the printer search packet stored in. As the search start time, the time when the cloud print server 50 transmits the printer search packet may be set, or the time when the image forming apparatus 30 receives the printer search packet may be set. In the present embodiment, a search packet management unit 42 is provided as an example of a deletion unit that deletes search information.

  The search packet storage unit 43 stores the printer search packet acquired by the search packet management unit 42.

  If the search packet management unit 42 determines that there are a plurality of printer search packets, the display control unit 44 selects the user of the user who pressed the printer specifying button from a plurality of user names included in the plurality of printer search packets. Control is performed so that a user selection screen for selecting a name is displayed on the operation panel 35. In the present embodiment, a user name is used as an example of identification information, and a display control unit 44 is provided as an example of display means for displaying a plurality of identification information.

  The operation accepting unit 45 accepts an operation in which the user presses the printer specifying button. Further, the user accepts an operation of selecting his / her user name on the user selection screen, and specifies the user ID corresponding to the selected user name as the user ID of the user who pressed the printer specifying button.

  The device specifying information generating unit 46 generates device specifying information including the user ID specified by the search packet managing unit 42 or the operation receiving unit 45 and the device ID of the image forming apparatus 30. In the present exemplary embodiment, the apparatus specifying information is used as an example of information for notifying the print instruction apparatus of information that prompts the user to select information related to the self apparatus from the designation operation information and information related to a plurality of printing apparatuses. Yes.

  When the receiving unit 41 receives the print instruction information, the print control unit 47 prints the document based on the print instruction information. In the present embodiment, a print control unit 47 is provided as an example of a printing unit that prints a document.

  The transmission unit 49 transmits the device identification information generated by the device identification information generation unit 46 to the cloud print server 50. In the present embodiment, a transmission means for transmitting designated operation information, a transmission means for transmitting information for notifying the print instruction apparatus of information prompting the user to select information related to the self apparatus from information related to a plurality of printing apparatuses. As an example, a transmission unit 49 is provided.

  Although FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 30, this can also be understood as a diagram illustrating an exemplary functional configuration of the image forming apparatuses 30 a, 30 b, and 30 c. In this case, each component of the image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, and 30c is represented by subscripts a, b, and c, respectively.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the cloud print server 50.
As illustrated, the cloud print server 50 includes a reception unit 61, an authentication unit 62, a document acquisition unit 63, a printer information storage unit 64, a printer list generation unit 65, a search packet generation unit 66, and a device determination. A unit 67, a print instruction information generation unit 68, and a transmission unit 69 are provided.

  The receiving unit 61 provides login information (user ID, password, etc.) when the user logs in to the cloud print service at the client terminal 10, and issues a print start instruction when the user presses the print button at the client terminal 10. When the user performs print settings on the client terminal 10 and presses the execute button, a print execution instruction is received from the client terminal 10 respectively. Further, when the user presses the printer specifying button on the image forming apparatus 30, the apparatus specifying information is received from the image forming apparatus 30.

  When the receiving unit 61 receives login information (user ID, password, etc.), the authentication unit 62 performs an authentication process (login process) for checking whether a combination of a user ID and a password is registered in advance, for example.

  The document acquisition unit 63 acquires a document from a document storage unit (not shown) when the authentication process (login process) by the authentication unit 62 is successful, that is, for example, when a combination of a user ID and a password is registered in advance. . Here, after the user logs in to the cloud print service, a document to be acquired may be browsed on the client terminal 10 on the cloud and selected from the browsed documents.

  The printer information storage unit 64 stores printer information in which a user ID of a user is associated with a device ID of the image forming apparatus 30 that can be used by the user.

  When the reception unit 61 receives the print start instruction, the printer list generation unit 65 refers to the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 64 and is associated with the user ID of the user who transmitted the print start instruction. A printer list including the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 30 is generated.

  The search packet generation unit 66 generates a printer search packet to be transmitted to all the image forming apparatuses 30 whose device ID is included in the printer list generated by the printer list generation unit 65.

  When the receiving unit 61 receives the device specifying information, the device determining unit 67 determines the device ID included in the device specifying information as the device ID of the image forming apparatus 30 that is the output destination.

  When the receiving unit 61 receives a print execution instruction, the print instruction information generating unit 68 generates print instruction information for instructing printing of the document displayed on the client terminal 10 in accordance with the print settings.

  The transmission unit 69 generates the search packet generation unit 66 in parallel with transmitting the printer list generated by the printer list generation unit 65 to the client terminal 10 when the user presses the print button on the client terminal 10. The printer search packet is transmitted to all the image forming apparatuses 30 included in the printer list. In addition, when the user presses the printer specifying button on the image forming apparatus 30, the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 30 determined by the apparatus determining unit 67 is transmitted to the client terminal 10. Further, when the user performs print settings on the client terminal 10 and presses the execute button, the print instruction information generated by the print instruction information generation unit 68 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30. In the present embodiment, a first notification means for notifying information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses to a print instruction apparatus, a distribution means for distributing search information to a plurality of printing apparatuses, and a specific print out of information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses A transmission unit 69 is provided as an example of second notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus of information prompting to select information related to the apparatus.

Next, the operation of the cloud print system in the present embodiment will be described.
First, assuming that the image forming apparatus 30 is the image forming apparatus 30c that the user A who is the user of the client terminal 10 wants to use, the operations of the client terminal 10, the cloud print server 50, and the image forming apparatus 30c will be described. .
FIGS. 11 to 13 are sequence diagrams illustrating exemplary operations of the client terminal 10, the cloud print server 50, and the image forming apparatus 30c.

  First, the user A performs a login operation for the cloud print service. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, in the client terminal 10, the operation reception unit 25 receives this login operation (step 201). Then, the transmission unit 29 transmits the login information input by this login operation to the cloud print server 50 (step 202).

Thereby, in the cloud print server 50, the receiving unit 61 receives the login information (step 601). And the authentication part 62 performs a login process based on this login information (step 602).
If the login process is successful, the document acquisition unit 63 acquires a document (step 603). Specifically, when the user gives an instruction to browse a document on the client terminal 10, the cloud print server 50 causes the client terminal 10 to browse a document on the cloud associated with the user, and the user selects the document from the document. When a document to be printed is selected, the document acquisition unit 63 acquires the selected document. Note that if the login process fails, an error is simply returned to the client terminal 10 and is therefore omitted. Then, the transmission unit 69 transmits the document acquired in Step 603 to the client terminal 10 (Step 604).

Thereby, in the client terminal 10, the receiving unit 21 receives the document (step 203). Then, the display control unit 24 outputs the document to the display mechanism 15, and the display mechanism 15 displays the document so that the user A can operate the document (step 204).
Thereafter, if there is a document to be printed, the user A presses the print button. Then, in the client terminal 10, the operation accepting unit 25 accepts an operation for pressing the print button (step 205). Then, the transmission unit 29 transmits a print start instruction to the cloud print server 50 (step 206).

  Accordingly, in the cloud print server 50, the receiving unit 61 receives a print start instruction (step 605). Then, the printer list generation unit 65 refers to the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 64 to generate a printer list that is a list of the image forming apparatuses 30 registered as usable by the user A. (Step 606), the transmission unit 69 transmits this printer list to the client terminal 10 (step 607).

  Thereby, in the client terminal 10, the receiving unit 21 receives the printer list (step 207). Then, the display control unit 24 outputs the printer list to the display mechanism 15, and the display mechanism 15 displays the printer list (step 208). User A can select an output destination from among the image forming apparatuses 30 included in the printer list.

Here, it is sufficient that the user A can easily select the output destination. However, when the number of registered image forming apparatuses 30 is large, or the name displayed in the printer list is used, the image forming apparatus 30 that is desired to be the output destination is specified. If this is not possible, it will be difficult to select the output destination.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the print button is pressed, the printer search packet is notified via the network 90 to all the image forming apparatuses 30 that can be used by the user A.

  That is, in the cloud print server 50, in parallel with the transmission unit 69 transmitting the printer list to the client terminal 10 in Step 607, the search packet generation unit 66 performs printers for all image forming apparatuses 30 included in the printer list. A search packet is generated (step 608), and the transmission unit 69 transmits this printer search packet to all the image forming apparatuses 30 included in the printer list (step 609).

  As a result, in the image forming apparatus 30c, the receiving unit 41c receives the printer search packet (step 401). Then, the search packet management unit 42c acquires the printer search packet and stores it in the search packet storage unit 43c (step 402).

  Next, the user A moves to the front of the image forming apparatus 30c and presses the printer specifying button of the image forming apparatus 30c. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, in the image forming apparatus 30c, the operation receiving unit 45c receives an operation of pressing the printer specifying button (step 421). Then, the search packet management unit 42c determines whether or not a plurality of printer search packets are stored in the search packet storage unit 43c (step 422).

As a result, if it is determined that a plurality of printer search packets are stored in the search packet storage unit 43c, the display control unit 44c includes a list of a plurality of user names included in the plurality of printer search packets. The screen is displayed on the operation panel 35c, and the user A is made to select any user name (step 423). The operation accepting unit 45c accepts an operation for selecting a user name (step 424). At this time, the user ID corresponding to the selected user name is specified as the user ID of user A.
On the other hand, if it is determined that a plurality of printer search packets are not stored in the search packet storage unit 43c, that is, if it is determined that only one printer search packet is stored, the user selection screen is not displayed. The user ID included in the one printer search packet is specified as the user ID of user A.

  In this operation example, since the image forming apparatus 30c is registered as usable by the user A, it is assumed that the printer search packet is stored in the search packet storage unit 43c. In the image forming apparatus 30 that is not registered as usable, the search packet storage unit 43 may not store the printer search packet. In that case, although not shown, it is preferable to display an error and terminate the process.

  When the user A's user ID is specified, the device specifying information generating unit 46c generates device specifying information including the specified user ID and the device ID of the own device (step 425). Then, the transmission unit 49c transmits the device identification information to the cloud print server 50 (step 426).

  Thereby, in the cloud print server 50, the receiving unit 61 receives the device specifying information (step 621). Then, the device determination unit 67 determines the device ID of the image forming apparatus 30c as an output destination device ID (step 622), and the transmission unit 69 transmits this device ID to the client terminal 10 (step 623). At this time, the client terminal 10 that is the transmission destination of the device ID may be determined as follows. That is, correspondence information between the user ID and the address of the client terminal 10 is stored when the login process is performed in step 602 of FIG. Then, the correspondence information may be searched by using the user ID included in the device identification information received in step 621 as a key to determine the address of the client terminal 10.

  Thereby, in the client terminal 10, the receiving part 21 receives apparatus ID (step 221). Then, the display control unit 24 outputs a print setting screen for the image forming apparatus 30c with the device ID to the display mechanism 15, and the display mechanism 15 displays the print setting screen (step 222). In other words, the print setting screen for the image forming apparatus 30c is displayed as if the image forming apparatus 30c was selected on the printer selection screen.

  Next, the user A performs print settings on the print setting screen displayed on the client terminal 10 and then presses the execution button. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 13, in the client terminal 10, the operation reception unit 25 receives an operation of pressing the execution button (step 241). Then, the transmission unit 29 transmits a print execution instruction including print settings to the cloud print server 50 (step 242).

  Thereby, in the cloud print server 50, the receiving unit 61 receives a print execution instruction (step 641). Then, the print instruction information generation unit 68 generates print instruction information for instructing printing of the document displayed in step 204 of FIG. 11 (step 642), and the transmission unit 69 sends the print instruction information to the image forming apparatus 30c. Transmit (step 643).

  Thereby, in the image forming apparatus 30c, the receiving unit 41c receives the print instruction information (step 441). Then, the print control unit 47c outputs the print instruction information to the image forming unit 37c, and the image forming unit 37c prints the document based on the print instruction information (step 442). Thereafter, the search packet management unit 42c deletes the printer search packet corresponding to this printing from the printer search packets stored in the search packet storage unit 43c (step 443). Specifically, if it is determined in step 422 in FIG. 12 that one printer search packet is stored, the one printer search packet is deleted. If it is determined in step 422 in FIG. 12 that a plurality of printer search packets are stored, the printer search packet including the user name selected in step 424 in FIG. 12 is deleted.

Next, assuming the image forming apparatus 30 other than the image forming apparatus 30c that the user A wants to use as the image forming apparatus 30, the operation of the image forming apparatus 30 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example of such an image forming apparatus 30.
As shown in the figure, in the image forming apparatus 30, a printer search packet in which a predetermined time has passed since the search packet management unit 42 transmitted or received in the printer search packet stored in the search packet storage unit 43. It is determined whether there is any (step 461). Specifically, a time difference from the search start time to the current time included in the printer search packet stored in the search packet storage unit 43 is calculated, and whether there is a printer search packet whose time difference exceeds a predetermined time difference. Determine if.

As a result, if it is determined that there is no printer search packet for which a predetermined time has elapsed since transmission or reception, the determination in step 461 is performed again.
On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a printer search packet for which a predetermined time has elapsed since it was transmitted or received, the search packet management unit 42 deletes the printer search packet (step 462), and the determination in step 461 again. I do.

The operation of the cloud print system in the present embodiment has been described above.
Here, with respect to the operation of the cloud print system, the following modifications may be considered.
First, in the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 30 determines that only one printer search packet is stored in step 422 in FIG. 12, the one printer is displayed without displaying the user selection screen. Although the user ID included in the search packet is specified as the user ID of user A, this is not restrictive. Even if it is determined in step 422 in FIG. 12 that only one printer search packet is stored, a user selection screen including one user name is displayed, and the user A is made to select the user name. You can do it.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 30 determines that a plurality of printer search packets are stored in step 422 in FIG. 12, the apparatus specifying information is simply obtained by causing the user A to select the user name. The transmission is made to the cloud print server 50, but this is not a limitation. After the user A selects a user name, enters a password, and performs authentication, the device identification information may be transmitted to the cloud print server 50 to prevent impersonation of another user. .

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the client terminal 10 displays the print setting screen for the image forming apparatus 30c in the printer list in step 222 of FIG. 12, thereby clearly indicating that the image forming apparatus 30c is the output destination. This is not the case. In step 222 in FIG. 12, a mark is added to the name of the image forming apparatus 30c in the printer list, a color change is highlighted, or the name of the image forming apparatus 30c in the printer list is displayed at the top of the list. It may be made clear that the image forming apparatus 30c is the output destination by moving it. Here, the printer list is an example of information regarding a plurality of printing apparatuses. The print setting screen for the image forming apparatus 30c, the highlighted display for the name of the image forming apparatus 30c, and the movement of the name of the image forming apparatus 30c are to select information related to a specific printing apparatus from among information related to a plurality of printing apparatuses. This is an example of information for prompting.

  In the present embodiment, the cloud print server 50 receives the print data obtained by converting the document into a format that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 30 when the print execution instruction is received from the client terminal 10 in step 641 in FIG. The print instruction information including the print setting is generated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Print data is generated when the apparatus specifying information is received from the image forming apparatus 30c in step 621 in FIG. 12, and this print data is generated when a print execution instruction is received from the client terminal 10 in step 641 in FIG. And print instruction information including print settings may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30c. Although the point in time when the device specifying information is received from the image forming apparatus 30c is described here, the print data may be generated at any point as long as an operation for designating the image forming apparatus 30c is performed. In addition, although the print execution instruction is received from the client terminal 10, the print instruction information may be generated at any time as long as the print setting is performed in the client terminal 10.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the usable image forming apparatus 30 is associated with the user, but this is not restrictive. An available image forming apparatus 30 may be associated with the client terminal 10. In this case, the printer search packet is transmitted to all the image forming apparatuses 30 associated with the client terminal 10. If there are a plurality of printer search packets received by the image forming apparatus 30, an operation for transmitting the printer search packets is performed. A list of names of the client terminals 10 that have been performed is displayed. Here, the user and the client terminal 10 are an example of a print instruction source.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer search packet stored in the image forming apparatus 30c is deleted when printing corresponding to the printer search packet is completed.
However, if the printer search packet is deleted at such timing, when the document is continuously printed by the same image forming apparatus 30, the printer specifying button of the image forming apparatus 30 is pressed every time printing is performed. An operation such as remembering the name of the image forming apparatus 30 on the client terminal 10 and selecting the name on the printer selection screen is required.
Therefore, the printer search packet stored in the image forming apparatus 30c may also be deleted when a predetermined time elapses as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the position information of the client terminal 10 may be used and deleted after the client terminal 10 has moved out of a predetermined range around the image forming apparatus 30c.

In this embodiment, the printer search packet stored in the image forming apparatus 30 other than the image forming apparatus 30c is deleted when a predetermined time elapses. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, when the image forming apparatus 30c receives the press of the printer specifying button in step 421 in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 30c transmits a deletion command to the other image forming apparatus 30 and receives the deletion command, thereby receiving another image. The forming apparatus 30 may delete the printer search packet.
Alternatively, when the client terminal 10 receives the apparatus ID in step 221 of FIG. 12, the client terminal 10 transmits a delete command to the image forming apparatus 30 other than the image forming apparatus 30c having the apparatus ID, and receives this delete command. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 30 other than the image forming apparatus 30c may delete the printer search packet.

  The program for realizing the present embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Client terminal, 21 ... Reception part, 24 ... Display control part, 25 ... Operation reception part, 29 ... Transmission part, 30 ... Image forming apparatus, 41 ... Reception part, 42 ... Search packet management part, 43 ... Search packet memory | storage , 44 ... display control unit, 45 ... operation reception unit, 46 ... device specifying information generation unit, 47 ... print control unit, 49 ... transmission unit, 50 ... cloud print server, 61 ... reception unit, 62 ... authentication unit, 63 Document acquisition unit 64 Printer information storage unit 65 Printer list generation unit 66 Search packet generation unit 67 Device determination unit 68 Print instruction information generation unit 69 Transmission unit

Claims (12)

A print instruction support device for supporting a print instruction by a print instruction device for instructing printing of a document;
Print instruction information that is associated with a print instruction source that is one of the print instruction apparatus and the print instruction person who performs the print instruction and instructs the printing of the document transmitted by the print instruction support apparatus in response to the print instruction And a plurality of printing apparatuses that print the document based on the print instruction information,
The printing instruction support device includes:
First notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus of information related to the plurality of printing apparatuses in response to an operation of the print instruction apparatus;
Distribution means for distributing search information for searching for a printing apparatus that prints the document from the plurality of printing apparatuses to the plurality of printing apparatuses;
Each of the plurality of printing devices is
Receiving means for receiving the search information distributed by the distribution means;
If an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document is performed on the own apparatus, if the search information is received by the receiving unit, the operation for the designation is performed on the own apparatus. Transmission means for transmitting the designated operation information to the print instruction support device,
The printing instruction support device includes:
When the designated operation information is received from the specific printing apparatus that has transmitted the designated operation information, the specific printing apparatus is selected from the information regarding the plurality of printing apparatuses notified to the print instruction apparatus by the first notification unit. A print instruction support system, further comprising second notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus of information prompting to select information related to the print instruction apparatus. In response to an operation of the print instruction apparatus, information on a plurality of print apparatuses associated with a print instruction source that is one of a print instruction apparatus that instructs printing of a document and a print instruction person that issues a print instruction by the print instruction apparatus. Receiving means for receiving search information for searching for a printing apparatus that prints the document from the plurality of printing apparatuses, from the printing instruction support apparatus that notifies the printing instruction apparatus;
If an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document is performed on the own apparatus, if the search information is received by the receiving unit, information on the own apparatus from the information on the plurality of printing apparatuses. A printing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit information for prompting the print instruction apparatus to select information prompting the user to select the print instruction support apparatus. The receiving unit receives the search information including identification information of the print instruction source;
The transmission means provides information for instructing the print instruction apparatus corresponding to the identification information to prompt the user to select information related to the self apparatus from information related to the plurality of printing apparatuses. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus transmits the data to the printing apparatus.   The transmission means is information related to the plurality of printing apparatuses if one of the search information is received by the receiving means when an operation for designating the printing apparatus as the printing apparatus for the document is performed on the own apparatus. Information for prompting the print instruction apparatus corresponding to one piece of the identification information included in the one search information to send information prompting the user to select information related to the self apparatus from the information to the print instruction support apparatus The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: If an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document is performed on the apparatus, and if a plurality of the search information is received by the receiving unit, the plurality of identifications included in the plurality of search information It further comprises display means for displaying information,
When the specific identification information is selected from the plurality of identification information displayed on the display unit, the transmission unit prompts the user to select information about the own device from the information about the plurality of printing devices. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information for notifying the print instruction apparatus corresponding to the specific identification information is transmitted to the print instruction support apparatus. When print instruction information for instructing printing of the document transmitted by the print instruction support apparatus in response to the print instruction in response to the notification of information prompting to select information related to the own apparatus is received, the print instruction information Printing means for printing the document based on;
6. The deleting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes the search information received by the receiving unit after the document is printed by the printing unit. Printing device.   The search information received by the receiving unit is deleted after the search information is transmitted by the printing instruction support apparatus or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the search unit has received the search information. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a deleting unit.   3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes the search information received by the receiving unit after the printing instruction apparatus has moved outside a predetermined range around the apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 5. Depending on the operation of the print instruction apparatus, information on a plurality of print apparatuses associated with a print instruction source that is one of a print instruction apparatus that instructs printing of a document and a print instruction person that issues a print instruction by the print instruction apparatus. First notification means for notifying the printing instruction apparatus;
Distribution means for distributing search information for searching for a printing apparatus for printing the document from the plurality of printing apparatuses to the plurality of printing apparatuses;
When the specific printing device to which the search information is distributed by the distribution unit is operated to designate the document as a printing device for printing the document, the first notification unit notifies the print instruction device. And a second notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus of information prompting the user to select information regarding the specific printing apparatus from the information regarding the plurality of printing apparatuses. Support device. The first notifying unit notifies the print instructing device of information for identifying the plurality of printing devices as information on the plurality of printing devices;
The second notification means prompts the user to select information related to the specific printing apparatus as information for displaying a screen for performing print settings when instructing printing of the document in the specific printing apparatus. The printing instruction support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing instruction apparatus notifies the printing instruction apparatus. Print data generating means for generating print data obtained by converting the document into a format that can be processed by the printing device when an operation for designating the document as a printing device for printing the document is performed on the specific printing device;
When the print setting is performed on the screen displayed on the print instruction apparatus in response to the notification of the information for displaying the screen for performing the print setting, the print setting information and the print data generation 11. The print instruction support according to claim 10, further comprising: print instruction information generating means for generating print instruction information for instructing printing of the document based on the print data generated by the means. apparatus. On the computer,
In response to an operation of the print instruction apparatus, information on a plurality of print apparatuses associated with a print instruction source that is one of a print instruction apparatus that instructs printing of a document and a print instruction person that issues a print instruction by the print instruction apparatus. A function of receiving search information for searching for a printing apparatus that prints the document from the plurality of printing apparatuses, from the printing instruction support apparatus that notifies the printing instruction apparatus;
When an operation for designating the document as a printing apparatus for printing the document is performed on the own apparatus, if the search information is received, information on the own apparatus is selected from information on the plurality of printing apparatuses. A program for realizing a function of transmitting information for prompting the print instruction apparatus to the print instruction support apparatus.

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