JP2013092869A - Information processing apparatus, print data output program, and print data output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify user operation in an image forming apparatus in a pull-print system.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit for associating and storing specific information for specifying a print server at a connection destination and server identification information for identifying the print server having accumulated print data. Also, the information processing apparatus acquires the specific information, and acquires the server identification information corresponding to the acquired specific information from the storage unit. Further, the information processing apparatus requests the acquisition of print data from the print server corresponding to the acquired server identification information. Yet further, the information processing apparatus receives the print data sent by the print server corresponding to the server identification information, and outputs the received print data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a print data output program, and a print data output system.

  Conventionally, a pull print system is known. The pull print system includes, for example, a terminal device such as a PC (Personal Computer) that outputs print data, a print server that stores the print data, and an MFP (Multi Function Printer) that prints the print data onto a recording medium. And other image forming apparatuses.

  That is, in the pull print system, the print data output by the terminal device is temporarily stored in the print server, not the image forming device, and the print data acquired from the print server in response to a user operation on the image forming device is stored in the image forming device. Printed on the device. Recently, there is a technology that can print specific print data by combining a pull print system and an authentication function. In this technique, for example, all the print data corresponding to the identification information is acquired from the connection destination print server using specific identification information such as a user name.

  As described above, by applying the pull print system, printing the print data from an image forming apparatus that is not being used can alleviate the waiting state for printing, and the printed matter is less likely to be left unattended. But improvements can be made.

  However, the conventional technique has a problem that the user operation on the image forming apparatus in the pull print system may be complicated. In general, a print server has a limit on the number of simultaneous connections. For this reason, the pull print system may have a configuration in which a plurality of print servers are arranged in order to distribute the load on the print server. In such a case, the user needs to select the print server in which the print data is stored as the connection destination in the operation on the image forming apparatus. As a result, in the conventional technique, there is a possibility that the user operation on the image forming apparatus in the pull print system becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an information processing apparatus, a print data output program, and a print data output system capable of simplifying user operations on an image forming apparatus in a pull print system. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes specification information for specifying a connection-destination print server and a server identification for identifying the print server in which print data is stored. A storage unit that associates and stores information, a specific information acquisition unit that acquires the specific information, a server identification information acquisition unit that acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the storage unit, and the server A request unit that requests the print server corresponding to the identification information to acquire the print data, the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information, and the received print data And an output unit for outputting.

  The print data output program according to the present invention identifies a specific information acquisition step for acquiring specific information for specifying a connection destination print server, the specific information, and the print server in which the print data is stored. A server identification information acquisition step for acquiring the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from a storage unit that stores the server identification information in association with each other, and the print data for the print server corresponding to the server identification information A request step for requesting acquisition of the print data, and an output step for receiving the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information and outputting the received print data.

  The print data output system according to the present invention is a print data output system in which a print server that stores print data and an information processing apparatus that outputs the print data are connected to a network, and the print server includes: When the print data is received from an external device connected to the network, the received print data is stored in the storage unit, and when a request from the information processing device is received, the storage unit A transmission processing unit that acquires the print data to be transmitted and transmits the acquired print data to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus includes identification information for specifying a connection destination print server; A server identification information storage unit that associates and stores server identification information that identifies the print server, and a specific information acquisition unit that acquires the specific information A server identification information acquisition unit that acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the server identification information storage unit, and a request unit that requests the print server corresponding to the server identification information to acquire the print data And an output unit that receives the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information and outputs the received print data.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the user operation in the image forming apparatus in the pull print system is simplified.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print data output system. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information processing apparatus and the print server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of authentication information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data selection screen. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a billing number input screen. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data selection screen. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral that is an image forming apparatus including an information processing apparatus. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating that the print data output program is realized using a computer.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus, a print data output program, and a print data output system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the following examples. In addition, the embodiments can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict the contents.

[System configuration]
The configuration of the print data output system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print data output system.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the print data output system 1, an image forming apparatus 2, a print server 3, and a client PC 4 are connected via a network. That is, the print data output system 1 is an example of a pull print system. Further, the number of installed image forming apparatuses 2, print servers 3, or client PCs 4 is not limited to the illustrated number, and may be installed by one or a plurality of units.

  The image forming apparatus 2 is, for example, an MFP having at least two functions among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. Here, it is assumed that a user who uses the print data output system 1 belongs to one group such as a department. The print servers 3 are distributed according to the department to which each user belongs.

  In the above configuration, the client PC 4 obtains print data or creates print data from a predetermined server or the Internet, for example, by a user operation. Then, the client PC 4 transmits the print data designated by the user operation to the print server 3.

  The print server 3 receives print data from an external device such as a client PC 4 connected to the network, for example, and accumulates the received print data. When the print server 3 receives the print data acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 2, the print server 3 transmits the corresponding print data to the image forming apparatus 2.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a storage unit that stores specific information for specifying the connection destination print server 3 and server identification information for identifying the print server 3 in association with each other. When receiving a predetermined user operation, the image forming apparatus 2 acquires specific information obtained from the predetermined user operation, and acquires server identification information of the print server 3 corresponding to the acquired specific information from the storage unit. .

  Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 2 connects to the print server 3 based on the acquired server identification information, and notifies the print server 3 of the connection destination of a print data acquisition request. Thereafter, when receiving print data from the print server 3 as a response to the acquisition request, the image forming apparatus 2 prints the received print data on a recording medium. Details of processing by the image forming apparatus 2 and the print server 3 will be described later.

[Functions of Devices According to Embodiment 1]
Next, functions of the information processing apparatus and the print server according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information processing apparatus and the print server according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 100 is included in the image forming apparatus 2, and the print server 150 is an example of the print server 3.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a server identification information storage unit 101, a specific information acquisition unit 102, a server identification information acquisition unit 103, a request unit 104, and an output unit 105. The server identification information storage unit 101 stores “specific information” for specifying a connection destination print server in association with “server identification information” for identifying a print server in which print data is stored.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the first embodiment. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the server identification information storage unit 101 stores specific information “accounting unit” and server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080” in association with each other. As another example, the server identification information storage unit 101 stores specific information “development unit” and server identification information “133.139.yyy.yyy / 8080” in association with each other.

  That is, the specific information stored in the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the first embodiment is information indicating user attributes, such as a group name or a department name to which each user belongs. Similarly, the server identification information stored in the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the first embodiment is an IP (Internet Protocol) address and a port number of each print server 150. In this way, if the specific information is known, it can be determined which print server 150 should be connected.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information. For example, when a specific user operation is received, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information obtained from the predetermined user operation. The predetermined user operation is, for example, a login operation on the image forming apparatus 2 by the user.

  Here, a login process in the image forming apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of authentication information. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, on a login screen displayed on a touch panel type operation panel or the like mounted on the image forming apparatus 2, a user name and a password are input by a user operation, and a login button is pressed. When the login button is pressed, the input user name is compared with the login user name of the authentication information shown in FIG. 5, and the login and authentication process is completed. At this time, the image forming apparatus 2 notifies the information processing apparatus 100 of the group name (department name) corresponding to the login user name. This group name (department name) corresponds to the specific information described above. The authentication process may be performed by a predetermined authentication server. The login process may be performed by using a card or an authentication device such as fingerprint authentication.

  For example, when the login operation by the user “Mary” is accepted, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires the group name “accounting unit” corresponding to the login user name “Mary” included in the authentication information. As described above, the group name “Accounting Department” corresponds to the specific information.

  The server identification information acquisition unit 103 acquires server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the server identification information storage unit 101. The server identification information acquisition unit 103 will be described with reference to the example described above. The server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx” of the print server 150 corresponding to the specific information “accounting unit” acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102. / 8080 "is acquired from the server identification information storage unit 101.

  The request unit 104 requests the print server corresponding to the server identification information to acquire print data. For example, the request unit 104 notifies the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 103 of an acquisition request for accumulated print data. For example, the request unit 104 is stored in the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080” acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 103. The print data acquisition request.

  The output unit 105 receives the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information, and outputs the received print data. For example, the output unit 105 receives print data transmitted as a response from the print server 150 to the print data acquisition request from the request unit 104. Then, the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2. In the example described above, the output unit 105 has made a print data acquisition request to the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080” by the request unit 104. Thereafter, the print data transmitted by the print server 150 is received. Then, the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 2 that has received the print data output by the information processing apparatus 100 displays on the operation panel a print data selection screen that allows the user to select which print data to print, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing of print data selected by the user. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data selection screen.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the print server 150 includes a reception processing unit 151, a print data storage unit 152, and a transmission processing unit 153. For example, when receiving print data from the client PC 4 connected to the network, the reception processing unit 151 stores the received print data in the print data storage unit 152. For example, when receiving a print data acquisition request from the information processing apparatus 100, the transmission processing unit 153 acquires print data corresponding to a group such as a department from the print data storage unit 152, and processes the acquired print data. It transmits to the apparatus 100.

[Flow of Print Data Output Processing According to Embodiment 1]
Next, a flow of print data output processing according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the first embodiment.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information corresponding to the user name from the authentication information when logged in by a user operation (Yes in Step S101) (Step S102). At this time, when the specific information acquisition unit 102 is not logged in (No in step S101), the specific information acquisition unit 102 waits for a login process by a user operation. Then, the server identification information acquisition unit 103 acquires server identification information corresponding to the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102 from the server identification information storage unit 101 (step S103).

  The request unit 104 requests the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 103 to acquire print data (step S104). Further, the output unit 105 receives the print data transmitted as a response from the print server 150 to the request from the request unit 104 (step S105). Subsequently, the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2 (step S106).

[Effects of Example 1]
As described above, the information processing apparatus 100 stores the specific information for specifying the connection destination print server in association with the server identification information of the print server in which the print data is stored, and corresponds to the specific information. A print data acquisition request is made to the print server corresponding to the server identification information, and the print data transmitted by the print server is received and output. As a result, the information processing apparatus 100 does not require the user to select a print server to be connected, and thus allows the user to select a connection destination print server from among a plurality of print servers arranged for load distribution. Compared with the prior art, the user operation on the image forming apparatus in the pull print system can be simplified.

  In the first embodiment, the case where print data is accumulated in a print server managed for each group such as a department and the print data is acquired from the print server has been described. Any print server among a plurality of print servers is described. It may be determined whether to obtain print data from Thus, in the second embodiment, a case will be described in which it is determined which print server from which a plurality of print servers should acquire print data.

[Server Identification Information Storage Unit According to Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the second embodiment. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the second embodiment stores a plurality of pieces of server identification information in association with one specific information, and print data from any print server. Priority information indicating whether or not to obtain priority is further stored in association with each other.

  For example, the server identification information storage unit 101 includes specific information “accounting unit”, server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080, 133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081”, and priority information. “Primary, Secondary” is stored in association with each other. As another example, the server identification information storage unit 101 has priority information “development unit”, server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080, 133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081”, The degree information “Primary, Secondary” is stored in association with each other. In FIG. 8, the case where two print servers are used for one piece of identification information is taken as an example, but the number of print servers used is not limited to this.

  That is, the server identification information acquisition unit 103 acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the server identification information storage unit 101 based on the priority information. For example, when the server identification information acquisition unit 103 acquires server identification information corresponding to the specific information “accounting unit” acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102, the priority information “Primary” having a high priority is obtained. Server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080” is acquired. If the server identification information acquisition unit 103 cannot connect due to a timeout or the like when connecting to the print server 150 whose priority information is “Primary”, the print server 150 whose priority information is “Secondary”. Server identification information “133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081” whose priority information is “Secondary” is acquired.

[Flow of Print Data Output Process According to Second Embodiment]
Next, the flow of print data output processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the second embodiment.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information corresponding to the user name from the authentication information when logged in by a user operation (Yes in Step S201) (Step S202). At this time, when the specific information acquisition unit 102 is not logged in (No in step S201), the specific information acquisition unit 102 waits for a login process by a user operation. And the server identification information acquisition part 103 acquires the server identification information with the highest priority from the server identification information storage part 101 among the server identification information corresponding to the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition part 102 (step). S203).

  The request unit 104 requests the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 103 to acquire print data (step S204). Further, the output unit 105 receives the print data transmitted as a response from the print server 150 to the request from the request unit 104 (step S205).

  At this time, when a timeout occurs in connection with the print server 150 (Yes in step S206), the server identification information acquisition unit 103 obtains server identification information that has one lower priority than the previous server identification information acquisition. Obtained from the server identification information storage unit 101 (step S203). On the other hand, if no timeout has occurred in connection with the print server 150 (No at Step S206), the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2 (Step S207).

[Effects of Example 2]
As described above, since the information processing apparatus 100 determines the connection destination print server based on the priority information indicating which print server obtains the print data with priority, which print data is to be printed. It is possible to suppress the complexity of selecting from a large amount of print data in the user operation for selecting.

  In the first embodiment, the case where one piece of server identification information is associated with one piece of specific information has been described. However, a plurality of pieces of server identification information may be associated with one piece of specific information. . In the third embodiment, a case where a plurality of pieces of server identification information are associated with one specific information will be described.

[Server Identification Information Storage Unit According to Embodiment 3]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the third embodiment. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the server identification information storage unit 101 according to the third embodiment stores a plurality of pieces of server identification information in association with one specific information. For example, the server identification information storage unit 101 associates specific information “accounting unit” with server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080, 133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081”. Remember. As another example, the server identification information storage unit 101 corresponds to the specific information “development unit” and the server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080, 133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081”. Add and remember. In FIG. 10, the case where two print servers are used for one specific information is taken as an example, but the number of print servers used is not limited to this.

  That is, the server identification information acquisition unit 103 acquires a plurality of server identification information corresponding to one specific information from the server identification information storage unit 101. For example, when the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102 is “accounting unit”, the server identification information acquisition unit 103 uses two pieces of server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080”. , “133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081” is acquired.

  The request unit 104 requests acquisition of print data from a plurality of print servers corresponding to a plurality of server identification information. The request unit 104 will be described with reference to the above-described example. The request unit 104 includes two pieces of server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080” and “133.139.yyy.yyy /” acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 103. The print server 150 corresponding to “8081” is requested to acquire print data.

  The output unit 105 receives print data transmitted by a plurality of print servers corresponding to a plurality of server identification information, and outputs the received print data. For example, the output unit 105 includes the print server 150 whose IP address and port number are “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080”, and the IP address and port number “133.139.yyy”. .Yyy / 8081 "is received from the print server 150. Then, the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 2 that has received the print data output by the information processing apparatus 100 displays on the operation panel a print data selection screen that allows the user to select which print data to print. At this time, if the same print data is included in a plurality of print data, the image forming apparatus 2 may display them after merging them. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing of print data selected by the user.

[Flow of Print Data Output Processing According to Embodiment 3]
Next, the flow of print data output processing according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the third embodiment.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information corresponding to the user name from the authentication information when logged in by a user operation (Yes in Step S301) (Step S302). At this time, when the specific information acquisition unit 102 is not logged in (No in step S301), the specific information acquisition unit 102 enters a waiting state for a login process by a user operation. Then, the server identification information acquisition unit 103 acquires a plurality of server identification information corresponding to the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102 from the server identification information storage unit 101 (step S303).

  The request unit 104 requests the print server 150 corresponding to the plurality of server identification information acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 103 to acquire print data (step S304). Further, the output unit 105 receives the print data transmitted as a response from each of the print servers 150 to the request from the request unit 104 (step S305). Subsequently, the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2 (step S306).

[Effects of Example 3]
As described above, since the information processing apparatus 100 acquires print data from a plurality of print servers, the information processing apparatus 100 can appropriately distribute the load without limiting the number of installed print servers. In addition, by merging a large amount of print data and displaying it on the operation panel or the like, it is possible to achieve a suitable load distribution and to suppress the complexity of user operations.

  In the first embodiment, the case has been described in which print data is acquired from the print server corresponding to the server identification information corresponding to the specific information obtained by the login authentication process using the user name. The print data may be acquired from the print server corresponding to the server identification information corresponding to the billing number representing the processing cost. Thus, in the fourth embodiment, a case will be described in which print data is acquired from a print server corresponding to server identification information corresponding to a billing number indicating at what cost printing of print data is processed.

[Function of Information Processing Device According to Embodiment 4]
The function of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 12, functional blocks that perform the same processes as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of the same processes may be omitted.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the information processing apparatus 200 includes a server identification information storage unit 201, a specific information acquisition unit 102, a server identification information acquisition unit 203, a request unit 104, an output unit 105, and a determination unit. 206. The server identification information storage unit 201 includes “specific information” for specifying the connection destination print server 150, “server identification information” for identifying the print server 150 in which the print data is stored, and whether print data can be printed. “Printability information” representing information is stored in association with each other. However, the printability information is information that may be registered after the determination process by the determination unit 206.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the server identification information storage unit 201 according to the fourth embodiment. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the server identification information storage unit 201 includes specific information “0000 (operating expenses)”, server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080”, and print permission information “possible”. Are stored in association with each other. As another example, the server identification information storage unit 201 includes specific information “0001 (development cost)”, server identification information “133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081”, and print permission information “no”. Store in association with each other. In other words, the specific information stored in the server identification information storage unit 201 according to the fourth embodiment is, for example, a billing number indicating at what cost printing of print data is processed.

  The specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information. For example, when a specific user operation is received, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires specific information obtained from the predetermined user operation. The predetermined user operation is, for example, a billing number input operation in the image forming apparatus 2 by the user.

  Here, the charging number input operation in the image forming apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a billing number input screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, on the billing number input screen displayed on the operation panel or the like mounted on the image forming apparatus 2, the billing number corresponding to the specific information is input by a user operation, and the login button is pressed. . At this time, the image forming apparatus 2 notifies the information processing apparatus 200 of the input billing number. That is, in the fourth embodiment, authentication processing using a user name may not be performed. For example, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires the input charging number “0000” when an input operation of the charging number “0000” corresponding to the specific information is received.

  The server identification information acquisition unit 203 acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the server identification information storage unit 201 when it is determined that the print data can be printed. Explaining with the example described above, the server identification information acquisition unit 203 further sets the charge number “0000” corresponding to the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102 to the determination unit 206 with the charge number. A request is made to determine whether charging is possible, that is, whether printing of print data is possible.

  The determination unit 206 determines whether the print data can be printed based on the print data print permission condition corresponding to the specific information. Explaining with the above-described example, the determination unit 206 receives a charge number “0000” from the server identification information acquisition unit 203 and stores a charge state storage that stores a charge state when requested to determine whether print data can be printed. The billing amount for the billing number “0000” is determined by referring to a section (not shown) or the like. If the determination unit 206 determines that the charge amount for the charge number “0000” exceeds a predetermined value, further charge is impossible, and printing according to the charge number “0000” is not possible. This is notified to the server identification information acquisition unit 203. On the other hand, if the determination unit 206 determines that the charge amount for the charge number “0000” is less than the predetermined value, further charge is possible, and printing according to the charge number “0000” is possible. Is notified to the server identification information acquisition unit 203.

  In other words, the server identification information acquisition unit 203 notified that the print data can be printed stores the server identification information corresponding to the billing number corresponding to the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102. Obtained from the unit 201. In the example described above, when the billing number is “0000 (operating expenses)”, the determination unit 206 determines that the printability is “permitted”, so the server identification information acquisition unit 203 The server identification information “133.139.xxx.xxx/8080” corresponding to the billing number “0000 (operating expense)” is acquired from the server identification information storage unit 201.

  On the other hand, the server identification information acquisition unit 203 notified that the print data cannot be printed notifies the image forming apparatus 2 that printing is impossible. For example, when the charge number is “0001 (development cost)”, the determination unit 206 determines that the printability is “no”, so the server identification information acquisition unit 203 determines that the charge number “ Without obtaining the server identification information “133.139.yyy.yyy / 8081” corresponding to “0001 (development cost)”, the image forming apparatus 2 is notified that printing is impossible, and the processing is terminated. . Thereafter, when the image forming apparatus 2 accepts that printing is impossible, the image forming apparatus 2 displays this on the operation panel in order to notify the user that the upper limit of the charge amount has been exceeded.

  Note that the determination unit 206 does not accept the print permission determination request from the server identification information acquisition unit 203, performs a print permission determination process at an arbitrary timing, and displays the print permission information in the server identification information storage unit 201 illustrated in FIG. The determination result may be registered. At this time, the server identification information acquisition unit 203 refers to the print permission information corresponding to the billing number, and if the print permission information is “permitted”, acquires the server identification information from the server identification information storage unit 201. Become.

  The request unit 104 notifies the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 203 of an acquisition request for the accumulated print data, as in the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the output unit 105 receives print data transmitted as a response from the print server 150 to the print data acquisition request by the request unit 104, and the received print data is received by the image forming apparatus 2. Output for.

  The image forming apparatus 2 that has received the print data output by the information processing apparatus 200 displays a print data selection screen on the operation panel that allows the user to select which print data to print, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing of print data selected by the user. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data selection screen.

[Flow of Print Data Output Processing According to Embodiment 4]
Next, a flow of print data output processing according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of print data output processing according to the fourth embodiment.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the specific information acquisition unit 102 acquires the charging number corresponding to the specific information when a charging number corresponding to the specific information is input by a user operation (Yes in step S <b> 401) ( Step S402). At this time, when the billing number is not input (No at Step S401), the specific information acquisition unit 102 waits for a billing number input by a user operation. In addition, the server identification information acquisition unit 203 notifies the determination unit 206 of the billing number acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 102 and requests determination of whether or not print data can be printed.

  Further, when the charging number is notified from the server identification information acquisition unit 203, the determination unit 206 can print the print data by determining whether or not the charging amount for the charging number exceeds a predetermined value. Whether or not (step S403). At this time, when the determination unit 206 determines that the print data can be printed (Yes at step S403), the server identification information acquisition unit 203 sets the server identification information corresponding to the billing number corresponding to the specific information to the server. Obtained from the identification information storage unit 201 (step S404). On the other hand, when the determination unit 206 determines that the print data cannot be printed (No at step S403), the server identification information acquisition unit 203 ends the process.

  The request unit 104 requests the print server 150 corresponding to the server identification information acquired by the server identification information acquisition unit 203 to acquire print data. (Step S405). Further, the output unit 105 receives the print data transmitted as a response from the print server 150 to the request from the request unit 104 (step S406). Subsequently, the output unit 105 outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2 (step S407).

[Effects of Example 4]
As described above, the information processing apparatus 200 determines whether or not the print data can be printed according to the billing number. Therefore, the user operation on the image forming apparatus in the pull print system can be performed in various forms not limited to user authentication. It can be simplified.

  Although the embodiments of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention have been described so far, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms other than the embodiments described above. Therefore, different embodiments regarding (1) configuration, (2) program, and the like will be described.

(1) Configuration Information including processing procedures, control procedures, specific names, various data, parameters, and the like shown in the above documents and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various types of information stored in the server identification information storage unit 101 or the server identification information storage unit 201 are not limited to those illustrated.

  Each component of the illustrated information processing apparatus 100, information processing apparatus 200, or print server 150 is functionally conceptual and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific form of distribution or integration of each device is not limited to the illustrated one, and all or a part thereof is functionally or physically distributed or arbitrarily distributed in arbitrary units according to various burdens or usage conditions. Can be integrated. For example, the output unit 105 may be distributed into a “print data receiving unit” that receives print data from the print server 150 and a “print data output unit” that outputs the received print data to the image forming apparatus 2.

(2) Program and the like FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral that is the image forming apparatus 2 including the information processing apparatus 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the multi-function peripheral has a configuration in which a controller 10 and an engine unit 60 are connected by a PCI bus. The controller 10 is a controller that controls the entire MFP, drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown). The engine unit 60 is a printer engine or the like that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a 1-drum color plotter, a 4-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 60 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The controller 10 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge (NB) 13, a system memory (MEM-P) 12, a south bridge (SB) 14, a local memory (MEM-C) 17, an ASIC 16, and a hard disk drive. (HDD) 18 and the north bridge 13 and the ASIC 16 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. The MEM-P 12 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b.

  The CPU 11 performs overall control of the multifunction peripheral, and has a chip set including the north bridge 13, the MEM-P 12, and the south bridge 14, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The north bridge 13 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 11, the MEM-P 12, the south bridge 14, and the AGP bus 15, and includes a memory controller, a PCI master, and an AGP target that control reading and writing to the MEM-P 12. Have

  The MEM-P 12 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 12a and a RAM 12b. The ROM 12a is a read-only memory used as a program / data storage memory, and the RAM 12b is a writable / readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, or the like.

  The south bridge 14 is a bridge for connecting the north bridge 13 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The south bridge 14 is connected to the north bridge 13 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 16 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP bus 15, the PCI bus, the HDD 18, and the MEM-C 17. The ASIC 16 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 16, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 17, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that rotate image data by hardware logic or the like. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the engine unit 60 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Facsimile Control Unit) 30, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 40, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 50 are connected to the ASIC 16 via a PCI bus. The operation display unit 20 is directly connected to the ASIC 16.

  The MEM-C 17 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 18 is used to store image data, programs, font data, and forms. Storage.

  The AGP bus 15 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP bus 15 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 12 with high throughput. It is.

  Note that the print data output program executed by the information processing apparatus 100 of the above embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. For example, the print data output program executed by the information processing apparatus 100 is a file in an installable format or an executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The information may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and provided as a computer program product.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating that the print data output program is realized using a computer. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, a computer 1000 as the information processing apparatus 100 includes a control device such as a CPU 1001, a storage device such as a ROM 1002 and a RAM 1003, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1004, which are connected via a bus 1009. An external storage device such as a disk drive 1005, a display device such as a display 1006, and input devices such as a keyboard 1007 and a mouse 1008 are provided, and has a hardware configuration using a normal computer.

  The print data output program executed by the information processing apparatus 100 is, for example, an installable or executable format file such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The program is provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The print data output program executed by the information processing apparatus 100 may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The print data output program executed by the information processing apparatus 100 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also, the print data output program may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The print data output program executed by the information processing apparatus 100 has a module configuration including the above-described units (specific information acquisition unit 102, server identification information acquisition unit 103, request unit 104, output unit 105). As hardware, a CPU (processor) reads out and executes a print data output program from the storage medium, whereby the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device, and a specific information acquisition unit 102, a server identification information acquisition unit 103, a request The unit 104 and the output unit 105 are generated on the main storage device.

100, 200 Information processing apparatus 101, 201 Server identification information storage unit 102 Specific information acquisition unit 103, 203 Server identification information acquisition unit 104 Request unit 105 Output unit 206 Determination unit 150 Print server 151 Reception processing unit 152 Print data storage unit 153 Transmission Processing part

JP 2007-200284 A JP 2011-087441 A JP 2010-109588 A JP 2003-122533 A

Claims (7)

A storage unit that stores specific information for specifying a connection destination print server and server identification information for identifying the print server in which print data is stored;
A specific information acquisition unit for acquiring the specific information;
A server identification information acquisition unit that acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the storage unit;
A requesting unit that requests the print server corresponding to the server identification information to acquire the print data;
An information processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that receives the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information and outputs the received print data.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information is information indicating a user attribute. The storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of server identification information in association with one piece of the specific information, and further corresponds to priority information indicating from which print server the print data is preferentially acquired. Remember,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server identification information acquisition unit acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the storage unit based on the priority information. The storage unit stores a plurality of the server identification information in association with one piece of the specific information,
The server identification information acquisition unit acquires a plurality of the server identification information corresponding to one specific information from the storage unit,
The request unit requests acquisition of the print data from a plurality of the print servers,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit receives the print data transmitted by a plurality of the print servers. A determination unit that determines whether the print data can be printed based on the print data print availability condition corresponding to the specific information;
The server identification information acquisition unit acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the storage unit when it is determined that the print data is printable. The information processing apparatus described in 1. A specific information acquisition step of acquiring specific information for specifying a connection destination print server;
A server identification information acquisition step of acquiring the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from a storage unit that stores the specific information in association with server identification information for identifying the print server in which print data is stored; ,
A requesting step for requesting acquisition of the print data to the print server corresponding to the server identification information;
A print data output program for causing a computer to execute the output step of receiving the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information and outputting the received print data. A print data output system in which a print server for storing print data and an information processing apparatus for outputting the print data are connected to a network,
The print server
A reception processing unit that receives the print data from an external device connected to the network, and stores the received print data in a storage unit;
A transmission processing unit that receives the print data corresponding from the storage unit when receiving a request from the information processing device, and transmits the acquired print data to the information processing device;
The information processing apparatus includes:
A server identification information storage unit that stores the specific information for specifying the connection destination print server and the server identification information for identifying the print server in association with each other;
A specific information acquisition unit for acquiring the specific information;
A server identification information acquisition unit that acquires the server identification information corresponding to the specific information from the server identification information storage unit;
A requesting unit that requests the print server corresponding to the server identification information to acquire the print data;
An output unit that receives the print data transmitted by the print server corresponding to the server identification information and outputs the received print data.

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