JP2015102939A - Print control system and print control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a print control system, in which a printer and a management device communicate with a server via a network, to deal with the configuration in which each of the devices communicate with the server via the network.SOLUTION: A control system 1 includes: a printer 12 for generating print result data and status data, and transmitting the data; a connection server 50 for generating print control data on the basis of print instruction data, transmitting the print result data to a management server 60, and transmitting the status data to a management device 14; the management server 60 for transmitting the print result data to the management device 14, and transmitting the print instruction data to the connection server 50; and the management device 14 for receiving the print result data from the management server 60, transmitting the print instruction data to the management server 60, and receiving the status data from the connection server 50.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control system including a printing apparatus and a print control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a print control system that prints on a print medium by a printing apparatus and issues a receipt according to the control of the printing control apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this type of printing control system, there is a printing device and a management device that controls the printing device are connected to a server as a printing control device via a network, and each device communicates with the server via the network. .

JP 2011-108097 A

When constructing a system in which a printing device having a printing function and a server communicate via a network and a management device having a printing control function and a server communicate via a network, such as the above-described printing control system, It is necessary to make the system compatible with a configuration in which a printing apparatus and a management apparatus communicate with a server via a network.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and relates to a print control system in which a printing apparatus and a management apparatus communicate with a server via a network, and a configuration in which each apparatus communicates with the server via a network. It aims at making it correspond.

In order to achieve the above object, a print control system of the present invention includes a print unit that performs printing, print control that generates first data based on the operation of the print unit, and second data different from the first data. And a printing apparatus having a communication unit that transmits the first data and the second data, and the first data and the second data transmitted by the communication unit of the printing apparatus are received. A connection unit, a print data processing unit that generates print control data for controlling the printing unit of the printing apparatus based on print instruction data for instructing printing, and transmission of the first data and reception of the printing instruction data A connection server having a first transmission / reception unit and a second transmission / reception unit for transmitting the second data; reception of the first data transmitted by the first transmission / reception unit of the connection server; and the connection server A management server having a first communication connection unit that transmits the print instruction data to the first transmission / reception unit, and a second communication connection unit that transmits the first data and receives the print instruction data; A control unit that generates the print instruction data, a first communication interface that receives the first data transmitted from the second communication connection unit of the management server and transmits the print instruction data to the management server And a management device having a second communication interface for receiving the second data transmitted by the connection server.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the first data based on the operation of the printing unit based on the print control data generated based on the print instruction data transmitted from the management apparatus is transmitted from the printing apparatus via the connection server and the management server. To the management device. Therefore, the first data can be transmitted to the management apparatus using the communication path established between the apparatuses when the print instruction data is transmitted from the management apparatus to the management server. For the second data different from the first data, when the data is transmitted from the printing apparatus to the connection server, the connection server sends the second data to the management apparatus without going through the management server. Send. For this reason, even if the communication path is not established between the management apparatus and the management server, the second data can be transmitted to the management apparatus. Further, since it does not go through the management server, the processing of the management server is not required when transmitting the second data to the management device, and the second data can be transmitted to the management device efficiently and more quickly. In other words, according to the configuration of the present invention, for a print control system in which the printing apparatus and the management apparatus communicate with the server via the network, the system can correspond to a configuration in which each apparatus communicates with the server via the network. .

The second data is status data indicating a status of the printing apparatus.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the status data generated by the printing apparatus can be transmitted efficiently and more quickly to the management apparatus.

The connection server establishes a first communication path with the management device when receiving the second data transmitted from the printing device.
According to the configuration of the present invention, when the connection server receives the second data from the printing apparatus, the connection server can transmit the second data to the management apparatus through the first communication path.

In addition, the management device establishes a second communication path with the management server when transmitting the print instruction data to the management server.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the management apparatus can transmit print instruction data to the management server through the second communication path. The management server can transmit the first data transmitted from the printing apparatus to the management apparatus through the second communication path.

The printing apparatus performs asynchronous bidirectional communication with the connection server.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the connection server can transmit print control data to the printing apparatus at an arbitrary timing, and cause the printing apparatus to execute printing.

The asynchronous bidirectional communication is WebSocket communication.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the connection server and the printing apparatus can perform asynchronous two-way communication by WebSocket communication.

In the printing control method of the present invention, when the first data is generated based on the operation of the printing unit of the printing apparatus, the first data is transmitted to the connection server, and the first data is transmitted by the connection server. The connection server transmits the first data to the management server that has transmitted the print instruction data for operating the printing unit, and the management server receives the first data. The first data is transmitted to the management device that has transmitted the print instruction data, the first data is received by the management device, and the second data different from the first data is generated by the printing device. Sometimes the second data is sent to the connection server, the second data is received by the connection server, the connection server sends the second data to the management device, Wherein the receiving the second data in the serial control apparatus.
According to the printing control method of the present invention, the first data based on the operation of the printing unit is transmitted from the printing apparatus to the management apparatus via the connection server and the management server. Therefore, the first data can be transmitted to the management apparatus using the communication path established between the apparatuses when the print instruction data is transmitted from the management apparatus to the management server. For the second data different from the first data, when the data is transmitted from the printing apparatus to the connection server, the connection server sends the second data to the management apparatus without going through the management server. Send. For this reason, even if the communication path is not established between the management apparatus and the management server, the second data can be transmitted to the management apparatus. Further, since it does not go through the management server, the processing of the management server is not required when transmitting the second data to the management device, and the second data can be transmitted to the management device efficiently and more quickly. That is, according to the printing control method of the present invention, for a printing control system in which the printing apparatus and the management apparatus communicate with the server via the network, the system is made to correspond to a configuration in which the apparatus communicates with the server via the network. be able to.

The second data is status data indicating a status of the printing apparatus.
According to the printing control method of the present invention, the status data generated by the printing apparatus can be transmitted efficiently and more quickly to the management apparatus.

The figure which shows the structure of the control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the communication path established between the control server and the printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of a control server in detail. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of each apparatus with which a control system is provided. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a printing apparatus, a gate server, and a printing apparatus connection server. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus connection server. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of each apparatus with which a control system is provided. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of each apparatus with which a control system is provided. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus connection server, and a management apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system 1 (printing control system) according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 1 includes a control server 10, and a plurality of store systems 11 are connected to the control server 10 via a network GN such as the Internet. In addition, a plurality of management devices 14 are connected to the network GN.
The store system 11 is a system applied to stores such as supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, restaurants, and the like. The store system 11 has at least a function of issuing a receipt to a customer who has visited the store.
The store system 11 includes a printing function for printing on a print medium, and includes one or a plurality of printing devices 12 that can issue receipts. The printing apparatus 12 is connected to a local area network LN built in the store. Connected to the local area network LN is a network communication control device 13 including a network router and a communication device such as a modem. The printing device 12 accesses the network GN via the network communication control device 13. For example, the store system 11A is a system applied to the supermarket SM. The supermarket SM is provided with a plurality of cashier counters RC, and each cashier counter RC is provided with a printing device 12. The printing device 12 according to the store system 11A is connected to the local area network LN and accesses the network GN via the network communication control device 13.
In the control system 1 according to the present embodiment, the printing device 12 of the store system 11 establishes a communication path (connection) with the control server 10 and communicates with the control server 10. Then, the printing apparatus 12 executes processing related to printing under the control of the control server 10.
The management device 14 is a device that manages one or a plurality of store systems 11 as described later. For example, the management device 14 is provided at the head office of a company that operates a store, and manages the store system 11 that is provided at a plurality of stores that belong to the group of companies that operate the store. As will be described later, the management device 14 can control the predetermined printing device 12 of the store system 11 to cause the predetermined printing device 12 to execute printing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a communication path established between the control server 10 and the printing apparatus 12 in the control system 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the control system 1, a WebSocket connection CT of WebSocket is established between the control server 10 and the printing apparatus 12 of the store system 11.
WebSocket is one of the communication standards that enables asynchronous two-way communication between a server and a client connected via a network. In WebSocket, after a server and a client establish a WebSocket connection CT, data is transmitted and received using the WebSocket protocol through the connection. For this reason, it is not necessary to establish a connection every time data transmission occurs.
The WebSocket connection CT is a logical communication path for transmitting and receiving data according to the WebSocket protocol and procedure between the printing apparatus 12 connected via the connection and the control server 10. Therefore, after a predetermined handshake is performed between the printing apparatus 12 and the control server 10 and the WebSocket connection CT is established, the printing apparatus 12 and the control server 10 are asynchronously transmitted by the WebSocket connection CT. Can send and receive data. That is, the control server 10 can transmit data to the printing apparatus 12 through the WebSocket connection CT at an arbitrary timing, and the printing apparatus 12 can transmit data to the control server 10 through the WebSocket connection CT.
WebSocket communication is asynchronous two-way communication according to the WebSocket protocol and procedure, which is performed between the printing apparatus 12 and the control server 10 by the WebSocket connection CT.
With the establishment of the WebSocket connection CT, the printing apparatus 12 and the control server 10 can perform two-way communication asynchronously. That is, the control server 10 can push-transmit data to the printing apparatus 12 by WebSocket communication using the WebSocket connection CT without receiving a request from the printing apparatus 12 as a client.
The control server 10 and the printing apparatus 12 perform asynchronous two-way communication (WebSocket communication) using the WebSocket connection CT. That is, the control server 10 can push-transmit data to the printing apparatus 12 through the WebSocket connection CT at an arbitrary timing without receiving a request from the printing apparatus 12 as a client. Similarly, the printing apparatus 12 can push-transmit data to the control server 10 through the WebSocket connection CT at an arbitrary timing.
A plurality of management devices 14 are communicably connected to the control server 10. As will be described later, the management apparatus 14 can transmit print control data to a predetermined printing apparatus 12 via the control server 10 and cause the predetermined printing apparatus 12 to execute printing.

In the present embodiment, the control server 10 is a cloud server in a so-called cloud system in which the printing apparatus 12 is a client. That is, the control server 10 has an arithmetic processing function, executes predetermined arithmetic processing triggered by a request from the printing device 12 or a request from the management device 14, and transmits data based on the result of the arithmetic processing to the WebSocket connection CT. Can be transmitted to the printing apparatus 12.
In FIG. 2, the control server 10 is represented by one block, but this does not mean that the control server 10 is configured by a single server device. As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, the control server 10 includes a plurality of servers.
In the present embodiment, WebSocket communication is performed between the control server 10 and the printing apparatus 12. However, these devices may be configured to perform asynchronous bidirectional communication similar to WebSocket communication instead of WebSocket communication.

As described above, the control system 1 includes a plurality of (for example, 1000) printing apparatuses 12 on which a printing function is mounted, and is connected to the control server 10 via the WebSocket connection CT so as to be communicable.
Due to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, the control server 10 can collect, manage, and analyze information based on data received from a plurality of printing apparatuses 12 connected to the store system 11. For this reason, the control server 10 can accumulate information obtained from a plurality of printing apparatuses 12. The accumulated information can be used as so-called big data.
In addition, the construction of the store system 11 can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. That is, in the control system 1, the printing device 12 is connected to the control server 10 by the WebSocket connection CT. For this reason, it is possible to cause the printing apparatus 12 to execute various processes under the control of the control server 10 using the service provided by the control server 10. Therefore, an administrator who constructs the store system 11 may perform a simple operation of installing the printing apparatus 12 at a desired location and connecting the printing apparatus 12 to the network GN when constructing the store system 11. Accordingly, it is possible to cause the printing apparatus 12 to execute a desired process, for example, a process related to the receipt issuance, using the service provided by the control server 10.
In particular, an administrator who constructs the store system 11 does not need to implement a function for controlling the printing device 12 in the management device 14 that manages the store system 11. That is, the management device 14 can control the printing device 12 connected to the control server 10 by accessing the control server 10 and using a service provided by the control server 10.
Further, since the printing device 12 of the different store system 11 is connected to the control server 10 by the WebSocket connection CT, the control server 10 can manage the printing device 12 of the plurality of store systems 11. In addition, the control server 10 can operate the printing devices 12 of the plurality of store systems 11.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the control system 1 according to the present embodiment in more detail.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control server 10 includes a plurality of connection servers 50 and a plurality of management servers 60. In the control server 10, the plurality of connection servers 50 and the plurality of management servers 60 are communicably connected via an inter-server network SN configured including a LAN or the like.
As shown in FIG. 3, one or a plurality of printing apparatuses 12 are connected to the connection server 50 through a WebSocket connection CT.
In addition, one or a plurality of management devices 14 are connected to the management server 60 by a connection KK (second connection). In the present embodiment, the application layer connection KK established between the management server 60 and the management apparatus 14 is HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Accordingly, communication is started by the management apparatus 14 as a client. More specifically, when transmitting data, the management device 14 performs a handshake with the management server 60 and establishes a connection KK based on the TCP connection. Then, the management device 14 transmits data through the established connection KK. When transmission of data and transmission / reception of other data accompanying the transmission of data are completed, the management apparatus 14 disconnects the connection KK. Thus, in this embodiment, the management apparatus 14 establishes the connection KK when transmitting data.
As will be described later, the connection server 50 has a function of executing processing related to the printing apparatus 12 such as processing related to communication with the printing apparatus 12 and processing related to control of the printing apparatus 12.
The management server 60 has a function of executing processing related to the management device 14 such as processing related to communication with the management device 14 as will be described later.
As shown in FIG. 3, a database management server 70 is connected to the inter-server network SN. A gate server 80 is connected to the inter-server network SN. The functions of these servers will be described later.

With reference to FIG. 3, regarding the communication performed between one management apparatus 14 </ b> A of the plurality of management apparatuses 14 and one printing apparatus 12 </ b> A of the plurality of printing apparatuses 12, the management apparatus 14 </ b> A to the printing apparatus This will be briefly described by taking as an example the case of transmitting data to 12A.
In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 12A is the printing apparatus 12 that is controlled by the management apparatus 14A. That is, the management device 14A causes the printing device 12A to execute print processing under the control of the management device 14A. Therefore, the printing device 12A is the printing device 12 included in the store system 11 managed by the management device 14A.
When the management device 14A transmits data to the printing device 12A, the following processing is performed. First, the management apparatus 14A transmits data to a predetermined management server 60A among the plurality of management servers 60 by a method described later. The data includes information specifying the printing apparatus 12A. In the present embodiment, when receiving a service provided by the control server 10, a management server 60 to be accessed by the management device 14 is determined for each management device 14 in advance.
The management server 60A searches for the connection server 50 connected to the printing device 12A controlled by the management device 14A among the connection servers 50 connected to the inter-server network SN by a method described later. In this example, the connection server 50 to which the printing apparatus 12A is connected is the first connection server 50A. Therefore, the management server 60A searches for the first connection server 50A.
Next, the management server 60A transmits data to the searched first connection server 50A. Next, the first connection server 50A transmits data to the printing apparatus 12A by a method described later. At that time, the first connection server 50A performs predetermined processing based on the received data as necessary to generate new data, and transmits the new data. The printing apparatus 12A receives the data and executes a process based on the data.

As described above, the control server 10 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of connection servers 50 and a plurality of management servers 60. The management device 14 and the printing device 12 communicate via the connection server 50 and the management server 60 in the control server 10. In particular, the management device 14 causes the printing device 12 to execute printing via the management server 60 and the connection server 50.
Due to such a configuration, the following effects are obtained.
That is, since the management server 60 and the connection server 50 are independent servers, these servers can be added independently.
For example, when the number of printing apparatuses 12 that can be connected to the control server 10 is increased in order to use the service provided by the control server 10, the first connection server 50 </ b> A is added to reduce the processing load related to the processing related to the printing apparatus 12. It is possible to achieve dispersion. In this case, according to the present embodiment, the number of connection servers 50 can be increased independently of the management server 60. Due to such a configuration, the connection server 50 and the connection server 50 according to the status (number, etc.) of the printing device 12 that can be connected to the connection server 50 and the status (number, etc.) of the management device 14 that can be connected to the management server 60. The number of each management server 60 can be adjusted. Accordingly, the control server 10 is configured to have a server configuration and scale according to the status of the connectable printing device 12 and the management device 14, and the processing load can be distributed according to the number of devices connectable to the server. Is possible.
Further, according to the above configuration, the connection server 50 only needs to have a function of executing processing related to the connected printing device 12, and the management server 60 has a function of executing processing related to the connected management device 14. Should be provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the printing apparatus 12A, the first connection server 50A, the management server 60A, the management apparatus 14A, the database management server 70, and the gate server 80.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 12 </ b> A includes a communication control unit 15, a communication unit 16, a print control unit 17, a printing unit 18, and a printing device storage unit 19.
The functions of the communication control unit 15, the communication unit 16, and the print control unit 17 will be described later.
The printing unit 18 includes a printing mechanism that prints on a printing medium, a conveyance mechanism that conveys the printing medium, a printing mechanism such as a cutting mechanism that cuts the printing medium, and a control board that controls each mechanism.
The printing device storage unit 19 includes a nonvolatile memory and stores various data. The printing device storage unit 19 stores communication destination information data 19a and printing device identification information data 19b, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first connection server 50 </ b> A included in the control server 10 includes a communication management unit 25, a connection unit 26, a print data processing unit 27, a connection server storage unit 28, and a first transmission / reception unit 29. , A second transmitting / receiving unit 20.
The functions of the communication management unit 25, the connection unit 26, the print data processing unit 27, and the second transmission / reception unit 20 will be described later.
The connection server storage unit 28 includes a nonvolatile memory and stores various data. The connection server storage unit 28 stores a connection management database 28a and a management device management database 28b, which will be described later.
The first transmission / reception unit 29 communicates with other servers included in the control server 10 according to a predetermined communication standard via the inter-server network SN under the control of the communication management unit 25.

As shown in FIG. 4, the management server 60 </ b> A included in the control server 10 includes a management server control unit 61, a first communication connection unit 62, and a second communication connection unit 63.
The management server control unit 61 includes a CPU and the like, and controls the management server 60A. The management server control unit 61 includes a search unit 61a as a functional block. The function of the search unit 61a will be described later.
The first communication connection unit 62 communicates with other servers included in the control server 10 according to a predetermined communication standard via the inter-server network SN under the control of the management server control unit 61.
The second communication connection unit 63 communicates with the management device 14 (including the management device 14A) according to a predetermined standard via the network GN under the control of the management server control unit 61.

As shown in FIG. 4, the database management server 70 included in the control server 10 includes a database management server control unit 71, a database management server storage unit 72, and a database management server communication interface 73 (hereinafter referred to as “database I / F 73”). Express).
The database management server control unit 71 includes a CPU and the like, and controls the database management server 70. In particular, the database management server control unit 71 has a function of reading and writing various databases stored in the database management server storage unit 72.
The database management server storage unit 72 includes a nonvolatile memory and stores various data. The database management server storage unit 72 stores a connection server address management database 72a, which will be described later.
The database I / F 73 communicates with other servers included in the control server 10 according to a predetermined communication standard via the inter-server network SN under the control of the database management server control unit 71.

As shown in FIG. 4, the gate server 80 included in the control server 10 is expressed as a gate server control unit 81, a gate server storage unit 82, and a gate server communication interface 83 (hereinafter “gate server I / F 83”). And).
The gate server control unit 81 includes a CPU and controls the gate server 80.
The gate server storage unit 82 includes a nonvolatile memory and stores various data. The gate server storage unit 82 stores a connection server management database 82a, which will be described later.
The gate server I / F 83 communicates with other servers included in the control server 10 according to a predetermined communication standard via the inter-server network SN under the control of the gate server control unit 81.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the management device 14 includes a management device control unit 40 (control unit), a first communication interface 41 (hereinafter referred to as “first communication I / F 41”), and a second communication interface. 42 (hereinafter referred to as “second communication I / F 42”).
The function of the second communication I / F 42 will be described later.
The management device control unit 40 includes a CPU and the like, and controls the management device 14.
The first communication I / F 41 performs http communication under the control of the management device control unit 40.

  4 shows the relationship between the control server 10 and one printing device 12 connected to the control server 10 (printing device 12A in the example of FIG. 4). When a plurality of printing devices 12 are connected to the control server 10, the control server 10 includes a plurality of connection units 26 (WebSocket interfaces) corresponding to the plurality of printing devices 12, and is connected to each printing device 12. Then, the WebSocket connection CT is established, and WebSocket communication is performed with each printing apparatus 12 using the WebSocket connection CT.

Next, operations of the printing apparatus 12A, the gate server 80, and the first connection server 50A when the printing apparatus 12A is turned on will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operations of the printing apparatus 12A, the gate server 80, and the first connection server 50A after the printing apparatus 12A is powered on. 5A shows the operation of the printing apparatus 12A, FIG. 5B shows the operation of the gate server 80, and FIG. 5C shows the operation of the first connection server 50A.
In the following description, for convenience of description, the control server 10 includes two servers, that is, a first connection server 50A and a second connection server 50B as the connection server 50.
Note that the trigger of the processing in the flowchart of FIG. For example, the case where the printing apparatus 12 is connected to the network GN so as to be communicable or the case where an instruction is given from the user may be used.
In the following description, the printing apparatus 12A is connected to the local area network LN of the corresponding store system 11 and can access the network GN.

In the following description, the communication control unit 15, the print control unit 17, and the communication management unit 25, the print data processing unit 27, and the management server 60A included in the first connection server 50A included in the printing apparatus 12A. The function of each functional block of the unit 61a is realized as follows, for example.
That is, for example, these functional blocks are objects. An object is a functional block of software defined as a collection of instances, that is, data and methods generated by object-oriented programming. And the function of these functional blocks is implement | achieved by calling the method mounted in each functional block.
In addition, the functions of these functional blocks are realized by an application being read and executed by a hardware resource such as a CPU. A configuration in which the function of one functional block is realized by one application may be employed. Moreover, the structure by which the function of a some functional block is implement | achieved by one application may be sufficient. Moreover, the structure by which the function of one functional block is implement | achieved by several applications may be sufficient.
That is, each function block represents each function as a block, and does not mean a specific application, hardware, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the printing apparatus 12A is turned on (step SX1), the communication control unit 15 accesses the printing apparatus storage unit 19 and stores the communication stored in the printing apparatus storage unit 19 The destination information data 19a is acquired (step SA1).
The communication destination information data 19a refers to the address (domain name, IP address, path name, etc.) of the gate server 80 accessed by the printing apparatus 12 when establishing a WebSocket connection CT with one of the plurality of connection servers 50. ).
Here, in the WebSocket, when establishing the WebSocket connection CT, the client (printing apparatus 12A in this example) performs handshake to the server using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). In the handshake, the client transmits a message in which the server address is described. The communication destination information data 19a is data indicating this address.
As described above, in this embodiment, the printing apparatus 12 accesses the gate server 80 when establishing the WebSocket connection CT with the control server 10. That is, information indicating the address (domain name or the like) of the gate server 80 accessed when establishing the WebSocket connection CT is stored in each printing device 12 as the communication destination information data 19a.
Next, the communication control unit 15 requests the gate server 80 to establish a WebSocket connection CT with any one of the connection servers 50 based on the domain name indicated by the communication destination information data 19a (Step SA2). ).

When the request at step SA2 is accepted, the gate server control unit 81 of the gate server 80 refers to the connection server management database 82a (step SB1).
Here, the gate server control unit 81 of the gate server 80 manages, for each connection server 50 provided in the control server 10, the number of printing apparatuses 12 that have established a WebSocket connection CT with each server. The connection server management database 82a is a database in which information indicating the number of printing apparatuses 12 connected to the connection server 50 through the WebSocket connection CT is stored. Accordingly, by referring to the connection server management database 82a, the gate server control unit 81 can acquire the number of printing apparatuses 12 connected to the server by the WebSocket connection CT with respect to the arbitrary connection server 50.
The connection server management database 82a may be updated by any method. For example, the gate server control unit 81 may periodically inquire the connection server 50 about the number of printing apparatuses 12 connected by the WebSocket connection CT, and update the database based on a response corresponding to the inquiry. . Also, the connection server 50 notifies the gate server control unit 81 when, for example, the printing apparatus 12 is newly connected or when the connection of the connected printing apparatus 12 is disconnected. Then, the gate server control unit 81 may update the database based on the received notification.
In this example, in the connection server management database 82a, the number of printing apparatuses 12 connected to the first connection server 50A and the number of printing apparatuses 12 connected to the second connection server 50B are stored in association with each other.

In step SB1, after referring to the connection server management database 82a, the gate server control unit 81 executes the following processing. That is, the gate server control unit 81 identifies the server having the smaller number of printing apparatuses 12 connected by the WebSocket connection CT among the first connection server 50A and the second connection server 50B (step SB2).
Here, a server with a small number of connected printing apparatuses 12 is more likely to have a small amount of various loads (CPU load, communication load, other load, etc.) than a large number of servers. This is because the connection server 50 needs to execute processing corresponding to the connected printing device 12, but because the number of connected printing devices 12 is small, the number of processing to be executed is small. Based on this, the gate server control unit 81 determines the connection server 50 that establishes the WebSocket connection CT in response to the request as the connection server 50 with the smaller number of connected printing apparatuses 12 (step SB3).
In this example, of the first connection server 50A and the second connection server 50B, the first connection server 50A has a smaller number of connected printing apparatuses 12. Accordingly, in step SB2, the gate server control unit 81 identifies the first connection server 50A as the connection server 50 in which the number of connected printing apparatuses 12 is small. In step SB3, the gate server control unit 81 determines the first connection server 50A as the connection server 50 that establishes the WebSocket connection CT in response to the request.
As described above, when the printing apparatus 12 requests the establishment of the WebSocket connection CT with the connection server 50, the gate server control unit 81 sets the connection server 50 assumed to have a small processing load as the WebSocket connection. It is determined as the establishment destination of CT.
The selection of the connection server 50 for establishing the WebSocket connection CT may reflect the specifications of each connection server 50, the current processing load status, the predicted processing load status, and other conditions. Of course.
Next, the gate server control unit 81 requests the first connection server 50A to establish a WebSocket connection CT with the printing apparatus 12A (step SB4). The address of the connection server 50 provided in the control server 10 is managed. In addition, the gate server control unit 81 requests the printing apparatus 12A that has requested establishment of the WebSocket connection CT to establish the WebSocket connection CT with the first connection server 50A (Step SB5). Note that, when making a request to the devices in Step SB4 and Step SB5, the gate server control unit 81 transmits information necessary for handshaking for establishing the WebSocket connection CT between the devices, such as the device address.

  Next, the communication control unit 15 of the printing apparatus 12A and the communication management unit 25 of the first connection server 50A establish a WebSocket connection CT between the communication unit 16 and the connection unit 26 (Step SA3, Step SC1). . That is, the printing apparatus 12 </ b> A according to the present embodiment establishes the WebSocket connection CT using the power-on as a trigger without receiving a user instruction or a request from the control server 10.

The communication unit 16 and the connection unit 26 are WebSocket interfaces that transmit and receive data according to WebSocket standards and procedures. These functional blocks are generated using, for example, a socket library of WebSocket.
That is, the communication unit 16 has a function of performing processing according to the WebSocket for the data received from the communication control unit 15 and transmitting the data through the WebSocket connection CT in the WebSocket procedure. Further, the communication unit 16 has a function of performing a WebSocket process on data received through the WebSocket connection CT and transmitting the data to the communication control unit 15. The same applies to the connection unit 26.
With the establishment of the WebSocket connection CT, the printing apparatus 12A and the first connection server 50A can perform two-way communication asynchronously. That is, the first connection server 50A can transmit data to the printing apparatus 12A by push transmission using the WebSocket connection CT without receiving a request from the printing apparatus 12A as a client.

Next, the communication control unit 15 of the printing apparatus 12A accesses the printing apparatus storage unit 19 and acquires the printing apparatus identification information data 19b stored in the printing apparatus storage unit 19 (Step SA4). The printing apparatus identification information data 19b is data indicating identification information of the printing apparatus 12 (hereinafter referred to as “printing apparatus identification information”). The printing device identification information is, for example, a serial number assigned to the printing device 12 at the manufacturing stage of the printing device 12.
Next, the communication control unit 15 transmits the printing apparatus identification information data 19b through the WebSocket connection CT (Step SA5).
As shown in FIG. 5C, the communication management unit 25 of the first connection server 50A receives the printing apparatus identification information data 19b (step SC2).
Next, the communication management unit 25 accesses the connection management database 28a stored in the connection server storage unit 28 (step SC3). The connection management database 28a is a database that stores connection identification information indicating the WebSocket connection CT and the above-described printing apparatus identification information in association with each other for the established WebSocket connection CT.
Next, the communication management unit 25 generates one record in the connection management database 28a. In the generated record, the communication management unit 25 stores the connection identification information of the WebSocket connection CT established in step SC1 in association with the printing device identification information indicated by the printing device identification information data 19b received in step SC2. (Step SC4). Note that when the WebSocket connection CT is established, the communication management unit 25 generates connection identification information having a value different from the connection identification information of the already established WebSocket connection CT. By the processing in step SC4, the correspondence relationship between the WebSocket connection CT and the printing apparatus 12 is managed.
In this way, the WebSocket connection CT is established with the power-on as a trigger without receiving an instruction from the user or a request from the control server 10. Due to such a configuration, the user does not need to perform complicated work in order to establish the WebSocket connection CT. Also, no specialized knowledge is required to establish the WebSocket connection CT. In addition, after the power is turned on, the printing apparatus 12 can be in a state where various processes can be executed under the control of the control server 10.

  As described above, the WebSocket connection CT is established between the communication unit 16 and the connection unit 26. Accordingly, a communication path KT between functional units based on the WebSocket connection CT is established between the print control unit 17 of the printing apparatus 12 and the print data processing unit 27 of the control server 10. The print control unit 17 and the print data processing unit 27 can perform asynchronous two-way communication through the inter-function unit communication path KT. Asynchronous bidirectional communication between functional units performed by the inter-functional unit communication path KT will be described later.

3 and 4, the control server 10 includes a database management server 70. The database management server 70 includes a database management server storage unit 72, and the database management server storage unit 72 stores a connection server address management database 72a.
The connection server address management database 72a stores, for each printing device 12 connected to the control server 10, the printing device identification information and information indicating the address of the connection server 50 to which the printing device 12 is connected in association with each other. It is. Hereinafter, the information indicating the address of the connection server 50 is referred to as “connection server address information”.
As described above, the control server 10 includes the plurality of connection servers 50, and the printing apparatus 12 is connected to the connection server 50 selected by the gate server 80 through the WebSocket connection CT.
In the connection server address management database 72a, for the printing device 12 connected to the control server 10, the printing device identification information of the printing device 12, the connection server address information of the printing device connection server to which the printing device 12 is connected, Are stored in association with each other.
The connection server address management database 72a is updated as needed as described below, so that the connection server address management database 72a is brought into a state corresponding to the actual connection state between the connection server 50 and the printing apparatus 12. Details will be described below.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing the operation of the first connection server 50A when the WebSocket connection CT is established with the printing apparatus 12 for the first connection server 50A.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the communication management unit 25 of the first connection server 50A monitors whether or not the WebSocket connection CT is established between the server and the printing apparatus 12 (step SD1).
When the WebSocket connection CT is established (step SD1: YES), the communication management unit 25 displays the printing device identification information of the connected printing device 12 and the connection server address information indicating the address of the first connection server 50A. A command for requesting generation of one associated record is generated (step SD2). Hereinafter, the command related to the request is referred to as a “record addition request command”. The record addition request command includes printing device identification information and connection server address information, and is data in a predetermined format.
Next, the communication management unit 25 controls the first transmission / reception unit 29 to transmit the generated record addition request command to the database management server 70 (step SD3).
The database management server control unit 71 of the database management server 70 that has received the record addition request command accesses the connection server address management database 72a. Then, the database management server control unit 71 generates one record for storing the printing device identification information of the connected printing device 12 and the connection server address information of the first connection server 50A in association with each other in the database. To do.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing the operation of the first connection server 50A when the WebSocket connection CT with the printing apparatus 12 connected to the first connection server 50A is disconnected.
As shown in FIG. 6B, the communication management unit 25 of the first connection server 50A monitors whether or not the WebSocket connection CT with the printing apparatus 12 has been disconnected (step SE1).
When the WebSocket connection CT is disconnected (step SE1: YES), the communication management unit 25 print server identification information of the printer 12 that has been disconnected and connection server address information indicating the address of the first connection server 50A. A command for requesting deletion is generated for one record in association with (step SE2). Hereinafter, the command related to the request is referred to as a “record deletion request command”. The record deletion request command includes printing device identification information and connection server address information, and is data in a predetermined format.
Next, the communication management unit 25 controls the first transmission / reception unit 29 to transmit the generated record deletion request command to the database management server 70 (step SE3).
The database management server control unit 71 of the database management server 70 that has received the record deletion request command accesses the connection server address management database 72a. Then, the database management server control unit 71 specifies a record in the database in which the printing apparatus identification information included in the command is associated with the connection server address information. Next, the database management server control unit 71 deletes the identified record.

Thus, in this embodiment, when the printing device 12 is connected to the connection server 50, a record in which the address of the server and the identification information of the printing device 12 are associated is generated in the connection server address management database 72a. Is done.
In this embodiment, when the connection of the printing device 12 connected to the connection server 50 is disconnected, a record in which the address of the server and the identification information of the printing device 12 are associated with each other is the connection server address management database 72a. Deleted from.
Due to such a configuration, the contents of the connection server address management database 72 a correspond to the actual connection state between the connection server 50 and the printing apparatus 12.

Next, operations of the management device 14A, the servers included in the control server 10, and the printing device 12A when the management device 14A causes the printing device 12A to print will be described.
7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of each device when the management device 14A causes the printing device 12A to print. 7 and 8, (A) shows the operation of the management device 14A, (B) shows the operation of the management server 60A, (C) shows the operation of the first connection server 50A, and (D) shows the printing device. 12A shows the operation.
In the following description, at the start of the operation of the flowchart, the printing apparatus 12A has established a WebSocket connection CT with the first connection server 50A.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when printing by the printing apparatus 12A, the user starts up an application of the management apparatus 14A (step SY1).
The application has a function of providing a user interface for a user to input information to be printed by the printing device 12 and information for identifying the printing device 12A. The application has a function of generating print instruction data based on the input information and transmitting the print instruction data to the management server 60A.

Now, in response to the start-up of the application by the user, the management apparatus control unit 40 displays a first user interface (hereinafter referred to as “first UI”) on a predetermined display unit such as a display panel by the function of the application. (Step SF1). The first UI is a user interface through which a user inputs information to be printed by the printing apparatus 12. The information to be printed is, for example, a file name in which image data to be printed is stored, information on the position of the image on the print medium, and the like. In the first UI, the print data processing unit 27 can input information necessary for generating print control data later.
When the user inputs information related to printing to the first UI and confirms the input (step SX2), the management apparatus control unit 40 uses a function of the application to set a second user interface (hereinafter referred to as “second UI”). Is displayed (step SF2).
The second UI is a user interface through which the user inputs information for identifying the printing device 12 to be printed (in this example, the printing device 12A).
The second UI is provided with a field for inputting printing apparatus identification information, and the user inputs the printing apparatus identification information in the field.

When the user inputs printing apparatus identification information to the second UI and confirms the input (step SX3), the management apparatus control unit 40 executes the following processing.
In other words, the management device control unit 40 generates print instruction data based on information input to the first UI and the second UI by the function of the application (step SF3). The print instruction data includes information to be printed based on information input to the first UI. Further, the printing instruction data includes printing device identification information of the printing device 12 to be printed based on information input to the second UI.
Next, the management device control unit 40 establishes a connection KK for HTTP communication between the first communication I / F 41 and the second communication connection unit 63 of the management server 60A (step SF4). Here, in the present embodiment, the management server 60 to which the management device 14A transmits data is predetermined as the management server 60A. The address of the management server 60A is defined in advance in the program that realizes the function of the application. In step SF4, the management device control unit 40 establishes a connection KK with the management server 60A at the address.
Next, the management device control unit 40 controls the first communication I / F 41 and transmits the print instruction data to the management server 60A through the connection KK (step SF5).
Next, the management device control unit 40 controls the first communication I / F 41 to request a response of print result data (first data, details will be described later) to the management server 60 through the connection KK. A request is transmitted (step SF6). Through the process of step SF6, the management server 60 is ready to send print result data (described later) to the management apparatus 14 at a predetermined timing in response to the request.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the connection is not continuously established between the management apparatus 14 and the management server 60, but when data is transmitted from the management apparatus 14 to the management server 60. A connection is established. That is, when the management device 14 wants to use the service provided by the control server 10, for example, when the printing device 12 wants to execute printing, the connection KK is established. Due to such a configuration, communication efficiency and effective utilization of resources can be realized as compared with the case where the connection is continuously established between the management device 14 and the management server 60. That is, the control system 1 (cloud system) has a characteristic that, when the management apparatus 14 wants to provide a service provided by the control server 10, it is only necessary to be able to communicate between these apparatuses. Based on such characteristics, the configuration is such that the connection is established continuously in response to a request from the management device 14 rather than the configuration in which the connection is continuously established between these devices. Effective use can be realized.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the management server control unit 61 controls the second communication connection unit 63 to receive print instruction data (step SG1).
Next, the search unit 61a included in the management server control unit 61 accesses the connection server address management database 72a of the database management server 70 and refers to the database (step SG2).
As described above, the connection server address management database 72a is a database that stores the printing apparatus identification information of the printing apparatus 12 and the connection server address information of the connection server 50 in association with each other.
Next, using the printing device identification information included in the print instruction data as a key, the search unit 61a acquires connection server address information associated with the identification information in the connection server address management database 72a (step SG3). In this example, in step SG3, the search unit 61a acquires connection server address information of the first connection server 50A.

Next, the management server control unit 61 establishes a connection with the connection server 50 (in this example, the first connection server 50A) having the address indicated by the connection server address information acquired in step SG3, (Step SG4, Step SH1).
Next, the management server control unit 61 controls the first communication connection unit 62 and transmits the print instruction data to the first connection server 50A through the connection established in step SG4 (step SG5).

As shown in FIG. 7C, the communication management unit 25 of the first connection server 50A controls the first transmission / reception unit 29 to receive the print instruction data (step SH2).
Next, the communication management unit 25 transmits the received print instruction data to the print data processing unit 27 (step SH3).
Next, the print data processing unit 27 generates print control data for controlling the printing apparatus 12A based on the received print instruction data, and transmits the print control data to the communication management unit 25 (step SH4). The print control data is an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file in which information to be printed by the printing apparatus 12A is described. The print control data describes information to be printed by the printing apparatus 12A in the XML format, for example, image data to be printed, information indicating the position of the image, and the like. In the print control data, printing device identification information of the printing device 12A to be printed is described as a tag.
Next, the communication management unit 25 accesses the connection management database 28a stored in the connection server storage unit 28 (step SH5). Next, using the printing device identification information described in the received print control data as a key, the communication management unit 25 acquires connection identification information of the WebSocket connection CT associated with the printing device identification information in the connection management database 28a. (Step SH6). The connection identification information acquired here is the connection identification information of the WebSocket connection CT established with the printing apparatus 12A to be printed.
Next, the communication management unit 25 transmits print control data to the connection unit 26 corresponding to the WebSocket connection CT related to the connection identification information acquired in step SH6 (step SH7).
Next, the connection unit 26 push-transmits the received print control data using the WebSocket connection CT (step SH8).

As shown in FIG. 7D, the communication unit 16 receives the print control data using WebSocket (step SI1). Next, the communication unit 16 transmits the received print control data to the communication control unit 15 (step SI2). Next, the communication control unit 15 transmits the received print control data to the print control unit 17 (step SI3). Next, the print control unit 17 converts the received print control data into a command command of the command system of the printing unit 18 (step SI4). That is, the print control unit 17 converts the print control data that is an XML file into a command that can be interpreted by the control board of the printing unit 18.
Next, the printing control unit 17 transmits a control command to the printing unit 18 (step SI5). Next, the printing unit 18 executes printing on the print medium based on the control command (step SI6).
As described above, in the present embodiment, the management device 14 uses the management server 60 of the control server 10 and the connection server 50 based on the printing device identification information of the printing device 12 stored in the control server 10. Data can be transmitted to the printing device 12. That is, the management apparatus 14 can control the printing apparatus 12 connected to the control server 10 via the WebSocket connection CT via the control server 10.
Further, as described above, in this embodiment, the control server 10 can cause the printing apparatus 12 to print without receiving a request from the printing apparatus 12 when an event that causes the printing apparatus 12 to execute printing occurs. it can. When an event that causes the printing apparatus 12 to execute printing occurs, as in this example, when there is a request from the management apparatus 14 or when there is an instruction from the user, a predefined condition is satisfied. Cases, etc.
For this reason, when a request is intermittently sent from the printing apparatus 12 to the control server 10 and printing is desired to be performed by the printing apparatus 12, the print control data is transmitted in response to the request. Printing can be started more quickly.

As shown in FIG. 8D, the print control unit 17 of the printing apparatus 12A generates print result data (first data) based on the print result of the print unit 18 (step SI7). The print result data is data indicating that the printing by the printing unit 18 has been successful or has failed, and if it has failed, the cause thereof. Next, the print control unit 17 transmits the generated print result data to the communication control unit 15 (step SI8).
The communication control unit 15 transmits the received print result data to the communication unit 16 (step SI9).
Next, the communication unit 16 transmits the received print result data to the first connection server 50A through the WebSocket connection CT (Step SI10).

As shown in FIG. 8C, the connection unit 26 of the first connection server 50A receives the print result data through the WebSocket connection CT (step SH9). Next, the connection unit 26 transmits the received print result data to the communication management unit 25 (step SH10).
The communication management unit 25 transmits the received print result data to the first transmission / reception unit 29 (step SH11).
The first transmission / reception unit 29 transmits the print result data to the management server 60A through the connection established in step SH1 (step SH12).

As shown in FIG. 8B, the first communication connection unit 62 of the management server 60A receives the print result data (step SG6). Next, the first communication connection unit 62 transmits the received print result data to the management server control unit 61 (step SG7).
The management server control unit 61 transmits the received print result data to the second communication connection unit 63 (step SG8).
The second communication connection unit 63 transmits the received print result data to the management apparatus 14 through the connection KK (step SG9). The print result data in step SG9 is transmitted as a response to the request transmitted by the management apparatus 14 in step SF6.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the first communication I / F 41 of the management apparatus 14 receives the print result data through the connection KK (step SF7).
Next, the first communication I / F 41 transmits the received print result data to the management apparatus control unit 40 (step SF8).
Next, the management apparatus control unit 40 executes a corresponding process based on the received print result data (step SF9). For example, if the received print result data indicates that the print process has failed, the management apparatus control unit 40 displays that fact on a display panel (not shown) and notifies the administrator.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the printing apparatus 12 responds to data received from the management apparatus 14, the printing apparatus 12 uses the connection KK established between the management apparatus 14 and the management server 60. The data is transmitted to the management device 14. This effectively uses the fact that the connection KK is established when data (print instruction data in this example) is transmitted from the management device 14 to the management server 60. Due to this configuration, it is possible to improve the efficiency of communication without newly establishing a connection.

Next, processing of each device when data is transmitted with a predetermined event as a trigger, not as a response to the data received from the management device 14A from the printing device 12A to the management device 14A will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation when the printing apparatus 12A transmits data to the management apparatus 14A. (A) shows the operation of the printing apparatus 12A, and (B) shows the operation of the first connection server 50A. (C) shows the operation of the management apparatus 14A.
The printing control unit 17 included in the printing apparatus 12A is provided with a function of monitoring the state of the printing unit 18 and generating data indicating that when the state has changed.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the printing control unit 17 of the printing apparatus 12A monitors whether or not the state of the printing unit 18 has changed (step SJ1).
When the state has changed (step SJ1), the print control unit 17 generates status data (second data) indicating the state and transmits it to the communication control unit 15 (step SJ2).
The communication control unit 15 transmits the received status data to the communication unit 16 (step SJ3).
The communication unit 16 transmits the received status data to the first connection server 50A through the WebSocket connection CT (step SJ4).

The connection unit 26 of the first connection server 50A receives the status data through the WebSocket connection CT (step SK1).
Next, the connection unit 26 transmits the received status data to the communication management unit 25 (step SK2).
Next, the communication management unit 25 refers to the management device management database 28b stored in the connection server storage unit 28 (step SK3).
The management device management database 28b associates the printing device identification information with the address of the management device 14 that transmits data when data is received from the printing device 12 for the printing device 12 that can be connected to the first connection server 50A. It is a database to memorize.
Next, using the printing device identification information of the printing device 12A as a key, the communication management unit 25 uses the address of the management device 14 (in this example, the management device 14A) associated with the identification information in the management device management database 28b. Obtain (step SK4).
Next, the communication management unit 25 accesses the management device 14A based on the address acquired in step SK4, and together with the management device control unit 40 of the management device 14A, the second transmission / reception unit 20 and the second communication of the management device 14A. A connection LL is established with the I / F 42 (step SK5, step SL1). The communication standard of the connection LL is not limited to WebSocket, and any communication standard may be used as long as data can be transmitted from the first connection server 50A to the management device 14. The second transmission / reception unit 20 and the second communication I / F 42 are functional blocks that perform processing according to a predetermined communication standard and transmit / receive data via the connection LL.
Next, the communication management unit 25 transmits status data to the second transmission / reception unit 20 (step SK6).
The second transmission / reception unit 20 transmits the received status data to the management device 14A through the connection LL (step SK7).
Note that the communication management unit 25 determines whether the received data is related to a response to the transmission data of the management device 14A based on information added to the header of the data. Have When the communication management unit 25 determines that the received data is not related to the response to the transmission data of the management device 14A by the function, the communication management unit 25 executes the above process.

As shown in FIG. 7C, the second communication I / F 42 of the management device 14A receives the status data through the connection LL (step SL2).
Next, the second communication I / F 42 transmits the received status data to the management device control unit 40 (step SL3).
The management device control unit 40 executes a corresponding process based on the received status data (step SL4).
As described above, in the present embodiment, when data is transmitted from the printing apparatus 12A to the management apparatus 14A (except when a response is made to the management apparatus 14), the first connection server 50A is used as the management apparatus. A connection LL is established with 14A. Then, the first connection server 50A transmits data to the management device 14A through the connection LL. This has the following effects for the following reasons.
That is, as described above, the connection KK is not continuously established between the management device 14A and the management server 60A, but is established as necessary. Accordingly, when data is transmitted from the printing apparatus 12A to the management apparatus 14A, the connection KK is not always established between the management apparatus 14A and the management server 60A. Further, even when the connection KK is established, the management server 60A can send data to the management device 14 by intermittently sending a request or the like from the management device 14 to the management server 60A. Need to build. Based on this, according to the present embodiment, data is transmitted from the printing apparatus 12A to the management apparatus 14A without establishing a connection between the management apparatus 14A and the management server 60A. It is possible to realize efficient communication and effective use of resources. In particular, in the present embodiment, data transmitted from the printing apparatus 12A to the first connection server 50A is transmitted from the first connection server 50A to the management apparatus 14A. Therefore, when the data is transmitted from the printing apparatus 12A to the management apparatus 14A, the process by the management server 60A is not involved, and from this point, the efficiency of communication can be realized.

As described above, the control system 1 (printing control system) according to the present embodiment includes the printing device 12, the connection server 50, the management server 60, and the management device 14.
The printing apparatus 12 performs printing, and a print control unit 17 that generates print result data (first data) based on the operation of the print unit 18 and status data (second data) different from the print result data. And a communication unit 16 for transmitting print result data and status data.
The connection server 50 receives the print result data and status data transmitted from the communication unit 16 of the printing apparatus 12, and prints for controlling the printing unit 18 of the printing apparatus 12 based on the print instruction data for instructing printing. A print data processing unit 27 that generates control data, a first transmission / reception unit 29 that transmits print result data and receives print instruction data, and a second transmission / reception unit 20 that transmits status data.
The management server 60 receives a print result data transmitted from the first transmission / reception unit 29 of the connection server 50 and transmits a print instruction data to the first transmission / reception unit 29 of the connection server 50; A second communication connection unit 63 that transmits print result data and receives print instruction data is provided.
The management device 14 receives the print result data transmitted by the management device control unit 40 (control unit) that generates the print instruction data and the second communication connection unit 63 of the management server 60, and the print instruction data to the management server 60. A first communication interface 41 that performs transmission and a second communication interface 42 that receives status data transmitted from the connection server 50 are included.
According to this configuration, print result data (first data) based on the operation of the printing unit 18 based on the print control data generated based on the print instruction data transmitted from the management device 14 is transmitted from the printing device 12 to the connection server. 50 and the management server 60 to be transmitted to the management device 14. For this reason, when print instruction data is transmitted from the management apparatus 14 to the management server 60, the print result data can be transmitted to the management apparatus 14 using the connection KK established between the apparatuses. Further, regarding status data (second data) different from the print result data, when the data is transmitted from the printing apparatus 12 to the connection server 50, the connection server 50 manages the data without going through the management server 60. Status data is transmitted to the device 14. For this reason, even if the connection KK is not established between the management apparatus 14 and the management server 60, the status data can be transmitted to the management apparatus 14. Further, since it does not go through the management server 60, the processing of the management server 60 is not necessary when transmitting the status data to the management device 14, and the status data can be transmitted to the management device 14 efficiently and more quickly. That is, according to the above configuration, the control system 1 (printing control system) in which the printing device 12 and the management device 14 communicate with the control server 10 via the network GN, the system is connected to the control server 10 via the network GN. 10 can be made to correspond to the configuration that communicates with 10.

In the present embodiment, the connection server 50 establishes a connection LL with the management apparatus 14 when receiving the status data transmitted from the printing apparatus 12.
According to this configuration, when the connection server 50 receives the status data from the printing apparatus 12, the connection server 50 can transmit the status data to the management apparatus 14 through the connection LL.

In this embodiment, the management apparatus 14 establishes a connection KK with the management server 60 when transmitting the print instruction data to the management server 60.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the management apparatus 14 can transmit print instruction data to the management server 60 via the connection KK. Further, the management server 60 can transmit the print result data transmitted from the printing apparatus 12 to the management apparatus 14 through the connection KK.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus 12 is provided in the store system 11 built in the store. However, the printing apparatus 12 is not necessarily provided in the store system 11. For example, it may be provided in another system.
In the embodiment described above, the print control data of the XML file is transmitted from the control server 10 to the printing apparatus 12. However, the data format of the print control data may not be XML. For example, it may be data generated in another markup language, or may be a control command of the command system of the printing unit 18.
Each functional block shown in FIG. 3 can be arbitrarily realized by hardware and software, and does not suggest a specific hardware configuration. Further, each function of the printing apparatus 12 may be provided to another apparatus externally connected to the apparatus. Further, the printing apparatus 12 may execute various processes by executing a program stored in an externally connected storage medium.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control system (print control system), 12 ... Printing apparatus, 14 ... Management apparatus, 16 ... Communication part, 17 ... Print control part, 18 ... Printing part, 26 ... Connection part, 29 ... 1st transmission / reception part, 20 ... 2nd transmission / reception part, 40 ... management apparatus control part (control part), 41 ... 1st communication interface, 42 ... 2nd communication interface, 50 ... connection server, 60 ... management server, 62 ... 1st communication connection part, 63 ... 2nd communication connection part, LL ... connection (1st communication path), KK ... connection (2nd communication path).

Claims (8)

A printing unit that performs printing, a print control unit that generates first data based on the operation of the printing unit and second data different from the first data, and the first data and the second data. A printing apparatus having a communication unit for transmitting;
A connection unit that receives the first data and the second data transmitted by the communication unit of the printing apparatus, and a print control that controls the printing unit of the printing apparatus based on print instruction data that instructs printing. A connection server having a print data processing unit for generating data, a first transmission / reception unit for transmitting the first data and receiving the print instruction data, and a second transmission / reception unit for transmitting the second data;
A first communication connection unit configured to receive the first data transmitted from the first transmission / reception unit of the connection server and to transmit the print instruction data to the first transmission / reception unit of the connection server; and A management server having a second communication connection unit for transmitting the data and receiving the print instruction data;
A control unit that generates the print instruction data, a first communication interface that receives the first data transmitted from the second communication connection unit of the management server and transmits the print instruction data to the management server And a management device having a second communication interface for receiving the second data transmitted by the connection server;
A printing control system comprising:   The print control system according to claim 1, wherein the second data is status data indicating a status of the printing apparatus.   The print control system according to claim 1, wherein the connection server establishes a first communication path with the management device when receiving the second data transmitted by the printing device.   4. The print control system according to claim 1, wherein the management device establishes a second communication path with the management server when transmitting the print instruction data to the management server. 5. .   The print control system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus performs asynchronous two-way communication with the connection server.   The print control system according to claim 5, wherein the asynchronous bidirectional communication is WebSocket communication. When the first data is generated based on the operation of the printing unit of the printing apparatus, the first data is transmitted to the connection server,
Receiving the first data at the connection server;
The connection server transmits the first data to the management server that has transmitted the print instruction data for operating the printing unit,
Receiving the first data at the management server;
The management server sends the first data to the management device that sent the print instruction data,
The management device receives the first data,
When the printing apparatus generates second data different from the first data, the second data is transmitted to the connection server;
Receiving the second data at the connection server;
The connection server transmits the second data to the management device,
A printing control method, wherein the management device receives the second data.   The print control method according to claim 7, wherein the second data is status data indicating a status of the printing apparatus.

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