JP2016115263A - Print control server, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism allowing printing to be easily performed even when printing cannot be performed without using a printer driver.SOLUTION: A print control server 101 transmits document data indicated by a client terminal 102 to an indicated compound machine 103. If the transmitted document data is not printed by the compound machine 103, the print control server installs a printer driver compatible with the compound machine 103 and generates a printer object; and generates print data from the document data by using the printer driver and transmits it to the compound machine 103.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control server, a control method thereof, and a program capable of easily executing printing even when printing cannot be performed without using a printer driver.

  Conventionally, in order to print document data in PDF format or the like on a multi-function peripheral, a printer driver is installed on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) that issues a print instruction, and a printer object of the output destination multi-function peripheral is generated. It is necessary to keep. When there are a plurality of output destination multifunction peripherals, a printer driver must be installed and a printer object must be generated for each output destination multifunction peripheral, which is troublesome for the user.

  Therefore, there is a mechanism for performing printing without using a printer driver. Although it is not possible to make unique print settings for each multifunction device, it is possible to execute printing without using a printer driver by simply transmitting document data to the multifunction device.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism in which a multifunction peripheral collects device-specific information of peripheral devices connected to a network and automatically installs a driver specified from the device-specific information.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-206979

  By applying the mechanism of Patent Document 1 described above to a print control server such as a print server, the user does not need to install a printer driver in his / her PC. However, when a printer driver is installed on the print control server and a printer object is generated, there is a problem that the printer object must be continuously managed and operated. In other words, since the multifunction device may be replaced or removed, the system administrator must grasp such a situation and update or delete the setting contents of the printer object.

  For this reason, as in the past, by installing the printer driver of the multifunction machine that each uses on the PC and generating the printer object, the management of the printer object is left to each user of the PC.

  However, since the burden of managing the printer object is large for the PC user, a mechanism that can reduce the labor of both the system administrator and the PC user is required.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of easily executing printing even when printing cannot be performed without using a printer driver.

  In order to achieve the above object, a print control server of the present invention includes a printing apparatus capable of printing document data without using a printer driver, and a printing apparatus capable of printing print data generated using the printer driver. A print control server that is communicably connected, a storage unit that stores a printer driver corresponding to the printing apparatus, and a document data transmission unit that transmits document data that has received a print instruction to the designated printing apparatus When the document data transmitted by the document data transmission unit is not printed by the designated printing device, a printer driver corresponding to the printing device is used among the printer drivers stored in the storage unit. Print data generation means for generating print data and a print instruction for the print data generated by the print data generation means. Characterized in that it comprises a print instruction transmission means for transmitting to.

  According to the present invention, even if printing cannot be executed without using a printer driver, printing can be easily executed.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a print control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a print control server 101 and a client terminal 102. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine 103. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a print control server 101. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a series of processes of a PDF printing process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a series of printer management processes. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table configuration of a printer information management table 700. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image when a printer information management table 700 is updated. FIG.

  The technical feature of the present invention will be briefly described. When the print control server receives a PDF data print command from a client terminal, the print control server generates PDF data. Then, driverless printing of the generated PDF data is executed for the designated output destination. At this time, communication is performed between the output destination device and the print control server. If the output destination does not support driverless printing, the printer driver is automatically installed in the print control server and the printer object is created. Then, printing is performed by changing the output method to printing by the printer driver. In addition, the communication object and the setting information are periodically confirmed for the printer object created in the print control server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a print control system according to the present embodiment. The print control system according to the present embodiment includes a print control server 101, a client terminal 102, and a multi-function peripheral 103, which can perform data communication with each other via a network 104 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. It is connected to the. Note that the configuration of various terminals or servers connected to the network in FIG. 1 is an example, and there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  The client terminal 102 is a so-called personal computer. Software (for example, a web browser) is installed in the client terminal 102. The Web browser communicates with the print control server 101 to input information necessary for generating and printing PDF data (such as the IP address of the output destination MFP 103 and the storage location of the PDF data), and information related thereto. indicate. The Web browser transmits the print data of the PDF data designated by the user (IP address of the output destination multifunction machine 103, storage location of the PDF data, etc.) to the print control server 101 by performing HTTP communication.

  The print control server 101 is a so-called server device. The print control server 101 is installed with a web application that generates PDF data in response to a PDF data generation instruction instructed from the client terminal 102 and inputs it to the OS spooler. A web application for managing / monitoring the status of the printer for printing PDF data is also installed. The print control server 101 operates these web applications, generates PDF data according to the PDF data generation instruction received from the client terminal 102, and stores the PDF data in an internal repository. Then, based on the print information of the PDF data, print processing is performed on the designated multifunction peripheral.

  The multifunction machine 103 is a printing apparatus. The MFP 103 has a function of processing and printing PDF data sent from the print control server 101. Also, when receiving PDF data, it returns to the print control server 101 whether or not it can execute driverless printing of PDF data, and performs processing in a printing method suitable for the situation.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the print control server 101 and the client terminal 102 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204.

  Further, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 stores a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) that is a control program of the CPU 201 and an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS). The external memory 211 stores various programs necessary for realizing functions executed by each server or each PC. The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 203 and executing the program.

  The input controller 205 controls input from an input device 209 such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse.

  The video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as the display 210. The display device may be a CRT or a liquid crystal display.

  The memory controller 207 controls access to an external memory 211 such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, or a card type memory connected to the PCMCIA card slot via an adapter. The external memory 211 (storage means) stores a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like.

  The communication I / F controller 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the display 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display 210.

  Various programs and the like used by the various apparatuses and servers of the present invention to execute various processes described later are recorded in the external memory 211 and executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary. is there. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used by the program according to the present invention are stored in the external memory 211.

  Next, an example of a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 103 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The controller unit 316 is connected to the scanner unit 314 that functions as an image input device and the printer unit 312 that functions as an image output device, and inputs and outputs image data and device information by connecting to a LAN or WAN.

  The CPU 301 is a processor that controls the entire system. A RAM 302 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 301, and is a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data.

  The ROM 303 stores a system boot program and various control programs. A hard disk drive (HDD) 304 stores various programs for controlling the system, image data, and the like.

  An operation unit interface (operation unit I / F) 307 is an interface unit with the operation unit 308, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 308 to the operation unit 308. The operation unit I / F 307 serves to transmit information (for example, user information) input by the system user from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301. Note that the operation unit 308 includes a display unit having a touch panel, and various instructions can be given by a user pressing (touching with a finger or the like) a button displayed on the display unit.

  A network interface (Network I / F) 305 is connected to a network (LAN) and inputs / outputs data. A modem (MODEM) 306 is connected to a public line and inputs / outputs data such as FAX transmission / reception.

  An external interface (external I / F) 318 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394 (Institut of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1394), a printer port, an RS-232C (Recommended Standard 232) external input. A card reader 319 for reading an IC card, which is an F section and is necessary for authentication in this embodiment, is connected to the external I / F 318.

  Further, the CPU 301 can control reading of information from the IC card by the card reader 319 via the external I / F 318, and can acquire information read from the IC card. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 309.

  An image bus interface (IMAGE BUS I / F) 320 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and an image bus 315 that transfers image data at high speed and converts a data structure.

  The image bus 315 is configured by a PCI bus (Peripheral Components Interconnect bus) or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 315.

  A raster image processor (RIP) 310 develops vector data into a bitmap image.

  A printer interface (printer I / F) 311 connects the printer unit 312 and the controller unit 316, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  A scanner interface (scanner I / F) 313 connects the scanner unit 314 and the controller unit 316, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The image processing unit 317 performs correction, processing and editing on input image data, printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. In addition to this, the image processing unit 317 also rotates the image data, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) for multi-valued image data, and JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) for binary image data. And so on.

  The scanner unit 314 illuminates an image on paper as a document and scans it with a CCD line sensor, thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The original paper is set on the tray of the original feeder, and when the apparatus user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 308, the CPU 301 gives an instruction to the scanner unit 314, and the feeder feeds the original paper one by one to read the original image. Perform the action.

  The printer unit 312 is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array directly on the paper. There is an inkjet method for printing an image, but any method may be used. The activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU 301. The printer unit 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and includes paper cassettes corresponding to the paper feed stages.

  The operation unit 308 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display unit, and a touch panel sheet is pasted on the LCD, displays a system operation screen, and displays position information when a displayed key is pressed. This is transmitted to the CPU 301 via the operation unit I / F 307. The operation unit 308 includes, for example, a start key, a stop key, an ID key, a reset key, and the like as various operation keys.

  Here, the start key of the operation unit 308 is used when starting a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key, there are two color LEDs, green and red, which indicate whether or not the start key can be used. Further, the stop key of the operation unit 308 functions to stop the operation in operation. The ID key of the operation unit 308 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. The reset key is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  With the configuration described above, the multi-function peripheral 103 transmits image data read from the scanner unit 314 to the LAN from the network I / F 305, and print data received from the LAN from the printer unit 312 via the network I / F 305. Can be printed out.

  Further, the image data read from the scanner unit 314 and the data transmitted to the multi-function peripheral 103 can be faxed to the public line by the modem 306, and the image data received by fax from the public line can be output by the printer unit 312.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the print control server 101. Note that the functional configuration of the print control server 101 shown in FIG. 4 is merely an example, and there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  The print control server 101 includes a communication control unit 401, a PDF data generation unit 402, a driverless print instruction unit 403, a printer information management unit 404, and a printer driver control unit 405 as functional units.

  The communication control unit 401 is a functional unit for controlling transmission / reception of information with the client terminal 102 and the multifunction machine 103. The PDF data generation unit 402 is a functional unit for converting or generating various data such as document data and image data into PDF data (hereinafter referred to as PDF data).

  A driverless print instruction unit 403 is a functional unit for instructing the multi-function peripheral 103 to execute printing without using a printer driver.

  The printer information management unit 404 is a functional unit for managing information related to the multifunction machine 103 collected from the multifunction machine 103. The printer information management unit 404 manages information related to the multifunction machine 103 in a form as shown in a printer information management table 700 of FIG.

  A printer driver control unit 405 is a functional unit for storing and installing a printer driver corresponding to the multifunction machine 103. The printer driver control unit 405 also generates and manages printer objects for each multifunction device 103. The printer driver is stored in the external memory 211 of the print control server 101.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes of the PDF printing process. Specifically, it is a flowchart showing an example of PDF data generation and printing processing, and processing for receiving PDF commands and transmitting PDF data.

  In step S <b> 501, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 102 transmits document data to be printed to the print control server 101 via the communication I / F controller 208. Alternatively, a print instruction for document data to be printed out of the document data stored in the external memory 211 of the print control server 101 is transmitted.

  In step S502, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 receives the document data transmitted from the client terminal 102, and converts the transmitted document data into a PDF format. Thereby, PDF data is generated. Alternatively, the designated document data is acquired from the external memory 211 of the print control server 101, and is converted into the PDF format.

  In step S <b> 503, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 instructs the MFP 103 via the communication I / F controller 208 of the print control server 101 to perform driverless printing that prints PDF data without using a printer driver. That is, PDF data is FTP-transmitted to the multi-function peripheral 103 (document data transmission means).

  In step S <b> 504, the CPU 301 of the multi-function peripheral 103 receives PDF data from the network I / F 305 via the network 104.

  In step S505, when processing the received PDF data, the CPU 301 of the multi-function peripheral 103 determines whether the multi-function peripheral 103 can perform driverless printing of PDF data. If it is determined that driverless printing is possible, the process proceeds to step S514. If it is determined that driverless printing is not possible, the multi-function peripheral 103 transmits a non-printable message from the network I / F 305 to the print control server 101 via the network 104. Then, the process proceeds to step S506.

  In step S <b> 506, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 receives the print disable message transmitted from the multifunction machine 103.

  In step S507, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 inquires of the multifunction peripheral 103 that has transmitted the non-printable message for information about the multifunction peripheral 103 (hereinafter referred to as printer information). The printer information is, for example, an MIB (Management information base) file managed by the multifunction machine 103.

  In step S <b> 508, upon receiving an inquiry from the print control server 101, the CPU 301 of the multi-function peripheral 103 collects printer information including its own printer name, IP address, model name, etc., and transmits it to the print control server 101.

  In step S <b> 509, the CPU 301 of the print control server 101 receives the printer information transmitted from the multifunction device 103. When the printer information is received, it is stored in the printer information management table 700 shown in FIG. If the printer information management table 700 includes a record corresponding to the MFP 103 that has transmitted the printer information, the information of the record is updated with the received printer information.

  The printer information management table 700 is a data table stored in the external memory 211 of the print control server 101. In the table, one record is assigned to each multifunction device 103. In the record, a printer name 701, an IP address 702, a model name 703, a printer driver name 704, a driver version 705, a driverless print determination flag 706, a multifunction device. Information on the location 707 is recorded. At the time of initial registration, only the IP address 702, model name 703, driverless print determination flag 706, and multifunction device placement destination 707 are stored, and the record is updated in the printer management process of FIG.

  In step S510, the CPU 301 of the print control server 101 installs a printer driver corresponding to the multifunction machine 103 using the printer information of the multifunction machine 103 acquired in step S509 (printer driver installation unit). In step S511, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 similarly generates a printer port using printer information. In step S512, the CPU 301 of the print control server 101 similarly generates a printer object using printer information. (Printer object generation means).

  In step S514, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 uses the PDF data to generate print data using a printer driver (print data generation unit), and transmits the print job as a print job to the multi-function peripheral 103 (print instruction transmission unit). In step S514, the CPU 301 of the multi-function peripheral 103 executes print processing based on the received print job.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of printer management processing. The printer management process of FIG. 6 is executed at a predetermined timing.

  In step S <b> 601, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 reads out any record (printer information) from the printer information management table 700 stored in the external memory 211 of the print control server 101.

  In step S602, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 confirms the existence of the MFP 103 indicated by the read printer information. The survival confirmation here refers to confirming whether or not the MFP 103 is connected to the network 104 and can communicate with the print control server 101. More specifically, a Ping command is executed for the target MFP 103, and the existence confirmation is performed depending on whether there is a response.

  In step S <b> 603, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 determines whether there is a response to the Ping command executed for the target multifunction device 103. If it is determined that there is a response, the process proceeds to step S604. If it is determined that there is no response, the process proceeds to step S612.

  In step S <b> 604, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 confirms whether driverless printing is possible for the target multifunction peripheral 103. The response is received, and the target MFP 103 determines whether driverless printing is possible. If it is determined that driverless printing is possible, the process proceeds to step S605. If it is determined that driverless printing is not possible, the process proceeds to step S607.

  In step S <b> 605, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 issues a printer information acquisition request to the target MFP 103 using the SNMP protocol. In response to this, the printer information transmitted from the MFP 103 is received, and the printer information is compared with the printer information in the printer information management table 700. As a result of the comparison, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the printer information of the target MFP 103. If it is determined that there is a change in the printer information, the process proceeds to step S606. If it is determined that there is no change in the printer information, the process proceeds to step S616.

  In step S606, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 updates a record corresponding to the acquired printer information among the records in the printer information management table 700 using the printer information.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the printer information management table 700 of the multifunction machine 103 stored in the print control server 101 is updated. As shown at 708 in FIG. 8, the printer name is stored in the printer name 701 that was not stored at the time of initial registration, the printer driver name installed in the printer driver name 704, and the driver version is stored in the driver version 705. The The fact that information is stored in these items means that the MFP 103 is not capable of driverless printing, so NG is stored in the driverless printing determination flag 706.

  Since step S607 and step S608 are the same as step S605 and step S606 described above, description thereof will be omitted. When the printer information is updated in step S607, the printer information is reflected in the setting of the corresponding printer object. By doing so, the setting of the printer object is automatically updated, so that the labor of the administrator is reduced.

  In step S <b> 609, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 determines whether the printer object of the target multifunction machine 103 exists on the print control server 101. If it is determined that a printer object exists, the process proceeds to step S616. If it is determined that the printer object does not exist, the process proceeds to step S610.

  In step S <b> 610, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 generates a printer object of the target multifunction machine 103. In step S610, a series of processes similar to those in steps S510 to S512 are executed using the printer information of the target MFP 103.

  In step S611, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 updates the printer information of the target multifunction machine 103 in the printer information management table 700 as the printer object is generated. That is, the printer driver name 704 and the driver version 705 are registered, and the driverless print determination flag 706 is set to NG.

  On the other hand, if there is no response in step S603, the process proceeds to step S612. In step S612, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 confirms the existence of the target multifunction device 103 again. In this embodiment, the survival confirmation is performed up to five times until there is a response. Since the number of times can be set arbitrarily, it is not limited to this. If the survival confirmation has been executed five times, the process proceeds to step S613. Otherwise, the survival check is repeated. If there is a response, the process proceeds to step S604.

  In step S <b> 613, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 confirms the number of days of error that the target multifunction device 103 has not responded to for consecutive days. If there is no response for 10 days or more, the process proceeds to step S614. If there is no response for less than 10 days, the process returns to step S601. In the present embodiment, the threshold value is 10 days, but is not limited to this.

  In step S614, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 determines that the target multifunction device 103 has become unavailable for some reason, and deletes the printer object and printer driver corresponding to the multifunction device 103 (printer object deletion means. Printer driver deletion means).

  In step S <b> 615, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 further deletes the printer information of the target MFP 103 managed by the print control server 101.

  After performing these series of checks, in step S616, the CPU 201 of the print control server 101 determines whether or not all the multifunction peripherals 103 managed by the print control server 101 have been confirmed. If it is determined that all the MFPs 103 have been checked, a series of processing ends. If it is determined that all the MFPs 103 have not been checked, that is, there is an unchecked MFP 103, the process returns to step S601, and the unchecked MFP 103 is checked. A series of processing is executed.

  According to the embodiment described above, as a first effect, it is not necessary to install a printer driver on the user's PC by integrating the function of printing PDF data into the print control server 101, and the driver There is no need to specify from the user whether printing is to be performed or printing using a printer driver.

  This eliminates the need for the user to install a printer driver, thereby saving the setting effort.

  According to the present embodiment, as a second effect, the interval automatically specified for the printer registered in the print control server 101 based on the printer information management table held internally. Confirm the existence and registration information on each device. If there is no confirmation destination device, the printer information of the device is deleted from the printer information management table, and the printer driver and printer object installed in the print control server 101 are deleted. If the information on the confirmation destination device is different from that registered in the printer information management table, the information is updated to new information. This eliminates the need for the administrator to manage the printer driver and printer object on the print control server 101, so that the burden on the administrator can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, printing can be easily performed even when printing cannot be performed without using a printer driver.

  The present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. You may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  Note that the present invention includes a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely from a system or apparatus. The present invention also includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. In addition, there are magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the downloaded key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. In addition, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Note that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

101 Print Control Server 102 Client Terminal 103 Multifunction Machine 104 Network 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 System bus 205 Input controller 206 Video controller 207 Memory controller 208 Communication I / F controller 209 Input device 210 Display 211 External memory

Claims (7)

A printing control server that is communicably connected to a printing device capable of printing document data without using a printer driver, and a printing device capable of printing print data generated using the printer driver;
Storage means for storing a printer driver corresponding to the printing apparatus;
Document data transmitting means for transmitting the document data for which the print instruction has been received to the designated printing device;
When the document data transmitted by the document data transmission unit is not printed by the designated printing device, printing is performed using a printer driver corresponding to the printing device among the printer drivers stored in the storage unit. Print data generation means for generating data;
A print control server comprising: a print instruction transmission unit configured to transmit a print instruction for the print data generated by the print data generation unit to the printing apparatus. The print control server
A printer object generation unit configured to generate a printer object corresponding to the printing device when the document data transmitted by the document data transmission unit is not printed by the designated printing device. Item 4. The print control server according to Item 1. The print control server
The print control server according to claim 2, further comprising a printer object deletion unit that deletes the printer object generated by the printer object generation unit when communication with the designated printing apparatus becomes impossible. The print control server
A printer driver installation unit that installs a printer driver corresponding to the printing device when the document data transmitted by the document data transmission unit is not printed by the designated printing device. Item 4. The print control server according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The print control server
The print control server according to claim 4, further comprising a printer driver deleting unit that deletes the printer driver installed by the printer driver installing unit when communication with the designated printing apparatus becomes impossible. A printing device capable of printing document data without using a printer driver, and a memory that is communicably connected to a printing device capable of printing print data generated using the printer driver and stores a printer driver corresponding to the printing device A control method for a print control server comprising means,
A document data transmitting step in which the document data transmitting means of the print control server transmits the document data for which the print instruction has been received to the designated printing device;
When the document data transmitted in the document data transmission step is not printed by the designated printing device, the print data generation unit of the print control server includes the printer driver stored in the storage unit. A print data generation step for generating print data using a printer driver corresponding to the printing apparatus;
A print instruction transmission unit of the print control server, comprising: a print instruction transmission step of transmitting a print instruction of the print data generated in the print data generation step to the printing apparatus. . A printing device capable of printing document data without using a printer driver, and a memory that is communicably connected to a printing device capable of printing print data generated using the printer driver and stores a printer driver corresponding to the printing device A program capable of executing a control method of a print control server comprising means,
The print control server;
Document data transmitting means for transmitting the document data for which the print instruction has been received to the designated printing device;
When the document data transmitted by the document data transmission unit is not printed by the designated printing device, printing is performed using a printer driver corresponding to the printing device among the printer drivers stored in the storage unit. Print data generation means for generating data;
A program that causes a print instruction transmission unit that transmits a print instruction of print data generated by the print data generation unit to the printing apparatus.

Images