JP2017182123A - Printing system, printer and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of allowing an image whose execution of printing by a specific printer is instructed to be printed by a printer different from the specific printer in a case where plural pieces of printer information are associated with one user information.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a prescribed request transmission unit which transmits a prescribed information request for transmitting position information to a mediation device when receiving a printing instruction; a position information reception unit which receives position information indicating the position of storing object data indicating the image to be printed by another printer from the mediation device in accordance with transmission of the prescribed information request; an acquisition unit which acquires image data on the basis of the object data from the mediation device by using the position information; and a printing control unit which causes a printing unit to print the image to be printed by the other printer in accordance with the image data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, and a computer program for printing an image based on image data received via the Internet.

  Conventionally, cloud printing that causes a printer to execute printing via a server on the Internet is known. Specifically, the user first registers printer information (for example, a printer name) in the server in association with the login information. Thereby, a communication session is established between the printer and the server. Thereafter, the user uses the terminal to designate a printer to execute printing, transmits print data including a file to be printed from the terminal to the server, and associates the print data with the printer information of the printer. Remember me. When the server stores the print data, the server transmits a predetermined notification to the designated printer using the communication session. When receiving a predetermined notification, the printer requests the server to transmit print data. As a result, the printer receives print data from the server and executes printing according to the print data.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for realizing accumulated printing in cloud printing. Accumulated printing does not immediately start printing an image in accordance with image data transmitted from the terminal, but stores the image data once in a memory and receives the print execution instruction from the user in the printer. In this method, data is acquired from a memory and an image is printed. In Patent Document 1, the printer stores image data in the server when the PIN code is added to the print data, and the PIN code added to the print data in response to the PIN code input by the user. To determine whether or not. The printer requests the server to transmit corresponding print data when the PIN codes match, and executes printing according to the print data received from the server.

JP 2013-92886 A

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, when a user instructs execution of stored printing to a printer whose printer information is registered in a server and specified in advance when printing data is stored, the printer performs printing. Acquire data and print an image according to the print data. Here, there is a case where information of a plurality of printers is associated with one user information in the server. In the technique of Patent Document 1, even when a plurality of printer information is associated with one user information, the accumulated printing can be executed only by a printer designated in advance when storing the print data. There wasn't.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and when a plurality of pieces of printer information are associated with one user information, printing can be executed by a specific printing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for printing an instructed image on a printing apparatus different from a specific printing apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following application examples.

Application Example 1 A printing system including an intermediary device, a terminal device, a first printing device, and a second printing device, wherein the terminal device is to be printed by the first printing device. A target data transmission unit configured to transmit first target data representing an image to the mediating apparatus and transmit second target data representing a second image to be printed by the second printing apparatus to the mediating apparatus; The mediating device identifies a mediating device-side memory, a target data receiving unit that receives the first target data and the second target data from the terminal device, and the first printing device. First device information, second device information for identifying the second printing apparatus, first position information indicating a position where the first target data is stored, and the second The second position indicating the position where the target data is stored Is a first storage control unit that stores information in the intermediary device-side memory, and the first device information and the second device information correspond to user information for identifying a user, respectively. And stored in the intermediary device side memory, the first location information is stored in the mediation device side memory in association with the first device information, and the second location information is stored in the second location information. A predetermined information request for causing the mediation device to transmit position information is received from the first storage control unit and the first printing device stored in the mediation device-side memory in association with device information. Accordingly, the user information corresponding to the first device information is identified, the second device information corresponding to the identified user information is identified, and the second device information corresponding to the second device information is identified. First And a position information transmitting section for transmitting the specified second position information to the first printing apparatus, the first printing apparatus comprising: a printing section; A first image based on the first target data from the mediation device using the first location information receiving unit that receives the first location information from the mediation device and the first location information. A first acquisition unit that acquires data; a first print control unit that causes the printing unit to print the first image in accordance with the acquired first image data; An instruction receiving unit that receives a print instruction for an image represented by the stored image data; a predetermined request transmission unit that transmits the predetermined information request to the mediating device when the print instruction is received; and the predetermined information request. According to sending A second image based on the second target data from the mediation device using the second location information receiving unit that receives the second location information from the mediation device and the second location information. A second acquisition unit that acquires data, and a second print that causes the printing unit to print the second image to be printed by the second printing device in accordance with the acquired second image data And a control unit.

  According to the above configuration, in the printing system of the present invention, the first printing apparatus receives the first position information stored in association with the first device information for identifying the first printing apparatus from the mediation apparatus. . Further, when the printing apparatus transmits a predetermined information request to the mediation apparatus, the mediation apparatus receives second device information associated with user information corresponding to the first device information, and includes the first printing apparatus and Receives second position information stored in association with second device information for identifying different second printing apparatuses. Accordingly, the first printing apparatus prints the first image to be printed by the first printing apparatus using the first position information, and the second printing apparatus uses the second position information. Print a second image to be printed. Therefore, when the plurality of pieces of device information are associated with the user information in the mediation apparatus, the first printing apparatus not only uses the first image to be printed by the first printing apparatus but also the second image. The second image to be printed by the printing apparatus can also be printed.

Application Example 2 A printing apparatus capable of communicating with an intermediary apparatus, the first position receiving first position information indicating a position where first target data is stored from the printing unit and the intermediary apparatus An information receiving unit, wherein the first position information is stored in the mediating apparatus in association with first device information for identifying the printing apparatus, and the first target data is the printing apparatus The first position information receiving unit and the first position information that are data representing a first image to be printed by the first position data based on the first target data from the intermediary device A first acquisition unit that acquires the first image data, a first print control unit that causes the printing unit to print the first image according to the acquired first image data, and the mediation device. Image mark represented by image data An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction; and a predetermined request transmission unit that transmits a predetermined information request for causing the intermediary device to transmit position information to the intermediary device when the print instruction is received. The information request is user information for identifying the user to the mediation device, and specifies the user information stored in the mediation device in association with the first device information. The second device information stored in the mediating device in association with the specified second device information, and the second location information stored in the mediating device in association with the specified second device information. In response to transmitting the predetermined information request, and the predetermined request transmitting unit that is a request for transmitting the specified second position information to the printing apparatus. A second position information receiving unit that receives the second position information indicating a position where second target data is stored from the intermediary device, wherein the second position information is the same as the printing device; Is stored in the intermediary apparatus in association with second device information for identifying different other printing apparatuses, and the second target data is a second image to be printed by the other printing apparatus. A second acquisition unit that acquires second image data based on the second target data from the mediation device using the second position information; A second printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print the second image to be printed by the second printing device according to the acquired second image data.

  According to the above configuration, the printing apparatus of the present invention receives the first position information stored in association with the first device information for identifying the printing apparatus from the mediation apparatus, as in Application Example 1. Further, when the printing apparatus transmits a predetermined information request to the mediation apparatus, the second device information associated with the user information corresponding to the first device information from the mediation apparatus is different from the printing apparatus. The second position information stored in association with the second device information for identifying the printing apparatus is received. As a result, the printing apparatus prints the first image to be printed by the printing apparatus using the first position information, and the second position to be printed by another printing apparatus using the second position information. Print the image. Therefore, when a plurality of pieces of device information are associated with user information in the mediation apparatus, the printing apparatus prints not only the first image to be printed by the printing apparatus but also other printing apparatuses. A second image to be printed can also be printed.

Application Example 3 In the printing apparatus, the predetermined request transmission unit communicates with the mediation apparatus by using a token stored in the mediation apparatus in association with the first device information. The predetermined information request is transmitted to the mediation device, and the predetermined information request is for causing the mediation device to specify the user information stored in association with the first device information corresponding to the token. The printer that is the request.

Application Example 4 In the printing apparatus, the predetermined information request is specified by causing the intermediary apparatus to further specify the first device information stored in association with the specified user information. The first position information receiving unit is a request for specifying the first position information corresponding to the first device information and transmitting the specified first position information to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives the first position information from the mediation apparatus in response to transmitting the predetermined information request. Accordingly, the printing apparatus can receive the first position information and the second position information in response to transmitting the predetermined information request to the mediation apparatus.

Application Example 5 In the printing apparatus, further, after the first image data is stored in the printing apparatus side memory and the mediation apparatus, the mediation apparatus receives the first image data from the mediation apparatus. A position request transmitting unit that transmits a position information request for transmitting position information, wherein the first position information receiving unit receives the first position information from the intermediary device in response to the position information request. The printing apparatus further includes a second storage control unit that stores the received first position information in the printing apparatus side memory, and the first acquisition unit is connected to the printing apparatus side. A printing apparatus that acquires the first image data using the first position information stored in a memory. Accordingly, the printing apparatus acquires the first image data by using the first position information stored in advance in the printing apparatus side memory without receiving the first position information in response to the transmission of the predetermined information request. can do.

Application Example 6 In the printing apparatus, the second position information receiving unit further includes the first position information, the first device information associated with the first position information, And the second device information associated with the second position information, and further, among the received position information, the first device information associated with the first device information for identifying the printing apparatus. A positional information extraction unit that extracts the second positional information associated with the second device information that identifies the other printing apparatus without extracting positional information, and the second acquisition unit extracts A printing apparatus that acquires the second image data based on the second position information.

Application Example 7 In the printing apparatus, the device request transmission unit further transmits a device information request for causing the mediation apparatus to transmit device information associated with the user information to the mediation apparatus. And a device information receiving unit that receives the first device information and the second device information associated with the user information from the mediation device in response to transmitting the device information request. The device information extraction for extracting the second device information for identifying the other device different from the printing device without extracting the first device information for identifying the printing device from the received device information And the predetermined request transmission unit does not include a request for position information associated with the first device information that has not been extracted, and is extracted. The predetermined information request including a request for position information associated with the second device information is transmitted, and the second position information receiving unit is associated with the first device information. A printing apparatus that does not receive the first position information but receives the second position information associated with the second device information. Accordingly, the printing apparatus does not receive the first position information again in response to the transmission of the predetermined information request, so that the communication amount with the mediation apparatus can be reduced.

Application Example 8 In the printing apparatus, the predetermined request transmission unit transmits the predetermined information request after the first image is printed by the first print control unit. Accordingly, the printing apparatus can first print the first image to be printed by the printing apparatus, and can print the second image to be printed by another printing apparatus later.

Application Example 9 A printing device that further determines whether or not it is permitted to cause the printing unit to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing device. The second print control unit is configured to allow the second image to be printed when the printing unit is allowed to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing apparatus. When the printing unit is not allowed to print the image represented by the image data to be printed by the other printing apparatus and the printing unit is not permitted to print the second image, the printing unit Print control unit that does not allow printing. Thereby, the printing apparatus can prevent the printing apparatus from printing the second image to be printed by another printing apparatus.

Application Example 10 In the printing apparatus, the second print control unit is allowed to cause the printing unit to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing device. In this case, the second acquisition unit acquires the second image data from the intermediary device, so that the second image is printed on the printing unit and is to be printed by the other printing device. When the printing unit is not permitted to print the image represented by the image data, the second acquisition unit does not acquire the second image data from the mediation device, thereby A printing apparatus that does not print the image on the printing unit.

Application Example 11 In the printing apparatus, the first print control unit sends the first image data to the printing unit in response to the first acquisition unit acquiring the first image data from the mediation device. The first image is printed, and the second acquisition unit acquires the second image data from the mediation device after printing the first image by the printing unit, and The printing control unit causes the printing unit to print the second image in response to the second obtaining unit obtaining the second image data from the mediation device. As a result, the printing apparatus accepts a print instruction as compared to the case where the first image data and the second image data are first acquired and then the first image and the second image are printed together. It is possible to shorten the period from printing to printing the first image.

Application Example 12 In the printing apparatus, after the first image data is stored in the mediation device, the first image is received from the mediation device by the instruction accepting unit. A request for specific information for receiving specific information indicating that the image is to be printed in response to being sent to the mediation device, and the specific information is stored in the mediation device. The specific information receiving unit that receives the specific information from the intermediary device in response to transmitting the specific information request, and the first acquisition unit, when the specific information is not received, The instruction receiving unit acquires the first image data using the first position information received by the first position information receiving unit without receiving the print instruction, and the specific information If received, the first instruction data is acquired by using the first position information received by the first position information receiving unit after receiving the print instruction in the instruction receiving unit. A printing device. Accordingly, the printing apparatus can print an image other than the image to be printed in response to the reception of the print instruction by the reception unit without receiving the print instruction.

Application Example 13 In the printing apparatus, the first image data is further stored in the input unit, the input receiving unit that receives input authentication information from the user to the input unit, and the mediation device. After that, a first authentication request transmission for transmitting to the mediation device a first authentication information request for causing the mediation device to transmit first authentication information for causing the printing unit to print the first image. A first authentication information receiving unit that receives the first authentication information from the mediating device in response to transmitting the first authentication information request, and the second image data to the mediating device. Is stored, the second authentication information request for causing the mediation device to transmit the second authentication information for causing the printing unit to print the second image is transmitted to the mediation device. An authentication request transmitter and the second authentication information; A second authentication information receiving unit that receives the second authentication information from the intermediary device in response to transmitting the request, wherein the first print control unit includes the input authentication information as the first authentication information. The first image is printed on the printing unit when the authentication information matches the first authentication information, and the first image is printed on the printing unit when the input authentication information does not match the first authentication information. The second print control unit causes the printing unit to print the second image when the input authentication information matches the second authentication information, and the input authentication information is the second authentication information. A printing apparatus that does not cause the printing unit to print the second image when the information does not match the information. Accordingly, the printing apparatus can print an image to be printed by successful authentication.

Application Example 14 In the printing apparatus, the first authentication information is further received in response to the first authentication information being received by the printing apparatus side memory and the first authentication information receiving unit. A third storage control unit that stores in the printing device side memory, and the second authentication request transmission unit stores the printing device side memory in the mediating device in response to receiving the printing instruction. The second authentication information that is not stored in the memory on the printing device is requested without requesting the first authentication information, and the second authentication information receiving unit receives the second authentication information from the intermediary device. The second authentication information is received without receiving the first authentication information, and the first print control unit receives the first authentication information stored in the printing apparatus side memory and the first authentication information. If they match, the first image is sent to the printing unit. And the second print control unit prints the second image when the input authentication information matches the second authentication information received by the second authentication information receiving unit. A printing device that lets you print. As a result, the printing apparatus can perform authentication using the first authentication information stored in advance in the printing apparatus side memory, even if the first authentication information is not requested by the second authentication request transmission unit.

Application Example 15 In the printing apparatus, the print control unit causes the printing unit to print the first image in response to the input authentication information matching the first authentication information. The input accepting unit does not accept the input from the user again, and prints the second image in response to the fact that the input authentication information matches the second authentication information. apparatus. Accordingly, the printing apparatus can print an image that has been successfully authenticated without receiving selection of an image to be printed by the user.

  Furthermore, a control method for realizing the functions of the printing system and printing apparatus of the present invention, a computer program, and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the computer program are also novel and useful.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system. It is a sequence diagram of a registration process. It is a sequence diagram of a storage process. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a storage process continued from FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of print processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of print processing according to second and third embodiments. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of a printing process according to the second embodiment continued from FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of a printing process according to a third embodiment continued from FIG. 6.

(First embodiment)
(Configuration of printing system 2)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system 2 in the first embodiment. The printing system 2 includes a PC (abbreviation of personal computer) 100, an intermediary server 200, and a plurality of printers 300 and 400. The PC 100 and the printers 300 and 400 belong to the same LAN (abbreviation of Local Area Network) 4. For this reason, the PC 100 and the printers 300 and 400 can communicate with each other via the LAN 4, not via the Internet 6. Further, the PC 100 and the printers 300 and 400 can communicate with the mediation server 200 via the LAN 4 and the Internet 6.

(Configuration of PC100)
The PC 100 is a terminal such as a desktop PC, a notebook PC, or a tablet PC used by a user to cause the printers 300 and 400 to print an image. In the modification, the PC 100 may be a user terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone. The PC 100 includes a network interface (hereinafter referred to as a network I / F) 110, a control unit 120, an operation unit 130, and a display unit 140. The network I / F 110 is an I / F for transmitting and receiving signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The control unit 120 includes a CPU 122 and a memory 124. A program 126 is stored in the memory 124. The memory 124 is, for example, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, or the like. The CPU 122 executes various processes according to a program 126 such as a browser program 128 stored in the memory 124. The browser program 128 is a program for interpreting web page data having an HTML format and displaying the web page on the display unit 140 of the printer 100. The browser program 128 is, for example, Google Chrome (registered trademark).

  The operation unit 130 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The user can input various instructions to the PC 100 by operating the operation unit 130. The display unit 140 is a display for displaying various information.

  The PC 100 can cause the printers 300 and 400 to execute printing (hereinafter referred to as “server printing”) in accordance with a server print instruction. The server print instruction is an instruction received from the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6 when the PC 100 transmits a print execution request to the mediation server 200 using the browser program 128. When the user of the PC 100 receives the cloud service provided from the mediation server 200 using the browser program 128, server printing is realized. Specifically, even if the PC 100 does not have a driver program for the printers 300 and 400, the PC 100 uses the browser program 128 to receive a print execution request when receiving a predetermined operation for printing. 200. In this case, a server print instruction is transmitted from the mediation server 200 to the printers 300 and 400, and the server 300 can execute server printing. That is, server printing is a cloud service mechanism provided from the mediation server 200. It should be noted that not only the browser program 128 but also an application adapted to the cloud service can be used to cause the printers 300 and 400 to execute server printing.

  Note that the PC 100 may include a driver program provided by the vendor of the printer 300 or 400, for example. In this case, when receiving a normal print instruction transmitted from the PC 100 using the driver program without using the Internet 6, the printers 300 and 400 perform printing corresponding to the normal print instruction (hereinafter referred to as “normal print”). Call it). That is, the PC 100 can cause the printers 300 and 400 to execute not only server printing but also normal printing. Even if the user of the PC 100 does not use the browser program 128 and does not receive a service provided by the vendor of the mediation server 200, the normal printing is realized.

(Configuration of Mediation Server 200)
The mediation server 200 is a server for mediating communication for causing the PC 100 to execute printing by the printers 300 and 400, and is installed on the Internet 6 by an operator different from the vendor of the printers 300 and 400. The business operator is, for example, Google (registered trademark). The service provided by the print server 200 is, for example, Google Cloud Print (registered trademark). In the modification, the mediation server 200 may be a server installed by a vendor of the printers 300 and 400.

  The mediation server 200 includes a network I / F 210 and a control unit 220. The network I / F 210 is an I / F for transmitting and receiving signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The control unit 220 includes a CPU 222 and a memory 224. The memory 224 stores a program 226, an account table 227, a job management table 228, and screen data 229. The memory 224 is, for example, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, or the like. The CPU 222 executes various processes according to the program 226 stored in the memory 224.

  The account table 227 stores user information, printer information, and tokens by executing a registration process described later. The user information is information corresponding to a plurality of users, and is information for logging in to the mediation server 200. Specifically, each of the user information u1 and u2 includes user IDs us1 and us2 for identifying the user and a password for authenticating the user. The printer information is information related to a plurality of printers. Specifically, the printer information p1 and p2 includes the printer names pr1 and pr2 of the printers 300 and 400, device IDs dv1 and dv2 for identifying the printers 300 and 400, and the capability of the print function that each printer can execute. Ability information to be displayed. The printer name and capability information are information received from each printer, and the device ID is information uniquely issued to the printer when the printer is registered in the mediation server 200. The tokens tk1 and tk2 are information for the printers 300 and 400 to communicate with the mediation server 200, and are issued when the printers 300 and 400 are registered in the mediation server 200. In addition to the above information, the account table 227 shows a state in which printer information p3 (printer name pr3, device IDdv3) and token tk3 of a printer (not shown) are stored in association with the user information u2. .

  Further, by executing a storage process described later, image data and a ticket are stored in the memory 224, and a job ID, a device ID, a data address, and a ticket address are stored in the job management table 228. The job includes a device ID, a data address, and a ticket address. The job IDs jb1 to 4 are information for identifying jobs generated in response to requests from external devices such as the PC 100, respectively. The data addresses iURL1 to URL4 are URLs (abbreviations for Uniform Resource Locator) indicating storage locations in the memory 224 in which the image data img1 to 4 transmitted from the external device are stored. Ticket addresses tURL1 to tURL4 are URLs indicating storage positions in the memory 224 in which the tickets tc1 to tc4 are stored, respectively. Tickets tc1 to tc4 include printing conditions for printing images represented by image data img1 to img4 and PIN codes pins 1 to 3, respectively. The PIN code is, for example, an arbitrary 4-digit number. As will be described in detail later, the printer 300 receives a PIN code corresponding to print data from the user via the operation unit 330 and the display unit 340, and stores the input PIN code and job table management 227. When the PIN code matches, the secure printing for printing the image represented by the image data in accordance with the printing conditions designated in advance can be executed.

  The screen data 229 is screen data indicating each screen SC2, 3 (details will be described later) displayed on the PC 100.

(Configuration of printers 300 and 400)
The printer 300 is a peripheral device that can execute a printing function (that is, a peripheral device of the PC 100) and has a printer name pr1. The printer 100 includes a network I / F 310, a control unit 320, an operation unit 330, a display unit 340, and a print execution unit 350.

  A network I / F 310 is an I / F for transmitting and receiving signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet. The control unit 320 includes a CPU 322 and a memory 324. The memory 324 stores a program 326 and other job settings st. The memory 324 is, for example, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, or the like. The CPU 322 executes various processes according to the program 326 stored in the memory 324. In the second and third embodiments to be described later, a job table 327 is stored in the memory 324. Since the job table 327 does not appear in the first embodiment, it will be described in the second and third embodiments described later.

  The other job setting st is “ON”, which means that the printer 300 permits printing of an image according to image data associated with a device ID of a printer different from the printer 300 in the mediation server 200, and One of the values “OFF” indicating that printing is prohibited is indicated. When the power is turned on for the first time after shipment, the printer 300 sets the other job setting st to “ON”. In addition, when the printer 300 executes the initialization process due to the initialization operation being performed on the operation unit 330, the printer 300 sets the other job setting st to “ON”. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the other job setting st is set to “ON”.

  The operation unit 330 includes a plurality of keys. The display unit 340 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 340 also functions as a touch panel for accepting user operations. The user can input various instructions to the printer 300 by operating the display unit 340 and the operation unit 330. For example, the user can operate the display unit 340 and the operation unit 330 to change the other job setting st from “ON” to “OFF” and from “OFF” to “ON”. The print execution unit 350 executes processing for printing an image expressed by data acquired from the outside on a print medium by a known electrophotographic method such as an ink jet method or a laser method.

  The printer 400 has the same configuration as the printer 300 and has a printer name pr2.

(Operation of printing system 2)
(registration process)
With reference to FIG. 2, the registration process performed by the printing system 2 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of the registration process. The registration process is a process for registering printer information related to the printer in the mediation server. In the mediation server 200, user information corresponding to the user who operates the PC 100 is registered in advance.

  In T10, the PC 100 activates the browser program 128 in response to accepting a user operation. Each process after T12 (and each process after FIG. 3) executed by the PC 100 is realized by the browser program 128 and an OS program (not shown). In T12, the PC 100 displays a login screen for logging in to the mediation server 200, and accepts a login operation for inputting user information u1. In this case, at T14, the PC 100 logs in to the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6 using the user information u1.

  In T16, the PC 100 accepts a registration operation for registering printer information in the mediation server 200. The PC 100 searches for the printers 300 and 400 belonging to the LAN 4 in response to accepting the registration operation. Specifically, the PC 100 broadcasts a search signal to the LAN 4 at T20A and T20B, and receives a response to the search signal from each of the printers 300 and 400 at T22A and T22B. The responses from the printers 300 and 400 include printer names pr1 and pr2, respectively. In T24, the PC 100 displays a selection screen SC1 indicating the two printer names pr1 and pr2 as search results.

  In T26, the PC 100 accepts selection of the printer 300 (that is, the printer name pr1) from the printers 300 and 400 (that is, from the printer names pr1 and pr2) via the selection screen SC1. In this case, at T28, the PC 100 transmits the user information u1 to the printer 300 via the LAN 4 instead of via the Internet 6.

  In T30, the printer 300 transmits a registration request to the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6. The printer 300 stores the address of the mediation server 200 in the memory 324 in advance, and transmits a registration request to the mediation server 200 using the address as a transmission destination. The registration request includes the user information u1 received at T28 and the printer information p1 of the printer 300 (that is, the printer name pr1 and capability information). The capability information of the printer 300 includes information indicating that the printer 300 can execute secure printing.

  In T32, when the authentication of the user information u1 included in the registration request is successful, the mediation server 200 registers the printer information p1 and the token tk1 included in the registration request in association with the user information u1. The token tk1 is communication information for the printer 300 to communicate with the mediation server 200, and is generated by the mediation server 200 in response to the printer 300 being registered in the mediation server 200. The mediation server 200 can recognize the printer 300 as a printer that has completed registration processing by being accessed from the printer 300 using the token tk1. Further, the mediation server 200 generates a device ID dv1 for uniquely identifying the registered printer 300, and stores it in addition to the printer information p1. In T34, the mediation server 200 transmits the device ID dv1 and the token tk1 to the printer 300.

  In T36, when receiving the token tk1 from the mediation server 200, the printer 300 establishes an XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) connection via the Internet 6 between the printer 300 and the mediation server 200. The XMPP connection is called a so-called always-on connection, and the state where the connection is established is maintained until the printer 300 is turned off. Accordingly, the printer 300 can receive requests, notifications, and the like from the mediation server 200 on the Internet 6 using the XMPP connection. Then, the printer 300 is ready to execute server printing.

  The registration process is also executed for the printer 400 in the same manner as T10 to T36. Therefore, for example, the PC 100 searches the printers 300 and 400 by logging in to the mediation server 200 using the user information u1 while the browser is activated and accepting a registration operation from the user (T16B). When the PC 100 displays the selection screen SC1 and receives selection of the printer 400 from the user (T26B), the PC 100 transmits account information u1 to the printer 400 (T28B). When the printer 400 transmits a registration request including the user information u1 and the printer information p2 including the printer name pr2 and the printing capability information to the mediation server 200 (T30B), the mediation server 200 associates the registration information with the user information u1. The printer information p2 and the token tk2 are registered (T32B), and the XMPP connection is established between the printer 400 and the mediation server 200 (T36B). That is, by executing T32 and T32B, the mediation server 200 receives the printer information p1, the token tk1, the printer information p2, and the token tk2, respectively, in association with the user information u1, as shown in FIG. be registered.

(Remember process)
A storage process performed by the printing system 2 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are sequence diagrams of the storage process. The storage process is a process for causing the mediation server 200 to store image data instructed from the PC 100 and information related to printing conditions. T100 will be described later for the processing of the second and third embodiments.

  In T50 to 54 of FIG. 3, the PC 100 logs in to the mediation server 200 in accordance with a user operation. The specific method is the same as T10-14. When the storage process is executed subsequent to the registration process of FIG. 2, since the PC 100 has already logged into the mediation server 200, the processes at T <b> 50 to 54 are omitted.

  In T56, the PC 100 accepts a server printing operation for executing server printing. In this case, the PC 100 requests screen data representing the selection screen SC2 from the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6, and receives the screen data at T58. In T60, the PC 100 displays the selection screen SC2 represented by the screen data. In the mediation server 200, two pieces of printer information p1 and p2 are registered in association with the user information u1 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the selection screen SC2 includes two printer names pr1 and pr2 included in the two printer information p1 and p2. In T62, the PC 100 accepts selection of the printer 300 (that is, the printer name pr1) from the printers 300 and 400 (that is, from the printer names pr1 and pr2) via the selection screen SC2. In this case, at T64, the PC 100 transmits a selection result including the printer name pr1 to the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6.

  At T66, the PC 100 receives screen data representing the selection screen SC3 from the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6. In T68, the PC 100 displays the selection screen SC3 represented by the screen data. The selection screen SC3 is a screen for selecting image data to be printed, printing conditions, and a PIN code. As a result, the user can select desired image data from among a plurality of image data stored in the PC 100. In addition, the selection screen SC3 is configured to be able to select a printing condition including a paper size and the number of copies within the range of the capability information of the printer 300. For this reason, the user can select desired printing conditions. In addition, the printing conditions may include the number of print colors, print resolution, paper size, presence / absence of double-sided printing, and the like.

  As described above, the capability information of the printer 300 includes information indicating that the printer 300 can execute secure printing. For this reason, the selection screen SC3 includes a text box for inputting a PIN code. Thus, the user can cause the printer 300 to print a desired image by server printing and secure printing. Note that the user does not have to input a PIN code. In this case, the image is printed according to the image data transmitted to the printer 300 without authentication of the PIN code in response to the image data being stored in the mediation server 200 as in normal server printing. In the modification, the selection screen SC3 may include a check box for instructing secure printing, and a text box may be input when the check box is checked.

  In T70, the PC 100 receives selection of image data, printing conditions, and a PIN code via the selection screen SC3. Since the PIN code is highly confidential information, it is displayed as “***” when it is input. In T72, the PC 100 transmits a print execution request including the selected image data img1, the print condition, and the PIN code pin1 to the mediation server 200 via the Internet 6. The print execution request is a command for requesting that the printer 300 execute the printing of the image represented by the image data img1 according to the printing condition when the PIN code pin1 is input to the printer 300.

  In T74, the mediation server 200 stores the image data img1, the printing condition, and the PIN code pin1 included in the print execution request in the memory 224. Note that the printing conditions and the PIN code pin1 are collectively stored as a ticket tc1. Furthermore, the mediation server 200 generates a job ID jb1 and indicates a device ID dv1 that identifies a printer 300 that should print an image based on the image data img1 (that is, the printer 300 selected in T62) and the storage location of the image data img1. The data is stored in the job management table 228 in association with the data address iURL1 and the ticket address tURL1 indicating the storage location of the ticket tc1.

  At T76, the mediation server 200 transmits a storage notification to the printer 300 via the Internet 6 using the XMPP connection at T36 (FIG. 2). The storage notification is a command for notifying that the image data img1 and ticket tc1 to be subjected to server printing are stored. In T78, the printer 300 transmits an address request to the mediation server 200 in response to receiving the storage notification. The address request is a command for requesting the intermediary server 200 to transmit the data address iURL1 and the ticket address tURL1. In T80, the printer 300 transmits the data address iURL1 and the ticket address tURL1 to the mediation server 200.

  In T82, the printer 300 transmits a ticket request to the mediation server 200 by accessing the mediation server 200 using the ticket address tURL1. The ticket request is a request for causing the mediation server 200 to transmit the ticket tc1 stored in the storage location indicated by the ticket address tURL1. In T84, the mediation server 200 transmits the ticket tc1 to the printer 300.

  At T86 in FIG. 4, the printer 300 determines whether the ticket tc1 includes a PIN code. Accordingly, the printer 300 determines whether or not the image based on the image data img1 should be securely printed. Here, since the PIN code pin1 is included in the ticket tc1 (YES in T86), the printer 300 ends the storage process. In the storage process of the first embodiment, the printer 300 does not store the information received from the mediation server 200 (that is, the data address iURL1, the ticket address tURL1, and the ticket tc1) in the memory 324.

  Although not shown, if the user does not input a PIN code at T70, the PC 100 issues a print request including the selected image data (hereinafter referred to as image data img0) and printing conditions at T72. , A print request not including the PIN code is transmitted to the printer 300. The print request is a command for requesting the printer 300 to execute printing of an image represented by the image data img0 according to the print condition without inputting a PIN code. In this case, the mediation server 200 stores in the memory 224 the image data img0 and the ticket 0 that includes the printing conditions and does not include the PIN code at T74. Further, the printer 300 generates a job ID jb0, and identifies the device ID dv1 that identifies the printer 300 that should print an image based on the image data img0, the data address iURL0 that indicates the storage location of the image data img0, and the storage location of the ticket 0. It is stored in the job management table 228 in association with the ticket address tURL0 shown.

  Further, the mediation server 200 transmits the ticket address tURL0 and the data address iURL0 to the printer 300 from T76 to T80, and transmits the ticket tc0 to the printer 300 from T82 to 84. At this time, in T86, the printer 300 determines that the PIN code is not included in the ticket tc0 (NO in T86), and proceeds to T88.

  Returning to FIG. In T88, the printer 300 transmits a print data request to the mediation server 200 by accessing the mediation server 200 using the data address iURL0. The print data request is a request for causing the mediation server 200 to transmit the print data img0 based on the image data img0 stored at the storage location indicated by the data address tURL0.

  In T90, the mediation server 200 generates the print data img0 by converting the image data img0 according to the print conditions included in the ticket tc0 in response to the print data request. The printing condition is a printing condition selected by the user in T70 (FIG. 3), and is a condition of the paper size to be printed and the number of copies. Therefore, the mediation server 200 generates print data img0 of the paper size. However, the number of copies is a condition that is not used when the mediation server 200 generates the print data pimg0 because the printer 300 is the number of copies of the image to be printed according to the print data pimg0. Therefore, the mediation server 200 generates the print data pimg0 according to the print size condition included in the print condition. At T <b> 92, the mediation server 200 transmits the generated print data “pimg0” to the printer 300 via the Internet 6.

  In T94, the printer 300 supplies the print data pimg0 to the print execution unit 350, and causes the print execution unit 350 to print the image represented by the print data pimg0. Note that the printer 300 causes the print execution unit 350 to print the image for the designated number of copies in accordance with the condition for the number of copies included in the ticket tc0 transmitted in T84. Accordingly, the user can cause the printer 300 to print the image represented by the image data stored in the PC 000 (that is, server printing) via the mediation server 200 on the Internet 6.

  In T96, the printer 300 transmits a completion notification indicating that the printing of the image represented by the print data “pimg0” is completed to the mediation server 200. In T98, the mediation server 200 deletes the corresponding job in response to receiving the completion notification. That is, the mediation server 200 deletes the job ID jb0, the device ID dv1, the data address iURL0, and the ticket address tURL0 from the job management table 228. Further, the mediation server 200 deletes the ticket tc0 and the image data img0 from the memory 224. The storage process ends upon completion of the process of T98.

  For other jobs, storage processing is executed in the same manner as in T50 to T96. Therefore, for example, the PC 100 logs in to the mediation server 200 using the user information u1 with the browser activated, accepts a server print operation (T56B), accepts a selection of the printer 400 (T62B), and sets the image data img2 In response to accepting the selection of the printing condition and the PIN code pin1 (T70B), a print execution request is transmitted to the mediation server 200 (T72B). Here, it is assumed that the user specifies a PIN code pin1 similar to the PIN code for printing the image data img1 for printing the image data img2 in T70B. The mediation server 200 stores the image data img2 included in the print execution request and the ticket tc2 including the printing condition and the PIN code pin1 in the memory 224 (T74B), and transmits a storage notification to the printer 400 (T76B). . Since the PIN code pin1 is included in the ticket tc2 received based on the storage notification, the printer 400 ends the storage process without executing the printing of the image based on the image data img2. The job management table 228 shows a state in which four jobs including the job stored by the above processing are stored.

(Printing process)
With reference to FIG. 5, the printing process performed by the printing system 2 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the printing process. The printing process is a process for causing the printer 300 to execute secure printing according to the image data stored in the mediation server 200.

  In T110, the printer 300 displays an input screen for inputting the PIN code, and accepts the input of the PIN code from the user. The input screen may be displayed by operating the display unit 340 and the operation unit 330 by the user, or when the PIN code is included in the ticket received from the mediation server 200 (T86 (FIG. 4)). YES), it may be displayed following receipt of the ticket. Hereinafter, a case where the PIN code pin1 is input to the input screen at T110 will be described.

  In T112, the printer 300 transmits a job list request to the mediation server 200 using the token tk1. The job list request is a command for requesting that the mediation server 200 transmit a list of jobs related to the user IDus1 corresponding to the token tk1. In T113, the mediation server 200 specifies a job to be transmitted to the printer 300 in response to receiving the job list. Specifically, the mediation server 200 identifies the user IDus1 from the user information u1 stored in association with the token tk1 in the account table 227. Next, the mediation server 200 specifies device IDs dv1 and dv2 from the printer information p1 and p2 corresponding to the user IDus1. Furthermore, the mediation server 200 specifies job IDs jb1, jb2, and jb4 corresponding to the device IDs dv1 and dv2 in the job management table 228. However, the job ID jb3 is not specified because it is a job ID related to the user IDus2 different from the user IDus1. In the job management table 228, the intermediary server 200 includes the data address iURL1 and the ticket address tURL1 corresponding to the job ID jb1, the data address iURL2 and the ticket address tURL2 corresponding to the job ID jb2, and the data address iURL4 and the job ID jb4. The ticket address tURL4 is specified.

  In T <b> 114, the mediation server 200 transmits a job list to the printer 300. The job list includes jobs including the specified job ID, device ID, data address, and ticket address. Here, the job list includes a job including job ID jb1, device ID dv1, data address iURL1, ticket address tURL1, job ID jb2, device ID dv2, data address iURL2, ticket address tURL2, job ID jb4, device ID dv1, And a job including a data address iURL4 and a ticket address tURL4. Therefore, even if the printer 300 does not store the job (T80, 84 (FIG. 4)) received in response to the image data img1 being stored in the mediation server 200, T114 and T134, which will be described later, T114. The ticket tc1 and the print data img1 can be acquired in accordance with the job received in step S1.

  In T116, the printer 300 determines whether one or more job IDs are included in the job list. Here, since the job list includes job IDs jb1, jb2, and jb4 (YES in T116), the printer 300 proceeds to T118. However, if the job list does not include a job ID (NO in T116), the printer 300 ends the printing process.

  In T118, the printer 300 selects one job ID from the job IDs included in the job list. As a selection method, for example, there is a method of selecting the youngest job ID among job IDs that have never been selected. Here, first, assume that job ID jb1 is selected in T118.

  In T120, the printer 300 determines whether the job identified by the selected job ID is a job for the printer 300 itself (that is, whether the image represented by the image data of the job is an image to be printed by the printer 300). Or not). Here, since the device identified by the job ID jb1 includes the device ID dv1 as described above (YES in T120), the printer 300 determines that the job is for the printer 300 itself (self printer), and proceeds to T124. However, if the job identified by the selected job ID includes a device ID other than the device ID dv1 (NO in T120), the printer 300 determines that the job is for a printer (other printer) other than the printer 300, and T122. Proceed to

  In T124 to 126, the printer 300 acquires the ticket tc1 from the mediation server 200. The specific process is the same as T82 to 84 (FIG. 3). In the first embodiment, the printer 300 does not store the ticket tc1 acquired in the storage process (FIG. 3) in the memory 324. Therefore, the printer 300 needs to acquire the ticket tc1 from the mediation server 200 again in the printing process.

  In T128, the printer 300 determines whether the PIN code input in T110 matches the PIN code included in the ticket tc1 transmitted from the mediation server 200 in T126. Here, since the PIN code input at T110 is the PIN code pin1 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc1 is also pin1, the printer 300 determines that the PIN codes match (YES at T128), and proceeds to T130. . However, if the input PIN code and the PIN code included in the received ticket do not match (NO in T128), the printer 300 proceeds to T142.

  In T130 to 140, the printer 300 acquires the print data “pimg1” from the mediation server 200 and prints it. The specific process is the same as T88-98 (FIG. 4). Accordingly, the printer 300 can print the job image for the printer 300 itself by server printing and secure printing.

  In T142, the printer 300 determines whether there are any job IDs that have not been selected in T118 among the job IDs received in T114. Here, the printer 300 determines that the job ID remains because the job IDs jb2 and jb4 are not selected (YES in T142), and returns to T118. However, if no unselected job ID remains (NO in T142), the printer 300 ends the printing process.

  Returning to T118, the printer 300 selects the job ID jb2. As described above, the job identified by the job ID jb2 includes the job ID jb2, the device ID dv2, the data address iURL2, and the ticket address tURL2. In T120, since the device IDdv2 is included in the job, the printer 300 determines that the job is not for the printer 300 itself, and proceeds to T122.

  In T122, the printer 300 determines whether printing of an image according to a job for a printer other than the printer 300 (another printer) is permitted. As described above, the printer 300 determines that it is permitted when the value of the other job setting st stored in the memory 324 is “ON”, and is prohibited when it is “OFF”. Judge that For example, when the printer 300 is used by a large number of other users other than the user identified by the user IDus1, the PIN code input by another user coincides with the image data stored in the mediation server 200 by chance. There is a possibility that the represented image is printed. At this time, if the other job setting is “OFF”, the image to be printed can be limited to the image according to the job for the printer 300. Here, since the other job setting st is set to “ON” (YES in T122), the printer 300 proceeds to T124. However, if the other job setting st is set to “OFF” (NO in T122), the printer 300 proceeds to T142.

  In T124 to 126, the printer 300 acquires the ticket tc2 from the mediation server 200. Accordingly, the printer 300 can receive a job ticket for a printer other than the printer 300 from the mediation server 200.

  In T128, it is determined whether or not the PIN code input in T110 matches the PIN code included in the ticket tc2 transmitted from the mediation server 200. Here, since the PIN code input at T110 is the PIN code pin1 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc2 is also pin1, it is determined that they match (YES in T128), and the process proceeds to T130.

  In T130 to 140, the printer 300 acquires the print data img2 obtained by converting the image data img2 according to the print condition included in the ticket tc2 from the mediation server 200 and prints it. Accordingly, the printer 300 can print an image of a job for a printer other than the printer 300 by server printing and secure printing. In addition, after printing an image according to the print data img1, the printer 300 acquires the print data img2 and prints the image according to the print data img2. As a result, the printer 300 obtains the print data img1 and the print data img2 and then prints the image represented by the print data img1 and the image represented by the print data img2 at T110, as compared with the case where the image is represented. It is possible to shorten the period from the receipt of the input of the PIN code to the printing of the image represented by the print data “pimg1”.

  In T142, the printer 300 determines that the job ID remains because the job ID jb4 is not selected (YES in T142), and returns to T118.

  Returning to T118, the printer 300 selects the job ID jb4. As described above, the job identified by the job ID jb4 includes the job ID jb4, the device ID dv1, the data address iURL4, and the ticket address tURL4. In T120, since the device ID dv1 is included in the job, the printer 300 determines that the job is for the printer 300 itself, and proceeds to T124.

  In T124 to 126, the printer 300 acquires the ticket tc4 from the mediation server 200. In T128, it is determined whether or not the PIN code input in T110 matches the PIN code included in the ticket tc4 transmitted from the mediation server 200. Here, since the PIN code input at T110 is the PIN code pin1 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc4 is pin3, it is determined that they do not match (NO at T128), and the process proceeds to T142. In T142, since all the jobs received in T114 have been selected, the printer 300 determines that no jobs remain and ends the printing process.

(Second embodiment)
Next, the printing system 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the printing system 2 of the second embodiment, the following configuration is added to the printing system 2 of the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(Configuration of Printer 300)
The printer 300 includes a job table 327 in the memory 324. The job table 327 stores a job ID, a data address, a ticket address, and a ticket by executing a storage process described later.

(registration process)
Since the registration process of the second embodiment is the same as the registration process of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

(Remember process)
A storage process performed by the printing system 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are sequence diagrams of the storage process of the second embodiment. In the storage process of the second embodiment, unlike the storage process of the first embodiment, the printer 300 stores the ticket and data address received from the mediation server 200 in the job table 327. Specifically, it is as follows.

  As described above, the PC 100 transmits a print execution request to the mediation server 200 according to the user's operation (T72), and the mediation server 200 transmits the ticket address tURL1 and the data address iURL1 to the printer 300 (T80). The printer 300 acquires the ticket tc1 from the mediation server 200 according to the ticket address tURL1 (T84).

  In T86, the printer 300 determines whether the PIN code is included in the ticket tc1. Here, since the ticket tc1 includes the PIN code pin1 (YES in T86), the printer 300 proceeds to T100. If the ticket tc1 does not include a PIN code (NO at T86), the same processing as in the first embodiment is executed, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In T100, the printer 300 stores the data address iURL1 received in T80 and the ticket tc1 received in T84. However, since the printer 300 does not request the ticket tc1 from the mediation server 200 again in the printing process described later, the printer 300 does not store the ticket address tURL1. The storage process ends upon completion of the process of T100. The job table 327 shows a state where two combinations including a combination of a job ID, a ticket, and a data address stored by the above processing are stored.

(Printing process)
A printing process performed by the printing system 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 are sequence diagrams of the printing process according to the second embodiment. In the printing process of the second embodiment, unlike the printing process of the first embodiment, the printer 300 does not acquire the job ticket for the printer 300 itself, but uses the ticket stored in the job table 327. Print the image. Specifically, it is as follows.

  In T210 of FIG. 6, the printer 300 displays an input screen for inputting a PIN code, and accepts the input of the PIN code from the user. The specific process is the same as T110 (FIG. 5). Hereinafter, a case where the PIN code pin1 is input to the input screen at T210 will be described.

  In T212, the printer 300 determines whether one or more job IDs are stored in the job table 327. Here, since the job IDs jb1 and jb4 are stored in the job table 327 (YES in T212), the printer 300 proceeds to T214. However, if the job ID is not stored in the job table 327 (NO in T212), the printer 300 proceeds to T310.

  In T214, the printer 300 selects one job ID from the job IDs stored in the job table 327. The specific process is the same as T118 (FIG. 5). Here, it is assumed that the job ID jb1 is selected.

  In T220, the printer 300 determines whether the PIN code input in T210 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc1 stored in the job table 327 match. Here, since the PIN code input at T210 is the PIN code pin1 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc1 is pin1, the printer 300 determines that the PIN codes match (YES at T220) and proceeds to T222. . However, if the input PIN code and the PIN code included in the received ticket do not match (NO in T220), the printer 300 proceeds to T234.

  In T222 to 232, the printer 300 acquires the print data “pimg1” from the mediation server 200 and prints it. The specific process is the same as T88-98 (FIG. 4).

  In the second embodiment, the printer 300 selects a job identified by the job ID stored in the job table 327 at T214, and executes printing according to the corresponding print data at T228. Therefore, the printer 300 acquires again the job identified by the job ID stored in the job table 327 at T314, but the job ID is not extracted at T316, which will be described later. In other words, the printer 300 prints an image using the ticket stored in the job table 327 without acquiring the job ticket for the printer 300 itself again. Therefore, as compared with the first embodiment, the printer 300 can reduce the number of tickets acquired in the printing process, and thus can reduce the amount of communication with the mediation server 200.

  When the printer 300 transmits a completion notification to the mediation server 200 at T230, the printer 300 deletes the job ID jb1, the ticket tc1, and the data address iURL1 from the job table 327 at T233.

  In T234, the printer 300 determines whether a job ID that is not selected in T1214 remains among the job IDs stored in the job table 327. Here, the printer 300 determines that the job ID remains because the job ID jb4 is not selected (YES in T234), and returns to T214. However, if there is no unselected job ID remaining (NO in T234), the printer 300 proceeds to T310.

  Returning to T214, the printer 300 selects the job ID jb4 from the job IDs stored in the job table 327. In T234, it is determined whether or not the PIN code input in T210 matches the PIN code included in the ticket tc4 stored in the job table 327. Here, since the PIN code input at T110 is the PIN code pin1 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc4 is pin3, it is determined that they do not match (NO at T220), and the process proceeds to T234. In T234, since all the job IDs stored in the T job table 327 have been selected, the printer 300 determines that no job ID remains and proceeds to T310 in FIG.

  In T310, the printer 300 determines whether printing of an image according to a job for a printer other than the printer 300 (another printer) is permitted. The specific process is the same as T122 (FIG. 5). Here, since the other job setting st is set to “ON” (YES in T310), the printer 300 proceeds to T312. However, if the other job setting st is set to “OFF” (NO in T310), the printer 300 ends the printing process.

  In T312 to T314, the printer 300 receives a job list from the mediation server 200 using the token tk1. The specific process is the same as T112 to 114 (FIG. 5). Here, the job list includes a job including job ID jb1, device ID dv1, data address iURL1, ticket address tURL1, job ID jb2, device ID dv2, data address iURL2, ticket address tURL2, job ID jb4, device ID dv1, And a job including a data address iURL4 and a ticket address tURL4.

  In T316, the printer 300 extracts a job ID of a job for another printer from the job list. Specifically, the printer 300 first extracts a device ID dv2 that is different from the device ID dv1 that identifies the printer 300 out of the device IDs dv1 and dv2 included in the job list. Subsequently, the printer 300 extracts the job ID jb2 of the job including the device ID dv2. If one or more device IDs are not included in the job list, or only the device ID dv1 is included, the printer 300 does not extract the job ID at T316.

  In T318, the printer 300 determines whether the job ID of the job for the other printer is extracted in T316. Here, since the job ID jb2 is extracted at T316 (YES at T318), the printer 300 proceeds to T320. However, if the job ID is not extracted (NO in T318), the printer 300 ends the printing process.

  In T320, the printer 300 selects one job ID from the extracted job IDs. Here, since the extracted job ID is only the job ID jb2, the job ID jb2 is selected. If there are a plurality of extracted job IDs, the job ID is selected in the same manner as T118 (FIG. 5).

  In T322 to 324, the printer 300 acquires the ticket tc2 from the mediation server 200. The specific process is the same as T82 to 84 (FIG. 3).

  In T326, it is determined whether or not the PIN code input in T210 matches the PIN code included in the ticket tc2 transmitted from the mediation server 200. Here, since the PIN code input at T210 is the PIN code pin1 and the PIN code included in the ticket tc2 is also pin1, the printer 300 determines that the PIN codes match (YES at T326), and proceeds to T328. However, if the input PIN code and the PIN code included in the received ticket do not match (NO in T326), the printer 300 proceeds to T340.

  In T328 to 338, the printer 300 acquires from the mediation server 200 the print data img2 obtained by converting the image data img2 according to the print conditions included in the ticket tc2, and prints it. The specific process is the same as T88-98 (FIG. 4). Accordingly, the printer 300 can print an image of a job for a printer other than the printer 300 by server printing and secure printing.

  In T340, the printer 300 determines whether or not a job ID that has not been selected in T320 remains among the job IDs extracted in T316. Here, since all the job IDs extracted in T316 have been selected, the printer 300 determines that no unselected job ID remains (NO in T340), and ends the printing process. However, if there is an unselected job ID remaining, the printer 300 returns to T320 and executes the processing from T320 onward according to the unselected job ID.

(Third embodiment)
Subsequently, a third embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the printing system 2 of the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the printing system 2 of the second embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(registration process)
Since the registration process of the third embodiment is the same as the registration process of the first and second embodiments, the description thereof is omitted.

(Remember process)
Since the storage process of the third embodiment is the same as the storage process of the second embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(Printing process)
A printing process performed by the printing system 2 in the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the printing process of the third embodiment, unlike the printing process of the second embodiment, the printer 300 uses the ticket stored in the job table 327 without acquiring the job stored in the job table 327 again. Print the image. Note that the processing from T210 to T234 of the printing process of the third embodiment is the same as the printing process of the second embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  When the printing of the image according to the job for the printer 300 itself is completed (that is, the processing from T210 to T234 in FIG. 6 is completed), the printer 300 proceeds to T410 in FIG. In T410, the printer 300 determines whether printing of an image according to a job for a printer other than the printer 300 (another printer) is permitted. The specific process is the same as T122 (FIG. 5). Here, since the other job setting st is set to “ON” (YES in T410), the printer 300 proceeds to T412. However, if the other job setting st is set to “OFF” (NO in T410), the printer 300 ends the printing process.

  In T412, the printer 300 transmits a printer list request to the mediation server 200 using the token tk1. The printer list request is a command for requesting the relay server 200 to transmit a printer list related to the user IDus1 corresponding to the token tk1. The printer list includes all device IDs corresponding to the user IDus1. In T413, the mediation server 200 specifies a device ID to be transmitted to the printer 300 in response to receiving the printer list request. Specifically, the mediation server 200 identifies the user IDus1 from the user information u1 stored in association with the token tk1 in the account table 227. Next, the mediation server 200 specifies device IDs dv1 and dv2 from the printer information p1 and p2 corresponding to the user IDus1. The device ID dv3 is not specified because it is a device ID corresponding to the user IDus2 different from the user IDus1. In T414, the mediation server 200 transmits a printer list including the device IDs dv1 and dv2 to the printer 300.

  In T416, the printer 300 determines whether a device ID of a printer other than the printer 300 (another printer) is included in the printer list. Here, since the printer list includes the device IDs dv1 and dv2, the printer 300 determines that the device ID of another printer is included (YES in T416), and proceeds to T418. However, if only the device ID dv1 is included in the printer list, the printer 300 determines that the device ID of another printer is not included (NO in T416), and ends the printing process.

  In T418, the printer 300 selects the device ID of another printer from the device IDs included in the printer list. Here, among the device IDs included in the printer list, the device ID dv2 is selected because the device IDs of printers other than the printer 300 are only the device ID dv2. When the device list of a plurality of other printers is included in the printer list, for example, there is a method of selecting the youngest device ID among device IDs that have not been selected.

  In T420, the printer 300 transmits a job list request to the mediation server 200 using the token tk1. The job list request is a command for requesting that the mediation server 200 transmit a list of jobs related to the user IDus1 corresponding to the token tk1. However, unlike the first and second embodiments, the job list request of the third embodiment includes the device ID dv2 selected in T418. Accordingly, the printer 300 can request the mediation server 200 for a list of jobs associated with the device ID dv2 among jobs related to the user IDus1.

  In T421, the mediation server 200 specifies a job associated with the device ID dv2 in response to receiving the job list request. Specifically, the mediation server 200 specifies the user IDus1 from the user information u1 stored in association with the token tk1. Next, the mediation server 200 specifies device IDs dv1 and dv2 from the printer information p1 and p2 corresponding to the user IDus1. Next, when the mediation server 200 confirms that the device ID dv2 included in the job list request is included in the specified device IDs dv1 and dv2, the mediation server 200 specifies the job ID jb2 corresponding to the device ID dv2 in the job management table 228. To do. Then, the mediation server 200 specifies the data address iURL2 and the ticket address tURL2 corresponding to the job ID jb2 in the job management table 228. The job IDs jb1 and jb4 correspond to the device ID dv1 and the job ID jb3 corresponds to the device ID dv3 and are not specified. That is, in the third embodiment, the printer 300 does not acquire a job for the printer 300 itself in the printing process. Therefore, as compared with the first and second embodiments, the printer 300 can reduce the number of jobs acquired in the printing process, so that the communication amount with the mediation server 200 can be reduced.

  In T442, the mediation server 200 transmits a job list to the printer 300. The job list includes jobs including the specified job ID, data address, and ticket address. Here, the job list includes jobs including job ID jb2, data address iURL2, and ticket address tURL2.

  In T424 to 446, the printer 300 prints an image according to the job included in the job list. A specific process is the same as that of T318-340 (FIG. 7). Accordingly, the printer 300 can print an image of a job for a printer other than the printer 300 by server printing and secure printing.

  In T448, the printer 300 determines whether a job ID that has not been selected in T418 remains among the device IDs included in the printer list received in T414. Here, since all the device IDs included in the printer list have been selected, it is determined that there remains no unselected device ID (NO in T448), and the printing process is terminated. However, if a device ID that has not been selected remains (YES in T448), the printer 300 returns to T418, and executes the processing from T418 onward according to the device ID that has not been selected.

  As described above, in the first to third embodiments, the printer 300 receives the data address iURL1 stored in association with the device ID dv1 for identifying the printer 300 from the mediation server 200. Further, when the printing apparatus transmits a job list request to the mediation server 200, the mediation server 200 identifies the printer 400 that is the device ID dv2 associated with the user IDus1 corresponding to the device ID dv1 and is different from the printer 300. The data address iURL2 stored in association with the device ID dv2 is received. Accordingly, the printer 300 prints the first image to be printed by the printer 300 using the data address iURL1 and prints the second image to be printed by the printer 400 using the data address iURL2. Therefore, the printer 300 should print not only the first image to be printed by the printer 300 but also the printer 400 when a plurality of device IDs are associated with the user IDus1 in the mediation server 200. The second image that was can also be printed.

  When a lot of printer information is associated with one user information in the server, there is a possibility that the correspondence between the printer name and the printer body cannot be remembered. Therefore, even if the user specifies a printer to be printed from the printer name displayed on the PC 100 and stores the image data in the mediation server 200 (corresponding to T62 to T74), the user selects a printer from the printer name. It is difficult to specify and input an instruction for obtaining image data from the mediation server 200 by going to the front of the printer (corresponding to T110 and T210 (FIG. 6)). However, in the first to third embodiments, the user can print any printer as long as it is a printer associated with the user. In other words, in the above first to third embodiments, even when the user does not remember the correspondence between the printer name and the printer body, it mediates for any one of the plurality of printers associated with the user. By inputting an instruction to acquire image data from the server 200, a desired image can be printed.

(Correspondence)
The PC 100 is an example of a “terminal device”. The mediation server 200 is an example of a “mediation device”. The printer 300 is an example of a “first printing apparatus” and a “printing apparatus”. The printer 400 is an example of a “second printing apparatus” and “another printing apparatus”.

  The image data img1 is an example of “first target data”, and the image data img2 is an example of “second target data”. The print data img1 is an example of “first image data”, and the print data img2 is an example of “second image data”. The device ID dv1 is an example of “first device information”, and the device ID dv2 is an example of “second device information”. The data address iURL1 is an example of “first position information”, and the data address iURL2 is an example of “second position information”. The PIN code pin1 included in the ticket tc1 is an example of “specific information” and “first authentication information”, and the PIN code pin1 included in the ticket tc2 is an example of “second authentication information”. The PIN code pin1 input at T110 in FIG. 5 and T210 in FIG. 6 is an example of “input authentication information”.

  The print execution unit 350 is an example of a “printing unit”. The operation unit 330 and the display unit 340 are examples of the “input unit”. The memory 224 is an example of a “mediation device side memory”. The memory 324 is an example of a “printer side memory”.

  T72 in FIG. 3 and T72B in FIG. 4 are examples of processing executed by the “target data transmitting unit” and the “target data receiving unit”. T32 and 32B in FIG. 2 are an example of processing executed by the “first storage control unit”. T113 in FIG. 5, T313 in FIG. 7, and T413 and T421 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “specifying unit”. T114 in FIG. 6, T314 in FIG. 7, and T422 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “position information transmitting unit”.

  T80 in FIG. 3 and T114 in FIG. 5 are examples of processing executed by the “first position information receiving unit”. T88 and T92 in FIG. 4, T130 and T134 in FIG. 5, and T222 and T226 in FIG. 6 are examples of processing executed by the “first acquisition unit”. T94 in FIG. 4, T136 in FIG. 5, and T228 in FIG. 6 are examples of processing executed by the “first print control unit”. T110 in FIG. 5 and T210 in FIG. 6 are examples of processing executed by the “instruction receiving unit” and the “input receiving unit”. T114 in FIG. 5, T314 in FIG. 7, and T422 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “second position information receiving unit”. T130 and T134 in FIG. 5, T328 and T332 in FIG. 7, and T434 and T438 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “second acquisition unit”. T334 in FIG. 7 and T440 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “second print control unit”.

  T78 in FIG. 3 is an example of a process executed by the “position request transmission unit”. T100 in FIG. 4 is an example of processing executed by the “second storage control unit” and the “third storage control unit”. T412 in FIG. 8 is an example of processing executed by the “device request transmission unit”. T414 in FIG. 8 is an example of processing executed by the “device information receiving unit”. T418 in FIG. 8 is an example of processing executed by the “device information extraction unit”.

  T122 of FIG. 5, T310 of FIG. 7, and T410 of FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “determination unit”. T82 in FIG. 3 and T124 in FIG. 5 are examples of processing executed by the “first authentication request transmission unit”. T84 in FIG. 3 and T126 in FIG. 5 are examples of processing executed by the “first authentication information receiving unit”. T124 in FIG. 5, T322 in FIG. 7, and T428 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “second authentication request transmitting unit”. T126 in FIG. 5, T324 in FIG. 7, and T430 in FIG. 8 are examples of processing executed by the “second authentication information receiving unit”.

  As mentioned above, although the specific example of this invention was demonstrated in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

(Modification 1)
In the first to third embodiments, the mediation server 200 converts the image data img1 and img2 received from the PC 100 into the print data img1 and img2 respectively at T90 to 92 in FIG. Yes. However, instead, the mediation server 200 transmits the image data img1 and img2 received from the PC 100 to the printer 300 without conversion, and the printer 300 converts the image data img1 and img2 into print data img1 and img2 respectively. Also good. In this case, the image data img1 is an example of “first target data” and “first image data”, and the image data img2 is an example of “second target data” and “second image data”. is there.

(Modification 2)
In the first to third embodiments, the printer 300 changes “ON” and “OFF” of the other job setting st in accordance with the operation of the display unit 340 and the operation unit 330 by the user. However, instead, the printer 300 may change the other job setting st in response to an operation of a change screen displayed on the display unit 140 of the PC 100. In this case, the printer 300 functions as a web server and stores change screen data that is web page data having an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format. The printer 300 transmits the change screen data to the PC 100 and causes the display unit 140 of the PC 100 to display the change screen indicated by the change screen data. When the other job setting st is changed on the change screen displayed on the display unit 140 of the PC 100 by the user, the PC 100 notifies the printer 300 of the change. The printer 300 changes the other job setting st from “ON” to “OFF” or from “OFF” to “ON” according to the notified information.

(Modification 3)
In the first to third embodiments, the printer 300 displays the print data of the PIN code that matches the input PIN code at T136 in FIG. 5, T228 in FIG. 6, T334 in FIG. 7, and T440 in FIG. Print all images that will be printed. However, instead of this, the printer 300 may print only the image represented by the print data selected by the user among the print data with the same PIN code. Specifically, the printer 300 of the first embodiment gives a flag as a matching job when the PIN codes match at T128 in FIG. 5 (YES at T128). The printer 300 proceeds to T142 without executing the processing of T130 to T140. In other words, the printer 300 determines whether or not the PIN codes match for all jobs included in the job list first, and displays a screen for accepting selection of a job to be executed among the matching jobs to which the flag is given. . The printer 300 collectively collects print data corresponding to the selected job from the mediation server 200 and prints an image. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

  In addition, the printer 300 may display a list screen of print data stored in the mediation server 200 and perform printing according to the print data selected by the user on the list screen. Specifically, the printer 300 accepts an instruction to execute secure printing instead of accepting the input of the PIN code in T110. Upon receiving a print execution instruction, the printer 300 acquires a job list from T112 to T114, and acquires a ticket from T124 to 126. The printer 300 displays a list screen that includes information included in the ticket and can identify print data (for example, a print data file name), and accepts a selection from the user. When print data is selected by the user, the printer 300 displays a reception screen that accepts input of a PIN code corresponding to the selected print data. When a plurality of print data is selected, a reception screen that allows a plurality of PIN codes to be input is displayed. When the PIN code is input on the reception screen, the printer 300 determines whether the PIN code matches at T128, and prints an image according to the print data corresponding to the PIN code. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

  In general, when the input authentication information matches the first authentication information, the first print control unit causes the printing unit to print the first image, and when the input authentication information matches the second authentication information, the second print information The print control unit may cause the printing unit to print the second image.

(Modification 4)
In the above first to third embodiments, the printer 300 determines whether or not to perform accumulated printing (secure printing) depending on whether or not the PIN code is included in the ticket received from the PC 100 at T86 in FIG. Yes. However, instead, the printer 300 may determine whether or not to store and print according to information other than the PIN code. Specifically, the PC 100 selects, at T68 in FIG. 3, a check box for inputting an instruction to cause the printer 300 to print a desired image by storage printing instead of a text box for inputting a PIN code. The screen SC3 is displayed. When the check box is checked in T70, the PC 100 transmits a print execution request including a storage print instruction to the mediation server 200 in T72. The mediation server 200 stores the print conditions and the storage included in the print execution request. The print instruction is stored as a ticket. In T86, the printer 300 determines whether or not an accumulation print instruction is included in the ticket, and if included, the storage process is terminated without printing the corresponding image. In the printing process, the printer 300 prints all images selected by the user without determining whether the PIN codes match. That is, the printer 300 does not execute T128 in FIG. 5, T220 in FIG. 6, T326 in FIG. 7, and T432 in FIG. In general, the first print control unit causes the printing unit to print the first image regardless of whether or not the input password information matches the first authentication information, and the second print control unit Regardless of whether the information matches the second authentication information, the second image may be printed on the printing unit.

(Modification 5)
In the first to third embodiments described above, the mediation server 200 responds by receiving a completion notification indicating that printing of the image represented by the print data is completed from the printer 300 in T140 of FIG. The job, ticket, and image data to be deleted are deleted. However, instead, the mediation server 200 does not have to delete the corresponding job, ticket, and image data even if it receives the completion notification. Thereby, for example, in the mediation server 200, the printer 400 also acquires the image data img2 stored in association with the device ID dv2 that identifies the printer 400, and the printer 400 can also print the image represented by the image data img2. it can. That is, the “image to be printed by the printing apparatus” is an image represented by image data stored by designating a printer scheduled to be printed (that is, selecting a printer at T62 and T62B). However, the image is not necessarily printed by the printer. Therefore, the image represented by the stored image data may be printed by a printer different from the printer scheduled to execute printing, or may be printed by the printer scheduled to execute printing.

(Modification 6)
In the processes of the first to third embodiments, the CPU 122 of the PC 100, the CPU 222 of the mediation server 200, and the CPU 322 of the printer 300 execute processes according to software (that is, programs 126, 226, and 326). However, instead, it may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

100: PC, 200: Mediation server, 300, 400: Printer, u1, u2: User information, us1, us2: User ID, p1, p2, p3: Printer information, pr1, pr2, pr3: Printer name, dv1, dv2 , Dv3: device ID, tk1, tk2,. tk3: token, jb1, jb2, jb3, jb4: job ID, img1, img2, img3, img4: image data, tc1, tc2, tc3, tc4: ticket, pin1, pin2, pin3: PIN code, iURL1, iURL2, iURL3 , IURL4: data address, tURL1, tURL2, tURL3, tURL4: ticket address, st: other job setting

Claims (16)

A printing system comprising an intermediary device, a terminal device, a first printing device, and a second printing device,
The terminal device
A first object data representing a first image to be printed by the first printing device is transmitted to the mediating device; a second representing a second image to be printed by the second printing device; A target data transmission unit that transmits target data to the mediation device;
The intermediary device is:
An intermediary device side memory;
A target data receiving unit that receives the first target data and the second target data from the terminal device;
First device information for identifying the first printing apparatus, second device information for identifying the second printing apparatus, and a first position indicating a position where the first target data is stored. 1 is a first storage control unit that stores, in the intermediary device-side memory, position information of 1 and second position information indicating a position where the second target data is stored. The device information and the second device information are stored in the intermediary device memory in association with user information for identifying the user, and the first position information corresponds to the first device information. In addition, the first storage control unit, which is stored in the intermediary device side memory, and the second position information is stored in the intermediary device side memory in association with the second device information;
The user information corresponding to the first device information is specified in response to receiving a predetermined information request for causing the mediation device to transmit position information from the first printing device, and the specified user information A specifying unit that specifies the second device information corresponding to user information and specifies the second position information corresponding to the second device information;
A position information transmitting unit that transmits the specified second position information to the first printing apparatus;
With
The first printing apparatus includes:
A printing section;
A first position information receiving unit that receives the first position information from the intermediary device;
A first acquisition unit that acquires first image data based on the first target data from the mediation device using the first position information;
A first printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print the first image according to the acquired first image data;
An instruction receiving unit for receiving an instruction to print an image represented by image data stored in the mediating device from the user;
A predetermined request transmitting unit that transmits the predetermined information request to the mediating device when receiving the print instruction;
A second location information receiving unit that receives the second location information from the mediation device in response to transmitting the predetermined information request;
A second acquisition unit that acquires second image data based on the second target data from the mediation device using the second position information;
A second printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print the second image to be printed by the second printing device according to the acquired second image data;
A printing system comprising: A printing device capable of communicating with an intermediary device,
A printing section;
A first position information receiving unit that receives first position information indicating a position where first target data is stored from the mediation apparatus, wherein the first position information identifies the printing apparatus. The first position, which is stored in the intermediary device in association with first device information, and the first target data is data representing a first image to be printed by the printing device. An information receiver;
A first acquisition unit that acquires first image data based on the first target data from the mediation device using the first position information;
A first printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print the first image according to the acquired first image data;
An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to print an image represented by the image data stored in the mediating device;
A predetermined request transmission unit configured to transmit a predetermined information request for causing the mediation device to transmit position information to the mediation device when receiving the print instruction, wherein the predetermined information request is transmitted to the mediation device; User information for identifying a user, specifying the user information stored in the mediating device in association with the first device information, and instructing the mediating device in association with the specified user information. The second device information stored is specified, the second position information stored in the mediating apparatus is specified in association with the specified second device information, and the specified second device information is specified. The predetermined request transmission unit, which is a request for transmitting the position information of 2 to the printing apparatus;
A second position information receiving unit that receives the second position information indicating a position where second target data is stored from the intermediary device in response to transmitting the predetermined information request; The second position information is stored in the intermediary device in association with second device information for identifying another printing device different from the printing device, and the second target data is the other printing information. The second position information receiving unit, which is data representing a second image to be printed by the apparatus;
A second acquisition unit that acquires second image data based on the second target data from the mediation device using the second position information;
A second print control unit that causes the printing unit to print the second image to be printed by the second printing device according to the acquired second image data;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The predetermined request transmission unit transmits the predetermined information request to the mediation device by communicating with the mediation device using a token stored in the mediation device in association with the first device information. ,
The printing apparatus, wherein the predetermined information request is a request for causing the mediation apparatus to specify the user information stored in association with the first device information corresponding to the token. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
The predetermined information request is further transmitted to the mediation device.
Identifying the first device information stored in association with the identified user information;
Identifying the first location information corresponding to the identified first device information;
A request for transmitting the identified first position information to the printing apparatus;
The printing apparatus, wherein the first position information receiving unit receives the first position information from the mediation apparatus in response to transmitting the predetermined information request. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
Printing device side memory;
After the first image data is stored in the mediation device, a location request transmission unit that transmits a location information request for causing the mediation device to transmit the first location information to the mediation device; With
The first location information receiving unit receives the first location information from the mediation device in response to the location information request,
The printing apparatus further includes a second storage control unit that stores the received first position information in the printing apparatus side memory,
The printing apparatus, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires the first image data using the first position information stored in the printing apparatus side memory. The printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The second location information receiving unit further includes the first location information, the first device information associated with the first location information, and the first location information associated with the second location information. 2 device information, and
further,
Corresponding to the second device information for identifying the other printing apparatus without extracting the first position information associated with the first device information for identifying the printing apparatus from the received positional information A position information extraction unit for extracting the second position information to be attached;
The printing apparatus, wherein the second acquisition unit acquires the second image data based on the extracted second position information. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
A device request transmission unit for transmitting a device information request for causing the mediation device to transmit device information associated with the user information to the mediation device;
A device information receiving unit that receives the first device information and the second device information associated with the user information from the mediation device in response to transmitting the device information request;
A device information extraction unit that extracts the second device information that identifies the other device different from the printing apparatus without extracting the first device information that identifies the printing apparatus from the received device information. And comprising
The predetermined request transmission unit does not include a request for position information associated with the first device information that has not been extracted, and requests for position information associated with the extracted second device information. Including sending the predetermined information request,
The second position information receiving unit does not receive the first position information associated with the first device information, and the second position information associated with the second device information. A printing device that receives information. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The predetermined request transmission unit transmits the predetermined information request after the first image is printed by the first print control unit. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, further comprising:
A determination unit that determines whether or not the printing unit is allowed to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing apparatus;
The second print control unit
If the printing unit is allowed to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing device, the second image is printed on the printing unit;
A print control unit that does not cause the printing unit to print the second image when the printing unit is not allowed to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
The second print control unit
When it is permitted to cause the printing unit to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing device, the second acquisition unit causes the second image to be printed from the mediation device. By acquiring data, the second image is printed on the printing unit,
When the printing unit is not allowed to print an image represented by image data to be printed by the other printing device, the second acquisition unit causes the second image to be printed from the mediation device. A printing apparatus that does not cause the printing unit to print the second image by not acquiring data. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9,
The first print control unit causes the printing unit to print the first image in response to the first acquisition unit acquiring the first image data from the mediation device,
The second acquisition unit acquires the second image data from the mediation apparatus after the first image is printed by the printing unit,
The second printing control unit causes the printing unit to print the second image in response to the second obtaining unit obtaining the second image data from the intermediary device. . The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
After the first image data is stored in the mediation device, the first image is an image to be printed from the mediation device in response to the print instruction being received by the instruction receiving unit. A specific request transmitting unit for transmitting a specific information request for receiving the specific information indicating to the intermediary device;
A specific information receiving unit that receives the specific information from the mediation device in response to transmitting the specific information request when the specific information is stored in the mediation device;
The first acquisition unit includes:
When the specific information is not received, the first image is received using the first position information received by the first position information receiving unit without receiving the print instruction at the instruction receiving unit. Get the data,
When the specific information is received, the instruction receiving unit receives the print instruction and then uses the first position information received by the first position information receiving unit. A printing device that acquires image data. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 12, further comprising:
An input section;
An input receiving unit that receives input of input authentication information from the user to the input unit;
After the first image data is stored in the mediation device, a first authentication information request for causing the mediation device to transmit first authentication information for causing the printing unit to print the first image. A first authentication request transmission unit that transmits a message to the mediation device;
A first authentication information receiving unit that receives the first authentication information from the intermediary device in response to transmitting the first authentication information request;
After the second image data is stored in the mediation device, a second authentication information request for causing the mediation device to transmit second authentication information for causing the printing unit to print the second image. A second authentication request transmission unit for transmitting to the intermediary device;
A second authentication information receiving unit that receives the second authentication information from the intermediary device in response to transmitting the second authentication information request,
The first print control unit causes the printing unit to print the first image when the input authentication information matches the first authentication information, and the input authentication information includes the first authentication information and the first authentication information. If the first image does not match, the first image is not printed on the printing unit,
The second print control unit causes the printing unit to print the second image when the input authentication information matches the second authentication information, and the input authentication information is the second authentication information. A printing apparatus that does not cause the printing unit to print the second image when they do not match. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:
Printing device side memory;
A third storage control unit that stores the first authentication information in the printing device side memory in response to the first authentication information being received by the first authentication information receiving unit;
The second authentication request transmission unit does not request the first authentication information stored in the printing device side memory from the mediating device in response to receiving the printing instruction, and the printing device side Requesting said second authentication information not stored in memory;
The second authentication information receiving unit receives the second authentication information without receiving the first authentication information from the intermediary device,
The first print control unit causes the printing unit to print the first image when the input authentication information matches the first authentication information stored in the printing apparatus side memory,
The second print control unit causes the printing unit to print the second image when the input authentication information matches the second authentication information received by the second authentication information receiving unit. , Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 13 or 14,
The print control unit
After the input authentication information matches the first authentication information, after the first image is printed on the printing unit, the input receiving unit does not receive the input from the user again, A printing apparatus that causes the printing unit to print the second image in response to the input authentication information matching the second authentication information. A printing apparatus that can communicate with the mediation apparatus and includes a printing unit.
In the first position information receiving process for receiving first position information indicating a position where the first target data is stored from the mediation apparatus, the first position information identifies the printing apparatus. The first position, which is stored in the intermediary device in association with first device information, and the first target data is data representing a first image to be printed by the printing device. Information reception processing;
A first acquisition process for acquiring the first image data from the mediation device using the first position information;
A first printing control process for causing the printing unit to print the first image according to the acquired first image data;
An instruction receiving process for receiving an instruction to print an image represented by the image data stored in the mediating apparatus;
A predetermined request transmission process for transmitting a predetermined information request for causing the mediation device to transmit position information to the mediation device when accepting the print instruction, wherein the predetermined information request is transmitted to the mediation device; User information for identifying a user, specifying the user information stored in the mediating device in association with the first device information, and instructing the mediating device in association with the specified user information. The second device information stored is specified, the second position information stored in the mediating apparatus is specified in association with the specified second device information, and the specified second device information is specified. The predetermined request transmission process, which is a request for transmitting the position information of 2 to the printing apparatus;
A second position information receiving process for receiving the second position information indicating the position where the second target data is stored from the mediation device in response to transmitting the predetermined information request; The second position information is stored in the intermediary device in association with second device information for identifying another printing device different from the printing device, and the second target data is the other printing information. The second position information receiving process, which is data representing a second image to be printed by the apparatus;
A second acquisition process for acquiring second image data based on the second target data from the mediation device using the second position information;
A second print control process for causing the printing unit to print the second image to be printed by the second printing apparatus according to the acquired second image data;
A computer program that executes

Images