JP3419404B2 - A system that mediates printing on a network - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique of intermediating between a client connected to a network and a printing device to realize printing between them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various printers have been used as output devices of computers. The printer is connected to the computer on a one-to-one basis (hereinafter referred to as "local connection"), receives data from the computer and prints. A mode in which a printer is connected to a LAN (local area network) and shared by a plurality of computers connected to the same LAN is also widespread.

Furthermore, IPP (Internet Printing Prot)
It has become possible to print between any clients and printing devices connected to the Internet by using the protocol called "ocol". However, the output destination is limited to the printing device whose URI (Uniform Resource Indicator) is known.

In any of the above-mentioned modes, conventionally,
The connection state between the printer and the computer is usually predetermined. In other words, conventionally, printing has usually been done in a fixed place for each computer owner.

[0005]

In recent years, the portability of terminals such as laptop computers and mobile phones that access the Internet has improved, and it has become possible to access information anywhere. Based on this tendency, there has been a demand for a technique capable of easily performing printing from a portable terminal regardless of location. For example, there has been a demand for a technology that can immediately perform printing by using a nearest printing device as soon as information is acquired. Since the printing in which the output destination can be freely selected on the network as described above greatly improves the convenience of the printing apparatus, it is desired to realize the printing not only from the portable terminal.

In order to be able to freely select the output destination on the network, there are various practical problems. Normal,
The print data is converted by the printer driver into printer-specific print control data (hereinafter referred to as “row data”) and supplied to the printer. In order to increase the degree of freedom when selecting a printing device, it is necessary to ensure the versatility of the print data supplied to the printing device.

The present invention solves these problems and provides a technique for realizing printing with a high degree of freedom regarding selection of print contents and output destination between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus. To aim.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print mediation method for mediating between a plurality of clients connected to a network and a plurality of printing devices to realize printing between them. a) receiving a print request from the client, the print request including print data and output destination designation information for designating the printing device as an output destination; and (b) the print data in a general format that does not depend on a model of the printing device. The step of converting
And (c) mediating the converted print data to the designated printing apparatus. These steps are executed by the print mediation server connected to the network. Distributed processing may be performed by a plurality of servers.
Each printing device can generate and print row data unique to the printing device based on the general-purpose format. Therefore, a wide variety of printing devices can be included in the selectable output destinations. Since the client does not have to have the conversion function to raw data, convenience can be improved.

As a general format, for example, PDF
Formats can be used. In addition, a page description language such as Postscript (registered trademark) can be used. The use of these formats has the advantage that the layout of the printed matter can be maintained relatively easily. Further, with these formats, almost all print data can be converted, so that the present invention can be applied to a wide range of print data.

The print mediation method of the present invention preferably comprises a step of confirming the operating status of the printing apparatus designated via the network. When the printing device is not operating, it is possible to stop printing or recommend the use of another printing device.

The present invention can be configured in various forms such as a print mediation server that realizes the above-described print mediation method, a program that realizes the print mediation method or various signals that can be regarded as the same, and a recording medium recording the program. Is. Here, as the recording medium, a flexible disk or a CD-
ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punched cards, printed materials on which codes such as bar codes are printed, and internal storage devices of computers (RAM and RO
Various computer-readable media such as a memory such as M) and an external storage device can be used.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples by dividing the following items. A. System configuration: B. Functional block: B1. Modification of functional block: C. Print execution example: C1. Aspect 1 Printing of E-mail: C2. Aspect 2 Web page printing:

A. System Configuration: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a print mediation system. This is a system for printing by flexibly selecting an output destination via the Internet. The Internet INT includes a server SVA that provides contents such as Web pages, a server SV that constructs a print mediation system, printers PRT1 and PRT2,
The client computer CC1 and the like are connected. These devices can exchange information via a network. Here, for convenience of explanation and illustration, only a few devices are shown, but as is well known, an infinite number of servers, printers, and clients are connected to the Internet. The Internet INT can also be accessed from the mobile phone CP.
The mobile phone CP that can access the Internet can have almost the same functions as the client computer.

The server SV is configured to function as a print mediation system in this embodiment. Server S
As described below, the V manages the information of the client and the printer registered in advance, and prints by mediating the print request between them.

Client computers CC1 and CC2
When a user designates any one of the printers PRT1 and PRT2 on the network and issues a print request from the mobile phone CP, the print request is temporarily transmitted to the server SV. The server SV confirms and sets the operation status of the designated printer, and confirms whether or not the user has the authority to access the printer. The server SV converts the print data designated by the client into a general format that can be printed by any printer. In this embodiment, PDF is used as a general-purpose format.
Was used. When the data in PDF format is transmitted from the server SV to the printer, the printer driver prepared on the printer side converts the control data into printer-specific control data and prints.

In the following embodiments, basically, most of the functions of the mediation system are provided by the server SV, but they may be constructed by a distributed processing system. Further, the application of the embodiment is not limited to the Internet, and can be applied as it is to a relatively limited network such as a LAN or so-called personal computer communication. From this point of view, in the following description, the Internet, LAN, etc. are collectively referred to as "network".

B. Functional Block: FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of the intermediary system. Brokerage system 200
Is constructed as software in the server SV.
FIG. 2 also shows the printer control unit 250 and the client 5. When the printer is directly connected to the network, the printer control unit 250 is a functional block configured as software in a microcomputer incorporated in each printer. When the printer is locally connected to the computer connected to the network, it is possible to construct the printer control unit 250 in this computer by software.

The printer control unit 250 comprises a logical printer management unit 252, a physical printer management unit 254, a data conversion unit 256, and a security module 251. The logical printer management unit 252 is a printer as a unit that handles print jobs. For example, in the case of distributed printing of one document by two printers, these two printers are combined to form one logical printer.

The physical printer management unit 254 has a function of managing the operating state of each printer, for example, toner, remaining amount of paper, and the like. The physical printer management unit 254 is provided for each printer as a machine, regardless of the configuration of the logical printer.

The data conversion unit 256 corresponds to the function of the printer driver. It has a function of converting data received from the intermediary system 200 into control data unique to the printer to be controlled, that is, data representing ON / OFF of dots in each pixel. Security module 251
Has functions such as data encryption and transmission / reception authentication for avoiding unauthorized access to the printer control unit 250.

The intermediary system 200 is roughly composed of a standard function unit 210, an application unit 220, a billing unit 240, and a security module 201. The standard function unit 210 provides a main function of realizing printing via the intermediary system 200. The standard function unit 210 includes a data conversion unit 212, a status management unit 214, a job control unit 216, a directory service 218, and an API.
It has an (Application Programming Interface) 211 and a security module 202. The functions of the security modules 201 and 202 are the printer control unit 2
This is the same as the security module 251 of 50.

The data conversion unit 212 has a function of converting the print data designated by the client 5 into a general-purpose format that does not depend on the printer model. In this embodiment, PDF is used. The general-purpose format is not limited to PDF, and any format that can be handled by all printers that are output destinations may be used. Multiple types of general-purpose formats may be used together. However, PDF
Has the advantage that the page layout of a document is easy to maintain, and that almost all documents can be converted to PDF.

The status management unit 214 has a function of monitoring the operating state of the printer. The operating state refers to the state of each printer involved in printing such as the remaining amount of ink or toner, the remaining amount of printing paper, and the like. The management target is a physical printer. The status management unit 214 manages these by communicating with the physical printer management unit 254.

The job control unit 216 has a function of managing print jobs output to the printer control unit 250. As described above, the printer as the output destination can be arbitrarily specified on the network. According to this designation, the job control unit 216 sends the print job to each output destination and manages the history thereof. When an instruction to cancel a print job or change a print mode is issued during printing, the printer that has transmitted the job corresponding to the instruction is specified and the instruction is output to the printer. It is common to the so-called spooler function in that it controls the execution of print jobs, but it differs from the spooler in that it also controls the transmitted print data instead of controlling the stored print data.

The directory service 218 has a function of managing information that specifies a user who can use the intermediation system 200 and a printer that can output it. The information about the user includes an identification number uniquely given to the user, a usage password, information about a billing destination, and the like. The information about the printer includes information required for communication with the printer. For example, it includes information that identifies the printer on the network, such as a URI or IP address. Also,
It also includes information about how to connect the printer to the network, such as leased lines and dial-up connections.

The application section 220 is a functional block for providing various functions for improving user convenience. For example, it provides a function of displaying a screen for specifying the content to be printed and the printer of the output destination on the client 5. The display screen differs depending on whether the client 5 is a computer or a mobile phone. The application unit 220 is a functional block that is individually prepared according to the type of client and the content to be printed.

API (Application Programming Interf
An ace) 211 is an interface that mediates between the application unit 220 and the standard function unit 210. It plays the role of passing the data of the individually prepared application section 220 to the standard function section 210 in a predetermined format. AP
By interposing I211, it is possible to prepare a variety of application units 220 for each intermediary system while applying a common module to the standard function unit 210.

The billing unit 240 performs billing processing at the time of printing using the intermediary system 200. It is a functional block that is individually prepared according to the type of the client 5.

B1. Modified Example of Functional Block: The functional block of the intermediary system is not limited to the configuration of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the functional blocks of the mediation system 1.

The intermediary system 1 of the modified example includes a basic function block 10, a basic service block 20, a printing service 30, a relation service 50,
Each functional block of a navigation service 40, a directory service block 60, an authentication service block 70, and a billing service block 80 is provided. "S" in the figure indicates a security system. The printing site control service 100 corresponds to the printer control unit 250 shown in FIG.

The basic function block 10, the directory service block 60, and the authentication service block 70 correspond to the standard function unit 210 in FIG. The basic function block 10 is composed of modules that provide data conversion, status management, and job control functions. The authentication service block 70 has a function of determining whether or not there is an access right to each printer.

The basic service block 20, printing service 30, relation service 50, and navigation service 40 correspond to the application section 220 in FIG. The basic service block 20 functions as an input / output interface when the client 5 accesses the intermediary system 1, especially the basic function block 10. Although not shown, the basic service block 20 includes a registration service,
Three detailed function blocks of a basic printing service and a status service are prepared, and these detailed function blocks realize the above-mentioned functions.

A functional block called a registration service mainly registers and manages the printer 110 and the content service involved in printing using the intermediary system.

The basic printing service is
This is a part that performs the function corresponding to the interface when actually executing printing. Basic function block 1
It has a function of controlling each module of 0 data conversion, status management, and job control to execute printing.

The status service acquires and manages status information for maintenance management of the printer 110 which is the output destination. For example, information about consumables such as toner and printing paper of the printer 110 and information about updating replacement parts such as drums are acquired and managed, and output as necessary.

Printing service block 30
Has a function of providing advanced printing using the intermediary system 1. For example, the print data is output to a plurality of pre-registered printers at a certain time, and advanced print control that cannot be realized only by the basic function block 10 and the basic service block 20 is provided.

The relation service 50 has a function of acquiring and recording the printing status performed via the intermediary system and providing statistical data that can be utilized. By utilizing the statistical data obtained in this way, for example, it is possible to grasp the difference in the operating ratio of each printer and utilize it for maintenance management of the printer.

The navigation service block 40 is
It has a function of providing the user with information that helps the user to use the intermediary system 1. It corresponds to the help function in the mediation system 1. For example, it is possible to provide information on a printing execution method using the intermediary system 1, a list of available printers and content services, and the like.

C. Print execution example: C1. Mode 1 E-mail printing: FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how an e-mail is printed using the intermediary system. The case where the user prints the e-mail addressed to himself by the operation from the mobile phone CP is illustrated. It is assumed that the printer is installed in a public place such as a store or hotel. It is also possible to use a computer as a client.

When printing an e-mail, the mobile phone CP,
Printer PRT, mediation system PS, mail service R
M and mail server MS intervene. Each of these elements is
It is connected to the network and can exchange data with each other.

The printer PRT as the output destination is registered in advance in the intermediary system PS and is given a unique identification number by the intermediary service. In the example of FIG. 4, the printer PR
The identification number of T is “1111”. This identification number
It is a code that is set irrespective of the information that specifies the printer PRT on the network, such as the IP address and the URI. Since the IP address, URI, etc. of the printer PRT are kept secret from the user, it is possible to avoid unauthorized access.

The intermediary system PS and the mail service RM may be provided by different companies. Both need only be associated in advance. The mail service RM is
As part of the service provided, it provides the functions required for printing using the intermediary system PS.

A method of executing the printing of the electronic mail will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the first half of the print sequence of the electronic mail.
7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the interface.

First, the user accesses the mail service RM from the mobile phone CP (communication Cm1 in FIG. 4).
The mail service RM accesses the mail server MS that stores electronic mail, and displays items such as the sender and subject of the electronic mail addressed to the user on the mobile phone (communication Cm2 in FIG. 4). The user selects an electronic mail to be printed from the displayed subject list and sends it to the mail service RM (see step st1 in FIG. 5).

On the left side of FIG. 7, there is shown an interface example for selecting an electronic mail. An e-mail list is displayed with check boxes on the display unit DISP of the mobile phone CP. In this example, it is displayed that four mails of Mail1 ... Mail4 have arrived. The user operates the cursor keys of the mobile phone CP to put a check mark in the check box of the email requesting printing. Here, the case where a check mark is attached to two of Mail 2 and Mail 4 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 7, a “print” button is also displayed on the electronic mail list display. The user can send the selection result of the mail to the mail service RM by putting a check mark on the electronic mail requesting printing, moving the cursor to the “print” button, and pressing this button. The interface is merely an example, and various interfaces that realize two functions, that is, a function of selecting an electronic mail to be printed and a function of confirming a selection result and transmitting it to the mail service RM are applicable.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mail service RM is
Upon receiving the selection result of the mail, the communication Cm shown in FIG.
In step 2, the mail server MS is accessed to obtain the body data of the selected electronic mail (steps st2 and st3 in FIG. 5).

Next, the mail service RM transfers the data of the electronic mail to be printed to the intermediary system PS by the communication Cm3 in FIG. 4 (step st4 in FIG. 5).
Based on the information such as the amount of print data, the intermediary system PS roughly estimates the number of pages to be printed, the cost, the required time, etc., and returns it as simple print prediction information to the mail service RM (step st5 in FIG. 5).

The mail service RM is an intermediary system PS
The simple print prediction information received from is displayed on the mobile phone CP (step st6 in FIG. 5). A display example of the simple print prediction information is shown on the right side of FIG. 7. Here, the case where the print page, the cost, and the required time are displayed for each e-mail designated by the user is illustrated.

To execute printing, the user gives an instruction to start printing (step st7 in FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 7, the display unit DISP together with the simple print prediction information
"Execution" button is displayed in, and the execution instruction can be performed by moving the cursor here and pressing this button.

The execution instruction given by the user is transmitted to the intermediary system PS via the mail service RM by the communications Cm1 and Cm3 in FIG. 4 (step s in FIG. 5).
t7). At the same time, the print data, that is, the body of the electronic mail and the attached file are transmitted from the mail service RM to the intermediary system PS. By this instruction, the mail service RM completes the communication with the mobile phone CP. The subsequent communication is performed between the communication Cm4 in FIG. 4, that is, between the mobile phone CP and the intermediary system PS.

Upon receiving the print start instruction, the intermediary system PS displays a standard menu for printing on the mobile phone CP (step st8 in FIG. 5). An example of the standard menu is shown on the left side of FIG. In the standard menu, printing-related conditions such as the content to be printed, the number of copies to be printed, and the printer as the output destination can be specified. "Printer N
o. Box is displayed for inputting the identification number attached to the output destination printer. In the box IP, the identification number “1111” attached to the output destination printer PRT is input. The user
When the "Send" button is pressed, the printer identification number is transmitted to the intermediary system PS by the communication Cm4 in FIG. 4, and the output printer can be designated (step s in FIG. 5).
t9).

In the intermediary system PS, the identification number of the printer PRT and the IP address or URI are registered in association with each other. This attribute information is managed by the directory service 218 described above with reference to FIG. The intermediary system PS acquires the operating status of the designated printer PRT, and when it determines that printing is possible, calculates detailed print prediction information when printing is performed under the designated printing conditions, and in FIG. Mobile phone C using communication Cm4
The contents are displayed on P (step st10 in FIG. 5).

The user confirms the displayed print prediction information and then instructs the execution of printing (step st in FIG. 6).
11). In this embodiment, the execution of printing is instructed by inputting the password unique to the user. Figure 8
An interface for entering a password is illustrated in the center of. As shown in the figure, the cost as detailed print prediction information,
After the required time is displayed, a box for entering the password is displayed. The user inputs his / her own password and presses the send button.
Send data to.

The user password is registered and managed in advance by the directory service 218. When the intermediary system PS refers to this information and confirms that the password is authentic and has the access authority to the instructed printer PRT, the intermediary system PS displays a print start screen on the mobile phone CP ( Step st1 in FIG.
2). At the same time, the intermediary system PS uses the communication Cm5 shown in FIG.
Predetermined banner data prepared in PDF format, that is, advertisement data is transmitted to the RT. On the printer PRT side,
Advertising data in PDF format is converted into raw data and printing is performed (step st13 in FIG. 6). At the same time, the intermediary system PS displays on the mobile phone CP a message prompting confirmation of whether the banner page has been printed (FIG. 6).
Step st14). A display example is shown on the right side of FIG.

The user confirms that the banner has been printed and presses the "OK" button shown in FIG. 8 (step st
15). When the intermediary system PS confirms this input,
The electronic mail data received and accumulated from the mail service RM is converted into a PDF format which is a general format, and then transmitted to the output destination printer PRT by the communication Cm5 in FIG. 4 (step in FIG. 6). st16). P
The DF format data is converted into raw data on the printer PRT side and printed. When the printing of the electronic mail is completed, the mediation system PS outputs the charge data required for the printing to the charging destination, and ends the series of processes (step st17 in FIG. 6).

In the above sequence, the display of print prediction information and banner printing may be omitted. The process of converting an e-mail to PDF format is performed by the intermediary system P.
It may be executed at any timing from when the S receives the data to when it outputs the data to the printer PRT.

C2. Aspect 2 Web page printing: FIG. 9
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of printing a web page.
The case where the user prints the Web page being browsed on the portable computer PC has been illustrated. The printer that is the output destination is assumed to be installed in a public place.

In mode 2, the computer PC, the printer PRT, the intermediary system PS, and the Web server WS that provides the data of the Web page being browsed are present. Each of these elements is connected to the network and can exchange data with each other.

The user uses the communication Cm21 shown in FIG.
Data can be downloaded from the Web server WS to the computer PC and the Web page can be browsed by the browser. If the user wants to print a web page,
The URL of the intermediary system PS is input to the browser to access the web page of the intermediary system.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page provided by the mediation system. It corresponds to the interface for specifying the printing conditions. The user wants to print the We
The content is specified by inputting the URL of page b in the print data box.

The "net print mediation site" is also provided with an input box for designating a printer as an output destination. The identification number of the printer is entered here, as in the case of the first aspect.

When the "print start" button is clicked after designating the printing conditions including the output destination, the printing conditions designated by the user are transmitted to the intermediary system PS by the communication Cm23 in FIG. Based on the URL included in the print data, the intermediation system PS accesses the Web server WS by communication Cm22 in FIG.
Get page b data. This function is provided by the application unit 220 of the mediation system. The subsequent sequence is similar to that of the first aspect. In the second aspect, the print instruction from the computer PC has been described as an example, but a mobile phone may be used as the client.

According to the intermediary system described above, printing between the client and the printer on the Internet can be realized without knowing the URI or IP address of the printer as the output destination. By installing a large number of printers registered in the mediation system in public places, it is possible to provide an environment in which printing can be performed anywhere.
In this embodiment, the print data has a general format, that is, P.
Since the print data is mediated after being converted into DF, the mediation of printing can be easily realized without unifying the printer models.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above control processing may be realized by hardware as well as software.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a print mediation system.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of a mediation system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the functional blocks of the mediation system 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of printing an electronic mail by using an intermediary system.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an e-mail printing sequence.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sequence of an electronic mail.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manner of printing a web page.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page provided by the mediation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ... Client 10 ... Basic function block 20 ... Basic service block 30 ... Printing service block 40 ... Navigation service block 50 ... Relation service 60 ... Directory service block 70 ... Authentication service block 80 ... Billing service block 100 ... Printing site ... Control service 110 ... Printer 200 ... Mediation system 201, 202 ... Security module 210 ... Standard function part 211 ... API 212 ... Data conversion part 214 ... Status management part 216 ... Job control part 218 ... Directory service 220 ... Application part 240 ... Billing Unit 250 ... Printer control unit 251 ... Security module 252 ... Logical printer management unit 254 ... Physical printer management unit 256 ... Data conversion unit

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-11-194903 (JP, A) JP-A-10-228428 (JP, A) JP-A-10-31785 (JP, A) JP-A-10-107943 (JP , A) JP 2000-155666 (JP, A) JP 9-223096 (JP, A) JP 10-119393 (JP, A) JP 10-275064 (JP, A) JP 10 -313399 (JP, A) JP 11-249849 (JP, A) JP 2000-155733 (JP, A) JP 2000-105676 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷⁾ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 29/38

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print mediation method for mediating between a plurality of clients connected to the Internet and a plurality of printing devices to realize printing between them, comprising: (a) print data and an output destination from the client. Receiving a print request including output destination designation information for designating the printing device, (b) converting the print data into a general-purpose format that does not depend on the model of the printing device, and (c) converting the print data. Mediating the specified print data to the specified printing device, the print data including the client, the printing device, and
Any of a print mediation server for realizing the print mediation method
The client provided by a different server
The operation of the print instruction button attached to the Web page being browsed by
Depending on the work, the print data transferred to the print mediation server
The output destination designation information is
The print mediation method is data specified by a client, and the output destination designation information is unique identification information set on the Internet irrespective of information for identifying the printing apparatus. 2. The printing mediation method according to claim 1, wherein:
The print mediation method further includes a step of managing a history so that the print data mediated by the step (c) can be stopped or changed. 3. The print mediation method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: (d) confirming an operating status of the designated printing apparatus via the Internet. 4. A print mediation server that mediates between a plurality of clients connected to the Internet and a plurality of printing devices to realize printing between them, wherein the client serves as print data and an output destination. An input unit that inputs a print request including output destination designation information that designates a printing device, a data conversion unit that transforms the print data into a general format that does not depend on the model of the printing device, and the print data that has been designated. A job management unit that mediates to the printing device, and the print data includes the client, the printing device, and the printing data.
Provided by a server that is different from any of the intermediary servers
A mark attached to the Web page being browsed by the client
Transfer to the print mediation server according to the operation of the print instruction button.
The output destination designation information is sent after the print data is received.
The print mediation server is data specified by the client and the output destination designation information is unique identification information set on the Internet irrespective of information for identifying the printing apparatus. 5. The print mediation server according to claim 4, wherein the job management unit is capable of managing a history of the mediated print data so that printing can be stopped or changed. server. 6. The print mediation server according to claim 4, further comprising a status monitoring unit that confirms an operating status of the designated printing apparatus via the Internet. 7. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program for causing a server to realize a function of mediating between a plurality of clients connected to the Internet and a plurality of printing apparatuses, wherein the client prints. A function of receiving a print request including data and output destination designation information for designating the printing device as an output destination; a function of converting the print data into a general format independent of the model of the printing device; And a function of intermediating print data to the specified printing device, wherein the print data includes the client, the printing device, and the server.
Provided by a server different from any of the
The print instruction button attached to the Web page being browsed by the client.
It is transferred to the print mediation server according to the operation
The print destination is the print data, and the output destination designation information is
As well as a data indicated finger from serial client, as the output destination designation information, recording medium recording a program using the unique identification information set independently of the information for identifying the printing device over the Internet. 8. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the program further comprises:
A recording medium that can realize the function of managing history so that printing can be stopped or changed. 9. The recording medium according to claim 7, further comprising a program for realizing a function of confirming the operating status of the designated printing apparatus via the Internet.