JP3562521B2 - Network compatible print processing system, network compatible print processing method, and print agent device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network-compatible print processing system, a network-compatible print processing method, and a print agent apparatus for sending a document to a printer via a network and printing the document.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to send a document to a printer via a network for printing, the document is sent according to a protocol supported by a print service (print server).
[0003]
For example, for the XNS print service, the client sends data in accordance with the XNS printing protocol (XNSS 119005 Printing Protocol).
[0004]
For DPA (ISO / IEC DIS 10175 Information technology-Text and office systems-Document Printing Application (DPA)) print service, which is currently being standardized by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), the client uses the DPA protocol for the data. Has been agreed to send.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the XNS print service and the DPA print service each support only a single protocol, a client that does not support that protocol cannot make a print request to the print service. For example, a client that does not support the XNS printing protocol cannot make a print request to the XNS print service.
[0006]
The present invention provides a network-compatible print processing system, a network-compatible print processing method, and a print agent device that can send data to a print service using an electronic mail and that does not require a client to support a print protocol. The purpose is to do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible print processing system including a document and a parameter for printing the document, and printing means for printing the document based on the content of the parameter. Mail receiving means for receiving an email including the document and parameters for printing the document, analysis means for analyzing the parameters included in the email received by the mail receiving means, analysis by the analysis means Converting means for converting the converted parameters into a format understandable by the printing means; and a print request including the document included in the e-mail received by the mail receiving means and the parameters converted by the converting means, to the printing means. Printing means Characterized by comprising a print request means for issuing a supported protocol.
[0008]
Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when there is an error in the parameter analyzed by the analysis means, the source of the e-mail is notified that there is an error in the parameter. It is characterized by further comprising parameter error notifying means.
[0009]
Further, the invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1, further comprising a print end notifying unit for notifying the end of the printing of the document by the printing unit to a transmission source of the electronic mail. I do.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the printing operation of the document by the printing means is monitored, and when a printing error of the document is detected, the electronic mail is transmitted to the sender. It further comprises a print error notifying unit for notifying a print error of the document.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the electronic mail includes a plurality of pairs of a document to be printed and parameters.
[0012]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the parameter includes information for designating the number of print copies of the document, and the printing means determines the number of print copies of the document based on the information for specifying the number of print copies of the document. Is controlled.
[0013]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the parameter includes comment information on the document, and the comment information is printed on a status sheet corresponding to the document by the printing unit. Features.
[0014]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the parameter includes name information of the document, and the name information is printed on a status sheet corresponding to the document by the printing means. Features.
[0015]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the parameter includes print format information of the document, and the printing unit determines that the parameter has no error in the analysis unit. The document is printed in the print format.
[0016]
Further, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print agent apparatus which receives a document and a parameter for printing the document, and connects to a print server which prints the document based on the contents of the parameter via a network. Mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail including a parameter for printing the document, analysis means for analyzing a parameter for printing a document included in the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means, and the analysis means Converting means for converting the parameters analyzed by the print server into a format understandable by the print server; and a print request including a document included in the e-mail received by the mail receiving means and the parameters converted by the conversion means. Characterized by comprising a print instruction means for issuing a protocol the print server supports for bus.
[0017]
Further, in the invention according to claim 11, in the invention according to claim 10, when there is an error in the parameter analyzed by the analysis means, a parameter for notifying the sender of the electronic mail that the parameter has an error. It is characterized by further comprising an error notification means.
[0018]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the end of the print processing of the document by the print server is monitored. It further comprises a print end notifying unit for notifying the original of the end of the print processing.
[0019]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the print server monitors a print process of the document, and when a print error of the document is detected, the electronic mail is sent to the source of the e-mail. It further comprises a print error notifying unit for notifying a print error of the document.
[0020]
According to a fourteenth aspect, in the tenth aspect, the electronic mail includes a plurality of pairs of documents and parameters.
[0021]
According to a fifteenth aspect, in the tenth aspect, the parameter includes information for designating the number of copies of the document, and the print instructing means determines the number of copies of the document based on the designation information for the number of copies of the document. The number of prints is instructed to the print server.
[0022]
According to a sixteenth aspect, in the tenth aspect, the parameter includes comment information on the document, and the print instruction unit prints the comment information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. An instruction is given to the print server.
[0023]
In a seventeenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the parameter includes name information of the document, and the print instruction unit prints the name information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. An instruction is given to the print server.
[0024]
The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the parameter includes print format information of the document, and the print instruction unit determines that the parameter has no error in the analysis unit. And instructing the print server to print the document in the print format.
[0025]
In a nineteenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the parameter includes printer designation information for printing the document, and the print instructing means sends the print designation information to a print server corresponding to the printer designation information. It is characterized by instructing printing of a document.
[0026]
The invention according to claim 20 is a network-compatible print processing method for receiving a document and parameters for printing the document, and requesting a print server that prints the document based on the contents of the parameters to perform print processing. Receives an e-mail including a document and parameters for printing the document, analyzes parameters for printing the document included in the received e-mail, and converts the analyzed parameters into a format that can be understood by the print server. The print server converts the print request into a print request including the converted document and the document included in the received e-mail and the converted parameter using a protocol supported by the print server.
[0027]
The invention of claim 21 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 20, when there is an error in the analyzed parameter, the electronic mail sender is notified of the error in the parameter. And
[0028]
According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the end of the document print processing by the print server is monitored, and when the print processing of the document by the print server ends, the e-mail is transmitted. The end of the print processing is notified to the origin.
[0029]
According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the print server monitors a print process of the document, and when a print error of the document is detected, the electronic mail is sent to a source of the e-mail. The print error of the document is notified.
[0030]
According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the electronic mail includes a plurality of pairs of a document and a parameter for printing the document.
[0031]
According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the parameter includes information for specifying the number of copies of the document, and the print server determines the number of copies of the document based on the information for specifying the number of copies of the document. Is instructed.
[0032]
In a twenty-sixth aspect based on the twentieth aspect, the parameter includes comment information on the document, and instructs the print server to print the comment information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. It is characterized by the following.
[0033]
In a twenty-seventh aspect based on the twentieth aspect, the parameter includes name information of the document, and instructs the print server to print the name information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. It is characterized by the following.
[0034]
According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the parameter includes print format information of the document, and prints the document in the print format when it is determined that the parameter has no error. This is instructed to the print server.
[0035]
In a twenty-ninth aspect based on the twentieth aspect, the parameter includes printer designation information for printing the document, and instructs a print server corresponding to the printer designation information to print the document. It is characterized by the following.
[0039]
[Action]
In the first invention, the document and the parameter for printing the document are received by the printing means, the document is printed based on the contents of the parameter, the electronic mail is received by the mail receiving means, and the electronic mail is received by the analyzing means. The parameters included in the e-mail are analyzed, the analyzed parameters are converted by the conversion unit into a format that can be understood by the printing unit, and the print request unit sends the document and the converted parameters to the printing unit.
[0040]
In the second invention, an e-mail sent via the network is received by the e-mail receiving means, a parameter for printing a document included in the received e-mail is analyzed by the analyzing means, and the converting means analyzes the parameter. Then, the analyzed parameters are converted into a format that can be understood by the print server on the network, and the print instruction unit issues a print request including the document and the converted parameters to the print server using a protocol supported by the print server.
[0041]
In the third invention, an e-mail sent via a network is received, parameters for printing a document included in the received e-mail are analyzed, and the analyzed parameters can be understood by a print server on the network. The print request is converted into a format, and a print request including the document and the converted parameter is issued to the print server using a protocol supported by the print server.
[0042]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0043]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
[0044]
Referring to FIG. 1, the network-compatible print processing system includes a client 10 and a print processing system 20 connected to a network 30.
[0045]
The client 10 is, for example, a workstation or a computer, and sends an e-mail to a special user representing a print service.
[0046]
The print processing system 20 includes a mail server 110, a parameter file analysis mechanism 120, a print request mechanism 130, and a print server 140, and provides a mail service function and a print service function.
[0047]
In the mail server 110, the mail receiving mechanism 111 receives an e-mail input through the network 30 and passes the e-mail to the mailbox management unit 112. The mailbox management unit 112 stores the passed e-mail in a mailbox for each destination (for each user) in the storage device 113, similarly to a normal mail server. The delivery report mechanism 114 sends the result of the print processing for the email stored in the mailbox as a delivery report email to the client that is the source of the email.
[0048]
In this embodiment, a special user who can be a mail destination is defined corresponding to each print server, and a mailbox for the user is prepared in the mail server coexisting with the print server. Has become. Here, one print server is connected to the mail server, a user named Sharaku-PS is registered corresponding to the print server, and a mailbox 113A is stored corresponding to the user. In this example, there is only one mailbox. However, when a plurality of printers are connected to this mail server, there is a mailbox for each printer.
[0049]
The parameter file analysis mechanism 120 extracts mail from the mailbox in the storage device 113, analyzes the parameter file, and sends a document file together with necessary parameters to the print request mechanism 130. The print request mechanism 130 passes the information to the print server 140 and requests print output. The print server 140 prints out based on the parameters and the document file. In this embodiment, the print server 140 is provided as a user “Sharaku-PS”.
[0050]
In such a configuration, print processing of the network-compatible print processing system will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0051]
First, the client 10 sends an e-mail in which a parameter file describing a group of parameters necessary for printing, such as the number of prints, and a document file to be printed together, to a special user (in this example, Sharaku- PS). It should be noted that any number of such pairs of parameter file and document file may exist in one electronic mail body.
[0052]
Here, an example of an e-mail from the client 10 is shown below.
From: Kajitani
To: Sharaku-PS
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
"(Attachment)
[Post Script Print Format] "
Here, "" indicates a parameter file. "" Indicates a document file.
[0053]
In the above e-mail, the destination user is specified as Sharaku-PS, and the comment and the name of the document (these are printed on the start sheet at the time of printing) are specified in the parameter file. The number of prints is specified as two copies, and the format of the document is specified as PostScript (PostScript). The document file following this file is a PostScript print format file.
[0054]
When such an e-mail is transmitted from the client 10, the e-mail is input to the mail receiving mechanism 111 via the network 30 (step 201), and then is input to the mailbox management unit 112. The mailbox management unit 112 refers to the destination (Sharaku-PS in this example) in the received e-mail, and stores the e-mail in the mailbox 113A corresponding to the destination (step 202).
[0055]
When the e-mail arrives at the mailbox 113A, the parameter file analysis mechanism 120 takes out the e-mail from the mailbox 113A, checks the contents of the parameter file (step 203), and determines whether there is an error in the contents. A determination is made (step 204).
[0056]
In step 204, if there is an error, the fact is notified to the delivery report mechanism 114 of the mail server 110 (step 205). (Step 206) The converted parameter group and document file are transferred to the print request mechanism 130 as a print job (Step 207). The print request mechanism 130 passes the received print job to the corresponding print server 140 (a print server corresponding to the Shaku-PS in this example) and requests print output.
[0057]
The print server 140 prints the received document according to the designated parameters (step 208), and determines whether the printing is completed (step 209). If the printing has not been completed, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred (step 210). If the error has not occurred, the process returns to step 207 to execute the steps after this step. The notification is sent to the distribution report mechanism 114 of step 110 (step 211).
[0058]
If the printing is completed in step 208, the print server 140 notifies the distribution reporting mechanism 114 that the print job has been completed.
[0059]
Then, the delivery report mechanism 114 sends a delivery report mail describing the state (end) of the job to the sender of the original email (the client 10 in this example) (step 212).
[0060]
In addition, the delivery report mechanism 114 receiving the error notification in steps 205 and 211 sends the delivery report mail describing the status of the job (error) to the sender of the original email (the client 10 in this example). (Step 213).
[0061]
Next, a print output example output from the print server 140 will be described below.
"Name: DevPlan
Development Plan
Submitter: Kajitani
Printer: Sharaku-PS "
Following the start sheet, the contents of the actual document are printed out.
[0062]
Next, an example of a delivery report mail transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 114 when the print job is successful is shown below.
"
From: Sharaku-PS
To: Kajitani
Following job is completed
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
"
Here, "" indicates a delivery report mail, and "" indicates a parameter file.
[0063]
Subsequently, an example of a delivery report mail transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 114 in the case of an error is shown below.
"
From: Sharaku-PS
To: Kajitani
Status: Error, Reason =
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
"
Here, "" indicates a delivery report mail, and "" indicates a parameter file.
[0064]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0065]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a network-compatible print processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This configuration is different from the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that a print server 310, a printer selection mechanism 320 and a print status inquiry mechanism 330 are added, and the mailbox 113A is changed to a mailbox 340. And the print server 140 is further deleted.
[0066]
In this embodiment, since the mail server 110 can be regarded as an agent that issues a print request to the print server on behalf of the client, the mail server 110 stores in the storage device 113 a mailbox 340 named PrintAgent. have.
[0067]
The name “Sharaku-PS” is set in the print server 310. In this embodiment, only one print server is connected to the network 30, but a plurality of print servers may be connected to the network 30. In this case, a server name (printer name) is set corresponding to each print server. The client 10 can describe, in a parameter file in the e-mail, a printer desired to be printed out.
[0068]
The printer selection mechanism 320 determines a print server to which a print request is to be sent, and requests a print output.
[0069]
The print status inquiry mechanism 330 inquires the print server that has requested the print of the status of the print job at regular intervals.
[0070]
In such a configuration, print processing of the network-compatible print processing system will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0071]
First, similarly to the first embodiment, the client 10 transmits an e-mail in which a parameter file and a document file are put together to a virtual user, that is, a user called PrintAgent.
[0072]
Here, an example of an e-mail from the client 10 is shown below.
From: Kajitani
To: Print Agent
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
printer: Sharaku-PS "
"(Attachment)
[Post Script Print Format] "
Here, "" indicates a parameter file, and "" indicates a document file.
[0073]
In the above e-mail, a print server named Sharaku-PS is specified. You do not have to specify this.
[0074]
When such an e-mail is transmitted from the client 10, the same processing as steps 201 to 206 in FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment is performed (steps 401 to 406).
[0075]
The parameter file analysis mechanism 120 passes the converted parameter group and document file to the printer selection mechanism 320 as a print job (Step 407). The printer selection mechanism 320 checks whether or not there is a print server to which the print request should be sent, based on the parameter group (step 408). If not present, an error is notified to the distribution report mechanism 114 (step 409). On the other hand, if it is present, information indicating the corresponding print server and the printer The print job passed from the selection mechanism 320 is passed (step 410).
[0076]
In selecting a print server, if a printer is specified in the parameter file, the printer selection mechanism 320 selects that printer. If no printer is specified and a font to be used is specified in the parameter file, a printer that satisfies the conditions is selected. If a printer satisfying the condition cannot be found, an error is notified to the delivery report mechanism 114.
[0077]
Accordingly, in this example, the server name “Sharaku-PS” of the print server 310 and the print job are passed to the print request mechanism 130, and the print request mechanism 130 sends the print request to the determined print server. On the other hand, a print request is issued using a protocol supported by the print server (step 411).
[0078]
Then, the print request mechanism 130 determines whether or not the print request has succeeded (step 412). If the print request has failed for any reason, an error is sent to the delivery report mechanism 114 of the mail server 110. (Step 413). On the other hand, if the Print request is successful, the print status inquiry mechanism 330 is notified of the fact and the information indicating the print server.
[0079]
The print status inquiry mechanism 330 inquires the print server based on the notified information indicating the print server about the status of the print job at regular time intervals (step 414). Next, it is checked whether or not the result of the inquiry indicates the end of printing (step 415). If it does not indicate the end of printing, it is checked whether it indicates an error (step 416). If it does not indicate an error, the process returns to the step 414 to execute the steps after this step. On the other hand, if it indicates an error, the error is notified to the delivery report mechanism 114 of the mail server 110 (step 417).
[0080]
If the result of the inquiry at step 415 indicates that printing has ended, the print status inquiry mechanism 330 notifies the distribution reporting mechanism 114 that printing has ended. The print content requested as described in the first embodiment is output from the print server to which the print request has been requested.
[0081]
Then, the delivery report mechanism 114 sends a delivery report mail describing the status (end) of the job to the sender of the original email (the client 10 in this example) (step 418). Note that the delivery report mail includes the name of the print server that executed the print job. This allows the user to know which print server actually executed the print job.
[0082]
Further, upon receiving the error notification in steps 405, 409, 413, and 417, the delivery report mechanism 114 sends the delivery report mail describing the status (error) of the job to the sender of the original e-mail (the client 10 in this example). ) And make a call (step 419).
[0083]
Here, an example of a delivery report mail transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 114 in the case of a successful print job is shown below.
"
From: Print Agent
To: Kajitani
Status: Completed by Sharaku-PS
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
printer: Sharaku-PS "
"
Here, "" indicates a delivery report mail, and "" indicates a parameter file.
[0084]
Subsequently, an example of a delivery report mail transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 114 in the case of an error is shown below.
"
From: Print Agent
To: Kajitani
Status: Error, Reason =
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
printer: Sharaku-PS "
"
Here, "" indicates a delivery report mail, and "" indicates a parameter file.
[0085]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
[0086]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
[0087]
In the figure, the network-compatible print processing system includes a plurality of clients 501, 502, 503, a plurality of storage devices 504, 505, and a print processing system 506 connected to a network 507.
[0088]
Each client is, for example, a workstation or a computer, which sends an e-mail to a special user representing a print service.
[0089]
The client 501 is a UNIX (registered trademark) client that supports the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) mail protocol, and the client 502 is an XNS client that supports the XNS (Xerox Network System) mail protocol. The client 503 is an OSI (Open System Interconnection) client that supports an MHS (Message Handling System) mail protocol.
[0090]
The storage device 504 stores the e-mail transmitted from the client 501 in a mailbox secured for each destination, and the storage device 505 stores the e-mail transmitted from the client 502 in the mailbox secured for each destination. Is stored in
[0091]
The print processing system 506 has the same functions as those of the mail server 510, the parameter file analysis mechanism 520 that performs the same function as the parameter file analysis mechanism 120 of the first embodiment, and the print request mechanism 130 of the first embodiment. It has a print request mechanism 530 to fulfill and a print server 540 to fulfill the same function as the print server 140 of the first embodiment, and provides a mail service function and a print service function.
[0092]
In this embodiment, the mail server 510 is set to perform processing on the electronic mail according to the mail protocol format of the MHS, so that the mail receiving mechanism 511 transmits the electronic mail from the client 503 input via the network 507. When the mail (MHS mail) is received, the electronic mail is passed to the mailbox management unit 512. The mailbox management unit 512 stores the passed e-mail in a mailbox for each destination (for each user) in the storage device 513.
[0093]
Further, the mail receiving mechanism 511 checks the mailboxes in the storage device 504 and the storage device 505 at regular intervals, and if there is an e-mail in the mailbox, takes out the e-mail and performs format conversion of the e-mail. Request the conversion mechanism 514.
[0094]
The format conversion mechanism 514 converts the format of the electronic mail for which the format conversion has been requested into the MHS format, and passes the converted electronic mail to the mail receiving mechanism 511. The converted e-mail is stored in the corresponding mailbox in the storage device 513 via the mail receiving mechanism 511 and the mailbox management unit 512.
[0095]
The distribution report mechanism 515 creates a distribution report mail in MHS format based on the print processing result for the e-mail stored in the mailbox, and transfers the distribution report mail to the mail transfer mechanism 516.
[0096]
The mail transfer mechanism 516 refers to the destination of the delivery report mail, and sends the delivery report mail to the MHS client in the MHS format if the destination is the MHS client. Then, the delivery report mail is converted to a suitable format and sent to the client.
[0097]
Printers in the print server 540 are registered in the same manner as users on the network. Since the registered user name (printer name) differs depending on the mail protocol supported by UNIX (registered trademark), OSI, and XNS clients, the user name will be described next.
[0098]
In the UNIX (registered trademark) protocol, the printer name is
shaku @ netg. fusixerox. cop. jp
It becomes. In the OSI (MHS) protocol, the printer name is
/ S = sharaku / OU = KSPB / O = FujiXerox / PRMD = Xerox / ADMD = / C = JP /
It becomes. In the XNS protocol, the printer name is
shakuku: KSPB: FujiXerox
It becomes.
[0099]
In such a configuration, print processing of the network-compatible print processing system will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0100]
The client 501 (UNIX (registered trademark) client) transmits an e-mail to a user “shaku@netg.fujixerox.cop.jp”. This e-mail is a normal SMTP mail, and is delivered to a file called shakuku under the directory / usr / spool / mail of the UNIX (registered trademark) file system. That is, the e-mail is stored in the mailbox in the storage device 504 via the network 507.
[0101]
Since a binary file cannot be sent by SMTP mail, the user uuencodes the e-mail and sends it in ASCII file format. In addition, since a document content file as document content such as XNS cannot be attached, a parameter portion and a (ASCIIized) document content portion are separated while putting a control character string such as Control-L in one file. I will put in.
[0102]
Here, an example of an e-mail from the client 501 is shown below.
"
From: tsubo @ nbetg. ksp. fusixerox. co. jp
To: shaku @ nbetg. ksp. fusixerox. co. jp
"Parameter""Documentcontent"
"
Here, "" indicates an electronic mail, and "" indicates a file.
[0103]
Also, the client 502 (XNS client) sends an e-mail to the user "sharaku: KSPB: FujiXerox". This e-mail is ordinary XNS mail, and is delivered to a personal mailbox on a mail server (Magic: KSPB: Xerox) of XNS. That is, this e-mail is stored in the mailbox in the storage device 505 via the network 507.
[0104]
Here, an example of an e-mail from the client 502 is shown below.
"
From: Tsuboyama: KSPB: Fuji Xerox
To: sharaku: KSPB: Fuji Xerox
"Parameter""Document content (attachment)"
"
Here, "" indicates an electronic mail, and "" indicates a file.
[0105]
Further, the client 503 (OSI client) sends an e-mail to the user "/ S = sharaku / OU = KSPB / O = FujiXerox / PRMD = Xerox / ADMD = / C = JP /".
[0106]
Here, an example of an e-mail from the client 503 is shown below.
"
From: / S = Tsubyama / OU = KSPB / O = Fuji
Xerox / PRMD = Xerox / ADMD = / C = JP /
To: / S = sharaku / OU = KSPB / O = Fuji
Xerox / PRMD = Xerox / ADMD = / C = JP /
"Parameter""Document content (body part)"
"
Here, "" indicates an electronic mail, and "" indicates a file.
[0107]
Since such an e-mail is a mail in the MHS format, it is directly received by the mail receiving mechanism 511 via the network 507.
[0108]
First, the mail receiving mechanism 511 checks whether an e-mail of a mail protocol (MHS mail protocol in this example) format that can be understood by its own system has been transmitted to its own print processing system (step 601). If an e-mail has been sent, the e-mail is received (step 602) and passed to the mailbox management unit 512. The mailbox management unit 512 stores the passed e-mail in the corresponding mailbox of the storage device 513 (Step 603).
[0109]
If the e-mail is not transmitted in step 601, the mail receiving mechanism 511 checks the mailboxes in the storage device 504 and the storage device 505 at regular intervals, and the e-mail exists in those mailboxes. It is determined whether or not to perform (step 604). If the e-mail does not exist, the process returns to the step 601 to execute the steps after this step. On the other hand, if the e-mail exists, the e-mail is taken out (step 605), and the format conversion of the e-mail is performed. Request the mechanism 514.
[0110]
In step 605, the mail receiving mechanism 511 checks the attribute of the SMTP mail and determines that the binary file has been uuencoded.
[0111]
The format conversion mechanism 514 converts the format of the e-mail for which the format conversion was requested into the MHS format (step 606), and passes the converted e-mail to the mail reception mechanism 511. The converted e-mail is stored in the corresponding mailbox in the storage device 513 via the mail receiving mechanism 511 and the mailbox management unit 512.
[0112]
When the e-mail arrives at the mailbox, the parameter file analysis mechanism 520 extracts the e-mail stored in the mailbox from the beginning and checks the contents of the parameter file in the e-mail (step 607).
[0113]
Thereafter, the same processing as steps 204 to 211 shown in FIG. 2 is performed (steps 608 to 615).
[0114]
Then, in step 613, when the printing is completed, the print server 540 notifies the distribution reporting mechanism 515 of the fact. Then, the delivery report mechanism 515 creates a delivery report mail describing the result of the print processing for the email stored in the mailbox, that is, the status (end) of the job, in the MHS mail protocol format (step 616). ), And transfer the delivery report mail to the mail transfer mechanism 516.
[0115]
The distribution report mechanism 515 that has received the error notification in steps 609 and 615 creates a distribution report mail describing the status (error) of the job in the MHS mail protocol format (step 617). The report mail is transferred to the mail transfer mechanism 516.
[0116]
The mail transfer mechanism 516 refers to the destination of the transferred distribution report mail, determines whether or not the destination can be transferred using the MHS mail protocol (step 618). The delivery report mail is transferred to the destination in the MHS format (step 619). If transfer is not possible, the delivery report mail is converted to a suitable format and sent to the client (step 619). 620).
[0117]
Here, a print output example output from the print server 540 is shown below.
"Name: DevPlan
Development Plan
Submitter: Tuboyama
printer: Sharaku "
Following the start sheet, the contents of the actual document are printed out.
[0118]
In the third embodiment, the SMTP mail, the XNS mail, and the MHS mail have been described. However, other mails can be supported by performing the above-described processing.
[0119]
As described above, according to the third embodiment, a client can send a document to a print server and print it out without installing a printing application and a mail application. Also, clients do not need to support printing protocols. Also, you do not need to be aware of the mailing protocol used. Furthermore, there is no need to learn new tools from the perspective of the client.
[0120]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
[0121]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
[0122]
In the figure, the network-compatible print processing system includes a client 701, a storage device 702, and a print processing system 703 connected to a network 704.
[0123]
The client 701 is, for example, a workstation or a computer, and sends an e-mail to a special user representing a print server. The storage device 702 stores a document file to be printed out.
[0124]
The print processing system 703 includes a mail server 710, a parameter file analysis mechanism 720, a print request management mechanism 730, a file transfer mechanism 740, a print request mechanism 750, a print server 760, and a print status monitoring mechanism 770. And provides a mail service function and a print service function.
[0125]
The mail server 710 includes a mail receiving mechanism 711, a mailbox management unit 712, a storage device 713, and a distribution reporting mechanism 714. The mail server 710 in the configuration diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Performs the same function as.
[0126]
The parameter file analysis mechanism 720, the print request mechanism 750, and the print server 760 have the same functions as the parameter file analysis mechanism 120, the print request mechanism 130, and the print server 140 of the configuration diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Fulfill.
[0127]
The print request management mechanism 730 refers to the print job passed from the parameter file analysis mechanism 720, and instructs the file transfer mechanism 740 to transfer the corresponding document file. Further, the print request management mechanism 730 passes the document file transferred by the file transfer mechanism 740 in response to the file transfer instruction and the parameter group in the print job to the print request mechanism 750. As a result, a document is printed out from the print server 140 according to the parameter group.
[0128]
The file transfer mechanism 740 acquires a corresponding document file according to the file transfer instruction, temporarily stores the document file in a memory (not shown) provided in the print processing system 703, and stores the document file in the memory (not shown) according to the file deletion instruction. Delete the stored document file.
[0129]
The print status monitoring mechanism 770 monitors the status of the print processing for the electronic mail extracted from the mailbox of the storage device 713, and instructs the file transfer mechanism 740 to delete the document file for which the print processing has been completed. It also instructs the distribution report mechanism 714 to transmit a distribution report mail.
[0130]
In such a configuration, print processing of the network-compatible print processing system will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0131]
The client 701 collects the following information and sends an e-mail to a special user representing the print server.
(1) Reference information required at the time of acquiring print data, such as a host where print data is stored, a path name where print data is stored, an identification name for storing print data, and a type of file transfer service.
(2) Number of copies, parameters required for printing
Note that there may be any number of files in which reference information and print parameters are described in one mail body.
[0132]
Or
(3) A file that describes parameters required for printing, such as the number of copies
(4) Document file to be printed
The number of pairs of the parameter file and the document file may be any number in one mail body.
[0133]
Here, an example of an e-mail transmitted from the client 701 is shown below.
"
From: Yomoda
To: Sharaku-PS
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
doc-content-type: referenced-document-by-ftp
transfer-method: referenced-data-transfer
doc-content-reference-ftp-hostname: parsley
doc-content-reference-ftp-pathname:
/ Usr / export / home / yomoda / doc / PostScript /
doc-content-reference-ftp-filename: DevPlan. ps "
"
Here, "" indicates an electronic mail, and "" indicates a file in which reference information and print parameters are described.
[0134]
In the parameter group, a document name and a comment (this is printed on a start sheet at the time of printing) are specified, the number of prints is specified as two copies, and the format of the document is specified as PostScript. As for the type of the file transfer service, a local attribute of doc-content-type is set to a value of referenced-document-by-ftp. As a result, the type of the file transfer service is specified. It is specified that the print data (document-content) is not included-document but reference-document. Further, a transfer-method is also specified.
[0135]
As reference information for the server to acquire the print data, the name of the host where the print data is stored (doc-content-reference-ftp-hostname: parsley), and the path name where the print data is stored (doc- content-reference-ftp-pathname: / usr / export / home / yomoda / doc / PostScript /), and the identification name (doc-content-reference-ftp-filename: .DevPeach is specified for storing the print data). Have been.
[0136]
The document file itself is a PostScript print format file.
[0137]
Here, it is assumed that the document file based on the e-mail refinement information is stored in the storage device 702. The document file looks like this
"Parsley: /home/yomoda/doc/PostScript/DevPlan.ps
[PostScript Format] "
Following the information, the actual document is stored.
[0138]
Now, when the above-described e-mail is transmitted from the client 701, the e-mail is input to the mail server 710 via the network 704, and the same processing as steps 201 to 204 shown in FIG. 2 is performed ( Steps 801 to 804).
[0139]
Then, in step 804, the parameter file analysis mechanism 720 notifies the print status monitoring mechanism 770 of the error in the case of an error (step 805). On the other hand, if there is no error, the parameter group is in a format that the print server can understand. (Step 806), the reference information in the converted parameter group is analyzed (step 807), the contents of the reference information are checked (step 808), and whether or not the contents are correct is determined. A judgment is made (step 809).
[0140]
In step 809, if there is an error, the fact is notified to the print status monitoring mechanism 770 (step 810). If not, the parameter group is passed to the print request management mechanism 730 (step 811).
[0141]
The print request management mechanism 730 refers to the reference information in the parameter group, transfers the information to the file transfer mechanism 740, and instructs the transfer of the corresponding document file.
[0142]
The file transfer mechanism 740 executes transfer processing of the document file to be printed based on the passed reference information (step 812), and determines whether or not the file transfer is successful (step 813). In this case, the document file is obtained from the storage device 702.
[0143]
If an error such as a failure occurs in step 813, the fact is notified to the print status monitoring mechanism 770 (step 814). On the other hand, if the error succeeds, the print status is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) in the print processing system 703. (Step 815).
[0144]
Then, the print request management mechanism 730 transfers the transferred document file and the parameter group already passed from the parameter file analysis mechanism 730 to the print request mechanism 750 as a print job (step 816).
[0145]
The print request mechanism 750 transfers the received print job to the corresponding print server 760 (in this example, a print server corresponding to the Shaku-PS), and requests print output.
[0146]
The print server 760 sets the received document file as print data (document-content), prints the print data according to the designated parameter (step 817), and determines whether the printing is completed (step 818). . If the printing has not been completed, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred (step 819). If the error has not occurred, the process returns to the step 817 to execute the steps after this step. It notifies the monitoring mechanism 770 (step 820).
[0147]
If the printing has been completed in step 818, the print server 760 notifies the print status monitoring mechanism 770 of the fact. The print status monitoring mechanism 770 notifies the delivery report mechanism 714 of the mail server 710 that the job has been completed. (Step 821). As a result, the delivery report mechanism 714 sends a delivery report mail indicating the end of the job to the sender of the original email.
[0148]
The print status monitoring mechanism 770 that has received the error notification in steps 805, 810, 814, and 820 instructs the delivery report mechanism 714 of the mail server 710 to make a delivery report indicating an error (step 822). As a result, a delivery report mail indicating a job error is transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 714 to the sender of the original electronic mail.
[0149]
Then, after completing the above steps 821 and 822, the print status monitoring mechanism 770 instructs the file transfer mechanism 740 to delete the temporarily acquired document file based on the reference information. An instruction is given (step 823). Then, the file transfer mechanism 740 deletes the document file temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) in the print processing system 703 based on the reference information.
[0150]
Next, a print output example output from the print server 760 will be described below.
"Name: DevPlan
Development Plan
Submitter: Yomoda
printer: Sharaku-PS "
Following the start sheet, the contents of the actual document are printed out.
[0151]
Next, an example of a delivery report mail transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 714 in the case of a successful print job is shown below.
"
From: Sharaku-PS
To: Yomoda
Following job is completed
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
"
Here, "" indicates a delivery report mail, and "" indicates a parameter file.
[0152]
Subsequently, an example of a delivery report mail transmitted from the delivery report mechanism 714 in the case of an error is shown below.
"
From: Sharaku-PS
To: Yomoda
Status: Error. Reason =
"Doc-name: DevPlan
Comment: Development Plan
copies: 2
doc-type: Post Script
"
Here, "" indicates a delivery report mail, and "" indicates a parameter file.
[0153]
In the above-described fourth embodiment, the processing when the mail server and the print server exist in the print processing system has been described. However, when only the mail server exists in the print processing system and the print server is connected to the network. Needless to say, the present invention can be easily applied by combining the second embodiment and the fourth embodiment.
[0154]
As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the client capable of transmitting the file reference information by e-mail can perform the desired print output from the print server while suppressing the load on the network and the client during the e-mail transfer. Can be obtained.
[0155]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that data can be transmitted to a print service (print server) using electronic mail. Further, since the client does not need to support the print protocol, there is an advantage that user workability is good.
[0156]
Another advantage is that the user can know which print service actually executed the print job.
[0157]
In addition, there is an advantage that data can be transmitted to the print service using an electronic mail according to an arbitrary mail protocol format. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to provide a network-compatible print processing system, a network-compatible print processing method, and a print agent apparatus that can execute print processing for a plurality of e-mails in different mail protocol formats.
[0158]
Another advantage is that the user can know which print service actually executed the print job.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing operation according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing operation according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing operation according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the network-compatible print processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing operation according to a fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 501, 502, 503, 701 ... client
20, 506, 703 ... print processing system
30, 507, 704 ... network
110, 510, 710 ... mail server
111, 511, 711 ... Email receiving mechanism
112, 512, 712: Mailbox management unit
113, 504, 505, 513, 702, 713 ... storage device
113A, 340 ... mailbox
114, 515, 714 ... delivery report mechanism
120, 520, 720 ... parameter file analysis mechanism
130, 530, 750: print request mechanism
140, 310, 540, 760 ... print server
320: Printer selection mechanism
330: Print status inquiry mechanism
514: Mail format conversion mechanism
516 ... Mail transfer mechanism
730: print request management mechanism
740: File transfer mechanism
770: Print status monitoring mechanism

Claims (29)

A network-compatible print processing system that receives a document and a parameter for printing the document, and includes a printing unit that prints the document based on the content of the parameter;
Mail receiving means for receiving an email including the document and parameters for printing the document,
Analysis means for analyzing the parameters included in the electronic mail received by the mail reception means,
Conversion means for converting the parameters analyzed by the analysis means into a format understandable by the printing means,
Print request means for issuing a print request including a document included in the e-mail received by the mail receiving means and a parameter converted by the conversion means to the print means using a protocol supported by the print means. A network-compatible print processing system characterized by the following. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a parameter error notifying unit for notifying a source of the electronic mail that there is an error in the parameter when the parameter analyzed by the analyzing unit has an error. Network-compatible print processing system. 2. The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a print end notifying unit for notifying the transmission source of the electronic mail of the end of the printing of the document by the printing unit. The system further comprises a print error notifying unit that monitors a printing operation of the document by the printing unit and, when a printing error of the document is detected, notifies a source of the e-mail of the printing error of the document. The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, wherein: The email is
2. The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of a document to be printed and a parameter are included. The parameter is
The printing unit includes information for designating the number of copies of the document,
2. The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the number of print copies of the document is controlled based on the designation information of the number of print copies of the document. The parameter is
Including comment information about the document,
The comment information is
The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints the status sheet corresponding to the document. The parameter is
Including name information of the document,
The name information is
The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints the status sheet corresponding to the document. The parameter is
Including print format information of the document,
The printing means,
2. The network-compatible print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the document is printed in the print format when the analysis unit analyzes that the parameter has no error. A print agent device that receives a document and a parameter for printing the document, and connects via a network to a print server that prints the document based on the content of the parameter,
Mail receiving means for receiving an email including the document and parameters for printing the document,
Analyzing means for analyzing a parameter for printing a document included in the electronic mail received by the mail receiving means;
Conversion means for converting the parameters analyzed by the analysis means into a format understandable by the print server;
Print instruction means for issuing a print request including a document included in the electronic mail received by the mail reception means and the parameters converted by the conversion means to the print server using a protocol supported by the print server. A print agent device comprising: 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a parameter error notifying unit that notifies a source of the e-mail that there is an error in the parameter when the parameter analyzed by the analyzing unit has an error. Print agent device. The print server monitors the end of the print processing of the document by the print server. The print agent device according to claim 10, further comprising: The system further includes a print error notifying unit that monitors a print process of the document by the print server and, when a print error of the document is detected, notifies a source of the e-mail of the print error of the document. The print agent device according to claim 10, wherein: The email is
11. The print agent device according to claim 10, comprising a plurality of sets of documents and parameters. The parameter is
Including designation information of the number of copies of the document,
The print instruction means,
The print agent apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the print server is instructed to the print server on the number of prints of the document based on the designation information of the number of prints of the document. The parameter is
Including comment information about the document,
The print instruction means,
11. The print agent apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the print server instructs the print server to print the comment information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. The parameter is
Including name information of the document,
The print instruction means,
11. The print agent apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the print server instructs the print server to print the name information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. The parameter is
Including print format information of the document,
The print instruction means,
11. The print agent apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the analysis unit analyzes that there is no error in the parameter, it instructs the print server to print the document in the print format. The parameter is
Including printer designation information for printing the document,
The print instruction means,
11. The print agent apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the print server instructs a print server corresponding to the printer designation information to print the document. A network-compatible print processing method for receiving a document and parameters for printing the document, and requesting a print server to print the document based on the contents of the parameters.
Receiving an email containing the document and parameters for printing the document;
Analyze the parameters for printing the document contained in the received e-mail,
Converting the analyzed parameters into a format understandable by the print server,
A print request including a document included in the received e-mail and the converted parameter is issued to the print server using a protocol supported by the print server. 21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, wherein, when the analyzed parameter has an error, the transmission source of the e-mail is notified of the error in the parameter. Monitoring the end of the print processing of the document by the print server,
21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, wherein when the print processing of the document by the print server is completed, the transmission source of the e-mail is notified of the end of the print processing. Monitoring print processing of the document by the print server;
21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, wherein, when a print error of the document is detected, the source of the e-mail is notified of the print error of the document. The email is
21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, comprising a plurality of sets of a document and parameters for printing the document. The parameter is
Including designation information of the number of copies of the document,
21. The network-compliant print processing method according to claim 20, wherein the number of print copies of the document is instructed to the print server based on the designation information of the number of print copies of the document. The parameter is
Including comment information about the document,
21. The network-compliant print processing method according to claim 20, wherein the print server is instructed to print the comment information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. The parameter is
Including name information of the document,
21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, wherein the print server is instructed to print the name information on a status sheet corresponding to the document. The parameter is
Including print format information of the document,
21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, wherein when it is analyzed that there is no error in the parameter, the print server is instructed to print the document in the print format. The parameter is
Including printer designation information for printing the document,
21. The network-compatible print processing method according to claim 20, wherein an instruction to print the document is issued to a print server corresponding to the printer designation information.

Images