JP3661577B2 - System that mediates printing on the network - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for mediating between a client connected to a network and a printing apparatus and realizing printing between the two.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various printers are used as computer output devices. The printer is connected to the computer in a one-to-one relationship (hereinafter referred to as “local connection”), and receives data from the computer and performs printing. 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.
[0003]
Furthermore, it has become possible to perform printing between any client or printing apparatus connected to the Internet by using a protocol called IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). However, the output destination is URI (Uniform Resource
Indicator) is limited to known printing apparatuses.
[0004]
In any of the above-described aspects, conventionally, the connection state between the printer and the computer is usually determined in advance. In other words, conventionally, printing is usually performed at a place determined for each owner of the computer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, the portability of terminals that access the Internet, such as notebook computers and mobile phones, has improved, and it has become possible to access information regardless of location. Based on this tendency, there has been a demand for a technique that can easily perform printing from a portable terminal regardless of location. For example, there has been a demand for a technique capable of performing printing using the nearest printing apparatus as soon as information is acquired. Since printing in which the output destination can be freely selected on the network in this way greatly improves the convenience of the printing apparatus, it has been desired to be realized without being limited to use from a portable terminal. In order to quickly disseminate such a printing environment, it has also been desired to add commercial value.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to provide a technique for realizing printing with a high degree of freedom regarding selection of print contents and output destination between a client and a printing apparatus connected to a network. .
[0007]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
  In the present invention, in a print mediation method for realizing printing between a plurality of clients and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network by a mediation server computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a server),
The print mediation server computer is
(A) Information about the user who uses the clientUser information and information indicating the location of additional information added during printing, Stored in the memory of the print mediation server computer,
(B) Information indicating the location of the print data from the client and output destination designation information by which the user designates the printing apparatus that is the output destination of the print dataA print request including the identification information given to the userReceive
(C)PreviousBased on the information indicating the location of the print data specified by the user, the print data is acquired via the network,
(D) User who made the print requestReading the user information from the memory based on the identification information of
(E)Based on the user information, obtain location information of the additional information stored in the memory,
(F)According to the acquired location information,Different from the print dataAdditionInformation is obtained from a server computer other than the print mediation server computer via the network;
(F)SaidAcquire the acquired print data.AdditionInformation-added data including information is generated in a general-purpose format printable by the printing device;
(G) The generated information addition data isDepending on output destination specification informationMediate to the specified printing device,
  Execute printing.
[0008]
As a general-purpose format, for example, a PDF format can be used. In addition, a page description language such as Postscript (registered trademark) can be used. If these formats are used, there is an advantage that the layout of the printed matter can be maintained relatively easily. In addition, since these formats can convert almost all print data, there is an advantage that the present invention can be applied to a wide range of print data.
[0009]
The predetermined information may be printed on a page different from the print data designated by the user, or may be printed on a margin portion of the designated print data. By adding predetermined information during the mediation process, it is possible to add commercial added value to the printing mediation method according to the content of the information.
[0010]
For example, the predetermined information can be advertisement information. A printing environment in which an output destination can be freely selected includes portions that have the same effects as mass media, and is suitable for advertising media. By adding the advertisement, it is possible to cover part of the installation cost and running cost of the printing apparatus with the advertisement cost. The information added may include news, weather forecasts, trivia knowledge such as so-called wisdom of life, fortune-telling, character images, calendars, etc. in addition to advertisements.
[0011]
  The predetermined information added is,PreviousObtain from a server other than the printing mediation serverTheThe acquisition destination server may be specified in advance by an IP address, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), or the like.
[0012]
  The added information can always be constant information or can be selected randomly.. markInformation specified in relation to the user who made the print request and at least one of the print dataas,For example, the gender, age, occupation, etc. of the user who issued the print requestYou can think of this informationIs registered in advance, information added in association with these can be selected. In addition, when a Web page is designated as print data, information added in association with the content can be selected. By selecting information in this way, the significance of adding information can be further improved.
[0013]
The present invention can be configured in various modes such as a print mediation server that implements the above-described print mediation method, a program that implements the print mediation method, various signals that can be regarded as the same, and a recording medium that records the program. Here, as a recording medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device of a computer (RAM, ROM, etc. Various types of computer-readable media such as a memory) and an external storage device can be used.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following items based on examples.
A. System configuration:
B. Function block:
B1. Functional block variants:
C. Example of printing:
C1. Aspect 1: Printing email:
C2. Aspect 2: Printing a web page:
[0015]
A. System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a print mediation system. This is a system that performs printing by selecting an output destination flexibly via the Internet. Connected to the Internet INT are a server SVA that provides content such as Web pages, a server SV that constructs a print mediation system, printers PRT1 and PRT2, a client computer CC1, and the like. 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, countless servers, printers, and clients are connected to the Internet. The Internet INT can also be accessed from the mobile phone CP. The cellular phone CP that can access the Internet can perform almost the same function as the client computer.
[0016]
The server SV is configured to function as a print mediation system in the present embodiment. As shown below, the server SV manages client and printer information registered in advance, and performs printing by mediating print requests between them.
[0017]
When the user issues a print request by designating any one of the printers PRT1 and PRT2 on the network from the client computers CC1 and CC2 and the mobile phone CP, the print request is once transmitted to the server SV. The server SV confirms and sets the operating status of the designated printer, and confirms whether or not the user has 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. When PDF format data is transmitted from the server SV to the printer, the printer driver prepared on the printer side converts the data into printer-specific control data and performs printing.
[0018]
In the following embodiment, a case is shown in which most of the functions of the mediation system are basically provided by the server SV, but it may be constructed by a distributed processing system. The application of the embodiment is not limited to the Internet, but can be applied 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, and the like are collectively referred to as “network”.
[0019]
B. Function block:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of the mediation system. The mediation system 200 is constructed in 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 by software in a microcomputer built in each printer. When a printer is locally connected to a computer connected to the network, the printer control unit 250 can be built in the computer by software.
[0020]
The printer control unit 250 includes 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, when one document is distributed and printed by two printers, the two printers are combined to form one logical printer.
[0021]
The physical printer management unit 254 has a function of managing the operation state of each printer, for example, the remaining amount of toner and paper. The physical printer management unit 254 is provided for each printer as a machine regardless of the configuration of the logical printer.
[0022]
The data conversion unit 256 corresponds to the function of the printer driver. There is a function of converting data received from the mediation system 200 into control data unique to the printer to be controlled, that is, data representing dot on / off for each pixel. The security module 251 has functions such as data encryption and transmission / reception authentication for avoiding unauthorized access to the printer control unit 250.
[0023]
The mediation system 200 is mainly composed of a standard function unit 210, an application unit 220, a charging unit 240, and a security module 201. The standard function unit 210 provides a main function for realizing printing via the mediation 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, an API (Application Programming Interface) 211, and a security module 202. The functions of the security modules 201 and 202 are the same as the security module 251 of the printer control unit 250.
[0024]
The data conversion unit 212 has a function of converting print data designated by the client 5 into a general-purpose format independent of 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 as output destinations may be used. Multiple types of general-purpose formats may be used in combination. However, PDF has the advantage that it is easy to maintain the page layout of the document, and the advantage that almost all documents can be changed to PDF.
[0025]
The status management unit 214 has a function of monitoring the operation state of the printer. The operation state refers to the state of each printer involved in printing such as the remaining amount of ink or toner and the remaining amount of printing paper. The management target is a physical printer. The status management unit 214 performs management by communication with the physical printer management unit 254.
[0026]
The job control unit 216 has a function of managing a print job output to the printer control unit 250. As described above, an output destination printer can be arbitrarily designated on the network. In accordance with this designation, the job control unit 216 transmits a print job to each output destination and manages its history. When an instruction such as canceling a print job or changing a print mode is issued during printing, the printer that has transmitted a job corresponding to the instruction is specified, and the instruction is output to the printer. Although it is common to the so-called spooler function in that it controls the execution of a print job, it differs from the spooler in that it does not control the print data being stored, but also controls the print data that has already been sent.
[0027]
The directory service 218 has a function of managing information that identifies users who can use the mediation system 200 and printers that can output the mediation system 200. The information regarding the user includes an identification number uniquely assigned to the user, a use password, information regarding a billing destination, and the like. Information related to the printer includes information necessary for communication with the printer. For example, information specifying a printer on the network such as a URI or an IP address is included. It also includes information on how to connect the printer and the network, such as a dedicated line and dial-up connection.
[0028]
The application unit 220 is a functional block for providing various functions that improve user convenience. For example, it provides a function for causing the client 5 to display a screen for designating the content to be printed and the output destination printer. 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 prepared individually according to the type of client, content to be printed, and the like.
[0029]
In this embodiment, the application unit 220 includes an advertisement setting unit 221, a user information storage unit 222, and an advertisement content storage unit 223. These are functional blocks for inserting advertisements into printed materials as appropriate. The user information storage unit 222 stores information registered in advance regarding the user of the mediation system. For example, sex, age, address, hobby, etc. are included. The advertisement content storage unit 223 stores many URLs of advertisement data to be inserted.
[0030]
The advertisement setting unit 221 uses the user information storage unit 222 and the advertisement content storage unit 223 to perform processing for adding an advertisement to print data designated by the user. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the advertisement addition process. First, the advertisement setting unit 221 acquires a user ID and content information from the client 5 (step S10). Content information refers to information indicating the location of print data, such as a URL, or print data itself.
[0031]
Next, the advertisement setting unit 221 accesses the user information storage unit 222 based on the user ID, and acquires user information. Further, an advertisement content to be inserted is selected based on the user information (step S12). A predetermined function is set in advance between the user information and the advertising content. With this function, for example, when “music” is registered in the advertisement setting unit 221 as a hobby in the user information, an advertisement related to music is selected. Age, gender, etc. are also considered.
[0032]
The advertisement setting unit 221 acquires the selected advertisement content according to the URL stored in the advertisement content storage unit 223 (step S14). Further, print data designated by the user is acquired (step S16), and advertisement additional data in which the advertisement content is inserted in the margin portion with a preset layout is generated (step S18). The advertisement may be printed on a page different from the print data. The generated advertisement additional data is transferred to the standard function unit 210 and converted into the PDF format by the data conversion unit 212. The advertisement may be inserted in the process of converting the advertisement data and the print data into the PDF format or after the conversion.
[0033]
The advertisement setting unit 221, the user information storage unit 222, and the advertisement content storage unit 223 are not limited to the above-described modes, and various configurations are possible. For example, the advertisement content storage unit 223 may store the advertisement data itself to be inserted.
[0034]
The advertisement setting unit 221 may select an advertisement based on the specified print content instead of the user information in the process of step S12 in FIG. When a music-related Web page is designated as print content by the user, a music-related advertisement can be attached. Furthermore, the user information storage unit 222 may store the history of the specified print content, and select an advertisement based on this history. For example, if it is found from history that web pages in the music field are frequently printed, music-related advertisements can be attached. If it is found from the history that the frequency of the printed web page has shifted from the music field to computer-related, the advertisement may be switched to computer-related.
[0035]
The advertisement setting unit 221 may set an advertisement based on information related to the client 5 instead of the user information. For example, when the client 5 is a specific mobile phone line company, an advertisement related to the company may be selected. In addition to the client 5, when a printing device as an output destination is installed at a store of a specific vendor, an advertisement related to the vendor may be selected. In addition, a predetermined advertisement may be inserted regardless of user information, print content, or the like. The advertisement to be inserted may be selected at random.
[0036]
An API (Application Programming Interface) 211 is an interface that mediates between the application unit 220 and the standard function unit 210. It plays a role of transferring data of the application unit 220 prepared individually to the standard function unit 210 in a predetermined format. By interposing the API 211, various application units 220 can be prepared for each mediation system while applying a common module to the standard function unit 210.
[0037]
The charging unit 240 performs a charging process during printing using the mediation system 200. It is a functional block prepared individually according to the type of the client 5 and the like.
[0038]
B1. Functional block variants:
The functional blocks of the mediation system are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the functional blocks of the mediation system 1.
[0039]
The mediation system 1 of the modified example is provided with functional blocks of a basic function block 10, a basic service block 20, a printing service 30, a relation service 50, a navigation service 40, a directory service block 60, an authentication service block 70, and a charging service block 80. It has been. “S” in the figure indicates a security system. The printing site control service 100 corresponds to the printer control unit 250 shown in FIG.
[0040]
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 includes 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.
[0041]
The basic service block 20, the printing service 30, the relation service 50, and the navigation service 40 correspond to the application unit 220 in FIG. The basic service block 20 functions as an input / output interface when the client 5 accesses the mediation system 1, particularly the basic function block 10. Although not shown in the figure, the basic service block 20 is provided with three detailed function blocks: a registration service, a basic printing service, and a status service, and the above-described functions are realized by these detailed function blocks.
[0042]
A functional block called a registration service mainly registers and manages the printer 110 and content service involved in printing using the mediation system.
[0043]
The basic printing service is a part that performs a function corresponding to an interface for actually executing printing. The basic function block 10 has a function of executing printing by controlling each module of data conversion, status management, and job control.
[0044]
The status service acquires and manages status information for maintenance management of the printer 110 that is the output destination. For example, information on consumables such as toner and printing paper of the printer 110 and information on update of replacement parts such as drums are acquired and managed, and output as necessary.
[0045]
The printing service block 30 has a function of providing advanced printing using the mediation system 1. For example, it provides advanced print control that is not realized by the basic function block 10 and the basic service block 20 such as outputting print data to a plurality of printers registered in advance at a fixed time.
[0046]
The relation service 50 has a function of acquiring and recording a printing status performed via the mediation system and providing usable statistical data. By using the statistical data obtained in this way, for example, the difference in operating rate for each printer can be grasped, and this can be used for printer maintenance management.
[0047]
The navigation service block 40 has a function of providing information that helps the user to use the mediation system 1. This corresponds to the help function in the mediation system 1. For example, it is possible to provide information regarding a printing execution method using the mediation system 1, a list of available printers and content services, and the like.
[0048]
C. Example of printing:
C1. Aspect 1: Printing email:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an electronic mail is printed using the mediation system. The case where the user prints an e-mail addressed to himself / herself by an 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 a hotel. It is also possible to use a computer as a client.
[0049]
When printing an electronic mail, a mobile phone CP, a printer PRT, a mediation system PS, a mail service RM, and a mail server MS are interposed. Each of these elements is connected to a network and can exchange data with each other.
[0050]
The printer PRT as the output destination is registered in advance in the mediation system PS, and a unique identification number is given by the mediation service. In the example of FIG. 5, the identification number of the printer PRT is “1111”. This identification number is a code set regardless of information specifying the printer PRT on the network, for example, an IP address, a URI, or the like. Since the IP address, URI, etc. of the printer PRT are kept secret from the user, unauthorized access can be avoided.
[0051]
The brokerage system PS and the mail service RM may be provided by different vendors. It suffices if both are associated in advance. The mail service RM provides functions necessary for printing using the mediation system PS as part of the provided service.
[0052]
An e-mail printing execution method will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing the first half of an e-mail print sequence. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of interfaces.
[0053]
First, the user accesses the mail service RM from the mobile phone CP (communication Cm1 in FIG. 5). The mail service RM accesses the mail server MS that accumulates e-mails, and displays items such as a sender, a subject, etc. on the mobile phone regarding the e-mail addressed to the user (communication Cm2 in FIG. 5). The user selects an electronic mail to be printed from the displayed subject list and transmits it to the mail service RM (see step st1 in FIG. 6).
[0054]
The left side of FIG. 8 shows an example of an interface for selecting an e-mail. An e-mail list is displayed together with a check box 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 key of the mobile phone CP and puts a check mark in the check box of the e-mail requesting printing. Here, a case where a check mark is added to two of Mail 2 and Mail 4 is illustrated. In the e-mail list display, as shown in FIG. 8, a “print” button is also displayed. The user can send a mail selection result to the mail service RM by placing a check mark on an e-mail requesting printing and then 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 determining a selection result and transmitting it to the mail service RM can be applied.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 6, when receiving the mail selection result, the mail service RM accesses the mail server MS by the communication Cm2 shown in FIG. 5 and acquires the text data of the selected electronic mail (in FIG. 6). Steps st2 and st3).
[0056]
Next, the mail service RM transfers the data of the electronic mail to be printed to the mediation system PS by the communication Cm3 in FIG. 5 (step st4 in FIG. 6). Based on information such as the amount of print data, the mediation system PS approximates the number of print pages, cost, time required, and the like, and sends it back to the mail service RM as simple print prediction information (step st5 in FIG. 6).
[0057]
The mail service RM displays the simple print prediction information received from the mediation system PS on the mobile phone CP (step st6 in FIG. 6). A display example of the simplified print prediction information is shown on the right side of FIG. Here, the case where the print page, the cost, and the required time are displayed for each electronic mail designated by the user is illustrated.
[0058]
When executing printing, the user gives an instruction to start printing (step st7 in FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 8, together with the simple print prediction information, an “execute” button is displayed on the display unit DISP, and an execution instruction can be given by moving the cursor here and pressing this button.
[0059]
The execution instruction made by the user is transmitted to the mediation system PS via the mail service RM by the communications Cm1 and Cm3 in FIG. 5 (step st7 in FIG. 6). At the same time, the print data, that is, the text of the email and the attached file are transmitted from the mail service RM to the mediation system PS. By this instruction, the mail service RM completes communication with the mobile phone CP. The subsequent communication is performed between the communication Cm4 in FIG. 5, that is, between the mobile phone CP and the mediation system PS.
[0060]
Upon receiving the print start instruction, the mediation system PS displays a standard menu related to printing on the mobile phone CP (step st8 in FIG. 6). An example of a standard menu is shown on the left side of FIG. In the standard menu, printing-related conditions such as content to be printed, the number of copies to be printed, and an output destination printer can be designated. When the “Printer No.” menu is selected, a box IP for inputting an identification number assigned to the output destination printer is displayed. In the box IP, an identification number “1111” assigned to the output printer PRT is input. When the user presses the “Send” button, the printer identification number is sent to the mediation system PS by the communication Cm4 in FIG. 5, and the output printer can be designated (step st9 in FIG. 6).
[0061]
In the mediation system PS, an identification number of the printer PRT and an 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 mediation system PS obtains the operating state 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, as shown in FIG. The content is displayed on the cellular phone CP using the communication Cm4 (step st10 in FIG. 6).
[0062]
After confirming the displayed print prediction information, the user instructs execution of printing (step st11 in FIG. 7). In this embodiment, execution of printing is instructed by inputting a user-specific password. An interface for inputting a password is illustrated in the center of FIG. As shown in the figure, after the cost and required time are displayed as detailed print prediction information, a box for inputting a password is displayed. The user inputs his / her password and presses a transmission button to transmit data to the mediation system PS.
[0063]
The user password is registered and managed in advance by the directory service 218. When the brokerage system PS refers to this information and confirms that the password is authentic and has the authority to access the instructed printer PRT, it displays a print start screen on the mobile phone CP ( Step st12 in FIG. In parallel, the mediation system PS transmits predetermined banner data prepared in PDF format, that is, advertisement data, to the printer PRT designated as the output destination by the communication Cm5 in FIG. This advertisement data is data set by the advertisement setting unit 221 previously shown in FIGS. On the printer PRT side, the advertisement data in PDF format is converted to raw data and printing is performed (step st13 in FIG. 7). At the same time, the mediation system PS displays a message prompting the mobile phone CP to confirm whether or not a banner page has been printed (step st14 in FIG. 7). A display example is shown on the right side of FIG.
[0064]
The user confirms that the banner has been printed, and presses the “OK” button shown in FIG. 9 (step st15). Upon confirming this input, the mediation system PS converts the e-mail data received and accumulated from the mail service RM into the PDF format, which is a general-purpose format, and then outputs the output destination by the communication Cm5 in FIG. To the printer PRT (step st16 in FIG. 7). PDF format data is converted to raw data on the printer PRT side and printed. In addition, it is good also as what inserts advertisement data in the margin of an email. When the printing of the e-mail is completed, the mediation system PS outputs the fee data required for printing to the billing destination, and ends the series of processes (step st17 in FIG. 7).
[0065]
In the above-described sequence, display of print prediction information and banner printing (step st13 in FIG. 7) may be omitted. The process of converting the e-mail into the PDF format may be executed at any timing from when the mediation system PS receives the data until it is output to the printer PRT.
[0066]
C2. Aspect 2: Printing a web page:
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how a Web page is printed. The case where a user prints a Web page being viewed on a portable computer PC has been illustrated. Assume that the output printer is installed in a public place.
[0067]
In the aspect 2, the computer PC, the printer PRT, the mediation system PS, and the web server WS that provides data of the web page being browsed are interposed. Each of these elements is connected to a network and can exchange data with each other.
[0068]
The user can download data from the Web server WS to the computer PC by communication Cm21 in FIG. 10 and browse the Web page with a browser. When the user desires to print a web page, the URL of the mediation system PS is input to the browser, and the web page of the mediation system is accessed.
[0069]
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a Web page provided by the mediation system. Corresponds to an interface for specifying printing conditions. The user specifies the content by inputting the URL of the Web page to be printed in the print data box.
[0070]
The “net printing mediation site” also has an input box for designating a printer as an output destination. Here, as in the case of aspect 1, the printer identification number is entered.
[0071]
When the “print start” button is clicked after designating the print conditions including the output destination, the print conditions designated by the user are transmitted to the intermediary system PS by communication Cm23 in FIG. Based on the URL included in the print data, the mediation system PS accesses the Web server WS by the communication Cm22 in FIG. 10 and acquires the data of the Web page to be printed. This function is provided by the application unit 220 of the mediation system. The subsequent sequence is the same as in the first aspect. In the second embodiment, the print instruction by the computer PC has been described as an example.
[0072]
According to the mediation 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 that is the output destination. By installing a large number of printers registered in the mediation system in a public place, it is possible to provide an environment in which printing can be performed regardless of the place. In this embodiment, print data is converted into a general-purpose format, that is, PDF, and then the print data is mediated. Therefore, mediation of printing can be easily realized without standardizing the printer models.
[0073]
According to this embodiment, it is possible to add commercial added value to the printing mediation method by adding an advertisement. By adding the advertisement, it is possible to cover part of the installation cost and running cost of the printing apparatus with the advertisement cost.
[0074]
In the embodiment, the case where an advertisement is printed together is illustrated. Information other than advertisements may be added. For example, news, weather forecasts, miscellaneous knowledge such as so-called wisdom of life, fortune-telling, character images, calendars, and the like can be considered. These pieces of information can be appropriately selected and inserted by the same configuration as that of the present embodiment (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
[0075]
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying 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 in addition to software.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of a print mediation system.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks of an intermediary system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an advertisement addition process.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the functional block of the mediation system 1;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which electronic mail is printed using a mediation system.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an e-mail print sequence.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an e-mail print sequence.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an interface.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an interface.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of printing a Web page.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating 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 Services
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 section
211 ... API
212 ... Data converter
214 ... Status management section
216: Job control section
218 ... Directory service
220 ... Application section
240 ... billing department
250. Printer control unit
251 ... Security module
252: Logical printer management unit
254 ... Physical printer management unit
256: Data converter

Claims (5)

A print mediation method for realizing printing between a plurality of clients and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network by a mediation server computer,
The print mediation server computer is
(A) User information which is information about a user who uses the client and information indicating the location of additional information added at the time of printing are stored in a memory of the print mediation server computer;
(B) A print request including information indicating the location of print data and output destination designation information for designating the printing apparatus that is the output destination of the print data from the client , and an identification given to the user Receive information and
(C) before SL on the basis of information indicating the location of the print data specified by the user, it acquires the print data via the network,
(D) reading the user information from the memory based on the identification information of the user who made the print request ;
(E) obtaining location information of the additional information stored in the memory based on the user information;
(F) according to the acquired location information, acquiring additional information different from the print data from a server computer other than the print mediation server computer via the network;
(F) the information adding data including the acquired the obtained additional information to the print data, generated in a printable generic format by the printing device,
(G) A printing mediation method for mediating the generated information addition data to a printing device designated by the output destination designation information .   The print mediation method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined additional information is advertisement information. The printing mediation method according to claim 1,
Before SL user information, at least, a printing mediation process comprising the user's gender, age, occupation data. A print mediation server computer that mediates between a plurality of clients and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network and realizes printing between the two,
An information storage unit that stores, in a memory, user information that is information about a user who uses the client and location information that indicates the location of additional information added at the time of printing ;
A print request including information indicating the location of the print data and output destination designation information for designating the printing apparatus that is the output destination of the print data from the client , and identification information given to the user An input section to input,
A print data acquisition unit that acquires the print data via the network based on information indicating the location of the print data specified by the user;
The user information is read from the memory based on the identification information of the user who has made the print request , and the location information stored in the memory is acquired based on the user information, and based on the location information An information acquisition unit for acquiring information different from the print data from a server computer other than the print mediation server computer via the network;
The information adding data including the acquired additional information to the print data the acquired information the additional data generation unit for generating a printable generic format by the printing device,
A print mediation server computer comprising: a job management unit that mediates the generated information addition data to a printing apparatus designated by the output destination designation information . A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for mediating between a plurality of clients connected to a network and a plurality of printing apparatuses by a print mediation server computer and realizing printing between the two by the print mediation server computer ,
A function of storing in the memory of the print mediation server computer user information which is information about a user who uses the client and information indicating the location of additional information added at the time of printing ;
A function for inputting, from the client, information indicating the location of print data, output destination designation information for designating the printing apparatus that is the output destination of the print data , and identification information given to the user ;
A function of acquiring the print data via the network based on information indicating the location of the print data designated by the user;
A function of reading the user information from the memory based on the identification information of the user who made the print request ;
A function of acquiring the location information of the additional information stored in the memory based on the user information;
A function of acquiring additional information different from the print data from a server computer other than the print mediation server computer via the network according to the acquired location information ;
The information adding data including the acquired additional information to the print data the acquired, and generating a printable generic format by the printing device,
A recording medium recording a program for realizing a function of mediating the generated information additional data to a printing apparatus designated by the output destination designation information .

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