JP4760657B2 - Output management apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an output management apparatus and method, and more particularly to an output management apparatus and method for centrally managing distributed printing.

  Conventionally, it has been a business form in which printed materials such as forms are printed intensively with a high-speed printer installed in a data center, etc., and sorted and transferred to each office. Recently, there is an increasing number of business forms in which print data is transmitted from a data center to medium to low speed printers installed in each office, and the medium and low speed printers receiving the print data print printed matter, that is, perform distributed printing. . Furthermore, the generalization of output management apparatuses capable of centrally managing distributed printing has spurred an increase in business forms for performing distributed printing.

For example, there are a print control device, a substitution printing system, a printing control method, a program, and a storage medium that recognize the completion status of a derived job and recognize the completion of printing of the job even when substitution printing occurs during distributed printing (for example, (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-5165 A

  However, with the technique described in Patent Document 1, the end of printing is the completion of a job, and the administrator cannot confirm whether printing has been performed correctly and whether the printing result has been handled correctly.

  That is, in the conventional distributed printing technology, whether the output device / printer has notified the completion of printing is the printed material correctly printed or whether the printed material is correctly handled (in the hands of the person in charge of the printed material). It is not possible for the manager at the data center side to grasp.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an output management apparatus and method capable of reliably recognizing that a printed matter has been correctly printed and that the printed matter has been correctly handled when performing distributed printing. With the goal.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an output management device for making a print request to an output device via a network, and a comparison data generating means for generating comparison data every time a print request is made, a comparison data embedding means for embedding the print data to the print request comparative data generated by the comparison data generating means and transmitting means for said comparison data embedding means to the output device transmits the print data embedded with comparative data Receiving means for receiving read data obtained by reading the print result of the print data being printed by the output apparatus from the output device having transmitted the print data by the transmitting means, and comparison data on the read data received by the receiving means Comparison data identification means for identifying the comparison data and comparison data on the read data identified by the comparison data identification means Wherein; and a collating means for collating the comparison data embedded in the print data, if the verification by the verification means matches recognizes that the print data has been correctly printed by the output device and the verification by the verification means If they do not match, it is recognized that the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the comparison data generating means generates unique comparison data for each output page of the print data, and the comparison data embedding means is the unique comparison. The data is embedded for each output page of the print data, the comparison data identification unit identifies the comparison data on each page of the read data, and the collation unit compares the comparison data on each page of the read data with the comparison data The comparison data embedded for each output page of the print data is collated, and when all the collations by the collating means match, the print data is recognized as correctly printed by the output device, and all the collations by the collating means match. If not, it is recognized that the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the print data page number measuring means for measuring the number of output pages of the print data and the number of pages of the read data received by the receiving means are measured. Read data page number measuring means, the collating means collates the number of pages of the read data with the number of output pages of the print data, and if the collation by the collating means matches, the print data When the output device recognizes that the printing has been correctly performed and the collation by the collating unit does not match, it is recognized that the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device.

The invention of claim 4 further comprises print image generation means for generating a print image for each output page from the print data in any of the inventions of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the collating means Each page of the read data is collated with a print image of each output page of the print data, and when the collation by the collation unit matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device, and the collation unit If the collation does not match, it is recognized that the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a recipient data generating means for generating recipient data relating to a recipient of the print data every time the print request is made, and the receipt A recipient data embedding unit for embedding the recipient data generated by the recipient data generating unit in the print data, and a recipient data identifying unit for identifying the recipient data on the read data, and the collating unit includes: The recipient data on the read data and the recipient data embedded in the print data are collated, and when the collation by the collating means is coincident, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device, and the collation If the collation by the means does not match, it is recognized that the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the output management method of the output management apparatus that issues a print request to the output apparatus via the network , the comparison data is generated each time a print request is made, and the generated comparison data is displayed. The print data embedded in the print data requested to be printed, the print data embedded with the comparison data is transmitted to the output device, and the output device that has printed the print data is output from the output device that has transmitted the print data. When the read read data is received, the comparison data on the received read data is identified, the comparison data on the identified read data is compared with the comparison data embedded in the print data, and the verification matches If the print data is correctly printed on the output device and the collation does not match, the print data And recognizes that not correctly printed by the output device.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 6 , wherein each time the print request is made, unique comparison data is generated for each output page of the print data, and the generated unique comparison data is used as the print data. Embedded in each output page, send print data in which comparison data unique to each output page is embedded to the output device, and send print data in which comparison data unique to each output page is embedded From the output device, the output device receives the read data obtained by reading the print result obtained by printing the print data, identifies the comparison data on each page of the received read data, and on each page of the identified read data The comparison data and the comparison data embedded for each output page of the print data are collated. It recognizes that Todeta has been correctly printed by the output device, if the verification does not match all of the print data and recognizes that not correctly printed by the output device.

The invention of claim 8 is the invention of claim 6 or 7 , wherein the number of output pages of the print data is measured, the number of pages of the received read data is measured, and the number of pages of the read data and the print If the collation matches the number of output pages of the data, the print data is recognized as correctly printed by the output device. If the collation does not match, the print data is correctly printed by the output device. It is characterized by recognizing that there was no.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any of the sixth to eighth aspects, a print image for each output page is generated from the print data, and each page of the read data and each output page of the print data are generated. If the collation matches, the print data is recognized as correctly printed by the output device, and if the collation does not match, the print data is not correctly printed by the output device. It is characterized by recognition.

Further, the invention of claim 10 is the invention according to any one of claims 6 to 9 , wherein recipient data relating to a recipient of the print data is generated every time the print request is made, and the generated recipient data is stored in the recipient data. The print data is embedded in the print data, the print data in which the recipient data is embedded is transmitted to the output device, and the output device transmits the print data from the output device in which the print data in which the recipient data is embedded is transmitted. Receives the read data obtained by reading the printed result, identifies the recipient data on the received read data, and collates the recipient data on the identified read data with the recipient data embedded in the print data If the collation matches, the print data is recognized as correctly printed by the output device, and the collation does not match. If the print data and recognizes that not correctly printed by the output device.

  According to the present invention, the data center confirms whether the printing result in the distributed environment is correct, whether the printing result is handled correctly, or whether the printing result has passed to the correct recipient. There is an effect that it becomes possible to do.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, when it is determined that the print result is not correct, the print result is not handled correctly, or the print result does not reach the correct recipient, an appropriate response is taken. There is an effect that it becomes possible.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to use the print result scan information as tracking information of the print result by holding the scan information of the print result on the center side.

  Embodiments of an output management apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a distributed printing system 2 to which an output management apparatus 1 according to the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the distributed printing system has a configuration in which an output management apparatus 1 according to the present invention and a plurality of multifunction devices 3 are connected via a network 4.

  The output management apparatus 1 manages distributed printing to a plurality of multifunction peripherals 3 in the distributed printing system 2, specifically, transmits job data to a predetermined multifunction peripheral 3 and prints from the predetermined multifunction peripheral 3. Scan data of the received document is received, and based on the received scan data, it is recognized whether or not the predetermined multifunction device 3 has correctly printed the job data.

  The multifunction device 3 is an output device that provides a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like with a single device. In particular, the output function device 1 that receives the printer function via a network. The job data is printed, and the scanner function reads the document and generates scan data.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the functional configuration of the output management apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the output management apparatus 1 includes a print data input unit 5, a job data generation unit 6, a job data storage unit 7, a comparison data generation unit 8, a comparison data embedding unit 9, a data storage unit 10, and job data. A transmission unit 11, a scan data reception unit 12, a comparison data identification unit 13, a collation unit 14, and a notification unit 15 are provided.

  The print data input unit 5 performs a process of inputting print data for distributed printing by a plurality of multifunction devices 3. Specifically, a method of inputting print data from an information processing terminal such as a PC via the network 4, a method of reading out and inputting print data stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or flash memory, and the like. is there.

  The job data generation unit 6 performs processing for generating job data (unit of print request for the multifunction device 3) based on the print data input by the print data input unit 5.

  The job data storage unit 7 stores the job data generated by the job data generation unit 6.

  The comparison data generation unit 8 generates comparison data for recognizing whether or not the job data has been correctly printed by the predetermined multifunction device 3 based on the job data and the job number defined in the distributed printing system 2. Perform the process.

  The comparison data embedding unit 9 performs processing for embedding the comparison data generated by the comparison data generation unit 8 in the print data. Specifically, a barcode such as a barcode or two-dimensional barcode representing the comparison data is embedded in the print data (for example, a code is embedded in the cover of the print data, or a code is embedded in each page of the print data). .

  The data storage unit 10 stores the comparison data generated by the comparison data generation unit 8. The comparison data is stored in association with the job data stored in the job data storage unit 7.

  The job data transmission unit 11 performs processing for transmitting job data, which is a print request for print data in which comparison data is embedded, to a predetermined multifunction device 3.

  The scan data receiving unit 12 performs a process of receiving scan data from the multifunction machine 3.

  The comparison data identification unit 13 performs processing for identifying comparison data from the code on the scan data received by the scan data reception unit 12.

  The collation unit 14 performs a process of collating the comparison data identified by the comparison data identification unit 13 with the comparison data stored in the data storage unit 10. Here, when the comparison data matches, it is recognized that the job data has been correctly printed by the multifunction device 3, and when the comparison data does not match, it is recognized that the job data has not been correctly printed by the multifunction device 3.

  The notification unit 15 indicates that the job data was not correctly printed for the multifunction device 3 (or the administrator or the recipient of the job data) when the comparison of the comparison data performed by the verification unit 14 did not match. Processing for notifying a warning or the like indicating the

  Next, comparison of comparison data will be described in detail.

  The output management device 1 embeds a barcode or the like representing the comparison data in the cover of the print data, transmits job data that is a print request for the print data in which the barcode is embedded in the cover to the predetermined multifunction device 3, and The comparison data is stored. When the predetermined multifunction device 3 receives the job data from the output management device 1, it prints the print data in which the barcode is embedded on the cover based on the received job data, and notifies the output management device 1 of the print completion. Send. When the output management apparatus 1 receives the print completion notification from the multifunction device 3, it recognizes that the job data has been printed by the predetermined multifunction device 3.

  Then, when the recipient of the job data reads the cover of the printed document (on which a barcode representing the comparison data is printed) by the scanner function of the multifunction device 3 to generate the cover scan data, the multifunction device 3 Transmits the generated cover page scan data to the output management apparatus 1. When the output management device 1 receives the cover scan data from the MFP 3, the output management device 1 identifies the comparison data from the barcode on the received scan data of the cover, and compares the identified comparison data with the stored comparison data. If the comparison data matches, it is recognized that the job data has been correctly printed by the multifunction device 3, and if the comparison data does not match, it is recognized that the job data has not been correctly printed by the multifunction device 3.

  Thus, the normality of the print result can be confirmed by confirming the consistency between the print result and the job data.

  Further, it is possible to compare the number of output pages of print data with the number of pages of scan data, and to confirm the normality of the print result in more detail depending on whether the number of pages matches. In this case, when generating the job data, the output management apparatus 1 measures the number of output pages of the print data, and stores the measured number of output pages together with the comparison data embedded in the print data. Then, the recipient of the job data reads all printed documents with the scanner function of the multifunction device 3 to generate scan data for all documents, and the output management device 1 counts the number of pages of scan data from the multifunction device 2. Is compared with the number of output pages stored.

  In addition, the comparison data is embedded for each output page of the print data, compared with the comparison data for each page of the scan data, and all pages are printed correctly in order depending on whether the comparison data of all pages match. The normality of the print result can be confirmed in more detail. In this case, the output management apparatus 1 generates unique comparison data for each output page, stores all the generated comparison data, and embeds a code representing the page-specific comparison data for each output page. Then, the recipient of the job data reads all the printed documents with the scanner function of the multifunction device 3 to generate scan data for all the documents, and the output management apparatus 1 outputs the scan data from the multifunction device 2 on each page. The page-specific comparison data is identified from the code and is compared with the stored page-specific comparison data.

  Furthermore, the print image generated from the print data is compared with the scan data, and whether or not all the pages are correctly printed in order can be confirmed by checking whether or not they match. You can also check in detail. In this case, when generating the job data, the output management apparatus 1 generates print images of all output pages of the print data, and stores the generated print images together with comparison data embedded in the print data. Then, the recipient of the job data reads all the printed documents with the scanner function of the multifunction device 3 to generate scan data for all the documents, and the output management apparatus 1 stores the scan data from the multifunction device 3 and the storage Check the printed image.

  Next, comparison data comparison processing performed in the output management apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the print data input unit inputs print data (step S301), the job data generation unit generates job data based on the print data (step S302), and the comparison data generation unit generates comparison data (step 303). The comparison data embedding unit embeds a code representing the comparison data in the cover of the print data (step S304), the job data transmission unit transmits the job data to the designated multifunction device (step S305), and the multifunction device notifies the print completion. Wait until you receive

  If the print completion notification is not received from the multifunction peripheral that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S306), the job data is not transmitted to the multifunction peripheral due to a network malfunction or the like, or the job data is due to a malfunction of the multifunction peripheral. Recognizing that the data has not been printed, the processing procedure for comparing comparison data is terminated.

  If a print completion notification is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S306), the process waits until scan data is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data.

  If the scan data receiving unit does not receive the scan data from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S307), and a predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the print completion notification (YES in step S308), the notification unit performs the job A warning indicating that the data has not been printed correctly is sent to the multi-function peripheral (step S312), and the comparison data verification processing procedure is terminated.

  When the scan data receiving unit receives the scan data from the multi-function peripheral that transmitted the job data (YES in step S307), the comparison data identifying unit identifies the comparison data from the code on the scan data (step S309), and the collation unit The comparison data is collated (step S310). If the comparison data of the comparison unit matches (YES in step S311), the comparison data comparison processing procedure ends.

  If the collation of the comparison data of the collation unit does not match (NO in step S311), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly (step S312), and the comparison data This completes the verification procedure.

  Next, a comparison data comparison process including a comparison between the number of output pages of print data and the number of pages of scan data performed by the output management apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the print data input unit inputs print data (step S401), the job data generation unit generates job data based on the print data (step S402), measures the number of output pages of the print data (step S403), and compares them. The data generation unit generates comparison data (step 404), the comparison data embedding unit embeds a code representing the comparison data in the cover of the print data (step S405), and the job data transmission unit specifies the job data. (Step S406), and waits until a print completion notification is received from the multifunction device.

  If the print completion notification is not received from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S407), the job data has not been transmitted to the MFP due to a network failure or the job data is lost due to a failure of the MFP. Recognizing that the data has not been printed, the processing procedure for comparing comparison data is terminated.

  If a print completion notification is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S407), the process waits until scan data is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data.

  When the scan data receiving unit does not receive the scan data from the multi-function peripheral that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S408) and the predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the print completion notification (YES in step S409), the notification unit performs the job A warning indicating that the data has not been printed correctly is sent to the multifunction peripheral (step S416), and the comparison data collation processing procedure is terminated.

  When the scan data receiving unit receives the scan data from the multi-function peripheral that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S408), the comparison data identifying unit identifies the comparison data from the code on the scan data (step S410), and the collation unit The comparison data is collated (step S411), and if the collation of the comparison data of the collation unit does not match (NO in step S412), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly. (Step S416), and the comparison data verification processing procedure is terminated.

  If the comparison data of the comparison unit matches (YES in step S412), the number of pages of the scan data is measured (step S413), the verification unit compares the number of pages (step S414), and the page of the verification unit If the numbers are matched (YES in step S415), the comparison data matching process is terminated.

  Further, when the collation of the number of pages of the collation unit does not match (NO in step S415), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly (step S416), and the comparison data This completes the verification procedure.

  Next, comparison data comparison processing including comparison between print data comparison data for each output page of print data and comparison data for each page of scan data performed in the output management apparatus will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. .

  When the print data input unit inputs print data (step S501), the job data generation unit generates job data based on the print data (step S502), and the comparison data generation unit generates comparison data for each page (step S502). In step 503), the comparison data embedding unit embeds a code representing the comparison data in each page of the print data (step S504), and the job data transmission unit transmits the job data to the designated multifunction peripheral (step S505). Wait until a print completion notification is received from the machine.

  If the print completion notification is not received from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S506), the job data has not been transmitted to the MFP due to a network failure or the job data is lost due to a failure of the MFP. Recognizing that the data has not been printed, the processing procedure for comparing comparison data is terminated.

  If a print completion notification is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S506), the process waits until scan data is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data.

  If the scan data receiving unit does not receive the scan data from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S507), and the predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the print completion notification (YES in step S508), the notification unit performs the job A warning indicating that the data has not been printed correctly is sent to the multi-function peripheral (step S512), and the comparison data verification processing procedure is terminated.

  When the scan data receiving unit receives the scan data from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S507), the comparison data identifying unit identifies the comparison data from the code on each page of the scan data (step S509), The collation unit collates the comparison data for each page (step S510), and if all the collation of the comparison data for each page of the collation unit match (YES in step S511), the comparison data collation processing procedure ends. .

  If all the comparison data of each page of the verification unit does not match (NO in step S511), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly (step S511). S512), the comparison data collation processing procedure ends.

  Next, comparison data comparison processing including comparison between a print image generated from print data and scan data performed by the output management apparatus will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the print data input unit inputs print data (step S601), the job data generation unit generates job data based on the print data (step S602), and generates print images of all output pages of the print data (step S602). In step S603, the comparison data generation unit generates comparison data (step 604), the comparison data embedding unit embeds a code representing the comparison data in the cover of the print data (step S605), and the job data transmission unit specifies job data. Is transmitted to the multifunction peripheral (step S606), and waits until a print completion notification is received from the multifunction peripheral.

  If the print completion notification is not received from the multifunction peripheral that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S607), the job data is not transmitted to the multifunction peripheral due to a network malfunction or the like, or the job data is not due to a malfunction of the multifunction peripheral. Recognizing that the data has not been printed, the processing procedure for comparing comparison data is terminated.

  If a print completion notification is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S607), the process waits until scan data is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data.

  If the scan data receiving unit does not receive the scan data from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S608), and the predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the print completion notification (YES in step S609), the notification unit performs the job A warning indicating that the data has not been printed correctly is sent to the multifunction peripheral (step S615), and the comparison data collation processing procedure is terminated.

  When the scan data receiving unit receives the scan data from the multi-function peripheral that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S608), the comparison data identifying unit identifies the comparison data from the code on the scan data (step S610), and the collation unit The comparison data is collated (step S611), and if the collation of the comparison data in the collation unit does not match (NO in step S612), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly. (Step S615), and the comparison data collation processing procedure ends.

  If the collation of the comparison data in the collation unit matches (YES in step S612), the collation unit collates the print image of all the output pages with the scan data (step S613), and all the output pages of the collation unit. If all the collations of the print image and the scan data match (YES in step S614), the comparison data collation processing procedure ends.

  If the collation between the print image of all output pages of the collation unit and the scan data does not match (NO in step S614), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly. Notification is made (step S615), and the comparison data verification processing procedure is terminated.

  Note that the comparison of the comparison data embedded in the cover, the number of pages, the comparison of the comparison data embedded in each page, and the comparison of the print image can be freely combined.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating Example 2 of the functional configuration of the output management apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the output management apparatus 1 includes a print data input unit 5, a job data generation unit 6, a job data storage unit 7, a recipient data definition unit 16, a comparison data generation unit 8, a data embedding unit 9, and data The storage unit 10, the job data transmission unit 11, the scan data reception unit 12, the comparison data identification unit 13, the collation unit 14, the recipient data identification unit 17, and the notification unit 15 are configured.

  The print data input unit 5 performs a process of inputting print data for distributed printing by a plurality of multifunction devices 3. Specifically, a method of inputting print data from an information processing terminal such as a PC via the network 4, a method of reading out and inputting print data stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or flash memory, and the like. is there.

  The job data generation unit 6 performs processing for generating job data (unit of print request for the multifunction device 3) based on the print data input by the print data input unit 5.

  The job data storage unit 7 stores the job data generated by the job data generation unit 6.

  The recipient data defining unit 16 defines the recipient data based on the recipient information designated together with the print data input or the recipient information acquired from the multifunction device 3 designated together with the print data input.

  The comparison data generation unit 8 generates comparison data for recognizing whether or not the job data has been correctly printed by the predetermined multifunction device 3 based on the job data and the job number defined in the distributed printing system 2. Perform the process.

  The data embedding unit 9 performs processing for embedding the recipient data defined by the recipient data definition unit 16 and the comparison data generated by the comparison data generation unit 8 in the print data. Specifically, in the case of comparison data, a code such as a barcode or two-dimensional barcode representing the comparison data is embedded in the print data (for example, the code is embedded on the cover of the print data, the code is embedded in each page of the print data). Embedding etc.). In the case of the recipient data, a mark sheet or the like is embedded in the cover of the print data so that the recipient can fill in a number such as an ID on the mark sheet of the printed cover.

  The data storage unit 10 stores the recipient data defined by the recipient data definition unit 16 and the comparison data generated by the comparison data generation unit 8. The recipient data and the comparison data are stored in association with the job data stored in the job data storage unit 7.

  The job data transmission unit 11 performs processing for transmitting job data, which is a print request for print data in which comparison data is embedded, to a predetermined multifunction device 3.

  The scan data receiving unit 12 performs a process of receiving scan data from the multifunction machine 3.

  The comparison data identification unit 13 performs processing for identifying comparison data from the code on the scan data received by the scan data reception unit 12.

  The recipient data identification unit 17 performs processing for identifying recipient data from the scan data received by the scan data reception unit 12. Specifically, the recipient data is identified from the number such as the recipient ID painted on the scan data mark sheet.

  The collation unit 14 performs processing for collating the comparison data identified by the comparison data identification unit 13 with the comparison data stored in the data storage unit 10, recipient data identified by the recipient data identification unit 17, and data A process of collating with recipient data stored in the storage unit 10 is performed. Here, if the comparison data matches and the recipient data matches, it is recognized that the job data is correctly printed by the multifunction device 3, and if the comparison data or recipient data does not match, the job data is 3 recognizes that printing was not successful.

  The notification unit 15 correctly prints the job data to the multifunction device 3 (or the administrator or the recipient of the job data) when the comparison of the comparison data or the recipient data performed by the verification unit 14 does not match. A process for notifying a warning or the like indicating not being performed is performed.

  Next, comparison of comparison data will be described in detail.

  The output management apparatus 1 embeds a barcode or the like expressing comparison data on the cover of the print data and a mark sheet or the like for entering recipient data, and prints the print data in which the barcode and the mark sheet are embedded on the cover. The job data is transmitted to a predetermined multifunction machine 3, and the comparison data and the recipient data are stored. When the predetermined multifunction device 3 receives the job data from the output management device 1, it prints the print data in which the barcode and the mark sheet are embedded on the cover based on the received job data, and prints the print data to the output management device 1. Send a completion notification. When the output management apparatus 1 receives the print completion notification from the multifunction device 3, it recognizes that the job data has been printed by the predetermined multifunction device 3.

  Then, the recipient of the job data fills the mark sheet on the cover of the printed document with his / her ID number and the like, and the cover of the document (printed with a barcode representing the comparison data) is printed on the MFP 3. When the cover function scans and generates scan data for the cover, the multifunction machine 3 transmits the generated cover scan data to the output management apparatus 1. When the output management device 1 receives the cover scan data from the multifunction device 3, the output management device 1 identifies the comparison data from the barcode on the received scan data of the cover and identifies the recipient data from the fill of the mark sheet. The data is compared with the stored comparison data, the identified recipient data is compared with the stored recipient data, and if the comparison data matches and the recipient data matches, the job data is combined If the comparison data does not match or the recipient data does not match, it is recognized that the job data has not been correctly printed by the multifunction device 3.

  In this way, it is possible to confirm the normality of the print result more accurately by confirming the consistency between the print result and the job data and confirming the consistency with the recipient.

  Next, comparison data comparison and recipient data verification processing performed in the output management apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the print data input unit inputs the print data (step S801), the job data generation unit generates job data based on the print data (step S802), and the recipient data definition unit defines the recipient data (step S803). ), The comparison data generation unit generates comparison data (step 804), the data embedding unit embeds a mark sheet for filling the recipient data and a code representing the comparison data in the cover of the print data (step S805), and job data The transmission unit transmits the job data to the designated multifunction peripheral (step S806), and waits until a print completion notification is received from the multifunction peripheral.

  If a print completion notification is not received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S807), the job data is not transmitted to the multifunction device due to a network failure or the like, or the job data is due to a malfunction of the multifunction device. Recognizing that printing has not been performed, the collation processing procedure is terminated.

  If a print completion notification is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data (YES in step S807), the process waits until scan data is received from the multifunction device that has transmitted the job data.

  If the scan data receiving unit does not receive the scan data from the MFP that has transmitted the job data (NO in step S808), and the predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the print completion notification (YES in step S809), the notification unit receives the job. A warning indicating that the data has not been printed correctly is sent to the multi-function peripheral (step S815), and the verification processing procedure is terminated.

  When the scan data receiving unit receives the scan data from the multi-function peripheral that transmitted the job data (YES in step S808), the recipient data identifying unit identifies the recipient data from the mark sheet on the scan data, and the comparison data identifying unit Identifies the comparison data from the code on the scan data (step S810), the collation unit collates the comparison data (step S811), and the collation of the comparison data of the collation unit does not match (NO in step S812), The notification unit notifies the multifunction peripheral of a warning indicating that the job data has not been printed correctly (step S815), and the collation processing procedure is terminated.

  Also, if the collation of the comparison data in the collation unit matches (YES in step S812), the collation unit collates the recipient data (step S813), and if the collation of the recipient data in the collation unit matches (in step S814). YES), the verification procedure is terminated.

  If the collation of the recipient data in the collation unit does not match (NO in step S814), the notification unit notifies the MFP that the job data has not been printed correctly (step S815). The processing procedure of is terminated.

  In addition to the comparison of the comparison data and the verification of the recipient data, the comparison of the number of pages, the comparison of the comparison data embedded in each page, and the verification of the print image can be freely combined.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a distributed printing system to which an output management apparatus according to the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows Example 1 of a functional structure of an output management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process of collation of the comparison data performed with an output management apparatus. 10 is a flowchart illustrating comparison data comparison processing including comparison between the number of output pages of print data and the number of pages of scan data performed by the output management apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating comparison data comparison processing including comparison between comparison data for each output page of print data and comparison data for each page of scan data performed by the output management apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating comparison data comparison processing including comparison between a print image generated from print data and scan data performed by the output management apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows Example 2 of a functional structure of an output management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process of collation of the comparison data performed by an output management apparatus, and collation of recipient data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Output management apparatus 2 Distributed printing system 3 Multifunction machine 4 Network 5 Print data input part 6 Job data generation part 7 Job data storage part 8 Comparison data generation part 9 Comparison data embedding part 10 Data storage part 11 Job data transmission part 12 Scan data Receiving unit 13 Comparison data identification unit 14 Verification unit 15 Notification unit 16 Recipient data definition unit 17 Recipient data identification unit

Claims (10)

In an output management device that issues a print request to an output device via a network,
Comparison data generating means for generating comparison data every time a print request is made;
Comparison data embedding means for embedding the comparison data generated by the comparison data generating means in the print data requested for printing;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print data in which the comparison data embedding means embeds the comparison data to the output device;
Receiving means for receiving read data obtained by reading a print result obtained by printing the print data from the output apparatus that has transmitted the print data by the transmission means;
Comparison data identifying means for identifying comparison data on the read data received by the receiving means;
A comparison unit for comparing the comparison data on the read data identified by the comparison data identification unit with the comparison data embedded in the print data ;
If the collation by the collating means matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device,
The output management apparatus, wherein when the collation by the collation means does not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output apparatus. The comparison data generation means includes
Generate unique comparison data for each output page of the print data,
The comparison data embedding means includes:
Embed the unique comparison data for each output page of the print data,
The comparison data identification means includes
Identifying comparison data on each page of the read data;
The verification means includes
Compare the comparison data on each page of the read data with the comparison data embedded for each output page of the print data,
If all the collations by the collating means match, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device,
Wherein when the verification by the verification means does not match all of the output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing and the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device. Print data page number measuring means for measuring the number of output pages of the print data;
Further comprising a read data page number measuring means for measuring the number of pages of read data received by the receiving means,
The verification means includes
Compare the number of pages of the read data with the number of output pages of the print data,
If the collation by the collating means matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device,
3. The output management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the collation by the collation unit does not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output apparatus. Print image generating means for generating a print image for each output page from the print data;
The verification means includes
Collating each page of the read data with a print image of each output page of the print data;
If the collation by the collating means matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device,
The output management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein if the collation by the collation unit does not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output apparatus. Recipient data generation means for generating recipient data relating to the recipient of the print data each time the print request is made;
Recipient data embedding means for embedding the recipient data generated by the recipient data generating means in the print data;
Further comprising recipient data identification means for identifying recipient data on the read data;
The verification means includes
Collating the recipient data on the read data with the recipient data embedded in the print data;
If the collation by the collating means matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device,
If verification by the verification means does not match, the output control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that recognizes that the print data has not been correctly printed by the output device. In the output management method of the output management device that makes a print request to the output device via the network,
Each time a print request is made, comparison data is generated and the generated comparison data is embedded in the print data requested to be printed, and the print data embedded with the comparison data is transmitted to the output device,
From the output device that has transmitted the print data, the output device receives read data obtained by reading a print result obtained by printing the print data,
Identifying the comparison data on the received read data , collating the comparison data on the identified read data with the comparison data embedded in the print data ;
If the verification matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed on the output device,
An output management method, wherein if the collation does not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output device. Generate unique comparison data for each output page of the print data every time the print request is made,
Embed the generated unique comparison data for each output page of the print data,
Send print data in which unique comparison data is embedded for each output page to the output device,
From the output device that has transmitted the print data in which the comparison data unique to each output page is embedded, the output device receives the read data obtained by reading the print result obtained by printing the print data,
Identifying comparison data on each page of the received read data;
Compare the comparison data on each page of the identified read data with the comparison data embedded for each output page of the print data,
If all the matches match, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed by the output device,
The output management method according to claim 6 , wherein if all the collations do not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output device. Measure the number of output pages of the print data,
Measure the number of pages of the received read data,
Compare the number of pages of the read data with the number of output pages of the print data,
If the verification matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed on the output device,
The output management method according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein if the collation does not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output device. Generate a print image for each output page from the print data,
Collating each page of the read data with a print image of each output page of the print data;
If the verification matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed on the output device,
The output management apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein if the collation does not match, the print data is recognized as not being correctly printed by the output apparatus. Generate recipient data related to the recipient of the print data each time the print request is made,
Embed the generated recipient data in the print data,
Sending print data in which the recipient data is embedded to the output device;
From the output device that transmitted the print data in which the recipient data is embedded, the output device receives the read data obtained by reading the print result obtained by printing the print data,
Identifying recipient data on the received read data;
Collating the recipient data on the identified read data with the recipient data embedded in the print data;
If the verification matches, the print data is recognized as being correctly printed on the output device,
The output management method according to claim 6 , wherein if the collation does not match, the print data is recognized as not being printed correctly by the output device.

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