JP4977113B2 - Printing system, bibliographic information server, printing apparatus, method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a bibliographic information server, a printing apparatus, a method, and a program. Specifically, the present invention provides a printing system having a function of confirming the state of a print data storage destination server / device when printing data once issued with a print instruction from an arbitrary printing device on a network. The present invention relates to a bibliographic information server, a printing apparatus, a method, and a program.

  Conventionally, when a communication terminal device makes a print request, there is a system in which printing is executed after a printing device is uniquely specified, and printing is possible only from the designated printing device. In recent years, there has been a demand for a printing system capable of printing print data requested for printing from any printing apparatus connected to a network. That is, this printing system is a printing system capable of printing from another printing apparatus B that is in an empty state when the printing apparatus A is executing mass printing at the request of another user. The printing system also has a function of ensuring security, such that only print data of the user who requested printing at this time can be selected for printing on the printing apparatus side.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a system that stores print data in a print server and centrally manages the bibliographic information of the print data by the print management server as a system that meets this requirement. This system can print the print data stored in the print server from the desired printing apparatus by instructing the print data to be printed from the desired printing apparatus.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, print data is stored in a client PC instead of a print server, and the print data stored in the client PC is transmitted from the desired printing apparatus according to a print instruction from the desired printing apparatus. A mechanism for printing is also disclosed.

JP 2006-099714 A

  There are enterprise activity bases ranging from large-scale bases to small-scale bases, and it is necessary to properly use the above two embodiments disclosed in Patent Document 1 for each base. Applying either one of the inventions uniformly is not possible. not appropriate. In other words, when the print data is stored in the print server only at a large-scale site, the print data must be stored in the remote print server via a thin communication line from the small-scale site. It is not realistic to send print data to a large base. In addition, when installing a print server for each small-scale base, it is difficult to introduce the server because the server introduction cost and the operation management cost are increased. Therefore, as disclosed in the printing system of Patent Document 1, a printing system is applied in which print data is stored in a client PC, and print data is received from the client PC in accordance with an instruction from the printing apparatus. It has been considered.

  However, in recent offices, it is possible to work by accessing a network environment from various places (free addresses) using a notebook PC. In such an environment, the printing system in which print data is stored in the client PC disclosed in Patent Document 1 is inconvenient. In other words, since the client PC can be connected to an arbitrary network, it is inconvenient when the printing location and the current location change (for example, when the IP address is changed by DHCP). Or, even if they are on the same network, if the power of the client PC is turned off, there is a problem that printing cannot be performed.

  In particular, a large-scale base has a large amount of printing, so it is desirable to install a print server in a large-scale base for operation. Therefore, it is conceivable to apply a system that installs a print server in a large-scale base and stores print data in the print server, and applies a system that stores print data in a client PC to a small-scale base.

  However, depending on the state of the client PC (network connection, power ON / OFF), there may occur a situation in which the print data stored in the client PC cannot be printed. Nevertheless, since the bibliographic information of the print data is managed on the bibliographic information server, even the print data that cannot be printed depending on the state of the client PC is displayed in the print data list display when the printing apparatus issues a print instruction. There was a case.

  In addition, when both a printing system that accumulates print data on a print server and a printing system that accumulates print data on a client PC are installed, print data that cannot be printed and printing cannot be performed on the list of print data displayed on the display unit of the printing apparatus. Since the print data is mixed, the user cannot grasp which print data can be printed and which print data cannot be printed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to determine printable print data and non-printable print data by communicating with the information processing apparatus when storing print data in the information processing apparatus , and printable print data. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for preventing an operator from recognizing errors by displaying a print instruction on a display unit of a printing apparatus.

In order to solve this problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver , and bibliographic information for managing the print data. a bibliographic information server for storing data, a printing system including a printing apparatus for printing the print data, the bibliographic information server, bibliographic information for managing the print data stored in the print data storage means The user identification information of the user who has instructed the printing apparatus to output the print data, apparatus identification information for identifying the information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored, and the print data and bibliographic information data storing means for storing the bibliographic information data including the print data identification information for identifying, serial to the bibliographic information data storage unit The print data to identify the information processing apparatus stored by the device identification information included in the bibliographic information data, whether it is possible to print by communicating between said specified information processing apparatus In response to receiving a request for determining whether or not to permit printing, and a request for transmitting user identification information and print data list information transmitted from the printing apparatus , the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the print propriety a print data list information including the result determined by the determining means, and a list information transmission means for transmitting the print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus, the user identification information transmission request of the print data list information associated with the user identification information inputted during login to the printing device Both the list information transmission request means for transmitting to the bibliographic information server, the list information reception means for receiving print data list information sent by the list information transmission means, the print data list information received by the list information reception means A display for displaying the print data list information so that a print instruction for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination means according to the result determined by the print permission determination means included in Means.

According to this configuration, when print data is stored in the information processing apparatus, only printable print data generated according to the communication state of the information processing apparatus is displayed on the display unit of the printing apparatus that performs a print instruction operation. By doing so, it is possible to provide a mechanism that the operator can easily recognize.

The invention according to claim 2 is the printing system according to claim 1, wherein the display means is determined by the print propriety determining means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving means. The print data list information is displayed so that printable print data and non-printable print data can be further identified according to the determined result .

The invention according to claim 3 is the printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing apparatus reserves printing of non-printable print data displayed on the display means. The bibliographic information data storage unit further stores a print reservation flag indicating whether or not the print reservation unit has made a print reservation in the bibliographic information data, and the bibliographic information server includes the printing device. In response to receiving the user identification information when the user has logged in, the print reservation flag content is reserved print data that has been determined by the print permission determination unit Information for storing the print data determined to be printable according to the result so that the print device can print the print data without receiving a print designation from the user. Relative physical device, and performs a print instruction including the print data identification information of the print data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the printing apparatus issues a print data print request selected from the print data list information. The bibliographic information server further includes a print request unit that issues the print request to the bibliographic information server. A printing instruction unit that transmits a printing instruction including printing apparatus identification information for identifying the printing apparatus to an information processing apparatus specified from the apparatus specifying information of the bibliographic information data including the print data specifying information; The processing device recognizes the print data specified by the print data specifying information instructed to be printed by the print instruction means of the bibliographic information server by the printing device identification information. And further comprising a print data transmitting means for transmitting to the printing apparatus to be.

The invention according to claim 5 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing availability determination unit determines that printing is possible when printing is possible. However, when printing is impossible, it is determined that printing is impossible .

The invention according to claim 6 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the device specifying information is transmitted during communication from the bibliographic information server to the information processing device. It is characterized in that it reads out and specifies an information processing apparatus as a connection destination .

The invention according to claim 7 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information processing apparatus manages the print data stored in the print data storage means. And bibliographic information data transmitting means for generating the bibliographic information data for transmission to the bibliographic information server, wherein the bibliographic information data storage means receives the bibliographic information data transmitted by the bibliographic information data transmitting means. , And stored in the bibliographic information data storage means .

An invention according to claim 8 is the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information processing apparatus and the bibliographic information server are one print management server. Features.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver , and a bibliographic information server that can communicate with the print apparatus that prints the print data. Bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage means, user identification information of a user who has instructed the printing apparatus to output the print data, and the print Bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including apparatus specifying information for specifying an information processing apparatus in which data is stored and print data specifying information for specifying the print data; and the bibliographic information data The information processing apparatus storing the print data is specified by the apparatus specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the storage means, Print permission determination means for determining whether or not printing is possible by communicating with the specified information processing apparatus, and print data associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus Print data including the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the result determined by the print propriety determining means in response to receiving the list information transmission request together with the user identification information from the printing apparatus A list information transmission unit that transmits list data of print data associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus .

The invention according to claim 10 is the bibliographic information server according to claim 9, wherein the print data list information includes print data indicating that the result determined by the print propriety determining means is not printable. The bibliographic information data storage unit further includes a print reservation reception unit that receives a request for print reservation, and the bibliographic information data storage unit further stores a print reservation flag indicating whether or not the print reservation has been performed in the bibliographic information data. As a result of the determination by the determination unit, it is determined that printing is possible, and when the user identification information is received from the printing apparatus by performing re-login to the printing apparatus, the print reservation flag is set. In order to print the print data whose contents are reserved, the print data specifying information of the print data is sent to the information processing apparatus storing the print data. And performing non-print instruction.

The invention according to claim 11 is the bibliographic information server according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the bibliographic information server prints a print request for print data selected from the print data list information by the printing device. If a print instruction is included, a print instruction including print data identification information for the print data and printing apparatus identification information for identifying the printing apparatus that has made the print request is sent to the apparatus identification information for the bibliographic information data including the print data identification information. And a print instructing means for transmitting to the information processing apparatus identified from the above.

The invention according to claim 12 is the bibliographic information server according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the printability determination unit determines that printing is possible if printing is possible. If it is determined that printing is impossible, it is determined that printing is impossible .

The invention according to claim 13 is the bibliographic information server according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the device specifying information is communicated from the bibliographic information server to the information processing device. And the information processing apparatus as the connection destination is specified .

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit for storing print data generated by a printer driver, bibliographic information data for managing the print data, and the bibliography. Printing that determines whether or not printing is possible by specifying the information processing device in which the print data is stored by the device specifying information included in the information data and communicating with the specified information processing device A printing apparatus capable of mutual communication with a bibliographic information server provided with availability determination means, and a print data list information transmission request associated with user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus together with the user identification information Determined by the list information transmission requesting means to be transmitted to the bibliographic information server, the print data specifying information, and the printability determining means The list information receiving means for receiving the print data list information including the printed result, and the print information in accordance with the result determined by the print availability determining means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving means. Display means for displaying the print data list information so that a print instruction for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the availability determination means is provided, and the print data specifying information is stored in the bibliographic information server. Included in the bibliographic information data, the bibliographic information data being bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage means, and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus User identification information of the user who instructed the apparatus, apparatus specifying information for specifying the information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored, And a print data identification information for identifying the print data, the print data list information in response to requests for the bibliographic information server from the printing apparatus, characterized in that it is produced by the bibliographic information server And

The invention according to claim 15 is the printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the display means is determined by the print propriety determining means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving means. The print data list information is displayed so that printable print data and non-printable print data can be further identified according to the determined result .

The invention according to claim 16 is the printing system according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising print reservation means for making print reservations for non-printable print data displayed on the display means, The bibliographic information data further includes a print reservation flag indicating whether or not a print reservation has been made by the print reservation unit, and communicates between the information processing apparatus specified by the apparatus specifying information and the bibliographic information server. When the bibliographic information server receives the user identification information by re-login to the printing apparatus, the content of the print reservation flag is reserved. Print information including print data specifying information of the print data is issued to the information processing apparatus that stores the print data. Is, the printing device receives the print data from the information processing apparatus, and outputs the print data.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver , and for managing the print data stored in the print data storage unit. Bibliographic information data, user identification information of a user who has instructed the printing apparatus to output the print data, apparatus identification information for identifying an information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored, and the printing A bibliographic information server including bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including print data specifying information for specifying data, and a printing system control method including a printing apparatus for printing the print data. The bibliographic information server is configured to use the device identification information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit. An information processing apparatus that stores data, and a printability determination step that determines whether printing is possible by communicating with the specified information processing apparatus; and is transmitted from the printing apparatus Print data list information including the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the result determined in the print propriety determining step in response to receiving the transmission request for the user identification information and the print data list information. A list information transmission step of transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus inputs the user identification input upon login to the printing apparatus. List information for transmitting a print data list information transmission request associated with information to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information Determined by a communication request step, a list information receiving step for receiving the print data list information transmitted by the list information transmitting step, and a print propriety determining step included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving step And a display step of displaying the print data list information so as to allow a print instruction to immediately print only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination step according to the result of the determination. .

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver , and for managing the print data stored in the print data storage unit. Bibliographic information data, user identification information of a user who has instructed the printing apparatus to output the print data, apparatus identification information for identifying an information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored, and the printing A bibliographic information server having bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including print data specifying information for specifying data, and a printing system control method including a printing apparatus for printing the print data. A program that can be read and executed by a computer for causing the bibliographic information server to execute the bibliographic information server. Printing is possible by specifying the information processing device in which the print data is stored based on the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the data storage unit, and communicating with the specified information processing device. In response to receiving a request for transmission of user identification information and print data list information transmitted from the printing apparatus, and specifying the print data in the bibliographic information data. Print data list information including information and a result determined by the print availability determination unit, and a list information transmission unit configured to transmit the print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus
A list information transmission request that causes the printing apparatus to transmit a transmission request for print data list information associated with the user identification information input when logging into the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information. A list information receiving means for receiving the print data list information transmitted by the list information transmitting means, and a printability determining means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving means. According to the result, the print data list information is made to function so as to be able to issue a print instruction to immediately print only the print data determined to be printable by the print availability determination means .

The invention according to claim 19 is capable of mutual communication with an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver and a printing apparatus that prints the print data, Bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage means, wherein user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data, and the print data are stored. A bibliographic information server control method comprising bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including device specifying information for specifying an information processing device and print data specifying information for specifying the print data The print data is stored by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit. A print processing determination step for determining whether or not printing is possible by specifying an information processing device and communicating with the specified information processing device, and the input when logging in to the printing device In response to receiving a print data list information transmission request associated with user identification information from the printing apparatus together with the user identification information, the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the printability determination step determine Print data list information including the result obtained, and a list information transmission step of transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus . The invention according to claim 20 is capable of mutual communication with an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit for storing print data generated by a printer driver and a printing apparatus for printing the print data, Bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage means, wherein user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data, and the print data are stored. A bibliographic information server control method comprising bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including device specifying information for specifying a specific information processing device and print data specifying information for specifying the print data A computer-readable program that can be executed by a computer and stored in the bibliographic information data storage means The information processing device in which the print data is stored is specified by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data, and it is determined whether printing is possible by communicating with the specified information processing device. In response to receiving a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus together with the user identification information from the printing apparatus. Print data list information including the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the result determined by the print permission determination unit, and transmitting the print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus And functioning as a list information transmission means. According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver, bibliographic information data for managing the print data, and the bibliography. Printing that determines whether or not printing is possible by specifying the information processing device in which the print data is stored by the device specifying information included in the information data and communicating with the specified information processing device A method for controlling a printing apparatus capable of mutual communication with a bibliographic information server provided with availability determination means, wherein a request for transmission of print data list information associated with user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus is sent to the user A list information transmission request step to be transmitted to the bibliographic information server together with the identification information, print data specifying information, and the print propriety determination A list information receiving step for receiving the print data list information including the result determined by the stage, and a result determined by the print permission / inhibition determining means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving step. A display step for displaying the print data list information so that a print instruction for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination step is executed, and the print data specifying information is The bibliographic information server includes bibliographic information data included in the bibliographic information data. The bibliographic information data is bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage unit. User identification information of a user who has instructed output of print data, and an information processing apparatus storing the print data Device specifying information for specifying, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data, the print data list information in response to a request from the printing device to the bibliographic information server. It is generated by an information server. According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver, bibliographic information data for managing the print data, and the bibliography. Printing that determines whether or not printing is possible by specifying the information processing device in which the print data is stored by the device specifying information included in the information data and communicating with the specified information processing device A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a printing apparatus capable of mutual communication with a bibliographic information server provided with availability determination means, the user identification input upon logging in to the printing apparatus A request to send print data list information associated with the information is sent to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information. Received by the list information receiving means, the list information receiving means for receiving the print data list information including the print data specifying information, and the result determined by the print propriety determining means, and the list information receiving means. In accordance with the result determined by the print permission determination means included in the print data list information, the print data list can be used to promptly print only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination means. The print data specifying information is included in the bibliographic information data of the bibliographic information server, and the bibliographic information data is stored in the print data storage unit. Bibliographic information data for management, and a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data User identification information, device specifying information for specifying an information processing device in which the print data is stored, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data, the print data list information including the print data It is generated by the bibliographic information server in response to a request from the apparatus to the bibliographic information server.

According to the present invention, when print data is stored in the information processing apparatus, only printable print data generated according to the communication state of the information processing apparatus is displayed on the display unit of the printing apparatus that performs a print instruction operation. By doing so, the operator can easily recognize.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of various terminals connected to the network (LAN 100) in the base A, the base B, and the small-scale base C connected by the wide area communication network (WAN 400) is an example, and various configuration examples according to the use and purpose. It goes without saying that there is.

  1 includes a LAN 100, an information communication terminal 200, a printing apparatus 300, a print server 500, a bibliographic information server 600, an authentication server 700, and a WAN 400. The information communication terminal 200 is an information communication terminal used by a print requester who makes a print request. The printing apparatus 300 is a printing apparatus that executes printing. The print server 500 is a print server that spools print data. The bibliographic information server 600 is a bibliographic information server that centrally stores bibliographic information metadata (hereinafter also referred to as bibliographic information data). These apparatuses are locally connected to the LAN 100 at each site, and the LANs 100 are connected to each other by the WAN 400. The information communication terminal 200 can communicate with the print server 500 at any location via the LAN 100 and WAN 400 at each location. Similarly, the printing apparatus 300 can exchange data with the bibliographic information server 600 and the authentication server 700. The LAN 100 can be either wired or wireless, and a configuration in which the WAN 400 is replaced with the LAN 100 is also possible.

  The print data generated via the printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 at the site A is stored in the print server 500 at the site A. The print data generated via the printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 at the site B is stored in the print server 500 at the site B. Further, the print data generated via the printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 at the small-scale base C is stored in the information communication terminal 200. In this case, the port (output destination) of the printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 of the base A is set in the print server 500 of the base A, and the port (output destination) of the printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 of the base B is The port (output destination) of the printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 of the small-scale base C is set in the information communication terminal 200 itself.

  In FIG. 1, the print server 500, the bibliographic information server 600, and the authentication server 700 are shown in separate cases, but it is also possible to configure all servers or any two servers in the same case. Various configurations can be adopted according to the form of operating the printing system according to the present invention. For example, even if the print server 500 and the bibliographic information server 600 are operated as a print management server that is a single casing, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  Next, since the hardware configuration of each device of the information communication terminal 200, the print server 500, the bibliographic information server 600, and the authentication server 700 can be realized by a general-purpose personal computer, the common hardware configurations 201 to 211 in FIG. Will be described.

  The CPU 201 is a central processing unit, and comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. The ROM 202 or the external memory 211 stores a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) and an operating system program (OS) that are control programs for the CPU 201, and will be described later that is necessary for realizing the functions executed by each server and each PC. Stores various programs. The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 203 and executing the program.

  The input controller 205 controls input from a pointing device such as a keyboard 209 or a mouse (not shown). The video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 210. The display may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) as well as a CRT. Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210.

  The memory controller 207 controls access to the external memory 211. The external memory 211 stores the program of the present invention, data files and data tables used in the present invention, boot programs, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. . Examples of the external memory 211 include a hard disk (HD), a floppy disk (registered trademark, FD), or a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected to a PCMCIA card slot via an adapter.

  The communication I / F controller 208 connects and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, by using the communication I / F controller 208, Internet communication using TCP / IP or the like becomes possible.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, various programs 212, 213, and 220 used in the printing system according to the present invention will be described.

  The print server program 212 is stored in the external memory 211 of the print server 500 and is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 202 as necessary. A print server setting file 214 used by the print server program 212 is stored in the external memory 211. The print server program 212 communicates with the bibliographic information server 600 and sends a print instruction by transmitting the print data stored in the print server 500 from the bibliographic information server 600 to the printing apparatus 300 that issued the print instruction.

  Further, the print server program 212 is also stored in the external memory 211 of the information communication terminal 200. When the print server program 212 stored in the information communication terminal 200 is set as a port in the output port of the printer driver stored in the external memory 211 of the information communication terminal 200, the user prints on the print server 500. Whether data is stored or stored in the information communication terminal 200 can be switched by selecting a logical printer (also referred to as a printer object) at the time of output.

  The bibliographic information server program 213 is stored in the external memory 211 of the bibliographic information server 600 and is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 202 as necessary. The bibliographic information server program 213 communicates with the information communication terminal 200, the printing apparatus 300, and the print server 500, and manages bibliographic information of print data. The bibliographic information server program 213 uses a bibliographic information table 215, a print server master 216, a print data storage destination table 218, and a bibliographic information server setting file 219 that are stored in the external memory 211 of the bibliographic information server 600.

  The authentication server program 220 is stored in the external memory 211 of the authentication server 700. An IC card authentication table 217 used by the authentication server program 220 is also stored in the external memory 211 of the authentication server 700. The authentication server program 220 communicates with the authentication program 323 of the printing apparatus 300 and performs authentication processing.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration in the controller unit 316 of the printing apparatus 300, and shows various programs 322 and 323 and a printing apparatus setting file 321 that the printing apparatus 300 has. The controller unit 316 is connected to a scanner 314 that functions as an image input device and a printer 312 that functions as an image output device, while connected to a LAN (for example, LAN 100) or a public network (for example, WAN 400, PSTN, ISDN, etc.). By doing so, image data and device information are input and output.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the controller unit 316 will be described with reference to FIG. A CPU 301 is a processor that controls the entire printing apparatus 300. A RAM 302 is a system work memory for the CPU 301 to operate, and is also a program memory for running a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data. The ROM 303 stores a boot program and various control programs for the printing apparatus 300. The HDD 304 is an external storage device (hard disk drive (HDD)) and stores various programs for controlling the system, image data, and the like. The various programs include a print control program 322 for performing print control by communicating with the bibliographic information server 600, and an authentication program 323 for performing authentication processing by communicating with the authentication server 700.

  A network I / F 305 is a network interface, and is connected to a network (LAN) to input / output data. A modem 306 is connected to the public line network and inputs / outputs data such as FAX transmission / reception. The operation unit I / F 307 is an interface with the operation unit 308 and is used for displaying image data on the operation unit 308. Further, the operation unit I / F 307 serves to transmit information (for example, user information) input from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301. The operation unit 308 includes a display unit having a touch panel, and various instructions can be given by a user pressing (touching with a finger or the like) a button displayed on the display unit.

  The external I / F 318 is an interface with the outside, and accepts external inputs such as USB, IEEE 1394, printer port, RS-232C, and the like. In this embodiment, a card reader 319 for reading an IC card required for authentication is connected to the external I / F 318. The CPU 301 can control information reading from the IC card by the card reader 319 via the external I / F 318, and can acquire information read from the IC card. In this specification, an embodiment using an IC card is described, but biometric authentication such as fingerprint authentication may be used. The devices described above are connected to the system bus 309.

  An image bus interface (IMAGE BUS I / F) 320 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and an image bus 315 that transfers image data at high speed and converts a data structure. The image bus 315 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 315.

  The RIP 310 is a raster image processor and develops vector data such as a PDL (page-description language) code into a bitmap image. A printer I / F 311 is an interface with the printer, connects the printer 312 and the controller unit 316, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner I / F 313 is an interface with the scanner, connects the scanner 314 and the controller unit 316, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  An image processing unit 317 corrects, processes, and edits input image data, and performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image processing unit 317 performs image data rotation, and compression / decompression processing such as JPEG for binary image data, JBIG, MMR, MH, etc. for binary image data.

  The scanner 314 illuminates an image on a document sheet and scans it with a CCD line sensor, thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The original paper is set on the tray of the original feeder, and when the user of the printing apparatus 300 gives an instruction to start reading from the operation unit 308, the CPU 301 gives an instruction to the scanner 314, and the original feeder feeds the original paper one by one. Read the original image. The printer 312 is a device that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The output method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum and a photosensitive belt, and an ink jet method in which an ink is ejected from a minute nozzle array and an image is directly printed on a sheet, and any method may be used. The printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU 301. The printer 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has a paper cassette corresponding thereto.

  The operation unit 308 has an LCD display unit and displays an operation screen of the system. A touch panel sheet is affixed to the LCD display unit, and when a key displayed on the touch panel sheet is pressed, the position information is transmitted to the CPU 301 via the operation unit I / F 307. The operation unit 308 includes various operation keys including a start key, a stop key, an ID key, a reset key, and the like. The start key is used when starting a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key, there are two color LEDs, green and red, which indicate whether or not the start key can be used. The stop key serves to stop the operation during operation. The ID key is used when inputting the user ID of the user. The reset key is used when initializing settings input from the operation unit 308.

  The card reader 319 reads information stored in the IC card under the control of the CPU 301 and notifies the CPU 301 of the read information via the external I / F 318.

  With the configuration as described above, the printing apparatus 300 can transmit the image data read from the scanner 314 to the LAN 100, and print out the print data received from the LAN 100 by the printer 312. Further, the image data read from the scanner 314 can be faxed to the public line network by the modem 306, and the image data received by fax from the public line network can be output by the printer 312.

  Next, a basic processing flow of the printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A detailed description of conditional branching and the like when an error occurs will be described later. First, the flow of processing upon success will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a basic case where the print server program 212 is operated on the information communication terminal 200 without installing the print server 500 as in the small-scale site C in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of a processing flow. As described above, the information communication terminal 200, the printing apparatus 300, the bibliographic information server 600, and the authentication server 700 are connected to each other via the LAN 100 and the WAN 400.

  In step S701, the print requester who has logged into the information communication terminal 200 issues an instruction via the application program, and the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 sends a print request to the output destination set in the print server program 212 itself. I do. The output destination in this case is the external memory 211 (predetermined folder) of the information communication terminal 200 that has instructed printing.

  In step S702, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 stores the print data in the external memory 211 of the information communication terminal 200 in response to the print request (if the location is A and B, the print server 500 The print data is stored in the external memory 211 of the computer). The print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 extracts bibliographic information that is print metadata from the print data stored in the external memory 211.

  In step S703, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 transmits the bibliographic information, which is print metadata, to the bibliographic information server 600 along with network information such as the IP address of the information communication terminal 200.

  In step S704, the bibliographic information server 600 receives the bibliographic information and the network information of the information communication terminal 200. In step S <b> 705, the bibliographic information server 600 generates a unique print job ID for the entire system, uses this as the primary key of the bibliographic information table 215, and uses the network information of the information communication terminal 200 as the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216. Register each. In step S <b> 706, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the generated print job ID to the information communication terminal 200.

  In step S707, the information communication terminal 200 stores the returned job ID in the external memory 211 of the information communication terminal 200 in association with the path information indicating the storage location of the accumulated print data.

  Next, in step S708, the print requester attempts to authenticate by inputting his / her authentication information from any arbitrary printing apparatus 300 (for example, an IC card is placed in the card reader 319). In step S709, the printing apparatus 300 transmits the acquired personal authentication information to the authentication server 700 whose connection destination is registered in the printing apparatus setting file 321 in advance, and inquires about login permission. The authentication server 700 determines whether authentication is possible from authentication information registered in advance, and returns an authentication result to the printing apparatus 300. If the authentication is successful, the authentication result includes a user ID (user name). If the authentication is successful, in step S710, the printing apparatus 300 requests the bibliographic information server 600 for list data of the user's print job using the user ID (user name) as a parameter.

  In step S711, the bibliographic information server 600 receives the user ID, searches the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216, and acquires print job list data. As shown in FIG. 16, the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216 are joined using the MAC address as an external key. The bibliographic information server 600 performs a search using the received user ID as a login user name and the search condition that the current system time of the bibliographic information server 600 is within the print data storage deadline, and sorts the requested date and time. To obtain print job list data. As a result of this search, all print jobs requested for printing using the above-mentioned user ID within the print data retention period can be obtained. In the present invention, the storage location of the print data can be either the print server 500 or the information communication terminal 200. Therefore, the print job can be either in the print server 500 or in the information communication terminal 200.

  The bibliographic information server 600 makes an inquiry to the information communication terminal 200 in which the print job is stored at a predetermined timing (for example, every time when searching) to determine whether communication is possible. This predetermined timing is determined when a request for print job list data is received from the printing apparatus 300, when new bibliographic information metadata is received from the information processing apparatus (information communication terminal) 200, or for a predetermined time (table maintenance). It may be time 219). The bibliographic information server 600 determines whether communication is possible with the information processing device (information communication terminal) specified by the print data storage destination MAC address (device specifying information) stored in the bibliographic information data 215. As a result, it is determined whether or not the print data can be printed, and the printability flag (printability information) is updated.

  The bibliographic information server 600 stores the print enable / disable flag of the print server master 216 as “no” in order to disable print jobs stored in the information communication terminal 200 that cannot communicate. If it is determined that communication is possible, the bibliographic information server 600 stores the print enable / disable flag of the print server master 216 as enabled in order to enable the print job. In addition, a communication enable / disable flag is also set for each record of the print job list data obtained as a result of the search.

  In step S 712, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the print job list data as a search result to the printing apparatus 300.

  In step S 713, the printing apparatus 300 receives the print job list data returned from the bibliographic server 600, stores it in the RAM 302, and displays it on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. As shown in FIG. 19, the LCD display section clearly displays whether each print job is currently printable or not. In step S <b> 714, when the print requester selects a print job to be printed from the displayed print job list data, the printing apparatus 300 stores the print job ID selected from the operation unit 308 in the RAM 302. In step S715, the printing apparatus 300 reads the print job ID of the print job to be printed from the RAM 302, and also reads network information such as the preset host name or IP address of the printing apparatus 300 from the HDD 304, together with the bibliography. It transmits to the information server 600.

  In step S 716, the bibliographic information server 600 receives the print job ID and the network information of the printing apparatus 300 that has requested printing, and searches the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216. In this case, the print job ID is searched as a search condition in the bibliographic information table 215, and print data storage destination information (IP) is acquired. In step S717, the bibliographic information server 600 transmits the print job ID and the network information of the printing apparatus 300 that has requested printing to the information communication terminal 200 specified by the search result.

  In step S718, the information communication terminal 200 receives the print job ID and the network information of the printing apparatus 300 that has requested printing, and searches the print data stored in the external memory 211 using the print job ID as a search condition. In step S719, the information communication terminal 200 transmits the print data searched in step S718 to the printing apparatus 300 identified from the received network information (such as the IP of the printing apparatus 300).

  In step S720, the printing apparatus 300 receives the print data and sends the received print data to the printer 312 through the printer I / F 311. The print data is spooled in the printer 312 and then printed from the printer 312. In step S721, the printing apparatus 300 returns the success / failure of the print data spool to the information communication terminal 200.

  In step S722, when the print data spooling is successful, the information communication terminal 200 deletes the print data and the print job ID stored in step S707 from the external memory 211. In step S723, the information communication terminal 200 returns the print data transmission result (success / success result of spooling in the printing apparatus 300 of the print data transmitted in step S719) to the bibliographic information server 600.

  In step S724, the bibliographic information server 600 receives the print data transmission result, and if successful, deletes the corresponding bibliographic information from the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216 using the print job ID as a search condition. . In step S725, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the processing result of step S724 to the printing apparatus 300.

  In step S <b> 726, the printing apparatus 300 deletes the print job that has been successfully spooled from the print job list data in the RAM 302, and redisplays the deleted print job list data on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. As a result, the printed print data is deleted from the print job list.

  Next, the processing described in steps S701 to S707 in FIG. 7 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process from a print request by a print requester to a bibliographic information registration process in the bibliographic information server 600 and storage of a print job ID generated as a result thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart detailing bibliographic information transmission processing (step S803A, step S803B) from reception of a print request. FIG. 10 is a flowchart detailing the print job ID list addition processing (steps S809A and S809B) from the reception of the print job ID. Both the processing flows of FIGS. 9 and 10 are common processes when the print server program 212 operates on the information communication terminal 200 and when it operates on the print server 500.

  In the description of the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 to 10, the following preconditions are set. The execution place of the processing is the base B in FIG. 1, the print server program 212 operates in advance on both the information communication terminal 200 and the print server 500, and the bibliographic information server program 213 operates on the bibliographic information server 600. Yes. The print server program 212 knows the IP information of the bibliographic information server 600 and the distinction information of the print server in advance by reading the print server setting file 214 set in advance at the time of activation. This distinction information is information indicating whether the print server program 212 is operating on the information communication terminal 200 or the print server 500. This distinction information is used by the print server program 212 to determine its own operating environment in the print server master update process described later with reference to FIG. Further, by sending this distinction information to the bibliographic information server 600 at the time of a print request, it can be used for the process of confirming whether to print to the information processing terminal 200 described in detail in step S1110 of FIG. The print server program 212 acquires IP information of the platform (device) on which the print server program 212 operates and stores it in the RAM 203 in advance.

  Here, an example of the data configuration of the print server setting file 214 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The bibliographic information server IP indicates a connection destination IP of the bibliographic information server 600. The print server distinction indicates whether the print server program 212 is operating on the local information communication terminal 200 or the remote print server 500. The print data storage folder path indicates the path name of the print data storage folder. The print data holding time indicates the maximum time for holding the print data under the management of the print server program 212. The network information confirmation time indicates a time interval at which the print server program 212 activates the processing flow shown in FIG. The network information confirmation time is a setting item that is essential when the print server program 212 operates on the information processing terminal 200.

  It is assumed that the printing apparatus 300 also knows the IP information of the bibliographic information server 600 and the authentication server 700 in advance by reading the printing apparatus setting file 321. With reference to FIG. 5, an example of the data configuration of the printing apparatus setting file 321 in the present embodiment will be described. The bibliographic information server IP indicates IP information of the bibliographic information server 600, and the authentication server IP indicates IP information of the authentication server 700.

  With reference to FIG. 6, an example of the data configuration of the bibliographic information server setting file 219 in the present embodiment will be described. The table maintenance time indicates the time when the bibliographic information server 600 starts the process described in detail below. In other words, when the bibliographic information server 600 reaches a preset table maintenance time, the bibliographic information table 215 deletes a line in the bibliographic information table 215 that has passed the print data storage period, using the current time as a search condition. Since the print server master 216 is joined to the bibliographic information table 215, related data is deleted. If there is no record whose print data storage period has expired, no processing is performed.

  In the information communication terminal 200, as a local network printer setting, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 and the print server program 212 of the print server 500 are set as different logical printers in the port of the printer driver. It shall be.

  The method for carrying out the present invention is not limited to this. In the information communication terminal 200, a logical printer that transmits print data to the print server 500 and a logical printer that transmits print data to the information communication terminal 200 itself are generated, and the user performs printing using any of the logical printers. By executing this, a method for storing print data in a predetermined storage location (for example, a spooler) of each apparatus can be performed. According to this method, the print server program 212 detects the stored print data, acquires bibliographic information from the print data, and transmits the acquired bibliographic information to the bibliographic information server 600.

  Returning again to the description of FIG. In step S801, the print requester makes a print request to the logical printer corresponding to the printer driver set as the print destination from the application program executed in the logged-in information communication terminal 200. As the output destination printer, a network printer in which the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 is set as an output port or a network printer in which the print server program 212 of the print server 500 is set as an output port is selected. In response to this print request, the application program of the information communication terminal 200 transmits data to the printer driver via the graphic engine. The printer driver of the information communication terminal 200 generates print data based on the received data.

  In step S802, the information communication terminal 200 transmits print data according to the network printer selected in step S801. That is, in the information communication terminal 200, when the local print server program 212 is designated as the output port, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 is designated as the output port. In this case, the print data is transmitted to the print server program 212 of the print server 500.

  Steps S803A and S803B are common logics, although the operating platforms are different. This common logic will be described with reference to the detailed flow of FIG. 9, but this flow can be implemented in both the information communication terminal 200 and the print server 500.

  In step S901, the information communication terminal 200 or the print server program 212 of the print server 500 receives print data from the information communication terminal 200 as a print request. In step S <b> 902, the print server program 212 stores print data in the external memory 211. In step S903, the print server program 212 generates bibliographic information data from the print data stored in step S902. Here, the bibliographic information data generated will be described with reference to FIG.

  The bibliographic information table 215 has a data configuration showing an example of bibliographic information data in the printing system of the present embodiment. As shown in the bibliographic information table 215, the bibliographic information data includes a print job ID, a login user name, a print data storage destination MAC address, a document name, the number of copies, the number of pages, a color distinction, a printing method, a layout, a print data storage period, It consists of information such as a time stamp (printing time) and a reservation flag.

  The print job ID is a unique key for the entire printing system that is generated when the bibliographic information server 600 receives bibliographic information and registers the bibliographic information in the bibliographic information table 215. The login user name indicates the login user name of the information communication terminal 200, for example. The print data storage destination MAC address indicates, for example, a unique MAC address of the network card of the information communication terminal 200 when the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 stores the print data and registers the bibliographic information. On the other hand, when the print server program 212 on the print server 500 stores the print data and registers the bibliographic information, the unique MAC address of the network card of the print server 500 is indicated. The print data storage destination MAC address is used as an external key to the main key in the print server master 216. The document name indicates the document name of the print data. The number of copies indicates the number of copies of the print data. The number of pages indicates the number of print pages of the print data. The color distinction indicates whether the print data is color printing or monochrome printing. The printing method indicates a printing method such as double-sided printing or 2-in-1 printing. The layout indicates the number of printed pages per sheet. The time stamp indicates the time when the bibliographic information server 600 registers the bibliographic information in the bibliographic information table 215. The print data storage time limit indicates a time limit for guaranteeing that print data is stored in the system configuration. A record whose time limit has passed is not hit at the time of search, as will be described in detail in step S1106. This print data retention period is information generated when the bibliographic information server 600 registers a record in the bibliographic information table 215 (step S807). The reservation flag is used for reservation printing described later.

  The print server master 216 has a data configuration showing an example of master information of the print server in the printing system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the print server master 216 includes information such as a print data storage destination MAC address, a print data storage destination IP, a print enable / disable flag, a print server distinction flag, a print data holding time, and a time stamp.

  The print data storage destination MAC address has the same value as that described above in the bibliographic information table 215 and is a unique key in the print server master 216. Similarly to the print data storage destination MAC address, the print data storage destination IP indicates the IP address of the platform (apparatus) on which the print server program 212 that stores the print data operates. The print permission / non-permission flag indicates whether or not there is a connection error to the print server program 212 when printing the print data, and the connection is permitted at the timing when the record of the bibliographic information data is registered. The print data retention time indicates a time during which the print server program 212 retains print data, and the bibliographic information server 600 generates a print data retention period from the print data retention time and the time stamp. The time stamp indicates the time when the bibliographic information server 600 receives the print server master information and registers or updates the bibliographic information in the bibliographic information table 215.

  The bibliographic information generated in step S803A includes the login user name, print data storage destination MAC address, document name, number of copies, number of pages, color distinction, printing method, layout, and print server master 216 in the bibliographic information table 215. Among them, the print data storage destination MAC address, the print data storage destination IP, the print server distinction flag, and the print data holding time.

  Hereinafter, the description returns to the flowchart of FIG. In step S904, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 or the print server 500 acquires a MAC address and an IP address as network information of the platform (device) on which the information communication terminal 200 or the print server 500 operates. The acquired current latest print server IP is stored in the RAM 203. In step S905, the bibliographic information server 600 read from the print server setting file 214 is used to connect to the bibliographic information server 600, and the bibliographic information, the MAC address, the print server IP, and the known print server at startup are distinguished. Flag and print data retention time are transmitted.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. In step S804, the bibliographic information server 600 receives bibliographic information from the print server program 212. Note that the IP address included in the bibliographic information can be acquired by TCP / IP communication without being actively transmitted from the print server 500 or the information communication terminal 200. The IP address acquired in step 1 may be used. In step S805, the bibliographic information server program 213 generates a print job ID that serves as a unique key of the bibliographic information table 215.

  In step S806, the MAC address of the platform on which the print server program 212 operates, the IP of the print server, the print data retention time, the time stamp, and the print permission flag (value is “OK”) are registered in the print server master 216. If the MAC address of the primary key has already been registered, the corresponding record in the print server master 216 is updated with these pieces of information.

  In step S807, the bibliographic information, the MAC address of the platform on which the print server program 212 operates, the print data storage time limit, and the time stamp are registered in the bibliographic information table 215 together with the print job ID generated in step S805. The print data storage time limit is generated from the time stamp which is the current time of the bibliographic information server 600 and the print data holding time. For example, if the print data retention time is 2 days and the time stamp is October 8, 2008, 12:00:00, the print data retention period is October 10, 2008, 12:00:00. In step S808, the print job ID is returned to the print server program 212.

  Steps S809A and S809B are common logics although operating platforms are different. Hereinafter, the common logic will be described in the detailed flow of FIG. 10, but this flow can be implemented in both the information communication terminal 200 and the print server 500.

  In step S1001, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 or the print server 500 receives the print job ID returned from the bibliographic information server program 213 of the bibliographic information server 600. In step S1002, the print server program 212 uses the print job ID as a key, the print data file storage destination, and the print data retention period generated independently from the bibliographic information server 600 from the print data retention time described above. The print data is stored in the print data storage destination table 218 on the external memory 211. The reason for generating the print data retention period separately from the bibliographic information server 600 is that there may be a difference in system time between the platform on which the print server program 212 operates and the bibliographic information server 600.

  FIG. 18 is a data configuration showing an example of the print data storage destination table 218 in the printing system of the present embodiment. The print data storage destination table 218 includes a print job ID, a print data storage destination indicating the storage destination path of the print data, and a print data storage limit indicating the storage period of the print data.

  Note that the print server program 212 uses the print data retention period to automatically execute the following processing (not shown) at the time of starting the program and every print data holding time after startup. The print server program 212 searches the print data storage destination table 218 for information that has passed the print data storage period using the current time as a search condition. If there are no search results, the process is terminated. When there are one or more search results, the print data stored in the print data storage destination of the search results is deleted, and the data is stored from the print data storage destination table 218 regardless of the success or failure of the deletion process. delete.

  Next, a flow for displaying a list of all bibliographic information requested by the print requester who has logged into the printing apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the print requester moves in front of an arbitrary printing apparatus 300 after the printing instruction is completed from the information communication terminal 200.

  In step S <b> 1101, the print requester attempts to log in to the printing apparatus 300. In step S1102, the printing apparatus 300 transmits the personal authentication information acquired at the time of login to the authentication server 700. In response to this, the authentication server 700 returns an authentication result. When the authentication process is successful, the login user name of the information communication terminal 200 is returned as an authentication result. As an example of a method for acquiring login information by the printing apparatus 300, a means can be considered in which the printing apparatus 300 equipped with an IC card reader reads personal information authentication from the IC card of the print requester. The personal authentication information means information used for authentication, and may be an IC card authentication number. At this time, the authentication server 700 performs an authentication process using the IC card authentication table 217 stored in the external memory 211 of the authentication server 700 and returns an authentication result to the printing apparatus 300.

  FIG. 17 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of the IC card authentication table 217 in the printing system of the present embodiment. The IC card authentication table 217 includes information such as a card manufacturing number, a user name, an e-mail address, a department ID, a department password, and administrator authority, which are the main keys of the table.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1103, the printing apparatus 300 verifies the authentication result returned from the authentication server 700. If authentication is denied, an error screen is displayed on the operation unit 308, prompting the print requester to input login information again, and the process returns to step S1101. On the other hand, if the authentication is successful and the user ID is returned, the process proceeds to the next step S1104. In step S1104, the printing apparatus 300 transmits a bibliographic information list request including the user name as an argument to the bibliographic information server 600.

  In step S1105, the bibliographic information server 600 receives a bibliographic information list request. In step S1106, the received user name is set as the column “login user name” of the bibliographic information table 215 and the “print data retention period” is equal to or not past the current time as a search condition, and the bibliographic information table All columns of 215 and print server master 216 are searched. In step S1107, a list of information of the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216 that match the search conditions is generated.

  In step S1108, the list generated in step S1107 is read line by line to determine whether the list is complete. If there are no more lines to read and the list is completed, the process advances to step S1115. On the other hand, if the line has been successfully read, the process advances to step S1109.

  In step S1109, it is determined from the value of the print server distinction flag in the search result record whether the print data storage destination is the remote print server 500 or the information communication terminal 200. When it is determined that the print data storage destination is the print server 500, it has a fixed network IP as a server and has taken into consideration necessary and sufficient redundancy, so that it can always print. It is considered that the process returns to step S1108. On the other hand, in the case of the information communication terminal 200, it cannot be guaranteed that the printer is always in a printable state due to various factors such as turning off the power during mobile movement. For this reason, when it is determined that the print data storage destination is the information communication terminal 200, the process proceeds to the next step S1110 in order to check whether the information communication terminal 200 can print.

  In step S1110, the bibliographic information server 600 checks whether the information communication terminal 200 is currently printable. Specifically, the bibliographic information server 600 connects to the information communication terminal 200 based on the information of the print data storage destination IP in the list line generated in step S1107, and transmits the print job ID to thereby obtain the bibliographic information. It is confirmed whether or not the print data specified by the print job ID registered in the server 600 exists.

  In step S1111, the information communication terminal 200 receives the print job ID and searches the print data storage destination table 218 using the print job ID as a search condition. If the search is hit, the print data storage path is further checked to confirm that the print data exists. If the print data exists, a confirmation result indicating that printing is possible is returned to the bibliographic information server 600. However, if the print data does not exist or the print job ID does not hit, a confirmation result indicating that printing is not possible is returned to the bibliographic information server 600.

  Again, in step S1110, the bibliographic information server 600 receives the result of confirming whether or not printing is possible, and proceeds to the next step S1112 regardless of the result of whether or not printing is possible. In the case where the confirmation result indicates that printing is not possible, it is assumed that the information communication terminal 200 is a mobile terminal and is moving away from the network.

  In step S1112, the result of confirming whether or not printing is possible in step S1111 is compared with the printability flag in the list generated in step S1107. As a result of the comparison, if both are the same, the process returns to step S1108, and if they are different, the process proceeds to the next step S1113. In step S1113, the print propriety flag of the print server master 216 is updated to the state of the print feasibility confirmation result in step S1111. In step S1114, the print propriety flag in the corresponding line of the list generated in step S1107 is updated to the status of the print feasibility confirmation result in step S1111 and the process returns to step S1108. Thereby, the process for updating the print permission flag when the print data storage destination is the information communication terminal 200 to the latest information is completed.

  In step S 1115, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the updated bibliographic information table 215 and a list of information on the print server master 216 to the printing apparatus 300. In step S1116, the printing apparatus 300 receives a list of information of the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216. In step S <b> 1117, the printing apparatus 300 processes and displays print job list information for display on the screen (for example, the operation unit 308) of the printing apparatus 300 from the received list list. FIG. 19 is an example of a list displayed on the printing apparatus 300. Here, a case where the print job on the second line of the screen: the document name “BBBBB.txt” cannot be printed will be described. For the print job on the second line, for example, the line text is displayed in light gray, and the red “x” is displayed in the printable column to indicate that the print data is currently unprintable. Can do. For the first and third line print jobs, for example, the print data can now be printed by displaying the line text in black and displaying the blue “O” in the printable column. Can be expressed.

  The received list includes information on the storage destination of the print data determined by the bibliographic information server 600 from the print data storage destination path (“local” for the information communication terminal 200 and “server” for the print server 500). It is also possible to display storage destination information (IP, path name, etc.) in order to identify where the print job is stored. In this determination, the bibliographic information server 600 holds the identification information list of the print server 500, and if the storage destination stored in the print data storage destination table 218 is not in the identification information list of the print server 500, the local information If it is determined and exists in the identification information list of the print server 500, the server can be determined.

  Here, processing when the list acquisition button of FIG. 19 is pressed will be described. In such a case, since the printing apparatus 300 has already been authenticated, the printing apparatus 300 starts processing from step S1104, acquires the latest bibliographic information list again, and redisplays it. Also, the present invention can be configured so that “BBBBBB.txt” in FIG. 19 cannot be printed, and a printing instruction can be issued even when printing is not possible at present. For example, when “BBBBBB.txt” is selected and the print button is pressed, the screen of FIG. 22 is displayed. When the OK button is pressed, a print reservation request including “BBBBB.txt” (print data specifying information) is displayed as bibliographic information. It is transmitted to the server 600. In the bibliographic information server 600, a reservation flag is stored in association with the print job ID of “BBBBB.txt”.

  When the information communication terminal 200 that stores the print job for which print reservation has been made becomes communicable, when logging in to the user print apparatus 300 for the reserved print job, the print job is designated again on the screen of FIG. Without printing, a print request for the print job “BBBBB.txt” with the reservation flag is automatically transmitted to the apparatus storing the print job, and the print data corresponding to the print job is stored in the logged-in printing apparatus 300. The information is transmitted from the information communication terminal 200 and printing is executed.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, a processing flow from when the print requester selects a print job to be actually printed out of the print jobs displayed as a list in the printing apparatus 300 until printing is executed will be described. .

  In step S1201, the print requester selects a print job line to be printed by pressing the screen or the like from the print job list screen displayed as a list in FIG. In a state where no line is selected at the time of initial display, the all selection button, the selection release button, the delete button, and the print button are disabled and cannot be pressed. The background line of the selected print job line is highlighted. When the selected print job line is pressed again, the selection is released. When all select buttons are pressed, all lines are selected, and when the deselect button is pressed, all selected lines are deselected, and the deselect button, erase button, and print button are disabled and pressed. It becomes impossible. When a print job of one or more lines is selected, the selection cancel button, the delete button, and the print button are immediately disabled and can be pressed. When the print button is pressed on the screen of FIG. 19, the selected row is extracted as a list.

  In step S1202, processing showing the operation of the screens of FIGS. 20 and 21 is performed. Hereinafter, the processing content will be described in detail using the detailed flow of FIG.

  In step S1301, the printing apparatus 300 determines whether reading of the selected row list extracted in step S1201 has been completed up to the last row. When reading to the last line is completed, the process proceeds to step S1306. On the other hand, if there is a selected line that can still be read, the process advances to step S1302. In step S <b> 1302, the printing apparatus 300 reads one line of the extracted selected row list into the RAM 302. In step S1303, the printing apparatus 300 checks the print propriety flag included in the read selected line, and determines whether printing is currently possible. If printing is not possible, the process proceeds to step S1304. If printing is possible, the process proceeds to step S1305. In step S1304, the print job information of the selected line is added to the unprintable list, and the process returns to step S1301. On the other hand, in step S1305, the print job information of the selected line is added to the printable list, and the process returns to step S1301. The printable list and the non-printable list are stored on the RAM 302 of the printing apparatus 300.

  In step S1306, the states of the above-described printable list and unprintable list are determined. If there is no print job in the printable list, the process advances to step S1307. If there is one or more print jobs in both the printable list and the unprintable list, the process advances to step S1308. If there is no print job in the non-printable list and only the printable list exists, the process advances to step S1312.

  In step S1307, the printing apparatus 300 displays a screen as illustrated in FIG. 21 on the operation unit 308 to clearly indicate that there is no printable job. By pressing the OK button on this screen, the screen is erased, and the process proceeds to step S1313.

  In step S1308, the printing apparatus 300 displays a screen illustrated in FIG. Two print list tabs and a print NG list tab are displayed on the screen. The print job added to the printable list is displayed in the list of the print list tab, and the print job added to the unprintable list is displayed in the list of the print NG list tab. In the example of FIG. 20, the document name “BBBBB.txt” is displayed in the list of the print NG list tab. In step S1309, the printing apparatus 300 receives an input of a button on the screen illustrated in FIG. 20 from the user. In the example of FIG. 20, an OK button and a return button are displayed.

  In the list screen of FIG. 19, the print jobs that can be currently printed and the print jobs that cannot be printed are displayed so as to be simultaneously identifiable. However, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be displayed in an identifiable manner by dividing it into a print NG list of print jobs that are currently unprintable. That is, the process of displaying the print data list information so that printable print data (print job) and non-printable print data (print job) can be identified includes a display form as shown in FIG. Any of these display forms is included.

  In step S1310, the printing apparatus 300 determines which button has been pressed on the screen illustrated in FIG. 20, and distributes subsequent processing. If the OK button is pressed, the screen is erased and the process proceeds to the next step S1312. In step S1312, the printing apparatus 300 returns the printable list to the RAM 302 of the printing apparatus 300 and ends the detailed flow of FIG. On the other hand, if the return button has been pressed, the process proceeds to the next step S1311. In step S1311, the screen shown in FIG. 20 is deleted, and the process proceeds to next step S1313.

  In step S1313, the process in step S1202 describing the detailed flow shown in FIG. 13 is broken, and the process returns to START in FIG.

  The description of the detailed operation flow of the printing apparatus screens of FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 using FIG. 13 is finished. Hereinafter, the description returns to the processing in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1203, the printing apparatus 300 reads a print job into the RAM 302 line by line from the printable list on the RAM 302. If there is no print job in the printable list, the process is terminated and the screen returns to the screen of FIG. If a print job is read from the printable list, the process advances to step S1204.

  In step S1204, the printing apparatus 300 acquires a print job ID and a user name that are print request information from the read print job information. In step S1205, the printing apparatus 300 transmits a print request including the user name, the IP information of the printing apparatus, and the print job ID to the bibliographic information server 600.

  In step S1206, the bibliographic information server 600 receives a print request. In step S <b> 1207, when the bibliographic information server 600 searches the bibliographic information table 215 and the print server master 216, the received print job ID is set as a search condition for the bibliographic information table 215, and printing is permitted as the value of the print permission flag. The search condition of the print server master 216 is set, and the print data storage destination IP is searched. Although not shown, if the print data storage destination IP does not hit as a result of the search process, it is considered that printing is currently impossible, and the process proceeds to step S1220 as a print request error.

  In step S1208, the bibliographic information server 600 connects to the apparatus corresponding to the print data storage destination IP searched in step S1207, and transmits the printing apparatus IP and print job ID as a print execution request. In the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 12, the processing from step S <b> 1209 to step S <b> 1218 is described as processing on the print server 500. This assumes a case where the print data storage destination IP indicates the print server 500. However, when the print data storage destination IP indicates the information communication terminal 200, a series of steps from step S1209 to step S1218 is performed. The processing is performed on the information communication terminal 200. Therefore, in the description of step S1209 to step S1218, the description will be made assuming that the print server 500 executes the information. However, when the print data storage destination IP indicates the information communication terminal 200, the description will be made in the information communication terminal 200. Shall be executed.

  In step S1209, the print server program 212 running on the print server 500 receives the print execution request. In step S1210, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 searches the print data storage destination from the print data storage destination table 218 using the print job ID as a search condition. In step S1211, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 transmits the print data existing in the print data storage destination obtained by the search to the printing apparatus 300 corresponding to the received printing apparatus IP as a print execution request. .

  In step S1212, the printing apparatus 300 receives print data. In step S1213, the printing apparatus 300 delivers the received print data to the printer 312 to execute printing, and returns the print data transmission result.

  In step S1214, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 receives the print data transmission result. In step S1215, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 determines the content of the print data transmission result. If the print data transmission result is successful, the process advances to step S1216. If the print data transmission result is an error, the process advances to step S1218.

  In step S1216, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 deletes the print data file transmitted in step S1211. In step S1217, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 deletes the record of the corresponding print job from the print data storage destination table 218 using the print job ID used in step S1210 as a delete key. In step S <b> 1218, the print server program 212 of the print server 500 returns the processing result of the print execution request to the bibliographic server 600.

  Thus, the common processing in the print server 500 or the information communication terminal 200 shown in steps S1209 to S1218 is completed.

  In step S1219, the bibliographic information server 600 receives the processing result of the print execution request. In step S1220, the bibliographic information server 600 determines the content of the print execution request processing result. If the print process execution result is successful, the process advances to step S1221. If the print process execution result is an error or if a print request error is detected in step S1207, the process advances to step S1222. In step S1221, the bibliographic information server 600 deletes the bibliographic data from the bibliographic information table 215 using the print job ID as a deletion key. In step S1222, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the processing result of the print request to the printing apparatus 300.

  In step S1223, the printing apparatus 300 receives the processing result of the print request. In step S1224, the printing apparatus 300 determines the content of the print request processing result. If the print request processing result is successful, the process advances to step S1225. If the print request processing result is an error, the process advances to step S1226. In step S1225, the printing apparatus 300 deletes the selected line that has been successfully printed from the printable list, deletes the corresponding line from the list of the screen illustrated in FIG. 19, and returns to step S1203. In step S1226, the printing apparatus 300 deletes the selected line in error from the printable list, additionally displays a printing error on the corresponding line in the list of the screen shown in FIG. 19, and returns to step S1203.

  Next, a processing flow in which the print requester selects and deletes a print job from the print jobs displayed as a list in the printing apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1401, the print requester makes a selection by pressing the print job line to be deleted from the print job list display screen illustrated in FIG. 19 on the printing apparatus 300, and presses the delete button. When a confirmation screen (not shown) is displayed and the OK button is pressed, the process proceeds to the next step S1402, and when the return button is pressed, the screen returns to the screen of FIG. In step S1402, the printing apparatus 300 determines whether the selected row list has been read to the last row. If the last line has been read, the process in FIG. 14 is terminated. On the other hand, if the data can be read into the RAM 302, the process proceeds to the next step S1403. In step S1403, the printing apparatus 300 acquires a print job ID from the selected line that has been read. In step S <b> 1404, the printing apparatus 300 transmits a print job deletion request including a print job ID to the bibliographic information server 600.

  In step S 1405, the bibliographic information server 600 receives a print job deletion request from the printing apparatus 300. In step S1406, the bibliographic information server 600 searches the bibliographic information table 215 using the received print job ID as a search condition and sets the print data storage period to a significantly past date (for example, January 1, 2000, 0:00:00). Second). By executing this change processing, the record of the job ID requested to be deleted remains in the bibliographic information table 215. However, when the list is displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 19 in the processing flow of FIG. Therefore, no hit is found in the search processing in step S1106. Note that the job ID record on the bibliographic information table 215 is actually deleted by the table maintenance process described above. In addition, the print data corresponding to the job ID held by the print server program 212 is deleted by the maintenance process that is started every print data holding time.

  In step S 1407, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the processing result of the print job deletion request to the printing apparatus 300. In step S1408, the printing apparatus 300 receives the processing result of the print job deletion request from the bibliographic information server 600. In step S1409, the printing apparatus 300 determines the content of the print job deletion request result. If successful, the process proceeds to step S1410. If an error occurs, the process proceeds to step S1411. In step S1410, the printing apparatus 300 deletes the corresponding line from which the print job has been successfully deleted from the list shown in FIG. 19, and returns to step S1402. On the other hand, in step S1411, an erasure error is additionally displayed on the corresponding line where the print job deletion has failed from the list shown in FIG. 19, and the process returns to step S1402.

  Next, a network information update process flow executed only when the print server program 212 is operated on the information communication terminal 200 will be described with reference to FIG. By implementing this process, the following operations are possible. For example, it is assumed that the information communication terminal 200 is a mobile terminal capable of wireless communication, and is an environment in which the IP address setting is set through a DHCP server (not shown) in the entire system of FIG. Furthermore, it is assumed that the print server program 212 is running on the mobile terminal. When the print requester logs in to the mobile terminal, prints from the application, print data is stored on the print server program, disconnects the network, reconnects the terminal at another location, and this process is completed If so, it is possible to print the print data that has been previously instructed to be printed at the previous site from the printing apparatus 300 at another site.

  As described above, the print server program 212 reads the print server setting file 214 into the RAM 203 at the time of activation. At this time, if the print server distinction setting is set to operate locally on the information processing terminal 200, the print server program 212 starts from step S1501 for each set time interval of the network information confirmation time shown in FIG. Start processing.

  In step S1501, the information communication terminal 200 periodically starts processing by a timer. The activation interval of this process is every set time interval of the network information confirmation time. In step S1502, the information communication terminal 200 acquires the IP of the platform on which the print server program 212 runs, which is stored in the RAM 203 in step S904 when the print server program 212 is activated. In step S1503, the information communication terminal 200 acquires its own MAC address and the latest IP from the system.

  In step S1504, the IP acquired in step S1502 is compared with the IP acquired in step S1503. If it is the same value, the process is terminated. If the values are different, the process proceeds to the next step S1505. In step S1505, the known bibliographic information server IP information and print data holding time are acquired from the information of the print server setting file 214 read at the time of activation. In step S1506, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 sends a print server master update request including the MAC address, the latest local IP as the print data storage destination IP, and the print server holding time as arguments to the bibliographic information server 600. To send.

  In step S1507, the bibliographic information server 600 receives a print server master update request. In step S1508, the bibliographic information server 600 sets the print data storage destination IP as the received print data storage destination IP for the record specified using the received MAC address as the primary key, enables the print enable / disable flag, and sets the print data holding time. The print server master 216 is updated using the received print data holding time and the current time of the bibliographic information server 600 as a time stamp. In step S1509, the bibliographic information server 600 returns the processing result of the print server master update request to the information communication terminal 200.

  In step S1510, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 receives the processing result of the print server master update request and ends the process.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 15, the print server program 212 of the information communication terminal 200 updates the print server master 216 (including the printability flag) of the bibliographic information server 600, and the bibliography as shown in S1110 of FIG. When the information server 600 communicates with a device corresponding to the print data storage destination IP stored in the print server master 216 periodically (every predetermined time) to determine whether or not communication is possible. There is a configuration in which the print permission flag is changed to “No”.

  Accordingly, it is appropriately determined that the print data stored in the information communication terminal 200 cannot be printed both in the case where the information communication terminal 200 is connected to the network and in the case where the information communication terminal 200 is not connected to the network. The printing apparatus 300 can confirm whether or not the print job stored in the information communication terminal 200 can be printed.

  The preferred embodiment has been described above by way of example, but the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like. Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when print data is stored in the information processing apparatus, printable print data and non-printable print data generated according to the communication state of the information processing apparatus Can be easily identified by the display unit of the printing apparatus that performs the operation of the print instruction.

  In addition, a printing system and a printing apparatus capable of providing a secure printing service without specifying a printing apparatus even in a relatively large base where a conventional print server is installed and a small base where no print server is installed And its control method and program can be provided. In particular, metadata such as bibliographic information and authentication information to be audited can be centrally managed at a central location, but a print server for storing print data can be flexibly arranged, so that the movement of actual print data can be performed locally. It is possible to obtain the effect of significantly reducing the introduction cost and operation management cost in a small base while securing security.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of various terminals and related program data which concern on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a controller unit and related program data in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the print server setting file which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printing apparatus setting file which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the bibliographic information server setting file which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the basic processing flow of the printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing from a print request to bibliographic information registration in a bibliographic information server in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a detailed processing flow from reception of a print request to transmission of bibliographic information in the flow of FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a detailed processing flow from reception of a print job ID to storage of the print job ID in the flow of FIG. 8. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing from login by a print requester to bibliographic information list display in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing from bibliographic information list display to printing of a designated print job in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of selection list confirmation in the flow of FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing from a bibliographic information list display to a deletion of a designated print job in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print server master update processing in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the print server master and bibliographic information table which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the table for IC card authentication which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the print data storage location table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job list display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the unprintable job display dialog screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display dialog screen without a printable job which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for the reservation printing which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 LAN
200 Information communication terminal 300 Printing device 400 WAN
500 Print server 600 Bibliographic information server 700 Authentication server

Claims (22)

Information processing apparatus having print data storage means for storing print data generated by printer driver, bibliographic information server for storing bibliographic information data for managing the print data, and printing apparatus for printing the print data A printing system including :
The bibliographic information server
Bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage means, wherein user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data, and the print data are stored. Bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including apparatus specifying information for specifying the information processing apparatus and print data specifying information for specifying the print data ;
Printing by the by the device identification information included in the stored bibliographic information data to the bibliographic information data storage means to identify the information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored, for communication with the specified information processing apparatus Printing availability determination means for determining whether or not printing is possible ;
In response to receiving the transmission request for user identification information and print data list information transmitted from the printing device , the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the result determined by the print availability determination unit ; a print data list information including, a list information transmission means for transmitting the print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes:
A list information transmission request means for transmitting a transmission request of the print data list information associated with the user identification information inputted during login to the printing device in the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information,
List information receiving means for receiving print data list information transmitted by the list information transmitting means ;
Printing for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination means according to the result determined by the print permission determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information reception means A printing system comprising: display means for displaying the print data list information so that it can be instructed . The display means can further discriminate between print data that can be printed and print data that cannot be printed according to the result determined by the print availability determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving means. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing data list information is displayed. The printing apparatus includes:
A print reservation means for making a print reservation for the non-printable print data displayed on the display means;
The bibliographic information data storage unit further stores a print reservation flag indicating whether or not a print reservation has been made by the print reservation unit in the bibliographic information data,
The bibliographic information server
In response to receiving the user identification information when logging in to the printing apparatus, the print reservation flag is print data in which reservation is made, and the print availability determination unit In order to print the print data determined to be printable according to the determined result without accepting the print designation from the user by the printing apparatus, the print data is printed to the information processing apparatus that stores the print data. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a printing instruction including print data specifying information of the data is performed. The printing apparatus includes:
Print request means for issuing a print request for print data selected from the print data list information to the bibliographic information server;
The bibliographic information server
A print instruction including print data specifying information of print data requested to be printed by the print request unit of the printing apparatus and printing apparatus identifying information for identifying the printing apparatus that has made the print request includes the print data specifying information. A print instructing means for transmitting to the information processing device specified from the device specifying information of the bibliographic information data;
The information processing apparatus includes:
The printing apparatus further comprises print data transmitting means for transmitting the print data specified by the print data specifying information instructed to print by the print instruction means of the bibliographic information server to the printing apparatus identified by the printing apparatus identification information. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is a printing system. 5. The printability determination unit determines that printing is possible when printing is possible, and determines that printing is not possible when printing is impossible. The printing system according to item 1. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when communicating from the bibliographic information server to the information processing apparatus, the apparatus specifying information is read to specify an information processing apparatus that is a connection destination. Printing system. The information processing apparatus includes:
Bibliographic information data transmitting means for generating the bibliographic information data for managing the print data stored in the print data storage means and transmitting the bibliographic information data to the bibliographic information server;
7. The bibliographic information data storage unit receives bibliographic information data transmitted by the bibliographic information data transmission unit and stores the bibliographic information data in the bibliographic information data storage unit. The printing system described. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus and the bibliographic information server are one print management server. An information processing apparatus including a print data storage unit that stores print data generated by a printer driver, and a bibliographic information server that can communicate with the print apparatus that prints the print data,
Bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage means, wherein user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data, and the print data are stored. Bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including apparatus specifying information for specifying the information processing apparatus and print data specifying information for specifying the print data;
The information processing device storing the print data is specified by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit, and printing is performed by communicating with the specified information processing device. Printing availability determination means for determining whether or not printing is possible;
The print in the bibliographic information data in response to receiving a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus together with the user identification information from the printing apparatus. Print data list information including data specifying information and a result determined by the print permission determination means, and list information transmission means for transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus;
A bibliographic information server characterized by comprising: A print reservation accepting unit that accepts a print reservation request for print data in which the result determined by the print propriety determining unit of the print data list information indicates that printing is not possible;
The bibliographic information data storage means further stores a print reservation flag indicating whether or not the print reservation has been made in the bibliographic information data,
As a result of the determination by the print permission determination unit, it is determined that printing is possible, and the printing is performed in response to receiving the user identification information from the printing apparatus by performing re-login to the printing apparatus. A print instruction including print data specifying information of the print data is issued to an information processing apparatus that stores the print data in order to print the print data whose reservation flag is reserved. The bibliographic information server according to claim 9. The bibliographic information server
When printing request for the print data selected from the print data list information is made by the printing device, print data specifying information for the print data and printing device identification information for identifying the printing device that has made the print request are included. The bibliography according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising: a print instruction unit that transmits a print instruction to an information processing apparatus specified from the apparatus specifying information of the bibliographic information data including the print data specifying information. Information server. The printability determination unit determines that printing is possible when printing is possible, and determines that printing is not possible when printing is impossible. The bibliographic information server described in item 1. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when communicating from the bibliographic information server to the information processing apparatus, the apparatus specifying information is read to specify an information processing apparatus as a connection destination. 13. Bibliographic information server. An information processing apparatus having print data storage means for storing print data generated by a printer driver and bibliographic information data for managing the print data are stored, and the printing is performed according to apparatus specifying information included in the bibliographic information data A bibliographic information server provided with a print permission / non-permission determining unit that determines whether or not printing is possible by specifying an information processing device storing data and communicating with the specified information processing device. A printing device capable of communicating with
A list information transmission requesting means for transmitting a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information;
List information receiving means for receiving the print data list information including print data specifying information and the result determined by the print permission / inhibition determining means;
Printing for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination means according to the result determined by the print permission determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information reception means Display means for displaying the print data list information in an instructionable manner;
With
The print data specifying information is included in the bibliographic information data of the bibliographic information server,
The bibliographic information data is bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage unit, and user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data; Including device specifying information for specifying an information processing device in which the print data is stored, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data,
The printing apparatus, wherein the print data list information is generated by the bibliographic information server in response to a request from the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server. The display means can further discriminate between print data that can be printed and print data that cannot be printed according to the result determined by the print availability determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information receiving means. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print data list information is displayed. A print reservation means for making a print reservation for the non-printable print data displayed on the display means;
The bibliographic information data further includes a print reservation flag indicating whether or not a print reservation has been made by the print reservation unit,
It is determined that printing is possible by communicating between the information processing apparatus identified by the apparatus identification information and the bibliographic information server, and the bibliographic information server is re-logged in to the printing apparatus. In response to receiving the user identification information, printing of the print data is performed on the information processing apparatus that stores the print data in order to print the print data for which the print reservation flag is reserved. 16. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a printing instruction including data specifying information is performed, and the printing apparatus receives the print data from the information processing apparatus and outputs the print data. . An information processing apparatus having a print data storage unit for storing print data generated by a printer driver, and bibliographic information data for managing the print data stored in the print data storage unit, User identification information of a user who has instructed output of the print data, device specifying information for specifying an information processing device in which the print data is stored, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data A bibliographic information server comprising bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including a printing system and a printing apparatus for printing the print data,
The bibliographic information server
The information processing device storing the print data is specified by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit, and printing is performed by communicating with the specified information processing device. A printability determination step for determining whether or not printing is possible;
In response to receiving the transmission request for user identification information and print data list information transmitted from the printing apparatus, the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the result determined by the print permission determination step; A list information transmission step of transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus;
Run
The printing apparatus includes:
A list information transmission requesting step for transmitting a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information;
A list information receiving step for receiving the print data list information transmitted by the list information transmitting step;
Printing for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination step according to the result determined by the print permission determination step included in the print data list information received by the list information reception step A display step for displaying the print data list information in an instructionable manner;
A control method for a printing system, comprising: An information processing apparatus having a print data storage unit for storing print data generated by a printer driver, and bibliographic information data for managing the print data stored in the print data storage unit, User identification information of a user who has instructed output of the print data, device specifying information for specifying an information processing device in which the print data is stored, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data A bibliographic information server having a bibliographic information data storage unit that stores bibliographic information data including a computer and a printing system control method including a printing apparatus that prints the print data can be read and executed by a computer. A program,
The bibliographic information server
The information processing device storing the print data is specified by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit, and printing is performed by communicating with the specified information processing device. Printing availability determination means for determining whether or not printing is possible;
In response to receiving the transmission request for user identification information and print data list information transmitted from the printing device, the print data specifying information in the bibliographic information data and the result determined by the print availability determination unit; List information transmitting means for transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus
Function as
The printing device;
A list information transmission request means for transmitting a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information;
List information receiving means for receiving print data list information transmitted by the list information transmitting means;
Printing for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination means according to the result determined by the print permission determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information reception means Display means for displaying the print data list information in an instructionable manner
A program that can be read and executed by a computer to function as a computer. Print data stored in the print data storage means that can communicate with an information processing apparatus having print data storage means for storing print data generated by a printer driver and a print apparatus for printing the print data Bibliographic information data for managing the user identification information of the user who has instructed the printing apparatus to output the print data, and apparatus identification for identifying the information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored A bibliographic information server control method comprising bibliographic information data storage means for storing bibliographic information data including information and print data specifying information for specifying the print data,
The information processing device storing the print data is specified by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit, and printing is performed by communicating with the specified information processing device. A printability determination step for determining whether or not printing is possible;
The print in the bibliographic information data in response to receiving a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus together with the user identification information from the printing apparatus. Print data list information including data identification information and the result determined in the print permission determination step, and a list information transmission step of transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus;
A control method for a bibliographic information server, characterized in that Print data stored in the print data storage means that can communicate with an information processing apparatus having print data storage means for storing print data generated by a printer driver and a print apparatus for printing the print data Bibliographic information data for managing the user identification information of the user who has instructed the printing apparatus to output the print data, and apparatus identification for identifying the information processing apparatus in which the print data is stored A bibliographic information server control method including a bibliographic information data storage unit that stores bibliographic information data including information and print data specifying information for specifying the print data can be read and executed by a computer. A program that
The information processing device storing the print data is specified by the device specifying information included in the bibliographic information data stored in the bibliographic information data storage unit, and printing is performed by communicating with the specified information processing device. Printing availability determination means for determining whether or not printing is possible;
The print in the bibliographic information data in response to receiving a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus together with the user identification information from the printing apparatus. Print data list information including data specifying information and a result determined by the print permission determination means, and a list information transmission means for transmitting print data list information associated with the user identification information to the printing apparatus
A program that can be read and executed by a computer to function as a computer. An information processing apparatus having print data storage means for storing print data generated by a printer driver and bibliographic information data for managing the print data are stored, and the printing is performed according to apparatus specifying information included in the bibliographic information data A bibliographic information server provided with a print permission / non-permission determining unit that determines whether or not printing is possible by specifying an information processing device storing data and communicating with the specified information processing device. A control method of a printing apparatus capable of communicating with
A list information transmission requesting step of transmitting a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information;
A list information receiving step for receiving the print data list information including the print data specifying information and the result determined by the print propriety determining unit;
Printing for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination step according to the result determined by the print permission determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information reception step A display step for displaying the print data list information in an instructionable manner;
Run
The print data specifying information is included in the bibliographic information data of the bibliographic information server,
The bibliographic information data is bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage unit, and user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data; Including device specifying information for specifying an information processing device in which the print data is stored, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data,
The printing apparatus control method, wherein the print data list information is generated by the bibliographic information server in response to a request from the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server. An information processing apparatus having print data storage means for storing print data generated by a printer driver and bibliographic information data for managing the print data are stored, and the printing is performed according to apparatus specifying information included in the bibliographic information data A bibliographic information server provided with a print permission / non-permission determining unit that determines whether or not printing is possible by specifying an information processing device storing data and communicating with the specified information processing device. A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute a printing apparatus control method capable of communicating with the computer,
A list information transmission requesting means for transmitting a print data list information transmission request associated with the user identification information input upon login to the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server together with the user identification information;
List information receiving means for receiving the print data list information including print data specifying information and the result determined by the print permission / inhibition determining means;
Printing for immediately printing only the print data determined to be printable by the print permission determination means according to the result determined by the print permission determination means included in the print data list information received by the list information reception means Display means for displaying the print data list information in an instructionable manner
Function as
The print data specifying information is included in the bibliographic information data of the bibliographic information server,
The bibliographic information data is bibliographic information data for managing print data stored in the print data storage unit, and user identification information of a user who instructs the printing apparatus to output the print data; Including device specifying information for specifying an information processing device in which the print data is stored, and print data specifying information for specifying the print data,
The print data list information is generated by the bibliographic information server in response to a request from the printing apparatus to the bibliographic information server.

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