JP5540644B2 - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a printing system, a printing method, and a program for causing an image forming apparatus to print a print job stored in a server.

  The print data received from the client computer is not immediately printed but spooled (stored) in the server or image forming apparatus, and after the user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the user stores the server or image forming apparatus in the memory. There is known a printing method (hereinafter referred to as pull printing) in which a print job is selected from a list of print jobs being printed (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 40 is an example of a diagram illustrating this conventional pull print. The user registers a print job from the client PC to the server, and then moves to the image forming apparatus to receive the print job from the server. As shown in the drawing, the image forming apparatus is equipped with a client application for realizing pull printing. That is, in order to implement pull printing, the image forming apparatus needs to have a client application.

  However, in order to execute a client application, a certain degree of high processing capability is required of the image forming apparatus, so that it is not possible to execute pull printing with an image forming apparatus that cannot be equipped with the client application (equipment with a low processing capacity, another company's machine, etc.) There's a problem.

  In pull printing, since the display device is assumed to display a list of print jobs, the user may find it difficult to operate the device with a small display area of the display device.

  Here, in order to realize pull printing regardless of the processing capability of the image forming apparatus, it may be possible to prepare a pull print server separately from the spool server. However, providing a separate server increases the cost. Operation is also complicated.

  The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a printing system, and a printing method that enable pull printing using an image forming apparatus in which it is difficult to mount a client application without preparing a server separately from a server for pull printing. And to provide a program.

In view of the above problems, the present invention is a printing system having a document storage device, an information processing apparatus to carry the user, the, and transmits the print job to the document storage device printed on the document storage device In the printing system in which a client terminal that accumulates a job and one or more image forming apparatuses that print by receiving a print job and printing print data are communicably connected via a network, the document accumulation apparatus includes: The storage means for storing the print job received from the client terminal used by the user in the storage means and the information processing apparatus used by the user are input or selected by a user operation via a login screen. of the identification information of the authentication information and the image forming apparatus, Ita認use authentication information of said user Request the external authentication means, and displays the authentication result and authentication control means for receiving, if the authentication is successful, the job list of the print jobs associated with the user identification information on the display unit of the information processing apparatus job Based on the identification information of the image forming apparatus that has received or selected the display unit, the selection receiving unit that receives selection of one or more print jobs from the job list, and the print data of the print job received by the selection receiving unit And print job transmission means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus.

  Provided an information processing apparatus, a printing system, a printing method, and a program that enable pull printing using an image forming apparatus in which it is difficult to mount a client application without preparing a server separately from a server for pull printing can do.

1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system. It is an example of the figure explaining two aspects. 1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system. FIG. 3 is an example of a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a print server. It is an example of the figure which shows the hardware structural example of an apparatus. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 1 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system (Example 1). It is a figure which shows an example of a login screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a job list screen. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen that can change the IP address of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen that can change the IP address of a print server. FIG. FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart for explaining in detail a procedure in which a client PC stores a print job in a print server. FIG. 10 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device (first embodiment). 1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system in an aspect in which a print server has a client application. FIG. 1 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system in a mode in which a print server has a client application (Example 1). It is an example of the figure which illustrates communication of a core block and a client application typically. FIG. 11 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device in a mode in which the print server includes a client application (first embodiment). FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system (second embodiment). It is a figure which shows an example of a job list screen. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen. FIG. FIG. 10 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device (second embodiment). FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system in a mode in which a print server has a client application (second embodiment). FIG. 11 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device in an aspect in which the print server includes a client application (second embodiment). FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system (third embodiment). It is a figure which shows an example of a job list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a schedule print setting screen. FIG. 11 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device (third embodiment). FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system in a mode in which a print server has a client application (third embodiment). (Example 3) which is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence at the time of a user performing a print job from an apparatus in the aspect in which a print server has a client application. FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system (Example 4). It is a figure which shows an example of a job list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a distributed printing setting screen. FIG. 10 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from an apparatus (Example 4). (Example 4) which is an example of the functional block diagram of the printing system in the aspect in which a print server has a client application. (Example 4) which is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence at the time of a user performing a print job from an apparatus in the aspect in which a print server has a client application. FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printing system (Example 5). FIG. 10 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device (Example 5). (Example 5) which is an example of the functional block diagram of the printing system in the aspect in which a print server has a client application. FIG. 20 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when a user executes a print job from a device in an aspect in which the print server includes a client application (Example 5). It is an example of the figure explaining the conventional pull print.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The outline of the printing system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
(1) The user operates the client PC 60 to accumulate print jobs in the print server 10.
(2) The device 70 including the client application 90 receives a user operation, for example, and acquires a job list from the print server 10.
(3) The image forming apparatus A is an image forming apparatus 20 in which the client application 90 is not installed, and the image forming apparatus B is an image forming apparatus 20 made by another company. The print job format (PDL) supported by the image forming apparatuses A and B is known. When the user selects a print job from the job list, the client application 90 acquires print data from the print server 10 and transmits the print data and the print request to the image forming apparatuses A and B.

  Accordingly, the device 70 can cause a print job to be executed by the company's own image forming apparatus A in which the client application 90 is not installed or the image forming apparatus B of another company.

  Here, the device 70 is a computer provided with display means. Examples include a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a music player, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram illustrating two aspects of the present embodiment. 2A and 2B are the same until the client PC 60 stores the print job in the print server 10. However, in FIG. 2A, the device 70 has the client application 90, whereas in FIG. 2B, the print server 10 has the client application 90.

When the device 70 has the client application 90, the device 70
・ Acquisition of job list ・ Generation of screen information for displaying job list, etc. ・ Acquisition of print data ・ Transmission of print jobs.

On the other hand, when the print server 10 has the client application 90, the device 70
-Execute a web browser (hereinafter simply referred to as a browser)-Accepting user operations is the main function.

[Mode in which device 70 has client application 90]
First, an aspect in which the device 70 has the client application 90 will be described.
FIG. 3 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the printing system 1 in the present embodiment. The printing system 1 includes a client PC 60, a print server 10, one or more image forming apparatuses 20, an authentication server 30, and one or more devices 70. Each device is connected by a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet. A plurality of print servers 10 and authentication servers 30 may exist.

  The client PC 60 generates data (document data, image data, etc.) to be printed by application software or the like, and print data (including printing conditions) to be printed in response to a print instruction input by the user. The computer transmits the bibliographic conditions and the print request to the print server 10 (hereinafter, the print job includes the print data, the bibliographic conditions, and the print request). The user inputs authentication information (for example, a user name (or user ID) and a password) when logging in to the client PC 60 or instructing printing. The client PC 60 includes or attaches this authentication information to the print job.

  The print server 10 is a computer that stores a print job received from the client PC 60 in a storage device. The print server 10 requests the authentication server 30 for authentication processing based on the authentication information received together with the print job. The authentication server 30 is a computer that executes authentication processing. The authentication server 30 and the print server 10 are shared by the image forming apparatus 20. The print server 10 can be configured integrally with the image forming apparatus 20.

  The authentication server 30 transmits an authentication result indicating whether or not user authentication has been established to the print server 10. The print server 10 accumulates the print job when the authentication is established.

  The device 70 is a computer that executes the client application 90. The device 70 preferably has display means for displaying a job list, and at least has means (sound generator or the like) for notifying the user of the job list.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is a printer that receives a print job stored in the print server 10 from the device 70 and prints print data. The image forming apparatus 20 is not limited to a printer, and may be a scanner, a facsimile, and an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) equipped with one or more of these functions. Also, any one of the image forming apparatuses 20 may be shared by the other image forming apparatuses 20 as the print server 10.

  A user who uses the device 70 is authenticated by the authentication server 30 when the print job is printed. The user inputs authentication information when logging in to the device 70 or the print server 10. The device 70 or the print server 10 transmits the authentication information input by the user to the authentication server 30 and requests the authentication server 30 for an authentication process based on the authentication information. The authentication server 30 transmits an authentication result indicating whether or not user authentication has been established to the print server 10 or the device 70.

  When authentication is established, the print server 10 transmits a job list of print jobs associated with the user name to the device 70. Since the device 70 displays the job list, the user can select a print job to be printed from the job list. The device 70 acquires the print data of the print job selected by the user from the print server 10 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 20 can print the print data even if the client application 90 is not installed. When the image forming apparatus 20 includes the client application 90, print data may be transmitted from the device 70 to the image forming apparatus 20, or pull printing may be performed from the image forming apparatus 20.

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 4 is an example of a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the print server 10 in the present embodiment. The print server 10 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, and an interface device 105 that are connected to each other via a bus B.

  A program 110 for realizing processing in the print server 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 on which the program 110 is recorded is set in the drive device 100, the program 110 is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program 110 may be distributed by downloading from a computer (not shown) in addition to being distributed by the recording medium 101.

  The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program 110 and also stores necessary files and data. The auxiliary storage device 102 is a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The memory device 103 reads the program 110 from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program 110. The memory device 103 is, for example, a DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module), an SO-DIMM, or the like. The CPU 104 executes functions related to the print server 10 in accordance with the program 110 stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is an interface (for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) network card) for connecting to a network.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the device 70 in the present embodiment. The device 70 includes a CPU 301, a main storage device 302, a non-volatile memory 303, an NW communication device 304, an auxiliary storage device 308, a storage medium mounting unit 307, a display device 306, and an input device 305 that are mutually connected via a bus B. Have

  A client application (program) 90 executed by the device 70 is distributed in a state stored in a recording medium 309 such as a memory card. When the recording medium 309 storing the client application 90 is loaded into the memory medium loading unit, the storage medium loading unit 307 reads the client application 90 from the recording medium 309 and installs it in the auxiliary storage device 308. The client application 90 may be downloaded from a server (for example, the print server 10) via a network and installed in the auxiliary storage device 309.

  The auxiliary storage device 309 stores the installed client application 90 and also stores necessary files and data. The auxiliary storage device 309 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The main storage device 302 reads the client application 90 from the auxiliary storage device 309 and stores it when an activation instruction for the client application 90 is input from the user. The main storage device 302 is, for example, a DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module), an SO-DIMM, or the like. The CPU 301 reads commands and data described in the client application 90 stored in the main storage device 302 and realizes functions related to the client application 90.

  The NW communication device 304 is an interface (for example, Ethernet (registered trademark)) network card for connecting to a network. Further, if the device 70 performs short-range wireless communication with the print server 10, a communication device such as Bluetooth, UWB (Ultra Wide Band), ZigBee, or wireless USB may be used. Further, the NW communication device 304 may be a communication device connected to WIMAX or a mobile phone network.

  The display device 306 is a display such as an LCD and provides various visible information to the user. The input device 305 includes hardware buttons (keys), direction instruction keys for operating the pointing device, and the like, and accepts user operations. Further, in the case where the display device 306 is integrated with the touch panel, the input device 305 accepts a press on the touch panel by the user.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 20. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, an auxiliary storage device 203, a network I / F 204, an image output unit 205, an image processing unit 206, an external device I / F 207, a display unit 208, an operation unit 209, and the like.

  A program that implements functions in the image forming apparatus 20 (various applications are installed, but is referred to as a printer application 22 here), and is recorded (installed) in a nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 203 such as an HDD. The auxiliary storage device 203 stores the installed printer application 22 and also stores necessary files and data. The memory 202 reads the printer application 22 from the auxiliary storage device 203 and stores it when there is an instruction to activate the printer application 22. The CPU 201 implements functions related to the image forming apparatus 20 in accordance with the printer application 22 stored in the memory 202. The network I / F 204 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  The display unit 208 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an operation screen, a message, and the like. The display unit 208 may not be mounted on the small image forming apparatus 20. The operation unit 209 is configured with hardware buttons (keys), and receives an operation input by the user. The display unit 208 includes a touch panel, and the display unit 208 and the operation unit 209 are integrally configured as an operation panel.

  The image processing unit 206 executes various types of image processing required when outputting (printing) image data. The image output unit 205 outputs (prints) image data.

  The external device I / F 207 is an interface for connecting to the card reader 40 used for inputting authentication information, and includes, for example, a USB port (USB host interface) or a serial board. The card reader 40 is a so-called card reader (card reader) 40 that reads information from the card 50 and includes a hardware interface (for example, a USB connector or a serial interface) that can be connected to the external device I / F 207. However, the card reader 40 may be built in the image forming apparatus 20. The card reader 40 may be either a contact type or a non-contact type. The card 50 is not limited to an IC card, and may be a magnetic card or the like that can record a card ID (card number) unique to at least each card. The card ID is generally referred to as a Universal ID or a Card Serial Number. Specific examples of the card 50 include a proximity card, a mifare card, a Java (registered trademark) card, and the like.

  The card 20 is used when logging into the image forming apparatus 20. In this embodiment, since the device 70 is used for pull printing, the user authentication information is input to the device 70 by the user.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the card 50 is distributed to each user. However, a single card 50 may be shared by a plurality of users according to the level of security required for operation. Note that the card 50 distributed to each user may not be limited to one type. As described above, the card reader 40 can be easily connected to the image forming apparatus 20 by USB or the like. Accordingly, a plurality of card readers 40 may be simultaneously connected to the image forming apparatus 20 according to the type of card 50 (Proximity card, Mifare card, Java (registered trademark) Card, etc.). In this case, a plurality of types of cards 50 can be used simultaneously.

  A recording medium mounting unit 19 is connected to the external device I / F 207. The recording medium mounting unit 19 loads the recording medium 120, reads data stored in the recording medium 120, and transmits the data to the CPU 201 or the memory 202. The recording medium 120 is, for example, a USB memory, an SD card memory, a CD-ROM, or the like. The printer application 22 is stored in the recording medium 120. The printer application 22 is distributed in a state stored in the storage medium 120, or distributed from the server via the network I / F.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1.
-Client PC 60
The client PC 60 includes a print instruction reception unit 61, a print data generation unit 62, a print request transmission unit 63, a non-permission notification unit 64, and the like. Each of these units is basically realized by a process that a program installed in the client PC 60 causes the CPU of the client PC 60 to execute.

  The print instruction accepting unit 61 accepts designation of document data to be printed. The print instruction receiving unit 61 also displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as “print setting screen”) for setting print attribute information (also referred to as a print condition or a print setting item) on the display device of the client PC 60, and print setting. The setting of print attribute information and the input of a print instruction are accepted via the screen.

  The print instruction accepting unit 61 further accepts input of user authentication information via the print setting screen. The authentication information only needs to correspond to the authentication method in the authentication server 30. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user name and password are used.

  The print data generation unit 62 generates print data for document data to be printed based on print attribute information. The print data is data described in PDL (Page Description Language) (for example, PCL (Printer Command Language), RPCS, postscript, etc.), and also includes print attribute information. Further, the print data generation unit 62 includes the authentication information received by the print instruction reception unit 61 in the print data (or adds it to the print data). The print request transmission unit 63 transmits a print job including print data to the print server 10. The disapproval notifying unit 64 executes processing for notifying the user that printing according to the print job is not permitted (cannot be performed) based on information transmitted from the print server 10 based on the print job.

  Note that the print instruction reception unit 61 and the print data generation unit 62 are realized by, for example, a printer driver. The printer driver may be installed in the client PC 60 or may be installed in another computer such as the print server 10. In the latter case, a printer sharing mechanism provided by an OS (Operating System) may be used. More specifically, the OS generates an intermediate file of print data called GDI (Graphics Device Interface), and the print driver of the print server 10 generates print data from the GDI.

  GDI is an intermediate file but highly versatile. Therefore, even if the image forming apparatus B made by another company requires print data in a dedicated format, the image forming apparatus B made by another company can be printed by GDI. Note that print drivers are often disclosed for image forming apparatuses B made by other companies, and therefore GDI is not necessarily used.

  The user selects one or more of GDI, print data for the image forming apparatus B made by another company, and print data for the image forming apparatus A for the company from the print setting screen, and stores them in the print server 10. I can do it.

Print server 10
The print server 10 includes a print request reception unit 11, a print permission determination unit 12, a non-permission transmission unit 13, a job recording unit 14, a job storage unit 15, a job list transmission unit 16, a print data transmission unit 17, and a result transfer reception. Part 19. These units are realized by processing executed by the CPU 104 by the program 110 installed in the print server 10.

  The print request receiving unit 11 receives a print job transmitted from the client PC 60. The printing permission / rejection determination unit 12 determines whether printing is permitted or not based on authentication information extracted from the print data. Specifically, the print permission determination unit 12 transmits authentication information to the authentication server 30, and causes the authentication server 30 to execute authentication based on the authentication information. When the authentication server 30 determines that authentication is not established, the print permission / rejection determination unit 12 determines that printing is not permitted. When the authentication server 30 determines that the authentication is successful, the authentication permission determination unit determines that printing is permitted. The non-permission transmission unit 13 transmits the determination result of the print non-permission by the authentication permission / rejection determination unit to the client PC 60. The client PC 60 that is the transmission destination of the determination result is determined based on, for example, identification information (IP address or the like) included in the IP header when transmitting the print job.

  The job recording unit 14 generates a job ID of the job (print job) when the print permission determination unit 12 determines the print permission, and associates the bibliographic information and print data included in the print job with the job ID. To the job storage unit 15. The job recording unit 14 extracts part or all of the print attribute information from the print data, and records the extracted information in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID as the bibliographic information of the job. For example, bibliographic information includes user name, number of pages, printing conditions (whether color printing or monochrome printing is used, double-sided printing, consolidated printing, and staple position and punch when using staples. Includes a punch position and the like.

  The job storage unit 15 is a storage area (for example, a table or a folder) for storing print data, bibliographic information, and the like in the auxiliary storage device 102.

  In response to a request from the device 70, the job list transmission unit 16 transfers the job list of the print job stored (recorded) in the job storage unit 15 to the device 70. The job list transmission unit 16 extracts print jobs stored in the job storage unit 15 using the user name received from the device 70 as a key. The job list transmission unit 16 extracts only information (for example, user name, file name, number of pages, printing conditions, etc.) included in the job list from the bibliographic information for each print job.

In response to a print data transmission request from the device 70, the print data transmission unit 17 uses the job ID transmitted from the device 70 as a key and print data of the print job stored (recorded) in the job storage unit 15. Here, the IP address (or host name) of the print server 10 is known to the device 70 because the user inputs or selects it. The device 70 communicates with the print server 10 by an IP address when requesting a job list from the job list transmission unit 16 and when requesting print data from the print data transmission unit 17.

  The result transfer receiving unit 19 receives the print job execution result (information indicating success or failure of the job) from the device 70 and deletes the print job stored in the job storage unit 15. Based on the bibliographic information stored in the job storage unit 15, the report creation unit 18 generates (aggregates) information (report) indicating the usage status for each user, for example.

・ Equipment 70
The device 70 includes an authentication control unit 71, a job list acquisition unit 72, a job display unit 73, a selection reception unit 74, a print data acquisition unit 75, a print job transmission unit 76, a result transfer unit 77, and a result reception unit 78. These units are realized by the CPU executing the client application 90 stored in the recording medium.

The authentication control unit 71 controls user authentication. When the authentication control unit 71 receives an operation of an authentication instruction by the user, the authentication control unit 71 displays a login screen 401.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the login screen 401. The login screen 401 includes a user name input field 402, a password input field 403, a server input field 404, and a printer input field 405. The user uses the input device 305 to enter the user name in the user name input field 402, the password in the password input field 403, the IP address of the print server 10 in the server input field 404, and the image forming apparatus in the printer input field 405. 20 IP addresses are entered respectively. The IP address of the print server 10 and the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 may be selectable from a pull-down menu from among several candidates, and are associated with the IP address of the print server 10 instead of the IP address. The name of the print server 10 and the name of the image forming apparatus 20 associated with the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 may be input or selectable.

  The authentication control unit 71 transmits the user name and password together with the authentication request to the authentication server 30, and receives an authentication result indicating whether or not the user authentication has been established from the authentication server 30.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the authentication result indicates that the authentication is successful, the job list acquisition unit 72 acquires the job list of the print job stored in the job storage unit 15 of the print server 10. The job list acquisition unit 72 transmits the user name to the print server 10 by specifying the IP address of the print server 10 specified by the user on the login screen 401. The job list acquisition unit 72 receives a job list of a print job associated with the user name from the job list transmission unit 16.

The job display unit 73 displays the job list of the print job acquired from the job list acquisition unit 72 on the display device 306.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job list screen 501. The job list screen 501 has a job list 502, print server information 503, image forming apparatus information 504, a delete button 505, and a print button 506. The job list 502 displays job names (for example, file names), the number of pages, the number of copies, and the accumulation date and time. The print server information 503 is the IP address of the print server 10. In addition, the host name or the name of the print server 10 may be used. The image forming apparatus information 504 is an IP address of the image forming apparatus 20. In addition, the host name or the name of the image forming apparatus 20 may be used. The user selects a print job from the touch panel of the display device 306. The brightness of the selected print job changes. The user can press the delete button 505 or the print button 506 with one or more print jobs selected.

Note that the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 and / or the IP address of the print server 10 can be selected from the job list screen 501.
10 shows an example of a job list screen 501 that can change the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20, and FIG. 11 shows an example of a job list screen 501 that can change the IP address of the print server 10. The job list screen 501 in FIG. 10A has a printer change button 507. When the user presses the printer change button 507, the job display unit 73 displays a printer change setting screen 601 shown in FIG. The printer change setting screen 601 includes a selection field 602 for selecting a desired IP address from a plurality of IP addresses, and an address addition field 603 for newly adding an IP address. The user selects the image forming apparatus 20 from the already registered IP addresses, or inputs an IP address in the address addition field 603 and then presses the registration button 604 to newly register the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20. can do. When the user presses the close button 605, the job list screen 501 is displayed again.

  Further, the job list screen 501 in FIG. 11A has a server change button 508. When the user presses the server change button 508, the job display unit 73 displays a server change setting screen 701 in FIG. The server change setting screen 701 has a selection column 702 for selecting a desired IP address from a plurality of IP addresses and an address addition column 703 for newly adding an IP address. The user selects the print server 10 from the already registered IP addresses, or inputs the IP address in the address addition field 703 and then presses the registration button 704 to newly register the IP address of the print server 10. Can do. When the user presses the close button 705, the job list screen 501 is displayed again.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the selection receiving unit 74 receives a print job selected by the user. The selection receiving unit 74 receives a delete instruction or a print instruction for the selected print job. Therefore, the user can execute printing without inputting printing conditions. The job display unit 73 may display details of the printing conditions on the display device 306 by a user operation.

  The print data acquisition unit 75 transmits the job ID of the print job received by the selection reception unit 74 to the print server 10 and acquires the print data. As a result, the print server 10 can specify a print job and transmit only print data to be printed by the user to the image forming apparatus 20.

  The print job transmission unit 76 generates a print job from the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 75, the bibliographic conditions, and the print request, and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 20. That is, the print job transmission unit 76 transmits a set of data necessary for printing by the image forming apparatus 20 to the image forming apparatus 20. The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 20 by specifying the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 specified by the user on the login screen 401.

  The result receiving unit 78 receives the execution result of the print job (whether or not the execution of printing has ended normally) from the image forming apparatus 20. The result transfer unit 77 transmits the execution result of the print job to the print server 10.

Image forming apparatus 20
The image forming apparatus 20 includes a print job reception unit 21, a printer application 22, a result transmission unit 23, and a print engine 24. The print job receiving unit 21 receives a print job from the device 70. The operation of the image forming apparatus 20 that has received the print job from the device 70 is the same as the operation when the print job is received from the client PC 60.

  When the print job receiving unit (for example, network I / F) 21 receives a print job, it notifies an NCS (Network Control Service) that controls communication via the network. The NCS analyzes the input print job and determines a destination application. The image forming apparatus 20 such as an MFP includes a fax application, a copy application, a scanner application, and the like in addition to the printer application 22. In this embodiment, the destination application is the printer application 22.

  The printer application 22 issues a print request to an SRM (System Resource Manager) by designating a job mode. The SRM provides control related to resource management, engine control, and other use of hardware resources. When the resource is allocated by the SRM, the printer application 22 requests the ECS (Engine Control Service) to execute a print job via the API. The ECS controls engines such as a print engine 24, a scanner engine (not shown), and other hardware resources. For the print engine 24, the ECS performs a printing operation, status notification, error detection, and the like.

  The printer application 22 notifies the result transmission unit 23 of the end of the print job and the execution result of the print job. The result transmission unit 23 transmits the execution result of the print job to the device 70.

  As described above, even if the image forming apparatus 20 is manufactured by another company, printing is performed from the device 70 to the image forming apparatus 20 as long as the PDL is general-purpose regardless of the type and model number of the image forming apparatus 20. Can be executed.

Authentication server 30
The authentication server 30 includes an authentication processing unit 31, a user DB 32, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that a program installed in the authentication server 30 causes the CPU of the authentication server 30 to execute.

  In response to an authentication request from the print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20, the authentication processing unit 31 executes authentication processing using authentication information (password) registered in advance in the user DB 32 for each user. The user DB 32 is a database in which authentication information is recorded for each user. The user DB 32 may record user attribute value information in addition to the authentication information. For example, authority information related to the function of the image forming apparatus 20 may be recorded for each user.

[Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when storing print jobs]
FIG. 12 is an example of a flowchart for explaining in detail a procedure in which the client PC 60 stores a print job in the print server 10. In the figure, the user operates the client PC 60.

  In step S <b> 101, the print instruction receiving unit 61 receives selection of document data to be printed, and displays a print setting screen on the display device 306 of the client PC 60. The print instruction reception unit 61 receives input of print attribute information and authentication information (user name and password) via the print setting screen. Note that the screen for inputting the print attribute information and the authentication information may be different. That is, the print setting screen here may be a set of a plurality of screens.

  For example, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the authentication information input screen 601 constituting the print setting screen. In the figure, an authentication information input screen 601 has a user name input area 602, a password input area 603, and the like. The print instruction accepting unit 61 accepts input of a user name and password via the authentication information input screen 610.

  Subsequently, the print data generation unit 62 generates print data of document data to be printed according to the print attribute information, and records the input user name and password in the print data (S102). Subsequently, the print request transmission unit 63 transmits a print job including the generated print data to the print server 10 (S103). Note that the identification information (for example, IP address) of the print server 10 to which the print data is sent is recorded in advance in the storage device of the client PC 60.

  The print job is received by the print request receiving unit 11 in the print server 10 (S201). The print permission / rejection determination unit 12 extracts authentication information from the print data included in the print job, and transmits an authentication request including the extracted authentication information to the authentication server 30 (S202). The identification information (for example, IP address) of the authentication server 30 that is the authentication request destination is recorded in the auxiliary storage device 102 in advance.

  Upon receiving the authentication request (S301), the authentication processing unit 31 of the authentication server 30 performs authentication by comparing the authentication information included in the authentication request with the authentication information recorded for each user in the user DB 32. (S302). Subsequently, the authentication processing unit 31 returns an authentication result (information indicating success or failure of authentication) to the print server 10 (S303).

  When receiving the authentication result (S203), the printing permission / rejection determination unit 12 of the print server 10 determines whether printing is permitted or not based on the success or failure of the authentication (S204). That is, if authentication is established, it is determined that printing is permitted (Yes in S204), and the determination result (print permission determination result) is input to the job recording unit 14. The job recording unit 14 generates a job ID according to the determination result, and records the print job in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID (S205). Further, the job recording unit 14 extracts print attribute information from the print job, and records the extracted print attribute information in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID as bibliographic information of the print job.

  On the other hand, if the authentication fails, the print permission / rejection determination unit 12 determines that printing is not permitted (No in S204), and inputs the determination result (determination result of printing non-permission) to the non-permission transmission unit 13. The non-permission transmission unit 13 transmits the determination result of print non-permission to the client PC 60 (S206).

  Upon receiving the print non-permission determination result, the non-permission notification unit 64 of the client PC 60 displays an error message or the like indicating that printing is not permitted on the display device 306 of the client PC 60 (S104). Accordingly, when the user inputs a print instruction on the client PC 60, the user can recognize whether printing is permitted (or not). As a result, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of noticing that printing is not permitted after visiting the image forming apparatus 20.

  Further, by avoiding accumulation of print data and the like that are not permitted to be printed, useless consumption of the storage area of the job accumulation unit 15 can be suppressed. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized data from being input by a malicious user.

  In the above description, the print permission / rejection determination unit 12 determines whether or not printing is permitted based only on the success or failure of authentication. You may make it do. In this case, for example, if authentication is successful in step 303, the authentication processing unit 31 of the print server 10 acquires authority information of the user who has succeeded in authentication from the user DB 32, and acquires the authority information together with the authentication result together with the print server. 10 to send. The authority information is information indicating the presence / absence of the use authority for each item (function) corresponding to the print attribute information. The print permission / rejection determination unit 12 compares the authority information and the print attribute information, and if the user has authority for all the print conditions (for example, color printing) designated as the use target in the print attribute information, the print permission is permitted. Judgment. On the other hand, when there is no authority for all the print attributes, the print permission / rejection determination unit 12 determines that printing is not permitted even if the authentication is successful. The authority information may be recorded in the auxiliary storage device 203 of the print server 10.

  As described above, when accumulating print jobs, by determining whether printing is permitted in consideration of the authority to use the printing attributes, when the user operates the image forming apparatus 20, printing cannot be performed due to lack of authority. Such inconveniences can be avoided.

  After accumulating the print job, the user moves to the desired image forming apparatus 20. That is, since the image forming apparatus 20 that is the output destination (printing destination) is not specified when the print job is stored, any image forming apparatus 20 that is compatible with the print server 10 can be conveniently used for the image forming apparatus. 20 can be selected as an output destination.

[Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job]
FIG. 13 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70.

  First, the user inputs an authentication instruction operation to the device 70 in order to log in to the print server 10. The authentication control unit 71 receives an authentication instruction and displays a login screen 401 (S10). The user inputs a user name, a password, the IP address of the print server 10, and the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 from the login screen 401 and presses the login button 406. The authentication control unit 71 transmits the user name and password as authentication information to the authentication server 30 via the print server 10 (S20). The IP address of the authentication server 30 is stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 102 of the print server 10. Note that the device 70 may directly request authentication from the authentication server 30.

  In response to the authentication request, the authentication processing unit of the authentication server 30 executes an authentication process similar to the process at the time of storing the print job (S30). The authentication processing unit returns an authentication result to the device 70 (S40). The same authentication server 30 does not necessarily have to be used for authentication for storing a print job and for authentication when the print server 10 executes a print job. However, by using the same authentication server 30 for both authentications, it is possible to increase the possibility that the determination result of the print job accumulation matches the determination result of whether or not the print server 10 can be logged in.

  When the authentication control unit 71 of the device 70 receives the authentication result, the authentication control unit 71 executes a process according to the authentication result (S50). That is, if an authentication result is received that is not authenticated, the authentication control unit 71 rejects the login. In this case, the user cannot execute the print job (the image forming apparatus 20 cannot be used). If an authentication result indicating that authentication is established is received, the authentication control unit 71 allows login.

  If the authentication is successful, the authentication control unit 71 sends the user name to the job list acquisition unit 72 and requests acquisition of the job list (S60). The job list acquisition unit 72 transmits the user name of the logged-in user and an acquisition request for the accumulated print job job list to the job list transmission unit 16 of the print server 10 (S70). The IP address of the print server 10 is input from the login screen 401.

  When receiving the job list acquisition request, the job list transmission unit 16 of the print server 10 acquires the bibliographic information of the print job relating to the user name specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S80). Note that there may be only one bibliographic information entry in the list. The job list transmission unit 16 extracts the bibliographic information itself or information necessary for the job list (therefore, information equivalent to the job list), and returns the job list to the device 70 (S90). A job ID is assigned to each print job in the job list.

  Upon receiving the job list, the job list acquisition unit 72 sends it to the job display unit 73 (S110). The job display unit 73 generates screen information for displaying the job list screen 501 using the job list (S110). The job display unit 73 generates screen information from the acquired job list. The job list includes, for example, a file name, printing conditions, the number of pages, the number of copies, a user name, an accumulation date and time, and the like. The screen information is composed of, for example, an HTML file. In addition, the selection receiving unit 74 acquires a job list displayed by the job display unit 73 (S120).

  The user uses the input device 305 to select a print job from the job list and presses the print button 506. The selection receiving unit 74 receives a print job selected by the user (S130). Then, the selection reception unit 74 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID of the received print job (S140).

  The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the print server 10 to transmit the print data by designating the job ID of the selected print job (S150). The print data transmission unit 17 of the print server 10 receives the print data transmission request, and acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes printing conditions necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the device 70 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 sends the print data to the print job transmission unit 76 together with the print job obtained by adding the bibliographic information and the print request to the acquired print data (S180).

  The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the print job reception unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 (S190). The print job receiving unit 21 determines to assign a print job to the printer application 22, and requests the printer application 22 to execute the print job (S200).

  The printer application 22 executes a print job (S210). After the execution, the printer application 22 transmits the execution result to the result transmission unit 23 for each print job (S220). The result transmitting unit 23 transmits the execution result to the result receiving unit 78 of the device 70 (S230). The result receiving unit 78 requests the result transfer unit 77 to transmit the execution result of the print job to the print server 10 (S240). The result transfer unit 77 transfers the execution result of the print job to the print server 10 (S250).

  When the result transfer receiving unit 19 of the print server 10 receives the execution result of the print job from the device 70, it deletes the print data corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result from the job storage unit 15 (S260). By deleting the print data upon completion of printing, an increase in the amount of consumption of the storage area in the job storage unit 15 can be suppressed. However, the deletion of the print data may be performed periodically.

  Subsequently, the result transfer receiving unit 19 updates the bibliographic information corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result of the print job (S270). For example, the transfer result receiving unit 78 adds the date and time of printing to the bibliographic information. Thus, the printing process by the printing system 1 is completed.

  Therefore, the device 70 can print the print data from the company's own image forming apparatus A not equipped with the client application 90 or the image forming apparatus B of another company.

[Mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90]
Next, an aspect in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90 will be described.
FIG. 14 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the printing system 1 in a mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90. 14, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 14, the print server 10 has a client application 90. The device 70 does not have the client application 90. In this case, the device 70 operates as follows.
Providing only processing that can be performed on the browser Specifically, it is reception of a user operation, transmission of various requests to the print server 10, and reception of an HTML file from the print server 10.

The client of the print server 10 operates as follows.
Provide the functions of the client application 90 described above. Blocks that are the core of the print server 10 of the job list transmission unit 16, the print data transmission unit 17, and the result transfer reception unit 19, and TCP / IP (or UDP / IP may be used) ) To communicate.

  TCP / IP is an example. What is characteristic is that even if the print server 10 has the client application 90, the print server 10 uses the same communication method as when the client application 90 is installed in the device 70. Communicating with the client application 90. Therefore, for example, when the device 70 has the client application 90 and the device 70 and the print server 10 communicate via the mobile phone network, the client application 90 also has the mobile phone even when the print server 10 has the client application 90. It communicates with the core block of the print server 10 via the network. Hereinafter, for the sake of description, the core block of the print server 10 is referred to as a core block 150.

  Even if the client application 90 is installed in the print server 10, the client application 90 can be added to the core block 150 without any modification. Although it is necessary to add a server function to the client application 90, since a general-purpose thing can be utilized for such a server function, the increase in cost can be suppressed.

[Functional block diagram of printing system 1]
FIG. 15 is an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1 in a mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90. The hardware configuration diagrams of the print server 10, the device 70, and the image forming apparatus 20 are the same as those in FIGS.

Print server 10
As shown in the figure, the print server 10 performs functions of the client application 90 (authentication control unit 71, job list acquisition unit 72, job display unit 73, selection reception unit 74, print data acquisition unit 75, print job transmission unit 76, result A transfer unit 77 and a result receiving unit 78).
Further, the client application 90 has a Web server application 79. In response to a request from the device 70, the Web server application 79 transmits various information such as an HTML file included in the Web server application 79 and an HTML file generated by the client application to the device 70 according to HTTP. The client application 90 is shielded from the device 70 by the Web server application 79.

In this embodiment, the core block 150 and the client application 90 communicate by TCP / IP.
FIG. 16 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating communication between the core block 150 and the client application 90. A method of providing a plurality of IP addresses in one computer (print server 10) includes a method of mounting a plurality of interface devices 105, a method of setting a plurality of IP addresses in software, a method of using virtualization, and the like. . FIG. 16 illustrates a case where a plurality of IP addresses are set in software. This setting is performed in advance using a function provided by the OS by the user. The IP address of the core block 150 is IP address 1, and the IP address of the client application 90 is IP address 2.

  In the MAC frame, the Ethernet (registered trademark) header has a source MAC address and a destination MAC address, the IP header has a source IP address and a destination IP address, and the TCP header has a source port number and a destination port. A number is stored. The transmission source port number and the transmission destination port number are set separately in advance in the core block 150 and the client application 90 in advance. When the core block 150 transmits data, the IP address 1 is set as the source IP address of the IP header and the IP address 2 is set as the destination IP address, so that the data is transferred from the core block 150 to the client application 90. Can be sent. When the client application 90 transmits data, the client application 90 transmits data to the core block 150 by setting the IP address 2 as the transmission source IP address and the IP address 1 as the transmission destination IP address. be able to. Therefore, in the communication between the core block 150 and the client application 90, there is no change from the aspect in which the device 70 has the client application 90.

  Returning to FIG. 15, upon obtaining an authentication request from the web server application 79, the authentication control unit 71 requests the web server application 79 to transmit the HTML file of the login screen 401 to the device 70. The Web server application 79 transmits the HTML file of the login screen 401 as shown in FIG. When the authentication control unit 71 acquires authentication information (user name, password) from the Web server application 79, the authentication control unit 71 transmits the user name and password to the authentication server 30 together with the authentication request. The authentication control unit 71 receives an authentication result indicating whether or not user authentication has been established from the authentication server 30.

  When the authentication result indicates that the authentication is successful, the job list acquisition unit 72 acquires the job list of the print job stored in the job storage unit 15 of the print server 10. The job list acquisition unit 72 transmits the user name to the print server 10 by designating the IP address 1 of the print server 10 designated by the user on the login screen 401. The job list acquisition unit 72 receives a job list of a print job associated with the user name from the job list transmission unit 16.

  The job display unit 73 generates an HTML file of the job list screen 501 as shown in FIG. 9 from the job list of the print job acquired from the job list acquisition unit 72. The job display unit 73 requests the client application 90 to transmit the HTML file to the device 70.

  The print data acquisition unit 75 acquires the job ID of the print job selected by the user from the Web server application 79. The print data acquisition unit 75 transmits the job ID to the print server 10 and acquires print data. Accordingly, the print server 10 can specify a print job and transmit only print data to be printed by the user to the client application 90.

  The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 75, the bibliographic conditions, and the print request to the image forming apparatus 20. That is, the print job transmission unit 76 transmits data necessary for printing by the image forming apparatus 20 to the image forming apparatus 20. The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 20 by specifying the IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 specified by the user on the login screen 401.

  The result receiving unit 78 receives the execution result of the print job (whether or not the execution of printing has ended normally) from the image forming apparatus 20. The result transfer unit 77 transmits the execution result of the print job to the print server 10.

・ Equipment 70
The device 70 includes a browser 91 and a selection receiving unit 74. The browser 91 interprets the HTML file and displays various screens (login screen 401, job list screen 501, printer change setting screen 601, server change setting screen 701, print setting in the second and later embodiments) on the display device 306 of the device 70. A screen 801, a schedule print setting screen 901, and a distributed print setting screen 1001) are displayed. The device 70 accepts a user operation and activates the browser 91. The user sets the IP address 2 of the client application 90 stored in advance in the browser 91 and accesses the client application 90 via the browser 91. The user requests authentication from the web server application 79 via the browser 91. Accordingly, the browser 91 can receive the HTML file of the login screen 401 and display the login screen 401. The login screen 401 is as shown in FIG. The browser 91 transmits the user name, password, IP address 1 of the print server (core block 150), and IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 input by the user to the client application 90. Since the client application 90 only needs to know the IP address 1 of the print server (core block 150), the user need not input it.

  When the browser 91 displays the job list screen 501, the selection receiving unit 74 receives a print job selection. The browser 91 transmits the job ID of the print job received by the selection receiving unit 74 to the client application 90.

  Since there is no change in the image forming apparatus 20 and the authentication server 30, description thereof will be omitted.

[Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job]
FIG. 17 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. Since the procedure for storing the print job is not changed, the description is omitted.

  First, the user operates the device 70 to start up the browser 91 (S1). After activation, the user sets the IP address 2 of the client application 90 in the address field of the browser 91, and accesses the client application 90 together with the authentication request (S2).

  When receiving the authentication request, the Web server application 79 of the client application 90 notifies the authentication control unit 71 of the authentication request (S3). When acquiring the authentication request notification from the Web server application 79, the authentication control unit 71 requests the Web server application 79 to transmit the HTML file of the login screen 401 to the device 70 (S4). The Web server application 79 transmits the HTML file of the login screen 401 to the device 70 (S5). The browser 91 receives the HTML file and displays the login screen 401 on the display device 306 of the device 70 (S6).

  When the user inputs the user name, password, IP address 1 of the core block 150, and IP address of the image forming apparatus 20 from the login screen 401 and presses the login button 406, the browser 91 notifies the Web server application 79 as user authentication information. The name and password are transmitted (S7). The Web server application 79 sends the user name and password to the authentication control unit 71 (S8).

  Next, the authentication control unit 71 transmits the user name and password to the authentication server 30 (S20). The IP address of the authentication server 30 is stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 102 of the print server 10. In the figure, the device 70 requests authentication from the authentication server 30, but the authentication request may be made to the authentication server 30 via the print server 10.

  In response to the authentication request, the authentication processing unit of the authentication server 30 executes an authentication process similar to the process at the time of storing the print job (S30). The authentication processing unit returns an authentication result to the device 70 (S40). The same authentication server 30 does not necessarily have to be used for authentication for storing a print job and for authentication when the print server 10 executes a print job. However, by using the same authentication server 30 for both authentications, it is possible to increase the possibility that the determination result of the print job accumulation matches the determination result of whether or not the print server 10 can be logged in.

  When the authentication control unit 71 of the device 70 receives the authentication result, the authentication control unit 71 executes a process according to the authentication result (S50). That is, if an authentication result is received that is not authenticated, the authentication control unit 71 rejects the login. In this case, the user cannot execute the print job (the image forming apparatus 20 cannot be used). If an authentication result indicating that authentication is established is received, the authentication control unit 71 allows login.

  When the authentication is established, the authentication control unit 71 requests the job list acquisition unit 72 to acquire the job list together with the user name (S60). The job list acquisition unit 72 transmits a job list acquisition request for the accumulated print job together with the user name of the logged-in user to the job list transmission unit 16 of the core block 150 (S70). The IP address 1 of the core block 150 is input from the login screen 401 or is known to the client application 90.

  When receiving the job list acquisition request, the job list transmission unit 16 of the core block 150 acquires the bibliographic information of the print job related to the user name specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S80). Note that there may be only one bibliographic information entry in the list. The job list transmission unit 16 extracts the bibliographic information itself or information necessary for the job list (therefore, information equivalent to the job list), and returns the job list to the device 70 (S90). Each print job in the job list is given a job ID.

  Upon receiving the job list, the job list acquisition unit 72 sends it to the job display unit 73 (S100). The job display unit 73 generates screen information from the acquired job list. The job list includes, for example, a file name, printing conditions, the number of pages, the number of copies, a user name, an accumulation date and time, and the like. The job display unit 73 generates an HTML file for displaying the job list screen 501 using the job list (S101), and sends it to the Web server application 79 (S102). The Web server application 79 transmits the HTML file of the job list screen 501 to the device 70 (S103).

  When the browser 91 of the device 70 receives the HTML file, the browser 91 interprets the HTML file and displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 (S110). The selection receiving unit 74 acquires a job list (S120).

  The user uses the input device 305 to select a print job from the job list and presses the print button 506. The selection receiving unit 74 receives a print job selected by the user (S130) and notifies the browser 91 (S131). Then, the browser 91 transmits the job ID of the print job accepted by the selection accepting unit 74 to the web server application 79 (S132).

  When the web server application 79 receives the job ID, the web server application 79 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID (S140).

  The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the core block 150 to transmit the print data by specifying the job ID of the selected print job (S150). When receiving the print data transmission request, the print data transmission unit 17 of the core block 150 acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes bibliographic information (print conditions, etc.) necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the client application 90 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 sends the print data to the print job transmission unit 76 together with the print job obtained by adding the bibliographic information and the print request to the acquired print data (S180).

  The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the print job reception unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 (S190). The print job receiving unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 determines that the print job is assigned to the printer application 22, and requests the printer application 22 to execute the print job (S200).

  The printer application 22 executes a print job (S210). After the execution, the printer application 22 transmits the execution result to the result transmission unit 23 for each print job (S220). The result transmitting unit 23 transmits the execution result to the result receiving unit 78 of the device 70 (S230). The result receiving unit 78 requests the result transfer unit 77 to transmit the execution result of the print job to the print server 10 (S240). The result transfer unit 77 transfers the execution result of the print job to the core block 150 (S250).

  When the result transfer receiving unit 19 of the core block 150 receives the execution result of the print job from the device 70, it deletes the print data corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result from the job storage unit 15 (S260). By deleting the print data upon completion of printing, an increase in the amount of consumption of the storage area in the job storage unit 15 can be suppressed. However, the deletion of the print data may be performed periodically.

  Subsequently, the result transfer receiving unit 19 updates the bibliographic information corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result of the print job (S270). For example, the transfer result receiving unit 78 adds the date and time of printing to the bibliographic information. Thus, the printing process by the printing system 1 is completed.

  In this way, the client application 90 can be installed in the print server 10 with almost no change in the core block 150, and the device 70 only has the browser 91 installed, and its own image formation without the client application 90 installed. Print data can be printed from apparatus A or image forming apparatus B of another company.

  There are cases where a user who has accumulated a print job in the print server 10 wants to modify the print conditions when the print job is executed. However, it is difficult to process a print job in the image forming apparatus 20 that does not include the client application 90 or the image forming apparatus 20 of another company. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a printing system 1 that can process a printing condition by operating a device 70 by a user. Also in the present embodiment, there are a mode in which the device 70 has the client application 90 and a mode in which the print server 10 has the client application 90.

[Mode in which device 70 has client application 90]
FIG. 18 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. In FIG. 18, the same parts as those in FIG. The device 70 of this embodiment has a processing unit 81. The processing unit 81 accepts a change in the print condition of the print job, and changes the print condition of the print job to the accepted print condition.

  As described in the first embodiment, the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 of the device 70. FIG. 19 shows an example of the job list screen 501 of this embodiment. In the job list screen 501 of FIG. 19, a print setting button 509 is provided. When the user presses a print setting button 509 after selecting a print job, the processing unit 81 displays a print setting screen 801.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print setting screen 801. The print setting screen 801 includes a copy number setting unit 802, a color setting unit 803, a punch setting unit 804, and a staple setting unit 805. The user can set another number of copies in preference to the number of copies already set in the print condition of the print job from the number of copies setting unit 802. The user can set color or monochrome in preference to the color or monochrome setting already set in the print conditions of the print job from the color setting unit 803. The user can set the punch position in preference to the punch setting already set in the print condition of the print job from the punch setting unit 804. The user can set the staple position in preference to the staple setting already set in the staple condition of the print job from the staple setting unit 805. When the user presses the close button 806, the job list screen 501 is displayed again.

  By the way, it is not preferable that the printing condition after being changed by the user cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus 20. For this reason, the processing unit 81 communicates with the image forming apparatus 20 designated by the user on the login screen 401, and functions information (what function has and what kind from the MIB (Management Information Base) of the image forming apparatus 20). Whether print conditions can be set). Then, the processing unit 81 adjusts and displays the selection items of the color setting unit 803, the punch setting unit 804, and the staple setting unit 805 within the range of the function information of the image forming apparatus 20. In this way, for example, when the image forming apparatus 20 cannot perform color printing, the processing unit 81 can exclude “color” from the selection items of the color setting unit 803.

  When the user presses a close button 806, the processing unit 81 accepts a change in the print condition of the print job, and changes the print condition of the print job using the accepted print condition. Thereafter, the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires print data from the print server 10. Since the print data includes a print condition, the print data acquisition unit 75 replaces the print condition of the print data with the print condition processed by the processing unit 81.

  The order of changing the printing conditions and acquiring the print data is an example, and the printing conditions may be changed any time after the device 70 has acquired the printing conditions. For example, the processing unit 81 may change the printing conditions after the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires the print data. After the job list acquisition unit 72 acquires the job list, the processing unit 81 accepts only the print condition setting change, and after the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires the print data, the processing unit 81 changes the print condition. Also good.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 21 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 21, the procedure until the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  The job display unit 73 generates screen information for displaying the job list screen 501 using the job list and displays it on the display device 306 (S110).

  The selection receiving unit 74 acquires the job list displayed by the job display unit 73 (S120). When the user presses the print setting button 509 using the input device 305, the selection receiving unit 74 notifies the processing unit 81 that the print setting button 509 has been pressed (S121). The processing unit 81 displays the print setting screen 801 for the selected print job (S122). When the user changes the printing conditions and the user presses the close button 806, the processing unit 81 accepts the changed printing conditions and changes the printing conditions (S123). The processing unit 81 requests the job display unit 73 to display the job list screen 501 (S124). The processing unit 81 notifies the job display unit 73 or the print data acquisition unit 75 of the changed printing conditions.

  When the user presses the print button 506, the job display unit 73 notifies the selection receiving unit 74 that the print button 506 has been pressed (S125), and the selection receiving unit 74 receives the print job selected by the user (S130). Then, the selection reception unit 74 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID of the received print job (S140). The print data acquisition unit 75 specifies the job ID of the selected print job and requests the print data transmission unit 17 to transmit the print data (S150).

  The print data transmission unit 17 receives the print data transmission request, and acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes printing conditions necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the device 70 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 replaces the print condition of the print data acquired from the print server 10 with the print condition processed by the processing unit 81, and transmits the print job together with the print job in which the bibliographic information and the print request are added to the print data. The data is sent to the unit 76 (S180). The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the processing of a print job that is difficult to be executed by the image forming apparatus 20 with low processing capability can be performed by the device 70, so that no load is applied to the image forming apparatus 20. The user can flexibly execute a print job.

[Mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90]
FIG. 22 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. In FIG. 22, the same parts as those of FIG. The client application 90 of this embodiment has a processing unit 81. When the user presses a print setting button 509 from the job list screen 501, the processing unit 81 receives a generation request for the print setting screen 801 from the device 70 via the Web server application 79. The processing unit 81 compares the function information of the image forming apparatus 20 with the printing conditions, generates an HTML file for the print setting screen 801 in FIG. 20, and requests the Web server application 79 to transmit it to the device 70. When the user sets printing conditions, the processing unit 81 receives the changed printing conditions via the Web server application 79. The processing unit 81 processes the print condition of the print job selected by the user from the job list screen 501 using the received print condition.

  In FIG. 20, only the print condition of one print job is displayed on the print setting screen 801, but the processing unit 81 receives the print setting screen 801 generation request and print setting screen 801 of all the print jobs. Are generated at once. The processing unit 81 may generate an HTML file in which print setting screens 801 for a plurality of print jobs are arranged on one Web page, or HTML for a Web page on which the print setting screen 801 for one print job is arranged. Multiple files may be sent at once.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 23 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 23, the procedure until the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  When the browser 91 of the device 70 receives the HTML file, the browser 91 interprets the HTML file and displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 (S110).

  When the user selects a print job from the job list using the input device 305 and presses the print setting button 509, the browser 91 accepts pressing of the job ID and the print setting button 509 (S1101). The browser 91 transmits the job ID of the print job selected by the user and a request for generating the print setting screen 801 to the Web server application 79 (S1102). The Web server application 79 sends the print condition of the received print job and a request for generating the print setting screen 801 to the processing unit 81 (S1103).

  The processing unit 81 compares the function information of the image forming apparatus 20 with the printing conditions, and generates an HTML file for the print setting screen 801 (S1104). The processing unit 81 requests the Web server application 79 to transmit the generated HTML file to the device 70 (S1105). The Web server application 79 transmits the HTML file of the print setting screen 801 to the device 70 (S1106).

  When the browser 91 receives the HTML file, it interprets the HTML file and displays the print setting screen 801 on the display device 306 (S1107).

  The user uses the input device 305 to set one or more of a number setting unit 802, a color setting unit 803, a punch setting unit 804, and a staple setting unit 805 from the print setting screen 801 (S1108). When the user presses the close button 806, the browser 91 displays the job list screen 501 again (S1109). The selection receiving unit 74 acquires a job list to be displayed (S120).

  When the user presses the print button 506, the selection receiving unit 74 receives the job ID of the print job selected by the user and the print condition after the change (S130), and notifies the browser 91 (S131). The browser 91 transmits the job ID and print condition of the print job accepted by the selection accepting unit 74 to the Web server application 79 (S132).

  When the Web server application 79 receives the job ID and printing conditions, the Web server application 79 notifies the processing unit 81 of the job ID and printing conditions (S133). The processing unit 81 receives the changed printing conditions and processes the printing conditions of the print job specified by the job ID (S134).

  The processing unit 81 sends the processed printing conditions together with the job ID to the print data acquisition unit 75 (S135). The print data acquisition unit 75 specifies the job ID of the selected print job and requests the print data transmission unit 17 to transmit the print data (S150). The print data transmission unit 17 receives the print data transmission request, and acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes printing conditions necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the device 70 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 replaces the print condition of the print data acquired from the core block 150 with the print condition processed by the processing unit 81, and transmits the print job together with the print job in which the bibliographic information and the print request are added to the print data. The data is sent to the unit 76 (S180). The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the processing of a print job that is difficult to be executed by the image forming apparatus 20 with low processing capability can be performed by the device 70, so that no load is applied to the image forming apparatus 20. The user can flexibly execute a print job.

  When a user executes a print job, for example, the user may print as a meeting or meeting material. However, it may not take time to print just before the meeting. In addition, the print job document may be corrected before the print job is executed. Therefore, if the execution of the print job is only reserved, and the user can modify the document and overwrite the print job stored in the job storage unit 15, the print job can be surely executed by the meeting, and the user can When the original is corrected, the print data can be rewritten as appropriate. In this embodiment, a printing system 1 that schedules execution of a print job will be described. Also in the present embodiment, there are a mode in which the device 70 has the client application 90 and a mode in which the print server 10 has the client application 90.

[Mode in which device 70 has client application 90]
FIG. 24 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. 24, the same parts as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The device 70 of this embodiment includes a schedule control unit 82. The schedule control unit 82 receives a print job execution schedule, and executes the print job when the received date and time are reached. The device 70 may include the processing unit 81 of the second embodiment in addition to the schedule control unit 82.

  As described in the first embodiment, the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 of the device 70. FIG. 25 shows an example of the job list screen 501 of the present embodiment. In the job list screen 501 of FIG. 25, a schedule print button 510 is provided. When the user presses a schedule print button 510 after selecting a print job, the schedule control unit 82 displays a schedule print setting screen 901.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of the schedule print setting screen 901. The schedule print setting screen 901 has a print time designation unit 906. When the user selects “Immediate” from the print time designation unit 906, the print job is executed from the current time as in the first embodiment. When the user selects “after specified time” from the print time specifying unit 906 and inputs time [minute] from the input device 305, the schedule control unit 82 starts executing the print job when the input time has elapsed. When the user selects “designated time” from the print time designation unit 906 and inputs the time from the input device 305, the schedule control unit 82 starts executing the print job at the input time.

  In FIG. 26, one printing time is designated. Therefore, when a plurality of print jobs are selected on the job list screen 501, the same print time is set for the selected print jobs. When one print job is selected on the job list screen 501, a print time can be set for each print job.

  When the user presses the close button 905, the schedule control unit 82 receives the execution time of the print job. For example, the schedule control unit 82 sets the time input after “designated time” in the timer, and starts the execution of the print job when the timer reaches zero. Further, for example, the schedule control unit 82 stores the time input at the “specified time” in the memory, compares it with the current time every predetermined time, and sets the current time at the time input at the “specified time”. Then, execution of the print job is started.

  The print data acquisition unit 75 acquires print data from the print server 10. The timing at which the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires print data from the print server 10 may be any time after the print job is set (at any time) or immediately before the print time (for example, 1 to 5 minutes before). In the former case, the print data acquisition unit 75 can reliably acquire print data from the print server 10 by the printing time. On the other hand, if the capacity of the auxiliary storage device of the device 70 is small, there is a risk of pressing the capacity with print data. In the latter case, the print data acquisition unit 75 allows the user to correct the print data by the printing time. On the other hand, if a situation in which the device 70 and the print server 10 cannot communicate with each other at the printing time (for example, the print server 10 is powered off, communication failure, etc.) occurs, the print data acquisition unit 75 may not be able to acquire print data. The timing at which the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires print data is set in the device 70 in advance, or can be set by the user from the schedule print setting screen 901.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 27 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 27, the procedure until the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  The job display unit 73 generates screen information for displaying the job list screen 501 using the job list and displays it on the display device 306 (S110).

  The selection receiving unit 74 acquires the job list displayed by the job display unit 73 (S120). When the user presses the schedule print button 510 using the input device 305, the selection receiving unit 74 notifies the schedule control unit 82 of a display request for the schedule print setting screen 901 (S1211). The schedule control unit 82 displays the schedule print setting screen 901 for the selected print job (S1212). When the user sets the print time and presses the close button 905, the schedule control unit 82 accepts the print time and sets the print time (S1213).

  Next, the schedule control unit 82 notifies the job display unit 73 of the job ID and the printing time, and the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 (S1214). The print job on the job list screen 501 is preferably set with a print time and clearly indicated.

  When the user presses the print button 506, the job display unit 73 notifies the selection receiving unit 74 of the job ID and the print time (S125). The selection receiving unit 74 receives the print job and print time selected by the user (S130). Then, the selection receiving unit 74 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID and print time of the received print job (S150).

  Thereafter, the print data acquisition unit 75 waits until the print time after acquiring the print data, or acquires the print data when the print time comes. The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, when printing data is printed from the company's own image forming apparatus A in which the client application 90 is not installed or the image forming apparatus B of another company, printing can be performed according to a schedule.

[Mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90]
FIG. 28 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. In FIG. 28, the same parts as those of FIG. The client application 90 of this embodiment includes a schedule control unit 82.

  When the user presses the schedule print button 510 from the job list screen 501, the schedule control unit 82 receives a generation request for the schedule print setting screen 901 from the device 70 via the Web server application 79. The schedule control unit 82 requests the Web server application 79 to generate an HTML file for the schedule print setting screen 901 and transmit it to the device 70. When the user sets the print time from the schedule print setting screen 901, the schedule control unit 82 receives the print time via the web server application 79. The print data acquisition unit starts execution of the print job selected by the user from the job list screen 501 at the printing time designated by the user.

  In the schedule print setting screen 901 of FIG. 26, only one print time can be set, but the schedule control unit 82 can set the print time for each print job selected by the user on the job list screen 501. An HTML file can be generated. In addition, the schedule control unit 82 can generate an HTML file of the schedule print setting screen 901 that can set common print times for a plurality of print jobs selected by the user on the job list screen 501.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 29 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 29, the procedure until the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  When the browser 91 of the device 70 receives the HTML file, the browser 91 interprets the HTML file and displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 (S110).

  The user uses the input device 305 to select a print job from the job list and presses the schedule print button 510. The browser 91 interprets the HTML file linked to the schedule print button 510 and displays the schedule print setting screen 901 on the display device 306 (S1111).

  The user uses the input device 305 to set the print time from the schedule print setting screen 901. When the user presses the close button 905, the browser 91 displays the job list screen 501 again (S1112). The selection receiving unit 74 acquires a job list (S120).

  The selection receiving unit 74 receives the job ID and print time of the print job selected by the user (S130), and notifies the browser 91 (S131). When the user presses the print button 506, the browser 91 transmits the job ID and print time of the print job received by the selection receiving unit 74 to the Web server application 79 (S132).

  When the Web server application 79 receives the job ID and the printing time, the Web server application 79 notifies the schedule control unit 82 of the job ID and the printing time (S1331). The schedule control unit 82 receives the printing time and sets the printing time (S1341).

  The schedule control unit 82 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID and print time of the received print job (S1342).

  Thereafter, the print data acquisition unit 75 waits until the print time after acquiring the print data, or acquires the print data when the print time comes. The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to the printing system 1 of this embodiment, the client application 90 can be installed in the print server 10 with almost no change in the core block 150, and the image forming apparatus A of the company that does not have the client application 90 installed, When printing print data from another company's image forming apparatus B, printing can be performed according to a schedule.

  In the first to third embodiments, the user designates one image forming apparatus 20 from the job list screen 501 and executes a print job. However, if one print job can be executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20. Even if the number of copies is large, the user can obtain a printed matter in a short time. In this embodiment, a printing system 1 capable of such distributed printing will be described. Also in the present embodiment, there are a mode in which the device 70 has the client application 90 and a mode in which the print server 10 has the client application 90.

[Mode in which device 70 has client application 90]
FIG. 30 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. In FIG. 30, the same parts as those of FIG. The printing system 1 of this embodiment includes two image forming apparatuses 20. Three or more image forming apparatuses 20 may be provided. In addition, the device 70 includes a distributed printing unit 83. In addition, you may have the process part 81 or / and the schedule control part 82. FIG.

  As described in the first embodiment, the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 of the device 70. FIG. 31 shows an example of the job list screen 501 of the present embodiment. In the job list screen 501 of FIG. 31, a distributed print button 511 is provided. When the user presses the distributed print button 511 after selecting or before selecting a print job, the distributed printing unit 83 displays a distributed print setting screen 1001.

  FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of the distributed print setting screen 1001. The distributed print setting screen 1001 has a field 1002 for inputting the number of copies associated with the image forming apparatus (printer) 20, a printer add button 1003, a print button 1004, and a cancel button 1005. The image forming apparatus (printer) 20 adjacent to the column 1002 for inputting the number of copies is registered in the client application 90 in advance. When the user presses the add button 1003 of the printer, the image forming apparatus 20 on the network that can be used by the client application 90 is searched, and the user can add it when executing a print job. The user inputs the number of copies for each image forming apparatus 20 in consideration of the installation location and capability of the image forming apparatus (printer) 20. When the user presses the print button 1004, the distributed printing unit 83 receives a job ID and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus 20.

  Instead of executing one print job on a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20, it is also possible to assign print job A to one image forming apparatus 20 and print job B to another image forming apparatus 20.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 33 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 33, the procedure until the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  The job display unit 73 generates screen information for displaying the job list screen 501 using the job list and displays it on the display device 306 (S110).

  The selection receiving unit 74 acquires the job list displayed by the job display unit 73 (S120). When the user presses the distributed printing button 511 using the input device 305, the selection receiving unit 74 notifies the distributed printing unit 83 that the distributed printing button 511 has been pressed (S1231). The distributed printing unit 83 displays the distributed print setting screen 1001 for the selected print job (S1232). When the user sets the number of copies for each image forming apparatus and presses the print button 1004, the distributed printing section 83 receives the job ID of the print job and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus (S1233). The distributed printing unit 83 notifies the print job transmission unit 76 of the job ID of the print job and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus (S1234).

  When the user presses the print button 1004 (S125), the distributed printing unit 83 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID of the print job selected by the user (S140). The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the print server 10 to transmit the print data by designating the job ID of the selected print job (S150). The print data transmission unit 17 of the print server 10 receives the print data transmission request, and acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes bibliographic information (print conditions, etc.) necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the device 70 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 sends the bibliographic information (including the number of copies to be printed) and a print job to which the print request is added to the acquired print data to the print job transmission unit 76 (S180).

  The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the print job reception unit 21 of each image forming apparatus 20 (S190). The print job includes the number of print copies, and each image forming apparatus 20 can execute the print job according to the number of print copies. The two print job receiving units 21 each determine that a print job is assigned to the printer application 22, and requests the printer application 22 to execute the print job (S200).

  The printer application 22 executes a print job (S210). After the execution, the printer application 22 transmits the execution result to the result transmission unit 23 for each print job (S220). The result transmitting unit 23 transmits the execution result to the result receiving unit 78 of the device 70 (S230).

  The result receiving unit 78 requests the result transfer unit 77 to transmit the execution result of the print job of each image forming apparatus 20 to the print server 10 (S240). The result transfer unit 77 transfers the two execution results of the print job to the print server 10 (S250).

  When the result transfer reception unit 19 of the print server 10 receives two execution results of the print job from the device 70, the print storage unit 15 deletes the print data corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result (S260). By deleting the print data upon completion of printing, an increase in the amount of consumption of the storage area in the job storage unit 15 can be suppressed. However, the deletion of the print data may be performed periodically.

  Subsequently, the result transfer receiving unit 19 updates the bibliographic information corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result of the print job (S270). For example, the result transfer receiving unit 19 adds the date and time of printing to the bibliographic information. Thus, the printing process by the printing system 1 is completed.

  According to the present embodiment, when printing data is printed from the company's own image forming apparatus A that does not include the client application 90 or the image forming apparatus B of another company, a large number of print jobs can be distributed and printed. I can do it.

[Mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90]
FIG. 34 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. 34, the same parts as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The printing system 1 of this embodiment includes two image forming apparatuses 20. Further, the client application has a distributed printing unit 83.

  When the user presses the distributed print button 511 from the job list screen 501, the browser 91 displays the distributed print setting screen 1001 on the display device 306 of the device 70. The user inputs the number of copies for each image forming apparatus 20 in consideration of the installation location and capability of the image forming apparatus (printer) 20. When the user presses the print button 1004, the selection receiving unit 74 receives a job ID and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus 20. The browser 91 transmits the job ID and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus 20 to the web server application 79. The distributed printing unit 83 acquires the job ID and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus 20 from the Web server application 79 and notifies the print job transmission unit 76 of the job ID.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 35 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 35, the procedure until the job display unit 73 displays the job list screen 501 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  When the browser 91 of the device 70 receives the HTML file, the browser 91 interprets the HTML file and displays the job list screen 501 on the display device 306 (S110).

  The user selects a print job from the job list using the input device 305 and presses the distributed print button 511. The browser 91 interprets the HTML file linked to the distributed print button 511 and displays the distributed print setting screen 1001 on the display device 306 (S1141).

  The user uses the input device 305 to set the number of copies for each image forming apparatus from the distributed print setting screen 1001. When the user presses the print button 1004, the selection receiving unit 74 receives the job ID of the print job selected by the user and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus (S1221). The selection receiving unit 74 requests the browser 91 to transmit the job ID of the print job and the number of prints for each image forming apparatus to the Web server application 79 (S131). The browser 91 transmits the job ID of the print job received by the selection receiving unit 74 and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus to the Web server application 79 (S132).

  When the Web server application 79 receives the job ID and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus, the job ID and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus are notified to the distributed printing unit 83 (S1331).

  The distributed printing unit 83 notifies the print job transmission unit 76 of the job ID of the print job and the number of copies for each image forming apparatus (S1234). The distributed printing unit 83 notifies the job ID to the print data acquisition unit (S140).

  The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the core block 150 to transmit the print data by specifying the job ID of the selected print job (S150). When receiving the print data transmission request, the print data transmission unit 17 of the core block 150 acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes bibliographic information (print conditions, etc.) necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the client application 90 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 sends the print data to the print job transmission unit 76 together with the print job obtained by adding the bibliographic information and the print request to the acquired print data (S180).

  The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the print job reception unit 21 of each image forming apparatus 20 (S190). The print job receiving unit 21 of each image forming apparatus 20 determines that the print job is assigned to the printer application 22, and requests the printer application 22 to execute the print job (S200).

  Each printer application 22 executes a print job (S210). After the execution, each printer application 22 transmits the execution result to the result transmission unit 23 for each print job (S220). Each result transmitting unit 23 transmits the execution result to the result receiving unit 78 of the client application 90 (S230). The result receiving unit 78 requests the result transferring unit 77 to transmit the two execution results of the print job to the core block 150 (S240). The result transfer unit 77 transfers the two execution results of the print job to the core block 150 (S250).

  When the result transfer receiving unit 19 of the core block 150 receives the execution result of the print job from the device 70, it deletes the print data corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result from the job storage unit 15 (S260). By deleting the print data upon completion of printing, an increase in the amount of consumption of the storage area in the job storage unit 15 can be suppressed. However, the deletion of the print data may be performed periodically.

  Subsequently, the result transfer receiving unit 19 updates the bibliographic information corresponding to the job ID specified in the execution result of the print job (S270). For example, the result transfer receiving unit 19 adds the date and time of printing to the bibliographic information. Thus, the printing process by the printing system 1 is completed.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the print data is printed from the company's own image forming apparatus A not equipped with the client application 90 or the image forming apparatus B of another company, the change of the print server 10 is hardly required. A large number of print jobs can be distributed and printed.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the timing for executing the print job is determined when the device 70 displays the job list screen 501. In the third embodiment, the user can schedule the timing for executing the print job, but the timing for executing the print job is still fixed. However, it is convenient if the user can execute a print job at a desired timing. In particular, when the user plans to use the printed material at the destination, if the print job is stored in the device 70, the user can execute the print job at the image forming apparatus 20 at the destination.
[Mode in which device 70 has client application 90]
FIG. 36 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. In FIG. 36, the same parts as those in FIG. In the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the device 70 has a job storage unit 84.

  The job storage unit 84 is a storage medium that stores a print job including print data and bibliographic information acquired by the print data acquisition unit 75. The job storage unit 84 is, for example, an auxiliary storage device or a portable storage medium.

  The print data acquisition unit 75 stores the print job in the job storage unit 84. That is, the data is temporarily stored in the job storage unit 84 before being transmitted to the print job transmission unit 76. After the storage, when the user inputs a predetermined operation from the input device 305, the job display unit 73 displays a job list screen 501. When the user presses the print button 506, the print data acquisition unit 75 reads the print job from the job storage unit 84 and requests the print job transmission unit 76 to transmit the print job. Note that the device 70 may further include a processing portion 81.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 37 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 37, the procedure until the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires print data is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the print server 10 to transmit the print data by designating the job ID of the selected print job (S150). The print data transmission unit 17 of the print server 10 receives the print data transmission request, and acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S160). The print data includes bibliographic information (print conditions, etc.) necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the device 70 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 stores, in the job storage unit 84, a print job in which bibliographic information (including the number of copies to be printed) and a print request are added to the acquired print data (S1801). Therefore, thereafter, the print job can be executed at a timing desired by the user.

  When executing the print job, the user operates the device 70 to display the print job in the job storage unit 84 (S1802). The job display mode at this time may be at least as long as the user can input a print execution instruction, such as the job list display mode.

  When the user selects a print job from the job list using the input device 305 and presses the print button 506, the selection receiving unit 74 receives the print job selected by the user (S1803). The selection receiving unit 74 notifies the print job transmission unit 76 of the job ID of the received print job (S1804).

  The print job transmission unit 76 reads out the print job that the user has instructed to execute from the job storage unit 84 (S1805).

  Then, the print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the print job reception unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 (S190). The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to this embodiment, a print job can be executed even when the print server 10 cannot be used for some reason, such as a destination.

[Mode in which the print server 10 includes the client application 90]
FIG. 38 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the printing system 1. Although there is a restriction that the print server 10 is necessary at the time of printing, the print server 10 can also have the client application 90 in this embodiment. In FIG. 38, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The job storage unit 84 is a storage medium that stores a print job received by the browser 91. The job storage unit 84 is, for example, an auxiliary storage device or a portable storage medium.

  The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the Web server application 79 to transmit a print job to the device 70. Therefore, in this embodiment, the browser 91 receives the print job, and the browser 91 stores the print job in the job storage unit 84. After the storage, when the user inputs a predetermined operation from the input device 305, the browser 91 displays a job list. When the user presses the print button 506, the browser 91 reads a print job from the job storage unit 84 and transmits it to the Web server application 79. Note that the device 70 may further include a processing portion 81.

<Operation procedure of the printing system 1 when executing a print job>
FIG. 39 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when the user executes a print job from the device 70. In FIG. 39, the procedure until the print data acquisition unit 75 acquires print data is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  When the web server application 79 receives the job ID, the web server application 79 notifies the print data acquisition unit 75 of the job ID (S150).

  The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the core block 150 to transmit the print data by designating the job ID of the selected print job (S160). When receiving the print data transmission request, the print data transmission unit 17 of the core block 150 acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15 (S170). The print data includes bibliographic information (print conditions, etc.) necessary for printing.

  The print data transmission unit 17 transmits the acquired print data to the print data acquisition unit 75 of the client application 90 (S170). The print data acquisition unit 75 requests the Web server application 79 to transmit a print job in which bibliographic information and a print request are added to the acquired print data to the device 70 (S1811). As a result, the Web server application 79 transmits a print job to the device 70 (S1812).

  When the browser 91 of the device 70 receives the print job, the print job is stored in the job storage unit 84 (S1813, S1814). Therefore, thereafter, the print job can be executed at a timing desired by the user.

  When executing the print job, the user operates the device 70 to display the print job in the job storage unit 84 on the browser 91 (S1815). The job display mode at this time may be at least as long as the user can input a print execution instruction, such as the job list display mode.

  When the user selects a print job from the job list using the input device 305 and presses the print button 506, the browser 91 transmits the print job selected by the user to the Web server application 79 (S1816).

  When the Web server application 79 receives the print job, the Web server application 79 sends the print job to the print job transmission unit 76 (S1817).

  The print job transmission unit 76 transmits the print job to the print job reception unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 (S190). The subsequent steps are the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to this embodiment, even if the print server 10 has the client application 90, storing the print job in the device 70 allows the print job to be executed at a desired timing if the print server can be accessed. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print system 10 Print server 11 Print request receiving part 12 Print permission determination part 13 Non-permission transmission part 14 Job recording part 15 Job storage part 16 Job list transmission part 17 Print data transmission part 18 Report creation part 19 Result transfer reception part 20 Image Forming device 21 Print job reception unit 22 Printer application 23 Result transmission unit 24 Print engine 31 Authentication processing unit 32 User DB
60 Client PC
61 Print Instruction Reception Unit 62 Print Data Generation Unit 63 Print Request Transmission Unit 64 Non-permission Notification Unit 71 Authentication Control Unit 72 Job List Acquisition Unit 73 Job Display Unit 74 Selection Reception Unit 75 Print Data Acquisition Unit 76 Print Job Transmission Unit 77 Result Transfer Unit 78 Result receiving unit 79 Web server application 81 Processing unit 82 Schedule control unit 83 Distributed printing unit 84 Job storage unit 90 Client application 91 Browser

JP 2007-200284 A

Claims (12)

A document storage device, a printing system having a processing device for a mobile user and a client terminal for storing a print job to the document storage device the print job sent to the document storage device, printing In the printing system, which is communicably connected to one or more image forming apparatuses that receive a job and print print data via a network,
A storage unit that stores, in a storage unit, a print job received by the document storage device from the client terminal used by a user ;
Said information processing apparatus used by the user, among the identification information of the authentication information and the image forming apparatus of the user entered or selected by the user operation via the login screen, authentication had use credentials of the user An authentication control means for requesting an external authentication means and receiving an authentication result;
A job display unit that displays a job list of a print job associated with the user identification information on the display unit of the information processing apparatus when authentication is established;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of one or more print jobs from the job list;
Print job transmission means for inputting print data of a print job accepted by the selection accepting means to an image forming apparatus based on identification information of the selected image forming apparatus;
A printing system comprising: The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit that receives a change to the printing condition of the print job received by the selection receiving unit and processes the printing condition. Receiving the time to execute the print job to the image forming apparatus, the schedule control means for controlling the time at which the print job transmitting unit transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus,
The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: Image forming apparatus designating means for accepting designation of an image forming apparatus for executing a print job,
The job display means displays on the display means a change setting screen that allows a change of an image forming apparatus that executes a print job in response to a user operation.
The image forming apparatus designating unit accepts the changed image forming apparatus as an image forming apparatus for executing a print job when the image forming apparatus is changed via the change setting screen, and The image forming apparatus input or selected via the login screen is accepted as an image forming apparatus for executing a print job when there is no change in the image forming apparatus. A printing system according to claim 1. Acquiring a job list of print jobs, documents storage device designating means for accepting designation of a document storage device,
The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: A distributed printing unit that receives designation of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that execute the print job received by the selection receiving unit;
The print job transmitting unit, a plurality of image forming apparatus wherein the dispersion indicia Surite stage has accepted the designation, and transmits a print request and print data of the same or different print job,
The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: A document storage apparatus comprising a storage means for storing print job in the storage unit, the print system having the information processing apparatus to carry by the user, the document storage device the print job sent to the document storage device A printing method in a network system in which a client terminal that stores a print job and one or more image forming apparatuses that receive the print job and print print data are communicably connected via a network,
The client terminal used by the user sending a print job to the document storage device ;
Said information processing apparatus used by the user, among the identification information of the authentication information and the image forming apparatus of the user entered or selected by the user operation via the login screen, authentication had use credentials of the user Requesting an external authentication means and receiving an authentication result;
When authentication is established, a step of displaying a job list of a print job associated with user identification information among the print jobs stored in the storage unit on a display unit of the information processing apparatus ;
Receiving a selection of one or more print jobs from the job list;
Transmitting print data of the print job that has received the selection to an image forming apparatus based on identification information of the input or selected image forming apparatus;
A printing method characterized by comprising: The printing method according to claim 7, wherein further comprising the step of processing the accepting printing conditions changes to the print conditions of a print job the attached selected accepted the. Controlling the time of sending reception time to execute the print job to the image forming apparatus, a pre Kishirushi printing data to the image forming apparatus,
The printing method according to claim 7, further comprising : Displaying on the display means a change setting screen capable of changing an image forming apparatus that executes a print job in response to a user operation;
When the image forming apparatus is changed via the change setting screen, the changed image forming apparatus is designated as an image forming apparatus for executing a print job, and the image forming apparatus is changed via the change setting screen. If not, the step of designating an image forming apparatus input or selected via a login screen as an image forming apparatus for executing a print job ,
The printing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein: Acquiring a job list of print jobs, according to claim 7 to 10 The method of printing any one of claims the step of receiving designation, characterized in that it has a to the document storage device. A step of accepting designation of a plurality of image forming apparatuses for executing a print job;
When receiving the designation of the plurality of image forming apparatus, a plurality of image forming apparatus, comprising sending the print data of the same or different print job,
The printing method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein:

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