JP6260682B2 - Printer and printer control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printer and a printer control method .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has become widespread to use a device such as a printer by connecting it to a computer via a network. In order to use this device, a device driver for controlling the device is required. The device driver is generally installed on a computer connected to the device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-251347 A

  However, since the above-described device driver operates depending on the OS (Operating System) of the installation destination computer, the user must install a device driver corresponding to the OS installed in his computer. However, it is difficult for a user unfamiliar with a computer to grasp the type of OS and install software (device driver), which is a heavy burden. In addition, when the computer is replaced, it is necessary to install the device driver again. Furthermore, the manufacturer who provides the device also has a problem that it is necessary to develop a corresponding device driver for each type of OS of each computer, which increases the development cost.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printer and a printer control method that do not require a printer driver that depends on a computer environment.

The printer of the present invention includes a print data receiving unit that receives print data generated by a client terminal executing a print control script incorporated in a Web page from the client terminal, and a memory that temporarily stores the print data. And a print control unit that executes printing based on the print data. The print control unit reads the print data stored in the storage unit after the print data reception unit receives all the print data. Printing is performed.
In the printer described above, the print data receiving unit generates print data generated by a client terminal executing a print control script embedded in a Web page received using a Web browser from a Web application server on which the Web application operates. Is received.
In the above-described printer, the print data receiving unit starts receiving the print data after the client terminal has generated all the print data.
In the printer described above, the print control unit determines whether or not all of the print data has been received each time the print data reception unit receives the print data. All print data stored in the storage unit is read out after data reception is started, and printing is performed.
In the printer, the storage unit stores an HTTP server, and the print data receiving unit transmits the print data when the client terminal transmits print data to the service endpoint address assigned to the printer, based on HTTP by the HTTP server. It is characterized by receiving data.
The printer further includes a print setting service providing unit including an HTTP server, and the print setting service providing unit provides printing provided as a UI (User Interface) or a Web service API (Application Program Interface) by a Web page of the client terminal. A setting service is provided.
In the above printer, the print setting service includes a service for setting paper setting, the number of copies, print quality, color / monochrome selection, and image processing method.
According to the printer control method of the present invention, a print data reception step of receiving print data generated by a client terminal executing a print control script embedded in a Web page from the client terminal, and the print data temporarily A storage step for storing in the storage unit and a print control step for executing printing based on the print data are executed. The print control step receives the print data stored in the storage unit after receiving all the print data. It is characterized by reading and executing printing.
In the above-described printer control method, the print data reception step is generated by executing a print control script embedded in a Web page received by a client terminal from a Web application server on which the Web application operates using a Web browser. The received print data is received.
In the above-described printer control method, the print data receiving step is characterized in that reception of the print data is started after the client terminal has generated all the print data.
The following configuration may be used.
A network system of the present invention includes a web application server on which a web application operates, one or more client terminals that access the web application server using a web browser, a printer that operates in accordance with the operation of the client terminal, A network system in which at least a web application server and a client terminal, and a client terminal and a printer are connected to each other via a network. A Web page acquisition unit that acquires a Web page in which a print control script to be executed is embedded, a display unit that displays the acquired Web page, and a displayed Web page An image drawn in the drawing area by the print control script by accepting an input operation in the drawing process and drawing the result of the input operation in a predetermined drawing area and a printing operation performed on the displayed web page The printer includes a print data generation unit that generates print data converted into a format that can be processed by the printer, and a print data transmission unit that transmits the print data generated to the printer by a print control script. And a print data receiving unit that receives the print data transmitted by the print data transmitting unit, and a print control unit that controls print processing based on the received print data.

  The network system print control method according to the present invention includes a web application server on which a web application operates, one or more client terminals that access the web application server using a web browser, and an operation of the client terminal. A print control method for a network system in which at least a web application server and a client terminal, and a client terminal and a printer are connected to each other via a network. A Web page acquisition step of acquiring a Web page in which a print control script for performing print control related to the Web page is operated, and the acquired Web A display step for displaying a page, an input operation on the displayed Web page, and a drawing process step for drawing a result of the input operation in a predetermined drawing area; and a print operation on the displayed Web page. A print data generation step for generating print data obtained by converting image data drawn in the drawing area by the print control script into a format that can be processed by the printer, and print data generated for the printer by the print control script. A print data transmission step for transmitting the print data, the printer receiving the print data transmitted in the print data transmission step, and a print control step for controlling print processing based on the received print data; , Is executed.

According to these configurations, a predetermined image can be printed from the printer (print control of the printer) by the print control script incorporated in the Web page. In other words, in order to perform print control of the printer by a script that operates on the Web browser (operates inside the Web page), it is only necessary to install a Web browser in the client terminal. It is not necessary to install a printer driver on the printer. In addition, it is not necessary for the manufacturer that provides the printer to develop a plurality of types of printer drivers corresponding to each OS type, and the development cost related to this can be reduced. In addition, since there is no need to install a special application execution environment on the printer side, the development and manufacturing costs of the device can be reduced.
Further, since a web browser is often installed as a standard in recent client terminals (computers such as PCs and smartphones), even a user who is unfamiliar with the computer has an environment of the terminal he / she uses. The printer can be easily used without being conscious of (OS type or the like).

  In the network system of the present invention, the print data generation unit temporarily stores the generated print data in a predetermined storage area, and the print data transmission unit stores all the print data in the predetermined storage area. The print data in the storage area is preferably transmitted to the printer.

  According to this configuration, print data (for example, a raster image command) generation process and print data transmission process are separately performed (not performed in parallel), thereby enabling high-speed printing. . Further, in a client terminal with low performance, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unevenness in a print image, compared to a case where print data generation processing and print data transmission processing are performed in parallel.

  In the network system of the present invention, when a switching event for switching the Web page occurs during transmission of print data to the printer, the display unit selects whether to execute the switching of the Web page by the print control script. It is preferable to display a switching confirmation screen.

  According to this configuration, when switching Web pages, a confirmation screen for confirming (selecting) whether or not to actually perform page switching is displayed. In the present invention, since a function corresponding to a printer driver is realized by a script (print control script), if a Web page is switched during the print process, the print control script is lost and printing is interrupted. For this reason, when a web page switching event occurs, the confirmation screen is displayed, thereby preventing unexpected web page switching by the user (user).

  In the network system of the present invention, the print data transmission unit interrupts transmission of the print data when the Web page is switched during transmission of the print data to the printer, and the display unit transmits the print data. It is preferable to display a message indicating the interruption.

  According to this configuration, the user can be notified that the printing process has been interrupted. For example, even if the printing process is interrupted due to the switching of the Web page due to a user's unexpected operation and the disappearance of the print control script, the user may not notice it. This can be prevented by notifying the interruption.

  In the network system of the present invention, it is preferable that the print data transmission unit executes the print data transmission process in parallel with the switching confirmation screen display process.

  According to this configuration, print data transmission and switching confirmation screen display are performed in parallel (executed in a multi-thread manner), so that printing can be performed even while the switching confirmation screen for selecting whether to switch the Web page is displayed. Processing can continue.

  In the network system of the present invention, it is preferable that the print control unit of the printer executes print processing based on the print data after all the print data is received by the print data receiving unit.

  According to this configuration, printing is started after all print data is received. As a result, for example, when receiving print data with a large amount of data, it is possible to prevent a print page from being switched and the print control script to be lost during print data reception and the print processing to be terminated midway. .

  In the network system of the present invention, the print data generation unit divides the image data into data sizes that can be transmitted by one data communication, and converts the divided print data into a format that can be printed by a printer for each divided image data. Preferably, the print data transmission unit generates and transmits the print data in units of divided print data.

  According to this configuration, the print data is subdivided into data sizes that can be transmitted in one data communication and transmitted. As a result, for example, when transmitting print data with a large amount of data, the print control script disappears when the Web page is switched during the print data transmission, and the print data transmission is interrupted in a halfway state. Can be prevented.

  In the network system of the present invention, the printer further includes a print setting service providing unit that provides a print setting service for performing print settings of the printer, and the client terminal uses the print control script to execute the print setting service providing unit. It is preferable to perform print setting of the printer using the print setting service.

  According to this configuration, since the print setting of the printer can be performed from the client terminal using the print setting service, it is not necessary to provide an input device in the printer, and the print setting of the printer can be easily performed at low cost. Can do. The print setting items include, for example, paper setting, number of prints, print quality, color / monochrome selection, image processing method, and the like.

  In the network system of the present invention, the printer is composed of a printer body and a mounting board to be mounted on the printer body, the printer body is connected to the client terminal via the mounting board, and the mounting board is a print data receiving unit Preferably, the printing control unit and the print setting service providing unit are provided.

  According to this configuration, since it is not necessary to incorporate a special function in the printer body, even a general-purpose printer can be introduced into the system of the present invention.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a network system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in the network system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when a Web page switching event occurs during print data transmission. It is a system block diagram which shows the modification of a network system.

Hereinafter, a printer and a printer control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The network system of the present embodiment is a system that can perform print processing using a Web browser without installing a dedicated printer driver in a client terminal.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the network system SY. As shown in the figure, the network system SY includes a Web application server 1, a client terminal 2 connected to the Web application server 1 via the Internet, and a printer 3 connected to the client terminal 2 via a LAN. . In addition, although the one client terminal 2 is illustrated in the figure, it is not restricted to this, The structure provided with the several client terminal 2 may be sufficient.

  The Web application server 1 includes a CPU 11 (Central Processing Unit), a ROM 12 (Read Only Memory), a RAM 13 (Random Access Memory), a storage unit 14, a communication unit 15, and a hardware configuration mounted on a general computer. doing. The CPU 11 executes a program stored in the ROM 12 and controls the entire Web application server 1. The ROM 12 stores a control program and control data for the CPU 11 to execute various processes. The RAM 13 is used as a work area for the CPU 11 to perform various processes. The storage unit 14 stores an HTTP server 16 and a Web application 17.

  The communication unit 15 is an interface for communicating with the client terminal 2 (Web browser 47). Communication between the Web application server 1 and the client terminal 2 is performed by the HTTP server 16 based on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). That is, the Web application server 1 accepts an HTTP request from the client terminal 2 (Web browser 47), and, based on a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) included in the HTTP request, the Web page 21 provided by the Web application 17 is displayed on the client. Transmit to terminal 2.

  Although details will be described later, in addition to the page control script 22 (JavaScript (registered trademark)) for controlling the Web page 21 itself, the Web page 21 includes a print for performing print control related to the Web page 21. The control script 23 (JavaScript (registered trademark)) is incorporated (embedded), and the client terminal 2 executes the print control script 23 in the web browser 47 (inside the web page 21). Then, print processing is performed.

  The printer 3 includes a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a storage unit 33, a communication unit 34, and a printing mechanism 35 as main components. The CPU 31 executes a program stored in the storage unit 33 and controls the entire printer 3. The RAM 32 is used as a work area for the CPU 31 to perform various processes. The storage unit 33 is, for example, a nonvolatile memory (flash ROM or the like), and stores a control program and control data for the CPU 31 to execute various processes. In addition, the storage unit 33 stores an HTTP server 36.

  The printing mechanism 35 includes a paper feed mechanism, a print head, a paper cutting mechanism, and the like, and performs a printing operation under the control of the CPU 31. In addition, the printing system does not ask | require the kind, such as an inkjet system and a laser system.

  The communication unit 34 is an interface for communicating with the client terminal 2 (Web browser 47). Communication between the printer 3 and the client terminal 2 (Web browser 47) is performed by the HTTP server 36 based on HTTP. That is, when print data is transmitted from the client terminal 2 to a service endpoint address (URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) such as http: // xxxx /) assigned to the printer 3, the printer 3 (CPU 31) The print data is received, and the printing mechanism 35 is controlled to execute printing based on the received print data.

  The client terminal 2 includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a storage unit 43, a display unit 44, an operation unit 45, and a communication unit 46 as main components. The CPU 41 executes a program stored in the storage unit 43 and controls the entire client terminal 2. The RAM 42 is used as a work area for performing various processes of the CPU 41. The storage unit 43 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a nonvolatile memory (flash ROM or the like), and stores a control program and control data for the CPU 41 to execute various processes. In addition, the storage unit 43 stores the web browser 47.

  The display unit 44 displays on the Web browser 47 the Web page 21 acquired (downloaded) by the Web browser 47, and displays a screen for notifying various events associated with operations on the Web browser 47, various setting screens, and the like. To do. These screens may be displayed in the Web page 21 being displayed on the Web browser 47, or a new Web page 21 may be created and displayed. The operation unit 45 is an operation means for performing various input operations (such as character input and graphic drawing), selection / determination operations, and print operations on the Web page 21 displayed on the Web browser 47. The display unit 44 and the operation unit 45 may be configured as separate elements, or may be configured integrally by forming the display unit 44 with a touch panel.

  The communication unit 46 is an interface for communicating with the Web application server 1 and the printer 3, and the client terminal 2 (CPU 41) communicates with the Web application server 1 and the printer 3 using the Web browser 47.

  The Web browser 47 is a single function browser (standard browser) that does not have a plug-in module, and the CPU 41 uses the Web browser 47 to connect to the Web connected via the communication unit 46 (Internet connection). The application server 1 is accessed and the web page 21 provided by the web application 17 is acquired.

  The web page 21 incorporates the page control script 22 and the print control script 23 as described above, and when the web browser 47 receives an input operation from the user by the page control script 22, the input result is obtained. The specification is such that (input result of characters and images) is drawn in a predetermined drawing area. This drawing area is, for example, an area defined (set) by Canvas (HTML5 Canvas) in the page control script 22, and the input result is drawn in the drawing area and stored as image data.

  When the user performs a printing operation (such as pressing a print button) on the Web page 21, the Web browser 47 executes the print control script 23 incorporated in the Web page 21 and is drawn in the drawing area. The image data is converted to generate print data, which is transmitted to the printer 3 (to the service endpoint of the printer 3) via the communication unit 46. The service endpoint address of the printer 3 that is the transmission destination of this print data is specified in the print control script 23.

  The client terminal 2 may be a computer on which the web browser 47 operates, and may be of any type, such as a mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone or a smartphone) or a personal computer (PC).

  Next, the functional configuration of the network system SY will be described with reference to FIG. The client terminal 2 includes a Web page acquisition unit 51 (Web page acquisition unit), a drawing processing unit 52 (drawing processing unit), a print data generation unit 53 (print data generation unit), and a print data transmission unit 54 (print data transmission unit). , Display control means 55 and print setting means 56.

  The Web page acquisition unit 51 includes the CPU 41 and the Web browser 47 as main parts, and the Web browser 47 accesses the Web application server 1 (Web application 17), and the target Web page 21 (page control script 22 and print control use). The Web page 21) in which the script 23 is incorporated is acquired.

  When the user performs an input operation on the acquired Web page 21 (Web page 21 displayed on the Web browser 47), the drawing processing unit 52 includes the CPU 41 and the page control script 22 as main parts. The result of the input operation is drawn in the drawing area.

  The print data generation unit 53 includes the CPU 41 and the print control script 23 as main parts. When a print operation is performed by the user on the acquired Web page 21 (the Web page 21 displayed on the Web browser 47), the print data generation unit 53 performs print control. By executing the script 23, the image data drawn in the drawing area is converted into a format that can be processed by the printer 3, and print data (raster image command, bitmap file, XML print data, etc.) is generated. Specifically, the pixel value of the image data drawn in the drawing area by the print control script 23 is examined, image processing such as binarization and dithering is performed, and print data that can be processed by the printer 3 is generated. The print data generation unit 53 temporarily stores the generated print data in a predetermined storage area (storage unit 43). This temporary storage of print data can be realized, for example, by using Web Storage. The print operation is detected by the page control script 22, and the page control script 22 calls the print control script 23 using this detection as a trigger, thereby generating print data and temporarily storing the print data.

  The print data transmission unit 54 mainly includes the CPU 41, the communication unit 46, and the print control script 23, and transmits the print data (generated print data) temporarily stored by the print data generation unit 53 to the printer 3. That is, in this embodiment, the print data generation process (print data generation unit 53) and the print data transmission process (print data transmission unit 54) are not executed in parallel, but all print data is generated. Later, transmission of print data is started. The print data transmission unit 54 interrupts the transmission when the Web page 21 is switched during the transmission of the print data (when the Unload event occurs). This is because the print control script 23 itself, which is an element of the print data transmission unit 54, is incorporated in the Web page 21, and the print control script 23 is lost when the Web page 21 is switched. is there.

  The display control unit 55 mainly includes the CPU 41, the display unit 44, and the print control script 23, and notifies the user of events related to events that occur during print processing by the print control script 23. Specifically, when a switching event (beforeunload event) of the Web page 21 being displayed is generated by a user operation during print data transmission, it is selected whether or not to switch the Web page 21 on the display unit 44. Display the switching confirmation screen. In addition, when switching of the Web page 21 is executed on the switching confirmation screen (when an unload event occurs), a warning message indicating that the transmission of print data is interrupted is displayed.

  Note that even when the switching confirmation screen is being displayed by the display control means 55, the print data transmission means 53 continues to transmit the print data. That is, the print control script 23 executes the display of the switching confirmation screen and the transmission of print data in parallel. This parallel processing can be realized, for example, by causing both processes to be executed by separate threads using Web Workers.

  The print setting unit 56 includes the CPU 41 and the print control script 23 as main parts, and starts the printing process (when the user performs a print operation on the Web page 21). 63) to prompt the user for various print settings (such as a paper setting and a print number setting described later). Information set by the user is stored in a cookie, Web storage, or the like of the Web browser 47, and when the next print processing is performed, the stored print settings are read to restore the print settings.

  The printer 3 includes a print data receiving unit 61 (print data receiving unit), a print control unit 62 (print control unit), and a print setting service providing unit 63 (print setting service providing unit). The print data receiving unit 61 receives the print data transmitted from the client terminal 2 with the CPU 31, the communication unit 34, and the HTTP server 36 as main parts.

  The print control unit 62 includes the CPU 31 and the printing mechanism 35 as main parts, and executes image printing based on the print data received by the print data receiving unit 61. In this printing process, the print control unit 62 executes printing after receiving all the print data transmitted from the client terminal 2 (print data transmission unit 54). Specifically, the print data sent from the client terminal 2 is temporarily stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 33, and then the stored print data is read and print processing is executed.

  The print setting service providing means 63 provides the client terminal 2 with a print setting service (print setting function) for performing print settings of the printer 3 with the CPU 31 and the HTTP server 36 as main parts. This print setting service is provided, for example, as a UI (User Interface) or a Web service API (Application Program Interface) using a Web page, and includes, for example, paper setting, number of prints, print quality, color / monochrome selection, image processing method, Can be set.

  Next, a print processing procedure in the network system SY will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the client terminal 2 (CPU 41) accesses the Web application server 1 (Web application 17) according to the operation of the Web browser 47 by the user, and the target Web page 21 (the script 22 for page control and the script 23 for print control). The embedded Web page 21) is acquired, and the Web page 21 is displayed on the Web browser 47 (S01, Web page acquisition step, display step).

  Next, when an input operation is performed on the Web page 21 by the user, the client terminal 2 accepts the input operation according to the page control script 22 incorporated in the Web page 21 and draws the accepted input operation result in the drawing area. (S02, drawing process step). In this state (after drawing), when the user performs a print operation in the Web page 21 (for example, when a print button arranged in the Web page 21 is pressed), the client terminal 2 displays the page control script 22. Thus, a print instruction accompanying the print operation is acquired (S03). With the acquisition of the print instruction as a trigger, the print control script 23 is called from the page control script 22 and the printing process is started.

  Specifically, the client terminal 2 performs image processing (binarization, gathering, etc.) on the image data drawn in the drawing area according to the print control script 23 (S04), and the printer 3 can process it. The data is converted into a format to generate print data (S05, print data generation step), and the generated print data is stored in the storage unit 43 (S06). The processes in S05 and S06 are executed until the generation of the print data is completed, that is, until all the image data drawn in the drawing area is converted into the print data (S07; No).

  When the generation of the print data is completed (S07; Yes), the client terminal 2 sends the print data stored in the storage unit 43 to the printer 3 (service endpoint address of the printer 3) according to the print control script 23. Transmit (S08, print data transmission step). Note that processing control when an event for switching the Web page 21 by a user's browser operation during print data transmission will be described with reference to FIG. 4 described later.

  When the printer 3 receives the print data from the client terminal 2 (S09, print data reception step), the printer 3 stores it in the storage unit 33 (S10). The processes in S09 and S10 are performed until all the print data is received (S11; No). When the printer 3 has received all the print data (S11; Yes), it reads the stored print data and performs printing (image printing) based on this (S12, print control step).

  Next, with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 4, a processing procedure when a switching event of the Web page 21 occurs when print data is transmitted by the client terminal 2 will be described. It is assumed that the print data to be transmitted has already been generated by the processes of S01 to S07 in FIG. In the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the processing when the switching event of the Web page 21 does not occur is not described because no special processing is performed.

  First, the client terminal 2 (CPU 41) generates (saves) print data using the print control script 23, and then starts sending print data to the printer 3 (S21). During this print data transmission, there is an event for switching the Web page 21 being displayed by the user's operation of the Web browser 47 (that is, the Web page 21 in which the currently operating print control script 23 is incorporated) to another page. If it occurs (S22; Yes), the client terminal 2 selects whether to execute the switching of the Web page 21 in parallel with the print control script 23 while continuing to transmit the print data. Is displayed on the display unit 44 (S23).

  Next, when the user selects an option for canceling the switching of the Web page 21 on this switching confirmation screen (S24; No), the client terminal 2 uses the print control script 23 until transmission of print data is completed. The transmission process is continued (S25; No), and when all the print data has been transmitted (S25; Yes), the transmission process is completed (S26).

  On the other hand, when the user selects an option for switching the Web page 21 on the switching confirmation screen (S24; Yes), the client terminal 2 interrupts transmission of the print data due to the disappearance of the print control script 23. (S27) A warning message indicating interruption of print data transmission is displayed on the display unit 44 (S28).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a predetermined image can be printed from the printer 3 by the print control script 23 incorporated in the Web page 21. That is, since the print control of the printer 3 is performed by a script operating on the Web browser 47 (operating inside the Web page 21), the Web browser 47 may be installed in the client terminal 2 as in the conventional case. It becomes unnecessary to install a printer driver in each client terminal 2. In addition, the manufacturer that provides the printer 3 does not need to develop a plurality of types of printer drivers corresponding to each OS type, and the development cost associated therewith can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to install a special application execution environment on the printer 3 side, the development and manufacturing costs of the device can be reduced.

  Further, since the Web browser 47 is often installed as a standard in recent client terminals 2 (PCs, smartphones, etc.), even a user who is unfamiliar with a computer has an environment of the terminal he / she uses. The printer 3 can be easily used without being conscious of (OS type or the like).

  In the present embodiment, the client terminal 2 generates image data of the drawing area as one print data and transmits it to the printer 3. However, for example, the image data is transmitted by one data communication. The data size may be divided into transmittable data sizes, and print data (divided print data) may be generated and transmitted for each divided image data. That is, the print data is subdivided into data sizes that can be transmitted by one data communication and transmitted. As a result, for example, when transmitting print data with a large amount of data, the print control script 23 disappears when the Web page 21 is switched during the print data transmission, and the print data transmission is interrupted in a halfway state. Can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the printer 3 directly receives the print data transmitted from the client terminal 2 and executes the printing process is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a configuration may be adopted in which print data transmitted from the client terminal 2 is received by an interface board 80 (mounting board) that can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 70 and print processing is executed. In this case, the printer 90 is configured by the interface board 80 and the printer main body 70, and the interface board 80 is connected to the printer main body 70 via the board side I / F 85 and the printer side I / F 72. On the other hand, the printer main body 70 acquires print data from the interface board 80 via the printer-side I / F 72, and controls the printing mechanism 73 by the control unit 71. In FIG. 5, reference numerals 81 to 84, 86 in the interface board 80 function as reference numerals 31 to 34, 36 of the printer 3 of FIG. Thereby, since it is not necessary to incorporate a special function in the printer main body 70, even a general-purpose printer can be introduced into the system of the present invention.

  It is also possible to provide each component of the network system SY (client terminal 2, printer 3 and interface board 80) described above as a program. It is also possible to provide the program stored in a storage medium (not shown). As the recording medium, a CD-ROM, a flash ROM, a memory card (compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, etc.), a compact disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital versatile disk, a flexible disk, and the like can be used.

  In addition, the apparatus configuration and processing steps of the network system SY can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention, regardless of the embodiment described above.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Web application server 2 ... Client terminal 3 ... Printer 17 ... Web application 21 ... Web page 22 ... Page control script 23 ... Print control script 44 ... Display part 47 ... Web browser 51 ... Web page acquisition means 52 ... Drawing process Means 53 ... Print data generation means 54 ... Print data transmission means 61 ... Print data reception means 62 ... Print control means 63 ... Print setting service provision means 70 ... Printer main body 80 ... Interface board 90 ... Printer SY ... Network system

Claims (10)

  A print data receiving unit that receives, from the client terminal, print data generated by the client terminal executing a print control script embedded in the Web page;
  A storage unit for temporarily storing the print data;
  A print control unit that executes printing based on the print data,
  The printer, wherein after the print data receiving unit receives all of the print data, the print control unit reads the print data stored in the storage unit and executes printing.   The print data reception unit generates the print data generated when the client terminal executes the print control script embedded in the Web page received using a Web browser from a Web application server on which a Web application operates. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is received.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print data receiving unit starts receiving the print data after the client terminal has generated all the print data.   The print control unit determines whether or not the print data reception unit has received all the print data every time the print data reception unit receives the print data, and determines that the print data reception unit has received all the print data. The printer according to claim 3, wherein printing is executed by reading all the print data stored in the storage unit after starting reception of print data.   The storage unit stores an HTTP server,
  The print data receiving unit receives the print data when the client terminal transmits the print data to a service endpoint address assigned to the printer based on HTTP by the HTTP server. Item 10. The printer according to Item 1.   A print setting service providing unit including the HTTP server;
  The print setting service providing unit provides a print setting service provided as a UI (User Interface) or a Web service API (Application Program Interface) by the Web page of the client terminal. Printer.   The printer according to claim 6, wherein the print setting service includes a service for setting paper setting, the number of prints, print quality, color / monochrome selection, and an image processing method.   A print data receiving step for receiving, from the client terminal, print data generated by the client terminal executing a print control script embedded in the Web page;
  A storage step of temporarily storing the print data in a storage unit;
  Executing a print control step for executing printing based on the print data,
  The printer control method according to claim 1, wherein, after receiving all of the print data, the print control step reads the print data stored in the storage unit and executes printing.   In the print data receiving step, the print data generated by the client terminal executing the print control script embedded in the Web page received using a Web browser from a Web application server on which a Web application operates The printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the printer control method is received.   9. The printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the print data receiving step starts receiving the print data after the client terminal has generated all the print data.

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