JP6953809B2 - Information processing equipment, printing systems and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to information processing devices, printing systems and programs.

When printing is performed at a base that the user normally uses (hereinafter referred to as "main base"), the user may be made to print according to the contents of printing control such as usage restrictions and conditions set at this base. .. In addition, a fee may be charged when printing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-177372 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-102959

When the printing system is built across multiple bases, it is assumed that the user moves to another base and uses a mobile terminal such as a smartphone brought to the other base to use a printer installed at the other base. sell. Even in this case, it may be desired to print at another base according to the same control contents as at this base. In this case, conventionally, it has been necessary to set the control information indicating the content of the print control set in this base in advance in other bases as well.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention enables printing control according to the content of control at the first base at the second base without setting the content of control when printing is executed at the first base in advance at the second base. With the goal.

The information processing device according to the present invention is an acquisition means for acquiring control information when printing is executed at the first base, and a printing device selected as a print execution destination and installed at the second base. By transmitting the print job and the control information to the print server installed at the second base in response to the printing request to the printing device and the associating means for associating the device with the control information, the control information is described. It is characterized by having a print control means for controlling the printing device to print.

Further, the print control means is characterized in that the print device is made to execute printing after changing the print attribute of the print job according to the control information.

Further, the print control means is characterized in that when printing is executed by the printing apparatus and the number of printed sheets exceeds a predetermined number, the printing apparatus is made to perform printing by double-sided printing.

Further, the print control means is characterized in that printing by the printing apparatus is stopped according to the control information.

Further, the print control means is characterized in that printing by the printing device is stopped when a predetermined character string set in the control information is included in the file name to be printed.

Further, the associating means and the print control means are realized by a virtual logic printing device created when the user selects the printing device.

The program according to the present invention is a printing apparatus selected as a printing execution destination, an acquisition means for acquiring control information when printing is executed at a first base, and a printing installed at the second base. By transmitting a print job and the control information to the second base in response to a printing request for the printing device, an associating means for associating the device with the control information, the printing device is controlled to print according to the control information. It functions as a print control means.

The printing system according to the present invention includes a first server installed at the first base, a second server installed at the second base, and an information processing device used by a user having an account at the first base. The information processing apparatus includes a control information acquisition means for acquiring control information when printing is executed at the first base when a user logs in to the first server from the information processing apparatus, and a logged-in user. Associating means for associating the control information with the printing device installed at the second base selected as the printing execution destination, and the second server for printing jobs and the control information in response to a printing request to the printing device. The second server has a print control means for controlling the printing apparatus to print according to the control information by transmitting to the second server, and the second server sends the print job and the control information sent from the print control means to the print job and the control information. Correspondingly, it is characterized by having a print execution control means that controls printing execution in the printing apparatus according to the control information.

Further, the first server includes a balance management means for managing a balance payable as a user's usage fee, an acquisition means for acquiring charge information regarding a charge generated by using the printing device, the print job, and the charge. It has a calculation means for calculating a usage fee generated when the printing device executes printing based on information, and the printing control means allows a logged-in user to pay a fee associated with the use of the printing device. It is characterized in that printing by the printing apparatus is permitted only in the case of.

Further, the second server has a billing processing means for billing the first server for a price calculated based on the execution record and the charge information when printing is executed by the printing device, and the balance management. The means is characterized in that the price charged by the billing processing means is deducted from the balance of the logged-in user.

Further, the charge information is characterized by including information on consumables.

Further, the print control means is characterized in that each identification information of the first base and the logged-in user is included in the print job and transmitted.

Further, when the file specified in the print request for the printing device installed in the first base has been printed in the past by the printing device installed in the second base, the information processing device is concerned. It is characterized by having a file acquisition means for acquiring a file from the second server.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the content of control when printing is executed at the first base is not set in advance in the second base, but the content of control at the first base is followed at the second base. Print control can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to print at the second base with the print attribute according to the control information at the first base.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the number of printed sheets exceeds a predetermined number when printing is executed, the number of printed sheets can be reduced by double-sided printing according to the control information at the first base.

According to the invention of claim 4, printing can be stopped according to the control information at the first base.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the file name to be printed contains a predetermined character string, printing can be stopped according to the control information at the first base.

According to the invention of claim 6, the control information in the first base and the printing device in the second base can be associated with each other by the virtual logic printing device.

According to the invention of claim 7, the content of the control when printing is executed at the first base is not set in advance in the second base, but the content of the control at the first base is followed. Print control can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 8, the content of control when printing is executed at the first base is not set in advance in the second base, but the content of control at the first base is followed at the second base. Print control can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 9, printing can be permitted only when the logged-in user has the ability to pay.

According to the invention of claim 10, the user can be charged according to the usage amount.

According to the invention of claim 11, the amount billed for the amount of consumables used at the second base can be calculated.

According to the invention of claim 12, the user who is the billing destination can be specified.

According to the invention of claim 13, when the file printed at the second base is desired to be printed again at the first base, the file can be reused.

It is an overall block diagram of the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a hardware block diagram of the mobile terminal in this embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the print server in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the block structure of each apparatus included in the printing system in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the usage fee information stored in the charge information storage part in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the consumables charge information stored in the charge information storage part in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the account information stored in the account information storage part in this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process until the virtual logic printer 54 is created in this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process from printing is executed to being charged in this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram following FIG. 9A.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system according to the present invention. The printing system is composed of printing subsystems installed at each base 1. The print subsystem is configured by connecting the print server 2 and one or a plurality of printers 3 to the network 4. Further, an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) used by a user who normally uses each base is also connected to the network 4, but since it is not used for explanation in the present embodiment, it is omitted in FIG. ing. The mobile terminal 5 is a portable information processing device such as a smartphone. FIG. 1 shows a mobile terminal 5 carried and used by a user who normally uses the base A.

The number of bases constituting the printing system is not limited to the two bases illustrated in FIG. 1, and may be three or more bases.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 5 according to the present embodiment. The mobile terminal 5 in the present embodiment can be realized by a general-purpose hardware configuration that has existed in the past. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 5 contains a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, a storage 64 as a storage means, an operation panel 65 as a user interface, and a network interface (IF) 66 provided as a communication means. It is configured by connecting to bus 67.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the print server 2 according to the present embodiment. The print server 2 in the present embodiment can be realized by a general-purpose hardware configuration that has existed in the past. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the print server 2 contains a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a hard disk drive (HDD) 74 as a storage means, a user interface 75, and a network interface (IF) 76 provided as a communication means. It is configured by connecting to bus 77. The user interface 75 is composed of, for example, a mouse or keyboard as an input means and a display as a display means.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a block configuration of each device included in the printing system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a print server 20 corresponding to the print server 2 of the base A, a print server 40 corresponding to the print server 2 of the base B, a printer 30 corresponding to the printer 3 of the base B, and a mobile terminal 5. .. In the present embodiment, the components required by the print server 20 of the base A normally used by the user carrying the mobile terminal 5 and the print server 40 of the base B to which the user moves are required. Although the difference from the components is shown in an easy-to-understand manner, base B can also be a base normally used by other users, and base A can also be a destination for other users, so it can be used on any of the print servers 20 and 40. Is also preferably configured to have the other component.

The print server 20 includes an authentication unit 21, a printer management unit 22, a print management unit 23, a billing processing unit 24, a printer information storage unit 25, a control information storage unit 26, a charge information storage unit 27, an account information storage unit 28, and other bases. It has an information storage unit 29. The components not used in the description of the present embodiment are omitted from the drawings. The same applies to other devices described later. The authentication unit 21 performs an authentication process in response to a request from the user. The printer management unit 22 manages information about the printer 3 installed at its own base (base A), and the printer management unit 22 in the present embodiment further prints on the mobile terminal 5 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 5. The base 1 where the printer 3 specified as the destination is installed is specified. Further, in the present embodiment, since the usage fee is collected in association with the use of the printing system, the printer management unit 22 collects charge information regarding the fee incurred by the user who normally uses the own base by using the printer 3 of the other base. It functions as an acquisition means to acquire from other bases.

The print management unit 23 manages the execution of printing requested by the user, such as determining whether or not the printing requested by the mobile terminal 5 to the base B is possible in response to the request from the mobile terminal 5. In particular, the print management unit 23 in the present embodiment functions as a calculation means for calculating the usage fee generated when the printer 3 executes printing based on the print job and the charge information when determining whether or not printing is possible. do. The billing processing unit 24 functions as a balance management means for managing a balance that can be paid as a user's usage fee. Specifically, by executing the billing process in response to the billing from other bases, the billing is performed by deducting the usage fee from the balance of each user who normally uses the own base.

In the description of the present embodiment, only the user who normally uses the base A appears. Therefore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, the “user” refers to the user who normally uses the base A.

The printer 3 installed at the own base is registered in the printer information storage unit 25. In the control information storage unit 26, control information indicating the control contents related to printing, such as rules when the user executes printing and usage restrictions of the printer 3, is set in advance. For example, if the number of prints exceeds a predetermined number when printing is executed by the printer 3 specified by the user, the printer 3 may be made to perform printing by double-sided printing, or a specific character string is included in the file name to be printed. If this is the case, information related to printing control such as changing the printing attribute and whether or not printing related to security can be executed, such as stopping printing by the printer 3, is set. Further, the printer 3, the model of the printer 3, the print attribute, and the like that can be used may be set for each user. Further, the printer 3 in the present embodiment is assumed to be realized by a printing device equipped with only a printing function for convenience, but when it is formed by an image forming device such as a multifunction device, it is used by a user. The availability of functions such as printing, copying, scanning, and facsimile transmission may be set.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of usage fee information stored in the fee information storage unit 27 in the present embodiment. The usage fee information is set by associating the printer ID that specifies each printer 3 with the usage fee of the printer 3 and the fee ID that specifies the charge system applied to the printer 3. In the present embodiment, an example in which the IP address is used as the printer ID is shown, but other identification information such as the printer name may be used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of consumables charge information stored in the charge information storage unit 27 in the present embodiment. The consumables charge information is set as a set of charge ID, printing conditions, and charges. The usage fee information and the consumables fee information are linked by the fee ID, and the fee applied to the user is determined by the printer 3 used by the user and the print attribute set by the user. More specifically, the charge associated with the print conditions that match the print attributes set by the user is applied. In the present embodiment, the printing conditions are different from paper size and color / black and white as an example, but other conditions may be added.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of account information stored in the account information storage unit 28 in the present embodiment. In the account information, an account number (user ID) that identifies each user who normally uses his / her own base and the balance of the user are stored in association with each other.

Information acquired from other bases is temporarily stored in the other base information storage unit 29. Specific information will be described together with the description of the operation.

Each component 21 to 24 in the print server 20 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer forming the print server 20 and a program running on the CPU 71 mounted on the computer. Further, each of the storage units 25 to 29 is realized by the HDD 74 mounted on the print server 20. Alternatively, the RAM 73 or an external storage means may be used via the network.

The print server 40 includes a printer management unit 41, a job analysis unit 42, a print execution control unit 43, a job log acquisition unit 44, a billing processing unit 45, a printer information storage unit 46, a charge information storage unit 47, and a job storage unit 48. doing. The printer management unit 41 operates in cooperation with the printer management unit 22 of another base, and manages the printer 30 such as providing information about the printer 30 of the own base (base B). The job analysis unit 42 analyzes the job sent from the mobile terminal 5. The print execution control unit 43 functions as a print execution control means that controls print execution in the printer 30 according to the print job and control information sent from the mobile terminal 5. The job log acquisition unit 44 acquires the job log stored in the printer 30 at its own base. When printing is executed by the printer 30 of the own base, the bill processing unit 45 calculates the price based on the execution record and the charge information of the own base, and the print server of the base A normally used by the user who executed the printing. It functions as a billing processing means for billing 20. Like the print server 20, the printer information storage unit 46 and the charge information storage unit 47 store the printer information and the charge information at their own bases, respectively. The job storage unit 48 stores the print job sent from the mobile terminal 5.

Each component 41 to 45 in the print server 40 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer forming the print server 40 and a program running on the CPU 71 mounted on the computer. Further, each of the storage units 46 to 48 is realized by the HDD 74 mounted on the print server 40. Alternatively, the RAM 73 or an external storage means may be used via the network.

The printer 30 has a print processing unit 31 and a job log storage unit 32. The print processing unit 31 executes printing according to a print job sent from the print server 2 at its own base. The print execution result is stored as a job log in the job log storage unit 32.

The mobile terminal 5 has a login processing unit 51, a printer selection processing unit 52, a virtual logic printer management unit 53, a virtual logic printer 54, a print request reception unit 55, and an association information storage unit 56. The login processing unit 51 executes a login process for the print server 20. The printer selection processing unit 52 executes the selection process of the printer 3 used for printing. The virtual logical printer management unit 53 manages the virtual logical printer 54, such as creating and deleting the virtual logical printer 54. When the virtual logical printer 54 is created by the virtual logical printer management unit 53, the virtual logical printer 54 operates as a virtual logical printer. Specifically, it is installed at a base B selected by the user as a printing execution destination, which is an acquisition means for acquiring control information referred to when printing is executed at the base A from the base A which is normally used by the user. A means for associating the printer 30 with the control information, and a print control means for controlling the printer 30 to print according to the control information by transmitting a print job and control information to the base B in response to a print request to the printer 30. Functions as. The print request reception unit 55 receives a print request from the user. The association information storage unit 56 stores association information indicating the content of the association between the printer 30 and the control information by the virtual logic printer 54.

Each component 51 to 55 in the mobile terminal 5 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer mounted on the mobile terminal 5 and a program running on the CPU 61 mounted on the computer. Further, the association information storage unit 56 is realized by the storage 64 or the RAM 63.

Further, the program used in the present embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory. Programs provided from communication means and recording media are installed in a computer, and various processes are realized by sequentially executing the programs by the CPU of the computer.

Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where a user who normally uses the base A moves to another base (base B) and prints using the printer 30 installed at the base B will be described as an example. In FIG. 1, the user and the mobile terminal 5 in the base A are shown by a broken line, and the user and the mobile terminal 5 in the base B are shown by a solid line, respectively, and the arrow between them indicates that the user has moved. First, the process until the virtual logic printer 54 is created when the user executes printing at the base B will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

When the user who has moved to the base B performs a predetermined login operation, the login processing unit 51 transmits a login request to the print server 20 (step S201). The mobile terminal 5 can be connected to the print server 20 by using a wireless LAN such as WiFi, but the connection means is not particularly limited. The authentication unit 21 in the print server 20 authenticates the user in response to the login request from the mobile terminal 5 (step S101). Here, the explanation will be continued assuming that it has been successful.

Subsequently, the printer selection processing unit 52 transmits a printer selection request to the print server 20 in response to a predetermined request operation (step S202). When the printer selection request is transmitted, the printer management unit 22 in the print server 20 refers to the printer information storage unit 25, acquires a list of printers 3 installed at its own base, and generates a selection screen for the printer 3. Then, it is transmitted to the mobile terminal 5 (step S102).

Upon receiving the selection screen of the printer 3, the printer selection processing unit 52 displays the selection screen on the operation panel 65. The user selects the printer 3 that he / she wants to print from from the list of printers 3 included in the selection screen. Here, since the user wants to use the printer 3 of the base B, the user wants to use the printer 3 of the base B, so that the list is included. Does not include the desired printer 3. In this case, the user inputs information for identifying the printer 3 to be printed from the printer designation area provided separately from the list display area on the selection screen. For example, it may be specified by inputting the IP address of the printer 3.

When the printer specific information specified by the user is sent, the printer management unit 22 installs the printer 3 by transmitting the IP address included in the printer specific information to each base 1 in the printing system. Search for the destination base 1 (step S103). The base 1 that receives the inquiry replies whether or not the printer 3 is installed. Here, the printer management unit 41 in the base B returns to the base A that the printer 3 is installed. At this time, the printer management unit 41 reads out the charge information of its own base from the charge information storage unit 47 and transmits it (step S301).

Here, when specifying the printer 3 to be used by the user, the base A asks another base for the presence or absence of the printer 3 specified by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a position acquisition means (not shown) is used. The current position of the mobile terminal 5 acquired by the above is collated with the location of each base 1 included in the printing system to identify the base B where the user is, and the printer management unit 41 of the specified base B to the base B A list of installed printers 3 may be acquired, the list may be included in the selection screen to be sent to the mobile terminal 5, and displayed on the mobile terminal 5 so that the user can select the list.

When the printer management unit 22 in the print server 20 specifies the installation destination of the printer 3 specified by the user as described above (step S104), the specified printer 3, the base (base B) where the printer is installed, and the acquisition The charge information of the base B is associated with the charge information of the base B and stored in the other base information storage unit 29. Subsequently, the printer management unit 22 reads the control information of its own base from the control information storage unit 26, and transfers the control information and print-related information including the printer 30 selected by the user and the installation destination of the printer 30 to the mobile terminal 5. Transmit (step S105).

Upon receiving the print-related information transmitted from the print server 20, the virtual logical printer management unit 53 creates the virtual logical printer 54 (step S205). The created virtual logic printer 54 associates the control information included in the acquired print-related information with the printer 3 to generate the association information, and registers the association information in the association information storage unit 56 (step S206).

As described above, the virtual logic printer 54 is created on the mobile terminal 5, and the control information of the base A and the printer 30 of the base B are associated with each other.

Subsequently, the user causes the printer 30 to print the desired print data. The process from the execution of this printing to the charging will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The print request receiving unit 55 in the mobile terminal 5 receives a print request for which print data to be printed is specified by the user (step S211). Although the printer 30 to be the printing destination has already been specified, the print request receiving unit 55 will pass the print data to the virtual logic printer 54. The virtual logic printer 54 transmits a print job including print data to the print server 40 (step S212).

The job analysis unit 42 in the print server 40 analyzes the sent print job and recognizes the number of prints and print attributes (paper size, color mode, etc.) when the specified print data is printed (step S311). ). Then, the analysis result is transmitted to the mobile terminal 5 (step S312).

The virtual logic printer 54 inquires whether or not the print job can be executed by transmitting the analysis result sent from the print server 40 to the print server 20 (step S213).

In response to this inquiry, the print management unit 23 refers to the control information and verifies whether the print job meets the print restrictions and conditions. At this time, if the number of prints exceeds a predetermined value when the printer 30 actually prints according to the contents of the control information, the number of prints is specified by switching to double-sided printing or the like. When the print management unit 23 refers to the price list of the base B stored in the other base information storage unit 29 after appropriately changing the print attributes in this way, and the printer 30 of the base B executes printing. Calculate the usage fee incurred in. Subsequently, the print management unit 23 refers to the account information storage unit 28, confirms whether or not the balance of the user is equal to or greater than the calculated usage fee, and determines that printing is possible if the balance is equal to or greater than the calculated usage fee. (Step S111). When printing is possible, the print management unit 23 issues a job ID for management in the print server 20 to the print job executed in the base B (step S112). Then, the print management unit 23 adds the server ID that identifies the print server 20, the issued job ID, and the user ID (account number) of the user who requested printing to the determination result that printing is possible, and sends the result to the mobile terminal 5. (Step S113).

If the balance is insufficient, the user will reply to the mobile terminal 5 that printing is not possible, and when the mobile terminal 5 receives a reply that printing is not possible, the user will be notified that printing is not possible due to insufficient balance or that the balance will be added. Display the message etc. to request to.

Further, since the charge information of the base B is used for determining whether or not printing is possible, the print server 20 may send the charge information when transmitting the analysis result of step S312.

Upon receiving the printable response, the virtual logic printer 54 instructs the print server 40 to print by transmitting the server ID, the job ID, the user ID, and the control information of the base A received together with the determination result to the print server 40 (step S214). ).

Upon receiving the print instruction, the print execution control unit 43 in the print server 40 changes the print attribute of the print data included in the print job received in advance according to the setting contents of the control information of the base A as necessary ( Step S313). For example, when the number of prints exceeds a predetermined number, the setting is changed to double-sided printing. Then, the print execution control unit 43 transmits the print job to the printer 30 (step S314). At this time, the server ID, job ID and user ID of the base A acquired via the mobile terminal 5, the server ID of the print server 40 of the own base (base B), the job ID and the user of the print job transmitted to the printer 30. The ID and the ID are sent together. Here, the user ID in the base B is an account ID commonly given to the users of the base A in the base B, in other words, a group ID shared by each user who normally uses the base A. ..

The print processing unit 31 in the printer 30 executes printing according to the sent print job (step S411). Then, the execution result is registered as a job log in the job log storage unit 32 (step S412). In the job log, in addition to general log information such as the source of the print job, the reception date and time, the execution start date and time, normal / abnormal, etc., in the case of this embodiment, various types sent in addition to the print job. The ID is also saved.

When printing is executed as described above, the job log acquisition unit 44 receives an unacquired job log by an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) trap transmitted from the printer 30 or a monitoring process executed periodically. Is extracted from the job log storage unit 32 and acquired (step S315).

When the job log is acquired, the billing processing unit 45 calculates the billing amount for the unbilled print jobs. That is, since the paper size, the number of printed sheets color mode, etc. can be known by referring to the job log, the amount consumed by the user of the base A is consumed by referring to the consumables charge information stored in the charge information storage unit 47. The price (billing amount) of the consumables is calculated (step S316), and the base A is billed by transmitting the billing information including the billing user and the billing amount (step S317). The billing address can be specified by the server ID and user ID of the base A included in the job log.

When the billing information is sent, the billing processing unit 24 updates the balance by subtracting the billing amount from the balance of the user managed by the account information storage unit 28 (step S114). In this way, the usage fee for the consumables of the printer 30 at the base B is collected.

According to the present embodiment, when the user of the base A prints using the printer 30 of the base B as described above, it is possible to print according to the control information of the base A and the base B. It is possible to charge the user of the base A according to the charge information of.

The virtual logical printer 54 is deleted by the virtual logical printer management unit 53 when the end of printing execution is confirmed (step S215). The virtual logic printer 54 is a management device (print server 2) independently provided in each base 1 so as to be able to manage, for example, the amount of consumables used by the printer 3 originally installed in each base 1. Will be temporarily logically connected. Therefore, if the document data stored in each base 1 is left even after printing for the purpose of the virtual logic printer 54 is completed, there is a possibility that a security hole may occur in which the document data stored in each base 1 flows out via the virtual logic printer 54. .. Therefore, by deleting the virtual logic printer 54 after the printing for the purpose is completed, the risk of information leakage between the bases A and B can be reduced. The print server 40 may notify the mobile terminal 5 of the end of printing. Alternatively, it may be deleted at the time of logout from the print server 20.

By the way, the user may want to print the print data printed at the base B again after returning to the base A. At this time, when the print data to be printed is specified by the user, the print server 20 needs to change the print attributes and the like as necessary according to the control information before printing.

Therefore, since the job ID issued at the base A and the job ID managed on the print server 40 side are associated with each other, the print management unit 23 displays the jobs in a list and gives the user a job that he / she wants to execute again. Let me choose. Then, the job ID selected by the print server 40 is transmitted to the print server 40 to make an inquiry, and the print data associated with the job ID is extracted from the job storage unit 48 and acquired.

In this way, the print data printed at the base B can be acquired and printed again on the print server 20. As a result, the user does not have to make detailed print settings from the print setting screen at the base A, and the print server 20 does not have to change the print attributes according to the control information at the base B. It is possible to print with the same print attributes as. In addition, the user does not have to pay the usage fee to the base B.

In the present embodiment, the case where the printer 30 of the base B is used by using the mobile terminal 5 brought to the base B by the user has been described as an example. However, for example, the user is installed at the base B. Even if the existing PC or the like is borrowed, it is possible to realize printing according to the control information of the base A in the same manner as described above.

1 base, 2,20,40 print server, 3,30 printer, 4 network, 5 mobile terminal, 21 authentication department, 22,41 printer management department, 23 print management department, 24 billing processing department, 25,46 printer information storage Unit, 26 Control information storage unit, 27, 47 Charge information storage unit, 28 Account information storage unit, 29 Other site information storage unit, 31 Print processing unit, 32 Job log storage unit, 42 Job analysis unit, 43 Print execution control unit , 44 Job log acquisition unit, 45 Billing processing unit, 48 Job storage unit, 51 Login processing unit, 52 Printer selection processing unit, 53 Virtual logical printer management unit, 54 Virtual logical printer, 55 Print request reception unit, 56 Association information storage Unit, 61,71 CPU, 62,72 ROM, 63,73 RAM, 64 storage, 65 operation panel, 66,76 network interface (IF), 67,77 internal bus, 75 user interface.

Claims (13)

An acquisition means for acquiring control information when printing is executed at the first base, and
An association means for associating the control information with the printing device selected as the printing execution destination and installed at the second base.
A print control means for controlling the printing device to print according to the control information by transmitting a print job and the control information to a print server installed at the second base in response to a print request to the printing device. ,
An information processing device characterized by having. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the print control means changes the print attribute of the print job according to the control information, and then causes the print device to execute printing. The information according to claim 2, wherein the print control means causes the printing device to perform printing by double-sided printing when the number of printed sheets exceeds a predetermined number when printing is executed by the printing device. Processing equipment. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the print control means stops printing by the printing device according to the control information. The fourth aspect of claim 4, wherein the print control means stops printing by the printing apparatus when the file name to be printed includes a predetermined character string set in the control information. Information processing equipment. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the associating means and the print control means are realized by a virtual logic printing device created when the user selects the printing device. Computer,
Acquisition means for acquiring control information when printing is executed at the first base,
An association means for associating the control information with the printing device selected as the printing execution destination and installed at the second base.
A print control means that controls a printing device to print according to the control information by transmitting a print job and the control information to the second base in response to a printing request to the printing device.
A program to function as. The first server installed at the first base and
The second server installed at the second base and
An information processing device used by a user who has an account at the first base,
Have,
The information processing device
A control information acquisition means for acquiring control information when printing is executed at the first base when a user logs in to the first server from the information processing device.
An association means for associating the control information with the printing device installed at the second base selected as the print execution destination by the logged-in user, and
A print control means for controlling the printing device to print according to the control information by transmitting a print job and the control information to the second server in response to a print request to the printing device.
Have,
The second server is
A print execution control means that controls print execution in the printing apparatus according to the print job and the control information sent from the print control means.
A printing system characterized by having. The first server is
A balance management method that manages the balance that can be paid as a user's usage fee,
An acquisition means for acquiring charge information regarding charges incurred by using the printing device, and
A calculation means for calculating the usage fee generated when the printing device executes printing based on the print job and the fee information, and
Have,
The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing control means permits printing by the printing device only when the logged-in user can pay a fee associated with the use of the printing device. The second server has a billing processing means for billing the first server for a price calculated based on the execution record and the charge information when printing is executed by the printing apparatus.
The printing system according to claim 9, wherein the balance management means deducts the price charged by the billing processing means from the balance of the logged-in user. The printing system according to claim 9, wherein the charge information includes information on consumables. The printing system according to claim 9, wherein the print control means includes each identification information of the first base and the logged-in user in the print job and transmits the identification information. When the file specified in the print request for the printing device installed at the first base has been printed in the past by the printing device installed at the second base, the information processing device prints the file. The printing system according to claim 8, further comprising a file acquisition means for acquiring from the second server.

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