JPH10240457A - Network correspondent type printer, printing method and network printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the reception/print of desired information resource by directly accessing a network and to prevent useless printing. SOLUTION: A host computer designates information for specifying the information source to be connected to a printer such as a server address or a file name, for example, together with access time. When the access time comes (S11), while referring to a history managing table, it is discriminated whether the designated information resource is received in the past or not (S14). In the case of information resource to be received for the first time, it is added to the history managing table and printed (S20-S22). When there is the history of reception, data at the preparation time of information resource are compared with data at the last time of preparation (S16) and when the data at the time of preparation are new, they are printed. When the data at the time of preparation are not new rather than the last time, the absence of change in contents is judged and printing is stopped (S19) so that useless printing is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network-compatible printing apparatus, a printing method, and a network printing method capable of directly accessing information resources existing on a network such as the Internet, downloading and printing the information resources. About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a LAN (Local Area Network)
A network printer connected to such a network and shared by a plurality of host computers is conventionally known. Such a network printer receives a print job from a plurality of host computers connected to a network and performs printing. On the other hand, the Internet is known as a worldwide network formed by connecting a large number of networks to each other.

Therefore, a conventional network printer will be described with reference to FIG. The Internet 100 is a world-wide network in which several backbone networks are interconnected. In order to perform data communication or the like between servers 101 of different types, a communication protocol compatible with multi-vendors, for example, TCP / IP ( Transmis
sion Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), HTT
P (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or the like is adopted.

Here, each server 101 usually stores a plurality of information resources in a spool 102. Known information resources include a homepage provided by a WWW (World Wide Web) server, a file provided by an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server, and net news provided by a news server.

The Internet 100 has a LAN 103
Can be connected. A plurality of host computers 104 serving as clients are connected to the LAN 103. Further, a network printer 105 shared by each host computer 104 is also connected to the LAN 103. LAN 103 is connected to router 10
6 and the like, and is connected to the Internet 103.

[0006] Each host computer 104 has a router 1
By connecting to the server 101 via the server 06 or the like, various information resources possessed by each server 101 can be used. Various information resources downloaded from each server 101 are reproduced by software such as browsing software and a viewer installed in the host computer 104.

[0007] Among the downloaded information resources, printable information such as document data and still image files can be printed out on a print recording medium by the network printer 105. In this case, the host computer 104 that performs printing outputs print data including the LAN address of the network printer 105, print data, control codes, and the like onto the LAN line. Network printer 1 that has received this print data
05 executes printing.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, when obtaining information resources stored in a WWW server or the like on the Internet 100 as printed matter, a user first activates the host computer 104 to obtain a desired one. Secondly, the target document data must be downloaded into the host computer 104, and thirdly, the downloaded document data must be printed.

Therefore, for example, when an information resource that is updated periodically, such as a home page on a WWW server, is obtained as a printed matter, the host computer 104 is started and the server is accessed each time. Has to be performed, and it takes time and effort to obtain the target print recording medium.

[0010] In recent years, the number of Internet users has increased rapidly, and data with a large load, such as moving images and voices, tends to circulate through a network. Therefore, in a time zone where usage is concentrated, the line is often congested, and there is a high possibility that a desired server cannot be accessed. In this case, it is necessary to access again at a time when there is less congestion, so that the usability is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described various problems, and its object is to merely register in advance information for specifying an information resource, such as a name and an address, and an access time. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a network-compatible printing apparatus, a printing method, and a network printing system capable of printing desired information resources without waste. More specifically, when a pre-registered access time has been reached, a pre-registered information resource can be accessed without a host computer, and printing can be performed when the content of the information resource has been updated. An object of the present invention is to provide a network-compatible printing apparatus, a printing method, and a network printing system as described above.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, in a network-compatible printing apparatus according to the present invention, when a pre-registered access time has been reached, it is actively requested without a host computer. Is accessed, and printing is executed when the content of the information resource is new.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible printing apparatus which is connected to a network connecting a plurality of servers and receives and prints information resources stored in each of the servers. Print control means for executing printing by controlling the printing means based on the received data; network connection means for connecting to the network; and specifying information and access time required for specifying the information resources. Access management information registration means for registering as access management information, history management means for managing as information the information for specifying information resources connected in the past and information for content determination for determining the content of the information resources, Connects to the registered information resource based on the access management information, and details of the connected information resource based on the history information If it does not match the contents when the previous printing is characterized in that receives the information resource with a, a network control unit for printing by the print control means.

[0014] Here, "network connecting a plurality of servers" refers to a network connecting a plurality of servers, such as the Internet or an intranet, and includes a LAN. The “information resource” means, for example, a homepage of a WWW server, a file of an FTP server, and the like. “Specifying information” is information necessary for specifying each information resource such as a homepage or a document file. For example, “http: // xx
x.xxx.xxx.xxx/abc/japanese/seihinn/device/device.h
"tm" means information necessary for specifying a desired information resource from a plurality of information resources of the server.
Therefore, the specifying information includes a server address (IP address), a file name, and the like. Information resources include:
It is not limited to the document file described in the html format, and includes various document files, still image files, and the like described in various languages. "Content determination information" refers to whether or not the content of the information resource is the same at the time of the previous connection and at the time of the current connection, that is, the information resource has been updated and has new information different from the time of the previous connection. This is information for determining whether or not the operation is performed. As the content determination information, for example, data at the time of creation when a document file such as "'97 / 01/23" is created, or error detection data extracted from an information resource such as a checksum is used. be able to.

[0015] When the user specifies in advance the specifying information and the access time of the desired information resource, the specifying information and the access time are registered in the access management information registration means as access management information. Then, when the registered access time arrives, the network control means actively connects to the registered information resource via the network connection means without passing through the host computer. Then, the network control means determines, based on the history information, whether or not the content of the information resource is different from the previous time, that is, whether or not the content of the information resource has been updated. Print on. If the current content matches the previous content, the information resource is not printed unless otherwise specified. This is because the user may have already obtained and saved the information resource as a paper medium.

Thus, the user can easily obtain the print recording medium as the final object without performing useless printing only by specifying the information for specifying the information resource and the access time. it can. Further, since the access time can be designated by selecting a time zone in which the network is not frequently used, the access efficiency can be improved.

In the invention according to claim 2, the network control means includes a reception history determination means for determining whether or not the connected information resource has been printed in the past based on the history information; In the case of an information resource that has been printed, there is provided content determining means for determining whether or not the content of the information resource matches the content of the last printing based on the history information, When the information resource is determined to be inconsistent, the information resource is received and printed by the print control unit, and when the content determination unit determines a match, the printing of the information resource is stopped. And

By judging the reception history of the information resource based on the history information, if a new information resource that has not been connected / printed in the past is registered, it is judged whether the contents of the information resource match or not. Printing can be done soon. By determining whether or not the content of the information resource has been updated only when the reception history remains, it is possible to prevent useless printed matter from being generated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible printing method which is connected to a network connecting a plurality of servers and receives and prints information resources stored in each of the servers. Registering the identifying information and access time required to identify the resource as access management information; and identifying information of an information resource connected in the past and information for determining the content of the information resource. Managing as the history information, connecting to the registered information resource based on the access management information, and determining whether the connected information resource has been printed in the past based on the history information. And, in the case of an information resource that has been printed in the past, it is determined that the content of the information resource has been printed last time based on the history information. A content determining step of determining whether or not the content matches the content of the information resource; and, if a mismatch is determined by the content determining step, receiving the information resource and causing the print control unit to print the information resource. When a match is determined in the step, a step of stopping printing of the information resource and a step of updating the history information are provided.

Thus, the same operation as the first and second aspects of the invention can be obtained.

[0021] In the invention according to claim 8, a host computer instructing identification information necessary for identifying information resources stored in a server on a network, and an information resource instructed by the host computer. A network printing system, comprising: a printer device connected to the printer device for receiving and printing the information resource, wherein the printer device performs printing by controlling the printing device based on the received data; and Network connection means for connecting to the network, access management information registration means for registering the information for specifying the information resource and the access time specified by the host computer as access management information, and information resources connected in the past History of the information for identification and the information for content determination for determining the content of the information resource. History management means that manages the information as information, and a connection to the registered information resource based on the access management information, wherein the content of the connected information resource does not match the content of the previous printing based on the history information. Comprises a network control means for receiving the information resource and causing the print control means to print the information resource, wherein the host computer instructs the printer device to specify the information for specifying the information resource. And is characterized by comprising.

With this configuration, the printer device connects to the information resource at a predetermined access time only by designating a desired information resource from the host computer to the printer device, and the content of the information resource is updated. Printing can be performed in some cases. Note that as the content determination information, data at the time of creation of the information resource or error detection data extracted from the information resource can be used.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same elements as those described in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

1. First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 4 show a network-compatible printing apparatus and a network printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the network printing system according to the present embodiment.

1-1 Functional Configuration on Printer Side The printer 1 as a network-compatible printing apparatus or “printer apparatus” according to the present embodiment is connected to a host computer 2 and connected to the Internet 10.
0 is connectable. That is, the printer 1
Is in the same position as the host computer 2 with respect to the Internet 100, and actively
0 is accessed to download data.

As will be described later, the printer 1
Network connection unit (abbreviated as "network I / F" in the figure) 3, memory 4, print control unit 5, print engine 6, network control unit 7, registration unit 8, timer 9, and history management A table 10 and a power management unit 11 are provided.

The network connection unit 3 as "network connection means" includes, for example, a LAN driver for connecting to the LAN 103, various protocol groups such as TCP / IP and HTTP, and various hardware such as Ethernet. It is configured. The printer 1 can be connected to the host computer 2 and the Internet 100 via the network connection unit 3 and the like.

The memory 4 stores data such as an HTML document as an example of information resources downloaded from each server 101, data input from the host computer 2, and the like, and is managed by the memory management unit 4A. I have.

Print control unit 5 as "print control means"
Interprets data input from the server 101 or the host computer 2 to generate final print data,
Printing is executed by controlling the print engine 6 based on control data such as line feed and page break and print data.

The print engine 6 includes, for example, a paper feed mechanism, a print head, and the like, and performs printing on a print recording medium such as paper. As the print engine 6, various engines such as a page printer for printing in units of pages such as a laser printer, a serial printer for printing in units of one character such as an ink jet printer and a thermal transfer printer, and a line printer for printing in units of lines are used. be able to.

The network control unit 7 as “network control means” controls access to the Internet 100 via the network connection unit 3 and the like. The network control unit 7 monitors whether or not the access time has been reached based on the time measurement information of the timer 9, and when the access time has been reached, the network control unit 7 sends the request to the server 101 at a predetermined address stored in the registration unit 8. The user accesses and downloads a desired information resource. Further, as an internal function of the network control unit 7, a history determination unit 7A as a "reception history determination unit" for determining the reception history of the information resource, and a "content determination" for determining whether the content of the information resource matches. And a content determination unit 7B as a “means”.

The registration unit 8 as “access management information registration means” includes information for specifying information resources (server address and file name) specified by the user via the host computer 2 and access information to be connected to the information resources. A time and a forced print request command for executing printing even when the content of the information resource is not updated are stored. Note that in the figure, the specifying information is expressed as “address”.

A history management table 10 as "history management means" for managing history information is formed, for example, in the memory 4, and includes information for specifying information resources connected in the past and information for creating the information resources. The data is managed in association with the data. That is, as shown in the configuration explanatory diagram of FIG. 2, the history management table 10 includes information ADR for specifying each information resource and creation time data TI indicating the date and time when each information resource was created.
Are stored in association with each other.

The history determination unit 7A of the network control unit 7 searches the history management table 10 to determine whether the information for specifying the information resources registered in the registration unit 8 is recorded in the history management table 10. Received information resources in the past
It is determined whether or not printing has been performed. When a new information resource that has not been received and printed in the past is registered in the registration unit 8, information for specifying the new information resource and the like are added to the history management table 10. When the capacity of the history management table 10 becomes full, for example, a less frequently used information resource can be deleted and a reception history of a new information resource can be stored.

Content determination unit 7B of network control unit 7
Reads the content determination information of the connected information resource, that is, the data at the time of creation from the history management table 10, compares the data at the time of the previous reception with the data at the time of the current connection and the data at the time of the current connection, If the data at the time of creation obtained by the above is newer than the data at the time of the previous creation, it is determined that the content of the information resource has been updated.

Here, the creation data is data (for example, a time stamp) indicating the date and time when the information resource was created or updated. The time unit to manage is "
Either or both of “hour, minute, and second” may be used. For example, when the content of a document file as an information resource is updated, the data at the time of creation is changed at the time of update and the server 1
01 or the like. Therefore, by comparing the data at the time of creation of the target information resource with the data at the time of creation stored in the history management table 10, it can be determined whether or not the contents of the information resources match. More specifically, for example, in the HTTP protocol, a command is provided for extracting only various data attributes such as date and time, data format, and data size at which the server recognizes that the information resource was updated last. Accordingly, by requesting only the transfer of the data at the time of creation to the server 101, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of the update.

The power management unit 11, which can be expressed as "power management means", includes switch means provided between a power supply unit (not shown) and each power consumption unit such as the print engine 6. In the normal mode, the power management unit 11 supplies scheduled normal power to each power consuming unit, and in the saving mode, supplies power only to a predetermined part set in advance, and supplies power to the other parts. It cuts or reduces the supply. Then, for example, when the print job does not occur for a predetermined time or more, or when the host computer 2 or the network control unit 7 instructs to shift to the saving mode, the power management unit 11 shifts from the normal mode to the saving mode. I do. On the other hand, when a print job occurs, the power management unit 11 returns from the saving mode to the normal mode.

1-2 Functional Configuration on Host Computer Side The host computer 2 includes a network connection unit (abbreviated as “network I / F” in the figure) 21 and a printer driver 22 as described later, and a configuration related to printing. Included as an element.

The network connection unit 21 is connected to the LAN 103
For connecting to the network connection unit 21.
And bidirectional data communication with the printer 1 via the LAN 103. Host computer 2
Is the network connection unit 21, the LAN 103, the router 1
06 or the like, it can be connected to the Internet 100.

The printer driver 22 is, for example, an application program such as word processing software or drawing software (abbreviated as “application” in the figure).
The print data is generated based on a predetermined print command system by interpreting the source code input from the printer 23 while referring to a font memory or the like. The internal functions of the printer driver 22 include a U
Designation unit 2 as "instruction means" for instructing information for specifying information resources such as RL (Uniform Resource Locator)
An interpreting unit 22B interprets the source code from the application program 2A and the application program 23, and a command generating unit 22C that generates print data in accordance with a predetermined print command system based on the interpretation result of the interpreting unit 22B.

1-3 Processing Flow Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing a registration process for registering the information for specifying the information resource and the access time instructed to the printer device 1 by the user.

In step (hereinafter abbreviated as “S”) 1, the designation section 22 A of the host computer 2 causes the printer 1
Is specified to specify information such as a server address and a file name necessary for specifying an information resource to be accessed. Specifically, the user inputs identification information such as the name and address of a desired information resource via an input device (mouse, keyboard, etc.) of the host computer 2. The specifying information such as the address specified in S1 is temporarily stored in S2. Next, in S3, it is determined whether or not a cancel input has been made. When the cancellation input is made, the user has requested the cancellation due to an input error or the like.
Resets the input data and returns to S1.

On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in S3, it is determined in S5 whether the input of the specifying information is completed. When the input of the information for specifying the information resource desired to be printed is completed, the process proceeds to S6, where the designated information resource is accessed to specify the time to print and the forced print request command. Here, the forced print request command is for instructing whether or not to execute printing even when there is no change in the content of the information resource. If the forced print request command is set to "On", printing is performed regardless of the change in the content of the information resource, and if the forced print request command is set to "Off", the content of the information resource is Is printed only when there is a change in

The input information for specifying the information resource, the access time, and the compulsory print request command input in this manner are stored in the registration unit 8 of the printer 1 in association with each other, as shown in FIG. (S7).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an access process in which the printer 1 receives and prints a specified information resource. First, in S11, it is monitored whether or not the designated access time has arrived based on the timing information of the timer 9. When the access time has arrived, S11 determines “YES”, and in S12, sends a wake-up signal to the power management unit 11 to set the power management unit 11 to the normal mode. As a result, normal power is supplied to each power consuming unit such as the print engine 6. Note that the timing of transmitting the wake-up signal to the power management unit 11 varies depending on the specifications of the printer 1 and the like. For example, in the case of a laser printer provided with a fixing device or the like having a long setup time, it is preferable to shift to the normal mode earlier. Also, for example, in the case of an on-demand type ink jet printer, the rise time is relatively short, so that the transition timing to the normal mode can be delayed until the start of reception of information resources.

Next, in S13, a connection is made via the network connection unit 3 to the server 101 in which the specified information resource is stored. In S14, it is determined whether the connected information resource has been received before. Is determined. That is, the identification information of the information resource designated this time is stored in the history management table 10.
By searching whether or not the information resource designated this time has been received, it is determined whether or not the information resource designated this time has been received in the past.

If "NO" is determined in S14,
This is the case where the specified information resource is a new information resource. Therefore, in S20, the information for specifying the new information resource and the data at the time of creation are added to the history management table 10. Then, the whole of the new information resource is received (S21),
Printing is performed by the print engine 6 (S22). Although not shown, the received data is discarded after printing. By discarding the received data each time, a large number of information resources can be printed with relatively few memory resources.
However, when a sufficiently large memory resource is installed in the printer 1, printing can be performed collectively after all the information resources have been received, and the communication time can be reduced.

On the other hand, as a result of searching the history management table 10, if it is found that the information resource designated this time has been received and printed in the past, the information resource already obtained as a paper medium is duplicated. In the following processing, it is determined whether or not duplicate printing is to be performed.

Therefore, in S15, a part of the information resource is received. Here, "a part of the information resource" in the present embodiment means creation data (for example, a time stamp) when the information resource is created. In S16, the data at the time of creation of the information resource is compared with the data at the time of previous reception / printing stored in the history management table 10 to determine whether the data at the time of creation is new, that is, the data at the time of creation. It is determined whether or not is updated. In general, when various document files and data files such as a part specification document and a business report are modified, the date and time of creation is updated by a modifier. When the information resource is updated, the time stamp is updated by the file management program on the server 101.

Therefore, if the data at the time of creation of the information resource has been updated, that is, if the data at the time of creation this time is newer than the data at the time of previous reception, the content of the information resource is changed. In this case, it can be considered that the correction has been made. Thus, if the creation data has been updated, S16 determines "YES". Thereby, the entire information resource is received and printed (S21, S2).
2), the creation data in the history management table 10 is updated (S23).

On the other hand, as a result of comparing the data at the time of creation, if the information resource has not been updated, S16 determines “NO”, and S17 determines whether the forced print request command is set. . If the forced print request command is set (if it is ON), the entire information resource is received because the user wants to print again regardless of whether the content of the information resource has been updated. Print (S2
1, S22). If the compulsory print request command is not set (if it is off), the user does not want to perform duplicate printing. Therefore, after terminating the connection with the network in S18, in S19, a flag indicating that printing of the connected information resource is stopped is set in the registration unit 8, or a message indicating that printing was not performed because the content is not changed is sent to the host. A print stop process such as notifying the computer 2 or the like is executed.

Then, until it is determined in S24 that printing of all the designated information resources has been completed,
The processing of 11 to S23 is repeated. It is determined that the job is completed for the information resource for which the print stop flag is set. When the printing of all the specified information resources is completed, the data stored in the memory 4 is deleted, and the connection with the server 101 or the like is terminated.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the user merely instructs the printer 1 via the host computer 2 with information for specifying a desired information resource. Since access and reception are performed by the printer 1, the information resources on the network can be easily obtained as printed matter without the intervention of the host computer 2. After instructing the information for specifying the information resource from the host computer 2,
Since the host computer 2 is released from the flow of the printing process of the information resource, the host computer 2 can execute another application program, and the usability is improved.

Further, in this embodiment, when the data at the time of creation is updated by comparing the data at the time of creation possessed by the information resource with the data at the time of previous reception recorded in the history management table 10. In addition, since printing is performed, redundant printing can be eliminated, and printing waste can be prevented.

Whether or not the content of the information resource matches the previous reception / printing time, that is, whether or not the content of the information resource has been updated, is determined based on the creation data when the information resource was created. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the content has been updated only by first receiving the data at the time of creation, thereby reducing communication time and preventing unnecessary printing.

Further, by searching whether or not the specifying information of the specified information resource is stored in the history management table 10, it is determined whether or not the specified information resource has been printed in the past. When a new information resource that has not been printed in the past is specified, printing is executed without comparing the data at the time of creation, so that a desired printed material can be obtained quickly.

In this embodiment, the power management unit 11
Due to the configuration in which the standby power is set to the saving mode and the mode is shifted to the normal mode after the access time arrives,
Power consumption can be reduced.

2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the present embodiment is that the presence / absence of content update is not determined based on the data at the time of creation of the information resource, but is determined based on the elapsed time on the printer 1 side.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the history management table 31 used in the network-compatible printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the history management table 31, for each information resource, the specifying information and the relative creation data are stored in association with each other.

Here, the relative creation data RTI means the elapsed time measured based on the printer 1 side. That is, for each information resource, the time on the printer 1 side at the time of the previous reception and printing (time based on the time measurement information from the timer 9) is stored as a reference time, and based on the elapsed time from this reference time, This is for determining whether to perform reception and printing.

In this embodiment configured as described above,
The same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the present embodiment, the elapsed time based on the time of the printer 1 is referred to as the relative creation time data RTI.
Therefore, even if there is an error in the update time of the information resource, it is possible to determine whether the contents are new or old based on the elapsed time on the printer 1 side.

3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The feature of the present embodiment is that error detection data extracted from an information resource is used as content determination information.

The access processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As in the above embodiment, first, it is monitored whether or not the access time has arrived (S31). When the access time has arrived, the mode shifts to the normal mode for supplying normal power (S3).
2) Access a predetermined information resource based on the registered specifying information (S33). Then, it is determined whether or not this information resource has been received in the past by searching whether or not the specifying information of the connected information resource is stored in the history management table 41 (S34).

As shown in FIG. 7, the history management table 41 according to the present embodiment stores information for specifying information of each information resource.
The data size of the information resource and the checksum are stored in association with each other. Here, in the present embodiment,
For example, the data size and the checksum are extracted for a part of the information resource, such as the first data of the information resource (the first part in data transfer).

For example, as shown by a two-dot chain line in the lower part of FIG. 7, a character code "ABC <FF>" is stored in a specific area (target area for content match determination) of the information resource. "A", "B", "C", "<FF>"
Since there are four pieces of data, the data size DSZ is “4”. “<FF>” is a control command indicating a page break. Further, when each data is converted into a decimal number, it becomes "65", "66", "67", and "12", and thus the checksum CSM becomes "210". Therefore, by comparing the data size DSZ and the checksum CSM between the previous reception / printing and the current reception / printing, it is determined whether or not the contents of the information resources match, that is, the content is updated. It can be determined whether or not it has been performed. The above is an example for convenience of explanation.

If the specifying information does not remain in the history management table 41, the specifying information is added to the history management table 41 (S40), and the entire information resource is received and printed (S41, S42). . Then, the data size and the checksum extracted from the information resource are stored in the history management table 41.

On the other hand, the specifying information is stored in the history management table 41.
In the case where the information resource remains, a part of a predetermined information resource such as, for example, the data of the head portion is received (S3).
5) It is determined whether the data size and the checksum extracted from a part of this information resource match the previous data size and the checksum stored in the history management table 41 (S36). When the data size and the checksum do not match those at the time of the previous reception / printing, it means that the content of the information resource has changed. Therefore, the entire information resource is received and printed (S41, S42), and the data size and the checksum are updated (S43).

When the data size and the checksum extracted from a part of the information resource match the data size and the checksum at the time of the previous reception and printing, it is considered that there is no change in the contents of the information resource. Therefore, it is determined whether a forced print request command is set for this information resource (S37). If the forced print request command is not set, the connection to the network is terminated (S3).
8), a print stop process is performed (S39). If the forced print request command is set, the entire information resource is received and printed (S41, S42), and the data size and checksum are updated (S43).

[0069] Until it is determined in S44 that the printing of all the specified information resources has been completed, the above-mentioned S3 is executed.
The processing of 1 to S43 is repeated. On the other hand, when the printing of all the specified information resources is completed, the connection to the network is terminated and the processing is terminated (S45).

In this embodiment configured as described above,
The same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in this embodiment, since the data size and the checksum extracted from a part of the information resource are used as the content determination information, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the content of the information resource has been updated. The determination can be made, and useless printing can be prevented.

In addition, although the coincidence or non-coincidence of the contents can be known by the checksum, in this embodiment, the data size is used as the contents judgment information in addition to the checksum. Can be determined whether the contents match or not.

4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The feature of the present embodiment is that the data size and the checksum extracted from the entire information resource are used as the content determination information.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an access process according to the present embodiment, in which it is monitored whether or not the access time has arrived (S51). (S52).

Then, it connects to the specified information resource (S
53), the entire information resource is received (S54). next,
By searching whether or not the specifying information of the information resource designated this time is left in the history management table 41, it is determined whether or not this information resource has been received and printed in the past (S55). . When the information resource is received for the first time, the information for specifying the information resource is added to the history management table 41 (S60). After printing the information resource (S6)
1) The data size and the checksum extracted from the entire information resource are stored in the history management table 41 (S6).
2).

On the other hand, in the case of an information resource that has been received in the past, it is determined whether or not the data size and checksum obtained from the entire information resource received this time match the previous data size and checksum. Yes (S5
6). If the data size and the checksum do not match, the information resource is printed because it is different from the content received and printed last time (S61). When the data size and the checksum match, there is no change in the content of the information resource. Therefore, similarly to the above embodiments, it is determined whether or not the forced print request command is set (S57). If the forced print request command is set, printing is performed (S61). If is not set, the connection to the network is terminated (S58), and a print stop process is performed (S59). In the print stop processing, the received data is discarded.

The processes of S51 to S62 are repeated until the printing of all the specified information resources is completed (S63). When the printing of all the information resources is completed, the connection to the network is terminated (S64). ).

In the present embodiment configured as described above,
The same effect as in the third embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the present embodiment, the data size and the checksum are extracted from the entire information resource, and these are used as the content determination information.
It is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the contents of the information resources match as compared with the time of printing, and it is possible to prevent useless duplicate printing.

It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various additions and changes within the scope of the present invention described in each embodiment. For example, instead of a checksum, other error detection data such as a parity check can be used, or the data size comparison can be omitted to determine whether the contents match or mismatch using only the checksum. it can.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the reception history of the specified information resource is confirmed after the network connection. On the contrary, the reception history of the specified information resource is confirmed after the network connection. May be performed.

Further, the printer 1 is not limited to a printer-dedicated machine, but may be a multifunction machine having functions such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine.

[0081]

As described above, according to the network-compatible printing apparatus, the printing method, and the network printing system according to the present invention, it is possible to register information for specifying a desired information resource only by registering in advance information for specifying the desired information resource. Can be received and printed, and unnecessary printing can be prevented when there is no change in the contents.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a network printing system and the like according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a history management table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process for registering an information resource.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an access process for accessing and printing a designated information resource.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a history management table used in a network printing system or the like according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an access process in a network printing system or the like according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a history management table according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating access processing in a network printing system or the like according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional network printer that passively processes print data input from a host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Host computer 3 Network connection part 5 Print control part 6 Print engine 7 Network control part 7A History judgment part 7B-7B2 Content judgment part 8 Registration part 9 Timer 10, 31, 41 History management table 100 Internet 101 server 106 router

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A network-compatible printing apparatus connected to a network connecting a plurality of servers and receiving and printing information resources stored in each of the servers, wherein a printing unit is provided based on received data. Print control means for executing printing by controlling; network connection means for connecting to the network; access management for registering identification information and access time required for identifying the information resource as access management information Information registration means, history management means for managing, as history information, information for specifying an information resource connected in the past and content determination information for determining the content of the information resource, and based on the access management information, Connects to the registered information resource, and based on the history information, the content of the connected information resource is the same as the content of the previous printing. If no match, the network-enabled printing device, characterized in that by receiving the information resource with a, a network control unit for printing by the print control means. 2. The network control unit includes: a reception history determination unit that determines whether or not the connected information resource has been printed in the past based on the history information; and information that has been printed in the past. In the case of a resource, there is provided a content determination unit that determines whether or not the content of the information resource matches the content of the previous printing based on the history information, and the content determination unit determines that the content does not match. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the case, the information resource is received and printed by the print control unit, and when the content determination unit determines that the information resource matches, the printing of the information resource is stopped. The network-compatible printing device according to the above. 3. The information for content determination of the history information,
3. The network-compatible printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein data at the time of creation of the information resource is used. 4. As the information for determining the content of the history information,
The network-compatible printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein error detection data extracted from the information resource is used. 5. A network-compatible printing method that is connected to a network connecting a plurality of servers and receives and prints information resources stored in each of the servers. Registering necessary specifying information and access time as access management information, and managing, as history information, specifying information of a previously connected information resource and content determining information for determining the content of the information resource; Connecting to the registered information resource based on the access management information; determining whether the connected information resource has been printed in the past based on the history information; In the case of an information resource that has been printed in the past, whether the content of the information resource matches the content of the previous printing based on the history information A content determining step of determining whether or not the information resource is received and the printing control unit prints the information resource if a mismatch is determined by the content determining step; and a matching determination is performed by the content determining step. In this case, the network-compatible printing method comprises a step of stopping printing of the information resource and a step of updating the history information. 6. The information for content determination of the history information,
6. The network-compatible printing method according to claim 5, wherein data at the time of creation of the information resource is used. 7. The information for content determination of the history information,
The network-compatible printing method according to claim 5, wherein error detection data extracted from the information resource is used. 8. A host computer for designating identification information necessary for identifying an information resource stored in a server on a network, connecting to the information resource designated by the host computer, and receiving the information resource. A network printing system, comprising: a printing device that performs printing by controlling a printing device based on received data; and a printing device that connects to the network. Network connection means; access management information registration means for registering the information for specifying the information resource and the access time instructed from the host computer as access management information; specifying information for the information resource connected in the past and the information resource Management that manages information for content determination to determine the content of And connecting to the registered information resource based on the access management information, and if the content of the connected information resource does not match the content of the previous printing based on the history information, the information resource And a network control means for receiving the information and causing the print control means to perform printing. The host computer includes an instructing means for instructing the printer device on the information for specifying the information resource. A network-compatible printing system characterized by the following.