JPH10283132A - System, method for network print and record medium recording network print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm the printed result almost simultaneously with printing on the monitor screen of a client (computer) which requests printing in a network print system utilizing compound machines. SOLUTION: The network print driver of a client issues an instruction for transmitting the image of the printed result to the compound machine (S0-S3). When a command for confirming the printed result comes together with print data, the compound machine reads printed contents through a scanner and transmits read image data to the client. When the image data are sent from the compound machine (S4-S6), the network print driver of the client activates a viewer for displaying these data and displays printed images on the monitor screen of the client (S7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network printing system, and more particularly, to a multi-function printer (multifunction printer) having a scanner (optical scanner) function in addition to a printer function connected to the network. The present invention relates to a network print system and method used by a client and a recording medium storing a network print control program.

[0002] Here, a client refers to a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation that accesses a network shared resource provided by another computer (called a server) in a LAN (local area network).

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers) in offices have been remarkably popularized, and network technologies for connecting the personal computers have been developed. In the past, printers were also used by connecting one printer to one personal computer. Recently, however, a printer has been connected to a network, and a single printer has been shared by multiple personal computers connected to the network. Use cases are also increasing.

On the other hand, in the field of copiers, the technology has been shifted from conventional analog copiers to digital copiers, and recent digital copiers utilize a scanner function to provide copiers, facsimile machines (FAX). ) And a multifunction printer (multifunction printer) having three functions of a printer. Naturally, an environment in which this multifunction peripheral is connected to a network instead of a conventional printer and can be used as a network printer is being prepared.

[0005]

In the prior art, the same applies to a normal printer and a multifunction printer. However, when used as a network printer, whether or not printing has been correctly performed is checked by an operator who has requested printing. I do not know until I go to the printer. If the printer is directly connected to the personal computer, the operator will have the printer, so the operator can see the print result immediately,
In the case of a network printer, it is inconvenient that the print result is not known until the user goes to the printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to check a print result on a monitor screen of a client who has requested printing almost simultaneously with printing in a network print system using a multifunction peripheral. To be able to do it.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an MFP having a printer function and an optical scanner function connected to a network is provided to a plurality of clients connected to the network. In a network print system used as a shared network printer, each of the plurality of clients transmits print data to the multifunction peripheral and issues a print result confirmation command for transmitting an image of the print result. Means, and means for displaying the printed image on a monitor screen when the image data of the print result is sent from the multifunction peripheral, wherein the multifunction peripheral is configured to, when the command comes with the print data, Scan the printed data with an optical scanner and read The image data comprises means for transmitting to said client.

Here, the multifunction peripheral may have at least three functions of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

Further, the client network print driver includes an application, a printer driver, a graphic device interface, a print spooler, a network printer control monitor, and a viewer. By issuing an interface, the network printer control monitor can select whether to automatically output a print result on a monitor screen or not to output a print result in accordance with an instruction from an operator.

Furthermore, when the print job control language for requesting a print result is added, the multifunction peripheral prints out the data at the printing unit with an optical scanner constituted by a line sensor provided in the paper transport path. It is possible to read the contents of the printed matter, temporarily store the read image data in a storage means such as a memory or a hard disk, and thereafter notify the client that has requested printing of the end of printing.

Further, when the client that has requested the printing receives the notification of the printing completion from the multifunction peripheral, the client requests the multifunction peripheral to transmit the scanned image data, and the multifunction peripheral 3 performs the scanning. When the image data is transmitted to the client that has requested the printing, the operation of the print job is completed, and the client that has requested the printing receives the image data from the MFP, starts the viewer, and starts the image of the scanned printed material. Is displayed on the monitor screen.

Further, the optical scanner of the multifunction peripheral is disposed in a paper transport path behind the printing unit and ahead of the paper discharging unit, and reads the content of a printed matter printed by the printing unit before paper discharging. can do.

Further, when the printing unit is an electrophotographic printer such as a laser beam printer, the optical scanner may be disposed behind a fixing device.

Further, when the multifunction peripheral is used as a copier, the multifunction peripheral inserts a document from a scanning tray,
The inserted document may be discharged to the same place as the discharge section of the printout, and the copied paper may be discharged to the same place as the document.

Further, the multifunction peripheral may have a paper transport mechanism for transporting the printed matter normally discharged to the paper discharge unit side so that it can be retaken by the copying scanner unit having the optical scanner. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network printing method for a network printing system, wherein a multifunction peripheral having a printer function and an optical scanner function connected to a network is used as a network printer shared by a plurality of clients connected to the network. Transmitting, at the client, print data to the multifunction peripheral and issuing a print result confirmation command for transmitting an image of the print result; and, at the multifunction peripheral, the command together with the print data. Receiving the print data with an optical scanner, and transmitting the read image data to the client; and in the client, image data of a print result from the multifunction peripheral. The monitor screen Once sent to you and a step of displaying a print image of the image data.

Here, the client may include a step of selecting whether to automatically output a print result on a monitor screen or not to output the print result in response to an instruction signal from an operator.

Further, in the multifunction peripheral, when a print job control language for requesting a print result is added, the optical scanner reads the contents of the printed matter printed by the printing unit, and stores the read image data in a memory. Alternatively, the method may include a step of temporarily storing the data in a storage unit such as a hard disk, and a step of notifying the client that has requested the printing of the end of the printing.

Further, when the client that has requested printing receives the notification of the end of printing from the multifunction peripheral, the client requests transmission of the scanned image data to the multifunction peripheral. Activating the viewer to display an image of the scanned printed material on a monitor screen when the image is received from the multifunction peripheral.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in a network print system using a multifunction peripheral as a network printer, a recording medium recording a control program for performing network print control by a client computer connected to a network, The control program causes the computer to transmit print data to the multifunction peripheral, issue a print result confirmation command for transmitting a print result image, and when the multifunction peripheral receives print result image data. A print image of the image data is displayed on a monitor screen.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in a network print system using a multifunction peripheral as a network printer, a recording medium recording a control program for performing network print control by a computer of the multifunction peripheral, When the control program causes the computer to receive a print result confirmation command together with the print data from the client connected to the network, the computer reads the content of printing the print data with the optical scanner, and transmits the read image data to the client. It is characterized by making it.

According to the present invention, as described above, a function of issuing a command for transmitting an image of a print result to the multifunction peripheral is added to the network print driver of the client, and the image data is further transmitted. Once
In addition to adding a function to start a viewer to display the data, when the MFP receives a command to confirm the print result along with the print data, it reads the print result with a scanner and sends the scan data to the client. With the addition, in the network print system using the multifunction peripheral, the print result can be confirmed almost simultaneously with printing on the monitor screen of the client who has requested printing.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an outline of a network print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote clients (client computers and client PCs); 3 denotes a multifunction peripheral having print and scanner functions; Network (LAN).

A network print driver (software) is installed in each of the clients 1 and 2 in advance, and print data is transmitted from an application (software) via the network 4 to the MFP 3.
This network print driver is used when sending to a printer.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a network print driver used in the present embodiment, taking a Windows system as an example. The network print driver includes an application 11, a printer driver 12, a graphic device interface (GDI),
It has a Windows spooler (print spooler) 14, a network printer control monitor 15, and a viewer (screen display function software) 16.

The difference of the network print driver of the present embodiment from the configuration of a normal network print driver is to add a function of issuing a command to transmit an image of a print result to the multifunction machine 3 and further to transmit image data. Then, a function of activating the viewer 16 for displaying it is added. Then, the network print control monitor 15 sends the AP
I (Application Programming Interface). Further, the network printer control monitor 15 can select whether to automatically output a print result on a monitor screen or not to output a print result according to an instruction from an operator.

On the other hand, the multifunction machine 3 is different from a normal multifunction machine in that, when a command for confirming the print result is received together with the print data, a function of reading the print result by the scanner and transmitting the scan data to the client is added. It is doing.

Since the operation when the print result is not output is the same as the conventional network printing method, the operation when the print result is output automatically will be mainly described below.

The operation of the network print according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that S represents a processing step.

First, the client (personal computer) 1 or 2 requests the MFP 3 via the network 4 for printing. This is the start of printing in FIG. 3 (S0). If the operator selects "confirm the print result" (S1), a print job control language for notifying the print result is added to the print data. The print job control language indicates a printer control language for controlling the printer in a unified manner (S
2). This print data is transmitted to the MFP 3 (S3).

The MFP 3 receives the print data and performs the requested printing. When the print job control language of the print result request is added, the content printed by the scanner (optical scanner) including the line sensor 29 near the paper discharge unit 30 shown in FIG. Read before discharging. The scan data read here is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) of the multifunction device 3, but may be stored in the hard disk if the multifunction device 3 has a built-in hard disk (not shown). Further, the image format of the scan data is not particularly limited. When the printed matter is discharged to the paper discharge unit 30, the multifunction peripheral 3 notifies the client 1 or 2 that has requested the printing of the end of the printing.

When the client 1 or 2 receives the print end notification from the MFP 3 (S4), it requests transmission of the scanned data (S5).

When the multifunction device 3 transmits the scan data to the client 1 or 2, the operation of the print job ends.

When the client 1 or 2 receives the scan data, the client 1 or 2 activates the viewer 16 shown in FIG. 2 and displays the scanned image of the printed matter on the monitor screen. The viewer 16 may be anything as long as it corresponds to the image format created by the multifunction device 3, and is not particularly limited (S7).

The operator confirms the content of the printed matter on the monitor screen of the client 1 or 2, and repeats the operation of printing again if there is a defect in the printing by the printer. Alternatively, if there is a defect in the print content, the print content is changed and the operation of printing again is repeated.

After the start of printing (S0), if the operator has not selected "confirm the print result" (S1), the print data is transmitted to the multifunction device 3 as it is (S8).
The MFP 3 receives the print data and performs the requested printing. When the printed matter is discharged to the paper discharge unit 30, the MFP 3 notifies the client 1 or 2 that has requested the printing of the end of the printing, and ends the operation of the print job.

FIG. 4 shows an internal cross-sectional structure of a main part of the multifunction machine 8 used in one embodiment of the present invention. Here, reference numeral 21 denotes a lower sheet cassette feeding section, 22 denotes an upper sheet cassette feeding section, and 2 denotes a sheet feeding section.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a manual tray feeding unit; 24, an electrophotographic digital printer unit such as a laser beam printer for printing characters and images on paper in response to an input image signal; 25, a fixing unit; 26, a scanning tray; , 27 is a paper discharge door, 28 is a paper discharge roller, 29 is a line sensor, and 30 is a paper discharge unit (paper discharge tray).

Line sensor 29 of optical scanner
Is arranged after the fixing unit 25 and before the sheet discharging unit 30, and is fed from one of the sheet feeding units 21 to 23, printed by the printer unit 24, and fixed in the fixing unit 25. Is read by the line sensor 29 before the sheet is discharged.

Here, as an example of the multifunction peripheral, the one in which the line sensor 29 is placed at the output portion of the printout for scanning as shown in FIG. 4 is taken up, but when this multifunction peripheral is used as a copier, the scanning is performed. An original is inserted from the tray 26, and the inserted original comes out of the same place as the discharge section 30 of the printout. The copied paper is also discharged in the same place as the original. However, the type of the multifunction peripheral is not limited to this, and may be substantially the same type as a conventional copier. However, in this case, a scanning mechanism is added in the paper path so that the printed out one can be scanned in the paper path (paper conveyance path) of the printer, or the discharged printed matter is reprinted. It is necessary to add a paper transport mechanism which can be taken into the copying scanner unit.

(Other Embodiments) In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the Windows system has been exemplified. However, the OS that can be introduced is not limited to this, and UNIX, OS
Of course, another OS such as 2 may be used.

Although the printer unit 24 in FIG. 4 is exemplified by a laser printer, the invention is not limited to this, and other digital printers such as an ink jet printer and a thermal transfer printer can be adopted.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. Becomes

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In network printing using a multifunction device, the operator who requests printing from the client to the multifunction device checks the printout image on the monitor screen of the client without going to the multifunction device located away from the client. Can be. Then, if the operator confirms that the printing is inadequate by the printer on the monitor screen, the operator repeats the operation of printing again, or if there is an insufficiency of the printing content, the operator can change the printing content and print again. Quick and easy. Therefore, according to the present invention, operability, usability, and the like in the network print system can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network print driver of the client in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the network print driver of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of the multifunction peripheral of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-2 Client (client computer, client PC) 3 MFP (multifunction printer) 4 Network 15 Network printer control monitor 16 Viewer 21 Lower paper cassette paper feed unit 22 Upper paper cassette paper feed unit 23 Tray paper feed unit 24 Printer unit 25 Fixing unit 26 Scanning tray 27 Discharge door 28 Discharge roller 29 Line sensor 30 Discharge unit (discharge tray)

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/00 107 H04L 11/00 321

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A network print system that uses a multifunction peripheral connected to a network and having a printer function and an optical scanner function as a network printer shared by a plurality of clients connected to the network, wherein the plurality of clients are respectively Means for transmitting print data to the multifunction peripheral and issuing a print result confirmation command for transmitting an image of the print result, and a monitor when the image data of the print result is transmitted from the multifunction peripheral. Means for displaying the printed image on a screen, the multifunction peripheral reads the content of printing the print data with an optical scanner when the command is received together with the print data, and reads the read image data into the client. Having means to transmit to Network printing system according to claim. 2. The network print system according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction peripheral has at least three functions of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer. 3. The client network print driver includes an application, a printer driver,
A graphic device interface, a print spooler, a network printer control monitor, and a viewer, wherein the network print control monitor issues an application programming interface (API) to the viewer, and the network printer control monitor issues instructions from an operator. In response to the,
3. The network print system according to claim 1, wherein it is possible to select whether to automatically output a print result on a monitor screen or not to output a print result. 4. The multifunction peripheral, when a print job control language for requesting a print result is added, a printed matter printed by a printing unit by an optical scanner configured by a line sensor provided in a paper transport path. And reading the image data, temporarily storing the read image data in a storage means such as a memory or a hard disk, and then notifying the client who has requested the printing of the end of the printing. The network print system according to any one of the above. 5. When the client that has requested printing receives the notification of the printing completion from the multifunction peripheral,
The MFP 3 requests the MFP to transmit the scanned image data, and the MFP 3 transmits the scanned image data to the client that has requested the printing, and ends the operation of the print job. 5. The network print system according to claim 4, wherein upon receiving the image data from the multifunction peripheral, a viewer is activated to display an image of the scanned printed material on a monitor screen. 6. The optical scanner of the multifunction peripheral is disposed in a paper transport path behind a printing unit and ahead of a paper discharging unit, and reads the content of a printed material printed by the printing unit before paper discharging. The network print system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 7. The network printing system according to claim 6, wherein when the printing unit is an electrophotographic printer such as a laser beam printer, the optical scanner is disposed behind a fixing device. 8. When the multifunction peripheral is used as a copier, an original is inserted from a scanning tray, and the inserted original is discharged to the same place as the discharge part of a printout. 8. The network print system according to claim 6, wherein the document is discharged to the same place as the original. 9. The multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising a paper transport mechanism for transporting the printed material normally discharged to the paper discharge unit side so as to be able to be re-taken into a copy scanner unit having the optical scanner. Item 4. The network print system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 10. A network printing method for a network printing system, wherein a multifunction peripheral connected to a network and having a printer function and an optical scanner function is used as a network printer shared by a plurality of clients connected to the network. Transmitting print data to the multifunction peripheral and issuing a print result confirmation command for transmitting an image of the print result; and, in the multifunction peripheral, receiving the command together with the print data. Reading the printed content of the print data with an optical scanner, and transmitting the read image data to the client; and in the client, when image data of a print result is transmitted from the multifunction peripheral. Displaying a print image of the image data on a monitor screen. 11. The client according to claim 11, further comprising a step of selecting whether to automatically output a print result on a monitor screen or not to output the print result in response to an instruction signal from an operator. 11. The network printing method according to item 10. 12. A step of reading, by the optical scanner, the content of a printed matter printed by a printing unit when the print job control language of the print result request is added to the multifunction peripheral, and storing the read image data in a memory. 12. The network printing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of temporarily storing the data in a storage unit such as a hard disk, and a step of notifying the client that has requested the printing of the end of the printing. 13. When the client that has requested printing receives the notification of the end of printing from the multifunction peripheral, the client requests transmission of the scanned image data to the multifunction peripheral. 13. The network printing method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: activating a viewer to display an image of the scanned printed material on a monitor screen when the image is received from the machine. 14. In a network print system using a multifunction peripheral as a network printer, a recording medium recording a control program for performing network print control by a computer of a client connected to a network, wherein the control program is a computer. Causing the MFP to transmit print data, and issuing a print result confirmation command to transmit a print result image; and when the print result image data is sent from the MFP, the image is displayed on a monitor screen. A recording medium on which a control program for performing network print control characterized by displaying a print image of data is recorded. 15. A recording medium in which a control program for performing network print control by a computer of the multifunction peripheral is recorded in a network print system using the multifunction peripheral as a network printer. When receiving a print data confirmation command together with print data from a client connected to the network, causes the optical scanner to read the content of printing the print data, and transmits the read image data to the client. A recording medium on which a control program for performing print control is recorded.