JPH11232365A - Slip printing method by way of network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform slip printing both on a client side and a server side without installing a special slip printing software on the client side in a system where a client and a server are connected to each other by way of a network. SOLUTION: This slip printing method is provided with a printer 5 for outputting a slip to a client side 3 and, when a slip preparation request is made of servers 2 and 4 by the client 3, the server 2 and 4 allow the printer 5 on the client 3 to output the slip by preparing slip printing data of a format which can be printed by the printer 5 and transmitting the generated slip printing data to the client 3. A printer 6 is also provided on the servers 2 and 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a WWW (World Wi-Fi).
The present invention relates to a form printing method via a network for printing a form in a predetermined format in a wide area information system called de Web).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).
With the spread of PCs and workstations (hereinafter abbreviated as WS), a wide-area information system called WWW is widely and generally used. In the WWW, SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is placed on a network called the Internet or an intranet.
HTML (Hyper Text Markup L) which is a subset of e)
anguage). These pieces of information are transmitted over a network by a WWW server, and can be viewed on a PC or WS by using software (hereinafter, referred to as a WWW browser) for displaying information described in HTML. Has become.

In such a WWW, for example, it may be necessary to output a form in a predetermined format, such as a ticket sold using the Internet or a receipt of transaction contents in Internet shopping. That is, data (character strings, numerical values, images, etc.) specified by the WWW browser is embedded in the format information of a form (hereinafter, referred to as a form) which the WWW server has in advance, and the form after data embedding is embedded. In some cases, it is necessary to print a form (hereinafter, referred to as form data) on predetermined paper.

[0004]

Conventionally, there are two methods of printing form data: a method of performing printing on a WWW server side and a method of performing printing on a WWW browser side.
A street exists. When printing on the WWW server side, form data is created on the WWW server side via a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) or the like, and the created form data is printed by a printer or the like connected to the WWW server. I have. However, in this case, the user of the WWW browser that needs the result of the form printing, that is, the user who has made the form output request via the WWW, spends a lot of time until obtaining the output form. May be lost. This is because, for example, the WWW browser is WWW
This is because it may be installed in a remote place with respect to the server.

On the other hand, if the form data is printed on the WWW browser side, the user can immediately acquire the form. However, in this case, form printing software for performing form printing must be installed in advance on the WWW browser side, that is, a PC or MS (hereinafter, referred to as a client) on which the WWW browser operates.

This is because form printing on the WWW browser side is performed as described below. When printing form data on the WWW browser side, as shown in FIG. 6, a form form and data (1 to n in the figure, such as character strings, numerical values, images, etc.) necessary for forming the form are sent from the WWW server side. Sent in order. Therefore, the WWW browser receives these and creates the form data, and performs processing (data format conversion and the like) necessary to print the form data on a predetermined sheet. For that purpose, form printing software for performing the above processing is required. If this form printing software is not installed, for example, the ruled lines required for form printing cannot be drawn correctly, the print result cannot be contained within the size of the specified paper, or the print quality (font Or the resolution is not appropriate.

The installation of such form printing software imposes a heavy burden on the user.
In particular, when there are a plurality of clients on a network, form printing software must be installed in each client that performs form printing, so that a heavy burden is imposed on the user. Further, in order to perform form printing by executing the form printing software, a high-performance device is required for a client device.

In constructing a system capable of printing a form as described above, a method of printing a form on a WWW server and a method of performing a form printing on a WWW browser are used together to form a form in a certain format. It is also conceivable to enable printing and increase the versatility of the system. However, in this case, since the WWW server side and the WWW browser side do not always operate on the same OS (Operating System) or application, the form printing is performed on both the WWW server side and the WWW browser side. It is necessary to make settings for enabling, that is, create a corresponding form.

Therefore, the present invention provides a client by installing dedicated form printing software on a client even if the form is printed on a WWW browser so that the user can immediately obtain the form. It is an object of the present invention to provide a form printing method via a network which does not need to be performed and can reduce the burden on the user as compared with the related art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a form printing method via a network that can easily cope with both printing on a WWW browser and printing on a WWW server.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a form printing method via a network devised to achieve the above object, a server for transmitting information on a network, and a server for transmitting information on the network via the network. And a client connected to the server, a form printing method via a network for printing information on a form in a predetermined format included in the information transmitted by the server on a predetermined sheet, wherein the information on the form is sent to the client side. Form printing means for printing on predetermined paper is provided, and when there is a form creation request from the client side to the server side, the server creates information on the form according to the creation request. And form print data in a data format that can be used to print information on the created form on the server side by the form printing means. When the converted form print data is transmitted to the client side and the transmitted form print data is received, the client side transfers the form print data to the form printing means, and transfers the form print data to a predetermined sheet by the form printing means. It is characterized by printing on the top.

According to the form printing method of the above procedure, when a form is requested from the client to the server, information on the form is converted to form print data on the server, and then the form print data is converted. Sent to the client side. That is, since the converted form print data is transmitted from the server side, the client side does not need any special software or the like for generating the form print data and prints the form on a predetermined sheet. Data can be printed.

Further, according to the present invention, a form printing means for printing the form print data is also provided on the server side, and the form print data is provided on one or both of the client side and the server side. May be printed.

In this case, the form print data converted on the server side is transmitted to a form printing means provided on the server side or the client side, so that the form print data is transmitted to either the server side or the client side. It is printed on one or both. In other words, it is possible to easily cope with both printing on the server side and printing on the client side.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method for printing a form via a network according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a form printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration necessary for realizing the form printing method.

First, prior to the description of the form printing method of the present embodiment, a system configuration for realizing the form printing method will be described. The form printing method according to the present embodiment is executed in a WWW (wide area information system) configured as shown in FIG. In this system, WWW transmitting information on the Internet 1
A server 2, a client 3 connected to the WWW server 2 via the Internet 1, a WWW server 2 and an intranet or a LAN (local area network)
And a form server 4 connected thereto via the Internet. These are each realized by PC or WS. The WWW server 2 and the form server 4
May be realized by one PC or WS. That is, the WWW server 2 may have a function as the form server 4 therein.

A client 3 and a form server 4
Are connected via a communication cable such as RS-232C or a network such as a LAN or an intranet.
Printers 5 and 6 are connected. However, the printers 5 and 6 may be connected to only one of the client 3 and the form server 4.

Here, these components will be described in detail. The WWW server 2 transmits the content (contents of information) requested by the WWW browser to the requesting WWW browser. Therefore, WW
The W server 2 has an HTML generation function for dynamically generating HTML, and a database access function for acquiring requested content.

The client 3 requests a content from the WWW server 2 and transmits an HTM transmitted from the WWW server 2 to the client.
In order to browse L, a WWW browser required for these processes is installed in advance. That is, the client 3 has a function of requesting the WWW server 2 to acquire information and a function of accessing (browsing) information generated by the WWW server 2.

The form server 4 is necessary for printing a form on the WWW, and stores a form for a form to be printed, creates form data based on the form, and the like. is there. That is, the form server 4 has a function of dynamically creating form data based on a character string, a numerical value, an image, and the like received from the client 3 via the WWW server 2 and a form form stored in advance. Things. However, in addition to this function, the form server 4 has a function of generating form print data that is a print image of a form that can be printed by the printers 5 and 6 from the form data, as will be described in detail later. It also has a function of temporarily storing and holding print data, and a function of controlling transmission and storage of form print data.

The printers 5 and 6 are for printing the form print data on a predetermined storage sheet. Each of the printers 5 and 6 has a predetermined page description language (Page Description Language; hereinafter, such as PostScript of Adobe, USA).
PDL). That is, it has a function of interpreting a predetermined PDL and performing printing in accordance with the interpretation result.

Next, a form printing method executed in the system configured as described above will be described.

In this form printing method, the form printing is performed by a form creation sequence (hereinafter, referred to as a first sequence).
And a sequence for transferring and printing the form print data (hereinafter, referred to as a second sequence) and a sequence for sending a notification of deletion of the form print data (hereinafter, referred to as a third sequence).
And are executed in order.

In the first sequence, as shown in FIG. 1A, data (character strings, numerical values, images, etc.) necessary for creating a form is transmitted from the client 3 to the form server 4 via the WWW server 2. Then, the form server 4 creates form print data in a data format that can be printed by the printers 5 and 6, and then transmits the form print data to the client 3 as needed.

More specifically, in the first sequence, first, the WWW browser operating on the client 3
The client 3 transmits a form creation command and data necessary for form creation to the WWW server 2 (FIG. 1).
(A). Upon receiving the form creation instruction and data from the client 3, the WWW server 2
The received form creation instruction and data are transferred to the form server 4 (see FIG. 1A).

When the form creation command and data are transferred, the form server 4 embeds the data in a form stored in advance to create form data. Here, the form includes information for designating a layout at the time of printing (how to draw a ruled line, the content of a character string in each column, the number of character points, and the like).

After creating the form data, the form server 4 then describes the data form of the created form data in a data format that does not depend on the printers 5 and 6, that is, in a PDL compatible with the printers 5 and 6. And converts the print image data into form print data. Thus, the form server 4 generates the form print data (see FIG. 1A).

When the form print data is generated, the form server 4 determines whether to print the generated form print data on the client 3 side or on the form server 4 side. That is, it is determined whether the generated form print data is printed by the printer 5 of the client 3 or the printer 6 of the form server 4. This determination is made by the form server 4 in accordance with an instruction included in a form creation command transmitted from the client 3, as will be described in detail later.

As a result of this determination, if printing is to be performed on the form server 4 side, the form server 4 sends the created form print data to the printer 6 and causes the printer 6 to perform print processing (FIG. 1 (a) ))). On the other hand, if printing is to be performed on the client 3 side, the form server 4 temporarily stores the created form print data using a memory (not shown) of the form server 4 or a file server (not shown) connected to the form server 4. Remember. At this time, the form server 4 attaches an identifier (ID) identified by a unique value (transaction ID, temporary file name, etc.) to the held form print data, and uses this ID as a form ID (FIG. 1A). Reference).

Thereafter, the form server 4 transmits to the WWW server 2 information such as the form ID of the form print data to be held and the paper size when the form is printed (see FIG. 1A). ). And W
The WW server 2 obtains H from these form IDs and other information.
Information described in TML (hereinafter, this information is referred to as “Web
Page) and transfers the "Web page" to the client 3 that has requested the form creation instruction (FIG. 1).
(A). "Web page" is H
Instead of TML, it may be written in a description language such as XML, which is an extended version thereof, or SGML, which is a source of HTML.

When the first sequence as described above is completed, the second sequence starts. In the second sequence, as shown in FIG. 1B, the form server 4
The form print data generated in the sequence is transferred to the client 3 side.

More specifically, in the second sequence, first, when the client 3 receives the “Web page” described in the first sequence, the WWW browser operating on the client 3 transmits a form acquisition command and the “Web page”.
Is transmitted to the WWW server 2 (see FIG. 1B). Upon receiving the form acquisition instruction and form ID from the client 3, the WWW server 2 transfers the received form acquisition instruction and form ID to the form server 4 (see FIG. 1B).

When receiving the form acquisition command and the form ID from the WWW server 2, the form server 4 specifies the form print data based on the transferred form ID, and temporarily stores the specified form print data. From the memory or file server (see FIG. 1B). Then, the extracted form print data is transmitted to the WWW server 2 (see FIG. 1B).

Upon receiving the form print data from the form server 4, the WWW server 2 transfers the form print data to the client 3 (in FIG. 1B). Upon receiving the form print data from the WWW server 2, the client 3
The received form print data is sent to the printer 5, and the printer 5 performs a printing process (see FIG. 1B).

At this time, the client 3 performs one of the following two processes depending on whether the WWW browser of the client 3 has a function corresponding to the printing process. Has become. Note that the function corresponding to the print processing here is not a function like conventional form printing software, but a function for transmitting received data to the printer 5 and causing the printer 5 to process the received data. Therefore, if it has a function corresponding to the printing process, it is possible to correspond to an image output other than a form.

When the WWW browser has a function corresponding to the printing process, for example, a PDF (Portable Document) such as Acrobat (Acrobat) manufactured by Adobe of the United States is available.
t Format) If the WWW browser has a print function, the client 3
The form print data received from the WW server 2 (see FIG. 3)
(See (a) in FIG. 3), the document is sent to the printer 5 using the PDF printing function, and the printer 5 performs a form printing process (see FIG. 3A).

On the other hand, when the WWW browser does not have a function corresponding to the printing process, the client 3 receives the form print data from the WWW server 2 as shown in FIG. Generally, printing software (helper application) generally described in Java or the like is downloaded from the Internet 1 (see FIG. 3B). The form print data received from the WWW server 2 (see FIG. 3B) is transmitted to the printer 5 by activating the helper application (see FIG. 3B). (See FIG. 3B).

When the above-described second sequence is completed, the third sequence starts. In the third sequence, as shown in FIG. 4, a deletion notification for deleting the form print data is transmitted from the client 3 to the form server 4.

More specifically, in the third sequence, first, when the printing process in the printer 5 described in the second sequence is completed, the WWW browser operating in the client 3 deletes the form in response to the completion of the printing process. The command and the form ID of the form to be deleted are transmitted to the WWW server 2 (see FIG. 4). In the WWW browser, the form deletion command and the form ID may be transmitted according to a user operation, or may be transmitted after a predetermined time has elapsed after printing the form print data.

Upon receiving the form deletion command and form ID from the client 3, the WWW server 2 transfers the form deletion command and form ID to the form server 4 (FIG. 4).
Reference). Upon receiving the transferred form deletion instruction and form ID, the form server 4 sends the received form I
D specifies the form print data to be deleted, and deletes the corresponding form print data from the memory or the file server (see FIG. 4). And the form server 4
Transmits a deletion completion notification to the WWW server 2 (see FIG. 4). Thereafter, the deletion completion notification is sent to the WWW
The data is transferred to the client 3 by the server 2 (see FIG. 4).

However, the client 3 and the WWW server 2
Is transmitted via the Internet 1, the form deletion command from the client 3 may not reach the form server 4 due to circumstances on the Internet 1. For such a case, apart from this third sequence,
The form server 4 stores form print data that has passed a certain period of time (time dependent on the settings of the form server 4) after being stored.
Regardless of whether or not there is a form deletion command from client 3,
The form server 4 itself may automatically delete the form.

As described above, according to the form printing method of the present embodiment, the form server 4 generates the form print data, and describes the form print data in the PDL supported by the printers 5 and 6. Is generated in a data format that can be printed by the printers 5 and 6. Therefore, if the client 3 or the form server 4 is connected to the printers 5 and 6 corresponding to the data format of the form print data, the client 3 does not need to install the conventional software dedicated to form printing. Form printing can also be performed on the client 3 side. That is, even if the form printing software is not installed in the client 3, for example, a ruled line required for form printing cannot be drawn correctly, a print result cannot be contained within a predetermined sheet size, or print quality ( The problem that the font and resolution are not appropriate does not occur.

Therefore, by using this form printing method, it is possible to reduce the labor and time used for installing the dedicated software on the client 3 and the cost thereof. In particular, when a plurality of clients 3 exist on the network, the amount of reduction becomes very large. Further, the client 3 can perform form printing if there is a print processing function of the WWW or printing software downloadable from the Internet.
There is no need for higher performance than in the past.

In the form printing method according to the present embodiment,
The form print data created by the form server 4 is temporarily stored and held by the form server 4, and when the form print data is printed by the client 3, the form server 4 responds to the delete instruction from the client 3. The form print data stored and retained is deleted. Therefore, from the viewpoint of processing the form print results, issuing a form print data deletion command to the form server 4 may consume more storage capacity for storing and holding the form print data. As a result, the storage capacity for form print data can be effectively utilized.

Further, in the form printing method of the present embodiment, the printers 5 and 6 are connected to the client 3 and the form server 4, respectively, and one or both of the client 3 and the form server 4 are provided. , The form print data can be printed. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the printing location of a form, a form created from one form can be printed only on one of the servers 2 and 4 or the client 3 in the related art. Then, the form can be easily printed from either side.

Whether the form print data is printed by the client 3 or the form server 4 is determined by the judgment of the form server 4 as described above. This determination is made according to a form creation command from the client 3. That is, the form server 4 generates the form print data as shown in FIG.
1. Hereinafter, the step is abbreviated as S), and then the client 3
It is determined whether the print output position is on the client 3 side, on the form server 4 side, or on both sides, based on the form creation instruction from (S102).

If the form server 4 determines that the print output positions are both, the form server 4 performs printing by the printer 6 (S103), sets the form ID, and stores and holds the form print data. (S10
4), the data such as the form ID and the paper size are transmitted to the client 3 via the WWW server 2 (S10).
5). If it is determined that the print output position is on the client 3 side, the form ID is set, the form print data is stored and stored (S106), and only the contents are notified to the client 3 side (S107). Further, if it is determined that the print output position is on the form server 4 side, printing is performed by the printer 6 on the form server 4 side (S108), and a print completion notification is transmitted to the client 3 side via the WWW server 2. (S109).

That is, the client 3 side can specify the print output position of the form print data by including an instruction regarding the print output position in the form creation instruction to the form server 4. Therefore, the user has a greater degree of freedom in selecting the print output position, which is very convenient, and the versatility of the system can be improved. Note that the print output position may be determined in advance when the system is constructed, such that printing is performed on the client 3 side irrespective of the contents of the form creation instruction, and the user may not need to select the print output position. Can be expected to have the effect of speeding up the processing.

The following are conceivable forms of using the form printing method via the network as described above. For example, printing of receipts at the customer side and copies at the store side during Internet shopping (carbon copy)
It is suitable for use in printing and saving of data, acquisition and printing of sales data from a remote place of a store participating in a mall in an Internet shopping mall. Further, it is also possible to apply a ticket sales system at a ticket issuing terminal such as an air ticket connected to the Internet, or to apply a slip issuing system in an in-house network.

[0049]

As described above, the form printing method via the network according to the present invention generates the form print data in a data format printable by the form printing means on the server side. Form printing can be performed on the client side without installing conventional software dedicated to form printing on the client side. Therefore, if this form printing method is used, the labor and time used for installing the dedicated software on the client and the cost thereof can be reduced, and the effect that the user and the system administrator become convenient can be obtained. can get. In addition, according to the method of printing a form via a network of the present invention, form print data can be printed on one or both of the client side and the server side, so that the form can be easily printed from either of these sides. This makes it possible for the user to be more convenient, and also has the effect of ensuring versatility as a system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a form printing method via a network according to the present invention, in which (a) is a diagram showing a first sequence (flow of a processing operation of form print data generation); FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a second sequence (a flow of a processing operation for acquiring form print data).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration required to implement a form printing method via a network according to the present invention.

3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing a procedure for receiving form print data on a client side, wherein FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example in which a WWW browser has a print processing function, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a WWW browser does not have a print processing function.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an embodiment of a form printing method according to the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating a third sequence (a flow of a processing operation for deleting form print data).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation when determining whether to print form print data on the client side or the server side.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional form printing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Internet 2 WWW server 3 Client 4 Form server 5, 6 Printer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A server for transmitting information on a network and a client connected to the server via the network, and information on a form in a predetermined format included in the information transmitted by the server is written on a predetermined sheet. A form printing method via a network for printing, wherein a form printing means for printing information on the form on a predetermined sheet is provided on the client side, and the form of the form is transmitted from the client side to the server side. When there is a creation request, the server creates information on the form in response to the creation request, and converts the created information on the form into form print data in a data format printable by the form printing means on the server side. Convert, send the converted form print data to the client side, and receive the transmitted form print data In the client-side forwards the form print data to the document printing means, form printing method over a network, characterized in that to perform printing on a predetermined sheet according 該帳 slip printing means. 2. The client side notifies the server side when the printing of the form print data by the form printing means is completed, and the server side transmits the form print data to the client side. Previously, all the converted form print data is stored and held, and when the client notifies the client that printing has been completed, the corresponding form print data is deleted from the stored form print data. 2. A method for printing a form via a network according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A form printing means for printing the form print data is also provided on the server side, and the form print data is printed on one or both of the client side and the server side. 3. The form printing method via a network according to claim 1, wherein the form is printed. 4. A form creation request from the client side to the server side can specify whether form print data corresponding to the creation request is to be printed on either the client side or the server side or on both sides. 4. The method for printing a form via a network according to claim 3, wherein: