WO2012172856A1 - Printing system, server device, printing method, and computer program - Google Patents

Printing system, server device, printing method, and computer program Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012172856A1
WO2012172856A1 PCT/JP2012/059193 JP2012059193W WO2012172856A1 WO 2012172856 A1 WO2012172856 A1 WO 2012172856A1 JP 2012059193 W JP2012059193 W JP 2012059193W WO 2012172856 A1 WO2012172856 A1 WO 2012172856A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
printing
printer
server
information
client device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2012/059193
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
敦志 植村
Original Assignee
シャープ株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by シャープ株式会社 filed Critical シャープ株式会社
Publication of WO2012172856A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012172856A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1224—Client or server resources management
    • G06F3/1228—Printing driverless or using generic drivers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1204—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/126—Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
    • G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
    • G06F3/1232—Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printing system, a server device, a printing method, a computer program, and a recording medium that notify a client device of information relating to a usable printing device.
  • a PC personal computer
  • Print data that can be printed by a printer is generated based on the original data that has been generated, and the generated print data is output to the printer.
  • a printing system including a PC having a printer driver, a plurality of printers, and a server has been widely used.
  • a server receives a print job from a PC, selects a usable printer from printers that can communicate with the server, and executes the print job.
  • Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system called “Direct Print” in which original data is transmitted from a portable terminal to a printer capable of analyzing original data, and a printing application is opened on the printer side to perform printing. 1 is disclosed.
  • a printing system it is not necessary to install a printer driver, and it is possible to save time for converting original data into print data by the printer driver.
  • Even a device that does not support a printer driver can be printed by preparing a mechanism for sending document data to the printer using a memory card or communication means such as infrared communication, LAN, or USB. Applies to printing manuscript data from telephone.
  • the printing system based on the “direct printing” has a problem that it takes time to select a printer because the mobile terminal selects a printer to be used by communicating with each printer.
  • An object of the present invention is to easily and quickly select a printing apparatus that is optimal for a printing process to be executed even by a client apparatus that does not include a printer driver.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system, a server device, a printing method, a computer program, and a recording medium capable of executing processing and preventing excessive concentration of jobs on the printing device.
  • a printing system includes a client device that transmits document data, a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device, and a server that is connected to the client device and the plurality of printing devices.
  • the client device includes a billing unit that charges the server device with information related to a printing device
  • the server device includes, among the plurality of printing devices, according to a request from the client device, A notification unit configured to notify the client device of information related to a usable printing device, and the client device receives the document data based on the information related to the usable printing device received from the server device; Transmission means for transmitting to any one of the usable printing devices, and each of the plurality of printing devices is an original.
  • a web page for data transmission can be provided, the client device is capable of executing a web browser function, and is configured to display a web page provided from a printing device to be transmitted by a web browser;
  • the transmission means transmits the document data by an operation on a displayed web page.
  • the printing system includes a client device that transmits document data, a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device, and a server connected to the client device and the plurality of printing devices.
  • the billing unit charges the server device with information related to the printing device.
  • the plurality of printing apparatuses are printing apparatuses capable of “direct printing” that directly print document data without going through a printer driver.
  • the notifying unit notifies the client device of information related to the printing device that can be used by the client device among the plurality of printing devices in response to a request from the client device.
  • the transmission unit transmits the document data to any one of the usable printing apparatuses based on the information related to the usable printing apparatus received from the server apparatus.
  • Each of the plurality of printing apparatuses can provide a web page for sending document data.
  • the client device can execute a web browser function, and displays a web page provided from a printing device to be transmitted by the web browser.
  • the transmission means transmits the document data by an operation on the displayed web page.
  • the printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about the plurality of printing devices at predetermined time intervals.
  • the acquisition unit in the server apparatus acquires information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses at predetermined time intervals.
  • each of the plurality of printing apparatuses stores identification means for identifying a user who has transmitted the original data by the client apparatus, and the number of printed sheets for each user identified by the identification means.
  • each of the plurality of printing apparatuses includes an identification unit and a storage unit.
  • the identifying means identifies the user who transmitted the document data at the client device.
  • the storage means stores the number of printed sheets for each user identified by the identification means.
  • the server device is an identification unit that identifies the claimed user and the printing device usable by the claimed user
  • the number of sheets printed by the user is small (or large).
  • a determining unit that determines a printing apparatus having a large number (or a small number) of printed sheets.
  • the server device includes an identification unit and a determination unit.
  • the identifying means identifies the user who is billed.
  • the determination unit determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the user according to the claim when the number of printed sheets is small (or large) by the user and that the number of printed sheets is large (or small).
  • the acquisition unit acquires information related to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus, and the server apparatus supplies the power supply of the printing apparatus acquired by the acquisition means.
  • determining means for determining a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus.
  • the acquisition means in the server apparatus acquires information relating to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus.
  • the determining unit determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on the information related to the power supply interruption of the printing device acquired by the acquiring unit.
  • the printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device includes a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on a time when the request from the client device is received.
  • the determination unit in the server apparatus determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus based on the time when the request from the client apparatus is received.
  • the printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device includes a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on information related to the position of the client device.
  • the server apparatus determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus based on the information related to the position of the client apparatus.
  • the client device includes a unit that determines whether communication is possible for each of the usable printing devices, and the transmission unit is determined to be capable of communication.
  • the document data is transmitted to any one of the printing apparatuses.
  • the client device includes a unit that determines whether communication is possible for each available printing device, and the transmission unit is any one of the printing devices that are determined to be capable of communication. Send the document data to.
  • the server device includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about a plurality of printing devices at a predetermined time, and the plurality of printing devices acquired based on the information about the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit. And determining means for determining an available printing device among the printing devices.
  • the acquisition unit acquires information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses at predetermined time intervals.
  • the determining unit determines a usable printing device among the plurality of printing devices based on the information regarding the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquiring unit.
  • the determining unit determines an available printing device based on a time when the acquisition request is received in response to an acquisition request for information regarding the printing device received by the server device. It is characterized by being.
  • the determining means determines a usable printing device based on the time when the request for acquisition is received in response to the request for acquiring the information related to the printing device received by the server device.
  • the determination unit can use the print based on the information related to the position of the device that transmitted the acquisition request in response to the information acquisition request related to the printing device received by the server device.
  • the apparatus is determined.
  • the determining means determines a usable printing device based on information relating to the position of the device that has transmitted the acquisition request, in response to an acquisition request for information relating to the printing device received by the server device.
  • the server device includes identification means for identifying a user who has requested acquisition of information related to a printing apparatus, and the acquisition means acquires the number of printed sheets for each user and the number of printed sheets for each printing apparatus.
  • the determining means determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the claimed user when the number of printed sheets is small (or large) by the user and that the number of printed sheets is large (or small). It is characterized by the above.
  • the server device includes identification means.
  • the identification unit identifies a user who has requested acquisition of information related to the printing apparatus.
  • the acquisition unit acquires the number of sheets printed for each user and the number of sheets printed by each printing apparatus.
  • the determination unit determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the user according to the claim when the number of printed sheets is small (or large) by the user and that the number of printed sheets is large (or small).
  • the acquisition unit acquires information related to power supply interruption of each printing device, and the determination unit supplies power of the printing device acquired by the acquisition unit. Based on the information relating to the connection, a usable printing apparatus is determined.
  • the acquisition means acquires information related to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus.
  • the determining unit determines a usable printing device based on the information related to the power supply interruption of the printing device acquired by the acquiring unit.
  • a printing method includes a client device that transmits document data, a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device, and a server device connected to the client device and the printing device.
  • a printing method in a printing system comprising: a claim step for requesting acquisition of information relating to a printing device from a client device to a server device; and a request from the server device to the plurality of printing devices according to a request from the client device
  • the transmitting step includes: providing a web page for transmitting original data from a printing apparatus to be transmitted; displaying the provided web page on a web browser at the client apparatus; and client apparatus And transmitting the document data by an operation on the displayed web page.
  • the client device requests the server device to acquire information related to the printing device
  • the server device is a printing device that can be used by the client device among a plurality of printing devices in response to a request from the client device.
  • the client apparatus notifies the client apparatus of the information, and the client apparatus transmits the document data to any one of the usable printing apparatuses based on the information regarding the usable printing apparatus received from the server apparatus.
  • a web page for transmitting original data is provided from a printing apparatus to be transmitted.
  • the provided web page is displayed on the web browser on the client device.
  • the document data is transmitted from the client device by an operation on the displayed web page.
  • the printing method according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device has an acquisition step of acquiring information related to the plurality of printing devices at predetermined time intervals.
  • the server apparatus acquires information related to the plurality of printing apparatuses at predetermined time intervals.
  • the printing method according to the present invention includes a step of identifying a user who has transmitted original data from a client device from each of the plurality of printing devices, and storing the number of printed sheets for each identified user. The number of sheets printed by each user and the number printed by each printing apparatus are acquired.
  • the user who transmitted the original data from the plurality of printing apparatuses is identified from the plurality of printing apparatuses, the number of printed sheets is stored for each identified user, and the number of printed sheets and the respective printing apparatuses are stored. Get the number of printed pages.
  • the printing method according to the present invention includes a step of identifying a user who is billed from the server device, and a printing device usable by the user according to the billing when the number of printed sheets by the user is small (or large). It has the step which determines the printing apparatus with many printed sheets (or few).
  • the user who is billed is identified from the server device, and when the number of printed sheets by the user is small (or large) as the printing apparatus usable by the billing user, the number of printed sheets is large (or Decide which (less) printing device.
  • the client apparatus Has a step of determining an available printing device.
  • information related to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus is acquired, and based on the acquired information related to the power supply interruption of the printing apparatus, a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus is determined.
  • the printing method according to the present invention includes a step of determining a printing device that can be used by the client device based on a time when the request from the client device is received.
  • a printing device that can be used by the client device is determined based on the time when the request from the client device is received.
  • the printing method according to the present invention includes a step of determining a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus based on information on the position of the client apparatus.
  • a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus is determined based on information related to the position of the client apparatus.
  • the client device in the transmission step, can determine whether communication is possible for each of the usable printing devices, and communication is possible in the determination step. And a step of transmitting document data to any one of the printing apparatuses determined to be present.
  • the client apparatus determines whether communication is possible for each of the usable printing apparatuses.
  • the document data is transmitted to any one of the printing apparatuses determined to be able to communicate.
  • the computer program according to the present invention based on information on the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit that acquires the information on the plurality of printing devices at a predetermined time, and the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit, It is made to function as a determination means which determines the printing apparatus which can be used among these printing apparatuses.
  • a printing device that can be used among a plurality of printing devices based on the information related to the plurality of printing devices that is obtained at a predetermined time and that acquires information related to the plurality of printing devices. To decide.
  • the recording medium according to the present invention is characterized in that the computer program of the above-described invention is recorded.
  • the aforementioned computer program is recorded on the recording medium.
  • the computer reads the computer program from the recording medium, and the above printing system and printing method are realized by the computer.
  • the present invention it is possible to save time for selecting a usable printing device from a plurality of printing devices, and a client device that does not include a printer driver can easily and quickly select a printing device that is optimal for a printing process to be executed. It is possible to execute the printing process by selecting. Further, in the printing system, the use of the printing apparatus in an abnormal state such as busy, paper jam, or out of toner can be easily avoided. Furthermore, excessive concentration of jobs on the printing apparatus can be prevented, and usability in the printing system can be improved.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in PC.
  • 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in a server.
  • 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer setting table stored in a server.
  • FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of printer information notified to a PC.
  • 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. It is a flowchart
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in a server. It is a figure which shows an example of the printer information acquired with the server. It is a figure which shows an example of the result which a server processes based on printer information. It is a figure which shows an example of the printer determination table accumulate
  • 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in the server. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for transmitting own printer information in a printer.
  • 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in the server according to the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to a fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a server configuration in a printing system according to a fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system 1 according to the first embodiment.
  • reference numeral 1 denotes a printing system.
  • the printing system 1 includes a PC 10 and a mobile phone 40 that are client apparatuses, a server 20 that is a server apparatus, and printers 31 to 36 that are printing apparatuses.
  • the PC 10, the server 20, and the printers 31 to 36 are connected by a wired or wireless LAN network 2, for example.
  • the mobile phone 40 is connected to the network 2 by, for example, a wireless access point 3.
  • the client device will be described by taking the PC 10 as an example, and the mobile phone 40 is operated in the same manner as the PC 10, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment.
  • the PC 10 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103.
  • the ROM 102 stores a control program executed by the CPU 101.
  • the RAM 103 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program.
  • the CPU 101 controls the operation of the entire PC 10 via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 102 onto the RAM 103 and executing it.
  • the PC 10 requests the acquisition of printer information from the document creating unit 104 that creates document data, the printer information requesting unit 105 that receives the printer information from the server 20, and the received printer information.
  • a server that communicates with the server 20, a printer selection unit 106 that selects any one of the printers according to the printer information, a document data transmission unit 107 that transmits document data to the selected printer, and a server 20 It further includes an I / F 108 and a printer I / F 109 that communicates with the printers 31 to 36.
  • the document creation unit 104 is an application such as MS-Word, for example, and creates document data in response to an instruction from a PC operation unit (not shown).
  • the printer information requesting unit 105 is, for example, an application that runs on the PC 10 and transmits an acquisition request for printer information related to the printers 31 to 36 to the server 20 via the server I / F 108, and at the same time, the user's logon name User information such as the above information is also transmitted, and information related to the printer usable by the user (see FIG. 6) is received from the server 20.
  • the printer selection unit 106 is an application that runs on the PC 10, for example.
  • a printer selection screen is displayed on a PC display unit (not shown). The printer selection is presented to the user, and the printer to be used is selected from the available printers according to the user's instruction.
  • the document data transmission unit 107 is an application that operates on the PC 10, for example, and transmits the document data created by the document creation unit 104 to the printer selected by the printer selection unit 106 via the printer I / F 109. It is.
  • the server 20 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, and a RAM 203.
  • the ROM 202 stores a control program executed by the CPU 201.
  • the RAM 203 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program.
  • the CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire server 20 via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 202 onto the RAM 203 and executing it.
  • the server 20 includes an information storage unit 204 that stores information related to the printer, a printer determination unit 205 that determines a usable printer, and a printer information notification unit 206 that notifies the PC 10 of information related to the determined usable printer. And a PC I / F 207 for communicating with the PC 10.
  • the information storage unit 204 is, for example, an HDD, and stores printer information such as a printer setting information table (see FIG. 5) in which printers that can be used by each user are set for each time zone and IP addresses of the printers 31 to 36. It is to be accumulated.
  • printer information such as a printer setting information table (see FIG. 5) in which printers that can be used by each user are set for each time zone and IP addresses of the printers 31 to 36. It is to be accumulated.
  • the printer determination unit 205 identifies the user related to the acquisition request based on the user information received together with the acquisition request, and the information storage unit 204 based on the reception time. According to the printer setting information table stored in the table, a printer usable by the identified user among the printers 31 to 36 is determined.
  • the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of information related to the printer usable by the user (see FIG. 6) determined by the printer determination unit 205 via the PC I / F 207 as printer information. is there.
  • Each of the printers 31 to 36 is a printer that directly prints (direct prints) document data transmitted from a terminal device such as the PC 10 or the mobile phone 40 without going through a printer driver.
  • the ROM 302 stores a control program executed by the CPU 301.
  • the RAM 303 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program.
  • the CPU 301 controls the operation of the entire printer via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 302 onto the RAM 303 and executing it.
  • Each of the printers 31 to 36 further includes a PC I / F 304 that communicates with the PC 10, a document data receiving unit 305 that receives document data from the PC 10, and a printing unit 306 that prints based on the received document data. Prepare.
  • the document data receiving unit 305 is configured to receive document data from the PC 10 via the PC I / F 304.
  • the printing unit 306 prints based on the document data received by the document data receiving unit 305.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the PC 10.
  • the document creation unit 104 creates document data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101 (step S31).
  • the CPU 101 determines whether or not a print instruction has been received from the user (step S32). When it is determined that the print instruction has not been received from the user (step S32: NO), the CPU 101 repeats such determination until the print instruction is received.
  • the CPU 101 determines that a print instruction has been received from the user (step S32: YES), it instructs the printer information requesting unit 105 to request acquisition of printer information.
  • the printer information request unit 105 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the server 20 via the server I / F 108 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, and simultaneously transmits the user name of the user as user information (step S33). .
  • the CPU 101 determines whether or not the printer information has been received from the server 20 (step S34). If the CPU 101 determines that the printer information has not been received from the server 20 (step S34: NO), the CPU 101 does not receive the printer information. Repeat this determination.
  • step S34 When it is determined that the printer information has been received from the server 20 (step S34: YES), the CPU 101 performs a test communication with the printer related to the printer information received from the server 20 (step S35). For example, when the printer IP address is received from the server 20 as printer information, the CPU 101 transmits a PING command to each IP address.
  • the CPU 101 determines whether or not communication is possible for each printer, and generates, for example, a list as printers that can use the printer that has determined that communication is possible (step S36).
  • the CPU 101 instructs the printer selection unit 106 to select a printer.
  • the printer selection unit 106 presents a printer selection screen to the user on the display unit of the PC according to the instruction of the CPU 101, displays a list of available printers based on the list generated in step S36, for example, and the user's instruction Accordingly, one of a plurality of usable printers is selected (step S37).
  • the CPU 101 instructs the document data transmission unit 107 to transmit document data.
  • the document data transmission unit 107 transmits document data to the printer selected in step S37 (step S38), and ends the process.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in the server 20.
  • the CPU 201 determines whether a printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S ⁇ b> 41), and determines that no printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10. If so (step S41: NO), such determination is repeated until a printer information acquisition request is received from the PC 10.
  • step S41 determines that the printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S41: YES)
  • the CPU 201 checks the time when the printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S42), and can be used for the printer determination unit 205. To determine the correct printer.
  • the printer determination unit 205 identifies the user related to the acquisition request based on the user name received together with the acquisition request according to the instruction of the CPU 201, and the user name and the user name in step S ⁇ b> 42 according to the printer setting table stored in the information storage unit 204. Based on the confirmed reception time, a printer that can be used by the identified user is determined (step S43).
  • the CPU 201 instructs the printer information notification unit 206 to notify the printer information.
  • the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of information related to a printer that can be used by the user via the PC IF 207 (step S44), and ends the process.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer setting table stored in the server 20.
  • a printer setting table is stored in the information storage unit 204.
  • printers that can be used by each user are set in the printer setting table for each time period.
  • the printer setting table includes five times of 8:00 to 10:00, 10:00 to 12:00, 12:00 to 14:00, 14:00 to 17:00, and after 17:00.
  • printer names of printers that can be used by the users A, B, C, and D are written.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of printer information notified to the PC 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of the printer name and IP address of the printer that can be used by the user as printer information.
  • the printer information requesting unit 105 of the PC 10 transmits the printer information acquisition request and user information such as a user name to the server 20.
  • the server 20 receives a request for acquisition of printer information from the PC 10
  • the reception time of the acquisition request is confirmed
  • the printer determination unit 205 identifies the user related to the acquisition request based on the received user information and stores it in advance.
  • the printer corresponding to the confirmed reception time and received user name is determined as a printer that can be used by the identified user in accordance with the determined printer setting table, and the printer of the printer determined by the printer information notification unit 206 is determined.
  • the name and IP address are notified to the PC 10 as printer information.
  • the printer selection unit 106 selects one of the notified usable printers according to the instruction from the user
  • the document data transmission unit 107 selects the selected printer.
  • the original data is transmitted to the designated printer.
  • the printer information acquisition request is received from the PC 10 at 9:00, the reception time is confirmed to be 9:00, and the user according to the acquisition request is identified as the user A based on the received user name A.
  • the printer setting table shown in FIG. 5 the time zone to which the reception time belongs 8:00 to 10:00 and the printers 31 to 33 corresponding to the user name A are determined as printers that can be used by the user A, and FIG.
  • the printer that can be used by the user can be easily and quickly selected and printed according to the printer setting table stored in the server 20. Processing can be performed.
  • the server 20 in the first embodiment updates the printer setting table every predetermined time.
  • the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment.
  • the server 20 includes a printer information acquisition unit 208 that acquires information about each of the printers 31 to 36 at predetermined time intervals, and a printer 31 to 36.
  • the printer 31 further includes a printer I / F 209 that performs communication.
  • Each of the printers 31 to 36 transmits a user identification unit 307 that identifies a user, an information storage unit 308 that stores its own printer information, and printer information to the server 20.
  • a printer information transmission unit 309 and a server I / F 310 are provided.
  • the printer information acquisition unit 208 transmits a printer information acquisition request to each of the printers 31 to 36 and receives the printer information from the printers 31 to 36 via the printer I / F 209 every predetermined time.
  • the printer information is stored in the information storage unit 204.
  • the user identification unit 307 is an application that operates on the printer, and identifies the user who transmitted the original data by the PC 10, and the information storage unit 308 displays the number of sheets printed by itself.
  • Printer information such as the number of sheets printed for each identified user and information relating to the usage status of the user is stored.
  • the printer information transmission unit 309 receives the printer information from the server 20 in response to a request for acquisition of the printer information.
  • the printer information stored in the information storage unit 308 is transmitted via the I / F 310.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in the server 20.
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous printer information was received (step S81).
  • the predetermined time is arbitrarily set as necessary.
  • step S81: NO If the CPU 201 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S81: NO), the CPU 201 repeats such determination until the predetermined time elapses, and determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S81: YES). And instructing the printer information acquisition unit 208 to transmit an acquisition request.
  • the printer information acquisition unit 208 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the printers 31 to 36 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 (step S82).
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not printer information has been received from the printers 31 to 36 (step S83). If it is determined that printer information has not been received from the printers 31 to 36 (step S83: NO), the printer 31 to Such determination is repeated until printer information is received from 36.
  • step S83 determines that the printer information has been received from the printers 31 to 36 (step S83: YES)
  • the CPU 201 stores the received printer information in the information storage unit 204 (step S84).
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S85). If the CPU 201 determines that an instruction to stop the process has not been received (step S85: NO), the process proceeds to step S81. return. If it is determined that an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S85: YES), the process is terminated.
  • Printer information acquired by the printer information acquisition unit 208 includes the number of sheets printed by the user and the printer.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of printer information acquired by the server. In the table shown in FIG. 9, the number printed by each user is written for each printer.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result processed by the server 20 based on the printer information.
  • the left figure shows the number of sheets printed by each user and the order of addition according to the number of sheets
  • the right figure shows the number of sheets printed by each printer and the order of attachment according to the number of sheets.
  • the number of printed sheets by users A, B, C, and D is 3511, 3615, 2619, and 3232, respectively.
  • the users are ranked in descending order of the number of printed sheets.
  • the number of sheets printed by each of the printers 31 to 36 is 2717, 1868, 2301, 2399, 1698, and 1994. Therefore, the result of ranking the printers in descending order of the number of printed sheets is 31, printer 34, printer 33, printer 36, printer 32, and printer 35.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the printer determination table stored in the server.
  • a user having a high rank in FIG. 10 that is, a large number of printed sheets is set as a printer having a low rank in FIG.
  • a printer with a high ranking in FIG. 10 For a user with a low ranking in FIG. 10, that is, with a small number of printed sheets, a printer with a high ranking in FIG.
  • the printer determination unit 205 determines a printer with a small number of printed sheets for a user with a large number of printed sheets, and a user with a small number of printed sheets. Determine which printer has the most printed pages.
  • printer information acquired by the printer information acquisition unit 208 includes information related to the power supply of the printer.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in the server 20.
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous reception of the printer information (step S121), and determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed. (Step S121: NO), such determination is repeated until a predetermined time elapses.
  • step S121 When the CPU 201 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S121: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the printer information acquisition unit 208 to transmit an acquisition request.
  • the printer information acquisition unit 208 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the printers 31 to 36 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 (step S122).
  • the CPU 201 waits for reception of printer information (step S123), and the waiting time is arbitrarily set as necessary.
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not each printer is powered on (step S124). For example, among the printers 31 to 36, a printer that has not received the printer information is determined to be turned off, and a printer that has received the printer information is determined to be turned on.
  • the CPU 201 accumulates information relating to the determined power-off of each printer in the information accumulation unit 204 (step S125).
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S126). If the CPU 201 determines that an instruction to stop the process has not been received (step S126: NO), the process proceeds to step S121. return. If it is determined that an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S126: YES), the process ends.
  • the information storage unit 204 stores printer information related to the power supply of each printer.
  • the printer determination unit 205 determines a part of the printer to be turned on as a printer that can be used by the printer determination unit 205. Notice. In the PC 10, based on the notified printer information, one of the printers that can be used by the user is selected, and the document data is transmitted to the printer selected by the user. Further, when the number of printers that are turned on is small, all printers that are turned on may be determined as printers that can be used by the printer determination unit 205.
  • the server 20 acquires information related to the printer at predetermined time intervals, updates the accumulated printer information, acquires reliable printer information, and selects an optimum printer easily and quickly.
  • the printing process can be performed. Also, by determining the printers that can be used based on the number of printed sheets, it is possible to prevent excessive concentration of jobs on the printing apparatus. Furthermore, by determining a printer that can be used based on the use state of the printer, it is possible to reliably avoid using the printer in an abnormal state.
  • the server 20 transmits the printer information acquisition request to the printers 31 to 36 every predetermined time.
  • the present invention is not limited to this. Each time, the printer information may be transmitted to the server 20.
  • FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transmitting the printer information of the printers 31 to 36.
  • the CPU 301 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous transmission of printer information (step S131), and determines that the predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the server 20 is notified of its own status by, for example, HTTP (step S133).
  • step S131 determines whether the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S131: NO)
  • step S132 determines whether the status of the printer itself has changed (step S132), and determines that the status of the printer itself has not changed. If so (step S132: NO), the process returns to step S131.
  • step S132 If the CPU 301 determines that the status of the printer itself has changed (step S132: YES), the CPU 301 notifies the server 20 of the status of the printer, for example, by HTTP (step S133).
  • the CPU 301 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S134). If the CPU 301 determines that an instruction to stop the process has not been received (step S134: NO), the process proceeds to step S131. return. If it is determined that an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S134: YES), the process ends.
  • the server 20 When the server 20 receives information related to the printer transmitted from the printers 31 to 36, the server 20 updates the accumulated printer information. Thereby, even if the server 20 is outside the firewall, the printer status can be managed.
  • the server 20 in the first embodiment determines a printer that can be used based on information related to the position of the PC 10.
  • the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in the server 20 according to the third embodiment.
  • the CPU 201 determines whether or not a printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S ⁇ b> 141), and determines that no printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10. In such a case (step S141: NO), such determination is repeated until a printer information acquisition request is received from the PC 10.
  • the CPU 201 determines that the printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S141: YES)
  • the CPU 201 detects the IP address of the PC 10 that has transmitted the printer information acquisition request (step S142), and uses it for the printer determination unit 205. Instruct the determination of possible printers.
  • the printer determination unit 205 determines a printer that can be used by the user based on the printer IP address stored in the information storage unit 204 and the IP address of the PC 10 detected in step S42B (step S143). ). For example, a printer having the same IP address as that of the PC 10 is determined as a printer usable by the user.
  • the CPU 201 instructs the printer information notification unit 206 to notify the printer information.
  • the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of information related to the printer that can be used by the user via the PC IF 207 (step S144), and ends the process.
  • a printer closest to the user can be selected.
  • the printer is determined based on the IP address, but the actual position of each printer is stored in the information storage unit 204 in advance, and the printer is determined based on the information relating to the actual position of the PC 10 and each printer. You may do that.
  • the PC 10 transmits the document data to the printer 31 among the printers 31 to 36 by the web page in the first embodiment.
  • the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the fourth embodiment.
  • the PC 10 has a web browser 110 and can implement a web browser function
  • the server 20 includes a web server 210 that can provide a web page.
  • the printers 31 to 36 each include a web server 311 that can provide web pages.
  • the server 20 acquires printer information at predetermined time intervals as shown in FIG. 8, for example.
  • the server 20 searches for a printer capable of direct printing with a searchable printer in the network 2 and has a web server, and obtains an IP address or URL corresponding to a function such as a color function or a post-processing function. Get printer information.
  • the server 20 stores the acquired IP address or URL corresponding to the printer function in the information storage unit 204 as printer information.
  • the server 20 When the server 20 receives a request for obtaining printer information from the PC 10, the server 20 notifies the PC 10 of an IP address or URL corresponding to the printer function stored in advance.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page provided by the server 20.
  • the IP address or URL notified from the server 20 for example, “http: directprintsearch / index” is input to the web browser 110
  • the search result web page shown in FIG. 16 is received from the web server 210 of the server 20.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page provided by the printer 31.
  • the IP address “192.168.1.10” of the printer 31 is input to the web browser of the PC 10 by the link, and the web page shown in FIG. 17 is displayed by the web server 311 of the printer 31.
  • the provided web browser of the PC 10 jumps to the web page shown in FIG. 17 provided by the web server 311. The user can operate the web page on the PC 10 and transmit a file to be printed to the printer 31.
  • the manuscript data can be transmitted by a familiar web browser, and the operability can be improved.
  • the printing system 1 may be configured such that each computer program for performing the operation can be provided on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. You may comprise so that it can also download from an external device.
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 20 in the printing system according to the fifth embodiment, and the server 20 further includes a recording medium reading device 211 as shown in FIG.
  • the server 20 acquires information related to a plurality of printers at a predetermined time, and records a program for determining a usable printer among the plurality of printers based on the acquired information related to the plurality of printers.
  • the portable recording medium A is inserted into the recording medium reader 211, and the CPU 201 installs the program in the ROM 202, for example.
  • Such a program is loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. Thereby, it functions as a server device of the present invention.
  • the recording medium may be a so-called program medium, a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk and a hard disk, and a disk system of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD, It may be a medium carrying a fixed program code including a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card or a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM or the like.
  • a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card or a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM or the like.
  • It may be a medium that dynamically carries the program code so as to download the program code from the network.
  • the download program may be stored in the main device in advance or may be installed from another recording medium.
  • the present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.
  • the client device only needs to have a communication function, and may be another client device such as a digital camera or a portable terminal.
  • the printers 31 to 36 may have a printing function and a communication function, and may further include other functions such as a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.
  • Printing system 10 PC (client device) 20 servers (server equipment) 31-36 Printer (printing device) 101, 201, 301 CPU 105 Printer Information Requesting Unit (Requesting Unit) 106 Printer selection unit 107 Document data transmission unit (transmission means) 110 Web browser 204 Information storage unit 205 Printer determination unit (identification unit, determination unit) 206 Printer information notification unit (notification means) 208 Printer information acquisition unit (acquisition means) 210, 311 Web server 305 Document data receiving unit 306 Printing unit 307 User identification unit (identification means) 308 Information storage unit (storage means) 309 Printer information transmission unit

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Abstract

Provided are a printing system, server device, printing method, computer program, and recording medium with which it is possible to select the optimal printing device simply and quickly and to perform a printing process, even with a client device that is not equipped with a printer driver. A printing system (1) is equipped with a PC (10) that transmits document data, multiple printers (31-36) that directly print the document data transmitted from the PC (10), and a server (20). The PC (10) is equipped with a printer information request unit (105) that requests printer-related information from the server (20). The server (20) is equipped with a printer information reporting unit (206) that, in response to the request from the PC (10), reports to the PC (10) information related to the printers which can be used among the multiple printers (31-36). The PC (10) is equipped with a document data transmission unit (107) that, on the basis of the information related to the usable printers received from the server (20), transmits the document data to any one of the usable printers.

Description

印刷システム、サーバ装置、印刷方法、及びコンピュータプログラムPrinting system, server apparatus, printing method, and computer program
　本発明は使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報をクライアント装置に通知する印刷システム、サーバ装置、印刷方法、コンピュータプログラム及び記録媒体に関する。 The present invention relates to a printing system, a server device, a printing method, a computer program, and a recording medium that notify a client device of information relating to a usable printing device.
　従来、文書又は絵図等の原稿データを作成することができるパーソナルコンピュータ（以下ＰＣという）を使用して作成された原稿データを印刷する場合には、予めＰＣにインストールしてあるプリンタドライバによって、作成された原稿データに基づいてプリンタでの印刷が可能な印刷データを生成し、生成した印刷データをプリンタへ出力する。 Conventionally, when printing manuscript data created using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) capable of creating manuscript data such as a document or a picture, it is created by a printer driver installed in the PC in advance. Print data that can be printed by a printer is generated based on the original data that has been generated, and the generated print data is output to the printer.
　近年では、プリンタドライバを備えるＰＣと複数のプリンタとサーバとからなる印刷システムが広く用いられている。この印刷システムにおいて、サーバがＰＣから印刷ジョブを受け付け、サーバと通信可能なプリンタの中から、使用可能なプリンタを選択して印刷ジョブを実行させる。これにより、印刷する場合には、例えばビジー、紙詰まり、トナー切れなどの異常状態におけるプリンタの使用を避け、印刷ジョブに最適なプリンタを選択することができる。 In recent years, a printing system including a PC having a printer driver, a plurality of printers, and a server has been widely used. In this printing system, a server receives a print job from a PC, selects a usable printer from printers that can communicate with the server, and executes the print job. Thereby, when printing, for example, it is possible to avoid using the printer in an abnormal state such as busy, paper jam, or out of toner, and to select an optimal printer for a print job.
　また、プリンタの多機能化の要求が高まることに伴い、ＰＣなどの端末装置にプリンタドライバをインストールすることなく、生成されたＰＤＦ、Ｗｏｒｄ、Ｅｘｃｅｌ、Ｔｉｆｆ等の原稿データを印刷データに変換せずにプリンタに送信して直接印刷することができる印刷システムが開発されている。例えば、特許文献１には、携帯端末から原稿データが解析可能なプリンタに原稿データを送信し、プリンタ側で印刷用アプリケーションを開いて印刷を行うことができる「ダイレクトプリント」という印刷システムが特許文献１に開示されている。このような印刷システムでは、プリンタドライバのインストールが不要であり、プリンタドライバで原稿データを印刷データに変換する時間を節約することができる。プリンタドライバがサポートされない装置であっても、メモリカードまたは赤外線通信、ＬＡＮ、ＵＳＢなどの通信手段で原稿データをプリンタに送信する仕組みだけを用意すれば、印刷することができるため、デジタルカメラや携帯電話からの原稿データの印刷に適用される。 Further, as the demand for multifunctional printers increases, the generated document data such as PDF, Word, Excel, and Tiff is not converted into print data without installing a printer driver in a terminal device such as a PC. A printing system has been developed that can be directly sent to a printer for printing. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system called “Direct Print” in which original data is transmitted from a portable terminal to a printer capable of analyzing original data, and a printing application is opened on the printer side to perform printing. 1 is disclosed. In such a printing system, it is not necessary to install a printer driver, and it is possible to save time for converting original data into print data by the printer driver. Even a device that does not support a printer driver can be printed by preparing a mechanism for sending document data to the printer using a memory card or communication means such as infrared communication, LAN, or USB. Applies to printing manuscript data from telephone.
特開２００７－１６４６０１号公報JP 2007-164601 A
　しかしながら、前記「ダイレクトプリント」に基づく印刷システムには、携帯端末は各プリンタとの通信により、使用しようとするプリンタを選択するため、プリンタの選択に時間がかかるという課題がある。 However, the printing system based on the “direct printing” has a problem that it takes time to select a printer because the mobile terminal selects a printer to be used by communicating with each printer.
　また、このような印刷システムでは、ビジー、紙詰まり、トナー切れなどの異常状態におけるプリンタの使用を如何に避けるかということが課題となる。この課題に対して、従来に、プリンタドライバを備える印刷システムにサーバを利用する手段を提案されているが、前記「ダイレクトプリント」に基づく印刷システムでは、プリンタドライバが提供されていないため、従来のプリンタドライバに適用されたサーバを利用しても、その課題を解決することはできない。 Also, in such a printing system, how to avoid using the printer in an abnormal state such as busy, paper jam, or out of toner becomes a problem. In response to this problem, a means for using a server in a printing system including a printer driver has been proposed. However, in the printing system based on the “direct printing”, a printer driver is not provided. Even if the server applied to the printer driver is used, the problem cannot be solved.
　本発明は斯かる事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、その目的とするところは、プリンタドライバを備えないクライアント装置でも、実行すべき印刷処理に最適な印刷装置を簡単で迅速に選択して印刷処理を実行させ、印刷装置へのジョブの過度の集中を防止することができる印刷システム、サーバ装置、印刷方法、コンピュータプログラム及び記録媒体を提供することにある。 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily and quickly select a printing apparatus that is optimal for a printing process to be executed even by a client apparatus that does not include a printer driver. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system, a server device, a printing method, a computer program, and a recording medium capable of executing processing and preventing excessive concentration of jobs on the printing device.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、原稿データを送信するクライアント装置と、該クライアント装置から送信された原稿データを直接印刷する複数の印刷装置と、前記クライアント装置及び前記複数の印刷装置に接続されるサーバ装置とを備え、前記クライアント装置は、前記サーバ装置に印刷装置に係る情報を請求する請求手段を備え、前記サーバ装置は、前記クライアント装置からの請求に応じて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報を該クライアント装置に通知する通知手段を備え、前記クライアント装置は、前記サーバ装置から受信した使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、原稿データを前記使用可能な印刷装置の何れか一つに送信する送信手段を備え、前記複数の印刷装置は夫々に原稿データの送信用のウェブページが提供可能であり、前記クライアント装置は、ウェブブラウザ機能が実行可能であり、送信されるべき印刷装置から提供されるウェブページをウェブブラウザで表示するようにしてあり、前記送信手段は、表示されるウェブページに対する操作により前記原稿データを送信するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 A printing system according to the present invention includes a client device that transmits document data, a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device, and a server that is connected to the client device and the plurality of printing devices. And the client device includes a billing unit that charges the server device with information related to a printing device, and the server device includes, among the plurality of printing devices, according to a request from the client device, A notification unit configured to notify the client device of information related to a usable printing device, and the client device receives the document data based on the information related to the usable printing device received from the server device; Transmission means for transmitting to any one of the usable printing devices, and each of the plurality of printing devices is an original. A web page for data transmission can be provided, the client device is capable of executing a web browser function, and is configured to display a web page provided from a printing device to be transmitted by a web browser; The transmission means transmits the document data by an operation on a displayed web page.
　本発明では、印刷システムは、原稿データを送信するクライアント装置と、該クライアント装置から送信された原稿データを直接印刷する複数の印刷装置と、前記クライアント装置及び前記複数の印刷装置に接続されるサーバ装置とを備える。クライアント装置では、請求手段はサーバ装置に印刷装置に係る情報を請求する。複数の印刷装置は、プリンタドライバを経由することなく原稿データを直接印刷する、「ダイレクトプリント」が可能な印刷装置である。サーバ装置では、通知手段はクライアント装置からの請求に応じて、複数の印刷装置の内、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報を該クライアント装置に通知する。クライアント装置では、送信手段はサーバ装置から受信した使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、原稿データを使用可能な印刷装置の何れか一つに送信する。複数の印刷装置は夫々に原稿データの送信用のウェブページが提供可能である。クライアント装置は、ウェブブラウザ機能が実行可能であり、送信されるべき印刷装置から提供されるウェブページをウェブブラウザで表示する。送信手段は、表示されるウェブページに対する操作により前記原稿データを送信する。 In the present invention, the printing system includes a client device that transmits document data, a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device, and a server connected to the client device and the plurality of printing devices. Device. In the client device, the billing unit charges the server device with information related to the printing device. The plurality of printing apparatuses are printing apparatuses capable of “direct printing” that directly print document data without going through a printer driver. In the server device, the notifying unit notifies the client device of information related to the printing device that can be used by the client device among the plurality of printing devices in response to a request from the client device. In the client apparatus, the transmission unit transmits the document data to any one of the usable printing apparatuses based on the information related to the usable printing apparatus received from the server apparatus. Each of the plurality of printing apparatuses can provide a web page for sending document data. The client device can execute a web browser function, and displays a web page provided from a printing device to be transmitted by the web browser. The transmission means transmits the document data by an operation on the displayed web page.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記サーバ装置は、所定の時間ごとに、前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する取得手段を備えることを特徴とする。 The printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about the plurality of printing devices at predetermined time intervals.
　本発明では、サーバ装置における取得手段は、所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する。 In the present invention, the acquisition unit in the server apparatus acquires information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses at predetermined time intervals.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記複数の印刷装置夫々は、クライアント装置にて原稿データを送信したユーザを識別する識別手段と、該識別手段にて識別されたユーザごとに印刷した枚数を記憶する記憶手段とを備え、前記取得手段はユーザ夫々により印刷された枚数と印刷装置夫々が印刷した枚数とを取得するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 In the printing system according to the present invention, each of the plurality of printing apparatuses stores identification means for identifying a user who has transmitted the original data by the client apparatus, and the number of printed sheets for each user identified by the identification means. Storage means, wherein the obtaining means obtains the number of sheets printed by each user and the number of sheets printed by each printing apparatus.
　本発明では、複数の印刷装置夫々は識別手段と記憶手段とを備える。識別手段はクライアント装置にて原稿データを送信したユーザを識別する。記憶手段は識別手段にて識別されたユーザごとに印刷した枚数を記憶する。 In the present invention, each of the plurality of printing apparatuses includes an identification unit and a storage unit. The identifying means identifies the user who transmitted the document data at the client device. The storage means stores the number of printed sheets for each user identified by the identification means.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記サーバ装置は、請求に係るユーザを識別する識別手段と、請求に係るユーザが使用可能な印刷装置として、該ユーザにより印刷された枚数が少ない（又は多い）場合、印刷した枚数が多い（又は少ない）印刷装置を決定する決定手段を備えることを特徴とする。 In the printing system according to the present invention, when the server device is an identification unit that identifies the claimed user and the printing device usable by the claimed user, the number of sheets printed by the user is small (or large). And a determining unit that determines a printing apparatus having a large number (or a small number) of printed sheets.
　本発明では、サーバ装置は識別手段と決定手段とを備える。識別手段は請求に係るユーザを識別する。決定手段は、請求に係るユーザが使用可能な印刷装置として、該ユーザにより印刷された枚数が少ない（又は多い）場合、印刷した枚数が多い（又は少ない）印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the server device includes an identification unit and a determination unit. The identifying means identifies the user who is billed. The determination unit determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the user according to the claim when the number of printed sheets is small (or large) by the user and that the number of printed sheets is large (or small).
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記取得手段は印刷装置夫々の電源の給断に係る情報を取得するようにしてあり、前記サーバ装置は、前記取得手段にて取得した印刷装置の電源の給断に係る情報に基づいて、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段を備えることを特徴とする。 In the printing system according to the present invention, the acquisition unit acquires information related to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus, and the server apparatus supplies the power supply of the printing apparatus acquired by the acquisition means. And determining means for determining a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus.
　本発明では、サーバ装置における取得手段は印刷装置夫々の電源の給断に係る情報を取得する。決定手段は、取得手段にて取得した印刷装置の電源の給断に係る情報に基づいて、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the acquisition means in the server apparatus acquires information relating to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus. The determining unit determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on the information related to the power supply interruption of the printing device acquired by the acquiring unit.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記サーバ装置は、前記クライアント装置による請求を受信した時間に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段を備えることを特徴とする。 The printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device includes a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on a time when the request from the client device is received.
　本発明では、サーバ装置における決定手段は、クライアント装置による請求を受信した時間に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the determination unit in the server apparatus determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus based on the time when the request from the client apparatus is received.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記サーバ装置は、前記クライアント装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段を備えることを特徴とする。 The printing system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device includes a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on information related to the position of the client device.
　本発明では、サーバ装置は、前記クライアント装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the server apparatus determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus based on the information related to the position of the client apparatus.
　本発明に係る印刷システムは、前記クライアント装置は、前記使用可能な印刷装置ごとに通信が可能であるか否かを判定する手段を備え、前記送信手段は、通信が可能であると判定された印刷装置の何れか一つに原稿データを送信するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 In the printing system according to the present invention, the client device includes a unit that determines whether communication is possible for each of the usable printing devices, and the transmission unit is determined to be capable of communication. The document data is transmitted to any one of the printing apparatuses.
　本発明では、クライアント装置は、使用可能な印刷装置ごとに通信が可能であるか否かを判定する手段を備え、送信手段は、通信が可能であると判定された印刷装置の何れか一つに原稿データを送信する。 In the present invention, the client device includes a unit that determines whether communication is possible for each available printing device, and the transmission unit is any one of the printing devices that are determined to be capable of communication. Send the document data to.
　本発明に係るサーバ装置は、所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する取得手段と、該取得手段にて取得した前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段とを備えることを特徴とする。 The server device according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about a plurality of printing devices at a predetermined time, and the plurality of printing devices acquired based on the information about the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit. And determining means for determining an available printing device among the printing devices.
　本発明では、取得手段は、所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する。決定手段は、取得手段にて取得した前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the acquisition unit acquires information relating to a plurality of printing apparatuses at predetermined time intervals. The determining unit determines a usable printing device among the plurality of printing devices based on the information regarding the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquiring unit.
　本発明に係るサーバ装置は、前記決定手段は、サーバ装置が受信した印刷装置に係る情報の取得請求に応じて、該取得請求を受信した時間に基づいて、使用可能な印刷装置を決定するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 In the server device according to the present invention, the determining unit determines an available printing device based on a time when the acquisition request is received in response to an acquisition request for information regarding the printing device received by the server device. It is characterized by being.
　本発明では、決定手段は、サーバ装置が受信した印刷装置に係る情報の取得請求に応じて、該取得請求を受信した時間に基づいて、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the determining means determines a usable printing device based on the time when the request for acquisition is received in response to the request for acquiring the information related to the printing device received by the server device.
　本発明に係るサーバ装置は、前記決定手段は、サーバ装置が受信した印刷装置に係る情報の取得請求に応じて、該取得請求を送信した装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、使用可能な印刷装置を決定するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 In the server device according to the present invention, the determination unit can use the print based on the information related to the position of the device that transmitted the acquisition request in response to the information acquisition request related to the printing device received by the server device. The apparatus is determined.
　本発明では、決定手段は、サーバ装置が受信した印刷装置に係る情報の取得請求に応じて、該取得請求を送信した装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the determining means determines a usable printing device based on information relating to the position of the device that has transmitted the acquisition request, in response to an acquisition request for information relating to the printing device received by the server device.
　本発明に係るサーバ装置は、印刷装置に係る情報の取得を請求したユーザを識別する識別手段を備え、前記取得手段は、ユーザごとに印刷した枚数及び印刷装置夫々が印刷した枚数を取得するようにしてあり、前記決定手段は、請求に係るユーザが使用可能な印刷装置として、該ユーザにより印刷された枚数が少ない（又は多い）場合、印刷した枚数が多い（又は少ない）印刷装置を決定するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 The server device according to the present invention includes identification means for identifying a user who has requested acquisition of information related to a printing apparatus, and the acquisition means acquires the number of printed sheets for each user and the number of printed sheets for each printing apparatus. The determining means determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the claimed user when the number of printed sheets is small (or large) by the user and that the number of printed sheets is large (or small). It is characterized by the above.
　本発明では、サーバ装置は識別手段を備える。識別手段は印刷装置に係る情報の取得を請求したユーザを識別する。取得手段は、ユーザごとに印刷した枚数及び印刷装置夫々が印刷した枚数を取得する。決定手段は、請求に係るユーザが使用可能な印刷装置として、該ユーザにより印刷された枚数が少ない（又は多い）場合、印刷した枚数が多い（又は少ない）印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the server device includes identification means. The identification unit identifies a user who has requested acquisition of information related to the printing apparatus. The acquisition unit acquires the number of sheets printed for each user and the number of sheets printed by each printing apparatus. The determination unit determines a printing apparatus that can be used by the user according to the claim when the number of printed sheets is small (or large) by the user and that the number of printed sheets is large (or small).
　本発明に係るサーバ装置は、前記取得手段は、印刷装置夫々の電源の給断に係る情報を取得するようにしてあり、前記決定手段は、前記取得手段にて取得した印刷装置の電源の給断に係る情報に基づいて、使用可能な印刷装置を決定するようにしてあることを特徴とする。 In the server device according to the present invention, the acquisition unit acquires information related to power supply interruption of each printing device, and the determination unit supplies power of the printing device acquired by the acquisition unit. Based on the information relating to the connection, a usable printing apparatus is determined.
　本発明では、取得手段は、印刷装置夫々の電源の給断に係る情報を取得する。決定手段は、前記取得手段にて取得した印刷装置の電源の給断に係る情報に基づいて、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the acquisition means acquires information related to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus. The determining unit determines a usable printing device based on the information related to the power supply interruption of the printing device acquired by the acquiring unit.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、原稿データを送信するクライアント装置と、該クライアント装置から送信された原稿データを直接印刷する複数の印刷装置と、前記クライアント装置及び前記印刷装置に接続されるサーバ装置とを備える印刷システムにおける印刷方法において、クライアント装置からサーバ装置に印刷装置に係る情報の取得を請求する請求ステップと、前記サーバ装置から、前記クライアント装置からの請求に応じて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報を該クライアント装置に通知する通知ステップと、前記クライアント装置から、前記サーバ装置から受信した使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、原稿データを前記使用可能な印刷装置の何れか一つに送信する送信ステップとを有し、前記送信ステップは、送信されるべき印刷装置から原稿データの送信用のウェブページを提供するステップと、クライアント装置にて、提供されるウェブページをウェブブラウザで表示するステップと、クライアント装置から、表示されるウェブページに対する操作により前記原稿データを送信するステップとを有することを特徴とする。 A printing method according to the present invention includes a client device that transmits document data, a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device, and a server device connected to the client device and the printing device. In a printing method in a printing system comprising: a claim step for requesting acquisition of information relating to a printing device from a client device to a server device; and a request from the server device to the plurality of printing devices according to a request from the client device A notification step of notifying the client device of information relating to a printing device that can be used by the client device, and document data based on information relating to the usable printing device received from the server device from the client device. Transmitting to any one of the available printing devices; and The transmitting step includes: providing a web page for transmitting original data from a printing apparatus to be transmitted; displaying the provided web page on a web browser at the client apparatus; and client apparatus And transmitting the document data by an operation on the displayed web page.
　本発明では、クライアント装置からサーバ装置に印刷装置に係る情報の取得を請求し、サーバ装置は、クライアント装置からの請求に応じて、複数の印刷装置の内、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報を該クライアント装置に通知し、クライアント装置は、サーバ装置から受信した使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、原稿データを前記使用可能な印刷装置の何れか一つに送信する。送信されるべき印刷装置から原稿データの送信用のウェブページを提供する。クライアント装置にて、提供されるウェブページをウェブブラウザで表示する。クライアント装置から、表示されるウェブページに対する操作により前記原稿データを送信する。 In the present invention, the client device requests the server device to acquire information related to the printing device, and the server device is a printing device that can be used by the client device among a plurality of printing devices in response to a request from the client device. The client apparatus notifies the client apparatus of the information, and the client apparatus transmits the document data to any one of the usable printing apparatuses based on the information regarding the usable printing apparatus received from the server apparatus. A web page for transmitting original data is provided from a printing apparatus to be transmitted. The provided web page is displayed on the web browser on the client device. The document data is transmitted from the client device by an operation on the displayed web page.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記サーバ装置にて、所定の時間ごとに、前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する取得ステップを有することを特徴とする。 The printing method according to the present invention is characterized in that the server device has an acquisition step of acquiring information related to the plurality of printing devices at predetermined time intervals.
　本発明では、サーバ装置にて、所定の時間ごとに、前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する。 In the present invention, the server apparatus acquires information related to the plurality of printing apparatuses at predetermined time intervals.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記複数の印刷装置夫々から、クライアント装置にて原稿データを送信したユーザを識別し、識別されたユーザごとに印刷した枚数を記憶するステップを備え、前記取得ステップにおいて、ユーザ夫々により印刷された枚数及び印刷装置夫々が印刷した枚数を取得することを特徴とする。 The printing method according to the present invention includes a step of identifying a user who has transmitted original data from a client device from each of the plurality of printing devices, and storing the number of printed sheets for each identified user. The number of sheets printed by each user and the number printed by each printing apparatus are acquired.
　本発明では、複数の印刷装置夫々から、クライアント装置にて原稿データを送信したユーザを識別し、識別されたユーザごとに印刷した枚数を記憶し、ユーザ夫々により印刷された枚数及び印刷装置夫々が印刷した枚数を取得する。 In the present invention, the user who transmitted the original data from the plurality of printing apparatuses is identified from the plurality of printing apparatuses, the number of printed sheets is stored for each identified user, and the number of printed sheets and the respective printing apparatuses are stored. Get the number of printed pages.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記サーバ装置から、請求に係るユーザを識別するステップと、請求に係るユーザが使用可能な印刷装置として、該ユーザにより印刷された枚数が少ない（又は多い）場合、印刷した枚数が多い（又は少ない）印刷装置を決定するステップを有することを特徴とする。 The printing method according to the present invention includes a step of identifying a user who is billed from the server device, and a printing device usable by the user according to the billing when the number of printed sheets by the user is small (or large). It has the step which determines the printing apparatus with many printed sheets (or few).
　本発明では、サーバ装置から、請求に係るユーザを識別し、請求に係るユーザが使用可能な印刷装置として、該ユーザにより印刷された枚数が少ない（又は多い）場合、印刷した枚数が多い（又は少ない）印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, the user who is billed is identified from the server device, and when the number of printed sheets by the user is small (or large) as the printing apparatus usable by the billing user, the number of printed sheets is large (or Decide which (less) printing device.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記取得ステップにおいて、印刷装置夫々の電源の給断に係る情報を取得し、前記取得ステップにおいて取得した印刷装置の電源の給断に係る情報に基づいて、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定するステップを有することを特徴とする。 In the printing method according to the present invention, in the obtaining step, information relating to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus is obtained, and based on the information relating to the power supply interruption of the printing apparatus obtained in the obtaining step, the client apparatus Has a step of determining an available printing device.
　本発明では、印刷装置夫々の電源の給断に係る情報を取得し、取得した印刷装置の電源の給断に係る情報に基づいて、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, information related to the power supply interruption of each printing apparatus is acquired, and based on the acquired information related to the power supply interruption of the printing apparatus, a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus is determined.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記クライアント装置による請求を受信した時間に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定するステップを有することを特徴とする。 The printing method according to the present invention includes a step of determining a printing device that can be used by the client device based on a time when the request from the client device is received.
　本発明では、クライアント装置による請求を受信した時間に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, a printing device that can be used by the client device is determined based on the time when the request from the client device is received.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記クライアント装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定するステップを有することを特徴とする。 The printing method according to the present invention includes a step of determining a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus based on information on the position of the client apparatus.
　本発明では、クライアント装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, a printing apparatus that can be used by the client apparatus is determined based on information related to the position of the client apparatus.
　本発明に係る印刷方法は、前記送信ステップは、前記クライアント装置にて、前記使用可能な印刷装置ごとに通信が可能であるか否かを判定する判定ステップと、前記判定ステップにおいて通信が可能であると判定された印刷装置の何れか一つに原稿データを送信するステップとを有することを特徴とする。 In the printing method according to the present invention, in the transmission step, the client device can determine whether communication is possible for each of the usable printing devices, and communication is possible in the determination step. And a step of transmitting document data to any one of the printing apparatuses determined to be present.
　本発明では、クライアント装置にて、前記使用可能な印刷装置ごとに通信が可能であるか否かを判定する。通信が可能であると判定された印刷装置の何れか一つに原稿データを送信する。 In the present invention, the client apparatus determines whether communication is possible for each of the usable printing apparatuses. The document data is transmitted to any one of the printing apparatuses determined to be able to communicate.
　本発明に係るコンピュータプログラムは、コンピュータを、所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する取得手段、及び前記取得手段にて取得した前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段として機能させることを特徴とする。 The computer program according to the present invention, based on information on the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit that acquires the information on the plurality of printing devices at a predetermined time, and the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit, It is made to function as a determination means which determines the printing apparatus which can be used among these printing apparatuses.
　本発明では、所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得し、取得手段にて取得した複数の印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、複数の印刷装置の内、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する。 In the present invention, a printing device that can be used among a plurality of printing devices based on the information related to the plurality of printing devices that is obtained at a predetermined time and that acquires information related to the plurality of printing devices. To decide.
　本発明に係る記録媒体は、前述の発明のコンピュータプログラムを記録してあることを特徴とする。 The recording medium according to the present invention is characterized in that the computer program of the above-described invention is recorded.
　本発明では、前記記録媒体に前述のコンピュータプログラムを記録する。コンピュータが前記記録媒体からコンピュータプログラムを読み出して、前述の印刷システム及び印刷方法がコンピュータにより実現される。 In the present invention, the aforementioned computer program is recorded on the recording medium. The computer reads the computer program from the recording medium, and the above printing system and printing method are realized by the computer.
　本発明によれば、複数の印刷装置から使用可能な印刷装置を選択する時間を節約することができ、プリンタドライバを備えないクライアント装置でも、実行すべき印刷処理に最適な印刷装置を簡単で迅速に選択して印刷処理を実行させることができる。また、印刷システムにおいて、ビジー、紙詰まり、トナー切れなどの異常状態における印刷装置の使用を簡単に避けることができる。さらに、印刷装置へのジョブの過度の集中を防止することができ、印刷システムでの使い勝手の向上を果たすことができる。 According to the present invention, it is possible to save time for selecting a usable printing device from a plurality of printing devices, and a client device that does not include a printer driver can easily and quickly select a printing device that is optimal for a printing process to be executed. It is possible to execute the printing process by selecting. Further, in the printing system, the use of the printing apparatus in an abnormal state such as busy, paper jam, or out of toner can be easily avoided. Furthermore, excessive concentration of jobs on the printing apparatus can be prevented, and usability in the printing system can be improved.
実施の形態１に係る印刷システムの全体構成を示す模式図である。1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 実施の形態１に係る印刷システムの要部の構成を示すブロック図である。1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. ＰＣにおける処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in PC. サーバにおけるプリンタ情報送信の処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in a server. サーバに蓄積されるプリンタ設定テーブルの一例を示す図である。6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer setting table stored in a server. FIG. ＰＣに通知するプリンタ情報の一例を示す図である。FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of printer information notified to a PC. 実施の形態２に係る印刷システムの要部の構成を示すブロック図である。6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 2. FIG. サーバにおけるプリンタ情報の取得処理の手順を示すフローチャートである。6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in a server. サーバにて取得したプリンタ情報の一例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows an example of the printer information acquired with the server. サーバがプリンタ情報に基づいて処理する結果の一例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows an example of the result which a server processes based on printer information. サーバに蓄積されたプリンタ決定テーブルの一例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows an example of the printer determination table accumulate | stored in the server. サーバにおけるプリンタ情報取得処理の手順を示すフローチャートである。6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in the server. プリンタにおける自身のプリンタ情報を送信する処理の手順を示すフローチャートである。6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for transmitting own printer information in a printer. 実施の形態３に係るサーバにおけるプリンタ情報送信の処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in the server according to the third embodiment. 実施の形態４に係る印刷システムの要部の構成を示すブロック図である。FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to a fourth embodiment. サーバにより提供されるウェブページの例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example of the web page provided by the server. プリンタにより提供されるウェブページの例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example of the web page provided by the printer. 実施の形態５に係る印刷システムにおけるサーバの構成の一例を示すブロック図である。FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a server configuration in a printing system according to a fifth embodiment.
　以下、実施の形態に係る印刷システムを示す図面に基づいて本発明を詳述する。 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing a printing system according to an embodiment.
（実施の形態１）
　図１は実施の形態１に係る印刷システム１の全体構成を示す模式図である。図において、１は印刷システムであり、印刷システム１は、クライアント装置であるＰＣ１０及び携帯電話機４０と、サーバ装置であるサーバ２０と、印刷装置であるプリンタ３１～プリンタ３６とを備える。ＰＣ１０と、サーバ２０と、プリンタ３１～プリンタ３６とは、例えば有線又は無線ＬＡＮのネットワーク２によって接続されている。携帯電話機４０は、例えばワイヤレスアクセスポイント３によってネットワーク２に接続されている。以下、クライアント装置について、ＰＣ１０を例として説明し、携帯電話４０はＰＣ１０と同様に動作されるため、説明を省略する。 (Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printing system. The printing system 1 includes a PC 10 and a mobile phone 40 that are client apparatuses, a server 20 that is a server apparatus, and printers 31 to 36 that are printing apparatuses. The PC 10, the server 20, and the printers 31 to 36 are connected by a wired or wireless LAN network 2, for example. The mobile phone 40 is connected to the network 2 by, for example, a wireless access point 3. Hereinafter, the client device will be described by taking the PC 10 as an example, and the mobile phone 40 is operated in the same manner as the PC 10, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
　図２は実施の形態１に係る印刷システム１の要部の構成を示すブロック図である。図２に示すように、ＰＣ１０は、ＣＰＵ１０１と、ＲＯＭ１０２と、ＲＡＭ１０３とを備える。ＲＯＭ１０２にはＣＰＵ１０１が実行する制御プログラムが格納されている。ＲＡＭ１０３は制御プログラムの実行中に発生するデータを一時的に記憶することが可能である。ＣＰＵ１０１は、ＲＯＭ１０２に予め格納されている制御プログラムをＲＡＭ１０３上にロードして実行することによって、バスＮを介してＰＣ１０全体の動作の制御を行う。 FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the PC 10 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103. The ROM 102 stores a control program executed by the CPU 101. The RAM 103 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program. The CPU 101 controls the operation of the entire PC 10 via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 102 onto the RAM 103 and executing it.
　また、ＰＣ１０は、原稿データを作成する原稿作成部１０４と、サーバ２０にプリンタ情報の取得を請求し、サーバ２０からプリンタ情報を受信するプリンタ情報請求部１０５と、受信したプリンタ情報に基づいて、ユーザの指示に応じてプリンタ情報に係るプリンタからいずれか一つを選択するプリンタ選択部１０６と、選択されたプリンタに原稿データを送信する原稿データ送信部１０７と、サーバ２０との通信を行うサーバＩ／Ｆ１０８と、プリンタ３１～３６との通信を行うプリンタＩ／Ｆ１０９とをさらに備える。 Further, the PC 10 requests the acquisition of printer information from the document creating unit 104 that creates document data, the printer information requesting unit 105 that receives the printer information from the server 20, and the received printer information. A server that communicates with the server 20, a printer selection unit 106 that selects any one of the printers according to the printer information, a document data transmission unit 107 that transmits document data to the selected printer, and a server 20 It further includes an I / F 108 and a printer I / F 109 that communicates with the printers 31 to 36.
　原稿作成部１０４は、例えば、ＭＳ－Ｗｏｒｄ等のアプリケーションであり、図示しないＰＣ操作部からの指示に応じて原稿データを作成するようにしてある。 The document creation unit 104 is an application such as MS-Word, for example, and creates document data in response to an instruction from a PC operation unit (not shown).
　プリンタ情報請求部１０５は、例えば、ＰＣ１０上で動作するアプリケーションであり、サーバＩ／Ｆ１０８を介してサーバ２０にプリンタ３１～プリンタ３６に係るプリンタ情報の取得請求を送信し、同時に、ユーザのログオン名などのユーザ情報も合わせて送信し、サーバ２０からユーザが使用可能なプリンタに係る情報（図６を参照）を受信するようにしてある。 The printer information requesting unit 105 is, for example, an application that runs on the PC 10 and transmits an acquisition request for printer information related to the printers 31 to 36 to the server 20 via the server I / F 108, and at the same time, the user's logon name User information such as the above information is also transmitted, and information related to the printer usable by the user (see FIG. 6) is received from the server 20.
　プリンタ選択部１０６は、例えば、ＰＣ１０上で動作するアプリケーションであり、サーバ２０からユーザが使用可能なプリンタに係る情報を受信した場合、例えば、図示しないＰＣ表示部にてプリンタ選択画面を表示して、ユーザにプリンタの選択を提示し、ユーザの指示に応じて、使用可能なプリンタから使用しようとするプリンタを選択するようにしてある。 The printer selection unit 106 is an application that runs on the PC 10, for example. When the printer selection unit 106 receives information about a printer that can be used by the user from the server 20, for example, a printer selection screen is displayed on a PC display unit (not shown). The printer selection is presented to the user, and the printer to be used is selected from the available printers according to the user's instruction.
　原稿データ送信部１０７は、例えば、ＰＣ１０上で動作するアプリケーションであり、プリンタＩ／Ｆ１０９を介して、原稿作成部１０４にて作成した原稿データをプリンタ選択部１０６にて選択したプリンタに送信するようにしてある。 The document data transmission unit 107 is an application that operates on the PC 10, for example, and transmits the document data created by the document creation unit 104 to the printer selected by the printer selection unit 106 via the printer I / F 109. It is.
　サーバ２０はＣＰＵ２０１と、ＲＯＭ２０２と、ＲＡＭ２０３とを備える。ＲＯＭ２０２にはＣＰＵ２０１が実行する制御プログラムが格納されている。ＲＡＭ２０３は制御プログラムの実行中に発生するデータを一時的に記憶することが可能である。ＣＰＵ２０１は、ＲＯＭ２０２に予め格納されている制御プログラムをＲＡＭ２０３上にロードして実行することによって、バスＮを介してサーバ２０全体の動作の制御を行う。 The server 20 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, and a RAM 203. The ROM 202 stores a control program executed by the CPU 201. The RAM 203 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program. The CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire server 20 via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 202 onto the RAM 203 and executing it.
　サーバ２０は、プリンタに係る情報を蓄積する情報蓄積部２０４と、使用可能なプリンタを決定するプリンタ決定部２０５と、決定された使用可能なプリンタに係る情報をＰＣ１０に通知するプリンタ情報通知部２０６と、ＰＣ１０との通信を行うＰＣ　Ｉ／Ｆ２０７とをさらに備える。 The server 20 includes an information storage unit 204 that stores information related to the printer, a printer determination unit 205 that determines a usable printer, and a printer information notification unit 206 that notifies the PC 10 of information related to the determined usable printer. And a PC I / F 207 for communicating with the PC 10.
　情報蓄積部２０４は、例えば、ＨＤＤであり、各ユーザが使用可能なプリンタを時間帯ごとに設定したプリンタ設定情報テーブル（図５を参照）及びプリンタ３１～３６夫々のＩＰアドレスなどのプリンタ情報を蓄積しておくものである。 The information storage unit 204 is, for example, an HDD, and stores printer information such as a printer setting information table (see FIG. 5) in which printers that can be used by each user are set for each time zone and IP addresses of the printers 31 to 36. It is to be accumulated.
プリンタ決定部２０５は、ＰＣ１０からのプリンタ情報の取得請求に応じて、該取得請求とともに受信したユーザ情報に基づいて、取得請求に係るユーザを識別し、受信の時間に基づいて、情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積しているプリンタ設定情報テーブルに従って、プリンタ３１～３６の内、識別されたユーザが使用可能なプリンタを決定するようにしてある。 In response to the printer information acquisition request from the PC 10, the printer determination unit 205 identifies the user related to the acquisition request based on the user information received together with the acquisition request, and the information storage unit 204 based on the reception time. According to the printer setting information table stored in the table, a printer usable by the identified user among the printers 31 to 36 is determined.
　プリンタ情報通知部２０６は、ＰＣ　Ｉ／Ｆ２０７を介して、プリンタ決定部２０５により決定された、ユーザが使用可能なプリンタに係る情報（図６を参照）をプリンタ情報としてＰＣ１０に通知するようにしてある。 The printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of information related to the printer usable by the user (see FIG. 6) determined by the printer determination unit 205 via the PC I / F 207 as printer information. is there.
　プリンタ３１～プリンタ３６夫々は、プリンタドライバを経由することなく、ＰＣ１０、携帯電話４０などの端末装置から送信された原稿データを直接印刷（ダイレクトプリント）するプリンタであり、ＣＰＵ３０１と、ＲＯＭ３０２と、ＲＡＭ３０３とを備える。ＲＯＭ３０２にはＣＰＵ３０１が実行する制御プログラムが格納されている。ＲＡＭ３０３は制御プログラムの実行中に発生するデータを一時的に記憶することが可能である。ＣＰＵ３０１は、ＲＯＭ３０２に予め格納されている制御プログラムをＲＡＭ３０３上にロードして実行することによって、バスＮを介してプリンタ全体の動作の制御を行う。 Each of the printers 31 to 36 is a printer that directly prints (direct prints) document data transmitted from a terminal device such as the PC 10 or the mobile phone 40 without going through a printer driver. The CPU 301, the ROM 302, and the RAM 303 With. The ROM 302 stores a control program executed by the CPU 301. The RAM 303 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program. The CPU 301 controls the operation of the entire printer via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 302 onto the RAM 303 and executing it.
　プリンタ３１～プリンタ３６夫々は、ＰＣ１０との通信を行うＰＣ　Ｉ／Ｆ３０４と、ＰＣ１０からの原稿データを受信する原稿データ受信部３０５と、受信した原稿データに基づいて印刷する印刷部３０６とをさらに備える。 Each of the printers 31 to 36 further includes a PC I / F 304 that communicates with the PC 10, a document data receiving unit 305 that receives document data from the PC 10, and a printing unit 306 that prints based on the received document data. Prepare.
　原稿データ受信部３０５は、ＰＣ　Ｉ／Ｆ３０４を介して、ＰＣ１０からの原稿データを受信するようにしてある。印刷部３０６は原稿データ受信部３０５にて受信した原稿データに基づいて印刷するようにしてある。 The document data receiving unit 305 is configured to receive document data from the PC 10 via the PC I / F 304. The printing unit 306 prints based on the document data received by the document data receiving unit 305.
　図３はＰＣ１０における処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。図３に示すように、ＰＣ１０において、ＣＰＵ１０１の指示に従って、原稿作成部１０４は原稿データを作成する（ステップＳ３１）。 FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the PC 10. As shown in FIG. 3, in the PC 10, the document creation unit 104 creates document data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101 (step S31).
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、ユーザから印刷指示を受け付けたか否かを判定し（ステップＳ３２）、ユーザから印刷指示を受け付けていないと判定した場合（ステップＳ３２：ＮＯ）、印刷指示を受け付けるまで斯かる判定を繰り返す。 The CPU 101 determines whether or not a print instruction has been received from the user (step S32). When it is determined that the print instruction has not been received from the user (step S32: NO), the CPU 101 repeats such determination until the print instruction is received.
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、ユーザから印刷指示を受け付けたと判定した場合（ステップＳ３２：ＹＥＳ）、プリンタ情報請求部１０５にプリンタ情報の取得請求を指示する。プリンタ情報請求部１０５はＣＰＵ１０１の指示に従って、サーバＩ／Ｆ１０８を介して、サーバ２０にプリンタ情報の取得請求を送信し、同時に、ユーザ情報としてユーザのユーザ名をも合わせて送信する（ステップＳ３３）。 If the CPU 101 determines that a print instruction has been received from the user (step S32: YES), it instructs the printer information requesting unit 105 to request acquisition of printer information. The printer information request unit 105 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the server 20 via the server I / F 108 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, and simultaneously transmits the user name of the user as user information (step S33). .
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、サーバ２０からプリンタ情報を受信したか否かを判定し（ステップＳ３４）、サーバ２０からプリンタ情報を受信していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ３４：ＮＯ）、プリンタ情報を受信するまで斯かる判定を繰り返す。 The CPU 101 determines whether or not the printer information has been received from the server 20 (step S34). If the CPU 101 determines that the printer information has not been received from the server 20 (step S34: NO), the CPU 101 does not receive the printer information. Repeat this determination.
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、サーバ２０からプリンタ情報を受信したと判定した場合（ステップＳ３４：ＹＥＳ）、サーバ２０から受信したプリンタ情報に係るプリンタとの通信を試験的に行う（ステップＳ３５）。例えば、サーバ２０からプリンタ情報としてプリンタのＩＰアドレスを受信した場合、ＣＰＵ１０１は各ＩＰアドレスにＰＩＮＧコマンドを送信する。 When it is determined that the printer information has been received from the server 20 (step S34: YES), the CPU 101 performs a test communication with the printer related to the printer information received from the server 20 (step S35). For example, when the printer IP address is received from the server 20 as printer information, the CPU 101 transmits a PING command to each IP address.
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、プリンタごとに通信が可能であるか否かを判定し、通信が可能であると判定したプリンタを使用可能なプリンタとして例えばリストを生成する（ステップＳ３６）。 The CPU 101 determines whether or not communication is possible for each printer, and generates, for example, a list as printers that can use the printer that has determined that communication is possible (step S36).
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、プリンタ選択部１０６にプリンタの選択を指示する。プリンタ選択部１０６は、ＣＰＵ１０１の指示に従って、ＰＣの表示部にてユーザにプリンタの選択画面を提示し、例えばステップＳ３６において生成したリストに基づいて、使用可能なプリンタを一覧表示し、ユーザの指示に応じて、複数の使用可能なプリンタから一つを選択する（ステップＳ３７）。 The CPU 101 instructs the printer selection unit 106 to select a printer. The printer selection unit 106 presents a printer selection screen to the user on the display unit of the PC according to the instruction of the CPU 101, displays a list of available printers based on the list generated in step S36, for example, and the user's instruction Accordingly, one of a plurality of usable printers is selected (step S37).
　ＣＰＵ１０１は、原稿データ送信部１０７に原稿データの送信を指示する。原稿データ送信部１０７はＣＰＵ１０１の指示に従って、ステップＳ３７において選択されたプリンタに、原稿データを送信し（ステップＳ３８）、処理を終了する。 The CPU 101 instructs the document data transmission unit 107 to transmit document data. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, the document data transmission unit 107 transmits document data to the printer selected in step S37 (step S38), and ends the process.
　ここで、サーバ２０により決定された使用可能なプリンタとの通信を試験的に行って、これらのプリンタからＰＣ１０と実際に通信可能なプリンタを決定して、ユーザに表示する例を説明したが、これに限らず、このような通信を行わずに、サーバ２０により決定された使用可能なプリンタをユーザに表示するとしてもよい。 Here, an example has been described in which communication with the usable printer determined by the server 20 is performed on a trial basis, printers that can actually communicate with the PC 10 are determined from these printers, and displayed to the user. The present invention is not limited to this, and usable printers determined by the server 20 may be displayed to the user without performing such communication.
　図４はサーバ２０におけるプリンタ情報送信の処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。図４に示すように、サーバ２０において、ＣＰＵ２０１は、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信したか否かを判定し（ステップＳ４１）、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ４１：ＮＯ）、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信するまで斯かる判定を繰り返す。 FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in the server 20. As shown in FIG. 4, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether a printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S <b> 41), and determines that no printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10. If so (step S41: NO), such determination is repeated until a printer information acquisition request is received from the PC 10.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信したと判定した場合（ステップＳ４１：ＹＥＳ）、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信した時間を確認し（ステップＳ４２）、プリンタ決定部２０５に使用可能なプリンタの決定を指示する。 If the CPU 201 determines that the printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S41: YES), the CPU 201 checks the time when the printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S42), and can be used for the printer determination unit 205. To determine the correct printer.
　プリンタ決定部２０５は、ＣＰＵ２０１の指示に従って、取得請求とともに受信したユーザ名に基づいて取得請求に係るユーザを識別し、情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積されているプリンタ設定テーブルに従って、ユーザ名及びステップＳ４２において確認した受信時間に基づいて、識別されたユーザが使用可能なプリンタを決定する（ステップＳ４３）。 The printer determination unit 205 identifies the user related to the acquisition request based on the user name received together with the acquisition request according to the instruction of the CPU 201, and the user name and the user name in step S <b> 42 according to the printer setting table stored in the information storage unit 204. Based on the confirmed reception time, a printer that can be used by the identified user is determined (step S43).
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、プリンタ情報通知部２０６にプリンタ情報の通知を指示する。プリンタ情報通知部２０６は、ＣＰＵ２０１の指示に従って、ＰＣ　ＩＦ２０７を介して、ＰＣ１０にユーザが使用可能なプリンタに係る情報を通知し（ステップＳ４４）、処理を終了する。 The CPU 201 instructs the printer information notification unit 206 to notify the printer information. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of information related to a printer that can be used by the user via the PC IF 207 (step S44), and ends the process.
　図５はサーバ２０に蓄積されるプリンタ設定テーブルの一例を示す図である。このようなプリンタ設定テーブルは、情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積されている。図５に示すように、プリンタ設定テーブルには、時間帯ごとに、各ユーザが使用可能なプリンタが設定されている。具体的に、プリンタ設定テーブルには、８：００～１０：００、１０：００～１２：００、１２：００～１４：００、１４：００～１７：００、１７：００以降という５つの時間帯ごとに、ユーザＡ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ夫々が使用可能なプリンタのプリンタ名が書き込まれている。 FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer setting table stored in the server 20. Such a printer setting table is stored in the information storage unit 204. As shown in FIG. 5, printers that can be used by each user are set in the printer setting table for each time period. Specifically, the printer setting table includes five times of 8:00 to 10:00, 10:00 to 12:00, 12:00 to 14:00, 14:00 to 17:00, and after 17:00. For each band, printer names of printers that can be used by the users A, B, C, and D are written.
　図６はＰＣ１０に通知するプリンタ情報の一例を示す図である。図６に示すように、プリンタ情報通知部２０６は、ユーザが使用可能プリンタのプリンタ名及びＩＰアドレスをプリンタ情報としてＰＣ１０に通知する。 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of printer information notified to the PC 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of the printer name and IP address of the printer that can be used by the user as printer information.
　本実施の形態に係る印刷システム１では、ユーザによる印刷指示を受け付けた場合、ＰＣ１０のプリンタ情報請求部１０５にて、サーバ２０にプリンタ情報の取得請求及びユーザ名などのユーザ情報を送信する。サーバ２０において、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信した場合、取得請求の受信時間を確認し、プリンタ決定部２０５にて、受信したユーザ情報に基づいて取得請求に係るユーザを識別し、予め蓄積されているプリンタ設定テーブルに従って、確認した受信時間及び受信したユーザ名に対応するプリンタを、識別されたユーザが使用可能なプリンタとして決定し、プリンタ情報通知部２０６にて、決定されたプリンタのプリンタ名及びＩＰアドレスを、プリンタ情報としてＰＣ１０に通知する。ＰＣ１０において、サーバ２０からプリンタ情報を受信した場合、プリンタ選択部１０６にて、ユーザによる指示に応じて、通知された使用可能なプリンタから一つを選択し、原稿データ送信部１０７にて、選択されたプリンタに原稿データを送信する。 In the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when a printing instruction is received from the user, the printer information requesting unit 105 of the PC 10 transmits the printer information acquisition request and user information such as a user name to the server 20. When the server 20 receives a request for acquisition of printer information from the PC 10, the reception time of the acquisition request is confirmed, and the printer determination unit 205 identifies the user related to the acquisition request based on the received user information and stores it in advance. The printer corresponding to the confirmed reception time and received user name is determined as a printer that can be used by the identified user in accordance with the determined printer setting table, and the printer of the printer determined by the printer information notification unit 206 is determined. The name and IP address are notified to the PC 10 as printer information. When the printer information is received from the server 20 in the PC 10, the printer selection unit 106 selects one of the notified usable printers according to the instruction from the user, and the document data transmission unit 107 selects the selected printer. The original data is transmitted to the designated printer.
　以下、ユーザＡの場合を例として、実施の形態１に係る印刷システム１の動作について詳しく説明する。ＰＣ１０において、ユーザＡによる印刷指示を受け付けた場合、サーバ２０にプリンタ情報の取得請求及びユーザ名Ａが送信される。サーバ２０において、例えば、９：００にＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求が受信され、受信時間が９：００と確認され、受信したユーザ名Ａに基づいて、取得請求に係るユーザがユーザＡと識別され、図５に示すプリンタ設定テーブルに従って、受信時間が属する時間帯８：００～１０：００及びユーザ名Ａに対応するプリンタ３１～プリンタ３３がユーザＡが使用可能なプリンタと決定され、図６に示すプリンタ３１～プリンタ３３のプリンタ名及びＩＰアドレスが、ＰＣ１０に通知される。ＰＣ１０において、ユーザＡにより使用可能なプリンタ３１、プリンタ３２、プリンタ３３から何れか一つが選択され、原稿データがユーザＡにより選択されたプリンタに送信される。 Hereinafter, the operation of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail by taking the case of the user A as an example. When the PC 10 accepts a print instruction from the user A, a request for obtaining printer information and the user name A are transmitted to the server 20. In the server 20, for example, the printer information acquisition request is received from the PC 10 at 9:00, the reception time is confirmed to be 9:00, and the user according to the acquisition request is identified as the user A based on the received user name A. Then, according to the printer setting table shown in FIG. 5, the time zone to which the reception time belongs 8:00 to 10:00 and the printers 31 to 33 corresponding to the user name A are determined as printers that can be used by the user A, and FIG. The printer names and IP addresses of the printers 31 to 33 shown in FIG. In the PC 10, any one of the printer 31, the printer 32, and the printer 33 that can be used by the user A is selected, and the document data is transmitted to the printer selected by the user A.
　実施の形態１では、ＰＣ１０からのプリンタ情報請求を受信した時間及びユーザ名に基づいて、サーバ２０に蓄積しておくプリンタ設定テーブルに従って、ユーザが使用可能なプリンタを簡単で迅速に選択して印刷処理を行うことができる。 In the first embodiment, based on the time when the printer information request is received from the PC 10 and the user name, the printer that can be used by the user can be easily and quickly selected and printed according to the printer setting table stored in the server 20. Processing can be performed.
（実施の形態２）
　実施の形態２は、実施の形態１においてサーバ２０が所定の時間ごとにプリンタ設定テーブルを更新する形態である。なお、以降の説明において、実施の形態１と同様の構成については、実施の形態１を参照するものとし、その説明を省略する。なお、実施の形態１と同様の構成については実施の形態１と同じ符号を付している。 (Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, the server 20 in the first embodiment updates the printer setting table every predetermined time. In the following description, for the same configuration as in the first embodiment, the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
　図７は実施の形態２に係る印刷システム１の要部の構成を示すブロック図である。
　図７に示すように、実施の形態２に係る印刷システム１では、サーバ２０は、所定の時間ごとにプリンタ３１～３６夫々の情報を取得するプリンタ情報取得部２０８と、プリンタ３１～３６との通信を行うプリンタＩ／Ｆ２０９とをさらに備え、プリンタ３１～３６夫々は、ユーザを識別するユーザ識別部３０７と、自身のプリンタ情報を記憶する情報記憶部３０８と、プリンタ情報をサーバ２０に送信するプリンタ情報送信部３０９と、サーバＩ／Ｆ３１０とを備える。 FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment, the server 20 includes a printer information acquisition unit 208 that acquires information about each of the printers 31 to 36 at predetermined time intervals, and a printer 31 to 36. The printer 31 further includes a printer I / F 209 that performs communication. Each of the printers 31 to 36 transmits a user identification unit 307 that identifies a user, an information storage unit 308 that stores its own printer information, and printer information to the server 20. A printer information transmission unit 309 and a server I / F 310 are provided.
　サーバ２０において、プリンタ情報取得部２０８は、プリンタＩ／Ｆ２０９を介して、所定の時間ごとにプリンタ３１～３６夫々にプリンタ情報の取得請求を送信し、プリンタ３１～３６からのプリンタ情報を受信した場合、該プリンタ情報を情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積するようにしてある。 In the server 20, the printer information acquisition unit 208 transmits a printer information acquisition request to each of the printers 31 to 36 and receives the printer information from the printers 31 to 36 via the printer I / F 209 every predetermined time. In this case, the printer information is stored in the information storage unit 204.
　プリンタ３１～３６夫々において、ユーザ識別部３０７は、プリンタ上で動作するアプリケーションであり、ＰＣ１０にて原稿データを送信したユーザを識別するようにしてあり、情報記憶部３０８は、自身が印刷した枚数、識別されたユーザごとに印刷した枚数、自身の使用状態に係る情報などのプリンタ情報を記憶するものであり、プリンタ情報送信部３０９は、サーバ２０からのプリンタ情報の取得請求に応じて、サーバＩ／Ｆ３１０を介して、情報記憶部３０８に記憶されているプリンタ情報を送信するようにしてある。 In each of the printers 31 to 36, the user identification unit 307 is an application that operates on the printer, and identifies the user who transmitted the original data by the PC 10, and the information storage unit 308 displays the number of sheets printed by itself. Printer information such as the number of sheets printed for each identified user and information relating to the usage status of the user is stored. The printer information transmission unit 309 receives the printer information from the server 20 in response to a request for acquisition of the printer information. The printer information stored in the information storage unit 308 is transmitted via the I / F 310.
　図８はサーバ２０におけるプリンタ情報の取得処理の手順を示すフローチャートである。図８に示すように、サーバ２０において、ＣＰＵ２０１は、前回のプリンタ情報受信から、所定の時間が経過した否かを判定する（ステップＳ８１）。ここで、所定の時間は必要に応じて任意に設定される。 FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in the server 20. As shown in FIG. 8, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous printer information was received (step S81). Here, the predetermined time is arbitrarily set as necessary.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、所定の時間が経過していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ８１：ＮＯ）、所定の時間が経過するまで斯かる判定を繰り返し、所定の時間を経過したと判定した場合（ステップＳ８１：ＹＥＳ）、プリンタ情報取得部２０８に取得請求の送信を指示する。プリンタ情報取得部２０８はＣＰＵ２０１の指示に従って、プリンタ３１～３６にプリンタ情報の取得請求を送信する（ステップＳ８２）。 If the CPU 201 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S81: NO), the CPU 201 repeats such determination until the predetermined time elapses, and determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S81: YES). And instructing the printer information acquisition unit 208 to transmit an acquisition request. The printer information acquisition unit 208 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the printers 31 to 36 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 (step S82).
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、プリンタ３１～３６からプリンタ情報を受信したか否かを判定し（ステップＳ８３）、プリンタ３１～３６からプリンタ情報を受信していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ８３：ＮＯ）、プリンタ３１～３６からプリンタ情報を受信するまで斯かる判定を繰り返す。 The CPU 201 determines whether or not printer information has been received from the printers 31 to 36 (step S83). If it is determined that printer information has not been received from the printers 31 to 36 (step S83: NO), the printer 31 to Such determination is repeated until printer information is received from 36.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、プリンタ３１～３６からプリンタ情報を受信したと判定した場合（ステップＳ８３：ＹＥＳ）、受信したプリンタ情報を情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積する（ステップＳ８４）。 When the CPU 201 determines that the printer information has been received from the printers 31 to 36 (step S83: YES), the CPU 201 stores the received printer information in the information storage unit 204 (step S84).
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けたか否かを判定し（ステップＳ８５）、処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けていないと判定した場合（ステップＳ８５：ＮＯ）、処理をステップＳ８１に戻す。処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けたと判定した場合（ステップＳ８５：ＹＥＳ）、処理を終止する。 The CPU 201 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S85). If the CPU 201 determines that an instruction to stop the process has not been received (step S85: NO), the process proceeds to step S81. return. If it is determined that an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S85: YES), the process is terminated.
　プリンタ情報取得部２０８にて取得されるプリンタ情報として、ユーザ及びプリンタ夫々が印刷した枚数が挙げられる。図９はサーバにて取得したプリンタ情報の一例を示す図である。図９に示すテーブルには、プリンタごとに各ユーザが印刷した枚数が書き込んである。 Printer information acquired by the printer information acquisition unit 208 includes the number of sheets printed by the user and the printer. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of printer information acquired by the server. In the table shown in FIG. 9, the number printed by each user is written for each printer.
　図１０はサーバ２０がプリンタ情報に基づいて処理する結果の一例を示す図である。図１０において、左図は各ユーザが印刷した枚数及び枚数に応じて付ける順位を示しており、右図は各プリンタが印刷した枚数及び枚数に応じて付ける順位を示している。図９に示すように、ユーザＡ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ夫々が印刷した枚数は夫々に３５１１枚、３６１５枚、２６１９枚、３２３２枚であるため、印刷した枚数の多い順でユーザを順位付ける結果は、ユーザＢ、Ａ、Ｄ、Ｃとなる。一方で、プリンタ３１～３６夫々が印刷した枚数は、２７１７枚，１８６８枚，２３０１枚，２３９９枚、１６９８枚、１９９４枚であるため、印刷した枚数の多い順でプリンタを順位付ける結果は、プリンタ３１、プリンタ３４、プリンタ３３、プリンタ３６、プリンタ３２、プリンタ３５となる。 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result processed by the server 20 based on the printer information. In FIG. 10, the left figure shows the number of sheets printed by each user and the order of addition according to the number of sheets, and the right figure shows the number of sheets printed by each printer and the order of attachment according to the number of sheets. As shown in FIG. 9, the number of printed sheets by users A, B, C, and D is 3511, 3615, 2619, and 3232, respectively. As a result, the users are ranked in descending order of the number of printed sheets. Are users B, A, D, and C. On the other hand, the number of sheets printed by each of the printers 31 to 36 is 2717, 1868, 2301, 2399, 1698, and 1994. Therefore, the result of ranking the printers in descending order of the number of printed sheets is 31, printer 34, printer 33, printer 36, printer 32, and printer 35.
　図１１はサーバに蓄積されたプリンタ決定テーブルの一例を示す図である。図１１に示すように、プリンタ設定テーブルにおいて、図１０における順位が高い、即ち印刷した枚数が多いユーザに対して、図１０における順位が低い、即ち印刷した枚数が少ないプリンタと設定し、図１０における順位が低い、即ち印刷した枚数が少ないユーザに対して、図１０における順位が高い、即ち印刷した枚数が多いプリンタと設定している。これにより、サーバ２０がプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信した場合、プリンタ決定部２０５にて、印刷した枚数が多いユーザに対して印刷した枚数が少ないプリンタを決定し、印刷した枚数が少ないユーザに対して印刷した枚数が多いプリンタを決定する。 FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the printer determination table stored in the server. As shown in FIG. 11, in the printer setting table, a user having a high rank in FIG. 10, that is, a large number of printed sheets is set as a printer having a low rank in FIG. For a user with a low ranking in FIG. 10, that is, with a small number of printed sheets, a printer with a high ranking in FIG. As a result, when the server 20 receives a request for obtaining printer information, the printer determination unit 205 determines a printer with a small number of printed sheets for a user with a large number of printed sheets, and a user with a small number of printed sheets. Determine which printer has the most printed pages.
　また、プリンタ情報取得部２０８にて取得されるプリンタ情報として、プリンタの電源の給断に係る情報が挙げられる。図１２は、サーバ２０におけるプリンタ情報の取得処理の手順を示すフローチャートである。 Also, printer information acquired by the printer information acquisition unit 208 includes information related to the power supply of the printer. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer information acquisition processing in the server 20.
　図１２に示すように、サーバ２０において、ＣＰＵ２０１は、前回のプリンタ情報受信から、所定の時間が経過したか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１２１）、所定の時間が経過していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ１２１：ＮＯ）、所定の時間が経過するまで斯かる判定を繰り返す。 As shown in FIG. 12, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous reception of the printer information (step S121), and determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed. (Step S121: NO), such determination is repeated until a predetermined time elapses.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、所定の時間が経過したと判定した場合（ステップＳ１２１：ＹＥＳ）、プリンタ情報取得部２０８に取得請求の送信を指示する。プリンタ情報取得部２０８はＣＰＵ２０１の指示に従って、プリンタ３１～３６にプリンタ情報の取得請求を送信する（ステップＳ１２２）。 When the CPU 201 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S121: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the printer information acquisition unit 208 to transmit an acquisition request. The printer information acquisition unit 208 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the printers 31 to 36 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 (step S122).
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、プリンタ情報の受信を待ち（ステップＳ１２３）、ここで、待つ時間は必要に応じて任意に設定される。 The CPU 201 waits for reception of printer information (step S123), and the waiting time is arbitrarily set as necessary.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、各プリンタの電源の給断を判定する（ステップＳ１２４）。例えば、プリンタ３１～３６の内、そのプリンタ情報を受信していないプリンタは電源がＯＦＦとされると判定され、そのプリンタ情報を受信したプリンタは電源がＯＮとされると判定される。 The CPU 201 determines whether or not each printer is powered on (step S124). For example, among the printers 31 to 36, a printer that has not received the printer information is determined to be turned off, and a printer that has received the printer information is determined to be turned on.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、判定した各プリンタの電源の給断に係る情報を情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積する（ステップＳ１２５）。 The CPU 201 accumulates information relating to the determined power-off of each printer in the information accumulation unit 204 (step S125).
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けたか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１２６）、処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けていないと判定した場合（ステップＳ１２６：ＮＯ）、処理をステップＳ１２１に戻す。処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けたと判定した場合（ステップＳ１２６：ＹＥＳ）、処理を終了する。 The CPU 201 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S126). If the CPU 201 determines that an instruction to stop the process has not been received (step S126: NO), the process proceeds to step S121. return. If it is determined that an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S126: YES), the process ends.
　これにより、情報蓄積部２０４には、各プリンタの電源の給断に係るプリンタ情報が蓄積される。サーバ２０がＰＣ１０からのプリンタ情報取得請求を受信した場合、プリンタ決定部２０５にて利用可能なプリンタとして、電源がＯＮとされるプリンタの一部を決定し、プリンタ情報通知部２０６にてＰＣ１０に通知する。ＰＣ１０において、通知されたプリンタ情報に基づいて、ユーザにより使用可能なプリンタから何れか一つを選択し、原稿データがユーザにより選択されたプリンタに送信される。また、電源がＯＮとされるプリンタの数が少ない場合、プリンタ決定部２０５にて利用可能なプリンタとして、電源がＯＮとされるプリンタの全てを決定するようにしてもよい。 Thereby, the information storage unit 204 stores printer information related to the power supply of each printer. When the server 20 receives a printer information acquisition request from the PC 10, the printer determination unit 205 determines a part of the printer to be turned on as a printer that can be used by the printer determination unit 205. Notice. In the PC 10, based on the notified printer information, one of the printers that can be used by the user is selected, and the document data is transmitted to the printer selected by the user. Further, when the number of printers that are turned on is small, all printers that are turned on may be determined as printers that can be used by the printer determination unit 205.
　実施の形態２では、サーバ２０は所定の時間ごとにプリンタに係る情報を取得し、蓄積されるプリンタ情報を更新することにより、確実なプリンタ情報を取得し、簡単で迅速に最適なプリンタを選択して印刷処理を行うことができる。また、印刷した枚数に基づいて使用可能なプリンタを決定することにより、印刷装置へのジョブの過度の集中を防止することができる。さらに、プリンタの使用状態に基づいて使用可能なプリンタを決定することにより、異常状態におけるプリンタの使用を確実に避けることができる。 In the second embodiment, the server 20 acquires information related to the printer at predetermined time intervals, updates the accumulated printer information, acquires reliable printer information, and selects an optimum printer easily and quickly. Thus, the printing process can be performed. Also, by determining the printers that can be used based on the number of printed sheets, it is possible to prevent excessive concentration of jobs on the printing apparatus. Furthermore, by determining a printer that can be used based on the use state of the printer, it is possible to reliably avoid using the printer in an abnormal state.
　また、本実施の形態では、サーバ２０により所定の時間ごとにプリンタ３１～プリンタ３６にプリンタ情報の取得請求を送信する場合について説明したが、これに限らず、プリンタ３１～３６により、所定の時間ごとにサーバ２０に自身のプリンタ情報を送信するようにしてもよい。 Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the server 20 transmits the printer information acquisition request to the printers 31 to 36 every predetermined time has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each time, the printer information may be transmitted to the server 20.
　図１３はプリンタ３１～３６における自身のプリンタ情報を送信する処理の手順を示すフローチャートである。図１３に示すように、プリンタ３１～３６夫々において、ＣＰＵ３０１は、前回のプリンタ情報送信から、所定の時間が経過したか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１３１）、所定の時間が経過したと判定した場合（ステップＳ１３１：ＹＥＳ）、自身のステータスを例えばＨＴＴＰにてサーバ２０に通知する（ステップＳ１３３）。 FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transmitting the printer information of the printers 31 to 36. As shown in FIG. 13, in each of the printers 31 to 36, the CPU 301 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous transmission of printer information (step S131), and determines that the predetermined time has elapsed. In the case (step S131: YES), the server 20 is notified of its own status by, for example, HTTP (step S133).
　ＣＰＵ３０１は、所定の時間が経過していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ１３１：ＮＯ）、プリンタ自身のステータスに変化があったか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１３２）、プリンタ自身のステータスに変化がないと判定した場合（ステップＳ１３２：ＮＯ）、処理をステップＳ１３１に戻す。 If the CPU 301 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S131: NO), the CPU 301 determines whether the status of the printer itself has changed (step S132), and determines that the status of the printer itself has not changed. If so (step S132: NO), the process returns to step S131.
　ＣＰＵ３０１は、プリンタ自身のステータスに変更があったと判定した場合（ステップＳ１３２：ＹＥＳ）、自身のステータスを例えばＨＴＴＰにてサーバ２０に通知する（ステップＳ１３３）。 If the CPU 301 determines that the status of the printer itself has changed (step S132: YES), the CPU 301 notifies the server 20 of the status of the printer, for example, by HTTP (step S133).
　ＣＰＵ３０１は、処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けたか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１３４）、処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けていないと判定した場合（ステップＳ１３４：ＮＯ）、処理をステップＳ１３１に戻す。処理を停止する旨の指示を受け付けたと判定した場合（ステップＳ１３４：ＹＥＳ）、処理を終了する。 The CPU 301 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S134). If the CPU 301 determines that an instruction to stop the process has not been received (step S134: NO), the process proceeds to step S131. return. If it is determined that an instruction to stop the process has been received (step S134: YES), the process ends.
　サーバ２０はプリンタ３１～３６から送信されたプリンタに係る情報を受信すると、蓄積されるプリンタ情報を更新する。これにより、サーバ２０がファイアウォールの外にある場合であっても、プリンタのステータスを管理することができる。 When the server 20 receives information related to the printer transmitted from the printers 31 to 36, the server 20 updates the accumulated printer information. Thereby, even if the server 20 is outside the firewall, the printer status can be managed.
（実施の形態３）
　実施の形態３は、実施の形態１においてサーバ２０がＰＣ１０の位置に係る情報に基づいて使用可能なプリンタを決定する形態である。なお、以降の説明において、実施の形態１と同様の構成については、実施の形態１を参照するものとし、その説明を省略する。なお、実施の形態１と同様の構成については実施の形態１と同じ符号を付している。 (Embodiment 3)
In the third embodiment, the server 20 in the first embodiment determines a printer that can be used based on information related to the position of the PC 10. In the following description, for the same configuration as in the first embodiment, the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
　図１４は実施の形態３に係るサーバ２０におけるプリンタ情報送信の処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。図１４に示すように、サーバ２０において、ＣＰＵ２０１は、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信したか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１４１）、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信していないと判定した場合（ステップＳ１４１：ＮＯ）、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信するまで斯かる判定を繰り返す。 FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of printer information transmission in the server 20 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S <b> 141), and determines that no printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10. In such a case (step S141: NO), such determination is repeated until a printer information acquisition request is received from the PC 10.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信したと判定した場合（ステップＳ１４１：ＹＥＳ）、プリンタ情報の取得請求を送信したＰＣ１０のＩＰアドレスを検出し（ステップＳ１４２）、プリンタ決定部２０５に使用可能なプリンタの決定を指示する。 When the CPU 201 determines that the printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S141: YES), the CPU 201 detects the IP address of the PC 10 that has transmitted the printer information acquisition request (step S142), and uses it for the printer determination unit 205. Instruct the determination of possible printers.
　プリンタ決定部２０５は、ＣＰＵ２０１の指示に従って、情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積されているプリンタのＩＰアドレス及びステップＳ４２Ｂにおいて検出したＰＣ１０のＩＰアドレスに基づいて、ユーザが使用可能なプリンタを決定する（ステップＳ１４３）。例えば、ＩＰアドレスがＰＣ１０と同じプリンタをユーザが使用可能なプリンタとして決定する。 In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, the printer determination unit 205 determines a printer that can be used by the user based on the printer IP address stored in the information storage unit 204 and the IP address of the PC 10 detected in step S42B (step S143). ). For example, a printer having the same IP address as that of the PC 10 is determined as a printer usable by the user.
　ＣＰＵ２０１は、プリンタ情報通知部２０６にプリンタ情報の通知を指示する。プリンタ情報通知部２０６は、ＣＰＵ２０１の指示に従って、ＰＣ　ＩＦ２０７を介して、ＰＣ１０にユーザが使用可能なプリンタに係る情報を通知し（ステップＳ１４４）、処理を終了する。 The CPU 201 instructs the printer information notification unit 206 to notify the printer information. In accordance with the instruction from the CPU 201, the printer information notification unit 206 notifies the PC 10 of information related to the printer that can be used by the user via the PC IF 207 (step S144), and ends the process.
　本実施の形態では、ＩＰアドレスがクライアント装置と同じプリンタをユーザが使用可能なプリンタとすることにより、ユーザに最も近いプリンタを選択することができる。ここで、ＩＰアドレスに基づいてプリンタを決定することに限らず、予め各プリンタの実際の位置を情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積し、ＰＣ１０及び各プリンタの実際の位置に係る情報に基づいてプリンタを決定するとしてもよい。 In the present embodiment, by setting a printer having the same IP address as that of the client device as a printer that can be used by the user, a printer closest to the user can be selected. Here, not only the printer is determined based on the IP address, but the actual position of each printer is stored in the information storage unit 204 in advance, and the printer is determined based on the information relating to the actual position of the PC 10 and each printer. You may do that.
（実施の形態４）
　実施の形態４は、実施の形態１においてＰＣ１０がウェブページにより原稿データをプリンタ３１～３６の内のプリンタ３１に送信する形態である。なお、以降の説明において、実施の形態１と同様の構成については、実施の形態１を参照するものとし、その説明を省略する。なお、実施の形態１と同様の構成については実施の形態１と同じ符号を付している。 (Embodiment 4)
In the fourth embodiment, the PC 10 transmits the document data to the printer 31 among the printers 31 to 36 by the web page in the first embodiment. In the following description, for the same configuration as in the first embodiment, the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
　図１５は実施の形態４に係る印刷システム１の要部の構成を示すブロック図である。
　図１５に示すように、実施の形態４に係る印刷システム１では、ＰＣ１０はウェブブラウザ１１０を有して、ウェブブラウザ機能が実現可能であり、サーバ２０は、ウェブページが提供可能なウェブサーバ２１０を備え、プリンタ３１～３６夫々は、ウェブページが提供可能なウェブサーバ３１１を備える。 FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the fourth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 15, in the printing system 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the PC 10 has a web browser 110 and can implement a web browser function, and the server 20 includes a web server 210 that can provide a web page. The printers 31 to 36 each include a web server 311 that can provide web pages.
　サーバ２０は、例えば図８に示すように所定の時間ごとにプリンタ情報を取得するようにしてある。ここで、サーバ２０は、ネットワーク２内の検索可能なプリンタに対してダイレクトプリント対応且つウェブサーバを有するプリンタを検索し、例えばカラー機能、後処理機能などの機能に対応するＩＰアドレス、又はＵＲＬを含むプリンタ情報を取得する。サーバ２０は、ステップＳ８４において、取得したプリンタの機能に対応するＩＰアドレス、又はＵＲＬをプリンタ情報として情報蓄積部２０４に蓄積する。 The server 20 acquires printer information at predetermined time intervals as shown in FIG. 8, for example. Here, the server 20 searches for a printer capable of direct printing with a searchable printer in the network 2 and has a web server, and obtains an IP address or URL corresponding to a function such as a color function or a post-processing function. Get printer information. In step S84, the server 20 stores the acquired IP address or URL corresponding to the printer function in the information storage unit 204 as printer information.
　サーバ２０は、ＰＣ１０からプリンタ情報の取得請求を受信した場合、予め蓄積したプリンタの機能に対応するＩＰアドレスまたはＵＲＬをＰＣ１０に通知する。 When the server 20 receives a request for obtaining printer information from the PC 10, the server 20 notifies the PC 10 of an IP address or URL corresponding to the printer function stored in advance.
　図１６はサーバ２０により提供されるウェブページの例を示す図である。ＰＣ１０では、ウェブブラウザ１１０にサーバ２０から通知されたＩＰアドレスまたはＵＲＬ、例えば「http:directprintsearch/index」を入力すると、サーバ２０のウェブサーバ２１０から図１６に示す検索結果のウェブページを受信する。 FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page provided by the server 20. In the PC 10, when the IP address or URL notified from the server 20, for example, “http: directprintsearch / index” is input to the web browser 110, the search result web page shown in FIG. 16 is received from the web server 210 of the server 20.
　ＰＣ１０は、図１６に示すウェブページに対する操作によりプリンタを選択する。ここで、プリンタ３１を選択した例について説明する。図１７はプリンタ３１により提供されるウェブページの例を示す図である。ユーザがプリンタ３１を選択した場合、リンクによってＰＣ１０のウェブブラウザにプリンタ３１のＩＰアドレスの「１９２．１６８．１．１０」が入力され、プリンタ３１のウェブサーバ３１１により、図１７に示すウェブページを提供され、ＰＣ１０のウェブブラウザでは、ウェブサーバ３１１により提供される図１７に示すウェブページにジャンプする。ユーザは、ＰＣ１０にて当該ウェブページを操作し、印刷すべきファイルなどをプリンタ３１に送信することができる。 The PC 10 selects a printer by operating the web page shown in FIG. Here, an example in which the printer 31 is selected will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page provided by the printer 31. When the user selects the printer 31, the IP address “192.168.1.10” of the printer 31 is input to the web browser of the PC 10 by the link, and the web page shown in FIG. 17 is displayed by the web server 311 of the printer 31. The provided web browser of the PC 10 jumps to the web page shown in FIG. 17 provided by the web server 311. The user can operate the web page on the PC 10 and transmit a file to be printed to the printer 31.
　本実施の形態では、プリンタにより提供されたウェブページを操作することにより、使い慣れたウェブブラウザで原稿データを送信することができ、操作性を向上させることができる。 In this embodiment, by manipulating the web page provided by the printer, the manuscript data can be transmitted by a familiar web browser, and the operability can be improved.
（実施の形態５）
　印刷システム１は、動作を行うための各コンピュータプログラムを、ＣＤ－ＲＯＭ等の可搬型の記録媒体で提供することが可能であるように構成してもよい。外部装置からダウンロードすることも可能であるように構成してもよい。 (Embodiment 5)
The printing system 1 may be configured such that each computer program for performing the operation can be provided on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. You may comprise so that it can also download from an external device.
　例えば、図１８は実施の形態５に係る印刷システムにおけるサーバ２０の構成の一例を示す図であり、図１８に示すように、サーバ２０は記録媒体読取装置２１１をさらに備える。サーバ２０では、所定の時間ごとに、複数のプリンタに係る情報を取得し、取得した複数のプリンタに係る情報に基づいて、複数のプリンタの内、使用可能なプリンタを決定するプログラム等が記録された可搬型の記録媒体Ａを前記記録媒体読取装置２１１に挿入して、例えば、ＣＰＵ２０１がＲＯＭ２０２にこのプログラムをインストールする。かかるプログラムはＲＡＭ２０３にロードして実行される。これにより、本発明のサーバ装置として機能する。 For example, FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 20 in the printing system according to the fifth embodiment, and the server 20 further includes a recording medium reading device 211 as shown in FIG. The server 20 acquires information related to a plurality of printers at a predetermined time, and records a program for determining a usable printer among the plurality of printers based on the acquired information related to the plurality of printers. The portable recording medium A is inserted into the recording medium reader 211, and the CPU 201 installs the program in the ROM 202, for example. Such a program is loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. Thereby, it functions as a server device of the present invention.
　前記記録媒体としては、いわゆるプログラムメディアであっても良く、磁気テープ及びカセットテープ等のテープ系、フレキシブルディスク及びハードディスク等の磁気ディスク並びにＣＤ－ＲＯＭ／ＭＯ／ＭＤ／ＤＶＤ等の光ディスクのディスク系、ＩＣカード（メモリカードを含む）／光カード等のカード系、あるいはマスクＲＯＭ、ＥＰＲＯＭ、ＥＥＰＲＯＭ、フラッシュＲＯＭ等による半導体メモリを含めた固定的にプログラムコードを担持する媒体であっても良い。 The recording medium may be a so-called program medium, a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk and a hard disk, and a disk system of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD, It may be a medium carrying a fixed program code including a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card or a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM or the like.
　ネットワークからプログラムコードをダウンロードするように流動的にプログラムコードを担持する媒体であっても良い。なお、このように通信ネットワークからプログラムをダウンロードする場合には、そのダウンロード用のプログラムは予め本体装置に格納しておくか、あるいは別な記録媒体からインストールされるものであっても良い。なお、本発明は、前記プログラムコードが電子的な伝送で具現化された、搬送波に埋め込まれたコンピュータデータ信号の形態でも実現され得る。 It may be a medium that dynamically carries the program code so as to download the program code from the network. When the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the main device in advance or may be installed from another recording medium. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.
　本発明に係る印刷システム１においては、クライアント装置は通信機能を備えていれば良く、デジタルカメラ、携帯端末等の他のクライアント装置であってもよい。 In the printing system 1 according to the present invention, the client device only needs to have a communication function, and may be another client device such as a digital camera or a portable terminal.
　本発明に係る印刷システム１においては、プリンタ３１～プリンタ３６は印刷機能及び通信機能を備えていれば良く、複写機能、ファクシミリ機能及びスキャナ機能等の他の機能を更に備えても良い。 In the printing system 1 according to the present invention, the printers 31 to 36 may have a printing function and a communication function, and may further include other functions such as a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.
　また、本実施の形態では、複数のプリンタから一つのプリンタを選択して印刷を行なう場合について説明したが、これに限らず、必要に応じて、印刷ジョブを複数に分割して、複数のプリンタを選択して印刷を行なうようにしてもよい。 In this embodiment, a case has been described in which one printer is selected from a plurality of printers for printing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a print job can be divided into a plurality of printers as necessary. May be selected for printing.
　以上の実施の形態は例示であって、制限的なものではないと考えられるべきである。本発明の範囲は、上記した意味ではなく、特許請求の範囲によって示され、特許請求の範囲と均等の意味及び範囲内でのすべての変更が含まれることが意図される。 The above embodiments are merely examples and should not be considered as restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
　１　印刷システム
　１０　ＰＣ（クライアント装置）
　２０　サーバ（サーバ装置）
　３１～３６　プリンタ（印刷装置）
　１０１、２０１、３０１　ＣＰＵ
　１０５　プリンタ情報請求部（請求手段）
　１０６　プリンタ選択部
　１０７　原稿データ送信部（送信手段）
　１１０　ウェブブラウザ
　２０４　情報蓄積部
　２０５　プリンタ決定部（識別手段、決定手段）
　２０６　プリンタ情報通知部（通知手段）
　２０８　プリンタ情報取得部（取得手段）
　２１０、３１１　ウェブサーバ
　３０５　原稿データ受信部
　３０６　印刷部
　３０７　ユーザ識別部（識別手段）
　３０８　情報記憶部（記憶手段）
　３０９　プリンタ情報送信部 1 Printing system 10 PC (client device)
20 servers (server equipment)
31-36 Printer (printing device)
101, 201, 301 CPU
105 Printer Information Requesting Unit (Requesting Unit)
106 Printer selection unit 107 Document data transmission unit (transmission means)
110 Web browser 204 Information storage unit 205 Printer determination unit (identification unit, determination unit)
206 Printer information notification unit (notification means)
208 Printer information acquisition unit (acquisition means)
210, 311 Web server 305 Document data receiving unit 306 Printing unit 307 User identification unit (identification means)
308 Information storage unit (storage means)
309 Printer information transmission unit

Claims (5)

  1. 　原稿データを送信するクライアント装置と、
    　該クライアント装置から送信された原稿データを直接印刷する複数の印刷装置と、
    　前記クライアント装置及び前記複数の印刷装置に接続されるサーバ装置と
    　を備え、
    　前記クライアント装置は、前記サーバ装置に印刷装置に係る情報を請求する請求手段を備え、
    　前記サーバ装置は、前記クライアント装置からの請求に応じて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報を該クライアント装置に通知する通知手段を備え、
    　前記クライアント装置は、前記サーバ装置から受信した使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、原稿データを前記使用可能な印刷装置の何れか一つに送信する送信手段を備え、
    　前記複数の印刷装置は夫々に原稿データの送信用のウェブページが提供可能であり、
    　前記クライアント装置は、ウェブブラウザ機能が実行可能であり、送信されるべき印刷装置から提供されるウェブページをウェブブラウザで表示するようにしてあり、
    　前記送信手段は、表示されるウェブページに対する操作により前記原稿データを送信するようにしてあることを特徴とする印刷システム。     A client device that transmits document data;
    A plurality of printing apparatuses that directly print document data transmitted from the client apparatus;
    A server device connected to the client device and the plurality of printing devices,
    The client device comprises claim means for requesting information related to a printing device to the server device,
    The server device includes notification means for notifying the client device of information related to a printing device that can be used by the client device among the plurality of printing devices in response to a request from the client device.
    The client device includes a transmission unit that transmits document data to any one of the usable printing devices based on information on the usable printing device received from the server device.
    Each of the plurality of printing apparatuses can provide a web page for transmitting document data,
    The client device is capable of executing a web browser function, and displays a web page provided from a printing device to be transmitted by a web browser,
    The printing system, wherein the transmission means transmits the document data by an operation on a displayed web page.
  2. 　前記サーバ装置は、前記クライアント装置の位置に係る情報に基づいて、該クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段を備えることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の印刷システム。 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by the client device based on information related to a position of the client device.
  3. 　所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する取得手段と、
    　該取得手段にて取得した前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段と
    　を備えることを特徴とするサーバ装置。     Obtaining means for obtaining information relating to a plurality of printing devices at predetermined time intervals;
    A server device, comprising: a determining unit that determines a usable printing device among the plurality of printing devices based on information about the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquiring unit.
  4. 　原稿データを送信するクライアント装置と、該クライアント装置から送信された原稿データを直接印刷する複数の印刷装置と、前記クライアント装置及び前記印刷装置に接続されるサーバ装置とを備える印刷システムにおける印刷方法において、
    　クライアント装置からサーバ装置に印刷装置に係る情報の取得を請求する請求ステップと、
    　前記サーバ装置から、前記クライアント装置からの請求に応じて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、クライアント装置が使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報を該クライアント装置に通知する通知ステップと、
    　前記クライアント装置から、前記サーバ装置から受信した使用可能な印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、原稿データを前記使用可能な印刷装置の何れか一つに送信する送信ステップと
    　を有し、
    　前記送信ステップは、
    　送信されるべき印刷装置から原稿データの送信用のウェブページを提供するステップと、
    　クライアント装置にて、提供されるウェブページをウェブブラウザで表示するステップと、
    　クライアント装置から、表示されるウェブページに対する操作により前記原稿データを送信するステップと
    　を有することを特徴とする印刷方法。     In a printing method in a printing system, comprising: a client device that transmits document data; a plurality of printing devices that directly print document data transmitted from the client device; and a server device connected to the client device and the printing device. ,
    A claim step for requesting acquisition of information relating to the printing device from the client device to the server device;
    A notification step of notifying the client device of information related to a printing device that can be used by the client device among the plurality of printing devices in response to a request from the client device;
    A transmission step of transmitting document data to any one of the usable printing devices based on information about the usable printing devices received from the server device from the client device;
    The transmitting step includes
    Providing a web page for transmission of manuscript data from a printing device to be transmitted;
    Displaying a provided web page with a web browser at the client device;
    And a step of transmitting the document data by an operation on a displayed web page from a client device.
  5. 　コンピュータを、
    　所定の時間ごとに、複数の印刷装置に係る情報を取得する取得手段、及び
    　前記取得手段にて取得した前記複数の印刷装置に係る情報に基づいて、前記複数の印刷装置の内、使用可能な印刷装置を決定する決定手段として機能させることを特徴とするコンピュータプログラム。     Computer
    An acquisition unit that acquires information about a plurality of printing devices at a predetermined time, and a usable one of the plurality of printing devices based on the information about the plurality of printing devices acquired by the acquisition unit A computer program that functions as a determination unit that determines a printing apparatus.
PCT/JP2012/059193 2011-06-15 2012-04-04 Printing system, server device, printing method, and computer program WO2012172856A1 (en)

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