JP2000284920A - Printing system, printing method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a terminal device in a case where a printing device is stopped in a printing system including a printing device and a printing control device and connected to a network to which a plurality of terminal devices are connected. It enables a user to deal with the situation without having to constantly monitor the operation status. When a change in a situation detected during the operation of a printing system is specified to be required to be notified by a check box (30), a change is made to an address specified as a notification destination in accordance with the specification. Notification mail data for notifying the change is transmitted. Therefore, the person designated as the notification destination can know the change in the status of the printing apparatus from the notification mail data, and does not need to go to the printing apparatus or start the printing status display program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system that receives print data to be printed from a terminal device connected via a computer communication network and executes printing, a printing method corresponding to the printing system, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advancement of network-related technology in the computer industry, a printing system in which a plurality of terminal devices (for example, a personal computer), a printing device (for example, a printer), and a server are connected via a network has been constructed. ing. As for the printing process under this system, each computer shares one printing device via the server, so that there is an advantage in terms of reduction of facility costs and effective use of space. Note that two or more printing apparatuses may be connected.

In such a printing system, normal operation of the printing apparatus has been confirmed by going out to the place where the printing apparatus is installed and visually observing it. However, since it is troublesome to go to the installation location of the printing apparatus to check the operation status, a terminal device activates and monitors a printing status display program.

[0004]

However, it is not preferable to always run the printing status display program because it increases the processing load on the terminal device. However, if this is neglected, if the printing apparatus stops, the user does not notice this and the printing operation may not be performed for a long time, which has been a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and even if a situation where the printing apparatus is stopped occurs, the user of the terminal apparatus always monitors the operation state of the printing apparatus. The purpose is to be able to deal with the situation quickly without doing it.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention A printing system according to a first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, includes a printing device and a printing control device, and a plurality of terminal devices are provided. A printing system connected to a connected network, wherein the print control device receives print data from at least one of the terminal devices and controls the printing device based on the print data to perform printing. In a printing system for printing on a medium, each of the terminal devices includes an address specification unit for specifying an address to be a contact, and address information corresponding to the address specified by the address specification unit together with the print data. Transmitting means for transmitting to the control device,
The print control device includes: a state detection unit that detects at least an operation state of the printing apparatus; and a print data that is currently being executed when the state detection unit detects that the operation state of the printing apparatus has changed. And e-mail transmitting means for transmitting an e-mail for notifying the change of the operation status to the specified address based on the received address information.

Here, the change in the operation state of the printing apparatus includes, for example, printing completed, printing paper exhausted, and ink exhausted. If the address is specified by the address specifying means in the printing system configured as described above, if the operation status of the printing apparatus changes during execution of the printing operation based on the print data transmitted to the printing control apparatus together with the address, An e-mail is sent to the address indicating the change in the operation status of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the user specified as the notification destination by the address can know the change in the operation status of the printing apparatus. If the person who sent the print data wants to know such a change in the operating status, if he / she specifies his / her own address using the addressing means, it is necessary to go to the printing device or start a printing status display program. Absent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, the status detecting means can detect the operating status of the print control device in addition to the operating status of the printing device. When the detected operating condition of the printing device or the printing control device changes, the mail transmitting unit sends an e-mail notifying the change of the operating condition to an address designated by the address designating unit. It is characterized by being transmitted.

Here, the change in the operation state of the print control apparatus includes, for example, the occurrence of a system trouble and the occurrence of an abnormality in the print data. According to the printing system configured as described above, not only the operation state of the printing apparatus but also a change in the operation state of the control apparatus can be known (hereinafter, the operation state of the printing apparatus and the operation state of the control apparatus are distinguished from each other. Without, simply, "situation").

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first or second aspect, the address designating means designates the address for each change in the operating status detected by the status detecting means. The e-mail transmitting means may include an e-mail for notifying the change in the operation status to the address specified by the address specifying means in response to the change in the operation status detected by the status detection means. Is transmitted.

According to the printing system configured as described above, for example, when printing is completed, an e-mail is transmitted to the user who transmitted the print data, and when the print paper runs out, an e-mail is transmitted to a paper trader. It becomes possible. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the third aspect, each time the operation status detected by the status detection unit changes, the address designation unit transmits an electronic mail notifying the change. It is characterized in that whether or not to perform can be designated.

According to the printing system configured as described above, it is possible not to notify a change in the situation that does not need to be notified. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a notification destination designation unit for designating an address from the print control device and the status detection unit detected by the status detection unit. When the operation status of the printing apparatus changes and the address to be notified at that time is not specified by the address specification unit, the change in the operation status is changed to the address specified by the notification destination specification unit. And a status notifying means for transmitting an e-mail notifying the notification.

That is, in this printing system, the address of the notification destination can be specified not only in the terminal device but also in the print control device. And in the terminal device,
When the notification destination address is not specified, an e-mail is transmitted to the address specified by the print control device.

According to the printing system configured as described above, it is convenient when an abnormality relating to the printing system itself occurs and maintenance of the printing apparatus or the printing control apparatus is required. Further, when the same notification destination is specified by the address specifying means, the function of the status notifying means is suppressed, so that there is no waste that two identical e-mails are notified to the address.

[0015] In the printing system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the notification destination specification unit specifies an address for each change in the operation status detected by the status detection unit. If possible, the notification address when the print paper runs out is set to the paper trader, and an e-mail is automatically transmitted to the paper trader when the paper runs out. This is simpler than the case where the user of the terminal device makes the same designation by the address designation means as described in claim 3. Because, to do the same with addressing means, all terminal users
This is because it is necessary to specify a notification destination address to the paper trader when the print paper runs out.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the sixth aspect, the notification destination specifying unit notifies the change every time the operation status detected by the status detection unit changes. It is characterized in that whether or not to send an e-mail can be designated.

According to the printing system configured as described above, it is possible not to notify a change in the situation that does not need to be notified. Although the operator of the print control apparatus considered that notification is not necessary, if the user of a certain terminal device thinks that notification is necessary, if the user designates the notification by the address specification means, the status notification means Is suppressed, so that a notification can be made.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the print control device stores a plurality of print data transmitted from each of the terminal devices. A queue, and causes the printing device to sequentially process the print data waiting in the print queue, wherein the mail transmission unit detects a change in the operation status of the printing device detected by the status detection unit. When the change has an effect on the progress of the processing of the waiting print data, based on each address information transmitted together with each of the waiting print data, an e-mail notifying of the change in the operation status is designated. The address is transmitted to each address.

In this printing system, print data is received from a plurality of terminal devices, respectively, and the printing device sequentially processes the print data. If the detected change in the status affects the print data currently waiting in the print queue, an e-mail notifying the status change is also transmitted to the address transmitted together with the print data.

According to the printing system configured as described above, the user of the terminal device receives an e-mail notifying the status change even when the status changes due to print data other than the print data transmitted by the terminal device. Can be.
On the other hand, if the notification is made only when the status has changed due to the print data transmitted by itself, if the status has changed due to the print data stored in the print queue prior to the print data, this change will be made. I can't know. According to the printing system of the eighth aspect, such a situation can be avoided.

It should be noted that claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
The printing system of 7, 8 is described as a printing method.
Claims 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 1
The present invention is described in 5 and 16, and can provide the same effects as those of the corresponding printing systems.

[0022] The various means of the printing system or the function of executing such a printing method can be realized by a computer system. The former is the recording medium according to claim 17, and the latter is claim 20.
Recording medium. The recording medium according to claim 18 has recorded thereon a program for causing a computer system to function as addressing means and transmitting means. If the recording medium is read by a terminal device and the program is installed, , Can function as an address designation unit and a transmission unit.

A recording medium according to a nineteenth aspect stores a program for causing a computer system to function as each unit other than the addressing unit and the transmitting unit. By reading the program and installing the program, the print control device can function as a situation detecting unit and a mail transmitting unit.

In any of claims 17 to 20, examples of the recording medium include computer-readable electromagnetic recording media such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, and a hard disk. In addition, as a recording medium, a ROM or a backup RA
M may be used, the program may be recorded in the M, and the ROM or the backup RAM may be incorporated in a terminal device or a print control device.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printing system using a communication network.

First, the configuration of the printing system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system of the embodiment includes four computers 1, 2, 3,
4, a data converter 5, a switch 6 for connecting each of the computers 1 to 4 to the data converter 5, and a printer 7. Further, the switch 6 can be interconnected with a switch constituting another communication network. As a result, it is possible to receive print data from a computer at a remote location and to notify a user of the computer at the remote location of the situation using notification mail data described later. The computer 1
4 correspond to the terminal device of the present invention, and the data converter 5 corresponds to the print control device of the present invention.

Each of the computers 1 to 4 generates print data to be printed out by the printer 7 using application software or the like, and outputs the print data to the switch 6. Here, the print data is generated by a well-known page description language such as “PostScript” of Adobe Systems Inc., USA. Each of the computers 1 to 4 can also set notification data described later and output the notification data included in the print data. Further, each of the computers 1 to 4 can receive and display the notification mail data output from the data converter 5 using application software or the like. It should be noted that the transmission and reception of the notification mail data in this embodiment may be performed exclusively for the printing system, or may be performed using an existing e-mail system, for example, E-M.
It may be performed using AIL or the like.

The switching unit 6 includes a buffer unit for temporarily storing print data from each of the computers 1 to 4, and outputs these print data to the data converter 5 in a time division manner for each computer. The notification mail data output from the data converter 5 is transmitted to the computer 1.
To 4 to the computer specified by the communication address.

The data converter 5 is connected to each of the computers 1-4.
The print data transmitted from the data converter 5 through the switch 6 is converted into print bitmap data using the conversion data held by the data converter 5, and output to the printer 7. When the notification data is included in the print data, or when the notification data is set in the data converter 5, the notification data is interpreted and the notification status, the notification destination, and the notification message are registered, and the printing is performed. When the notification status occurs during the printing of the data, the notification mail data is output to the notification destination. Details of this operation will be described later. When print data is transmitted from the computers 1 to 4 one after another, a queue called a print queue is created and the print data is stored therein. Then, the print data stored here is processed in the order in which they were transmitted.

The internal structure of the main components of the printing system will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration and operation of the computers 1 to 4 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the configurations and operations of the computers 1 to 4 are the same, the computer 1 will be described as a representative in the following description.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the computer 1
A ROM (Read Only Memory) 10, a CPU 11 for reading a program stored in the ROM and executing each instruction included in the ROM, an input unit 12 including a keyboard and a mouse, a network connection unit 13, RA
M14, a display 15 for displaying various information, and a bus 16 are provided. Here, the RAM 14 is not limited to a RAM (Random Access Memory) in a narrow sense,
It also includes an external storage device such as a hard disk device for storing data.

The network connection unit 13 is connected to the switch 6 and performs a so-called interface operation on data output from the computer 1 and data input to the computer 1. When data necessary for processing in the computer 1 is input, the input unit 12 outputs the data to the CPU 11 or the like via the bus 16.

A program for controlling the entire computer 1 is stored in the ROM 10, and various processes are realized by the CPU 11 executing the program. The RAM 14 has installed therein various control programs to be executed by the CPU 11, and has a CP
It is used as a place where data necessary for the processing in U11 is temporarily stored.

Various displays (specifically, described later) are made on the display 15 based on instructions from the CPU 11. Next, the configuration and operation of the printer 7 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
Is the CPU 17, the network connection unit 18, the ROM 1
9, a RAM 20, an output engine 21, and a bus 21a.

The network connection unit 18 is connected to the data converter 5 and performs an interface operation on print bitmap data input to the printer 7.
The CPU 17 controls each component of the printer 7 and prints out print bitmap data.

The ROM 19 is a memory that stores a program for controlling the entire printer 7, and the printer 7 performs a printing operation when this program is executed by the CPU 17. The RAM 20 is a memory that temporarily stores data and the like necessary for processing in the CPU 17.

The output engine 21 has an ink-jet printing unit, and performs print output processing of print bitmap data. Next, the configuration and operation of the data converter 5 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
The data converter 5 includes interfaces 22a and 22b,
It comprises a ROM 23, a CPU 24 for reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 23, a RAM 25, a bitmap data generator 26, a bus 27, a display 28, and an input unit 29.

The bitmap data generation unit 26 has a CPU
A logic operation circuit including a ROM 26b, a ROM 26b, and a RAM 26c is incorporated. Of these, a program for generating print bitmap data is stored in the ROM 26b. The interface 22a performs an interface operation on data from the computers 1 to 4 via the switch 6.

The RAM 25 is used to temporarily store print data from the computers 1 to 4 input to the data converter 5 and print bitmap data generated by the bitmap data generation unit 26. ROM2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a read-only memory in which a program is stored, and the CPU 24 executes the read-only memory to control the data converter 5.

When data necessary for processing in the data converter 5 is input, the input unit 29 outputs the data to the CPU 24 or the like via the bus 27. The display 28
Various displays (specifically, described later) are made based on instructions from the CPU 24.

The bitmap data generator 26 develops the print data Sb from the computers 1 to 4 into print bitmap data to be printed out by the printer 7 and outputs it to the RAM 25. In the development processing in the bitmap data generation unit 26, print bitmap data is created for each page to be printed out using conversion data including fonts and the like actually used for printout in the printer 7.

The interface 22b performs interface processing on data necessary for printing processing in the printer 7, such as print bitmap data generated by the bitmap data generating unit 26, and outputs the data to the printer 7. Next, a printing status notification process will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the notification data registration processing executed by the CPU 24 of the data converter 5. This process is started when print data is received from the computers 1 to 4. Note that, for convenience of description, the drawing illustrates a portion from which print data is received. That is, when print data is received from the computers 1 to 4 in step (hereinafter, referred to as S) 10, it is determined in S 20 whether the print data includes notification data. Here, the notification data refers to whether or not to notify the notification mail data indicating that the situation has occurred according to the situation that has occurred in the printer 7 or the data converter 5 when printing is performed. This is data indicating information such as whether to notify the address. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a display 1 of the computer 1.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a notification data setting screen displayed in 5. When print data is output from the computer 1, this screen is called up to create notification data and send it to the switch 6 together with the print data (hence, the data converter 5).
To) output. In the figure, what is displayed under “Status” is that when the printer 7 performs a printing operation based on the print data transmitted together with the notification data and the status occurs, the notification mail data is sent. It shows the situation that becomes. By checking the check box 30 on the left side of each situation, a setting is made so that the notification mail data is notified when any of five types of printing end, print data failure, system trouble, out of paper, and out of ink occurs. can do.

Displayed under "notification destination" indicates a destination to which notification mail data is sent when each of these situations occurs. An appropriate destination can be specified according to each situation. For example, when printing is completed, a user (an address input when using the computer 1) and a manager (a person who manages the printing system) ) Can be specified by the check box 31. When a system trouble occurs, support (address of the support center of the printing system) can be specified by the check box 31. In addition, "others" can be designated as a notification destination in each situation. If the check box 31 is checked in the input section 12 and a specific address is entered in the edit box 32, the notification mail data is sent to the address. Is done. When “user” is specified as the notification destination, the address of the user is also transmitted to the switch 6. When “Other” is designated, the address input to the edit box 32 is also transmitted to the switch 6.

A plurality of situations can be set. In the case of this figure, the check box 30 is checked so that notification mail data is sent when printing is completed and the paper runs out. In this figure, the notification destination when these situations occur is the user. Also, a plurality of notification destinations can be set corresponding to each situation. For example, in this figure, if the check box 31 to the left of “administrator” is also checked as a notification destination corresponding to the end of printing, when the printing is completed, the user and the administrator are notified of “end of printing”. Notification mail data of the content is transmitted.

When a message is input in the additional message field 34, the message is also transmitted to the switch 6, and this additional message is added to the notification mail data. That is, the notification data is data including a situation in which notification is performed by the notification mail data and a destination to which the notification mail data is transmitted (in some cases, an additional message is added to these).

These settings are realized as a dedicated application started on each computer or as a part of the function of a printer driver for making print settings for a printing system. The part for making this setting corresponds to the address designating means of the present invention, and the process of transmitting this setting to the switch 6 together with the print data corresponds to the transmitting means of the present invention. Also, an address sent when "user" or "other" is specified, or a check box 3 sent when "administrator" or "paper trader" is specified.
A signal indicating that 1 has been checked corresponds to the address information.

Returning now to FIG. If such notification data is not included in the print data, this processing ends. If it is included, the process proceeds to S30, where the notification data is registered in the RAM 25. At this time, the notification data is stored separately for each print data and further organized according to the situation. In subsequent S40, it is determined whether or not the print data includes an additional message (the message input to the additional message field 34 in FIG. 5). If it is not included, the process ends. If it is included, the process proceeds to S50, where the additional message is additionally registered in the data registered in S30, and the process ends.

Next, while causing the printer 7 to perform a printing operation based on the print data, the CPU 2 of the data converter 5
4 will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that print data that is currently performing a printing operation is sent from the computer 1. When this process is started, it is determined whether or not the printing status has changed in the printer 7 (S110). Here, the change in the printing status refers to the five types described in FIG. 5, that is, printing end, print data failure, system trouble, out of paper, and out of ink. Note that S110 corresponds to the situation detecting means of the present invention.

If there is no such change, the flow returns to S110 to wait until a change occurs, and if there is, the flow proceeds to S120 to determine whether or not notification data has been registered. This is to determine the presence or absence of the data registered in S30 or S50. If registered, the process proceeds to S130 to prepare notification mail data. The notification mail data is prepared by the number of notification destinations set in accordance with the change of the occurred situation. It should be noted that the notification data is registered in the RAM 25, but no preparation is made if notification of a change in the situation that has occurred is not specified. For example, when the notification data based on the setting screen shown in FIG. 5 is registered and the change in the occurred situation is a system trouble, the preparation of the notification mail data is not performed in S130 (also in S140 to S170). Similar).

At S140, a communication address to be notified of the notification mail data is set based on the registered notification data. If "user" is set as the notification destination, the address of the user sent with the notification data is set. If "other" is set, the address is sent with the notification data. A specific address (entered in the edit box 32) is set. If another notification destination is set, the address of the administrator or the address of the support center stored in the RAM 25 of the data converter 5 in advance is set. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
Shows a screen displaying the address information stored in the RAM 25 and the fixed message on the display 28. This screen is displayed on the data converter 5 as shown in the figure. Using the input unit 29, a notification destination that can be set in advance in the RAM 25 by the administrator by the administrator or the computer 1 such as the support center is displayed. The address is stored in advance. In FIG. 5, when an administrator or a paper trader is selected as the notification destination, this address is read and set as the notification destination.

The data displayed in the fixed message field in this screen display is used when creating the body of the notification mail data in S150. For example, if “user” is specified as the notification destination, “& T (line feed) & D (user name: & N) printed & S” displayed at the top of the fixed message field is displayed. It becomes the text.
Here, & T is the time of occurrence of the print status, & D is the print data name, & N is the name of the user who output the print data, and & S is the print status name. These are replaced with specific words and numbers when creating the text. & E displayed in the other fixed messages is an error name, & P is a paper name specified in the print data, and & I is an ink name. Note that the address of the administrator and the fixed message can be changed using the input unit 29 while this screen is displayed.

Returning now to FIG. When the body of the notification mail data is created in this way, it is determined in S160 whether default notification data is registered in the data converter 5. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a default notification data setting screen displayed on the display 28 of the data converter 5. This screen is the same as the notification data setting screen shown in FIG. 5 except that the output is not the display 15 of the computer 1 but the display 28 of the data converter 5 and that there is no additional message field. And the input unit 29
To check the check boxes 30 and 31,
By entering an address in the edit box 32, a notification destination when a situation occurs can be set. However, the method of use is different from the notification data shown in FIG. 5, and no notification is made when the same notification destination is set in the same situation. For example, in FIG. 7, a notification is sent to the ink trader when the paper runs out, but if the same setting is made in the computer 1, no notification is made. This prevents two notification mail data having the same content from being transmitted to the paper trader. Note that the settings made on the default notification data setting screen correspond to the notification destination specifying means of the present invention.

In S160, it is determined whether a notification destination not specified in the notification data transmitted from the computer 1 is not set on the default notification data setting screen. If so, in step S170, notification mail data to the notification destination is created, and the flow advances to step S180.
If NO is determined in S160, the process goes directly to S180. The processing performed in S170 includes S130 to S1.
This is substantially the same as the content performed at 50.

NO in S120, that is, S30 or S
If it is determined that there is no registered data by 50, the process proceeds to S190, and it is determined whether a notification destination not specified in the notification data transmitted from the computer 1 is not set on the default notification data setting screen. . This is exactly the same as the determination made in S160. When the notification destination is not set on the default notification data setting screen, the process returns to S110, and when the notification destination is set, the process proceeds to S200 to prepare the notification mail data. Hereinafter, the processes up to S220 are the same as those in S170, and thus description thereof will be omitted. However, if the processing has proceeded to S200, the notification data has not been set in the computer 1, so that the notification mail data is transmitted to all the notification destinations set on the default notification data setting screen with respect to the change in the currently occurring situation. Will be. Thus S1
When the notification mail data is completed in the processing of S30 to S170 or the processing of S200 to S220, the notification is executed by transmitting the notification mail data in S180. That is, the notification mail data having the text created in S150, S220, etc., is transmitted to the notification destination set in S140, S210, etc. If the notification destination is "user"
If so, the notification mail data is passed from the interface 22a to the computer 1 via the switch 6. The computer 1 receives the notification mail data through the network connection unit 13 and displays the notification mail data on the display 15 using application software or the like. The computer 1 sends the fixed message shown in FIG. Tell the user. When the notification is executed in this manner, the process returns to S110, and continues to monitor whether a new change in the situation occurs. Note that step S180 corresponds to the mail transmitting means of the present invention. S120, S16
If the notification data is registered on the notification data setting screen by the processing of No. 0, the setting on the default notification data setting screen is suppressed.
The combination of the processing with 0 corresponds to the status notification means of the present invention.

Although the processing during the printing operation of the print data transmitted from the computer 1 has been described, the notification data is temporarily included in the print data transmitted from the computer 2, and the notification data is However, even if the content is to notify a change in the situation that is currently occurring, the notification mail data is not transmitted to the notification destination that is to be notified by the notification data. The notification mail data is transmitted to the notification destination when the situation changes during the printing operation of the print data transmitted from the computer 2.

It has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
According to the printing system in which the processing shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is performed, the notification data setting screen of the computer 1
If the status to be notified and the address to be notified are specified, if the status of the printer 7 or the data converter 5 changes during the printing operation of the print data transmitted to the printer 7 together with the address, the change of the status is recognized. Notification mail data of the content to be told is transmitted to the address. Therefore, the person designated as the notification destination can know the change in the status of the printer 7 from the notification mail data, and
There is no need to go to the office or start a printing status display program.

Further, there are five types of status changes that can be designated as notification targets, and a notification destination can be set for each of them. When printing is completed, notification mail data is transmitted to the user who transmitted the print data, and printing is performed. When the paper runs out, it is possible to send notification mail data to a paper trader. Also, among the five types of changes in the situation,
For those which do not need to be notified, the notification can be made unless the check box 30 is checked.

The status and the notification destination are the data converter 5
In the event that a change in the status of the entire printing system (for example, running out of paper or lack of ink) occurs, the appropriate notification can be set by setting the default notification data setting screen. Can do it. Further, when the same notification destination is specified on the notification data setting screen, only one notification mail data is transmitted, and two notification mail data having the same contents are notified to the address.

The printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and may be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. sell. For example, the printer 7 performs the printing operation by the ink jet method.
A system such as an electrophotographic system or a dot impact system may be used.

Although there are five types of situations that can be selected on the notification data setting screen and the default notification data setting screen, notification may be made even when other situations occur. In addition, a notification destination that cannot be specified on these screens may be specified. For example, on the default notification data setting screen, a check box 31 of "standby user" is added as a notification destination, and if this is checked, all users corresponding to the print data currently stored in the print queue can be designated. good. In this way, it is possible to notify all users waiting for a print result of a situation in which the occurrence of a shortage of paper affects all print data waiting.

Although there are four types of fixed messages as the body of the notification mail data, other types of messages may be used. For example, although these four types are set corresponding to the notification destination, they may be prepared according to the situation. Further, a fixed message may be set by combining the notification destination and the situation.

The symbols to be replaced at the time of text creation such as & T, & D are not limited to those described above, but may be replaced with information on the operation status of the printing system or print log information summarizing the progress of printing. May be prepared.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computer 1 used as a network terminal and a printer 7;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data converter 5;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of notification data registration processing executed by the data converter 5;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a notification data setting screen displayed on a display 15 of the computer 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a printing status notification process executed by the data converter 5.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where address information stored in a RAM 25 of the data converter 5 and a fixed message are displayed on a display 28. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a default notification data setting screen displayed on the display 28 of the data converter 5.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 Computer 5 Data converter 6 Switch 7 Printer 11, 17, 24 CPU 10, 19, 23 ROM 14, 20, 25 RAM 12, 29 Input unit 13, 18 Network connection Units 15, 28 Display 16, 21a, 27 Bus 21 Output engine 22a, 22b Interface 26 Bitmap data generator 30, 31 Check box 32 Edit box 34 Additional message field

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A printing system comprising a printing device and a printing control device, wherein the printing system is connected to a network to which a plurality of terminal devices are connected, wherein the printing control device prints from at least one of the terminal devices. In a printing system that performs printing on a printing medium by controlling the printing device based on the print data when receiving data, the terminal devices each include: an address designating unit for designating an address serving as a contact address; Transmitting means for transmitting address information corresponding to the address specified by the address specifying means together with print data to the print control device, wherein the print control device detects at least an operation status of the printing device. Means for detecting a change in the operating state of the printing apparatus by the state detecting means. And e-mail sending means for sending an e-mail for notifying the change in the operation status to the specified address based on the address information received together with the print data in the printing. system. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the status detector detects an operation status of the printing control device in addition to an operation status of the printing device. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the operation status of the print control device changes, an e-mail notifying the change of the operation status is transmitted to an address specified by the address specifying unit. . 3. The address designating means is capable of designating the address for each change in the operating condition detected by the situation detecting means. The mail sending means is detected by the situation detecting means. 3. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein an e-mail for notifying the change in the operation status is transmitted to an address specified by the address specifying unit in response to the change in the operation status. system. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the address designating means is capable of designating, for each change in the operating condition detected by the condition detecting means, whether or not to send an e-mail notifying the change. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein 5. A notification destination specifying means for specifying an address from the print control apparatus, and an address serving as a notification destination at which an operation status of the printing apparatus detected by the status detection means changes. Is not specified by the address specifying means, the address specified by the notification destination specifying means,
The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: status notification means for transmitting an electronic mail for notifying the change in the operation status. 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the notification destination designation unit is capable of designating an address for each change in the operation status detected by the status detection unit. 7. The notification destination specifying means is capable of designating, for each change in the operating status detected by the status detecting means, whether or not to send an electronic mail for notifying the change. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The print control device has a print queue for storing a plurality of print data transmitted from each of the terminal devices, and causes the printing device to sequentially process print data waiting in the print queue. When the change in the operation status of the printing apparatus detected by the status detection unit is a change that has an effect on the progress of processing of the print data in a standby state, 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an e-mail for notifying the change of the operation status is transmitted to each of the designated addresses based on each of the address information transmitted together with each of the print data. A printing system according to claim 1. 9. A printing method comprising a printing device and a printing control device, the printing method being performed on a network to which a plurality of terminal devices are connected, wherein the printing control device prints from at least one of the terminal devices. In a printing method for performing printing on a print medium by controlling the printing apparatus based on the print data when receiving the data, in the print method, when print data and address information as a notification destination are received from the terminal device, the print data While performing the printing operation based on, during the printing operation, at least the operating state of the printing apparatus is detected, and when the detected operating state of the printing apparatus changes, an address corresponding to the address information received from the terminal apparatus is set. A printing method, comprising: transmitting an e-mail notifying the change in the operation status. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein even when the operation status of the print control device changes, an e-mail notifying the change of the operation status is transmitted from the terminal device to an address designated. The printing method described. 11. When an address is designated for each change in the detected operating condition, an e-mail notifying the change in the operating condition is transmitted to the specified address in response to the detected change in the operating condition. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing is performed. 12. It is possible to specify whether or not to send an electronic mail for notifying the change for each detected change in the operation status, and only when the change in the specified operation status occurs when the electronic mail is transmitted. 12. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein an electronic mail for notifying the change is transmitted. 13. When an address to be notified is specified in the print control device and the address to be notified is not specified from the terminal device, the address specified in the print control device is: 13. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein an e-mail for notifying the change in the operation status is transmitted. 14. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the address specified by the print control device can be specified every time a change in the detected operating condition occurs. 15. The printing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, for each change in the detected operation status, whether or not to send an electronic mail for notifying the change can be designated from the print control apparatus. Any one of the printing methods described above. 16. A print queue for storing a plurality of print data transmitted from each of the terminal devices, and the print device sequentially processes print data waiting in the print queue, and When the change in the operation state of the printing apparatus detected by the means is a change that has an effect on the progress of processing of the waiting print data, based on each address information transmitted together with each waiting print data, The printing method according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein an e-mail notifying the change in the operation status is transmitted to each of the designated addresses. 17. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to function as each unit of the printing system according to claim 1 is recorded. 18. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to function as the addressing unit and the transmitting unit of the printing system according to claim 1 is recorded. 19. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to function as each unit other than the address designation unit and the transmission unit in the printing system according to claim 1 is recorded. . 20. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to execute the printing method according to claim 9 is recorded.