JP2008117128A - Information processor, printer, terminal device, print control system, print system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of effectively reporting information about printing requirements to a user who uses a printing means; a printer; a terminal device; a print control system; a print system; and a program. <P>SOLUTION: A managing server 12 is provided with a printing requirement managing information storage part 52 for storing printing requirements; a receiving part 50 for receiving a print request that designates printing requirements for a printer 14; a printing requirement analyzing part 53 for comparing the printing requirements designated in the print request received by the receiving part 50 with the printing requirements stored in the printing requirement managing information storage part 52; a display information producing part 54 for producing information about the printing requirements designated in the print request, based upon the result of comparison by the printing requirement analyzing part 53; and a display information sending part 55 for sending the display information produced to the sender of the print request. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, a printing device, a terminal device, a printing control system, a printing system, and a program.

  Conventionally, when there is a print condition (for example, monochrome / color printing, enlargement / reduction printing, resolution, paper size, etc.) that the administrator wants the user to follow in response to a print request to the printer, the information is sent by e-mail. The administrator notifies the user using a notification method.

  As a technique for notifying the user of information, a printing method is known in which changes on the network are monitored and a specific user is notified by e-mail when there is a change in a printer on the network (see Patent Document 1). .)

  There is also known a printing system that displays a message prompting the printer to check in advance before starting printing and notifies the user of the possibility of an error in advance (see Patent Document 2).

  Also known is a printing system that notifies a user and an administrator registered as a notification destination of a failure notification by e-mail or direct notification (see Patent Document 3).

  Also known is a print system that always displays the usage status of all printers on a client (see Patent Document 4).

There is also known an information processing apparatus that displays the processing status of its own print job on a Web page and can always know the processing status (see, for example, Patent Document 5).
JP 2004-280218 A JP 2004-280214 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-320845 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-134142 JP 2004-326458 A

  The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a terminal apparatus, a printing control system, a printing system, and a program capable of effectively informing information about printing conditions to a user who uses printing means. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 includes a printing condition storage unit that stores a printing condition, a receiving unit that receives a printing request that specifies a printing condition for the printing unit, and A comparison unit that compares the printing condition specified in the printing request received by the receiving unit with the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit, and that is specified in the printing request based on the comparison result of the comparison unit; Generating means for generating information relating to the printing conditions, and transmitting means for transmitting the information generated by the generating means to the transmission source of the print request.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the generation unit includes a printing condition in which the content of the printing condition specified in the print request is stored in the printing condition storage unit in the comparison unit. If it is determined that the content is different from the content of the image, information on the printing condition determined to be different is generated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the generation unit prompts a change to the print condition stored in the print condition storage unit as information on the print condition determined to be different. Information for notifying that printing is performed under the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the print condition stored in the print condition storage unit and the print request received by the reception unit are specified. Control means for determining a printing condition based on at least one of the printing conditions and controlling the printing means so that printing is executed under the determined printing condition.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the reception unit further responds to information transmitted from the transmission source of the print request by the transmission unit. Printing conditions based on at least one of the response information received by the receiving means, the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage means, and the printing conditions specified in the printing request received by the receiving means And control means for controlling the printing means so that printing is executed under the determined printing conditions.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the print condition storage unit stores a print condition corresponding to information indicating a transmission source of the print request. And the comparison unit stores the print condition stored in the print condition storage unit corresponding to the information indicating the transmission source of the print request received by the reception unit, and the print condition specified in the print request. Compare.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the print condition storage unit stores a print condition corresponding to a type of a transmission source of the print request. The comparison unit compares the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit corresponding to the type of the transmission source of the printing request received by the receiving unit with the printing condition specified by the printing request. .

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the generation unit includes a comparison result of the comparison unit, a type of printing condition, and the received print request. Based on at least one of the transmission source of the received print request and the type of the transmission source of the received print request, information on the print condition specified in the print request is generated.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, when the control unit determines a printing condition for printing by the printing unit, Print conditions specified in the received print request and the print condition storage means according to at least one of a type, a source of the received print request, and a type of the source of the received print request The priority is given to either one of the printing conditions stored in.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the printing condition storage unit stores a printing condition corresponding to time zone information indicating a time zone. The comparing unit compares the printing condition stored in correspondence with the time zone information indicating the time zone when the printing request is received by the receiving unit with the printing condition designated by the printing request.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, notification information for notifying various kinds of information according to the transmission source of the print request or the type of the transmission source is stored. In addition, the transmission unit further transmits the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit to the transmission source of the print request received by the reception unit.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further includes a transmission number storage unit that stores the number of transmissions of the notification information for each transmission source of the print request.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, the notification is made to the transmission source of the print request received by the reception unit based on the number of transmissions stored in the transmission number storage unit. It further includes transmission control means for controlling so that information is not transmitted beyond a predetermined number of transmissions.

  A printing apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention includes the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects and a printing unit that executes printing.

  A terminal device according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a print request generation unit that generates a print request in which a print condition for a printing unit is specified, and an information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or the printing according to claim 14, wherein the second transmission unit transmits the generated print request to the printing apparatus according to claim 14. A second receiving unit configured to receive information on the printing condition transmitted from the apparatus; and a display control unit configured to display the information received by the second receiving unit on the display unit.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device according to the fifteenth aspect, the print request transmitting terminal further includes response information generating means for generating response information for the information received by the second receiving means. The 2 transmitting means further transmits the response information when the response information is generated by the response information generating means.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device according to the sixteenth aspect, the print request generation unit generates a print request without including image information to be printed, and the response information generation unit includes the transmitted print request. Response information is generated including image information to be printed.

  A print control system according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention includes the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects and the terminal apparatus according to any one of the fifteenth to seventeenth aspects. It consists of

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, a printing system includes the printing device according to the fourteenth aspect and the terminal device according to any one of the fifteenth to seventeenth aspects.

  The program according to the twentieth aspect of the invention is directed to a printing condition storage means for storing a printing condition designated in the printing request and a printing condition when the computer receives a printing request in which the printing condition for the printing means is designated. A comparison step for comparing the printing conditions stored in the generation step, a generation step for generating information on the printing conditions specified in the print request based on a comparison result of the comparison step, and a generation step generated by the generation step. A transmission step of transmitting information to a transmission source of the print request.

  A program according to a twenty-first aspect of the invention includes a print request generating step for generating a print request in which a printing condition for a printing unit is designated, and an information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects. The transmission step of transmitting the generated print request to the printing apparatus according to claim 14, and the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or the printing according to claim 14. A display control step of displaying the received information on a display unit when the information on the printing condition transmitted from the apparatus is received;

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively notify the user who uses the printing means of information regarding the printing conditions.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the content of the print condition specified in the print request is different from the content of the print condition stored in the print condition storage means, the information regarding the print condition is notified. The effect of being able to be obtained is obtained.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage means can be effectively recommended to the user.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the printing condition at the time of printing can be determined to a preferable value.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to obtain an effect that the printing condition can be determined by reflecting the intention of the transmission source of the print request.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the printing conditions can be stored according to the transmission source of the print request.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, there is an effect that the printing condition can be stored according to the type of the transmission source of the print request.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that information about printing conditions can be generated more effectively.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that the printing condition can be determined by giving priority to either the printing condition specified in the printing request or the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to easily cope with the case where it is desired to change the printing conditions according to the time zone.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that information to be notified to the transmission source of the print request can be transmitted when the print request is received.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to grasp how much the notification information has been transmitted.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, it is possible to avoid the situation where notification information is transmitted to the same user more than necessary more than necessary.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that information regarding printing conditions can be effectively notified to a user who uses printing means.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the invention, it is possible to effectively notify the information regarding the printing conditions to the user who uses the printing means.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the invention, there is an effect that arbitrary response information can be generated and transmitted with respect to the information transmitted from the information processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 17, when the transmission source of the print request cancels the print request based on the information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, it is not necessary to transmit the image information, and the useless network The effect is that traffic can be reduced.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to effectively notify information on printing conditions to a user who uses printing means.

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the invention, it is possible to effectively notify information relating to the printing conditions to the user who uses the printing means.

  According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively notify information relating to the printing conditions to the user who uses the printing means.

  According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively notify information relating to the printing conditions to the user who uses the printing unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment.

  The printing system 10 includes a management server 12 as an information processing device, a printer 14, and a plurality of clients 16 as terminal devices. The management server 12 and the plurality of clients 16 are connected to each other via a network 18 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The client 16 is used by a user who uses the printer 14. The client 16 transmits a print request for the printer 14 to the management server 12.

  The management server 12 is mainly used by an administrator who manages the printing system 10. The management server 12 generates print data (print data) in response to a print request to the printer 14 received from the client 16 and outputs the print data to the printer 14. When the management server 12 receives a print request from the client 16, the management server 12 confirms the print condition specified in the print request and transmits information about the print condition to the client 16 that is the print request source.

  The printer 14 is connected to the management server 12 and performs printing based on the print data received from the management server 12. The client 16 shares and uses the printer 14.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 12, the printer 14, and the client 16 will be described.

  2A is an external view of the management server 12 and the client 16, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the management server 12 and the client 16. As shown in FIG. The hardware configuration of the management server 12 and the client 16 is the same, but the functional configuration is different. The functional configuration diagram will be described later.

  The management server 12 and the client 16 include a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, a communication interface 24, and an I / O (input / output) interface 25, which are connected to each other via a bus 32.

  An HDD (hard disk drive) 26, a CD-ROM drive 27, and an FD (flexible disk) drive 28 are connected to the I / O interface 25. The HDD 26 reads and writes data to and from the built-in hard disk. The CD-ROM drive 27 reads / writes data from / to a CD-ROM 33 that is a portable recording medium. The FD drive 28 reads and writes data from and to the FD 34 that is a portable recording medium.

  These recording media and ROM 23 store various programs and data, and are executed by the CPU 21 using a work memory such as the RAM 22.

  The recording medium on which the program executed by the CPU 21 is stored is not limited to the CD-ROM 33, the FD 34, the HDD 26, and the like. For example, although not shown, the portable medium such as a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card is omitted. It may be a recording medium or a storage device such as an HDD provided outside the management server 12, and also a database connected via a line, or another computer system and its database, and further transmission on the line It may be a medium.

  Therefore, it is possible not only to provide a program or the like according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described later, via a communication medium, but also to store it on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  The I / O interface 25 is connected to a display device 29 for displaying images and data, and an input device 30 such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various information. Furthermore, a connector 31 for connecting to an external device is connected to the I / O interface 25. The management server 12 is connected to the printer 14 via the connector 31.

  The communication interface 24 is connected to the network 18. Information can be exchanged with other devices connected to the network 18 via the communication interface 24.

  In the following description, when the hardware configurations of the management server 12 and the client 16 are described separately, a is added to the end of the reference numerals of the components of the management server 12 and the reference numerals of the constituent elements of the client 16 are added. b is attached. For example, the CPU of the management server 12 is represented as CPU 21a, and the CPU of the client 16 is represented as CPU 21b.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration of the printer 14.

  The printer 14 includes a CPU 36, a RAM 37, a ROM 38, a print unit interface 39, and an I / O interface 41, which are connected to each other via a bus 45.

  The print unit interface 39 is an interface for exchanging data with the print unit 40. The print unit 40 operates as a printing unit that prints on paper or the like. The printing method is not particularly limited, and for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method may be used.

  The CPU 36 executes a program stored in the ROM 38 or the like using the RAM 37 or the like as a work memory, and controls the printing unit 40 so that the printing unit 40 executes printing according to the print data received from the management server 12.

  The I / O interface 41 includes an HDD 42 for storing various data, a touch panel display 43 for displaying various information or inputting information by touching with a fingertip, and a connector 44 for connecting to an external device. It is connected. The printer 14 is connected to the management server 12 via the connector 44.

  The CPU 36 supplies data necessary for the image forming operation of the print unit 40 via the print unit interface 39 based on the print data received from the management server 12 via the connector 44.

  Next, functional configurations of the management server 12 and the client 16 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and data flow of the management server 12 in the present embodiment.

  The management server 12 includes a receiving unit 50, a print job holding unit 51, a printing condition management information storage unit 52, a printing condition analysis unit 53, a display information creation unit 54, a display information transmission unit 55, a printing condition determination unit 56, and print data creation. A unit 57 and a print data transmission unit 58.

  The receiving unit 50 receives a print request for the printer 14 transmitted from the client 16 and response information from the client 16 for information transmitted from the management server 12 to the client. The receiving unit 50 can be configured by the communication interface 24a.

  In this embodiment, a print job including image data for printing and printing conditions is transmitted from the client 16 to the management server 12 as a print request. The printing conditions include, for example, designation of double-sided / single-sided printing, designation of black and white / color at the time of printing, enlargement / reduction ratio, paper size, resolution at the time of printing, presence of stapling, imposition designation, etc. This is an attribute that specifies the content, and is information that controls the execution of printing.

  The print job holding unit 51 holds print conditions and image data for the print job received by the receiving unit 50. The print job holding unit 51 can be configured by a recording medium such as the RAM 22a or the HDD 34a, for example.

  The printing condition management information storage unit 52 stores printing condition management information. The print condition management information is information indicating a designated value of the print condition desired by the administrator of the printing system 10, and this management information is input in advance by the administrator via the input device 30a.

  For example, in order to save paper, the administrator prints to the user of the printer 14 by N-up printing (N is an integer of 2 or more, and N pages of print data are allocated and printed on one sheet). In the case where it is desired to receive the print request, the administrator can preliminarily store “N-up print” in the print condition management information storage unit 52 as the designated value of “imposition”. Since color printing is expensive, even when you want to print in black and white as much as possible, “black and white” can be stored in advance in the print condition management information storage unit 52 as the designated value of “black and white / color”. it can.

  The printing condition management information storage unit 52 can be configured by a recording medium such as the RAM 22a or the HDD 34a, for example.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing condition management information table stored in the printing condition management information storage unit 52. As shown in FIG. 5, in the printing condition management information table, the printing condition desired by the administrator in response to the printing request from the client 16 is in a state in which the printing condition type and the designated value are associated with each other. It is registered. A plurality of specified values are registered for the printing condition type “imposition”. As described above, a plurality of values can be registered in the management information table for one type of printing condition. When a plurality of values are registered, values preferentially selected among them can also be registered. In FIG. 5, “2” is marked with “*” and registered as a preferentially selected value.

  Hereinafter, the printing condition information registered in the printing condition management information table of the printing condition management information storage unit 52 is referred to as printing condition management information.

  The print condition analysis unit 53 compares the print condition management information stored in the print condition management information storage unit 52 with the print conditions specified by the print request held in the print job holding unit 51. Then, the printing conditions to be changed among the printing conditions specified in the printing request are determined, and information about the printing conditions is passed to the display information creating unit 54 as a comparison result.

  The display information creation unit 54 creates display information based on the information about the printing conditions that should be prompted for change determined by the printing condition analysis unit 53. The display information created here is information for prompting the user to change the printing conditions, and is displayed on the display device 29b of the client 16.

  The display information transmission unit 55 transmits the display information created by the display information creation unit 54 to the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request. The display information transmission unit 55 can be configured by the communication interface 24a.

  When the receiving unit 50 receives the response information transmitted from the client 16 according to the display information transmitted from the display information transmitting unit 55, the print condition determining unit 56 receives the received response information and the print job holding unit. Based on the print conditions held at 51, the print conditions for the print request received from the client 16 are determined.

  The print data creation unit 57 creates print data (print data) so that printing is performed under the print conditions determined by the print condition determination unit 56. The print data includes image data and control data added to the image data.

  For example, if the designated value of the determined printing condition type “imposition” is “2-up printing”, the print job holding unit 51 holds the image data so that two pages of image data are allocated and printed. Image data obtained by reducing and synthesizing the image data that has been generated is generated. Further, for example, when the designated value of the printing condition type “stapling” is “present”, “stapling is present” is indicated as control data in the image data so that the upper left staple is performed by the printer 14. Append data.

  The print data transmission unit 58 transmits the print data created by the print data creation unit 57 to the printer 14. The print data transmission unit 58 can be configured by the connector 31a.

  In the print condition analysis unit 53, the display information creation unit 54, the print condition determination unit 56, and the print data creation unit 57 illustrated in FIG. 4, the CPU 21a of the management server 12 executes a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 23a. Is a functional element realized by

  In FIG. 4, the data flow indicated by a solid line indicates the data flow when a print request is received from the client 16, and the data flow indicated by a broken line indicates when the response information is received from the client 16. The flow of data is shown.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration and data flow of the client 16 in the present embodiment.

  The client 16 includes a print request generation unit 60, a transmission unit 61, a reception unit 62, a display control unit 63, and a response information generation unit 64.

  The print request generation unit 60 generates a print request for the printer 14 in accordance with a print instruction input by the user from the input device 30b. In the present embodiment, the print request generation unit 60 generates a print job including print image data and print conditions as a print request.

  The transmission unit 61 transmits the print request generated by the print request generation unit 60 and the response information generated by the response information generation unit 64 to the management server 12.

  The receiving unit 62 receives the display information transmitted from the display information transmitting unit 55 of the management server 12. The transmission unit 61 and the reception unit 62 can be configured by the communication interface 24b.

  The display control unit 63 controls the display device 29b so that the display information received by the receiving unit 62 is displayed.

  The response information generation unit 64 generates response information for the management server 12 based on the input information input from the input device 30b as a response information generation instruction according to the display information displayed on the display device 29b by the user of the client 16. . The generated response information is transmitted from the transmission unit 61 to the management server 12.

  The print request generation unit 60, the display control unit 63, and the response information generation unit 64 illustrated in FIG. 6 are functional elements that are realized by the CPU 21b of the client 16 executing a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 23b. is there.

  In FIG. 6, the data flow indicated by a solid line indicates the data flow when the client 16 transmits a print request, and the data flow indicated by a broken line indicates when the display information is received from the management server 12. Shows the data flow.

  Next, a printing process performed by the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print request transmission process executed by the client 16. The data flow in the print request transmission process of the client 16 is indicated by a solid line in FIG.

  In step 100, the print request generation unit 60 determines whether a print instruction is input from the input device b. If it is determined that a print instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step 102, and the print request generation unit 60 generates a print request.

  In step 104, the transmission unit 61 transmits the generated print request to the management server 12. This print request is received by the receiving unit 50 of the management server 12.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of print request reception processing executed by the management server 12. The data flow in the print request reception process of the management server 12 is indicated by a solid line in FIG.

  In step 200, the waiting state continues until the receiving unit 50 receives a print request (print job). If the receiving unit 50 receives a print request, the process proceeds to step 202.

  In step 202, the print job holding unit 51 holds image data and printing conditions included in the received print job.

  In step 204, the print condition analysis unit 53 compares the print conditions held by the print job holding unit 51 with the print condition management information stored in the print condition management information storage unit 52.

  In step 206, as a result of the comparison, the print condition analysis unit 53 determines that the print condition to be urged to change among the print conditions specified in the print request (that is, the print condition held by the print job holding unit 51). It is determined whether or not there is. For example, in the printing condition management information, if the designated value of the printing condition “monochrome / color” is “black and white”, but “color” is designated in the print request received from the client 16, this printing condition is set. It is determined that changes should be encouraged. Also, among the print conditions specified in the print request, there is no need to prompt changes for print conditions that match the specified value of the print condition management information or for print conditions that are not specified in the print condition management information. judge.

  If a negative determination is made in step 206, in step 212, the printing condition determination unit 56 determines the printing conditions held in the print job holding unit 51 as printing conditions for printing.

  In step 214, the print data creation unit 57 creates print data based on the determined printing conditions and the image data held in the print job holding unit 51.

  In step 216, the print data transmission unit 58 transmits the print data to the printer 14. That is, if a negative determination is made in step 206, printing is performed using the printing conditions designated by the user in the print request as they are.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 206, the display information creation unit 54 displays an image for prompting the change of the print condition on the client 16 in step 208 for the print condition that is supposed to be changed. Display information for printing is created as display information related to the printing conditions.

  For example, for the print condition “print mode”, the user designates “high image quality (image quality priority)” in the print request, but the print condition management information storage unit 52 has “express (speed priority)” as print condition management information. If registered, display information that prompts the user to change the value of the printing condition “printing mode” from “high quality” to “express” can be created.

  In step 210, the display information transmission unit 55 transmits the display information related to the generated printing condition to the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  This display information is received by the receiving unit 62 of the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of display information reception processing executed by the client 16. The data flow in the display information reception process of the client 16 is indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  In step 110, when the receiving unit 62 receives the display information, in step 112, the display control unit 63 controls the display device 29b so that the received display information is displayed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on which display information is displayed. In the display screen shown in FIG. 10, the value specified by the user and the value to be changed should be changed in the box 80 below the message “The following print settings are requested to be changed by the administrator”. Values are listed.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, for the print condition “print mode”, the user specifies “high image quality” in the print request, but the administrator prompts the user to change the print condition to “express”. For the print condition “banner mode”, the user specified “Yes” in the print request, but the administrator urges the user to change it to “No”. In addition, regarding the printing condition “imposition”, the user designates “none” in the print request, but the administrator urges the user to change it to “2 up”.

  On the other hand, when the user accepts the change request from the administrator, the “accept change request” check box 81 is checked on the input device 30b, and the print button 82 is selected. If the user does not accept the administrator's change request, the print button 82 is selected without checking the “accept change request” check box 81 on the input device 30b. The user can also select a cancel button 83 for canceling the print request.

  In step 114, it is determined whether a response information generation instruction has been input. For example, it is determined that a response information generation instruction is input when the print button 82 or the cancel button 83 is selected by the input device 30b on the display screen shown in FIG.

  If a response information generation instruction is input in step 114, the process proceeds to step 116 where the response information generation unit 64 generates response information to be transmitted to the management server 12. Here, the response information indicating that the print condition change request is accepted and printed in accordance with the result designated / selected on the display screen by the user, the print condition specified by the user in the print request without accepting the change request. One of three types of response information is generated: response information indicating that printing is to be performed and response information for canceling the print request.

  In step 118, the transmission unit 61 transmits response information to the management server 12.

  In the following, a case will be described in which response information is transmitted when printing is performed without canceling a print request, and description is omitted for a case in which response information to be canceled is transmitted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of response information reception processing executed by the management server 12. The data flow in the response information reception process of the management server 12 is indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  When the receiving unit 50 receives the response information in step 300, the printing condition determining unit 56 determines the printing conditions based on the received response information and the printing conditions held in the print job holding unit 51 in step 302. To do. Specifically, it is determined as follows.

  If the received response information is response information indicating that the print condition change request is accepted and printing is performed, the print condition that is requested to be changed is the value requested for change in the display information (that is, print condition management information). The value of the printing condition management information in the storage unit 52). In addition, for the printing condition that is determined not to be urged to be changed by the printing condition analysis unit 53, the printing condition specified in the print request is determined as it is as the printing condition at the time of printing.

  Also, if the received response information is response information indicating that the change request is not accepted and printing is performed under the print conditions specified by the user in the print request, the print conditions specified in the print request are printed as they are. The printing conditions are determined.

  In step 304, the print data creation unit 57 creates print data based on the determined printing conditions and the image data held in the print job holding unit 51.

  In step 306, the print data transmission unit 58 transmits the print data to the printer 14. As a result, the printer 14 performs printing under the printing conditions determined by the printing condition determination unit 56.

  In this embodiment, an example has been described in which whether or not to accept a change request in a batch for all the printing conditions determined to be changed is described. However, a change request is issued for each type of printing condition. Display information may be generated so as to select whether or not to accept.

  In addition, regardless of the user's designation, a printing condition in which an administrator's request (ie, printing condition management information in the printing condition management information storage unit 52) is forcibly set, and a printing condition that can accept the user's designation, May be registered separately according to the type of printing conditions, and display information may be generated or printing conditions may be determined according to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, whether or not the printing conditions specified by the user for each type of printing conditions can be accepted in the printing condition management information table of the printing condition management information storage unit 52 of the management server 12 in advance (if the user prints Whether or not the condition can be changed) is registered.

  In the printing condition management information table of FIG. 12, “2-8 up” is designated for “imposition”, “express” is designated for “print mode”, and “normal” is designated for “paper type”. “Paper” is specified. However, for “imposition” and “paper type”, the user-specified printing conditions can be set as printing conditions for printing, but for “printing mode”, the user cannot change the printing conditions. The management information registered by the administrator is registered so as to be preferentially set as a printing condition at the time of printing.

  FIG. 13 shows a display example of display information when printing conditions are registered in this way.

  In the display screen shown in FIG. 13, the values specified by the user and the changed values are listed in the box 84 below the message “The following print settings have been changed by the administrator”. Has been. In this box 84, a printing condition is displayed in which an administrator's request (that is, the value of the printing condition management information in the printing condition management information storage unit 52) is forcibly determined as the printing condition.

  In addition, in the box 85 under the message “The following print settings are requested to be changed by the administrator”, the values specified by the user and the values to be changed are listed for the type of printing conditions, and printing is performed. A check box is arranged for each condition type. Here, by providing a check box for each printing condition type, it is possible to select whether or not to accept a change request for each printing condition type.

  In the display screen of FIG. 13, a pull-down menu 86 is provided for the printing condition “imposition” so that a plurality of values can be selected. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if a plurality of designated values are registered for one printing condition type (imposition), the plurality of designated values (“2 up”, “4 up”, “8” Display information can be configured so that one of three types of “up” can be selected.

  When the user checks a check box for each printing condition in the box 85 with the input device 30b, specifies a value in the pull-down menu 86, and selects the print button 82, response information reflecting the result specified on the display screen Is generated by the response information generation unit 64 and transmitted to the management server 12. The printing condition determination unit 56 of the management server 12 confirms whether or not the user has accepted a change for each printing condition according to the response information, and further includes a selection result selected from a plurality of specified values. Then, the selection result is also confirmed, and the printing conditions at the time of printing are determined.

[Second Embodiment]
In the printing system 10 of this embodiment, an example in which a print request is generated without including image data and the image data is included in the response information will be described. That is, only the printing conditions are specified at the time of printing request, and the image data is transmitted after the user decides to print according to the display information from the management server 12.

  The configuration example of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the management server 12, the printer 14, and the client 16 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and data flow of the management server 12 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 14, the same or equivalent parts as in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  The management server 12 according to the present embodiment includes a receiving unit 50, a printing condition holding unit 59, a printing condition management information storing unit 52, a printing condition analyzing unit 53, a display information creating unit 54, a display information transmitting unit 55, and a printing condition determining unit. 56, a print data creation unit 57, and a print data transmission unit 58. In the present embodiment, a print condition holding unit 59 is provided instead of the print job holding unit 51 of the first embodiment.

  The printing condition holding unit 59 holds the printing conditions specified by the printing request received by the receiving unit 50. The printing condition holding unit 59 can be configured by a recording medium such as the RAM 22a or the HDD 34a, for example.

  The print condition analysis unit 53 compares the print condition management information stored in the print condition management information storage unit 52 with the print conditions specified by the print request stored in the print condition storage unit 59. Then, the printing conditions to be changed among the printing conditions specified in the printing request are determined, and information about the printing conditions is passed to the display information creating unit 54 as a comparison result.

  If the print condition analysis unit 53 determines that there is a print condition to be changed, the display information creation unit 54 displays based on display information for requesting image data and information about the print condition to be changed. Create information. If the print condition analysis unit 53 determines that there is no print condition to be changed, display information for simply requesting image data is created.

  When the receiving unit 50 receives the response information transmitted from the client 16 according to the display information transmitted from the display information transmitting unit 55, the printing condition determining unit 56 receives the received response information and the printing condition holding unit. Based on the print conditions held at 59, the print conditions for the print request received from the client 16 are determined.

  The print data creation unit 57 prints data for printing (printing based on the determined printing conditions and the image data transmitted together with the response information so that printing is performed with the printing conditions determined by the printing condition determination unit 56. Data).

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and data flow of the client 16 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 15, the same or equivalent parts as in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  The client 16 includes a print request generation unit 60, a transmission unit 61, a reception unit 62, a display control unit 63, a response information generation unit 64, and an image data holding unit 65.

  The print request generation unit 60 generates a print request for the printer 14 in response to a print instruction input by the user via the input device 30b. In the present embodiment, the print request generation unit 60 generates a print request that specifies a print condition as a print request but does not include image data for printing. The image data to be printed designated by the user is temporarily held in the image data holding unit 65.

  The response information generation unit 64 generates response information for the management server 12 based on the input information input from the input device 30b as a response information generation instruction according to the display information displayed on the display device 29b by the user of the client 16. . At this time, the response information is generated including the image data held in the image data holding unit 65 except when the user cancels the print request. The generated response information is transmitted from the transmission unit 61 to the management server 12.

  In FIG. 15, the data flow indicated by the solid line indicates the data flow when the client 16 transmits the print request, and the data flow indicated by the broken line indicates the data when the display information is received from the management server 12. Shows the flow.

  Next, a printing process performed by the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The print request transmission process on the client 16 side is the same as the process described with reference to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment except that image data is not included in the print request, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of a print request reception process executed by the management server 12 of this embodiment. The data flow in the print request reception process of the management server 12 is indicated by a solid line in FIG.

  In step 400, the waiting state continues until the receiving unit 50 receives the print request. If the receiving unit 50 receives the print request, the process proceeds to step 402.

  In step 402, the print condition specified in the received print request is held in the print condition holding unit 59.

  In step 404, the printing condition analysis unit 53 compares the printing conditions held by the printing condition holding unit 59 with the printing condition management information stored in the printing condition management information storage unit 52.

  As a result of the comparison in step 406, the printing condition analysis unit 53 has a printing condition to be urged to change among the printing conditions specified in the printing request (that is, the printing conditions held by the printing condition holding unit 51). It is determined whether or not. The determination method is the same as in the first embodiment.

  If the determination in step 406 is affirmative, in step 408, the display information creation unit 54 creates display information for requesting image data and display information for prompting a change in printing conditions. Such display information can be generated as a single piece of display information. For example, information for displaying a screen as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 12 of the first embodiment may be generated. However, in the client 16, when the print button 82 is selected on these screens, the image data included in the response information is transmitted, and when the cancel button 83 is selected, the image data is not transmitted. Response information that cancels the print request is transmitted.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 406, in step 410, the display information creation unit 54 creates display information for simply requesting image data. Although illustration of the screen displayed with the display information is omitted here, for example, a print button 82 and a cancel button 83 are displayed together with a message such as "Do you want to print?" When 82 is selected, image data is transmitted as response information. When the cancel button 83 is selected, image data is not transmitted, but response information that cancels the print request is transmitted. So that

  In step 412, the display information generated in step 408 or 410 is transmitted to the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  This display information is received by the receiving unit 62 of the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  The display information reception process on the client 16 side is substantially the same as the process described with reference to FIG. 9 of the first embodiment. However, when the response information generating unit 64 generates response information to be transmitted to the management server 12 in step 116 of FIG. 9, response information other than response information for canceling the print request (print condition change request is accepted and printed. Response information indicating that the image data held in the image data holding unit 65 is generated in response information indicating that the print request is not accepted and the change request is not accepted and printing is performed under the print conditions specified by the user in the print request. To do. The response information for canceling the print request does not include image data.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of response information reception processing executed by the management server 12 of this embodiment. The data flow in the response information reception process of the management server 12 is indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  In this case as well, a case where response information for printing without canceling a print request is transmitted will be described, and a case where response information for canceling is transmitted will be omitted.

  In step 500, when display information is received by the receiving unit 50, in step 502, the printing condition determining unit 56 determines whether or not the received response information includes a response content related to a request for changing the printing condition. That is, it is determined here whether the received response information is response information for display information for simply requesting image data or response information for display information that prompts the user to change the printing conditions.

  If the determination in step 502 is affirmative, the printing condition determination unit 56 determines the printing condition based on the received response information and the printing condition held in the printing condition holding unit 59 in step 504. The determination method is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 502, in step 506, the printing condition determination unit 56 determines the printing conditions held in the printing condition holding unit 59 as printing conditions for printing.

  In step 508, the print data creation unit 57 creates print data based on the determined printing conditions and the received image data.

  In step 510, the print data transmission unit 58 transmits the print data to the printer 14. As a result, the printer 14 performs printing under the printing conditions determined by the printing condition determination unit 56.

  Also in the present embodiment, display information may be generated so that it is possible to select whether or not to accept a change request for each type of printing condition as in the display screen shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, one response information including image data is generated and transmitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the response information may be generated and transmitted separately. For example, response information may be generated separately for a printing condition that accepts a change request and a printing condition that is not accepted, or a response information indicating whether or not to accept a change request for a printing condition and a response for transmitting image data Information may be individually generated and transmitted. In this case, the form of the response information may be set in both the management server 12 and the client 16 so that the response information can be transmitted and received correctly.

[Third Embodiment]
In the printing system 10 of the present embodiment, a print request including user information for identifying a user is transmitted from the client 16 to the management server 12, and the management server 12 determines print conditions according to the user information and displays the display information. The case of generating will be described.

  In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, a case where image data is not included in the print request but image data is included in the response information will be described as an example.

  The configuration example of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the management server 12, the printer 14, and the client 16 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and data flow of the management server 12 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 18, the same or equivalent parts as in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  The management server 12 of this embodiment has a configuration in which a user information analysis unit 70 and a user management information storage unit 71 are further added to the configuration of FIG. 14 of the second embodiment.

  The user management information storage unit 71 stores a user management information table for managing user information previously assigned to each client 16. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user management information table. As shown in FIG. 19, the user management information table stores user information and user levels in association with each other. In this user management information table, a user name is registered as user information, but it is not particularly limited as long as it is information that can identify a user. Here, the user level is classified into three types of Low, Middle, and High, and the user information is stored in association with any one of the three types of user levels. This user level is an example, and the three types are not limited.

  The information is previously input by the administrator from the input device 30a and stored in the user management information storage unit 71.

  Hereinafter, user information registered in the user management information table of the user management information storage unit 71 is referred to as user management information.

  In addition, the printing condition management information storage unit 52 of the present embodiment stores printing condition management information for each user level.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing condition management information table stored in the printing condition management information storage unit 52 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, the user level and the printing condition management information are stored in association with each other in the printing condition management information table of the present embodiment.

  The user information analysis unit 70 refers to the user management information table of the user management information storage unit 71 and acquires the user level stored in association with the user information included in the print request received by the reception unit 50. Then, the printing condition management information table stored in the printing condition management information storage unit 52 is referred to, and the printing condition management information stored in association with the acquired user level is acquired.

  The printing condition analysis unit 53 compares the printing condition management information for each user level acquired by the user information analysis unit 70 with the printing conditions held in the printing condition holding unit 59. Then, the printing conditions to be changed among the printing conditions specified in the printing request are determined, and information about the printing conditions is passed to the display information creating unit 54 as a comparison result.

  Next, the configuration of the client 16 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and data flow of the client 16 in the present embodiment. The functional configuration of the client 16 of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. However, in the present embodiment, at the time of a print request generation instruction, the user inputs user information via the input device 30b, and the print request generation unit 60 generates the print request including the user information.

  In FIG. 21, as in FIG. 15, the data flow indicated by the solid line indicates the data flow when the client 16 transmits the print request, and the data flow indicated by the broken line indicates the management server 12. The flow of data when display information is received from is shown.

  Next, a printing process performed by the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The print request transmission process on the client 16 side is the same as the process described in the second embodiment except that user information is included in the print request, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a flow of print request reception processing executed by the management server 12 of this embodiment. The data flow in the print request reception process of the management server 12 is indicated by a solid line in FIG.

  In step 600, the waiting state continues until a print request (including printing conditions and user information) is received by the receiving unit 50. If the print request is received by the receiving unit 50, the process proceeds to step 602.

  In step 602, the printing condition designated by the received printing request is held in the printing condition holding unit 59.

  In step 604, the user information analysis unit 70 acquires a user level from the user management information storage unit 71 based on the received user information of the print request.

  In step 606, the user information analysis unit 70 acquires the printing condition management information stored in association with the acquired user level from the printing condition management information storage unit 52.

  In step 608, the printing condition analysis unit 53 compares the printing conditions held by the printing condition holding unit 59 with the printing condition management information corresponding to the user level acquired by the user information analysis unit 70.

  As a result of the comparison in step 610, the printing condition analysis unit 53 has a printing condition to be urged to change among the printing conditions specified in the printing request (that is, the printing conditions held by the printing condition holding unit 51). It is determined whether or not. The determination method is the same as in the first embodiment.

  If the determination in step 610 is affirmative, in step 612, the display information creation unit 54 creates display information for requesting image data and display information for prompting a change in printing conditions. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 610, in step 614, the display information creation unit 54 creates display information for a simple image data request.

  The display information creation method in the display information creation unit 54 is the same as that in the second embodiment.

  In step 616, the display information generated in step 612 or 614 is transmitted to the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  This display information is received by the receiving unit 62 of the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  The display information reception process on the client 16 side after the display information is transmitted and the response information reception process executed by the management server 12 are the same as in the second embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, an example has been described in which image data is not transmitted when a print request is made, but image data is transmitted when response information is transmitted. Similarly, image data may be transmitted when a print request is made.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a user level is set for user information and print conditions are managed according to the user level has been described. However, a user level is not set, and print conditions are managed for each user information. You may make it do.

  The user information included in the print request may be given unique user information by, for example, logging into the management server 12 by an application when using the printer 14. In addition, in a system that uses a user name managed on the network when logging in to the client 16, the user name can be used as it is as user information. Further, the user information may be composed of the machine name of the client 16 and the user name on the client 16. Further, the MAC address of the client may be used as user information.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 23, the administrator's request (print condition management information) is forcibly set for each user level in the print condition management information table of the print condition management information storage unit 52 of the management server 12 in advance. The printing conditions (forced) and the printing conditions (recommended) that can accept the user's specification may be registered, and display information may be generated or the printing conditions may be determined based on this. Furthermore, in addition to the management information indicated by the printing condition (forced) and the printing condition (recommended), a printing condition that accepts the printing condition unconditionally specified by the user may be registered.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, regardless of the designation by the user, the printing conditions for which the manager's request (that is, the printing condition management information in the printing condition management information storage unit 52) is forcibly set, and the user In the example described with reference to FIG. 12, the printing conditions that can accept the designation of printing are registered according to the type of printing conditions, and display information is generated or the printing conditions are determined. May be performed for each user level.

FIG. 24 is a diagram exemplifying a printing condition management information table in which the designation of whether the administrator's request is forcibly set or the designation of the user can be accepted is registered for each printing condition type and for each user level. In the example shown in FIG. 24, “imposition” can be arbitrarily changed by users at the high level and the middle level, but the registered printing condition management information is forced for the user at the low level.

  It is also possible to register a series of settings such as several printing conditions (type and value) and user level as one set.

  For example, the printing condition management information storage unit 52 stores a management information table in which printing condition management information is registered for each user level as shown in FIG. 20 and also stores a user level for each set as shown in FIG. And a management information table in which additional printing condition management information is registered. The user management information storage unit 71 registers a set name corresponding to the user information as user management information.

  Here, the user level is used, but the user level may not be used, and the set may be configured by only some printing condition types and their values.

  In the example shown in FIG. 25, additional print condition management information is registered in each set, but this is management information of print condition types not defined in the management information table for each user level in FIG. Or printing condition management information defined separately from the printing condition management information defined for each user level. As in the latter case, with respect to the printing conditions defined for each user level, either one of the printing conditions separately defined in the set may be used with priority (for example, the additional attribute has priority).

  As described above, when various management information is set for many types of printing conditions, if the management information is stored as one set, the management state can be easily changed from one set to another. .

  Further, the printing condition management information to be used may be varied depending on the time zone in which the printer 14 is used. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, it is registered in the user management information table so that the set to be used is automatically changed according to the time zone. In the first and second embodiments, the printing condition management information is registered in the printing condition management information table so that the printing condition management information to be used differs depending on the time zone, regardless of the user information. Can do.

  Further, the printing conditions can be set in more detail for each user information or each user level. For example, restrictions such as the number of printed sheets can be provided individually.

  In addition, priority (priority) can be set for each user information or each user level. For example, when a plurality of print requests are received, control is performed so that printing is performed preferentially as the user level is higher, or control is performed so that printing requests for specific user information are performed preferentially. It is also possible.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the first to third embodiments, the example in which the user is notified of the information regarding the printing conditions has been described. However, not only the information regarding the printing conditions but also the information such as the notification regarding the printer, the network, and the like is notified to the user. It may be.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which notification information is notified to a corresponding user when a print request is received using the user information used in the third embodiment will be described.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, a case where image data is not included in the print request but image data is included in the response information will be described as an example.

  The configuration example of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the management server 12, the printer 14, and the client 16 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and data flow of the management server 12 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 27, the same or equivalent parts as in FIG. 18 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  The management server 12 of this embodiment has a configuration in which a notification information storage unit 72 and a notification information analysis unit 73 are further added to the configuration of FIG. 18 of the third embodiment.

  The notification information storage unit 72 stores notification information to be notified to the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, notification information (content to be notified) is stored in association with a notification number that uniquely identifies the content. Such information is input in advance by the administrator from the input device 30a or the like and stored in the notification information storage unit 72.

  The notification information is not particularly limited. For example, when the administrator changes or upgrades the printer driver, the information can be stored as notification information. In addition to various information related to the printer and the network, various types of information can be stored as notification information.

  In the user management information table of the user management information storage unit 74, the user information and the user level are stored in association with each other in the third embodiment, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The information is stored in association with the presence / absence of the notice information, the notice number for identifying the notice information when the notice information is present, and the number of times the notice information is transmitted to the user (number of notices). The information is stored in the user management information storage unit 71 in advance by the administrator through the input device 30a or the like, except for the number of notifications. In the present embodiment, the user management information storage unit 74 is completely different from the user management information storage unit 71 of the third embodiment, and therefore has a different code.

  The notification information analysis unit 73 refers to the user management information table of the user management information storage unit 74 and checks whether there is notification information stored in association with the user information included in the print request received by the reception unit 50. To do. And when there exists notification information, the notification information memorize | stored in the notification information storage part 72 is acquired.

  The display information creation unit 54 not only creates display information based on the printing condition information to be urged to be changed determined by the printing condition analysis unit 53 but also based on the notification information acquired by the notification information analysis unit 73. Create display information.

  The created display information is transmitted by the display information transmitting unit 55 to the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  Note that the functional configuration and data flow of the client 16 in this embodiment are the same as those in the third embodiment shown in FIG.

  Next, a printing process performed by the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The print request transmission process on the client 16 side is the same as the process described in the second embodiment except that user information is included in the print request, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  30 and 31 are flowcharts showing the flow of the print request reception process executed by the management server 12 of this embodiment. The data flow in the print request reception process of the management server 12 is indicated by a solid line in FIG.

  In step 700, the waiting state continues until a print request (including printing conditions and user information) is received by the receiving unit 50. If the print request is received by the receiving unit 50, the process proceeds to step 702.

  In step 702, the print condition designated by the received print request is held in the print condition holding unit 59.

  In step 704, the notification information analysis unit 73 searches the user management information storage unit 74 based on the user information of the received print request.

  In Step 706, it is determined whether or not the “Notification Information Presence” information stored in association with the user information indicates “Yes”. If “Notification Information Presence” indicates “None”, the process proceeds to Step 734 in FIG. If the “presence / absence of notification information” indicates “present”, it is determined in step 708 whether or not the user has been sufficiently notified. Here, when the number of notifications is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that sufficient notification has been performed. Here, if it is determined that the user has been sufficiently informed, the process proceeds to step 734 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the user has not been notified sufficiently, the process proceeds to step 710.

  In step 710, the notification information analysis unit 73 acquires the corresponding notification information from the notification information storage unit 72. As described above, the notification information storage unit 72 is searched and acquired using the notification number stored in the user management information storage unit 74.

  In step 712, the notification information analysis unit 73 notifies the display information creation unit 54 of the notification information.

  In step 714, the notification information analysis unit 73 updates the notification information transmission count of the user management information storage unit 74.

  In step 716, the display information creation unit 54 creates display information for displaying the notification information. In step 718, the display information transmission unit 55 sends the display information to the client 16 that is the transmission source that transmitted the print request. Send.

  This display information is received by the receiving unit 62 of the client 16 that is the transmission source of the print request.

  As a result, a display screen representing the notification information as shown in FIG. 32 is displayed on the display device 29b of the client 16. Here, the user can select either the buttons 90 and 92 for continuing printing or the cancel button 94 for canceling printing. The response information generation unit 64 generates response information according to the user selection result.

  The management server 12 determines whether or not response information has been received from the client 16 in step 730 of FIG. If response information has been received, it is determined in step 732 whether the response information is information indicating that printing is cancelled. If it is determined that the response information is information indicating that printing is cancelled, the process returns to step 700 without performing printing according to the received print request. If it is determined that the response information is not information indicating that printing is cancelled, the process proceeds to step 743.

  Since the processing from step 743 to step 742 is the same as the processing from step 404 to 412 shown in FIG. 16 of the second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The display information reception process on the client 16 side after the display information related to the printing conditions is transmitted and the response information reception process executed by the management server 12 are the same as those in the second embodiment.

  Note that before the client 16 transmits a print request to the management server 12, first, an inquiry may be made as to whether there is notification information. In this case, it is possible to reduce useless network traffic in which the user cancels the print request based on the notification information.

  As user management information, information on the type and number of times of printing conditions that did not accept the administrator's request (printing condition management information) regarding the printing conditions for each user may be stored. This information can be used as notification information to generate display information for warning to the user, or the administrator can refer to it when determining the user level.

  The management server 12 not only stores the information in the management server 12 but also notifies the administrator when the user does not accept the administrator's request (printing condition management information) regarding the printing conditions. Good. For example, this information may be displayed on the display device 29a or may be printed by the printer 14. The management information acceptance status can be known in real time, and can be used as a reference for changing printing condition management information and user management information.

  Further, since the management server 12 stores the user management information, the user information is accumulated, and the management itself of the user management information table becomes complicated. On the other hand, with respect to printer user information that has not been used for a certain period of time, a dialog screen for inquiring whether to delete the user management information from the list of user management information or whether to delete it is displayed on the display device 29a, or by e-mail or the like. You can also ask the administrator.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the management server 12 and the printer 14 are independent devices has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer 14 includes the management server 12. May be provided.

  Also, the printing condition management information storage unit and the user management information storage unit may be different areas of the same storage medium or different storage media.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the printing system which concerns on 1st-4th embodiment. (A) It is an external view of a management server and a client, (B) is a block diagram which shows typically the hardware constitutions of a management server and a client. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the management server in 1st Embodiment, and the flow of data. It is a figure which shows an example of the management information table of the printing conditions memorize | stored in the printing condition management information storage part of 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure and data flow of the client in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the print request transmission process performed with a client. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of print request reception processing executed by the management server according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the display information reception process performed with a client. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen which displayed display information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the response information reception process performed with the management server of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of a printing condition management information table. It is a figure which shows the modification of the display screen which displayed display information. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the management server in 2nd Embodiment, and the flow of data. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure and data flow of the client in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the print request reception process performed with the management server of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the response information reception process performed with the management server of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure and data flow of the management server in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user management information table memorize | stored in the user management information storage part of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing condition management information table memorize | stored in the printing condition management information storage part of 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure and data flow of the client in 3rd Embodiment. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print request reception process executed by the management server according to the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the management information table of the printing conditions memorize | stored in the printing condition management information storage part of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a modification of a printing condition management information table stored in a printing condition management information storage unit. It is a figure which shows an example of the management information table in the case of registering a series of settings, such as some printing conditions (type and its value), a user level, etc. as one set. It is a figure which shows an example of the management information table in the case of changing the set used according to a time slot | zone. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure and data flow of the management server in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the notification information table memorize | stored in the notification information storage part in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user management information table of the user management information storage part in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the print request reception process performed with the management server of 4th this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the print request reception process performed with the management server of 4th this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen showing notification information.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printing System 12 Management Server 14 Printer 16 Client 21 CPU
22 RAM
23 ROM
24 communication interface 29 display device 30 input device 50 receiving unit 51 print job holding unit 51 printing condition holding unit 52 printing condition management information storage unit 53 printing condition analysis unit 54 display information creation unit 55 display information transmission unit 56 printing condition determination unit 57 Print data creation unit 58 Print data transmission unit 59 Print condition storage unit 60 Print request generation unit 61 Transmission unit 62 Reception unit 63 Display control unit 64 Response information generation unit 65 Image data storage unit 70 User information analysis unit 71 User management information storage unit 72 Information Storage Unit 73 Information Analysis Unit 74 User Management Information Storage Unit

Claims (21)

Printing condition storage means for storing printing conditions;
Receiving means for receiving a print request in which printing conditions for the printing means are specified;
Comparing means for comparing the printing conditions specified in the print request received by the receiving means with the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage means;
Generating means for generating information relating to the printing condition specified in the print request based on the comparison result of the comparing means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the information generated by the generating means to a transmission source of the print request;
An information processing apparatus including: The generating unit determines that the comparison unit determines that the content of the printing condition specified in the print request is different from the content of the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information related to printing conditions is generated. The generation unit prints information relating to the printing conditions determined to be different as information for prompting a change to the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage unit or the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information for notifying to be generated is generated. The printing condition is determined based on at least one of the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit and the printing condition specified by the printing request received by the receiving unit, and printing is executed with the determined printing condition. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a control unit that controls the printing unit. The receiving unit further receives response information for the information transmitted by the transmitting unit from the transmission source of the print request,
Determining printing conditions based on at least one of the response information received by the receiving means, the printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage means, and the printing conditions specified in the printing request received by the receiving means; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to control the printing unit so that printing is executed under the determined printing condition. The printing condition storage means stores printing conditions corresponding to information indicating the transmission source of the print request,
The comparison unit compares the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit corresponding to the information indicating the transmission source of the printing request received by the receiving unit with the printing condition specified by the printing request. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The printing condition storage means stores printing conditions corresponding to the type of the transmission source of the print request,
The comparison unit compares the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit corresponding to the type of the transmission source of the printing request received by the receiving unit with the printing condition specified by the printing request. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The generation means is based on the comparison result of the comparison means, at least one of the type of print condition, the source of the received print request, and the type of the source of the received print request, The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein information related to a printing condition specified by a print request is generated. When determining the printing conditions for printing by the printing unit, the control unit includes at least one of a type of printing condition, a source of the received print request, and a type of the source of the received print request. 9. Either one of the print conditions specified in the received print request and the print conditions stored in the print condition storage unit are prioritized and determined according to one. 1. An information processing apparatus according to item 1. The printing condition storage means stores printing conditions corresponding to time zone information indicating a time zone,
The comparison unit compares a printing condition stored in correspondence with time zone information indicating a time zone in which the printing request is received by the receiving unit with a printing condition specified in the printing request. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9. It further comprises a notification information storage means for storing notification information for notifying various information according to the transmission source of the print request or the type of the transmission source,
The said transmission means further transmits the notification information memorize | stored in the said notification information storage means with respect to the transmission origin of the print request received by the said reception means. Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a transmission frequency storage unit that stores the transmission frequency of transmitting the notification information for each transmission source of a print request. Based on the number of transmissions stored in the transmission number storage unit, control is performed so that the notification information is not transmitted beyond the predetermined number of transmissions to the transmission source of the print request received by the reception unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a transmission control unit. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
Printing means for executing printing;
Including printing device. A print request generating means for generating a print request in which printing conditions for the printing means are specified;
A second transmission unit that transmits the generated print request to the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or the printing apparatus according to claim 14.
A second receiving means for receiving information on the printing condition transmitted from the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or the printing apparatus according to claim 14,
Display control means for displaying on the display means the information received by the second receiving means;
A terminal device including The print request transmitting terminal further includes response information generating means for generating response information for the information received by the second receiving means,
The terminal device according to claim 15, wherein the second transmission unit further transmits the response information when the response information is generated by the response information generation unit. The print request generation unit generates a print request without including image information to be printed,
The terminal device according to claim 16, wherein the response information generation unit generates response information including image information to be printed when the transmitted print request is not canceled. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
A terminal device according to any one of claims 15 to 17,
Including printing control system. A printing device according to claim 14;
A terminal device according to any one of claims 15 to 17,
Including printing system. On the computer,
When a print request in which a printing condition for the printing unit is specified is received, a comparison for comparing the printing condition specified in the printing request with the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit in which the printing condition is stored Steps,
Based on the comparison result of the comparison step, a generation step for generating information on the printing condition specified in the print request;
A transmission step of transmitting the information generated in the generation step to a transmission source of the print request;
A program that executes On the computer,
A print request generation step for generating a print request in which printing conditions for the printing means are specified;
A transmission step of transmitting the generated print request to the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or the printing apparatus according to claim 14.
When the information on the printing condition transmitted from the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or the printing apparatus according to claim 14 is received, the received information is displayed on a display unit. Display control step to
A program that executes