JP2013206028A - Print setting screen creation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that since it is considered that when a print service is provided by a cloud, the constitution information on a device or a service for managing the access right of a user exist on the cloud separately from the print service, it is necessary to provide a method for creating a print setting screen on which information stored in each service is reflected in order to make those services cooperate with the print service.SOLUTION: Disclosed is a service for managing a rule for creating a print setting screen, and for creating the print setting screen on the basis of applied conditions.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control method of a print setting screen creation system and a program thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, techniques related to Web services using Web servers that provide various services in response to requests from clients are known.

  For example, according to the description in Patent Document 1, the Web server provides an operation screen and a print setting screen for selecting a printer to be used from printers managed by the Web server in response to a request from the client. A user can perform a service capable of printing document data stored in a Web server by operating a screen provided from the Web server by a Web browser operating on the client.

JP 2003-296063 A

  However, since the web server of the above-described technology does not consider cooperation with other web servers, it is not possible to create a print setting screen by dynamically cooperating with a web server that owns information related to print settings. In addition, the above-described technology Web server provides a print setting screen only to a client that prints document data stored in the above-described technology Web server. Therefore, there is a problem that only the print setting screen is requested from the Web server of the above-described technology and cannot be used for other purposes.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a print setting screen creation system that can be used universally as a cloud service in which a plurality of Web servers operate in cooperation.

Means (702) for receiving a print setting screen creation rule used to create a print setting screen from an external server;
Means (701) for receiving print setting screen instruction information for instructing creation of a print setting screen;
When receiving the print setting screen creation instruction information, means (S1101 to S1113) for extracting information that meets the conditions given by the print setting screen creation instruction information from the print setting screen creation rules received in advance;
Means for creating a print setting screen according to a screen display method rule based on the extracted information (S1114);
Means (S1115) for transmitting the created print setting screen to the other party who has transmitted the print instruction information;
Print screen creation system characterized by comprising

  According to the system of the present invention, it is possible to create a mechanism for providing a print setting screen for general use as a cloud service. Further, the system of the present invention does not limit the external server that transmits the print setting screen creation rule. Therefore, it is possible to flexibly cope with an increase in the number of external servers to be linked.

1 is an overall view of a print screen creation system in an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of MFP 110 in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a print server 110, a printer management server 120, a client PC 150, and a print setting screen creation server 160 in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a print server 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a printer management server 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the software structure of the user access right management server 130 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the software structure of the print setting screen creation server 160 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the print setting screen creation rule information 703 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the print setting display format rule which the print setting screen creation server 160 in embodiment of this invention stores. It is a figure which shows the order method when it requests | requires creation of a print setting screen to the print setting screen creation server 160 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the print setting screen creation process which the print setting screen creation server 160 in embodiment of this invention performs. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen creation rule provided by the print server 110 to the print setting screen creation server 160 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen creation rule provided by the printer management server 120 to the print setting screen creation server 160 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the print setting screen creation rule which the user access right management server in embodiment of this invention provides to the print setting screen creation server. It is a figure which shows the calculation process of the printing setting screen creation rule in the printing setting screen creation process in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the print setting screen which the print setting screen creation server 160 in embodiment of this invention produces.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Description of system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the print setting screen creation system of this embodiment.

  The print server 110, the printer management server 120, the print data generation server 130, the user access right management server 140, the MFP 150, the client PC 160, and the print setting screen creation server 170 can be connected to the Internet 100 and communicate with each other.

  The print server 110 holds printable document data and, when requested by the client PC 160, submits a print job to a designated printer in accordance with a print instruction.

  The printer management server 120 manages printer information. When there is a change in information to be managed, the latest information is provided to the print setting screen creation server 160.

  The user access right management server 130 manages authority information such as which functions a user operating the MFP 140 and the client PC 150 can use. When there is a change in information to be managed, the latest information is provided to the print setting screen creation server 160.

  The MFP 140 has a printer and a copy function. In addition, it has a data transmission function for reading a document image and transmitting image data (sometimes referred to as document data) obtained by reading to an external apparatus using an FTP protocol, an SMB protocol, or the like. In addition, an e-mail can be created using an image as an attached file, and the e-mail can be transmitted using an e-mail server (not shown).

  The client PC 150 is a general personal computer equipped with a web browser. A print execution instruction can be issued to the print server 110 through a Web browser.

  When requested by the print server 110 or the like, the print setting screen creation server 160 performs print settings based on information provided from the printer management server 120, the print data generation server 130, the user access right management server 140, or the like. Create a screen and send it to the requester.

  However, in the system according to the present embodiment, the number of components is not limited.

<Description of Hardware Configuration of Print Server 110, Printer Management Server 120, Client PC 150, and Print Setting Screen Creation Server 160>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the print server 110, the printer management server 120, the client PC 150, and the print setting screen creation server 160.

  A CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, a network I / F 305, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 306 are connected to be communicable with each other via a system bus 310. A display device 307 such as a CRT, an input device 304 such as a keyboard, and a pointing device 308 such as a mouse are connected to each other via a system bus 309 so as to communicate with each other. The ROM 303 or HDD 306 stores a control program such as an operating system and a Web application. The CPU 301 functions as a computer by reading the control program from the ROM 303 or HDD 306 onto the RAM 302 and executing it as necessary.

  The CPU 301 displays various types of information via the display device 307 and accepts user instructions from the input device 304 and the pointing device 308. Further, it connects to the Internet 100 via the network I / F 305 and communicates with other devices.

<Description of Hardware Configuration of MFP 140>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP 140.

  The scanner unit 112 converts image information into an electrical signal by inputting reflected light obtained by exposing and scanning the image on the document to the CCD. Further, the electrical signal is converted into a luminance signal composed of R, G, and B colors, and the luminance signal is output to the controller 200 as digital image data. The document is set in the document feeder, and when the user instructs reading from the operation unit 111, the controller 200 gives a document reading instruction to the scanner unit 112. Upon receiving this instruction, the scanner unit 112 feeds documents one by one from the document feeder and performs a document reading operation. The document reading method is not an automatic feeding method using a document feeder, but may be a method of scanning the document by placing the document on a glass surface (not shown) and moving the exposure unit.

  The printer unit 113 is an image forming MFP that forms image data received from the controller 200 as an image on a sheet. In this embodiment, the image forming method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, but is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an ink jet system that prints on paper by ejecting ink from a micro nozzle array.

  The controller 200 is electrically connected to the operation unit 111, the scanner unit 112, and the printer unit 113, and is also connected to the Internet 100 via the network interface 206. That is, it is connected to other devices via the Internet 100. As a result, communication using various protocols is possible.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls access to the MFP and access from other MFPs based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 202. At the same time, various processes performed in the controller 200 are also comprehensively controlled.

  The ROM 202 stores a boot program for the apparatus.

  A RAM 203 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 201 and also a memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 203 is configured by an area for storing contents stored by power backup or the like even after the apparatus main body is turned off, and an area for erasing the stored contents after the power is turned off.

  The HDD 204 is a hard disk drive and can store system software and image data.

  The operation unit I / F 205 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 211 and the operation unit 111. The operation unit I / F 205 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 111 from the system bus 211 and outputs the image data to the operation unit 111 and outputs information input from the operation unit 111 to the system bus 211.

  A network I / F 206 is connected to the Internet 100 and the system bus 211 to input / output information.

  A scanner I / F 207 corrects, processes, and edits image data received from the scanner unit 112. The scanner I / F 207 has a function of determining whether received image data is a color document or a monochrome document, a character document, or a photographic document.

  The image forming unit 208 performs image data direction conversion, image compression, expansion processing, and the like. In addition, images stored in the HDD 204 can be combined into a single image.

  The printer I / F 209 receives the image data sent from the image forming unit 208, and forms an image on the image data while referring to attribute data attached to the image data. The image data after the image formation is output to the printer unit 113.

<Description of Software Configuration of Print Server 110>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the print server 110.

  These software modules are stored in the HDD 306 of the print server 110 and executed by the CPU 301.

  The print setting screen control module 401 sends the print setting screen acquired from the print setting screen creation server 160 to the client, and passes the print setting information returned from the client to the print execution module.

  The print execution module 402 converts the document data instructed for printing into a page description language according to the print setting information, and submits the print job to the designated printer.

  Document data 404 is printable document data stored in the print server 110.

  The registered printer information 405 is printer information acquired from the printer management server.

<Description of Software Configuration of Printer Management Server 120>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the printer management server 120.

  These software modules are stored in the HDD 306 of the printer management server 120 and executed by the CPU 301.

  The printer information collection module 501 acquires device information from a device having a printer function connected to the printer management server 120.

  The printer information 503 is information acquired by the printer information collection module 501.

  When there is a change in the printer information 503, the printer information distribution module 502 distributes the changed information to the print setting screen creation server.

<Description of Software Configuration of User Access Right Management Server 130>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the user access right management server 130.

  These software modules are stored in the HDD 306 of the user access right management server 130 and executed by the CPU 301.

  The user access right information registration module 601 accepts registration of user access right information.

  The user access right information 603 is user access right information received by the user access right information registration module 601.

  When the user access right information 603 is changed, the user access right information distribution module 602 distributes the changed information to the print setting screen creation server.

<Description of Software Configuration of Print Setting Screen Creation Server 160>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the print setting screen creation server 160.

  These software modules are stored in the HDD 306 of the print setting screen creation server 160 and executed by the CPU 301.

  The print setting screen creation module 701 creates a print setting screen described in HTML with reference to the print setting screen creation rule information 703 in accordance with an order from the client.

  The print setting screen creation rule registration module 702 receives and stores print setting screen creation rules distributed by other servers.

  The print setting screen creation rule information 703 is print setting screen creation rule information stored by the print setting screen creation rule registration module 702.

  The print setting display format rule 704 is information that determines how setting items are displayed when a print setting screen is created.

<Description of Data Configuration of Print Setting Screen Creation Rule Information 703>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the print setting screen creation rule information 703.

  A function 801 is a category of functions that can be set for printing.

  A functional element 802 is a functional element that can be set for printing.

  An object 803 is an object managed by the server that distributes the print setting screen creation rule.

  The function availability information 804 represents functions that can be used by the object. Usable is indicated by ○, and unusable is indicated by ×.

  Note that the function 801 and the functional element 802 are the same for all servers, but the object 803 is an object managed by the server that distributes the print setting screen creation rules, and therefore the meaning differs for each server. In the case of the print server 110, the print data generation method is used. In the case of the printer management server 120, the printer is used. In the case of the user access right management server 130, the user is used.

  12 shows examples of print setting screen creation rules provided by the print server 110, FIG. 13 by the printer management server 120, and FIG. 14 by the user access right management server 130.

<Description of Print Setting Display Format Rule 704>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating print setting display format rules stored by the print setting screen creation server 160.

  The display format is determined for each function that can be set for printing.

Print setting screen creation rule information 703
A function 901 is information representing a function that can be used in the printer. This information is the same as the function 801 in FIG.

  The display format 901 is information indicating what format is displayed for each function.

<Explanation of print setting screen creation order method>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an ordering method when a print setting screen creation server 160 is requested to create a print setting screen.

  The first parameter 1001, the third parameter 1003, and the fifth parameter 1005 are information for specifying a print setting screen creation rule to be used when creating a print setting screen. For example, the first parameter 1001 indicates data in which the object is a printer and the ID is MFP-001.

  The second parameter 1002 and the fourth parameter 1004 are information for designating the calculation method of the print setting display format rule information designated by the first parameter 1001, the third parameter 1003, and the fifth parameter 1005. Note that the calculation methods include “* (logical product)” and “+ (logical sum)”.

<Description of print setting screen creation processing>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of print setting screen creation processing executed by the print setting screen creation server 160. The print setting screen creation process is executed when the print setting screen creation server 160 receives a print setting screen creation request.

  In step S1101, the order is analyzed, the order is analyzed, and the print setting screen creation rule specifying information and the calculation method information are divided and stored in the order buffer.

  In step S1102, “+ (logical sum)” is inserted into the first element of the calculation method information in the order buffer.

  In step S1103, the screen information buffer is initialized.

  In step S1104, object designation information is acquired from the order buffer.

  Note that the first object designation information is acquired when the process of step S1104 is performed for the first time. When the process of step S1104 is performed for the second time, second object designation information is acquired. In this way, step S1104 increments the position of the object designation information acquired every time processing is performed.

  In step S1105, a print setting screen creation rule having the object designation information acquired in step S1104 is searched from the print setting screen creation rule information 703.

  In step S1106, the processing result in step S1105 is determined. If a print setting screen creation rule that matches the conditions is found, the process proceeds to step S1107. If not found, the process proceeds to step S1108.

  In step S1107, information on the specified object is acquired from the print setting display format rule searched in step S1105, and is stored in the temporary storage buffer.

  In step S1108, a screen for notifying an error is generated.

  In step S1109, calculation method information is acquired from the order buffer.

  Note that the first calculation method information is acquired when the processing of step S1109 is performed for the first time. When the process of step S1109 is performed for the second time, second calculation method information is acquired. In this way, step S1109 increments the position of the calculation method information acquired each time processing is performed.

  In step S1110, the calculation method information acquired in step S1109 is determined. If the calculation method information is “* (logical product)”, the process proceeds to step S1111. If the calculation method information is “+ (logical sum)”, the process proceeds to step S1112.

  In step S1111, the logical product of the information in the screen information buffer and the information in the temporary storage buffer is obtained and stored in the screen information buffer.

  In step S1112, the logical sum of the information in the screen information buffer and the information in the temporary storage buffer is taken and stored in the screen information buffer.

  In step S1113, it is determined whether there is unacquired calculation method information in the order buffer. If there is unacquired calculation information, the process of step S1104 is performed again. If there is no unacquired calculation information, the process proceeds to step S1114.

  In step S1114, the screen information buffer information is converted into an HTML screen based on the print setting display format rule 704.

  In step S1115, the screen created in step S1114 is returned as a response to the print setting screen creation request.

  FIG. 15 shows the calculation process when the order shown in FIG. 10 is received, and FIG. 15 shows an example of the screen to be created.

110 Print server 120 Printer management server 130 User access right management server 160 Print setting screen creation server

Claims (1)

Means (702) for receiving a print setting screen creation rule used to create a print setting screen from an external system;
Means (701) for receiving print setting screen instruction information for instructing creation of a print setting screen;
When receiving the print setting screen creation instruction information, means (S1101 to S1113) for extracting information that meets the conditions given by the print setting screen creation instruction information from the print setting screen creation rules received in advance;
Means for creating a print setting screen according to a screen display method rule based on the extracted information (S1114);
Means for transmitting the created print setting screen to the other party who has transmitted the print instruction information (S1115)
A print screen creation system comprising: