JP4337401B2 - Printing system and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is applied to a printing system in which a printing device and a server device for managing print data transfer to the printing device are connected via a network , and a printing device therefor. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a plurality of printing apparatuses, a server apparatus for managing print data transfer to these printing apparatuses, and an information processing apparatus (terminal) that requests a print job may be connected via a network. Many. For example, at the time of a print request by a user from each information processing apparatus connected to the network, the server apparatus transmits a print purpose item list to the information processing apparatus that is the print request source. Each time a print job including a print purpose item selected by the apparatus is received, print history data (including user name, affiliation, print date / time, device name used, and number of prints) in the print job is registered in the storage means. A management method is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP2001-092617 (first page, claims 1, 2 and 6)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with the method described above, when printing a file that must be printed on a predetermined print form, the standard print settings (duplex / aggregation / enlargement / reduction / paper size, etc.) determined by the information processing apparatus are used. When printing with different print settings, there is a problem that the print settings must be changed each time printing is performed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and a printing apparatus suitable for the printing system that can save the user the trouble of print setting when printing a file that must be printed on a predetermined printing form. is there.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a printing system according to the present invention includes a printing apparatus that performs printing based on print setting information and a server apparatus that manages data transfer to the printing apparatus connected via a network. Printing system ,
It said server apparatus includes means for receiving data including print setting information from the printing apparatus, after receiving the print setting information, and a management means for managing by registering in the storage device the print setting information as history data Have
When the print device receives print job data including print setting information from an information processing terminal connected to the network, the print device replaces the print setting information from the server device with means for transmitting the print setting information to the server device. Means for receiving print setting information, and performing printing based on the print setting information received from the server apparatus.
[0007]
Here, the “print setting information” can include, for example, a print form that defines a print format, a file name to be printed, a user name that has made a print job request, and the like.
[0008]
At the time of a print job request (print job data transmission) from each information processing terminal connected to the network, the user performs print settings for a file to be printed for the first time. When the user makes a print job request, print job data including print setting information corresponding to the print settings is transmitted from the information processing terminal to the printing apparatus. The server apparatus receives print setting information transmitted from the information processing terminal to the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus. After receiving the print setting information, the management unit registers the print setting information as history data in the storage device for management.
[0009]
As a result, if the user performs print settings for the first printing of the file to be printed, printing can be performed only by making a print job request without performing print settings again after the second printing. it can. That is, according to the management by the server device, by using a printing form that is determined by the print setting information registered previously (this is referred to as "registered print setting information".), Is printed by the printing device automatically To be done. Therefore, the user can save the trouble of print setting.
[0010]
In one embodiment, the server device on the print setting information received from the printing apparatus, characterized in that the file name and / or a print job requires a username Been to be printed are included.
[0011]
In one embodiment, when the server device receives from the printing apparatus print setting information including the file name and / or username, the management unit searches the history data in the file name and / or username In the history data, registered print setting information having the same file name and / or user name is acquired.
[0012]
In one embodiment, when the server device receives the print setting information including the file name and / or user name from the printing apparatus, said management means searches the history data by the file name and / or username The received print setting information is newly registered in the storage device when there is no registered print setting information having the same file name and / or user name in the history data.
[0013]
In one embodiment , in the server device, the management unit searches the history data with the file name and / or user name, and the file name and / or user name matches in the history data. When there is already registered print setting information, it is desirable to transmit the search result to the printing apparatus that is the transmission source of the received print setting information (referred to as “transmission source printing apparatus”).
[0014]
Furthermore, in one embodiment, it is preferable that the server device includes the registered print setting information in a search result transmitted to the transmission source printing device.
[0015]
In one embodiment , when the server apparatus receives print job data including the print setting information from the transmission source printing apparatus, the server apparatus overwrites the registered print setting information on the print setting information, and transmits the transmission data. It is desirable to transmit to the original printing device.
[0016]
Further, in one embodiment, the information processing terminal to the printing apparatus that performs printing based on the print setting information, an information processing terminal capable of transmitting print job data including print setting information through the network, the the print setting information, the Ru comprises means for performing a description to be registered as history data in the storage device is desired.
[0017]
In another aspect, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, a printing apparatus that performs printing based on print setting information and a server apparatus for managing data transfer to the printing apparatus are connected via a network. A printing apparatus for a printing system, comprising:
Means for transmitting the print setting information to the server device when print job data including print setting information is received from an information processing terminal connected to the network;
Means for receiving print setting information in place of the print setting information from the server device,
Printing is performed based on the print setting information received from the server device.
[0018]
In the printing apparatus according to an embodiment, it is preferable that the print setting information includes a file name to be printed and / or a user name who makes a print job request.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a schematic block configuration of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. In this printing system, a plurality of printing apparatuses 130A, 130B, 130C,..., A server apparatus 110 for managing print data transfer to these printing apparatuses, and information processing terminals 100A, 100B,. Are connected via the network 120. Although not shown for simplicity, the printing apparatuses 130A, 130B, 130C,..., The server apparatus 110 and the information processing terminals 100A, 100B,... Communicate with each other via the network 120. Have means.
[0021]
Each of the printing apparatuses 130A, 130B, 130C,... Prints based on the print setting information. In this example, the “print setting information” includes a print form that defines a print format, a file name to be printed, a user name that has made a print job request, and the like. The contents of these print forms, file names, and user names are variously set according to individual print jobs.
[0022]
The server device 110 includes a storage unit 111 that includes a hard disk drive that stores history data for managing the printing system, and a management unit (to be described later) that includes a CPU (central processing unit) that manages the printing system. And equipped. The control program for operating the CPU is stored in the storage device 111 in this example, but a program recorded on a removable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (compact disk) may be used. good.
[0023]
Each of the information processing terminals 100A, 100B,... Transmits print job data including print setting information to the printing apparatuses 130A, 130B, 130C,. The contents of the print setting information can be described by the user using input means (not shown) such as a keyboard and a mouse mounted on each information processing terminal 100A, 100B,.
[0024]
1 and 2 are flowcharts showing the operation of this printing system.
[0025]
It is assumed that the user issues a print job execution request to the printing apparatus (130A) through the information processing terminal (100A).
[0026]
First, on the screen of the information processing terminal 100A, the user is asked whether or not to print using history data (that is, print setting information) registered in the storage device 111 of the server device 110 (S1).
[0027]
When the user intends to print using the history data (YES in S1), the printing including the command to print using the history data from the information processing terminal 100A and the print setting information to the printing apparatus 130A. The job data is transmitted (S2). Upon receiving the print job data from the information processing terminal 100A, the printing apparatus 130A transmits the print job data to the server apparatus 110 according to the command (S3).
[0028]
When the server apparatus 110 receives the print job data from the printing apparatus 130A, the storage apparatus of the server apparatus 110 uses the file name and the user name included in the print setting information in response to a command to print using the history data. The history data already registered in 111 is searched (S4). If there is data (registered print setting information) having the same file name and user name in the history data (YES in S4), the registered print setting information is acquired (S7). The registered print setting information is transmitted (returned) to the transmission source printing apparatus 130A as a search result (S8).
[0029]
Upon receiving the registered print setting information from the server apparatus 110, the printing apparatus 130A overwrites the print setting information transmitted from the information processing terminal 100A with the registered print setting information, and based on the overwritten print setting information. Printing is performed (S6).
[0030]
As a result, if the user performs print settings for the first printing of the file to be printed, printing can be performed only by making a print job request without performing print settings again after the second printing. it can. That is, according to management by the server apparatus 110, printing is automatically performed using the print form determined by the registered print setting information. Therefore, the user can save the trouble of print setting.
[0031]
Note that the server apparatus 110 may return the print setting information received from the transmission source printing apparatus 130A to the transmission source printing apparatus 130A after overwriting the registered print setting information obtained by the search.
[0032]
On the other hand, if there is no data having the same file name and user name in the history data in step S4 (NO in S4), the server device 110 stores the print setting information received from the printing device 130A as history data. New registration is performed in the apparatus 111 (S5). At the same time, the server apparatus 110 transmits (returns) information indicating that there is no registered print setting information in the history data to the transmission source printing apparatus 130A as a search result.
[0033]
When the printing apparatus 130A receives information indicating that there is no registered print setting information in the history data from the server apparatus 110, the printing apparatus 130A performs printing based on the print setting information transmitted from the information processing terminal 100A (S6). .
[0034]
If the user designates not to use the history data registered in the storage device 111 of the server device 110 in step S1, the processing after step S11 in FIG. 2 is executed.
[0035]
In other words, when the user intends to perform printing without using the history data, before transmitting the print job data to the printing apparatus 130A, the user displays the server apparatus 110 (storage device 111) on the screen of the information processing terminal 100A. ) Asks whether or not to newly register as history data (S11). When the user tries to print without newly registering with the server apparatus 110 (NO in S11), the information processing terminal 100A transmits the print job data to the printing apparatus 130A as it is (S18). At this time, the print job data includes a command indicating that the history data registered in the storage device 111 is not used and no new registration is performed. In response to the command, the printing apparatus 130A performs printing based on the print setting information received from the transmission source printing apparatus 130A without transmitting the print setting information to the server apparatus 110 (S19).
[0036]
On the other hand, if the user intends to perform new registration with the server apparatus 110 in step S11 (YES in S11), the user can display the information on the screen of the information processing terminal 100A before transmitting print job data to the printing apparatus 130A. It is asked whether or not to enable the print setting information for all users (S12). When trying to validate the print setting information for all users, the user changes the description in the user name column in the print setting information to “ALL” (S13). Note that the user does not change the description in the user name field unless he / she wants to validate the print setting information for all users.
[0037]
Thereafter, the information processing terminal 100A transmits print job data including print setting information to the printing apparatus 130A (S14). At this time, the print job data includes a command for newly registering without using the history data registered in the storage device 111. The printing apparatus 130A transmits print setting information to the server apparatus 110 in response to the command (S15). The server device 110 newly registers the print setting information received from the printing device 130A in the storage device 111 as history data (S16). At this time, if the description in the user name column in the print setting information is “ALL”, that fact is registered. After registration with the server apparatus 110, the printing apparatus 130A performs printing based on the print setting information received from the transmission source printing apparatus 130A.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above, according to the printing system of the present invention, the user can save the trouble of print setting when printing a file that must be printed with a predetermined printing form.
[0039]
Further, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to configure a printing system that allows the user to save the trouble of print setting in cooperation with the server apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an operation flow (part) of a printing system to which the invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow (remaining) of the printing system.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
100A, 100B Information processing terminal 110 Server device 111 Storage device 120 Network 130A, 130B, 130C Printing device

Claims (5)

A printing system in which a printing device that performs printing based on print setting information and a server device for managing data transfer to the printing device are connected via a network,
It said server apparatus includes means for receiving data including print setting information from the printing apparatus, after receiving the print setting information, and a management means for managing by registering in the storage device the print setting information as history data Have
When the print device receives print job data including print setting information from an information processing terminal connected to the network, the print device replaces the print setting information from the server device with means for transmitting the print setting information to the server device. A printing system comprising: means for receiving print setting information; and performing printing based on the print setting information received from the server device. The printing system according to claim 1,
The printing system the server apparatus, characterized in that it contains the above print setting information, the file name and / or a print job requires a username Been to be printed is received from the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 2,
When the server device receives print setting information including the file name and / or user name from the printing device, the management means searches the history data with the file name and / or user name, and the history data The registered print setting information having the same file name and / or user name is acquired in the printing system . The printing system according to claim 2,
When the server device receives the print setting information including the file name and / or user name from the printing device, the management unit searches the history data with the file name and / or user name, and A printing system characterized by newly registering the received print setting information in the storage device when there is no registered print setting information having the same file name and / or user name in the data. A printing apparatus that performs printing based on print setting information and a server apparatus for managing data transfer to the printing apparatus are the above-described printing apparatus for a printing system connected via a network,
Means for transmitting the print setting information to the server device when print job data including print setting information is received from an information processing terminal connected to the network;
Means for receiving print setting information in place of the print setting information from the server device,
A printing apparatus that performs printing based on print setting information received from the server apparatus.

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