JP5598345B2 - Print server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print server that transmits data described in a page description language (PDL) to a printing apparatus connected to a network.

  A personal computer (PC: Personal Computer) converts document data into PDL data described in PDL when printing document data created by a program for creating a document. The document data is converted by a printer driver installed on the PC. The printer converts the PDL data transmitted from the PC into image data, and prints the converted image data.

  There is a method of transmitting PDL data to a print server or the like so that document data can be printed by various printers. In this case, the printer acquires PDL data designated by the user from the print server, and performs printing processing of the acquired PDL data.

  Patent Document 1 below describes a server device that stores print data transmitted from a PC and outputs print data in response to a request from an image forming apparatus. The print data is PDL data described in PDL.

  In Patent Document 1, a PC converts data created by an application program into print data using an installed printer driver, and transmits the print data to a server apparatus. When outputting print data in response to a request from the image forming apparatus, the server apparatus determines whether the image forming apparatus corresponds to a printing condition (such as aggregate printing) set by the print data. If the server apparatus determines that the image forming apparatus is not compatible, the server apparatus rewrites the part related to the printing condition in the print data.

JP 2009-54007 A

  However, when printing data stored in a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) using the server device of Patent Document 1, a printer driver must be installed in the portable information terminal. The processing capability of the portable information terminal is lower than that of the PC. For this reason, there is a problem that printing takes time by converting data to be printed into PDL data in the portable information terminal.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of printing desired data without installing a printer driver in a terminal operated by a user.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a print server, and when print target data is received from a client terminal connected to a network, the print target data is designated by the client terminal. A first data conversion unit that converts the first conversion data corresponding to the first data format and generates first print job data including the first conversion data; and issues first identification information unique to the print target data. An identification information issuing unit that transmits the first identification information to the client terminal, a storage unit that stores the first identification information and the first print job data in association with each other, and a printing apparatus via the network. When the job acquisition request including the second identification information is received and the correspondence between the first identification information and the second identification information is confirmed, the first print job data The and a print job transmitting unit for transmitting to the printing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print server according to the first aspect, when the storage unit receives condition setting data in which printing conditions are set from the client terminal, the client terminal and the condition setting data And the data conversion unit creates the first print job data using the condition setting data when the data to be printed is received.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the print server according to the first or second aspect, the job acquisition request includes correspondence format data indicating that the printing apparatus corresponds to a second data format, and the print server If the correspondence between the first data format and the second data format cannot be confirmed, the job transmission unit notifies the printing device that the printing device cannot process the first print job data.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the print server according to the third aspect, wherein the data conversion unit includes the first identification information and the corresponding format data, and data corresponding to the first identification information. When a reconversion request for requesting reconversion is received from the printing apparatus, the print object data is converted into second conversion data corresponding to the second data format, and the print job transmission unit Print job data including data is transmitted to the printing apparatus.

  In the print server of the present invention, when the data conversion unit receives print target data from the client terminal, the data conversion unit generates first conversion data corresponding to the first data format specified by the client terminal from the print target data. The identification information issuing unit transmits first identification information corresponding to the print target data to the client terminal. When receiving the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information from the printing apparatus, the job transmission unit transmits the first print job data including the first conversion data to the printing apparatus. As a result, it is possible to print the print target data held by the client terminal without installing the printer driver of the printing apparatus in the client terminal.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system including a print server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the print system illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the web page displayed on the monitor of PC shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing print condition management data held by the print server shown in FIG. 1. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of print target data reception processing executed by the print server shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing job management data held by the print server shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating print job transmission processing executed by the print server shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the reconversion process which the print server shown in FIG. 1 performs.

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

{1. overall structure}
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system including a print server 1 according to the present embodiment. The printing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a print server 1, a PC 2, a PDA 3, a multifunction device 4, and a printer 5. The print server 1, the PC 2, the multifunction machine 4, and the printer 5 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 6. The PDA 3 can communicate with the print server 1 via the Internet 7.

  The print server 1 converts the print target data 62 and 72 transmitted from the PC 2 or the PDA 3 into PDL data 55 and creates print job data 63 and 73 including the PDL data 55. The print target data 62 and 72 is document data or the like. The print job data 63 and 73 include a PJL (Printer Job Language) command for controlling the multifunction device 4 or the printer 5 in addition to the PDL data 55.

  The PC 2 and the PDA 3 are client terminals operated by the user. The PC 2 and the PDA 3 transmit print target data 62 and 72 to which the user has instructed printing to the print server 1.

  The multifunction device 4 is a multi-function device having a printer function, a FAX function, a copy function, a web server function, and the like. The multi-function device 4 acquires the print job data 63 and 73 designated by the user from the print server 1, and performs print processing of the acquired print job data 63 and 73. The multi function device 4 corresponds to PCL (Printer Control Language) which is one of page description languages.

  The printer 5 performs a printing process of the print job data acquired in accordance with a user instruction, like the multifunction machine 4. The printer 5 corresponds to PostScript3 (hereinafter referred to as PS3) which is one of page description languages.

{2. Configuration of print server 1}
As shown in FIG. 1, the print server 1 includes a control unit 11, a data conversion unit 12, a print job management unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a LAN interface 15.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown), and controls the entire print server 1.

  The data converter 12 converts the print target data 62 and 72 into the PDL data 55 in the PDL format designated by the user. The data conversion unit 12 includes printer drivers 121 and 122. The printer driver 121 converts the print target data 62 and 72 into PDL data 55 in the PCL format. The printer driver 122 converts the print target data 62 and 72 into PDL data 55 in the PS3 format.

  The print job management unit 13 manages the print target data 62 and 72 and the print job data 63 and 73 in association with each other. The print job management unit 13 includes an identification number issuing unit 130. When the print target data 62 and 72 are received, the identification number issuing unit 130 issues a unique ID number to each of the received print target data 62 and 72.

  The print job management unit 13 holds print condition management data 51 and job management data 52. The print condition management data 51 is data in which the condition setting data 61 and 71 transmitted from each client terminal and the transmission source of the condition setting data 61 and 71 are associated with each other. The job management data 52 is data in which an ID number, print target data 62 and 72, and print job data 63 and 73 are associated with each other.

  The storage unit 14 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk device. The storage unit 14 stores condition setting data 61, print target data 62, 72, 72,... And print job data 63, 73, 73,. The condition setting data 61 and the print target data 62 are data transmitted by the PC 2. The print job data 63 is data created based on the print target data 62.

  The LAN interface 15 communicates with each computer via the LAN 7 using a protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol).

{3. Outline of operation}
In the following, an outline of the operation of the print system shown in FIG. 1 will be described by taking the case where the user uses the PC 2 and the multifunction device 4 as an example.

  The PC 2 transmits the condition setting data 61 and the print target data 62 to the print server 1 in accordance with a user instruction. The print server 1 converts the print target data 62 into PDL data 55 based on the PDL format set in the condition setting data 61. The storage unit 14 stores print target data 62 and print job data 63 including PDL data 55.

  The user operates the multifunction device 4 to instruct the multifunction device 4 to acquire the print job data 63. The multi-function device 4 acquires the print job data 63 from the print server 1 and performs print processing for the acquired print job data 63. As described above, the print server 1 converts the print target data 62 into the PDL data 55 and generates the print job data 63 including the PDL data 55. For this reason, it is not necessary to install the printer driver of the multifunction device 4 in the client terminals such as the PC 2 and the PDA 3.

{4. Operation of each device of the printing system}
Hereinafter, it is assumed that the user operates the PC 2 and the multifunction peripheral 4, and the operation of each apparatus constituting the print system will be described in detail. Further, it is assumed that the condition setting data 61, the print target data 62, and the print job data 63 are not stored in the storage unit 14.

  FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operation of the printing system. In FIG. 2, steps S <b> 11 to S <b> 19 are processes related to generation of the print job data 63. Steps S31 to S37 relate to print processing using the print job data 63. The print server 1 uses HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) for communication with the PC 2 and the multifunction peripheral 4.

{4.1. Generation of print job data 63}
The user operates the PC 2 to set printing conditions before instructing transmission of the print target data 62. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 2 requests the print server 1 to display a web page (setting page) used for setting printing conditions in accordance with a user operation (step S11). In the print server 1, a web server unit (not shown) transmits a setting page to the PC 2 in response to a request from the PC 2 (step S12). The user sets printing conditions using the setting page displayed on the monitor of the PC 2 (step S13).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a setting page 200 displayed on the monitor of the PC 2. In the setting page 200 shown in FIG. 3, a pull-down list 201 is a user interface for designating the data format of the PDL data 55. The user sets the pull-down list 201 to “PCL” on the assumption that the print target data 62 is printed using the multifunction device 4. The user uses the pull-down lists 202, 202,... To input printing conditions such as an output method, a paper feeding method, a paper size, and a magnification.

  After setting the printing conditions, the user clicks the send button 203. The PC 2 transmits the parameters set in each pull-down list to the print server 1 as the condition setting data 61 (step S14). Since “PCL” is set in the pull-down list 201, the PC 2 transmits condition setting data 61 in which PCL is set as the PDL format to the print server 1.

  When the print server 1 receives the condition setting data 61, the print job management unit 13 stores the received condition setting data 61 (step S15). The file name of the condition setting data 61 is registered in the printing condition management data 51.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the print condition management data 51. As shown in FIG. 4, in the printing condition management data 51, the file names of the condition setting data 61 and 71 are associated with the transmission sources of the condition setting data 61 and 71. The print server 1 manages the client terminal and the condition setting data in a one-to-one correspondence. The client terminal cannot store a plurality of condition setting data in the print server 1.

  Next, the user operates the PC 2 to specify the print target data 62 (Step S16. The print target data 62 is data that the user can visually recognize, such as document data. The PC 2 is the specified print target. The data 62 is transmitted to the print server 1 (step S17) When the print server 1 receives the print target data 62, the print server 1 executes a print target data reception process (step S18).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of print target data reception processing. The print job management unit 13 refers to the print condition management data 51 and confirms whether or not the condition setting data 61 of the transmission source (PC2) of the print target data 62 is stored in the storage unit 14 (step S181). ).

  When the IP address of the PC 2 is not set in the print condition management data 51, the print job management unit 13 determines that the PC 2 condition setting data 61 is not stored (No in step S181). The print job management unit 13 notifies the PC 2 that the condition setting data 61 corresponding to the PC 2 has not been saved (step S182).

  When the IP address of the PC 2 is set in the print condition management data 51 (Yes in step S181), the print job management unit 13 determines that the print job data 63 can be generated from the print target data 62. The identification number issuing unit 130 issues the ID number of the print target data 62 (step S183).

  The print job management unit 13 registers the ID number and the print target data 62 in association with each other in the job management data 52 (step S184). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the job management data 52. The ID number “0003” is an ID issued corresponding to the print target data 62. In the job management data 52, the file name “Target0003” of the print target data 62 is associated with the ID number “0003”. At this time, the file name of the print job data 63 corresponding to the ID number “0003” is not registered in the print job management data 52.

  The data converter 12 converts the print target data 62 into PDL data 55 based on the condition setting data 61 (step S185). In this example, the content of the web page 200 shown in FIG. 3 is reflected in the condition setting data 61. Therefore, the printer driver 121 corresponding to the PCL format converts the print target data 62 to generate the PCL format PDL data 55.

  The data conversion unit 12 creates print job data 63 including PCL format PDL data 55 and control data (step S186). The control data is data in which printing conditions (output method, paper size, etc., see FIG. 3) set in the condition setting data 61 are described in PJL.

  The print job management unit 13 stores and registers the print job data 63 (step S187). Specifically, the print job data 63 is stored in the storage unit 14. The file name “Job0003” of the print job data 63 is registered in the job management data 52 in association with the ID number “0003”. The print job management unit 13 transmits the ID number “0003” to the PC 2 as a response to the reception of the print target data 62 (step S188). Step S188 and step 19 shown in FIG. 2 indicate the same processing.

  When the print server 1 has already saved the condition setting data 61 of the PC 2, the processes in steps S11 to S14 can be omitted. In this case, the print job data 63 is created based on the condition setting data 61 of the PC 2 stored in the storage unit 14. The PC 2 can check the presence / absence of the condition setting data 61 by inquiring of the print server 1 whether or not the condition setting data 61 is stored. Thereby, it is not necessary for the user to set the print condition every time the print target data 62 is transmitted.

  Further, when the condition setting data 61 of the PC 2 is stored, the print server 1 may transmit the setting page 200 reflecting the content of the condition setting data 61 being stored to the PC 2 (step S14). When the PC 2 transmits the condition setting data 61 to the print server 1, the condition setting data 61 stored in the storage unit 14 is overwritten.

{4.2. Print print job data 63}
The PC 2 displays the ID number “0003” of the print target data 62 received from the print server 1 on the monitor. The user uses the ID number to cause the multi-function device 4 to execute print processing of the print job data 63.

  Please refer to FIG. The user moves to the installation location of the multifunction machine 4. The user operates the touch panel display 41 to input the ID number “0003” to the multifunction device 4 (step S31). The multi-function device 4 transmits a print job transmission request including the input ID number “0003” (hereinafter referred to as a designated ID number) to the print server 1 (step S32). The print job transmission request includes corresponding format data. Corresponding format data is data indicating the PDL format (PCL) supported by the multifunction device 4 and the printing conditions (corresponding status of setting items shown in FIG. 3) supported by the multifunction device 4. When the print server 1 receives the print job transmission request, the print server 1 executes a print job transmission process (step S33).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the print job transmission process (step S33). The print job management unit 13 confirms whether or not the print job data 63 corresponding to the designated ID number is stored based on the designated ID number and the job management data 52 (step S331).

  If the designated ID number is not registered in the job management data 52 (No in step S331), the print job management unit 13 determines that the print job data 63 has not been saved. The print job management unit 13 transmits a message indicating that the print job data 63 corresponding to the designated ID number does not exist (step S332). In this case, the process of step S34 shown in FIG. 2 is not executed. The multifunction device 4 transmits the received message to the touch panel display 41 (see FIG. 1). The case where the print job data 63 is not registered in the job management data 52 will be described later.

  When the designated ID number is registered in the job management data 52 (Yes in step S331), the print job management unit 13 determines whether the transmission source of the print job transmission request (multifunction device 4) can process the print job data 63. Is confirmed (step S333). The print job management unit 13 confirms that the multifunction device 4 is compatible with PCL based on the corresponding format data included in the print job transmission request. The print job data 63 includes PDL data 55 in PCL format. Therefore, the print job management unit 13 determines that the multifunction device 4 can process the print job data 63 (Yes in step S333). The print job management unit 13 transmits the print job data 63 to the multifunction machine 4 (step S335). Step S335 and step S34 shown in FIG. 2 indicate the same processing.

  On the other hand, when the print job data 63 includes the PDL data 55 in the PS3 format, the print job management unit 13 determines that the multifunction device 4 cannot process the print job data 63 (No in step S333). In response to the print job transmission request, the print job management unit 13 transmits a non-corresponding message indicating that the multifunction device 4 cannot print the print job data 63 to the PC 2 (step S334).

  In step S <b> 333, the print server 1 compares the control data included in the print job data 63 with the corresponding format data, and determines whether the multifunction device 4 can process the print job data 63. For example, when the control data includes a command for instructing double-sided printing, the print server 1 refers to the corresponding format data and determines whether or not the multifunction device 4 supports double-sided printing. If it is determined that the multifunction device 4 cannot process the print job data 63, the print server 1 transmits a non-corresponding message to the PC 2 (step S334).

  Reference is again made to FIG. When the MFP 4 receives the print job data 63 as a response to the print job transmission request, the printer unit 42 (see FIG. 1) executes print processing using the print job data 63. The user may reset the number of copies when the multi-function device 4 receives the print job data 63.

  As described above, in the print system according to the present embodiment, when the print server 1 receives the print target data 62 from the PC 2, the print server 1 generates the print job data 63 from the print target data 62 based on the condition setting data 61. Therefore, it is possible to print the print target data 62 without installing a printer driver in a client terminal such as the PC 2 or the PDA 3. In addition, when a non-corresponding message is displayed on the multifunction device 4, the user causes the print server 1 to generate print job data 63 corresponding to the multifunction device 4 by operating the PC 2 to reset the printing conditions. Can do.

{4.3. Reconversion processing}
When the print server 1 transmits a non-corresponding message (step S334, see FIG. 7), the user can operate the multi-function device 4 to instruct the print server 1 to reconvert the print target data 62. Hereinafter, assuming that the print target data 63 stored in the storage unit 14 includes the PDL data 55 in the PS3 format, the reconversion of the print target data 62 will be described in detail.

  Please refer to FIG. The user inputs a designated ID number on the touch panel display 41 of the multifunction machine 4 and instructs reconversion of the print target data 62. The multifunction device 4 transmits a reconversion request for the print target data 62 to the print server 1 (step S35). The reconversion request includes a designated ID number and correspondence format data indicating that the multifunction device 4 is compatible with PCL. At this time, the user may display the setting page 200 shown in FIG. 3 on the touch panel display 41 and reset the printing conditions. In this case, the corresponding format data including the reset printing conditions is transmitted to the print server 1 together with the reconversion request.

  When receiving the reconversion request, the print server 1 executes reconversion processing (step S36). FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the reconversion process (step S36).

  Based on the job management data 52, the print job management unit 13 checks whether the print target data 62 corresponding to the designated ID number is stored (step S361). If the print target data 62 has not been saved (No in step S361), the print job management unit 13 notifies the multi-function device 4 that the print target data 62 corresponding to the specified ID number cannot be reconverted (step S362). . In this case, the user may operate the PC 2 to transmit the print target data 62 to the print server 1 and obtain a new ID number.

  If the print target data 62 is stored (Yes in step S361), the print job management unit 13 changes the condition setting data 61 corresponding to the designated ID number (step S363). As shown in FIG. 6, in the job management data 52, the ID number and the transmission source of the print target data 62 are associated with each other. In the printing condition management data 51, the transmission source of the condition setting data 51 and the file name of the condition setting data 51 are associated with each other. Therefore, the print job management unit 13 can specify the condition setting data 61 corresponding to the designated ID number. The print job management unit 13 changes the PDL format set in the condition setting data 61 to PCL based on the corresponding format data received together with the reconversion request.

  The printer driver 121 converts the print target data 62 based on the changed condition setting data 61, and generates PDL data 55 in the PCL format (step S364). The data conversion unit 12 newly creates print job data 63 (hereinafter referred to as PCL job data) including PCL format PDL data 55 and control data (step S365). The print job management unit 13 registers PCL job data in the job management data 52 in addition to print job data 63 (hereinafter referred to as PS job data) including PS3 format PDL data. That is, both PS job data and PCL job data are stored in the storage unit 14.

  The print server 1 transmits the PCL job data to the multifunction machine 4 (step S366). The processing in step S366 and step S37 shown in FIG. 2 indicate the same processing. The multi-function device 4 prints PCL job data.

  As described above, when a non-corresponding message is displayed on the multifunction device 4, the user can operate the multifunction device 4 to instruct reconversion of the print target data 62. As a result, the user can print the print target data 62 without operating the PC 2 again.

{4.4. Delete processing}
Reference is again made to FIG. After the print processing of the PCL job data or the print job data 63 received in step S34 is completed, the PC 2 transmits a print end notification including the designated ID number to the print server 1 (step S38). The print job management unit 13 deletes the print target data 62 and the print job data 63 corresponding to the designated ID number (step S39). When the storage unit 14 stores PS job data and PCL job data, both are deleted.

  Whether or not to delete the print target data 62 and the print job data 63 may be set on the setting page 200 shown in FIG. The user may set to delete either the print target data 62 or the print job data 63. In this case, in step S <b> 14 shown in FIG. 2, the PC 2 transmits condition setting data 61 including information related to deletion of the print target data 62 and the print job data 63 to the print server 1.

  In the above embodiment, the print server 1 has described the example in which both the print job data 63 and the PCL job data corresponding to the PS3 format are overwritten when the PCL job data is created. However, when creating the PCL job data, the print server 1 may delete the print job data 63 for the PS3 format.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the PC 2 transmits the condition setting data 61 and the print target data 62 to the print server 1 using HTTP has been described. However, the PC 2 may transmit an e-mail attached with the print target data 62 to the print server 1. Specifically, a plurality of mail addresses associated with various printing conditions are registered in the print server 1. The PC 2 transmits an e-mail attached with the print target data 62 with the e-mail address corresponding to the printing condition set by the user as the destination. That is, the PC 2 only needs to have a function of notifying the print server 1 of the printing conditions set by the user and transmitting the print target data 62 designated as the print target by the user.

1 Print server 2 PC
3 PDAs
4 MFP 5 Printer 12 Data Conversion Unit 13 Print Job Management Unit 14 Storage Units 61 and 71 Condition Setting Data 62 and 72 Print Target Data 63 and 73 Print Job Data

Claims (4)

When print target data is received from a client terminal connected to a network, the print target data is converted into first conversion data corresponding to a first data format designated by the client terminal, and the first conversion data is converted into the first conversion data. A data conversion unit for creating first print job data including:
An identification information issuing unit that issues first identification information unique to the print target data and transmits the first identification information to the client terminal;
A storage unit for storing the first identification information and the first print job data in association with each other;
When the job acquisition request including the second identification information is received from the printing apparatus via the network and the correspondence between the first identification information and the second identification information is confirmed, the first print job data is stored in the printing apparatus. A print job sending section to send to
A print server comprising: The print server according to claim 1, further comprising:
When the storage unit receives condition setting data in which printing conditions are set from the client terminal, the storage unit associates and stores the client terminal and the condition setting data;
When the data conversion unit receives the print target data, the data conversion unit creates the first print job data using the condition setting data. In the print server according to claim 1 or 2,
The job acquisition request includes corresponding format data indicating that the printing apparatus supports the second data format,
If the correspondence between the first data format and the second data format cannot be confirmed, the print job transmission unit notifies the printing device that the printing device cannot process the first print job data. Print server. The print server according to claim 3,
The data conversion unit includes the first identification information and the corresponding format data, and when receiving a reconversion request for requesting reconversion of data corresponding to the first identification information from the printing apparatus, Converting the target data into second conversion data corresponding to the second data format;
The print job transmission unit is a print server that transmits print job data including the second conversion data to the printing apparatus.

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