JP6115342B2 - Pull print system, pull print server and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for pull printing and a computer program.

  In general, a printer driver for using a printer is installed in a personal computer. As a result, a print job suitable for the printer can be given to the printer. The print job is print command data in a predetermined format including image information to be printed and print setting information (number of copies, paper size, single / double-sided, monochrome / color, necessity of finishing, etc.).

  By using a model-dependent printer driver optimized for each model, such as a genuine driver provided by the printer manufacturer, the printing function of the printer can be used to the maximum. For example, when the printer has a post-processing function for processing paper, post-processing can be performed. On the other hand, with a general-purpose printer driver that is compatible with a plurality of models, some of the functions of the printer cannot be used, or a printing operation not intended by the user is performed.

  Conventionally, pull printing is performed in a printing environment in which a plurality of users share a printer, such as a corporate office. The printer here includes an information device that can be used as a network printer, such as an MFP (Multi-functional Peripheral). In pull printing, a pull print server is used, and a print job is executed (that is, a printing operation) at a timing asynchronous with the creation of the print job.

  For example, in a pull print system including a plurality of printers, when a user of a personal computer instructs printing of a document, a print job created in the personal computer is transmitted to a pull print server. The transmitted print job is temporarily stored in the pull print server. After that, the user goes to the installation location of one printer arbitrarily selected from a plurality of printers, and instructs the execution of the print job using the operation panel of the printer. Upon receiving the instruction, the printer extracts the print job from the pull print server and executes it.

  According to the pull print, it is possible to realize a secure print that prevents a person other than the person from taking away the printed matter. In addition, the user can receive a printed matter at a convenient place, or can select and use a printer that is not used by another user.

  With respect to pull printing, a method has been proposed in which a printer driver creates an intermediate-format print job independent of the printer model and sends it to a pull print server (Patent Document 1). According to this method, the user can change the print setting at the stage where he / she goes to the installation location of the printer to execute printing. When the user instructs to change the print setting, the pull print server converts the intermediate-format print job into a print job that can be executed by the printer and reflects the setting change instruction, and sends the print job to the printer.

  On the other hand, with respect to control by an external device for a printer, there is a technique for switching a command to be given to a printer according to the model of the printer (Patent Document 2). In a terminal device for POS (Point of sale) disclosed in the past, as a recording device that prints character information on roll paper and issues a receipt, an upper or lower printer in this type of product line-up is selectively used. Connected. The terminal device that controls the printer includes a database that associates upper commands with lower commands that can serve as alternative commands. When a lower-level printer is connected, the terminal device outputs a lower-level command that is an alternative command in a situation in which the upper-level command is output and controlled.

JP 2012-078999 A JP 2012-141880 A

  Conventionally, when constructing a pull print system including a plurality of printers, it has been necessary to unify these printer models into “similar” models in which compatible model-dependent printer drivers are common. This restriction was also a restriction on expansion or modification of the system configuration in which a printer is added or a part of an existing printer is replaced with the latest model.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to alleviate restrictions on printer models used for pull printing.

A system for achieving the above object is a pull printing system comprising a server, a client for uploading a print job to the server, and a printing apparatus for fetching and executing a print job from the server. When uploading a print job to the server, the server has an information transmission unit that transmits driver information for specifying the printer driver that created the print job to the server, and the server transmits the uploaded print job and the information transmission A job management unit that associates and stores the driver information transmitted from the unit, compatible driver information that indicates a printer driver that is compatible with each of a plurality of different types of printing apparatuses, and the compatible driver information. A database unit that manages correspondence command information indicating correspondence between commands having the same instruction content among commands used by each of the plurality of printer drivers, and a model of each printing device at the time of communication with each of the plurality of printing devices An acquisition unit that acquires the device information indicated, and a printer that matches the model indicated by the device information in the compatible driver information when transfer of the stored print job is requested from any of the plurality of printing devices By comparing the driver with the printer driver indicated by the driver information, it is determined whether or not the print job requested to be transferred is compatible with the requesting print device that is the printing device that requested the transfer of the print job. A determination unit and a determination pair If the print job is determined to be compatible with the request source print apparatus, the print job requested to be transferred is transferred to the request source print apparatus, and the print job to be determined is If it is determined that the print job is not suitable for the original printing apparatus, the command of the other print driver associated with the print command is associated with the print command instead of the print job requested to be transferred. And a transfer unit that transfers the corrected print job replaced with the command of the printer driver that matches the model indicated by the device information to the request source printing device.

  According to the present invention, a print job created by a model-dependent printer driver suitable for at least one of a plurality of printers can be executed in any printer. That is, it becomes possible to realize a pull print environment in which a plurality of printers having different compatible model-dependent printer drivers coexist.

It is a figure which shows an example of the network structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of operation | movement of a pull print system. It is a figure which shows the example of a suitable driver table. It is a figure which shows the example of a corresponding | compatible command table. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the principal part relevant to the upload of the print job in a pull print system. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a main part related to execution of a print job in a pull print system. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a pull print server. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of operation | movement of a pull print server. 10 is a flowchart of job storage by a pull print server. 6 is a flowchart of job transfer by a pull print server. 6 is a flowchart of a job correction subroutine in a job transfer routine. It is a flowchart of the database management by a pull print server. It is a figure which shows the modification of a structure of a pull print server. It is a figure which shows the example of the designated model table which concerns on the modification of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of operation | movement of the pull print server of FIG. 14 is a flowchart of correction job creation by the pull print server of FIG. 13. It is a flowchart of the job transfer by the pull print server of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the network structure which concerns on a pull print. It is a figure which shows the modification of a suitable driver table.

  A network 7 illustrated as a pull print environment in FIG. 1 is a LAN (Local Area Network) built in a corporate office. A plurality of personal computers 2A, 2B, a pull print server 3, and a plurality of MFPs 4, 5A, 5B are connected to the network 7. These devices constitute a pull print system. The number of personal computers 2A, 2B (2 in the figure) and the number of MFPs 4, 5A, 5B (3 in the figure) are not limited to the illustrated numbers.

  The personal computers 2 </ b> A and 2 </ b> B are clients for the pull print server 3. The personal computers 2A and 2B may be stationary or portable such as a notebook or tablet. The personal computers 2A and 2B access the pull print server 3 by wired communication or wireless communication. For wireless communication, for example, an access point (not shown) compliant with WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) standards is used.

  The pull print server 3 manages a print job uploaded from a client (hereinafter abbreviated as “job”). The pull print server 3 of this example can communicate with a server 9 on the cloud connected via the Internet 8. The pull print server 3 may be an information device dedicated to pull printing, or may be an information device having other server functions such as a mail server and a file server. Not only an information processing apparatus such as a server machine or a personal computer, but also other equipment capable of executing a server program can be used as the pull print server 3. The server program may be plug-in software of an integrated device management application that efficiently manages devices on the network.

  The MFPs 4, 5A, and 5B are complex information devices that can be used as network printers managed by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). The MFPs 4, 5A, and 5B operate as printing apparatuses for pull printing. That is, the MFPs 4, 5A, and 5B draw out and execute the job stored in the pull print server 3 from the pull print server 3, and output a printed matter corresponding to the job. The MFPs 4, 5A, 5B have an operation panel that can display a screen, and a user of the pull print system uses this operation panel to designate a job to be executed or instruct to start a printing operation. .

  In the three MFPs 4, 5A, 5B depicted in FIG. 1, the MFP 4 and the other two MFPs 5A, 5B are different in model. However, the specifications regarding the hardware configuration and the print output are almost the same in the three MFPs 4, 5A, 5B, and any of the MFPs 4, 5A, 5B can output the same printed matter. However, there is a difference between the MFP 4 and the MFPs 5A and 5B in software for hardware control and image data processing accompanying printing.

  For example, there are cases where MFPs 4, 5A, 5B are manufactured by OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manufacturers, the sellers of MFP 4 and MFPs 5A, 5B are different, and software with unique details is incorporated for each seller. In addition, although the seller is the same, there is a case where the model name is changed when the software is upgraded.

  The pre-print system described below allows users to output prints corresponding to jobs created by model-dependent printer drivers to any printing device in a network with mixed printing devices. Realize pull printing.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the operation of the pull print system. In FIG. 2, the pull print system 1 includes personal computers (PCs) 2A and 2B as clients, a pull print server 3, and a plurality of MFPs 4, 5A and 5B as printing apparatuses.

  Prior to use of the MFPs 4, 5A, 5B, a printer driver suitable for at least one of the MFP 4 and the MFPs 5A, 5B is installed in the personal computers 2A, 2B. As a genuine printer driver that is most suitable for the MFP 4, a PCL driver 41 that uses PCL (Printer Control Language) as a page description language for describing a job and a PS driver 42 that uses PostScript (registered trademark) are provided by the manufacturer of the MFP 4. ing. Also, as a genuine printer driver that is optimal for the MFPs 5A and 5B, a PCL driver 51 that describes a print job using PCL and a PS driver 52 that describes a print job using PostScript are provided from the manufacturers of the MFPs 5A and 5B. Has been. In the illustrated state, among these four printer drivers, the PCL driver 41 and the PS driver 42 are installed in the personal computer 2A, and the PCL driver 51 and the PS driver 52 are installed in the personal computer 2B. However, only one of the four printer drivers may be installed in each of the personal computers 2A and 2B, or two or four arbitrarily selected printer drivers may be installed.

  Each user operating the personal computers 2A and 2B arbitrarily selects one of the installed printer drivers when instructing printing of the document files D1 and D2. Then, a job (a file specifying a printing operation) is created by the selected printer driver and uploaded to the pull print server 3. Specifically, when the PCL driver 41 is selected, the job J41 is uploaded, and when the PS driver 42 is selected, the job J42 is uploaded. When the PCL driver 51 is selected, the job J51 is uploaded, and when the PS driver 52 is selected, the job J52 is uploaded.

  The uploaded jobs J41, J42, J51, and J52 are temporarily stored in the pull print server 3. At this time, the pull print server 3 acquires driver information for specifying the printer driver that created and uploaded the job from the personal computer 2A. The acquired driver information 410, 420, 510, 520 is stored in association with the corresponding job. The driver information 410, 420, 510, 520 is used for determining whether or not “job correction” is necessary.

  By the way, the jobs J41 and J42 both designate the same image data (here, the document file D1) as a print target. In other words, no matter what the job J41, J42 is executed, there is no substantial difference in the obtained printed matter. The same applies to jobs J51 and J52. However, there may be a difference in commands (bit strings representing instructions) and parameters that define the printing operation among the jobs J41, J42, J51, and J52. The command is different for different page description languages. Even if the page description language is the same, the command or parameter differs depending on the print setting. Therefore, when each of the jobs J41, J42, J51, and J52 is input to an MFP that does not conform to the job J41, J42, J51, and J52, a printed matter different from the setting by the user may be output, or the job itself may not be executed.

  Therefore, when the job transfer is requested from the MFPs 4, 5A, 5B, the pull print server 3 performs “job correction” to change the command and parameters of the original job as necessary, and sends it to the requesting MFP. In contrast, the job that matches it is transferred. For example, when the transfer of the job J41 is requested from the MFP 4, the PCL driver 41 that created the job J41 is a genuine driver of the MFP 4, so the job J41 is suitable for the MFP 4. Therefore, in this case, the job J41 is transferred to the MFP 4 as it is. On the other hand, when the transfer of the job J52 is requested from the MFP 4, the PS driver 52 that created the job J52 is a genuine driver of the MFPs 5A and 5B and is not compatible with the MFP 4. Inevitably, job J52 is not compatible with MFP4. Therefore, in this case, job correction is performed on the job J52, and the correction job J524 obtained thereby is transferred to the MFP 4.

  As described above, the pull print server 3 performs job correction as necessary, so that the user can select any of the PCL drivers 41 and 51 and the PS drivers 42 and 52, and the user can select the MFPs 4, 5A, and 5B. The user can obtain a desired printed matter regardless of which one is instructed to execute the job.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the pull print system will be described in more detail.

  In order to determine whether or not “job correction” is necessary, the pull print server 3 has a compatible driver table T2 indicating printer drivers that are compatible with the models of the MFPs 4, 5A, and 5B. The pull print server 3 has a corresponding command table T3 indicating commands and parameters to be replaced in “job correction”.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the compatible driver table T2. Each record of the compatible driver table T2 includes a field 201 for specifying a model, a field 202 indicating a first printer driver compatible with the model, and a field 203 indicating a second printer driver compatible with the model.

  The field 201 stores a SysOID (system object ID) or a SysDescription in an MIB (Management Information Base) provided in a device that can be used as a printing apparatus including the MFPs 4, 5A, and 5B. For example, the identification code of the PCL driver is stored in the field 202, and the identification code of the PS driver is stored in the field 203, for example. When there is a driver using another page description language, a field for storing the identification code is provided in the compatible driver table T2.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the corresponding command table T3. In the corresponding command table T3, records are grouped according to the page description language used by the printer driver. In each group, each record has a field 301 indicating a command type and fields 302, 303, 351, and 352 corresponding to all corresponding printer drivers shown in the compatible driver table T2.

  In the example, for a printer driver using PCL, there is a command type of “paper feed tray”. This is provided for designating a paper feed tray to be used during printing for a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays. In this “paper tray” record, the driver command (with parameters) “KOMIHA bh25 new PCL” in field 302 is “MEDIASOURCE = 1”, and the driver command “KOMIHA bh30 PCL” in field 303 is also Similarly, “MEDIASOURCE = 1”. Therefore, when transfer of a job created by the driver corresponding to the field 302 is requested from a printing apparatus compatible with the driver corresponding to the field 303, it is not necessary to replace the command for “paper feed tray”. Similarly, it is not necessary to replace the command when a transfer of a job created by the driver corresponding to the field 303 is requested from a printing apparatus compatible with the driver corresponding to the field 302.

  However, the command (with parameters) of the driver “AHIMOK 300 Series PCL” in the field 351 in the “paper tray” is “MEDIASOURCE = 5”, and the command of the driver “AHIMOK 400 Series PCL” in the field 352 is the same. “MEDIASOURCE = 5”. That is, when the commands in the fields 302 and 303 are compared with the commands in the fields 351 and 352, the character strings of the commands indicating the paper feed designation are common, but the numerical values of the parameters representing the default paper feed tray are different. Therefore, when a transfer of a job created by the driver corresponding to the field 302 or the field 303 is requested from a printing apparatus compatible with the driver corresponding to the field 351 or the field 352, the command parameter for the “paper tray” is set. It is necessary to modify the job to replace. Similarly, when a transfer of a job created by a driver corresponding to the field 351 or the field 352 is requested from a printing apparatus compatible with the driver corresponding to the field 302 or the field 303, the job needs to be corrected. .

  When attention is paid to other records, there is a command type of “font”. This is provided for designating a font to be applied to rasterization of characters included in image data. In this “font” record, the commands in the fields 302 and 303 (with parameters) are “FontStatus Hirakaku W3”, whereas the commands in the fields 351 and 352 (with parameters) are “FStyle Hirakaku W3”. It is. When these commands are compared, the parameter part (Hirakaku W3) indicating the font name is common, but there is a difference in the character string of the command that indicates the font designation. That is, in the fields 302 and 303, “FontStatus”, whereas in the fields 351 and 352, “FStyle”. Therefore, when the job and the printing apparatus that requests transfer thereof correspond to two fields having different commands in the “font” record, it is necessary to perform job correction for replacing the command for “font”.

  FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration of main parts related to job upload in the pull print system. FIG. 5 schematically shows a case where the job J42 is uploaded by the PS driver. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, the user can select another printer driver (PCL driver 41, 51 or PS driver 52) as a job creation unit.

  In the personal computer 2A as a client, the user designates printing of the document file D1 as file processing for a predetermined application 25 such as a word processor or a viewer. Subsequently, one of a plurality of printer drivers displayed as printer options is selected on the print setting screen called by the application 25. In this example, the PS driver 42 is selected. If necessary, the user instructs desired settings for basic items such as pages to be printed and the number of copies and application items that depend on the printer driver. Then, the user instructs the start of file output.

  In response to a user instruction, the PS driver 42 creates a job J42 that includes the image data of the document file D1 as a print target. The job J42 is configured by a command that can be executed by the MFP 4 compatible with the PS driver 42. The PS driver 42 uploads the job J42 to the pull print server 3 using a communication function provided in the personal computer 2A.

  When the job J42 is uploaded, the driver information 420 is transmitted to the pull print server 3 by the port monitor 60. The driver information 420 is information that identifies the printer driver that created the uploaded job. In the case illustrated, the printer driver indicated by the driver information 420 is the PS driver 42.

  In order to transmit the driver information 420, the port monitor 60 is installed together with the PS driver 42 or another printer driver in the personal computer 2A in advance. The port monitor 60 acquires the driver name of the PS driver 42 as the driver information 420 from the operating system (OS) 20 or middleware of the personal computer 2A via an API (Application Programming interface).

  The pull print server 3 includes a communication processing unit 31 and a job management unit 32. These components are functional elements realized by executing a predetermined program. The communication processing unit 31 is in charge of communication processing with the client and the printing apparatus, and the job management unit 32 is in charge of managing job and driver information.

  The communication processing unit 31 delivers the job J42 and driver information 420 received from the personal computer 2A to the job management unit 32. The job management unit 32 stores the job J42 in the job storage folder 131. The job storage folder 131 is a nonvolatile memory area inside the pull print server 3. When storing the job J42, the job management unit 32 writes information necessary for managing the job J42 in the job management table T1.

  In the job management table T1, a record corresponds to each managed job. Each record has a plurality of fields including a field 103 called “job file name” and a field 105 called “driver name”. In the field 103, for example, a file name automatically assigned to a job to be managed by the job management table T1 is written. This file name uniquely identifies the job. In the field 105, driver information 420 is written. As a result, the driver information 420 is stored in the pull print server 3 in association with the job J42 in the job storage folder 131.

  FIG. 6 shows a functional configuration of a main part related to execution of a print job in the pull print system. FIG. 6 schematically shows a case where a job is executed by the MFP 5A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, the user can select another MFP 4, 5B as a job execution unit.

  The pull print server 3 includes a determination unit 34, a transfer unit 35, and a database unit 36. These components are functional elements realized by executing a predetermined program. The determination unit 34 determines whether or not the above-described job correction is necessary. The transfer unit 35 transfers the job or the correction job to the printing apparatus in cooperation with the communication processing unit 31. When the correction job is transferred, the transfer unit 35 corrects the job. The database unit 36 is responsible for maintenance management of the compatible driver table T2 and the corresponding command table T3.

  A transfer request from the MFP 5 </ b> A is given to the job management unit 32 via the communication processing unit 31. The transfer request includes the file name of the job specified by the user. The job management unit 32 reads the job having the file name indicated by the transfer request from the job storage folder 131 with reference to the job management table T1. Here, it is assumed that the user has designated job J42. The read job J42 is delivered to the transfer unit 35.

  On the other hand, in the process of receiving a transfer request, the communication processing unit 31 acquires device information 75A for specifying the model of the MFP 5A from the MFP 5A that is the requesting printing device. That is, the communication processing unit 31 functions as an acquisition unit for the device information 75A. The device information 75A is a part of MIB information held by the MFP 5A. The model indicated by the device information 75A is transmitted to the determination unit 34.

  The determination unit 34 searches the compatible driver table T2 using the model of the MFP 5A transmitted from the communication processing unit 31 as a key. Prior to this, the determination unit 34 is notified of the driver name stored in association with the job J42 from the job management unit 32. The determination unit 34 determines whether the driver name transmitted from the job management unit 32 exists in the record of the compatible driver table T2 corresponding to the key. That is, it is determined whether or not the job J42 is compatible with the MFP 5A that requested the transfer. Then, the determination unit 34 notifies the transfer unit 35 of the determination result. At this time, if the determination result is “not compatible”, the determination unit 34 transfers the driver name used as the key and the driver name in the record corresponding to the key (that is, the printer driver compatible with the MFP 5A) to the transfer unit 35. Notify

  If the determination result from the determination unit 34 is “adapted”, the transfer unit 35 transfers the job J42 delivered from the job management unit 32 to the MFP 5A via the communication processing unit 31 as it is. If the determination result is “not fit”, the transfer unit 35 corrects the job J42 with reference to the corresponding command table T3, and transfers the obtained corrected job J425 to the MFP 5A. When referring to the corresponding command table T3, the transfer unit 35 pays attention to two corresponding fields of the two driver names notified from the determination unit 34, and determines whether there is a difference in command and parameter between these fields. To do. Then, a command or a parameter associated therewith is replaced for a record (command type) having a difference.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the job J42 requested to be transferred from the MFP 5A is a job created by the PS driver 42 compatible with the MFP 4, and thus is not compatible with the MFP 5A. Therefore, the determination result by the determination unit 34 is “not compatible”, and the correction unit J425 is created by the transfer unit 35 and transferred to the MFP 5A.

  FIG. 7 shows a hardware configuration of the pull print server. As illustrated, the hardware configuration of the pull print server 3 is the same as that of a general information processing apparatus. The pull print server 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as a computer that executes a program, a main storage device 12 that can be directly accessed by the CPU 11, an auxiliary storage device 13 that increases storage capacity, and communication with an external device. Therefore, the communication interface 14 is provided. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores a server program, a job management table T1, a compatible driver table T2, and a corresponding command table T3. In addition, a job storage folder 131 is provided in the auxiliary storage device 13.

  The flowchart of FIG. 8 shows an outline of the operation of the pull print server. If there is an upload request from the client (YES in S01), the pull print server 3 executes the job storage routine (S02). If there is a transfer request from the printing apparatus (YES in S03), the pull print server 3 executes the job transfer routine. The process is executed (S04). Then, if a predetermined time such as a daily time or a time when a set time elapses (YES in S05), the database management routine is executed (S06).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the job storage routine. The pull print server 3 stores the job uploaded from the client in the job storage folder 131 (S21). Driver information is received from the port monitor of the client (S22), and the received driver information is registered in the job management table T1 (S23).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the job transfer routine.

  The pull print server 3 reads the job designated by the transfer request from the job storage folder 131 (S41), and reads the driver information corresponding to the read job from the job management table T1 (S42). The apparatus information of the request source printing apparatus that requested the job transfer is acquired (S43), and it is determined whether or not the read job is compatible with the request source printing apparatus (S44).

  If the read job matches the request source printing apparatus (YES in S45), the pull print server 3 transmits the job to the request source printing apparatus (S46). If the read job is not compatible with the request source printing apparatus (NO in S45), the pull print server 3 executes the job correction subroutine (S47).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the job correction subroutine.

  Based on the corresponding command table T3, the pull print server 3 receives a command included in the job read in accordance with the transfer request and a command used by a printer driver that matches the request source printing apparatus (referred to as a request source compatible driver). Collation is performed (S470). Then, it is checked whether a command included in the job includes a non-corresponding command that is not supported by the request source compatible driver (S471). That is, it is checked whether or not a command that cannot be replaced (non-corresponding command) is included in the job.

  If there is no non-corresponding command (NO in S471), the flow proceeds to step S475. The pull print server 3 replaces a command that needs to be replaced among commands included in the job with a command of a request source compatible driver. Then, the correction job obtained by the job correction is transmitted to the request source printing apparatus (S476).

  On the other hand, if there is a non-corresponding command (YES in S471), the pull print server 3 notifies the request source printing apparatus that there is a possibility that a print result according to the print setting specified by the user may not be obtained. To do. At this time, notification is made together with the model or model of another printing apparatus that matches the designated job and the installation location (S472). Then, it waits for a notification from the request source printing apparatus (S473). In this case, the request source printing apparatus displays on the display of the operation panel a guidance screen that prompts the user to select printing on the own apparatus (continuation of transfer) or printing on another printing apparatus (transfer stop).

  When there is a notification from the request source printing apparatus instructing “transfer cancel”, the flow immediately exits the job correction subroutine and returns to the flow of FIG. When there is a notification from the request source printing apparatus instructing “continue transfer”, the pull print server 3 deletes the non-corresponding command in the job read according to the transfer request (S474). In this case, job correction is performed to replace the remaining commands that have not been deleted as necessary (S475), and the obtained correction job is transmitted to the requesting printing apparatus (S476).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the database management routine. The pull print server 3 inquires of the server 9 on the cloud (see FIG. 1) whether the compatible driver table T2 and the corresponding command table T3 have been updated (S61). The server 9 has, for example, data indicating the latest table contents updated by the server program vendor that implements the pull print server 3, and data indicating the difference between the latest table contents that are not the latest and the latest table contents. ing.

  When the compatible driver table T2 and the corresponding command table T3 are updated in the cloud (YES in S62), the pull print server 3 downloads the latest data or difference data from the server 9 and matches the compatible driver table T2 in its own device. And the corresponding command table T3 is updated (S63, S64).

  The pull print system 1 described above has a modification described below.

  The pull print system 1b of FIG. 13 has a pull print server 3b. The pull print server 3b creates and stores one or a plurality of correction jobs J425 and J426 for the job J42 uploaded from the client before the job transfer is requested from the printing apparatus. By preparing a correction job in advance as described above, the time from the transfer request to the completion of transfer when the correction job is to be transferred, compared to the above-described pull print system 1 that performs job correction after transfer is requested. Can be reduced by the time required for job correction processing. That is, the responsiveness to the transfer request is enhanced.

  In the example of FIG. 13, the uploaded job J42 conforms to the MFP 4 and does not conform to the MFP 5 of a different model from the MFP 4. Further, the job J42 is not adapted to the MFP 6 of which the model is different from any of the MFPs 4 and 5. Therefore, a correction job J425 suitable for the MFP 5 and a correction job J426 suitable for the MFP 6 are created and stored in the job storage folder 131 together with the original job J42.

  In preparing the correction job, the pull print server 3b refers to the designated model table T4. The designated model table T4 is a table showing the correction jobs to be prepared for each client, and is provided in the pull print server 3b in advance. As shown in FIG. 14, each record of the designated model table T4 has fields 401, 402, and 403 "client", "designated printing apparatus model", and "remarks". The “designated printing device model” in the field 402 indicates a printing device model frequently used by the client user, and the “remarks” in the field 403 indicates the installation location of the printing device frequently used by the client user. The contents of the designated model table T4 are determined by the system administrator based on the user's request, for example.

  As an example of preparing a correction job based on the designated model table T4 in FIG. 14, a case where the client is a user A's PC (personal computer) is assumed. Since model 1, model 2, and model 3 are designated for this client, two correction jobs are prepared for the job from this client. If the job is compatible with model 1, corrected jobs that are compatible with models 2 and 3 are created. If the job is compatible with model 2, corrected jobs that are compatible with models 1 and 3 are created. In the case of conforming to the model 3, correction jobs conforming to the models 1 and 2 are created.

  As another example, it is assumed that the client is the user B's PC. Since the model 1 and the model 2 are designated for this client, one correction job is prepared for the job from this client. If the job conforms to the model 1, a correction job conforming to the model 2 is created, and if the job conforms to the model 2, a correction job conforming to the model 1 is created.

  Thus, by determining the number of correction jobs by the designated model table T4, it is possible to reduce the burden of data processing in the pull print server 3b. In general, the same job is rarely drawn from a plurality of printing apparatuses, and most of uploaded jobs are drawn only once. That is, even if a correction job is prepared, it is not always pulled out. If it is not pulled out, as a result, a correction job is wasted. The greater the number of printer models on the network and the more jobs that are uploaded, the more correction jobs that are wasted. Therefore, by preparing correction jobs only for the types of printing apparatuses that are frequently used by the user, creation of useless correction jobs can be reduced.

  The flowchart of FIG. 15 shows an outline of the operation of the pull print server of FIG. If there is an upload request from the client (YES in S11), the pull print server 3b executes the job storage routine (S12), and when the CPU operating rate is low and the load is low (YES in S13). The correction job creation routine is executed (S14). If there is a transfer request from the printing apparatus (YES in S15), the process of the job transfer routine is executed (S16), and if the predetermined time has come (YES in S17), the process of the database management routine is executed. (S18).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a correction job creation routine.

  The pull print server 3b extracts a job (unprocessed job) that is not focused as an original job in job correction from the job storage folder 131 (S141). The client that uploaded the extracted job is specified by the job management table T1, and the model specified for the specified client is extracted from the specified model table T4 (S142).

  Subsequently, the pull print server 3b extracts a printer driver suitable for the extracted model from the compatible driver table T2 (S143), and determines a printer driver other than the printer driver that created the job of interest (S144).

  Then, based on the corresponding command table T3, the pull print server 3b creates and stores a correction job in which the command of the job of interest is replaced with the printer driver command determined in step S144 (S145, S146). When a plurality of models that do not match the job are specified in the client corresponding to the job of interest, a correction job that matches each of these models is created. When a plurality of unprocessed jobs are stored, the same processing as described above is executed for each of these jobs.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart of job transfer by the pull print server of FIG.

  The pull print server 3b acquires device information indicating the model from the request source printing device that requested the job transfer (S161). If the job specified by the transfer request matches the request source printing apparatus (YES in S162), the specified job is read from the job storage folder 131 and transmitted to the request source printing apparatus (S163, S164).

  On the other hand, if the designated job does not conform to the request source printing apparatus (NO in S162), it is checked whether a correction job that conforms to the request source printing apparatus has already been created and saved (S165). If a suitable correction job already exists (YES in S165), the correction job is read from the job storage folder 131 and transmitted to the request source printing apparatus (S166, S164). If there is no suitable correction job, that is, if the preparation of the correction job is not in time (NO in S165), the same job correction routine processing as in FIG. 11 is executed (S167).

  FIG. 18 shows a modification of the network configuration related to pull printing.

  In the network of FIG. 18, the print server 10 intervenes in uploading jobs to the pull print server 3. The print server 10 spools jobs transmitted from the personal computer 2C or another information processing apparatus (not shown) and uploads them sequentially to the pull print server 3. The print server 10 is a client viewed from the pull print server 3.

  A printer driver suitable for a printing device on the network is installed in the print server 10. In the figure, two MFPs 4 and 5 having different models are illustrated as printing apparatuses. The printer driver 43 in the print server 10 is compatible with one MFP 4, and the printer driver 53 is compatible with the other MFP 5. These printer drivers 43 and 53 are downloaded from the print server 10 to the personal computer 2C, which is a client for the print server 10, and other information processing apparatuses (not shown).

  The personal computer 2C uses the printer drivers 43 and 53 downloaded and installed from the print server 10 for job creation and upload. When a job created in the personal computer 2C is uploaded to the pull print server 3 via the print server 10, the driver information identifying the printer driver that created the job is acquired by the port monitor 60 operating in the print server 10. And sent to the pull print server 3.

  FIG. 19 shows a modified example of the compatible driver table. By distributing the information indicating the printer driver suitable for the printing apparatus to the first table T2A and the second table T2B, it is possible to improve the efficiency of table search and improve the maintainability of the table. If there are many printer drivers that match the printer model for a certain printing device, in addition to the optimal printer driver, enumerate all the compatible printer drivers in a single table as in the example of FIG. When the number of compatible printer drivers increases or decreases, the entire table must be scanned for table updates. On the other hand, if information is distributed to a plurality of tables, only a part of the tables need be rewritten depending on the contents of the update.

  The record of the first table T2A has a field 201 for specifying a model, two fields 202 and 203 each indicating an optimal printer driver, and a field 204 indicating a model group to which the model in the field 201 belongs. The model group is a set of a plurality of models that are compatible with at least one printer driver. The record of the second table T2B has a field 204 indicating a model group and a field 205 indicating a printer driver compatible with the model group.

  When determining whether or not job correction is necessary, first, the first table T2A is referred to. The determination unit 34 searches the first table T2A using the model indicated by the apparatus information acquired from the requesting printing apparatus as a key, and the printer driver indicated by any of the fields 202 and 203 in the hit record and the driver information. Check if and match. If they match, it is determined that “job correction is unnecessary” at that time. Only when they do not match, the second table T2B is searched.

  If the printer driver in the first table T2A does not match the printer driver indicated by the driver information, the determination unit 34 searches the second table T2B using the model group in the field 204 of the first table T2A as a key. . If there is a printer driver indicated by the driver information among the printer drivers listed in the field 205 in the hit record, it is determined that “job correction is unnecessary”. If there is no printer driver indicated in the driver information in the field 205, the determination unit 34 determines that “job correction is not necessary (the job does not match the requesting printing apparatus)”.

  According to the above embodiment, since the driver information is acquired by the port monitor 60 that operates independently of the printer driver, the existing printer driver is used as it is (that is, the printer driver already installed in the client is replaced). None), the pull print systems 1 and 1b can be realized.

  According to the above-described embodiment, when a job is read from the job storage folder 131 in response to a transfer request, the job is left, so that it is possible to know from an operation panel notification that an output result unintended by the user may occur. The user can stop the transfer of the correction job and cause another printing apparatus to execute the original job in order to obtain the intended printed matter.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the pull print servers 3 and 3b can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. The configurations of the job management table T1, the compatible driver table T2, the corresponding command table T3, and the designated model table T4 are not limited to the examples. In addition to downloading the compatible driver table T2 and the corresponding command table T3 from the server 9 on the cloud, the system administrator performs an operation of adding predetermined data to the table when introducing the printing apparatus to the network 7. Also good. The table can be updated by installing the model plug-in.

  If the number of printers on the network and the number of uploaded jobs are relatively small, a correction job must be created in advance so that it can be handled by any printing device that requests the transfer of uploaded jobs. You may make it create and save. In this case, it is only necessary to select and transfer one of the stored jobs and correction jobs that matches the printing apparatus that requested the transfer.

1,1b Pull print system 2A, 2B, 2C Personal computer (client, information processing device)
3, 3b Pull print server 4, 5, 5A, 5B, 6 MFP (printing device)
10 Print server (relay server)
J41, J42, J51, J52 Job (print job)
J524, J424, J425, J426 Correction job (correction print job)
41, 51 PCL driver (print driver)
42,52 PS driver (print driver)
410, 420, 510, 520 Driver information 60 port monitor (information transmitter)
31 Communication processing unit (acquisition unit)
32 Job management unit 34 Judgment unit 35 Transfer unit 36 Database unit T2 Compatible driver table (compatible driver information)
T3 Corresponding command table (corresponding command information)
T4 Designated model table (designated model information)
T2A 1st table T2B 2nd table 75A Device information 9 Server on cloud

Claims (10)

A pull printing system comprising: a server; a client that uploads a print job to the server; and a printing device that captures and executes the print job from the server,
The client has an information transmission unit that transmits driver information that identifies a printer driver that created the print job to the server when uploading the print job to the server.
The server
A job management unit that associates and saves the uploaded print job and the driver information transmitted from the information transmission unit;
The compatible driver information indicating a compatible printer driver for each of a plurality of different types of printing apparatuses and the command used by each of the plurality of printer drivers indicated in the compatible driver information indicate correspondence between the same commands. A database section for managing corresponding command information;
An acquisition unit that acquires apparatus information indicating a model of each printing apparatus when communicating with each of the plurality of printing apparatuses;
When transfer of the stored print job is requested from any of the plurality of printing devices, a printer driver that matches the model indicated by the device information in the compatible driver information, and a printer driver indicated by the driver information A determination unit that determines whether or not the print job requested to be transferred is compatible with a request source printing apparatus that is a printing apparatus that has requested transfer of the print job by comparing
When the determination unit determines that the print job to be determined is compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the print job requested to be transferred is transferred to the request source printing apparatus, and the determination target If it is determined that the print job is not compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the command of the print job is associated with the corresponding command information instead of the print job requested to be transferred. A transfer unit that transfers a modified print job, which is replaced with a printer driver command suitable for the model indicated by the device information, among other printer driver commands, to the request source printing device. Printing system. The client is a relay server that uploads a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus to the server. Prior to transmission of the print job by the information processing apparatus, a printer driver that creates the print job is transferred to the information processing apparatus. The pull print system according to claim 1, which is downloaded to an apparatus. A pull print server for transferring a print job designated by a printing device to the printing device;
A job management unit that stores the print job transmitted from the client in association with driver information that identifies the printer driver that created the print job;
Corresponding command indicating correspondence between compatible driver information indicating a compatible printer driver for each of a plurality of printing apparatuses of different models and commands having the same instruction content in commands used by each of the plurality of printer drivers indicated in the compatible driver information. A database section for managing information;
An acquisition unit that acquires apparatus information indicating a model of each printing apparatus when communicating with each of the plurality of printing apparatuses;
When transfer of the stored print job is requested from any of the plurality of printing devices, a printer driver that matches the model indicated by the device information in the compatible driver information, and a printer driver indicated by the driver information A determination unit that determines whether or not the print job requested to be transferred is compatible with a request source printing apparatus that is a printing apparatus that has requested transfer of the print job by comparing
When the determination unit determines that the print job to be determined is compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the print job requested to be transferred is transferred to the request source printing apparatus, and the determination target If it is determined that the print job is not compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the command of the print job is associated with the corresponding command information instead of the print job requested to be transferred. A transfer unit that transfers a modified print job replaced with a command of a printer driver that matches a model indicated by the device information among commands of another printer driver to the request source printing device. Print server. Stores specified model information indicating the model of one or more printing devices specified for each device that creates a print job.
The transfer unit, for the print job saved by the job management unit, before the transfer of the print job is requested, the print job command of the printer driver that matches the model indicated in the specified model information Create a modified print job that replaces the command,
The job management unit stores the modified print job created by the transfer unit for the print job in association with the print job transmitted from the client, and the transfer of the print job is performed by the plurality of printing apparatuses. In the determination by the determination unit when requested from any of the above, if it is determined that the print job to be determined is not compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the stored data that matches the request source printing apparatus is stored. The pull print server according to claim 3, wherein the modified print job is transferred to the transfer unit. The compatible driver information includes a first table indicating an optimal printer driver for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and a printer driver other than the optimal printer driver among the printer drivers compatible with each of the plurality of printing apparatuses. And a second table showing
The determination unit determines whether the device in the second table corresponds to an optimal printer driver associated with the model indicated by the device information in the first table and does not match the printer driver indicated in the driver information. The pull print server according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the printer driver associated with the model indicated by the information is collated with the printer driver indicated by the driver information. The non-corresponding command that is not accepted by the printing apparatus to which the modified print job is transferred is deleted from the commands included in the original print job when the modified print job is created. Preprint server. When the determination unit determines that the print job to be determined is not compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the request source printing apparatus selects a printing apparatus that matches the printer driver from the plurality of printing apparatuses. The preprint server according to claim 3, wherein the transfer of the modified print job is stopped or continued according to an instruction from the request source printing apparatus. The preprint server according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the database unit acquires the compatible driver information and the corresponding command information from a server on a cloud at a predetermined time. A computer program executed in an information device operating as a pull print server for transferring a print job designated by a printing device to the printing device,
In the computer that the information device has,
A job management process for storing a print job transmitted from the client in association with driver information for specifying the printer driver that created the print job;
Corresponding command indicating correspondence between compatible driver information indicating a compatible printer driver for each of a plurality of printing apparatuses of different models and commands having the same instruction content in commands used by each of the plurality of printer drivers indicated in the compatible driver information. Database processing to manage information,
An acquisition process for acquiring device information indicating a model of each printing device when communicating with each of the plurality of printing devices;
When transfer of the stored print job is requested from any of the plurality of printing devices, a printer driver that matches the model indicated by the device information in the compatible driver information, and a printer driver indicated by the driver information A determination process for determining whether or not the print job requested to be transferred is compatible with a request source printing apparatus that is a printing apparatus that has requested the transfer of the print job by comparing
When it is determined by the determination process that the print job to be determined is compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the print job requested to be transferred is transferred to the request source printing apparatus, and If it is determined that the print job is not compatible with the request source printing apparatus, the command of the print job is associated with the corresponding command information instead of the print job requested to be transferred. A transfer process for transferring a modified print job, which is replaced with a printer driver command suitable for the model indicated by the device information, among other printer driver commands, to the request source printing device. Computer program. A pull printing system comprising: a server; a client that uploads a print job to the server; and a plurality of printing devices that capture and execute a print job from the server,
The client includes a communication monitor unit that transmits driver information for specifying a printer driver that has created the print job to the server when uploading the print job to the server.
The server
Compatible driver information indicating a printer driver compatible with each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and corresponding command information indicating a correspondence between commands having the same instruction content in a command used by each of the plurality of printer drivers indicated in the compatible driver information; A database section for managing
For the print job uploaded from the client, a modified print job in which the command of the print job is replaced with a command of a printer driver other than the printer driver indicated by the driver information among the plurality of printer drivers indicated by the compatible driver information Is created based on the corresponding command information,
A job management unit for storing the print job and the modified print job;
An acquisition unit that acquires apparatus information indicating a model of each printing apparatus when communicating with each of the plurality of printing apparatuses;
When transfer of the stored print job is requested from any of the plurality of printing devices, one of the print job and the modified print job that matches the model indicated by the device information is And a transfer unit that transfers the print job to a printing apparatus that has requested transfer of the print job.

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