JP2002358183A - Print control device, print control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To efficiently print a document using another printing device on a network even if the document includes a plurality of external reference addresses included in the document. SOLUTION: A PDF interpreter 303 and an XML interpreter 30 are provided.
4. When the external reference address included in the document is detected by the HTML interpretation unit 305, the external reference transmission unit 30
7 notifies the printer registration unit 308 of the detected external reference address as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network to perform another printing. It is characterized in that a document including a plurality of external reference addresses is printed with an apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a storage medium capable of printing a document obtained from a network according to an address of a file to be notified.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a data processing device in a network environment, many documents are digitized and stored in a memory device of a server device or another computer device, and each computer storing the electronic document represents the Internet. To be connected to the network, PDF (Portable Document Format), XM
L (eXtensible Markup Language), HTML (Hyper
The format of electronic documents, such as Text Markup Language, has been used that is suitable for reference and distribution on a network.

In the network environment, each document format suitable for the computer and the network includes a URL (Uniform) in the document.
By describing other documents on a computer or a network with a Resource Locator, external reference is possible.

Also, when browsing an electronic document on a computer, a pointer is displayed as an external reference when an electronic document address is specified by a URL in an application, or when a document including the external reference is displayed. By clicking, the referenced document is immediately displayed and can be browsed.

On the other hand, some printing devices connected to a network have a direct printing function that can directly interpret and print an electronic document specified by a URL in the printing device. When an electronic document including an external reference is printed by such a printing apparatus, the document of the external reference is generally automatically acquired by the printing apparatus and printed.

[0006]

However, when an electronic document containing many external references is printed by the above-mentioned printing apparatus, all the externally referenced documents are printed by one printing apparatus, so that much time is required. Costly and inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus capable of printing a document acquired from a network in accordance with a file address to be notified. When the apparatus detects an external reference address included in the document, the detected external reference address is notified as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network. Accordingly, even if the document includes a plurality of external reference addresses included in the document, a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a storage medium capable of efficiently performing print processing using another printing apparatus on a network are provided. That is.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of printing a document obtained from a network in accordance with an address of a file to be notified. Detecting means for detecting the included external reference address (PDF interpreting unit 303, XML interpreting unit 304, HTML interpreting unit 305 shown in FIG. 3)
Notification means for notifying the external reference address detected by the detection means as the address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing device connected to the network (external reference transmission shown in FIG. 3). (Corresponding to the portion 307).

A second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the notifying means uses the external reference address detected by the detecting means as an address of a document to be remotely printed, and the other printable remote printing connected to the network. When notifying the device, the other printing device is notified of the remote printing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when another external reference address is detected in a document obtained in accordance with the external reference address notified from the another printing apparatus by the detection means, the notification means is provided. And does not notify the detected external reference address as the address of the document to be remotely printed to other remotely printable printing apparatuses connected to the network.

A fourth invention according to the present invention has control means for limiting the number of copies of the same document when a plurality of the same external reference addresses are detected by the detection means.

A fifth invention according to the present invention has a selection means for selecting an external reference address to be notified according to a setting condition when an external reference address is detected by the detection means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the setting condition can be set from an external device.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, the document is defined in a predetermined file format transferred on the network.

In an eighth aspect according to the present invention, the predetermined file format includes PDF, XML, and HTML.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the address of the file is notified from an external device.

In a tenth aspect according to the present invention, the address of the file is notified based on an input from an operation unit.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is a print control method in a print control device capable of printing a document obtained from a network in accordance with an address of a file to be notified, which is included in the document. A detecting step of detecting an external reference address (step (802) in FIG. 8), and using the external reference address detected by the detecting step as an address of a document to be remotely printed, which is connected to the network and is capable of remote printing. And a notification step (step (907) shown in FIG. 9) for notifying the printing apparatus.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the notification step, the external reference address detected in the detection step is set as an address of a document to be remotely printed, and the other printable remote printing connected to the network is performed. When notifying the device, the other printing device is notified of the remote printing.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when another external reference address is detected in the document obtained in accordance with the external reference address notified from the another printing apparatus in the detecting step, the notifying step is performed. And does not notify the detected external reference address as the address of the document to be remotely printed to other remotely printable printing apparatuses connected to the network.

A fourteenth invention according to the present invention has a control step (not shown) for limiting the number of copies of the same document when a plurality of the same external reference addresses are detected in the detection step.

A fifteenth invention according to the present invention has a selecting step (not shown) of selecting an external reference address to be notified according to a setting condition when an external reference address is detected in the detecting step. .

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the setting condition can be set from an external device.

In a seventeenth aspect according to the present invention, the document is defined in a predetermined file format transferred on the network.

[0025] In an eighteenth aspect according to the present invention, the predetermined file format includes PDF, XML, and HTML.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the address of the file is notified from an external device.

In a twentieth aspect according to the present invention, the address of the file is notified based on an input from an operation unit.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, an external reference address included in a document is detected by a print control device capable of printing a document acquired from a network in accordance with the notified file address. A detecting step (step (802) in FIG. 8), and notifying the externally-printed address detected in the detecting step as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network. Notification step (step (9
07)) are recorded on a recording medium in a computer-readable manner.

[0029] In a twenty-second invention according to the present invention, in the notification step, the external reference address detected in the detection step is used as an address of a document to be remotely printed, and the other printable remote printing connected to the network is performed. When notifying the device, the other printing device is notified of the remote printing.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, when another external reference address is detected in the document obtained in accordance with the external reference address notified from the other printing device in the detecting step, the notifying step is performed. And does not notify the detected external reference address as the address of the document to be remotely printed to other remotely printable printing apparatuses connected to the network.

A twenty-fourth invention according to the present invention has a control step (not shown) for limiting the number of copies of the same document when a plurality of identical external reference addresses are detected in the detecting step.

A twenty-fifth invention according to the present invention has a selecting step (not shown) for selecting an external reference address to be notified according to a setting condition when an external reference address is detected in the detecting step. .

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the setting condition can be set from an external device.

[0034] In a twenty-seventh aspect according to the present invention, the document is defined in a predetermined file format transferred on the network.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined file format includes PDF, XML, and HTML.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, the address of the file is notified from an external device.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, the address of the file is notified based on an input from an operation unit.

[0038]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, a configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The printer to which this embodiment is applied is
It is needless to say that the printer is not limited to a laser beam printer, but may be a printer of another printing system (inkjet system).

Further, it goes without saying that the printer to which this embodiment is applied can be applied not only to a printer which operates alone but also to a printer function of a multifunction peripheral having a copy function and a facsimile function.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows a case of, for example, a laser beam printer (LBP).

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body (printer), which inputs and stores print information (character codes and the like), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer; A corresponding character pattern, form pattern or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as a recording sheet.

An operation panel 1012 is provided with switches for operation, an LED display, and the like. 1001
A printer control unit controls the entire printer 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1002.

The laser driver 1002 is a semiconductor laser 1
003 is a circuit for driving a laser beam 1004 that is emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 in accordance with an input video signal. Laser light 10
Reference numeral 04 denotes a rotary polygon mirror 1005 which is swung right and left to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1006.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet.
A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the printer 1000.
And the paper feed roller 1009 and the transport roller 10
The toner is taken into the apparatus by the transfer roller 10 and the transport roller 1011 and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006. The printer 1000 has at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language system can be connected in addition to the built-in fonts.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. Note that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention is applicable to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.

In the printer 1000, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer CPU, which is a system bus based on a control program or the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 2 or a control program or the like stored in a hard disk (HD) 3 and loaded into a RAM 4 at startup. 5, a printing unit (printer engine) connected via a printing unit interface 6 to control access to various devices connected to the printing unit 5.
7 outputs an image signal as output information.

The program ROM of the ROM 2 stores a control program of the CPU 1 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 described later. The font ROM of the ROM 2 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information.

The CPU 1 can perform communication processing with an external device such as a host computer (not shown) connected to the external network 2000 via the I / O 8.

Although the communication with the external device is performed through the external network 2000, it is needless to say that the communication with the external device may be performed by directly connecting to the external device through an interface (not shown).

Reference numeral 4 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown). In addition, RAM4
Are used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, and the like.

The access to the HD 3 is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 9. HD3 contains spool jobs, spool images, font data
Data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged, and the state is managed and controlled by the operation unit controller 10.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), which stores printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012 that holds information even when the power of the printer 1000 is turned off, a flag that is referred to when the printer 1000 is restarted, and the like. . 12
Is a timer (TIMER) that constantly updates the current time, and keeps updating the current time even when the main power of the printer 1000 is turned off by the internal battery. In addition, at least one external memory such as a PC card memory in addition to the HD3 is provided in the MC9.
A plurality of external memories storing an optional font card and a program for interpreting a printer control language of a different language system in addition to the built-in fonts may be connected.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9 in the thus configured printer control system.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a printer which receives and prints the URL of the first document in the entire printing system is a master printer, and a printer which receives and prints an external reference URL from the master printer. Define as a remote printer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a module configuration in the printer control unit 1001 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a document acquisition unit, which is connected to an external network 2000 via the I / O 8.
Interprets the URL notified to printer 1000 by
A document file specified by the URL is obtained using a protocol specified by the URL. Reference numeral 302 denotes an input data determination unit which determines which format the document file acquired by the document acquisition unit 301 is described in, and distributes the data to an analysis unit which can analyze the corresponding format based on the result of the determination. .

Reference numeral 303 denotes a PDF analysis unit that analyzes data in PDF format and generates a display list.
Further, during the data analysis by the PDF analysis unit 303, the external reference U
When the RL is detected, the detected external reference PDF analysis unit is notified to an external reference transmission unit 307 described below. 304 is XML
The analysis unit analyzes the XML format data and generates a display list. Further, when the XML analysis unit 304 detects an external reference during data analysis, it notifies the external reference transmission unit 307 of the detected external reference.

Reference numeral 305 denotes an HTML analysis unit which analyzes HTML format data and generates a display list. When the HTML analysis unit 304 detects an external reference during data analysis, it notifies the external reference transmission unit 307 of the detected external reference.

Reference numeral 306 denotes a raster image processing unit (RIP
) Renders the display list created by each of the PDF analysis unit 303, the XML analysis unit 304, and the HTML analysis unit 305 into a raster image.

Reference numeral 307 denotes an external reference transmission unit, which includes a PDF analysis unit 303, an XML analysis unit 304, and an HTML analysis unit 305.
The external reference URL detected by each analysis unit is received, and the external reference URL is transmitted to a printer capable of direct printing on the external network 2000 registered as a remote printer by a printer registration unit 308 described later.
Also, information indicating remote printing is transmitted together with the external reference URL.

Reference numeral 308 denotes a printer registration unit.
012 or a host computer (not shown) connected to the external network 2000 registers a printer capable of direct printing on the external network 2000 registered as a remote printer.

A user of the printer 1000 directly operates the operation panel 1012 in advance, or operates a host computer connected to the external network 2000 (not shown) to directly print on the external network 2000 used as a remote printer. You need to register a possible printer. Then, the registered remote printer is stored in a remote printer table shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the printer registration unit 30 shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote printer table managed by the remote printer 8;

In FIG. 4, a column 401 registers the printer name of the remote printer, and a column 402 registers the network address of the remote printer registered in the column 401 in the same row.

The printer 1000 of the present embodiment has a DNS
When used in a network environment in which (Domain Name Searver) is running, the user only needs to register the printer name used as a remote printer. When the printer name is registered, the printer 1000 registers a network address corresponding to the printer name with reference to DNS.

On the other hand, if the DNS is not running,
The user also needs to register the network address.
The table shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the NVR shown in FIG.
It is created on the AM 11 and is configured not to disappear even when the power of the printer 1000 is turned off.

Further, the registered remote printer is 1
It is possible to register not only the number of remote printers but also the number of remote printers, and the number of rows in the remote printer table is the number of registered remote printers.

It should be noted that even when the remote printer is not registered by the user, the printer name and the network address of the printer 1000 are always registered in the remote printer table as default values.

The printer 1000 is connected to the external network 20
From 00, when the URL of the document to be printed is notified or the URL of the document to be printed is input from the operation panel 1012, the printing process of the specified document is started.

The URL of the document to be printed is notified from the external network 2000, the master printer is notified, or the remote printer is notified. When notified as a remote printer, the external reference transmitting unit 307 of the master printer also transmits the URL and information that the remote printing is performed at the same time.

Here, the external reference table shown in FIG. 5 managed by the external reference transmitting unit 307 will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the external reference transmitting unit 30 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external reference table managed by a management server 7;

As shown in FIG. 5, the external reference table is
An external reference URL registration area in column 601 and an external reference URL status flag registration area in column 602 are provided, and the external reference URL registration area and external reference URL status in each row are in a correspondence relationship.

Note that the number of lines is variable, and at least as many as the number of external reference URL + 1 included in the document to be printed. In the registration area, the external reference URL status flag in the column 601 contains the U of the document to be printed.
The RL and the document to be printed are converted to a PDF
The external reference URL detected at the time of analysis by each of the XML analysis unit 304 and the HTML analysis unit 305 is registered.

The external reference URL status in the column 602 includes "remoto" indicating that the document to be printed has been notified as remote print, and "done" indicating that the external reference URL has been transmitted to the remote printer. Is registered. If nothing is registered in the external reference URL state, it indicates that the corresponding external reference URL has not been transmitted to the remote printer.

When the printer 1000 starts printing a document, the document acquiring unit 301 stores the U of the document to be printed in the first column of the column 601 of the table shown in FIG.
Register the RL. Further, when a document to be printed is transmitted from the external network 2000, it is determined whether or not there is information indicating that the document is a remote print. If the document is a remote print, a “remote” flag is registered in the document state in the column 602. I do.

If the document is not a remote print or if the document URL to be printed is input by operating the operation panel 1012, it is determined that the printer is the master printer, and the “done” flag is registered in the document state in the column 602. .

Subsequently, the document acquisition unit 301 analyzes the specified URL. The URL has the format shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the format of a URL analyzed by the document acquisition unit 301 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the document acquisition unit 3
01 is the protocol name 50 described in the specified URL
In step 1, the server accesses the port number 503 of the server indicated by the domain name 502, and transfers the document indicated by the path number 504 to the HD3.

When the transfer of the designated document is completed in the document acquisition unit 301, the input data judgment unit 302 analyzes the contents of the document transferred to the HD 3 and determines in what format the document is described. I do.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the simplest document format discrimination processing procedure (Afgolism). In addition, (701)-
(716) indicates each step.

First, in step (701), when the document format discrimination algorithm starts, in step (702), one of the document files on the HD 3 is read.
The line is fetched, the process proceeds to step (703), and it is determined whether or not the content fetched in step (702) includes the character string of “% PDF”.
In 4), it is determined that the document being determined is a PDF document, and in step (716), the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (703) that the character string of “% PDF” is not included, the process proceeds to step (705), and the content fetched in step 702 includes “xml” or “. It is determined whether or not the character string of “XML” is included.
At 06), it is determined that the document being determined is an XML document, and at step (716), the process ends. On the other hand, in step (705), "XML" or "ML"
If the character string “” is not included, the process proceeds to step 707, and “htm” is added to the content fetched in step (702).
l "or" HTML "character string is included,
If it is determined that it is included, step (708)
Then, it is determined that the document being determined is an HTML document, and the process ends in step (716). On the other hand, in step (707), "HTML" or "HTML"
If it is determined that the character string of "TML" is not included,
Proceeding to step (709), it is determined whether the end of the file name of the specified document is in the format of ".pdf" or ".PDF".
In (0), it is determined that the document being determined is a PDF document, and in step (716), the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (709) that the format is not the above format, the process proceeds to step (711),
The file name of the specified document ends with ".
In step (712), it is determined that the document being determined is an XML document, and in step (716), it is determined whether the document is in the format of ".xml" or ".XML". , And the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (711) that the document is not in the above format, the process proceeds to step (713), and the end of the file name of the specified document is changed to ".ht".
m "or" .HTML "or" .html "or" .HTM "format, and if it is determined to be the above format,
In step (714), the document being determined is an HTM
L is determined to be the document of step L (step 71
In 6), the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (713) that the format is not the above format, the process proceeds to step (715),
That is, the process is executed when the document format being determined is unknown. However, the default document format is set as an HTML document, and the process is terminated in step (716).

Although the default document format is assumed to be an HTML document in step (715), it may be set to another document format.

Further, the printing process may be terminated while the format of the document format is unknown, and the printing process currently being executed may be terminated.

Further, the document format discrimination algorithm is not limited to the algorithm shown in FIG. 7, but may use another algorithm.

When the format of the document is determined in this way, the input data determination unit 302 activates the document analysis unit corresponding to the document format determined by the document format determination algorithm, and performs the analysis and print processing of the document file. Do.

That is, when the specified document is determined as a PDF document, the PDF analysis unit 303 is started, and when the specified document is determined as an XML document, the XML analysis unit 304 is started, and the specified document is read. If the document is determined as an HTML document, the PDF analysis unit 305 is activated.
Each of the DF analysis unit 303, the XML analysis unit 304, and the HTML analysis unit 305 sequentially analyzes the data of the specified document and generates a display list for rasterizing.

When the external reference URL is detected during the analysis of the specified document data, the external reference transmission unit 3
07, the detected external reference URL is registered in the external reference table shown in FIG. Since the description method of the external reference URL included in the document data differs depending on the format of each document data, the PDF analysis unit 303, the XML analysis unit 304, and the HTML analysis unit 3
Although the method of detecting the external reference URL of each of the analysis units 05 differs from one another, an example of the processing in the XML analysis unit 304 will be described here. In an XML document, the external reference URL
Is <simple XML: link = "simple" href = "http: // ww
w.utj.canxx.co.jp/xx.XML ">.

Therefore, when the parser operating in the XML analysis unit 304 detects the character string of XML: link, the following href
The content designated by = is registered as an external reference URL in the column 601 of the external reference URL table. That is, the X
Http://www.utj.canxx.co.jp in the example of ML document
/xx.XML is registered.

The operation of registering an external reference URL in the external reference URL table will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to an operation procedure at the time of registering an external reference URL in the external reference URL table. Note that (801) to (80)
6) shows each step.

First, when the process is started in step (801), when the external reference URL is registered in the external reference URL table, it is determined in step (802) whether the external reference to be registered is a relative URL. . This judgment is U
This can be performed by searching the format of the RL. When it is determined that only the path number 504 exists in the URL to be determined (that is, when the protocol name 501 and the domain name 502 do not exist), it is determined that the URL is a relative URL. can do.

If the URL is a relative URL (YES)
Proceeds to step (803), and in the case of an absolute URL, proceeds to step (804). Then, step (80)
In step 3), protocol information and a domain name are added using the URL information of the document to be printed registered in the external reference URL registration area on the first line of the external reference table, and the URL is converted into an absolute URL. Proceeding to (804), a search is made to determine whether the absolute URL to be registered already exists in the external reference URL table, and if it is determined that the absolute URL does not exist, the procedure proceeds to step (805), where the external reference URL table A new row is added, and the external reference URL to be registered in the added row is registered in the external reference URL registration area, and the process ends in step (806).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (804) that a URL to be registered already exists, the process directly proceeds to step (806), and the process ends.

Subsequently, the external reference transmitting unit 30 shown in FIG.
7 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the operation procedure of the external reference transmission unit 307 shown in FIG. Note that (901) to (908) indicate each step. This process is assumed to be started as a task different from the above-described processes after the URL of the document to be printed is registered in the external reference table when the printing process is started in the printer 1000.

First, in step (901), when the task of the external reference transmission unit 307 is activated,
In step 2), by referring to the external reference URL status flag in the first row of the external reference table, it is determined whether the printer 1000 should operate as a remote printer or as a master printer.

That is, "r" is set in the external reference URL status flag.
If "emote" is described, it is determined that it operates as a remote printer, and this task is ended in step (903).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (902) that the printer operates as a master printer,
Proceed to 4), and the external reference U not transmitted in the external reference table
The presence or absence of the RL is searched and determined, and the external reference state flag in the column 602 of the external reference table is searched. If there is an external reference URL whose flag is not registered, it is determined that the external reference URL has not been transmitted.

If it is determined that there is no untransmitted external reference URL, step (904) is repeated until a new external reference URL is registered in the external reference table.

On the other hand, if an untransmitted external reference URL is detected in step (904), the flow advances to step (905) to change the network address of the Nth remote printer registered in the remote printer table of the printer registration unit 308. Acquisition and proceed to step (906). Note that the initial value of N is “1”.

Next, in step (906), the status of the remote printer is confirmed using the network address of the remote printer obtained in step (905), and whether the remote printer status is BUSY, that is, whether printing is in progress or not. And if it is determined that the remote printer status is BUSY, N is set to N + 1 and the process returns to step (905) again.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (906) that the status of the remote printer is not BUSY, the process proceeds to step 907, where the external reference URL detected in step (904) and the remote print are transmitted to the remote printer. Is transmitted through the I / O 8, and the step (9)
08), "done" is registered in the external reference status flag of the external reference URL table corresponding to the received external reference URL, and the process returns to step (904).

Finally, when the printing of the document to be printed is completed, the printer 1000 monitors the external reference state flags in column 602 of the external reference URL table, and when all the external reference state flags become "done", , Delete the task of the external reference transmission unit.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. The operation procedure at the time of registering an external reference URL in the external reference URL table is described. Corresponding. In addition,
Steps (801) to (806) are the same as the steps shown in FIG. 8, and step (810) indicates the step of the present embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 10, the operation of the second embodiment when registering an external reference URL in the external reference URL table will be described.

Steps (801) to (806) in FIG.
Is the same as the processing in FIG. However, if it is determined in step (804) that the external reference URL to be registered has not been registered, the process proceeds to step (810), where the regular expression filter registered in the printer 1000 is compared with the external reference URL to be registered. If the external reference URL matches the regular expression, the process proceeds to step (805).
If there is no match, the process ends at step (806).

The regular expression filter is registered in the printer 1000 in advance by directly operating the operation panel 1012 or operating a host computer connected to an external network 2000 (not shown).
There is no limit on the number of regular expression filters that can be registered.

According to the above embodiment, since the document of the external reference destination is printed on another printing apparatus, even a document including a plurality of external references can be efficiently printed.

At this time, if a plurality of identical external reference addresses are detected in the detecting step, the number of copies of the same document is limited, so that printing waste can be eliminated.

The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator and the like are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 in this embodiment are executed by a program installed from the outside.
It may be performed by a host computer. In that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention can be applied to a case in which a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
D-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included. When a plurality of external reference addresses notified from other printing apparatuses are detected in the detection step, the method further comprises a selection step of selecting an external reference address to be notified.

In the above embodiment, the format of the document is a predetermined file format, for example, P
The case of DF, XML, and HTML has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a file format expected in the future.

In the above embodiment, the case where the file address is notified from an external device is described as an example. However, the operation panel 1012 shown in FIG.
May be directly input by the user.

Further, when a plurality of external reference addresses are detected at the time of analyzing a document, an external reference address to be notified may be selected in accordance with the priority set by the user.

Further, the priorities at that time may be configured to be settable from an external device.

[0131]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the thirtieth aspect, in a print control device capable of printing a document acquired from a network in accordance with the notified file address, when an external reference address included in the document is detected, the detected external A document having a plurality of external reference addresses included in the document by notifying the reference address as the address of the document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing device connected to the network. Also, there is an effect that a print processing environment in which print processing can be efficiently performed using another printing apparatus on the network can be freely configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a module configuration in the printer control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote printer table managed by a printer registration unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external reference table managed by the external reference transmission unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of a URL analyzed by a document acquisition unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 Printing unit 301 Document acquisition unit 302 Input data determination unit 303 PDF interpretation unit 304 XML interpretation unit 305 HTML interpretation unit 306 RIP 307 External reference transmission unit 308 Printer registration unit 1012 Operation panel

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A print control apparatus capable of printing a document obtained from a network according to an address of a file to be notified, comprising: a detecting unit configured to detect an external reference address included in the document; Notifying means for notifying an external reference address detected by the means as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network. . 2. The notifying unit, when notifying an external reference address detected by the detecting unit to another remotely printable printing device connected to the network as an address of a document to be remotely printed, 2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other printing apparatuses are notified that the printing is remote printing. 3. When another external reference address is detected in a document obtained according to the external reference address notified from the other printing device by the detection unit, the notification unit transmits the detected external reference address to a remote location. 2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus does not notify the remote printing-capable other printing apparatus connected to the network as the address of the document to be printed. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for limiting the number of copies of the same document when a plurality of the same external reference addresses are detected by said detection means. 5. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects an external reference address to be notified according to a setting condition when the external reference address is detected by the detection unit. 6. The printing control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting condition can be set from an external device. 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document is defined in a predetermined file format transferred on the network. 8. The predetermined file format is P
6. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print control apparatus includes DF, XML, and HTML. 9. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address of the file is notified from an external device. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the address of the file is notified based on an input from an operation unit.
The printing control device according to the above. 11. A print control method in a print control device capable of printing a document acquired from a network in accordance with an address of a file to be notified, wherein a detecting step of detecting an external reference address included in the document And a notifying step of notifying the external reference address detected by the detecting step as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network. Printing control method. 12. The notifying step includes: notifying an external reference address detected by the detecting step as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network. 12. The printing control method according to claim 11, wherein the other printing device is notified of the remote printing. 13. When another external reference address is detected in a document obtained in accordance with the external reference address notified from the other printing device in the detecting step, the notifying step includes the step of remote-controlling the detected external reference address. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address of the document to be printed is not notified to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network.
2. The printing control method according to 1. 14. The print control method according to claim 11, further comprising a control step of limiting the number of copies of the same document when a plurality of the same external reference addresses are detected in the detection step. 15. The print control method according to claim 11, further comprising a selecting step of selecting an external reference address to be notified according to a setting condition when the external reference address is detected in the detecting step. 16. The print control method according to claim 15, wherein the setting condition can be set from an external device. 17. The print control method according to claim 11, wherein the document is defined in a predetermined file format transferred on the network. 18. The file format according to claim 18, wherein:
16. The print control method according to claim 15, wherein the print control method includes PDF, XML, and HTML. 19. The print control method according to claim 11, wherein the address of the file is notified from an external device. 20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address of the file is notified based on an input from an operation unit.
2. The printing control method according to 1. 21. A detection step of detecting an external reference address included in a document in a print control device capable of printing a document obtained from a network in accordance with an address of a file to be notified, And a notifying step of notifying the detected external reference address to another remotely printable printing device connected to the network as an address of a document to be remotely printed. Storage media. 22. The notifying step, when notifying an external reference address detected by the detecting step as an address of a document to be remotely printed to another remotely printable printing apparatus connected to the network, 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the other printing device is notified of remote printing. 23. When another external reference address is detected in a document obtained in accordance with the external reference address notified from the other printing apparatus in the detecting step, the notifying step includes the step of remote-controlling the detected external reference address. 3. The remote printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the address of the document to be printed is not notified to another printing apparatus capable of remote printing connected to the network.
The storage medium according to claim 1. 24. The storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising a control step of restricting the number of copies of the same document when a plurality of identical external reference addresses are detected in said detecting step. 25. The storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising a selection step of selecting an external reference address to be notified according to a setting condition when the external reference address is detected in the detection step. 26. The storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the setting condition can be set from an external device. 27. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the document is defined in a predetermined file format transferred on the network. 28. The predetermined file format is:
26. The storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the storage medium includes PDF, XML, and HTML. 29. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the address of the file is notified from an external device. 30. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the address of the file is notified based on an input from an operation unit.
The storage medium according to claim 1.