JP2003150348A - Print service device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance convenience in specifying a printer by a print service device for holding a print job received via a network and for transmitting a print instruction based on the print job to the printer specified by a process start instruction received from the terminal's side by the process start instruction. SOLUTION: A CPU 11 of the print service device 1 selects printer candidates and presents them on a terminal 21 based on conditions of the terminal 21, etc., which becomes a transmitting origin of the process start instruction on the network, printer selection history in the past and printer setting information, etc. A user specifies a printer by which printing is actually performed among the presented printer candidates. The print service device 1 transmits data to be printed to the specified printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention holds a print job received via a network, and designates a print instruction based on the print job by a process start instruction received from the terminal side by the process start instruction via the network. Print service device for transmitting to a registered printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of a network use environment, a print processing mode in which a printer at a remote place prints via a network is becoming a reality. For example, in order to print using a shared printer located in a convenience store, etc., print jobs are stored in a server device located in the service center, and the convenience store is visited to prepare for that. The print job is acquired from the server device by operating the specified terminal, and the printer in the convenience store is made to execute printing.

Conventionally, a server device arranged in a service center provides a list of printers set in advance to a terminal side, and a user selects a printer to print from this list and gives an instruction to start print processing. ing. Here, of the printers scattered in various places, it is not known which printer the user will use, and therefore the server device generally presents the list of registered printers as it is.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional server device arranged in the service center, the list becomes long when there are many registered printers, and the operation for the user to select an appropriate printer is complicated. There was a problem that it would become.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to classify and register a list of printers by region and use it for user's search. However, this is also inconvenient because the number of operations increases, such as selecting an area and then selecting a printer. Further, since the list display for each region is performed based on the registered information, there is a problem that the management load is increased because the information needs to be updated when the printer is relocated, for example.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print service apparatus which can improve the operability of the user and reduce the management load.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example holds a print job received via a network and is based on the print job according to a processing start instruction received from a terminal side. A print service apparatus for transmitting a print instruction to a printer designated by the processing start instruction via a network,
A means for selecting one or more printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted, based on the network condition of the terminal that is the source of the instruction, and at least one of the selected printer candidates is included. It is characterized in that the print instruction is transmitted.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, a print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is issued to a network by a processing start instruction received from a terminal side. A print service device for transmitting to a printer designated by the processing start instruction via a means for obtaining printer selection history information used in the past in response to a processing start instruction from the terminal; Means for selecting one or more printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted based on printer selection history information, and transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. It is characterized by that.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, a print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is issued to a network by a processing start instruction received from a terminal side. A print service device for transmitting to the printer designated by the processing start instruction via the one or more print target transmission destinations of the print instruction based on the network condition of the terminal that is the transmission source of the instruction. First searching means for searching the printer candidate of No. 1 and the printer selection history information used in the past in response to the processing start instruction from the terminal when the printer candidate cannot be selected by the first searching means. A second search means,
It is characterized in that the print instruction is transmitted to at least one of the printer candidates retrieved by either the first retrieval means or the second retrieval means. Here, the network condition of the terminal includes at least one of the network number of the terminal, the domain to which the terminal belongs, and the MAC address.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example, a print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is issued to the network by a processing start instruction received from a terminal side. A print service apparatus for transmitting to a printer designated by the processing start instruction via the means, means for acquiring printer setting information set to be usable by the terminal, and the printer setting information based on the acquired printer setting information. Means for selecting one or a plurality of printer candidates to which print instructions are to be transmitted, and the print instruction is transmitted to at least one of the selected printer candidates.

In these print service devices, means for accumulating information of printers registered in advance and means for presenting a list of the registered printers to the terminal are selected as the printer candidates. It is also preferable to further include means for presenting to the terminal a list arranged so that the printer can be identified.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, a print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is issued to a network by a process start instruction received from a terminal side. A method of providing a print service for transmitting to a printer designated by the processing start instruction via a terminal, which is a transmission target of the print instruction based on a network condition of a terminal which is a source of the instruction 1 Alternatively, a plurality of printer candidates are selected, and the print instruction is transmitted to at least one of the selected printer candidates.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, a print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is issued to a network by a process start instruction received from a terminal side. A method of providing a print service for transmitting to a printer specified by the processing start instruction via a step of: acquiring printer selection history information used in the past in response to a processing start instruction from the terminal; Selecting one or more printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted based on the acquired printer selection history information, and issuing the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. It is characterized by transmitting.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, a server computer is made to hold a print job received via a network, and based on the print job according to a processing start instruction received from a terminal side. A print service processing program for transmitting a print instruction to a printer designated by the processing start instruction via a network, the transmission target of the print instruction based on a condition on a network of a terminal which is a source of the instruction. A procedure for selecting one or more printer candidates, and a procedure for transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates,
It is characterized by executing.

Further, according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, a server computer is made to hold a print job received via a network, and based on the print job according to a process start instruction received from the terminal side. A print service processing program for transmitting a print instruction to a printer specified by the processing start instruction via a network, and acquiring printer selection history information used in the past in response to the processing start instruction from the terminal. And a procedure for selecting one or a plurality of printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted based on the acquired printer selection history information, and for at least one of the selected printer candidates, It is characterized by executing a procedure for transmitting a print instruction and executing the procedure.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The print service apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a server computer, and as shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 11 and a storage unit 12
And a hard disk 13 and a communication unit 14. Further, this print service apparatus 1 is a LAN (Local Area) in an organization 2 in various places via a network.
Network). One organization 2a has LA
The terminal device 21 and the printer 22 are connected via N, and the LAN and the network are connected to each other via a gateway (GW). In another organization 2b, a multi-function peripheral 23 that combines the functions of a terminal and a printer is connected to the network. In addition, although various devices such as a personal computer PC are usually connected to the network, a part of the connected state is shown here for the sake of explanation. Here, the functional portions as the terminals of the terminal device 21 and the multifunction peripheral 23 correspond to the “terminal” of the present invention. In addition, the functional portions of the printer 22 and the multifunction peripheral 23 as printers are the "printer" (also "printer candidate") of the present invention.
Equivalent to.

Here, the hard disk 13 of the print service apparatus 1 stores a printer database in which information on printers and multi-function peripherals of each organization is registered as in the conventional case.

The CPU 11 of the print service device 1 is
It operates according to a program stored in the hard disk 13 and receives a print request received from a PC or the like via a network. Then, the CPU 11
A unique identifier (job identifier) is issued, the identifier is transmitted to the sender of the print request, and the print target data related to the print request is stored in the hard disk 13 as a print job. Here, the print request includes data to be printed and pass code information used as authentication information when instructing to start the print (processing start instruction), and is received as an e-mail, for example. . The CPU 11 stores the issued job identifier and the received passcode in the hard disk 13 in association with the print job.

When the CPU 11 receives a processing start instruction via the network, the CPU 11 requests the sender of the instruction to specify a printer to actually print, and if the printer specification is received, the specification is given. The print target data stored in the hard disk 13 is transmitted to the selected printer. Here, the print start instruction includes information for identifying the print job (job identifier).
If the received passcode and the passcode stored in association with the print job identified by the job identifier do not match, the CPU 11 sends the process start instruction to the sender. An error is sent to the device and the process is suspended.

A characteristic of this embodiment is that C
When the PU 11 requests the designation of the printer that actually prints, a printer that is a candidate among the printers registered in the printer database based on the network conditions such as the terminal that is the transmission source of the print start instruction. Is selected and a list of the selected printers is provided. It should be noted that what is provided here can be realized, for example, as a form document of a Web page, by transmitting in a selectable manner so that the printer that is displayed in a list can specify the printer that actually prints. The process of selecting a printer candidate by the CPU 11 will be described in detail later.

The storage unit 12 operates as a work memory of the CPU 11. The hard disk 13 stores programs processed by the CPU 11 and various data. Further, the hard disk 13 has a CPU 11
By the processing of (1), the print job, the job identifier, and the passcode are stored in association with each other. Further, the hard disk 13 stores a printer database as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer database uses the identification number (ID) of the printer or the multifunction device as a key, and the name of the organization (facility) in which the printer or the multifunction device is located, or the printer or the multifunction device itself. Name (T), attribute information related to printer functions such as the model name of the printer or multifunction device (A), and information related to the network set in the printer or multifunction device (IP address, host name, domain name, MAC address Etc .; N).

The communication unit 14 receives the data coming through the network and outputs it to the CPU 11. The communication unit 14 also transmits various data via the network according to the instruction input from the CPU 11.

The terminal device 21 is a general personal computer or the like, and transmits a print job processing start instruction to the print service apparatus 1 via the LAN and the network according to an instruction from the user. Further, the terminal device 21 is executing processing as a web browser, and the print service device 1 as a web server.
Holds the setting data transmitted from the print service apparatus 1 and transmits the setting data in response to a request from the print service apparatus 1. This setting data can be easily realized by using the "cookie" technology widely known in the Web technology.

The printer 22 prints the data on a predetermined paper based on the print target data received via the network. The multifunction device 23 is the terminal device 2
Both 1 and the printer 22 operate.

The terminal device 21, the printer 22, and the multi-function device 23 are provided with IP addresses and the like in order to connect to the network, and each of these devices is identified by a host name and a domain name. A unique network name is associated. It is usual that the network interface of each device is further provided with a network address (MAC address) unique to the interface.

Now, the printer candidate selection process of the CPU 11 will be described. The CPU 11 performs (1) selection using a network number, (2) selection using a domain name, and (3) selection by causing the terminal device 21 to hold setting information and using this setting information. ,
At least one of (4) selection using the MAC address and (5) selection using the printer setting on the terminal side
Do one process. The contents of each process will be described below. The processing after selection will be further described later.

[Selection Using Network Number] IP
Many network addresses, such as addresses, consist of a set of network numbers and subnet numbers. Here, the network number is usually common to a group of network devices (computers, etc.) separated by a router, and the number assigned to identify each device within the one network number is the subnet number. . A value called a subnet mask is used to indicate which part of the IP address is the subnet number. The operation of selecting a printer or the like using this network number will be described below.

The CPU 11 is the terminal device 21 or the multi-function device 2
3 receives the print job processing start instruction from
The network number of the terminal device 21 or the multi-function peripheral 23 that is the transmission source of the processing start instruction is acquired. For example I
If it is the P address, it can be easily obtained by referring to the packet of the data of the processing start instruction. And CPU1
1 refers to the printer database and acquires the above-mentioned I
It is searched whether or not there is a printer 22 or a multifunction machine 23 having the same network number part as the network number part of the P address, and such a printer 22 or a multifunction machine 23.
If so, they are selected as printer candidates.

If a search is made that matches the entire acquired IP address, it means that it is the multi-function device 23 (having the functions of a terminal device and a printer), so It is also preferable to mark the multifunction device 23 as the first candidate in view of the fact that it is usually desired to print from the multifunction device 23.

[Selection Using Domain Name] As the information related to the network, the domain name can be used to select the printer or the multifunction peripheral. That is,
When the CPU 11 receives a print job processing start instruction from the terminal device 21 or the multifunction peripheral 23, the terminal device 21 or the multifunction peripheral 23 that is the transmission source of the processing start instruction.
Get the domain name of. Then, the CPU 11 refers to the printer database and refers to the printer 22 or the multifunction peripheral 23 belonging to the domain identified by the acquired domain name.
If there is such a printer 22 or a multi-function peripheral 23, they are selected as printer candidates.

[Selection by Using Setting Information] In the present embodiment, a printer or the like may be selected by using the setting information. That is, when the CPU 11 receives a print job processing start instruction from the terminal device 21 or the multifunction peripheral 23, the CPU 11 uses a cookie from the browser of the terminal device 21 or the multifunction peripheral 23 that is the transmission source of the processing start instruction. Selected printer 22 or multifunction device 2 in the past
The information specifying 3 (such as its IP address) is acquired as printer selection history information. Then, the CPU 11
A printer 2 that refers to the printer database and matches the printer selection history information such as the acquired IP address
2 or the multi-function peripheral 23 is searched, and if there is such a printer 22 or the multi-function peripheral 23, those are selected as the printer candidates.

Further, the CPU 11 is, as described later,
When print processing is started in response to an instruction from the printer 22 or the multifunction device 23 that is actually used, information (IP address or the like) that identifies the printer 22 or the multifunction device 23 that has been used by using a cookie is used as printer selection history information. The print job processing start instruction is held by the transmission source.

Although the cookie is used here, the printer service history information may be held on the print service apparatus 1 side. That is, the network-related information of the terminal device 21 or the multi-function peripheral 23, which is the sender of the processing start instruction, and the printer selection history information are associated with each other, stored in the hard disk 13 or the like as a history database, and the cookie is used. Instead of acquiring it, the printer selection history information is acquired by referring to this history database. By doing so, the same processing as that using the cookie can be performed on the terminal device 21 and the multifunction peripheral 23 that do not accept the cookie.

[Use of MAC Address] When the printer selection history information is held on the print service device 1 side in this way, network-related information of the terminal device 21 or the multi-function peripheral 23 and information for specifying the printer 22 or the multi-function peripheral 23. Is unique to the device, such as the MAC address (unchangeable)
It is also preferable to use the network-related information that is set. Depending on the network, there is one that dynamically assigns an IP address to each network device at startup (so-called DHCP, etc.). By using network-related information unique to the device, the IP address and other settings can be set. This is because it is preferable that the previous information can be used as it is even if the information is changed. In general, a printer or the like normally does not dynamically set an IP address. Therefore, in such a case, the printer 22 or the multi-function peripheral 23 should be assigned an IP address instead of a MAC address. It may be used.

[Selection using printer settings on the terminal side]
Further, when the CPU 11 receives a print job processing start instruction from the terminal device 21 or the multi-function peripheral 23, it is set as usable on the side of the terminal device 21 or the multi-function peripheral 23 that is the transmission source of the processing start instruction. The printer setting information that is present may be acquired and the printer indicated in the printer setting information may be selected as a printer candidate.

A characteristic of this case is that a printer 22 or the like that can be used on the side of the terminal device 21 or the multifunction peripheral 23 is selected as a candidate even if it is not included in the printer database.

[Combination] Further, these may be used in combination. For example, the CPU 11 initially selects a printer or the like by using the network number or the domain name (processing as the first search means), and when the printer or the like cannot be selected by this (searches for a printer or the like that meets the conditions). If not possible, the selection is performed using the setting information (processing as the second search means). On the contrary, first, the setting information may be used for selection, and if the printer or the like cannot be selected, the printer or the like may be selected using the network number or the domain name.

[Providing Operation] The CPU 11 makes a list of the printers 22 and the multi-function peripherals 23 selected by such processing, and the terminal device 21 which is the transmission source of the processing start instruction.
Alternatively, it is delivered to the multifunction device 23 and presented. Also, CPU1
1 acquires the information of the printer 22 or the multifunction peripheral 23 designated by the user from the presented list, and prints the data to be printed stored in the hard disk 13 to the designated printer 22 or the multifunction peripheral 23. Send.

Further, when only one printer 22 or multifunction peripheral 23 is selected by the above processing, the CPU 11 stores the selected printer 22 or multifunction peripheral 23 in the hard disk 13 without receiving the designation from the user. The accumulated print target data may be transmitted. In this case, it is preferable to send information about which printer 22 or multifunction device 23 the data to be printed has been sent to the sender of the processing start instruction and present it to the user.

Further, the CPU 11 may cause the terminal device 21 or the like to present a list of the printers 22 and the multifunction peripherals 23 registered in the printer database in the same manner as in the conventional case in order to widen the range of selection by the user. In this case, in order to identify the printer 22 or the multi-function peripheral 23 selected by the above processing, the list is rearranged so that the list is rearranged so that the printer 22 or the multifunction machine 23 can be identified, for example, by being colored or highlighted. At this time, if there is the multi-function peripheral 23 (or the printer 22) selected as the head candidate, the head candidate is rearranged so as to be the highest rank, or the head candidate is further highlighted so that the head candidate is displayed. To do.

[Operation] According to the present embodiment, the print service apparatus 1 receives the print job transmitted by the user via the network and holds it in the hard disk 13. When the user operates the terminal device 21 on the organization 2 side and transmits a processing start instruction, the print service device 1 acquires the IP address of the terminal device 21 and has the same network number as the IP address (that is, the same network number). Printer 22 or multifunction machine 23 (belonging to network)
Is selected and transmitted, and the list of the selected printer 22 or multifunction peripheral 23 is transmitted to the terminal device 21 side.

The user designates a desired printer 22 or multi-function peripheral 23 from the selected list, and sends information on the designated printer 22 or the like to the print service apparatus 1. The print service apparatus 1 transmits the print target data included in the print job to the designated printer 22 or multifunction peripheral 23, and the printer 22 or the like prints it.

[0044]

The print job received via the network is held, and the print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to the printer designated by the process start instruction via the network according to the process start instruction received from the terminal side. The print service apparatus determines, based on at least one of the conditions on the network of the terminal that is the transmission source of the processing start instruction, the past printer selection history, and the printer setting information, one or more printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted. Is selected and a print instruction is transmitted to at least one of the selected printer candidates according to the user's instruction, so the printer candidate is selected in relation to the network settings and the usage status, and the candidate is selected by region. Printer information according to information that is more suitable for actual usage than It is possible to narrow down the, convenience can be improved. In addition, since the printer candidate is selected according to the network setting, even if the printer is relocated, the information can be updated without human labor, and the management load can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a print service apparatus and its connection state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a printer database.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 print service device, 2 organizations, 11 CPUs,
12 storage unit, 13 hard disk, 14 communication unit, 2
1 terminal device, 22 printer, 23 compound machine.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to a printer designated by the process start instruction via the network, according to the process start instruction received from the terminal side. A print service apparatus, including means for selecting one or more printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted, based on the network condition of the terminal that is the source of the instruction, and the selected printer A print service apparatus, wherein the print instruction is transmitted to at least one of the candidates. 2. A print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to a printer designated by the process start instruction via the network according to the process start instruction received from the terminal side. A print service apparatus, which acquires printer selection history information used in the past in response to a processing start instruction from the terminal, and is a transmission target of the print instruction based on the acquired printer selection history information. A means for selecting one or a plurality of printer candidates, and transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. 3. A print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to a printer designated by the process start instruction via the network according to the process start instruction received from the terminal side. A print service device, which includes a first search unit that searches for one or a plurality of printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be sent, based on a network condition of the terminal that is the sender of the instruction; A second search means for searching printer selection history information used in the past in response to a processing start instruction from the terminal when the printer candidate cannot be selected by the search means; The print instruction is issued to at least one of the printer candidates retrieved by any of the second retrieval means. A print service device characterized by transmitting. 4. The print service apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition on the network of the terminal is a network number of the terminal, a domain to which the terminal belongs,
A print service device comprising at least one of MAC addresses. 5. A print job received via a network is retained, and a print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to a printer designated by the process start instruction via the network in accordance with the process start instruction received from the terminal side. A print service apparatus, which acquires printer setting information that is set to be usable by the terminal, and selects one or a plurality of printer candidates to which the print instruction is transmitted, based on the acquired printer setting information. Selecting means, and transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. 6. The print service apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for accumulating information of printers registered in advance, and means for presenting a list of the registered printers to the terminal. And a means for presenting to the terminal a list in which the printers selected as the printer candidates are arranged to be identifiable, the print service apparatus. 7. A print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to a printer designated by the process start instruction via the network in accordance with the process start instruction received from the terminal side. A method of providing a print service, wherein one or more printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted are selected based on the network conditions of the terminal that is the source of the instruction, and the selected printer candidate is selected. A method of providing a print service, comprising transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the above. 8. A print job received via a network is held, and a print instruction based on the print job is transmitted to a printer designated by the process start instruction via the network according to the process start instruction received from the terminal side. A method of providing a print service, the method comprising: acquiring printer selection history information used in the past in response to a processing start instruction from the terminal; and transmitting the print instruction based on the acquired printer selection history information. And a step of selecting one or a plurality of printer candidates, the method further comprising: transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. 9. A server computer is caused to hold a print job received via a network, and a print instruction based on the print job specified by the process start instruction received from the terminal side is designated by the process start instruction via the network. A print service processing program to be transmitted to a printer, which selects one or a plurality of printer candidates to which the print instruction is to be transmitted, based on the network condition of the terminal that is the source of the instruction; A print service processing program that executes a procedure of transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. 10. A server computer is caused to hold a print job received via a network, and a print instruction based on the print job specified by the process start instruction received from the terminal side is specified by the process start instruction via the network. A print service processing program to be transmitted to a printer, the procedure of acquiring printer selection history information used in the past in response to a processing start instruction from the terminal, and the print instruction based on the acquired printer selection history information. A procedure for selecting one or more printer candidates to be transmitted, and a procedure for transmitting the print instruction to at least one of the selected printer candidates. Print service processing program.