JP2004110587A - Printer search system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer retrieval system by which an information terminal retrieves the optimum printer such as the one being the nearest geographically among printers connected to the Internet through the Internet. <P>SOLUTION: The printer retrieval system consists of a registering means 4 for registering on a Web a printer 3 connected with the Internet and a placing means 5 for receiving the registration and placing it on the Web. Thus, a user browses many printers connected with the Internet on the Web easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer search system for searching a printer connected to the Internet on the Internet, and more particularly to a printer for searching a desired information printer from a number of printers connected to the Internet from a mobile information terminal connected to the Internet. Related to search system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of IT technology, various information processing apparatuses have become widespread. In particular, models having excellent mobility have been widely used. However, while the mobile information processing device can be easily carried, a printer is not generally attached.
[0003]
On the other hand, stores such as convenience stores, which are found everywhere in recent years, often have copiers and fax machines that can be used by customers, but these copiers have printer functions. For example, it is conceivable that it greatly contributes to the document output of the user using the mobile information processing apparatus. Further, use from a general Internet-connected information processing device (hereinafter, referred to as an information terminal) is also conceivable.
[0004]
In recent years, mobile information processing devices are also generally equipped with communication functions for sending and receiving e-mails and connecting to the Internet, and output from a printing device installed near the user via the Internet is extremely difficult. It is convenient. A printer search system for that purpose has been desired.
[0005]
Furthermore, even if it is a general information processing device, not only a mobile information processing device, but also wants to use a higher-quality printer, if a high-quality printer connected to the Internet can be used via the Internet, its own high-quality printer can be used. Printing can be performed easily and more economically without the installation cost of a high-quality printing apparatus. For this reason, a printer search system for searching for a desired printer via the Internet on the WEB has been desired even in an information processing apparatus having a general Internet communication function.
[0006]
Conventionally, in response to such a demand, an invention has been considered in which an optimum printer is selected from several printers connected to a network and printing is performed. For example, the invention described in Patent Literature 1 is a network printing system in which a scanner and a printer are connected to a network, and the scanner registers an installation location registration unit that registers installation location information and a printer that stores the installation location information on the network. There is disclosed a system having an output device search unit for searching and searching for a printer in which the same installation location is registered, and having a function of directly sending image information to the printer. However, since this system is a system for searching and printing a printer that can directly send image information of a scanner via a network, as described above, many mobile terminals or general information terminals use many printers via the Internet. It does not include a printer search system that searches for and selects the best printer, such as geographically close, from the list.
[0007]
Also, as an invention of a network system in which a terminal connected to a network efficiently selects a usable network printer, for example, the invention described in Patent Document 2 discloses that a plurality of terminals and a plurality of network printers are connected to a network. When each network printer performs a printing process based on print data transferred in response to a print request from a terminal, when one network printer is busy or offline and cannot be used, another A network system for searching for a network printer, selecting a printable printer, and causing the printer to print is disclosed. However, the search performed at this time is to search for an available network printer that is not busy, and as described above, a mobile or general information processing device is geographically close from many printers via the Internet. It did not include a search system to find and select the best printer.
[0008]
Also, as an invention for outputting a document to a target printer from a plurality of clients in an Internet environment, the invention described in Patent Document 3 discloses a printer search method. The invention of the above publication includes a host system serving as a web server provided with Internet communication means, and one or more host systems serving as clients provided with Internet communication means. In a communication system that shares one or more printing devices, the printing server has one or more printing servers in a host system serving as a client. A means for selecting and designating, and a means for transmitting a print instruction to the printing apparatus to perform document printing. With this configuration, you can select and specify a target printer, a printer with low standby time, or a printer close to the client's installation location from among multiple printers on the Internet, and various printing that is optimal for the document to be output By creating and converting an attribute setting information data file, distributing it to a plurality of clients from a print server on the Internet, and using the print attribute setting data file to print the same or similar document, And
[0009]
Although the invention described in Patent Document 3 has “means for selecting and specifying the printing device from a client” as described above, however, it does not allow a mobile or general information terminal to communicate via the Internet as described above. It is not a search system that searches for and selects the most suitable printer, such as geographically close, from many printers. Further, the retrieval system is not provided with a registration unit for registering a printer connected to the Internet.
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-59560 A
[0011]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-256022 A
[0012]
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-2000-10753
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an information terminal, particularly a mobile information terminal, searches for an optimal printer such as a geographically close printer from many printers connected to the Internet via the Internet. The purpose is to provide a printer search system for selecting a printer.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a printer registration unit for registering a printer connected to the Internet as a search target printer together with data related to the printer, and accepting registration of the printer, And a publishing means for publishing the data on a web. With this configuration, the system registers and publishes Internet-connected printers, so that the user can easily browse many Internet-connected printers on the WEB.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer search system according to the first aspect, the registration data of the search target printer includes an installation location of the printer.
[0016]
With such a configuration, the user can browse a printer connected to the Internet close to a desired place on the WEB.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer search system according to the first or second aspect, further comprising: a printer search condition setting means for setting the registered printer data as a printer search condition; An information terminal connected via the printer includes a printer search unit for searching for a printer using the search condition of the printer, and the search result is displayed on the web by the posting unit.
[0018]
With such a configuration, the user can easily search for a desired printer from registered printers based on search conditions via the Internet.
[0019]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer search system according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising an access restriction unit for restricting access from the information terminal. .
[0020]
With such a configuration, access from the information terminal can be eliminated as necessary.
[0021]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer search system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a device driver obtaining unit for obtaining a device driver of the search target printer. Features.
[0022]
With such a configuration, when a user uses a printer connected via a network, a printer driver can be easily acquired as necessary.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a printer registration unit that registers a printer connected to the Internet as a search target printer together with data on the printer, accepts registration from the printer, and posts the data of the printer on a web page. A printer search system including a posting unit.
[0024]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printer search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 2 denote an Internet network, 3 denotes a printer connected to the Internet, 4 denotes a printer 3 or a printer registration means as a configuration of an information processing apparatus not shown, 5 denotes a posting means as a configuration of an information processing apparatus, and 6 denotes a printer. Search condition setting means as a configuration of the information processing apparatus, printer search means as a configuration of the information processing apparatus, access restriction means as a configuration of the information processing apparatus, acquisition of a device driver as a configuration of the information processing apparatus Means and 10 are information terminals. The printer 3 to the information terminal 10 are directly or indirectly connected to the Internet 2.
[0025]
The printer 3 connected to the Internet has obtained an IP address, and is connected to the Internet alone as shown in the figure. Alternatively, it may be connected to the Internet via an information processing device via a LAN or the like (not shown).
[0026]
The printer registration means 4 may be of two types. One is a method which is attached to the printer 3 from the beginning and from which a registration operation is performed via the Internet network 2. In this case, for example, a display unit is provided on the operation panel of the printer 3, a setting screen is called on the display unit, an input operation is performed from an operation unit of the operation panel, and a general line connected to the printer 3 is connected via the Internet network 2. The registration unit 5 is accessed by accessing the posting means 5 for accepting registration.
[0027]
The transmitted registration contents include main printer functions such as installation location, IP address, color / monochrome, printing speed, double-sided printing, stapling, and resolution. However, in this case, since the functions of the printer indicate the performance and characteristics of the printer, all or a part of the functions are not set freely by the operator, but can be set automatically by the printer.
[0028]
Another method is to provide a storage medium such as a CD in which utility software for registration is stored in advance, and to use an information processing apparatus (not shown) to which the printer is connected to set printer registration using the utility software. The registration contents are input to the posting means 5 and transmitted. The registration content is almost the same as that of the first method, but a larger amount of data such as map information can be registered because of the provision of the storage medium.
[0029]
In any case, it is preferable that the registered contents include the installation location of the printer 3. For example, when the information terminal 10 having no printing means causes the printer 3 to print via the Internet, the location of the printer 3 is important when selecting the printer 3. In some cases, the function data of the printer 3 may be automatically input mechanically, but it is preferable that the installation location can be manually input freely. It is also desirable that the IP address can be manually input.
[0030]
Further, the printer search system according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a printer installation location setting unit for setting an installation location of the printer. This is because it is convenient if there is a means for setting the installation location separately from the registration of the functional contents.
[0031]
The publishing unit 5 to the driver acquiring unit 9 described below can be realized using, for example, a server connected to the Internet and performing each function. Alternatively, the present invention can also be realized by providing a single printer search server, for example, and including it therein.
[0032]
Further, in the printer search system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the printer search condition setting means 6 for setting the data of the registered printer 3 as the search condition of the printer 3 and the information terminal 10 via the Internet 2 It is desirable to provide a printer search unit 7 that can search for a desired printer 3 using the printer search conditions, and that the search result is displayed on the WEB by the posting unit 5. A user who accesses the posting means 5 from the information terminal 10 can display and view a list of the registered printers 3 on the browser screen, and further, the user inputs a search condition from the printer list on the browser screen. Thus, the desired printer 3 can be searched, and the searched printer 3 can be confirmed again on the browser.
[0033]
That is, here, the web page on the browser screen of the information terminal 10 is provided with a column for inputting search conditions, and the search means 7 searches the user via the Internet 2 using the entered data as search conditions. Search for the desired printer 3. The search condition can be selected from printer functions such as color / monochrome, printing speed, stapling, and resolution, and registered data such as an installation location, an installation store name, a nearest station, and an IP address of the printer. The search result is displayed on the WEB page by the publishing means 5, and the information terminal 10 views it on the browser.
[0034]
Further, it is desirable that the printer search system includes an access restriction unit 8 for restricting access from the information terminal 10. This is because, for example, when the registered printer 3 is installed in an office or the like, there are cases where it is desired to restrict the use to a specific user and then to permit use, or to restrict access to the WEB page for printer search. . Therefore, for example, at the time of registration setting from a registered printer 3 connected to the Internet or an information device (not shown) to which the printer 3 is connected, or at another time, a request for a specific user restriction is issued to the access restriction unit 8. Notify
[0035]
As a result, the access restriction unit 8 restricts the use of the printer that has been notified of the user restriction. For example, with respect to the printer 3 with user restrictions, a web page having a printer list and a search condition entry column is provided separately from the usual, and a password must be input to access the web page. Alternatively, when inputting a keyword for a search, a method of requesting a user ID and a password can be adopted.
[0036]
Further, the printer search system according to the embodiment of the present invention desirably includes device driver obtaining means 9 for obtaining a device driver of a printer to be searched. When the user sees the list of desired printers posted on the WEB page as described above, when selecting a printer to actually print from the list, the user needs a device driver such as a printer driver. In order to allow the information terminal of the user to download the device driver, the device driver can be transferred from the web page, or the driver can be linked to the uploaded web page. Thus, the information terminal 10 that searches for the printer 3 can easily acquire the device driver.
[0037]
The registration unit 4, the posting unit 5, the search condition setting unit 6, the search unit 7, the access restriction unit 8, and the driver acquisition unit 9 in the above-described printer search system will be described in further detail. In the following, each of the above means can be implemented as a registration setting unit 4, a registration posting unit 5, a search condition setting unit 6, a search unit 7, an access restriction unit 8, and a driver acquisition unit 9, respectively, in that order.
[0038]
(Registration setting section and printer search web server)
The registration setting unit (registering means in the claims) 4 is provided as an example attached to the printer itself. With this configuration, it is possible to easily register the information in the posting means 5 (registration / posting unit, detailed later) on the web without any other information processing device. On the other hand, the printer 3 connected to a computer or the like may be registered on the WEB using the computer or the like. In this case, more detailed data such as image information such as a map can be registered by using a storage medium such as a CD storing the registration program.
[0039]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a registration unit (registration setting unit) provided inside the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 21 denote CPUs (Central Processing Units) that execute various programs, 22 a ROM that stores an operating program for driving the CPU 21 and the like, and 23 a memory that is used as a work area for various processes. RAM (random access memory), 24 is an Internet I / F which is an interface with the Internet, 25 is an input unit such as a keyboard for inputting, 26 is a display unit for displaying input results, print settings, etc. The registration setting unit 4 of the printer 3 is configured. Further, 27 is a drive system I / F, 28 is a print output device drive system for performing mechanical printing, 29 is a CPU bus connecting the above-described units, and 30 is a print output to be output.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a printer search web server according to the embodiment of the present invention. As for the reference numerals, 1 is a printer search web server, 31 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing various programs, 32 is a ROM (ROM memory) for storing an operating program for driving the CPU 31 and the like, and 33 is various processes. (Random access memory) which is a memory used as a work area for the Internet, 34 is an Internet I / F which is an interface with the Internet, 35 is an input unit such as a keyboard for inputting, 36 is a display unit (display), Reference numeral 37 denotes a disk (mass storage device) in which various control programs, data, and files are stored, and reference numeral 38 denotes a CPU bus that connects them. In this case, all of the registration / posting unit (posting unit) 5 to the driver acquisition unit (driver acquisition unit) 9 are included in one printer search WEB server 1 (abbreviated as WEB server). However, the respective units (means in claims) 5 to 9 can be configured as separate servers that execute respective functions instead of one server.
[0041]
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example of the printer search WEB server. As for the reference numerals, 1 is a printer search web server, 5 is a registration and posting section (posting means in claims), 6 is a search condition setting section (search condition setting means in claims), and 7 is a search section (search means in claims). ) And 8 are access restriction units (access restriction means in the claims), 9 is a driver acquisition unit (driver acquisition means in the claims), and 41 is a storage unit (memory) for storing programs and data files.
[0042]
The above-mentioned units, that is, the registration / posting unit 5 to the driver acquisition unit 9 can be realized by a program (for example, a CGI program) that realizes those functions being operated by a CPU.
[0043]
(Printer registration and posting on the web)
A registration operation from the printer 3 to the printer search WEB server 1 will be described. A registration setting unit 5 (FIG. 2) provided in the printer includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an input unit 25, a display unit 26, and an Internet I / F 34, and performs connection to the printer search WEB server 1 and registration operation.
[0044]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a registration operation from the printer to the WEB server according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the printer 3 is installed, connected to the Internet, and accesses the printer search WEB server 1 (S101). That is, the user operates the input unit 25 while looking at the display unit 26 of the printer 3 to input a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) which is a homepage address of the printer search web server 1, and the printer search web server via the Internet I / F 24. Access 1 Upon receiving the access from the printer 3, the printer search WEB server 1 activates the CGI program, and determines that the request is a registration request from the printer 3 with the access. Then, the registration / posting unit 5 of the printer search WEB server 1 drives the CGI program, reads out a file necessary for registration from the storage unit 41 (S102), and the printer search WEB server 1 stores the registration sheet converted into the html format. The data is distributed to the printer 3 via the Internet 2 (S103).
[0045]
The registration sheet sent as an html file is displayed in a browser format on the screen of the display unit 26 of the printer 3, and the registration sheet is provided with fields for inputting a printer name, an installation location, an IP address, and color / monochrome. I have. Data to be registered is input by the operator of the printer 3 via the input unit 25 (S104).
[0046]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registration sheet format for performing registration settings on a browser according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, each item is input from the browser screen via the input unit 25, and is sent to the WEB server by clicking a registration button.
[0047]
The input registration paper is sent as an html file to the printer search WEB server 1 (S105), and in the received printer search WEB server 1, the registration / posting unit 5 performs a registration process using a registration / posting program, and stores the registration paper. 41 is added to the search target printer file stored in S41 (S106). Alternatively, in the case of the first registration, a new file is created. Thus, the newly registered printer 3 is added to the frequently used printer list page together with the data, and the data file is stored in the storage unit 41 again.
[0048]
When the registration of the printer 3 is completed, the registration publishing unit 5 notifies the completion of the registration, the printer search WEB server 1 distributes the html file indicating the completion of the registration to the printer 3 (S107), and the printer 3 displays it on the browser. (S108).
[0049]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the posting operation on the web by the posting means according to the embodiment of the present invention. Regarding the posting operation on the web, first, when the information terminal 10 connected to the Internet accesses the printer search WEB server 1 (S201), the registration / posting unit 5 searches the list of printers to be searched stored in the storage unit 41. The data file corresponding to the page such as is read (S202). Then, the printer search WEB server 1 distributes the html-converted file to the accessing information terminal 10 (S203), and the information terminal 10 that has received the file views it on a browser screen (S204). Thus, the printer search WEB server 1 displays and publishes data such as a list of printers to be searched on the Web.
[0050]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a target printer list displayed on the search web page according to the embodiment of the present invention. Items such as an identification number, a printer name, and an installation location include items at the time of registration setting. Further, as shown in the figure, a setting may be made so that the detailed data is displayed by clicking a mark in the details column.
[0051]
It is to be noted that a registration setting method in which the emphasis is mainly on the setting of a place and other registration can be automatically performed is also possible. That is, an installation location setting unit (not shown) may be separately provided. In this case, without waiting for the delivery of the registration form from the printer search web server 1, the installation location is input from the input unit 25 of the printer 3 and transmitted as it is, and the registration posting unit of the printer search web server 1 is automatically transmitted. 5, a method of storing data in the storage unit 41 as data is possible.
[0052]
(Search condition setting and search)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a search condition setting operation by the printer search condition setting means according to the embodiment of the present invention. Regarding the search condition setting, the registration sheet is input by the registration setting unit 4 of the printer 3 connected to the Internet, and is registered as html format registration data as a printer search condition setting unit (abbreviated as a search condition setting unit) of the printer search WEB server 1. (6) (S301), where it is adopted as a search condition by the search condition setting program, and is written in a database file containing the data of the printer to be searched (S302). Thus, the registration data sent from the printer 3 is set as a printer search condition, and is stored in the storage unit 41 as a search file (S303).
[0053]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a search operation of the printer search system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the case of searching, first, when searching for an Internet-connected printer registered in the printer search web server 1 from the information terminal 10, the information terminal 10 accesses the printer search web server 1 and requests a search page for printer search ( S401). The search unit 7 of the printer search WEB server 1 reads out the corresponding search file from the storage unit 41 (S402), and the printer search WEB server 1 distributes the file search page converted into the html format to the information terminal 10 (S403). The terminal 10 displays it as a search page on the screen in a browser format. The search page is provided with a column for a user operating the information terminal 10 to input search conditions required for a search. The user inputs the search condition while watching it.
[0054]
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of a search sheet displayed on a web page according to the embodiment of the present invention. From the information terminal 10, the user inputs a search item such as a printer name, an installation location, a color designation, a paper size, and the like, and clicks a search execution button.
[0055]
The search page in which the search conditions have been input is transmitted to the printer search WEB server 1 (S404), and the search unit 7 extracts the data of the target printer corresponding to the conditions from the related database file and creates a search list (S405). ). Then, the printer search WEB server 1 distributes the list file converted into the html file to the information terminal 10 (S406). By reading it on the browser, the user can find a desired printer 3 located closest to, for example, the current location (S407).
[0056]
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search result list on a web screen searched by the search web server according to the embodiment of the present invention. From the information terminal 10, the printer 3 installed at the nearest location can be known, and details can be viewed by clicking the mark 印.
[0057]
In this way, the printer search web server 1 sets search conditions and performs a search operation, and displays and posts the search results on the web in the form of a list of the printers 3 or the like.
[0058]
(User restrictions)
The printer search WEB server 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an access restriction unit 8 that restricts a user at various stages such as access to a web page, access to a search page, and search input. For example, when the information terminal 10 operated by the user accesses the printer search WEB server 1, an application form (not shown) for browsing the search page is first delivered, and the user inputs the user ID and password on the browser screen of the information terminal 10. Enter it and send it back to the printer search WEB server 1. In the printer search WEB server 1, the access restriction unit 8 checks the user ID and password by reading the restricted file stored in the storage unit 41, and determines whether the process is allowed or not permitted to proceed to the next step. I do. By doing so, use by the user can be restricted. The result is delivered to the information terminal 10 of the user, and the user can know the status.
[0059]
(Get driver)
On the browser screen displayed and posted on the WEB by the registration / posting unit 5, a link to a page where a device driver necessary for driving the printer 3 can be obtained is provided, so that the user's information terminal 10 can download from the link page. Driver can be obtained. Alternatively, a printer driver may be stored in the storage unit 41 of the printer search WEB server 1 in advance, and the printer driver may be distributed in response to a user request.
[0060]
(Printer search WEB server)
When only the printer search server device is taken out of the printer search system, the printer search server device is a registration receiving means for receiving a registration from a printer connected to the Internet as a search target printer, and a database for storing data of the registered search target printers. Means, posting means for posting the data of the search target printer on the WEB, and search means for accessing the database unit and searching for the search target printer in response to a search request from the information terminal via the Internet, The posting means is a WEB server that displays the search results.
[0061]
According to this configuration, the printer connected to the Internet is registered, and the user can easily browse many printers connected to the Internet on the WEB. A printer search server capable of easily searching for a printer can be provided. Details of the configuration are as described above.
[0062]
(Printing device with registration means)
Further, when only the printer device having the printer registration means is taken out of the printer search system, the printer is an Internet-connected printer, and the printer with the data on the printer is added to the search target printer connected to the Internet. And a printer registration means for registering with the web server. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a printer that can be connected to the Internet by a simple method, registered on the WEB, and received a search on the WEB. The details of the configuration are as described above.
[0063]
(Printer search method)
Furthermore, when the printer search method of the printer search system is viewed, it includes a printer registration step of registering a printer connected to the Internet as a search target printer together with data on the printer, and accepts registration of the printer. A posting step of posting data on the WEB, a printer search condition setting step of setting registered printer data as a printer search condition, and an information terminal using the printer search condition via the Internet to select a desired printer. A printer search method characterized by using a printer search step for searching and a display step of displaying the search result on a web by a posting means.
[0064]
With this configuration, an Internet-connected printer can be registered, and a user can easily browse many Internet-connected printers on the WEB, and a desired one, for example, an Internet connection that is close to a desired place is provided. A printer search method that can easily search for a specified printer can be provided.
[0065]
(Operation of WEB search system)
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a mode of operating the WEB search system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As for the reference numerals, 50 is a web page management organization, 51 is a user, and 52 is a printer owner. As shown in the figure, an organization (referred to as a web page management organization) 50 for providing and managing a web page for listing a list of registered printers at the time of operation is provided. The printer 3 to be registered is installed in, for example, a convenience store. In this case, the convenience store is the owner 52 of the printer 3. When the user 51 who is near the mobile terminal and owns the mobile terminal wants to print out, the user accesses the printer search WEB server 1 from the own mobile terminal, searches for an Internet connection printer as needed, and installs the printer 3. The location and function can be read from the web page displayed on the screen of the information terminal 10. The posting method and method are as described above.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a printer search system in which a printer connected to the Internet is registered and a user of the information terminal can easily browse the printer on the web.
[0067]
According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, the user can browse an Internet-connected printer near a desired place on the WEB.
[0068]
According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a printer search system capable of searching for an Internet-connected printer based on desired search conditions.
[0069]
According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, it is possible to provide a printer search system capable of setting access restriction from an information terminal.
[0070]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention, a user can easily acquire a printer driver necessary for using a network-connected printer. And a printer search system that can perform the search.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printer search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a registration unit provided inside the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printer search web server according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example of a printer search web server.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a registration operation from a printer to a WEB server according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registration sheet format for performing registration settings on a browser according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a posting operation on the web by a posting unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a target printer list displayed on a search web page according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a search condition setting operation by the printer search condition setting means according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a search operation of the printer search system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of a search sheet displayed on a web page according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search result list on a web screen searched by a search web server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a mode of operating the WEB search system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer search WEB server
2 Internet network
3 Printer
4 Registration means (registration setting part)
5. Publication method (registration publication section)
6 Search condition setting means (Search condition setting section)
7 Search means (search part)
8 access restriction means (access restriction section)
9 Driver acquisition means (driver acquisition unit)
10 Information terminal
21,31 CPU
22, 32 ROM
23,33 RAM
24,34 Internet I / F
25, 35 input section
26, 36 display
27 Drive system I / F
29,38 CPU bus
30 Print output
41 Memory
50 Web page management organization
51 users
52 Printer owner
S101 to S407 each step

Claims (5)

Printer registration means for registering a printer connected to the Internet as a search target printer together with data on the printer,
Posting means for accepting the registration of the printer and posting the data of the printer on a web;
A printer search system comprising: The printer search system according to claim 1, wherein the registration data of the printer to be searched includes a location where the printer is installed. A printer search condition setting means for setting the registered printer data as a printer search condition;
Printer search means for an information terminal connected via the Internet to search for a printer using the printer search conditions;
With
The printer search system according to claim 1, wherein the posting unit displays the search result on a web. The printer search system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising access restriction means for restricting access from the information terminal. The printer search system according to claim 1, further comprising a device driver obtaining unit configured to obtain a device driver of the search target printer.

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