JP2005182253A - ASP printing service system, method, and ASP server device - Google Patents

Abstract

When executing an ASP service for a printing apparatus compatible with XHTML-Print, unlike in the past, print data as XHTML-Print that is optimal for the function of the printing apparatus for which printing output is desired is generated.
A terminal 100 includes a Web browser 120 and a notification unit 110. An ASP server 200 includes application software 210, a print data generation unit 220, a print data storage unit 230, a storage location notification unit 240, and a print data output unit 250. And the application software 210 and the print data generation means 220 as XHTML-Print satisfying the optimum printing function for the printing apparatus 300 by notifying the ASP server 200 from the terminal 100 of an identifier that can identify the model of the printing apparatus 300. Print data can be generated and transferred to the printing apparatus 300.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an ASP print service system, method thereof, and ASP server.

  In recent years, a service model called an application service has become widespread as a service using a network. In this service, the client terminal uses application software held by an application service provider (Application Service Provider: hereinafter abbreviated as ASP) that can be accessed via the Internet, as necessary, Start and execute it on the client terminal side, or start it on the client terminal side and execute it on the application server side. In such a service, when printing the processing results and created data by various software for business or general user provided by the application server with a printer connected to the network, it is prepared at the ASP site. Printing is performed from a printing apparatus that has been used, or printing is performed from a printing apparatus owned by a corporate user or a general user.

  However, printing devices owned by corporate users and general users vary in manufacturer, model, and function. When printing processing is performed by an ASP server, the ASP site is for printing on printing devices owned by all users. Software (printer driver) must be prepared.

In response to this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-29947 prepares a print server having print means for generating print data for all models of all printing apparatuses, and further connects the print server to a network. It has been proposed to convert the execution result of application software on an ASP server into print data for a printing apparatus desired by a user.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-29947

  However, in the prior art described in the above-mentioned patent document (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-29947), an ASP server that operates application software is connected to a terminal that instructs execution and execution result printing via a communication network. In order to prepare the print server, it is necessary to prepare a print server having printing means for generating print data for all models of all printing apparatuses and to connect to the communication network. Had the problem that a large scale of software, costs and man-hours occurred. Further, in the conventional configuration described in the above-mentioned patent document (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-29947), in order to correspond to the printing apparatus owned by all users, for printing corresponding to the printing apparatus owned by all users. There has been a problem that software (printer driver) must be prepared in the print server.

  Further, when the printing device that the user desires to output is a printing device that supports XHTML-Print, the level of XHTML-Print supported by the printing device may be different for each printing device, or each printing device has When there is a restriction such as a printing function peculiar to the model, when the execution result of the application software on the ASP server is printed by the printing apparatus, the user may not use the application software of the ASP server. There is a problem that printing is performed in an unintended state.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is not particularly necessary to prepare a print server having a printing unit that generates print data for all models of all printing apparatuses and to connect to the communication network. Also, in order to support printing devices owned by all users, printing software (printer drivers) corresponding to printing devices owned by all users must be prepared in the print server. In addition, when the printing device that the user desires to output is a printing device that supports XHTML-Print, the level of XHTML-Print supported by the printing device may be different for each printing device, or each printing device Even if there are restrictions such as printing functions specific to the model, When printing the execution result of the application software with the printing apparatus, the printing is not performed in a state that the user did not intend on the application software of the ASP server, for example, the size does not match or the layout is broken. An object of the present invention is to provide an ASP printing service system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, an ASP print service system according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an ASP server that executes application software, a terminal that instructs the execution and printing of the execution result, and the ASP server. In a print service system in which a print device that prints print data based on the execution result in the above is connected via a communication network, the ASP server generates print data suitable for the print device that the user desires to output. It has a print data generation means and a print data output means for outputting the print data to the printing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the terminal has a notification means for notifying an ASP server of an identifier for specifying a printing device that the user desires to output. It is a feature.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing device is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server. It is what.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, the ASP server selects the user to select an identifier for specifying a printing device that the user desires to output from the user. It is characterized by having a means.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, the ASP server dynamically generates an optimal HTML display content based on an identifier for specifying the printing device, and It is characterized by serving a terminal.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 6 of the present application is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the print data generation means dynamically generates print data suitable for all models of the printing apparatus. It is a thing.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 7 of the present application is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the print data generation unit is configured to send all of the printing devices based on an identifier identifying the printing device notified from the terminal. It is characterized by generating print data suitable for the model.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the invention according to claim 7, wherein the ASP server has storage means for temporarily storing the print data generated by the print data generation means in a file. It is what.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 9 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 8, the ASP server notifies the terminal of information specifying the storage location of the print data once stored in the file. It is characterized by having a notification means.

  Further, the invention according to claim 10 of the present application is characterized in that, in the inventions according to claims 5 and 7, the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is notified from the terminal to an ASP server. is there.

  Further, the invention according to claim 11 of the present application is that, in the invention according to claim 10, the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server. It is a feature.

  The invention according to claim 12 of the present application is the invention according to claims 5 and 7, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is selected by the ASP server from the user via the terminal. It is what.

  Further, the invention according to claim 13 of the present application is the invention according to claim 9, wherein the terminal adds information for specifying a storage location of the print data when instructing the printing apparatus to execute printing. Then, the printing execution is instructed.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 14 of the present application is the invention according to claim 13, wherein the printing apparatus sends information to the ASP server based on information specifying a storage location of the print data notified from the terminal. On the other hand, it is requested to send the print data.

  Further, the invention according to claim 15 of the present application is the invention according to claim 14, wherein the print data output means transmits the print data to the printing apparatus in accordance with a request from the printing apparatus. It is what.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 16 of the present application is the invention according to claims 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, wherein the print data is in XHTML-Print format. It is what.

  With this configuration, when the output result from the application software provided by the ASP server is output to the printing device desired by the user, the level of XHTML-Print supported by the printing device desired by the user may be different. Even if there is a restriction such as a printing function peculiar to the model of each printing device, the user generates print data in the XHTML-Print print data format optimized for the desired XHTML-Print compatible printing device. It is possible to print without worrying about the desired model of the XHTML-Print compatible printing apparatus, printing function limitations, and the like.

  The present invention also communicates an ASP server that executes application software, a terminal that instructs the execution of the application software and printing of the execution result, and a printing apparatus that prints print data based on the execution result of the ASP server. In a print service method connected via a network, the ASP server includes a print data generation procedure for generating print data suitable for a printing apparatus that a user desires to output, and print data for outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. An ASP print service method characterized by having an output procedure is provided.

  The present invention also provides an ASP server device that executes application software in response to an instruction from a terminal connected via a communication network, and print data generation means that generates print data suitable for a printing device that the user desires to output. There is also provided an ASP server device comprising a print data output means for outputting the print data to the printing device.

  The present invention further includes the above-described system, the above-described ASP server device or the program for executing the above-described method, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  According to the ASP print service system of the present invention, in the print service for outputting the output result from the application software provided by the ASP to the print device desired by the user, the XHTML-Print supported by the print device desired by the user. Even if there are different levels of printing or restrictions on the printing functions specific to each model of each printing device, printing in the XHTML-Print print data format optimized for the XHTML-Print compatible printing device desired by the user Data is generated, and printing can be performed without worrying about the model of the XHTML-Print compatible printing apparatus desired by the user or restrictions on the printing function. However, the ASP server requires a print data conversion / generation unit that can handle all XHTML-Print compatible printing apparatuses. However, the ASP server is a conventional technique described in the above-mentioned patent document (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-29947). However, in the same way, the printing software (printer driver) corresponding to the model of all the printing apparatuses is required for the server, and in this respect, the print data conversion / generation means is the same as the printing software (printer). The processing load is lighter than that of a driver, and the software to be prepared is also effective in reducing the scale.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating the entire ASP print service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, this ASP print service system instructs the execution of application software, and instructs the printing of the execution result, the terminal 100 operated by the user, and the above-mentioned application software, An ASP server 200 that generates print data as a result and a printing apparatus 300 that outputs the print data are connected to each other via a communication network 400. The communication network 400 is a communication transmission path that connects these terminals 100, the ASP server 200, and the printing apparatus 300, which may be wired or wireless in general. As a protocol, TCP / IP is often used. As the communication network, for example, a LAN or the Internet is used. Note that in such connection via the communication network 400, these terminals 100 and the printing apparatus 300 may be connected to the communication network 400 in an arbitrary number.

  In such a configuration, the user accesses the ASP server 200 from the terminal 100 via the communication network 400, instructs the ASP server 200 to execute the software desired by the user, and displays the execution result in an optimum state. The user instructs to output to the printing apparatus 300 that desires the print output. Note that when the user terminal 100 issues an execution instruction to the ASP server 200, the terminal 100 notifies the ASP server 200 of an identifier that can specify the printing device 300 that the user desires to output, or the ASP server 200 causes the terminal 100 to By selecting an identifier that can identify the printing apparatus 300, the optimum print data conditions to be generated by the ASP server 200 are grasped. Also, as the terminal 100 operated by the user, an ASP server such as a general personal computer, a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) as a mobile terminal, or a DTV (Digital TeleVision) is used. Any one of them can be used as long as it can access the printer 200 and the printing apparatus 300 via the communication network 400. Application software provided by the terminal 100 from the ASP server 200 includes business processing software such as an accounting processing system and a salary management system, or a general user using, for example, a photo print service. There are those using a Web browser and those taking a form in which a dedicated module is incorporated in the terminal 100 and operated on a server. In this configuration, the format of print data handled by the printing apparatus 300 is the XHTML-Print format. FIG. 7 shows an example of print data described in the XHTML-Print format.

  Next, the ASP server 200 executes application software instructed by the user and generates print data as a result of the execution. At this time, the ASP server 200 converts and generates print data suitable for the printing apparatus 300 that the user desires to output based on an identifier specified from the terminal 100 and capable of specifying the model of the printing apparatus 300. As an identifier that can specify the model of the printing apparatus 300, in addition to the manufacturer name of the printing apparatus 300, a number that can identify it, a model number that can identify the model name, a version of the same model, etc. If there is a difference, the version number or lot number may be used for identification, or it may be identified by a managed number that can uniquely identify them. This conversion / generation is created by software for generating print data for the printing apparatus 300 that is the output destination of the printed matter, and is compatible with all printing apparatuses that support the XHTML-Print format as the print data format. It is necessary to have one that is compatible with all models. The print data generated by the ASP server 200 is temporarily stored in the ASP server 200 as a file, and only the URL specifying the location where the file is stored is notified to the user terminal 100. The print data is stored in the user terminal. 100 pulls from the ASP server 200 and transfers the print data to the printing apparatus 300. Alternatively, the user terminal further notifies the printing apparatus 300 of only the URL specifying the location where the print data file notified from the ASP server is stored, and the printing apparatus 300 pulls the print data to the ASP server 200. It doesn't matter if you do. Further, the place where the print data is temporarily stored as a file is not limited to the ASP server 200 but may be another server connected to the communication network 400.

  Further, when the user terminal 100 can specify an identifier that can identify the printing apparatus 300, for example, a URL, the user terminal 100 notifies the ASP server 200 of the identifier and pushes print data from the ASP server 200 to the printing apparatus 300. It is also possible to take

  Next, the above service form will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration when the ASP server 200 generates print data based on an identifier that can specify the model of the printing apparatus 300 specified by the user terminal 100. In FIG. 2, the terminal 100 includes at least notification means 110 for notifying the ASP server of an identifier for identifying (as a model) the printing apparatus 300 that the user desires to output, and for receiving the ASP service. A web browser 120 is provided. The software necessary for the terminal 100 to receive the ASP service is not limited to the Web browser, and may be an ASP dedicated module. The ASP server 200 includes at least application software 210, print data generation means 220, print data storage means 230, storage location notification means 240, and print data output means 250.

  Application software 210 includes a photo print service.

  The print data generation unit 220 generates print data from the execution result of the application software 210 in accordance with an instruction from the user terminal 100. At this time, upon receiving a notification from the terminal 100 of an identifier that identifies the printing apparatus 300 that the user desires to output (as a model), the print data generation unit 220 generates print data optimal for the printing apparatus 300. If software for generating print data suitable for the printing apparatus 300 desired by the user does not exist in the print data generation unit 220, the user is notified of the fact and the printing process is stopped, or Printing is performed by the printing apparatus 300 on the assumption that the layout or the like is destroyed. Therefore, the print data generation unit 220 must be compatible with all models of all printing apparatuses. However, in the present invention, since the XHTML-Print format is used, the print data generation unit 220 uses normal printer driver software. There is no need for a corresponding range in the print data generation unit 220 as seen in the model dependency.

  The print data storage unit 230 converts the execution result of the application software 210 into print data converted into print data suitable for the printing apparatus 300 that the user desires to output by the print data generation unit 220, and the file is stored in the ASP server 200. Is temporarily stored.

  The storage location notification unit 240 notifies the terminal 100 of an identifier (for example, a URL) that can specify the location where desired print data is stored. Note that the notification destination of the identifier is the user terminal 100. However, when the ASP server 200 is specified to notify the ASP server 200 of an identifier that can identify the printing apparatus 300 by an instruction from the user terminal 100, for example, the identifier is used. On the basis of this, it is possible to adopt a form in which print data is pushed from the ASP server 200 to the printing apparatus 300.

  The print data output unit 250 outputs the print data (print file) stored in the print data storage unit 230. When an identifier that can identify the printing apparatus 300, such as a URL, is specified to the ASP server 200 in response to an instruction from the user terminal 100, print data is pushed from the ASP server 200 to the printing apparatus 300 based on the identifier. .

  When the storage location notification unit 240 notifies the terminal 100 of an identifier (for example, a URL) that can specify the location where desired print data is stored, the print data output unit 250 displays the print device. Based on the pull request from 300, print data is output from the print data storage unit 230. Although the traffic burden increases, the terminal 100 may request the print data output unit 250 to pull the print data, and once the print data is secured, the print data may be transmitted to the printing apparatus 300. I do not care.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 100 notifies the terminal 100 of an identifier for specifying (as a model) the printing apparatus 300 that the user desires to output by providing a selection unit 260 in the ASP server 200. On the other hand, it may be configured to select from the ASP server.

  Next, the ASP printing service in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 4, application software is executed by the ASP server 200 to generate print data, and the ASP server 200 sends the print data stored in the print data storage unit 230 to the printing apparatus 300 in response to a pull request from the printing apparatus 300. A flow in the case of transmission will be described. In the description here, a photo print service is assumed as an application, and a DTV (Digital TeleVision) is assumed as the terminal device 100. Further, the printing apparatus 300 supports the XHTML-Print data format.

  First, the user executes a photo print service application provided by the ASP server 200 from the terminal 100 to the ASP server 200 via the communication network 400. The application is executed by accessing the ASP server 200 by the Web browser 120 installed in the terminal 100 and operating by the user on the Web browser 120 ((1) in FIG. 4). In this case, the terminal 100 needs to upload the photo image data targeted for execution of the photo print service application to the ASP server 200 via the communication network 400. In the case of the photo print service application, the user selects a photo image to be printed on the terminal 100 using the web browser 120, and outputs the print form on the printing paper, for example, layout, borderless (or no) printing, Printing is executed by selecting the size of the printing paper (FIG. 4, (3) and (4)). On the other hand, when the terminal 100 accesses the ASP server 200, an identifier that can identify the model of the printing apparatus 300 identified by the terminal 100 is notified to the application software 210 on the ASP server 200 side through the notification unit 110 (FIG. 4 (2)). This notification is automatically performed at a timing that the user is not aware of. As a notification method, Cookie information held by the terminal 100 so that the model of the printing apparatus 300 can be identified is passed to the ASP server 200 (application software 210), or the model of the printing apparatus 300 is identified. There is a method of adding a possible identifier and returning a URL. The ASP server 200 (application software 210) uses the print data generation means 220 to perform photo printing under conditions optimal for the capabilities of the printing apparatus 300 based on the identifier that can identify the model of the printing apparatus 300 obtained from the terminal 100. The execution result executed by the print service application is output as print data (XHTML-Print data format) ((5) and (6) in FIG. 4). The ASP server 200 (application software 210) can specify the model of the printing apparatus 300 identified by the terminal 100 from the first stage of access when providing a photo print service application to the user through the Web browser 120. It is also possible to obtain the identifier and dynamically generate a photo print service application as much as possible by the printing apparatus 300 as HTML and provide it to the terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 5, even if the printing apparatus 300 supports the XHTML-Print data format, the printing apparatus 300 can print for each model (printing paper size, layout, bordered printing, etc.). Are different. For example, in the case of the printing apparatus B shown in FIG. 5, the ASP server 200 (application software 210) performs a photo print service application as shown in FIG. In addition, for the printing function that the printing apparatus B does not have, the option for each function is not displayed on the Web browser 120 of the terminal 100 (print menu screen 500). Further, as a means for the ASP server 200 (application software 210) to obtain an identifier that can identify the model of the printing apparatus 300 recognized by the terminal 100, the ASP server 200 is connected to the terminal 100 by the selection means 260 shown in FIG. On the other hand, HTML may be generated and the user may be allowed to select an identifier that can specify the model of the printing apparatus 300 through the Web browser 120. The print data (XHTML-Print data format) generated by the print data generation unit 220 is temporarily stored as a file in the print data storage unit 230 ((6) in FIG. 4). Further, the ASP server 200 notifies the terminal 100 of the print data (file) stored in the print data storage means 230 by the storage location notification means 240 with an identifier such as a URL that can specify the storage location (see FIG. 4 (7), (8)). When the terminal 100 instructs the ASP server 200 to execute printing, by designating the ASP server 200 to notify the ASP server 200 of an identifier that can identify the printing apparatus 300 based on the instruction from the user terminal 100, such as a URL. The ASP server 200 may push print data to the printing apparatus 300 based on the identifier. Alternatively, the storage location notification unit 240 stores the print data (file) stored in the print data storage unit 230 on behalf of the terminal 100 by an identifier such as a URL that can identify the printing apparatus 300 obtained from the terminal 100. An identifier that can be specified, for example, a URL or the like may be notified to the printing apparatus 300. In this case, the printing apparatus 300 makes a print data pull request based on an identifier such as a URL that can specify the storage location of the print data (file) stored in the print data storage unit 230, and transfers the print data. Is done. Next, the terminal 100 having received a notification such as a URL, for example, an identifier that can specify the storage location of the print data (file) by the storage location notification means 240, instructs the printing apparatus 300 that desires the print output to execute printing. Is performed ((9) in FIG. 4). At this time, the terminal 100 notifies the printing apparatus 300 of an identifier that can specify the storage location of the print data (file), such as a URL, at the same time as the print execution instruction. Next, the printing apparatus 300 sends the print data to the ASP server 200 (print data output unit 250) based on an identifier such as a URL that can specify the storage location of the print data (file) obtained from the terminal 100. A pull request is made ((10) in FIG. 4). The ASP server 200 (print data output means 250) makes a print data output request to the print data storage means 230 based on the print data pull request from the printing apparatus 300, and sends the print data output means 250 to the printing apparatus 300 through the print data output means 250. Print data is output ((11) in FIG. 4). The printing apparatus 300 performs print processing on print data transferred from the ASP server 200 (print data output means 250) while analyzing (XHTML-Print data format) by interpreter / rasterizer processing, and outputs the print data.

  The ASP print service system according to the present invention is limited to a printing apparatus that supports XHTML-Print, when the level of XHTML-Print supported by the printing apparatus is different, or the printing function specific to each model of each printing apparatus. Accordingly, it has an ASP server having conversion / generation means capable of generating print data in the optimum XHTML-Print print data format, and in particular, the terminal is a DTV (Digital TeleVision: Digital Broadcast Television), and the photo print service is an ASP server. This is useful when using

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ASP printing service system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The figure which shows each detailed structure of a terminal and an ASP server when the terminal notifies the identifier which can specify the model of a printing apparatus with respect to ASP server in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows each detailed structure of a terminal and an ASP server in the case of making the terminal select the identifier which can specify the model of a printing apparatus from Embodiment 1 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the processing flow in the ASP printing service system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the comparison of the printing function which can be performed with a printing apparatus The figure which shows selection of the print menu in the photo print service application displayed by the web browser mounted in the terminal The figure which shows an example of the print data described in the XHTML-Print format format

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 User terminal 200 ASP server 300 Printing apparatus 400 Communication network 110 Notification means 120 Web browser 210 Application software 220 Print data generation means 230 Print data storage means 240 Storage location notification means 250 Print data output means 260 Selection means 500 Print menu screen

Claims (45)

An ASP server that executes application software, a terminal that instructs the execution of the application software and printing of the execution result, and a printing apparatus that prints print data based on the execution result of the ASP server are connected via a communication network. In the print service system
The ASP server includes a print data generation unit that generates print data suitable for a printing apparatus that a user desires to output, and a print data output unit that outputs the print data to the printing apparatus. Printing service system. The ASP printing service system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal includes notification means for notifying an ASP server of an identifier for specifying a printing device that the user desires to output. 3. The ASP print service system according to claim 2, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server. 2. The ASP print service system according to claim 1, wherein the ASP server includes a selection unit that allows the user to select an identifier for specifying a printing apparatus that the user desires to output from the user. 2. The ASP print service system according to claim 1, wherein the ASP server dynamically generates an optimal HTML display content based on an identifier for specifying the printing apparatus and serves the terminal. The ASP print service system according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit dynamically generates print data suitable for all types of printing apparatuses. 7. The ASP printing according to claim 6, wherein the print data generation unit generates print data suitable for all models of the printing apparatus based on an identifier that identifies the printing apparatus notified from the terminal. Service system. 8. The ASP print service system according to claim 7, wherein the ASP server has storage means for temporarily storing the print data generated by the print data generation means in a file. 9. The ASP print service system according to claim 8, wherein the ASP server has notification means for notifying the terminal of information for specifying a storage location of the print data once stored in a file. 8. The ASP print service system according to claim 5, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is notified from the terminal to an ASP server. 11. The ASP printing service system according to claim 10, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server. The ASP printing service system according to claim 5 or 7, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is selected by a user from the ASP server via the terminal. 10. The ASP printing according to claim 9, wherein when the terminal issues a print execution instruction to the printing apparatus, the terminal adds the information specifying the storage location of the print data and instructs the print execution. Service system. The ASP according to claim 13, wherein the printing apparatus requests the ASP server to transmit the print data based on information specifying a storage location of the print data notified from the terminal. Printing service system. The ASP print service system according to claim 14, wherein the print data output unit transmits the print data to the printing apparatus in accordance with a request from the printing apparatus. The ASP print service system according to any one of claims 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, and 15, wherein the print data is in an XHTML-Print format. An ASP server that executes application software, a terminal that instructs the execution of the application software and printing of the execution result, and a printing apparatus that prints print data based on the execution result of the ASP server are connected via a communication network. In the printing service method
The ASP server has a print data generation procedure for generating print data suitable for a printing device that a user desires to output, and a print data output procedure for outputting the print data to the printing device. Service method. 18. The ASP printing service method according to claim 17, wherein the terminal has a notification procedure for notifying an ASP server of an identifier for specifying a printing device that the user desires to output. 19. The ASP printing service method according to claim 18, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server. 18. The ASP print service method according to claim 17, wherein the ASP server has a selection procedure for causing the terminal to select an identifier for specifying a printing device that the user desires to output from the user. 18. The ASP print service method according to claim 17, wherein the ASP server dynamically generates an optimum HTML display content based on an identifier for specifying the printing device and serves the terminal. The ASP print service method according to claim 17, wherein the print data generation procedure dynamically generates print data suitable for all models of the printing apparatus. 23. The ASP printing according to claim 22, wherein the print data generation procedure generates print data suitable for all models of the printing apparatus based on an identifier specifying the printing apparatus notified from the terminal. Service method. The ASP print service method according to claim 23, wherein the ASP server has a storage procedure for temporarily storing the print data generated by the print data generation procedure in a file. 25. The ASP print service method according to claim 24, wherein the ASP server has a notification procedure for notifying the terminal of information for specifying a storage location of the print data once stored in a file. The ASP print service method according to claim 21 or 23, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is notified from the terminal to an ASP server. 27. The ASP printing service method according to claim 26, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server. 24. The ASP print service method according to claim 21, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is selected by a user from the ASP server via the terminal. 26. The ASP printing according to claim 25, wherein the terminal adds the information for specifying the storage location of the print data when instructing the printing apparatus to execute the printing, and instructs the printing execution. Service method. 30. The ASP according to claim 29, wherein the printing apparatus requests the ASP server to transmit the print data based on information specifying a storage location of the print data notified from the terminal. Printing service method. The ASP print service method according to claim 30, wherein the print data output procedure transmits the print data to the printing apparatus in accordance with a request from the printing apparatus. The ASP print service method according to any one of claims 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, and 31, wherein the print data is in an XHTML-Print format. An ASP server device that executes application software in response to an instruction from a terminal connected via a communication network, and print data generation means for generating print data suitable for a printing device that a user desires to output; and the printing device An ASP server device, comprising: print data output means for outputting the print data. 34. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising selection means for causing the terminal to select an identifier for specifying a printing apparatus that the user desires to output from the user. 34. The ASP according to claim 33, wherein the ASP server device includes HTML generation means for dynamically generating optimal HTML display content based on an identifier for specifying the printing device and serving the terminal. Server device. 34. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the print data generation unit dynamically generates print data suitable for all models of the printing apparatus. 37. The ASP server according to claim 36, wherein the print data generation unit generates print data suitable for all models of the printing apparatus based on an identifier for identifying the printing apparatus notified from the terminal. apparatus. 38. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the ASP server apparatus includes a storage unit that temporarily stores the print data generated by the print data generation unit in a file. 39. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies the terminal of information for specifying a storage location of the print data once stored in a file. 38. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 35 or 37, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is notified from the terminal to an ASP server apparatus. 41. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is automatically notified when the terminal accesses the ASP server apparatus. 38. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the identifier for specifying the printing apparatus is selected by the ASP server apparatus from a user via the terminal. 40. The ASP server apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the print data output means transmits the print data to the printing apparatus in accordance with a request from the printing apparatus. 44. A program for executing the functions of the ASP print service system according to claim 1. The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 44.

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