JP2007328448A - Data processing apparatus for print service, control program therefor, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

When using a printing service provided by a printing device installed in a store or the like, a user can reliably execute printing intended by a user in a desired output format with a simple configuration.
In a user terminal that performs data processing for a printing service, a data processing unit that sets a print option of the multi-function device, and print data suitable for output from the multi-function device based on a document and a set output format. A print data generation unit 21, a display processing unit 25 that displays a print image based on the print data, and a data input / output unit 27 that writes the print data to the memory card 16 that can be read by the multifunction peripheral. A print image of print data created based on a desired output format can be confirmed in advance on a screen display.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus, a control program for the data processing apparatus, and a printing system that are used for using a printing service provided by using a printing apparatus installed in a store or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing service in which a printing apparatus (a copy machine, a multifunction machine, etc.) is installed in a store such as a convenience store and charges are made according to the usage status (for example, the number of printed sheets) of a user has been widely used. By using this type of printing service, the user can easily execute printing without owning the printing apparatus. In addition, a printing apparatus used in this type of printing service usually has a function that enables a wider variety of printing processing than a printing apparatus for home use, and the user can select a printing option. The desired printing can be executed by appropriately selecting (for example, enlargement / reduction printing, double-sided printing, stapling).

  However, in such a printing service, the user needs to prepare a document such as paper to be printed and bring it to the store. Therefore, especially when a large amount of document needs to be printed, the printing operation is not performed. This is troublesome for the user.

Therefore, there is a technique in which a document to be printed is handled as electronic data so that the user can easily perform printing even when such a large amount of printing is necessary. For example, a printing system that transmits an electronic document to be printed and a print instruction thereof from a user terminal device to a store printing device via a service provider server on the Internet and causes the printing device to execute printing is known. (See Patent Document 1). In addition, for example, a removable storage medium storing an electronic document to be printed is mailed to a store, or a user directly brings it to the store, and the printing apparatus in the store reads the electronic document to be printed from the storage medium and prints it. There is known a printing system that executes the above (same as above).
JP 2002-511182 A

  However, in the conventional technology for transmitting an electronic manuscript through the server on the Internet, it is necessary for the print service providing side to construct a dedicated server and manage its operation, which increases system cost and running cost. There was a problem. In addition, since electronic data is transmitted via the Internet, there is a concern that personal information of the user and contents of the manuscript may be leaked from the network. In addition, since the electronic document is converted into print data (page description language) in the server or the printing apparatus, there are cases where the file format that can be used is limited. Furthermore, since the print preview reflecting the print options of the printing apparatus cannot be executed, there is a disadvantage that the user first notices a problem with the print layout after receiving the print document at the store. This malfunction of the print layout can also occur in the prior art in which an electronic document is delivered to a store printing apparatus via the storage medium.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such problems of the prior art, and when using a printing service by a printing apparatus installed in a store or the like, the printing intended by the user can be performed with a simple configuration. It is a main object of the present invention to provide a data processing apparatus, a control program thereof, and a printing system that can be reliably executed in a desired output format.

  A data processing apparatus for a printing service according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus for use in a printing service for outputting data stored in a portable storage medium by a printing apparatus, and an output for setting an output format of the printing apparatus Format setting means, print data generation means for generating print data suitable for output of the printing apparatus based on the document and the set output format, print image display means for displaying a print image based on the print data, Print data writing means for writing the print data to the portable storage medium is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when using a printing service by a printing apparatus installed in a store or the like, a print image of print data created based on a desired output format by a user can be confirmed in advance on a screen display. Therefore, it is possible to reliably execute the printing intended by the user in a desired output format.

  A first invention made to solve the above problems is a data processing apparatus for use in a printing service for outputting data stored in a portable storage medium by a printing apparatus, wherein the output format of the printing apparatus is Output format setting means for setting, print data generation means for generating print data suitable for output of the printing apparatus based on the original and the set output format, and print image display for displaying a print image based on the print data And a print data writing means for writing the print data to the portable storage medium.

  According to this, when using a printing service by a printing device installed in a store or the like, the user can confirm the print image of the print data created based on the desired output format in advance on the screen display. Can be reliably executed in a desired output format. Therefore, for example, there is no inconvenience that “punching” set as an output format is performed at an unintended position and the user first notices a print layout defect after executing printing.

  Further, since it is not necessary to send manuscript data or user information to a network such as the Internet, it is possible to ensure the security of manuscript contents and user personal information.

  A second invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem further comprises an encryption means for encrypting the print data, and the print data writing means stores the encrypted print data in the portable storage medium. It can be configured to write. According to this, even if the portable storage medium storing the print data is in the hands of an unintended third party, it is possible to prevent leakage of information regarding the content of the document.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided processing instruction generation means for generating a processing instruction for causing the printing apparatus to execute the output processing of the print data without requiring a user instruction. Can be configured. According to this, it is possible to quickly execute the output process in the printing apparatus, and it is possible to reduce the operation load on the user.

  A fourth invention made to solve the above-described problem is a process for generating a processing instruction for causing the printing apparatus to delete the output print data from the portable storage medium without requiring a user instruction. It may be configured to further include instruction generation means. According to this, since the print data output by the printing apparatus is surely erased from the portable storage medium regardless of the user's operation, it is possible to reduce the risk of information leakage regarding the document content.

  A fifth invention made to solve the above problem further comprises management file generating means for generating a management file including management information of the print data, wherein the processing instruction generating means outputs the processing instruction to the management file. In addition, the print data writing unit can write the management file to the portable storage medium together with the print data.

  According to this, it is possible to cause the printing apparatus to execute processing by adding processing instructions to the print data by a simple method. In addition, the printing apparatus can easily handle print data based on the management information, and can easily perform printing intended by the user.

  A sixth invention made to solve the above-described problem may be configured such that the processing command generation means generates the processing command as header information of the print data. According to this, it is possible to cause the printing apparatus to execute processing by adding processing instructions to the print data by a simple method.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the portable storage medium stores in advance a control program for controlling data processing for the print service, and the output format setting means and the print data generation means. The print image display means and the print data writing means can be realized by the control program.

  According to this, since the user can install the control program when the portable storage medium for writing the print data is connected to the data processing apparatus, it is not necessary to prepare the control program in advance. Data processing for services can be easily executed.

  An eighth invention made to solve the above problems is a printing system including a data processing apparatus for a printing service corresponding to any one of the first to seventh inventions.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control program for controlling a data processing apparatus for use in a print service for outputting data stored in a portable storage medium by a printing apparatus, the printing program comprising: A step of setting an output format of the device, a step of generating print data suitable for output of the printing device based on the original and the set output format, a step of displaying a print image based on the print data, The step of writing the print data to the portable storage medium is executed by the data processing apparatus.

  According to this, when using a printing service provided by a printing device installed in a store or the like, the user can confirm the print image of the print data created based on the output format requested by the user by displaying the screen in advance. It is possible to reliably execute the desired printing in a desired output format.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. The printing system 1 is for use of a printing service provided by using a printing apparatus installed in a store or the like, and a user terminal (data processing apparatus for printing service) 3 disposed in a general home 2. And a multi-function machine (printing apparatus) 5 disposed in a store 4 such as a convenience store. Here, the installation locations of the user terminal 3 and the multi-function device 5 in the printing system 1 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 1, and various changes can be made. The printing system 1 may be configured to include a plurality of devices similar to the user terminal 3 and the multifunction device 5. Further, the user terminal 3 and the multifunction device 5 can be connected to a network such as the Internet, respectively, but they do not need to be connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. The user terminal 3 is a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. A control unit 11 configured by an information processing device and comprehensively controlling the operation of the user terminal 3, an operation unit 12 having a keyboard (not shown) for a user to perform setting input, and various information for the user A display unit 13 having a display monitor (not shown) for displaying a document, an application 14 that is a software group for a user to create a document by executing document creation, image editing, spreadsheet calculation, and the like. A printer driver 15 that generates print data that conforms to the output of the multi-function device 5 based on a document created by the application 14, and the memory card 1 The have available slots (not shown) plug, mainly a memory card I / F (interface) unit 17 for reading and writing data to the memory card 16 plugged into the slot. Here, the memory card 16 is used to store print data generated by the printer driver 15 and related data, but is not limited to this, and any arbitrary memory such as a CD-R or a floppy (registered trademark) disk may be used. A portable storage medium can be used.

  The printer driver 15 includes a print data generation unit (print data generation unit) 21 that generates print data in a page description language (printer control code) corresponding to the multi-function device 5 based on document data designated by the application 14. A temporary data storage unit 22 that temporarily stores the generated print data, an encryption processing unit 23 that encrypts the print data, and a management file including print data management information and its correction A management file processing unit (processing command generation unit) 24 that performs processing, and a print image (a representation of how the page looks when it is actually printed by the multi-function device 5) are displayed on the display unit 13 based on the print data. Input to the display processing unit (print image display means) 25 for performing processing for the user, the operation unit 12 and the display unit 13 used by the user A user I / F unit 26 which is an interface for transmitting and receiving information and screen display information, and a data input / output unit (printing) for reading / writing data from / to the memory card 16 via the memory card I / F unit 17 Data writing means) 27, and a data processing section (print option setting means) 28 for overall control of data processing related to print data such as data storage, encryption processing, and management file generation. In this case, the same processing as the display processing executed by the display processing unit 25 can be executed using a viewer (browsing software).

  Here, the data processing unit 28 performs a process of setting a print option (output format) of the multi-function device 5 that executes printing based on a user setting operation. As a result, the print data generation unit 21 generates print data suitable for the output of the multi-function device 5 based on the set print option and document data. When the user sets a print option, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a print option setting screen 31 is displayed on the display monitor of the display unit 13. The user can set a required print option in the print option setting field 32 in the setting screen 31 by operating the keyboard of the operation unit 12. The print option displayed in the setting field 32 corresponds to the print function of the multifunction machine 5 registered in advance. These printing options include, for example, color / monochrome printing, duplex printing, stapling, enlargement / reduction printing, N in 1 printing (setting to consolidate N pages of documents into one page), punch punching, booklet printing (Setting for duplex printing of a multi-page document in the page order of saddle stitch binding), poster printing, watermark printing, overlay printing, multi-copy printing, and the like.

  Although details will be described later, the management file processing unit 24 sets automatic printing (automatic print command) for causing the multi-function device 5 to execute print data output processing (at least a part) without requiring a user instruction. ) And automatic deletion setting (automatic deletion command) for deleting the print data output to the multi-function device 5 from the memory card 16 without requiring a user instruction. When the user sets automatic printing and automatic deletion, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a setting screen 36 for automatic printing and automatic deletion is displayed on the display monitor of the display unit 13. The user can set the necessity of automatic printing and the necessity of automatic deletion in the automatic printing and automatic deletion setting field 37 displayed on the setting screen 31. When executing automatic printing, the user can set a password permitting the execution in the password input field 38.

  The management file processing unit 24 can add the setting information for automatic printing and automatic deletion to the print data. The print data is composed of header information 41 and image data information 42, for example, as shown in FIG. The header information 41 includes automatic print setting information 43 and automatic print setting information 44 in addition to print data identification information and print option setting information (not shown). Based on this header information 41, the multi-function device 5 can determine the necessity of executing each print option and the necessity of automatic printing and automatic deletion. Further, the image data information 42 includes image data of a document as binary data.

  As another method, the management file processing unit 24 can add the setting information for automatic printing and automatic deletion to the management file. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the management file includes management information of print data to be managed. Here, as management information (items), an ID for identifying a document (here, a document) that is a source of print data, a document name, automatic print setting information, automatic deletion setting information, and an encryption password are shown. Has been. This management file is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. Here, management information for three pieces of print data is shown. Each ID is a serial number ID, a document name is a name character string, and automatic print setting information is 0 (no automatic printing) or 1 (automatic printing is performed). ), 0 (no automatic deletion) or 1 (automatic deletion) as the automatic deletion setting information, and a character string as the password.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. The multi-function device 5 controls the operation of the multi-function device 5 and displays a variety of information related to the operation and settings of the multi-function device 5 to the user. 52, a printer unit 53 that executes a printing process based on the print data, a charging processing unit 54 that performs a process of charging a usage fee to the user according to the usage status of the multifunction machine 5, and a user terminal 3. An encryption processing unit 55 that performs processing for releasing the encryption of the print data, a management file processing unit 56 that performs processing for managing print data based on the management file generated in the user terminal 3, and the multi-function device 5. 1 has a slot (not shown) into which the memory card 16 in which print data or the like is written can be inserted, and the memory card 16 inserted into the slot Memory card I / F unit 57 for reading and writing over data comprises mainly. The multifunction machine 5 can realize more multifunctional printing processing than the so-called printing apparatus for home use by executing the printing options as described above.

  Here, although not shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device 5 further includes a scanner unit that optically scans a document to generate image data, and a FAX unit that executes FAX transmission. As a device attached to the machine 5, a finisher device for performing stapling, punching, sorting, and the like, and a charging device for collecting the usage fee charged by the charging processing unit 54 from the user are further provided. ing.

  When using the print service, the user can store necessary print data and management files in the memory card 16 at the user terminal 3, bring the memory card 16 to the store 4, and execute printing with the multifunction device 5. it can. At this time, for example, a series of print execution screens as shown in FIG. The user first inserts the memory card 16 into the slot of the memory card I / F unit 57 and then selects “memory card printing” 63 in the job selection field 62 of the job selection screen 61. As a result, the document selection screen 64 is displayed, and the user selects a document to be printed (for example, document 1) in the document selection field 65 in which a list of documents is displayed, and presses the print button 66. At this time, if there is an unnecessary document (here, print data in the memory card 16), the user can select the corresponding document and delete it with the delete button 67. Subsequently, a post-printing original erasure screen 68 is displayed, and the user can select whether or not to erase the printed original (here, “Yes (delete) is selected”). As a result, a processing display screen 69 indicating that printing is being executed is displayed and printing is started. When deletion is selected on the previous document deletion screen 68, the memory is displayed when printing is completed. The corresponding print data in the card 16 is erased. Therefore, when print data that has not been output remains in the memory card 16, the document selection screen 64 is displayed again and the same operation as described above is executed.

  When the above-described automatic printing is set, printing is automatically started without displaying the print execution screen as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure in the printing system shown in FIG. First, the user creates print data in the user terminal 3 (ST101). At this time, when the user instructs printing to the application 14 that created the document, the control unit 11 sends a print data generation request to the printer driver 15, and the print data generation unit 21 of the printer driver 15 generates the print data. Is done. The document data used for generating the print data may be data acquired from another PC or the like. The generated print data is temporarily stored in the data temporary storage unit 22 (ST102), and a print image is displayed on the display monitor of the display unit 13 by the display processing unit 25 based on the print data (ST103). Therefore, the user confirms the print image, and edits the print data (for example, resetting print options, etc.) as necessary (ST104). If the user determines that printing is unnecessary after confirming the print image (ST105: YES), the creation of print data ends.

  When the user confirms the print image, the user is allowed to select whether or not print data encryption processing is necessary (ST106). Therefore, if the user requires encryption, print data encryption processing is executed (ST107). This encryption process can be executed using a known encryption technique. As a result, even if the memory card 16 storing the print data is in the hands of an unintended third party, it is possible to prevent information leakage regarding the document content. On the other hand, if the user does not require encryption, the encryption process is omitted.

  Therefore, the data input / output unit 27 writes the print data to the memory card 16, and the management file processing unit 24 generates the print data management file. (ST108).

  Thereafter, the user moves to the store with the memory card 16 storing the print data and the management file, and connects the memory card 16 to the multi-function device 5 (ST109). As a result, the print data and management file in the memory card 16 are read into the multi-function device 5 (ST110). Subsequently, the multi-function device 5 refers to the header information of the print data or the information of the management file, and determines whether automatic printing is set (ST111). Therefore, if automatic printing is set, it is further determined whether or not a password is set (ST112). At this time, if a password is set, the user is requested to input the password (ST113), and if the user inputs an appropriate password via the display / operation panel 52 in response to this, the encryption is performed. Processing for canceling encryption is executed by the processing unit 55 (ST114). In this way, by causing the multi-function device 5 to perform automatic printing, it is possible to quickly execute output processing and reduce the operation load on the user.

  If the encryption of the print data is released, or if the password is not set in ST112, the multi-function device 5 subsequently executes the printing process (ST115). At this time, the billing processing unit 54 performs billing processing according to the number of prints and the use status of the print options. Next, the multi-function device 5 determines whether or not automatic deletion is set for the print data (ST116). If automatic deletion is set, printing in the memory card 16 is completed after printing is completed. Data is deleted (ST117). In this way, by causing the multi-function device 5 to perform automatic deletion, the output print data is surely erased regardless of the user's operation, and the risk of information leakage regarding the document content can be reduced. On the other hand, if automatic deletion is not set, the print data in the memory card 16 is left without being deleted. Therefore, the multi-function device 5 determines whether or not print data that has not been printed remains (ST118). If print data remains, the process returns to ST111 and repeats the same steps as described above. To do.

  On the other hand, if the automatic printing is not set in ST111, the MFP 5 displays a print execution screen as shown in FIG. 7, and the user can make a print request, a print data deletion request, or a print job. A termination request can be made (ST119). Therefore, when the user makes a print request, the user selects predetermined print data from the list of print data, and then proceeds to ST112, and the same steps as described above are executed. When the user makes a deletion request, the print data in the memory card 16 is deleted as in ST117 (ST120).

  Finally, if it is determined in ST118 that the processing of all the print data has been completed, or if the user makes a print end request in ST119, the series of printing procedures ends, and the memory card for the user is displayed. 16 take-out requests are displayed on the display / operation panel 52.

  The data processing apparatus, the control program thereof, and the printing system according to the present invention, when using a printing service by a printing apparatus installed in a store or the like, prints a print image of print data created based on a desired output format by a user in advance. Since it can be confirmed on the screen display, the user's intended printing can be reliably executed in a desired output format, and used for a printing service provided by using a printing apparatus installed in a store or the like. It is useful as a data processing apparatus, its control program, and a printing system.

System configuration diagram of a printing system according to the present invention Figure showing an example of the print option setting screen Diagram showing an example of the setting screen for automatic printing and automatic deletion Diagram showing an example of print data configuration Figure showing a configuration example of a management file Functional block diagram of MFP Diagram showing an example of the print execution screen in a multifunction machine The flowchart which shows the printing procedure in the printing system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 3 User terminal 5 Multifunction machine 12 Operation part 13 Display part 15 Printer driver 16 Memory card 23 Encryption processing part 24 Management file processing part 25 Display processing part 21 Print data generation part 27 Data input / output part 28 Data processing part 43 Header information

Claims (9)

A data processing apparatus for use in a printing service for outputting data stored in a portable storage medium by a printing apparatus,
Output format setting means for setting the output format of the printing device;
Print data generating means for generating print data suitable for output of the printing apparatus based on the original and the set output format;
Print image display means for displaying a print image based on the print data;
A data processing apparatus for print service, comprising: print data writing means for writing the print data to the portable storage medium.   The print service according to claim 1, further comprising: an encryption unit that encrypts the print data, wherein the print data writing unit writes the encrypted print data into the portable storage medium. Data processing equipment.   The print service generation unit according to claim 1, further comprising a processing command generation unit configured to generate a processing command for causing the printing apparatus to execute the output processing of the print data without requiring a user instruction. Data processing equipment.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a processing command generation unit configured to generate a processing command for erasing the print data after being output to the printing apparatus from the portable storage medium without requiring a user instruction. A data processing apparatus for a printing service as described in 1.   Management file generation means for generating a management file including management information of the print data is further provided, the processing instruction generation means adds the processing instruction to the management file, and the print data writing means 5. The data processing apparatus for a print service according to claim 3, wherein a management file is written in the portable storage medium together with the print data.   5. The data processing apparatus for a print service according to claim 3, wherein the processing command generation unit generates the processing command as header information of the print data.   The portable storage medium stores in advance a control program for controlling data processing for the print service, and the output format setting means, the print data generation means, the print image display means, and the print data writing means are The data processing apparatus for a print service according to claim 1, which is realized by the control program.   A printing system comprising the data processing apparatus for a printing service according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A control program for controlling a data processing apparatus for use in a print service for outputting data stored in a portable storage medium by a printing apparatus,
Setting an output format of the printing device;
Generating print data suitable for output of the printing device based on the original and the set output format;
Displaying a print image based on the print data;
A control program for a print service, which causes the data processing apparatus to execute the step of writing the print data to the portable storage medium.

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