JP2008152691A - Information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and network printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability for printing on a printing apparatus on a network.
A printer driver 30 of a client PC 1 holds printer information including a printer UID and an IP address designated as a printing destination on a network, and holds the above information when sending print data to the printer designated as the printing destination. The printer of the IP address obtained is inquired and acquired, and it is determined whether or not the acquired UID matches the held UID. If they match, the print destination is determined based on the IP address. When print data is sent to the printer for printing and it is determined that they do not match, the printer having the held UID is searched from the network, the current IP address of the printer is obtained, and the printer is based on the IP address. Print data is sent to the destination printer for printing.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a personal computer, a printing apparatus, and a network printing system.

In a network printing system, when a fixed IP address is not set for a printer, an IP address is automatically set when the printer is turned on by a DHCP or AutoIP function.
The DHCP is a protocol for automatically assigning necessary information such as an IP address to each printer (including a client PC) temporarily connected on the network by a DHCP server on the network.
In addition, when AutoIP fails to automatically obtain an IP address by DHCP or the like, it acquires an arbitrary IP address from a predetermined address space, performs ARP broadcast, and no printer is used. It is a protocol that uses that address.

In the setting on the PC side, when a printer is installed on the PC side, the communication method with the printer is often set with an IP address.
In that case, when the printer is turned on again, the IP address of the new printer set by the DHCP or AutoIP function may be different from the previous IP address. The printer cannot be printed via the printer.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer that has a public key certificate and a private key corresponding to the public key certificate and performs printer authentication based on the public key certificate in response to a request from a document server or a user client (for example, Patent Literature 1).
However, in such a network printing system, it can be ensured that the printer to be used is the desired printer, but if the address of the printer has changed, printing cannot be performed with the desired printer.

Therefore, a new printer address acquisition request signal sent from the printer to the network is detected to monitor the new address assignment work between the server and the printer, and the new printer address assigned to the printer in the course of the new address assignment work. DHCP is obtained by comparing the new printer address with the stored old printer address, converting the printer address to the new printer address based on the comparison result, and storing the printer address. A network printing system that performs printer address management (for example, patents) that automatically matches the address of the printer held by the client computer with the changed address when the address of the assigned printer on the network is changed Document 2) has been proposed.
JP 2002-259108 A JP 2000-222149 A

However, in the above-described conventional network printing system, when the printer address is set by AutoIP instead of DHCP, a new address assignment operation does not flow on the network, so that the address after the change can be automatically matched. There was a problem that it was impossible.
In addition, due to the recent increase in security awareness, there is a network configuration in which one-to-one communication that flows through the network cannot be monitored by outsiders. Even in such an environment, the printer address has changed. In such a case, there is a problem that printing cannot be performed with a desired printer.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to improve usability for printing on a printing apparatus on a network.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and network printing system.
(1) means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and when the print data is sent to the printing device designated as the printing destination, The means for inquiring the identification information to the printing apparatus of the destination information, the means for judging whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means for judging that they do not match An information processing apparatus comprising means for searching for a printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network.

(2) In the information processing apparatus as described above, the means for searching for the printing apparatus inquires the destination information of all the apparatuses on the network obtained based on the held destination information, and An information processing apparatus which is a means for searching for a printing apparatus having the held identification information.

(3) Holds printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and DDNS server destination information stored in association with the destination information and host name of the printing device. Means for inquiring identification information from the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination, the identification information obtained by the inquiry by the means, and the held identification Means for determining whether or not the information matches, and when it is determined that the information does not match, the DDNS server of the held destination information is inquired about the destination information associated with the held host name. An information processing apparatus comprising means for retrieving a printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network by acquiring the information.

(4) In the information processing apparatus as described above, the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination is inquired about the host name of the printing apparatus and the destination information of the DDNS server that stores the host name and destination information in association with each other. An information processing apparatus provided with means for acquiring.

(5) means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and when the print data is sent to the printing device designated as the printing destination, The means for inquiring the identification information to the printing apparatus of the destination information, the means for judging whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means for judging that they do not match An information processing apparatus comprising means for requesting the printing apparatus for the acquired identification information to search the printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network.

(6) Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and when the print data is sent to the printing device designated as the printing destination, The means for inquiring the identification information to the printing apparatus of the destination information, the means for judging whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means for judging that they do not match Information processing means having a means for requesting the printing apparatus for the acquired identification information to transfer the print data to the printing apparatus having the held identification information on the network and transmitting the print data apparatus.

(7) means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and when the print data is sent to the printing device designated as the printing destination, The means for inquiring the identification information to the printing apparatus of the destination information, the means for judging whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means for judging that they do not match An information processing apparatus comprising means for requesting the printing apparatus for the acquired identification information to transfer the print data to the printing apparatus for the specified destination information on the network and transmitting the print data.

(8) Means for communicating with the printing apparatus on the network, means for inquiring the identification number to the printing apparatus by communication by the means, the identification number of the printing apparatus sent in response to the inquiry by the means, and the above An information processing apparatus comprising means for holding destination information of a printing apparatus in association with each other.

(9) When a printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network and is requested to search for a printing apparatus having identification information designated by the information processing apparatus, the network A printing apparatus comprising means for searching for a printing apparatus having the specified identification information from.

(10) In the printing apparatus as described above, the means for searching for the printing apparatus inquires the destination information of all the apparatuses on the network and searches the printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network. A printing apparatus which is means for

(11) In the printing apparatus as described above, the means for searching for the printing apparatus inquires all the apparatuses on the network by multicast and searches for the printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network. Is a printing device.

(12) A printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network, and includes a DDNS server that stores destination information and a host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other. When the processing device requests to search for a printing device with the specified host name, the DDNS server inquires and acquires the destination information associated with the specified host name, thereby obtaining the above-mentioned information from the network. A printing apparatus comprising means for retrieving a printing apparatus having a specified host name.

(13) A printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network, and is requested to transfer the print data from the information processing apparatus to a printing apparatus having specified identification information. Means for searching for a printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network when data is received, and means for requesting printing to the printing apparatus searched by the means and transferring the received print data; Equipped printing device.

(14) In the printing apparatus as described above, the means for searching for the printing apparatus inquires the destination information of all the apparatuses on the network and searches the printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network. A printing apparatus which is means for

(15) In the printing apparatus as described above, the means for searching for the printing apparatus inquires all the apparatuses on the network by multicast, and searches for the printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network. Is a printing device.

(16) A printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network, and is requested to transfer the print data from the information processing apparatus to a printing apparatus having destination information designated by the information processing apparatus. A printing apparatus comprising: means for requesting printing to the printing apparatus having the designated destination information on the network and transferring the received print data when the print data is received.

(17) A printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network, and includes a DDNS server that stores destination information of the printing apparatus on the network in association with a host name, and is activated last time Means for holding the destination information used at the time of activation, means for acquiring the destination information of the own device at the time of startup, means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid, and the acquired destination information A printing apparatus comprising means for rejecting reception of all external print data when it is determined that the DDNS is not valid, unlike the stored destination information.

(18) A printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network, and includes a DDNS server that stores the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other. Means for holding the destination information used at the time of activation, means for acquiring the destination information of the own device at the time of startup, means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid, and the acquired destination information If it is determined that the DDNS is different from the stored destination information and the above DDNS is not valid, after that, when print data is received from the outside, only the first page of the print data is printed. A printing apparatus comprising means for watermark printing a warning message.

(19) In the printing apparatus as described above, the printing means is provided with means for reducing the first page to a predetermined magnification and printing.

(20) A printing apparatus that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network, and includes a DDNS server that stores the destination information and host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other, and is started last time Means for holding the destination information used at the time of activation, means for acquiring the destination information of the own device at the time of startup, means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid, and the acquired destination information When it is determined that the DDNS is different from the held destination information and the DDNS is not valid, all the print data received from the outside is stored and held, and a warning message is output. A printing apparatus comprising means for executing printing when printing of print data is instructed.

(21) In the printing apparatus as described above, a printing apparatus provided with means for deleting the held print data when an elapsed time from when the received print data is held exceeds a preset time.

(22) A network printing system that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network by using the printing apparatus, and the identification information and destination information of the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination on the network by the information processing apparatus Means for holding the printing device information including: means for inquiring identification information to the printing device of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing device designated as the printing destination; Means for determining whether or not the identified identification information matches the held identification information, and means for searching for a printing apparatus having the retained identification information from the network when it is determined by the means that the identification information does not match And a means for responding to the inquiry from the information processing apparatus with the identification information of the self apparatus. Network printing system.

(23) A network printing system that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network by a printing apparatus, and includes a DDNS server that stores destination information and a host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other. The printing apparatus has means for notifying the DDNS server of the changed destination information when the destination information of the own apparatus is changed, and the DDNS server notifies the changed destination information from the printing apparatus. The address information associated with the host name of the printing apparatus is updated to the changed destination information, and the information processing apparatus has the identification information of the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination on the network. Means for holding printing device information including destination information and destination information of the DDNS server, and sending print data to the printing device designated as the printing destination. Means for inquiring identification information from the printing apparatus for the held destination information, means for determining whether or not the identification information obtained by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means When it is determined that the addresses do not match, the DNS server of the held destination information is inquired for the destination information associated with the held host name, and has the held identification information from the network. A network printing system provided with a means for searching for a printing apparatus, and provided with means for responding to the inquiry from the information processing apparatus in response to an inquiry from the information processing apparatus.

(24) A network printing system that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network by using the printing apparatus, and the identification information and destination information of the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination on the network by the information processing apparatus Means for holding the printing device information including: means for inquiring identification information to the printing device of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing device designated as the printing destination; Means for determining whether or not the identified identification information matches the held identification information, and when the means determines that the identification information does not match, the acquired identification information is stored in the printing device from the network. Means for requesting a search for a printing apparatus having identification information is provided, and the printing apparatus is designated by the information processing apparatus. When asked to look for a printing apparatus having the identification information, the network printing system having a means for retrieving a print device having the identification information above specified from the network.

(25) A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device, comprising a DDNS server for storing destination information and a host name of the printing device on the network in association with each other. The printing apparatus has means for notifying the DDNS server of the changed destination information when the destination information of the own apparatus is changed, and the DDNS server notifies the changed destination information from the printing apparatus. The address information associated with the host name of the printing apparatus is updated to the changed destination information, and the information processing apparatus has the identification information of the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination on the network. Means for holding the printing device information including the destination information, and when sending print data to the printing device designated as the printing destination, A means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus, a means for determining whether the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means for determining that the identification information does not match, Means for requesting the printing apparatus of the acquired identification information to search the printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network is provided, and printing of the host name designated by the information processing apparatus is provided on the printing apparatus. When a request is made to search for a device, the DDNS server is searched for destination information associated with the specified host name to obtain a printing device with the specified host name from the network. Network printing system provided with means for

(26) A network printing system that prints print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network by using the printing apparatus, the identification information and destination information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on the network being sent to the information processing apparatus. Obtained when the print data is sent to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination, the inquiry means for identifying information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information, and the inquiry by the means. Means for determining whether or not the identification information and the held identification information match, and when it is determined that the identification information does not match, the printing device of the acquired identification information is held in the network on the network There is provided means for requesting transfer of the print data to a printing apparatus having identification information, and transmitting the print data. When the print data is requested by the information processing device to be transferred to the printing device having the specified identification information and the print data is received, the printing device having the specified identification information is searched from the network. And a network printing system provided with means for requesting printing to the printing apparatus searched by the means and transferring the received print data.

(27) A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing apparatus on a network by a printing apparatus, comprising a DDNS server for storing destination information and a host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other. Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and sending print data to the printing device designated as the printing destination. Means for inquiring identification information from the printing apparatus for the held destination information, means for determining whether the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information, and the means When it is determined that they do not match, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the printing apparatus for the acquired identification information has a warning watermark printing function. And when an instruction to execute printing by the warning watermark printing function is input to the printing apparatus for the acquired identification information, Means for requesting printing by the warning watermark printing function and transmitting the print data are provided, and means for holding destination information used when the printing apparatus was last activated in the printing apparatus, and acquiring the destination information of the own apparatus at the time of activation. Means, a means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid, and if the acquired destination information is different from the held destination information and the DDNS is not valid, and thereafter When print data is accepted from outside, only the first page of the print data is printed, and a warning message is watermarked on that page. Means for responding to an inquiry from the information processing apparatus, a means for responding that the warning watermark printing function is provided, and when print data is received together with a print request by the warning watermark printing function from the information processing apparatus, A network printing system provided with means for printing only the first page of the received print data by means for printing, and further causing a warning message to be watermark-printed on the page.

  The information processing apparatus, the printing apparatus, and the network printing system according to the present invention can improve the usability for causing the printing apparatus on the network to print.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This network printing system is a system that prints print data sent from a client PC on a network by a printer, and is composed of a plurality of local networks of different segments to form one large network. In the figure, only the first network 10 and the second network 11 are shown, and the other network segments are not shown.

The first network 10 and the second network 11 are networks of different segments, and are connected via the router 3 so as to be communicable. Further, other networks not shown are also connected to each other via a router (or hub) or the like so as to communicate with each other.
Therefore, in this network printing system, data can be exchanged between connected devices.

  A plurality of client PCs including client PCs 1 and 2 and a printer which is a plurality of printing apparatuses including printers 6 and 7 are communicably connected to the first network 10. Although not shown, the second network 11 is also connected to a plurality of client PCs and a plurality of printers including the printers 8 and 9 in a communicable manner. The DNS server 4 and the DHCP server 5 is also connected.

  All devices including client PCs and printers connected to each network of this network printing system are IP addresses managed by a DNS server (not shown) when power is turned on and communication with the network becomes possible. Is assigned. Using this IP address as destination information, data can be exchanged between the devices. If this IP address is not fixedly assigned in advance, a different IP address may be assigned each time the computer is activated.

  Different identification numbers (UIDs) are assigned to the printers 6 to 9 and are stored in their respective memories. This UID is information fixed in the network and is not changed at every activation.

The UID is information such as a character string or a number string that can clearly distinguish the printers 6 to 9.
For example, a character string connecting a product name and a serial number, or a universal unique ID (Universal Unique ID: UUID) of an ID naming convention that can be generated by a POSIX-compliant OS, VeriSign, Inc. (both registered trademarks) ) Or a certificate issued by a company such as Ethernet or Ethernet (registered trademark) MAC address can be used.

When the client PC processes the UID as a collection of simple character strings, any ID of the UUID, a certificate issued by VeriSign Inc., or a MAC address may be used on the printer side.
In this embodiment, a MAC address is suitable as a simple and widely used value.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the internal configuration of the client PC 1 shown in FIG.
Note that the client PC 2 and other client PCs not shown in the figure have the same internal configuration as the client PC 1, so description thereof will be omitted.
The client PC 1 is an information processing device including a personal computer. The client PC 1 is an input device 20 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display device 21 including a CRT and an LCD, and a storage device (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) including a hard disk device (HDD). ) 22, a control device 23 implemented by a microcomputer comprising a CPU, ROM and RAM, a parallel interface (I / F) 24 for connecting various devices including a printer and exchanging data in parallel, and a printer Various interfaces of a USB I / F 25 that connects various devices and exchanges data via USB and a network I / F 26 that connects various devices including a printer and exchanges data via a network are provided.

  The control device 23 stores various application software 27 including document creation application software and spreadsheet application software executed on the client PC 1, and creates a document for the application software 27 according to an instruction from the input device 20 by the user of the client PC 1. Create document data to be printed by function. When the created document data needs to be printed using a printer on the network, the application software 27 that created the document data is executed to start printing, and the application software 27 starts drawing information of the document data. To the spooler 28.

  The spooler 28 holds printer information which is various information including identification information (UID) of the printer on the network, and the printer driver 30 uses the printer communication unit 29 to search for the destination printer according to the present invention. A control process including a search request process for a print destination printer to another printer on the above and a print transfer request process to a print destination printer to another printer on the network is executed, and the document data received from the application software 27 is processed. Printer data (hereinafter referred to as “print data”), which is a command of information necessary for generating an actual print image, is generated from the drawing information by the printer at the printing destination, and the printer communication unit 29 and the network Via the I / F 26, print data is sent to the printer of the print destination or the request destination. Note that print data is sent to the printer directly connected to the parallel I / F 24 or USB I / F 25 via the parallel I / F 24 or USB I / F 25 to perform normal direct printing.

The printer information held by each of the client PCs 1 and 2 is as shown in Table 1 below.
In this printer information, printer names, IP addresses, host names, UIDs, IP addresses of DDNS servers, and subnet information of the printers 6 to 9 are recorded.
Each of the client PCs 1 and 2 refers to the IP address, UID, etc. of the printer as the printing destination based on this printer information.
In this printer information, the DDNS and subnet for PRN_D are 0.0.0.0, indicating that these values could not be acquired from the printer.
For example, in the case of PRN_E, the host name and UID are blank, which indicates that these values could not be acquired from the printer.

  On the other hand, the printers 6 to 9 are various printing apparatuses including a laser type color printer, and include a control unit realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and a configuration unit related to a known printing function. .

The printers 6 to 9 interpret the received print data, form an image in a drawing memory according to the interpretation, and form the image on a medium such as paper, thereby realizing printing.
Note that if the printer is a page printer, printing is started after the data for one page is expanded in the drawing memory. If the printer is a non-page printer, printing is started after a specified number of lines can be drawn.

In addition, the printers 6 to 9 perform the printing process based on the print data received from the client PCs 1 and 2 or another printer, the printer search process requested by the client PCs 1 and 2, and the search by the respective control units. Print request processing to the printer, processing to reject the reception of print data when the printer meets a predetermined condition, watermark printing and reduced printing at the time of printing, print data received from the outside and accumulated Various control processes according to the present invention including a process of printing only the instructed print data and a print data deletion process are performed.
Further, the control units of the printers 6 to 9 function as means for notifying the DDNS server 4 of the changed IP address when the IP address of the own device is changed.

  A dynamic domain name service (DDNS) server (DDNS server) 4 includes a control unit realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. All the omitted printer IP addresses and host names are stored in association with each other. When the changed IP address is notified from each of the printers 6 to 9, the control unit functions as a means for updating the IP address associated with the printer host name to the changed IP address.

  The DHCP server 5 includes a control unit realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The IP address of a gateway server or DNS server, a subnet mask, a range of IP addresses that may be assigned to a client PC, and the like. The information is set and provided to the accessing client PC.

(1) Example 1
In the network printing system according to the first embodiment, when the client PC performs printing, it is checked whether the IP address of the printer designated as the printing destination printer has changed. If so, the IP address of the printer is searched. A configuration and processing when printing is described.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the printer communication unit 29 and the printer driver 30 of the client PCs 1 and 2 hold the printer information (printing device information) including the printer UID and IP address designated as the printing destination on the network. Information holding means, identification information inquiry means for inquiring UID (identification information) to the printer of the held IP address (destination information) when sending print data to the printer designated as the printing destination, and inquiry by the means Determining means for determining whether or not the UID acquired by the method matches the held UID, and a printing apparatus for searching for a printer having the held UID from the network when it is determined by the means that the UID does not match Serves as search means.
In addition, the control units of the printers 6 to 9 function as means for responding to the inquiry from the client PCs 1 and 2 with the UID of the own apparatus.

Next, processing when the client PC 1 performs printing with the printer 6 will be described.
Since the same processing is performed when other client PCs including the client PC 2 perform printing with other printers including the printer 6, the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing by the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the first embodiment.
When the client PC 1 is instructed to print to the printer 6 as a printing destination, in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1, the printer driver receives a print start command from the application software, and draws information from the application software. (Drawing command) is received, and the drawing information is converted into a command that can be interpreted by the printer of the printing destination, that is, print data, and stored in the spooler.

In step 2, when the printer driver has accumulated the print data to some extent, the printer communication unit is connected to the printer on the network based on the IP address previously stored as the destination information of the printer of the print destination. Queries the UID.
That is, the client PC 1 inquires of the IP address on the network for the UID based on the IP address of the printer 6 held in its own apparatus.
If the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID inquiry reaches the printer 6, but if the IP address has changed, the UID inquiry reaches another printer or apparatus.
Therefore, if the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID from the printer 6 is returned, but if it has changed, the UID from another printer is returned.

Also, due to reasons such as when the printer is not turned on or when some communication on the network is prohibited for security reasons, this UID inquiry will not reach the other party and a reply will not be obtained. Possible failure.
Therefore, in step 3, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquisition has succeeded. If it is determined that the UID acquisition has been successful, the process proceeds to step 4 to determine that the UID acquisition has not succeeded (the UID acquisition has failed). Then, go to Step 8.

In step 4, the printer driver refers to the printer information to determine whether the printer UID designated as the printing destination is recorded and held. If it is determined that the UID is held, the process proceeds to step 5. move on.
In step 5, the printer driver determines whether or not the currently acquired UID matches the held UID. If they match, it can be seen that there is no change in the IP address of the printer designated as the print destination. , Go to Step 6.
In step 6, the printer driver executes print processing by sending print data to the printer of the printing destination based on the IP address held in the printer information by the printer communication unit, and this print processing is ended. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 4 that the UID is not held, the process proceeds to step 7. In step 7, the printer driver records and stores the UID acquired this time in correspondence with the IP address of the printer designated as the printer destination of the printer information, and proceeds to step 6.
In step 6, the printer driver executes print processing for sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address by the printer communication unit and printing the print data, and the print processing is terminated.

If it is determined in step 5 that the UID acquired this time does not match the held UID, the IP address of the printer at the print destination has changed from the previous one, and the process proceeds to step 9.
In step 9, the control device determines whether the destination information of the printer designated as the printing destination this time is different from the previous one, but forcibly print with a different printer as it is, or search for a printer with the UID used last time. A message prompting the instruction is displayed on the screen of the display device, and the process proceeds to Step 10.

In step 10, the printer driver determines whether or not the user has instructed forced printing. If it is determined that the user has instructed forced printing, the process proceeds to step 6, and if it has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step 11.
In step 6, the printer driver executes print processing for sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address by the printer communication unit and printing the print data, and the print processing is terminated.

On the other hand, in step 11, the printer driver determines whether or not an instruction to search the current IP address of the printer to be printed by the user is input from the input device, and when the user inputs to select not to search If printing is not performed and the print data is discarded and the printing process is terminated, and a search instruction is input, the process proceeds to step 12.
In step 12, the printer driver executes a printer search process for searching for the current IP address of the printer to be printed by the printer communication unit, and the process proceeds to step 13.

In step 13, the printer driver determines whether or not the current IP address of the printing destination printer has been successfully searched. If the printer driver has not succeeded (if the search has failed), the process returns to step 11 and the user is again asked. An inquiry is made as to whether to search, and if successful, the process proceeds to step 6.
In step 6, the printer driver executes print processing by sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address that has been successfully searched by the printer communication unit, and this print processing is terminated.
In step 8, the control device displays a message on the screen of the display device asking whether the printer UID cannot be confirmed and whether or not to continue printing, and proceeds to step 10 to execute the above-described processing.

Note that the execution order of the process of step 1 and the process of step 2 may be interchanged.
Further, the determination process of step 4 may be executed before the UID acquisition process, and if it is determined that the previous UID is not recorded, the UID acquisition process may not be performed.

When the client PC 1 has also acquired subnet information from the printer, the printer search range can be limited to only the range of the subnet.
Further, when the subnet held by the client PC 1 is narrower than the subnet determined by the following rules (A), (B), and (C), it is possible to limit the search range to the subnet held by the client PC 1. is there.

(A) 1.0.0.1-126.255.255.254: The first number is not changed, the second and third numbers are changed from 0 to 255, and the fourth number is 0 to 254. To change.
(B) 128.0.1.1-191.254.255.254: The first and second numbers are not changed, the third number is changed from 0 to 255, and the fourth number is 0 to 254. To change.
(C) 192.0.1.1-233.255.254.254: The first, second, and third numbers are not changed, and the fourth number is changed from 0 to 254.

  In this network printing system, the IP address of the printer on the network registered on the client PC side is assigned to another printer when the printer is restarted, and changes from the original IP address to another IP address. Even in the case of printing, it can be printed on the registered printer.

(2) Example 2
In the network printing system according to the second embodiment, as the printer search process in the client PC described above, a configuration and process in the case where a search is performed by querying the IP address of the network where the printer to be searched previously existed one by one will be described.
Therefore, in the second embodiment, the printer communication unit 29 and the printer driver 30 of the client PCs 1 and 2 use the IP addresses (all of the devices on the network obtained based on the held UID as a means for searching for a printer ( It also functions as a means for searching for a printer having the held UID from the network by inquiring each of the IP addresses of all devices in the network segment where the printer exists.

Next, a process in which the client PC 1 searches for the current IP address of the printer 6 will be described. Since the other processes are the same as described above, a description thereof will be omitted. Further, the printing process including the printer search process is the same for the other client PCs including the client PC 2, and a description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing printer search processing of the client PC 1 in the network printing system shown in FIG.
When the printer PC searches for the printer, in step 21, the printer driver refers to the printer information, calculates the IP address of the printer search range from the IP address of the printer at the print destination, and proceeds to step 22.

In step 22, the printer driver sets the head IP address from among the IP addresses in the printer search range to the IP address of the inquiry destination on the network to be inquired first by the initialization process of the printer search IP address. Proceed to 23.
In step 23, the printer driver inquires the printer UID to the set IP address through the printer communication unit, and proceeds to step 24.
In step 24, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquisition is successful. If the printer driver determines that the UID acquisition is successful, the process proceeds to step 28. If the printer driver determines that the UID acquisition is not successful (failed to acquire the UID), Proceed to step 25.
In step 25, the printer driver determines whether or not there is an IP address to be searched next in the printer search range. If there is, the process proceeds to step 27, and if not, the process proceeds to step 26.

In step 26, the printer driver determines that the search has failed, and the process ends.
In step 27, the printer driver sets the next IP address to be searched, returns to step 23, and inquires the UID in the same manner as described above.
On the other hand, in step 28, it is determined whether or not the printer driver has acquired the desired UID (same as the stored UID). If it is the desired UID (same as the stored UID), step 29 If it is determined that the search is successful, the process is terminated, and if it is not the desired UID (same as the stored UID), the next IP address to be searched is set in step 27, the process returns to step 23, and Query the UID in the same way as

  In this way, the printer driver 30 calculates the IP address of the printer search range including the IP address of the printer designated as the printing destination (the IP address range of all printers on the network segment to which the printing destination printer is connected). Then, one UID inquiry command is sent to each IP address in the printer search range to search for an IP address of a printer whose UID matches the printer to be printed.

In this network printing system, even if the IP address of a printer changes, a printer having an appropriate identification number can be found by examining all possible addresses and can be printed by a desired printer.
In this network printing system, even if the IP address of the printer at the print destination changes, the current IP address of the printer at the print destination is inquired one by one from all IP addresses in the network segment to which the printer to which the IP address is assigned belongs. IP address can be found and printed.

(3) Example 3
In the network printing system according to the third embodiment, when the client PC performs printing, it is checked whether or not the IP address of the printer designated as the printing destination printer has changed. If so, the IP address of the printer is set to the DDNS server 4. The configuration and processing in the case of performing an inquiry by searching for printing will be described.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, the printer communication unit 29 and the printer driver 30 of the client PCs 1 and 2 store the printer UID and IP address designated as the print destination on the network, the printer IP address, and the host name in association with each other. A printer information holding means for holding printer information (printing apparatus information) including the IP address of the DDNS server to be sent, and when sending print data to the printer designated as the printing destination, a UID is assigned to the printer of the held IP address. It functions as a UID inquiry means for making an inquiry.

In addition, when the UID acquired by the inquiry by the UID inquiry means and the held UID match, and when it is determined that the UID does not match, the holding IP address By inquiring and obtaining an IP address associated with the held host name from the DDNS server, it functions as a printer search means for searching for a printer having the held UID from the network.
Further, it also functions as a means for inquiring and obtaining the printer specified as the printing destination from the printer DNS name of the DDNS server 4 that stores the printer host name and the host name in association with the IP address.

Next, processing when the client PC 1 performs printing with the printer 6 will be described.
Since the same processing is performed when other client PCs including the client PC 2 perform printing with other printers including the printer 6, the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing by the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the third embodiment.
When the client PC 1 is instructed to print to the printer 6 as a printing destination, in step 31, the printer driver receives a print start command from the application software, receives drawing information (drawing command) from the application software, and draws the drawing. The information is converted into a command that can be interpreted by the printer at the print destination, that is, print data, and stored in the spooler.

In step 32, when the printer driver is able to accumulate print data to some extent, the printer communication unit is connected to the printer on the network based on the IP address stored in advance as destination information of the printer of the print destination. Queries the UID.
That is, the client PC 1 inquires of the IP address on the network for the UID based on the IP address of the printer 6 held in its own apparatus.
If the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID inquiry reaches the printer 6, but if the IP address has changed, the UID inquiry reaches another printer or apparatus.
Therefore, if the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID from the printer 6 is returned, but if it has changed, the UID from another printer is returned.

Also, due to reasons such as when the printer is not turned on or when some communication on the network is prohibited for security reasons, this UID inquiry will not reach the other party and a reply will not be obtained. Possible failure.
Therefore, in step 33, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquisition has succeeded. If it is determined that the UID acquisition has succeeded, the process proceeds to step 34, where it is determined that the UID acquisition has not succeeded (UID acquisition failed). Then, go to Step 40.

In step 34, the printer driver refers to the printer information to determine whether the printer UID designated as the printing destination is recorded and held. If it is determined that the UID is held, the process proceeds to step 35. move on.
In step 35, the printer driver determines whether or not the currently acquired UID matches the held UID. If they match, it can be seen that there is no change in the IP address of the printer designated as the print destination. , Go to Step 36.
In step 36, the printer driver executes print processing by sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address held in the printer information by the printer communication unit, and this print processing is terminated. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 34 that the UID is not held, the process proceeds to step 37.
In step 37, the printer driver records and stores the UID acquired this time in correspondence with the IP address of the printer designated as the printer destination of the printer information, and proceeds to step 38.
In step 38, the printer driver acquires the IP address of the DDNS server from the printer with the UID acquired this time by the printer communication unit, stores it in correspondence with the printer with the UID acquired this time in the printer information, and proceeds to step 39.

In step 39, the printer driver acquires the host name from the printer with the UID acquired this time by the printer communication unit, stores it in correspondence with the printer with the UID acquired this time in the printer information, and proceeds to step 36.
In step 36, the printer driver executes a print process for sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address by the printer communication unit and printing the print data, and the print process is terminated.

If it is determined in step 35 that the UID acquired this time and the held UID do not match, the IP address of the printer at the print destination has changed from before, and the process proceeds to step 41.
In step 41, the control device determines whether the destination information of the printer designated as the printing destination this time is different from the previous one, but whether to forcibly print with a different printer as it is, or to search for a printer with the UID used last time. A message prompting the instruction is displayed on the screen of the display device, and the process proceeds to step 42.

In step 42, the printer driver determines whether or not the user has instructed forced printing. If it is determined that the user has instructed forced printing, the process proceeds to step 36, and if it has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step 43.
In step 36, the printer driver executes a print process for sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address by the printer communication unit and printing the print data, and the print process is terminated.

On the other hand, in step 43, the printer driver determines whether or not an instruction for searching for the current IP address of the printer to be printed by the user has been input from the input device, and if the user inputs to select not to search If the search instruction is input without discarding the print data without printing, the process proceeds to step 44.
In step 44, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to inquire the DDNS server to obtain the IP address corresponding to the host name, and executes a printer search process for searching for the current IP address of the printer at the print destination. Proceed to

In step 45, the printer driver determines whether or not the current IP address of the printer to be printed has been successfully searched. If not successful (if the search has failed), the process returns to step 43 and again asks the user. An inquiry is made as to whether to search, and if successful, the process proceeds to step 36.
In step 36, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to execute print processing for sending print data to the printer at the print destination based on the IP address that has been successfully searched, and the print processing is terminated.
In step 40, the control device displays a message on the screen of the display device asking whether the printer UID cannot be confirmed and whether or not to continue printing, and proceeds to step 42 to execute the above-described processing.

  Note that the execution order of the process of step 31 and the process of step 32 may be interchanged. The determination process in step 34 is executed before the UID acquisition process, and if it is determined that the printer UID specified as the print destination is not recorded in the own apparatus, the UID acquisition process is not performed. It may be.

  In this way, when the printer driver 30 succeeds in acquiring the printer UID, it continuously acquires the IP address of the DDNS server and the host name of the printer from the printer and stores them in association with the printer. It becomes possible to check the IP address by DNS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating printer search processing in the client PC 1 according to the third embodiment.
The client PC 1 performs printer search processing using the DDNS server 4 as follows. First, in step 51, the printer driver inquires of the DDNS server about the IP address corresponding to the host name of the printer through the printer communication unit, and proceeds to step 52.

In step 52, the printer driver determines whether or not acquisition of the IP address from the DDNS server is successful. If successful, the process proceeds to step 53. If not successful, the process proceeds to step 57.
In step 53, the printer driver inquires the printer UID for the acquired IP address through the printer communication unit, and proceeds to step 54.
In step 54, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquisition is successful. If it is determined that the UID acquisition is successful, the process proceeds to step 55. If it is determined that the UID acquisition is not successful (the UID acquisition is unsuccessful), Proceed to 57.

In step 55, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquired this time matches the held UID. If they match, the process proceeds to step 56. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 57.
In step 56, the printer driver determines that the search is successful, and the process ends. In this case, the IP address of the printer that is the printing destination is the IP address obtained by the inquiry in the process of step 51, and the client PC 1 transmits the print data to this IP address for printing.
In step 57, the printer driver determines that the search has failed, and the process ends.

In this way, it is possible to inquire and obtain the IP address of the host name from the DDNS server 4 associated with the printer.
That is, an IP address inquiry command is sent to the DDNS server 4 and the IP address is obtained from the response.
Then, a UID inquiry command is sent to the IP address, and if the obtained UID is the same as the previously stored UID, the search has succeeded. If the UID is different, the search has failed. Become.
In this network printing system, even if the IP address of the printer of the printing destination changes, the current IP address can be found and printed by making an inquiry to the DDNS server.

(4) Claim 4
In the network printing system according to the fourth embodiment, when the client PC performs printing, it is checked whether or not the IP address of the printer designated as the printing destination printer has changed, and if it has changed, it is retained as the printing destination printer. Configuration in which a printer to which an IP address is assigned is requested to search for a printing destination printer, and the requested printer searches the IP address of the printing destination printer indicated by the client PC and returns it to the client PC The process will be described.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the printer communication unit 29 and the printer driver 30 of the client PCs 1 and 2 have printer information holding means for holding printer information including the printer UID and IP address designated as the printing destination on the network. When sending print data to the printer designated as the printing destination, the UID inquiry means for inquiring the UID to the printer of the held IP address, and the UID acquired by the inquiry by the means match the held UID. A determination means for determining whether or not to perform, and a search request means for requesting the printer having the acquired UID to search for the printer having the held UID from the network when it is determined that they do not match. Fulfills the function.

The printers 6 to 9 are printing apparatuses that print the print data sent from the client PCs 1 and 2 on the network, and the control unit searches for a printer having the UID specified by the client PCs 1 and 2. When requested by the user, it functions as a printer search means for searching for a printer having the designated UID from the network.
Further, as the printer search means, a means for searching for a printer having the specified UID from the network by inquiring the IP addresses of all devices on the network (IP addresses of all devices in the network segment). Fulfills the function.

Next, a printing process when the client PC 1 requests a search from the printer 7 for printing by the printer 6 will be described.
Since the same processing is performed when other client PCs including the client PC 2 perform printing with other printers including the printer 6, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing during printing of the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the fourth embodiment.
When the client PC 1 is instructed to print to the printer 6 as a printing destination, in step 61, the printer driver receives a print start command from the application software, receives drawing information (drawing command) from the application software, and draws the drawing. The information is converted into a command that can be interpreted by the printer at the print destination, that is, print data, and stored in the spooler.

In step 62, when the printer driver has accumulated the print data to some extent, the printer communication unit is connected to the printer on the network based on the IP address previously stored as the destination information of the printer of the print destination. Queries the UID.
That is, the client PC 1 inquires of the IP address on the network for the UID based on the IP address of the printer 6 held in its own apparatus.
If the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID inquiry reaches the printer 6, but if the IP address has changed, the UID inquiry reaches another printer or apparatus.
Therefore, if the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID from the printer 6 is returned, but if it has changed, the UID from another printer is returned.

Also, due to reasons such as when the printer is not turned on or when some communication on the network is prohibited for security reasons, this UID inquiry will not reach the other party and a reply will not be obtained. Possible failure.
Therefore, in step 63, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquisition has succeeded. If it is determined that the UID acquisition has succeeded, the process proceeds to step 64, where it is determined that the UID acquisition has not succeeded (UID acquisition failed). Then, go to step 70.

In step 64, the printer driver refers to the printer information to determine whether the printer UID designated as the printing destination is recorded and held. If it is determined that the UID is held, the process proceeds to step 65. move on.
In step 65, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquired this time matches the held UID. If they match, it can be seen that there is no change in the IP address of the printer designated as the print destination. , Go to Step 66.
In step 66, the printer driver executes print processing by sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address held in the printer information by the printer communication unit, and this print processing is terminated. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 64 that the UID is not held, the process proceeds to step 67.
In step 67, the printer driver records and stores the UID acquired this time in correspondence with the IP address of the printer designated as the printer destination of the printer information, and proceeds to step 68.
In step 68, the printer driver acquires the IP address of the DDNS server from the printer with the UID acquired this time by the printer communication unit, stores it in correspondence with the printer with the UID acquired this time in the printer information, and proceeds to step 69.

In step 69, the printer driver acquires the host name from the printer with the UID acquired this time by the printer communication unit, stores it in correspondence with the printer with the UID acquired this time in the printer information, and proceeds to step 66.
In step 66, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to execute print processing for transmitting print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address and printing, and the print processing is terminated.

If it is determined in step 65 that the currently acquired UID and the held UID do not match, the process proceeds to step 71 because the IP address of the printer at the print destination has changed from before.
In step 71, the control device indicates that “the destination information of the printer designated as the printing destination this time is different from the previous one, but forcibly prints with a different printer as it is, or requests a search for a printer with the UID used last time. A message prompting the instruction “?” Is displayed on the screen of the display device, and the process proceeds to step 72.

In step 72, the printer driver determines whether or not the user has instructed forced printing. If it is determined that the user has instructed forced printing, the process proceeds to step 66, and if it has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step 73.
In step 66, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to execute print processing for transmitting print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address and printing, and the print processing is terminated.

On the other hand, in step 73, the printer driver determines whether or not an instruction for requesting a search for the current IP address of the printer to be printed by the user has been input from the input device, and the user inputs a selection not to search. If printing is not performed, the print data is discarded and the printing process is terminated. If a search request instruction is input, the process proceeds to step 74.
In step 74, the printer driver executes a printer search request process for requesting the printer that has inquired about the UID to search for the current IP address of the printer of the print destination by the printer communication unit.

If the UID acquired by the above-described processing does not match the UID stored as the printer of the printing destination, the client PC 1 determines the printer having the UID of the printer of the printing destination with respect to the printer as the inquiry destination of the UID. Send a command requesting to search for IP address.
For example, when the current IP address of the printer 6 as the printing destination has changed and the IP address is currently assigned to the printer 7, the client PC 1 transmits the command to the printer 7.

The command includes a UID to be searched as a parameter.
Upon receiving this command, the printer 7 executes the printer search process by the client PC 1 as described in the first to fourth embodiments based on the UID included in the command, and the current state of the printer 6 from the network. If the search is successful, the search success information is returned to the client PC 1 together with the IP address. If the IP address is not found, the search failure information is returned.

In step 75, the printer driver determines whether or not the current IP address of the printing destination printer has been successfully searched based on the return information of the search result from the printer that requested the search. If the search is unsuccessful), the process returns to step 73 to inquire again whether or not the user is requested to perform the search.
In step 66, the printer driver executes print processing by sending print data to the print destination printer for printing based on the IP address received from the request destination printer by the printer communication unit. The process ends.
In step 70, the control device displays a message on the screen of the display device asking whether the printer UID cannot be confirmed and whether or not to continue printing, and proceeds to step 72 to execute the above-described processing.

  Note that the execution order of the process of step 61 and the process of step 62 may be interchanged. The determination process in step 64 is executed before the UID acquisition process. If it is determined that the printer UID specified as the printing destination is not recorded in the own apparatus, the UID acquisition process is not performed. It may be.

  In this network printing system, when the IP address of the printer at the printing destination has changed, the printer in the network is requested to search, and the printer searches for the desired printer in the network segment. With this, a desired printer can be found and printed.

(5) Example 5
In the network printing system according to the fifth embodiment, the configuration and processing in the case of searching for the IP address of the printer of the printing destination by multicast to the network will be described as the printer searching processing in the printer described above.
Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the control units of the printers 6 to 9 inquire all the devices on the network by multicast (IP multicast to the IP addresses of all the devices in the local network segment) and specify the above from the network. It functions as a printer search means for searching for a printer having a UID.

In the above-described processing, when the printer 7 requests the IP address of the printer 6 to be printed from the client PC 1, the printer 6 is connected to the network using IP multicast as defined in rfc 2908. It is possible to search.
Next, the process in which the printer 7 retrieves the current IP address of the printer 6 and reports it to the client PC 1 will be described. The other processes are the same as described above, and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the printing process including the printer search process is the same for the other printers including the printers 6, 8, and 9, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing printer search processing according to the fifth embodiment in the printer 7 of the network printing system shown in FIG.
In step 81, the control unit of the printer 7 transmits a UID inquiry command to the network by IP multicast in the first network to which the printer belongs, and waits for a reply.
In step 82, it is determined whether or not the predetermined reply waiting time has ended. If the reply waiting time has ended and timed out, it is determined in step 87 that the search has failed, and in step 86 the search request source client PC is reached. A failure message is transmitted as a search result, and this process ends.

  On the other hand, if the reply to the UID inquiry command is received and the UID is acquired in step 83 before the reply waiting time ends in the determination of step 82, the UID acquired this time in step 84 and the UID specified from the client PC are obtained. It is determined whether or not they match. If they do not match, the process returns to step 82 and the above-described processing is repeated. The IP address acquired from the printer whose ID matches with the UID is returned to the client PC (abbreviated as “PC” in the figure), and the process is terminated.

When the client PC 1 receives the IP address of the search result from the printer 7, the client PC 1 acquires the UID from the printer of the IP address, confirms that it matches the UID of the desired printer, and if it matches, to the printer 6. Send print data to print.
If the search on the printer 7 side fails and the UID returned from the printer 7 is different from the desired UID, printing is canceled.

  In this network printing system, when the IP address of the printer of the printing destination has changed, the printer in the network is requested to search, and the printer searches for a desired printer using IP multicast in the network segment. Therefore, a desired printer can be found and printed with less network communication.

(6) Example 6
In the network printing system according to the sixth embodiment, as the printer search process in the above-described printer, a configuration and process in the case where the DDNS server 4 is inquired to search for the IP address of the printer to be printed will be described.
Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, when the control units of the printers 6 to 9 are requested to search for a printer having the specified host name from the client PCs 1 and 2, the DDNS server 4 associates the printer with the specified host name. By inquiring and obtaining the IP address that has been specified, it functions as a printer search means for searching for a printer with the specified host name from the network.

Next, a process in which the printer 7 makes an inquiry to the DDNS server 4 to search for the current IP address of the printer 6 and reports it to the client PC 1 will be described. Since the other processes are the same as described above, a description thereof will be omitted. Further, the printing process including the printer search process is the same for the other printers including the printers 6, 8, and 9, and a description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating printer search processing in the printer 7 according to the sixth embodiment.
The control unit of the printer 7 performs printer search processing using the DDNS server 4 as follows. First, in step 91, the DDNS server is inquired of the IP address corresponding to the printer host name, and the process proceeds to step 92.

In step 92, it is determined whether or not the acquisition of the IP address from the DDNS server is successful. If successful, the process proceeds to step 93. If not successful, the process proceeds to step 98.
In step 93, the printer UID is inquired of the acquired IP address, and the process proceeds to step 94.
In step 94, it is determined whether or not the UID acquisition is successful. If it is determined that the UID acquisition is successful, the process proceeds to step 95. If it is determined that the UID acquisition is not successful (the UID acquisition is unsuccessful), the process proceeds to step 98. .
In step 95, it is determined whether or not the UID acquired this time matches the UID specified from the client PC. If they match, the process proceeds to step 96, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step 98.

In step 96, it is determined that the search is successful, and the search success information is returned to the client PC together with the IP address acquired from the printer in which the UID acquired this time as the search result in step 97 and the UID specified from the client PC match. This process ends.
The client PC 1 transmits print data to this IP address to cause printing.
In step 98, the printer driver determines that the search has failed, and in step 97, the search failure information is returned to the client PC (abbreviated as “PC” in the figure) as the search result, and this process is terminated.
In this way, a command for inquiring the IP address of the host name of the printer 6 can be sent to the DDNS server 4 and the IP address of the printer 6 can be obtained from the response.

Then, a UID inquiry command is sent to the IP address, and if the obtained UID is the same as the UID specified from the client PC, the search is successful. If the UID is different, the search fails. It will be done.
In this network printing system, even if the IP address of the printer at the printing destination changes, the printer requested from the client PC makes an inquiry to the DDNS server to find the current IP address of the printer at the printing destination and send it to the client PC. Thus, a desired printer can be found and printed with less network communication.

(7) Example 7
In the network printing system of the seventh embodiment, when the client PC performs printing, it is checked whether the IP address of the printer designated as the printing destination printer has changed, and if it has changed, it is retained as the printing destination printer. Configuration in which print data is sent to a printer to which an IP address is assigned together with a print data transfer request to the print destination printer, and the requested printer transfers the print data to the print destination printer for printing. Processing will be described.

  Therefore, in the seventh embodiment, the printer communication unit 29 and the printer driver 30 of the client PCs 1 and 2 have printer information holding means for holding printer information including the printer UID and IP address designated as the printing destination on the network, When sending print data to the printer designated as the printing destination, the UID inquiry means for inquiring the UID to the printer of the held IP address, and the UID acquired by the inquiry by the means match the held UID. A determination unit for determining whether or not the two match each other, and the printer having the acquired UID on the network or the printer having the stored IP address is transferred to the printer having the acquired UID. Request to transfer the print data and send the print data. It performs the function of transmitting means for.

  Further, the control unit of each of the printers 6 to 9 is requested to transfer the print data to the printer having the UID designated by the client PCs 1 and 2 or the printer having the designated IP address from the client PCs 1 and 2 for printing. When data is received, a printer search means for searching for a printer having the specified UID or the printer with the specified IP address from the network, and requesting the printer searched by the means to print and receiving the data It functions as a transfer means for transferring the print data.

  Further, as the printer search means, a means for inquiring each of the IP addresses of all devices on the network (IP addresses of all devices in the network segment) and searching for a printer having the specified UID from the network, Alternatively, it functions as a means for inquiring all devices on the network by multicast (IP multicast to the IP addresses of all devices in the local network segment) and searching for a printer having the specified UID from the network.

Next, when the client PC 1 requests the printer 7 to search the printer 6 and transfer the print data, and transmits the print data, the printer 7 transfers the print data to the printer 6 for printing. Will be explained.
Since the same processing is performed when other client PCs including the client PC 2 perform printing with other printers including the printer 6, the description thereof is omitted. The printer search and transfer process in the printer 7 is the same for the other printers including the printers 6, 8, and 9, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing during printing of the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the seventh embodiment.
When the client PC 1 is instructed to print to the printer 6 as a printing destination, in step 101, the printer driver receives a print start command from the application software, receives drawing information (drawing command) from the application software, and draws the drawing. The information is converted into a command that can be interpreted by the printer at the print destination, that is, print data, and stored in the spooler.

In step 102, when the printer driver has accumulated the print data to some extent, the printer communication unit is connected to the printer on the network based on the IP address stored in advance as the destination information of the printer of the print destination. Queries the UID.
That is, the client PC 1 inquires of the IP address on the network for the UID based on the IP address of the printer 6 held in its own apparatus.
If the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID inquiry reaches the printer 6, but if the IP address has changed, the UID inquiry reaches another printer or apparatus.
Therefore, if the IP address of the printer 6 has not changed, the UID from the printer 6 is returned, but if it has changed, the UID from another printer is returned.

Also, due to reasons such as when the printer is not turned on or when some communication on the network is prohibited for security reasons, this UID inquiry will not reach the other party and a reply will not be obtained. Possible failure.
Therefore, in step 103, the printer driver determines whether or not the UID acquisition has succeeded. If it is determined that the UID acquisition has been successful, the process proceeds to step 104, where it is determined that the UID acquisition has not succeeded (UID acquisition failed). Then, go to Step 110.

In step 104, the printer driver refers to the printer information to determine whether or not the printer UID designated as the printing destination is recorded and held. If it is determined that the UID is held, the process proceeds to step 105. move on.
In step 105, the printer driver determines whether or not the currently acquired UID matches the held UID. If they match, it can be seen that there is no change in the IP address of the printer designated as the print destination. , Go to Step 106.
In step 106, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to execute print processing for sending print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address held in the printer information, and this print processing is terminated. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that the UID is not held, the process proceeds to step 107.
In step 107, the printer driver records and stores the UID acquired this time in correspondence with the IP address of the printer designated as the printer information printing destination, and proceeds to step 108.
In step 108, the printer driver acquires the IP address of the DDNS server from the printer with the UID acquired this time by the printer communication unit, stores it in correspondence with the printer with the UID acquired this time in the printer information, and proceeds to step 109.

In step 109, the printer driver acquires the host name from the printer with the UID acquired this time by the printer communication unit, stores it in correspondence with the printer with the UID acquired this time in the printer information, and proceeds to step 106.
In step 106, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to execute print processing for transmitting print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address, and printing is terminated.

If it is determined in step 105 that the currently acquired UID does not match the held UID, the IP address of the printer at the print destination has changed from the previous one, and the process proceeds to step 111.
In step 111, the control device prompts an instruction “whether the destination information of the printer designated as the print destination this time is different from the previous one, but forcibly print with a different printer as it is or request transfer printing”. The message is displayed on the screen of the display device, and the process proceeds to step 112.

In step 112, the printer driver determines whether or not the user has instructed forced printing. If it is determined that the user has instructed forced printing, the process proceeds to step 106, and if it has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step 113.
In step 106, the printer driver uses the printer communication unit to execute print processing for transmitting print data to the printer of the print destination based on the IP address, and printing is terminated.

On the other hand, in step 113, the printer driver determines whether or not a transfer print request instruction by the user has been input from the input device. If there is a selection input not to request transfer print by the user, printing is not performed. If the print data is discarded and the print process is terminated, and if there is a transfer print request instruction input, the routine proceeds to step 114.
In step 114, the printer driver executes a transfer print request process for transmitting the transfer print request and its print data to the printer that has successfully obtained the UID by the printer communication unit, and the process ends.
In step 110, the control device displays a message on the screen of the display device asking whether the printer UID cannot be confirmed and whether or not to continue printing, and proceeds to step 112 to execute the above-described processing.

  Note that the execution order of the process of step 101 and the process of step 102 may be interchanged. Further, the determination process in step 104 is executed before the UID acquisition process. If it is determined that the printer UID specified as the print destination is not recorded in the own apparatus, the UID acquisition process is not performed. It may be.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the transfer print request process in the client PC 1.
(A) of the figure shows the processing when the transfer printer is requested by designating the UID of the transfer destination printer. The printer driver 30 of the client PC 1 starts with the target printer (print destination printer). Print data to which a UID is added is created, and the printer communication unit 29 transmits the print data to a transfer print request destination printer (a printer that has successfully obtained a UID).

Further, (b) in the figure shows a process in the case of requesting transfer printing by specifying the IP address of the transfer destination printer. The printer driver 30 of the client PC 1 starts with the target printer (print destination). The printer communication unit 29 creates the print data to which the IP address of the printer) is added, and transmits the print data to the transfer print request destination printer (the printer that has successfully obtained the UID).
In the above-described processing, the client PC 1 may send print data after sending a command for designating the IP address of the target printer to the printer 7 as the transfer print request destination, or a command for designating the UID of the target printer The print data may be sent after sending.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating transfer printing processing in the printer 7 according to the seventh embodiment.
When the control unit of the printer 7 receives print data from the client PC in step 121, the control unit refers to the head of the print data and proceeds to step 122.
In step 122, it is determined whether the head data referred to is an IP address or a UID. If it is a UID, the process proceeds to step 123. If it is an IP address, the process proceeds to step 127.
In step 123, the printer IP address corresponding to the UID designated by the client PC is searched, and the process proceeds to step 124.
The search for the IP address of the printer may be performed in the same manner as any of the printer search processes described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

In step 124, it is determined whether or not the search for the IP address of the printer of the printing destination has succeeded. If not successful, the process proceeds to step 126. If successful, the process proceeds to step 125.
In step 125, the print data received from the client PC is transferred to the printer with the searched IP address to request printing, and the process proceeds to step 126.
In step 127, the print data received from the client PC is transferred to the printer having the designated IP address from the client PC to request printing, and the process proceeds to step 126.
In step 126, a result report indicating whether printing has succeeded or failed is transmitted to the client PC, and this processing is terminated.

  In this network printing system, even if the IP address of the printer at the print destination changes, transfer printing can be requested to print to the other printer with the desired printer. The client PC can print with a desired printer.

(8) Example 8
In the network printing system according to the eighth embodiment, each printer on the network checks whether or not the IP address assigned to the own device is different from the previous time when starting up, and determines the subsequent processing of the own device based on the check result. The configuration and processing in this case will be described.

  Therefore, in the eighth embodiment, the printers 6 to 9 are printing apparatuses that print the print data sent from the client PCs 1 and 2 on the network, and each control unit uses the IP address that was used when it was last activated. Whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server that stores the IP address and host name of the printer on the network in association with each other is valid. A function of means for judging and means for rejecting reception of all external print data after that when the acquired IP address is different from the held IP address and the DDNS is judged to be invalid Fulfill.

Next, an operation setting process performed by each of the printers 6 to 9 at startup will be described.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the printers 6 to 9 according to the eighth embodiment are activated.
The control units of the printers 6 to 9 determine whether or not the IP address assigned to the printer in step 131 is fixed at the time of activation. If the IP address is fixed, the control unit proceeds to step 138. If not, the control unit proceeds to step 132.
In step 138, if it is fixed, the phenomenon that the IP address is inadvertently changed does not occur. Therefore, the normal startup process is continued, and this process ends.

On the other hand, in step 132, if the IP address is not fixed, the IP address of the own apparatus is dynamically acquired by DHCP or AutoIP, and the process proceeds to step 133.
In step 133, it is determined whether or not the IP address used last time is recorded in the printer. If not, the process proceeds to step 137. If it is recorded, the process proceeds to step 134.
In step 137, the IP address acquired this time is stored and held in the own printer, and the process proceeds to step 138.

In step 134, it is determined whether or not the IP address acquired this time is the same as the IP address used last time (IP address held in the own printer). If the IP address is the same, the process proceeds to step 138. Proceed to
In step 135, it is determined whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid. If valid, the process proceeds to step 138. If invalid, the process proceeds to step 136.
In step 136, the printer is shifted to the print data rejection mode, and thereafter, all print data from outside is rejected and activated, and this process is terminated.
When the client PC or another printer refuses to receive the print data, printing on the printer is stopped.

In this network printing system, when the printer side automatically sets an IP address that is not expected by the user, the IP address changes and there is no way for the user to know the change from the outside, Since the print data reception refusal mode is automatically set and no external print request is received, it is possible to prevent erroneous printing from a printer different from the printer desired by the user.
Here, the above-described processing is performed when the printer is activated, but may be performed when the network setting is changed.

(9) Example 9
In the network printing system according to the ninth embodiment, each printer on the network checks whether or not the IP address assigned to the own device is different from the previous time when the printer is started, and determines subsequent processing of the own device based on the check result. Another configuration and processing in the case of performing will be described.
As described above, in the process on the printer side, when the IP address is dynamically acquired at the time of startup and the IP address is different from the previous time and DDNS is not enabled, the print data is not printed at all. Only the first page may be printed.

  Therefore, in the ninth embodiment, the printers 6 to 9 are printing apparatuses that print the print data sent from the client PCs 1 and 2 on the network, and each control unit uses the IP address that was used when it was last activated. Whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server that stores the IP address and host name of the printer on the network in association with each other is valid. If it is determined that the acquired IP address is different from the held IP address and the DDNS is not valid, when the print data is received from the outside, the print data Print only the first page and then a warning message on that page (for example, “The address is different from the previous one. Performs the function of a warning watermark printing means that watermark printing ").

Next, an operation setting process performed by each of the printers 6 to 9 at startup will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the printers 6 to 9 according to the ninth embodiment are activated.
The control unit of each of the printers 6 to 9 determines whether or not the IP address assigned to the printer in step 141 is fixed at the time of activation. If the IP address is fixed, the control unit proceeds to step 148. If not, the control unit proceeds to step 142.
In step 148, if it is fixed, the phenomenon that the IP address is inadvertently changed does not occur. Therefore, the normal startup process is continued, and this process ends.

On the other hand, in step 142, if the IP address is not fixed, the IP address of the own apparatus is dynamically acquired by DHCP or AutoIP, and the process proceeds to step 143.
In step 143, it is determined whether or not the IP address used last time is recorded in the printer. If not, the process proceeds to step 147. If recorded, the process proceeds to step 144.
In step 147, the IP address acquired this time is stored and held in the own printer, and the process proceeds to step 148.

In step 144, it is determined whether or not the IP address acquired this time is the same as the IP address used last time (the IP address held in the own printer). If the IP address is the same, the process proceeds to step 148. Proceed to
In step 145, it is determined whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid. If valid, the process proceeds to step 148, and if invalid, the process proceeds to step 146.
In step 146, the printer is shifted to the warning watermark printing mode, and this process is terminated.

  When the respective control units set the warning watermark printing mode, the printers 6 to 9 print only the first page of the print data when the print data is received from the outside thereafter. Print a warning message (for example, “address is different from before”).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing warning watermark printing processing in the printers 6 to 9 shown in FIG.
When the control unit of the printers 6 to 9 receives print data from the client PCs 1 and 2 or another printer when the printer is set to the warning watermark printing mode, in step 151, the control unit 1 sets the print data 1 in the memory drawing area. The image of the page is drawn (that is, only the first page of the received print data is formed in the drawing memory), and the process proceeds to step 152.

In step 152, a predetermined message in the drawing area in which the image of the first page is drawn, for example, a message indicating that “the IP address has been changed. Check if this printer is appropriate” is displayed as a watermark image. As shown in FIG.
In step 153, the image in the drawing area is printed on a recording medium including paper, the remaining page data of the print data is discarded, and the process is terminated.
When the client PC or another printer refuses to receive the print data, printing on the printer is stopped.

In this network printing system, when the printer side automatically sets an IP address that is not expected by the user, the IP address changes and there is no way for the user to know the change from the outside, The warning watermark printing mode is automatically set. After that, when print data is received from the outside, only one page is printed, and a warning message is watermark-printed in the page, so that an erroneous printing can be performed for the user. It is possible to notify which printer on the network has actually printed, and to prevent the entire print data from being printed by the wrong printer.
Here, the above-described processing is performed when the printer is activated, but may be performed when the network setting is changed.

(10) Example 10
In the network printing system according to the tenth embodiment, the configuration and processing in the case of printing each of the above-described printers by reducing the image of one page to a predetermined magnification during warning watermark printing will be described.
Therefore, in the tenth embodiment, the control units of the printers 6 to 9 also function as a warning watermark reduction printing unit that prints the first page by reducing it to a predetermined magnification.

Next, an operation setting process performed by each of the printers 6 to 9 at startup will be described.
The printers 6 to 9 of the tenth embodiment execute almost the same processing as that in FIG. 14 except that in step 146, processing for shifting to the warning watermark reduction printing mode is performed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing warning watermark reduction printing processing in the printers 6 to 9 shown in FIG.
When the control unit of the printers 6 to 9 receives print data from the client PCs 1 and 2 or another printer when the printer is set to the warning watermark printing mode, in step 161, the control unit 1 of the print data is stored in the drawing area of the memory. The image of the page is reduced to a predetermined magnification and drawn (that is, only the first page of the received print data is reduced and formed in the drawing memory), and the process proceeds to step 162.

In step 162, a predetermined message in the drawing area in which the image of the first page is drawn, for example, a message indicating that “the IP address has been changed. Check if this printer is appropriate” is displayed as a watermark image. As shown in FIG.
In this way, when only the first page of print data is formed in the drawing memory, the image is reduced so that normal characters cannot be read. Subsequent warnings are printed at the same normal size.

In step 163, the image in the drawing area is printed on a recording medium including paper, the remaining page data of the print data is discarded, and the process is terminated.
When the client PC or another printer refuses to receive the print data, printing on the printer is stopped.
In this way, in order to prevent confidential information on the first page from being printed on the wrong printer, 1/8, 1/16, or 1/32 so that characters and images on the first page are difficult to distinguish. As described above, the image may be printed after being reduced to a predetermined magnification.

  In this network printer, if the printer automatically sets an IP address that is not expected by the user, the IP address changes, and there is no way for the user to know the change from the outside, the network printer automatically After that, when the print mode is set to the warning watermark reduction print mode and the print data is received from the outside, the image of only one page is reduced and the warning message is watermark-printed in the page. Even if it is an external printer, it is possible for the user to check, and the outflow of the contents of information described on the page can be minimized.

(11) Example 11
In the network printing system according to the eleventh embodiment, the client PC can instruct whether to execute warning watermark printing or warning watermark reduced printing for a printer having the warning watermark printing function or the warning watermark reduced printing function. The configuration and processing in the case of doing so will be described.

  Therefore, in the eleventh embodiment, the printer driver 30 and the printer communication unit 29 of the client PCs 1 and 2 have means for holding printer information including the printer UID and IP address designated as the print destination on the network, and the print destination. When sending print data to a designated printer, means for inquiring the UID of the printer having the held IP address, and means for determining whether the UID acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held UID. And means for inquiring whether or not the acquired UID printer has a warning watermark printing function, and a response indicating that the warning watermark printing function is provided in response to the inquiry by the means If there is, an instruction to execute printing by the warning watermark printing function has been input Come, the printer of the acquired UID, and requests printing by warning watermark printing function serves means for transmitting the print data.

  In addition, the control unit of the printers 6 to 9 holds means for holding the IP address used when it was last activated, means for acquiring the IP address of its own device by DHCP, AutoIP, etc. at the time of activation, and the printers on the network Means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server that stores the IP address and the host name in association with each other and the acquired IP address are different from the held IP address, and the DDNS is not valid. If it is determined, when print data is accepted from outside, only the first page of the print data is printed, and a warning message (for example, “address is different from the previous”) is printed on that page. Warning watermark printing means, and a warning watermark printing function in response to an inquiry from the client PC. When the print data is received together with the means for responding to the request and the print request by the warning watermark print function from the client PC, only the first page of the received print data is printed by the warning watermark print means, Further, it functions as a warning watermark printing means for watermark printing a warning message (for example, “address is different from the previous”) on the page.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating processing during printing in the client PC 1 according to the eleventh embodiment.
This processing is performed when the acquired UID and the held UID are different in the above-described processing at the time of printing by the client PC 1.
In step 171, the client PC 1 inquires whether the printer driver has the warning watermark printing function in the printer communication unit by using the printer communication unit, acquires the response, and proceeds to step 172.
In step 172, the printer driver determines whether or not there is a warning watermark printing function based on the response from the printer. If there is not, the process ends. If there is, the process proceeds to step 173.

In step 173, the printer driver prompts the user of this client PC to input an instruction as to whether or not to print the warning watermark on the printer, and the process proceeds to step 174.
In step 174, the printer driver determines whether or not there has been a print execution input by the warning watermark printing function from the user. If there is not, the process ends. If there is, the process proceeds to step 175.
In step 175, the printer driver transmits a warning watermark print command to the printer through the printer communication unit, and the process proceeds to step 175.
In step 175, the printer driver transmits print data to the printer through the printer communication unit, and the process ends.

In the above-described processing, the printer is also inquired about the presence or absence of the warning watermark reduction printing function, and it is preferable that either one of the warning watermark printing function and the warning watermark reduction printing function can be selected and input.
For example, a screen is displayed on the display device 21 of the client PC 1 to inquire the user whether or not warning watermark printing is to be performed.
For example, options such as “print as usual”, “warning watermark printing (only one page)”, “reduced text, warning watermark printing”, and “cancel” may be displayed on the screen of the display device 21.
In this way, execution of printing by the warning watermark printing function or warning watermark reduction printing function of the printer can be selected from the client PC 1 side.

On the other hand, on the printer side, when a normal print command is received from the client PC 1, normal printing is executed, and when a warning watermark print command (or warning watermark reduced print command) is received, the warning watermark printing described in FIG. The warning watermark reduced printing described in FIG. 16 is executed.
In this network printing system, when the IP address of the printer changes because the IP address is not set by the user, the user can select whether or not to perform warning watermark printing on the printer. .

(12) Example 12
In the network printing system of the twelfth embodiment, each printer on the network checks whether or not the IP address assigned to itself is different from the previous one at the time of startup. A configuration and processing in the case of receiving and storing and printing only those for which printing has been instructed will be described.

  Therefore, in the twelfth embodiment, the printers 6 to 9 are printing apparatuses that print the print data sent from the client PCs 1 and 2 on the network, and the IP addresses used when the respective control units were activated last time. Whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server that stores the IP address and host name of the printer on the network in association with each other is valid. If the acquired IP address is different from the held IP address and the DDNS is not valid, all the print data received from the outside is stored and held thereafter. And a means for outputting a warning message and printing of the held print data (displaying a list of titles) Functions of means for performing the printing when instructed.

In addition, when the elapsed time from when the received print data is held exceeds a preset time, it also functions as means for deleting the held print data.
Here, although not shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the printers 6 to 9 include a large-capacity storage device (HDD) for storing print data.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating print data accumulation processing of the printers 6 to 9 according to the twelfth embodiment.
As described above, the control unit of the printers 6 to 9 checks whether or not the IP address assigned to the printer at the time of startup is different from the previous one, and if it is different, receives the print data transmitted thereafter. If the print data is transmitted from the client PC 1, 2 or another printer when the mode is shifted to the storage mode, the print data is received in step 181 and a control file for the print data is created in step 182. In step 183, the print data is stored in the HDD in association with the control file, and the process ends.

  For example, a printer that has received print data determines a unique job number for the print data, and stores the job number, job name, and job reception time in a control file that uses that number as the file name.

Example of control file: (0001.ctl)
<Stored Job>
<Job name> 0001 </ job name>
<Job submit time> 12:34 </ job submit time>
</ Stored Job>

In this case, the print data itself is 0001. It is saved with the file name dat.
First, the title of the print data is extracted from the print data and recorded in the control file.
The time when the job is received is recorded in the control file.
Subsequently, the remaining print data is stored in the HDD.

Next, the processing after storing print data will be described.
In order to notify the user that the print data job is stored in the HDD, the control unit of the printers 6 to 9 processes the print job stored in the HDD at a frequency of about once per minute, for example. Displays a screen prompting the user.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating display processing of the printers 6 to 9 in the network printing system according to the twelfth embodiment.
The control unit of the printers 6 to 9 determines whether or not there is a print job list in step 191. If there is no print job list, the process ends. If there is, the print job is entered (printed) in the print job list in step 192. It is determined whether or not data has been stored. If it has not been entered, this process ends. If it has been entered, a message indicating that there is a print job is displayed in step 193, and this process ends. .

  Thus, instead of rejecting the print data as in the print data reception rejection mode described above, the print data to be sent is held in a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device such as an HDD, and such print data Can be displayed on the operation panel to wait for the user's judgment.

  Next, in the printers 6 to 9, when the print job (print data) is accumulated, for example, the above display is performed so that the print job accumulated in the HDD is not left at a frequency of about once per minute. The user is prompted to perform the process, and if there is a print instruction from the user, the print job is printed, and when a preset time has elapsed from the accumulation, the print job may be deleted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing after the print data accumulation of the printers 6 to 9 in the network printing system according to the twelfth embodiment.
The control unit of the printers 6 to 9 determines in step 201 whether or not there is a print job list. If there is no print job list, the process ends, and if there is, the process proceeds to step 202.
In step 202, it is determined whether or not a print job has been entered in the print job list. If it has not been entered, this process ends. If it has been entered, the process proceeds to step 203.
In step 203, the elapsed time is obtained from the print job reception time of the control file of the entered print job, and the process proceeds to step 204.

In step 204, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time exceeds a preset time. If not, the process proceeds to step 207. If it has exceeded, the process proceeds to step 205.
In step 205, the control data and print data of the print job are deleted from the HDD, deleted from the print job list in step 206, and the process proceeds to step 207.
In step 207, it is determined whether or not the next entry exists in the print job list. If there is, the process returns to step 203 and the above processing is repeated. If not, this processing ends.

  In other words, if the print job list is empty, the process is terminated. If a print job is entered in the print job list, the pointer is set to the entered print job, and <job submit of the control file of the print job is set. When the elapsed time is obtained from the print job reception time of time> and the current time based on the real time clock (RTC) installed in the print, and the elapsed time exceeds a preset time-out time Delete both the print data and control file for this print job from the HDD

In this network printing system, if the IP address changes automatically and the IP address changes and there is no way for the user to know the change from the outside, the print data is not printed on the printer side. Since printing is not started until it is stored and held and a warning is displayed on the panel or the like and it is confirmed that the user may start printing, it is possible to prevent printing with an incorrect printer.
Also, since the held print data is automatically deleted after a predetermined elapsed time, if the user cannot find the printer, the printer is prevented from being stopped waiting for operation. Can do.

(13) Example 13
In the network printing system according to the thirteenth embodiment, a process and a configuration when the client PC first sets a printer driver in each of the above-described embodiments will be described.
In the thirteenth embodiment, the printer driver 30 and the printer communication unit 29 of the client PCs 1 and 2 communicate with a printer on the network, a UID inquiry unit that inquires of the printer about the UID through communication by the unit, It fulfills the function of holding means for holding the UID of the printer sent in response to the inquiry from the means and the IP address of the printer in association with each other.

In each of the above-described embodiments, when the printer driver 30 on the client PC 1 or 2 side performs printing, the printer communication unit 29 checks whether the printer UID of the printing destination printer is the same as the previous UID. When setting the driver 30 for the first time, it is preferable to set the UID without printing.
The installer process executed on the client PCs 1 and 2 for realizing such settings will be described.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the printer driver installer process of the client PC in the network printing system according to the thirteenth embodiment.
First, in step 211, the control device of the client PC 1 executes an installation for copying a printer control file, that is, a file constituting the printer driver, to an arrangement suitable for the operating system, and proceeds to step 212.
In step 212, printer setting information is registered in a setting database (DB) suitable for the operating system, and the process proceeds to step 213.
The printer setting information includes setting information such as a printer IP address and a printer option configuration.

After completing the normal setting operation so far, in step 213, a UID inquiry command for inquiring the UID is sent to the printer, and the process proceeds to step 214.
In step 214, it is determined whether or not the UID acquisition has succeeded, and the UID is returned from the printer as the UID inquiry destination. If the UID acquisition is successful, the process proceeds to step 215. If the UID is not returned for some reason, the UID acquisition is performed. This process is terminated without registering the UID information.
In step 215, the acquired UID is registered as printer setting information in the system setting DB, and the process proceeds to step 216.
In step 216, other installation processing is executed, and this processing ends.

In the above-described processing, the order of copying the control file, registering the printer setting information, and registering the UID may be any order.
Further, it is preferable that the printer not only inquire about the UID but also inquire about and acquire information such as the DDNS address, host name, and netmask.
In this way, the client PC always connects to the printer at the time of initial setting of the printer and stores the printer identification information of the printer, so at the time of subsequent printing, it is confirmed whether or not the connection destination printer is the desired printer. be able to.

  If each means shown in each of the above embodiments is a program comprising a procedure for causing a computer to execute each means, the client PC and the printer can realize the function by executing each means described above. it can.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to personal computers such as desktop personal computers and notebook personal computers. The printing apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine. Furthermore, the network printing system according to the present invention can be applied to all client server systems including an apparatus having a network environment printing function and an information processing apparatus.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the internal structure of client PC1 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing by the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the printer search process of client PC1 of the network printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing by the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating printer search processing in the client PC 1 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing of the client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating printer search processing according to the fifth embodiment in the printer 7 of the network printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating printer search processing in a printer according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing by a client PC 1 in the network printing system according to the seventh embodiment.

It is a flowchart figure which shows the transfer printing request process in the client PC1 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating transfer printing processing in a printer according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of activation of printers 6 to 9 according to an eighth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of activation of printers 6 to 9 according to a ninth embodiment.

It is a flowchart figure which shows the warning watermark printing process in the printers 6-9 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the warning watermark reduction printing process in the printers 6-9 shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of printing in the client PC 1 according to the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating print data accumulation processing of printers 6 to 9 in Embodiment 12. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating display processing of printers 6 to 9 in the network printing system according to the twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing after print data is accumulated in printers 6 to 9 in the network printing system according to the twelfth embodiment. FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printer driver installer of a client PC in the network printing system according to the thirteenth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2: Client PC 3: Router 4: DDNS server 5: DHCP server 6-9: Printer 10: First network 11: Second network 20: Input device 21: Display device 22: Storage device 23: Control device 24: Parallel I / F 25: USB I / F 26: Network I / F 27: Application software 28: Spooler 29: Printer communication unit 30: Printer driver

Claims (27)

Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for searching for a printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network when the means determines that they do not match.   The means for searching for the printing device inquires of the destination information of all devices on the network obtained based on the held destination information, and finds the printing device having the held identification information from the network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a search unit. Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network, and destination information of a DDNS server that stores the destination information and host name of the printing device in association with each other;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
When it is determined by the means that they do not match, the DNS server of the held destination information is inquired for and acquired the destination information associated with the held host name, so that the held identification information is obtained from the network. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for searching for a printing apparatus having   The printing apparatus designated as the printing destination is provided with means for inquiring and acquiring the host name of the printing apparatus and the destination information of the DDNS server that stores the host name and destination information in association with each other. Item 4. The information processing apparatus according to Item 3. Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
And means for requesting the printing apparatus having the acquired identification information to search for the printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network when it is determined by the means that they do not match. Information processing device. Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
When it is determined by the means that they do not match, the printing apparatus having the acquired identification information is requested to transfer the printing data to the printing apparatus having the held identification information on the network. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for transmitting. Means for holding printing device information including identification information and destination information of a printing device designated as a printing destination on the network;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
Means for requesting the printing apparatus of the acquired identification information to transfer the print data to the printing apparatus of the designated destination information on the network when the means determines that they do not match; An information processing apparatus comprising: Means for communicating with a printing device on a network;
Means for querying the printing apparatus for an identification number by communication by the means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for holding the identification number of the printing apparatus sent in response to the inquiry by the means and the destination information of the printing apparatus in association with each other. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
And a means for searching for a printing device having the specified identification information from the network when requested to search for a printing device having the specified identification information from the information processing device. Printing device.   The means for searching for the printing apparatus is means for searching for a printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network by inquiring destination information of all apparatuses on the network. The printing apparatus according to 9.   10. The means for searching for the printing device is a means for searching for a printing device having the specified identification information from the network by inquiring all devices on the network by multicast. Printing device. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
When the information processing apparatus is requested to search for a printing apparatus having a designated host name, the network is obtained by inquiring and obtaining destination information associated with the designated host name from the DDNS server. And a means for retrieving a printing apparatus having the designated host name from the printing apparatus. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
Means for searching for a printing device having the specified identification information from the network when the print data is received from the information processing device when requested to transfer the print data to the printing device having the specified identification information; ,
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing apparatus searched by the means for requesting printing and transferring the received print data.   The means for searching for the printing apparatus is means for searching for a printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network by inquiring destination information of all apparatuses on the network. 13. The printing apparatus according to 13.   14. The means for searching for the printing device is a means for searching for a printing device having the specified identification information from the network by inquiring all devices on the network by multicast. Printing device. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
When the print data is received from the information processing apparatus when the print data is requested to be transferred to the printing apparatus having the designated destination information, the printing apparatus having the designated destination information on the network is requested to print. And a means for transferring the received print data. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
Means to retain the destination information used when it was last started;
Means for acquiring address information of the own device at the time of startup;
Means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid;
And means for rejecting reception of all external print data thereafter when the acquired destination information is different from the stored destination information and the DDNS is determined to be invalid. A printing device. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
Means to retain the destination information used when it was last started;
Means for acquiring address information of the own device at the time of startup;
Means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid;
When it is determined that the acquired destination information is different from the held destination information and the DDNS is not valid, only when the print data is received from outside, only the first page of the print data is received. And a means for watermark printing a warning message on the page.   19. The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the printing means is provided with a means for printing the first page by reducing it to a predetermined magnification. A printing device that prints print data sent from an information processing device on a network,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
Means to retain the destination information used when it was last started;
Means for acquiring address information of the own device at the time of startup;
Means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid;
If it is determined that the acquired destination information is different from the stored destination information and the DDNS is not valid, all the print data received from the outside is stored and held thereafter, and a warning message is output. Means to
A printing apparatus comprising: means for executing printing when printing of the held print data is instructed.   21. The printing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for deleting the held print data when an elapsed time from when the received print data is held exceeds a preset time. A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device,
Means for holding printing apparatus information including identification information and destination information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on the network in the information processing apparatus;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
Means for searching for a printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network when it is determined by the means that they do not match,
A network printing system, characterized in that the printing apparatus is provided with means for responding identification information of its own apparatus to an inquiry from the information processing apparatus. A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
The printing apparatus has means for notifying the DDNS server of the changed destination information when the destination information of the own apparatus is changed,
The DDNS server has means for updating the destination information associated with the host name of the printing apparatus to the changed destination information when the changed destination information is notified from the printing apparatus.
Means for holding, in the information processing apparatus, printing apparatus information including identification information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on the network, destination information, and destination information of the DDNS server;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
When it is determined by the means that they do not match, the DNS server of the held destination information is inquired for and acquired the destination information associated with the held host name, so that the held identification information is obtained from the network. Means for searching for a printing device having
A network printing system, characterized in that the printing apparatus is provided with means for responding identification information of its own apparatus to an inquiry from the information processing apparatus. A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device,
Means for holding printing apparatus information including identification information and destination information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on the network in the information processing apparatus;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
Means for requesting the printing apparatus of the acquired identification information to search for a printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network when it is determined that the means does not match;
When the printing apparatus is requested to search for a printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the information processing apparatus, means for searching the printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network is provided. A network printing system. A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
The printing apparatus has means for notifying the DDNS server of the changed destination information when the destination information of the own apparatus is changed,
The DDNS server has means for updating the destination information associated with the host name of the printing apparatus to the changed destination information when the changed destination information is notified from the printing apparatus.
Means for holding printing apparatus information including identification information and destination information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on the network in the information processing apparatus;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
Means for requesting the printing apparatus of the acquired identification information to search for a printing apparatus having the held identification information from the network when it is determined that the means does not match;
When the information processing apparatus requests the printing apparatus to search for a printing apparatus having a specified host name, the DDNS server is inquired and acquires destination information associated with the specified host name. Accordingly, a network printing system comprising means for searching the printing apparatus having the designated host name from the network. A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device,
Means for holding, in the information processing apparatus, printing apparatus information including identification information and destination information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on a network;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
When it is determined by the means that they do not match, the printing apparatus having the acquired identification information is requested to transfer the printing data to the printing apparatus having the held identification information on the network. Means for transmitting,
A printing apparatus having the specified identification information from the network when the printing apparatus is requested to transfer the print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus having the specified identification information and receives the print data. A means of searching for,
A network printing system, comprising: a printing apparatus searched by the means; and a means for requesting printing and transferring the received print data. A network printing system for printing print data sent from an information processing device on a network by a printing device,
A DDNS server for storing the destination information and the host name of the printing apparatus on the network in association with each other;
Means for holding printing apparatus information including identification information and destination information of a printing apparatus designated as a printing destination on the network in the information processing apparatus;
Means for inquiring identification information to the printing apparatus of the held destination information when sending print data to the printing apparatus designated as the printing destination;
Means for determining whether or not the identification information acquired by the inquiry by the means matches the held identification information;
Means for inquiring whether or not the acquired identification information printing apparatus has a warning watermark printing function when it is determined by the means that they do not match;
When there is a response to the inquiry by the means that the warning watermark printing function is provided, when a print execution instruction by the warning watermark printing function is input, the warning watermark printing function is added to the acquired identification information printing device. And a means for requesting printing by means of transmitting the print data,
Means for holding destination information used when it was last activated in the printing apparatus;
Means for acquiring the address information of the own device at startup;
Means for determining whether or not DDNS by the DDNS server is valid;
When it is determined that the acquired destination information is different from the held destination information and the DDNS is not valid, only when the print data is received from the outside thereafter, only the first page of the print data is received. Means for printing a watermark on the page and a warning message on the page,
A means for responding to an inquiry from the information processing apparatus having a warning watermark printing function;
When print data is received together with a print request by the warning watermark printing function from the information processing apparatus, only the first page of the received print data is printed by the printing means, and a warning message is watermarked on the page. A network printing system comprising a printing unit.

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