JP2012194703A - Output control system, terminal device, output control method, and output control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change an output method according to an output environment for outputting predetermined data.SOLUTION: An output control system includes plural terminal devices connected to a network and causes, through a first terminal device of the plural terminal devices, an output device belonging to a second terminal device to output predetermined data, in which the first terminal device includes request means for requesting, from the second terminal device, an output method for outputting the predetermined data from the output device and setting information, and output control means for acquiring the output method and setting information acquired from the second terminal device by the request means and causing the output device to output the predetermined data according to the acquired output method and setting information.

Description

  The present invention relates to an output control system, a terminal device, an output control method, and an output control program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, remote conference systems that perform conferences with conference participants in remote locations using voice and video communication technologies have become widespread. The remote conference system is configured by installing, for example, a terminal device, a microphone, a camera, and the like in a conference room located at a distance from each other and connecting them via a network. In this remote conference system, you can share the writing of video, audio, whiteboard, etc., share the conference materials by file transfer, or print out with a remote printer etc. It is possible to hold a meeting while staying.

  In a conventional video conference system, a method of exchanging hard copy documents in real time is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a scanned image is stored in a document server, and a printer that receives a notification from the document server outputs the scanned image.

  However, according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a document is output using a remote printer connected to the network, the printer driver is changed according to the type of the remote printer, The printing method could not be changed according to the printing environment of the remote printer, such as changing the document output form according to the printing policy.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an output control system, a terminal device, an output control method, and an output control program that change an output method according to an output environment in which predetermined data is output. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices connected to a network, and a predetermined number of terminal devices from a first terminal device to an output device belonging to a second terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices. An output control system for outputting the data, wherein the first terminal device has an output method and setting information for outputting the predetermined data from the output device to the second terminal device. Requesting means for requesting, and an output for obtaining the output method and setting information obtained from the second terminal device by the requesting means, and outputting the predetermined data from the output device according to the obtained output method and setting information And a control means.

  The present invention also provides a terminal device that outputs predetermined data to an output device belonging to another terminal device connected to a network, and outputs the predetermined data from the output device to the other terminal device. Requesting means for requesting an output method and setting information for obtaining the output method and setting information obtained from the other terminal device by the requesting means, and the predetermined data according to the obtained output method and setting information Is output from the output device.

  In addition, the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices connected to a network, and outputs predetermined data from a first terminal device to an output device belonging to a second terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices. Output control method executed by the output control system, wherein the first terminal device outputs the predetermined data from the output device to the second terminal device, and setting information A request procedure for requesting, and an output method and setting information obtained from the second terminal device by the request procedure, and outputting the predetermined data from the output device according to the obtained output method and setting information And an output control procedure.

  In addition, the present invention is an output control program that causes a computer to function as the above-described output control system.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to change the output method according to the output environment for outputting predetermined data.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a print control system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the printing control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing method determination process according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of print setting condition determination processing according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the printing method determination process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the print setting condition determination process according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the printing control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the printing control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print session start request according to the second embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the confirmation response of the print session start request which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing method determination process according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of print setting condition determination processing according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing process according to the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a print session end request according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of each document used in the print session of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the printing setting condition determination process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the document exchanged between PC1 and PC3 in the printing setting condition determination process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a print screen displayed on the PC1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a print setting screen displayed on the PC. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing permission screen displayed with PC2 and PC3. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a printing method selection screen displayed on PC2 or PC3. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a print setting screen displayed on the PC. It is a figure for demonstrating the file transfer setting screen displayed on PC3. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the printing control system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing process according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in print setting condition determination processing according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC3 in print setting condition determination processing according to a third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the printing control system which concerns on 4th Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing according to a fourth embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the printing setting condition determination process which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions which can implement | achieve the printing process in this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

<First Embodiment>
<Overall configuration of print control system>
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a print control system according to the first embodiment. A print control system (output control system) 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a plurality of terminal devices connected to a network typified by the Internet or the like. Among the plurality of terminal devices, for example, the first terminal device to the first terminal device. The predetermined data is output to the output device belonging to the second terminal device.

  A print control system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a PC 1 (first terminal device) that is a communication device and a printer device 1 at a base 1, and a PC 2 (second terminal device) that is a communication device at a base 2. And the printer 2.

  For example, a remote conference program is installed in the PC 1 and the PC 2. The remote conference program enables bidirectional communication by acquiring video and audio from cameras and microphones connected to the PC1 and PC2. The desktop screen may be shared between the PC1 and the PC2.

  In addition to the above-described remote conference program, a program having a print control function described later is installed in PC1 and PC2. The print control program enables communication with other PCs and printers via a network. Note that the print control program may be incorporated in the remote conference program, for example, or may be downloaded from a server or the like connected to the network when the remote conference starts.

  In the present embodiment, conference materials and the like used in the remote conference by the PC 1 and the PC 2 are printed out from the printer 1 and the printer 2 in real time.

  PC1 and PC2 have a built-in printer driver that converts a file into print data and outputs it to a printer, for example. PC1 has a printer driver for printer 1 installed, and PC2 has a printer driver for printer 2. Installed. The PC 1 shares the printer 2 with the PC 2 using, for example, SMB (Server Message Block), and the PC 1 outputs a file from the printer 2 using the printer driver of the PC 2.

  The printer 1 and the printer 2 shown in FIG. 1 are each connected to a network and transmit / receive print data via the network and output the print data. For example, the PDL (Page Description Language) supported by the printer 1 is RPCS, and the PDL supported by the printer 2 is PCL. Note that the printer 1 and the printer 2 do not require a configuration specific to the present invention. Further, the printer 1 and the printer 2 may be used as local printers by being connected to the PC 1 and PC 2 with, for example, a USB cable or a parallel cable.

<Functional configuration of print control system>
Next, the functional configuration of the above-described print control system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the print control system according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the print control system (output control system) 100 includes a PC 1 that is a first terminal device, a PC 2 that is a second terminal device, and a printer 1 and a printer 2 as output devices. Configured as follows.

  The print control system 100 may have a configuration including a plurality of PCs connected to the network as described above, and the PC 1 and the PC 2 may have the same configuration. In the following description, for convenience, the PC 1 mainly shows the configuration as the first terminal device, and the PC 2 mainly shows the configuration as the second terminal device.

  The PC 1 is, for example, a desktop PC installed at the site 1 shown in FIG. 1, and roughly includes a main body and a display. Specifically, the PC 1 includes an application execution unit 10, a request unit 11, a print control unit 12, a print data generation unit 13, a communication unit 14, a recording unit (DB) 15, and a video output unit 16. The image input means 17 and the screen display means 18 are provided.

  The application execution means 10 executes, for example, an installed remote conference application, conference material display application, or the like.

  The request unit 11 outputs and sets information for outputting predetermined data (for example, print data such as conference materials) to an output device belonging to the other terminal device to another terminal device connected to the network. Request. Here, the output method and setting information in the present embodiment can be a printing method and print setting conditions for printing output to, for example, a printer. That is, the request unit 11 transmits a print method proposal document to the PC 2, for example, inquires about a print method for printing out from the printer 2 or the like, or transmits a print setting condition proposal document, for example, Queries the print setting conditions when printing out from the printer 2 or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to this, and when outputting to an output device other than a printer, an output method and setting information corresponding to the output device (communication device) is requested. Specific processing contents of the request unit 11 will be described later.

  The print control unit 12 corresponds to the output control unit in the present invention, acquires an output method and setting information obtained from another terminal device in response to a request from the request unit 11, and based on the acquired output method and setting information, Predetermined data is output from an output device belonging to another terminal device. For example, the print control unit 12 shares the printer driver of the PC 2 and outputs print data from the printer 2 based on the printing method and print setting conditions obtained from the PC 2 in response to the request of the request unit 11. The specific processing content executed by the print control unit 12 will be described later.

  The print data generation unit 13 generates predetermined data (for example, print data such as conference material). The print data generation means 13 corresponds to the conversion means in the present invention, and for example, print data such as conference materials may be converted into data in a format that the printer 2 can output.

  The communication unit 14 transmits / receives various data to / from other devices connected to the network. For example, the communication unit 14 transmits print data such as conference material generated by the print data generation unit 13 to the printer 1, the printer 2, or the like.

  The recording unit 15 stores various data files such as print data generated by the print data generation unit 13 and video data received by the communication unit 14 in a DB (Date Base). The recording unit 15 may store the above-described remote conference application and conference material display application.

  The video output unit 16 outputs the video data received by the communication unit 14, and the video input unit 17 inputs the video data output by the video output unit 16.

  The screen display means 18 is, for example, an external display attached to the PC 1 and displays the video data and the like input by the video input means 17.

  The printer 1 is a printer that belongs to the PC 1 installed at the site 1 shown in FIG. 1 and includes, for example, a communication unit 20 that receives print data from the PC 1 and an image forming unit 21 that prints out the print data. Is done.

  The PC 2 is a notebook PC or the like installed at the remote site 2 shown in FIG. 1, for example, the communication means 30, the print data generation means 31, the print control means 32, the screen generation means 33, and the application execution means. 34 and video display means 35.

  The communication unit 30 transmits / receives various data to / from other devices connected to the network. For example, the communication unit 30 receives a print method proposal document or a print setting condition proposal document for the PC 2 from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 or print data such as conference material.

  The print data generation unit 31 converts the conference material received from the PC 1 into print data that can be output from the print 2.

  The printing control unit 32 determines a printing method (output method) based on an instruction from the user with respect to the printing method proposal document proposed by the request unit 11 of the PC 1 and generates a printing method answer document. Further, the print control unit 32 determines, for example, a method of outputting from the printer 2 that is an output device of the PC 2 based on the printer information of the proposal document of the print setting condition, and the user for the print setting condition of the proposal document of the print setting condition. The print setting condition is determined based on the instruction from, and an answer document for the print setting condition is generated. The specific processing contents by the print control means 32 will be described later.

  The screen generation unit 33 displays a printing method selection screen for allowing the user to select a printing method based on a printing method proposal document proposed from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 or a printing setting condition proposal document, and a user can specify a print setting condition. A print setting screen (setting information input screen) for inputting is generated.

  The application execution unit 34 executes, for example, a remote conference application.

  The video display unit 35 is, for example, a built-in display, and displays various screens generated by the screen generation unit 33 or displays video data received from the PC 1.

  The printer 2 is a printer belonging to the PC 2 installed at the site 1 shown in FIG. 1 and is configured to include a communication unit 40 and an image forming unit 41.

  The communication means 40 receives print data such as conference material from the PC 1 or PC 2, for example. The image forming unit 41 prints out print data such as conference material received by the communication unit 40.

<Print Method Determination Process According to First Embodiment>
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a flow up to determining a printing method (output method) in the printing processing executed by the above-described printing control system 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing method determination process according to the first embodiment. For example, a case where a document display application is executed by the application execution means 10 of the PC 1 and print processing is executed during a remote conference between the base 1 and the base 2 will be described.

  The PC 1 executes print processing in the same procedure as in normal printing. For example, when the user designates a printer driver corresponding to the printer 1, the PC 1 receives a print instruction and print setting conditions for printing predetermined data (S10). Here, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 starts print processing based on the designated print setting condition.

  For example, the print control unit 12 acquires network information of the communication device currently participating in the remote conference from the remote conference application executed by the application execution unit 10 (S11). Here, since it is communicating with PC2, the IP address of PC2 is acquired.

  Next, for example, when the request unit 11 requests the PC 2 to output predetermined data, the request unit 11 transmits, for example, a printing method proposal document to the PC 2 in order to inquire about a method for printing out the predetermined data ( S12). When the request unit 11 has two functions of printing and file transfer as the print control function of the PC 1, the request unit 11 inquires whether to select printing or file transfer in the printing method proposal document for the PC 2. A printing method proposal document transmitted to the PC 2 by the request unit 11 will be described later.

  When the print control means 32 of the PC 2 receives the print method proposal document transmitted from the PC 1 (S13), the screen generation means 33 generates and displays a print method selection screen (S14), and the above-described print ( Select the output method. When the printing control means 32 of the PC 2 receives the printing (output) method (for example, printing) selected by the user (S15), the printing control means 12 of the PC 1 generates and transmits an answer document for the printing method (S16). Receives the answer document of the printing method from the PC 2 (S17). Note that the answer document for the printing method generated by the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 will be described later.

  As described above, the PC 1 transmits a printing method proposal document to the PC 2 and determines a printing method for the predetermined data based on the printing method answer document received from the PC 2. In this way, the PC 1 negotiates with the PC 2 and determines the printing method. Further, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 determines detailed print setting conditions for executing a print process by negotiating with the PC 2 as described below.

<Print Setting Condition Determination Process According to First Embodiment>
Next, a flow until the print setting condition is determined will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of print setting condition determination processing according to the first embodiment. In the print setting condition determination process shown in FIG. 4, after the print method determination process shown in FIG. 3, the print setting condition required by the PC 2 is acquired to determine a more detailed print processing method.

  The requesting unit 11 transmits the print setting condition proposal document to the PC 2 (S20). Here, the request unit 11 presents, for example, the print setting conditions that can be processed by the PC 1 to the PC 2 and also presents the print setting conditions designated by the user of the PC 1 to the PC 2, for example.

  Note that the print setting condition proposal document may be a content that gives a choice of possible values for each item of the print setting condition. For example, the PC 2 does not sufficiently grasp the print processing capability of the PC 1 in actual implementation. In such a case, it is better to make the content present the options in more detail. The contents of the proposal of the print setting condition transmitted to the PC 2 by the request unit 11 will be described later. Here, for example, it is assumed that the PC 2 fully understands the print processing capability of the PC 1 and that the PC 1 does not have the print data generation capability for the printer 2.

  When receiving the print setting condition proposal document (S21), the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 generates and displays a print setting screen by the screen generation unit 33 (S22). Here, it is assumed that the PC 2 knows the printing capability of the printer 2, for example, and configures a print setting screen based on the printing capability of the printer 2. Note that the default value of each item of the print setting condition presented on the print setting screen in the process of S22 is preferably set to the value of the print setting condition specified by the PC 1. Accordingly, it is possible to specify the print setting condition while referring to what setting the user of the PC 1 prints when the user of the PC 2 looks at the print setting screen.

  The print control unit 32 of the PC 2 receives the print setting condition selected by the user via the print setting screen (S23). For example, if the PC 1 does not have the ability to print the printer 2, the printer 2 is automatically turned on. Control is performed so as to share with the PC 2 (S24), so that the PC 1 can use the printer 2.

  That is, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 generates an answer document for the print setting condition based on the print setting condition selected by the user, and provides an address for the PC 1 to access the printer 2 using SMB, for example. Enter in the answer document for the print setting conditions. The answer document for the print setting conditions generated by the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 will be described later.

  Next, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 transmits the answer document for the print setting condition to the PC 1 (S25), and the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 receives the answer document for the print setting condition (S26).

  As described above, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 determines the print setting conditions for the printer 2 based on the answer document acquired from the PC 2.

<Print Processing According to First Embodiment>
Next, print processing executed by the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing processing according to the first embodiment. In the printing process shown in FIG. 5, the printing process is executed by the PC 1 based on the printing setting condition acquired from the PC 2 in the printing setting condition determination process shown in FIG.

  First, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 generates print data by the print data generation unit 13 based on its own print settings set in the process of S10 (S30), and transmits the generated print data to the printer 1 ( S31). When the printer 1 receives print data from the PC 1 via the communication unit 20 (S32), the printer 1 executes print processing using the image forming unit 21 (S33). For example, it is assumed that network information such as an IP address of a printer belonging to the communication device is preset in the communication device at each site.

  Further, the print control means 12 shares the printer 2 with the PC 2 using SMB based on the address information specified in the answer document for the print setting condition obtained in the process of S26 (S34). Further, the print control unit 12 accesses the printer driver of the shared PC 2 and generates print data based on the print setting condition of the answer document (S35).

  Next, the print control unit 12 transmits the generated print data to the printer 2 via the communication unit 14 (S36). When the printer 2 receives the print data via the communication unit 40 (S37), the print control unit 12 prints the print data using the image forming unit 41. The process is executed (S38).

  When the printing process is executed in the process of S38, the print control unit 12 transmits a print completion notification to the PC 2 (S39). When the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 receives the print completion notification from the PC 1 (S40), The sharing of the printer driver of the printer 2 is canceled (S41), and the process ends. As a result, the print control means 32 of the PC 2 can prevent the printer 2 from being illegally used by an external user after the printing by the printer 2 is completed.

<About each document used in the printing method determination process>
Next, each document used in the printing method determination process described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the printing method determination process according to the first embodiment. 6A shows an example of a printing method proposal document transmitted from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 in the process of S12 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6B shows the PC2 in the process of S16 of FIG. 2 shows an example of a printing method reply document returned from the printing control means 32 to the PC 1.

  The proposed document shown in FIG. 6A shows that “print” and “file-transfer” can be selected as print modes. In addition, “print” is set as a default setting.

  By including the options in the document in this way, the receiving PC 2 can generate a printing method selection screen as an inquiry screen for the user based on the proposed document. As shown in FIG. 6A, in this embodiment, since the proposal document and the answer document regarding the printing method and the print setting condition are exchanged a plurality of times, “id” for indicating the same processing is performed. "Is set.

  In the answer document shown in FIG. 6B, the answer of the printing method selected by the user of the PC 2 is shown. That is, in the example of FIG. 6B, “print” is selected by the user of the PC 2.

<About each document used for print setting condition determination processing>
Next, each document used in the above-described print setting condition determination process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the print setting condition determination processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A shows an example of a print setting condition proposal document transmitted from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 in the process of S20 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7B shows the process of S25 of FIG. An example of a response document for print setting conditions returned from the print control means 32 of the PC 2 to the PC 1 is shown.

  In the proposal document shown in FIG. 7A, printer information used by the PC 1 and print setting conditions designated by the user of the PC 1 are shown. As described above, the print setting conditions designated by the PC 1 are presented in the proposal document because the PC 2 can create an answer document with reference to the print setting conditions designated by the PC 1.

  Specifically, the proposed document shown in FIG. 7A includes two parts, for example, a <printer> element for describing printer information and a <settings> element for describing print setting conditions. Contains. For example, the <printer> element indicates that the PC 1 generates a PDL (Page Description Language) in the format of RPCS version 2.66.

  The print control unit 32 of the PC 2 determines how to print based on the above-mentioned information. For example, since the printer 2 can only interpret PCL as PDL, its own printer driver is disclosed and the PC 1 and the printer 2 are shared. Then, it is determined to print, etc., and an answer document as shown in FIG. 7B is generated.

  In the answer document shown in FIG. 7B, for example, the <printer> element (for example, (A) shown in FIG. 7B) is specified to access its own printer driver (PC2) using SMB. Has been. If the PC 1 has, for example, a PCL generation capability, and the PCL is presented as an option in the proposal document of FIG. 7A, for example, the print control means 32 of the PC 2 displays the information shown in FIG. 7B. In the answer document shown, the print control means 12 of the PC 1 can be designated to print using the PCL driver.

  Further, for example, a page range (all) and the number of copies (3) are set in the <settings> element of the proposal document shown in FIG. 7A as common setting conditions for the application. Size (A4), layout (1 page / page), duplex (off), and color / monochrome (color) are set. These setting information are print setting conditions designated by the user of the PC 1.

  The print control unit 32 of the PC 2 generates a print setting screen by the screen generation unit 33 in the process of S22 of FIG. 4 based on the print setting condition and the capability information of the printer 2. With this print setting screen, for example, the default value can be changed by the user of the PC 2 with reference to information set in the PC 1, thereby reducing the trouble of inputting the print setting conditions by the user of the PC 2. This is because the same setting is often used when printing the same material. It is assumed that the PC 2 knows the capability information of the printer 2 in advance.

  Further, the print control means 32 of the PC 2 generates an answer document shown in FIG. 7B based on the print setting conditions input from the user via the print setting screen. In the answer document shown in FIG. 7B, the setting is changed to the number of copies (5) and color / monochrome (black and white) in the <settings> element, and for example, the items on both sides are deleted.

  Here, the number of copies to be printed and the color / monochrome items indicate information changed by the user of the PC 2. The double-sided items are deleted by the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 when the print setting screen is generated by the screen generation unit 33 of the PC 2. This is because the printer 2 does not have a duplex printing function.

  As described above, for example, the proposal document shown in FIG. 7A proposes two elements of printer information and print setting conditions, but the printer information exchange procedure and the print setting condition exchange procedure are divided. It is also possible to do this.

  That is, for example, when the PC 1 has a PCL driver, the request means 11 of the PC 1 prints based on the capability information of the PCL driver when it is determined to print using the PCL after the printer information exchange procedure. A proposal document for setting conditions may be generated, and the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 may generate the above-described print setting screen from only the proposal document for this print setting condition.

  In the response document shown in FIG. 7B, the <printer> element and below are set by the print control means 32 of the PC 2, and the <setting> element and below are information set by the user of the PC 2. . In this way, when the setters are different, the proposal / reply shown in FIG. 7 may be divided into two times, or may be divided into a plurality of times for convenience of implementation.

Second Embodiment
<Overall configuration of print control system>
Next, the overall configuration of the print control system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows the overall configuration of the print control system according to the second embodiment. The print control system 101 according to the second embodiment is different from the print control system 100 according to the first embodiment in that the base 3 is newly installed and the PC 3 at the base 3 is participating in the remote conference. The difference is that a call control server is provided in order to start the session, and the PDL supporting the printer 1 and the printer 2 is the same (RPCS). In addition, there is no printer at the site 3.

  The call control server is connected to the network, and acquires an output method and setting information when outputting predetermined data from, for example, the first terminal device to the second terminal device or the output device belonging to the second terminal device. Establish a communication session for

  In the example of FIG. 8, the application execution unit 10 of the PC 1 at the site 1 starts a remote conference session through the call control server when executing the remote conference application, and the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 prints through the call control server. To start. Thus, by controlling a session with a call control server, media control within the session and life cycle management of the session are facilitated.

<Functional configuration of print control system>
Next, the functional configuration of the above-described print control system 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a functional configuration of the print control system according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the print control system 101 of the second embodiment is different from the print control system 100 of the first embodiment in that a call control server 50 and a PC 3 are provided. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same structure and description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  The call control server 50 is configured to include a communication unit 51, a call control unit 52, and a recording unit (DB) 53. The call control server 50 is connected to the network through the communication unit 51 and communicates with the PC1 to PC3.

  When the call control means 52 receives a call from each PC1 to PC3 at the start / end / update of each session, for example, using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) or XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presentation Protocol), etc. Control transfer based on transfer settings.

  The recording unit 53 stores various data files such as transfer setting information for the call control unit 52 to transfer the call to each PC in the DB.

  The PC 2 includes a communication unit 30, a print data generation unit 31, a print control unit 32, a screen generation unit 33, an application execution unit 34, a video output unit 36, a video input unit 37, and a screen display unit 38. It is comprised so that it may have. Note that the PC 2 in the second embodiment is a desktop PC, for example, and roughly includes a main body and a display.

  That is, the PC 2 of the second embodiment changes the PC 2 of the first embodiment from a notebook PC to a desktop PC, and instead of the video display means 35, a video output means 36 for outputting video and a video input means 37 for inputting video. For example, the configuration of the screen display means 38 which is an external display or the like is added.

  The PC 3 is, for example, a notebook PC, and is configured to include a communication unit 60, a print control unit 61, an application execution unit 62, and a video display unit 63. Note that the PC 3 may have the same configuration as the PC 2 of the first embodiment, for example.

<Start print session>
Next, the start of the above-described print session will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a print session start request according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of a confirmation response to a print session start request according to the second embodiment. Note that the processing in S50 and S51 in FIG. 10 is the same as the processing in S10 and S11 in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 starts a print session when the network information of the conference participant is acquired in the process of S51. In the second embodiment, since the remote conference is performed in PC1 to PC3, two sessions, for example, PC1 and PC2 and PC1 and PC3 are generated as print sessions.

  When the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits a print session start request to the call control server 50 (S52), the call control server 50 receives the print session start request by the communication unit 51 (S53), and the call control unit 52 The transfer is controlled with reference to the recording means 53, and a print session start request is transmitted to the PC 2 (S54).

  Next, when the print control means 32 of the PC 2 receives a print session start request from the call control server 50 via the communication means 30 (S55), it makes a print inquiry to the user (S56). Here, the PC 2 generates a screen (for example, a dialog shown in FIG. 22 to be described later) for notifying the user of the PC 2 that printing is performed on the PC 1 by the screen generation unit 33 and prints the screen to the user of the PC 2. Or make an inquiry. Upon receiving a print instruction from the user (S57), the PC 2 proceeds to (A).

  A specific example of a print session start request from the PC 1 will be described later. In addition, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 similarly transmits a print session start request to the PC 3 (S58 to S63).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 continues to send a response to the print session start request to the call control server 50 based on the user instruction received in the process of S57, following the process of (A). (S70).

  Here, when the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 receives a print instruction from the user of the PC 2 in the process of S57 of FIG. 10, the “success response” is included in the response of the print session start request in the process of S70. If an instruction not to print is received from the user of the PC 2, an “error response” is included in the response to the print start request in the process of S 70.

  When the call control server 50 receives the response of the print session start request from the PC 2 by the communication means 51 (S71), the call control server 52 controls the transfer by the call control means 52 and transmits the response of the print session start request to the PC 1 (S72).

  Next, when the print control means 12 of the PC 1 receives a response to the print session start request from the call control server 50 (S73), it transmits a confirmation response to the print session start request to the call control server 50 (S74), and the communication means. The confirmation response of the print session start request is received by 51 (S75).

  Next, when the transfer is controlled by the call control means 52 and the confirmation response of the print session start request is transmitted to the PC 2 (S76), the confirmation response of the print session start request from the call control server 50 is received by the communication means 30 of the PC 2. (S77). PC3 performs the same processing as PC2 (S78 to S85).

  As described above, after receiving the print session start request response from the PC 2 and PC 3, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits a print session start request response confirmation to the PC 2 and P 3. This is because there is a possibility that the user of the PC 1 cancels the session start after receiving the print session start request at the PC 2 and the PC 3 until the response of the print session start request is transmitted (while waiting for a user response). Because there is.

  In the processes of S77 and S85, the PC 2 and PC 3 receive the response confirmation of the print session start request, and if the response of the above-described processes of S70 and S78 of the PC 2 and PC 3 is “success response”, the print session is In the case of “error response”, the process is terminated as it is. Here, it is assumed that both PC2 and PC3 are “successful responses”.

<Print Method Determination Process According to Second Embodiment>
Next, a printing method determination process after starting a print session will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing method determination process according to the second embodiment. Note that the flow of the printing method determination process according to the second embodiment is the same as the flow of the printing method determination process according to the first embodiment.

  For example, the flow of processing from S90 to S95 in which the PC 1 shown in FIG. 12 proposes a printing method to the PC 2 by the request unit 11 and the PC 1 receives the response of the printing method from the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 is shown in FIG. Since this is the same as the processing flow of S12 to S17 shown in FIG. Also, the processing flow of S96 to S101 in which the PC 1 shown in FIG. 12 proposes a printing method to the PC 3 by the request unit 11 and the PC 1 receives the response of the printing method from the printing control unit 61 of the PC 3 is also shown in FIG. Since this is the same as the processing flow of S12 to S17 shown in FIG.

  Note that the print method proposal document transmitted from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 or PC 3 has the same contents as those in FIG. Note that the printing method selection screen displayed in the processing of S92 and S98 in FIG. 12 is generated based on the printing method proposal document shown in FIG. 6A by the PC 2 and PC 3, and a dialog as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  Further, the contents selected via the printing method selection screen by the users of PC2 and PC3 are generated as answer documents for the printing method shown in FIG. 6B by the printing control means 32 of PC2 and the printing control means 61 of PC3. In step S94 or S100 in FIG. 12, the data is transmitted from PC2 or PC3 to PC1.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, after the start of the print session, the PC 1 communicates with the PC 2 and the PC 3 according to the session information, determines the print method based on the print method response document received from the PC 2 and the PC 3, Print setting conditions to be described later are determined.

<Print Setting Condition Determination Process According to Second Embodiment>
Next, the print setting condition determination process after the print method determination shown in FIG. 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of print setting condition determination processing according to the second embodiment. The flow of the print setting condition determination process according to the second embodiment is the same as the flow of the print method determination process according to the first embodiment.

  For example, the process flow of S110 to S115 in which the PC 1 shown in FIG. 13 proposes the print setting condition to the PC 2 by the request unit 11 and the PC 1 receives the response of the print setting condition from the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 is as follows. Since it is the same as that of the process of S20-S23 and S25-S26 shown in FIG. 4, description here is abbreviate | omitted. Also, the flow of processing from S116 to S121 in which the PC 1 shown in FIG. 13 proposes the print setting condition to the PC 3 by the request unit 11 and the PC 1 receives the response of the print setting condition from the print control unit 61 of the PC 3 is as follows. Since it is the same as that of the process of S20-S23 and S25-S26 shown in FIG. 4, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  An example of the print setting condition proposal document for the PC 2 from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 and an answer document of the print setting condition for the PC 1 generated by the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 will be described later. An example of the print setting condition proposal document for the PC 3 from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 and an answer document of the print setting condition for the PC 1 generated by the print control unit 61 of the PC 3 will be described later.

<Printing Process According to Second Embodiment>
Next, print processing executed by the above-described print control system 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing process according to the second embodiment. In the print processing shown in FIG. 14, the print processing is executed based on the print setting conditions acquired by the PC 1 from the PC 2 and PC 3 in the print setting condition determination processing shown in FIG.

  Note that the processing of S130 to S133 in FIG. 14 is the same as the processing of S30 to S33 in FIG. In the processing of S130 to S133 shown in FIG. 14, the PC 1 generates print data based on its own print settings, and transmits it to the printer 1 for printing.

  Next, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 generates print data for output to the printer 2 by the print data generation unit 13 (S134). In the second embodiment, since the PC 1 can generate a PDL that supports the printer 2, print data is generated based on the answer document for the print setting condition received from the PC 2 in the process of S 115 of FIG. 13 described above.

  Next, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits the print data generated in the process of S134 to the printer 2 through the communication unit 14 (S135). When the printer 2 receives the print data through the communication unit 40 (S136), the image is displayed. Printing processing is performed by the forming means 41 (S137).

  Next, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 acquires the file from the file system of the recording unit 15 in order to transfer the file to the PC 3 based on the answer document of the printing method received from the PC 3 (S138). Next, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits a file to the PC 3 by the communication unit 14 based on the print setting condition answer document received from the PC 3 in the process of S121 of FIG. 13 (S139).

  When the PC 3 receives the file from the PC 1 by the communication means 60 (S140), the application is instructed by the application execution means 62 to open the file and display the file on the video display means 63 (S141).

<End print session>
Next, the end of the above-described print session will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of a print session end request according to the second embodiment. When the printing process shown in FIG. 14 is completed, the PC 1 ends the print session.

  As shown in FIG. 15, when the print control means 12 of the PC 1 transmits a print session end request to the call control server 50 (S150), the call control server 50 receives the print session end request by the communication means 51 (S151). The call control means 52 controls the transfer and sends a print session end request to the PC 2 (S152).

  When the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 receives the print session end request from the call control server 50 through the communication unit 30 (S153), the print control unit 32 transmits a response to the print session end request to the call control server 50 (S154). When the communication means 51 receives the response of the print session end request from the PC 2 (S155), it transmits the response of the print session end request from the PC 2 to the PC 1 (S156). When the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 receives a response to the print session end request from the call control server 50 (S157), the process ends.

  A specific example of the print session end request transmitted from the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 will be described later. In addition, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 similarly transmits a print session end request to the PC 3 (S158 to S165).

  As described above, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits a print session end request to the PC 2 and PC 3 via the call control server 50, and the PC 2 and PC 3 receive the print session end request (S153 described above, In step S161, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 and the print control unit 61 of the PC 3 release the resources used in the print session. As the resource release, for example, a connection port is released. If the printer driver is shared as in the first embodiment, the setting is canceled after receiving the print session end request.

  Further, when receiving the print session end request response from the PC 2 and PC 3, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 similarly releases the resources used in the print session and ends the processing.

<Documents used for print session start requests, etc.>
Next, each document used in the above-described print session will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 shows a specific example of each document used in the print session of the second embodiment.

  FIG. 16A shows an example of a print session start request document transmitted from the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 via the call control server 50 in the process of S52 of FIG. Since the document shown in FIG. 16A is transmitted via the call control server 50, a URI is specified in the header, and a Call-ID or the like for specifying a session is described.

  Further, the print session information of the PC 1 is described in the document body. That is, in addition to indicating a print session (session = print), the IP address of the PC 1 (192.168.11. 11) and a port number (10000) are designated.

  FIG. 16B shows an example of a response document for a print session start request returned from the print control means 32 of the PC 2 to the PC 1 via the call control server 50. As shown in FIG. 16B, whether or not the response on the first line of the document is acceptable (OK in the example of FIG. 16B) is a response result such as a print instruction from the user in S57 in response to the inquiry in S56 in FIG. It is shown.

  In the document body, as the print session information of the PC 2, the IP address of the PC 2 (192.168.21.11) used in the subsequent communication of the print method proposal / reply and the print setting condition proposal / reply And the port number (10000) are designated.

  FIG. 16C shows an example of a print session start request confirmation response document transmitted from the print control means 12 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 via the call control server 50. As shown in FIG. 16C, since the exchange of print session information has been completed, there is no particular description in the document body.

  FIG. 16D shows an example of a print session end request document transmitted from the print control means 12 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 via the call control server 50. As shown in FIG. 16D, there is no particular description in the document body.

<Each document used in print setting condition determination processing>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, each document used in the above-described print setting condition determination process in FIG. 13 will be described. FIG. 17 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the print setting condition determination processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC3 in the print setting condition determination process according to the second embodiment.

  Specifically, FIG. 17A shows an example of a print setting condition proposal document transmitted from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 to the PC 2 in the process of S110 of FIG. 13, and FIG. 11 shows an example of a print setting condition response document returned from the print control means 32 of the PC 2 to the PC 1 in the process of S114.

  The proposed document shown in FIG. 17A is the same example as the proposed document shown in FIG. 7A, and shows, for example, the printer information of PC1 and the print setting conditions specified by PC1.

  In the answer document shown in FIG. 17B, for example, the <former> element shown in (B) of the answer document is not changed from the proposed document shown in FIG. Has been. In the <dest> element, a transmission destination ((192.168.21.21 in the example of FIG. 17B), that is, the printer 2) to which the PC 1 transmits after print data generation is specified.

  When the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 receives the proposal document shown in FIG. 17A in the process of S111 of FIG. 13 described above, it determines detailed print setting conditions based on the information of the <printer> element of the document. . Here, the PC 2 determines that print data for the printer 2 can be generated from the PC 1 because the printer 2 supports RPCS in the same manner as the printer 1.

  Accordingly, the print control means 32 of the PC 2 instructs the PC 1 to generate print data and output it directly to the printer 2 in the answer document shown in FIG. In the <printer> element of the answer document in FIG. 17B, for example, the IP address, port number, and protocol of the printer 2 are specified.

  Also, the <setting> element of the answer document shown in FIG. 17B differs from the proposal document shown in FIG. 17A in the number of copies, double-sided, and color / monochrome. That is, in the process of S112 in FIG. 13, a print setting screen is generated based on the proposal document shown in FIG. 17A by the screen generation means 33 of the PC 2, and a print setting dialog as shown in FIG. Presented to the user. The items described above indicate the contents of changing the print setting conditions on the print setting screen by the user.

  As described above, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 determines the print setting condition shown in FIG. 17B based on the print output method determined based on the printer information and the print setting condition changed by the user on the print setting screen. An answer document is generated and returned to the PC 1.

  FIG. 18A shows an example of a print setting condition proposal document transmitted from the print control means 12 of the PC 1 to the PC 3 in the process of S116 of FIG. 13, and FIG. 18B shows an example of S120 of FIG. 14 shows an example of the answer document for the print setting condition returned from the print control means 61 of the PC 3 to the PC 1 in the above process.

  In the second embodiment, since the PC 3 does not have a printer as shown in FIG. 8, in the answer document of the printing method returned from the print control means 61 of the PC 3 to the PC 1 in the process of S99 of FIG. Assume that the file transfer mode is specified.

  In the proposed document shown in FIG. 18A, the file name, format, transmission protocol, and the like transmitted from the PC 1 to the PC 3 are shown based on the printing method determination process in FIG.

  18B does not change the <file> element as compared to the proposal document shown in FIG. 18A. For example, in the <dest> element, the file destination (PC3 IP address and port number), transmission protocol, and file format are specified.

  That is, in the process of S118 of FIG. 13 described above, for example, the PC 3 generates a file transfer setting screen based on the proposal document shown in FIG. 18A, and presents a dialog as shown in FIG. Is done. The print control means 61 of the PC 3 generates an answer document shown in FIG. 18B based on the setting conditions designated on the file transfer setting screen by the user, and sends it back to the PC 1. If the format specification in the <file> element of the answer document shown in FIG. 18B, the file name extension, etc. have been changed, the print control means 12 of the PC 1 converts the file format and sends it to the PC 3. Send.

<Example of print dialog>
Next, various setting screens displayed on the PC 1 in the printing process according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a print screen displayed on the PC 1. FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a print setting screen displayed on the PC 1.

  The screens shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 are screens that are displayed in order to receive, for example, a print instruction and print setting conditions for performing shared printing from the user of the PC 1 in the above-described processing such as S50 of FIG.

  Specifically, the print screen shown in FIG. 19 is displayed when the user opens the print dialog in the same way as normal printing when executing shared printing. Here, when the user selects, for example, a printer driver (“conference printer” icon in the example of FIG. 19) and presses the print button, the print control function according to the present embodiment is executed. Note that “page range”, “number of copies”, and the like shown in FIG. 19 are print setting items by a normal application.

  The print setting screen shown in FIG. 20 is displayed when the print button shown in FIG. 19 is pressed, and a screen for selecting a printer to be actually used is shown. That is, instead of the virtual printer (conference printer) shown in FIG. 19, for example, the printer 1 at the base 1 set in advance is displayed.

  The print setting screen shown in FIG. 20 displays a screen for inputting print setting items by a normal application and print setting items unique to the printer. Here, the contents specified on the screen shown in FIG. 19 are displayed as the print setting items by the normal application, and the print setting items unique to the printer include, for example, the original size, aggregation, screen, and color / monochrome setting items. Therefore, the user can specify each setting item.

<Screen displayed on PC2 and PC3>
Next, display screens displayed on the PC 2 and PC 3 in the above-described printing process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a print permission screen displayed on the PC2 and PC3, and FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a print method selection screen displayed on the PC2 or PC3. FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining a print setting screen displayed on the PC 2, and FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a file transfer setting screen displayed on the PC 3.

  The print permission screen displayed on PC2 and PC3 shown in FIG. 21 is displayed to the user of PC2 or PC3 when PC2 or PC3 receives a print session start request from PC1 in the process of S56 or S62 of FIG. Displayed to make a print inquiry. For example, in the example of FIG. 21, a dialog is displayed asking the user “PC1 is about to print a file. Do you want to print this too?”.

  If the user presses the “OK” button shown in FIG. 21, “OK” is described in the response document for the print session start request shown in FIG. 16B and is returned to the PC 1. (Success response). When the “cancel” button shown in FIG. 21 is pressed by the user, an error cause such as “Not Acceptable Here” appears on the first line of the response document for the print session start request shown in FIG. It is described and returned to PC1 (error response). The response document for the print session start request described as described above is returned to the PC 1 via the call control server 50 in the process of S70 or S78 of FIG.

  In addition, the printing method selection screen shown in FIG. 22 displays the printing method to the user when the PC 2 or PC 3 receives the printing method proposal document from the PC 1 after the start of the printing session in the above-described processing of S91 or S97 of FIG. Displayed for selection. For example, in the example of FIG. 22, a dialog for inquiring “Please select a file output means” is displayed, and “Print”, “Display”, and “Cancel” buttons can be selected.

  Note that the printing method selection screen displayed on the PC 2 or PC 3 shown in FIG. 22 is generated based on the above-described printing method proposal document from the PC 1 shown in FIG.

  Here, when the user presses the “print” button shown in FIG. 22, an answer document (print) of the printing method shown in FIG. 6B by the print control means 32 of the PC 2 or the print control means 61 of the PC 3. Is generated, and the generated answer document is returned to the PC 1 in the process of S94 or S100 of FIG.

  When the user presses the “display” button shown in FIG. 22, the print control means 32 of the PC 2 or the print control means 61 of the PC 3 adds “file- An answer document in which “transfer” is set is generated. When the “Cancel” button is pressed, no value is set, and the PC 1 ends the print session in response to the print session end request shown in FIG.

  Also, the print setting screen displayed on the PC 2 shown in FIG. 23 is the print setting presented to the user of the PC 2 when the print setting condition proposal document is received from the PC 1 in the above-described processing such as S112 in FIG. It is a dialog.

  That is, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 generates the screen generation unit based on the print setting information specified in the <settings> element of the print setting proposal document shown in FIG. 33 generates the print setting dialog shown in FIG. The print control unit 32 of the PC 2 can generate a print setting dialog by the screen generation unit 33 from only the capability information of the printer 2, for example. The print setting dialog includes a print setting condition specified in the PC 1. A default value is set based on (information). As a result, the user of the PC 2 can change the value of each item while referring to the print setting conditions specified in the PC 1.

  For example, when the user of the PC 2 changes the setting of “number of copies”, “double-sided”, “color / black and white” in the print setting dialog shown in FIG. 23 and presses the “print” button, the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 Then, an answer document for the print setting condition shown in FIG. 17B is generated and returned to the PC 1 in the process of S114 of FIG.

  Further, the file transfer setting screen displayed on the PC 3 shown in FIG. 24 is presented to the user of the PC 3 when the print setting condition proposal document is received from the PC 1 in the above-described processing such as S118 in FIG. It is a dialog.

  That is, the print control means 61 of the PC 3 displays the file name (meeting.doc), the format “xxx”, etc. transferred from the PC 1 of the proposal document with the print setting conditions shown in FIG. The file transfer setting screen shown in 24 is generated. The printing method for the PC 3 is determined by selecting “display (file transfer)” on the printing method selection screen in FIG. 22 because there is no printer at the base 3 of the PC 3 in the process of S98 shown in FIG. To do. In the above-described proposal document for the print setting condition shown in FIG. 18A, it is assumed that a communication protocol to the PC 3, a file name, a format, and the like have been proposed.

<Third Embodiment>
<Overall configuration of print control system>
Next, the overall configuration of the print control system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 25 shows the overall configuration of a print control system according to the third embodiment. The print control system 102 according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as the print control system 101 according to the second embodiment, but a print setting policy is set at the site 2, and the PC 2 in the site 2 is set in the printer 2. Can only be accessed. The PDL supported by the printer 2 is PCL.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the print data generation unit 13 of the PC 1 can generate RPCS and PDF. Further, the PC 3 does not have a predetermined document editing application for opening a file, and a predetermined image viewer (for example, PDF Viewer) is installed.

<Print Processing According to Third Embodiment>
Next, print processing executed by the above-described print control system 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a printing process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 27 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the print setting condition determination process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 28 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC3 in the print setting condition determination process according to the third embodiment.

  Note that the flow of the printing process according to the third embodiment is similar to the flow of the printing process according to the second embodiment. That is, in the third embodiment, a print session is started by the procedure shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 described above, the printing method is determined by the procedure shown in FIG. 12, and the print setting condition is determined by the procedure shown in FIG. .

  Specifically, in the third embodiment, the request unit 11 of the PC 1 sends a document similar to the print setting condition proposal document used in the first and second embodiments to the PC 2 (FIG. 27A). )) Is transmitted, the screen generation means 33 of the PC 2 generates the print setting screen shown in FIG. 23 and the like and presents it to the user of the PC 2.

  Here, since the printer 2 can be used only by the PC 2 according to the printing policy of the base 2, in order to print from the printer 2, it is necessary to acquire a file from the PC 1 and print it. Therefore, when the print control means 32 of the PC 2 confirms that the application execution means 34 has an application for opening a file based on the print setting condition proposal document shown in FIG. 27A, FIG. An answer document for the print setting conditions shown in FIG.

  When the print control means 12 of the PC 1 confirms that the <file> element ((D) shown in FIG. 27B) has not been changed in the response document shown in FIG. 27B, the PC 2 requests file transfer. The communication unit 14 transfers the file to the transmission destination ((C) shown in FIG. 27B) indicated by the <dest> element.

  On the other hand, in the third embodiment, when the document (FIG. 28A) similar to the print setting condition proposal document used in the second embodiment is transmitted from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 to the PC 3, The PC 3 generates the print setting screen shown in FIG. 24 and presents it to the user of the PC 3.

  Here, since a predetermined document editing application (for example, <format> xxx shown in FIG. 28A) is not installed in the PC 3, the user of the PC 3 is shown in the opening means shown in FIG. “XXX” cannot be specified. Therefore, when the user of the PC 3 selects, for example, a predetermined image viewer installed in the PC 3 by the opening means shown in FIG. 24 and presses the “Open” button, the print control means 61 of the PC 3 Using the extension information associated with the viewer (for example, <format> pdf shown in FIG. 28B), an answer document for the print setting conditions shown in FIG. 28B is generated.

  That is, as shown in the proposal document in FIG. 28A and the response document in FIG. 28B, <format> xxx in the <file> element in FIG. <Format> pdf, and the extension of the file name is also changed from "meeting.doc" to "meeting.pdf" (shown in (E) in FIG. 28B).

  In the third embodiment, when the print setting condition is determined as described above, the print processing shown in FIG. 26 is executed. The processes in S170 to S173 shown in FIG. 26 are the same as the processes in S130 to S133 shown in FIG. 14, and the print control means 12 of the PC 1 generates print data with the print data generation means 13 (S170). The data is output to the printer 1 (S171), and the printer 1 performs a printing process (S173).

  Next, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 acquires the file (S174), refers to the network setting of the answer document for the print setting condition returned from the PC 2, and transmits the file to the PC 2 by the communication unit 14 (S175). ).

  When the print control means 32 of the PC 2 receives a file from the PC 1 via the communication means 30 (S176), the print data generation means 31 generates print data based on the print setting conditions specified by the user (S177), and the printer 2 The print data is transmitted to (S178). In addition, the printer 2 receives print data from the PC 2 through the communication unit 40 (S179), and performs print processing through the image forming unit 41 (S180).

  Next, when the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 converts the file into a specified format (for example, PDF) based on the answer document of the print setting condition returned from the PC 3 by the print data generation unit 13 (S181), the communication unit 14 Thus, the file is transmitted to the PC 3 (S182).

  When the print control unit 61 of the PC 3 receives the file whose format has been converted from the PC 1 by the communication unit 60 (S183), the application execution unit 62 executes a predetermined application (for example, PDF Viewer) to open the file, and the video The information is displayed on the display means 64 (S184), and the process is terminated. When the printing process is finished, the print session is finished according to the procedure shown in FIG.

<Fourth embodiment>
<Overall configuration of print control system>
Next, the overall configuration of the print control system according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 29 shows the overall configuration of a print control system according to the fourth embodiment. The print control system 103 according to the fourth embodiment does not have the base 3 as compared with the print control system 101 according to the second embodiment, the PDL supported by the printer 2 is, for example, Postscript, PC1, and PC2. However, the printer driver is not provided, and a print server is installed instead.

  The print server is connected to the network, converts predetermined data into data in a format that can be output by the output device, and outputs the converted data from the output device. For example, in FIG. 29, the print server can generate a PDL that supports the printer 1 and the printer 2, and when the print setting condition including the address information of the printer to be output and a file are transmitted to the print server, the printer is printed. It is possible.

<Print Processing According to Fourth Embodiment>
Next, print processing executed by the above-described print control system 103 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a printing process according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 31 shows an example of a document exchanged between PC1 and PC2 in the print setting condition determination process according to the fourth embodiment.

  Note that the flow of the printing process according to the fourth embodiment is similar to the flow of the printing process according to the second embodiment. That is, in the fourth embodiment, a print session is started by the procedure shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 described above, the printing method is determined by the procedure shown in FIG. 12, and the print setting condition is determined by the procedure shown in FIG. .

  Specifically, in the fourth embodiment, when the proposal document of the print setting condition shown in FIG. 31A is transmitted from the request unit 11 of the PC 1 to the PC 2, the screen generation unit 33 of the PC 2 The print setting screen shown in FIG. 23 is presented to the user of the PC 2.

  In (F) of the proposal document shown in FIG. 31 (A), it is clearly stated that the print server can be used and the print server supports RPCS and Postscript as PDL. As described above, in the proposed document shown in FIG. 31A, the print server capability information is described in the <print-server> element, and a plurality of formats supported by the print server are described.

  Here, since PC1 and PC2 do not have the ability to generate Postscript supported by the printer 2, for example, the print control unit 32 of the PC2 receives an answer document describing the PDL information supported by the printer 2 and the destination information of the printer 2. Generate and return to PC1. That is, in (G) of the answer document shown in FIG. 31 (B), PDL information and destination information supported by the printer 2 are described in the <printer> element. Note that the print control unit 32 of the PC 2 confirms that the print server supports the PDL of the printer 2 before generating the answer document for the print setting condition.

  In the fourth embodiment, when the print setting condition is determined as described above, the print processing shown in FIG. 30 is executed.

  As illustrated in FIG. 30, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits the print setting conditions of the PC 1 to the print server (S190), and the print server receives the print setting conditions from the PC 1 (S191). Further, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits the file to the print server (S192), and the print server receives the file from the PC 1 (S193).

  Next, the print server generates (converts) the file into print data based on the print setting conditions of the PC 1 (S194), and transmits the print data to the printer 1 (S195). When the communication unit 20 of the printer 1 receives the print data from the print server (S196), the image forming unit 21 performs a printing process (S197).

  Similarly, the print control unit 12 of the PC 1 transmits the print setting conditions and file of the PC 2 to the print server (S198, S200), and the print server generates print data based on the print setting conditions of the PC 2 (S199 to S202). ), Print processing is performed by the image forming means 41 of the printer 2 (S204 to S205).

<Hardware configuration of print control system>
Here, FIG. 32 shows a hardware configuration capable of realizing the printing process according to the present invention. Note that the hardware configuration described below is applied to any of the PC1 to PC3 described above.

  32 includes an input device 71, an output device 72, a drive device 73, an auxiliary storage device 74, a memory device 75, and an arithmetic processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 76 that performs various controls. And a network connection device 77 and a recording medium 78, which are connected to each other via a system bus B.

  The input device 71 has a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse operated by a user, and inputs various operation signals such as execution of a program from the user. The output device 72 has a display for displaying various windows, data, and the like necessary for operating the computer main body for performing processing in the present invention, and displays the program execution progress and results by the control program of the CPU 76. can do.

  Here, the execution program installed in the computer main body is provided by a recording medium 78 such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium 78 on which the program is recorded can be set in the drive device 73, and the execution program included in the recording medium 78 is installed from the recording medium 78 to the auxiliary storage device 74 via the drive device 73.

  In addition to the CD-ROM described above, the recording medium 78 is a recording medium that records information optically, electrically, or magnetically, such as a flexible disk or a magneto-optical disk, or information such as a ROM or a flash memory. Various types of recording media, such as a semiconductor memory that electrically records data, can be used.

  The auxiliary storage device 74 is a storage means such as a hard disk, and can store an execution program according to the present invention, a control program provided in a computer, various data, etc., and perform input / output as necessary.

  The memory device 75 stores an execution program or the like read from the auxiliary storage device 74 by the CPU 76. The memory device 75 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

  The CPU 76 controls processing of the entire computer, such as various operations and input / output of data with each hardware component, based on a control program such as an OS (Operating System) and an execution program stored in the memory device 75. Each processing can be realized. Various kinds of information required during the execution of the program can be acquired from the auxiliary storage device 78 and stored.

  The network connection device 77 obtains an execution program from another terminal connected to the communication network by connecting to a communication network or the like, or an execution result obtained by executing the program or the execution program itself in the present invention. Can be provided to other terminals.

  With the hardware configuration as described above, the above-described printing process can be realized efficiently at a low cost without requiring a special apparatus configuration. Moreover, the above-described printing process can be easily realized by installing the program.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to change the output method according to the output environment for outputting predetermined data. In the embodiment of the present invention, the PC is used as an example of the communication device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a portable terminal device such as a cellular phone having the same function, a dedicated conference terminal, and an electronic information board It is also possible to configure using, for example.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Can be changed.

10, 34, 62 Application execution means 11 Request means 12, 32, 61 Print control means 13, 31 Print data generation means 14, 20, 30, 40, 51, 60 Communication means 15, 53 Recording means 16, 36 Video output means 17, 37 Video input means 18, 38 Screen display means 21, 41 Image formation means 33 Screen generation means 35, 63 Video display means 50 Call control server 52 Call control means 100-103 Print control system

JP 2006-244504 A

Claims (12)

An output control system having a plurality of terminal devices connected to a network and outputting predetermined data from a first terminal device to an output device belonging to a second terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices. And
The first terminal device is:
Requesting means for requesting an output method and setting information for outputting the predetermined data from the output device to the second terminal device;
An output control unit configured to acquire an output method and setting information obtained from the second terminal device by the request unit, and to output the predetermined data from the output device according to the acquired output method and setting information. Output control system characterized by. The output control means includes
The output control system according to claim 1, wherein the output device is shared with the second terminal device, and the predetermined data is output from the shared output device. The first terminal device is:
Conversion means for converting the predetermined data into data in a format that can be output to the output device or the second terminal device;
The output control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output control means causes the predetermined data converted by the conversion means to be output from the output device or the second terminal device. A print server connected to the network, generating data in a format that can be output by the output device, and outputting the data in the generated format from the output device;
4. The print server according to claim 1, wherein the print server converts the predetermined data into data in a format that can be output by the output device, and causes the output device to output the converted predetermined data. The output control system according to one item. The first terminal device is:
Transmission means for transmitting the predetermined data to the second terminal device;
The output control system according to claim 3, wherein the output control means transmits the predetermined data converted by the conversion means by the transmission means. The second terminal device is:
The setting information specified when the predetermined data is output from the first terminal device by the output device belonging to the first terminal device is acquired, and a setting information input screen is generated based on the acquired setting information 6. The output control system according to claim 1, further comprising a screen generation unit. The first terminal device and the second terminal device are:
7. The output control system according to claim 1, wherein a resource used when outputting the predetermined data from the output device is released. A call control server connected to the network;
The call control server acquires the output method and setting information when the predetermined data is output from the first terminal device to the second terminal device or an output device belonging to the second terminal device. The output control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a communication session is established.   The output control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the output device is a local printer. A terminal device for outputting predetermined data to an output device belonging to another terminal device connected to a network,
Request means for requesting an output method and setting information for outputting the predetermined data from the output device to the other terminal device;
Output means and setting information obtained from the other terminal device by the request means, and output control means for outputting the predetermined data from the output device according to the obtained output method and setting information. Characteristic terminal device. It has a plurality of terminal devices connected to a network, and is executed by an output control system for outputting predetermined data from a first terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices to an output device belonging to a second terminal device Output control method,
The first terminal device is:
A request procedure for requesting an output method and setting information for outputting the predetermined data from the output device to the second terminal device;
An output control procedure for obtaining an output method and setting information obtained from the second terminal device according to the request procedure, and outputting the predetermined data from the output device according to the obtained output method and setting information. An output control method characterized by the above.   An output control program for causing a computer to function as the output control system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images