JP2022161339A - Printing system, cloud print service provision method, printing control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

Kind Code: A1 When a plurality of cloud print services are linked, resources may be double consumed. A printing device having a first cloud print service device, a second cloud print service device cooperating with the first cloud print service device, and an image forming device registered in the second cloud print service device. A system is provided. Here, the image forming apparatus acquires and displays the list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service device via the second cloud print service device, and the print job selected from the list of print jobs is If the image forming device is not held in the second cloud print service device and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service device, the print job selected from the list is transferred to the first cloud print service device. Get from and run. [Selection drawing] Fig. 4B

Description

The present invention relates to a printing system for printing a document stored on a network provided by a cloud print service, a cloud print service providing method, a print control method, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a cloud print service that inputs a print job via the cloud and transmits the print job to an image forming apparatus has started to spread (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200012). In such a printing system, first, an administrator registers an image forming apparatus with a cloud print service tenant to which the administrator belongs. The administrator sets which user belonging to the tenant is permitted to use the image forming apparatus. Here, a tenant means one service system that a user deploys on the cloud.

A user who is permitted to use the image forming apparatus submits a print job from a client terminal to the cloud print service. The cloud print service saves the received print job in storage. In addition, before printing a print job received by the cloud print service, users can check the content in the preview, edit the document such as deleting unnecessary pages, and change the print settings such as whether to staple or not. and The image forming apparatus acquires the print job saved in the cloud print service and prints it. As a means for the image forming apparatus to detect a print job, a method of receiving a notification from the cloud print service, a method of monitoring the addition of a job of the cloud print service by the image forming apparatus, and the like are used. A print job is mainly composed of document data and print settings.

Furthermore, a form in which an image forming apparatus supports a plurality of cloud print services as described above is beginning to spread. It is conceivable to realize a cloud print environment by linking these multiple cloud print services (hereinafter referred to as CPS). The cloud print service is, for example, GoogleCloudPrint (registered trademark), Microsoft HybridCloudPrint (registered trademark), or UniflowOnLine (registered trademark).

JP 2012-133489 A

Patent Document 1 does not disclose a printing system in which an image forming apparatus uses a plurality of cloud print service apparatuses. In a system in which a plurality of cloud print services cooperate, even if the cloud print service used by the client who submits the print job differs from the cloud print service used by the image forming apparatus, the cloud print service can be used. In such a system, a print job transmitted from a client terminal to a cloud print service may be held by multiple cloud print services before being printed by an image forming apparatus. For example, when a print job is uploaded from a client terminal to the first cloud print service, the print job is held there. On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus requests a print job to a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service, the print job held by the first cloud print service is transferred by the second cloud print service. is obtained. Then it is passed to the image forming apparatus. In this way, one print job may be transferred between multiple cloud print services and stored by multiple cloud print services. When a plurality of cloud print devices store print jobs, a problem arises in which storage resources are duplicated. Also, communication resources are consumed a lot for transmission and reception of print jobs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and one of the objects thereof is to suppress redundant storage of print jobs and to use resources efficiently.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing system including at least an image forming apparatus registered with the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus is
obtaining and displaying a list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service via the second cloud print service;
If the print job selected from the print job list is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service, the printing obtaining and executing a print job selected from a list of jobs from the first cloud print service;
If the selected print job is held in the second cloud print service, even if the image forming apparatus is registered in the first cloud print service, the selected print job is A printing system is provided that acquires and executes a job from the second cloud print service.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing system having at least an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus is
obtaining a list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service via the second cloud print service;
requesting the second cloud print service to edit the print job selected from the print job list in accordance with a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job and the editing is possible on the first cloud print service device, the request an edit,
A printing system is provided, wherein the first cloud print service performs the editing on the selected print job.

According to the present invention, redundant saving of print jobs can be suppressed, and resources can be used efficiently.

A diagram schematically showing a general printing environment in which multiple cloud print services are linked. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating screen examples of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus; FIG. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing examples of a preview screen and a print setting change screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus; FIG. , FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in a printing environment between multiple cloud print services in the first embodiment; Block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the cloud print service FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a registration sequence of an image forming apparatus; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a job information acquisition packet; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a job information acquisition packet; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a job transfer packet; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sequence of print preview/page editing; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print setting change sequence according to the first embodiment; , FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a printing sequence for an image forming apparatus; , 6 is a flowchart showing processing of a cloud print service; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print setting change sequence according to the second embodiment;

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(First embodiment)
Coordination of cloud print services Fig. 1 shows the configuration and processing flow of a general cloud print environment (also called a cloud print system) provided by an image forming apparatus by linking multiple cloud print services (CPS). It is a diagram schematically showing the. Client terminals 101 and 102, CPSs 104 and 105, and an image forming apparatus 107 are present. A print job input from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105 can be printed by the image forming apparatus 107 via the CPS 104 . A cloud print service is a service provided by a cloud print server (a cloud print service device), but in this description, the cloud print server and the service provided by it will be referred to as a cloud print service without distinction.

Client terminals 101 and 102 transmit print jobs to CPSs 104 and 105, respectively. The CPS 104 is a cloud print service apparatus that receives print jobs from the client terminal 101 and receives print jobs from the CPS 105 . The CPS 105 is a cloud print service device that receives print jobs from the client terminal 102 and stores the print jobs. Here, CPS 104 is the tenant name of "CompanyA.com". CPS 105 is the tenant name of "CompanyB.com". The image forming apparatus 107 receives the print job from the CPS 104 and executes print processing of the print job.

FIG. 1A shows pre-registration processing when printing from an image forming apparatus by linking a plurality of cloud print services.

The image forming apparatus 107 is registered in the CPS 104 in step a-1. As a result, the image forming apparatus 107 can refer to and acquire the print job of the CPS 104 . In step a-2, the CPS 104 is registered in the CPS 105. In this case, for example, the CPS 104 is registered with the CPS 105 as a virtual image forming apparatus. As a result, the CPS 104 virtually operates as an image forming apparatus, making it possible to refer to and acquire print jobs input to the CPS 105 .

FIG. 1B shows an example of printing in which multiple CPSs are linked. Here, processing until a print job input from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105 is printed by the image forming apparatus 107 via the CPS 104 is shown. A print job is input to the CPS 105 from the client terminal 102 in step b-1. In step b-2, the CPS 104 detects the input of the print job to the CPS 104 and acquires the print job. In step b-3, the image forming apparatus 107 acquires a list of print job information from the CPS 104 and displays the job list to the user. A user selects a print job and instructs execution of printing. In step b-4, the image forming apparatus 107 acquires the print job from the CPS 104 and executes printing. As shown in this figure, the print job is transferred to the CPS 105, CPS 104, and image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1C shows an example of print preview (print preview)/job editing in which a plurality of CPSs are linked. Here, processing when a print job input from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105 is transferred to the CPS 104 and the user executes the preview function or job editing function from the image forming apparatus 107 is shown. Steps c-1 and c-2 are the same as steps b-1 and b-2, respectively. A print job is saved in CPS 104 via CPS 105 . In step c-3, the image forming apparatus 107 obtains a list of print job information from the CPS 104 and displays the job list to the user. A user selects a print job and instructs execution of preview and job editing. In step c-4, the image forming apparatus 107 requests acquisition of a preview screen and job editing for the print job of the CPS 104, and the requested CPS 104 uses the saved print job to generate a preview screen and edit the job. Edit processing. In this figure, the print job is transferred to CPS 105 and CPS 104 .

As described above, when the CPS 104 and the CPS 105 are linked for printing, previewing, and job editing, the print job input to the CPS 105 is transferred to the CPS 104 at the time of input. Therefore, the print job is stored in both the CPS 105 and the CPS 104, and resources are consumed redundantly. In addition, communication occurs for the CPS 105 to send a print job to the image forming apparatus 107 via the CPS 104, increasing the amount of communication.
In the following second embodiment, an embodiment of a cloud print system that suppresses consumption of resources and an increase in communication traffic and uses a cloud system that charges according to the amount of storage and communication traffic more efficiently and economically will be described. do.

(Second embodiment)
<Network configuration>
4A and 4B are diagrams schematically showing a configuration example and processing flow of a printing system according to the second embodiment. The components are the same as in FIG. 1, and the printing system has client terminals 401-402, CPSs 404-405, and an image forming apparatus 407. FIG. CPS 404-405 are cloud print service devices.

Client terminals 401 and 402 transmit print jobs to CPS 404 and 405, respectively. The CPS 404 is a cloud print service apparatus that receives print jobs from the client terminal 401 and receives print jobs from the CPS 405 . A CPS 405 is a cloud print service apparatus that receives a print job from the client terminal 402 and stores the print job. Here, CPS 404 is a tenant with a tenant name of "CompanyA.com". CPS 405 is a tenant with a tenant name of "CompanyB.com". The image forming apparatus 407 receives print jobs not only from the CPS 404 but also from the CPS 405 and executes print processing of the print jobs. A tenant is a unit of cloud print service, and services are provided to users for each tenant. Tenants and users belonging to them are registered in advance, and authenticated users can use the services of the tenants.

Each component described above is communicably connected by a network. The network is, for example, a communication network realized by any one of LAN such as the Internet, WAN, telephone line, dedicated digital line, ATM, etc., or a combination thereof. Any network can be used as long as it can transmit and receive data.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the CPS 404 in FIG. The client terminals 401, 402 and CPS405 in FIGS. 4A and 4B also have the same hardware configuration as CPS404. The CPS 404 has a CPU 501 , a ROM 502 , a RAM 503 , an auxiliary storage device 504 , an input device 505 , an output device 506 and an I/F 507 .

The CPU 501 directly or indirectly controls each component (ROM 502 , RAM 503 , etc.) and executes programs stored in the ROM 502 , RAM 503 or auxiliary storage device 504 . This program includes a program for realizing procedures shown in sequence diagrams and flow charts, which will be described later. The ROM 502 stores BIOS. A RAM (main storage device) 703 is used as a work area for the CPU 501 and as a primary storage for loading programs. The auxiliary storage device 504 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores an OS, which is basic software, and programs. The input device 505 is a keyboard, pointing device, or the like. Output device 506 is, for example, a display. An I/F 507 is an interface for connecting to a network.

<Setting screen>
FIG. 2 shows a screen example of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 407 when the user logs into the image forming apparatus 407, selects a print job from the CPS 404, and executes printing. The image forming apparatus 407 is managed by user authentication. To use functions of the image forming apparatus 407 such as copying and printing, the user must log in to the image forming apparatus 407 . Methods of login include ID and password authentication, IC card authentication, biometric authentication, and the like. When the user who has successfully logged in selects the print function of the image forming apparatus 407, the image forming apparatus 407 displays the user's print job list screen as shown in FIG. On the screen in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 407 displays, for example, the job name, number of copies, color setting, number of combined pages, and the like of print jobs that can be executed by the logged-in user. On the screen of FIG. 8, when the user selects any one print job and presses "print", the image forming apparatus 407 receives the print job from the CPS 404 and executes printing. When the user selects “delete”, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a request to delete the print job to the CPS 404 and deletes the corresponding print job from the storage of the CPS 404 . Further, when "cancel" is selected during printing, the image forming apparatus 407 stops and cancels the print processing of the print job being printed.

When "preview" is selected, the document contents of the print job selected in FIG. 2 are displayed as a preview, as shown in FIG. 3(A). In the preview screen of FIG. 3(A), if the page being displayed is selected and "Delete page" is selected, the selected page is deleted, and if "Duplicate page" is selected, the selected page is deleted. It offers a page editing function where pages are duplicated.

Further, when "Settings" is selected, print settings such as the number of copies, color settings, page aggregation number, etc. of the print job selected in FIG. 2 are displayed as shown in FIG. 3B. The print setting screen of FIG. 3B also provides functions for changing print settings such as changing the number of copies, changing color settings, and changing the number of combined pages.

<Registration of Image Forming Device to CPS/Registration for CPS Linkage>
4A and 4B show an operation example of a printing system (or image forming system) including a client terminal, a CPS, and an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 4A(a) shows the flow of processing for pre-registration to the CPS in the present embodiment, which includes registration of the image forming apparatus 407 to each CPS and registration for cooperation between the CPS 404 and the CPS 405 in the present embodiment. ing. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 407 needs to be able to directly refer to and acquire print jobs from the CPS 405 , so the image forming apparatus 407 needs to be registered with the CPSs 404 and 405 . In step 4a-1, for example, the image forming apparatus 407 is registered in the CPS 404 according to the user's operation. As a result, the image forming apparatus 407 can refer to the print job of the CPS 404 and acquire it. In step 4a-2, the CPS 404 is registered in the CPS 405 according to the operation of the administrator of the CPS 404, for example. In this case, for example, the CPS 404 is registered with the CPS 405 as a virtual image forming apparatus. As a result, the CPS 404 can refer to or acquire the print job input to the CPS 405 . In step 4a-3, the image forming apparatus 407 is registered in the CPS 405 according to the user's operation. The image forming apparatus 407 can also refer to or acquire print jobs from the CPS 405 . In step 4a-4, information for ensuring the identity of the CPS 405 and the image forming apparatus 407 registered in the CPS 404 (this is called cooperation information) is registered in the CPS 404. FIG. The details of the processes of steps 4a-3 and 4a-4 will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the image forming apparatus 407 has already been registered in the CPS 404 when the procedure of FIG. 6 is started.

In step S611 of FIG. 6, the client terminal 402 transmits a cloud print service registration request to the image forming apparatus 407 via the WebUI using the WebUI client according to the user's instruction. In step S<b>612 , upon receiving the cloud print service registration request, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits the cloud print service registration request to the CPS 405 . In step S<b>613 , upon receiving the cloud print service registration request, the CPS 405 transmits a cloud print service registration request response including the cloud print service registration URL 630 to the image forming apparatus 407 . In step S614, upon receiving the cloud print service registration request response, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits registration URL display screen information including the cloud print service registration URL 630 to the client terminal 402 via the Web UI. Upon receiving the registration URL display screen information, the client terminal 402 displays the registration URL 630 on the Web UI client.

The user operates the Web UI client of the client terminal 402 and accesses the displayed registration URL 630 . Accordingly, in step S<b>615 , the client terminal 402 transmits a cloud print service registration approval request including the cloud account 631 to the CPS 405 . In step S<b>616 , upon receiving the cloud print service registration approval request, the CPS 405 transmits a cloud print service registration approval response to the client terminal 402 .

In step S<b>617 , the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a cloud print service registration confirmation request to the CPS 405 . In step S<b>618 , upon receiving the cloud print service registration confirmation request, the CPS 405 transmits a cloud print service registration confirmation response including the cloud printer ID 632 to the image forming apparatus 407 . A cloud printer ID 632 is an identifier for registration of the image forming apparatus 407 . At this stage, the image forming apparatus 407 is registered with the CPS 405 and is ready to use the cloud print service.

Subsequently, processing for linking the CPS 405 and the CPS 404 is performed. Specifically, processing for ensuring the identity of the image forming apparatuses 407 registered in the CPS 405 and the CPS 404 is performed. First, in step S619, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits to the CPS 404 a registration status confirmation request including the serial number 633 used by the CPS 404 for individual identification of the printer. In step S620, upon receiving the registration status confirmation request, the CPS 404 transmits a registered response to the image forming apparatus 407 as a printer registration status indicating whether the image forming apparatus 407 has been registered. In step S621, upon receiving the printer registration status, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits to the CPS 404 an information registration request for the CPS 405 including cooperation information, that is, the serial number 633 and the printer ID 632 in this example, if registration has been completed. . In step S<b>622 , upon receiving the information registration request, the CPS 404 adds the information of the printer ID 632 to the information of the image forming apparatus 407 corresponding to the serial number 633 and transmits a printer information registration response to the image forming apparatus 407 . Through these processes, the CPS 404 can acquire the printer ID 632 for identifying the registered image forming apparatus 407 in the CPS 405 . The CPS 404 can cooperate with the CPS 405 targeting the same image forming apparatus 407 .

<Processing when submitting a print job>
FIG. 4A(b) shows the flow of processing for previewing a print job and editing a job that requires job acquisition by the CPS 404 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4B(c) shows the flow of processing for job editing (print setting change) that does not require job acquisition in this embodiment. FIG. 4B(d) shows the flow of print processing for a print job according to this embodiment. Among these steps, steps 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 are processes from inputting a print job to displaying a list of print jobs on the image forming apparatus 407, as shown in FIGS. 4A(b) and 4B(c). , are common in FIG. 4B(d).

In step 4 - 1 , a print job is input from the client terminal 402 to the CPS 405 . In step 4-2, the CPS 404 detects the input of the print job to the CPS 404 and acquires print job information. Here, only the print job information is acquired without acquiring the print job. The print job information is information including a job ID, a job name, and print setting details that uniquely indicate the print job. By acquiring only the print job information, the resource and transfer amount for storing the print job in the CPS 404 can be reduced. In step 4-3, the image forming apparatus 407 acquires print job information from the CPS 404 and displays a job list. The user then selects a target job from the displayed job list, and instructs preview, page editing, print setting change, and execution of printing. Details of the processes in steps 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing a processing method for job editing that requires print job preview and job acquisition by the CPS 404 . Steps S 1001 to S 1010 show processing from when the user uses the client terminal 402 to save a print job in the CPS 405 and when the user displays a list of print jobs on the image forming apparatus 407 . The user can instruct preview, page editing, print setting change, and execution of printing for the print job displayed here.

In step S1001, the client terminal 402 transmits a print job to the CPS 405 according to the user's instruction. In step S1002, upon receiving the print job from the client terminal 402, the CPS 405 saves the received print job in its own storage.

In step S<b>1003 , the CPS 404 cooperating with the cloud service detects that a new print job has been saved in the CPS 405 and transmits a print job information acquisition request to the CPS 405 . As a detection method, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 described above, the CPS 404 may use a polling format in which the CPS 404 sends a print job information acquisition request to the CPS 405 at regular intervals, or the CPS 405 may notify the CPS 404 by push notification. good too. In step S<b>1004 , upon receiving the print job information acquisition request, the CPS 405 transmits print job information saved in its own storage to the CPS 404 .

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing packet examples of the print job information acquisition request 701 in step S1003 and the print job information acquisition response 702 in step S1004. Here, IPP is used as the communication protocol for explanation, but other protocols may be used. The print job information acquisition request 1301 sets the Which-Job attribute of the IPP attribute to False, includes the job attribute information to be acquired, and transmits the Get-Jobs operation to acquire the print jobs of all users. Also, the print job information acquisition response 1302 is a response containing requested print job attribute information such as the ID, name, number of copies, color settings, and print job owner name of each print job.

In step S<b>1005 , the client terminal 402 sends the user's print job status inquiry to the CPS 405 . At this point, the CPS 405 print job has not yet been printed and is saved in the CPS 405 storage. Therefore, in step S1006, the CPS 405 transmits to the client terminal 402 a response of Pending or Pending-Hold indicating that the print job is being saved as the print job status. After the print job is saved in step S1002 and before the print job is deleted in step S1030, the CPS 405 transmits to the client terminal 402 a print job status indicating that the print job is incomplete. As a result, the client terminal 402 can grasp the correct job status.

Thereafter, in step S1007, the user logs into the image forming apparatus 407 to execute printing. In step S<b>1008 , upon detecting login, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits to the CPS 404 a print job information acquisition request of the logged-in user. In step S<b>1009 , upon receiving the print job information acquisition request, the CPS 404 transmits print job information only for that user to the image forming apparatus 407 .

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing packet examples of the print job information acquisition request 801 in step S1008 and the print job information acquisition response 802 in step S1009. Since the print job information acquisition request 1401 requests print job information only for a specific user, the Which-Job attribute is set to True and the user name is specified by Requesting-user-name. Here, for the user name, other attributes may be used as long as they can be uniquely identified, such as Requesting-user-uri. Accordingly, in step S1010, the image forming apparatus 407 displays a list of received print job information (job list) on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 407 as shown in FIG. The content of the print job information acquisition response 802 is print job information, but differs from the print job information acquisition response 702 in that it is limited to the job information of the designated user.

<Print job preview/page editing processing by CPS>
In step 4b-1 of FIG. 4A(b), the user selects a job from the displayed job list and instructs execution of job editing such as preview and page editing. In step 4b-2, the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to acquire a preview screen and edit pages for the target job according to the user's operation. Upon receiving the request, the CPS 404 acquires the target print job from the CPS 405 in step 4b-3, and creates a preview screen and edits pages. At this time, if the CPS 404 has already acquired a print job, the acquired print job is processed. In this embodiment, the print job is acquired from the CPS 405 when the CPS 404 needs the print job, such as for generating a preview screen for the print job or for job editing, unlike the conventional art.

Details of the preview and page editing processes in steps 4b-1, 4b-2, and 4b-3 will now be described with reference to FIG.

<Preview>
In step S1011, the user selects an arbitrary print job whose preview is to be displayed from the list of print job information in FIG. Then, the image forming apparatus 407 inputs an instruction to preview the selected print job based on the print job information. In step S1012, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a preview request for the selected print job to the CPS 404 along with the job ID 1031 of the selected print job.

CPS 404 determines whether the selected print job is stored in CPS 404 in step S1013. The CPS 404 does not save the print job in the storage of the CPS 404 immediately after executing the print job storage process, and the CPS 405 saves the print job. On the other hand, if previewing, page editing processing, or the like has already been executed, the job has already been acquired from the CPS 405 and saved in the storage of the CPS 404 .

If the job has not been acquired in step S1013, the CPS 404 transmits a print job acquisition request together with the job ID 1031 to the CPS 405 in step S1014. In step S<b>1015 , upon receiving the print job acquisition request, the CPS 405 transmits the print job saved in the storage of the CPS 405 to the CPS 404 . In step S1016, CPS 404 stores the print job in storage.

In step S1017, the CPS 404 generates a preview image using the print job saved in step S1016 or a print job that has already been saved. In step S<b>1018 , the CPS 404 transmits a preview screen for displaying a preview image to the image forming apparatus 407 . In step S1019, the image forming apparatus 407 displays the received preview screen on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 407 as shown in FIG. 3A.

<Edit page>
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, a page editing function including duplication and deletion for each page is provided on the preview screen. Therefore, following step S1019, it is possible to perform an operation for page editing.

In step S1020, the user selects a page on the preview screen and inputs an instruction to delete or duplicate the page. In step S1021, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits to the CPS 404 the job ID 1031 of the selected print job and a request to delete or duplicate the selected page. In step S<b>1022 , the CPS 404 performs page deletion or page duplication processing on the print job stored in the CPS 404 . Furthermore, in step S1023, the CPS 404 gives the status of edited to the print job. Here, "edited" means that the print job acquired from the CPS 405 in step S1016 has been changed. In other words, the edited print job in CPS 404 is different from the print job saved in CPS 405 .

In step S1024, the CPS 404 generates a preview image of a page to be newly displayed using the edited print job. In step S<b>1025 , the CPS 404 transmits a preview screen for displaying a preview image to the image forming apparatus 407 . In step S1026, the image forming apparatus 407 displays the received preview screen on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 407 as shown in FIG. 3A.

<Print setting change processing for print job by CPS>
In step 4c-1 of FIG. 4B(c), the user selects a job from the displayed job list and instructs execution of print setting change. In step 4c-2, the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to change the print settings for the target job. Upon receiving the request, the CPS 404 requests the CPS 405 to change the print settings as job editing in step 4c-3. At this time, if the CPS 404 has already acquired a print job, the acquired print job is processed. If the print job needs to be edited in the CPS 404 due to the change in print settings, the job is acquired from the CPS 405 according to the processing flow of FIG. 4A(b). In the present embodiment, unlike the conventional art, the print job is not transferred when the print setting request can be made to the CPS 405, and by applying the print processing to be described later, resources for saving the print job and It is possible to reduce the transfer amount. Details of the print setting change processing in steps 4c-1, 4c-2, and 4c-3 for this purpose will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of print setting change processing in this embodiment. In this embodiment, a print setting change function is provided on the print setting change screen as shown in FIG. 3B. That is, it is assumed that steps up to step S1010 have already been executed as described above.

In step S1101, the user changes the print settings on the print setting change screen and inputs an instruction to change the print settings. In step S1102, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a print setting change request to the CPS 404 together with the job ID 1031 of the selected print job. In step S<b>1013 , CPS 404 determines whether the selected print job is stored in CPS 404 . In step S1014, CPS 404 determines whether the print setting change is applicable to CPS 405's print job.

For example, the CPS 405 supports attribute definitions based on IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) as print settings for print jobs, and can receive a change request and change some of the print settings. On the other hand, the CPS 404 can also apply print settings uniquely defined by the vendor of the image forming apparatus 407 . In this case, the uniquely defined print settings cannot be applied to the CPS 405 print job. Further, even if the CPS 404 implements the print setting function, it cannot be applied to the print job of the CPS 405 . For example, when the CPS 404 provides an imposition function for aggregate printing, it is necessary to change the document data of the print job, and the CPS 404 needs to acquire the print job.

[When the job has not been acquired and the print settings for the CPS405 print job are possible]
A description will be given of a change in print settings when the determination in steps S1103 and S1104 indicates that the job has not been acquired and the print settings can be changed to the print job of the CPS 405 based on the change in print settings. In step S<b>1105 , the CPS 404 transmits a print setting change request to the CPS 405 together with the job ID 1031 and print settings 1131 . In step S<b>1106 , the CPS 405 that received the print setting change request changes the print settings of the print job with the job ID 1031 using the print settings 1131 . Also, a print setting change response indicating success or failure of the setting change is transmitted to the CPS 404 together with the print job information 1132 of the job ID 1031 . Under this condition, the print settings can be changed without transferring the print job to the CPS 404 .

[When the job has not been acquired and the print settings for the CPS405 print job are not possible]
A description will be given of how to change the print settings when it is not possible to change the print settings to the print job of the CPS 405 because the job has not been acquired as determined in steps S1103 and S1104. In step S<b>1107 , the CPS 404 transmits a print job acquisition request together with the job ID 1031 to the CPS 405 . In step S<b>1108 , upon receiving the print job acquisition request, the CPS 405 transmits the print job saved in the storage of the CPS 405 to the CPS 404 . At step 1109, CPS 404 saves the print job to storage. In step S1110, the CPS 404 performs print setting change processing for the saved print job. In step S1110, CPS 404 gives the print job a status of edited.

[If the job has already been acquired]
The change of the print settings when the job has already been acquired by the determinations in steps S1103 and S1104 will be described. In step S1110, the CPS 404 performs print setting change processing for the already acquired print job. In step S1111, the CPS 404 gives edited status to the print job.

After applying the print setting change process according to the above conditions, the CPS 404 transmits the updated print job information to the image forming apparatus 407 in step S1112. In step S1013, the image forming apparatus 407 displays a list of received print job information on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 407 as shown in FIG.

<Print control by CPS>
In step 4d-1 of FIG. 4B(d), the user selects a job from the displayed job list and instructs execution of printing. In step 4d-2, the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to print the target print job. Upon receiving the request, the CPS 404 requests the CPS 405 to move the print job to the job storage area of the image forming apparatus 407 in step 4d-3. In step 4d-4, the image forming apparatus 407 detects the print job moved in step 4d-3, acquires the print job, and executes printing. By applying the above-described print processing, printing is realized without transferring the print job from the CPS 405 to the CPS 404 . On the other hand, when the CPS 404 receives the print request in step 4d-2, the print job has already been transferred to the CPS 404 from the CPS 405 and saved in the storage area reserved for the CSP 404 (that is, for the cloud print service). The print job is sent to image forming device 407 in step 4d-3'. Then, the image forming apparatus 407 executes print processing. Details of the printing process in steps 4d-1, 4d-2, and 4d-3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. 12A and 12B are a series of sequence diagrams showing the print control processing method of the printing system.

In step S<b>1201 , a print job list is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 407 . In step S1202, the user selects an arbitrary print job to be printed from the list of print job information in FIG. 2, and inputs an instruction to print the selected print job. In step S1202, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a print request for the selected print job to the CPS 404 together with the serial number 633 of the image forming apparatus 407 and the job ID 1031 of the selected print job.

The CPS 404 does not save the print job in the storage of the CPS 404 immediately after executing the print job storage process, and the CPS 405 saves the print job. On the other hand, if a preview, page editing process, or the like is already being executed, the job is acquired from the CPS 405 and saved in the storage of the CPS 404 .

In step S<b>1203 , CPS 404 determines whether the selected print job is stored in CPS 404 . If the job has already been acquired, the CPS 404 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 407 in step S1204.

If the job has not yet been acquired, in step S1205 the CPS 404 sets the output printer ID 632, which is the printer ID for identifying the image forming apparatus 407 on the CPS 405, to the image forming apparatus 407 having the serial number 633 attribute on the CPS 404. Get from In step S1206, the CPS 404 sends a printer registration status confirmation request to the CPS 405 together with the output printer ID 632. FIG. In step S1207, upon receiving the printer registration status confirmation request, the CPS 405 refers to the received output printer ID 632 and confirms whether or not the image forming apparatus 407 having the attribute of the output printer ID 632 is registered in the CPS 405. The CPS 405 then transmits to the CPS 404 as a registration status response whether the image forming apparatus 407 has been registered with the CPS 405 or not.

[If registered]
A case in which the CPS 405 transmits to the CPS 404 in step S1207 as a registration status response that the image forming apparatus 407 is registered in the CPS 405 will be described. In step S1208, when the CPS 404 receives the registered response, the CPS 404 transmits to the CPS 405 a print job transfer request including the output printer ID 632 of the image forming apparatus 407 to be output and the job ID 1031 of the print job specified by the user. do. In step S1209, the CPS 405, upon receiving the print job move request, moves the print job with the job ID 1031 saved in step S1002 to the job save area of the image forming apparatus 407 matching the output printer ID 632. FIG. In step S1210, the CPS 405 transmits to the CPS 404 a print job move response indicating success or failure in response to the print job move request.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing packet examples of the print job move request 901 in step S1208 and the print job move response 902 in step S1210. The print job transfer request 901 specifies job-id and to-printer-id to specify a specific print job to be output and the image forming apparatus 407 as the output destination. Here, the to-printer-id may be the spool-uri of the storage location of the print job of the image forming apparatus 407 to be output as long as it can be uniquely identified. Print job move response 902 includes information indicating whether the requested job move was successful or unsuccessful.

In step S<b>1211 , the image forming apparatus 407 detects existence of a new print job and transmits a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405 . In step S<b>1212 , upon receiving the print job acquisition request, the CPS 405 transmits the print job saved in the storage of the CPS 405 to the image forming apparatus 407 . Note that detection of the print job in step S1211 may be performed by the CPS 404 that has received the move response notifying the image forming apparatus 407 that the target print job has been moved to the CPS 405 .

[Without registration]
A case in which the CPS 405 transmits to the CPS 404 in step S1207 as a registration status response that the image forming apparatus 407 is not registered in the CPS 405 will be described. In step S<b>1213 , the CPS 404 , upon receiving a response indicating that it is not registered, transmits a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405 . In step S<b>1214 , upon receiving the print job acquisition request, the CPS 405 transmits the print job saved in the storage of the CPS 405 to the CPS 404 . In step S<b>1215 , upon receiving the print job from the CPS 405 , the CPS 404 transmits the received print data to the image forming apparatus 407 .

[Print Processing by Image Forming Apparatus]
In step S1216, upon receiving the print job from the CPS 405, the image forming apparatus 407 executes print processing of the received print job. In step S1217, when the print processing is completed, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a completion notice to the CPS 404 as print job status. In step S1218, upon receiving the print job status completion notification, the CPS 404 directly transmits the completion notification to the CPS 405 as the print job status of the corresponding print job.

In step S<b>1219 , the CPS 405 deletes the saved print job from the storage of the CPS 405 upon receiving the print job status completion notification in step S<b>1218 . In step S 1220 , client terminal 402 sends a job status inquiry to CPS 405 . In step S1221, since the print job is completed, the CPS 405 transmits a completion response to the client terminal 402 as the print job status. After the print job is deleted in step S1219, the CPS 405 sends to the client terminal 402 a print job status indicating completion of the print job. As a result, the client terminal 402 can always grasp the correct print job status.

By applying the print preview process, print job edit process, and print process as described above, the print job is transferred only when the print job needs to be processed by the CPS. As a result, the number of print jobs transferred to the CPS 404 is minimized, and both storage consumption, communication volume, and function provision can be minimized.

●Processing by Cloud Print Service 404 FIGS. 13A and 13B are a series of flowcharts showing the processing method of the CPS 404. FIG. In step S1301, the CPU 501 is in a waiting state until an event is received. Upon receiving an event, the CPU 501 determines what the event is in step S1301. If the CPU 501 receives a print job save notification as a push notification from the CPS 405 as an event, or if an event of expiration of the timer for periodical transmission to the CPS 405 occurs, the process advances to step S1302. If the CPU 501 receives a print job information acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 407 as an event, the process advances to step S1305. If the CPU 501 receives a print request for a selected print job or a print job preview/edit request from the image forming apparatus 407 as an event, the process advances to step S1306.

In step S<b>1302 , the CPU 501 transmits a print job information acquisition request to the CPS 405 . Next, in step S<b>1303 , the CPU 501 receives print job information from the CPS 405 . Next, in step S1304, the CPU 501 updates the print job information stored in the CPS 404, and returns to step S1301.

In step S1305, the CPU 501 extracts the requested user's print job information from the print job information stored in the CPS 404, transmits the extracted print job information to the image forming apparatus 407, and proceeds to step S1401. return.

In step S1306, the CPU 501 determines whether the received event is printing, job editing, or preview. In the case of job edit or preview, the process advances to step S1307. In the case of printing, the process advances to step S1316.

In step S1307, the CPU 501 determines whether or not the job has been acquired. If it has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S1311, and if it has not been acquired, the process proceeds to step S1308. In step S1308, the CPU 501 determines whether or not it is necessary to acquire a job from the CPS 405 in order to implement processing corresponding to the operation content. If job acquisition is required, the process advances to step S1309; otherwise, the process advances to step S1312. In step S1312, the CPU 501 transmits a job edit (change in print settings) request to the CPS 405, and returns to step S1301.

In step S<b>1309 , the CPU 501 transmits a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405 . Next, in step S 1310 , CPU 501 receives a print job from CPS 405 . In step S1311, the CPU 501 determines the operation content from the received event content, and proceeds to each process. In the case of page editing or change of print settings, the process advances to step S1313. In the case of preview, the process advances to step S1315. In step S1313, the CPU 501 edits the pages of the print job and changes the print settings. In step S1314, the print job is marked as edited. That is, set the status as edited. This corresponds to S1023 in FIG. 10 and S1111 in FIG. In step S1315, the CPU 501 generates a preview image from the print job. After that, the process returns to step S1301.

In step S1316 (FIG. 13B), the CPU 501 determines whether or not the print job has been acquired from the CPS 405. If already acquired, the process advances to step S1321. If not acquired, the process proceeds to step S1316. After that, the process returns to step S1301.

In step S<b>1317 , the CPU 501 transmits a printer registration status confirmation request to the CPS 405 . In step S1318, the CPU 501 receives a registration status response from the CPS 405, and determines whether the printer that issued the print request (that is, the image forming apparatus 407) has been registered. If the image forming apparatus 407 has not been registered with the CPS 405, the CPU 501 proceeds to step S1319, and if the image forming apparatus 407 has been registered with the CPS 405, the process proceeds to step S1324. In step S1324, the CPU 501 transmits a print job transfer request to the CPS 405, and proceeds to step S1322.

In step S<b>1319 , the CPU 501 transmits a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405 . Next, in step S 1320 , CPU 501 receives a print job from CPS 405 . Next, in step S1321, the CPU 501 directly transmits the received print job to the image forming apparatus 407, and proceeds to step S1322.

In step S<b>1322 , the CPU 501 receives the print job status from the image forming apparatus 407 . Next, in step S1323, the CPU 501 transmits the print job status to the CPS 405, and returns to step S1301.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print job is moved from the cloud print service to which the print job is submitted to another linked cloud print service only when the movement is essential. Specifically, if the setting change requested by the image forming apparatus 407 is saved in the upstream CPS 405 and can be applied to the τ print job, the setting change is applied while the job is saved in the upstream CPS 405 . can be done. Also, if the image forming apparatus 407 has already been registered in the upstream CPS 405 , the image forming apparatus 407 acquires the print job from the CPS 405 without going through the CPS 404 .

Therefore, it is possible to prevent consumption of resources for moving or holding unnecessary print jobs, and to prevent pressure due to unnecessary consumption of communication bands and storage capacity. Furthermore, the requested processing, such as print job editing, preview display, printing, etc., can be executed as before, while resource consumption is suppressed.

[Third embodiment]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a method of determining whether or not the CPS 404 acquires a print job existing in the CPS 405 will be described, which is different from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, in step S1203 of FIG. 12A, the CPS 404 determines whether or not the print job has already been acquired from the CPS 405, and if so, in step S1204, the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 407. Was. Here, the operating cost of cloud services generally depends on the usage time, the amount of communication, and the amount of storage. In addition, the operation cost may be calculated separately for input and output, especially for communication traffic. For example, a billing system may be conceived in which an increase in the input amount does not increase the operation cost, but an increase in the output amount increases the operation cost. When the CPS 404 has such an operation system, it is important to reduce the amount of output. The subject of the second embodiment of the present invention is to reduce the amount of output from the CPS, that is, the amount of data output from the CPS 404 .

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing the print control processing method of the printing system according to the second embodiment. The basic processing flow is the same as in FIG. 12A, and the same processing numbers indicate the same processing contents. In FIG. 14, the processing content of step S1203 is changed to step S1401. In step S<b>1401 , the CPS 404 determines whether the print job to be processed has already been edited by the CPS 404 . For this purpose, it is determined by referring to whether or not it is the edited status given in step S1023 of FIG. 10 or step S1111 of FIG. 11 (that is, step S1314 of FIG. 13). As a result of the determination, if the job has been edited, the process advances to step S1204, and if the job has not been edited, the process advances to step S1205. The job editing completed operation is the same as the job acquisition completed operation in FIG. 12A. The operation when the job is not edited is the same as the operation when the job is not acquired in FIG. 12A. The steps after step S1216 are the same as those in FIG. 12B.

For example, this corresponds to the case where the user performs only the preview up to step S1019 in FIG. 10 and then performs printing. In such a case, the print job of the CPS 404 is not edited, and the image forming apparatus 407 acquires the print job of the CPS 405 to enable appropriate printing. On the other hand, there is no need to output print jobs from the CPS 404 .

By adopting the second embodiment, the amount of data output from the CPS 404 can be further reduced than in the first embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiments merely show specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed to be limited by these. That is, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

401, 402 client terminal, 404, 405 cloud print service, 407 image forming apparatus

Claims (14)

a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing system including at least an image forming apparatus registered with the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus is
obtaining and displaying a list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service via the second cloud print service;
If the print job selected from the print job list is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service, the printing obtaining and executing a print job selected from a list of jobs from the first cloud print service;
If the selected print job is held in the second cloud print service, even if the image forming apparatus is registered in the first cloud print service, the selected print job is A printing system that acquires a job from the second cloud print service and executes the job. The printing system of claim 1, wherein
The second cloud print service includes:
A printing system, wherein the print job is acquired from the first cloud print service when a request to display a print preview of the selected print job is received from the image forming apparatus. 3. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2,
If the selected print job is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is not registered in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service for example, obtaining the selected print job from the first cloud print service;
The printing system, wherein the image forming apparatus acquires the selected print job from the cloud print service of 2 above and executes it. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image forming apparatus requests the second cloud print service to edit the print job selected from the print job list in accordance with a user's operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job, and if the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the editing request is sent to the first cloud print service. and
The printing system, wherein the first cloud print service performs the editing on the selected print job. A printing system according to claim 4, wherein
The printing system, wherein the editing includes deletion and/or duplication of each page. 6. The printing system according to claim 4 or 5,
The second cloud print service is characterized in that, if the second cloud print service holds the selected print job, the editing is performed on the selected print job. printing system. The printing system according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
If the second cloud print service does not maintain the selected print job and the editing is not enabled in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service a printing system that obtains the printed print job from the first cloud print service, executes the editing, and retains the print job that has undergone the editing. a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing system having at least an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus is
obtaining a list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service via the second cloud print service;
requesting the second cloud print service to edit the print job selected from the print job list in accordance with a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job, and if the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the editing request is sent to the first cloud print service. and
The printing system, wherein the first cloud print service performs the editing on the selected print job. A printing system according to claim 8, wherein
The printing system, wherein the editing includes deletion and/or duplication of each page. A providing method for providing a user with a second cloud print service that cooperates with a first cloud print service, comprising:
When the print job selected as the target of the print request is not held according to the print request received from the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is registered with the first cloud print service; requesting the first cloud print service to move the print job to a print job storage area of the image forming apparatus;
If the selected print job is held in the storage area reserved for the second cloud print service, the image forming apparatus is registered with the first cloud print service. a providing step of providing a print job corresponding to the selected print job held in the storage area to the image forming apparatus;
A method for providing a cloud print service, comprising: A providing method for providing a user with a second cloud print service that cooperates with a first cloud print service, comprising:
a receiving step of receiving a print job edit request from an image forming apparatus;
When the request for editing received from the image forming apparatus in the receiving step is received, the print job to be requested for editing is held in a storage area reserved for the second cloud print service. a request step of requesting the editing to the first cloud print service if the editing is possible in the first cloud print service;
A method for providing a cloud print service, comprising: a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing control method in a printing system including at least an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus
obtaining and displaying a list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service via the second cloud print service;
If the print job selected from the print job list is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service, the printing obtaining and executing a print job selected from a list of jobs from the first cloud print service;
If the selected print job is held in the second cloud print service, even if the image forming apparatus is registered in the first cloud print service, the selected print job is A print control method, comprising acquiring a job from the second cloud print service and executing the job. a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing control method in a printing system having an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus
obtaining a list of print jobs held in the first cloud print service via the second cloud print service;
requesting the second cloud print service to edit the print job selected from the print job list in accordance with a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job, and if the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the editing request is sent to the first cloud print service. and
The print control method, wherein the first cloud print service executes the editing for the selected print job. A program for causing a computer to execute the cloud print service providing method according to claim 10 or 11.

Images