JP5790341B2 - Data processing apparatus, printing system, data processing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus that selects an output destination, issues a print instruction to the selected output destination, and executes printing, a printing system including the data processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a computer for executing the method The present invention relates to a readable program and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  On a personal computer (PC) connected to a network, a plurality of printers connected on the same network are displayed in a selectable manner by plug and play technology such as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and Bonjour. For this reason, the user can select a printer to be used by clicking on the displayed printer, and issue a print instruction to print out the selected printer.

  In such a method of selecting a printer, there is a case where a printer is selected by mistake and a print instruction is issued to the printer. In recent years, the print processing capabilities of PCs, printer servers, and printers have improved, and conversion to formats used by printers has been accelerated. For this reason, once a print instruction is issued, even if a cancel instruction is issued thereafter, data is output from an incorrect printer except for data remaining in the printer queue. For users who handle personal information and highly confidential document files, if a wrong printer is selected and a print instruction is issued in this way, a serious problem such that the contents can be viewed by a third party occurs. .

  In view of this problem, a technique for automatically assigning output destination printers has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A data processing apparatus to which this technology is applied includes a virtual printer driver in the form of a printer driver of a general-purpose operating system, and includes a dispatch processing unit. The virtual printer driver receives the print instruction, analyzes it, divides it into print job information and print data, and stores it in the spooler. Thereafter, the dispatch processing unit applies the print job information to the distribution rule, and selects one of the printer drivers associated with the plurality of printers. Then, the dispatch processing unit issues a print data print instruction to the selected printer driver.

  The distribution rule is a rule that conditions selection of an output destination and change of output contents, and is described using definable conditioning information. Conditioning information includes user-specific information such as a user name, terminal-specific information such as an IP address, print settings such as the number of pages and paper size, and job contents such as the presence of a document name and specific terms. The dispatch processing unit acquires conditioning information from the print job information, compares it with the distribution rule, searches for a matching condition, and reads a setting corresponding to the matched condition. Then, the dispatch processing unit changes the output destination according to the setting, rewrites the print setting data, and changes the contents of the image data. In this way, by changing or restricting the output destination and output contents and outputting from an appropriate printer, the above problems can be solved, management for each output job can be made more efficient, and information security can be improved. Realized.

  In the above technique, output destination printer information is registered in advance in a data processing apparatus that performs the distribution, and the distribution is executed based on the registered information. When the selected printer fails, it may be replaced with a new printer. In this case, the printer information is changed, but in order to realize appropriate distribution, it is necessary to receive information from the new printer and register it again in the data processing apparatus.

  If the replaced printer is installed in the vicinity of the data processing apparatus and only one printer is used, it does not require much labor and time to re-register with the data processing apparatus. However, if the printer is installed at a remote location far from the data processing device, or if the number of printers to be replaced is large, labor and time are required, and the management cost increases.

  Even if the printer is operating normally, if the communication line you are using cannot be used for some reason, you must use another line, or you can use another line. In some cases, the printer cannot be used. Also in this case, the registration contents of the data processing device must be changed. For example, if the bandwidth is narrowed by changing the line, but color image data having a large data size is transmitted, the line becomes congested and cannot be printed out efficiently. Also, data cannot be transmitted to an unusable printer.

  If the communication line normally used is restored, the printer can be used again. Therefore, the registered contents of the data processing device must be changed even after recovery. Changing these registration contents also takes time.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a data processing apparatus that selects an output destination so that the replaced printer can be used without re-registration, and instructs the selected output destination to execute printing. provide. In response to receiving the job data, the data processing device generates image data from the job data and extracts print setting information from the job data, and information inputted as output destination information To identify the transmission source of the job data included in the job data with reference to the information communication means for receiving the output destination information, and the association data in which the output destination and output content change information are associated with the output condition The output condition where the transmission source identification information, the print setting information, and the output destination information match is searched, one or more output destinations corresponding to the output condition are selected, and the corresponding one or more change information Output condition control means for rewriting the contents of the image data and the print setting information based on the image data, and the rewritten image data. As for executing printing using the data and the print setting information, and a print instruction unit that print instruction to the one or more output destination selected.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment. The functional block diagram which showed the structural example of the data processor of this embodiment. The figure which illustrated the matching table which matched the change information of the output destination and the output content with the output condition. The figure which illustrated the input screen for inputting output destination information. The figure which illustrated the matching table which matched the output destination for changing an output destination according to output destination information with the output condition. The flowchart figure which showed the flow of the process performed by the virtual printer driver with which the data processing apparatus of this embodiment is provided. The flowchart figure which showed the flow of the process performed by the dispatch process part with which the data processing apparatus of this embodiment is provided.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system 100 has a configuration in which a data processing device 110, a plurality of computer terminals 112, 114, 116, and 118 and printers 120, 122, 124, and 126 as printing devices are connected to each other via a network 128. . The network 128 is connected to a modem 130 as a modem for converting a voice signal into a digital signal and converting the digital signal into a voice signal, and a FAX device 134 is connected through a public network 132. .

  The printing system 100 may not include the FAX apparatus 134, may include one computer terminal, and may include two or more printers so that the printer can be selected.

  A region surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 1 represents a base that is regarded as the same location. That is, the data processing device 110, the computer terminal 112, and the printer 120 are in the same base, the computer terminal 114 and the printer 122 are in the same base, and the computer terminal 116 and the printer 124 are in the same base. In addition, the computer terminal 118 and the printer 126 are in the same base, and the FAX apparatus 134 and the computer terminal 136 connected to the network 128 are in the same base.

  Each of the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 includes a single-core and multi-core CPU, a ROM, a RAM that provides an execution space, a hard disk device, a network interface (NIC) for connecting to the network 128, and the like. , Windows (registered trademark), Unix (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark), and other processes are executed under the control of an operating system (OS). In addition, the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 can include a keyboard and a mouse as input devices, and can include a liquid crystal display as a display device. Further, the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, 136 may be provided with only a touch panel display.

  Each of the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 can be configured from a personal computer, a workstation, or the like that implements an application program and completes various processes. The computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 store application programs and data in a hard disk device or the like, read the program or the like from the hard disk device or the like into the RAM, and the CPU executes the program, thereby A document file to be printed can be generated as electronic data in which images, multimedia, and a combination of these are combined, and a printing process can be requested to the printers 120, 122, 124, and 126.

  Here, the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 configure the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 as so-called fat clients that implement application programs and generate document files. It can also be configured as a thin client. The thin client implements only a function for issuing a service request, causing an application server or the like provided separately to execute the application program, receiving a processing result, and requesting print output.

  The printers 120, 122, 124, and 126 have a network interface (NIC), receive a command output from the printer server via the network 128, and execute a print job. As the printers 120, 122, 124, and 126, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) equipped with a printer function can be used in addition to a laser printer and an inkjet printer.

  The computer terminal 112 that manages the printer 120, the computer terminal 114 that manages the printer 122, the computer terminal 116 that manages the printer 124, and the computer terminal 118 that manages the printer 126 implement a printer server application corresponding to each printer. By executing this application, it functions as a printer server. The printer server can also be provided as a separate server device, and each of the printers 120, 122, 124, 126 may have a printer server function.

  The network 128 can be configured to include an Ethernet (registered trademark) such as 1000Base-TX, an optical network, and a wireless network of a standard such as IEEE 802.11, and can communicate with each other by frame communication or packet communication based on the TCP / IP protocol. It can be performed. The network 128 may include a wide area network such as the Internet under a secure environment such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a VPN (Virtual Private Network), or the like.

  The data processing apparatus 110 can have a hardware configuration similar to that of the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136. The data processing apparatus 110 receives job data from the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136, and satisfies various conditions. Accordingly, the printer 120, 122, 124, 126 as an appropriate output destination is selected, and the job data is automatically distributed.

  Thereafter, the data processing apparatus 110 generates a command that can be interpreted by the printers 120, 122, 124, and 126 with a printer driver corresponding to the selected printer 120, 122, 124, and 126, and adds the command to respond. Output to a printer server that manages the printer, and execute printing. That is, when the selected printer is the printer 122, the data processing apparatus 110 transmits a command to the computer terminal 114 that manages the printer 122 together with the image data and the like to execute the printing process.

  The computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 can establish a connection with the data processing apparatus 110 by the point and print function. The connection between these can be established by RPC (Remote Procedure Call) connection or SMB (Server Message Block) connection. These can be established by sending a request message or the like from the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, 136 to the data processing device 110, and the data processing device 110 returning a response.

  For example, the computer terminal 112 can establish a connection by executing by specifying a file name, or by using a Net View command that lists computers included in the same working group or the same domain. . Communication between the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 and the data processing apparatus 110 can be performed using an appropriate remote connection protocol such as RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).

  The FAX apparatus 134 is an apparatus that transfers an image using the public communication network 132, and includes an original reading unit that reads an original and outputs image data, and a printing unit that prints out the received image data. When the public communication network 132 is a public switched telephone network, a G3 standard that can be used on an analog line can be adopted, and when it is an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line, a G4 standard that can be used on a digital line. Can be adopted.

  When a document is created using this printing system 100 and printed, the user first uses one of the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, 136, and installs an application program mounted on the computer program. Use to create a document. Then, the user performs print settings, uses the set information as print setting information, and creates job data together with document data. Here, the print setting information includes, for example, paper type, paper size, paper orientation, number of sheets, font, color or monochrome printing, print magnification, presence / absence of double-sided printing, presence / absence of aggregate printing, number of rows, number of columns And font size.

  In the computer terminal 112, a CPU that executes an application program functions as an application execution unit. The application execution unit further includes the document data and the print setting information as well as the IP address and MAC address of the computer terminal 112. The job data including the transmission source identification information for identifying the transmission source of the job data such as the computer name attached to the computer terminal 112 and the user name input by the user when using the service is created. Then, the CPU transmits the job data to the data processing device 110.

  The data processing device 110 is configured to have a virtual printer driver in the form of a printer driver of a general-purpose OS and other necessary functions. The data processing device 110 performs rendering using job data received from the computer terminal 112 using a virtual printer driver, and generates image data. Further, the data processing apparatus 110 selects a printer as an output destination from the print setting information extracted from the job data and the transmission source identification information, and causes the selected printer to execute printing based on the image data and the print setting information. Then, the printer driver corresponding to the printer is selected, and printing is instructed. The printer driver generates a command that can be interpreted by the corresponding printer, adds the command to image data or the like, and outputs the command to a printer server that manages the printer.

  When the data processing apparatus 110 selects a printer, there is a change in the registered information registered as information about the output destination. When the change is received as the output destination information, the data processing apparatus 110 also refers to the output destination information, The printer determines whether to execute printing, and selects the printer. The administrator of the printing system 100 uses one of the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 when inputting output destination information when the printer is replaced or the like and transmitting it to the data processing device 110. be able to.

  The data processing apparatus 110 can select which printer is selected as an output destination based on print setting information such as the number of prints, transmission source identification information such as a user name and an IP address, and output destination information. Further, the image data and the print setting information can be changed according to the information. Changes in the output destination and output contents are associated with predefined output conditions, and by selecting which output conditions these information matches, the output destination is selected and how the contents are changed Can be determined.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the data processing device 110. In FIG. 2, in order to facilitate understanding, in addition to the data processing apparatus 110, a computer terminal 112 used by a user and serving as a transmission source of job data, and printers 120, 122, 124, 126 serving as output destinations are illustrated. Computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136 that function as printer servers that manage these printers, and a FAX apparatus 134 as other output destinations are shown.

  The computer terminal 112 used by the user is the fat client described above, and includes an application execution unit 200 that creates a document or the like and outputs job data of a print job. Further, the computer terminal 112 receives information (process ID) for specifying a process subordinate to an application executed by the application execution unit 200, and sends the process ID to the display unit of the data processing device 110. 202.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the application execution unit 200 and the print request source management unit 202 are mounted on the computer terminal 112, but the application execution unit 200 and the print request source management unit 202 are included in the data processing apparatus 110. It may be provided, or may be mounted on an application server provided separately. In this embodiment, since the computer terminal 112 that functions as a client computer includes the application execution unit 200 and the print request source management unit 202, the computer terminal 112 is a fat client. When the data processing apparatus 110 or the application server includes the application execution unit 200 and the print request source management unit 202, the computer terminal 112 is a thin client.

  The application execution unit 200 executes an application, receives a processing request or print request from a user, executes the process, and generates an execution result. In response to the print command event by the application, the execution result is converted to a print job through an API (Application Program Interface) call such as GDI (Graphical Device Interface), and then the job data of the job is sent to the data processing device 110. .

  The data processing device 110 includes a virtual printer driver 210, a job storage unit 220, and a shipping processing unit 240. The virtual printer driver 210 includes a virtual print management unit 212, a data extraction unit 214, and a virtual drawing unit 216. The virtual print management unit 212 receives job data sent from the application execution unit 200, starts a job, generates a process ID for uniquely identifying the job, and sends it to the application execution unit 200. The process ID is sent from the application execution unit 200 to the print request source management unit 202 as described above.

  The virtual print management unit 212 temporarily stores job data in the job storage unit 220. Thereafter, the virtual print management unit 212 calls the virtual drawing unit 216, and reserves storage spaces for processing the image data included in the job data in association with the jobs as the work spaces 230a to 230c. The work spaces 230a to 230c are formed by assigning an appropriate capacity of a storage space such as a RAM managed by the data processing apparatus 110, and can be referred to as a virtual spooler, for example.

  In addition, the virtual print management unit 212 calls the data extraction unit 214 to extract print setting information from the job data temporarily stored in the job storage unit 220, extract transmission source identification information, and print setting data 232 including them. Are stored in the secured work spaces 230a to 230c.

  When the job data currently being processed is performed in the work space 230a, the virtual drawing unit 216 moves the image data stored in the job storage unit 220 to the work space 230a and transfers the image data in the higher-order image format to the work space. Generate in 230a. Specifically, when the data processing apparatus 110 employs a Windows (registered trademark) system, it is realized by copying an EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) generated by the spooler to a work space by a processor included in the printer. The EMF can also be generated by a graphic module.

  As the job data, it is preferable to use high-order image format data having a smaller capacity than low-order image format data. By using the high-order image format data, the processing of the data extraction unit 214 and the virtual drawing unit 216 is performed. Efficiency can be improved and RTA can be reduced.

  When the virtual drawing unit 216 moves the image data to the work spaces 230a to 230c, the job storage unit 220 is emptied, and the application execution unit 200 is notified that the image processing is completed via the virtual print management unit 212. To do. In response to this, the application execution unit 200 can cancel the exclusive management for the job storage unit 220 and execute another print request process. Examples of this exclusive management include semaphores and synchronization classes.

  The data processing apparatus 110 can include an image processing unit. The image data moved to the work areas 230a to 230c is acquired by the image processing unit, and image processing is executed. This image processing unit can be implemented as an image processing module. When the image data is high-order image data including drawing control codes such as EMF, PDF (Portable Document Format), PostScript (registered trademark), XPS (XML Paper Specification), and vector images, the image processing unit includes a drawing processor. Call and execute processing.

  When the image data is low-order image data that does not include drawing codes such as BMP, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), etc., the image processing unit supports each printer. The remote drivers 250a to 250c, which are printer drivers, to perform image conversion, and repeat the processing with the work spaces 230a to 230c until a raster image is created from the image data, thereby generating output data in RAW format. Can do. This process is the same when high-order image data and low-order image data coexist. In order to realize such processing, the data processing apparatus 110 also includes the remote drivers 250a to 250c.

  The image processing unit can acquire the image data and print setting data 232 of the work spaces 230a to 230c, and can execute processes such as page allocation and imposition. The function of executing this processing can also be provided in the remote drivers 250a to 250c. When the remote drivers 250a to 250c are provided, the image processing unit converts the image data generated as a high-order image format into a format that can be received by the remote drivers 250a to 250c, and the print setting data 232 is transmitted to the remote drivers 250a to 250c. RAW format data can be created by specifying the function setting value of the remote driver 250a to 250c.

  For example, with a Windows (registered trademark) printer driver, since most printer drivers can receive EMF, conversion is not necessary when the image data is EMF. Therefore, by setting the print setting data 232 in the print setting structure DEVMODE, the printer driver as the remote drivers 250a to 250c can create the data in the target RAW format.

  The case where the remote drivers 250a to 250c have the function of page assignment and imposition has been described. If the remote driver 250a to 250c has no function, for example, the EMF is divided into EMFs for each page, and the page order is changed and the drawing position is designated. By doing so, the target RAW data can be obtained.

  Next, the shipping processing units 240a to 240c will be described. The dispatch processing units 240a to 240c are generated as instances for each job. The dispatch processing units 240a to 240c are referred to as private instances. The print setting data 232 extracted by the data extraction unit 214 is associated with the process ID and image data, and generated as job management lists 234a to 234c, and each job management list 234a is generated. ˜234c can be used for management of each private instance.

  Specifically, the dispatch processing units 240a to 240c generate a data ID (JID) for identifying the print setting data 232 and an image ID (IMG) for identifying the image data, and use them as a process ID (PID). And job management lists 234a to 234c. The data ID and image ID may be a file name or the like.

  Each of the shipping processing units 240a to 240c includes an output condition control unit 242, a print instruction unit 244, an association table 246, and a display unit 248.

  The print instruction unit 244 refers to the job management lists 234a to 234c, detects the print setting data 232 specified from the process ID, and instructs the output condition control unit 242 to print to which output destination using the process ID or the data ID. Make an inquiry. Upon receiving the notification of the output destination from the output condition control unit 242, the print instruction unit 244 sets the output destination, and the higher-order images of the work spaces 230a to 230c are set to the remote drivers 250a to 250c of the set output destination. An instruction is given to print the formatted image data in accordance with the contents of the print setting data 232.

  The output condition control unit 242 refers to the association table 246 as association data in which the output destination and output content change information are associated with the output condition, selects the output destination, and specifies the output content change information. The output condition control unit 242 specifies the print setting data 232 from the process ID or data ID acquired from the print instruction unit 244, and rewrites the print setting data 232 and the image data based on the specified change information. Then, the output condition control unit 242 returns the selected output destination information to the print instructing unit 244, and instructs to execute printing with the rewritten print setting data 232 and image data.

  The association table 246 is provided as a user-definable file according to a specific application. The association table 246 may include history data, and the history data can be used to determine the output condition. The history data can be provided as a database for managing the job execution history executed by the user.

  As an example of the association table 246, a table described with the output destination and change information set as shown in FIG. 3 in association with the condition that is the output condition can be used. In the association table shown in FIG. 3, conditions and settings are linked, and setting conditions, settings, and group settings are defined. In linking conditions and settings, the condition “Condition1” is linked to the setting “Setting1”, and the condition “Condition2” is linked to the setting “Setting2”.

  In the setting conditions, a user name and a job name are defined in the condition “Condition1”, and a page size and a character string are defined in the condition “Condition2”. In the setting, a character string to be added with a base is defined in the condition “Condition 1”, and poster printing with the base is defined in the condition “Condition 2”.

  Referring to FIG. 3, if the output condition control unit 242 detects a job with the user name “President” and the job name “ImportantNotice” in the transmission source identification information, Search the setting condition in the middle, and detect the condition “Condition1” as a matching condition. The output condition control unit 242 refers to the setting “Setting1” corresponding to the condition “Condition1”, and selects a printer in the base “ImportantGroup” as an output destination.

  In addition, the output condition control unit 242 acquires “Confidential” in the same setting as change information, and rewrites the image data to data obtained by adding the characters “Confidential”. Here, since the base “ImportantGroup” is defined in the group settings to include the base “xxxx” and the base “yyyy”, the printers at these two bases are selected as output destinations, and these printers are assigned to these printers. A print instruction is issued.

  On the other hand, when it is detected that the page size is “A0” and the character string “Poster” is included in the print setting information as a specific term, the output condition control unit 242 sets the setting condition in the association table. Search and detect the condition “Condition2” as a matching condition. The output condition control unit 242 refers to the setting “Setting 2” corresponding to the condition “Condition 2” and selects a printer capable of poster printing from all the sites.

  In FIG. 3, groups are specified by enumerating them in the form of “Base1” and “Base2”, but the present invention is not limited to this, and group specification is performed using a directory service such as Active Directory or an address book service. It is also possible to do this. Thus, the same content can be transmitted simultaneously by designating a plurality of bases simultaneously.

  Here, the user name, job name, page size, and character string are exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other user-specific information such as a group and authority given to the user, and a computer terminal used by the user Terminal-specific information such as a MAC address, an IP address, an IP address range, and a terminal name. In addition, the number of pages, presence / absence of confidential keywords, color mode specification, single-sided printing, double-sided printing, stapling, punching, stamp specification, paper size, media type specification, paper feed direction, paper feed / discharge port specification Job content information such as print quality designation, document name, and job issue time can be included.

  These terminal unique information, user unique information, and the like can be easily acquired from the print setting data 232 as transmission source identification information. In addition, when the dispatch processing units 240a to 240c are activated with the same authority as that of the application execution unit 200, these pieces of information can also be obtained as information associated with the login user.

  Incidentally, in the example shown in FIG. 3, since the user name is “President” and the job name is “ImportantNotice”, the output content is added so that the characters “Confidential” indicating that it is a confidential document are added. The output destination is also regarded as an important base.

  In this way, the output condition control unit 242 selects an output destination with reference to the association table 246, notifies the print instruction unit 244 of the output destination, and print setting data 232 and images in the work spaces 230a to 230c. Change the data contents. In response to the notification, the print instruction unit 244 issues a print instruction to the remote drivers 250a to 250c corresponding to the selected output destination printer.

  The remote drivers 250a to 250c receive a print instruction from the print instruction unit 244, send RAW output data to a port monitor or the like, and enable print output from one of the determined output destination printers. To do. Thereafter, the instances of the dispatch processing units 240a to 240c activated for each job are terminated when the printer finishes printing and receives a print end notification from the printer server managing the printer.

  The data processing apparatus 110 sends a notification that the printing has been completed to the computer terminal 112 that has output the job data via the display unit 248 and causes the display to be displayed on the computer terminal 112. Further, the display unit 248 receives the process ID from the print request source management unit 202 and causes the display device to display the process ID in order to notify the output destination information and the like. For this reason, the display unit 248 also functions as a notification unit. The display unit 248 displays a print information dialog, which is a user interface for displaying print information, on the computer terminal 112 associated with the process ID, and issues a print continuation instruction and a print cancellation instruction indicating whether printing can be continued from the computer terminal 112. You can also wait.

  When the display unit 248 receives a print continuation instruction from the computer terminal 112, the print instruction unit 244 sends output data to the printers 120 to 126, and then receives a print cancellation instruction, the print instruction unit 244 displays the work space 230a. The print processing can be canceled by erasing the image data and the like from .about.230c. The display unit 248 can also cause the computer terminal 112 to display a print processing cancel dialog for notifying that the print processing has been cancelled.

  In the print information dialog, the user is notified that the print job to be executed is color printing, a dialog for prompting to change to monochrome printing, a dialog for prompting duplex printing, and a prompt to change the page layout For example, a dialog for simply notifying print information such as a shipping destination to which printed matter is output and the number of printed sheets.

  These dialogs can be displayed according to the user by using the user information set in advance so that the print instruction unit 244 can determine the user's job title, etc., and determining the user who should display the dialog. is there.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, and 118 function as a printer server for managing each printer. For example, assume that the printer 120 has failed for some reason. At this time, in order to repair the printer 120, a printer that is not being used is temporarily replaced or replaced with a new printer. Then, the printer information must be newly set.

  Therefore, the data processing device 110 is further configured to include an information communication unit 260 and an information storage unit 262. Using one of the computer terminals 112, 114, 116, 118, and 136, the information of the replaced printer is input as output destination information and transmitted to the information communication unit 260, and the output destination information is reflected and output. You can change the destination and change the output. For this reason, it is possible to use the replaced printer without registering the information of the printer 120 registered in the data processing device 110 as the information of the replaced printer.

  In response to access from one computer terminal 112, the information communication unit 260 provides a login screen for inputting login information such as a user name and a password. In response to the fact that the user who intends to input the output destination information has input the login information, the information communication unit 260 compares the login information registered in advance and authenticates if they match. On the other hand, if they do not match, authentication is not performed, and it is assumed that the output destination information cannot be input while maintaining the login screen state.

  The information storage unit 262 stores the output destination information received by the information communication unit 260 and can be referred to by the output condition control unit 242. Therefore, the output condition control unit 242 refers to the output destination information stored in the information storage unit 262 in addition to the reference to the association table 246, selects the output destination including this output destination information, Printing is executed at the selected output destination.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an input screen for output destination information. A user who needs to change the output destination information registered in the data processing device 110 requests an input screen from the data processing device 110 and displays it on the screen of the computer terminal 112 used by the user. When an input screen is requested, first, a dialog prompting input of login information is displayed on the screen. When the user inputs and transmits login information, the data processing apparatus 110 determines whether to authenticate. The login information includes a user ID and a password. When the data processing apparatus 110 authenticates, an input screen is provided, and an input screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the screen of the computer terminal 110.

  The input screen includes a printer name registered in the data processing apparatus 110. A combo box is provided under the printer name so that “normal”, “device replacement”, “band narrowing”, and “unusable” can be selected.

  “Normal” indicates a state in which the registered printer referred to as the shared printer is not replaced in the data processing apparatus 110. “Device replacement” is to change the printer referred to as the shared printer in the data processing apparatus 110, and indicates, for example, that a registered printer has failed and replaced with another printer. When replacing the printer, the printer driver of the newly installed printer is shared as a standard printer, and this "device replacement" is selected and set, so that the data processing apparatus 110 once stops sharing the printer. Then, it is possible to share the standard printer as the output destination again.

  The data processing apparatus 110 corresponds to the printer after the replacement in response to the setting of the “device replacement” for the printer driver corresponding to the printer before replacement selected for the print instruction unit 244 to instruct printing. Replace the printer driver. As a result, the printer is shared as the standard printer. Also, by providing this setting, when the printer is replaced due to the convenience of the output destination base, printing distribution corresponding to the replaced printer is possible without involving the administrator of the printing system 100.

  “Bandwidth narrowing” uses, for example, WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), which is one of the large-capacity mobile broadband communication systems, such as satellite lines, 3G lines used in mobile phones, and broadband. If you have to do that, you will be notified. In general, in Japan, when data processing devices are installed in the same building, this situation is unlikely to occur. However, where there are bases throughout the world, the broadband infrastructure is not stable. Since this is possible, this selection item is provided.

  By providing this setting, it is possible to change the print job setting and print normally, and even if some function or quality degradation occurs, it is possible to meet the need to execute printing with the printer.

  “Unusable” is a notification to that effect when the printer is broken, the network is disconnected, or is not operated due to a power failure. Below this combo box, an input field for inputting a FAX number is provided. Therefore, when “unusable” is selected and a FAX number is input, instead of printing with a printer, FAX communication can be performed and printed out to a FAX apparatus.

  Specifically, the output condition control unit 242 refers to the output destination information, and when this “unusable” is set and the FAX number is input, the FAX apparatus in which the FAX number is registered is selected. The print instruction unit 244 instructs the FAX apparatus to print out. As a result, even if the printer or the network is damaged, it is possible to obtain the desired printed matter using an alternative means called a FAX apparatus.

  An update button and a setting button are provided on the right side of the combo box and the FAX number input field. The update button is a button that is pressed to confirm with the selected content, and the setting button is a button that is pressed to confirm with the FAX number input in the input field. When these buttons are pressed, the output destination information is stored with these contents, and if there is already stored information for the same printer name, it is overwritten.

  A combo box in which the maximum paper size can be selected is displayed below the FAX number input field. Here, the A4 size is selected. Also, as a printer function, whether the punch function can be used, whether the staple function can be used, whether the weekly magazine binding can be used, whether poster printing is possible It can be selected by radio button. Here all functions are available.

  These pieces of function information are information that can be used to know whether or not the printed result is as desired when the printed matter is distributed. Here, only four functions are shown, but functions such as double-sided printing and color printing can also be included. These pieces of information can be set by inputting on the input screen, but can also be acquired from a printer driver through an OS standard interface and automatically set.

  Below the printer function, there are a plurality of combo boxes for selecting a nearby base. If a nearby location cannot be printed at a location with an output destination selected by the output condition control unit 242, if there is a printable location near the location with the selected output destination, It is possible to execute printing at the printable base. Therefore, if there is a base that can print at a nearby base, printing can be performed at that base and the printed matter can be taken home by hand carry.

  By having printing at a nearby base in this way, it is possible to meet the need to obtain a printed material that does not deteriorate in function or quality even if hand-carrying takes time.

  Here, it is possible to select three nearby bases, but it may be four or more or two or less. When printing is performed at a nearby base, the printed matter cannot be taken home by hand carry unless it is known in some way that the printing has been performed at a nearby base.

  Therefore, an item “notification at the time of delivery of a delivery” is provided. Notification is considered necessary from the above points, but it is possible to select a check box because a nearby base is very close to the determined base and there is no need for notification.

  When receiving notifications, e-mail, FAX, and telephone can be selected by radio buttons in order to select which method is used for notification. If the FAX number is a telephone, an input field for inputting the telephone number is provided. A setting button is provided on the right side of the input field so that the user can press the setting button to confirm the input contents.

  In this way, by inputting and setting information related to the contact and the contact method, the display unit 248 as the notification means described above uses the information related to the contact to the user, and according to the contact method, Since the print destination is notified to the output destination in the nearby base, it is possible to know where the print has been output, and it is possible to take back the printed matter without making a mistake.

  The output destination information setting screen shown in FIG. 4 shows an example, and other setting information can be added as a matter of course, and other configurations such as a combo box are also possible. It is.

  The output destination information input by the user is received by the information communication unit 260 and stored in the information storage unit 262. The output condition control unit 242 refers to the output destination information stored in the information storage unit 262 and changes the output destination and the output contents. In performing this process, the association table shown in FIG. In addition to this, a correspondence table as shown in FIG. Here, if the association table shown in FIG. 3 is a first association table, the association table shown in FIG. 5 is a second association table.

  FIG. 5 illustrates the second association table, and details thereof will be described. The association table shown in FIG. 5 is data used to determine the output destination according to the status of the output destination.

  The data shown in FIG. 5 is described in Prolog, which is a non-procedural programming language, but any type of programming language can be used as long as it can describe data for determining an output destination. May be used.

  In FIG. 5, the first line describes that “if the base BASE is unusable and a valid FAX number is registered in the base BASE, FAX transmission is performed”. The next line describes that “if the FAX is also unusable, search for a nearby base ALTBASE and print it out with ALTBASE”.

  The next line describes that “when the bandwidth of the communication line is narrow, transmission of color data is stopped and transmission is changed to monochrome data”. In this way, the output destination can be changed depending on the situation.

  The subsequent lines describe a case where the base where the output destination for executing printing is changed is changed according to the contents of the job data and the information of the printer at the base. For example, when A0 size poster printing is desired, since “Poster = yes” is set in the association table shown in FIG. 3, the item [poster, yes] is provided in FIG.

  If this condition is satisfied, if the maximum paper size that can be fed by the printer at the base BASE is wide and long, printing is performed as it is, and if the printer at the base BASE has a poster printing function, it is used. If both are not satisfied, a nearby base ALTBASE is searched, the printer at the base ALTBASE determines the maximum paper size and the presence of the poster printing function, and if neither succeeds, the printing is failed. Describes data associated with output destinations and output conditions.

  Since this is merely an example, data in which other output destinations are associated with output conditions or data in which output content change information is associated with output conditions may be described. Therefore, for example, when output is performed by a printer at a different base ALTBASE, it is possible to add a cover page with the content that “This should be delivered to the base BASE and should be handed over”.

  In this case, the print instructing unit 244 prints a cover page describing that the output destination selected by the output condition control unit 242 is information on the base where the output destination is and its neighboring bases and is sent to the base where the output destination is. Instruct the printer driver corresponding to the printer at the nearby base. As a result, in the neighboring bases, both the printed matter printed out by the base change and the printed matter printed out as the selected base may be output, but the two can be distinguished by printing the cover page at the same time. It becomes possible to prevent confusion.

  With reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the process actually performed in the data processing apparatus 110 provided with the information communication part 260 and the information storage part 262 is demonstrated in detail. There is one computer terminal that outputs a print request, and two or more printers and a FAX apparatus are connected via a network to print out received job data, and the computer terminal is a fat client.

  The user executes an application installed in a computer terminal to function as the application execution unit 200, selects a virtual printer driver as an output destination, registers various settings, and presses a print execution button, thereby causing the data processing apparatus 110 to operate. In response, job data is sent. This registration can be performed by a manager or user of the data processing apparatus 110 using a dedicated GUI (Graphical User Interface). The application execution unit 200 creates an execution result in response to a user request, and sends it to the data processing apparatus 110 as the job data. In response to this, the data processing apparatus 110 starts processing from step 600. In step 605, the virtual printer driver 210 receives job data.

  The virtual printer driver 210 starts the job in response to receiving the job data. In step 610, the virtual printer driver 210 generates a process ID for uniquely identifying the started job and returns it to the application execution unit 200. . The application execution unit 200 sends the received process ID to the print request source management unit 202, and the print request source management unit 202 generates instances of the dispatch processing units 240a to 240c for each job using the received process ID as an argument. .

  In step 615, the virtual printer driver 210 stores the received job data in the job storage unit 220, extracts print setting information from the job data, generates image data, and stores them in the secured work spaces 230a to 230c. Moving. The virtual drawing unit 216 of the virtual printer driver 210 moves the image data separated from the job data and stored in the job storage unit 220 to the work spaces 230a to 230c in predetermined unit units such as page units, and simultaneously performs print settings. A file is generated and information (IMG) for identifying image data such as a file name of image data for each unit is written. The data extraction unit 214 of the virtual printer driver 210 generates print setting data 232 according to the print settings of job information data divided and extracted from the job data, and writes the print setting data 232 in the print setting files generated in the work spaces 230a to 230c.

  After the process of step 615 is completed, the process proceeds to step 705 shown in FIG. In step 705 shown in FIG. 7, print setting data 232 that is generated from step 610, for example, specified by the print instruction unit 244 of the shipping processing unit 240a as specified by the process ID is generated in the work space 230a. Is detected and the shipping process is started.

  In step 710, the print instruction unit 244 makes an output destination inquiry to the output condition control unit 242. This inquiry can be made by the process ID or the file name of the print setting data 232 obtained from the process ID. In step 715, the output condition control unit 242 acquires various information from the print setting data 232, and searches the matching table 246 for a matching condition.

  In step 720, the output condition control unit 242 reads the setting corresponding to the matched condition from the association table 246 and rewrites the print setting data 232. In addition, in the setting corresponding to the matched condition, when the content change of the image data is designated, the content change is also performed on the image data.

  In step 725, the output condition control unit 242 selects a printer at the base specified in the setting corresponding to the matched condition as an output destination, and then refers to the association table 246 and stores it in the information storage unit 262. Search for conditions that match the output destination information.

  In step 730, the output condition control unit 242 selects and acquires the output destination and output content change information corresponding to the searched condition from the association table 246. Then, the output condition control unit 242 rewrites the print setting data 232 and the image data based on the acquired change information. Searching again in this way and selecting the output destination is because the printer has been replaced, so the original output destination selection met the conditions, but the replaced printer did not meet the conditions It is also possible.

  After the output destination is selected, the process proceeds to step 735, where the output destination selected in step 725 and the condition matching the output destination information are searched in step 725, and the output destination selected based on the condition searched in step 730 To determine whether the output destination has been changed. If it is determined that the output destination has been changed, the output destination is not changed, and the processing in steps 725 to 735 is repeated until the output destination is determined.

  If it is determined in step 735 that the change is not made, the process proceeds to step 740, where the output condition control unit 242 determines the selected output destination, and prints the determined output destination as a response to the inquiry from the print instruction unit 244. Notification to the unit 244. At this time, if the output destination is changed by the output destination information, this is also notified at the same time. In the configuration including the image processing unit, the image processing unit appropriately performs imposition of the image data, print size, margin, and the like according to the rewritten print setting data 232.

  Next, in step 745, the print instruction unit 244 generates a print command in accordance with the contents of the rewritten print setting data 232 and the image data, and sends it to the remote driver 250a corresponding to the notified output destination printer. To do. In response to the print command, the remote driver 250a sends output data to a port monitor or the like, and prints it out with a printer as the determined output destination.

  In step 750, the print instruction unit 244 responds to the notification that the output destination received at the same time as the output destination has been changed, and instructs the execution of processing according to the preset content. For example, when it is set to add a cover page, a cover page print command can be sent to the remote driver 250a, and the cover page can be continuously printed out. If the output destination information includes information related to the transfer notification and is set to perform the transfer notification, the print instruction unit 244 also acquires the information related to the transfer notification from the output condition control unit 242, and outputs the output destination and Information relating to the transfer notification is sent to the display unit 248, and the display unit 248 uses the information to notify information about which printer has printed out.

  The instruction and processing in step 750 can be performed when the print notification is output at the output destination in step 745 for the transfer notification. The cover page can be printed at the end of the job. For this reason, when the printer finishes printing, the remote driver 250a sends a job completion notification to the print instruction unit 244, and the instance of the dispatch processing unit 240a receives this notification and ends the processing in step 755. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, even in an environment where printers from a plurality of vendors are mixed, the contents of the user, the computer terminal, the print setting information, the image data, etc. An apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable program for executing the method, which can change an output destination and output contents in accordance with conditions defined for the output, distribute the print destination to the changed output destination, and cause print output Can be provided.

  Further, according to the present invention, the output destination information can be easily changed when the printer is replaced by one computer terminal connected to the network or when a function such as ADF (Auto Document Feeder) is added to the printer. Reflecting the changed information, it is possible to easily determine the output destination and change the output contents. For this reason, it is not necessary to reset the output destination information of each output destination in the data processing apparatus, and the time and labor required for the setting can be reduced.

  The functions of this embodiment can be realized by a computer-readable program written in an object-oriented programming language such as C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), etc. -It can be provided by being stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a ROM, DVD, flexible disk, EEPROM, EPROM, SD card or the like. Also, this program can be provided by being transmitted via a network in a format that can be downloaded by another device.

  The present invention has been described with the above-described embodiments as a data processing apparatus, a printing system, a data processing method, and a program. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments are described. It is possible to make modifications within the scope that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, such as forms, additions, changes, and deletions, and any aspect is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printing system, 110 ... Data processing apparatus, 112, 114, 116, 118, 136 ... Computer terminal, 120, 122, 124, 126 ... Printer, 128 ... Network, 130 ... Modem, 132 ... Public communication network, 134 ... FAX apparatus, 200 ... application execution unit, 202 ... print request source management unit, 210 ... virtual printer driver, 212 ... virtual print management unit, 214 ... data extraction unit, 216 ... virtual drawing unit, 220 ... job storage unit, 230a- 230c ... workspace, 232 ... print setting data, 234a-234c ... job management list, 240a-240c ... dispatch processing unit, 242 ... output condition control unit, 244 ... print instruction unit, 246 ... association table, 248 ... display unit , 250a to 250c ... remote driver, 260 ... information communication Department, 262 ... information storage unit

JP 2011-002881 A

Claims (15)

A data processing apparatus that selects an output destination, instructs the selected output destination to perform printing, and executes printing.
In response to receiving job data, virtual printer driver means for generating image data from the job data and extracting print setting information from the job data;
Information communication means for receiving output destination information input as information about the output destination;
With reference to association data in which output destination and output content change information is associated with output conditions, transmission source identification information for identifying a transmission source of the job data included in the job data, the print setting information, and The output condition that matches the output destination information is searched, one or more output destinations corresponding to the output condition are selected, and the image data and the print setting information are based on the corresponding one or more change information. Output condition control means for rewriting the contents of
As executes printing using the image data and the print setting information is rewritten, seen including a print instruction unit that print instruction to the one or more output destination selected,
The association data is composed of first association data and second association data, and the output condition is composed of a first output condition and a second output condition,
The output condition control means refers to the first association data, searches for the first output condition that matches the transmission source identification information and the print setting information, and one or more corresponding to the first output condition Is selected as the first output destination, the second association data is referred to, the second output condition that matches the output destination information is searched, and one or more corresponding to the second output condition is retrieved. A data processing apparatus that selects an output destination as a second output destination, and selects the second output destination as an output destination to be instructed to print when the first output destination and the second output destination are different . The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output destination information includes information related to a maximum paper size and a function that can be fed by an output destination printing apparatus. The output destination information includes information indicating that the output destination printing apparatus has been replaced,
The data processing device responds to the reception of the output destination information with respect to the printer device corresponding to the printing device before replacement selected by the print instruction means to instruct printing, and corresponds to the printing device after replacement. replacing the printer driver, the data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The output destination information includes information indicating that the output destination printing apparatus cannot be used, and a FAX number of the FAX apparatus.
The output condition control means selects the FAX apparatus when the FAX number is input even if the output destination printing apparatus corresponding to the output destination information is unavailable, and the print instruction means It is instructed to print output to the FAX device selected, the data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The output destination information includes information that the output destination printing apparatus cannot be used, and information of one or more bases adjacent to the base where the printing apparatus is installed,
The output condition control means selects at least one base from the one or more bases nearby even if the output destination printing apparatus corresponding to the output destination information is unusable, and the print instruction means print instruction to output destination in the selected said locations, data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The output destination information includes information about the bandwidth of a communication line, the data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The output destination information includes information on the bandwidth of the communication line, and information on one or more bases adjacent to the base where the output destination printing apparatus is installed,
The output condition control means may include at least one base from the one or more bases nearby even when the bandwidth of a communication line that communicates with the output destination printing apparatus corresponding to the output destination information is narrowed. select the print instructing means print instruction to the output destination in said selected locations, the data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the print instruction unit issues a print instruction to an output destination at a site adjacent to the output destination selected by the output condition control unit, the print instruction control unit sends the output destination selected by the output condition control unit to a certain site. It instructs to print the cover page that describes the data processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 7. The output destination information further includes information on a contact and a contact method,
When the data processing apparatus issues a print instruction to an output destination at a base adjacent to the output destination selected by the output condition control unit, the data processing apparatus indicates that the print instruction is issued to an output destination at a base adjacent to the output destination. The data processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 7 , further comprising a notification means for notification. The data processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , one or more computer terminals that are connected to the data processing apparatus via a network and that are job data transmission sources, and 1 that is an output destination A printing system including the above printing apparatus. The computer terminal acquires and presents an input screen for inputting output destination information from the information communication means of the data processing device, and transmits the output destination information input on the input screen to the information communication means. The printing system according to claim 10 . The printing system according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the computer terminal functions as a printer server of the printing apparatus at the same base, and monitors a state of the printing apparatus and a communication state with the printing apparatus. A data processing method for selecting an output destination by a data processing apparatus, instructing a print to the selected output destination, and executing printing,
In response to receiving job data, generating image data from the job data, and extracting print setting information from the job data;
Receiving output destination information input as information about the output destination; and
With reference to association data in which output destination and output content change information is associated with output conditions, transmission source identification information for identifying a transmission source of the job data included in the job data, the print setting information, and The output condition that matches the output destination information is searched, one or more output destinations corresponding to the output condition are selected, and the image data and the print setting information are based on the corresponding one or more change information. Rewriting the contents of
To perform printing using the image data and the print setting information is rewritten, seen including a step of printing instruction to the one or more output destination selected,
The association data is composed of first association data and second association data, and the output condition is composed of a first output condition and a second output condition,
In the rewriting step, referring to the first association data, the first output condition that matches the transmission source identification information and the print setting information is searched, and one or more corresponding to the first output condition is retrieved. Selecting an output destination as a first output destination, referring to the second association data, searching for the second output condition that matches the output destination information, and one or more outputs corresponding to the second output condition A data processing method , wherein a destination is selected as a second output destination, and when the first output destination and the second output destination are different, the second output destination is selected as an output destination to be printed . A computer-readable program for executing the data processing method according to claim 13 . A recording medium on which the program according to claim 14 is recorded.