Server, computer program for server, and method performed by server

Abstract

To provide a new technology that enables a printer to perform printing appropriately.SOLUTION: A server may include: a print-related request reception unit that receives a print-related request from a specific printer among a plurality of printers after image data representing a target image and a plurality of pieces of printer identification information for identifying the plurality of printers are stored in association with each other; a screen information transmission unit that transmits, when a print-related request is received from the specific printer, and among the plurality of printers, there is one or more first-type printers that have capability to execute printing of the target image, screen information for displaying a selection screen having a mode capable of recognizing one or more first type printers to the specific printer; and a predetermined processing execution unit that executes, when a first printer is selected by a user on the selection screen after the screen information is transmitted to the specific printer, predetermined processing for causing the first printer to print the target image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification discloses a technology for causing a printer to execute printing using a server.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a print control device that functions as a virtual printer. The print control device acquires capability information from each of a plurality of printing devices and has a printing capability defined by the logical sum of the capability information. The print control device causes the printing device to execute printing based on print settings specified by a user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] This specification provides a novel technology that enables a printer to appropriately execute printing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This specification discloses a server. After image data representing a target image which is an image to be printed and a plurality of printer identification information for identifying a plurality of printers are stored in association with each other, a print relation request receiving unit that receives, from a specific printer among the plurality of printers, a print relation request related to printing of the target image; a screen information transmitting unit that transmits, to the specific printer, screen information for displaying a selection screen having a mode capable of recognizing one or more first type printers when the print relation request is received from the specific printer and there is one or more first type printers having an ability to execute printing of the target image among the plurality of printers; and a predetermined process execution unit that executes a predetermined process for causing the first printer among the one or more first type printers to execute printing of the target image when the first printer is selected by a user on the selection screen. The server may include these components.

[0006] According to the above configuration, when the server receives a print relation request from a specific printer among a plurality of printers, the server transmits screen information to the specific printer. Thereby, the user can recognize one or more first type printers. Thereafter, when the first printer among the one or more first type printers is selected by the user, the server executes a predetermined process. Thereby, the first printer executes printing of the target image. In this way, the server can appropriately cause the first printer to execute printing of the target image.

[0007] A computer program for realizing the above server, a computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program, and a method executed by the above server are also novel and useful. A communication system including the above server and other devices (for example, a plurality of printers, a specific printer, a first printer) is also novel and useful.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] (First Embodiment) (Configuration of Communication System 2; FIG. 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a plurality of printers 10, 50, a terminal 80, a print mediation server 100, and a management server 200. Each device 10, 50, 80, 100, 200 can communicate with each other via the Internet 6.

[0010] (Configuration of Printers 10, 50) Each printer 10, 50 is a peripheral device capable of executing a printing function (for example, a peripheral device of the terminal 80). The printer 10 has a printer ID "PID1". The printer 10 includes a display unit 12, a communication interface 14, a print execution unit 16, and a control unit 30. Hereinafter, the interface is described as "I / F".

[0011] The display unit 12 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 12 also functions as a touch panel (i.e., an operation unit) that receives instructions from the user. The communication I / F 14 is connected to the Internet 6. The communication I / F 14 may be a wireless I / F or a wired I / F. The printing execution unit 16 includes a printing mechanism such as an inkjet method or a laser method.

[0012] The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34. The memory 34 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device (not shown). The CPU 32 executes various processes according to a program 36 stored in the auxiliary storage device of the memory 34. Specifically, the CPU 32 loads the program 36 from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device and executes the program 36 to execute the various processes described above. The main storage device is, for example, a RAM and a cache memory. The auxiliary storage device may be, for example, a flash memory, an SSD (abbreviation for Solid State Drive), or a ROM, or a combination thereof.

[0013] The printer 50 has a printer ID "PID2". The printer 50 has the same configuration as the printer 10 except that the printer ID is different.

[0014] (Configuration of the terminal 80) The terminal 80 is a user terminal used by the users of the printers 10 and 50. The terminal 80 may be, for example, a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a notebook PC, or a tablet PC, or a stationary terminal device such as a desktop PC.

[0015] (Configuration of the printing mediation server 100) The printing intermediary server 100 is a server that provides a cloud printing service. In this embodiment, the printing intermediary server 100 is not a server installed by the vendors of the printers 10 and 50, but a server installed by an operator that provides a cloud printing service. In a modified example, the printing intermediary server 100 may be a server installed by the vendors of the printers 10 and 50. The printing intermediary server 100 stores, for example, the image data received from the terminal 80, and transmits the image data to the printer in response to a request from the printer.

[0016] The printing intermediary server 100 includes a communication I / F 102 and a control unit 110. The communication I / F 102 is connected to the Internet 6. The control unit 110 includes a CPU 112 and a memory 114. The memory 114 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. As an example, the main storage device includes a RAM and a cache memory. As an example, the auxiliary storage device may be a ROM, a flash memory, an SSD, an HDD, or a combination thereof. A program 116 is stored in the auxiliary storage device of the memory 114. The CPU 112 realizes various processes according to the program loaded from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device.

[0017] The auxiliary storage device of the memory 114 further stores a group table 118, a registration table 120, a printer attribute table 122, a virtual printer table 124, a job list 126, and a job table 128. Details of the content of each table will be described later with reference to FIG. 2.

[0018] (Configuration of the management server 200) The management server 200 is installed by the vendors of the printers 10 and 50. In a modified example, the management server 200 may be installed on the Internet 6 by an operator different from the vendor. In another modified example, the vendors of the printers 10 and 50 may utilize the environment provided by an external cloud computing service without preparing the hardware of the management server 200 by themselves. In this case, the vendor may prepare the program (i.e., software) of the management server 200 and introduce it into the above environment to realize the management server 200.

[0019] The management server 200 includes a communication I / F 202 and a control unit 210. The communication I / F 202 is connected to the Internet 6. The control unit 210 includes a CPU 212 and a memory 214. The memory 214 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. As an example, the main storage device includes a RAM and a cache memory. As an example, the auxiliary storage device may be a ROM, a flash memory, an SSD, an HDD, or a combination thereof. A program 216 is stored in the auxiliary storage device of the memory 214. The CPU 212 realizes various processes according to the program loaded from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device.

[0020] The auxiliary storage device of the memory 214 further stores a printer table 218. Details of the content of the printer table 218 will be described later with reference to FIG. 2.

[0021] (Contents of each table; FIG. 2) With reference to FIG. 2, the contents of each of the tables 118 to 128 stored in the print mediation server 100 and the printer table 218 stored in the management server 200 will be described.

[0022] The group table 118 is a table for managing users belonging to a group. In the group table 118, a group ID (e.g., "G1") and user IDs (e.g., "U1", "U2") are stored in association with each other. The group ID is information for identifying a group. The user ID is information for identifying a user belonging to a group (e.g., an organization within a company) identified by the group ID.

[0023] The registration table 120 is a table for registering information about printers. In the registration table 120, for each of a plurality of printers, a printer ID (e.g., "PID1"), an access token (e.g., "AT1"), and a group ID (e.g., "G1") are stored in association with each other. The printer ID is information for identifying a printer. The access token is authentication information for executing communication with the printer.

[0024] The printer attribute table 122 stores the capability information of the printer. In this embodiment, in the printer attribute table 122, the capability information of each of two types of printers is registered. One printer is an actual printer such as printer 10, 50. The other printer is a virtual printer virtually registered on the print mediation server 100. In the printer attribute table 122, a printer ID (e.g., "PID1"), information indicating whether it is an actual printer or a virtual printer, and capability information (e.g., "C1") are stored in association with each other. The capability information indicates the capabilities available for the printer to perform printing. The capability information includes color information (e.g., "color", "grayscale"), paper size information (e.g., "A4", "B5"), media information (e.g., "plain paper", "glossy paper", "envelope", "postcard"), resolution information (e.g., "x:300dpi, y:300dpi", "x:600dpi, y:600dpi"), and paper discharge setting information (e.g., "single-sided", "double-sided (long-edge binding)", "double-sided (short-edge binding)").

[0025] The virtual printer table 124 is a table for managing virtual printers. In the virtual printer table 124, a virtual printer ID (e.g., "VID1") and a group ID (e.g., "G1") are stored in association with each other.

[0026] The job list 126 is a table for managing print jobs. In the job list 126, a virtual printer ID which is the printer ID of a virtual printer or a printer ID of an actual printer (e.g., "VID1") and a job ID (e.g., "J1") are stored in association with each other. The job ID is information for identifying a print job and is generated when a job generation request including image data is received from a terminal (e.g., terminal 80).

[0027] The job table 128 is a table for managing the specific contents of a print job. In the job table 128, a job ID (e.g., "J1"), a print permission user ID (e.g., "U2"), an upload user ID (e.g., "U1"), job information (e.g., "J1"), and image data (e.g., "F1") are stored in association with each other. The print permission user ID is the user ID of a user who is permitted to execute printing according to the print job. The upload user ID is the user ID of a user who uploaded the image data to the print mediation server 100. Each piece of information in the job table 128 is stored when a job generation request including image data is received from a terminal (e.g., terminal 80).

[0028] In the printer table 218 of the management server 200, a virtual printer ID (e.g., "VID1") and printer IDs (e.g., "PID1", "PID2") are stored in association with each other.

[0029] (Registration process of printer 10; FIG. 3) Referring to FIG. 3, a process for registering information about the printer 10 in the print mediation server 100 will be described. Hereinafter, from the perspective of ease of understanding, when describing the processes executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10 and the CPUs 112 and 212 of the respective servers 100 and 200 according to the programs 36, 116, and 216, instead of describing the CPUs 32, 112, and 212 as the main bodies, the printer 10 and the respective servers 100 and 200 will be described as the main bodies. Also, all the following communications executed by the printer 10 or the like are executed via the communication I / F 14 or the like. Therefore, hereinafter, when describing the processes related to communication, the description "via the communication I / F (e.g., 14)" will be omitted.

[0030] When the terminal 80 receives an operation from the user, it accesses the web server in the printer 10. Then, when the terminal 80 further receives an operation from the user for the printer 10 to receive the cloud printing service, at T10, the registration instruction is sent to the printer 10.

[0031] When the printer 10 receives the registration instruction from the terminal 80 at T10, at T12, a registration request including the printer ID "PID1" is sent to the print mediation server 100.

[0032] When the print mediation server 100 receives the registration request from the printer 10 at T12, at T14, a PIN code is generated, and the printer ID "PID1" included in the registration request and the generated PIN code are associated and stored. Next, at T20, the print mediation server 100 sends the PIN code and the login URL (abbreviation of Uniform Resource Locator) to the printer 10. The login URL is information indicating the position of the authentication screen data described later in the print mediation server 100.

[0033] When the printer 10 receives the PIN code and the URL from the print mediation server 100 at T20, at T22, they are sent to the terminal 80.

[0034] When the terminal 80 receives the PIN code and the URL from the printer 10 at T22, it displays the received PIN code and URL at T24. Next, when the terminal 80 receives an operation of selecting the URL from the user at T30, it transmits an authentication request including the URL to the print mediation server 100 at T40.

[0035] When the print mediation server 100 receives the authentication request from the terminal 80 at T40, it transmits the authentication screen data specified by the URL included in the authentication request to the terminal 80 at T42. The authentication screen data is data representing an authentication screen for inputting the PIN code.

[0036] When the terminal 80 receives the authentication screen data from the print mediation server 100 at T42, it displays the authentication screen represented by the authentication screen data at T44. Next, the terminal 80 receives the input of the PIN code and the account information displayed at T24 from the user at T46. The account information includes the user ID "U1", the group ID "G1" that identifies the group to which the user belongs, and the password "PW1" of the group. The terminal 80 transmits the input PIN code and account information to the print mediation server 100 at T50.

[0037] When the print mediation server 100 receives the PIN code and account information from the terminal 80 at T50, it executes the authentication of this information at T52. Specifically, the print mediation server 100 first determines whether the received PIN code has already been stored. In this case, the print mediation server 100 has already stored the PIN code at T14. Also, the print mediation server 100 determines whether the received account information has already been stored. Although omitted in FIG. 2, the print mediation server 100 has previously received the registration of the group ID "G1" and the password "PW1" from an administrator of the printers 10, 50, etc. Also, although not shown, the print mediation server 100 has previously received the registration of the user IDs "U1", "U2" of each user belonging to the group identified by the group ID "G1" from an administrator of the printers 10, 50, etc. Therefore, in the group table 118 of the print mediation server 100, the group ID "G1" is stored in association with the user IDs "U1", "U2". When the print mediation server 100 determines that the received PIN code has already been stored and the received account information has already been stored, that is, when the authentication is successful, at T54, it generates an access token "AT1" which is a unique character string. Then, at T56, the print mediation server 100 stores the printer ID "PID1", the generated access token "AT1", and the received group ID "G1" in the registration table 120 in association with each other. Next, at T58, the print mediation server 100 transmits an authentication notification including the generated access token "AT1" to the printer 10.

[0038] When the printer 10 receives an authentication notice from the print mediation server 100 at T58, at T60, it stores the access token "AT1" included in the authentication notice in the memory 34, and at T62, it uses the access token "AT1" to establish a permanent connection with the print mediation server 100. The permanent connection is a connection that enables the print mediation server 100 to send signals to the printer 10 even without the printer 10 sending signals to the print mediation server 100, that is, a connection for executing server push-type communication. For the permanent connection, for example, the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) is used.

[0039] Next, at T70, the printer 10 sends a capability registration request to the print mediation server 100. The capability registration request includes the printer ID "PID1" and the capability information "C1" of the printer 10. The capability information "C1" includes color information ("color" and "grayscale"), paper size information ("A4" and "B5"), media information ("plain paper", "glossy paper", "envelope", and "postcard"), resolution information ("x: 300 dpi, y: 300 dpi", "x: 600 dpi, y: 600 dpi"), and paper discharge setting information ("single-sided", "double-sided (long-edge binding)", "double-sided (short-edge binding)").

[0040] When the print mediation server 100 receives a capability registration request from the printer 10 at T70, at T72, it associates the printer ID "PID1", the information "existence" indicating that it is an existing printer, and the capability information "C1" included in the capability registration request, and registers them in the printer attribute table 122. Thereby, the registration process of the information regarding the printer 10 is completed.

[0041] (Registration process of printer 50; Figure 4) Referring to FIG. 4, a process for registering information about the printer 50 in the print mediation server 100 will be described. In the terminal 80, the printer 50, and the print mediation server 100, the same processes as T10 to T54 in FIG. 3 are executed. In T156, the print mediation server 100 stores in the registration table 120 by associating the printer ID "PID2", the generated access token "AT2", and the received group ID "G1". In T158, the print mediation server 100 sends an authentication notification including the generated access token "AT2" to the printer 50.

[0042] When the printer 50 receives the authentication notification from the print mediation server 100 in T158, in T160, it stores the access token "AT2" included in the authentication notification in a memory (not shown), and in T162, it uses the access token "AT2" to establish a permanent connection with the print mediation server 100.

[0043] Next, in T170, the printer 50 sends a capability registration request to the print mediation server 100. The capability registration request includes the printer ID "PID2" and the capability information "C2" of the printer 50. The capability information "C2" includes color information ("grayscale" and "monochrome"), paper size information ("A3", "A4", and "B5"), media information ("plain paper", "glossy paper", and "envelope"), resolution information ("x: 300 dpi, y: 300 dpi"), and paper discharge setting information ("single-sided"). Thus, in this embodiment, the capability information "C2" of the printer 50 is different from the capability information "C1" of the printer 10.

[0044] When the print mediation server 100 receives the capability registration request from the printer 10 in T170, in T172, it registers in the printer attribute table 122 by associating the printer ID "PID2", the information "existing" indicating that it is an actual printer, and the capability information "C2" included in the capability registration request. Thereby, the registration process of the information about the printer 50 is completed.

[0045] (Creation process of virtual printer; FIG. 5) Referring to FIG. 5, a process for registering information regarding a virtual printer in the print mediation server 100 will be described.

[0046] A user identified by the user ID "U1" executes, on the T200, a virtual printer generation operation including the input of the user ID "U1" on the terminal 80 (the trigger in FIG. 5). In this case, the terminal 80 transmits, on the T202, a virtual printer generation request including the user ID "U1" to the management server 200.

[0047] When the management server 200 receives a virtual printer generation request from the terminal 80 on the T202, it transmits the virtual printer generation request to the print mediation server 100.

[0048] When the print mediation server 100 receives a virtual printer generation request from the management server 200 on the T202, it generates a virtual printer ID "VID1" on the T204. Next, the print mediation server 100 identifies, from the group table 118, the group ID "G1" associated with the user ID "U1" included in the virtual printer creation request, and stores the generated virtual printer ID "VID1" and the identified group ID "G1" in association with each other in the virtual printer table 124. The print mediation server 100 further registers the generated virtual printer ID "VID1" and information "virtual" indicating that it is a virtual printer in association with each other in the printer attribute table 122. At this point, the capability information of the virtual printer is not yet stored in the printer attribute table 122.

[0049] (Virtual printer association process; FIG. 6) Referring to FIG. 6, a process for associating the virtual printer ID "VID1" with the printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" of physical printers will be described.

[0050] The user identified by the user ID "U1" executes, at T250, a virtual printer association operation including the input of the user ID "U1" on the terminal 80. In this case, the terminal 80 transmits, at T252, a printer list request including the user ID "U1" to the management server 200.

[0051] When the management server 200 receives a printer list request from the terminal 80 at T252, it transmits the printer list request to the print mediation server 100.

[0052] When the print mediation server 100 receives a printer list request from the management server 200 at T252, it identifies, from the group table 118, the group ID "G1" associated with the user ID "U1" included in the printer list request. Next, the print mediation server 100 identifies, from the registration table 120, the printer IDs "PID1", "PID2" associated with the identified group ID "G1". Next, the print mediation server 100 identifies, from the virtual printer table 124, the virtual printer ID "VID1" associated with the identified group ID "G1". Then, at T254, the print mediation server 100 transmits a printer list including the identified printer IDs "PID1", "PID2", and the identified virtual printer ID "VID1" to the management server 200.

[0053] When the management server 200 receives a printer list from the print mediation server 100 at T254, it transmits the printer list to the terminal 80.

[0054] When the terminal 80 receives the printer list from the management server 200 at T254, it displays a printer list screen showing each printer ID "PID1", "PID2", "VID1" included in the printer list at T260. At T262, the terminal 80 accepts the selection of "PID1" and "PID2" as the printer IDs of existing printers and the selection of "VID1" as the printer ID of the virtual printer from the user on the printer list screen. In this case, the terminal 80 transmits an association request including the selected printer IDs "PID1", "PID2", "VID1" to the management server 200 at T264.

[0055] When the management server 200 receives the association request from the terminal 80 at T264, it associates the printer IDs "PID1", "PID2" of the existing printers included in the association request with the virtual printer ID "VID1" included in the association request and stores them in the printer table 218 at T264. Then, the management server 200 transmits a capability request including each printer ID "PID1", "PID2", "VID1" to the print mediation server 100.

[0056] When the print mediation server 100 receives a capability request from the management server 200 at T270, first, from the printer attribute table 122, it identifies the capability information "C1" associated with the printer ID "PID1" included in the capability request and the capability information "C2" associated with the printer ID "PID2" included in the capability request. The union set is the capability information included in at least one of the capability information "C1" and the capability information "C2". The capability information "C3" includes color information ("color", "grayscale", and "monochrome"), paper size information ("A3", "A4", and "B5"), media information ("plain paper", "glossy paper", "envelope", and "postcard"), resolution information ("x:300dpi, y:300dpi" and "x:600dpi, y:600dpi"), and paper discharge setting information ("single-sided", "double-sided (long-edge binding)", and "double-sided (short-edge binding)"). Then, at T272, the print mediation server 100 sends a capability response including the combination of the printer ID "PID1" and the capability information "C1", the combination of the printer ID "PID2" and the capability information "C2", and the virtual printer ID "VID1" to the management server 200. Note that in the printer attribute table 122, the capability information of the virtual printer ID "VID1" has not been stored yet, so the capability information of the virtual printer ID "VID1" is not sent in this capability response.

[0057] When the management server 200 receives a capability response from the print mediation server 100 at T272, it generates the capability information "C3" of the virtual printer ID "VID1" by identifying the union set of the capability information "C1" and "C2" included in the capability response. Then, the management server 200 sends a capability update request including the virtual printer ID "VID1" included in the capability response and the generated capability information "C3" to the print mediation server 100.

[0058] When the print mediation server 100 receives a capability update request from the management server 200 in T274, in T276, it associates the virtual printer ID "VID1" included in the capability update request with the capability information "C3" included in the capability update request and stores them in the printer attribute table 122. Thereby, the process of FIG. 6 ends.

[0059] (Specific cases; FIGS. 7 to 9) With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, after the information is stored in each table as described above, specific cases A and B where the printer executes image printing will be described. First, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, case A where the printer on which the printing operation is performed by the user has the capability to execute image printing will be described, and then, with reference to FIG. 9, case B where the printer on which the printing operation is performed by the user does not have the capability to execute image printing will be described.

[0060] In the initial state of FIG. 7, the print mediation server 100 and the printer 50 always establish a connection (see T162 in FIG. 4). In T300, the terminal 80 receives a login operation including the input of the user ID "U1" (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "upload user ID 'U1'") from a user who desires to upload image data representing the image to be printed to the print mediation server 100. In this case, in T302, the terminal 80 transmits a login request including the user ID "U1" to the print mediation server 100.

[0061] When the print mediation server 100 receives a login request from the terminal 80 at T302, it identifies the group ID "G1" associated with the user ID "U1" included in the login request from the group table 118, and identifies the virtual printer ID "VID1" associated with the identified group ID "G1" from the virtual printer table 124. Then, the print mediation server 100 identifies the capability information "C3" associated with the virtual printer ID "VID1" from the printer attribute table 122. At T304, the print mediation server 100 transmits the identified virtual printer ID "VID1" and the identified capability information "C3" to the terminal 80.

[0062] When the terminal 80 receives the virtual printer ID "VID1" and the capability information "C3" from the print mediation server 100 at T304, it displays the virtual printer ID "VID1" and the capability information "C3" at T306. Specifically, when the user selects the image data "F1" as the printing target, the terminal 80 displays a print settings screen for specifying the print settings for the image represented by the image data "F1". The print settings screen has a display mode in which the virtual printer ID "VID1" can be selected, and a display mode in which print settings can be specified from the capability information "C3". The print settings screen further has a display mode in which the user ID of the user permitted to execute printing (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "print permission user ID") can be specified. At T308, the terminal 80 receives from the user the selection of the virtual printer ID "VID1", the specification of the print settings, and the specification of the print permission user ID "U2" on the print settings screen. In this case, the specified print settings include the color setting "Color", the paper size setting "A4", the media setting "Plain Paper", the resolution setting "x: 300 dpi, y: 300 dpi", and the paper output setting "Single-sided". Then, at T310, the terminal 80 transmits a job generation request including the virtual printer ID "VID1", the print permission user ID "U2", the upload user ID "U1", the image data "F1", and the specified print settings to the print mediation server 100.

[0063] Here, the image data "F1" included in the job generation request includes the attributes of the image data and the print data. The attributes of the image data indicate the print settings specified by the user at T308 in FIG. 7. In this case, it includes "color", "A4", "plain paper", "x: 300 dpi, y: 300 dpi", and "single-sided". The print data is data representing the image to be printed itself. Although not particularly limited, the attributes of the image data are described in, for example, the page header. Although not particularly limited, the print data is, for example, raster data.

[0064] When the print mediation server 100 receives a job generation request from the terminal 80 at T310, it generates a job ID "J1" at T312. Then, the print mediation server 100 associates the virtual printer ID "VID1" included in the job generation request with the generated job ID "J1" and stores it in the job list 126. Next, the print mediation server 100 associates the generated job ID "J1" with each piece of information included in the job generation request (that is, the print permission user ID "U2", the upload user ID "U1", the print settings, the image data "F1") and stores it in the job table 128. Here, the print settings are stored in the job table 128 as job information "JI1". As a result, the image data "F1" is uploaded to the print mediation server 100.

[0065] Note that the print data included in the image data "F1" stored in the job table 128 may be the data itself uploaded from the terminal 80, or may be the data after a predetermined conversion is performed by the print mediation server 100 on the data uploaded from the terminal 80.

[0066] After that, in T320 of FIG. 8, when the user identified by the user ID "U2" desires to print the image represented by the image data "F1", the printer 50 executes a printing operation including the input of the user ID "U2". When the printer 50 receives the printing operation in T320, in T322, it transmits a job list request including the user ID "U2" to the management server 200.

[0067] When the management server 200 receives the job list request from the printer 50 in T322, in T324, it transmits the job list request to the printing mediation server 100.

[0068] When the printing mediation server 100 receives the job list request from the management server 200 in T324, it identifies the group ID "G1" associated with the user ID "U2" included in the job list request from the group table 118. Next, the printing mediation server 100 identifies the virtual printer ID "VID1" associated with the identified group ID "G1" from the virtual printer table 124. Next, the printing mediation server 100 identifies the job ID "J1" associated with the identified virtual printer ID "VID1" from the job list 126. Then, the printing mediation server 100 identifies the printing permission user ID "U2" associated with the identified job ID "J1" from the job table 128, and determines whether the identified printing permission user ID "U2" matches the user ID "U2" included in the job list request. If the printing mediation server 100 determines that they match, in T326, it transmits a job list including the identified job ID "J1" to the management server 200. On the other hand, if the printing mediation server 100 determines that they do not match, it does not transmit the job ID "J1" to the management server 200. According to this configuration, only the job IDs for which printing is permitted for the user who executed the printing operation in T320 are transmitted to the management server 200.

[0069] When the management server 200 receives a job list from the print mediation server 100 at T326, it sends the job list to the printer 50 at T328.

[0070] When the printer 50 receives a job list from the management server 200 at T328, it displays the job ID "J1" included in the job list on the display unit at T330. When the printer 50 receives a selection of the job ID "J1" from the user in the job list at T332, it sends a print-related request including the selected job ID "J1" and the printer ID "PID2" to the management server 200 at T334.

[0071] When the management server 200 receives a print-related request from the printer 50 at T334, it sends the print-related request to the print mediation server 100 at T336.

[0072] When the print mediation server 100 receives a print-related request from the management server 200 at T336, it identifies the job information "JI1" associated with the job ID "J1" included in the print-related request from the job table 128 at T338. Also, the print mediation server 100 identifies the group ID "G1" associated with the printer ID "PID2" included in the print-related request from the registration table 120. Then, the print mediation server 100 identifies the printer ID "PID1" associated with the identified group ID "G1" from the registration table 120, and identifies the capability information "C1" associated with the identified printer ID "PID1" and the capability information "C2" associated with the printer ID "PID2" included in the print-related request from the printer attribute table 122. Then, the print mediation server 100 sends the identified job information "JI1", the combination of the printer ID "PID1" and the capability information "C1", and the combination of the printer ID "PID2" and the capability information "C2" to the management server 200.

[0073] In T338, when the management server 200 receives job information "JI1" etc. from the print mediation server 100, it uses the job information "JI1" and each piece of capability information "C1", "C2" to determine whether each of the printers 10 and 50 has the capability (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "printing capability") to execute printing according to the printing settings included in the job information "JI1", that is, printing of the image represented by the print data included in the image data "F1". Specifically, the job information "JI1" indicates "color", "A4", "plain paper", "x:300dpi,y:300dpi", and "single-sided". The capability information "C1" includes "color", "grayscale", "A4", "B5", "plain paper", "glossy paper", "envelope", "postcard", "x:300dpi,y:300dpi", "x:600dpi,y:600dpi", "single-sided", "double-sided (long-edge binding)", and "double-sided (short-edge binding)". Thus, since all of the printing settings indicated by the job information "JI1" are included in the capability information "C1", the management server 200 determines in T340 that the printer 10 has the printing capability.

[0074] On the one hand, the capability information "C2" includes "grayscale", "monochrome", "A3", "A4", "B5", "plain paper", "glossy paper", "envelope", "x:300dpi, y:300dpi", and "single-sided". Since the "color" in the job information "JI1" is not included in the capability information "C2", the management server 200 determines at T342 that the printer 50 does not have printing capabilities. That is, in order for the printer 50 to execute the printing of the image, it is necessary to downgrade the image. In this case, the management server 200 determines the downgrading method. Specifically, the management server 200 determines to downgrade the "color" indicated by the job information "JI1" to the "grayscale" available to the printer 50. Here, the management server 200 adopts the "grayscale" that is most similar to the "color" indicated by the job information "JI1" among the "grayscale" and "monochrome" available to the printer 50. Here, "most similar" can also be rephrased as "closest", or "the highest image reproducibility", or "the smallest degree of image quality degradation due to downgrading".

[0075] Next, at T344, the management server 200 assigns priorities to each of the printers 10 and 50 identified by the printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" using the judgment results of T340 and T342. In this embodiment, the management server 200 assigns a higher rank to the printer 10 determined to have printing capabilities at T340 and a lower rank to the printer 50 determined not to have printing capabilities at T342. Although only two printers 10 and 50 exist in this embodiment, for example, there may be two or more printers determined to have printing capabilities and two or more printers determined not to have printing capabilities. In this case, the management server 200 assigns a higher rank to the former two or more printers and a lower rank to the latter two or more printers. And for the former two or more printers, those with higher printing capabilities may be listed higher, and for the latter two or more printers, those with higher printing capabilities may be listed higher.

[0076] In T346, the management server 200 sends the selection screen information to the printer 50. The selection screen information includes each printer ID with a priority assigned (1 - "PID1", 2 - "PID2"). Information indicating that it has printing capabilities is associated with 1 - "PID1". Information indicating that it does not have printing capabilities and information indicating that a downgrade from "color" to "grayscale" is required are associated with 2 - "PID2".

[0077] When the printer 50 receives the selection screen information from the management server 200 at T346, it displays the selection screen SC1 according to the selection screen information at T350. The selection screen SC1 includes a message prompting the selection of a printer to execute printing. The selection screen SC1 further includes each printer ID "PID1", "PID2" at positions according to the priority included in the selection screen information. That is, each printer ID is arranged so that the higher the priority, the higher the position. As a result, the user can preferentially select the printer ID located at the top. That is, the user can preferentially select a printer capable of executing the printing of the original image. Also, in the selection screen information, information indicating that it has printing ability is associated with "PID1". Therefore, the selection screen SC1 includes a message indicating that it is possible to execute the printing of the original image in association with the printer ID "PID1". As a result, a button B1 including the printer ID "PID1" and the message is configured. Also, in the selection screen information, information indicating that it does not have printing ability and information indicating that a downgrade from "color" to "grayscale" is required are associated with "PID2". Therefore, the selection screen SC1 includes a message indicating that a downgrade from "color" to "grayscale" is required in association with the printer ID "PID2". As a result, a button B2 including the printer ID "PID2" and the message is configured. Since the selection screen SC1 is displayed, the user can distinguish and recognize between the printer 10 with printing ability and the printer 50 without printing ability (i.e., the printer 50 that requires a downgrade of the image) among the printers 10 and 50. Also, the user can recognize the downgrading method for the printer 50.

[0078] If the user wishes to have the printer 50 execute printing without moving to the location of another printer, at T352 in FIG. 9, the user selects the button B2 included in the selection screen SC1. Here, the operation of the user selecting the button B2 is an operation of selecting the printer 50 that should execute the printing of the image represented by the image data "F1" from among the plurality of printers 10 and 50. When the printer 50 receives the selection of the button B2 from the user, at T354, it transmits the printer ID "PID2" corresponding to the button B2 to the management server 200.

[0079] When the management server 200 receives the printer ID "PID2" from the printer 50 at T354, at T356, it updates the printing settings indicated by the job information "JI1" received at T338 in FIG. 8. Specifically, the management server 200 downgrades the "color" indicated by the job information "JI1" to "grayscale" to generate the job information "JI2".

[0080] Next, at T358, the management server 200 transmits the job information "JI2" and a redirect request requesting redirection to the printer 50 to the print mediation server 100.

[0081] When the print mediation server 100 receives the job information "JI2" and the redirect request from the management server 200 at T358, at T360, it deletes the job ID "J1" and the virtual printer ID "VID1" associated with the job ID "J1" from the job list 126. Then, the print mediation server 100 associates the job ID "J1" with the printer ID "PID2" and stores it in the job list 126. The print mediation server 100 further updates the job information "JI1" stored in the job table 128 to the received job information "JI2" at T362. Then, at T364, the print mediation server 100 uses the always-connected connection to transmit a job notification including the job ID "J1" to the printer 50.

[0082] When the printer 50 receives a job notification from the print mediation server 100 at T364, it transmits a job request including the job ID "J1" contained in the job notification to the print mediation server 100 at T366.

[0083] When the print mediation server 100 receives a job request from the printer 10 at T366, it identifies job information "JI2" and image data "F1" associated with the job ID "J1" contained in the job request from the job table 128. Then, the print mediation server 100 transmits a print instruction including the identified job information "JI1" and the identified image data "F1" to the printer 50 at T368.

[0084] When the printer 50 receives a print instruction from the print mediation server 100 at T368, at T370, it determines whether the printer 50 has printing capabilities by using the print settings indicated by the job information "JI2" and the print settings indicated by the attributes included in the image data "F1". In this case, since the print settings indicated by the job information "JI2" include "grayscale" while the attributes of the image data "F1" include "color", the print settings indicated by the job information "JI2" and the print settings indicated by the attributes of the image data "F1" do not match. In this case, the printer 50 determines that the printer 50 does not have printing capabilities.

[0085] Therefore, at T372, the printer 50 converts the print data according to the print settings indicated by the job information "JI2" to generate binary data. Specifically, the printer 50 generates binary data of "grayscale" from the print data of "color". In other words, the printer 50 downgrades a "color" image to a "grayscale" image. Then, at T374, the printer 50 supplies the generated binary data to the print execution unit 16 to cause the print execution unit 16 to execute printing according to the print settings indicated by the job information "JI2".

[0086] (Processing of Case B; Figure 10) Next, with reference to FIG. 10, case B where printer 10 having printing capabilities is selected will be described. When the user desires to execute printing of the original image, at T400, the user selects button B1 included in selection screen SC1. Here, the operation of the user selecting button B1 is an operation of selecting printer 10 that should execute printing of the image represented by image data "F1" from among a plurality of printers 10 and 50.

[0087] When printer 50 receives the selection of button B1 from the user, at T402, it transmits printer ID "PID1" corresponding to button B1 to management server 200.

[0088] When management server 200 receives printer ID "PID1" from printer 50 at T402, at T404, it transmits movement instruction screen information to printer 50. The movement instruction screen information includes a message prompting to move to the printer identified by printer ID "PID1".

[0089] When printer 50 receives the movement instruction screen information from management server 200 at T404, at T406, it displays movement instruction screen SC2. Movement instruction screen SC2 includes the above message including printer ID "PID1". For this reason, the user can recognize that they should move to printer 10.

[0090] Then, at T410, management server 200 transmits a redirect request to print mediation server 100 requesting a redirect to printer 10 in order to cause printer 10 to execute printing of the image represented by image data "F1".

[0091] When the print mediation server 100 receives a redirect request from the management server 200 at T410, at T412, it deletes the job ID "J1" and the virtual printer ID "VID1" associated with the job ID "J1" from the job list 126. Then, the print mediation server 100 associates the job ID "J1" with the printer ID "PID1" and stores it in the job list 126. Then, at T414, the print mediation server 100 uses the always-connected connection to send a job notification including the job ID "J1" to the printer 10.

[0092] When the printer 10 receives a job notification from the print mediation server 100 at T414, at T416, it sends a job request including the job ID "J1" included in the job notification to the print mediation server 100.

[0093] When the print mediation server 100 receives a job request from the printer 10 at T416, it identifies the job information "JI1" and the image data "F1" associated with the job ID "J1" included in the job request from the job table 128. Then, at T418, the print mediation server 100 sends a job including the identified job information "JI1" and the identified image data "F1" to the printer 10.

[0094] When the printer 10 receives a job from the print mediation server 100 at T418, it determines whether the printer 10 has printing capabilities using the printing settings indicated by the job information "JI1" and the printing settings indicated by the attributes included in the image data "F1". In this case, since both match, the printer 10 determines at T420 that the printer 10 has printing capabilities. In this case, the printer 10 supplies the print data to the print execution unit 16 at T422 without performing processing for downgrading the print data, and causes the print execution unit 16 to execute printing according to the printing settings indicated by the job information "JI1".

[0095] (Effect of this embodiment) According to the above configuration, when the management server 200 receives a printing-related request from the printer 50 among the printers 10 and 50, it transmits screen information to the printer 50 (T346 in FIG. 8). Thereby, the user can distinguish and recognize the printer 10 with printing capabilities and the printer 50 without printing capabilities. Thereafter, when the printer 10 is selected by the user, the management server 200 transmits a redirection request for requesting redirection to the printer 10 to the print mediation server 100 (T410 in FIG. 10). Thereby, the printer 10 executes printing of the original image (T422). In this way, even when the printer 50, which is the source of the printing-related request, does not have printing capabilities, the management server 200 can appropriately cause the printer 10 with printing capabilities to execute printing of the image.

[0096] According to the above configuration, the uploading user can specify a printing-permitted user. The uploading user (“U1”) can permit printing to another user (“U2”) within the company, for example, by designating the other user as the printing-permitted user (T308 in FIG. 7). In a modification, the printing-permitted user and the uploading user may be the same. In this case, the uploading user can cause the printer to execute printing of the image represented by the image data uploaded by the user himself / herself.

[0097] According to the above configuration, the management server 200 stores in the printer table 218 the association of the virtual printer ID "VID1" with the printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2". Also, in the print mediation server 100, the image data "F1" is stored in the job table 128 and the job list 126 in association with the virtual printer ID "VID1". Therefore, the image data "F1" is stored in association with the printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" via the virtual printer ID "VID1". According to such a configuration, after the user uploads the image data "F1" to the print mediation server 100 using the virtual printer ID "VID1" (T354 in FIG. 8), the user or a different user can use the physical printer 50 (T334 in FIG. 8, T402 in FIG. 10) to cause the printers 10 and 50 to execute printing of the image represented by the image data "F1" (T374 in FIG. 9, T422 in FIG. 10).

[0098] (Corresponding relationship) The management server 200 is an example of a "server". The printers 10 and 50 are examples of "a plurality of printers". The printer 50 is an example of a "specific printer" and a "second type of printer". The printer 10 is an example of a "first type of printer" and a "first printer". The printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" are examples of "a plurality of printer identification information". The image data "F1" is an example of "image data". The selection screen SC1 and the selection screen information of T346 are examples of a "selection screen" and "selection screen information", respectively. T410 in FIG. 10 is an example of a "predetermined process". The buttons B1 and B2 on the selection screen SC1 are examples of "first type of information" and "second type of information", respectively. "Color" and "grayscale" are examples of "first print setting" and "second print setting", respectively. The user ID "U2" is an example of "user identification information". The virtual printer ID "VID1" is an example of "virtual printer identification information".

[0099] The processes executed by T334 and T346 in FIG. 8 are examples of the processes executed by the "printing-related request receiving unit" and the "screen information transmitting unit", respectively. The process executed by T410 in FIG. 10 is an example of the process executed by the "predetermined process execution unit".

[0100] (Second Embodiment; FIG. 11) Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the selection screen displayed by the printer 50 is different from that of the first embodiment. In the terminal 80 (not shown), the management server 200, the printing mediation server 100, and the printer 50, processes similar to T320 to T342 in FIG. 8 are executed.

[0101] When the management server 200 determines that the printer 10 has printing capabilities (T340) and determines that the printer 50 does not have printing capabilities (T342), at T450, it identifies only the printer ID "PID1" of the printer 10 with printing capabilities. Then, at T452, the management server 200 transmits the selection screen information to the printer 50. The selection screen information includes the printer ID "PID1" and information indicating that it has printing capabilities.

[0102] When the printer 50 receives the selection screen information from the management server 200 at T452, at T454, it displays a selection screen SC3 according to the selection screen information. The selection screen SC3 includes a message prompting the selection of a printer to execute printing. Since the selection screen information includes only the printer ID "PID1" of the printer 10 with printing capabilities, the selection screen SC3 includes only the button B3 including the printer ID "PID1". That is, the selection screen SC3 does not include a button including the printer ID "PID2" of the printer 50 without printing capabilities. For this reason, the user can recognize only the printer 10 with printing capabilities.

[0103] Thereafter, at T456, the printer 50 accepts the selection of the button B3 from the user on the selection screen SC3. Then, in the management server 200, the printing mediation server 100, and the printer 10 (not shown), processes similar to T402 to T422 in FIG. 10 are executed.

[0104] (Effect of this embodiment) According to the above configuration, the printer 50 includes a button B3 corresponding to the printer 10 having printing capabilities, and displays a selection screen SC3 that does not include a button corresponding to the printer 50 without printing capabilities (T454). For this reason, the user can appropriately select the printer 10 having printing capabilities. In this embodiment, the printer 50 is an example of a "second type of printer". The button B1 is an example of a "first type of information".

[0105] As described above, specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. Modifications of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0106] (Modification Example 1) The process of FIG. 6 may be omitted. In this case, in T204 of FIG. 5, after generating the virtual printer ID "VID1", the print mediation server 100 identifies the group ID "G1" associated with the user ID "U1" included in the virtual printer generation request from the group table 118. Also, the print mediation server 100 identifies the printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" associated with the identified group ID "G1" from the registration table 120. Then, the print mediation server 100 identifies the capability information "C1" associated with the printer ID "PID1" included in the capability request and the capability information "C2" associated with the printer ID "PID2" included in the capability request from the printer attribute table 122, and generates the capability information "C3" of the virtual printer ID "VID1" by identifying the union of the capability information "C1" and "C2". The print mediation server 100 associates the virtual printer ID "VID1" with the capability information "C3" and stores them in the printer attribute table 122. Also, the print mediation server 100 sends the identified printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" and the identified virtual printer ID "VID1" to the management server 200, so that in the management server 200, the printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" can be associated with the virtual printer ID "VID1" included in the association request and stored in the printer table 218. According to this configuration, even if the process of FIG. 6 (i.e., the user's operation) is not executed, information about the virtual printer can be registered in the printer attribute table 122, and the virtual printer ID and the actual printer ID can be associated and registered in the printer table 218.

[0107] (Modification Example 2) The print mediation server 100 and the management server 200 may be a single server instead of separate entities.

[0108] (Modification Example 3) In T320 of FIG. 8, when the user brings an IC card close to the printer 50 and a wireless connection (for example, Near Field Communication connection) is established between the printer 50 and the IC card, the printer 50 may read the user ID "U2" from the IC card using the wireless connection. In this case, the user does not need to execute a printing operation on the printer 50.

[0109] (Modification Example 4) In T320 of FIG. 8, instead of the printer 50, a printing operation may be executed on the printer 10. In this case, the processing of T322 to T332 is the same. The printer 10 transmits a printing-related request including the job ID "J1" and the printer ID "PID1" to the management server 200 in T334. The processing of T336 to T350 is the same. When the printer 10 receives a selection operation of the button B1 from the user in T352 of FIG. 9, it transmits the printer ID "PID1" to the management server 200 in T354. Thereafter, the same processing as T410 to T422 of FIG. 10 is executed in the management server 200, the printing mediation server 100, and the printer 10. Generally speaking, "a specific printer" and "the first printer" may be the same.

[0110] (Modification Example 5) T344 in FIG. 8 may be omitted. In this case, the selection screen information in T346 includes printer IDs "PID1" and "PID2" without priority being assigned. Therefore, in the selection screen SC1 in T350, the button B2 may be positioned above the button B1. Generally speaking, in the selection screen, "the first type of information" does not necessarily have to be positioned above "the second type of information".

[0111] (Modification Example 6) In T350 of FIG. 8, the button B2 only needs to include that a downgrade is necessary and does not have to include a downgrading method. Generally speaking, "the second type of information" does not necessarily have to include "the second printing setting".

[0112] (Modification Example 7) In T308 of FIG. 7, it is not necessary to specify a printing-permitted user. In this case, in T324 of FIG. 8, the printing mediation server 100 does not determine whether the printing-permitted user ID matches the user ID included in the job list request, and in T326, transmits a job list including the identified job ID "J1" to the management server 200. Generally speaking, user identification information for identifying a user whose printing of the target image is permitted does not have to be stored in the server.

[0113] (Modification Example 8) The concept of a virtual printer does not have to be used. For example, instead of registering by associating a virtual printer ID with various information, account information may be registered by associating it with the various information. Generally speaking, the server does not have to store by associating virtual printer identification information with a plurality of printer identification information.

[0114] (Modification Example 9) In the above-described embodiments, the processing of each step in FIGS. 3 to 11 is realized by software (for example, program 36 of printer 10, program 116 of printing mediation server 100, and program 216 of management server 200), but at least one of these processes may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

[0115] Also, the technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Further, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of purposes simultaneously, and has technical utility by achieving one of those purposes itself.

[0116] In the claims of this patent application at the time of filing, even if each claim depends only on some of the claims, each claim is not limited to being able to depend only on some of those claims. Within a technically non-contradictory range, each claim can also depend on other claims that it did not depend on at the time of filing. That is, the technologies of each claim can be combined in various ways as follows. (Item 1) A server, after storing, in association, image data representing a target image which is an image to be printed and a plurality of printer identification information for identifying a plurality of printers, a print relation request receiving unit that receives a print relation request related to printing of the target image from a specific printer among the plurality of printers; a screen information transmitting unit that transmits, to the specific printer, screen information for displaying a selection screen having a mode capable of recognizing one or more first type printers(s) among the plurality of printers, when the print relation request is received from the specific printer and there is one or more first type printer(s) having an ability to execute printing of the target image among the plurality of printers; a predetermined process execution unit that executes a predetermined process for causing the first printer among the one or more first type printers to execute printing of the target image, when the first printer among the one or more first type printers is selected by a user on the selection screen after the screen information is transmitted to the specific printer; A server comprising the above. (Item 2) The selection screen includes one or more first type information(s) indicating the one or more first type printer(s) and one or more second type information(s) indicating one or more second type printer(s) among the plurality of printers that do not have an ability to execute printing of the target image. The server according to Item 1. (Item 3) On the selection screen, the one or more first type information(s) is / are positioned higher than the one or more second type information(s). The server according to Item 2. (Item 4) Each of the one or more second type information(s) is a second print setting that is most similar to a first print setting which is a print setting of the target image, and includes the second print setting available for the second type printer indicated by the second type information. The server according to Item 2 or 3. (Item 5) The selection screen according to item 1, includes one or more pieces of first-type information indicating the one or more first-type printers, and does not include one or more pieces of second-type information indicating one or more second-type printers among the plurality of printers that do not have the ability to execute printing of the target image. (Item 6) The print relation request receiving unit according to any one of items 1 to 5, receives the print relation request after the image data and user identification information for identifying a user permitted to print the target image are stored in association with the plurality of printer identification information. (Item 7) The server includes a memory that stores in association virtual printer identification information for identifying a virtual printer and the plurality of printer identification information. The image data is stored in association with the virtual printer identification information, and thus is stored in association with the plurality of printer identification information via the virtual printer identification information, according to any one of items 1 to 6.

Description of Signs

[0117] 2: Communication system, 6: Internet, 10: Printer, 12: Display unit, 14: Communication interface, 16: Print execution unit, 30: Control unit, 32: CPU, 34: Memory, 36: Program 50: Printer, 80: Terminal, 100: Print mediation server, 102: Communication I / F, 110: Control unit, 112: CPU, 114: Memory, 116: Program, 118: Group table, 120: Registration table, 122: Printer attribute table, 124: Virtual printer table, 126: Job list, 128: Job table, 200: Management server, 202: Communication I / F, 210: Control unit, 212: CPU, 214: Memory, 216: Program, 218: Printer table

Claims

1. A server comprising: a print relation request receiving unit that receives, from a specific printer among the plurality of printers, a print relation request related to printing of the target image, after image data representing the target image, which is an image to be printed, and a plurality of printer identification information for identifying the plurality of printers are stored in association with each other; a screen information transmitting unit that transmits, to the specific printer, screen information for displaying a selection screen having a mode capable of recognizing the one or more first type printers, when the print relation request is received from the specific printer and there is one or more first type printers having an ability to execute printing of the target image among the plurality of printers; a predetermined process execution unit that executes a predetermined process for causing the first printer among the one or more first type printers to execute printing of the target image, when the first printer among the one or more first type printers is selected by a user on the selection screen, after the screen information is transmitted to the specific printer; The server.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the selection screen includes one or more first type information indicating the one or more first type printers and one or more second type information indicating one or more second type printers among the plurality of printers that do not have an ability to execute printing of the target image.

3. The server according to claim 2, wherein on the selection screen, the one or more first type information is located above the one or more second type information.

4. The server according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more second type information is a second print setting that is most similar to a first print setting that is a print setting of the target image, and includes the second print setting that is available for the second type printer indicated by the second type information.

5. The server according to claim 1, wherein the selection screen includes one or more first type information indicating the one or more first type printers and does not include one or more second type information indicating one or more second type printers among the plurality of printers that do not have an ability to execute printing of the target image.

6. The server according to claim 1, wherein the printing-related request receiving unit receives the printing-related request from the specific printer after the image data, user identification information for identifying a user permitted to print the target image, and the plurality of printer identification information are stored in association with each other.

7. The server includes a memory that stores in association with each other virtual printer identification information for identifying a virtual printer and the plurality of printer identification information. The server according to claim 1, wherein the image data is stored in association with the virtual printer identification information, and thus is stored in association with the plurality of printer identification information via the virtual printer identification information.

8. A computer program for a server, causing a computer of the server to function as each of the following units, namely, a printing-related request receiving unit that receives a printing-related request related to printing of the target image from a specific printer among the plurality of printers after the image data representing the target image which is an image to be printed and the plurality of printer identification information for identifying the plurality of printers are stored in association with each other; a screen information transmitting unit that transmits, to the specific printer, screen information for displaying a selection screen having a mode capable of recognizing one or more first-type printers having an ability to execute printing of the target image when the printing-related request is received from the specific printer and one or more first-type printers having the ability to execute printing of the target image exist among the plurality of printers; a predetermined process execution unit that executes a predetermined process for causing the first printer among the one or more first-type printers to execute printing of the target image when the first printer among the one or more first-type printers is selected by the user on the selection screen after the screen information is transmitted to the specific printer; A computer program that functions as such.

9. A method executed by a server, a printing-related request receiving step of receiving a printing-related request related to printing of the target image from a specific printer among the plurality of printers after the image data representing the target image which is an image to be printed and the plurality of printer identification information for identifying the plurality of printers are stored in association with each other; When the printing-related request is received from the specific printer and there is one or more first-type printers(s) having the ability to print the target image among the plurality of printers(s), a screen information transmission step of transmitting, to the specific printer, screen information for displaying a selection screen having a mode capable of recognizing the one or more first-type printers(s). After the screen information is transmitted to the specific printer, when a first printer among the one or more first-type printers is selected by the user on the selection screen, a predetermined process execution step of executing a predetermined process for causing the first printer to execute printing of the target image. A method comprising the above.

Images