Printing system, information processing device, printing control method

Abstract

There was a desire to improve the convenience for users who obtain printed materials. [Solution] A printing system comprising an information processing device that can communicate with a first device operated by a first user to obtain printed materials, and a printing device that can communicate with the information processing device, wherein the information processing device includes a printing time acquisition unit that acquires a first printing time from the first device indicating the time when the printing device will perform printing based on print data, a printing data acquisition unit that acquires the print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user requesting printing, and a printing instruction unit that transmits printing instruction information to the printing device at the first printing time instructing the printing to perform printing based on the print data, and the printing device includes a printing control unit that performs printing based on the print data when it receives the printing instruction information from the information processing device, thereby constituting a printing system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system, an information processing apparatus, and a printing control method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when a client device requests printing to a printing server, it is known to reserve a printing job by specifying a reservation printing time (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the user who makes a printing request is different from the user who obtains the printed matter printed in response to the printing request, in the conventional technology, printing may be performed at an inconvenient time zone for the user who obtains the printed matter. Improvement in convenience for the user who obtains the printed matter has been desired.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A printing system to solve the above problems comprises an information processing device that can communicate with a first device operated by a first user who obtains printed materials, and a printing device that can communicate with the information processing device, wherein the information processing device includes a print timing acquisition unit that acquires a first print timing from the first device indicating when the printing device will perform printing based on print data, a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user requesting printing, and a print instruction unit that transmits print instruction information to the printing device at the first print timing to instruct the printing device to perform printing based on the print data, and the printing device includes a print control unit that performs printing based on the print data when it receives print instruction information from the information processing device.

[0006] An information processing device for solving the above problems includes: a print timing acquisition unit that acquires a first print timing, which indicates when the printing device will perform printing based on print data, from a first device operated by a first user who obtains a printed document from the printing device; a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user who requests printing; and a print instruction unit that transmits print instruction information instructing the printing device to perform printing based on the print data at the first print timing.

[0007] A print control method to solve the above problem includes obtaining a first print time, which indicates when the printing device will perform printing based on print data, from a first device operated by a first user who obtains a printed document from the printing device; obtaining print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device operated by a second user who requests printing; and transmitting print instruction information that instructs the printing device to perform printing based on the print data at the first print time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an example of printer information. [Figure 3] An example of a website screen. [Figure 4]A flowchart illustrating an example of the printing process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. (1) Configuration of the printing system: (1-1) Printer configuration: (1-2) Server configuration: (2) Printing process: (3) Other embodiments:

[0010] (1) Configuration of the printing system: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration including a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system of this embodiment includes a server 100 as an information processing device and a printer 200 as a printing device. The server 100 provides a cloud printing service that prints print data to a designated printer via the server 100. The server 100 can communicate with printers 200 available for use with the cloud printing service via a network N such as the Internet.

[0011] In this embodiment, the first device 300 is a terminal operated by the first user, who owns the printer 200. The first device 300 can communicate with the server 100 via the network N. The first device 300 is a smartphone, PC, tablet, etc. The first device 300 includes a communication unit for communicating with other devices, a UI unit that displays various information to the first user and accepts various operations from the first user, a non-volatile memory for storing various programs and data, a processor, etc.

[0012] The first device 300 can communicate with the second device, such as the App server 400 or server 100, via the network N. The first user uses the first device 300 to register for the cloud printing service, register the printer to be used with the cloud printing service, and set the first print time for that printer in the cloud printing service. The first user may own multiple printers that can be used with the cloud printing service. Figure 1 shows one of them.

[0013] The second device, App Server 400, is a server that provides various services utilizing the cloud printing service and is operated by the second user. Examples of services utilizing the cloud printing service include content distribution services. A content distribution service utilizing the cloud printing service is a service that prints various content from the App Server 400, operated by the second user, to the printer 200 owned by the first user. More specifically, for example, a cram school or a company that creates educational content could print assignment data for students to printers owned by students. Note that there may be multiple users in the position of the first user and multiple users in the position of the second user, but Figure 1 shows only one of each.

[0014] To use a content distribution service that utilizes such a cloud printing service, users must first register with server 100 for the cloud printing service. During the cloud printing service registration, users register their user identification information, password, and the identification information of their owned printer. Here, user identification information is, for example, an email address.

[0015] (1-1) Printer configuration: In this embodiment, the printer 200 is a printing device that prints on a printing medium in response to a print command from the server 100. The printer 200 comprises a processor 210, a storage medium 220, a communication unit 230, a UI unit 240, and a printing unit 250. The printer 200 also includes RAM and ROM (not shown). The processor 210 controls the printer 200 by executing a print control program stored in the ROM, storage medium 220, etc. The processor 210 may consist of a single chip or multiple chips. In this embodiment, the processor 210 is assumed to be a CPU, but it may be composed of an ASIC or the like, or a CPU and an ASIC. When each device in this embodiment is equipped with a processor, the processor can be implemented in various forms, similar to the processor 210.

[0016] The storage medium 220 stores various programs, such as print control programs for controlling the execution of printing, and print data transmitted from the server 100. The communication unit 230 includes circuits used for communication with other devices in accordance with various wired or wireless communication protocols. The UI unit 240 displays various information to the first user and includes a touch panel display, keys, etc., for inputting the first user's operations.

[0017] The printing unit 250 is equipped with actuators, drive components, mechanical components, sensors, etc., for ejecting ink onto the printing medium and performing printing. The processor 210 functions as a print control unit 211 by executing a print control program. When the print control unit 211 receives print instruction information from the server 100 that instructs the execution of printing based on print data, it controls the printing unit 250 to execute printing based on said print data.

[0018] (1-2) Server configuration: Server 100 includes a processor 110, a storage medium 120, and a communication unit 130. The processor 110 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., and can execute various programs stored in the storage medium 120. Programs that the processor 110 can execute include a cloud printing control program for realizing a cloud printing service.

[0019] For example, if the printer owned by the first user is installed in the bedroom, printing due to the printing requests of others by the cloud printing service during the sleep of the first user may interfere with the sleep. The cloud printing control program has a function to ensure that printing by the cloud printing service is performed during the time period desired by the first user. That is, it can also be said that the cloud printing control program has a function to prevent printing by the cloud printing service from being performed during the time period not desired by the first user.

[0020] The storage medium 120 stores a cloud printing control program (not shown) and printer information 121. In the printer information 121, as shown in FIG. 2, the identification information of the user and the identification information of the printer owned by the user are associated with each other. Also, in this embodiment, for each printer used in the cloud printing service, the user of the printer can set the day of the week and the time period for executing printing in the cloud printing service. The day of the week and the time period specified by the user of the printer for executing printing are one aspect of the first printing time. In addition, for example, it may be configured such that the printing time can be specified by at least any one of the date of execution of printing, the period (i.e., specification of the start date and the end date, etc.), the day of the week, the time period, and the time. In this embodiment, the description will continue assuming that the user specifies the first printing time for each printer in terms of the day of the week and the time period. When the user sets the day of the week and the time period for executing printing in association with the printer, the day of the week and the time period are stored in association with the identification information of the printer in the printer information 121.

[0021] The communication unit 130 includes a communication interface for communicating with other devices based on various communication protocols. The server 100 can communicate with the App server 400, the first device 300, and the printer 200 via the communication unit 130. The server 100 can also communicate with devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and display via the communication unit 130.

[0022] In a content distribution service using a cloud printing service, App Server 400 sends a print request to the first user's printer 200 via Server 100. App Server 400 makes the print request using a Web API exposed by Server 100. When using the Web API for the print request, App Server 400 specifies the destination printer, print data, and print settings. Server 100 sends print instruction information to the specified printer, instructing it to execute printing based on the print data according to the print settings, and then executes the print. In this embodiment, App Server 400 can also specify a second print timing using the Web API for the print request. The second print timing is a print timing specified by the print requester and may be specified in at least one of the following formats: time zone, date, day of the week, period, and time.

[0023] To realize this cloud printing function, the processor 110 of the server 100 executes a cloud printing control program. By executing the cloud printing control program, the processor 110 functions as a print timing acquisition unit 111, a print data acquisition unit 112, and a print instruction unit 113.

[0024] The function of the print timing acquisition unit 111 allows the processor 110 to acquire a first print timing from the first device 300, which indicates when the printer 200 will perform printing based on the print data. That is, the processor 110 has the first user who acquires the printout from the printer 200 specify the first print timing for that printer in advance. In this embodiment, the first print timing is entered by the first user on a website screen displayed on the first device 300 by the server 100, and the processor 110 acquires the entered first print timing from the first device 300. Here, the website screen refers to a user management screen.

[0025] Figure 3 shows an example of a screen for the first user to input the first print time. Screen g1 is an example of a login screen. When the first user enters an email address and password registered with the server 100, the email address and password are sent from the first device 300 to the server 100. If user authentication is successful, the server 100 displays a management screen for the authenticated first user on the first device 300. Various menus are displayed on the management screen. When the first user selects the print time setting menu, the server 100 obtains information from the first device 300 indicating that the menu has been selected and displays a print time setting screen for setting the first print time. With this configuration, the first user can specify the first print time via the website screen.

[0026] Screen g2 shows an example of the print time setting screen. The print time setting screen displays a list of printers registered by the first user. An operation unit b1 is also displayed for setting the print time individually for each printer. When operation unit b1 is selected, a screen (not shown) for setting the day of the week and time is displayed, and the first device 300 accepts the information specified by the user. The accepted information is reflected in the time display unit f1 of each printer. In this way, the print time setting screen displays a list of the first print times set for each printer. Therefore, the server 100 can allow the first user to confirm the first print times set for each printer.

[0027] The processor 110 acquires the first print time specified for each printer through the function of the print time acquisition unit 111, and stores the first print time in association with the printing device identification information. For example, in screen g2 of Figure 3, after the first print time has been set for any printer, when the OK button b2 is selected, the first device 300 sends the first print time corresponding to the identification information of each printer to the server 100. When the processor 110 of the server 100 receives this information, it stores the first print time in association with the printer identification information (see Figure 2). Thus, according to this embodiment, the first print time can be set for each printer. Therefore, for example, the first user can set different first print times for each printer.

[0028] The printer data acquisition unit 112 allows the processor 110 to acquire print data from the App server 400 to be printed on the printer 200. That is, when the App server 400 sends a print request to the printer 200 using the Web API, the processor 110 of the server 100 accepts the print request. The print request API specifies information to identify the output printer, the print data to be printed, and the print settings. The print request API may also specify a second print timing designated by the App server 400.

[0029] The function of the print instruction unit 113 causes the processor 110 to send print instruction information to the printer 200 at the first print time, instructing it to execute printing based on the print data. That is, the processor 110 converts the print data into a format suitable for the printer to execute printing according to the print settings specified in the API. The processor 110 identifies the first print time associated with the printer's identification information by referring to the printer information 121 (see Figure 2). If the first print time is stored associated with the printer, the processor 110 waits until the current date and time corresponds to the identified first print date and time. When the processor 110 determines that the current date and time corresponds to the first print date and time, it sends print instruction information to the printer indicated by the identification information, instructing it to print the converted print data at the first print time.

[0030] The printer 200's processor 210, through the functions of the print control unit 211, receives print instruction information and executes printing based on the print data. Therefore, according to this embodiment, in a cloud printing service, when the user requesting the print and the user receiving the print are different, the printer can be configured to execute printing at the first printing time specified by the first user receiving the print.

[0031] The printer 200's processor 210, using the functions of the print control unit 211, executes printing based on print data and sends a print result indicating the time the printing was performed to the server 100. The server 100's processor 110, using the functions of the print instruction unit 113, sends the print result to the first device 300. The notification may be made in any form, but for example, it may be a notification via email, SMS, messaging application, or a push notification sent by the application on the first device 300 side of a cloud printing service. The time the printing was performed is expressed by the date and time the printing started and the date and time the printing finished. The print result may also include the file name indicating the print data, information indicating the App server 400 that requested the print, and identification information of the printer that performed the printing. In this way, the server 100 can notify the first user of information indicating the printed document and the print result indicating the date and time the printing was performed.

[0032] In this embodiment, the processor 110 also sends the print result to the App server 400. Therefore, the server 100 can also notify the second user of the print result.

[0033] Furthermore, if a print request from the App server 400 includes a second print period, the processor 110 of the server 100 acquires that second print period. If the first print period has not been acquired, the processor 110 sends print instruction information to the printer for the second print period. In other words, the processor 110 waits to send print instruction information until the current date and time corresponds to the second print period, and once it determines that the current date and time corresponds to the second print period, it sends print instruction information to the printer. In this way, if both the first and second print periods are specified, the server 100 prioritizes the first print period and can have the printer execute printing for the first print period. If the first print period is not set, the server 100 adopts the second print period and can have the printer execute printing for the second print period.

[0034] (2) Printing process: Figure 4 is a flowchart of the printing process. When the first user performs an operation on the first device 300 to display the user management screen on the server 100, the first device 300 sends a request to the server 100 to display the management screen as a user portal, and displays the management screen on the first device 300 based on the response from the server 100 (step S100). Specifically, when the server 100 sends the display data for the login screen to the first device 300, the login screen (see screen g1 in Figure 3) is displayed on the first device 300. When the first user enters their email address and password on the login screen, the first device 300 sends this information to the server 100. The server 100 performs user authentication based on this information, and if user authentication is successful, it sends the display data for the management screen to the first device 300, which then displays it. After appropriate screen transition operations, the first device 300 displays the print time setting screen (see screen g2 in Figure 3). The print time setting screen displays a list of printers registered by the first user.

[0035] When the first user inputs a first print time associated with one of the printers in the list, the first device 300 transmits the first print time to the server 100 associated with the printer's identification information (step S105). When the server 100 receives the first print time from the first device 300, the processor 110 stores the first print time associated with the printer using the function of the print time acquisition unit 111 (step S110). That is, the processor 110 stores the first print time associated with the printer's identification information in the printer information 121 (see Figure 2).

[0036] After the above processing has been performed, the App server 400 sends a print request to the server 100 with the printer as the output destination at any time (step S115). That is, the App server 400 sends the print data, print settings, and information indicating the output printer to the server 100 using the print request Web API. If a second print timing is also specified in the API at this time, the second print timing will also be sent to the server 100. The processor 110 of the server 100 temporarily stores the received print data and other information in the storage medium 120 until it obtains a print result from the printer indicating that printing is complete.

[0037] When the processor 110 of server 100 receives the print request from the App server 400 using the function of the print data acquisition unit 112, the function of the print instruction unit 113 determines whether or not the first print time corresponding to the printer specified in the App server 400 is stored (step S120). That is, the processor 110 refers to the printer information 121 and determines whether or not the first print time corresponding to the specified printer is stored.

[0038] In step S120, if it is determined that the information is stored, the processor 110 uses the function of the print instruction unit 113 to determine whether the current date and time corresponds to the first printing period (step S125). The processor 110 suspends the execution of step S130 until it is determined that the current date and time corresponds to the first printing period.

[0039] If it is determined in step S125 that the current date and time corresponds to the first printing period, the processor 110 sends print instruction information to the printer 200 using the function of the print instruction unit 113 (step S130). That is, the processor 110 converts the print data into a format suitable for printing on the printer 200 based on the print settings and sends print instruction information to the printer 200 instructing it to print the print data.

[0040] When the printer 200 obtains print command information from the server 100, the printer 200's processor 210, using the functions of the print control unit 211, executes printing based on the print data and sends the print result to the server 100 (step S135). That is, the processor 210 sends the print result, including the date and time the print was executed, to the server 100.

[0041] When the processor 110 of server 100 receives the print result from printer 200, it sends the print result to the first device 300 and App server 400 using the function of the print instruction unit 113 (step S140).

[0042] If, in step S120, it is not determined that the first print time is stored in association with the printer, the processor 110 uses the function of the print time acquisition unit 111 to determine whether or not the second print time was specified in the print request in step S115 (step S145). That is, the processor 110 determines whether or not the second print time was specified in the API of the print request.

[0043] If it is determined in step S145 that it was specified, the processor 110 determines whether the current date and time corresponds to the second printing period, and postpones step S130 until it is determined that the current date and time corresponds to the second printing period (step S150).

[0044] If it is determined in step S150 that the current date and time corresponds to the second printing period, the processor 110 executes the processing from step S130 onward using the function of the print instruction unit 113. If it is not determined in step S145 that the print request does not specify a second printing period, the processor 110 assumes that neither the first user nor the second user has specified a printing period, and executes the processing from step S130 onward in response to receiving the print request sent in step S115.

[0045] (3) Other embodiments: The embodiments described above are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and various other embodiments can be adopted. For example, the server 100 may be composed of multiple server computers, and the print timing acquisition unit 111, the print data acquisition unit 112, and the print instruction unit 113 may each be implemented by separate devices. The second device may include not only server computers that make print requests to the server 100 using a Web API, but also PCs, smartphones, tablets, etc., used by the second user.

[0046] The first and second printing periods may also be specified as the print start time and the print completion time. If the print start time is specified as the first or second printing period, the server 100 sends print instruction information to the printer 200 when the current date and time becomes the print start time, as in the embodiment described above. If the print completion time is specified as the first or second printing period, the server 100 calculates the time required to print the print data and sends print instruction information to the printer 200 at least the required time earlier than the print completion time. The required time can be calculated based on the size and number of printouts specified in the print settings, the print quality, the number of print ejection passes identified based on the print data, the printer specifications, etc. Furthermore, the system may be configured to indirectly specify the times when printing is permitted (days of the week, dates, time slots, periods, etc.) by specifying the days of the week, dates, time slots, periods, etc., on which printing should not be performed.

[0047] The first print time may be specified for each group of print data. Groups are classified based on common characteristics of the print data. For example, they may be classified by the file name or extension of the file representing the print data. Alternatively, they may be classified by the App server that requested the print data. The first user may specify information indicating the group of print data in the management screen and be able to specify the first print time for each group. The second print time may also be specified for each group of print data. For example, if the print data requested by the App server 400 belongs to any group, the server 100 may be configured to consider the print time previously stored in the server 100 and associated with that group as the second print time (this print time may be determined by the server, or it may be determined and changed by the second user).

[0048] Furthermore, in a service content distribution service using a cloud printing service, the content may have certain characteristics, such as being directed to a specific individual, containing personal information or confidential information relating to a specific individual. The print instruction unit may be configured to instruct the printing of print data at the first printing time if the print data has predetermined characteristics. The first user may be configured to pre-specify information indicating the predetermined characteristics and set the first printing time in association with those predetermined characteristics. For example, whether or not the print data contains confidential information can be determined based on whether the file name or header of the file indicating the print data contains characters indicating confidential information, or whether the file extension is a predetermined extension. For example, in a service where a medical institution prints patient medical information on printer 200, if the patient number is included in the print data, the first user can pre-set that it be printed during the hours when the medical institution's staff are present.

[0049] The first print time, which is set in accordance with each printer, may be configured to be viewable on the second device. In this case, the second user can also check the first print time set for each printer.

[0050] For example, if the second printing time is specified by time, and that time is included in the time period indicated by the first printing time, the information processing device may be configured to send the print instruction information to the printing device at the time specified as the second printing time.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention also functions as an information processing device comprising: a printing time acquisition unit that acquires a first printing time, which indicates when to perform printing based on print data in the printing device, from a first device operated by a first user who acquires a printed material from the printing device; a printing data acquisition unit that acquires print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user who requests printing; and a printing instruction unit that transmits print instruction information to the printing device at the first printing time, instructing the execution of printing based on the print data.

[0052] Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable as a program executed by a computer and a print control method. The print control method includes obtaining a first print time, which indicates when the printing device will perform printing based on print data, from a first device operated by a first user who obtains a printed document from the printing device; obtaining print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user who requests printing; and transmitting print instruction information that instructs the printing device to perform printing based on the print data at the first print time.

[0053] Furthermore, the systems, programs, and methods described above may be implemented as a single device or by utilizing components from multiple devices, encompassing various forms. They can also be modified as needed, with some being software and others hardware. Moreover, the invention also functions as a recording medium for a program that controls the system. Of course, this recording medium could be a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or any recording medium developed in the future; the same principle applies. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 100...Server, 110...Processor, 111...Print timing acquisition unit, 112...Print data acquisition unit, 113...Print instruction unit, 120...Storage medium, 121...Printer information, 130...Communication unit, 200...Printer, 210...Processor, 211...Print control unit, 220...Storage medium, 230...Communication unit, 240...UI unit, 250...Print unit, 400...App server, N...Network, b1...Operation unit, b2...OK button, f1...Time zone display unit, g1...Screen, g2...Screen

Claims

1. A printing system comprising a first device operated by a first user to acquire printed materials, an information processing device capable of communicating with the first device, and a printing device capable of communicating with the information processing device, The aforementioned information processing device is A printing time acquisition unit acquires a first printing time from the first device that indicates the time when printing based on print data is performed in the printing device, A print data acquisition unit that acquires the print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user requesting printing, The system includes a print instruction unit that transmits print instruction information to the printing device at the first printing time, instructing the execution of printing based on the print data. The aforementioned printing apparatus, The system includes a print control unit that, upon receiving the print instruction information from the information processing device, executes printing based on the print data. Printing system.

2. The printing timing acquisition unit acquires a second printing timing from the second device, which indicates the timing at which the printing device performs printing based on the printing data. If the print instruction unit has not acquired the first print time, it transmits the print instruction information to the printing device at the second print time. The printing system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned first printing period is at least one of the following: a time period, date, or time when printing is to be performed. The printing system according to claim 1.

4. The second printing period is at least one of the following: a time period, date, or time when printing is performed. The printing system according to claim 2.

5. The first printing time is determined by input by the first user on the website screen displayed by the information processing device on the first device. The printing system according to claim 1.

6. The print control unit transmits a print result indicating the time when printing based on the print data was performed to the information processing device. The print instruction unit transmits the print result to the first device. The printing system according to claim 1.

7. The timing for executing the print based on the aforementioned print data is specified for each group of print data. The printing system according to claim 1.

8. The print instruction unit is, If the print data has predetermined characteristics, the system instructs the printing of the print data at the first printing time. The printing system according to claim 1.

9. The printing time acquisition unit acquires the first printing time specified for each printing device, stores the identification information of the printing device and the first printing time in association, The print instruction unit transmits the print instruction information to the printing device indicated by the identification information at the first printing time associated with the identification information of the printing device. The printing system according to claim 1.

10. The printing timing acquisition unit causes the first printing timing, which is specified for each printing device, to be displayed in a list on the first device. The printing system according to claim 9.

11. A printing time acquisition unit acquires a first printing time, which indicates the time when printing based on print data is performed in the printing device, from a first device operated by a first user who acquires a printed material from the printing device. A print data acquisition unit that acquires the print data to be printed by the printing device from a second device of a second user requesting printing, A print instruction unit transmits print instruction information to the printing device at the first printing time, which instructs the execution of printing based on the print data. An information processing device equipped with the following features.

12. A first printing time, indicating the time when printing based on print data is performed in the printing device, is obtained from a first device operated by a first user who obtains a printed document from the printing device. The printing data to be printed by the printing device is obtained from the second device of the second user requesting the print, Print instruction information that instructs the printing device to perform printing based on the print data is transmitted to the printing device at the first printing time. A printing control method that includes the following.

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