Printing system linked to cloud print service

Abstract

To print a large size print job with a cloud print service with restrictions on the capacity per print job.SOLUTION: A printing system transmits a print job to a cloud print service, and when the data size of the print job exceeds the upper limit of the data size of a print job supported by the cloud print service, stores document data of the failed print job in an accessible cloud storage. When an image forming apparatus receives a print job in a reference format to the document data stored in the cloud storage, it acquires the document data from the cloud storage and prints the acquired data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system that prints documents provided by a cloud print service, a control method thereof, and a program therefor. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, cloud print services (CPS), which allow print jobs to be submitted via the cloud and transmitted to an image forming device, have begun to become popular (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a printing system, an administrator first registers an image forming device to a tenant of the cloud print service to which the administrator belongs. The administrator then sets which users belonging to the tenant are permitted to use the image forming device. Here, a tenant refers to a service system deployed on the cloud.

[0003] A user who is permitted to use the image forming device submits a print job including document data and print settings from a client terminal to the cloud print service. The cloud print service stores the received print job in storage. The image forming device obtains the print job stored in the cloud print service and prints it. The method of obtaining the print job with respect to the cloud print service may be pull printing or push printing.

[0004] Known cloud print services include, for example, Google Cloud Print (registered trademark), Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Print (registered trademark), and Uniflow Online (registered trademark). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Since a large number of print jobs are submitted to and stored in a cloud print service, the amount of storage space required to hold the large number of print jobs increases, leading to increased operational costs. For this reason, cloud print services may impose a capacity limit on each print job. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Due to this capacity limit, execution of a large-volume print job using a cloud print service may fail. If printing fails, and document data is stored in the client terminal, but the client terminal and the image forming device are not on the same LAN, the client terminal will be unable to print the large-volume print job.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional example, and has an object to provide a printing system that is capable of printing regardless of the capacity limitations of a cloud print service. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a first transmission unit for transmitting a print job to a cloud print service; a document data storage unit that stores document data of the print job in an accessible cloud storage when the data size of the print job exceeds an upper limit of the data size of the print job supported by the cloud print service; a second transmission means for transmitting a print job in a reference format to the document data stored by the document data storage means to the cloud print service; A printing system is provided comprising:

[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for printing a print job using a cloud print service, comprising: a second transmission means for transmitting document data of the print job to an accessible cloud storage when the print job fails due to insufficient capacity of the cloud print service; a third transmission means for transmitting a print job in a reference format to the document data transmitted by the second transmission means to the cloud print service; An information processing apparatus comprising: Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing system that is capable of printing regardless of the capacity limitations of a cloud print service. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] Network configuration diagram in embodiment 1 [Diagram 2] A diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a cloud print service and a client terminal. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] Sequence diagram of the registration process of an image forming device for cloud print [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a list of supported attributes of an image forming apparatus; [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of a packet when printing is executed. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a print sequence diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A diagram showing an example of a packet when printing is executed. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for requesting additional access permissions in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] Network configuration diagram in the second embodiment [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for setting when an error occurs in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] A diagram showing an example of setting data when an error occurs [Figure 13] A print sequence diagram for an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0013] [Embodiment 1] <Network configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system, an image forming system, or a cloud printing system in an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a cloud integrated service 112 includes a cloud print service (CPS) 102 and a cloud storage service 111. Client terminals 103 to 105, which are information processing devices, are connected to the CPS 102 and the cloud storage service 111 via a network such as the Internet. The client terminals 103 to 105 can input print jobs to the CPS 102. The image forming device 101 has a printing mechanism, is a device that performs print control, and is connected to the CPS 102 via a network such as the Internet. The image forming device 101 can obtain a print job from the CPS 102 and execute print processing. The above components are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the Internet.

[0014] The cloud storage service 111 is an online storage service that provides a service capable of managing document files and the like online. As cloud storage services, for example, Google Drive of Google (registered trademark) LLC and OneDrive (registered trademark) of Microsoft (registered trademark) are known. The cloud integration service 112 refers to a service that collectively provides cloud print services 102 and cloud communication services (not shown). One of the services provided is the cloud storage service 111. For various services included in such a service, access can be made with the same authentication information (such as a user name (ID)). As cloud integration services 112, for example, G Suite (registered trademark) of Google LLC and Microsoft 365 (registered trademark) are known. The above components are communicably connected by a network.

[0015] Here, the CSP 102 has a capacity limit for the input print job. When an attempt is made to input a print job with print data of a size exceeding the capacity, the CSP 102 notifies the client terminal that is the source of the print job that the capacity limit has been exceeded. Also, the image forming apparatus 101 may be a single-function device called a printing device or a printer, or a multi-function device called an MFP or a multi-function copier.

[0016] <Hardware Configuration of CPS and Client Terminal> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the CPS 102 and the client terminals 103 and 104. The CPU 201 directly or indirectly controls each connected device (ROM, RAM, etc.) and executes a program for implementing the control and procedure described in this embodiment. The ROM 202 is a non-volatile memory in which the BIOS and the like are stored. The RAM (direct storage device) 203 is used as a work area for the CPU 201, or as a primary storage for loading software modules for implementing the present invention. The indirect storage device 204 is an HDD (hard disk drive) or an SSD (solid state drive) in which the OS, which is basic software, and software modules are stored. The direct storage device 203 and the indirect storage device 204 may be collectively referred to as a storage unit or a storage device. The input unit 205 is a device for a user to input data, such as a keyboard or a pointing device. The output unit 206 is, for example, a display. The communication unit 207 is, for example, an interface for connecting to a network such as a LAN.

[0017] <Hardware configuration of image forming device> 3 is a simplified diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 101. Modules 301 to 304 perform the same roles as modules 201 to 204 in FIG. 2, so a description thereof will be omitted. An operation unit 305 is a touch-operable display. A printer unit 406 is a printer engine that prints print data received via a communication unit 307. The communication unit 307 is a network interface for connecting to a network such as the Internet or an office LAN.

[0018] ● Registering the image forming device to the cloud print service 4 is a sequence diagram showing the process flow of registering an image forming device in a cloud print service and printing. First, an administrator registers the image forming device 101 in the CPS 102. For example, the administrator selects the CPS to which the image forming device 101 is to be registered from the operation unit of the image forming device 101 and presses a "Register" button, thereby executing the registration process.

[0019] When the image forming apparatus 101 detects the execution of registration from the administrator, it transmits a registration processing request to the CPS 102 in S401. The protocol of the registration processing conforms to the protocol defined in the CPS, and may use, for example, the Register-Output-Device operation defined in PWG5100.22. The CPS 102 that receives the registration processing request checks the registration request content, and transmits a registration processing request response to the image forming apparatus 101 in S402. If there is no problem with the registration processing request content, it transmits a success response, and if there is a problem, it transmits a failure response. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the success response is transmitted. Next, in S403, the image forming apparatus 101 transmits a capability notification including capability information supported by itself to the CPS 102. For the capability notification, for example, the Update-Output-Device-Attributes operation defined in PWG5100.18 may be used.

[0020] In this embodiment, the settings supported by the image forming apparatus 101 are shown in FIG. 5 as an example. In this embodiment, FIG. 5 shows attribute definitions based on the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). For example, the attribute "Print-color-mode-supported" defined by IPP has three possible values: "Auto", "Color", and "Monochrome". The print settings corresponding to each are "color mode" settings, and the possible values ​​are "Auto", "Color", and "Black and White". "Color mode" is a setting that allows you to select the color setting for the print output; selecting "Color" results in color output, selecting "Black and White" results in black and white output, and selecting "Auto" results in color or black and white output depending on the settings of the image forming apparatus.

[0021] Also, the attribute "Finishing-supported" can take a numeric value, and a numeric value corresponding to the finishing information supported by the image forming device is stored. For example, "20" indicates that it is associated with "Staple-top-left," and "22" indicates that it is associated with "Staple-top-right." These numeric values ​​become "stapling settings" in the print settings, and the possible values ​​are "one place at the top left" or "one place at the top right."

[0022] The possible values ​​for document-format-supported are application / pdf and image / pwg-raster. These indicate the document formats of print jobs that the image forming device can accept when printing. These respectively mean that the image forming device accepts the bitmap formats PDF and pwg-raster.

[0023] The possible values ​​of reference-uri-schemes-supported are http, https, ftp, and ipp. This indicates which format of location specification by URI is supported as a method of specifying document data of a print job that can be accepted by the image forming device at the time of printing.

[0024] If the image forming device 101 supports these attributes, in S403 it declares to the CPS 102 the content of the capability registration packet indicating that the corresponding attributes are supported as a capability notification. In S404, the CPS 102, which has received the capability notification from the image forming device 101, checks the content of the received capability notification and performs processing to link the capability information to registered image forming devices. Through the steps up to this point, the image forming device 101 has been registered in the CPS 102.

[0025] ● Printing using an image forming device registered in the cloud print service Next, a sequence for transmitting a print job by the client terminal 103 will be described using S406 to S414. The sequence described here is a procedure for printing a print job accepted and held by the CPS 102 by an image forming device. First, a user executes a printer search of the CPS 102 from the operation unit of the client terminal 103. Upon detecting a printer search instruction from the user, the client terminal 103 transmits a printer search request to the CPS 102 in S406. The printer search may be a method of searching by specifying all printers registered in the CPS 102, or a method of searching by using filter conditions such as a specific printer name or location.

[0026] In S407, the CPS 102 receives a search request from the client terminal 103 and transmits to the client terminal 103 printer information that is registered in the CPS 102 and matches the search request. In S408, the client terminal 103 receives printer list information from the CPS 102 and displays the printer list on the operation unit. In S409, the user selects a desired printer from the printer list. In S410, the client terminal 103 detects the printer selection and transmits a printer capability acquisition request to the CPS 102 to acquire more detailed specifications (capabilities) of the relevant printer. The printer capability acquisition request may be, for example, a Get-Printer-Attributes operation of IPP. In S411, the CPS 102 receives the printer capability acquisition request and transmits a printer capability response of the CPS 102 to the client terminal 103. This makes it possible for the client terminal 103, which has received the printer capability response, to display print settings based on the received printer specifications and generate a print job that matches the capabilities.

[0027] In S412, the user presses the print button. In S413, the client terminal 103 detects the operation to instruct printing and sends a print execution instruction to the CPS 102. An example of a print execution instruction is an IPP Print-Job operation. Fig. 6 shows an example of a print execution instruction packet in which "color" and "two-place binding on the left" are specified in the print settings, and the document format of the print job is PDF. The document data entity is stored in the Document Content in this diagram.

[0028] Next, in step S414, the CPS 102 analyzes the print execution request received from the client terminal 103, and stores the print job (including document data and print setting attributes) in its own storage.

[0029] Next, the subsequent process flow depending on whether the print job is successfully saved by CPS 102 in step S414 will be explained separately for the cases of successful and failed saving. Reasons for failure to save include, for example, the amount of data received from client terminal 103 exceeding the upper limit of the data amount set by CSP 102. Hereinafter, failure to save the print job due to exceeding the upper limit of the data amount set by CSP 102 may also be referred to as a size upper limit error or the occurrence of a size upper limit error.

[0030] <Print processing flow when saving is successful> If the save is successful, in S415, CPS 102 notifies image forming apparatus 101 that a print job has been submitted. In Fig. 4, CPS 102 notifies image forming apparatus 101 by a PUSH notification, but the image forming apparatus 101 may also notify CPS 102 by a PULL notification inquiring of the presence or absence of an event. For the notification, for example, an IPP Get-Notification operation is used. When image forming apparatus 101 detects that a print job exists in CPS 102, in S416 it makes a print job acquisition request to CPS 102. For the print job acquisition request, for example, an IPP Feed-Job operation is used.

[0031] In step S417, CPS 102, which has received the print job acquisition request, responds with the print job stored in its own storage. As a result, image forming device 101 executes printing based on the print job attributes specified in step S418. Then, in step S419, image forming device 101 notifies CPS 102 of the completion of printing. In step S420, CPS 102, which has received the printing completion notification, deletes the print job stored in step S414. Then, in step S421, CPS 102 notifies client terminal 103 of the completion of the print job.

[0032] On the other hand, if saving of the print job fails in step S414, a print job failure notification is sent to the client terminal 103 together with an error code indicating the cause of the failure (e.g., exceeding an upper limit on the amount of data) (S422). The procedure after this notification will be described with reference to FIG.

[0033] <Print process flow when a size limit error occurs> The process flow when the CPS 102 fails to save the print job in S414 because the data amount of the print job exceeds a predetermined upper limit will be described with reference to FIG.

[0034] The client terminal 103, which has received the notification in S422 that the print job has failed, refers to the error code included in the notification in S701 and determines whether the cause of the failure is exceeding the size upper limit. Here, an example will be described in which the error code indicates exceeding the size upper limit. If the cause of the failure is something other than exceeding the size upper limit, an operation corresponding to the error is performed and the process ends.

[0035] If saving of the print job fails due to exceeding the size limit, the client terminal 103 refers to the printer capability information acquired in S411 in S702. Then, based on the printer capability information, it is determined whether or not the image forming apparatus 101 supports print jobs in a format in which document data is referenced to the cloud storage 111. For example, it refers to reference-uri-schemes-supported shown in FIG. 5, which is defined by IPP, and acquires the types of supported specification methods. It is further determined whether the method matches as a method for referencing the cloud storage service 111, and if there is a match, it is determined that the method is supported. Here, it is assumed that "https" exists as a value of reference-uri-schemes-supported, and that files in the cloud storage service 111 can also be referenced by a URI in https format.

[0036] Next, in S703, the client terminal 103 requests additional access permission for read / write permission to the cloud storage service 111. Then, a dialog box for obtaining the user's consent to the additional access permission (i.e., user authentication) as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In the dialog box 901, for example, the current user name, the name of the application requesting the access, and the type of access permission requested are displayed as information regarding the additional access permission. In this figure, as described above, the content is an additional request for access permission to a file managed by the user. If the user consents to the access permission, the user presses (or touches) the accept button 903, and if not, the user presses the cancel button 902. By pressing the accept button 903, the access permission is granted to the application that requested the access permission, and in S704, an access token is responded to the client terminal 103 from the cloud storage service 111. In S703, if there is necessary user information or account information (such as a user name and password), that information is also transmitted.

[0037] In S705, the client terminal 103, having obtained approval of the access right (access token), notifies the cloud storage service 111 of a request to obtain the root path of the file storage destination. The cloud storage service 111, which has received the request to obtain the root path, responds with the root path in S706. For example, in the case of https format, the root path may be https: / / my.cloudstrage / personal / username / Documents. Here, if the user does not have the right to access the cloud storage service 111, a response will be made without a root path. In that case, this print processing flow will be stopped. Here, it is assumed that there is the right to access, and the response is a root path as described above.

[0038] In step S707, the client terminal 103 that has received the root path response generates a destination URI for the document data to be printed, and uploads the document data to the destination URI in the cloud storage service 111. The destination URI may be anything that is based on the root path and does not contain an existing file. For example, it may be https: / / my.cloudstrage / personal / username / Documents / Printdocument1.pdf.

[0039] In S708, the client terminal 103 changes the document data of the print job to a reference format, and further adds access information (e.g., an access token) to the print job so that the image forming apparatus 101 can acquire the document data from the cloud storage service 111. In S709, the client terminal 103 transmits the print job to the CPS 102 and instructs it to print. The print execution instruction may be, for example, a Print-URI operation of IPP that is compatible with the reference format of the document data. FIG. 8 shows an example of a print execution instruction packet in which "color" and "two-place binding on the left" are specified in the print settings, and the document format of the print job is PDF. The document data in this figure is stored in a reference format in the storage destination indicated by the Document URI in the print job in FIG. 8. In addition, an access token is included in this print job.

[0040] Next, the CPS 102 that has received the print job analyzes the print execution request received from the client terminal 103 in S710, and stores the print job (not including document data) in its own storage.

[0041] Next, in S711, CPS 102 notifies image forming apparatus 101 that a print job has been submitted (print job event). In the figure, CPS 102 notifies image forming apparatus 101 with a PUSH notification, but the image forming apparatus 101 may also notify CPS 102 of the presence or absence of an event with a PULL notification. For the notification, for example, an IPP Get-Notification operation is used. When image forming apparatus 101 detects that a print job exists in CPS 102, it makes a print job acquisition request to CPS 102 in S712. For example, an IPP Feteh-Job operation is used for the print job acquisition request. In S713, CPS 102, which has received the print job acquisition request, responds with the print job stored in its own storage.

[0042] As a result, the image forming apparatus 101 analyzes the print job in S714, and since the document data is in reference format, acquires the URI of the storage destination of the document data. In S715, the image forming apparatus 101 requests the document data present at the URI of the storage destination of the document data. In this case, since it is the URI of the storage destination of the document data, the image forming apparatus 101 makes an acquisition request to the cloud storage 111. At this time, it transmits an access token included in the print job together with the acquisition request. Having received the acquisition request together with the access token, the cloud storage 111 transmits the document data to the image forming apparatus 101 in S716.

[0043] The image forming apparatus 101 that has received the document data response in S717 executes printing based on the print job attributes specified in S713 and the document data transmitted in S716. Then, in step S718, the image forming apparatus 101 notifies the CPS 102 of a printing completion notification. Having received the printing completion notification, the CPS 102 deletes the saved print job in step S719. Then, in S720, the image forming apparatus 101 notifies the client terminal 103 of a printing job completion notification. Having received the printing completion notification, the client terminal 103 notifies the cloud storage 111 of a document data deletion request in S721. Having received the document data deletion request, the cloud storage service 111 deletes the document data.

[0044] In this manner, in this embodiment, when printing document data that exceeds the capacity limit of the CPS 102 present in the client terminal 103, printing is made possible by storing the document data in the cloud storage service 111 included in the cloud integrated service 112. The cloud storage service 111 to be used is a service that can be used with the same user information as the CPS 102.

[0045] This allows a cloud print service that has a limit on the amount of printable document data to be used to print an amount of document data that exceeds the limit. Since printing is performed by granting the user's access rights to the cloud storage service to be used to the image forming device, the user only needs to approve the granting of access rights to the image forming device in addition to the normal printing procedure.

[0046] [Embodiment 2] <Integration with cloud storage services that require separate user information> In the first embodiment, the CPS 102 and the cloud storage service 111 exist in the cloud integrated service 112, and the same user information (or account information) could be used. However, the cloud print service and the cloud storage service are provided independently, and there are cases where the user information is different. In this embodiment, a process will be described for printing document data that exceeds the capacity limit of the CPS 102 and exists on the client terminal 103 in cooperation with a cloud storage service that requires user information different from that of the CPS 102. This makes it possible to print document data that exceeds the capacity limit of the CPS 102 and exists on the client terminal 103 in combination with any cloud storage service.

[0047] <Network configuration> Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration is such that only a cloud storage service 111 is added to the configuration shown in Fig. 1. The cloud storage service 111 is an online storage service that provides a service that allows document files and the like to be managed online. Unlike the first embodiment, the CPS 102 and the cloud storage service 111 are not the same cloud integrated service, and each requires different user information for access. The above components are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other.

[0048] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a setting dialog 1100 for when a size upper limit occurs, displayed by a program running on the client terminal 103 in this embodiment. In the check box 1101, whether or not to store and print the document data of the print job in another cloud storage when a size upper limit error occurs in the CPS 102 during printing is set. The combo box 1102 is a combo box for selecting the cloud storage in which the document data is to be stored. The user name 1103 and the password 1104 are the user name and password used to connect to the cloud storage selected in 1102, respectively. The contents set in this figure are stored in the HDD 204 of the client terminal 103 as a setting file 1200 in, for example, an XML format as shown in FIG. 12. The program running on the client terminal 103 retrieves the above setting file stored in the HDD 204 from the HDD 204 and reads it into the RAM 203 to refer to it. The setting of the above check box 1101 is held in the cloud storage usage tag 1201. When the checkbox 1101 is turned ON, YES is recorded, which means that another cloud storage will be used when a size upper limit error occurs in the CPS 102. When it is turned OFF, NO is recorded. The storage name tag 1202 holds the cloud storage name selected in the storage destination combo box 1102, the user name tag 1203 holds the user name 1103, and the password tag 1204 holds the password 1104. Note that the password 1104 is recorded in an encrypted state, and is decrypted and referenced when reading. Note that a list of cloud storage names that have been registered in advance in association with the URI of the cloud storage is displayed in the combo box 1102, and a password may be selected from that list.

[0049] The process flow when a print job is sent to the CPS 102 in the second embodiment and the CPS fails to save the job will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Note that, like Fig. 7, this figure shows the process flow after the notification (S422) when saving the job fails in S414 in Fig. 4, and the same step numbers as Fig. 7 indicate the same processes. Also, the procedure from step S705 onwards is the same as in Fig. 7, so it will be omitted.

[0050] In S701, the client terminal 103 refers to an error code included in the notification from the CPS 102. If the cause of the failure is exceeding the size upper limit, in S1301, the client terminal 103 refers to the setting file 1200 set in the setting dialog for when a size upper limit error occurs in FIG. 11. Then, based on the setting contents of the setting file 1200, it is determined whether to use an external cloud service. If the setting value is "YES", it is determined to use. Next, in S1302, the client terminal 103 acquires the name, user name, and password of the cloud storage to be connected. In S702, if the client terminal 103 refers to the printer capability information acquired in S411 and determines that a print job in a reference format for document data is available, it performs a login process to the cloud storage service 111 in S1303. Here, the client terminal 103 transmits the user name and password acquired in S1302 to the cloud storage service 111 to automatically log in. In response to this, a dialog for the user to input the user name and password may be displayed to allow the user to log in. When the cloud storage service 111 accepts the login, it sends an access token to the client terminal 103 in S1304.

[0051] The process from this point onwards is the same as that shown in FIG. 7. By uploading the document data to the cloud storage service 111 and instructing printing of the document data in the print job in reference format, printing can be achieved even if a size limit error occurs in the CPS 102.

[0052] By adopting the configuration of this embodiment, it is possible to execute printing in combination with any cloud storage service when the capacity of the cloud print service is insufficient. Furthermore, even if there is no cloud storage that can be accessed with the same user information, printing is possible as long as there is available cloud storage.

[0053] Also, as in the first embodiment, a cloud storage service accessible with the same user information may be preferentially used, and only if the cloud storage service does not exist, another arbitrary cloud storage service may be used as in the second embodiment. For this purpose, for example, a check box for preferentially selecting a cloud storage service accessible with the same user information may be provided in the dialog box 1100 of FIG. 11. If the check box is checked, only cloud storage services accessible with the same user information are displayed in the combo box 1102. This allows the cloud storage service accessible with the same user information as the CPS to be preferentially used. Of course, the method is not limited to this. For example, immediately after step S702, the client terminal may determine whether or not there is a corresponding cloud storage service, and if there is, the process may proceed to S703. In this case, if there is no corresponding cloud storage service, the user may be prompted to specify a cloud storage service and input login information, and the cloud storage service according to the input may be used to execute S1303 and subsequent steps.

[0054] [Variations] In the above embodiment, a case is exemplified where a print job is sent and an error code included in the result of the notification is judged to determine whether a size upper limit error occurs. On the other hand, there are cases where the upper limit size of a print job that can be processed by the CPS 102 can be acquired in advance. In this case, the client terminal may judge whether a size upper limit error occurs by comparing the data size of the print job with the size of the print job that can be processed by the CPS 102 or the file size that can be processed before sending the job. In this case, for example, information of the job-k-octets-supported attribute, which means the upper limit size of a supported job defined by IPP, is acquired from the CPS 102. If the size of the print job to be sent next is larger than the upper limit size acquired from the CPS 102, it is judged that a size upper limit error occurs. The information used to judge whether the size upper limit is exceeded may be information of the pdf-k-octets-supported attribute defined in PWG5100.16. The information indicates the upper limit size of a PDF file that can be accepted.

[0055] When making a judgment based on the previously acquired information indicating the upper limit size, the size of the actual print job generated after the print job is generated can be compared with the upper limit size. Also, the size of the print job being generated can be monitored, and it can be judged that a size upper limit error has occurred when the upper limit size is exceeded. Furthermore, the size of the print job can be predicted from the size of the document file or drawing data to be printed, and the predicted value can be compared with the upper limit size.

[0056] [Other Examples] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0057] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 101 Image forming apparatus, 102 Cloud print service (CPS), 103 Client terminal, 111 Cloud storage service

Claims

1. A first sending means for sending a print job to a cloud print service; a document data storage unit that stores document data of the print job in an accessible cloud storage when the data size of the print job exceeds an upper limit of the data size of the print job supported by the cloud print service; a second transmission means for transmitting a print job in a reference format to the document data stored by the document data storage means to the cloud print service; A printing system comprising:

2. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, the accessible cloud storage is accessible with the same user information as that of the cloud print service, The document data storage means transmits user information of the cloud print service together with the document data to the cloud storage. A printing system comprising:

3. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, the accessible cloud storage is accessible with user information different from that of the cloud print service, The document data storage means transmits user information of the cloud storage together with the document data to the cloud storage. A printing system comprising:

4. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an acquisition means for acquiring the document data indicated by the reference from the cloud print service when the print job of the reference format is received; and a print control unit for printing the document data obtained from the cloud storage based on the reference. A printing system comprising:

5. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The method further includes the step of requesting user authentication before storing the document data by the cloud storage. A printing system comprising:

6. A first sending means for sending a print job to a cloud print service; a second transmission means for transmitting document data of the print job to an accessible cloud storage when a data size of the print job exceeds an upper limit of a data size of a print job supported by the cloud print service; a third transmission means for transmitting a print job in a reference format to the document data transmitted by the second transmission means to the cloud print service; 13. An information processing device comprising:

7. 7. The information processing device according to claim 6, the accessible cloud storage is a cloud storage service that can be accessed with the same user information as the cloud print service, The second transmission means transmits user information of the cloud print service together with the document data.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

8. 7. The information processing device according to claim 6, the accessible cloud storage is a cloud storage service that can be accessed with user information different from that of the cloud print service, The second transmission means transmits user information of the cloud storage service together with the document data.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

9. A printing method in a printing system having a first transmission means, a document data storage means, and a second transmission means, comprising: The first transmission means transmits a print job to a cloud print service; the document data storage means stores the document data of the print job in an accessible cloud storage when the data size of the print job exceeds an upper limit of the data size of the print job supported by the cloud print service; The second transmission means transmits a print job in a reference format to the document data stored by the document data storage means to the cloud print service. A printing method comprising:

10. Computer, A first sending means for sending a print job to a cloud print service; a second transmission means for transmitting document data of the print job to an accessible cloud storage when a data size of the print job exceeds an upper limit of a data size of a print job supported by the cloud print service; a third transmission means for transmitting a print job in a reference format to the document data transmitted by the second transmission means to the cloud print service; A program to make it function as such.

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