JP4240038B2 - Server and conversion method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a server and a conversion method , and more particularly to a server that designates a place to perform printing and a conversion method that converts a place to perform printing .

  With the widespread use of wide area networks such as the Internet, print shops that accept print jobs via the network, and network systems that print directly to remote destination printers instead of faxing within the company Development technology is advanced.

  When printing on such a network, the corresponding printer can be used by specifying a print server connected to the network. Therefore, the addresses of a plurality of available print servers must be managed. Regarding the print server address management technology, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-290008 provides a main server for centrally managing print servers to collectively manage the print server addresses.

  However, in the prior art as described above, since the address managed by the main server is only a logical address, when a print server is designated from the client via the main server, it is necessary to know the logical address of the print server to be designated. there were.

  For example, if you want to execute printing on the print server in the secretary section of building A, instead of directly specifying a location name such as “secretary section of building A” to the main server, An IP address or a printer name managed by Windows (registered trademark) must be designated. Thus, the user needs to know the logical address and network topology of the print server and specify the print server, which is very inconvenient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a salicylate over server can specify the print destination print server in an easily accessible location name for the user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a conversion method capable of converting the installation location of a printer and designating a print destination print server with a location name that is easy for the user to understand.

In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a first conversion composed of job receiving means for receiving a job from a client with a place name as a destination, and the first position information representing the place name and the place name. A second conversion information comprising first conversion information storage means for storing information, a logical address of the printer, an installation location name where the printer is installed, and second location information corresponding to the installation location name Based on the second conversion information storage means for storing information, the first position information, and the second position information, the logical address of the printer close to the place name and the printer are installed. An address conversion unit that acquires a second location name, a job transmission unit that transmits a job to the logical address, and a search result notification unit that notifies the client of the second location name. Server is provided, wherein.

  Here, the job receiving means receives a job from the client with the place name as the transmission destination. The first conversion information storage means stores first conversion information including a place name and first position information representing the place name. The second conversion information storage means stores second conversion information including a logical address of the printer, an installation location name where the printer is installed, and second position information corresponding to the installation location name. . Based on the first position information and the second position information, the address conversion unit obtains the logical address of the printer that is close to the place name and the second place name where the printer is installed. The job transmission unit transmits the job to the logical address. The search result notifying unit notifies the client of the second place name.

By simply specifying a rough range such as a place name as the job destination, the printer that outputs within the range or near the area is searched, and the location name where the output printer is set is notified, so that the user The user does not need to know the destination information in detail, and the user can easily specify the job.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, servers of the present invention is Ru der which mainly corresponds to the third embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of a network system provided with an address translation server. An address translation server 1, a client 2, and a print server 3 are connected on a network 4.

  The job receiving unit 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the place name of the place where the print server 3 is installed is described as the transmission destination. The address conversion information accumulating unit 30 accumulates address conversion information that associates the location name of the place where the print server 3 is installed with the logical address of the print server 3.

  The address conversion unit 20 converts the location name into a logical address based on the address conversion information. The job transmission means 40 transmits a job to the print server 3 corresponding to the logical address converted from the location name.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the address translation server 1.
[S1] The job receiving means 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the location name of the location where the print server 3 is installed is described as the transmission destination.
[S2] The address conversion unit 20 converts the location name into a logical address based on the address conversion information that associates the location name of the location where the print server 3 is installed with the logical address of the print server 3. .
[S3] The job transmission means 40 transmits a job to the print server 3 corresponding to the logical address.

  Next, a first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the place name of the place where the print server 3 is installed is designated by the name of the print shop. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the first embodiment. An address translation server 1a, a client 2 and a print server 3 are connected on a network 4.

  The job receiving unit 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the name of the print shop 3a is described as a transmission destination. The address translation information accumulating unit 31 accumulates address translation information in which the name of the print shop 3a is associated with the logical address of the print server 3 in the print shop 3a. The address conversion information here is a printer list 31a described later.

  The address conversion means 20 converts the name of the print shop 3a into a logical address based on the printer list 31a. The job transmission means 40 transmits a job to the print server 3 corresponding to the logical address converted from the name of the print shop 3a.

  Next, the printer list 31a will be described. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the printer list 31a. The printer list 31a includes a logical address and a print shop name.

The logical address is a logical address of the print server 3. The print shop name is the name of the shop installed in the print server 3.
For example, NO. 1 has a logical address of 123.123.123. xxx and the print shop name is A. Since it is the same thereafter, the description is omitted.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure according to the first embodiment.
[S10] The job receiving means 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the name A of the print shop 3a installed in the print server 3 is described.
[S11] The address conversion means 20 assigns the name A of the print shop 3a to the logical address based on the printer list 31a in which the name A of the print shop 3a is associated with the logical address of the print server 3 in the print shop 3a. 123.123.123. Convert to xxx.
[S12] The job transmission means 40 receives the logical addresses 123.123.123. The job is transmitted to the print server 3 which is xxx.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the print shop name described in the job received from the client 2 is converted into a logical address, and the job is transmitted to the print server 3. As a result, the print destination can be designated by the name of the print shop installed in the print server 3.

  In the above description, the location where the print server is installed is designated as the print shop, and the print destination is designated by the print shop name. However, other location names such as “A building's secretary section”, etc. A floor may be designated as a printing destination.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the place name of the place where the print server 3 is installed is designated by the place name. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the second embodiment. An address translation server 1b, a client 2 and a print server 3 are connected on a network 4.

  The job receiving means 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 of the place where the print server 3 is installed is described as the transmission destination. The address translation information accumulating unit 32 accumulates address translation information in which the place name is associated with the logical address of the print server 3 installed in the place name. Here, the address conversion information is a printer list 32a and a numerical map 32b described later.

  The address conversion unit 21 includes a history information acquisition unit 21a and a logical address acquisition unit 21b. The history information acquisition means 21a acquires the history information of the representative point representing the place of the place name using the numerical map 32b. The logical address acquisition unit 21b acquires a logical address from the history information using the printer list 32a.

The job transmission means 40 transmits a job to the print server 3 corresponding to the logical address converted from the place name.
Next, the numerical map 32b will be described. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the numerical map 32b. The numerical map 32b includes a place name and history information. The place name is a place name described in the job created by the client 2, and here is AA city BB ward CC1-3. The history information is history information of a representative point representing a place having the place name.

For example, NO. The place name of 3 is AA city BB ward CC1-3, and the background information of the representative point is N40.227, E140.134. Since it is the same thereafter, the description is omitted.
Next, the printer list 32a will be described. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the printer list 32a. The printer list 32a is composed of logical addresses and history data.

The logical address is a logical address of the print server 3. The history data is the history of the place where the print server 3 is installed.
For example, NO. 1 has a logical address of 123.123.123. In xxx, the history data is N40.229-E140.136. Since it is the same thereafter, the description is omitted.

  Next, the reference map used when creating the printer list 32a and the numerical map 32b described above will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of a reference map. It is a map which shows the range where latitude is N40.220 to N40.250, and longitude is E140.120 to E140.160. A black circle on the map is a numerical map representative point, and a double circle indicates a point where a print shop exists.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure according to the second embodiment.
[S20] The job receiving means 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 of the place where the print server 3 is installed is described.
[S21] The history information acquisition means 21a acquires the history information N40.227 and E140.134 of the position representing the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 using the numerical map 32b.
[S22] The logical address acquisition means 21b obtains the history data N40.229 and E140.136 that are closest to the history information N40.227 and E140.134 using the printer list 32a. Then, the logical address 123.123.123. Get xxx.
[S23] The job transmission means 40 receives the logical addresses 123.123.123. A job is transmitted to the print server 3 corresponding to xxx.

Next, the history information acquisition unit 21a will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the history information acquisition means 21a.
[S30] Set 1 to X.
[S31] From the numerical map 32b, NO. It is determined whether there is an X item. NO. If there is an item X, go to step S33, otherwise go to step S32.
[S32] It is determined that there is an error and the process ends.
[S33] The NO. It is compared whether the place name of X and the place name designated by the client 2 match. If they match, go to step S34; otherwise, go to step S35.
[S34] History information is acquired.
[S35] X is obtained by adding 1 to X, and the process returns to step S31.

Next, the logical address acquisition unit 21b will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the logical address acquisition means 21b.
[S40] 1 is set in Y and ∞ is set in d.
[S41] The distance d0 between the history information and the Yth history data in the printer list 32a is calculated.
[S42] The distance lengths d and d0 are compared. If d is greater than d0, go to step S43, otherwise go to step S44.
[S43] d0 is set to d.
[S44] It is checked whether all Ys have been completed. If completed, go to step S45, otherwise go to step S46.
[S45] A logical address corresponding to the history data with the shortest distance is acquired.
[S46] The value obtained by adding 1 to Y is set as Y, and the process returns to step S41.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the place name described in the job received from the client 2 is converted into a logical address, and the job is transmitted to the print server 3. As a result, the printing destination can be specified by the place name installed in the print server 3, and the print server within the place name can be automatically found. It is also possible to designate an optimum print server even for a broad and ambiguous designation such as a place name.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, when the place where the print server 3 is installed is designated by a place name, the search result is displayed on the client 2.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of the third embodiment. An address translation server 1c, a client 2 and a print server 3 are connected on a network 4.
The job receiving means 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 of the place where the print server 3 is installed is described as the transmission destination. The address translation information accumulating unit 33 accumulates address translation information in which the place name is associated with the logical address of the print server 3 installed in the place name. Here, the address conversion information is a printer list 33a, which will be described later, and the numerical map 32b described above.

  The address conversion unit 22 includes a history information acquisition unit 21a and a transmission destination acquisition unit 22a. The history information acquisition means 21a acquires the history information of the representative point representing the place of the place name using the numerical map 32b. The transmission destination acquisition unit 22a acquires a logical address and a location name corresponding to the logical address from the history information using the printer list 33a.

The search result notifying unit 50 notifies the client 2 of the name of the place where the print server 3 corresponding to the acquired logical address is installed, in this case, the name of the print shop.
The job transmission means 40 transmits a job to the print server 3 corresponding to the logical address converted from the place name.

  Next, the printer list 33a will be described. FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of the printer list 33a. The printer list 33a includes logical addresses, history data, and print shop names.

  The logical address is a logical address of the print server 3. The history data is the history of the place where the print server 3 is installed. The print shop name is the name of the print shop where the print server 3 is installed.

  For example, NO. 1 has a logical address of 123.123.123. xxx, the history data is N40.229-E140.136, and the print shop name is A. Since it is the same thereafter, the description is omitted.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure according to the third embodiment.
[S50] The job receiving means 10 receives from the client 2 a job in which the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 of the place where the print server 3 is installed is described.
[S51] The history information acquisition means 21a acquires the history information N40.227-E140.134 of the position representing the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 using the numerical map 32b.
[S52] The destination acquisition means 22a uses the printer list 33a to obtain the history data N40.229 to E140.136 that is closest to the history information N40.227 and E140.134. Then, the logical address 123.123.123. xxx and the corresponding print shop name A are acquired.
[S53] The search result notification means 50 receives the logical addresses 123.123.123. The client 2 is notified of the print shop name A corresponding to xxx.
[S54] The job transmission means 40 receives the logical addresses 123.123.123. A job is transmitted to the print server 3 corresponding to xxx.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display screen of the client 2. The display screen displays a print shop search 2a and a search result 2b. The print shop search 2a is a screen for inputting a place name to be printed out. After inputting the place name, the user presses the search start button. In the figure, the place name AA city BB ward CC1-3 is input.

  The search result 2b is a screen that displays the result after the search. In the figure, AA city BB ward CC1-3 and print shop name A are displayed. The user presses the designation button when designating this print shop name A, and pushes the cancel button when he / she wants to cancel the print shop name A.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the place name described in the job received from the client 2 is converted into a logical address, the job is transmitted to the print server 3, and the search result is sent to the client 2. It was configured to notify. As a result, the printing destination can be designated by the place name where the print server 3 is installed, and the client 2 can know the search result.

  In the above description, the printer lists 31a to 33a are configured by address information such as logical addresses and history data. However, a function list in which each function of the print server 3 is described may be added. In this case, the address translation constraint condition must include the function of the print server 3 in addition to the proximity of the distance described above.

It is a principle figure of the network system provided with the address translation server. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of an address translation server. It is a block diagram of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of a printer list. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of a numerical map. It is a block diagram of a printer list of the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline of a reference map. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a background information acquisition means. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a logical address acquisition means. It is a block diagram of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a printer list according to a third embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display screen of a client.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Address conversion server 2 Client 3 Print server 4 Network 10 Job reception means 20 Address conversion means 30 Address conversion information storage means 40 Job transmission means

Claims (2)

  Job receiving means for receiving a job from a client with a place name as a destination,
  First conversion information storage means for storing first conversion information composed of the place name and first position information representing the place name;
  Second conversion information storage means for storing second conversion information comprising a logical address of the printer, an installation location name where the printer is installed, and second location information corresponding to the installation location name;
  Address conversion means for acquiring the logical address of the printer close to the place name and the second place name where the printer is installed based on the first position information and the second position information. When,
  Job transmission means for transmitting a job to the logical address;
  Search result notifying means for notifying the client of the second place name;
  The server characterized by having.   The conversion information storage means corresponds to the first conversion information composed of the place name and the first position information representing the place name, the logical address of the printer, the installation place where the printer is installed, and the installation place. Storing second conversion information composed of second position information;
  Job receiving means receives the job from the client with the place name as a destination, and
  The address conversion means acquires the logical address of the printer that is close to the place name and the installation location where the printer is installed based on the first position information and the second position information. Steps,
  Job sending means for sending a job to the logical address;
  A search result notification means notifying the client of the installation location;
  A conversion method characterized by comprising:

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