JP7664739B2 - PRINTING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR PROVIDING CLOUD PRINT SERVICE, PRINT CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing system that prints documents stored on a network provided by a cloud print service, a method for providing a cloud print service, and a printing control method and program.

In recent years, cloud print services that allow print jobs to be submitted via the cloud and sent to an image forming device have 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 that a user deploys on the cloud.

A user who is permitted to use the image forming device submits a print job from a client terminal to the cloud print service. The cloud print service saves the received print job in storage. Furthermore, before printing the print job received by the cloud print service, the user can preview the contents, edit the document by deleting unnecessary pages, and change print settings such as whether or not to staple. The image forming device obtains the print job saved in the cloud print service and prints it. The image forming device detects the print job by receiving a notification from the cloud print service or by monitoring the addition of jobs to the cloud print service. Furthermore, a print job is mainly composed of document data and print settings.

Furthermore, image forming devices that support multiple cloud print services as described above are becoming more common. It is possible to realize a cloud printing environment by linking these multiple cloud print services (hereinafter referred to as CPS). Examples of cloud print services include Google Cloud Print (registered trademark), Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Print (registered trademark), and Uniflow On Line (registered trademark).

JP 2012-133489 A

Patent Document 1 does not disclose a printing system in which an image forming apparatus uses multiple cloud print service devices. In a system in which multiple cloud print services cooperate, the cloud print service can be used even if the cloud print service used by the client who submits the print job is different from the cloud print service used by the image forming apparatus. In such a system, a print job sent from a client terminal to a cloud print service may be held by multiple cloud print services before being printed by the image forming apparatus. For example, when a print job is uploaded from a client terminal to a first cloud print service, the print job is held there. On the other hand, when an image forming apparatus requests a print job from a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service, the print job held by the first cloud print service is acquired by the second cloud print service. Then, it is passed to the image forming apparatus. In this way, one print job may be transferred between multiple cloud print services and saved by multiple cloud print services. When multiple cloud print devices each save a print job, a problem occurs in that storage resources are duplicated. In addition, communication resources are also consumed in large amounts for sending and receiving print jobs.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and one of its objectives is to prevent duplicated storage of print jobs and to use resources efficiently.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing system including at least an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus includes:
The second cloud print service acquires print job information of the print job held by the first cloud print service from the first cloud print service, and displays a list of print jobs based on the print job information; and in response to an instruction to execute a print job selected from the list of print jobs, requests the selected print job to the second cloud print service;
When the second cloud print service determines that a print job selected from the list of print jobs is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service, in response to a notification that the first cloud print service has moved the selected print job to a print job storage area of the image forming device in response to a move request from the second cloud print service, the print job selected from the list of print jobs is obtained from the first cloud print service and executed;
A printing system is provided, characterized in that when the second cloud print service determines that the selected print job is held in the second cloud print service , even if the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service , the printing system receives and executes the selected print job sent by the second cloud print service.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
and an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service.
The image forming apparatus includes:
The second cloud print service acquires print job information of the print jobs held by the first cloud print service, which the second cloud print service acquires from the first cloud print service, and displays a list of the print jobs based on the print job information ;
requesting the second cloud print service to edit a print job selected from the list of print jobs in response to a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job and the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service requests the editing from the first cloud print service;
the first cloud print service performs the edits on the selected print job in response to the edit request ;
A printing system is provided.

This invention makes it possible to prevent duplicated storage of print jobs and to use resources efficiently.

A schematic diagram of a typical printing environment where multiple cloud print services work together FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating examples of a preview screen and a print setting change screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. , FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a process flow of a printing environment between a plurality of cloud print services in the first embodiment. Block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration for the cloud print service FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a registration sequence of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a job information acquisition packet. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a job information acquisition packet. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a job movement packet. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sequence of print preview/page editing. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sequence of changing print settings in the first embodiment. , FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a printing sequence for the image forming apparatus. , 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a cloud print service. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sequence of changing print settings in the second embodiment.

The following embodiments are 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 multiple features, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple 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 duplicate explanations are omitted.

(First embodiment)
● Cooperation of cloud print services Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a typical configuration and processing flow of a general cloud printing environment (also called a cloud print system) in which an image forming device cooperates with multiple cloud print services (CPS) to provide a print job. There are client terminals 101 and 102, CPSs 104 and 105, and an image forming device 107. The configuration allows a print job submitted from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105 to be printed on the image forming device 107 via the CPS 104. The cloud print service is a service provided by a cloud print server (cloud print service device), but in this explanation, it is called the cloud print service without distinguishing between the cloud print server and the service provided by it.

Client terminals 101 and 102 send print jobs to CPSs 104 and 105, respectively. CPS 104 is a cloud print service device that receives print jobs from client terminal 101 and from CPS 105. CPS 105 is a cloud print service device that receives print jobs from client terminal 102 and stores the print jobs. Here, CPS 104 is the tenant name of "CompanyA.com". CPS 105 is the tenant name of "CompanyB.com". Image forming device 107 receives the print job from CPS 104 and executes print processing of the print job.

Figure 1 (A) shows the pre-registration process when printing from an image forming device by linking multiple cloud print services.

In step a-1, the image forming device 107 is registered in the CPS 104. This allows the image forming device 107 to refer to and obtain print jobs from the CPS 104. In step a-2, the CPS 104 is registered in the CPS 105. In this case, for example, the CPS 104 is registered with the CPS 105 as a virtual image forming device. This allows the CPS 104 to operate virtually as an image forming device and to refer to and obtain print jobs submitted to the CPS 105.

Figure 1 (B) shows an example of printing in which multiple CPSs are linked together. This shows the process in which a print job submitted from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105 passes through the CPS 104 and is printed by the image forming device 107. In process b-1, the print job is submitted from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105. In process b-2, the CPS 104 detects the submission of the print job to the CPS 104 and acquires the print job. In process b-3, the image forming device 107 acquires a list of print job information from the CPS 104 and displays the job list to the user. The user selects a print job and instructs printing to be performed. In process b-4, the image forming device 107 acquires the print job from the CPS 104 and executes printing. As shown in this figure, the print job is transferred to the CPS 105, the CPS 104, and the image forming device.

Figure 1C shows an example of print preview/job editing in which multiple CPSs are linked. Here, the process is shown when a print job input from the client terminal 102 to the CPS 105 is transferred to the CPS 104, and the preview function or job editing function is executed by the user from the image forming device 107. Steps c-1 and c-2 are the same as steps b-1 and b-2, respectively. The print job is saved in the CPS 104 via the CPS 105. In step c-3, the image forming device 107 acquires a list of print job information from the CPS 104 and displays the job list to the user. The user selects a print job and instructs to preview or edit the job. In step c-4, the image forming device 107 requests the CPS 104 to acquire a preview screen or edit the job for the print job, and the CPS 104 that receives the request generates a preview screen or edits the job using the saved print job. In this figure, the print job is transferred to the CPS 105 and CPS 104.

As described above, when printing, previewing, or editing a job is performed in cooperation with the CPS 104 and the CPS 105, a print job input to the CPS 105 is transferred to the CPS 104 at the time of input. Therefore, the print job is stored in the storage of both the CPS 105 and the CPS 104, and resources are consumed redundantly. In addition, communication occurs for the CPS 105 to transmit the print job to the image forming apparatus 107 via the CPS 104, increasing the amount of communication.
In the second embodiment, a cloud print system that suppresses an increase in resource consumption and communication traffic and utilizes a cloud system in which charges are based on storage capacity and communication traffic more efficiently and economically will be described.

Second Embodiment
<Network Configuration>
4A and 4B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration example and processing flow of a printing system according to the second embodiment. The components are the same as those in Fig. 1, and the printing system includes client terminals 401-402, CPSs 404-405, and an image forming apparatus 407. The CPSs 404-405 are cloud print service apparatuses.

The client terminals 401 and 402 transmit print jobs to the CPSs 404 and 405, respectively. The CPS 404 is a cloud print service device that receives print jobs from the client terminal 401 and from the CPS 405. The CPS 405 is a cloud print service device that receives print jobs from the client terminal 402 and stores the print jobs. Here, the CPS 404 is a tenant with a tenant name of "CompanyA.com". The CPS 405 is a tenant with a tenant name of "CompanyB.com". The image forming device 407 receives print jobs not only from the CPS 404 but also from the CPS 405, and executes print processing of the print jobs. A tenant is a unit of the cloud print service, and services are provided to users for each tenant. The tenants and the users that belong to them are registered in advance, and authenticated users can use the services of the tenants.

The above components are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other. The network may be, for example, a LAN such as the Internet, a WAN, a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, an ATM, or a communication network realized by a combination of these. Any network may be used as long as it is capable of transmitting and receiving data.

<Hardware Configuration>
Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the CPS 404 in Fig. 4. The client terminals 401, 402 and the CPS 405 in Fig. 4A and 4B have the same hardware configuration as the CPS 404. The CPS 404 has a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, an auxiliary storage device 504, an input device 505, an output device 506, and an I/F 507.

The CPU 501 directly or indirectly controls each component (such as the ROM 502 and RAM 503) and executes programs stored in the ROM 502, RAM 503, or auxiliary storage device 504. These programs include programs for implementing procedures shown in sequence diagrams and flowcharts described below. The ROM 502 stores the BIOS. The RAM (main storage device) 703 is used as a work area for the CPU 501 and as primary storage for loading programs. The auxiliary storage device 504 is a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD) that stores the OS, which is basic software, and programs. The input device 505 is a keyboard, pointing device, etc. The output device 506 is, for example, a display. The I/F 507 is an interface for connecting to a network.

<Settings screen>
FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 407 when a user logs in to the image forming apparatus 407, selects a print job from the CPS 404, and executes printing. The image forming apparatus 407 is managed by user authentication. To use the functions of the image forming apparatus 407, such as copying and printing, the user must log in to the image forming apparatus 407. The login method may be authentication by ID and password, authentication by IC card, or biometric authentication. When a user who has successfully logged in selects the print function of the image forming apparatus 407, the image forming apparatus 407 displays a print job list screen of the user, as shown in FIG. 2. On the screen of FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 407 displays, for example, the job name, number of copies, color settings, and page aggregation number of print jobs that the logged-in user can execute. On the screen of FIG. 8, when a user selects any one print job and presses "Print", the image forming apparatus 407 receives the corresponding print job from the CPS 404 and executes printing. When the user selects "Delete," the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a deletion request for the print job to the CPS 404, and deletes the print job from the storage of the CPS 404. When "Cancel" is selected during printing, the image forming apparatus 407 stops the print processing of the print job being printed and cancels it.

When "Preview" is selected, the document contents of the print job selected in Fig. 2 are displayed as a preview, as shown in Fig. 3(A). The preview screen in Fig. 3(A) also provides a page editing function whereby the currently displayed page can be selected and "Delete Page" can be selected to delete the selected page, or "Duplicate Page" can be selected to duplicate the selected page.

Furthermore, when "Settings" is selected, the print settings for the print job selected in Fig. 2, such as the number of copies, color settings, and number of pages, are displayed as shown in Fig. 3(B). The print settings screen in Fig. 3(B) also provides the ability to change the print settings, such as the number of copies, color settings, and number of pages.

<Registering an image forming device to the CPS/Registering for CPS linkage>
4A and 4B show an example of the operation of a printing system (or image forming system) including a client terminal, a CPS, and an image forming device in this embodiment. FIG. 4A(a) shows the flow of processing for the pre-registration to the CPS in this embodiment, the registration of the image forming device 407 to each CPS, and the registration for cooperation between the CPS 404 and the CPS 405. In this embodiment, the image forming device 407 needs to be registered to the CPSs 404 and 405 because it is necessary for the image forming device 407 to be able to directly refer to and obtain the print job of the CPS 405. In step 4a-1, for example, the image forming device 407 is registered to the CPS 404 in response to the user's operation. This makes it possible for the image forming device 407 to refer to and obtain the print job of the CPS 404. In step 4a-2, for example, the CPS 404 is registered to the CPS 405 in response to the administrator's operation of the CPS 404. In this case, for example, the CPS 404 is registered as a virtual image forming device to the CPS 405. This allows the CPS 404 to refer to and obtain print jobs submitted to the CPS 405. In step 4a-3, the image forming device 407 is registered in the CPS 405 in response to a user's operation. The image forming device 407 is also able to refer to and obtain print jobs of the CPS 405. In step 4a-4, information for ensuring the identity of the image forming device 407 registered in the CPS 405 and the CPS 404 (this information is called link information) is registered in the CPS 404. Details of the processing in steps 4a-3 and 4a-4 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. It is assumed that the image forming device 407 has already been registered in the CPS 404 at the start of the procedure in FIG. 6.

In step S611 of FIG. 6, in response to a user instruction, the client terminal 402 uses the Web UI client to send a cloud print service registration request to the image forming apparatus 407 via the Web UI. In step S612, when the image forming apparatus 407 receives the cloud print service registration request, it sends the cloud print service registration request to the CPS 405. In step S613, when the CPS 405 receives the cloud print service registration request, it sends a cloud print service registration request response including the cloud print service registration URL 630 to the image forming apparatus 407. In step S614, when the image forming apparatus 407 receives the cloud print service registration request response, it sends registration URL display screen information including the cloud print service registration URL 630 to the client terminal 402 via the Web UI. When the client terminal 402 receives the registration URL display screen information, it displays the registration URL 630 in the Web UI client.

The user operates the Web UI client of the client terminal 402 to access the displayed registration URL 630. As a result, in step S615, the client terminal 402 transmits a cloud print service registration approval request including the cloud account 631 to the CPS 405. In step S616, upon receiving the cloud print service registration approval request, the CPS 405 transmits a cloud print service registration approval response to the client terminal 402.

In step S617, the image forming device 407 transmits a cloud print service registration confirmation request to the CPS 405. In step S618, upon receiving the cloud print service registration confirmation request, the CPS 405 transmits a cloud print service registration confirmation response including the cloud printer ID 632 to the image forming device 407. The cloud printer ID 632 is an identifier for registering the image forming device 407. At this stage, the image forming device 407 is registered in the CPS 405 and is able to use the cloud print service.

Next, a process is performed for CPS 405 and CPS 404 to cooperate with each other. Specifically, a process is performed for ensuring the identity of the image forming device 407 registered in CPS 405 and CPS 404. First, in step S619, the image forming device 407 transmits a registration status confirmation request to CPS 404, including the serial number 633 used by CPS 404 to identify the individual printer. In step S620, when CPS 404 receives the registration status confirmation request, it transmits a response indicating that the image forming device 407 is registered as a printer registration status indicating whether the image forming device 407 is registered to the image forming device 407. In step S621, when the image forming device 407 receives the printer registration status, if the image forming device 407 is registered, it transmits an information registration request for CPS 405 including cooperation information, that is, the serial number 633 and the printer ID 632 in this example, to CPS 404. In step S622, when the CPS 404 receives the information registration request, it adds the printer ID 632 information to the information of the image forming device 407 corresponding to the serial number 633, and sends a printer information registration response to the image forming device 407. Through these processes, the CPS 404 becomes able to acquire the printer ID 632 for identifying the individual image forming device 407 registered in the CPS 405. The CPS 404 becomes able to cooperate with the CPS 405 on the same image forming device 407.

<Processing when a print job is submitted>
Fig. 4A(b) shows the process flow of the print job preview and job editing that requires job acquisition by the CPS 404 in this embodiment. Fig. 4B(c) shows the process flow of job editing (print setting change) that does not require job acquisition in this embodiment. Fig. 4B(d) shows the print process flow of a print job in this embodiment. Of these, steps 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 are the processes from inputting a print job to displaying a list of print jobs on the image forming device 407, and are common to Fig. 4A(b), Fig. 4B(c), and Fig. 4B(d).

In step 4-1, a print job is submitted to the CPS 405 from the client terminal 402. In step 4-2, the CPS 404 detects the submission of the print job to the CPS 404 and obtains the print job information. Here, the print job is not obtained, but only the print job information is obtained. The print job information is information including a job ID and job name that uniquely identify the print job, and print setting contents. By obtaining only the print job information, the resources and transfer amount for saving the print job in the CPS 404 can be reduced. In step 4-3, the image forming device 407 obtains the print job information from the CPS 404 and displays a job list. The user then selects the target job from the displayed job list and instructs to preview, edit pages, change print settings, and execute printing. The details of the processing in steps 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 are explained using FIG. 10.

Figure 10 is a sequence diagram showing a method for processing job editing that requires previewing a print job and acquiring a job by the CPS 404. Steps S1001 to S1010 show the process from when the user uses the client terminal 402 to save a print job in the CPS 405, to when the user displays a list of print jobs on the image forming device 407. The user can instruct the print job displayed here to be previewed, edited on pages, change print settings, and printed.

In step S1001, in response to a user instruction, the client terminal 402 transmits a print job to the CPS 405. In step S1002, when the CPS 405 receives the print job from the client terminal 402, it stores the received print job in its own storage.

In step S1003, CPS 404, which is linked to a cloud service, detects that a new print job has been saved in CPS 405, and sends a print job information acquisition request to CPS 405. As a detection method, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 described above, CPS 404 may use a polling format in which CPS 404 sends a print job information acquisition request to CPS 405 at regular intervals, or CPS 405 may notify CPS 404 by push notification. In step S1004, when CPS 405 receives the print job information acquisition request, it sends the print job information saved in its own storage to CPS 404.

Figure 7 shows example packets of the print job information acquisition request 701 in step S1003 and the print job information acquisition response 702 in step S1004. Here, IPP is used as the communication protocol for explanation, but other protocols may be used. Since the print job information acquisition request 1301 wishes to acquire print jobs of all users, the Which-Job attribute of the IPP attributes is set to False, and a Get-Jobs operation is sent including the job attribute information to be acquired. The print job information acquisition response 1302 is a response that includes the requested print job attribute information such as the ID, name, number of copies, color settings, and print job owner name of each print job.

In step S1005, the client terminal 402 sends a print job status inquiry to the CPS 405. At this point, the print job of the CPS 405 has not yet been printed and is stored in the storage of the CPS 405. Therefore, in step S1006, the CPS 405 sends to the client terminal 402 a response of Pending or Pending-Hold, indicating that the print job is being stored, as the print job status. After the print job is stored in step S1002 and before the print job is deleted in step S1030, the CPS 405 sends to the client terminal 402 a print job status indicating that the print job is incomplete. This allows the client terminal 402 to grasp the correct job status.

Then, in step S1007, the user logs in to the image forming device 407 to execute printing. In step S1008, upon detecting the login, the image forming device 407 sends a request to obtain print job information for the logged-in user to the CPS 404. In step S1009, upon receiving the request to obtain print job information, the CPS 404 sends print job information for only that user to the image forming device 407.

Figure 8 shows an example packet of the print job information acquisition request 801 in step S1008 and the print job information acquisition response 802 in step S1009. The print job information acquisition request 1401 requests only print job information for a specific user, so the Which-Job attribute is set to True and the user name is specified in Requesting-user-name. Here, other attributes may be used for the user name as long as it can be uniquely identified, such as Requesting-user-uri. As a result, in step S1010, the image forming device 407 displays a list of the received print job information (job list) on the operation unit of the image forming device 407 as shown in Figure 2. The contents of the print job information acquisition response 802 are print job information, but differ from the print job information acquisition response 702 in that it is limited to the job information of the specified user.

<Preview/page editing process of print job by CPS>
In step 4b-1 in FIG. 4A(b), the user selects a job from the displayed job list and instructs execution of job editing such as preview and page editing. In step 4b-2, the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to obtain a preview screen and perform page editing for the target job in response to the user's operation. The CPS 404 that has received the request obtains the target print job from the CPS 405 in step 4b-3 and creates a preview screen and performs page editing. At this time, if the CPS 404 has already obtained a print job, processing is performed on the already obtained print job. In this embodiment, unlike the conventional example, when the CPS 404 needs a print job, such as generating a preview screen for the print job or editing the job, the print job is obtained from the CPS 405.

Next, the details of the preview and page editing processes in steps 4b-1, 4b-2, and 4b-3 will be explained using Figure 10.

<Preview>
In step S1011, the user selects any one of the print jobs for which a preview is to be displayed from the list of print job information in Fig. 2. The image forming apparatus 407 then inputs an instruction to execute a preview of the selected print job based on the print job information. In step S1012, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a preview request of the selected print job to the CPS 404 together with the job ID 1031 of the selected print job.

In step S1013, CPS 404 determines whether the selected print job is saved in CPS 404. Immediately after executing the print job storage process, CPS 404 does not save the print job in its storage, and CPS 405 saves the print job. On the other hand, if a preview or page editing process has already been executed, the job has already been obtained from CPS 405 and is saved in the storage of CPS 404.

If the job has not been acquired in step S1013, in step S1014, CPS 404 sends a print job acquisition request to CPS 405 along with job ID 1031. In step S1015, upon receiving the print job acquisition request, CPS 405 sends the print job stored in the storage of CPS 405 to CPS 404. In step S1016, CPS 404 stores the print job in the storage.

In step S1017, the CPS 404 generates a preview image using the print job saved in step S1016 or a print job that has already been saved. In step S1018, the CPS 404 transmits a preview screen that displays the preview image to the image forming device 407. In step S1019, the image forming device 407 displays the received preview screen on the operation unit of the image forming device 407 as shown in FIG. 3A.

<Edit page>
In this embodiment, a page editing function including copying and deleting on a page-by-page basis is provided on the preview screen as shown in Fig. 3A, so that operations for page editing can be performed following step S1019.

In step S1020, the user selects a page on the preview screen and inputs an instruction to delete or copy the page. In step S1021, the image forming apparatus 407 transmits a request to delete or copy the selected page to the CPS 404 along with the job ID 1031 of the selected print job. In step S1022, the CPS 404 performs page deletion or page copy processing on the print job stored in the CPS 404. Furthermore, in step S1023, the CPS 404 assigns a status of "edited" to the print job. Here, "edited" means that changes have been made to the print job obtained from the CPS 405 in step S1016. In other words, the edited print job of the CPS 404 is different from the print job stored in the CPS 405.

In step S1024, the CPS 404 generates a preview image of the new page to be displayed using the edited print job. In step S1025, the CPS 404 transmits a preview screen for displaying the preview image to the image forming device 407. In step S1026, the image forming device 407 displays the received preview screen on the operation unit of the image forming device 407 as shown in FIG. 3A.

<Print setting change process for print job by CPS>
In step 4c-1 of FIG. 4B(c), the user selects a job from the displayed job list and instructs to execute the print setting change. In step 4c-2, the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to change the print setting for the target job. The CPS 404, which has received the request, requests the CPS 405 to change the print setting as job editing in step 4c-3. At this time, if the CPS 404 has already acquired the print job, the process is performed on the acquired print job. In addition, if the print setting change content requires editing of the print job in the CPS 404, the process flow of FIG. 4A(b) is followed, and the job is acquired from the CPS 405. In this embodiment, unlike the conventional example, if a print setting request can be made to the CPS 405, the print job is not transferred, and by applying the print processing described later in combination, it is possible to reduce the resources and transfer amount for saving the print job. The details of the print setting change process in steps 4c-1, 4c-2, and 4c-3 for this purpose will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the flow of the print setting change process in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the print setting change function is provided on a print setting change screen such as that shown in Figure 3 (B). In other words, it is assumed that steps up to step S1010 have been executed as already explained.

In step S1101, the user changes the print settings on the print setting change screen and inputs an instruction to change the print settings. In step S1102, the image forming device 407 sends a print setting change request to the CPS 404 along with the job ID 1031 of the selected print job. In step S1013, the CPS 404 determines whether the selected print job is saved in the CPS 404. In step S1014, the CPS 404 determines whether the change in print settings can be applied to the print job of the CPS 405.

For example, CPS 405 supports attribute definitions based on IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) as print settings for print jobs, and is able to receive and change requests for some of the print settings. On the other hand, CPS 404 may be able to apply print settings that are uniquely defined by the vendor of image forming device 407. In this case, the uniquely defined print settings cannot be applied to print jobs of CPS 405. Also, even if the print setting function is realized by CPS 404, it cannot be applied to print jobs of CPS 405. For example, when CPS 404 provides an imposition function for aggregate printing, changes to the document data of the print job are also required, and CPS 404 needs to acquire the print job.

[When job not acquired and print settings for print job of CPS 405 are possible]
The following describes a change in print settings when the job has not been acquired and the print settings of the print job of the CPS 405 can be changed based on the change in print settings as determined in steps S1103 and S1104. In step S1105, the CPS 404 transmits a print setting change request to the CPS 405 along with the job ID 1031 and the print settings 1131. In step S1106, the CPS 405, having received the print setting change request, changes the print settings of the print job of the job ID 1031 using the print settings 1131. In addition, the CPS 405 transmits a print setting change response indicating whether the setting change was successful to the CPS 404 along with the print job information 1132 of the job ID 1031. Under these conditions, the print settings can be changed without transferring the print job to the CPS 404.

[When job not acquired and print settings for CPS405 print job are not possible]
The following describes a change in print settings when the job is not acquired and the print settings of the print job of the CPS 405 cannot be changed based on the change in the print settings as determined in steps S1103 and S1104. In step S1107, the CPS 404 transmits a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405 together with the job ID 1031. In step S1108, when the CPS 405 receives the print job acquisition request, it transmits the print job stored in the storage of the CPS 405 to the CPS 404. In step S1109, the CPS 404 stores the print job in the storage. In step S1110, the CPS 404 performs a change process of the print settings for the stored print job. In step S1110, the CPS 404 assigns an edited status to the print job.

[If the job has already been acquired]
The following describes how to change the print settings when the job has already been acquired based on the determinations made in steps S1103 and S1104. In step S1110, the CPS 404 changes the print settings of the print job that has already been acquired. In step S1111, the CPS 404 assigns an edited status to the print job.

After applying the print setting change process based on each of the above conditions, in step S1112, the CPS 404 sends the updated print job information to the image forming device 407. In step S1013, the image forming device 407 displays a list of the received print job information on the operation unit of the image forming device 407 as shown in FIG. 2.

<Printing control by CPS>
In step 4d-1 of FIG. 4B(d), the user selects a job from the displayed job list and instructs printing. In step 4d-2, the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to print the target print job. The CPS 404 that receives the request requests the CPS 405 to move the print job to the job storage area of the image forming apparatus 407 in step 4d-3. In step 4d-4, the image forming apparatus 407 detects the print job moved in step 4d-3, acquires the print job, and executes printing. By applying the above-mentioned printing process, printing is realized without transferring the print job from the CPS 405 to the CPS 404. On the other hand, when the CPS 404 receives the print request in step 4d-2, the print job that has already been transferred from the CPS 405 to the CPS 404 and stored in the storage area reserved for the CSP 404 (i.e., for the cloud print service) is sent to the image forming apparatus 407 in step 4d-3'. The image forming apparatus 407 then executes the printing process. Details of the printing process in steps 4d-1, 4d-2, and 4d-3 will be described with reference to Figures 12A and 12B. Figures 12A and 12B are a series of sequence diagrams showing a printing control processing method of the printing system.

In step S1201, a list of print jobs is displayed on the display unit of the image forming device 407. In step S1202, the user selects any one of the print jobs to be printed from the list of print job information in FIG. 2, and inputs an instruction to execute printing of the selected print job. In step S1202, the image forming device 407 transmits a print request for the selected print job to the CPS 404, together with the serial number 633 of the image forming device 407 and the job ID 1031 of the selected print job.

Immediately after executing the print job storage process, CPS 404 does not store the print job in its storage, and CPS 405 stores the print job. On the other hand, if a preview or page editing process has already been executed, the job is obtained from CPS 405 and stored in the CPS 404 storage.

In step S1203, the CPS 404 determines whether the selected print job is stored in the CPS 404. If the job has been acquired, in step S1204, the CPS 404 sends the print job to the image forming device 407.

If the job has not been acquired, in step S1205, CPS 404 acquires output printer ID 632, which is a printer ID that identifies image forming device 407 on CPS 405, from image forming device 407 having the attribute of serial number 633 on CPS 404. In step S1206, CPS 404 transmits a printer registration status confirmation request to CPS 405 together with output printer ID 632. In step S1207, upon receiving the printer registration status confirmation request, CPS 405 refers to the received output printer ID 632 and confirms whether image forming device 407 having the attribute of output printer ID 632 is registered in CPS 405. Then, CPS 405 transmits a registration status response to CPS 404 indicating whether image forming device 407 is registered with CPS 405 or not.

[If already registered]
A case will be described in which the CPS 405 transmits to the CPS 404, as a registration status response in step S1207, a message indicating that the image forming apparatus 407 is registered in the CPS 405. In step S1208, when the CPS 404 receives the response indicating that the image forming apparatus 407 is registered, the CPS 404 transmits to the CPS 405 a print job transfer request including the output printer ID 632 of the image forming apparatus 407 to be output and the job ID 1031 of the print job designated by the user. In step S1209, when the CPS 405 receives the print job transfer request, the CPS 405 moves the print job of the job ID 1031 stored in step S1002 to the job storage area of the image forming apparatus 407 that matches the output printer ID 632. In step S1210, the CPS 405 transmits to the CPS 404 a print job transfer response indicating success or failure in response to the print job transfer request.

Figure 9 shows example packets of the print job movement request 901 in step S1208 and the print job movement response 902 in step S1210. The print job movement request 901 specifies a job-id and a to-printer-id to specify a specific print job to be output and the image forming device 407 as the output destination. Here, the to-printer-id may be a spool-uri of the storage destination of the print job in the image forming device 407 as the output destination, as long as it can be uniquely identified. The print job movement response 902 includes information indicating whether the requested job movement was successful or unsuccessful.

In step S1211, the image forming device 407 detects the presence of a new print job and sends a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405. In step S1212, when the CPS 405 receives the print job acquisition request, it sends the print job stored in the storage of the CPS 405 to the image forming device 407. Note that the detection of the print job in step S1211 may be performed by the CPS 404 receiving the move response notifying the image forming device 407 that the target print job has been moved to the CPS 405.

[If not registered]
A case will be described in which, in step S1207, the CPS 405 transmits to the CPS 404 a registration status response indicating that the image forming device 407 is not registered with the CPS 405. In step S1213, when the CPS 404 receives the response indicating that the image forming device 407 is not registered, the CPS 404 transmits a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405. In step S1214, when the CPS 405 receives the print job acquisition request, the CPS 405 transmits the print job stored in the storage of the CPS 405 to the CPS 404. In step S1215, when the CPS 404 receives a print job from the CPS 405, the CPS 404 transmits the received print data to the image forming device 407.

[Printing process by image forming device]
In step S1216, when the image forming apparatus 407 receives the print job from the CPS 405, it executes print processing of the received print job. In step S1217, when the image forming apparatus 407 completes the print processing, it transmits a completion notification as the print job status to the CPS 404. In step S1218, when the CPS 404 receives the completion notification of the print job status, it transmits the completion notification to the CPS 405 as the print job status of the corresponding print job.

In step S1219, upon receiving the completion notification of the print job status in step S1218, CPS 405 deletes the saved print job from the storage of CPS 405. In step S1220, client terminal 402 sends a job status inquiry to CPS 405. In step S1221, CPS 405 sends a completion response to client terminal 402 as the print job status since the print job is completed. After the print job is deleted in step S1219, CPS 405 sends the print job status indicating the completion of the print job to client terminal 402. This allows client terminal 402 to always be aware of the correct print job status.

By applying the print preview process, print job editing process, and print process described above, print jobs are transferred only when it is necessary to process the print job in the CPS. As a result, print jobs are transferred to the CPS 404 only when necessary, realizing both minimal storage consumption, minimal communication volume, and functionality provision.

Processing by the Cloud Print Service 404 FIGS. 13A and 13B are a series of flowcharts showing a processing method of the CPS 404. In step S1301, the CPU 501 is in a waiting state until an event is received. When the CPU 501 receives an event, in step S1301, it determines what the event is. When the CPU 501 receives a print job save notification of a push notification from the CPS 405 as an event, or when an event of a timer expiration for periodic transmission to the CPS 405 occurs, the process proceeds to step S1302. When the CPU 501 receives a print job information acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 407 as an event, the process proceeds to step S1305. When the CPU 501 receives a print request for a selected print job from the image forming apparatus 407 as an event, or a preview/edit request for a print job, the process proceeds to step S1306.

In step S1302, the CPU 501 sends a print job information acquisition request to the CPS 405. Next, in step S1303, the CPU 501 receives the print job information from the CPS 405. Next, in step S1304, the CPU 501 updates the print job information stored in the CPS 404 and returns to step S1301.

In step S1305, the CPU 501 extracts the print job information of the requested user from the print job information stored in the CPS 404, transmits the extracted print job information to the image forming device 407, and returns to step S1401.

In step S1306, the CPU 501 determines whether the received event is printing, job editing, or preview. If it is job editing or preview, the process proceeds to step S1307. If it is printing, the process proceeds to step S1316.

In step S1307, the CPU 501 determines whether or not a job has been acquired. If so, the process proceeds to step S1311; if not, the process proceeds to step S1308. In step S1308, the CPU 501 determines whether or not it is necessary to acquire a job from the CPS 405 to realize the processing corresponding to the operation content. If it is necessary to acquire a job, the process proceeds to step S1309; if not, the process proceeds to step S1312. In step S1312, the CPU 501 sends a request to the CPS 405 to edit the job (change the print settings), and returns to step S1301.

In step S1309, the CPU 501 sends a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405. Next, in step S1310, the CPU 501 receives a print job from the CPS 405. In step S1311, the CPU 501 determines the operation content from the event reception content, and proceeds to the respective process. In the case of page editing or changing the print settings, the process proceeds to step S1313. In the case of preview, the process proceeds to step S1315. In step S1313, the CPU 501 performs page editing or changes the print settings for the print job. In step S1314, the print job is marked as having been edited. In other words, a status of having been edited is set. This corresponds to S1023 in FIG. 10 and S1111 in FIG. 11. In step S1315, the CPU 501 generates a preview image from the print job. Then, the process returns to step S1301.

In step S1316 (FIG. 13B), the CPU 501 determines whether the print job has been acquired from the CPS 405. If it has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S1321. If it has not been acquired, the process proceeds to step S1316. Then, the process returns to step S1301.

In step S1317, the CPU 501 sends a printer registration status confirmation request to the CPS 405. In step S1318, the CPU 501 receives a registration status response from the CPS 405 and determines whether the printer that made the print request (i.e., the image forming device 407) has been registered. If the image forming device 407 has not been registered in the CPS 405, the CPU 501 proceeds to step S1319, and if the image forming device 407 has been registered in the CPS 405, the CPU 501 proceeds to step S1324. In step S1324, the CPU 501 sends a print job transfer request to the CPS 405 and proceeds to step S1322.

In step S1319, the CPU 501 sends a print job acquisition request to the CPS 405. Next, in step S1320, the CPU 501 receives the print job from the CPS 405. Next, in step S1321, the CPU 501 sends the received print job directly to the image forming device 407, and the process proceeds to step S1322.

In step S1322, the CPU 501 receives the print job status from the image forming device 407. Next, in step S1323, the CPU 501 transmits the print job status to the CPS 405 and returns to step S1301.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a print job is moved from the cloud print service to which the print job was submitted to another linked cloud print service only when the move is essential. Specifically, if the setting change requested by the image forming device 407 is stored in the upstream CPS 405 and can be applied to the τ print job, the setting change can be applied while the job is stored in the upstream CPS 405. Also, if the image forming device 407 has already been registered in the upstream CPS 405, the image forming device 407 obtains the print job from the CPS 405 without going through the CPS 404.

This prevents the consumption of resources for moving and storing unnecessary print jobs, and prevents unnecessary strain on communication bandwidth and storage capacity. Furthermore, while reducing resource consumption, requested processing, such as editing print jobs, preview display, and printing, can be performed as before.

[Third embodiment]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a method different from that in the first embodiment will be described for determining whether the CPS 404 acquires a print job present in the CPS 405. In the first embodiment, in step S1203 of FIG. 12A, the CPS 404 determines whether the print job has already been acquired from the CPS 405, and if it has already been acquired, in step S1204, the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 407. Here, the operating cost of a cloud service generally depends on the usage time, communication volume, and storage volume. In addition, the operating cost of the communication volume may be calculated by separating input and output. For example, a fee system may be considered in which an increase in the input volume does not increase the operating cost, but an increase in the output volume increases the operating cost. When the CPS 404 is in such an operating system, it is important to reduce the output volume. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the subject is to reduce the output volume from the CPS, that is, the amount of data output from the CPS 404.

Figure 14 is a sequence diagram showing a print control processing method of a printing system in the second embodiment. The basic processing flow is the same as that in Figure 12A, and the same processing numbers indicate the same processing contents. In Figure 14, the processing contents of step S1203 are changed to step S1401. In step S1401, CPS 404 determines whether the print job to be processed has already been edited by CPS 404. To do this, it refers to the edited status given in step S1023 in Figure 10 or step S1111 in Figure 11 (i.e., step S1314 in Figure 13) and determines whether it is. If the result of the determination is that the job has been edited, proceed to step S1204, and if the job has not been edited, proceed to step S1205. The operation of the job that has been edited is the same as the operation of the job that has been acquired in Figure 12A. The operation of the job that has not been edited is the same as the operation of the job that has not been acquired in Figure 12A. Step S1216 and subsequent steps are the same as those in Figure 12B.

For example, this applies when the user only previews up to step S1019 in FIG. 10 and then prints. In such a case, the print job of CPS 404 is not edited, and the image forming device 407 acquires the print job of CPS 405, enabling appropriate printing. On the other hand, there is no need to output the print job from CPS 404.

By adopting the second embodiment, the amount of data output from CPS 404 can be reduced even further than in the first embodiment.

Other Embodiments
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) for implementing one or more of the functions.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative examples of how the present invention may be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limiting manner based on these embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

401, 402 Client terminal, 404, 405 Cloud print service, 407 Image forming device

Claims (14)

A first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A printing system including at least an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus includes:
The second cloud print service acquires print job information of the print jobs held by the first cloud print service, which the second cloud print service acquires from the first cloud print service, and displays a list of the print jobs based on the print job information ;
requesting the second cloud print service to execute a print job selected from the list of print jobs in response to an instruction to execute the print job;
When the second cloud print service determines that a print job selected from the list of print jobs is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service, in response to a notification that the first cloud print service has moved the selected print job to a print job storage area of the image forming device in response to a move request from the second cloud print service, the print job selected from the list of print jobs is obtained from the first cloud print service and executed;
A printing system characterized in that, when the second cloud print service determines that the selected print job is held in the second cloud print service , even if the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service , the image forming device receives and executes the selected print job sent by the second cloud print service. 2. The printing system of claim 1,
The second cloud print service is
A printing system characterized by: when a request to display a print preview of the selected print job is received from the image forming device, if the selected print job is not held in the second cloud print service, the printing system obtains the selected print job from the first cloud print service. 3. A printing system according to claim 1, further comprising:
the second cloud print service, if the selected print job is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is not registered with the first cloud print service, obtains the selected print job from the first cloud print service and transmits the selected print job to the image forming device;
The printing system, wherein the image forming apparatus receives the selected print job from the second cloud print service and executes the print job. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
the image forming apparatus requests the second cloud print service to edit a print job selected from the list of print jobs in response to a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job and the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service requests the editing from the first cloud print service;
The printing system, wherein the first cloud print service performs the editing on the selected print job in response to the request for editing . 5. The printing system according to claim 4,
A printing system, wherein the editing includes deletion or duplication or both of a page unit. 6. A printing system according to claim 4, further comprising:
The second cloud print service performs the edits on the selected print job if the second cloud print service holds the selected print job. A printing system according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
A printing system characterized in that, if the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job and the editing is not possible in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service obtains the selected print job from the first cloud print service, performs the editing, and holds the print job with the editing performed. A first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
and an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service.
The image forming apparatus includes:
The second cloud print service acquires print job information of the print jobs held by the first cloud print service, which the second cloud print service acquires from the first cloud print service, and displays a list of the print jobs based on the print job information ;
requesting the second cloud print service to edit a print job selected from the list of print jobs in response to a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job and the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service requests the editing from the first cloud print service;
the first cloud print service performs the edits on the selected print job in response to the edit request ;
A printing system comprising: 9. The printing system according to claim 8,
A printing system, wherein the editing includes deletion or duplication or both of a page unit. A method for providing a second cloud print service linked to a first cloud print service to a user, comprising:
a request step of requesting the first cloud print service to move the print job to a storage area of the print job of the image forming device when the image forming device does not hold a selected print job that is the target of the print request and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service in response to the print request received from the image forming device;
providing a print job corresponding to the selected print job stored in a storage area reserved for the second cloud print service to the image forming device even if the image forming device is registered with the first cloud print service;
A method for providing a cloud print service to a user, comprising: A method for providing a second cloud print service linked to a first cloud print service to a user, comprising:
a receiving step of receiving a request for editing the print job from the image forming device;
a request step of requesting the first cloud print service to perform the editing when the request for editing is received from the image forming apparatus in the receiving step, if the print job that is the subject of the request for editing is not stored in a storage area reserved for the second cloud print service and the editing is possible in the first cloud print service;
A method for providing a cloud print service to a user, comprising: A first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
A print control method in a print system including at least an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service,
The image forming apparatus,
The second cloud print service acquires print job information of the print jobs held by the first cloud print service, which the second cloud print service acquires from the first cloud print service, and displays a list of the print jobs based on the print job information ;
requesting the second cloud print service to execute a print job selected from the list of print jobs in response to an instruction to execute the print job;
When the second cloud print service determines that a print job selected from the list of print jobs is not held in the second cloud print service and the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service, in response to a notification that the first cloud print service has moved the selected print job to a print job storage area of the image forming device in response to a move request from the second cloud print service, the print job selected from the list of print jobs is obtained from the first cloud print service and executed;
A printing control method characterized in that, when the second cloud print service determines that the selected print job is held in the second cloud print service , the selected print job is received from the second cloud print service and executed even if the image forming device is registered in the first cloud print service. A first cloud print service;
a second cloud print service that cooperates with the first cloud print service;
and an image forming apparatus registered in the second cloud print service.
The image forming apparatus,
The second cloud print service acquires print job information acquired from the first cloud print service and displays a list of print jobs;
requesting the second cloud print service to edit a print job selected from the list of print jobs in response to a user operation;
If the second cloud print service does not hold the selected print job and the editing is possible in the first cloud print service, the second cloud print service requests the editing from the first cloud print service;
The print control method, wherein the first cloud print service performs the editing on the selected print job in response to the request for editing . A program for causing a computer to execute the method for providing a cloud print service according to claim 10 or 11.

Images