Printing system, printing management device, print server, printing method, and storage medium

• US 20040190049A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Itoh, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1268 Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

In a printing system, a printing management server is provided to receive a document specific data identifying a print-out document from a mobile station and transmit the document specific data to a print server. The printing management server transmits a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to both the mobile station and a printing management terminal. The printing management terminal receives a printable data of the print-out document and causes a printer to perform printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

Claims

1. A printing system designed to operate on a network, comprising:

a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document;

a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document;

a WWW server connected to the network and communicating with the communication terminal via the network;

a printing management device connected to the network and transmitting a printing-related data to the communication terminal through the WWW server; and

a document converter connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal,

wherein the printing management device receives a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal and transmits the document specific data to the document converter, and the printing management device transmitting a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to both the communication terminal and the printing terminal, and the printing terminal acquiring the printable data and performing printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

2. The printing system according to claim 1 further comprising a print-out location storage unit storing a print-out location data for a plurality of print-out locations, contained in the printing-related data, wherein the printing management device transmits the print-out location data to the WWW server via the network.

3. The printing system according to claim 2 wherein the printing management device comprises the print-out location storage unit.

4. The printing system according to claim 2 wherein the printing management device receives the print-out location data by transmitting a request to another device connected to the network.

5. The printing system according to claim 2 wherein the printing management device receives the print-out location data by accessing the printing terminal connected to the network.

6. The printing system according to claim 2 wherein the print-out location data comprises a print-out location list.

7. The printing system according to claim 6 wherein the print-out location list contains any of a print-out location identification data, a printer identification data, an IP address of the print-out location, a MAC address of the print-out location, a network path of the print-out location, and a print-server name of the print-out location.

8. The printing system according to claim 2 wherein the print-out location data comprises a printing functional data for every print-out location.

9. The printing system according to claim 8 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

10. The printing system according to claim 1 wherein the printing management device receives the document specific data identifying the print-out document from the WWW server and transmits the document specific data to the document converter, and the printing management device transmits the printable data from the document converter to the printing terminal.

11. The printing system according to claim 10 wherein the printing management device receives an access right data, a print-out location specific data, and a printing condition data of the print-out document from the WWW server, and transmits the access right data, the print-out location specific data, and the printing condition data to the document converter.

12. The printing system according to claim 10 wherein the printing management device transmits to the document converter a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size, a reservation date, a user identification data, a term, a reading authority, and a printing authority.

13. The printing system according to claim 1 wherein the printing management device generates a reservation data containing the reservation identification data identifying the printing reservation of the print-out document, and transmits the reservation data to both the printing terminal and the WWW server.

14. The printing system according to claim 13 wherein the reservation data contains any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size of the print-out document, a print-out location specific data, a printing condition data, a reservation date indicating a date when the printing reservation is performed, a term indicating a permissible term within which the print-out document can be printed, a user identification data identifying a user who performs the printing reservation, a password, and a printing authority.

15. A printing management device for use in a printing system, the printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document, a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document, a WWW server connected to the network and communicating with the communication terminal via the network, a document converter connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal, and the printing management device connected to the network and transmitting a printing-related data to the communication terminal through the WWW server, the printing management device comprising:

a first unit acquiring a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal and transmitting the document specific data to the document converter;

a second unit transmitting a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to both the communication terminal and the printing terminal; and

a third unit transmitting the printable data from the document converter to the printing terminal, so that the printing terminal performs printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

16. The printing management device according to claim 15 wherein, when a print-out location storage unit which stores a print-out location data for a plurality of print-out locations, contained in the printing-related data, is connected to the network, the printing management device transmits the print-out location data to the WWW server via the network.

17. The printing management device according to claim 15 further comprising a print-out location storage unit which stores a print-out location data for a plurality of print-out locations, contained in the printing-related data, and is connected to the network, wherein the printing management device transmits the print-out location data to the WWW server via the network.

18. The printing management device according to claim 15 wherein the printing management device receives the print-out location data by transmitting a request to another device connected to the network.

19. The printing management device according to claim 15 wherein the printing management device receives the print-out location data by accessing the printing terminal connected to the network.

20. The printing management device according to claim 16 wherein the print-out location data comprises a print-out location list.

21. The printing management device according to claim 20 wherein the print-out location list contains any of a print-out location identification data, a printer identification data, an IP address of the print-out location, a MAC address of the print-out location, a network path of the print-out location, and a print-server name of the print-out location.

22. The printing management device according to claim 16 wherein the print-out location data comprises a printing functional data for every print-out location.

23. The printing management device according to claim 22 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

24. The printing management device according to claim 15 wherein the printing management device receives the document specific data identifying the print-out document from the WWW server and transmits the document specific data to the document converter, and the printing management device transmits the printable data from the document converter to the printing terminal.

25. The printing management device according to claim 24 wherein the printing management device receives an access right data, a print-out location specific data, and a printing condition data of the print-out document from the WWW server, and transmits the access right data, the print-out location specific data, and the printing condition data to the document converter.

26. The printing management device according to claim 24 wherein the printing management device transmits to the document converter a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size, a reservation date, a user identification data, a term, a reading authority, and a printing authority.

27. The printing management device according to claim 15 wherein the printing management device generates a reservation data containing the reservation identification data identifying the printing reservation of the print-out document, and transmits the reservation data to both the printing terminal and the WWW server.

28. The printing management device according to claim 27 wherein the reservation data contains any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size of the print-out document, a print-out location specific data, a printing condition data, a reservation date indicating a date when the printing reservation is performed, a term indicating a permissible term within which the print-out document can be printed, a user identification data identifying a user who performs the printing reservation, a password, and a printing authority.

29. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program embodied therein for causing a computer of a printing management device to execute a printing method, the printing management device adapted for use in a printing system, the printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document, a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document, a WWW server connected to the network and communicating with the communication terminal via the network, a document converter connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal, and the printing management device connected to the network and transmitting a printing-related data to the communication terminal through the WWW server, the printing method comprising:

acquiring a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal and transmitting the document specific data to the document converter;

transmitting a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to both the communication terminal and the printing terminal; and

transmitting the printable data from the document converter to the printing terminal, so that the printing terminal performs printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

30. A printing system designed to operate on a network, comprising:

a document server connected to the network and storing a plurality of documents;

a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document;

a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document;

a print server connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data appropriate for the printing terminal; and

a printing management device connected to the network and requesting the print server to perform the conversion of the print-out document into the printable data after the request of the print-out document is transmitted from the communication terminal;

wherein the print server receives a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the printing management device, and performs the conversion of the print-out document indicated by the document specific data into the printable data.

31. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein, when the printing management device requests the print server to perform said conversion in response to a request of printing reservation of the print-out document from the communication terminal, the print server converts the print-out document into the printable data and transmits the printable data to the printing terminal so that the printing terminal receives the printable data and performs the printing of the print-out document.

32. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the document specific data includes any of a document name of the print-out document, a printing reservation number of the print-out document, and a storage location data of the print-out document.

33. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server receives a printing functional data of the print-out document from the printing management device, and converts the print-out document into the printable data to be suited to the received printing functional data.

34. The printing system according to claim 33 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a printing number of copies, a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

35. The printing system according to claim 32 wherein the print server detects an application program corresponding to the print-out document and causes the application program to convert the print-out document into the printable data by using the application program.

36. The printing system according to claim 35 wherein the detection of the application program is performed based on any of a file extension of the print-out document, a file type of the print-out document, and an attribute data of the print-out document.

37. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server receives from the printing management device a document authentication data of the print-out document, containing information that is required to acquire the print-out document from the document server.

38. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server comprises a print-out location storage unit which stores a print-out location selection data for selecting the print-out location from among a plurality of print-out locations, and the print server transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location selection data to the printing management device.

39. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server receives a print-out location selection data for selecting the print-out location from among a plurality of print-out locations by transmitting a request to another device connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location selection data to the printing management device.

40. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server receives a print-out location selection data for selecting the print-out location from among a plurality of print-out locations by accessing the printing terminal connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location selection data to the printing management device.

41. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server comprises a print-out location storage unit which stores a print-out location specific data identifying the print-out location, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location specific data to the printing management device.

42. The printing system according to claim 41 wherein the print-out location specific data contains any of a print-out location identification data, a printer identification data, an IP address of the print-out location, a MAC address of the print-out location, a network path of the print-out location, and a print-server name of the print-out location.

43. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server comprises a print-out location storage unit which stores a printing functional data of the print-out location, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the printing functional data to the printing management device.

44. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server receives a printing functional data of the print-out location by transmitting a request to another device connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the printing functional data to the printing management device.

45. The printing system according to claim 30 wherein the print server receives a printing functional data by accessing the printing terminal connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the printing functional data to the printing management device.

46. The printing system according to claim 43 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

47. The printing system according to claim 43 wherein the print server causes a print driver to acquire the printing functional data of the print-out location from the print-out location storage unit.

48. A print server for use in a printing system, the printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a document server connected to the network and storing a plurality of documents, a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document, a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document, and a printing management device connected to the network and requesting the print server to perform a conversion of the print-out document into a printable data appropriate for the printing terminal after the request of the print-out document is transmitted from the communication terminal, the print server connected to the network and comprising:

a first unit receiving a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the printing management device;

a second unit receiving the print-out document, identified by the document specific data, from the document server; and

a third unit performing the conversion of the print-out document, received from the document server, into the printable data.

49. The print server according to claim 48 wherein, when the printing management device requests the print server to perform said conversion in response to a request of printing reservation of the print-out document from the communication terminal, the print server converts the print-out document into the printable data and transmits the printable data to the printing terminal so that the printing terminal receives the printable data and performs the printing of the print-out document.

50. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the document specific data includes any of a document name of the print-out document, a printing reservation number of the print-out document, and a storage location data of the print-out document.

51. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server receives a printing functional data of the print-out document from the printing management device, and converts the print-out document into the printable data to be suited to the received printing functional data.

52. The print server according to claim 51 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a printing number of copies, a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

53. The print server according to claim 50 wherein the print server detects an application program corresponding to the print-out document and causes the application program to convert the print-out document into the printable data by using the application program.

54. The print server according to claim 53 wherein the detection of the application program is performed based on any of a file extension of the print-out document, a file type of the print-out document, and an attribute data of the print-out document.

55. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server receives from the printing management device a document authentication data of the print-out document, containing information that is required to acquire the print-out document from the document server.

56. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server comprises a print-out location storage unit which stores a print-out location selection data for selecting the print-out location from among a plurality of print-out locations, and the print server transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location selection data to the printing management device.

57. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server receives a print-out location selection data for selecting the print-out location from among a plurality of print-out locations by transmitting a request to another device connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location selection data to the printing management device.

58. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server receives a print-out location selection data for selecting the print-out location from among a plurality of print-out locations by accessing the printing terminal connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location selection data to the printing management device.

59. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server comprises a print-out location storage unit which stores a print-out location specific data identifying the print-out location, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the print-out location specific data to the printing management device.

60. The print server according to claim 59 wherein the print-out location specific data contains any of a print-out location identification data, a printer identification data, an IP address of the print-out location, a MAC address of the print-out location, a network path of the print-out location, and a print-server name of the print-out location.

61. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server comprises a print-out location storage unit which stores a printing functional data of the print-out location, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the printing functional data to the printing management device.

62. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server receives a printing functional data of the print-out location by transmitting a request to another device connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the printing functional data to the printing management device.

63. The print server according to claim 48 wherein the print server receives a printing functional data by accessing the printing terminal connected to the network, and transmits, upon request from the printing management device, the printing functional data to the printing management device.

64. The printing system according to claim 61 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a printing number of copies, a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

65. The printing system according to claim 61 wherein the print server causes a print driver to acquire the printing functional data of the print-out location from the print-out location storage unit.

66. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program embodied therein for causing a computer of a print server to execute a printing method, the print server adapted for use in a printing system, the printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a document server connected to the network and storing a plurality of documents, a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document, a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document, a printing management device connected to the network and requesting the print server to perform a conversion of the print-out document into a printable data appropriate for the printing terminal after the request of the print-out document is transmitted from the communication terminal, and the print server connected to the network, the printing method comprising:

receiving a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the printing management device;

receiving the print-out document, identified by the document specific data, from the document server; and

performing the conversion of the print-out document, received from the document server, into the printable data.

67. A printing system designed to operate on a network, comprising:

a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document;

a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document;

a WWW server connected to the network and communicating with the communication terminal via the network; and

a document converter connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal,

wherein the WWW server receives a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal and transmits a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to the communication terminal, and the printing terminal acquires the printable data or the print-out document and performs printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

68. The printing system according to claim 67 further comprising a document server connected to the network and storing a plurality of documents, wherein the WWW server transmits a document selection data received from the document server, to the communication terminal.

69. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein the WWW server transmits a print-out location selection data to the communication terminal and receives a print-out location specific data identifying a print-out location from the communication terminal, and the printing terminal corresponding to the print-out location specific data receives the printable data or the print-out document.

70. The printing system according to claim 69 further comprising a print-out location storage unit storing a plurality of print-out locations, wherein the WWW server generates the print-out location selection data based on information stored in the print-out location storage unit.

71. The printing system according to claim 70 wherein the WWW server comprises the print-out location storage unit.

72. The printing system according to claim 69 wherein the print-out location specific data contains any of a print-out location identification data, a printer identification data, an IP address of the print-out location, a MAC address of the print-out location, a network path of the print-out location, and a print-server name of the print-out location.

73. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein the WWW server transmits a printing function selection data to the communication terminal and receives a printing functional data from the communication terminal, and the printing terminal performs the printing of the print-out document based on the printing functional data.

74. The printing system according to claim 73 further comprising a printing functional data storage unit storing a printing function data for each of a plurality of print-out locations, wherein the WWW server generates the printing function selection data based on the information stored in the printing functional data storage unit.

75. The printing system according to claim 74 wherein the WWW server comprises the printing functional data storage unit.

76. The printing system according to claim 73 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a printing number of copies, a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

77. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein, when a request of printing reservation of the print-out document from the communication terminal is received at the WWW server, the WWW server causes the printing terminal to receive the printable data or the print-out document but suspends the printing of the document by the printing terminal, and when a printing request from the communication terminal is received at the printing terminal, the printing terminal is caused to start the printing of the print-out document.

78. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein, when a printing request from the communication terminal is received at the WWW server, the WWW server causes the printing terminal to start the printing of the print-out document.

79. The printing system according to claim 67 further comprising a working-state management unit managing a working state of printing reservation of the print-out document, wherein the WWW server receives a request of a working-state data from the communication terminal and transmits the working state of printing reservation from the working-state management unit to the communication terminal.

80. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein the WWW server transmits to the communication terminal a reservation data containing any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size of the print-out document, a print-out location specific data, a printing condition data, a reservation date indicating a date when the printing reservation is performed, a term indicating a permissible term within which the print-out document can be printed, a user identification data identifying a user who performs the printing reservation, a password, and a printing authority.

81. The printing system according to claim 80 wherein the WWW server transmits the reservation data to another communication terminal different from the communication terminal which transmits a request of the printing reservation to the WWW server.

82. The printing system according to claim 80 wherein the communication terminal requests the WWW server to transmit the reservation data to a different communication terminal.

83. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein the reservation specific data contains any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, and another reservation identification item.

84. The printing system according to claim 67 wherein the reservation specific data contains any of a user number, a user name, and another user identification item.

85. A WWW server for use in a printing system, the printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document, a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document, the WWW server connected to the network and communicating with the communication terminal via the network, and a document converter connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal, the WWW server comprising:

a first unit receiving a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal; and

a second unit transmitting a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to the communication terminal, so that the printing terminal acquires the printable data or the print-out document and performs printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

86. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the WWW server comprises a unit transmitting a document selection data, received from a document server which is connected to the network and store a plurality of documents, to the communication terminal.

87. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the WWW server comprises:

a unit transmitting a print-out location selection data to the communication terminal; and

a unit receiving a print-out location specific data identifying a print-out location from the communication terminal, so that the printing terminal corresponding to the print-out location specific data receives the printable data or the print-out document.

88. The WWW server according to claim 87 wherein the printing system comprises a print-out location storage unit storing a plurality of print-out locations, and the WWW server comprises a unit generating the print-out location selection data based on information stored in the print-out location storage unit.

89. The WWW server according to claim 87 wherein the WWW server comprises:

a print-out location storage unit storing a plurality of print-out locations; and

a unit generating the print-out location selection data based on information stored in the print-out location storage unit.

90. The WWW server according to claim 87 wherein the print-out location specific data contains any of a print-out location identification data, a printer identification data, an IP address of the print-out location, a MAC address of the print-out location, a network path of the print-out location, and a print-server name of the print-out location.

91. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the WWW server comprises:

a unit transmitting a printing function selection data to the communication terminal; and

a unit receiving a printing functional data from the communication terminal, so that the printing terminal performs the printing of the print-out document based on the printing functional data.

92. The WWW server according to claim 91 wherein the printing system comprises a printing functional data storage unit storing a printing function data for each of a plurality of print-out locations, and the WWW server comprises a unit generating the printing function selection data based on the information stored in the printing functional data storage unit.

93. The WWW server according to claim 91 wherein the WWW server comprises:

a printing functional data storage unit storing a printing function data for each of a plurality of print-out locations; and

a unit generating the printing function selection data based on the information stored in the printing functional data storage unit.

94. The WWW server according to claim 91 wherein the printing functional data contains any of a printing number of copies, a color/monochrome printing, a double-sided printing, an intensive printing, a sheet size, a magnification, a quality of image, a sheet tray, an output tray, a stapler binding, a form kind, a sorting, a punch, a composition, a printing direction, and a sheet orientation.

95. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the WWWV server comprises a unit receiving a printing request of the print-out document from the communication terminal, and, when the printing request from the WWW server is received at the printing terminal, the printing terminal is caused to start the printing of the print-out document.

96. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the WWW server comprises:

a unit receiving a request of a working-state data of the printing reservation from the communication terminal; and

a unit transmitting a working state of the printing reservation to the communication terminal.

97. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the WWW server comprises a unit transmitting to the communication terminal a reservation data containing any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size of the print-out document, a print-out location specific data, a printing condition data, a reservation date indicating a date when the printing reservation is performed, a term indicating a permissible term within which the print-out document can be printed, a user identification data identifying a user who performs the printing reservation, a password, and a printing authority.

98. The printing system according to claim 97 wherein the WWW server comprises a unit transmitting the reservation data to another communication terminal different from the communication terminal which transmits a request of the printing reservation to the WWW server.

99. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the reservation specific data contains any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, and another reservation identification item.

100. The WWW server according to claim 85 wherein the reservation specific data contains any of a user number, a user name, and another user identification item.

101. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program embodied therein for causing a computer of a WWW server to execute a printing method, the WWW server adapted for use in a printing system, the printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a printing terminal connected to the network and printing a print-out document, a communication terminal connected to the network and transmitting a request of the print-out document, the WWW server connected to the network and communicating with the communication terminal via the network, and a document converter connected to the network and converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal, the printing method comprising:

receiving a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal; and

transmitting a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to the communication terminal, so that the printing terminal acquires the printable data or the print-out document and performs printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received.

102. A printing method for use in a printing system designed to operate on a network and comprising a printing terminal connected to the network to print a print-out document, and a communication terminal connected to the network to transmit a request of the print-out document, the printing method adapted to cause the printing terminal to perform printing of the print-out document requested by the communication terminal, the printing method comprising:

receiving a document specific data identifying the print-out document from the communication terminal;

converting the print-out document into a printable data for the printing terminal when the print-out document is not in a printable form that is appropriate for the printing terminal;

transmitting a reservation identification data identifying a printing reservation of the print-out document to the communication terminal;

transmitting the printable data or the print-out document to the printing terminal; and

causing the printing terminal to perform printing of the print-out document when the reservation identification data is received at the printing terminal.

103. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the printing method comprises transmitting a document selection data, received from a document server which is connected to the network and store a plurality of documents, to the communication terminal.

104. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the printing method comprises:

transmitting a print-out location selection data to the communication terminal; and

receiving a print-out location specific data identifying a print-out location from the communication terminal, so that the printing terminal corresponding to the print-out location specific data receives the printable data or the print-out document.

105. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the printing method comprises:

transmitting a printing function selection data to the communication terminal; and

receiving a printing functional data from the communication terminal, so that the printing terminal performs the printing of the print-out document based on the printing functional data[[.]]

106. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the printing method comprises receiving a printing request of the print-out document from the communication terminal, and, when the printing request is received at the printing terminal, the printing terminal is caused to start the printing of the print-out document.

107. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the printing method comprises:

,

receiving a request of a working-state data of the printing reservation from the communication terminal; and

transmitting a working state of the printing reservation to the communication terminal.

108. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the printing method comprises transmitting to the communication terminal a reservation data containing any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, a document name of the print-out document or a document set name for a set of print-out documents, a total data size of the print-out document, a print-out location specific data, a printing condition data, a reservation date indicating a date when the printing reservation is performed, a term indicating a permissible term within which the print-out document can be printed, a user identification data identifying a user who performs the printing reservation, a password, and a printing authority.

109. The printing method according to claim 108 wherein the printing method comprises transmitting the reservation data to another communication terminal different from the communication terminal which transmits a request of the printing reservation.

110. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the reservation specific data contains any of a printing reservation number, a printing reservation name, and another reservation identification item.

111. The printing method according to claim 102 wherein the reservation specific data contains any of a user number, a user name, and another user identification item.