JP3507468B2 - Print system, print control device, print monitor method, and storage medium storing computer readable program - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print system, a print controller, a print monitor method, and a computer-readable recording medium.
In particular, it relates to a system in which a printer connected to a network is used by a plurality of clients connected to the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, personal computers have been remarkably spread in offices, and network technology for connecting them has been developed. In the past, printers were also used by connecting one printer to one personal computer, but recently, the number of cases where the printer is connected to a network and shared by the personal computers connected to the network is increasing. .

As an environment in which a network printer is used, it is often the case that netware or a network OS is used and a print server is set and used. However, a server had to be installed to share the printer. Further, even if there is a conventional server, if the function of the print server is added to the conventional server, the function of the conventional server is deteriorated.

[0004]

In the prior art, when a plurality of communication terminal devices are connected by a network, the order of jobs to be executed can be controlled only in the order in which the jobs are registered. When the devices are shared and executed, for example, the registration of the job of each communication terminal device is started, such as when printing from a personal computer as a client on a network to a network printer using TCP / IP LPR. Jobs that are shared with the order do not match the order in which job registration is accepted by the device depending on the communication timing, a specific job cannot be deleted after registration, the client cannot refer to the correct job information, a network printer error, etc. Such as cannot be confirmed when disappears There was a problem.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a printing system of the present invention comprises an information processing device,
What is claimed is: 1. A printing system, comprising: a printing device that prints print data corresponding to job information; and a print control device that controls the order in which the print data is printed by the printing device. Transmitting means for transmitting the job information of the print data to the apparatus; spool means for spooling the print data in the storing means even after the job information is transmitted to the print control apparatus by the transmitting means; On the other hand, the print control apparatus includes a first inquiry unit that inquires a list of jobs, and the print control apparatus controls the print order of the print data in the print apparatus based on the job information of the print data received from the information processing apparatus. Means, and the job information whose printing order is controlled by the order control means, is printed from the information processing device to the printing device. Sending means for sending to the information processing device sendable information indicating that data can be sent, and second inquiring means for inquiring of the printing device about a list of jobs stored in the printing device, From the information indicating the list of jobs received from the printing apparatus by the inquiry of the second inquiry unit and the job information regarding the jobs accumulated in the print control apparatus, the information indicating the list of jobs in the entire system is obtained. When the print control device receives the sendable information from the print control device, it has a creating means for creating and a notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus of information showing a list of jobs created by the creating means. Sending the print data spooled in the storage means of the information processing device to the printing device without passing through the print control device And wherein the Rukoto.

A print control apparatus according to the present invention is a print control apparatus that communicates with a printing apparatus that prints print data corresponding to job information and receives job information of print data from an information processing apparatus. With respect to the order control means for controlling the printing order of the print data in the printing device based on the job information, and the job information controlled in the printing order by the order control means, the print data can be sent from the external device to the printing device. In response to an inquiry about a job list from the information processing apparatus and a sending unit that sends the sendable information indicating that the job is stored to the external apparatus, a list of jobs accumulated in the printing apparatus is displayed to the printing apparatus. Inquiring means for inquiring, information indicating a list of jobs received from the printing device by the inquiry of the inquiring means, and Creating means for creating information showing a list of jobs from job information about jobs accumulated in the print control device, and notifying the information processing apparatus of information showing a list of jobs created by the creating means. And a notification unit, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits print data to the printing apparatus without passing through the print control apparatus.

The print monitor method of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus that prints print data corresponding to job information, and a print control that controls the order in which print data is printed by the printing apparatus. A print monitoring method in a print system having a device, comprising: a transmitting step of transmitting job information of print data to a print control apparatus in the information processing apparatus; and transmitting the job information to the print control apparatus by the transmitting step. Spooling process for spooling print data in the storage means after that, and a first inquiry process for inquiring the print control device about a list of jobs, and the print control device receives the information from the information processing device. Control for controlling the print order of print data in a printing device based on job information of print data to be printed Sending out, to the information processing apparatus, sendable information indicating that it is possible to send print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus with respect to the steps and the job information whose printing order is controlled by the order control step. Information indicating a process, a second inquiry process for inquiring the printing device of a list of jobs accumulated in the printing device, and a list of jobs received from the printing device by an inquiry of the second inquiry process. And a job creation process for creating information showing a list of jobs in the entire system from job information related to jobs accumulated in the print control device, and a job created in the creation process for the information processing device. When the notification step of notifying the information indicating the list is executed and the sendable information is received from the print control device, the information processing The print data spooled in the location memory means, without using the print control apparatus, and transmits to the printing apparatus.

Further, the computer-readable storage medium of the present invention controls a print control apparatus that communicates with a printing apparatus that prints print data corresponding to job information and that receives job information of print data from an information processing apparatus. Is a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for storing the program is stored, the program including an order control step of controlling a print order of print data in the printing apparatus based on the job information, and a print order by the order control step. With respect to the job information controlled as described above, a sending step of sending sendable information indicating that print data can be sent from the external device to the printing device to the external device, and a list of jobs from the information processing device. In response to the inquiry, ask the printer for a list of jobs accumulated in the printer. Create an information showing a list of jobs from an inquiry step that can be inquired, information showing a list of jobs received from the printing apparatus by the inquiry in the inquiry step, and job information about jobs accumulated in the print control apparatus And a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus of the information indicating the list of jobs created in the creating step,
The information processing apparatus is characterized in that print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus without passing through the print control apparatus.

[0009]

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a system configuration diagram of a network system suitable for explaining the virtual server of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, it is assumed that n client computers, which are information processing devices, are connected. Client computers 102, 103, and 104 are connected to a network 106 by a network cable such as an insert network, can execute various programs such as application programs, and have a function of converting print data into a printer language corresponding to a printer. Is equipped with a printer driver. Note that the printer driver supports multiple printer languages.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a server for controlling printing of a client computer, which is connected to the network 106 by a network cable and stores files used in the network and the network 106.
To monitor the usage status of. Server 101 of this embodiment
Further includes client computers 102, 103,
The network printer 10 stores job information of print data (print data) for which a print request is issued from the network printer 10.
5 is provided with a function of notifying the client computer of the IP information and job information received in the buffer. Here, the job information is information necessary for print reservation of a job to be printed. Although details will be described later, the job information does not include drawing data (drawing command, image data, etc.) of the print job, and is composed of a document name, client information, and the like.

A network printer 105, which is a printing device, is connected to the network 106 via a network board and a network interface, converts print data transmitted from the client computer into dot images page by page, Print page by page. A network 106 is connected to a client computer, a server, a network printer, and the like.

As described above, the server 101, the client computers 102, 103 and 104, and the network printer 105 share the roles, so that the client computer is effectively used and the load on the network is reduced.

FIG. 2 shows the client computer 102.
3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of FIG. The client computers 103 and 104 have the same configuration.

The CPU 200 is an HD which is an external storage means.
Application program, printer driver program, OS stored in (hard disk) 205
A network printer control program or the like is executed, and control is performed to temporarily store information, files, etc. necessary for executing the program in the RAM 202, which is a storage unit.

The ROM 201 stores various data such as programs such as basic I / O programs, font data used for document processing, template data, and the like.
A RAM 202 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 200.

Reference numeral 203 denotes an FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk) drive, and as shown in FIG. 5, a program etc. stored in the FD 204 can be loaded into this computer system through the Fd drive 203.
Reference numeral 204 denotes an FD, which stores the network printer control program and related data described in the present embodiment, and the configuration of the stored contents is shown in FIG. Figure 4
In the above, 400 is the data content of the FD 204, and 4
01 is volume information indicating information of data, and 40
Reference numeral 2 is directory information, 403 is a network printer control program described in this embodiment, and 404 is related data.

The network printer control program 403 is program coded based on the flow chart of the network printer control procedure shown in FIGS. 12, 18, 19, and 33 to 39.
It includes an S setting program, a printer creation program, and the like.

An HD (hard disk) 205 is an external storage means, and stores an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a network printer control program, related programs, and the like. Two
Reference numeral 06 denotes a keyboard which is an instruction input means, and is used by the user to input an instruction of a device control command to the client computer. A display 207 is a display unit that displays a command input from the keyboard 206 and information such as the printer status. 208 is a system bus,
It controls the flow of data in the client computer.

FIG. 3 shows a memory map in which the network printer control program is loaded into the RAM 202 and becomes executable.

In this embodiment, the network printer control program and related data are directly sent from the FD 204 to the RAM 2
An example in which the network control program is loaded into 02 and executed is shown. However, other than this, the HD 205 may be loaded into the RAM 202 each time the network control program is operated from the FD 204. In addition to the FD, a medium for recording the network printer control program is a CD-ROM,
It may be a CD-R, a DVD, a Pd, an IC memory card or the like. Further, it is also possible to record the network printer control program in the ROM 201, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 200.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a basic I / O program, which is output from the HD 205 when the power of the control device is turned on.
This is an area in which S is loaded into the RAM 202 and contains a program having an IPL (Initial Program Loading) function for starting the operation of the OS. Thirty
Reference numeral 2 denotes an OS, 303 denotes a network printer control program, 304 has relevant data developed therein, and 305 has a work area in which the CPU 200 executes the network printer control program.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of the network printer 105 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, a laser beam printer (LBP) is used as the network printer, but it is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that other types of printers may be used.

A CPU 601 controls the entire network printer device. A ROM / RAM 602 includes a control program for controlling the CPU 601, constant data, and a buffer for temporarily storing transmission / reception data. A storage unit 603 stores, for example, data to be transmitted / received such as a hard disk, a control program executed by the CPU 601, and data. A display unit 604 displays the data temporarily stored in the ROM / RAM 602, the content of the data stored in the storage unit 603, the operation status, and the like. A printer printing unit 605 prints out bitmap data generated by the CPU 601 based on a program stored in the ROM / RAM 602. A network board 606 communicates data information such as print data and job information with an external device such as a client computer or a server via the network board. A communication circuit 607 connects the network board 606 and the network.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the software module configurations of the client computer and server of the present invention. These are supplied from the FD, for example.

Reference numeral 701 is a network printer, 702 is a software module configuration of a client computer, 7
Reference numeral 03 is a software module configuration of the server. Reference numeral 704 is an application module for issuing a print instruction to the print system of the present invention, particularly a network print system, and 705 is a GD of Windows (registered trademark).
I and 706 are printer drivers incorporated in Windows, and 707 is a printer spooler in Windows. Reference numeral 708 denotes a printer monitor for virtual printer, 7
Reference numeral 09 is a network printer control monitor, 710 is a virtual print manager, and 711 is a virtual print server A.
PI (Application interface)
e) and 712 are virtual printer server services, and these modules form the system of the virtual print server of the present invention, and are supplied from the storage medium, FD 204 in this embodiment. The control program of the present invention is the modules (708, 709, 710, 711, 712) hatched in FIG.

The virtual print manager 710, virtual print server API 711, and virtual print server service 712 exist in both the client computer and the server. Hereinafter, a combination of the virtual print server service (client) and the virtual print server service (server) that make up the virtual print server service 712 is called a virtual print server, and this system is called a virtual print server system. The virtual print server service (client) may be abbreviated as a client service, and the virtual print server service (server) may be abbreviated as a server service.

In this embodiment, an example in which the module on the client side and the module on the server side are supplied from the FD 204, which is one storage medium, is shown, but the invention is not limited to this, and the module on the client side is not limited to this. It is possible to realize the present system by being supplied from a storage medium only for the server or a storage medium only for the module on the server side, and is included in the scope of the claims.

Further, in this embodiment, the print data, the print data, and the drawing data are described. However, the print data and the print data are for the printing which is conventionally transmitted from the client to the printing apparatus or the server. Data. There is no problem even if it is considered the same as the drawing data, but in particular, the data used for actual drawing such as the command or image data for drawing is taken into consideration. That is, in the conventional system, the data transmitted from the client to the server is print data, and the print data includes drawing data and job information. The job information will be described later.

(First Embodiment) A flow of setting of a server and a client computer of a virtual print server system (hereinafter also referred to as VPS: VPS is an abbreviation for virtual printing system) in the above-described configuration will be described. Description will be made using the setting screens of FIGS. 23 to 31.

First, the server setting procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart showing the flow of processing when setting the server in FIG.

First, when setting any one of the clients on the network as the server, the clients 102 to 104 in the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1 activate the VPS setting program stored in the Hd 205 of FIG. . When the VPS setting program is activated, the screen of FIG. 23 is displayed on the display 207 of FIG. The server 206 is set using the keyboard 206 shown in FIG. FIG. 23
In the figure, "Client settings" and "Server settings"
And are switched by tags on the screen. Subsequently, the server function can be operated on the device by checking the check box that provides the server function of the tag of the server, and any one of the clients becomes the server 101 in FIG.

After checking the above check box, S
At 3301, a server name for identifying the server is input. Next, in order to register the printer managed by this server, in S3302, the virtual printer setting addition button in FIG. 23 is pressed. The display 207 of FIG.
24, the virtual printer name and description (comment) of the printer are input in S3303. S
When the add port button is pressed in 3304, the screen is
5, the printer IP address and the printer name (lpd) used in the print communication protocol are input in step S3305. When the OK button is pressed after the input is completed, the screen is
When it is switched to 6, and OK is pressed here, all the input information can be confirmed on the first screen of FIG. O on this screen
When K is pressed, the server setting is completed.

Next, the procedure for setting the virtual server and printer in the client will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 34 and 35. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for setting a port on the client computer. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for printer setting on the client computer.

First, when setting the client, it is necessary to set the port shown in FIG. In the client 102 of the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1, the HD 20 of FIG.
The VPS setting program stored in 5 is started. When the program is activated, the screen of FIG. 28 is displayed on the display 207 of FIG. Here, the keyboard 2 of FIG.
"Client setting" is performed using 06.

In the diagram of FIG. 28, the client and server settings are switched by the tag on the screen. FIG. 28 shows the setting screen of the client when the client tag is specified. In S3401, when the operator presses the add button in the [Print Destination on Virtual Print Server] sub-window at the bottom of FIG. 28, FIG.
Replaces the screen. In S3402, the server name is input. When the operator presses the reference button in step S3403, the server name entered in step S3402 is queried for printer information such as a list of printers managed by the server and the IP address of the printer. The client displays the printer list and the printer list managed by the server when the printer information is received from the server.

In S3404, the operator designates one printer from the printer list. In step S3405, the printer information (IP address or the like) received from the server in step S3403 of the printer specified in step S3404 is stored as port information in the HD of the client computer, and the port setting process ends. The stored printer information is transmitted using the stored IP address when transmitting print data to the network printer. FIG. 30 shows the screen of FIG. 28 when the port is set.
That is, "VPS-MACHINE @ VPS-PRIN
It is a figure showing that a port is added by "TER".

After setting the ports shown in FIG. 34,
It is necessary to create the printer shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the client computer 102 of FIG. 1, which is a system configuration diagram, the printer creation program stored in the HD 205 of FIG. 2 is activated. When the program is activated, the screen of FIG. 31 is displayed on the display 207 of FIG. After that, printer setting is performed using the keyboard 206 of FIG. In S3501, after displaying the screen of FIG. 31, the operator inputs the printer name. In S3502, the driver used by the printer is specified. In S3503, an explanation (comment) is input.

Next, in step S3504, the print destination is referenced. The port added in the process of FIG. 34 can be confirmed here. In step S3505, the port added at the time of the description of FIG. 34 is designated and the input ends. If the operator presses the OK button at this point, the CPU 200 in FIG. 2 in the client computer determines that the port specified in S3506 is V
The CPU 200 determines whether the port is for PS
If it is determined that the port is a port for
The virtual print server print monitor 708 and the network printer control monitor 709 are started. S35
The virtual print server print monitor 708 started in the previous step in 08 requests the print server service (client) 712 to perform the Open process. Open
The print server service (client) 712 that has been requested to perform the process is transferred to the server designated in FIG.
IP of the printer linked to the port specified in
Printer information can be obtained by requesting acquisition of printer information such as an address. In step S3510, the printer information (IP address or the like) received from the server is stored in the HD of the client computer as port information, and the printer setting process ends. The stored printer information is transmitted using the stored IP address when transmitting print data to the network printer.

The processes from S3507 to S3510 are also executed when the computer is started up. Even if the printer information of the printer managed by the server is changed (IP address change), the client is restarted. You can automatically recognize the changed IP address. Also S3
If it is determined in 506 that the port is not the virtual server port, a Windows standard port incorporation process is performed in S3511, and the printer creation process ends.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the printer information is entered in the printable command received by the client from the server, and the printer information is entered during the client port setting and the printer setting during the client setting. This allows the client to automatically obtain printer information from the printer name etc. without the operator having to input printer information (IP address etc.). Since the settings are changed, it is possible to easily manage the system.

Since a virtual printer name can be assigned to this virtual server, it is not necessary for the user to set a print specification of another setting for one printer each time printing is performed. For example, if the user (administrator) of the virtual server is "VPS
-PRINTER1 ", register the printer as A4 horizontal cassette, and set" VPS-PRINT ".
Register with the name "ER2" and set the printer settings to A.
With a four-vertical cassette, even a user who does not know the print settings can select the name of the virtual printer at the print destination,
The effect that printing can be performed with the print settings set by the administrator is obtained.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, an example in which the operator of the client computer 102 in FIG. 1 refers to the list of jobs currently waiting to be printed in the VPS system will be described.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a screen used when referring to the job list of the virtual print server system (VPS) showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of commands and job information when referring to the job list according to the present invention. In FIG. 22, when the client computer refers to the list of jobs for each printer, the client computer first sends a JOB inquiry command to the server. The server, which has received the JOB inquiry command transmitted from the client computer, transmits the JOB inquiry command to the network printer. When the network printer receives the JOB inquiry command transmitted from the server, the JOB information currently stored in the network printer is transmitted to the server. The server that receives the JOB information from the network printer sorts the JOB information from the received JOB information and the JOB information currently stored in the server, and sends the result to the client as the JOB information.

The job inquiry processing will be described below with reference to FIG.
6 (client process) and FIG. 37 (server process) will be described with reference to the flowcharts.

When the client refers to the job list, the virtual print manager program 710 of FIG. 7 stored in the HD 205 of FIG. 2 is started in the client computer 102 in the system configuration diagram of FIG. Virtual print manager program 710 of FIG.
Via the virtual print server API 711
penPrinter, VPSClosePrint
The API for r, JOB inquiry is issued to the virtual print server service (client) 712. Below, FIG.
The flowchart of 6 represents the operation of the virtual print server service (client) 712.

The virtual print server service (client) 712 uses VPSOp in S3601 of FIG.
The enPrinter is accepted, the JOB inquiry is accepted in S3602, and the processing is started. In S3603, the virtual print server service (client) 71
2 checks the parameter representing the printer name included in the VPOpenPrinter command in S3601, and the specified printer name is a virtual printer managed by the virtual print server service (client) 712 or another virtual printer. Check if it is a printer. In the case of a virtual printer, the VPSope in S3604
The nPrinter command is sent to the server 703. Subsequently, in step S3605, a job inquiry command is transmitted to the server 703. After that, the virtual print server service (client) 712 waits for reception of job information (JOB information) from the server.

When the virtual print server service (client) 712 receives the job information from the server 703 in step S3606, the job information (JOB information) received in step S3607 is displayed in the job information list in FIG. After that, the virtual print server service (client) 712 sends the VPSCl to the server 703 in step S3608.
The osPrinter command is transmitted, and the virtual print server service (client) 712 is sent in S3609.
From the virtual print manager program 710 via the virtual print server API 711.
The Printer command is accepted, and the process ends.

In S3603, the virtual print server service (client) 712 uses the VPS of S3601.
The parameter indicating the printer name included in the OpenPrinter command is checked, and the specified printer name is the virtual printer 702 managed by the virtual print server service (client) 712.
If it is a printer other than the virtual printer 702 as a result of checking whether the printer is another printer, Wind
virtual print server service Windows standard A in order to display the information of the printer managed by Windows.
Use PI to display a list of jobs. S3610
OpenPrinter is issued in step S3611, and EnumJobs is issued in order to obtain a list of jobs in step S3611, and job list information is obtained. In S3612, the job information is displayed in the job information list of FIG. Cl in S3613
osePrinter is issued and the process ends.

The server processing of the job inquiry will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Figure 1
In step S3701, the server 101 in the system configuration diagram of FIG.
Receive an nPrinter command. Then in S3702.
At the client computer 102,
When the inquiry command is received, the server 1 is sent in S3703.
01 is a printer job for the network printer 105.
It transmits an inquiry command and waits for printer JOB information to be transmitted from the network printer.

In step S3704, the printer JOB information is transmitted from the network printer, and the server 101
Receives printer JOB information which is list information of jobs existing in the network printer 105 and including jobs currently being printed. In step S3705, the server 101
Printer JOB information received in step S3704 and server 10
1 adds printer jobs currently managed in the printing order to create JOB information (called system job information) for one printer in the entire system.

In step S3706, the job managed by both the network printer 105 and the server 101 in step S3705 (for example, the job currently being printed) is handled as a job managed in duplicate. Duplicate jobs inside are deleted and organized. Furthermore, if the JOB that has already been sent to the network printer in the JOB list of the server does not exist in the JOB list of the network printer,
It is considered that JOB disappeared for some reason. This JO
B is also deleted and organized from the JOB list of the entire system. In step S3707, the server 101 transmits the organized JOB information as JOB information to the client computer 102 that is the transmission source of the JOB inquiry command.

Next, in step S3708, the VPClosePrinter command is received from the client computer 102, and the processing of the server 101 ends.

As described above, the client can recognize the JOB list of the entire system.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the list information about all the jobs is created, but the list information is not limited to this.
J sent by the client who inquired about the JOB list
You may ask for a list of only OBs. This can be accomplished by looking in the job information and determining which client sent it.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the client inquires of the server about the list of jobs, the server inquires the list of jobs accumulated in the printer, and the information and the information are accumulated in the server. Since a list of jobs currently in the entire system is created from the information and notified to the client, it is possible to refer to the information more accurately than before, and even when the job disappears due to an error in the network printer, etc. The client will be able to confirm.

(Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, the client computer 102 in the above configuration is used.
The control for causing the network printer 105 to perform printing will be described. In this embodiment, Windows
Will be described as an example. FIG. 8 shows a flow of a print process in which the client makes a print request to the server, and FIG. 9 shows a flow of a print process in which the server gives the print permission to the client and sends it to the printer. Here, the block diagrams already described will be described using the same reference numerals. The flow of the printing process will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Client computer 702 (10
2) Above, application 704 initiates printing through GDI 705. GDI is a Windows spooler 707 and a print monitor 708 for a virtual print server.
Notify the start of printing. The print monitor for virtual print server 708, which has received the start of printing, starts the printing from the virtual print server service (client) 712 to the virtual print server service (server) 712 on the server 703 (101). Ask. The GDI 705 requests the printer driver 706 to convert the print data into the printer language. The printer driver 706 converts print data into a printer language. The print data (drawing data) converted into the printer language is spooled in the Windows spooler 707.

On the other hand, the virtual print server print monitor 708 transfers the print data spooled in the Windows spooler 707 to the Windows spooler 707.
Then, the print data is received and passed to the virtual print server service (client) 712. The virtual print server service (client) 712 temporarily saves the received print data in the virtual print spooler 801 which is a spool means in the HD 205 of FIG. When all the print data is stored in the virtual print spooler 801 in the HD 205, the virtual print server service (client) 712 determines that the server 703 (10
1) Virtual print server service (server) 7 on top
12 is notified that the print data has been saved, and a print request is made. Here, the virtual print server service uses the same module as the client and the server, and can be selectively used for the client and the server depending on the setting. As described above, this module does not necessarily have to be the same in the client and the server, and may be supplied as different modules from separate storage means FD.

In FIG. 9, the print jobs previously registered in the virtual print server service (server) 712 are in the order of printing through management of the server, and the operation until the print data is actually transmitted to the network printer. It is the figure which showed.

Virtual print server service (server) 7
12 issues a print enable instruction to the client 702, which has entered the print order. Upon receiving the instruction, the virtual print server service (client) 712 reads out the print data temporarily stored in the virtual print spooler 801 as described above, and passes it to the network printer control monitor 709. The network printer control monitor 709 passes the print data to the network printer 701 through the print communication protocol and causes the network printer 701 to perform printing.

Here, the virtual print server service 712
Will be described. Virtual print server service 712
Is the core of the virtual print server system, and the same module is used by the client and server according to the settings. Further, what is set as the server is not only the server, but the client can also be operated by setting the client. As the server setting, as described in the first embodiment, the client can be used by giving a name to the network printer and designating its IP address.
In addition, set items such as protocol used, response time to client, and printer status monitoring interval. On the other hand, the client is set by specifying a server to set a network printer managed by the server.

The operation of notifying the status, which is the status information indicating the status of the network printer 701, to the client computer 702 will be described. Here is Windo
A description will be given using ws as an example. The printer status flow is shown in FIG.

Virtual print server service (server) 7
12 is a 5 second interval (default) in this embodiment.
Then, the SNMP manager 1002 is requested to collect the status of the network printer 701. The SNMP manager 1002 requests a status collection request to the network printer 701. Network printer 701
Returns the current printer status. When the status of the network printer 701 changes, the virtual print server service (server) 712 sends a status change notification to the client computer 702 using this network printer 701. The virtual print server service (client) 712 in the client computer 702 receives the printer status change notification issued from the server 703, and saves the printer status in the registry 1001 in the RAM in the client computer 702. The application 704 can acquire the printer status stored in the registry 1001 via the virtual printer server API 711.

The flow of printing is shown in FIG. The application 704 starts printing by using StartDoc API. The GDI 705 requests the printer driver 706 to convert to the printer language. GDI705 is Wi
Start spooling on the Windows spooler 707. Gd
When the I705 has written all the print documents to the Windows spooler 707, the application 7
The printing process 04 is completed. Windows Spooler 7
07 passes the print document to the port corresponding to the network printer 701 set as described in FIGS. 24, 25 and 26. (By setting the Windows spooler, the writing from the GDI to the Windows spooler and the writing from the Windows spooler to the print monitor are not always synchronized.) The virtual print server print monitor 708 uses Windows.
Before receiving a print document from the ws spooler 707, job information is added to the virtual print server service 712 and a new job ID is acquired from the virtual print server service 712.

Here, the job information will be described. In this system, the client sends only the job information to the server (virtual server) without sending the print data and registers the print request. The job information includes a job document name, number of pages, data amount, status, owner name (client name), client ID, and the like. That is, the job information is something other than the actual drawing data in the print data in the conventional example. It should be noted that in the present application, actual drawing data in the print data in the conventional example is described as print data. By registering the print order of this job information in the server, the server returns the job ID for identifying the job to the client of the transmission source. After that, the job ID is used when transmitting a print enable instruction or the like for the job to the client.

After the virtual print server service (client) 712 acquires a new job ID, the virtual print server print monitor 708 prints as a spool file on the virtual print spooler 801 acquired from the HD 205 (FIG. 2) in the client computer 702. Write the document. After the spooling is completed, the virtual print server print monitor 708 requests the virtual print server service 712 to start the job schedule. Upon receiving the schedule start from the virtual print server print monitor 708, the virtual print server service 712 requests the server 703 to start the schedule. When the server 703 receives this request, the virtual print server service (server) 712 starts job scheduling.

The virtual print server service 712 schedules a job and notifies the virtual print server service 712 of the client computer 702 that is waiting for a printable job of the printable job ID. These can be executed by acquiring the client IP address in FIG. The virtual print server service (client) 712 reads a spool file in which the print document spooled in the virtual print spooler 801 is stored. The virtual print server service (client) 712 passes print data, which is a print document, to the network printer control monitor 709. The network printer control monitor 709 transmits print data to the network printer 701 and prints it according to the protocol of the network printer 701.

The virtual print server service (server) 712 of the server 703 manages only the above-mentioned job information. When the network printer 701 managed by the server 703 is ready to accept the next job,
The server 703 gives print permission information for permitting printing to the client computer 702 having the next job waiting. The client computer 702, which is permitted by the server 703, directly sends the print data of the spool file spooled in the virtual print spooler 801 to the network printer 701 through the network without passing through the server. In this way, network printing is possible.

FIG. 11 is a print monitor sequence relating to the print function using the virtual print server in the method according to the present embodiment.

The print application 704 is the Wind
OP of printer that prints to ows spooler 707
EN processing (OpenPrinter) is performed (110
1) Further, an instruction (StartDocPrinter) to start a document to be printed is issued (110).
2). The Windows spooler 707 issues a print start instruction (StartDocPort) to the virtual print server print monitor 708 (1103).
The print monitor 708 for the virtual print server uses the virtual print server service (client / server) 712.
To the printer managed by the virtual print server service 712 (VPOpenPrint
r) is performed (1104). The print monitor for virtual print server 708 inquires the printer information on the virtual print server service (client / server) 712, and acquires the actual port name of the network printer (VPSGetPort) (1105). Acquires a unique print job ID managed by the virtual print server service (client / server) 712 (VPSGet).
JobId) (1106). Print application 70
In step 4107, the print data write process (WritePrinter) is performed on the Windows spooler 707 (1107). Windows Spooler 707
Write processing (WritePort) is performed on the print monitor 708 for the virtual print server (110).
8). It is the virtual print spooler 801 that actually prints the print data. Steps 1107 and 1108 are repeated until writing of all print data is completed. The print application 704 performs a document end process when the writing process is completed (110).
9). The Windows spooler 707 performs document end processing (EndDocPrinter) on the virtual print server print monitor 708 (111).
0). The virtual print server print monitor 708
Set print job information for the virtual print server service 712 (VPSSetJob) (111)
1). The virtual print server print monitor 708
A request for waiting a designated print job (VPSWaitJob) is issued to the virtual print server service 712 (1
112). This is to wait for a print enable instruction from the virtual print server service (server) 712. The print application 704 is a Windows spooler 70.
7 for printer CLOSE processing (ClosePr
(1113). The virtual print server service (client) 712 issues a print enable instruction to the virtual print server print monitor 708 when the managed print job is ready to be printed (1114). The virtual print server print monitor 708 sets the status of the print job managed in the server 703 to the in-printing status before starting printing (VPSSetJob) (1115). The virtual print server print monitor 708 prints the network printer 701 (1116). Upon completion of the print processing, the virtual print server print monitor 708 requests the virtual print server service 712 to delete the print job (VPSSetJob (JOB_).
CONTROL_CANCEL)) (111
7), printer CLOSE processing request (VPSClos
ePrinter) (1118).

The above is the flow of printing using the virtual print server in this embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart relating to the printing function of the virtual print server print monitor 708 using the virtual print server service (client) 712 of the client computer in the method according to this embodiment.

In step S1201, the virtual print server print monitor 708 sends an API (Appli) as a print start request from the Windows spooler 707.
Cation Interface) StartD
Accept ocPort (). In step S1202, the registered job information queue table shown in FIG. 13 is created, and StartD in step S1201.
By receiving ocPort (), S1 of FIG.
The job ID acquired in 106 is set. Step S
In 1203, the registered job information queue table is linked to the queuing table as shown in FIG. In step S1204, the print monitor for virtual print server 708 determines the API of the virtual print server 712.
VPOpenPrinter () is called to open the printer managed by the virtual print server 712. In step S1205, the print monitor for virtual print server 708 calls VSPGetPrinter (), which is the virtual print server API, and acquires the actual port name of the network printer. Further, in step S1206, the port name is set in the corresponding registered job information queue table (FIG. 13). In step S1207, the virtual print server API VSPGetJobId () is called to obtain the print job ID managed by the virtual print server 712. In step S1208, the acquired job ID of the virtual print server 712 is set in the corresponding registered job information queue table (FIG. 13). In step S1209, API Wi for writing print data from the Windows spooler 707
Accept rtePort (). Step S1210
In step S1211, it is determined whether or not it is the first WritePort (), and if it is the first WritePort (), a temporary file is created in the HD 205 in the client computer. That is, this is the spool file of the virtual print spooler 801. As described above, in this embodiment, the temporary file is stored in the virtual print spooler, but the virtual print spooler may manage only the job information of the temporary file. In this case, the temporary file is created in an empty area on the client hard disk. Further step S1212
At, the print data is written to the temporary file. In Step S1213, Wind
The function requested from the ows spooler 707 is Write.
It is determined whether it is Port () or EndDocPort (), and if it is WritePort (), step S1.
If it is EndDocPort () to 209, the process proceeds to step S1214. In step S1214, the temporary file close processing is performed,
In step S1215, the path name of the temporary file is set in the corresponding registered job information queue (FIG. 13). In step S1216, the virtual print server API VSPSetJob () is called,
The job information of FIG. 14 managed by the print monitor for virtual print server 708 is registered in the virtual print server 712. In step S1217, the IP address on which this client computer is operating is set to VSPWai.
When tJob () is set and called, when the designated print job becomes printable, a request for issuing printable is issued and a printable instruction is waited for. Step S1218
At the virtual print server service (server) 71
When the print enable instruction is received from step 2, step S121
In 9, the corresponding queue table is acquired from the registered job information queue corresponding to the job ID specified by the print enable instruction, the IP of the network printer is acquired from the port name, and the printing process is performed on the network printer. . When the printing process is completed, step S1220
The print monitor 708 sends the virtual print server service (client / server) 712 to the VS.
Call PSetJob () to instruct a job deletion request and notify that the job is completed. Further, in step S1221, the virtual print server service (client / server) 712 is called an API for closing the printer managed by the virtual print server service (client / server) 712,
At 1222, the corresponding registered job information queue table (FIG. 13) is deleted, and the process ends.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the virtual print server service (server) relating to the function of registering a printer in the virtual print server in the method according to this embodiment.

In step S1801, the virtual print spooler A having a function of adding a printer managed by the virtual print server service (client / server).
Publish the PI. When executing the virtual print spooler API having the printer addition function, it is necessary to specify the printer information table (FIG. 15) including the printer name and the port name. When the addition of the printer is accepted, the process proceeds to step S1802. Step S1802
In step S1803, if printers having the same printer name are already registered in the virtual print server, “printer name” + “− n” is distinguished in step S1803.
It is managed as a printer name such as (n: positive integer). If the same printer name does not exist in step S1802, the process of step S1803 is not performed and the process proceeds to step S1804. In step S1804, a printer information table (FIG. 15) is created, and in step S1805, it is set in the printer queuing table (FIG. 16). This is the end of the printer registration process on the virtual print server of the virtual print server service (server).

FIG. 19 is a sequence for registering necessary information in the print monitor 708 in the method according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the print monitor is set when the user sets this system.

In step S1901, the print monitor 708 displays a dialog (FIG. 21) prompting the user to input the IP of the virtual server. When the user inputs the IP of the virtual server, the virtual server IP table (FIG. 20) in the area in the print monitor 708 is set in step S1902. The storage destination is, for example, FIG.
HD 205.

Hereinafter, the print monitor 708 determines that this IP
Communication is performed based on the address.

38 and 39 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing of the virtual print server service (client / server) 712 related to the print instruction function in the method according to this embodiment. 38 and 39 show one flow connected by A.

In step S3801, the virtual print server service (client / server) 712
If there is a printer Open request from the print monitor 708, it is determined in step S3802 whether or not the open-requested printer name exists in the printer name of the printer information linked to the printer information pointer (FIG. 16) of the printer information queue table. Find the printer name. If it exists, the process moves to step S3803. In step S3803, the pointer of the printer information table corresponding to the open requested printer name is returned to the print monitor 708 as a printer handle. In step S3804, a printer information acquisition request is received from the print monitor 708. In step S3805, it is checked whether the printer handle, which is one of the parameters of the printer information acquisition function, has printer information corresponding to the printer registered in the virtual print server. If there is corresponding printer information, in step S3806, the contents of the printer information table are copied to the area assigned to the parameter of the printer information acquisition function, and the function is returned. In step S3807, a print job ID acquisition request is received from the print monitor 708. Step S3
At 808, it is checked whether the printer handle, which is one of the parameters of the print job ID acquisition function, has printer information corresponding to the printer registered in the virtual print server. If there is corresponding printer information, in step S3809 the virtual print server issues an ID other than the job ID managed at that time and returns it to the print monitor 708. Step S38
10, in order to manage the job ID in the virtual print server, a job information queue table and a job information table area are secured in the job information queue (FIG. 17) of the corresponding printer information table, and the job ID
Set. Further, it is set in the job information pointer of the job information queue table. In step S3811, registration of a job is accepted from the print monitor. In step S3812, the job ID area of the job information table linked to all the job information queues whether the job ID, which is one of the parameters of the job registration function, is the job ID managed by the virtual print server is set. Search for. If the designated job ID exists, the job information processing in step S3813 is performed. In step S3813, the job information, which is one of the parameters of the job registration function, is set in the job information table corresponding to the job ID. Step S3814
At, the job waiting request is accepted from the print monitor, and the process proceeds to A.

38A is connected to A of FIG. When the processing comes to A in FIG. 39, the process proceeds to step S3901. In step S3901, whether or not the job ID, which is the parameter of the job waiting request, is the job ID managed by the virtual print server is searched for the job ID area of the job information table linked to all the job information queues. If the designated job ID exists, the client IP address, which is a parameter of the job waiting request, is set in the client IP address area of the corresponding job information queue (FIG. 17), and the process proceeds to step S3902. In step S3902, the job standby status is set in the job standby status area of the job information queue table corresponding to the job ID. Further, in step S3903, it is determined whether or not the job information queue table in which the job waiting status is set in step S3902 is at the head of the queue. If it is at the head, the process proceeds to step S3904. In step S3904, the job information queue (see FIG.
The client IP address is acquired from the IP address area of the client in 7), the corresponding job Id is designated for the IP address, and the print enable instruction is transmitted. In step S3905, a job cancel request issued by the client to notify the end of printing is accepted. In step S3906, the printer handle, which is one of the parameters of the job cancel function, is
Check if there is printer information corresponding to the printer registered in the virtual print server. If there is corresponding printer information, in step S3907, whether or not the job ID, which is the parameter of the job cancel function, is the job ID managed by the virtual print server is linked to all the job information queues, and the job information table is linked. Search the job ID area. If the designated job ID exists, the process advances to step S3908.
In step S3908, the job information queue table corresponding to the job ID in step S3907 is deleted. In step S3909, printer close processing is accepted from the client. Step S39
10, whether or not the printer handle, which is a parameter of printer close, is normal is compared with the pointer of the printer information table managed by the virtual print server (both the client and the server of the virtual print server service 712). If the same item is found by searching, the printer close function is normally returned in step S3911.

In step S3802 of FIG. 38, all printer names are searched to see if the printer name requested to be opened exists in the printer name of the printer information linked to the printer information pointer (FIG. 16) of the printer information queue table. , If not present, step S381
The processing shifts to 5, and the OPEN function returns with an error.

In step S3805, it is checked whether the printer handle, which is one of the parameters of the printer information acquisition function, has printer information corresponding to the printer registered in the virtual print server. If there is no corresponding printer information, in step S3816
The printer information acquisition function ends in error, and the process proceeds to B.
Since this B is linked to B in FIG. 39, when the process moves to B, the process moves to B in FIG. 39 and the process proceeds to S3909.

In step S3808, it is checked whether the printer handle, which is one of the parameters of the print job ID acquisition function, has printer information corresponding to the printer registered in the virtual print server. If there is no corresponding printer information, step S3817.
Then, the print job ID acquisition function ends in error, and the process proceeds to B.

In step S3812, whether or not the job ID, which is one of the parameters of the job registration function, is the job ID managed by the virtual print server. The job IDs of the job information tables linked to all the job information queues. Search the area. Specified job I
If D exists, the process advances to step S3818, the job registration function ends in error, and the process advances to B.

In step S3901 of FIG. 39, whether or not the job ID, which is the parameter of the job waiting request, is the job ID managed by the virtual print server, the job ID of the job information table linked to all the job information queues. Search the area. If the specified job ID does not exist, the process advances to step S3912, the job waiting request is returned in error, and the process advances to B.

Further, in step S3903, it is determined whether the job information queue table for which the job standby status is set in step S3902 is at the head of the queue. If not, the process waits and the process proceeds to step S3903.

In step S3906, it is checked whether the printer handle, which is one of the parameters of the job cancel function, has printer information corresponding to the printer registered in the virtual print server. If there is no corresponding printer information, the process proceeds to step S3913,
The job cancel function returns an error and shifts to B.

In step S3907, the job ID area of the job information table linked to all the job information queues is searched to see if the job ID, which is the parameter of the job cancel function, is the job ID managed by the virtual print server. To do. Specified job I
If D does not exist, the process advances to step S3913, the job cancel function returns an error, and the process advances to B.

In step S3910, whether or not the printer handle, which is a parameter of printer close, is normal is compared with the pointer in the printer information table managed by the virtual printer, and if there is no same object, step S3910 is executed. In step S3914, the printer close error is returned and the processing ends.

As described above, in the third embodiment, in the virtual print server system of the present invention, a virtual order control mechanism for jobs of shared devices is provided to communication terminal devices on the network, and jobs are requested. Each communication terminal device registers not only the data of all jobs but only the data necessary for the sequence control in the communication terminal device having the sequence control mechanism, and by the procedure of instructing the interruption via the sequence control mechanism, For devices that do not have job recognition and deletion functions shared by multiple communication terminal devices, there is no need for a device that occupies excessive resources due to the sequence control mechanism, while reducing the network load, It is possible to achieve both the order control of requests between the communication terminal devices and the interruption function.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the information processing apparatus as a client makes an inquiry about a job list to the print control apparatus as a server, the server determines that the jobs stored in the printer are Query the list, create a list of jobs currently in the entire system from that information and the information of jobs accumulated in the server, and notify the client, so the client can refer to the information more accurately than before. Even if the job disappears due to an error in the network printer, the client will be able to confirm it.

Further, the server receives only the information necessary for controlling the order of the print data from the client, and the client constructs a system which receives the print enable command and sends the print data to the printer, thereby reducing the load on the server. This eliminates the need for a device that would be overwhelmed with resources due to the sequencing mechanism.

As described above, according to the present invention,
The information processing device transmits the job information of the print data to the print control device, spools the print data in the storage unit even after the job information is transmitted to the print control device, and sends the job information to the print control device. The print control device inquires a list, the print control device controls the print order of print data in the printing device based on the job information of the print data received from the information processing device, and the information processing is performed with respect to the print order and the controlled job information. Sending possible information indicating that print data can be sent from the device to the printing device is sent to the information processing device, and the printing device is queried for a list of jobs accumulated in the printing device. From the information indicating the list of jobs received from the printing device and the job information regarding the jobs accumulated in the print control device, It generates information indicating a list of jobs in the entire Temu, to said information processing apparatus, and notifies information indicating a list of jobs created by the creation means,
When the sendable information is received from the print control device, the print data spooled in the storage unit of the information processing device is transmitted to the print device without passing through the print control device. The information processing apparatus as described above can obtain the effect that the list of jobs can be referred to more accurately than in the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system to which a virtual server of the present embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a client computer in FIG.

3 is a memory map when a program is expanded from the FD shown in FIG. 4 in the RAM shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a memory map showing data inside the FD in FIG.

5 is a client computer in FIG. 1 and FIG.
3 is a diagram showing a relationship with FD in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the network printer in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing software module configurations of a client computer and a server according to the present embodiment.

8 is a diagram showing a flow of print processing when a print request is made from a client to a server in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a flow of print processing when print data is transmitted to a printer after a print enable instruction is given from the server to the client in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of printer status in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sequence in the virtual server system regarding a print function using the virtual print server in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart relating to a print function using a virtual server of a client computer of a print monitor for a virtual print server in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a registered job information queue table.

FIG. 14 is a diagram in which a registered job information queue table is linked to a queuing table.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a printer information table.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a queuing table of a printer.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a job information queue.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart regarding a function of registering a printer in a virtual print server in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a sequence of registering necessary information in the virtual print server print monitor in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a virtual server IP table.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a dialog prompting the user to input the IP of the virtual server.

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of commands and job information when referring to the job list according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a server-side setting screen view of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a setting screen diagram for adding a virtual printer of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a setting screen diagram for adding a network printer of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a screen diagram in which a print destination list is added to the virtual printer addition screen of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a screen diagram in which a virtual printer is added to the setting screen of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a setting screen diagram on the client side of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a screen diagram for adding a print destination of the virtual print server of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a screen diagram of a print destination list of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a screen diagram for creating a printer of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a main screen diagram of a virtual print manager of the virtual print server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when setting a virtual print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of port setting in the client computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a flow of printer setting processing in the client computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the flow of JOB inquiry processing in the client computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the flow of JOB inquiry processing in the server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart regarding the print instruction function of the virtual print server in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

39 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 38, which is a flowchart relating to the print instruction function of the virtual print server in the virtual server system according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 server 102-104 client computer 105 network printer 106 network 200 CPU 201 ROM 202 RAM 203 FD drive 204 FD (floppy disk) 205 HD (hard disk) 206 keyboard 207 display 208 system bus 300 RAM memory map 301 basic I / O program 302 OS 303 Network printer control program 304 Related data 305 Work area 400 FD memory map 401 Volume information 402 Directory information 403 Network printer control program 404 Related data 601 CPU 602 ROM / RAM 603 Storage section 604 Display section 605 Printer printing section 606 Network Board 607 communication line 701 Network printer 702 client (computer) 703 server 704 application 705 GDI 706 printer driver 707 Windows spooler 708 virtual print server printer monitor 709 network printer control monitor 710 virtual print manager 711 virtual print server API 712 virtual print server (virtual print server) Service) 801 Virtual print spooler 1001 Registry 1002 SNMP manager

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Mitsuo Kimura Inventor Mitsuo Kimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichiro Sabota 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Takuya Kei 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (56) Reference JP-A-6-67825 (JP, A) JP-A-7-234830 ( JP, A) Patent 3262518 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 29/00

Claims (16)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing system having an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus for printing print data corresponding to job information , and a print control apparatus for controlling the order in which print data is printed by the printing apparatus. The information processing device transmits the job information of the print data to the print control device.
Means , spool means for spooling print data in the storage means even after the job information is transmitted to the print control device by the transmitting means, and a first inquiry for inquiring a list of jobs to the print control device The print control device includes job information of print data received from the information processing device.
The printing order of print data in the printing device is controlled based on
The order control means for controlling the print order, and the job information whose print order is controlled by the order control means , sendable information indicating that print data can be sent from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. Sending means for sending to the printer, a second inquiry means for making an inquiry to the printing apparatus about a list of jobs accumulated in the printing apparatus, and a job received from the printing apparatus by an inquiry made by the second inquiry means. Creating means for creating information showing a list of jobs in the entire system from information indicating the list and job information regarding jobs accumulated in the print control device; and creating means for the information processing device by the creating means Yes and notification means for notifying the information showing a list of job
And, if from the print control apparatus has received the transmittable information
Is spooled in the storage means of the information processing device
The print data is not passed through the print control device.
A printing system, wherein the printing system transmits to the printing device . 2. The first inquiry means transmits a command for inquiring a list of jobs to the print control apparatus, and the second inquiry means a command for inquiring a list of jobs to the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system transmits. 3. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the creating unit creates information indicating a list of jobs so that duplicate jobs are deleted. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying a list of jobs based on the information indicating the list of jobs notified by the notification means. The printing system according to any one. 5. The information processing apparatus communicates with a printing apparatus that prints print data corresponding to job information , and the information processing apparatus prints the print data.
A print control device that receives job information of a printer, and print data in the printing device based on the job information.
The order control means for controlling the printing order, and the sendable information indicating that the print data can be sent from the external device to the printing device with respect to the job information whose printing order is controlled by the order control means. Depending on the sending means for sending to the external device and the inquiry of the list of jobs from the information processing device,
Inquiry means for inquiring a list of jobs accumulated in the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus, information indicating a list of jobs received from the printing apparatus by the inquiry of the inquiring section, and accumulated in the print control apparatus Yes from the job information about jobs are, and creation means for creating information indicating a list of the job, to the information processing apparatus, and notification means for notifying the information indicating a list of jobs created by the creation means
However, the information processing device does not go through the print control device.
A print control device characterized in that print data is transmitted to the printing device. 6. A receiving unit for receiving a command for inquiring a list of jobs from the information processing apparatus, wherein the inquiring unit transmits a command for inquiring a list of jobs to the printing apparatus. The print control device according to claim 5. 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the creating unit creates information indicating a list of jobs so that the duplicate jobs are deleted. 8. The information processing apparatus displays the job list based on the information indicating the job list notified by the notification unit. Print control device. 9. A print in a print system having an information processing device, a printing device for printing print data corresponding to job information , and a print control device for controlling the order in which print data is printed by the printing device. a monitoring method, transmission transmitted in the information processing apparatus, the job information of the print data to the print control device
A step, a spool step to be spooled in the storage unit the print data even after the job information has been sent to the print control apparatus by said transmitting step, to said print control apparatus, a Ru query the list of jobs
And the job information of the print data received from the information processing device in the print control device .
The printing order of print data in the printing device is controlled based on
The order control step for controlling and the job information whose printing order is controlled by the order control step , sendable information indicating that print data can be sent from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. A second inquiry step for inquiring the printing apparatus of a list of jobs accumulated in the printing apparatus, and a job received from the printing apparatus by an inquiry in the second inquiry step . Create information showing a list of jobs in the entire system from information showing the list and job information about jobs accumulated in the print control device.
And a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus of the information indicating the list of jobs created in the creation step, and receiving the sendable information from the print control apparatus.
Is spooled in the storage means of the information processing device
The print data is not passed through the print control device.
And a print monitor method comprising transmitting the print monitor to the printing device . 10. The information processing apparatus comprises the first question.
In the matching step, a command for inquiring a list of jobs is transmitted to the print control apparatus, and in the second inquiry step, the print control apparatus transmits a command for inquiring a list of jobs to the printing apparatus. The print monitor method according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The printing control device is configured to perform the creating process.
11. The print monitor method according to claim 9, wherein the information indicating the list of jobs is created so that the duplicate jobs are deleted. 12. The information processing device, in the notifying step,
12. The print monitor method according to claim 9 , further comprising a display control step of displaying a job list based on the notified job list information. 13. The information processing apparatus communicates with a printing apparatus that prints print data corresponding to job information , and the information processing apparatus prints the print data.
A computer-readable recording medium that stores a program for controlling a print control device that receives job information of a printer, wherein the program is print data in the printing device based on the job information.
The order control step for controlling the printing order, and the sendable information indicating that the print data can be sent from the external device to the printing device with respect to the job information whose printing order is controlled by the order controlling step. Depending on the sending process to send to the external device and the inquiry of the list of jobs from the information processing device,
An inquiring step of inquiring of the printing apparatus about a list of jobs accumulated in the printing apparatus, information indicating a list of jobs received from the printing apparatus by an inquiry in the inquiring step, and an accumulation step in the printing control apparatus. From the job information about the job
A generation step of generating information indicating a list of the job, to the information processing apparatus, wherein to execute the notification process for notifying information showing a list of jobs created in the computer in creating process, the information processing apparatus , Through the print control device
A recording medium, wherein print data is transmitted to the printing device . 14. The program causes a computer to execute a receiving step of receiving a command for inquiring a list of jobs from the information processing apparatus, and in the inquiring step, sends a command for inquiring a list of jobs to the printing apparatus. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein 15. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein in the creating step, information indicating a list of jobs is created so that duplicate jobs are deleted. 16. The information processing apparatus displays the job list based on the information indicating the job list notified in the notification step.
The recording medium according to any one of 1.