JP3884949B2 - Job management method, information processing apparatus, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a job management method, an information processing apparatus, a program, and a storage medium for managing various types of information such as a status relating to a print job.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, network devices are generally used, and many personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) and printers are connected to the network. In such a network environment, for example, a technique for remotely monitoring job information in a queue assigned to a printer server by using a job status monitor of Windows (registered trademark) is known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a conventional job monitor has a mechanism for providing appropriate job information for a printing method such as distributed printing or broadcast printing in which a plurality of printers perform printing by distributing the number of copies / pages. For example, when distributed printing is executed, the job monitoring monitor corresponding to the printer used for distributed printing is only monitored.
[0004]
In addition, since a user interface for job information is provided in a mixed form with other people's jobs, it has not been possible to easily determine which job is to be monitored.
[0005]
Furthermore, when assuming jobs that use multiple types of multiple printers such as distributed printing and broadcast printing, according to the conventional technology, even if the information of each printer queue is viewed, it is used for distributed printing. Therefore, it is not possible to efficiently recognize whether the job information corresponds to the received printer or the job information corresponding to the broadcast printing.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a job management mechanism that makes it easy to understand the job information in correspondence with job forms that use a plurality of printers. There is.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a job management method for managing a job status relating to a virtual printer in which a plurality of printers and one of the plurality of printers are associated as member printers. A printer information acquisition step of acquiring printer information of the printer, a display control step of displaying the virtual printer and a plurality of printers in a display frame based on the acquired printer information, and a display control step A determination step of determining whether the virtual printer is selected or instructed to select one of the plurality of printers from the list; and when it is determined that the virtual printer is selected and specified by the determination step Of the member printer associated with the selected virtual printer A job information management step of displaying job information of a virtual printer based on the job information and displaying job information corresponding to any of the printers when it is determined that the selection of any of the printers has been instructed. It is characterized by having.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment suitable for applying the present invention will be described.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention can be applied. It is assumed that one or more client computers are connected in this system.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 102, 103, and 104 denote information processing apparatuses as client computers (clients), which are connected to a network 106 by a network cable such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and can execute various programs such as application programs. And a printer driver having a function of converting print data into a printer language corresponding to the printer. Note that the printer driver supports a plurality of printer drivers. Of course, it is assumed that the printer can be applied to various types of printers such as a laser beam printer using a minimum electrophotographic system, an inkjet printer using an inkjet system, and a printer using a thermal transfer system. .
[0017]
Reference numeral 101 denotes an information processing apparatus as a server (hereinafter referred to as a print server) according to the present embodiment. The information processing apparatus 101 is connected to the network 106 via a network cable and stores files used in the network, Or monitor. The print server 101 manages a plurality of printers connected to the network 106.
[0018]
As the configuration, the clients 102 to 104 and the print server 101 are general information processing apparatuses, and the client and the print server each store a print control program for performing different controls.
[0019]
The print server 101 is a general information processing apparatus and can simultaneously have the functions of the clients 102 to 104.
[0020]
The print server 101 in the present embodiment further stores and prints a print job including print data for which a print request has been issued from the client computers 102, 103, 104, or print data from the client computers 102, 103, 104. Only the job information that does not contain data, manages the print order of the client computers 102, 103, and 104, notifies the client in the print order of permission to send a print job including print data, and the status of the network printer 105 And a function for acquiring various types of print job information and notifying the client computers 102, 103, and 104.
[0021]
Reference numeral 105 denotes a network printer as a print control apparatus, which is connected to the network 106 via a network interface (not shown), analyzes a print job including print data transmitted from a client computer, and converts it into a dot image page by page. Convert and print page by page. A network 106 is connected to the client computers 102, 103, 104, the server 101, the network printer 105, and the like.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The client computers 102, 103, and 104 that are information processing apparatuses have the same configuration, and the server 101 has the same or equivalent hardware. The configuration. Therefore, it demonstrates as a block diagram explaining the structure of a client and a server.
[0023]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a CPU that is a control unit of the information processing apparatus, which executes an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a network printer control program of the present invention, and the like stored in a hard disk (HD) 205. Control to temporarily store information, files, etc. necessary for program execution.
[0024]
Reference numeral 201 denotes a ROM which is a storage unit, and stores therein various data such as a program such as a basic I / O program, font data used in document processing, and template data. Reference numeral 202 denotes a RAM which is temporary storage means, and functions as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 200.
[0025]
Reference numeral 203 denotes a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) drive as a storage medium reading means. As shown in FIG. 5 to be described later, a program stored in the FD 204 as a storage medium is loaded into the computer system through the FD drive 203. can do. Note that the storage medium is not limited to the FD, and may be any CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, PC card, DVD, IC memory card, MO, memory stick, and the like.
[0026]
Reference numeral 204 denotes a floppy disk (FD) as a storage medium, which is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.
[0027]
Reference numeral 205 denotes one of external storage means, which is a hard disk (HD) that functions as a large-capacity memory, and stores an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a network printer control program, related programs, and the like. Further, a spooler which is a spool means is secured here. The spool means is a client spooler in the client, and a server spooler in the print server. In the print server, job information received from the client is stored, and a table for controlling the order is also generated and stored in the external storage means.
[0028]
Reference numeral 206 denotes a keyboard which is an instruction input unit. The user instructs the client computer and the operator or administrator inputs an instruction of a device control command to the print server.
[0029]
A display 207 is a display unit that displays commands input from the keyboard 206, the status of the printer, and the like.
[0030]
A system bus 208 controls the flow of data in a computer that is a client or a print server.
[0031]
Reference numeral 209 denotes an interface which is an input / output unit, and the information processing apparatus exchanges data with an external apparatus via the interface 209.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the memory map of the RAM 202 shown in FIG. 2, and is a memory map in a state where the network printer control program loaded from the FD 204 is loaded into the RAM 202 and can be executed.
[0033]
In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the network printer control program and related data are loaded directly from the FD 204 into the RAM 202 and executed. However, every time the network printer control program is operated from the FD 204, the network printer control program is already executed. May be loaded into the RAM 202 from the HD 205 in which is installed.
[0034]
The medium for storing the network printer control program may be a CD-ROM, CD-R, PC card, DVD, or IC memory card in addition to the FD. Furthermore, it is possible to store 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.
[0035]
In addition, software that realizes the same function as each of the above devices can be used as an alternative to a hardware device.
[0036]
The network printer control program may be simply referred to as a print control program. The print control program includes a program for instructing the client to change the print destination of the print job, or for instructing to change the print order, and in the print server to perform the print job order control. A program for notifying the end of printing of a print job, a request for changing the printing destination, and the like is included. The print control program of the present invention for performing such control may separately divide a module installed in the client and a module installed in the print server, or one print control program is executed. It may function as a client or a print server depending on the environment. Alternatively, it is possible to install a module having a client function and a module functioning as a print server on one computer, and to perform a pseudo parallel operation at the same time or in a time division manner.
[0037]
Reference numeral 301 denotes a basic I / O program, which has an IPL (Initial Program Loading) function for starting the operation of the OS by reading the OS from the HD 205 into the RAM 202 when the control device is turned on. This is the area that contains the program.
[0038]
Reference numeral 302 denotes an operating system (OS), and 303 denotes a network printer control program, which is stored in an area secured on the RAM 202. Reference numeral 304 denotes related data, which is stored in an area secured on the RAM 202. Reference numeral 305 denotes a work area in which an area for the CPU 200 to execute the printer control program is secured.
[0039]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the FD 204 illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 4, 400 is the data content of the FD 204, 401 is volume information indicating data information, 402 is directory information, 403 is a network printer control program which is a print control program described in the present embodiment, 404 Is the related data. The network printer control program 403 is a program based on the flowchart described in the embodiment. In this embodiment, the client and the server have the same configuration.
[0040]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship with the FD 204 inserted into the FD drive 203 shown in FIG. 2, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0041]
In FIG. 5, the FD 204 stores a network printer control program and related data described in the present embodiment.
[0042]
Next, a print job control system that uses a plurality of printers according to the present embodiment and performs the above-described printing processing such as distribution, broadcast, and substitution will be described.
[0043]
In this embodiment, a printer that virtually bundles a plurality of printers as one printer is called a group printer, and a printer that can be bundled is called a member printer. The corresponding printer drivers are called a group printer driver and a member printer driver, respectively.
[0044]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how a print job issued from a general application such as MicroSoftWord is processed in the print job control system in the client server model of this system. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 600 denotes a client machine, which indicates a machine on which a client module of the print job control system operates.
[0045]
Normally, when a printing instruction is given, the application program generates a series of drawing commands and passes them to Windows Spooler via a printer driver. Windows Spooler takes a procedure of passing print job data to the port monitor selected by the user and transmitting it to the printer device.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, the user designates a print job control system port monitor 621 (hereinafter abbreviated as job control port monitor in this embodiment) and instructs printing in advance. The application program 601 generates a series of drawing commands. Upon receiving the drawing command, the group printer driver 603 generates a general-purpose print file and transmits it as print job data to the job control port monitor 621 instead of a port monitor that transmits print job data to the printer device. The job control port monitor 621 does not transmit print job data to the printer device 650 but transmits it to the print job control system print service 622 (hereinafter abbreviated as job control print service in this embodiment). The job control print service 622 has a function of managing the status of the job / device managed by the job control server 630. Further, when the device and the client PC operate in a peer-to-peer connection environment, the job control print service 622 manages information such as the device status and job status notified from the device, and And a function of giving a predetermined command. This corresponds to a function for managing device information and job information of a plurality of printer devices 650.
[0047]
The print job control system print manager 623 (hereinafter also abbreviated as job control print manager in this embodiment) checks the state of the print job in the job control print service 622 by the user, A program that provides a user interface (UI) for operation.
[0048]
The job control print manager 623 transmits / receives information to / from the job control print service 622 via the software interface (API) of the job control print service 622, and mainly an external printer device managed by the job control print service 622. It has a function to acquire the state information as an event. Event notification types include warnings when the amount of toner is low, communication failure between the client and device, memory shortage, full output tray, and other error / warning information notifications, and return from error to normal status Notification of normal information is assumed.
[0049]
The print job control system server 630 (hereinafter abbreviated as job control server in the present embodiment) performs centralized control (scheduling) the timing at which the job control print service 622 on each client 600 transmits print job data to the printer device 650. )is doing. The print job control system server 630 monitors the status of the power control status, fault information (paper jam), etc. during printing of each device (printing apparatus) that can communicate via the network, and the job control print service 622. Has a function to notify events. Here, regarding the monitoring of the status change of the printer status, the job control print service 622 can directly acquire a notification (event) of the status change from the printer device.
[0050]
The print job control system management console 633 (hereinafter abbreviated as “job control management console” in this embodiment) exchanges information and instructions with the job control server 630 via an API for accessing software of the job control server 630. By doing so, the entire print job control system can be monitored.
[0051]
Further, the job control server 630 communicates with each printer device 650 using the device information control module 631 to obtain information about a print job and an operation state in each printer and perform an operation. The acquired information can be transferred to the job control print service 622 on the client 600 side.
[0052]
Next, printing from the group printer driver 603 in this embodiment will be described.
[0053]
The group printer driver 603 converts a series of drawing commands generated by the application program into a general-purpose print file that is an intermediate format file independent of the type of printer device. The configuration of this general-purpose print file will be described later.
[0054]
As described above, the general-purpose print file is guided from the Windows S spooler 604 through the job control port monitor 621 (a) to the job control print service 622 (b). The job control print service 622 generates a drawing command based on the general-purpose print file according to the type of job control performed on the print job (c), and then the PDL driver 602 sends the drawing command to the printer device 650. Is a PDL file that can be interpreted. In FIG. 6, an example in which job control print service 622 performs job control for dividing a print job into two for this print job, and an example in which two member jobs are generated is indicated by two arrows (c). Yes. The PDL file generated by the PDL driver 602 passes through the Windows S spooler 604 and the job control port monitor 621 (d), and is again delivered to the job control print service 622 (e). The job control print service 622 transmits PDL print job data to the printer device 650 in accordance with an instruction from the job control server 630 (f).
[0055]
The job control print service 622 logically divides one general-purpose print file into a plurality of print jobs in accordance with the instructions in the print instruction document in the general-purpose print file, and transmits them to different printer devices or once. Re-send print job data to another printer device. (C), (d), (e), and (f) in FIG. A indicate the print job data path in such a case.
[0056]
On the other hand, when the application software creates a general-purpose print file and the application software directly inputs the general-purpose print file as a print job, the general application is a method of passing information to the group printer driver 603 or the group printer driver 603. The processing content of is different. As described above, in the case of a general application, when the application passes drawing information to the group printer driver 603, the Windows GDI function is called in the same way as a normal printer driver, and the group printer driver 603 responds accordingly to the general-purpose print file. Is generated. On the other hand, in the case of an application that directly creates a general-purpose print file, the application already has a general-purpose print file and supplies it to the group printer driver 603. The group printer driver 603 rewrites the print instruction in the general-purpose print file based on a preset printing method as necessary, and sends it to the WindowsSpooler 604.
[0057]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a general-purpose print file.
[0058]
The general-purpose print file used in this embodiment includes a print instruction unit 8-a and a document data unit 8-b. The print instruction part is a part describing document information and a print instruction. The document data is obtained by converting application data into general-purpose data, and has a data format independent of the printer language.
[0059]
The print instruction unit includes a header part, a page information part, a print format instruction part, an output method designation part, a group printer driver setting information part, a member printer number, a member printer driver name, and a member printer driver setting information part.
[0060]
The header part is a part for storing information such as version identification and file information of this file.
[0061]
The page information part is a part for storing information such as the number of pages of document data in the document data part 8-b and the size of each page.
[0062]
The print format instruction unit is a part that stores information related to the output format such as a print page range, the number of copies, document data imposition information (N-UP, bookbinding printing, etc.), a staple command, a punch command, and the like.
[0063]
The output method designating unit is a part that stores information such as distributed printing, color / monochrome distributed printing, proxy printing, and broadcast printing as an output method.
[0064]
The group printer driver setting information part is a part for storing UI setting information of a group printer driver described later.
[0065]
The number of member printers is a part for storing the number of member printers associated with the group printer driver.
[0066]
The member printer driver name is a part for storing the printer driver name of the member printer.
[0067]
The member printer driver setting information section is a part that stores, for example, DEVMODE information as setting information of the driver UI of the member printer.
[0068]
The member printer driver name and member printer driver setting information section have as many storage areas as the number of member printers stored.
[0069]
The group printer driver 603 described with reference to FIG. 6 records the settings on the group printer driver GUI in the print instruction unit 8-a when generating a general-purpose print file. Further, the group printer driver 603 converts the data received by the GDI into general-purpose data and records it as document data in the document data portion of the general-purpose print file.
[0070]
Next, the relationship between the PrintSystem provided by Windows S and the print job in the print job control system and the processing outline will be described in more detail in FIG.
[0071]
In FIG. 7, a print job control system 700 indicates a range of the print job control system that straddles physical machines on which the server and client control programs operate. The output port (Output Port) 711 managed by the server is associated with the proxy output port (Proxy Output Port) 712 of the job control print service 622 of the client, and the proxy on each client associated with one port. All output ports are managed in a unified manner. In this embodiment, actual print job data is held in the proxy output port 712 of each client. The job control server 630 does not perform the transmission process of the print job data itself, but only instructs the job control print service 622 to transmit the print job. In response to the instruction, the job control print service 622 of the client transmits print job data to the device 650.
[0072]
Next, processing when the print job control system 700 performs value-added printing such as proxy printing, distributed printing, and broadcast printing will be described.
[0073]
When the print job control system 700 performs value-added printing such as proxy printing, distributed printing, and broadcast printing, as described above, the user or application 601 prints to a printer to which the group printer driver 603 is assigned. Must be issued. The job control print service 622 receives job data processed by the group printer driver 603 as a general-purpose print file via the job control port monitor 621. The job control print service 622 receives this job and issues a job (member job) to another printer to which the PDL driver is assigned via the DeSpooler 701 for printing. At this time, the DeSpooler 701 interprets the print instruction portion 8-a of the general-purpose print file described with reference to FIG. 8, processes the document data in the document data portion 8-b, converts it into Windows GDI, and prints each printer driver. A print instruction is issued and a print job is issued. For example, when a 2-UP instruction is recorded in the print format designation section, document data for two pages is reduced and laid out on one sheet of paper. In the case of distributed printing or broadcast printing, a job is issued to a plurality of member printers described in the print instruction section 8-a according to these settings. In the case of proxy printing, when a proxy condition is satisfied, a member job is issued in accordance with a user's operation in advance for automatic proxy and for manual proxy.
[0074]
Further, when the DeSpooler 701 issues a job to each member printer, it is necessary to create a DEVMODE for each member printer as a print instruction corresponding to the member printer driver. This DEVMODE is described in the print instruction section 8-a. The contents are appropriately reflected in the DEVMODE of each member printer.
[0075]
The job control print service 622 on the client side receives the PDL data of each member job rendered by the PDL driver 602 via the job control port monitor 621, notifies the server side of information regarding the received job, and the job data is It is temporarily stored in its own proxy output queue (Proxy Output Port) 712. Thereafter, after receiving a transmission instruction from the job control server 630, it is transmitted to the print device 650.
[0076]
Next, FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 9 corresponds to a member printer driver registration process for constructing a group printer driver interface for performing print settings shown in FIGS.
[0077]
First, in step S901, the setup is prepared and the setup is started.
[0078]
In step S902, a printer driver to be registered in the member printer is selected via a pointing device such as a mouse, and is set as an installation target.
[0079]
In step S903, the selected printer driver is installed and registered as a member printer driver.
[0080]
In step S904, printer information corresponding to the installed printer driver is acquired. The printer information (device information) includes, for example, information that the supported paper size is A3, A4, B5, whether double-sided is possible, whether stapling is possible, and whether the punching is possible as a finishing function, Z Enter whether folding is possible. Here, the printer information acquisition method is such that the installed printer driver acquires the printer information inquired and acquired via the predetermined network from the corresponding printer device, or is input from the keyboard or the like. A form of processing in which the set value is registered as printer information is assumed.
[0081]
In step S905, it is determined whether or not the installation of the target member printer driver is to be completed. If not, the process returns to step S902, and the printer driver selected according to the selection instruction is registered again as a member printer driver. Repeat the process. On the other hand, if completed, the process proceeds to step S906.
[0082]
In step S906, the setting value of the device attribute information acquired in step S904 is stored and held together with the name of the printer driver in the system registry, for example. Further, a user interface as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, which will be described later, is constructed through the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 9. For example, the device information shown in 1006 of FIG. 10 includes the information stored in step S906. This corresponds to what is displayed for each corresponding member printer.
[0083]
Next, the user interface (group printer driver UI) of the present embodiment will be specifically shown and described with reference to FIG. 10 taken as an example.
[0084]
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a combo box for selecting and specifying an output method. When the combo box 1001 is designated via a pointing device such as a mouse, a list of a plurality of output methods is displayed, and a predetermined output method is designated from the displayed list.
[0085]
A button 1002 opens a UI for registering a member printer driver for a group printer driver of a predetermined type. The UI opened here will be described later. Here, as the predetermined type, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a group printer driver of ratio distribution, or a group printer driver of color / monochrome distribution processing described later, and other automatic substitution and broadcast printing are used. Such a group printer driver is assumed.
[0086]
Reference numeral 1003 in FIG. 10 denotes a list box for displaying a list of registered member printer drivers after member printers are registered.
[0087]
In this UI example, various information related to the member printer is displayed together with the name of the member printer driver. The contents of the list display are also changed according to the output method designated from the pull-down menu 1001. That is, each of a plurality of types of output methods has a member printer driver configuration. As a result, the user can easily call a member printer driver suitable for each output method, and there is no need to register a new member printer driver each time the output method is changed.
[0088]
Further, for example, the member printer driver 1007 registered via the UI as shown in FIG. 11 is temporarily not included in the configuration or is not included in the configuration 1007. This is a check box to be added to the configuration of the member printer driver. When this check box is checked, the member printer is regarded as the target printer driver, and when the check box is not checked, the member printer driver is temporarily removed from the target printer driver. In other words, the member printer driver included in the option 1007 corresponds to the one registered by the primary registration process, and checking the check box makes the member printer driver the target printer driver for the actual printing process. This corresponds to the secondary registration process.
[0089]
In this way, in the registration of member printer drivers, a two-stage setting mechanism of primary registration and secondary registration is made possible by the present invention. For example, in normal distributed printing, a predetermined member that is a target of print processing is used. When the predetermined member printer driver can be temporarily excluded from the target for the printer driver, or when the malfunctioning printing apparatus is restored, the actual operation is again performed by operating the check box. It can be a member printer driver activated during the printing process. This is because information on member printers registered (primary registration) for each output method and information on whether or not a member printer driver is used by checking a check box are separately stored in a predetermined storage unit. This is realized by the configuration of holding.
[0090]
Furthermore, in the present invention, the primary registration and secondary registration described above can be set for each of a plurality of output methods, and start with ratio distributed printing, broadcast printing, color / black and white distributed printing, proxy printing described later. The primary registration and the secondary registration are processed independently of each other.
[0091]
Reference numeral 1006 denotes a display column for attribute information of each device. The attribute information of the device corresponding to each member printer driver set in the group printer driver corresponds to the information displayed according to the display control of the control program together with the name of the member printer driver.
[0092]
Next, registration / deletion of member printer drivers will be described with reference to FIG.
[0093]
FIG. 11 shows a UI displayed when the control program recognizes a press signal of the “add / delete device” button 1002 in FIG. 10 described above.
[0094]
In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 denotes a list box that displays a list of selectable member printer drivers. The selectable member printer driver is a printer driver that is installed by allocating a port that can be handled by the system, and is a printer driver that can be recognized by the control program.
[0095]
A list box 1102 displays a list of selected member printer drivers. Each button 1103, 1104, 1105, 1106 can be added to or deleted from a member printer from the selectable member printer list.
[0096]
When the pressing signal 1103 is recognized, the printer driver selected at the time of pressing in 1101 is added as a member printer driver.
[0097]
When the press signal 1104 is recognized, control is performed so that all printer drivers shown in the list 1101 constitute the member printer driver displayed in 1102.
[0098]
Reference numeral 1105 denotes a button for disconnecting from the member printer driver as opposed to 1103 and 1104. When the pressing signal of 1103 and 1105 is recognized, the button is removed from the configuration of the member printer driver 1102. The member printer driver is controlled.
[0099]
FIG. 12 shows an example of how the UI is displayed when automatic substitution printing is selected from the selection list 1001 in FIG. 10 and set as the output method. The registered member printer driver configuration is the output method. It shows the state of switching display according to the designation.
[0100]
In the automatic proxy printing, each member printer driver has a priority order, and the member printer driver having the highest priority order is first preferentially printed, and the current print processing is to be performed. When an error such as no toner occurs in the printer device and printing becomes impossible, a process is performed in which control is performed so that the member printer driver of the next priority is automatically printed.
[0101]
In this case, as the configuration of the member printer driver, a plurality of registrations can be made as in the case of ratio distribution (distributed printing), and this control program has a function of setting the priority for each member printer driver. .
[0102]
1201 and 1202 in FIG. 12 are buttons for changing the priority order of the member printer drivers. In this UI example, the priority order of member printers matches the order listed in the member printer list 1203.
[0103]
Accordingly, the member printer driver can be selected from the list of the list 1203 and the order on the member printer list can be increased by one (moved display upward) and the priority can be increased by the button 1201.
[0104]
Further, the button 1202 can lower the order on the member printer list by one (moving display downward) and lower the priority order.
[0105]
Also, with regard to the registration (addition / deletion) of the member printer driver described above, control is performed so that a UI similar to that shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, and member printer registration deletion processing is performed.
[0106]
Next, a mechanism for managing a plurality of printers in a printing system that targets a plurality of printers as described above will be described below.
[0107]
FIG. 14 shows the control processing of the print manager 623 described with reference to FIG. 6, and a program stored in a non-volatile storage means such as a ROM or HD by a CPU (central processing unit) provided in the information processing apparatus. It shall be realized in response to reading and executing the code.
[0108]
First, task tray activation processing is executed in response to an activation instruction from a user via a pointing device such as a mouse or a keyboard.
[0109]
In step S1401, startup initialization processing is executed in accordance with task tray startup processing.
[0110]
In step S1402, the device / job monitoring service interface is constructed. Here, the device / job monitoring service interface corresponds to the interface with the job control print service 622 in FIG. 6, and the print manager acquires device status, print queue information, and the like managed by the job control print service module. It corresponds to the interface.
[0111]
In step S1403, the monitoring target printer enumeration process is executed. The enumeration processing here corresponds to processing for acquiring and grasping management information of one or a plurality of printers acquired by the print manager 633 from the job control print service 622, and information acquired and managed from the job control print service 622. For example, FIGS. 18, 19, 20, and 21 can be cited as management states.
[0112]
Here, the print information acquired from the job control print service 622 by the print manager 623 includes a group printer (virtual printer) and a member printer (actually operating printer).
[0113]
In step S1404, an unknown job search / return module error / trouble recovery process is executed. For example, this corresponds to a reprint process of a job remaining at the time of forced termination.
[0114]
In step S1405, an event request registration process associated with a change in printer information is registered from the print manager 623 to the job control print service 622. Actually, the job control print service 622 manages the states of a plurality of image forming devices that are communicable on the network, and the change in the state of the image forming device managed by the job control print service 622 is the print manager. 623 is notified. Step S1405 corresponds to a request for notification of a change in the state of the image forming device managed by the job control print service 622. Of course, the print manager 623 directly sends it to the job control server 630 or the print device 650. A form in which an event notification is requested is also assumed.
[0115]
In step S1406, it is determined whether a detailed monitor display request has been made. For example, the process of determining whether or not an activation instruction via the pointing device for the detail monitor activation button generated in step S1401 has been made corresponds to step S1406.
[0116]
If it is determined Yes in step S1406, the process proceeds to step S1408, and if it is determined No, the process proceeds to step S1409.
[0117]
In step S1408, processing by the detailed monitor UI module is executed, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0118]
In steps S1409 and 1410, a monitoring process for a device and a job that is executing a job is executed. In step S1411, a job end notification monitoring process is executed.
[0119]
In step S1412, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the activated program has been issued. If it is determined as Yes, the program processing is ended. If it is determined as No, the monitoring target printer is updated in step S1407. A check process is executed, and the process returns to the process of step S1406. The update check process for the monitoring target printer in step S1407 corresponds to, for example, managing addition / deletion of member printers performed via the user interface as shown in FIG.
[0120]
Next, FIG. 15 will be described. FIG. 15 corresponds to the detailed processing of step S1408 in the flowchart of FIG.
[0121]
First, in step S1501, startup initialization processing is executed. This corresponds to various initialization processes necessary for executing a display as shown in FIG. 22, for example, which will be described later.
[0122]
In step S1502, the monitoring target printer enumeration process is executed. The enumeration processing here includes acquisition processing from the job control print service 622 for information on a plurality of printers (including both group printers (virtual printers) and member printers (real printers)) to be monitored, It is assumed that the printer list display process based on the printer information is included. For example, the printer list shown in the “display by printer” frame of FIG. 22 corresponds to the one displayed in correspondence with the processing in step S1502. In addition, the printer list includes a virtual printer and an actual printer. The printer list of “display by printer” in FIGS. 23 and 24 corresponds to this. Further, a status icon indicating the status of each printer (virtual printer / real printer) is attached to the virtual printer and the real printer in the list. Here, control is performed so that the status icon is changed in accordance with the change of the status of the printer (virtual printer / real printer). For example, it is possible to determine the status of the virtual printer by “or” processing the status of the member printer corresponding to the virtual printer, and to determine an icon corresponding to the determined status. If even one of the plurality of member printers is “spooler stopped”, the status of the virtual printer corresponding to the plurality of member printers and the icon corresponding to the state are stopped “spooler stopped”, or the plurality of member printers If at least one of the statuses is “error”, it is assumed that the status of the corresponding virtual printer and the status icon corresponding to the status are also set to “error”.
[0123]
In step S1503, a startup display menu designation display process is executed. This corresponds to a process of displaying the menu assigned to the menu item at the time of starting the program in a form that can be specified to be changed.
[0124]
In step S1504, it is determined whether or not a mode selection instruction has been issued. If it is determined that an instruction corresponding to “My Menu” has been issued, the process proceeds to step S1505, and the “printer list” is displayed. If it is determined that an instruction corresponding to “menu” has been given, the process proceeds to step S1506. Here, the mode selection instruction indicates a process for selecting and instructing a predetermined menu.
[0125]
In step S1506, it is determined which printer has been instructed to select from a plurality of printers listed in the process of step S1502, and processing for recognizing the selected printer is executed.
[0126]
In step S1507, it is further determined which type of mode is currently selected. Depending on the type of the mode, in step S1506, the printer that is recognized as currently selected is selected. Control the display form of information differently. Note that the mode selection here refers to, for example, a mode instruction instructed via the “Mode (D):” selection field in FIG.
[0127]
If it is determined in step S1507 that “printer information” is selected as the mode, the process proceeds to step S1508. If it is determined that “job list” is selected, the process proceeds to step S1509. If it is determined that “output setting” is selected, the process proceeds to step S1510. In step S1510, the setting information (paper size, default resolution, etc.) of the printer selected in step S1506 is displayed. Detailed description corresponding to step S1509 will be given in FIG.
[0128]
As described above, by executing the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 15, a predetermined printer (including a virtual printer / real printer) selected from one or a plurality of monitored printers listed in step S1502 is assigned. On the other hand, various information such as printer information, job list, output setting, etc. according to mode selection can be switched and displayed.
[0129]
Further, in step S1506, the group printer (virtual printer) and the real printer (member printer) are mixed and listed, and the user is not aware of any of the virtual printer / real printer. Selection can be made in the same manner, and the optimum printer information, job list information, and output setting information can be known in accordance with the selection instruction.
[0130]
Next, FIG. 16 will be described. FIG. 16 corresponds to a flowchart corresponding to the detailed description of step S1509 of FIG. 15 described above.
[0131]
First, in step S1601, status event registration of the selected printer is executed. This corresponds to processing for requesting, as an event, a change in the state relating to the printer selected in step S1506 in FIG. Actually, a mode in which the print manager 623 in FIG. 6 requests the job control print service 622 to notify the event is assumed. Note that the selected printer in step S1601 can be a virtual printer or an actual printer.
[0132]
In step S1602, whether the type of printer recognized in step S1601 is a group printer (virtual printer) / member printer (actual printer), or an inkjet printer / laser beam printer / network compatible digital multifunction peripheral. In response to this, initialization processing for performing different information acquisition processing is executed.
[0133]
In steps S1603 and S1604, processing for acquiring queue information and port information corresponding to the printer selected in step 1506 from the job control print service 622 is executed.
[0134]
More specifically, when the printer selected and designated in 1602 and 1603 is a virtual printer (group printer), acquisition of queue and port information corresponding to the printer is executed. When the selected printer is a member printer (actual printer), queue and port information corresponding to the member printer is acquired. For specifying the queue and port, the management information as shown in FIG. 18 is referred to based on the information (printer name / printer ID, etc.) for specifying the printer corresponding to the printer instruction, and the queue included in the management information. And information for referring to the port are specified.
[0135]
In the job control print service 622, virtual printer queues (corresponding to the logical queue in FIG. 7) and member printer queues (FIG. 7) corresponding to the group printers (virtual printers) and member printers (real printers), respectively. 7), a virtual printer logical port (corresponding to Logical Port in FIG. 7), and a member printer logical port (corresponding to each Output Port in FIG. 7). Accordingly, processing for notifying the print manager 623 of information to be managed is executed.
[0136]
The queue information includes job attributes such as print document name / document size / number of copies currently registered for print output, job status such as spooling / printing, and port information. An example is information on whether or not the communication function is in a normal state.
[0137]
In step S1605, an event notification is registered so that an event is made when the status of the printer queue corresponding to the selected printer is changed.
[0138]
In step S1606, it is determined whether the selected printer to be processed in steps S1601 to S1605 is a group printer (virtual printer) or a member printer (real printer).
[0139]
If it is determined as a virtual printer, the process proceeds to step S1607; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1618.
[0140]
In step S1607, the type of the virtual printer is determined. That is, it is determined by referring to the management information as shown in FIG. 18 whether the output method of the virtual printer is ratio distributed printing, color / monochrome distributed printing, automatic proxy printing, or broadcast printing.
[0141]
In step S1608, extraction (enumeration) of intermediate files managed in the virtual printer queue is performed. At this time, a list of intermediate files (sometimes called original jobs or parent jobs) related to the issued virtual job is displayed.
[0142]
In step S1609, intermediate file attached information processing is executed. Here, as the attached information, for example, a printing date and time corresponds.
[0143]
In step S1610, registration of a state change event notification corresponding to the intermediate file is performed from the print manager 623 to the job control print manager 622 (print control program).
[0144]
In step S1611, it is determined whether or not an instruction to select a predetermined intermediate file (a parent job (intermediate file) before distribution / substitution / broadcasting) from among those listed in step S1608 has been issued. If it is determined that it has been selected, job selection processing is executed in step S1612, and further, intermediate file attached derived jobs are listed in step S1613.
[0145]
The identification of the derived job from the intermediate file is performed by comparing the intermediate file name 2001 or intermediate file ID corresponding to the one selected and designated in step S1611 with the management information shown in FIG. The derived job is specified from the attached information 2004. That is, the intermediate file attached information 2004 includes information for specifying a derived job corresponding to a predetermined intermediate file. Further, the job status and output destination printer information relating to the derived job can also be specified from the information 2007 in FIG. In addition, by referring to the derived job management information shown in FIG. 21 specified based on the derived job ID specified from 2004, various types of information on the derived job can be recognized and displayed. .
[0146]
In this way, derived jobs corresponding to virtual jobs (corresponding predetermined original jobs) are extracted (enumerated), and a list of derived jobs is displayed together with output destination printer / status information as shown by 2203 in FIG. 22 (S1614). Is done. In the case of job tracking, the actual printer can be confirmed by the name of the “output destination printer” attached to the job.
[0147]
In subsequent step S1615, an event request registration process associated with a state change is performed for the derived job.
[0148]
In step S1616, it is determined whether or not a predetermined derived job has been selected from the derived jobs listed and displayed in step S1614. If the result is Yes, the process proceeds to step S1617.
[0149]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1606 that a member printer (actual printer) that is not a virtual printer has been selected, in step S1618, job information (job name) in the printer queue corresponding to the selected printer is acquired. Event registration is executed (S1619), and the attached information of each listed job is acquired (S1620), and the job attached information is displayed in correspondence with the job name acquired in step S1621 (S1621, S1622). . In step S1623, a job selection time control process is executed.
[0150]
In this way, it is possible to determine whether a virtual printer is selected or an actual printer is selected (S1606). Further, if it is determined that a virtual printer is selected, job information corresponding to the virtual printer is determined. Is displayed, and when it is determined that an actual printer has been selected, the management of displaying job information corresponding to the actual printer is realized. Also, as information corresponding to the virtual printer, both information (2202 in FIG. 22) of the original job (intermediate file) as shown in FIG. 22 and a derived job derived from the original job are displayed. The user can easily know the progress status of the entire virtual job and the state of each of the derived jobs corresponding to the virtual job.
[0151]
Next, the processing of FIG. 17 will be described. FIG. 17 corresponds to the event monitoring processing corresponding to each event registration above, and is executed by the print manager 623 of FIG. 6 and provided in the information processing apparatus. It is assumed that the (central processing unit) is realized by reading and executing the program code stored in the nonvolatile storage means such as ROM or HD.
[0152]
First, in step S1702, it is determined whether the event relating to the printer queue managed in step S1701 is a state update event. If the determination is Yes, the status update process for the event target job is executed, and the corresponding display is updated accordingly.
[0153]
On the other hand, if it is determined No in step S1702, it is determined in step S1705 whether or not the event is a completion notification. If NO is determined, the process returns to step S1701, and if YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S1706.
[0154]
In step S1706, it is determined whether or not the completion notification event in step S1705 relates to the intermediate file. If the determination is Yes, the process proceeds to step S1708. On the other hand, if it is determined No, it is determined whether it is a completion notification corresponding to the derived job. If it is determined Yes in step S170, the process proceeds to step S1701. If it is determined No, the process proceeds to step S1708.
[0155]
In step S1708, job completion type information is acquired. In step S1709, job completion attached information is acquired. In step S1710, job completion state notification display processing is performed. Here, icon notification, dialog notification, and the like are assumed.
[0156]
By realizing the flowchart of FIG. 17 as described above, the job information corresponding to each member printer as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24 is updated as needed, and is further executed by each member printer. It is possible to display the latest information of the original job (parent job) based on the job information.
[0157]
Here, FIGS. 22 and 24 will be described.
[0158]
FIG. 22 shows a list of virtual distributed printing printers (corresponding to “distributed-kun” in the figure) and member printers (corresponding to printers A, B, and C) constructing the virtual distributed printer according to the distributed printing system “display by printer”. It is shown in the column. FIG. 22 shows a display state in which “dispersion-kun” is selected.
[0159]
The job control print service 622 has a function of generating information obtained by “or processing” each status of a derived job (corresponding to “child job” in the drawing) shown in 2203 as the job state of the original job 2202. , 2202 is displayed as a representative status of the entire distributed print virtual job.
[0160]
For example, if all of the derived jobs are printed, the state of 2202 is determined as “finished”, and if even one error is recognized in the derived job, the state of 2202 is “error”. . Further, as shown in FIG. 22, when the status of the derived job is “printing waiting” and “printing”, the representative status 2202 is “printing”. In this way, the user can easily know the status (state) of the distributed printing system by knowing the representative status. The generation of the representative status (state) is similarly processed for derivative jobs in generally known broadcast printing, proxy printing, color monochrome distributed printing, and the like. Actually, the original job 2202 corresponds to an original intermediate file (corresponding to the general-purpose print file described with reference to FIG. 6) for executing distributed printing.
[0161]
In the original job display field in FIG. 22, only a list corresponding to one original intermediate file 2202 is displayed. However, when a plurality of virtual jobs are issued, a plurality of original job display fields are displayed. Is displayed. In addition, when the intermediate file selection instruction is switched, the derived job list corresponding to the intermediate file instructed to be selected is also changed and changed (corresponding to steps S1611 to S1614 in FIG. 16). Thereby, the user can easily know the job status of the derived job corresponding to each virtual job.
[0162]
In addition, in the display as shown in FIGS. 22, 23, and 24, this control program has a filter function, and a function for displaying only the user's own job based on the honorer name attached to the job or the machine name. Also have.
[0163]
FIG. 23 shows a display example when an actual printer is selected with respect to FIG. 22, and the display when switching from the “distribution-kun” selection instruction of FIG. 22 to the selection instruction of “printer A” is shown. The state of switching is shown.
[0164]
In addition, through FIGS. 22 to 24, status icons corresponding to various job statuses are displayed on the left side of the document name. In particular, the status icons are displayed for the original job. This makes it easier to understand the representative status of information printing jobs. An example of the status icon is shown in FIGS.
[0165]
As described above, according to the present invention, appropriate job information is provided for a printing method such as distributed printing or broadcast printing, for example, in which a plurality of printers perform printing by distributing the number of copies / page. The mechanism to provide has come to be realized. For example, it is not necessary to monitor information on printers used for distributed printing when distributed printing is executed, and it is now possible to efficiently monitor each derived job at the distribution destination.
[0166]
In addition, since a user interface for job information is not provided in a mixed form with other people's jobs, it is now possible to easily check which jobs are monitored by the user.
[0167]
Furthermore, when assuming jobs that use multiple types of multiple printers, such as distributed printing and broadcast printing, according to the conventional technology, even if the information in each printer queue is viewed, it supports distributed printing. However, according to the present invention, the job information of the member printer corresponding to the type of the virtual printer can be obtained. It became possible to obtain easily.
[0168]
(Other examples)
An object of the present invention is to read a program code stored in a storage medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus, which stores a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. It is also achieved by executing.
[0169]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0170]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0171]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0172]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instruction of the program code. Also included is a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0173]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a job management mechanism that makes it easy to understand the job information in correspondence with a job form that uses a plurality of printers. It became so.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
3 is an example of a memory map of a RAM 202 shown in FIG.
4 shows an example of a memory map of the FD 204 shown in FIG.
5 is a diagram showing a relationship with an FD 204 inserted into the FD drive 203 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a print control module of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a data structure of job information managed by the print server.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of a general-purpose print file.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing registration of member printer drivers and setting of printer attribute information when setting up the printing control program.
FIG. 10 illustrates an example of how a UI is displayed when percentage distribution printing is designated as an output method.
FIG. 11 is an example of a display state of a UI having a member printer driver addition / deletion (registration) function corresponding to a specified predetermined type of virtual printer.
FIG. 12 shows an example of how a UI is displayed when automatic substitution is designated as the output method.
FIG. 13 shows an example of a job status icon representing a job status.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of status management control of a print manager based on device monitoring of a print control program.
FIG. 15 is a control flowchart of a detailed monitor.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart according to a printer manager control program when a virtual printer (group printer) is selected or an actual printer (member printer) is selected.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of printer information update by event notification monitoring.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing how member printers are managed in a virtual printer (group printer).
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating how various types of information are managed in an actual printer (member printer).
FIG. 20 is job status data (intermediate file) during virtual printer.
FIG. 21 shows actual printer job data (PDL / derived job).
FIG. 22 shows an example of how a job list is displayed when a virtual printer (distributed printing) is selected.
FIG. 23 shows an example of how a job list is displayed when a member printer (actual printer) is selected.
FIG. 24 shows an example of a job list display when a virtual printer (proxy printing) is selected.
FIG. 25 shows an example of a job status icon representing a job status.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 server
102 clients
103 clients
104 clients
105 Network printer

Claims (16)

In a job management method for managing a job status relating to a virtual printer in which a plurality of printers and any of the plurality of printers are associated as member printers,
A printer information acquisition step of acquiring printer information of the virtual printer and the plurality of printers;
A display control step for displaying the virtual printer and a plurality of printers in a list in a display frame based on the acquired printer information;
A determination step of determining whether the virtual printer is instructed to be selected from the list displayed in the display control step or whether any of the plurality of printers is instructed to select;
If it is determined in the determining step that a virtual printer has been selected, the virtual printer job information based on the job information of the member printer associated with the selected virtual printer is displayed. And a job information management step of displaying job information corresponding to any one of the printers when it is determined that the selection is instructed. A determining step for determining a status of the virtual printer based on a status of a member printer associated with the virtual printer based on the printer information acquired in the printer information acquiring step;
The job management method according to claim 1, wherein the display control step includes displaying the virtual printer in the list by reflecting the state of the virtual printer determined in the determination step.   3. The job management method according to claim 1, wherein the display control step displays an icon reflecting the state of the virtual printer determined by the determination step.   4. The job management method according to claim 1, wherein the type of the virtual printer selected from the display frame is displayed in an identifiable manner.   A generation step of generating job information of the virtual printer from job information of one or a plurality of member printers related to the virtual printer, the job information management step including job information of the virtual printer generated in the generation step; The job management method according to claim 1, wherein the job management method is displayed.   6. The virtual printer type includes any one of a distributed printing virtual printer, a proxy printing virtual printer, and a broadcast printing virtual printer. Job management method. Job management method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a registration step of adding and deleting member printer to the virtual printer. An information processing apparatus for managing a job status relating to a virtual printer in which a plurality of printers and any of the plurality of printers are associated as member printers,
Printer information acquisition means for acquiring printer information of the virtual printer and the plurality of printers;
Display control means for displaying the virtual printer and a plurality of printers in a list in a display frame based on the acquired printer information;
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether the virtual printer is instructed to be selected or the member printer is instructed to be selected from the list displayed by the display control unit;
If it is determined by the determining means that the virtual printer has been selected, the virtual printer job information based on the member printer job information associated with the selected virtual printer is displayed, and the member printer is selected and instructed. An information processing apparatus comprising: job information management means for displaying job information corresponding to the member printer when it is determined that the member printer has been determined. Determining means for determining the status of the virtual printer based on the status of the member printer associated with the virtual printer based on the printer information acquired by the printer information acquiring means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display control unit reflects the state of the virtual printer determined by the determination unit and displays the virtual printer in the list.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display control unit displays an icon reflecting the state of the virtual printer determined by the determination unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the type of the virtual printer selected from the display frame is displayed in an identifiable manner.   Generation means for generating job information of the virtual printer from job information of one or a plurality of member printers related to the virtual printer, and the job information management means stores job information of the virtual printer generated by the generation means; The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information processing apparatus is displayed.   13. The type of the virtual printer includes any one of a distributed printing virtual printer, a substitute printing virtual printer, and a broadcast printing virtual printer. Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a registration means for adding and deleting member printer to the virtual printer.   A program for causing a computer to execute the job management method according to claim 1.   A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the job management method according to claim 1 in a computer-readable form.

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