JP4137810B2 - Address supply device, address supply device control method, data transmission system, address notification program, and recording medium recording address notification program - Google Patents

Description

  In particular, the present invention is communicably connected to a PC (personal computer) and a plurality of printers that perform predetermined processing based on data transmitted from the PC. The present invention relates to a name server that answers the address of the second information processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, network systems have been constructed in which various processes instructed by a computer are performed by a shared peripheral device in a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) along with improvement in computer performance and price reduction.

  As peripheral devices shared in the communication network, for example, there are image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a scanner, and an MFP (Multi Function Printer). By connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses to a LAN and constructing a network system, a print job transmitted from a computer can be executed by the plurality of image forming apparatuses. In such an image output system, each print job to be output is normally designated as an output device at the time when an output instruction is given, and transmitted to that device.

  However, in such an image output system, it is conceivable that job output requests are concentrated on a specific image forming apparatus. In other words, there may be a situation in which a job output is awaited in another apparatus while a job can be output in one apparatus. As a result, the use of the image forming apparatus may become inefficient.

  Therefore, it is preferable that an image forming apparatus that executes a print job is selected according to the printing status of each image forming apparatus. For example, when the data amount of a print job is large, it is preferable that a plurality of image forming apparatuses can perform processing in a distributed manner.

  When an MFP is used as the image forming apparatus, if all MFPs connected to the communication network are performing printing processing, the user who wants to perform copying processing can perform printing processing in any MFP. Will have to wait until it finishes. Therefore, it is preferable to always perform control such that jobs are distributed so that there is an image forming apparatus that has not performed processing.

  In order to solve such a problem, mediation (negotiation) of a job is performed between a plurality of image forming apparatuses on a communication network, thereby improving the use efficiency of the image forming apparatus and increasing the load without increasing the load on the network. An image output system that enables job arbitration between the image forming apparatuses is proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image output system in which output data is automatically distributed to printers having a function desired by a user by grouping printers having common spot colors. In this image output system, the printer server manages printers having the same function in groups.

  The host that designates a print job designates a printer group corresponding to a function necessary for print processing of the print job without individually designating a printer that executes the print job. The printer server selects a printer that executes the print job in consideration of the operation status of the printers included in the printer group designated by the host, and transmits the print data to the selected printer for execution.

Patent Document 2 discloses an image output system in which an output port to a printer is abstractly defined and print protocol control is performed for both the host and the printer to search for the printer. This system does not require redefinition of the printer on the host side even when a new printer is added or the printer address is changed on the network, and the network and printer management and operation are not necessary. It is carried out.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-319533 (Publication date: December 12, 1997) JP 2002-23978 A (Publication date: January 25, 2002)

  However, the conventional image output system described above has the following problems. In the image output system disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the load on the server is very large because the printer server receives a print job from the host and checks the contents.

  Further, when the printer server receives a print job from the host, the printer server temporarily stores this data. Then, after selecting a printer that executes the print job from the printer group corresponding to the function required for the print processing of the print job, the temporarily stored print job is transferred to the printer. Will be sent. In other words, the print job sent from the host once stays at the printer server and is sent to the printer after the distribution processing at the printer server is completed, so the processing time from the print instruction to the start of printing becomes longer. become. This problem is particularly noticeable when a plurality of print jobs are sent to the printer server at the same time.

  In the system that performs the print protocol control disclosed in Patent Document 2, in order to search for a printable printer from a plurality of printers at the start of printing, packets are distributed to all devices on the network by broadcast from the host. It is a configuration. For this reason, there is a problem that a lot of traffic occurs for each job.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to solve problems such as jobs being concentrated on a specific information processing apparatus even when a new information processing apparatus is installed. Address supply device capable of solving the problem and quickly performing data transfer processing by selecting an appropriate information processing device, address supply device control method, data transmission system, address notification program, and address notification program Is to provide a recording medium on which is recorded.

  In order to solve the above problem, the address supply device according to the present invention classifies the address of the second information processing device into a group for each function of the second information processing device, and assigns and manages the group to the address. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship between the address and the group, and when an inquiry for the address is received together with the group notification from the first information processing device, the group information table is referred to, Address selecting means for selecting an address of a second information processing device to which a group matching the group notified from the first information processing device is assigned, and an address for notifying the first information processing device of the selected address Function information relating to the function of the second information processing device and the notification means; When receiving the address of the second information processing apparatus, group determining means for determining a group to be allocated to the address according to the function information; an address received from the second information processing apparatus; and a group allocated to the address And a table recording means for recording in the group information table.

  That is, according to the above configuration, the address supply device includes a recording unit that records a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship between the address of the second information processing device and the group. For this reason, the address supply device can manage the addresses of the second information processing devices in groups. Further, since this group is classified according to the function of the second information processing apparatus, the address of the second information processing apparatus having a common function belongs to each group managed by the address supply apparatus. .

  The functions of the second information processing apparatus are all functions that can realize processing based on data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus. For example, when the second information processing apparatus is a printer, monochrome printing and color For example, whether printing is possible, the type of paper size that can be printed, and whether double-sided printing is possible.

  In addition, when the address selection unit receives an address query together with the group notification from the first information processing device by the address selection unit, the address supply unit refers to the group information table and the group notified from the first information processing device. The address of the second information processing apparatus to which the matching group is assigned can be selected.

  That is, when the first information processing apparatus transmits a notification of the group to which the address of the second information processing apparatus having a function capable of performing a predetermined process belongs to the address supply apparatus, the address supply apparatus Can select the address of the second information processing apparatus having the desired function. And since the address supply apparatus is provided with the address notification means, the said selected address can be notified to the said 1st information processing apparatus.

  Therefore, the address supply device can notify the first information processing device of the address of the second information processing device having the function desired by the first information processing device.

  Therefore, since the address supply device can inform the first information processing device of the address of the second information processing device having the function desired by the first information processing device, Data can be transmitted to the second information processing apparatus having a desired function. That is, since the first information processing apparatus can avoid useless data transmission such as transmitting data to the second information processing apparatus that does not have the desired function, the first information processing apparatus and the second information There is no unnecessary traffic in data transmission with the processing device.

  In addition, since only the address inquiry and group notification are transmitted from the first information processing apparatus of the data distribution source to the address supply apparatus, it is possible to suppress a heavy load on the address supply apparatus. .

  On the other hand, since the address supply device selects an address corresponding to the group notified from the first information processing device with reference to the group information table and notifies the first information processing device, the first information processing device It is possible to immediately know the address of the second information processing apparatus that is the data transmission destination, and it is possible to quickly transmit data to the second information processing apparatus.

  Here, in the present invention, in particular, since it includes a group assigning unit, when function information related to the function of the second information processing device and an address of the second information processing device are received from the second information processing device, According to the function information, the address of the second information processing apparatus can be assigned to a predetermined group name in the group information table.

  For this reason, even when the second information processing apparatus is newly added, the group of the second information processing apparatus is added to the group having the common function in the group information table according to the function of the second information processing apparatus. Addresses can be assigned automatically. Then, the address supply means can notify the address selected from the group including the address of the newly added second information processing apparatus in response to the group notification and address inquiry from the first information processing apparatus.

  Therefore, the address supply device according to the present invention can appropriately transmit data from the first information processing device to the second information processing device even when the second information processing device is newly added. An information processing apparatus can be selected and performed quickly.

  In the address supply device according to the present invention, in the configuration described above, the group information management table includes, for each address of the second information processing device, subnetwork information related to a subnetwork address of the second information processing device. When the address information is received together with the group information and the sub-network information of the first information processing apparatus from the first information processing apparatus, the address selection means and the group notified from the first information processing apparatus It is preferable to preferentially select an address including subnetwork information that matches the subnetwork information of the first information processing apparatus from among addresses to which a matching group is assigned.

  That is, the group information management table includes, for each address of the second information processing apparatus, subnetwork information regarding the address of the subnetwork of the second information processing apparatus. Then, the address selection means refers to the sub-network of the first information processing apparatus from among the addresses to which the group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus with reference to the group information management table is assigned. Since the address including the subnetwork information that matches the information is preferentially selected, the second information processing apparatus disposed in the same LAN as the first information processing apparatus can be selected to perform data processing.

  That is, even if the second information processing apparatus is arranged in a plurality of LANs and the address supply apparatus manages the addresses of the second information processing apparatuses in the plurality of LANs, The second information processing apparatus arranged on the same LAN as the information processing apparatus can be preferentially selected.

  For this reason, it is possible to avoid the problem that the processing result is output by the second information processing apparatus that is physically separated from the first information processing apparatus that is the data transmission source.

  In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the address supply device according to the present invention classifies the addresses of the second information processing device into groups, assigns the group to the addresses, and the processing capability of the second information processing device. For each of the assigned groups, the priority indicating the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing device in response to the inquiry from the first information processing device is assigned to the processing capability of the second information processing device. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship between the address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing the address so that the higher the priority is, the first When an address query is received together with a group notification from the information processing device, the first information processing device is referred to by referring to the group information table Address selecting means for selecting an address set with the highest priority from the addresses of the second information processing apparatus to which a group matching the notified group is assigned, and the selected address as the first information Upon receiving address notification means for notifying the information processing device, processing capability information regarding the processing capability of the second information processing device and the address of the second information processing device from the second information processing device, a group assigned to the address is selected. Group determining means for determining, priority setting means for setting the priority in the group to which the address belongs to the address according to the processing capability, the address received from the second information processing apparatus, and the address Table recording means for recording the priority set in the group information table. It is characterized in.

  That is, according to the above configuration, in the address supply device, the table storage means classifies the address of the second information processing device into a group, assigns the group to the address, and the processing capability of the second information processing device. For each of the assigned groups, the priority indicating the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing device in response to the inquiry from the first information processing device is assigned to the processing capability of the second information processing device. A group information table is stored for setting and managing the address so that the higher the priority is, the higher the priority is. This group information table shows the correspondence between the address of the second information processing device, the group assigned to the address, and the priority set for the address for each processing capability of the second information processing device.

  For this reason, referring to the group information table, it is possible to immediately identify the address having the highest priority among the addresses to which the group matching the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned.

  The processing capability of the second information processing apparatus is, for example, a processing speed when the second information processing apparatus performs a predetermined process based on data received from the first information processing apparatus. Further, the higher the processing capability of the second information processing apparatus, the higher the priority set for the address of the second information processing apparatus.

  In addition, since the address supply means includes address selection means, the second information processing apparatus to which a group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned with reference to the group information table. The address having the highest priority is selected from among the addresses, and the selected information can be notified to the first information processing apparatus by the address notification means.

  Therefore, the address supply means can preferentially notify the first information processing apparatus of the address of the second information processing apparatus having the highest processing capability in response to the address inquiry of the first information processing apparatus. Therefore, the address supply device according to the present invention preferentially selects a second information processing device capable of quickly processing the data in transmission of data from the first information processing device to the second information processing device. Can do.

  Here, in the present invention, in particular, since priority setting means is provided, priority can be set to the address according to the processing capability of the second information processing apparatus. Since the table recording means is provided, the priority set for the address received from the second information processing apparatus can be recorded in the group information table.

  For this reason, even when the second information processing apparatus is newly added, the priority of the address of the second information processing apparatus is automatically set in the group information table according to the processing capability of the second information processing apparatus. Can be set. Then, the address supply means selects the address having the highest priority from the group including the address of the newly added second information processing device in response to the group notification and address inquiry from the first information processing device. You can be notified.

  Therefore, the address supply device according to the present invention performs an appropriate data transmission process from the first information processing device to the second information processing device even when the second information processing device is newly added. 2 Information processing apparatus can be selected and performed quickly.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the address supply device according to the present invention classifies the addresses of the second information processing device into groups, assigns the group to the addresses, and sends the addresses from the first information processing device. The address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing the priority indicating the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing apparatus in the assigned group for the inquiry. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship with the degree, and when receiving an address inquiry together with a group notification from the first information processing device, the first information processing device is referred to by referring to the group information table From among the addresses of the second information processing apparatus to which a group that matches the group notified by Address selecting means for selecting an address for which a high priority is set, address notifying means for notifying the selected information to the first information processing apparatus, and operation of the second information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus When receiving a status notification, the group information table includes priority changing means for changing the priority setting set in the address of the second information processing apparatus.

  That is, according to the above configuration, in the address supply device, the table storage means classifies the address of the second information processing device into a group, assigns the group to the address, and inquires from the first information processing device. The priority indicating the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing device in the assigned group is set so that the higher the processing capability of the second information processing device, the higher the priority. A group information table for setting and managing the address is stored. This group information table shows the correspondence between the address of the second information processing device, the group assigned to the address, and the priority set for the address for each processing capability of the second information processing device.

  For this reason, referring to the group information table, it is possible to immediately identify the address having the highest priority among the addresses to which the group matching the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned.

  In addition, since the address supply means includes address selection means, the second information processing apparatus to which a group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned with reference to the group information table. The address having the highest priority is selected from among the addresses, and the selected information can be notified to the first information processing apparatus by the address notification means.

  That is, the higher the priority set for the address of the second information processing device in the group information table, the greater the frequency with which data is transmitted from the first information processing device.

  Here, in the present invention, in particular, since priority changing means is provided, the priority set in the address recorded in the group information table in response to the notification of the operating state from the second information processing apparatus. You can set the degree.

  That is, the address supply device according to the present invention can change the transmission frequency of data transmitted from the first information processing device to the second information processing device in accordance with the operating state of the second information processing device.

  The operating state of the second information processing apparatus is, for example, a state in which the second information processing apparatus cannot be used due to a failure or the like, or the second information processing apparatus is processing data received from the first information processing apparatus. Including a state that can be caused by the operation of the second information processing apparatus, a state that has been recovered from an unusable state after a failure has been resolved, a state that the processing of data received from the first information processing apparatus has been completed, etc. .

  Accordingly, the frequency of data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus can be distributed according to the operating state of the second information processing apparatus. In the data transmission process, appropriate load distribution can be performed according to the operating state of the second information processing apparatus.

  In addition, in the address supply device according to the present invention, in the above configuration, when the notification of the operating state indicates that an abnormal state has occurred in the second information processing device, the priority changing unit is configured to use the first information processing device. Selection avoiding means for setting so as not to select the address of the second information processing device in response to an inquiry from the device, and when the notification of the operating state indicates that the second information processing device has recovered from the abnormal state Preferably, the apparatus further comprises selection avoidance invalidating means for invalidating the setting of the address set so that the address is not selected by the selection avoiding means.

  That is, since the address supply device further includes a selection avoidance unit, when the second information processing device receives a notification indicating that an abnormal state has occurred, the address of the second information processing device is set to the first information processing device. It is possible to prevent selection as an address as a transmission destination of data from the information processing apparatus.

  The occurrence of an abnormal state of the second information processing device is a state in which the second information processing device cannot process data transmitted from the first information processing device due to a failure or the like.

  The selection avoidance invalidating means can be realized, for example, by setting a flag at the address of the second information processing apparatus in which an abnormal state has occurred in the group information table so as not to be selected. For example, an address having a priority set to 0 in advance may be configured not to be selected in response to an inquiry from the first information processing apparatus.

  Therefore, when an abnormal state occurs in the second information processing apparatus, data can be prevented from being transmitted from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus.

  In addition, since the address supply device includes selection avoidance invalidating means, the address is not selected by the selection avoiding means when the second information processing apparatus receives a notification indicating recovery from the abnormal state. It is possible to invalidate the setting of the address set as described above.

  That is, the selection avoidance invalidating unit cancels the setting to the address that is not selected as the data transmission destination address of the first information processing apparatus. That is, the address set so as not to be selected as the data transmission destination address is selected as the data transmission destination of the first information processing apparatus with the priority set before the abnormal state occurs. Become.

  Therefore, when the abnormal state that has occurred in the second information processing apparatus is resolved, the second information processing apparatus can be selected as the data transmission destination of the first information processing apparatus.

  Therefore, the address supply device according to the present invention transmits data from the first information processing device to the second information processing device in response to the occurrence of an abnormal state of the second information processing device or recovery from the abnormal state. There is an effect that it can be determined whether or not.

  In the address supply device according to the present invention, in the configuration described above, when the notification of the operating state indicates that the second information processing device has received data from the first information processing device, the priority changing unit includes: Priority lowering means for setting the priority set for the address of the second information processing device to be lowered by a predetermined value, and the notification of the operating state is the end of the predetermined processing of the second information processing device , Further includes priority recovery means for setting the priority of the second information processing apparatus lowered by a predetermined value by the priority lowering means so as to reset the priority to the original priority. Preferably it is.

  That is, when the second information processing apparatus receives data from the first information processing apparatus, the priority set for the address of the second information processing apparatus is lowered. Data transmission from the apparatus to the second information processing apparatus can be suppressed.

  In addition, since the address supply device includes priority recovery means, when a notification indicating the end of a predetermined process is received from the second information processing device, a predetermined value is received when data is received from the first information processing device. The priority of the second information processing apparatus that has been lowered by the value of can be reset to the priority before being lowered.

  Therefore, transmission of data from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus can be adjusted according to whether or not the second information processing apparatus is receiving data from the first information processing apparatus.

  The data transmission system according to the present invention is capable of communicating with an address supply device including a table storage device, an address selection unit, an address notification unit, a group determination unit, a table recording unit, a priority setting unit, and a priority changing unit. A first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus connected to each other are included.

  Therefore, the address supply device according to the present invention can appropriately transmit data from the first information processing device to the second information processing device even when the second information processing device is newly added. There is an effect that the information processing apparatus can be selected and performed quickly.

  The address supply device control method according to the present invention is capable of communicating with each of the first information processing device and the plurality of second information processing devices that perform predetermined processing based on the data transmitted from the first information processing device. A method for controlling an address supply apparatus connected to reply to an address of the second information processing apparatus in response to an inquiry from the first information processing apparatus, wherein the address supply apparatus is connected to the second information processing apparatus. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship between the address and the group for classifying the address of the second information processing device into a group for each function and allocating and managing the group to the address A receiving step for receiving the address of the second information processing apparatus and function information that is information related to the function; Depending on the capacity information, characterized in that it comprises a group assignment step of assigning a group to the address, and a table recording step of recording in the table the correspondence between the group assigned to the address and the address.

  For this reason, since the control method of the address supply device particularly includes a group assignment step, the function information on the function of the second information processing device and the address of the second information processing device are obtained from the second information processing device. When received, the address of the second information processing apparatus can be assigned to a predetermined group name in the group information table in accordance with the function information.

  For this reason, even when the second information processing apparatus is newly added, the group of the second information processing apparatus is added to the group having the common function in the group information table according to the function of the second information processing apparatus. Addresses can be assigned automatically. Then, the address supply means can notify the address selected from the group including the address of the newly added second information processing apparatus in response to the group notification and address inquiry from the first information processing apparatus.

The address supply device control method according to the present invention communicates with each of the first information processing device and the plurality of second information processing devices that perform predetermined processing based on the data transmitted from the first information processing device. A control method for an address supply device, which is connected in a possible manner and responds to an inquiry from the first information processing device with an address of the second information processing device,
The address supply device classifies the address of the second information processing device into a group for each function of the second information processing device, assigns a group to the address, and for each processing capability of the second information processing device. The address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing apparatus in response to the inquiry from the first information processing apparatus. A receiving step for receiving from the second information processing device the processing capability information relating to the address and processing capability of the second information processing device; Categorizing the addresses into groups, assigning the addresses to groups, and inquiring from the first information processing apparatus A priority setting step for setting the priority for selecting the address according to the processing capability information received from the second information processing apparatus, the address, the group assigned to the address, and the address set to the address And a table recording step for recording the priority in the group information table.

  That is, according to the above steps, since the method for controlling the address supply device particularly includes a priority setting step, the priority can be set to the address according to the processing capability of the second information processing device. it can.

  For this reason, even when the second information processing apparatus is newly added, the priority of the address of the second information processing apparatus is automatically set in the group information table according to the processing capability of the second information processing apparatus. Can be set.

  The address supply device control method according to the present invention communicates with each of the first information processing device and the plurality of second information processing devices that perform predetermined processing based on the data transmitted from the first information processing device. A control method for an address supply apparatus, which is connected in a possible manner and answers the address of the second information processing apparatus in response to an inquiry from the first information processing apparatus, wherein the address supply apparatus includes the second information processing apparatus. The address of the second information processing device is classified into groups for each function of the device, a group is assigned to the address, and an inquiry from the first information processing device is made for each processing capability of the second information processing device. The address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing apparatus for the address. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a response relationship; a receiving step for receiving a notification of an operating state of the second information processing device from the second information processing device; and A priority changing step of changing the priority set to the address of the second information processing apparatus in response to the notification of the operating state.

  That is, according to the above steps, the address supply device control method includes the priority changing step, and therefore is set to the address of the second information processing device according to the operating status of the second information processing device. The priority can be changed.

  Accordingly, the frequency of data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus can be distributed according to the operating state of the second information processing apparatus. In the data transmission process, it is possible to perform an appropriate load distribution according to the operating state of the second information processing apparatus.

  The address supply device may be realized by a computer. In this case, a control program for the address supply device that causes the address supply device to be realized by the computer by operating the computer as each of the means, and A computer-readable recording medium that records a control program for the address supply device also falls within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the address supply device according to the present invention includes the table storage device, the address selection unit, the address notification unit, the group determination unit, the table recording unit, and the priority setting unit. Even when a processing device is added, it is possible to quickly perform data transmission processing from the first information processing device to the second information processing device by selecting an appropriate second information processing device. Play.

  In addition, since the address supply device according to the present invention includes priority changing means in the above-described configuration, the frequency of data transmitted from the first information processing device to the second information processing device is determined by the second information processing device. It is possible to distribute according to the operating state, and in the data transmission processing from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus, appropriate load distribution can be performed according to the operating state of the second information processing apparatus. There is an effect that can be done.

(Image output system configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image output system 1 as one configuration example according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image output system 1 is constituted by a star type LAN centering on a router 2.

  The router 2 controls communication by the repeater hub 5 or the switching hub 8 connected to the switch 3 in cooperation with the switching hub 3. The router 2 has a function of connecting the image output system 1 to an external communication network (network).

  Further, a name server 4 is connected to the switching hub 3. The name server 4 is a server that provides a name resolution service. In this embodiment, for the printer group name designated by each PC 7 in the image output system 1, the IP corresponding to the printer group name is used. The address is notified to the PC 7. The configuration of the name server 4 will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the name server 4 is configured to be connected to the switching hub 3. However, the name server 4 is not limited to this, and any location within the LAN controlled by the router 2 can be used. May be connected to the network.
The name resolution service is to obtain an IP address of a machine from the name of the machine, for example, in a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network, and this service is hereinafter referred to as name resolution.

  The repeater hub 5 or the switching hub 8 is configured to connect a plurality of printers 6 and a plurality of PCs 7 in a star shape. Communication is performed using the TCP / IP protocol.

  In the image output system 1, the switching hub 8 may be used instead of the repeater hub 5, or conversely, the repeater hub 5 may be used instead of the switching hub 8. When the image output system 1 is configured by the switching hub 8 instead of the repeater hub 5, the print job can be transmitted only from the specific PC 7 to the printer 6 designated as the print job transmission destination. For this reason, the image output system 1 configured by the switching hub 8 instead of the repeater hub 5 is more traffic for each print job transmission process than the image output system 1 configured by the repeater hub 5. Can be suppressed.

  The printer 6 is a device that, upon receiving a print job, prints and outputs an image on a medium such as paper based on the print job. The printer 6 may be an MFP in addition to a printer having a normal print function. The configuration of the printer 6 will be described in detail later.

  The PC 7 corresponds to an information processing terminal that performs various types of information processing. In response to a print instruction from the user, the PC 7 transmits a print group destination printer group name to the name server 4 and is notified from the name server 4. A print job is transmitted to the printer 6 with the IP address corresponding to the printer group name.

  For this reason, the PC 7 stores the group names of the printers 6... Having a function capable of performing a desired print process for the print job to be transmitted. That is, as will be described later, the name server 4 classifies the IP addresses of the printers 6... Having the same or similar functions into a predetermined group and the groups classified into the IP addresses. A name is assigned. Then, the PC 7 obtains, from the name server 4, a group name in which the printer 6 is classified for each function of the printers 6... And stores them in the storage device.

  For example, a desktop computer or a notebook computer is assumed as the PC 7. In the present embodiment, the PC 7 is assumed as a host that outputs a print job instruction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device that can issue a print job instruction can be used. The device may be a host.

  In the image output system 1 described above, it is preferable that the name server 4, the printers 6, and the PCs 7 are connected using the TCP / IP protocol. By being connected using the TCP / IP protocol in this way, the name server 4 can identify the frame notified from the printer 6 or the PC 7 in the upper layer.

(Printer configuration)
Next, the configuration of the printer 6 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the printer 6 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printer 6 includes a printer controller 52, a power source 42, an operation unit 43, and a printer engine 44.

  The printer controller 52 includes a communication I / F unit 46, a communication control unit 47, a control unit 48, a buffer 49, an image processing unit 50, and a device information storage unit 51. The communication I / F unit 46 functions as an interface when connected to the hub 5 or the like.

  The communication control unit 47 controls communication operations in the printer 6. When the communication control unit 47 first connects to the hub 5, the device information transmission process to the name server 4, the print process start notification process, the print process end notification process, and the occurrence of an abnormality (abnormal state) ) Notification processing, notification processing upon recovery from occurrence of abnormality, reception processing of print job data from the PC 7, and the like.

  Further, the operating state of the printer 6 such as printing start, printing end, occurrence of abnormality, recovery from occurrence of abnormality is detected by sensors (not shown) provided in the printer 6, respectively. For example, the printing start or end is transmitted from the control unit 48 to the image processing unit 50 when the image processing unit 50 starts or ends the printing process in response to an instruction from the control unit 48 for a print job received by the printer 6. The sensor may detect a control signal related to the printing process. Further, a configuration in which a paper jam or the like is detected by several sensors provided in a printing paper conveyance path (not shown) may be employed.

  Information regarding the operating state of the printer 6 detected by these sensors is notified to the name server 4 by the communication control unit 47. Details of the process for notifying the operating state of the printer 6 will be described later.

  In addition, the device information storage unit 51 includes various setting information used when performing communication, for example, configuration information such as the MAC address information and IP address information of the own apparatus, and information on whether or not color printing is possible. Device information such as paper size information, which is information relating to functions provided in the apparatus, and processing capability information, which is information relating to print processing capability such as the print processing speed, are stored.

  The control unit 48 controls various operations in the printer 6. The buffer 49 is a storage unit that temporarily stores data transmitted and received in the communication I / F unit 46. The image processing unit 50 performs processing for converting data received as a print job into image data suitable for printing.

  The power source 42 supplies power to each component included in the printer 6. The power source 42 includes a sub power source, and the sub power source can always supply power to the communication I / F unit 46 and the communication control unit 47. That is, during normal operation, power is supplied only to the communication I / F unit 46 and the communication control unit 47 using only the sub power supply, and switching is performed so that power is supplied to the entire printer 6 according to the communication contents. It is possible to build an electric power system.

  The operation unit 43 is used by the user to input image forming conditions and make various settings. The printer engine 44 performs printing by outputting an image on a medium such as paper.

  As described above, the printer 6 according to the present embodiment receives a print job transmitted from the PC 7 and performs print processing, while the processing capability of the own device or device information of the own device, the IP address, or the own device. The configuration is such that the operating state of the apparatus can be notified to the name server 4.

(Schematic configuration of name server)
Next, a schematic configuration of the name server 4 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the name server 4 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the name server 4 includes a control unit 15, a storage unit 16 (table storage device), a communication I / F unit 17, and an operation unit 18.

  The communication I / F unit 17 functions as an interface for connection with external devices such as the printers 6..., The PC 7.

  The operation unit 18 is used when the user performs various setting operations in the name server 4.

  The storage unit 16 is a readable and writable nonvolatile storage device, and the storage unit 16 stores a conversion table 23 (group information table), a group name table 39, and a priority table 40. The conversion table 23 is a table for the name resolution processing unit 20 to refer to obtain the IP address of the printer 6 corresponding to the group name using the group name notified from the PC 7 as a key. The detailed configuration of the conversion table 23 will be described later.

  When the name server 4 acquires the device information, processing capability information, and IP address of the printer 6 transmitted from the printer 6, the group name table 39 uses the acquired IP address as a predetermined group based on the device information. This table is used for assigning a predetermined group name to the IP address. In the group name table 39, list information indicating the correspondence between device information and printer group names is recorded. Therefore, when the name server 4 receives device information from the predetermined printer 6, the printer group name corresponding to this device information can be known.

  The priority table 40 is a table used for setting the priority in this group according to the processing capability information for the IP addresses classified in the printer group. This priority table 40 shows, for each printer group, the correspondence between the processing capabilities of the printers 6... Belonging to this group and the priorities set according to the processing capabilities.

  As an example of the data configuration in the priority table 40, for example, a printer 6 having a processing capability of 1, a printer 6 having a processing capability of 10, and a printer 6 having a processing capability of 30 belong to the printer group A. , “Printer group A—processing capacity 1—priority 1, printer group A—processing capacity 10—priority 50, printer group A—processing capacity 30—priority 80”, etc. The relative priority according to is recorded.

  In addition, in the priority table 40, a predetermined priority may be set in advance according to the processing capability of the printer 6 instead of the priority set for each printer group as described above. That is, for example, when the processing capability of the printer 6 is 1, the priority is set to 1, and when the processing capability is 30, the priority is set to the processing capability regardless of the group, such as the priority 30. May be.

  This priority refers to which IP address is selected from the IP addresses of the printer 6 corresponding to the printer group name when the name server 4 receives a predetermined printer group name from the PC 7. It is a priority for determination. The higher priority is selected as the IP address to be preferentially notified to the PC 7. In the priority table 40, list information indicating the correspondence between the processing capability information and the priority is recorded for each printer group.

  The control unit 15 includes a notification determination processing unit 19, a name resolution processing unit 20, a table setting processing unit (table recording means) 21, and a server setting unit 22 as functional blocks.

  The notification determination processing unit 19 recognizes the notification content of the frame received from the outside of the name server 4 via the communication I / F unit 17 and performs name resolution processing based on the notification content according to the notification source and the notification content. This is given to the unit 20, the table setting processing unit 21, and the server setting unit 22.

  When a name resolution request is made from the PC 7, the name resolution processing unit 20 searches the conversion table 23 for the IP address of the printer 6 corresponding to the printer group name designated by the PC 7, and obtains the IP address. To do. The acquired IP address is notified to the PC 7 via the communication I / F unit 17.

  The table setting processing unit 21 changes data recorded in the conversion table 23 or adds data to the conversion table 23 in response to a notification from the printer 6. The notification from the printer 6 includes information indicating the status of the printer 6 such as occurrence of an abnormal state in the printer 6 due to a paper jam or the like, recovery from the abnormal state, and when the printer 6 is connected to the network. There is a notification informing the function and IP address of the printer 6. The setting for the conversion table 23 of the table setting processing unit 21 performed in response to these notifications will be described later.

(Configuration of the control unit 15 of the name server 4)
Next, a more detailed configuration in the control unit 15 of the name server 4 in the printer output system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration in the control unit 15 of the name server 4 according to the present embodiment.

  The notification determination processing unit 19 in the control unit 15 includes a name resolution request determination unit 30, a printer notification determination unit 31, a setting request determination unit 32, a capability notification determination unit 33, and an abnormal state determination unit 36.

  The name resolution request determination unit 30 determines whether the notification content of the frame received by the name server 4 is a name resolution request from the PC 7. When the notification received by the name server 4 is a name resolution request from the PC 7, information related to the printer group name transmitted from the PC 7 is transmitted to the address acquisition unit 35 of the name resolution processing unit 20. If the notification content of the frame received by the name server 4 is not a name resolution request from the PC 7, the name resolution request determination unit 30 passes the received notification content to the printer notification determination unit 31.

  The printer notification determination unit 31 determines whether or not the notification received from the name resolution request determination unit 30 is a notification transmitted from the printer 6. If the printer notification determination unit 31 determines that this notification is a notification from the printer 6, the notification is transmitted to the capability notification determination unit 33. If the printer notification determination unit 31 determines that the notification received from the name resolution request determination unit 30 is not a notification transmitted from the printer 6, the printer notification determination unit 31 transmits this notification to the setting request determination unit 32.

  The capability notification determination unit 33 determines whether the notification delivered from the printer notification determination unit 31 is the device information, processing capability information, and IP address of the printer 6 transmitted from the printer 6. When the notification is the device information, processing capability information, and IP address of the printer 6 transmitted from the printer 6, the capability notification determination unit 33 selects the notification source printer 6 based on the notification content as a predetermined printer group. The table setting processing unit 21 is instructed so as to be classified into names and associated with the addresses of the printer 6. Furthermore, the table setting processing unit 21 is instructed to set the priority in the predetermined printer group for the IP addresses classified into the predetermined printer group.

  On the other hand, when the notification does not indicate device information, processing capability information, and IP address, the capability notification determination unit 33 transmits a notification of the frame received from the printer 6 to the abnormal state determination unit 36.

  Upon receipt of the frame notification from the capability notification determination unit 33, the abnormal state determination unit 36 determines whether this notification is a notification indicating the abnormal state of the printer 6 or a recovery state from the abnormal state.

  If the content of the received notification indicates that the printer 6 is in an abnormal state due to a paper jam or the like, the abnormal state determination unit 36 is in an abnormal state, so the address of the printer 6 is printed. The table setting processing unit 21 is instructed not to be selected as a job transmission destination.

  On the other hand, when the content of the received notification indicates that the printer 6 has recovered from the abnormal state, the setting of the IP address of the printer 6 that is set not to be selected due to the abnormal state is changed. The table setting processing unit 21 is instructed.

  The setting request determination unit 32 determines whether or not the notification content passed from the printer notification determination unit 31 relates to server setting. If the notification is related to server setting, the setting request determination unit 32 sends a name server to the server setting unit 22. 4 is instructed to perform various settings.

  The table setting processing unit 21 includes a group registration unit (group determination unit) 37, a priority setting unit 38, and a table setting change unit 41 (priority changing unit / selection avoiding unit / selection avoiding invalidating unit / priority lowering). Means / priority recovery means) 41.

  The group registration unit 37 refers to the group name table 39 and, based on the device information passed from the notification determination processing unit 19, sets the IP address of the printer 6 that has transmitted the device information to the name server 4 as a predetermined value. It is classified into a printer group. Then, the group registration unit 37 assigns the name of the printer group to this IP address classified into a predetermined printer group and adds it to the conversion table 23.

  The priority setting unit (priority setting means) 38 refers to the priority table 40 and assigns a predetermined printer group name by the group registration unit 37 based on the processing capability information passed from the notification determination processing unit 19. The priority within the printer group is set to the IP address assigned.

  For example, when there is a request for changing the value indicating the priority set in the IP address of the conversion table 23, the table setting changing unit 41 lowers the priority or restores the priority at the time of initial setting. The setting of information regarding each IP address recorded in the conversion table 23 is changed. Further, the table setting changing unit 41 sets 1 as a flag to the information related to the IP address so that a predetermined IP address is not selected as a print job transmission destination address, or resets the flag from 1 to 0. The flag setting is also changed so as to invalidate the state where no address is selected.

  The name resolution processing unit 20 includes an address transmission unit (address notification unit) 34 and an address acquisition unit (address selection unit) 35.

  The address acquisition unit 35 acquires the IP address of the printer 6 that is the transmission destination of the print job of the PC 7 based on the printer group name designated by the PC 7 transmitted from the name resolution request determination unit 30. That is, the address acquisition unit 35 acquires the IP address of the predetermined printer 6 using the predetermined printer group name transmitted from the PC 7 together with the name resolution request as a key. Then, the acquired IP address of the printer 6 is passed to the address transmission unit 34.

  The address transmission unit 34 transmits the IP address acquired by the address acquisition unit 35 to the name resolution request source PC 7 via the communication I / F unit 17.

(Outline of processing in the image output system 1)
Next, an outline of processing in the image output system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the image output system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the conversion table 23.

  First, in the name server 4, IP addresses of a plurality of printers 6... Previously associated with a plurality of printer group names are recorded, and a conversion table 23 with a priority assigned to each IP address is stored in the name server 4. Have.

  Here, a more detailed data structure of the conversion table 23 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The conversion table 23 is a database used for acquiring the IP address of the printer 6 corresponding to the printer group name transmitted from the PC 7 when the name server 4 receives a name resolution request from the PC 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the conversion table 23 includes the IP address (address A to G) of each printer 6 associated with the printer group name (printer groups 1 to 4), the priority of the IP address in the printer group, A flag indicating whether or not the printer 6 can be selected as a transmission destination of the print job, an address of a subnetwork to which the printer 6 belongs, and a set time of a time to live (TTL) are recorded.

  The priority refers to which IP address is given priority among the IP addresses corresponding to the printer group name when a name resolution request is sent from the PC 7 to the name server 4 using a predetermined printer group name as a key. And the name server 4 determines whether or not to notify the PC 7. The larger the number set as the priority, the higher the priority.

  In addition, the survival time (TTL) means that when the PC 7 makes a name resolution request to the name server 4 and the IP address of the predetermined printer 6 is notified from the name server 4, the PC 7 is provided in its own device. This IP address is temporarily stored in the cache memory. It is a time period indicating how long this IP address information is valid when temporarily stored in the PC 7.

  In addition, in the conversion table 23, printer group names (printer groups 1 to 4) are assigned to the respective printers 6 having common functions and capabilities. The common functions and capabilities are all the functions that the printer 6 has, such as whether monochrome and / or color printing is possible, the types of paper sizes that can be handled, and whether double-sided printing is possible.

  The same printer group name is assigned to the printers 6 having common functions. For example, the printer 6 capable of monochrome printing / single-sided printing has the same function as monochrome printing as the printer 6 capable of monochrome printing / double-sided printing. For this reason, in the group corresponding to the function of monochrome printing, the IP address of the former printer 6 and the IP address of the latter printer 6 are classified into the same group.

Further, in the group corresponding to the function of duplex printing, the IP address of the latter printer 6 is also classified into this group, but the former printer 6 is not classified into this group.
As described above, for example, as in the case of the printer 6 having the IP address-B shown in FIG. 5, if the same printer 6 can realize a function required for each of a plurality of printer groups, a plurality of printers 6 having the same IP address can be provided. Printer group names.

  Further, the priority in the printer group is set according to the processing capability information of the printer 6 for the IP address of the printer 6 to which a predetermined printer group name is assigned.

  The flag indicates whether or not the printer 6 can be selected as the transmission destination of the print job. That is, when this flag is set to 1, it indicates that the printer 6 is in a “busy” state because of an abnormality due to a paper jam or a failure, or because the amount of waiting jobs is large. . Therefore, even if the address destination printer 6 has the highest priority, if this flag is set to 1, the printer 6 having the next highest priority address is selected and the print job is transmitted. It will be.

  When the printer 6 that has been in the “busy” state returns and printing is possible, the table setting processing unit 21 resets this flag to 0.

  Furthermore, the conversion table 23 also records information related to the PC 7... That makes a name resolution request to the name server 4, that is, the PC 7 connected to the LAN managed by the name server 4. Has been. The information related to the PC 7... Includes the machine name (hosts 1, 2...) Assigned to the PC 7..., The address of the PC 7 (address H 1, 2...) Associated with the machine name, The subnetwork address to which it belongs and the set time of the lifetime (TTL) are recorded. The survival time (TTL) in this case is a time indicating how long the information obtained by the PC 7 inquiring the name server 4 for the IP address of the own apparatus or another PC 7 in the same LAN is valid. It is.

  As described above, the conversion table 23 records information necessary for managing the printers 6... And the PCs 7. The data recorded in the conversion table 23 is not limited to these. Information required for the name server 4 to receive a name resolution request from the PC 7 and notify the IP address of the appropriate printer 6 may be recorded. For example, in the image output system 1 of the present embodiment, the PC 7... And the printer 6... Are connected in the same LAN, so that the sub-network address information of the printer 6 is recorded in the conversion table 23. It does not have to be.

(Schematic explanation of data flow in the image output system 1)
Here, transmission / reception of data among the name server 4, the printer 6, and the PC 7 in the image output system 1 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, when a print request is made by the user in the PC 7, a printer group name that collectively refers to the printers 6 having functions necessary for the print process is directed from the PC 7 to the name server 4. Sent. That is, the PC 7 sends a predetermined printer group name to the name server 4 and makes a name resolution request to the name server 4 in order to inquire the IP address of the transmission destination of the print job. Communication between the PC 7 and the name server 4 is performed by unicast.

  The PC 7 stores information on printer group names classified for each function of the printer 6, and when the PC 7 issues a name resolution request to the name server 4, the user selects these printer group names. It is configured to be able to.

  On the other hand, when the name server 4 receives the printer group name from the PC 7 together with the name resolution request, the name server 4 notifies the PC 7 of the IP address corresponding to the printer group name. That is, the name server 4 refers to the conversion table 23 stored in the storage unit 16 of its own device, and has the highest priority among the IP addresses corresponding to the printer group name transmitted from the PC 7. To be notified.

  When the PC 7 receives the IP address of the predetermined printer 6 as the transmission destination of the print job, the PC 7 issues a print request to the printer 6 of the received IP address destination and transmits the print job.

  The printer 6 requested to print from the PC 7 receives a print job from the PC 7 and performs a printing process.

  Further, the printer 6 notifies the name server 4 that it is in a “busy” state when an abnormality has occurred in its own device due to a paper jam or failure, or when the amount of waiting jobs is large. Can do.

  When the name server 4 receives a “busy” notification from the printer 6, the name server 4 invalidates the priority associated with the IP address of the printer 6. That is, when the name server 4 receives a “busy” notification from the printer 6, it sets 1 to the flag associated with the IP address of the printer 6. In this state, when the PC 7 makes a name resolution request to the name server 4 with the same printer group name, the name server 4 selects “busy” among the IP addresses of the printer group name designated by the PC 7. The IP address having the highest priority is selected from the IP addresses of the printer 6 that has made the notification, and is notified to the PC 7.

  By the way, as described above, the PC 7 is configured to store the IP address of the print job transmission destination obtained by requesting the name server 4 for name resolution using a predetermined printer group name as a key in the cache memory for a certain period. Has been.

  Further, the name server 4 sets a TTL in which the information regarding the IP address of the printer 6 associated with the printer group name is valid to a predetermined time of about 0 to several minutes.

  Here, when the predetermined time is longer than about several minutes and set to about several tens of minutes, when the PC 7 transmits different continuous print jobs to the printer 6, the PC 7 Each time a print processing request is made, the stored information relating to the predetermined IP address is used. For this reason, the PC 7 does not need to query the name server 4 for the IP address of the destination printer 6 each time a print processing request is made, but selects the same printer 6 each time as the destination of a plurality of print jobs. It will be. For this reason, there arises a problem that the load of the print job is concentrated on the selected printer 6, and load distribution is not appropriately performed.

  On the other hand, when this survival time is set to 0 minutes, for example, there is no time to cache the IP address of the printer 6 inquired with a predetermined printer group name as a key. For this reason, the PC 7 needs to inquire the name server 4 about the transmission destination of the print job every time the print job is transmitted. That is, when the lifetime is 0 minute, the problem that the print job is concentrated on the predetermined printer 6 can be avoided, but the PC 7 inquires the name server 4 about the IP address every time the print job is transmitted. Therefore, traffic will increase. In addition, when a continuous print job is transmitted from the predetermined PC 7 to the printer 6, there is a possibility that print processing may be performed by a different printer for each print job. In this case, the user has to get the result of the printing process by the plurality of printers 6 in spite of the continuous print job.

  Therefore, in view of the relationship between the print processing speed of each printer 6 and the average number of continuous print jobs output from the printer 6, it is preferable to set the survival time between approximately 1 to 3 minutes. However, the value of the survival time is not limited to this, and is preferably set to an appropriate value from the print processing capability of each printer 6 and the average number of continuous print jobs output from the printer 6. .

  As described above, when the lifetime of the information regarding the IP address of each printer 6 associated with the printer group name is appropriately set, when the PC 7 transmits a continuous print job to the printer 6, the PC 7 temporarily A print job is transmitted to the same printer 6 using the stored IP address.

  Further, when a print job is transmitted from the PC 7 a plurality of times, the PC 7 appropriately transmits these print jobs to a plurality of printers 6.

  In the image output system 1 according to the present embodiment, the name server 4 has a zone that the name server 4 has jurisdiction, such as an SOA (start of a zone of authority) record of a DNS (Domain Name System) server. When a resource code including TTL is set for the whole, it is preferable that the printer 6 is set so that a notification of the end is transmitted to the PC 7 when the print job ends. The resource code is a set of setting lines expressing the settings of the name server 4.

  The PC 7 is set to delete the IP address information of the printer 6 from the temporarily stored IP address information when receiving the print job end notification. The PC 7 deletes the IP address information of the other printers 6 stored in addition to the IP address of the printer 6 after the TTL time set for the entire zone has elapsed.

  For this reason, when one continuous print job is transmitted from the PC 7 to the printer 6, the printing process for this print job is performed by one printer 6. That is, until the PC 7 receives a print job end notification from the printer 6, the PC 7 transmits the print job to the stored printer 6 at the IP address destination.

  On the other hand, when a plurality of print jobs are transmitted to the printers 6 in the same printer group, the IP address of the printer 6 stored at the end of the print job is deleted. Thus, the IP address of the printer 6 is inquired as the transmission destination of the print job.

  Therefore, in the case of continuous print jobs, printing processing can be performed by the same printer 6, and when the same printer group name is specified and the print job is transmitted continuously, when the next print job is transmitted, the PC 7 is the name. The server 4 can be inquired about the transmission destination of the print job. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the PC 7 from sending a print job to the same printer 6 every time.

  As described above, in the image output system 1, when the PC 7 transmits a print job to the printer 6, only the name resolution request and the printer group name notification are transmitted from the PC 7 to the name server 4. Therefore, no heavy load is applied to the name server 4.

  Further, since communication for requesting name resolution between the PC 7 and the name server 4 is performed by unicast, in order to search for a printable printer from the plurality of printers 6. Compared to a configuration in which packets are distributed to all the printers 6 on the network, it is possible to suppress the traffic for each print job transmission process.

  Further, the name server 4 is configured to be able to immediately notify the address of the printer 6 that is the transmission destination of the print job to the PC 7 by referring to the conversion table 23 in response to the name resolution request from the PC 7. 6 can be quickly transmitted.

(Process of adding the IP address of the printer 6 to the conversion table 23)
Here, a process for registering the IP address of the printer 6 in the conversion table 23 when a new printer 6 is installed in the LAN managed by the name server 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing for registering the IP address of the printer 6 according to the present embodiment in the conversion table 23.

  First, when the printer 6 is connected to a LAN managed by the name server 4 (step S1, hereinafter referred to as S1), the printer 6 sends its device information, processing capability information, and IP address to the name server 4. Notify (S2).

  That is, in the printer 6, the communication control unit 47 transmits the device information, processing capability information, and IP address of the own device stored in the device information storage unit 51 to the name server 4 via the communication I / F unit 46. .

  The device information is information related to the functions of the printer 6, for example, information related to functions provided in the own apparatus such as color printing availability information and printable paper size information. On the other hand, the processing capability information is information relating to the printing processing capability such as the printing processing speed of the printer 6.

  Also, notification of device information, processing capability information, and IP address of the own apparatus from the printer 6 to the name server 4 can be realized by broadcasting. Note that the printer 6 may directly specify and notify the IP address of the name server 4. However, in the case where notification is performed by directly specifying the address of the name server 4, the printer 6 needs to store the address of the name server 4 in advance.

  When the name server 4 receives the device information, the processing capability information, and the IP address from the printer 6, the name server 4 selects and classifies the printer group in the conversion table 23 according to the device information of the printer 6 (S3).

  That is, if the name server 4 determines that the notification determination processing unit 19 has acquired the device information, processing capability information, and IP address of the printer 6 from the printer 6, the name server 4 passes these information to the table setting processing unit 21. In the table setting processing unit 21, the group registration unit 37 selects a printer group to which an IP address of another printer 6 having a function common to the printer 6 is assigned according to the device information of the printer 6. The group name table 39 is selected for selection. The group registration unit 37 assigns the name of the selected printer group to the IP address of the received printer 6.

  Further, the priority setting unit 38 sets the priority of this IP address in the selected printer group with reference to the priority table 40 according to the processing capability information of the printer 6. The priority indicates a priority order in which the IP address of the printer 6 is selected as a print job transmission destination in the printer group in which the IP address is classified.

  Then, the group registration unit 37 adds the IP address of the printer 6 associated with the predetermined printer group name to the conversion table 23, and the priority setting unit 38 sets the priority of this IP address in the conversion table 23. Record the degree. It should be noted that a lifetime (TTL) is set for each IP address recorded in the conversion table 23. This survival time (TTL) is preset in the name server 4 so as to be 0 to 3 minutes.

  In this way, the name server 4 registers the printer group name, IP address, and IP address priority of the printer 6 in the conversion table 23 from the device information and IP address information received from the printer 6 (S4).

  When the printer group name, IP address, and priority of the printer 6 are registered in the conversion table 23, the name server 4 notifies the printer 6 of the printer group name assigned to the printer 6 (S5). .

  Upon receiving the notification of the printer group name, the printer 6 records this printer group name in the device information storage unit 51. In this way, the initial setting between the printer 6 and the name server 4, that is, the process of registering the IP address of the printer 6 in the name server 4 in the conversion table 23 is completed (S6).

  Thus, the name server 4 according to the present embodiment automatically sets the IP address of the printer 6 even when the printer 6 is newly installed and connected to the LAN managed by the name server 4. Can be registered in the conversion table 23.

  Therefore, the trouble of registering the IP address of the newly added printer 6 in the conversion table 23 can be omitted.

  Further, in the image output system 1 according to the present embodiment, even when the printer 6 is newly installed, the printer immediately receives the IP address of the data transmission destination notified in response to the name resolution request from the PC 7. 6 IP addresses can be used.

(Received frame processing method in the name server 4)
Next, processing of the name server 4 at the time of frame reception will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing processing when the name server 4 receives a frame.

  First, when the name server 4 receives a frame (S71), the frame received via the communication I / F unit 17 is delivered to the notification determination processing unit 19. In the notification determination processing unit 19, the name resolution request determination unit 30 determines whether the received frame is a name resolution request from the PC 7 (S72).

  When the received frame is a name resolution request from the PC 7 (“Yes” in S72), the name resolution request determination unit 30 transmits the frame information to the name resolution processing unit 20. In the name resolution processing unit 20, the address acquisition unit 35 determines the printer corresponding to the predetermined printer group name based on the information on the frame transmitted from the PC 7, that is, the information on the name resolution request using the predetermined printer group name as a key. 6 ... IP addresses (entries) are searched (S73).

  Then, the address acquisition unit 35 selects the IP address with the highest priority from the entries and passes it to the address transmission unit 34. The address transmitting unit 34 transmits this IP address to the PC 7 via the communication I / F unit (S74), and the processing of the name server 4 for the received frame ends (END).

  In step S72, if the name resolution request determination unit 30 determines that the received frame is not a name resolution request from the PC 7 ("No" in S72), the received frame information is sent to the printer notification determination unit 31. Send. The printer notification determination unit 31 determines whether or not the received frame is notified from the printer 6 (S75).

If the printer notification determination unit 31 determines that the received frame is a notification from the printer 6 (“Yes” in S75), the printer notification determination unit 31 performs processing on the frame received from the printer 6 (S76). Then, the processing of the name server 4 for the received frame ends (END).
Details of processing for notification from the printer 6 will be described later.

  If it is determined in step S75 that the frame received by the printer notification determination unit 31 is not a notification from the printer 7 (“No” in S75), the information of this frame is passed to the setting request determination unit 32. The setting request determination unit 32 determines whether or not the received frame information is a setting request to the name server 4 (S77).

  When the frame information notified from the printer 6 to the name server 4 is a setting request for the name server 4, the setting request determination unit 32 changes the various settings of the name server 4 according to the notification contents. Instruct 22 The server setting unit 22 changes the setting of the name server 4 based on this instruction (S78). Then, the processing of the name server 4 for the received frame ends (END).

  Note that the server settings can be changed by, for example, setting the lifetime of each information recorded in the conversion table 23, changing the refresh interval, the maximum effective period, etc., changing the setting of access control to the name server 4, For example, there is a change of a zone managed by the name server 4.

  If the information is not related to a change in the setting of the name server 4, the printer 6 ends the process related to the received notification.

(Receiving process of notification of printer 6 in name server 4)
Next, processing when the frame received by the name server 4 is a notification from the printer 6 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the reception process of the notification from the printer 6 in the name server 4.

In the above-described “reception frame processing method in the name server 4”, when it is determined that the frame received by the printer notification determination unit 31 is transmitted from the printer 6 (S76 in FIG. 8), the printer notification determination unit 31 The information of this frame is transmitted to the capability notification determination unit 33 (S81).

  The capability notification determination unit 33 indicates that the frame notification received from the printer notification determination unit 31 is the device information, processing capability information, and IP address information of the printer 6 (hereinafter, these information are collectively referred to as “notification regarding the capability of the printer 6”). It is determined whether or not (S82).

  When the capability notification determination unit 33 determines that the notification of the received frame is “notification regarding the capability of the printer 6” (“Yes” in S82), the IP address of the printer 6 is a predetermined printer group. The printer group name is assigned and added to the conversion table 23 (S83).

  In other words, the capability notification determination unit 33 instructs the table setting processing unit 21 to assign the IP address of the printer 6 to a predetermined printer group name and add it to the conversion table 23. The details of the process in step S83 shown in FIG. 9 have been described in the above-described “addition process of the IP address of the printer 6 to the conversion table 23” (S1 to S6 in FIG. 7), and thus will be omitted.

  On the other hand, when the notification of the received frame is not “notification regarding the capability of the printer 6” (“No” in S82), the capability notification determination unit 33 transmits the received frame to the abnormal state determination unit 36.

  The abnormal state determination unit 36 first determines whether or not the notification of the frame received from the printer 6 is “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” (S84).

  If the notification of the received frame is the “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” of the printer 6 (“Yes” in S84), the IP address of the printer 6 is not selected at the time of name resolution request from the PC 7 to the name server 4. (S85). That is, the abnormal state determination unit 36 instructs the table setting processing unit 21 not to select the IP address of the printer 6 in response to the name resolution request from the PC 7 to the name server 4.

  In response to this instruction, the table setting processing unit 21 sets the flag 1 to the IP address of the printer 6 that has notified the frame in the conversion table 23. In this way, it is avoided that the printer 6 in an abnormal state is selected by the name server 4 at the time of name resolution request from the PC 7.

  Note that the abnormal state is a state in which a print job cannot be output, for example, the printer 6 is in a paper jam state or out of paper. This abnormal state includes a state in which the printer 6 has a large standby job amount.

  On the other hand, when this notification is not “notification indicating occurrence of abnormal state” from the printer 6 (“No” in S84), the abnormal state determination unit 36 is next “notification indicating recovery from the abnormal state”. It is determined whether or not (S86).

  When the abnormal state determination unit 36 determines that the received frame is a “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” (“Yes” in S86), it is performed on the IP address of the printer 6 in response to this notification. The abnormal state determination unit 36 issues an instruction to the table setting processing unit 21 so as to return the setting to the initial state setting. That is, in this case, the table setting processing unit 21 rewrites the flag 1 attached to the IP address of the printer 6 notified by the table setting changing unit 41 to 0 (S87).

  In this way, when the frame notification from the printer 6 is “notification indicating recovery from an abnormal state”, the IP address of the printer 6 that has transmitted the frame to the name server 4 is the name resolution from the PC 7. It can be selected by the name server 4 upon request.

  It should be noted that the frame received from the printer 6 does not correspond to any of the “notification indicating the capability of the printer 6”, “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state”, or “notification indicating the recovery from the abnormal state” ( “No” in S86) ends the reception process for the notification of the frame received from the printer 6.

  In this way, the name server 4 assigns the IP address of the printer 6 to the printer group or changes the priority setting assigned to the printer 6 according to the content of the notification received from the printer 6. Can be.

  In particular, when the notification of the frame received from the printer 6 is a “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” or “notification indicating the recovery from the abnormal state” of the printer 6, the printer 6 corresponds to the content of the notification. Can be selected or made unselectable as the destination of the print job.

  As described above, in the image output system 1 of this embodiment, the IP address of each printer 6 grouped for each printer 6 having a common function is recorded in the conversion table 23 referred to by the name server 4. Yes. In the group, according to the processing capability (for example, processing speed) of each printer 6, the priority is determined for the order of selecting each IP address as the transmission destination of the print job.

  In response to the name resolution request from the PC 7 using the printer group name as a key, the name server 4 has a higher priority IP address of the printers 6... Corresponding to the printer group name. The configuration is such that it can be selected from the address and notified to the PC 7.

  Therefore, in the image output system 1, when a print request is made from the user, the print job from the PC 7 to the printer 6 can be appropriately distributed and transmitted to the appropriate printer 6. That is, since each printer 6 is grouped for each function of the printers 6..., The printer 6 having a function desired by the user can be selected and a print job can be transmitted from the PC 7.

  Further, in the name server 4, the IP address of each printer 6 is given a priority according to the print processing capability of the printer 6. Therefore, the name server 4 notifies the PC 7 of the IP address of the printer 6 having a higher processing capability in response to the inquiry about the print job transmission destination from the PC 7. Therefore, the PC 7 can preferentially transmit a print job to the printer 6 having a high processing capability.

  In other words, the higher the processing capability of the printer 6, the greater the frequency of print jobs (print job amount) transmitted from the PC 7.

  Therefore, in the image output system 1, the print job amount transmitted from the PC 7 to the printer 6 can be adjusted according to the processing capability of the printer 6, so that the printing process can be performed efficiently.

  Further, in the image output system 1 of the present embodiment, the printer 6 “notifies the occurrence of an abnormal state (busy)” when an abnormality occurs due to a paper jam or a failure, or when the amount of waiting jobs is large. Is notified to the name server 4. In other words, the printer 6 is configured to be able to detect the operating state of its own device with a sensor in its own device and notify the name server 4 of the detection result.

  For this reason, the printer 6 can always notify the name server 4 of the operating state of the own apparatus.

  On the other hand, when receiving the “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” from the printer 6, the name server 4 sets 1 as a flag to the IP address of the printer 6 and selects it as a print job transmission destination until the printer 6 returns. It is configured not to.

  Therefore, the name server 4 can transmit the IP address of the other printer 6 as the print job transmission destination without selecting the printer 6 that has transmitted the “busy” notification in advance. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unnecessary traffic such as sending a print job to the printer 6 in which an abnormality has occurred and reselecting another printer 6 because printing has failed.

  Further, communication for requesting name resolution from the PC 7 to the name server 4 using the printer group name as a key and obtaining the IP address of the transmission destination of the print job is communication by unicast between the PC 7 and the name server 4. Can be realized.

  Further, the PC 7 is configured to temporarily store (cache) the IP address information of the printer 6 acquired by requesting the name server 4 for name resolution. The name server 4 sets the survival time (TTL) of this information to 1 to 3 minutes. That is, once the PC 7 acquires the IP address of the printer 6 from the name server 4, the PC 7 can temporarily store the acquired IP address and handle the stored IP address as valid information for 1 to 3 minutes. . Therefore, when transmitting continuous print jobs from the PC 7 to the printer 6, the PC 7 does not need to inquire the name server 4 for the IP address of the destination printer 6 for each print job. For this reason, communication traffic between the PC 7 and the name server 4 can be minimized.

  In the image output system 1 described above, the notification transmitted from the printer 6 to the name server 4 includes “notification indicating own device capability”, that is, notification of device information or IP address of the own device, or There was a “notification indicating the occurrence or recovery from an abnormal condition”. In response to this notification, the name server 4 assigns the IP address of the printer 6 to a predetermined printer group, adds it to the conversion table 23, sets a flag 1 on the information related to the IP address of the printer 6, or changes it from 1 to 0. It was a configuration to rewrite.

  Further, the image output system 1 may be set so that the printer 6 notifies the name server 4 when a print job is received or when the print job is completed.

  That is, in the image output system 1 set in this way, when the printer 6 receives a print job from the PC 7 or when the processing for the received print job is completed, the printer 6 sends a “print” to the name server 4. “Notification indicating completion of job reception or print job processing” is transmitted.

  Here, a configuration of the image output system 1 in which the printer 6 transmits a notification indicating “print job reception or print job processing end” to the name server 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration in the control unit 15 of the name server 4 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating processing of the name server 4 when a frame is received from the printer 6.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the control unit 15 of the name server 4, the notification determination unit 19 further includes a job state determination unit 24. The job status determination unit 24 determines whether the frame received from the printer 6 is “notification indicating reception of print job” or “notification indicating completion of processing of print job”.

  The control unit 15 according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the control unit 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 except that the notification determination unit 19 further includes a job state determination unit 24. Description is omitted.

  Here, the processing when the name server 4 receives a frame from the printer 6 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing from step S91 to step S93 shown in FIG. 11 is the same as the processing from step S81 to step S83 in FIG. Omitted.

  In step S92, when the capability notification determination unit 33 determines that the notification of the frame received from the printer 6 is not device information and IP address information, that is, a notification indicating the capability of the printer 6 (“No” in S92). The notification is transmitted to the job status determination unit 24.

  The job status determination unit 24 determines whether the notification of the received frame is “notification indicating reception of print job” (S94).

  As a result of the determination, if the job status determination unit 24 determines that the notification is “notification indicating reception of print job” (“Yes” in S94), the table setting change unit 41 is informed of information related to the IP address of the printer 6. Instructs to lower the priority.

  Upon receiving this instruction, the table setting changing unit 41 lowers the priority value assigned to the IP address information of the printer 6 in the conversion table 23 by a predetermined value (S95). Then, the name server 4 ends the process for the notification from the printer 6.

  The predetermined value may be a predetermined value set in the name server 4 in advance, or may be a value determined according to the capacity of the print job received by the printer 6. Further, instead of a configuration in which the priority is subtracted from the value indicating the priority to a priority, the priority may be set to be lower than the priority of the printer 6 by a predetermined priority.

  On the other hand, when the job status determination unit 24 determines that the notification of the received frame is not “notification indicating print job reception” (“No” in S94), the job status determination unit 24 indicates that the notification is “print job It is determined whether or not the notification is “end of processing” (S96).

  If the result of this determination is “notification indicating the end of print job processing” (“Yes” in S96), the priority set for the IP address of the printer 6 is set to the priority before being lowered by reception of the print job. An instruction is given to the table setting changing unit 41 so as to return.

  Upon receiving this instruction, the table setting changing unit 41 raises the priority of the IP address of the printer 6 in the conversion table 23 and returns the setting to the state before being lowered (S97). Then, the name server 4 ends the processing for the frame received from the printer 6 (END).

  Note that the name server 4 may be set to receive a “print job received” notification and lower the priority by a predetermined value, or may be set to lower the priority by a predetermined order. Also good.

When the name server 4 is set to lower the priority assigned to the IP address of the printer 6 by a predetermined value in response to the notification of “print job reception” from the printer 6,
When the table setting changing unit 41 receives “end of print job processing”, the priority of the IP address of the printer 6 is increased by the lowered value.

  When the name server 4 is set to receive the “print job reception” notification and lower the priority by a predetermined order, the table setting changing unit 41 refers to the priority table 40. Alternatively, the priority value may be rewritten so that the rank before the rank in the printer group to which the IP address of the printer 6 belongs is lowered.

  If the job status determination unit 24 determines in step S96 that it is not “notification indicating the end of processing of the print job” (“No” in S96), the received frame notification is transmitted to the abnormal status determination unit 36. Then, the abnormal state determination unit 36 first determines whether or not it is a “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” based on the frame notification received from the job state determination unit 24 (S98).

  When the abnormal state determination unit 36 determines that this notification is a “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” (“Yes” in S98), the table setting processing unit 21 uses the IP address information of the printer 6 as information. Give instructions to raise a flag. In response to this instruction, in the table setting processing unit 21, the table setting changing unit 41 sets 1 as a flag in the IP address information of the printer 6 so that it is not selected at the time of the name resolution request from the PC 7. (S99). Then, the name server 4 ends the processing for the frame received from the printer 6 (END).

  On the other hand, when the abnormal state determination unit 36 determines that the notification of the received frame is not “notification indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state” (“NO” in S98), the abnormal state determination unit 36 then selects the frame. It is determined whether the notification is “a notification indicating recovery from an abnormal state” (S100).

  If the abnormal state determination unit 36 determines that the notification of the received frame is “notification indicating recovery from the abnormal state” (“Yes” in S100), the printer 6 is notified to the table setting processing unit 21. An instruction is issued to reset the flag 1 standing at the IP address information to 0.

  In response to this instruction, in the table setting processing unit 21, the table installation changing unit 41 rewrites the flag 1 standing in the IP address information of the printer 6 to 0, and this IP address information is restored to the original priority. (S101). Then, the name server 4 ends the processing for the frame received from the printer 6 (END).

  The notification of the frame received from the printer 6 is “notification indicating the capability of the printer 6”, “notification indicating reception of the print job”, “notification indicating completion of processing of the print job”, “notification of occurrence of abnormal state”, or If the notification is neither “notification of recovery from an abnormal state” (“No” in S100), the name server 4 ends without performing processing for the frame received from the printer 6 (end).

  As described above, in the image output system 1 according to the present embodiment, the name server 4 receives notification from the printer 6 not only about the abnormal state or recovery from the abnormal state, but also about the reception of a print job or the end of processing of the print job. Is set to In response to this notification, the name server 4 can change the priority setting assigned to the IP address of the conversion table 23 corresponding to the printer 6. That is, the image output system 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the name server 4 can monitor the operation status of the printer 6 in more detail.

  Therefore, the image output system 1 can select the printer 6 as a transmission destination of the print job in consideration of the print job amount received by the printer 6. The print job amount includes not only a print job that is already being processed by the printer 6, but also a print job that is in a standby state in the printer 6 in order to perform the print process.

  The image output system 1 described above has a configuration in which the name server 4 is installed in a predetermined LAN and manages the printers 6..., PCs 7 in the LAN, but is not limited to this configuration. That is, the configuration may be such that the name server 4 is installed outside this predetermined LAN and can manage the printers 6... And PCs 7.

  Here, referring to FIG. 12, the name server 4 is installed outside the LAN where the printer 6 is installed, and the printer 6 of the image output system 1 managing the printer 6 and the PC 7 on the plurality of LANs. Initial setting between the server and the name server 4 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an initial setting process between the printer 6 and the name server 4.

  As in the case where the name server 4 is installed in the same LAN as the printer 6 and the PC 7, when the printer 6 is connected to the network (S7), the device information, processing capability information, IP address, and sub The network address is transmitted to the router (S8). This router is a relay device for connecting the LAN in which the printer 6 is installed to another LAN.

  The information transmitted from the printer 6 is transmitted to the name server 4 via the router (S9). The notification from the printer 6 to the name server 4 is performed by the printer 6 specifying the IP address of the name server 4. For this reason, the printer 6 needs to register the IP address of the name server 4 in advance.

  When the name server 4 receives the device information, the processing capability information, the IP address, and the subnetwork address from the printer 6, the name server 4 assigns the IP address of the printer 6 to a predetermined printer group according to the device information and / or the subnetwork address. Sort (S10).

  That is, the name server 4 is a group to which the IP addresses of other printers 6... Common to the functions of the printer 6 belong based on the device information and / or the subnetwork address notified from the printer 6. In addition, the printer group to which the IP addresses of the printers 6... Installed in the same LAN as the printer 6 belong is selected.

  Then, the name server 4 assigns the name of the selected printer group to the IP address that has received this notification, and registers it in the conversion table 23. Further, the name server 4 refers to the processing capability information of the printer 6 and sets the priority in the printer group for the IP address to which the printer group name is assigned and records it in the conversion table 23 (S11). . Note that the detailed description of the process of adding the IP address of the printer 6 to the conversion table 23 is the same as the above-described “reception process of the notification of the printer 6 in the name server 4”, and therefore will be omitted.

  When the IP address of the printer 6, the printer group name indicating the correspondence with the IP address, the priority in the printer group to which the IP address is assigned, and the subnetwork address are recorded in the conversion table 23, the name The server 4 transmits information related to the printer group name assigned to the IP address of the printer 6 to the router (S12).

  The router that has received this information transmits the printer group name assigned to the IP address to the printer 6 (S13). When the printer 6 receives the printer group name assigned to its own IP address, the printer 6 records this printer group name. In this way, the assignment of the printer group name to the IP address of the printer 6 is completed (S14).

  Note that even if a plurality of LANs managed by the name server 4 are arranged in a space that is physically close to each other, the print job output from the printer 6 on any LAN can be performed by the user. If the convenience is not impaired, a printer group may be selected based only on device information.

  Here, the convenience of the user is caused by whether or not the printers 6... Managed by the name server 4 are installed in a place physically separated from the user who operates the PC 7. .

  For example, when the printer 6 and the PC 7 that the name server 4 has jurisdiction are arranged in close proximity to each other (for example, the same floor), the image output system 1 can be used regardless of which printer 6 outputs the print job. The convenience of the user to use is not impaired.

  However, when the name server 4 has jurisdiction over the printers 6... That are physically located (for example, the printers 6 connected to a certain LAN are arranged on the first floor) If the printer 6 connected to another LAN is arranged on a different floor, the print job may be output on a different floor from the floor where the user exists. Therefore, there arises a problem that convenience for the user is impaired.

  Therefore, when the name server 4 has jurisdiction over a plurality of LANs, when a print job can be output from the printer 6 physically distant from the user, it is based on the device information of the printer 6 and the subnetwork address. Thus, it is preferable that a printer group name is assigned to the printer 6.

  When the printer group name is assigned to the IP address of the printer 6 based on the device information and subnetwork address information of the printer 6 as described above, the name server 4 responds to the name resolution request from the PC 7 with the PC 7. The printer 6 in the same LAN can be notified as the transmission destination of the print job.

(Configuration to realize control function in name server 4 and printer 6)
Next, the structure which implement | achieves each functional block in the name server 4 and the printer 6 is demonstrated.

  The name server 4 is provided with a control unit 15, and various functional blocks are provided in the control unit 15, and these functional blocks are stored in a ROM (operating means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example. This can be realized by executing a program code stored in a recording medium such as a read only memory (RAM) or a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit 16 can be realized by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash EEPROM.

  The printer 6 includes a printer controller 52, and a functional block called a communication control unit 47 is provided in the printer controller 52. This functional block can also be realized by executing a program code stored in a recording medium such as a ROM or RAM by an arithmetic means such as a CPU. The device information storage unit 51 included in the printer controller 52 can be realized by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash EEPROM.

  In the above description, the case where each functional block is “implemented by executing a program code stored in a recording medium such as a ROM or RAM by an arithmetic means such as a CPU” has been described as an example. You may implement | achieve with the hardware which performs. Moreover, it is also possible to realize a combination of hardware that performs a part of the processing and the above arithmetic unit that executes program code for controlling the hardware and the remaining processing. Further, even among the members described above as hardware, the hardware for performing a part of the processing and the arithmetic means for executing the program code for performing the control of the hardware and the remaining processing It can also be realized in combination. The arithmetic means may be a single unit, or a plurality of arithmetic means connected via a bus inside the apparatus or various communication paths may execute the program code jointly.

  The program code itself that can be directly executed by the computing means, or a program as data that can be generated by a process such as decompression described later, stores the program (program code or the data) in a recording medium, A recording medium is distributed, or the program is distributed by being transmitted by a communication means for transmitting via a wired or wireless communication path, and is executed by the arithmetic means.

  In addition, when transmitting via a communication path, each transmission medium which comprises a communication path propagates the signal sequence which shows a program, and the said program is transmitted via the said communication path. Further, when transmitting the signal sequence, the transmission device may superimpose the signal sequence on the carrier by modulating the carrier with the signal sequence indicating the program. In this case, the signal sequence is restored by the receiving apparatus demodulating the carrier wave. On the other hand, when transmitting the signal sequence, the transmission device may divide and transmit the signal sequence as a digital data sequence. In this case, the receiving apparatus concatenates the received packet groups and restores the signal sequence. Further, when the transmission apparatus transmits a signal sequence, the signal sequence may be multiplexed with another signal sequence and transmitted by a method such as time division / frequency division / code division. In this case, the receiving apparatus extracts and restores individual signal sequences from the multiplexed signal sequence. In any case, the same effect can be obtained if the program can be transmitted via the communication path.

  Here, it is preferable that the recording medium for distributing the program is removable, but it does not matter whether the recording medium after distributing the program is removable. In addition, the recording medium can be rewritten (written), volatile, or the recording method and shape as long as a program is stored. Examples of recording media include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks and hard disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks (MO), mini-discs (MD) and digital A disk such as a video disk (DVD) may be mentioned. The recording medium may be a card such as an IC card or an optical card, or a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash ROM. Or the memory formed in calculating means, such as CPU, may be sufficient.

  The program code may be a code for instructing the arithmetic means of all the procedures of the processes, or a basic program capable of executing a part or all of the processes by calling according to a predetermined procedure. If (for example, an operating system or a library) already exists, a part or all of the entire procedure may be replaced with a code or a pointer that instructs the arithmetic means to call the basic program.

  The format for storing the program in the recording medium may be a storage format that can be accessed and executed by the arithmetic means, for example, as in a state where the program is stored in the real memory, or is stored in the real memory. Installed in the local recording medium from the storage format after being installed in a local recording medium (for example, real memory or hard disk) that is always accessible by the computing means, or from a network or a transportable recording medium The previous storage format may be used. Further, the program is not limited to the compiled object code, but may be stored as source code or intermediate code generated during interpretation or compilation. In any case, the above calculation is performed by a process such as decompression of compressed information, decoding of encoded information, interpretation, compilation, linking, allocation to real memory, or a combination of processes. If the means can be converted into an executable format, the same effect can be obtained regardless of the format in which the program is stored in the recording medium.

  The name server 4 described above has the highest priority among the IP addresses corresponding to the predetermined printer group name to the PC 7 when a name resolution request is made by designating a predetermined printer group name from the PC 7. Although the configuration is such that a high IP address is notified, the notified address is not limited to the IP address. For example, information such as a MAC address that allows the PC 7 to specify the location of the predetermined printer 6 as a print job transmission destination may be used.

  In the above, the image output system 1 according to the present embodiment notifies the name server 4 of the printer group name from the PC 7 and requests name resolution, and the name server 4 sets the address of the printer 6 in response to this request. Although it is the structure which responds to PC7, it is not limited to this structure. For example, instead of the printer group name notified from the PC 7 to the name server 4, information such as an ID for identifying a group in which the addresses of the printers 6... Are classified may be notified.

  Each of the name server 4, the printer 6, and the PC 7 may be configured to be communicably connected to each other by a communication cable or the like, or may be configured to be communicably connected by radio.

  The name server 4 according to the present embodiment can select the IP address of the printer 6 to which the print job data is transmitted according to the function and processing capability of the printer 6 and can notify the data transmission source PC 7. Thus, the present invention can be applied to a system that transmits data from one or more information processing apparatuses to a plurality of other apparatuses.

1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration in a control unit of a name server. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image output system as one configuration example according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the printer according to the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the name server which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline of the process in the image output system which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the conversion table which concerns on this Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for registering an IP address of a printer according to the present embodiment in a conversion table. It is a flowchart which shows a process when a name server receives a flame | frame. It is a flowchart which shows the reception process of the notification from a printer in a name server. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure in the control part of the name server which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the name server when a frame is received from a printer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for registering an IP address of a printer according to the present embodiment in a conversion table.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image output system 4 Name server 6 Printer 7 PC
16 Storage unit (table storage device)
19 Notification determination processing unit 20 Name resolution processing unit 21 Table setting processing unit (table recording means)
23 Conversion table (group information table)
34 Address transmitter (address notification means)
35 Address acquisition unit (address selection means)
37 Group Registration Department (Group decision means)
38 Priority setting section (priority setting means)
41 Table setting change unit (priority change means) (selection avoidance means) (selection avoidance invalidation means) (priority lowering means) (priority recovery means)

Claims (12)

The first information processing device and a plurality of the second information processing devices that perform predetermined processing based on data transmitted from the first information processing device are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other. An address supply device that replies with an address of the second information processing device to the inquiry,
A group information table indicating the correspondence between the address and the group for classifying the address of the second information processing apparatus into a group for each function of the second information processing apparatus and assigning and managing the group to the address A table storage device for storing
When the address inquiry is received together with the group notification from the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing in which a group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned with reference to the group information table. An address selection means for selecting an address of the device;
Address notifying means for notifying the first information processing apparatus of the selected address;
Group determination means for determining a group to be allocated to the address according to the function information when receiving the function information regarding the function of the second information processing apparatus and the address of the second information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus; ,
Table recording means for recording the address received from the second information processing apparatus and the group assigned to the address in the group information table ;
For each address of the second information processing device, the group information table indicates how long the address can be handled as valid information when acquired by the first information processing device. An address supply device characterized in that a lifetime is set . The group information management table includes, for each address of the second information processing device, subnetwork information related to the address of the subnetwork of the second information processing device,
When an address inquiry is received together with a notification of a group from the first information processing device and a notification of subnetwork information of the first information processing device,
The address selecting means includes an address including subnetwork information that matches the subnetwork information of the first information processing apparatus from among addresses to which a group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned. 2. The address supply device according to claim 1, wherein the address supply device is preferentially selected. Inquiries from the first information processing apparatus and the plurality of second information processing apparatuses that perform predetermined processing based on data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus and that are communicably connected to each other. An address supply device that answers the address of the second information processing device,
The address of the second information processing device is classified into a group, a group is assigned to the address, and an inquiry is made from the first information processing device in the assigned group for each processing capability of the second information processing device. On the other hand, the priority indicating the priority order for selecting the address of the second information processing device is set to the address and managed so that the higher the processing capability of the second information processing device, the higher the priority. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship between the address, the group, and the priority,
When the address inquiry is received together with the group notification from the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing in which a group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned with reference to the group information table. An address selection means for selecting an address having the highest priority among the addresses of the device;
Address notifying means for notifying the first information processing apparatus of the selected address;
A group determining means for determining a group to be assigned to the address when receiving the processing capability information relating to the processing capability of the second information processing device and the address of the second information processing device from the second information processing device;
Priority setting means for setting the priority in the group to which the address belongs to the address according to the processing capability;
Table recording means for recording the address received from the second information processing apparatus and the priority set for the address in the group information table ;
For each address of the second information processing device, the group information table indicates how long the address can be handled as valid information when acquired by the first information processing device. An address supply device characterized in that a lifetime is set . Inquiries from the first information processing apparatus and the plurality of second information processing apparatuses that perform predetermined processing based on the data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus and each of the second information processing apparatuses that are communicably connected An address supply device that answers the address of the second information processing device,
The address of the second information processing device is classified into a group, a group is assigned to the address, and the address of the second information processing device is assigned to the inquiry from the first information processing device in the assigned group. A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating a correspondence relationship between the address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing a priority indicating a priority for selection in the address;
When the address inquiry is received together with the group notification from the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing in which a group that matches the group notified from the first information processing apparatus is assigned with reference to the group information table. An address selection means for selecting an address having the highest priority among the addresses of the device;
Address notifying means for notifying the first information processing apparatus of the selected address;
Upon receiving a notification of the operating state of the second information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus, the priority for changing the priority setting set in the address of the second information processing apparatus in the group information table Change means ,
For each address of the second information processing device, the group information table indicates how long the address can be handled as valid information when acquired by the first information processing device. address supply device according to claim Rukoto survival time has been set. When the notification of the operating state indicates that an abnormal state has occurred in the second information processing apparatus, the priority changing unit responds to an inquiry from the first information processing apparatus in response to the address of the second information processing apparatus. Selection avoidance means for setting the priority so as not to select,
When the notification of the operating state indicates that the second information processing apparatus has recovered from an abnormal state, selection avoidance that invalidates the setting of the address that is set so that the address is not selected by the selection avoiding means 5. The address supply device according to claim 4, further comprising invalidation means. When the notification of the operating state indicates that the second information processing apparatus has received the data from the first information processing apparatus, the priority changing unit sets the priority set in the address of the second information processing apparatus Priority lowering means for setting the degree to be lowered by a predetermined value,
When the notification of the operating state indicates the end of the predetermined processing of the second information processing apparatus, the priority of the second information processing apparatus lowered by a predetermined value by the priority lowering unit is 6. The address supply device according to claim 4, further comprising priority recovery means for setting so as to reset the priority.   A data transmission system including a first information processing device and a second information processing device that are communicably connected to the address supply device according to claim 1. Inquiries from the first information processing apparatus and the plurality of second information processing apparatuses that perform predetermined processing based on the data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus and each of the second information processing apparatuses that are communicably connected In contrast, a method of controlling the address supply device that answers the address of the second information processing device,
The address supply device categorizes addresses of the second information processing device into groups for each function of the second information processing device, and assigns the group to the address and manages the correspondence between the address and the group A table storage device for storing a group information table indicating the relationship;
A receiving step of receiving function information which is information on the address and function of the second information processing apparatus;
A group assignment step for assigning a group to the address according to the received function information;
See contains a table recording step of recording in the table the correspondence between the group assigned to the address and the address,
For each address of the second information processing device, the group information table indicates how long the address can be handled as valid information when acquired by the first information processing device. A control method for an address supply device, characterized in that a lifetime is set . Inquiries from the first information processing apparatus and the plurality of second information processing apparatuses that perform predetermined processing based on data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus and that are communicably connected to each other. In contrast, a method of controlling the address supply device that answers the address of the second information processing device,
The address supply device classifies the address of the second information processing device into a group for each function of the second information processing device, assigns a group to the address, and for each processing capability of the second information processing device. The address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing apparatus in response to the inquiry from the first information processing apparatus. A table storage device for storing a group information table showing the correspondence relationship of
A receiving step for receiving from the second information processing apparatus the processing capability information relating to the address and processing capability of the second information processing apparatus;
A group assignment step for classifying received addresses into groups and assigning them to groups;
A priority setting step for setting a priority for selecting the address in response to an inquiry from the first information processing apparatus according to the processing capability information received from the second information processing apparatus;
Look contains a table recording step of recording the above address and the priority set to the group and the address assigned to the address in the group information table,
For each address of the second information processing device, the group information table indicates how long the address can be handled as valid information when acquired by the first information processing device. A control method for an address supply device, characterized in that a lifetime is set . Inquiries from the first information processing apparatus and the plurality of second information processing apparatuses that perform predetermined processing based on the data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus and each of the second information processing apparatuses that are communicably connected In contrast, a method of controlling the address supply device that answers the address of the second information processing device,
The address supply device classifies the address of the second information processing device into a group for each function of the second information processing device, assigns a group to the address, and for each processing capability of the second information processing device. The address, the group, and the priority for setting and managing the priority for selecting the address of the second information processing apparatus in response to the inquiry from the first information processing apparatus. A table storage device for storing a group information table showing the correspondence relationship of
A receiving step of receiving a notification of an operating state of the second information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus;
A priority lowering step for lowering the priority set in the address of the second information processing apparatus in response to the notification of the operating state in the group information table ;
For each address of the second information processing device, the group information table indicates how long the address can be handled as valid information when acquired by the first information processing device. A control method for an address supply device, characterized in that a lifetime is set . A program for operating the address supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the program notifies an address for causing a computer to function as each of the means .   A computer-readable recording medium on which the address notification program according to claim 11 is recorded.

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