JP4348881B2 - Data processing system, data processing method, and data processing execution apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing system, a data processing method, and a data processing execution device in which a command terminal and a plurality of data processing execution devices are connected to a network and data processing can be executed with respect to a command sent from the command terminal device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a data processing system, a data processing method, and a data processing execution device that allow a user to select which of a plurality of data processing execution devices performs data processing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a plurality of command terminals (such as a personal computer) and a plurality of image processing apparatuses such as printers may be combined using a LAN in an office or the like, and a plurality of users may share a plurality of image processing apparatuses. . Here, when printing data from each terminal, print data can be transmitted by designating a predetermined printer, and output can be obtained from the designated printer.
[0003]
In the network print system as described above, for example, a technique for calculating the end time of the job in each printer from job information, selecting a printer based on the calculation result, and transmitting print data (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-94916) Has been proposed. Also, a technique for transmitting only a header file including file identification information from the command terminal to the printer, and transmitting and printing the file to be printed when an instruction to output the file is issued from the printer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-9 / 1999). No. 39311).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional techniques described above have the following problems. That is, when the printer is designated and the print data is transmitted to the printer, the printer may be printing another job. In this case, it was necessary to wait until the output operation was completed. If you want to change the output destination, you must return to the command terminal to output to another printer, discard the previously sent print data, specify the new printer, and send the print data. ， Work efficiency was bad. Also, when printing highly confidential data such as confidential documents, it happened that someone else who happened to be near the printer could see the document.
[0005]
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194916, a printer is automatically selected based on the job end time. For this reason, although printing starts quickly, it is impossible to immediately recognize from which printer the output is being made, and the work efficiency is still poor. In the technique disclosed in JP-A-9-39311, only the header file of print data is transmitted at the time of the first output instruction. For this reason, it takes time from the output instruction to the actual start of printing.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. That is, the problem is to provide a data processing system, a data processing method, and a data processing execution device that can execute data processing with a data processing execution device desired by a user.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The data processing system of the present invention made for the purpose of solving this problem is a data processing system in which a data processing command device and two or more data processing execution devices are connected by a network, and the data processing command device is , Having a transmission means for transmitting data to two or more data processing execution devices connected to the network, 2 or more Data processing execution device Each of Means for storing data received from the transmission means And one of the two or more data processing execution devices further includes: Execution instruction means for accepting processing execution instruction operations for data stored in the storage means, data processing means for executing data processing based on data for which execution instruction operations have been performed by the execution instruction means, and data by the data processing means After processing is complete, For other data processing execution devices other than one of the two or more data processing execution devices, Execution notification transmission means for transmitting an execution notification for data that has been subjected to data processing And have , Other data processing execution devices And a data deletion unit that deletes data related to the execution notification from the storage unit when the execution notification is received.
[0008]
The data processing method of the present invention is a method for executing data processing in one of two or more data processing execution devices in response to a command from the data processing commanding device. Sends data to the execution device, saves the data in the data processing execution device, and executes the processing based on the data in the data processing execution device when an operator performs an execution instruction operation on any of the data processing execution devices And After the data processing is finished, From the data processing execution device to another data processing execution device About the data that was processed The data processing execution apparatus that has transmitted the execution notification and received the execution notification removes the stored data related to the execution notification.
[0009]
In other words, in the present invention, in the case where a data processing command device and two or more data processing execution devices are connected via a network, the data processing command device transmits data to two or more data processing execution devices. On the other hand, each data processing execution device receives the data and stores it in the storage means. When an operator performs an execution instruction operation on any of the data processing execution apparatuses, the execution instruction operation of the data processing execution apparatus is received by the execution instruction operation. Then, the data processing means executes processing based on the data in the data processing execution device. As a result, the processing is executed by the data processing execution device desired by the user among several data processing execution devices. In the data processing execution device, the execution notification transmission means transmits an execution notification to other data processing execution devices. Here, “send execution notification to another data processing execution device” means that the execution notification is finally transmitted to the other data processing execution device. The direct transmission destination is not necessarily another data processing execution device. For example, an execution notification may be once transmitted to a data processing command device or other relay device, and transferred from the relay device to another data processing execution device. Moreover, the timing for transmitting the execution notification may be any time as long as it is determined that the data processing is executed in the data processing execution apparatus. That is, it may be before the data processing means actually executes the data processing, during execution, or after execution. Then, the other data processing execution apparatus that has received the execution notification removes the stored data related to the execution notification. As a result, unnecessary data can be removed, and adverse effects such as insufficient memory capacity due to accumulation of a large amount of data can be prevented.
[0010]
The “data processing” in the present invention refers to any processing performed by the data processing execution device using the data received from the data processing command device in some form. That is, the printing process based on the printing data is included in “data processing”. The execution of some processing under conditions according to the condition setting data is also included in “data processing”. Note that “data processing” is not limited to an image-related one. Also, “connected by a network” in the present invention may be wireless.
[0011]
In the present invention, for example, the data processing execution apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and it is desirable that the data transmitted by the transmission means include print data. Further, for example, the data processing execution device is an image reading device, and it is desirable that the data transmitted by the transmission unit includes the image reading condition setting data received from the transmission unit.
[0012]
The data processing execution device of the present invention is A data processing execution device that executes processing on data received from an external device, wherein the one data processing execution device is connected to at least one other data processing execution device, and the external device executes one data processing execution Send data to the device and other data processing execution devices, Outside apparatus A storage unit that stores data received from the execution unit, an execution instruction unit that receives a process execution instruction operation for the data stored in the storage unit, and a process that is executed based on the data that has been subjected to the execution instruction operation by the execution instruction unit After the data processing means and the data processing by the data processing means are finished, For other data processing execution devices An execution notification sending means for sending an execution notification about data that has been subjected to data processing; From another data processing execution device And a data deletion unit that deletes data related to the execution notification from the storage unit when the execution notification is received. Thereby, the data processing can be executed by the user performing the execution instruction operation, and the data processing can be performed by the data processing execution device desired by the user.
[0013]
In the data processing execution apparatus of the present invention, for example, the data processing means is an image forming means, and it is desirable that the data stored in the storage means include print data. For example, the data processing means is an image reading means, and it is desirable that the data stored in the storage means include image reading condition setting data.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a data processing system, a data processing method, and a data processing execution device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
[First form]
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a system in which a plurality of printers are connected in one network. First, the system according to this embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the system according to this embodiment is provided with terminal devices 1 to 3 and printers 4 to 6. Each terminal device and the printer are connected by a network 7.
[0016]
The terminal devices 1 to 3 are, for example, personal computers and workstations that can create documents and images. The printers 4 to 6 print documents, images, and the like sent via the network 7. The number of printers is not limited as long as it is two or more.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the terminal devices 1 to 3 and the printers 4 to 6. Each of the terminal devices 1 to 3 includes an application 31, a printer buffer 32, an operating system 33 (hereinafter referred to as OS 33), a printer driver 34, and a network driver 35. The printers 4 to 6 include a network driver 11, a memory 12, a file manager 13, a user interface 14, a display 15, a printer controller 16, and a printer engine 17.
[0018]
Next, the operation of this system will be described. The basic operation according to the present system is to perform printing by any one of the printers 4 to 6 based on the print request from the terminal devices 1 to 3. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that printing is performed by the printer 4 based on a request from the terminal device 1.
[0019]
In the terminal device 1, first, document data or image data (hereinafter referred to as document data) is created by the application 31. When receiving a print instruction from the user, the application 31 sends a print command to the OS 33. Then, the document data to be printed is stored in the printer buffer 32 as print data. When the OS 33 receives a print command from the application 31, it sends a print instruction to the printer driver 34. When the printer driver 34 receives a print instruction from the OS 33, it reads the print data from the printer buffer 32 and sends the data to the network driver 35. When receiving the print data, the network driver 35 transmits the data to all printers connected to the network 7. Further, the network driver 35 receives a notification such as the end of the printing process from the printer. The instruction received by the network driver 35 is sent to the OS 33.
[0020]
On the other hand, in the printer 4, the network driver 34 transmits and receives data to and from the network 7. Also, the data received from the network 7 is sent to the file manager 13. The memory 12 is an area for storing print data. The file manager 13 performs management such as reading / writing of print data in the memory 12. The user interface 14 receives instructions from the user and controls printing instructions. The display 15 displays a print data list that is a list of received print data information under the control of the user interface 14. The user sees a list of print data displayed on the display 15, confirms and selects the print data instructed by the user, and sends a print instruction to the user interface 14. Upon receiving a print instruction from the user, the user interface 14 sends it to the file manager 13 as a print request. Upon receiving a print instruction from the file manager 13, the printer controller 16 reads the corresponding print data from the memory 12, converts it into image data necessary for printing, and sends it to the printer engine 17. The printer engine 17 outputs the image data on paper. When the output of the image data is completed, the file manager 13 transmits a print processing end instruction to the terminal device that has transmitted the print data via the network driver 11.
[0021]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the print data list includes a print data number, the number of originals, the number of copies (number of copies), a print registration time, a print end time, a printer status, a print registration source, and the like. The print end time here indicates an estimated time at which printing will end. The printer status displays a status such as whether the print data is being printed or is waiting. The print registration source displays the name of the terminal device that sent the print data, the IP address, and the telephone number if the terminal device is connected through a telephone line. As other display items, a print data file name, a progress of printing, and the like may be displayed.
[0022]
Next, the control of the OS 33 related to printing in the terminal device 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0023]
First, the OS 33 determines whether or not a print command transmitted by the application 31 has been received (S101). That is, it is determined whether the user has issued a print instruction to the application 31. When the OS 33 receives the print command (S101: YES), the OS 33 searches for a printer connected to the network 7 (S102). Next, the print data is sent to the printer driver 34 (S103). This is because the print data is transmitted to all the searched printers.
[0024]
On the other hand, if a print command has not been received (S101: NO), it is determined whether a print process end notification has been received (S104). That is, it is determined whether or not the network driver 35 has received notification from the printer on the network 7 that printing has ended. The print processing end notification will be described later with reference to FIG. When a print processing end notification is received (S104: YES), a print data discard request is sent to the network driver 35. (S105). This is because a command for discarding the corresponding print data is transmitted to the printer that has transmitted the print data in S103. Note that the print data discard request includes information indicating which print data the print data is for. This is because when the printer has received a large number of print data, the print data to be discarded is recognized. If the print process end notification has not been received (S104: NO), or if the process of S103 or S105 has ended, the process returns to S101.
[0025]
Next, the control of the file manager 13 in the printer 4 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0026]
First, the file manager 13 determines whether print data has been received (S201). That is, it is determined whether the network driver 11 has received print data from the terminal device via the network 7. When the print data is received (S201: YES), the received print data is stored in the memory 12 (S202). After the process of S202 is completed, the user interface 14 is notified that new print data has been stored (S203). This is to update the print data list display on the display 15.
[0027]
On the other hand, if no print data has been received (S201: NO), it is determined whether a print data discard request has been received (S204). That is, it is determined whether the network driver 11 has received a request for discarding print data from the terminal device via the network 7. When the print data discard request is received (S204: YES), the print data requested to be discarded is deleted from the memory 12 (S205). When the processing of S205 is completed, the user interface 14 is notified that the print data has been deleted (S206). This is to update the print data list display on the display 15.
[0028]
On the other hand, if a print data discard request has not been received (S204: NO), it is determined whether a print request has been received from the user interface 14 (S207). The print request from the user interface 14 will be described later with reference to FIG. When a print request is received (S207: YES), the print request is sent to the printer controller 16, and the printer controller 16 performs print processing (S208). After the process of S208 is completed, a print process end notification is transmitted to the terminal device that has transmitted the print data via the network driver 11 (S209). Thereby, in the said terminal device, it becomes YES by above-mentioned S104. Thereafter, the printed print data is discarded (S205). If a print request has not been received (S207: NO), or if the process of S203 or S206 is completed, the process returns to S201.
[0029]
Next, control of the user interface 13 in the printer 4 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0030]
First, the user interface 14 determines whether or not a notification for updating the print data list has been received (S301). That is, it is determined whether or not a notification to update the display 15 is received from the file manager 13. When an update notification is received (S301: YES), a list of print data currently stored in the memory 12 is created (S302). After the process of S302 is completed, a list of created print data is displayed on the display 15 (S303).
[0031]
On the other hand, if no update notification has been received (S301: NO), it is determined whether a print instruction has been received from the user (S304). That is, it is determined whether the user has issued a print instruction to the printer. When a print instruction is received (S304: YES), the print request for the specified print data is notified to the file manager 13 (S305). As a result, the file manager 13 determines YES in S207 described above. If a print instruction has not been received (S304: NO), or if the process of S303 or S305 has been completed, the process returns to S301.
[0032]
In addition, although the notification to the terminal device regarding the print processing of the print data is performed after the print processing is finished, the notification may be made before the start of the print processing. More specifically, the time before the start of the printing process is the timing when the user issues a printing instruction from the list of print data displayed on the display 15 or the time when the input of a password or the like is started or completed. In this case, the process of S205 of the printer itself that has performed the printing process is performed after the end of the printing process. This is to prevent the print data from being discarded during the print data printing process. In this embodiment, the print data in the printer itself that has undergone the print process is deleted immediately after the print process end notification is sent (S208). However, after S208, the process returns to S201 to discard the print data. It may be performed after receiving the request (S205).
[0033]
[Second form]
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a system in which a plurality of scanners are connected in one network. First, the system according to this embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. That is, in the system according to this embodiment, terminal devices 101 to 103 and scanners 104 to 106 are provided. Each terminal device and the scanner are connected by a network 107.
[0034]
The terminal devices 101 to 103 are the same as the terminal devices 1 to 3 in the first form. However, the terminal devices 101 to 103 of the present embodiment can perform scan settings for the scanner. Examples of the scan setting include an image reading resolution, a reading color setting, an image reading angle, and an image storage destination setting. The scanners 104 to 106 read and save images with scan settings sent via the network 107. The number of scanners is not limited as long as it is two or more.
[0035]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The basic operation according to the present embodiment is to set one of the scanners 104 to 106 to the scan setting based on the scan setting from the terminal devices 101 to 103. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that image reading / saving is performed by the scanner 104 based on a request from the terminal device 101.
[0036]
First, a scan setting is created in the terminal device 1. The created scan setting is transmitted to the scanners 104 to 106 via the network 107. The scanners 104 to 106 store the received scan settings in each device.
[0037]
Next, the user goes in front of the scanner 104 and selects his / her own scan settings. Thereafter, the manuscript is set on the manuscript table of the scanner 104 and an image reading is instructed. The scanner 104 reads / saves an image based on the selected scan setting. Thereafter, the other scanners 105 and 106 are requested to discard the scan settings via the network 107 so as to discard the scan settings. The scanners 105 and 106 that have received the discard request discard the scan settings held by themselves.
[0038]
As described in detail above, the data processing system of this embodiment has a terminal device and a plurality of printers or scanners, and these are connected via a network. In the terminal device, when printing or reading is performed, print data or the like is transmitted to all the printers or scanners.
[0039]
On the other hand, each printer or scanner receives print data or the like, and the file manager 13 stores the print data or the like in the memory 12. When an operator performs an operation such as a print instruction for the print data or the like with any one of the printers or the like, the user interface 14 such as the printer notifies the file manager 13 of the instructions. . Upon receiving the notification, the file manager 13 reads the print data from the memory 12 and performs print processing. Thus, a data processing system is realized in which the user can execute processing with a desired printer or the like.
[0040]
Further, the completion of the printing process is notified from the printer or the like that has performed the processing to another printer or the like. Other printers or the like that have received the notification are supposed to remove the print data and the like stored in the memory 12. As a result, unnecessary data can be removed, and adverse effects such as insufficient memory capacity due to accumulation of a large amount of data can be prevented.
[0041]
Note that this embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, a printer or the like may send a processing end notification directly to another printer or the like without transmitting the processing end notification to the terminal device. This makes it possible to discard unnecessary data even when the terminal device is in a disconnected state, such as when the power is turned off.
[0042]
Further, when the user issues an instruction to the printer or the like, a password input may be requested. In this case, the password is given for each print data when the print data is registered on the terminal device side. This password may be assigned automatically as an ID code or the like set in advance for each terminal device, or manually every time print data is registered.
[0043]
In addition, the printer or the like may automatically discard the data if there is no instruction for printing the print data or the like within a certain time after the data is received. Thereby, the confidentiality of print data etc. can be maintained. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a memory capacity shortage due to a large amount of print data or the like.
[0044]
The printer or the like may have a function of switching between printing when waiting for an instruction from the user and automatically printing in order from the received data. In this case, the function switching information is attached to the print data transmitted from the terminal device. Thereby, it can be used together with a user who wants to print immediately.
[0045]
In this embodiment, the print data is sent to all printers by default, but when the terminal device receives a print instruction from the user, it is selected whether to use this function. You may be able to do that. If it is not used, the print data is transmitted only to the designated printer as usual. If so, it is processed as described above. As a result, this function can be implemented only when necessary.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a data processing system, a data processing method, and a data processing execution device capable of executing data processing by a data processing execution device desired by a user are provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a data processing system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the data processing system in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an example of a print data list screen in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing of the operating system in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for processing of the file manager in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for user interface processing in the first embodiment;
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of a data processing system according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1-3 Terminal device
4-6 printer
7 network
13 File Manager
14 User interface
31 applications
33 Operating system
101-103 terminal device
104-106 scanner

Claims (7)

In a data processing system in which a data processing command device and two or more data processing execution devices are connected via a network,
The data processing command device is:
A transmitting means for transmitting data to said two or more data processing execution apparatus connected to the network,
Each of the two or more data processing execution devices includes:
Storing means for storing data received from the transmitting means ;
One of the two or more data processing execution devices further includes:
Execution instruction means for receiving an execution instruction operation for processing of data stored in the storage means;
Data processing means for executing data processing based on data for which an execution instruction operation has been performed by the execution instruction means;
After data processing by the data processing means is completed , data that has been subjected to the data processing with respect to the data processing execution device other than the first data processing execution device among the two or more data processing execution devices and a execution notification transmission means for transmitting the execution notice,
The other data processing execution device further includes:
Data processing system, characterized in that it has a data deleting means for deleting the data relating to the execution notification when receiving the execution notification from the storage means. In the data processing system according to claim 1,
The data processing execution device is an image forming device;
A data processing system, wherein print data is included in data transmitted by the transmission means. In the data processing system according to claim 1,
The data processing execution device is an image reading device;
The data transmitted by the transmission means includes image reading condition setting data,
The data processing system, wherein the image reading device executes image reading based on image reading condition setting data received from the transmitting means. In a data processing method for executing data processing in one of two or more data processing execution devices in response to a command from a data processing command device,
Sending data from the data processing command device to two or more data processing execution devices;
Storing the data in the data processing execution device,
When an operator performs an execution instruction on any of the data processing execution devices,
The data processing execution device executes processing based on the data,
After the data processing is completed, an execution notification is sent from the data processing execution device to the other data processing execution device about the data that has been executed.
The data processing execution apparatus that has received the execution notification removes the data related to the execution notification from the stored data. A data processing execution device that executes processing on data received from an external device, wherein the one data processing execution device is connected to at least one other data processing execution device, and the external device is connected to the first data Sending data to the processing execution device and the other data processing execution device;
Storage means for storing data received from the external device,
Execution instruction means for receiving an execution instruction operation for processing of data stored in the storage means;
Data processing means for executing processing based on data for which execution instruction operation has been performed by the execution instruction means;
An execution notification sending means for sending an execution notice about the data that has been subjected to the data processing to the other data processing execution device after the data processing by the data processing means is completed;
A data processing execution apparatus, comprising: a data deletion unit that deletes data related to the execution notification from the storage unit when the execution notification is received from the other data processing execution unit. In the data processing execution device according to claim 5,
The data processing means is an image forming means;
A data processing execution apparatus characterized in that print data is included in the data stored in the storage means. In the data processing execution device according to claim 5,
The data processing means is an image reading means;
The data stored in the storage means includes image reading condition setting data,
The data processing execution apparatus, wherein the image reading unit executes image reading based on image reading condition setting data stored in the storage unit.

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