JPH08153078A - Data processor and its control method, copying device and its control method and printer and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To smoothly execute the data processing such as copy processing, printer processing by executing the data processing by dividing a data processing quantity by plural data processors. CONSTITUTION: The data processor with a data transmission function is provided with a control means dividing the required data processing quantity at the time of setting a data processing time required for completing the required data processing quantity by a data processing function to be longer than a specified time and ask the data processing of the divided part of the data processing quantity to another data processor. For example, when copy/printer composite devices DP1 to DPm and data terminal equipment WS1 to WSn intend to make another copy/printer composite devices DP1 to DPm and another data terminal equipments 1 to WSn execute certain processing, they specify the address of the opposite party terminal and send a command and processing data specifying the requiring processing to a local area network. And, the specified opposite party terminal is made to execute the required processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data processor having a plurality of data processing functions connected to each other via a line and having a data transmission function via the line, a control method therefor, and a plurality of data processing devices via the line. The present invention relates to a plurality of copying apparatuses connected to each other and having a data transmission function through the line, and a control method thereof, and a printer apparatus having a plurality of copying apparatuses connected to each other via a line and having a data transmission function and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a copy / printer multi-function peripheral is connected to a local area network, and copying is performed by a plurality of data processing devices (personal computer devices, so-called workstation devices, etc.) connected to the same local area network. / Printer multi-function peripherals are being used.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional apparatus, for example, when the number of original pages is large and the designated number of copies is large, it takes a long time to complete the copying process. Therefore, there is a problem that another copying operation cannot be performed or a printer processing request from the data processing apparatus cannot be accepted until the copying processing is completed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a data processing apparatus and a control method thereof, a copying apparatus and a control method thereof, and a printer apparatus capable of smoothly performing data processing such as copying processing and printer processing are provided. The purpose is to provide a control method.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a plurality of data processing apparatuses are connected via a line and have the same data processing function and a data transmission function via the line. When the data processing time required to complete the above with the data processing function becomes longer than the specified data completion time, the requested data processing amount is divided, and the data of a part of the divided data processing amount is divided. It is provided with a control means for requesting processing to another data processing device.

Further, in a method of controlling a data processing apparatus, which is connected to a plurality of lines and has the same data processing function and a data transmission function via the line, a required data processing amount is set to the data processing amount. When the data processing time required to complete by the function becomes longer than the specified data completion time, the requested data processing amount is divided, and the data processing of the divided partial data processing amount is The data processing device is requested.

Further, in a plurality of copying apparatuses connected to each other via a line and having a data transmission function via the line, the copy processing time required to complete the copy of the requested copy processing amount is specified. When it becomes longer than the copy completion time, divide the requested copy processing amount,
A control means for requesting another copying apparatus to carry out a copying process of a part of the divided copying process is provided.

Further, in a method of controlling a plurality of copying apparatuses which are connected to each other via a line and have a data transmission function via the line, the copy processing time required to complete the copy of the requested copy processing amount. When the copy completion time becomes longer than the designated time, the requested copy processing amount is divided, and the copy processing of a part of the divided copy processing amount is requested to another copying apparatus. It is a thing. The division of the copy processing amount may be performed based on the number of original pages. Further, the division of the copy processing amount may be performed based on the designated number of copies.

Further, in a printer apparatus having a plurality of lines connected to each other and having a data transmission function via the lines, the copy processing time required to complete the copy of the requested copy processing amount is specified by the specified copy processing. When it becomes longer than the completion time, the requested copy processing amount is divided, and a control means for requesting another printer device to perform the copy processing of a part of the divided copy processing amount is provided. .

Further, in a method of controlling a printer apparatus in which a plurality of lines are connected via a line and having a data transmission function via the line, a copy processing time required to complete copying of a requested copy processing amount is designated. When it becomes longer than the required copy completion time, the requested copy processing amount is divided, and the copy processing of a part of the divided copy processing amount is performed.
The request is made to another printer device. The division of the copy processing amount may be performed based on the number of original pages. The division of the copy processing amount may be performed based on the designated number of copies.

[0011]

Therefore, since the data processing amount is divided into a plurality of data processing devices and the data processing is executed, the data processing is completed promptly, and the next data processing can be accepted.

Further, since the copying processing amount is divided into a plurality of copying apparatuses and the copying processing is executed, the copying processing can be completed promptly and the next copying processing can be accepted.

Further, since the printer processing amount is divided among a plurality of printer devices and the printer processing is executed, the printer processing is completed promptly and the next printer processing can be accepted.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a data processing system constructed by using a local area network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to DP1 are connected to a local area network LAN.
DPm and a plurality of data terminal devices (personal computer device, so-called workstation device, etc.) WS1 to WSn are connected.

Multiple copy / printer multifunction machines DP1-D
Pm and the data terminal devices WS1 to WSn are set to unique addresses on the local area network LAN, respectively, and each of the plurality of copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm and the data terminal device W.
S1 to WSn are other copy / printer multifunction devices DP1 to DP1.
When it is desired to cause the DPm and the data terminal devices WS1 to WSn to execute some processing, a command and processing data specifying the address of the partner terminal and the requested processing are provided in the local area network LAN.
To the designated partner terminal to execute the requested processing.

The copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to D
At startup, Pm indicates the device function of the terminal itself (for example, printable size, processing capacity (copy / print number per minute, etc.), double-sided recording, sorter presence, paper size for each paper feed tray, etc.). , Using the broadcast function of the local area network LAN, to notify the other copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm and the data terminal devices WS1 to WSn.

As a result, the copy / printer multifunction machine DP
1 to DPm and data terminal devices WS1 to WSn
Are the copy / printer multifunction devices DP1 to DPm, respectively.
The device functions notified by the above are stored in association with the addresses of the respective copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to DPm.

As the address assignment rule, each of the copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to DPm, and
If the assigning rule corresponding to the installation location of the data terminal devices WS1 to WSn is applied, the contents of the address are judged to determine another copy / printer multifunction device DP1 to DP1 near the own terminal.
The DPm and the data terminal devices WS1 to WSn can be determined.

FIG. 2 shows a copy / printer multifunction machine DP (D
(P1 to DPm) is shown as an example.

In FIG. 1, the system control section 1 performs control processing of each section of the copy / printer multifunction machine DP, copy control processing (including server function), and print control processing (server function). The system memory 2 stores a control processing program executed by the system control unit 1 and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The system memory 2 also includes other copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DP.
The device functions notified from m are stored in association with the addresses of the respective copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm.

The parameter memory 3 is for storing various kinds of information unique to the copy / printer MFP DP, such as device function information of the terminal itself, and the clock circuit 4
It is for obtaining the current time information. The parameter memory 3 and the clock circuit 4 are connected to the battery 5 by
Battery backed up.

The scanner 6 is for reading an original image at a predetermined resolution, the printer 5 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation input unit 8 is for an operation key or a touch panel. Which is for operating the copy / printer multifunction device DP.
The display unit 9 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device having a relatively large display screen, and displays various information (operation guidance message, etc.) to the user.

The magnetic disk device 10 stores various data such as image data obtained by reading,
The magnetic disk control unit 11 is for controlling saving / reading of a data file to / from the magnetic disk device 10.

The local area network interface circuit 12 serves to attach the copy / printer multifunction machine DP to the local area network LAN, and the communication control unit 13 communicates with other terminals via the local area network LAN. This is for performing control processing of various data communication processing performed between the two.

These system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 6, printer 7, operation input unit 8, display unit 9, magnetic disk control unit 11, and communication control unit 13 are provided. Has an internal bus 1
4 are connected to each other, and data is exchanged between these respective elements mainly via the internal bus 14.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example of processing when the copy / printer multifunction machine DP of FIG. 2 performs copy processing.

First, the user is made to input the number of copies, the number of copies, and the copy end time (process 101). Based on the number of copies and the number of copies input at that time, and the processing capability of the terminal itself, The processing time required to complete the designated copying operation is calculated (process 102).

Then, the calculated processing time is compared with the time from the current time information obtained from the clock circuit 4 to the input copy end time, and the specified copy work is performed at the specified copy end time. It is checked whether it can be completed (decision 103).

When the result of judgment 103 is NO,
In the case where the own terminal processes alone, a guidance message indicating that the copying work cannot be completed by the designated copying end time is displayed on the display unit 9 (process 104), and the other copying / printing machine DP is notified. Displays a shared copy selection guidance message inquiring whether or not to perform shared copy (processing 105), and selects whether to perform shared copy, perform a single copy operation as it is, or cancel the copy operation. Input is made and the selected input contents are judged (decisions 106 and 107).

When the user selects to perform the single copy operation, the result of judgment 106 is NO and judgment 107.
If the result is NO, normal copy processing is performed. If the user chooses to cancel the copy operation and the result of judgment 106 is NO and the result of judgment 107 is YES, the copy cancel state is set (process 108) and this operation is ended.

Further, when the user selects to carry out the shared copy, and the result of the judgment 106 is YES, the setting content of the shared copy which is designated and registered in advance is obtained (process 109).

Then, the device function information of one of the other copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to DPm is taken out, and the number of processed sheets which cannot be processed by the designated copy end time at the own terminal is selected by the selected copy / printer multifunction machine. DP1-D
Pm calculates the time required for copying (shared processing time) (processing 110), compares the shared processing time with the time from the current time information to the input copy end time,
It is checked whether the copy / printer multi-function peripherals DP1 to DPm can perform the shared copy work by the copy end time (decision 111).

When the result of judgment 111 is YES, the copy / printer multifunction machine DP1 selected at that time
~ DPm address and the sharing processing time calculated as described above are registered in the sharing machine list (processing 112), and at that time, all copy / printer multifunction peripherals D other than the own terminal are registered.
For P1 to DPm, it is checked whether or not the check is completed (decision 113). When the result of the check 113 is NO, the process returns to step 110. Also, the result of judgment 111 is NO.
When it becomes, the judgment 113 is made without executing the process 112.
Move to

When all the copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm other than the own terminal have been checked and the result of judgment 113 is YES, the sharing unit list is displayed on the display unit 9 ( In step 114), the user is prompted to select one of the copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm or to automatically select it.

As a result, when the user commands the automatic selection (the result of the determination 115 is YES), the address of the sharing device list is checked and the copy / printer combination installed in the place closest to the own terminal is checked. Machine DP1-DPm, and the selected copy / printer multifunction machines DP1-DP
m is registered as a sharing machine (process 116). When the result of determination 115 is NO, the copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to DPm designated by the user are registered as sharing machines.

In this way, when the user turns on the start key after determining the shared recording or the independent recording of the copy operation, the system control unit 1 executes the processing shown in FIG. 4 to execute the copy operation. To do.

First, it is checked whether or not the sharing machine is registered in the copy operation at that time (decision 201), and the judgment 2
When the result of 01 is NO, the process proceeds to normal copy processing.

When the result of determination 201 is YES, the scanner 6 reads the images of all the copy originals set, and the image data obtained by the reading is stored in the magnetic disk device 10 (process 202). ).

Then, it is checked whether or not the sharing copy operation is set to the number of copies sharing mode (decision 203). When the result of determination 203 is YES, the copy / printer multifunction device DP registered as the sharing device at that time
With respect to 1 to DPm, the magnetic disk device 10 is requested with the copy processing and the number of copies to be shared is designated.
The image data of all pages stored in is transferred (process 204). The number of shared copies at this time is calculated based on the number of sheets that can be processed by the registered copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm in the calculated shared processing time.

As a result, the copy / designated by the sharing machine
The printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm temporarily store the received image data in the magnetic disk device 10, and record and output the received image data for a designated number of copies.

Further, the system control unit 1 records and outputs the image data stored in the magnetic disk device 10 for the remaining number of copies shared by the sharing machine (process 205).

Further, when the page number sharing mode is set and the result of the determination 203 is NO, the registered copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DP1 for the sharing processing time calculated and stored. Based on the number of sheets that DPm can process and the designated number of copies, the number of shared pages is calculated (process 206), and for the copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm registered as sharing machines at that time, In the state where the copy process is requested and the number of copies and the number of shared pages are designated, the image data of the portion corresponding to the number of shared pages among the image data stored in the magnetic disk device 10 is transferred (process 207). .

As a result, the copy / designation designated by the sharing machine
The printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm temporarily store the received image data in the magnetic disk device 10 and record and output the received image data for the designated number of copies.

The system controller 1 also records and outputs the image data stored in the magnetic disk device 10 for the remaining pages shared by the sharing machine (process 208).

In this way, in the present embodiment, the copy jobs are shared by the other copy / printer multi-function peripherals DP1 to DPm in time for the specified time. Therefore, the copying operation specified by the user is performed. Can be completed by a designated time, which makes it possible to shift to another copying operation in a short time and improve the processing speed of the entire system.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, copy /
The case of performing the copy operation on the printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm has been described. However, even when the data terminal devices WS1 to WSn request the print processing from the copy / printer multifunction peripherals DP1 to DPm, the sharing of the print processing as described above is performed. It can be carried out.

In this case, the print processing time can be determined based on, for example, the time required to develop the received print data into print image data. Further, in this case, if the transfer of the record data to the sharing machine is performed in the original state (that is, the state of the character code data), the transfer data amount can be small and the data transfer time can be shortened.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the copying operation or the printing operation of the copy / printer multifunction machines DP1 to DPm has been described. However, the present invention is applicable to a plurality of data having the same function. The same can be applied to the data processing of the processing device.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the data processing device connected through the local area network LAN has been described.
The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where a plurality of data processing devices are connected via a wide area network.
Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a large number of data processing devices capable of exchanging data via a plurality of local area networks LAN connected via a wide area network.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the data processing amount is divided into a plurality of data processing devices and the data processing is executed, the data processing is completed promptly, so that there is an effect that the next data processing can be accepted.

Further, since the copying processing amount is divided into a plurality of copying apparatuses and the copying processing is executed, the copying processing can be completed quickly and the next copying processing can be accepted.

Further, since the printer processing amount is divided into a plurality of printer devices and the printer processing is executed, the printer processing can be completed promptly and the next printer processing can be accepted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a copy / printer multifunction peripheral.

3 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of processing at the time of copying by the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another part of an example of copying of the apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 LAN Local area network DP1 to DPm Copy / printer compound machine WS1 to WSn Data terminal device.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A data processing apparatus, which is connected to a plurality of lines and has the same data processing function and a data transmission function via the line, completes a requested data processing amount by the data processing function. When the data processing time required for this is longer than the specified data completion time, the requested data processing amount is divided, and the data processing of the divided partial data processing amount is performed by another data processing device. A data processing device, comprising: a control unit for requesting the data processing device. 2. A method of controlling a data processing device, wherein a plurality of data processing devices are connected via a line, have the same data processing function, and have a data transmission function via the line. When the data processing time required to complete by the function becomes longer than the specified data completion time, the requested data processing amount is divided, and the data processing of the divided partial data processing amount is A method for controlling a data processing device, characterized in that the data processing device is requested. 3. A copying processing time required to complete copying of a requested copying processing amount is specified in a plurality of copying apparatuses connected to each other via a line and provided with a data transmission function via the line. When the copying completion time becomes longer than the above, the requested copying processing amount is divided, and a control means for requesting another copying device to perform copying processing of a part of the divided copying processing amount is provided. Copying device characterized by. 4. In a method of controlling a plurality of copying apparatuses, each of which is connected via a line and has a data transmission function via the line, a copy processing time required to complete copying of a requested copy processing amount. When the copy completion time becomes longer than the designated copy completion time, the requested copy processing amount is divided, and the copy processing of a part of the divided copy processing amount is requested to another copying apparatus. Control method for copying machine. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the division of the copy processing amount is performed based on the number of original pages. 6. The method of controlling a copying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the division of the copy processing amount is performed based on a designated number of copies. 7. A copying apparatus in which a plurality of copying processing times required to complete copying of a requested copying processing amount in a printer device having a function of transmitting data via the above-mentioned line is specified. When it becomes longer than the completion time, the control device is provided with a control unit for dividing the requested copy processing amount and requesting another printer device to perform the copy processing of the divided partial copy processing amount. Printer device. 8. In a method of controlling a printer apparatus having a plurality of lines connected via a line and having a data transmission function via the line, a copy processing time required to complete copying of a requested copy processing amount is designated. When the copy completion time becomes longer than the requested copy completion time, the requested copy processing amount is divided, and a request is made to another printer device for the copy processing of a part of the divided copy processing amount. Printer device control method. 9. The method of controlling a printer device according to claim 8, wherein the division of the copying processing amount is performed based on the number of original pages. 10. The method of controlling a printer device according to claim 8, wherein the division of the copy processing amount is performed based on a designated number of copies.