JPH0934663A - Printer control method and printer system for this method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the printer system which controls a printer so that a host sharing the printer through a network occupies the printer to output the print output and contention with the print output from another host doesn't occur. SOLUTION: A host 3000 request's the occupation right of a printer 1000 to a printer 1000 through a common transmission line 21. The printer 1000 checks whether the printer itself is occupied by another host or not, and the printer gives the occupation, right to the host 3000 when being not occupied, but it informs that the occupation right cannot be acquired when being occupied. The host 3000 transmits print data to the printer 1000 after being informed that the occupation right is permitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer control method and its printer system, and more particularly to a printer control method and its printer system in a system environment in which a plurality of hosts share a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a user of a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) connected to the same network uses a printer device that is connected to a network such as a LAN and can be shared by a plurality of users. I couldn't.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, even when the host user wants to output a large amount of data continuously, the data can be continuously output in order by an interrupt from another user. There was inconvenience such as not being able to do it. The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object thereof is to provide a printer control method and a printer system thereof that can be used exclusively in a network environment.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, the printer control method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, a printer control method applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, the first request step in which the first host requests occupation of the printer via the network, and The printer includes a permission step of giving the first host permission to occupy the printer according to the usage status of the printer, and a transmission step of causing the first host to transmit print data to the printer based on the permission of the occupancy. A printer control method is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control method applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, wherein the first host prints data to the printer via the network. A first requesting step for requesting the reception of
A permission step in which the printer gives the first host permission to occupy the printer according to the usage status of the printer; and a transmission step in which the first host transmits print data to the printer based on the permission to occupy the printer. A printer control method is provided.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printer system applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, wherein the first host occupies the printer via the network. And a transmission unit that transmits print data to the printer on the basis of the occupation permission from the printer in response to the request, the printer comprising:
Permitting means for giving the first host permission to occupy according to the usage status of the printer; and if the host other than the first host is given permission to occupy, the first host is not permitted to occupy. And a notification unit for notifying that the printer system is provided.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printer system applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, wherein the first host prints to the printer via the network. A first requesting means for requesting reception of data, and a transmitting means for transmitting print data to the printer based on an occupancy permission from the printer in response to the request,
The printer gives permission to the first host according to the usage status of the printer, and to the first host when the host other than the first host is given permission to occupy. A printer system comprising: a notification unit for notifying that the reception is not permitted.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With the above configuration, the present invention is applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, and in a printer system, the first host requests occupation of the printer via the network. Then, the printer gives the exclusive permission to the first host according to the usage status of the printer itself, or, if it gives the exclusive permission to the host other than the first host, the printer does not give the exclusive permission to the first host. Notify permission. Then, the first host transmits print data to the printer based on the occupancy permission.

Here, the first host can request the printer to release the occupation after transmitting the print data. In addition, the printer can display the fact that the occupancy is permitted or not permitted. According to another aspect of the present invention, in a printer system applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, the first host requests the printer to receive print data via the network. Gives permission for reception to the first host according to the usage status of the printer itself, or disallows reception for the first host when the host other than the first host is given permission for occupancy. Notice. On the other hand, the first host sends print data to the printer based on the permission of the printer for occupancy.

Hereinafter, typical embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a laser beam printer (LBP) 1000 that performs printing according to an electrophotographic system, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. The LBP 1000 inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) connected via a network such as a LAN, and stores them. Create corresponding character patterns and form patterns according to the information,
An image is formed on a recording sheet, which is a recording medium, and is output.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, LEDs, LCDs, etc. are arranged,
A printer control unit 1001 controls the entire LBP 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host. The printer control unit (printer controller) 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002.

The laser driver 1002 is a semiconductor laser 1.
This is a circuit for driving 003, and controls on / off of the laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 in accordance with the input video signal. Laser light 100
Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotary polygonal mirror 1005 whose irradiation direction is bent to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet. The transferred recording paper is conveyed by rollers 1012 to 1012.
1013 conveys the toner to the fixing device 1014, and the fixing device 1
The image transferred in 014 is fixed. After that, the recording paper is ejected to the ejection tray 10 by the ejection rollers 1015 to 1016.
It is discharged to 17. In this embodiment, a cut sheet is used as the recording paper. Cut sheet recording paper is LBP1
Stored in a paper cassette 1008 attached to a paper feeding roller 1009 and feeding rollers 1010 to 1011.
And are taken into the device by the electrostatic drum 1006.
Is supplied to.

The LBP 1000 is equipped with a bidirectional interface 1018 for transmitting / receiving data to / from a host via a network such as a LAN. The bidirectional interface 1018 has therein an analysis unit 1019 that receives and analyzes exclusive right setting data, which will be described later. The LBP1000 has at least one card slot (not shown) so that an optional font card in addition to a built-in font and a control card (emulation card) with a different language can be inserted into the card slot for use. It is configured.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional internal structure of the LBP 1000 and the system environment in which the LBP 1000 is used. Only one LBP1000 may be connected to this system, or multiple LBPs may be connected. Basically, these LBPs are shared and used by a plurality of hosts connected to the same system. It is an environment where you can.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 is a shared data transmission line such as an optical cable or a conductive coaxial cable for connecting the respective devices constituting the system, 1000 is an LBP, and 3000 is a host. The host 3000 includes a control unit 2000 housed in one housing, a keyboard (KB) 9a and a pointing device 9b for the device user to input instructions and information, and a CRT display (CR) for displaying information.
T) 10 and a large-capacity external storage device 11 such as a semiconductor disk (SD), a magnetic hard disk (HD), a floppy disk (FD).

The control unit 2000 executes document processing in which control of each device component connected to the system bus 4, control of the entire device, graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed. The CPU 1 includes a CPU 1, a program ROM (PROM) 3b for storing a control program and a document processing program for performing these controls, and a RAM 2 used as a work area for the CPU 1 to execute various processes and controls. The PROM 3b stores a control program as shown in the flowcharts (FIGS. 3 and 5) described later. Also, font ROM
The (FROM) 3a stores font data and the like used in document processing, and the data ROM (DROM) 3c stores various data (eg,
The exclusive right setting data and various constant information necessary for executing various programs are stored. Then, the FROM 3a,
The ROM 3 is composed of the PROM 3b and the DROM 3c.

Further, the control unit 2000 includes a keyboard controller (KBC) 5 for controlling key inputs from the keyboard (KB) 9a and the pointing device 9b.
C that controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 10
RT controller (CRTC) 6, boot program,
Large-capacity external storage device 1 for storing various applications, font data, user files, edit files, etc.
Memory controller (MC) that controls access to 1
7. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 that is connected to the LBP 1000 via the shared data transmission path 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1000 is provided.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process (rasterize) of the outline font to the display information area set on the RAM 2, and the W on the CRT 10 is executed.
It enables YSIWYG. Further, the CPU 1
A program registered and usable based on an instruction from the pointing device 9b such as an icon displayed on the RT 10 is activated to execute various data processing. At this time, various windows are opened and CR
It is displayed on the screen of T10.

On the other hand, in terms of functionality, the LBP 1000 includes the printer controller 1001, the operation unit 1012, the bidirectional interface 1018, the printer engine 17, and the optional hard disk (H) shown in FIG.
D) and an external storage device 14 such as an IC card. The printer controller 1001 controls each device component connected to the system bus 15, controls the entire device, and the CPU 12 that outputs an image signal as output information to the printer engine 17 connected via the printing unit interface 16, and these. Program ROM (PROM) 13b, C for storing a control program for controlling
The PU 12 is provided with a RAM 19 which is used as a work area or the like for executing various controls and whose memory capacity can be expanded by an expansion port (not shown). In addition, RAM
An output information expansion area and an environment data storage area 19 are set, and the area 19 is also used as an NVRAM or the like. P
The ROM 13b stores a control program as shown in the flowcharts (FIGS. 4 and 6) described later. A font ROM (FROM) 13a stores font data used when generating output information to the printer engine 17, and a data ROM (DRO).
M) 13c stores various data used for communication with the host 3000. And FROM 13a, PROM
The ROM 13 is composed of 13b and the DROM 13c. If the external storage device 14 is installed, DR
The data stored in the OM 13c may be stored in the external storage device 14.

Further, the printer controller 1001
Is the host 3 received by the bidirectional interface 1018
Input unit 18 for inputting information from 000 and a memory controller (MC) for controlling access to the external storage device 14.
20 and 20 are provided. The input unit 18 is provided with switches and LEDs for operation, and the CPU 12 can transmit information in the LBP 1000 to the host 3000 via the bidirectional interface 1018. The optional external storage device 14 also stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. The number of connectable external storage devices 14 is not limited to one, and at least one external storage device 14 is provided, and in addition to built-in fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages can be connected. The operation panel 101 may further include an NVRAM (not shown).
The printer mode setting information from 2 may be stored.

Next, the exclusive use control relating to the use of the printer in the printer system having the above configuration will be described.
Two events will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. Here, one printer as shown in FIG. 7 will be described assuming a system environment in which three hosts (host A, host B, host C) are shared. In the environment shown in FIG. 7, print data transmission between the host and the printer is exclusively controlled, but requests and responses as described below can be transmitted and received by interrupts even during print data transmission. .

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control on the host side in the first event, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the control on the LBP side corresponding to this. Further, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control on the host side in the second event, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control on the LBP side corresponding thereto. Further, a program for controlling the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is a PROM 3b of the host 3000 as a printer control program.
On the other hand, a program for controlling the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is stored in the PROM 13b of the LBP 1000 as a printer control program.

[First Event] Here, consider a case where the host A and the host C shown in FIG. 7 issue an exclusive right setting request to the printer in an attempt to obtain the exclusive right of the printer. In the following description, the host A first acquires the exclusive right, and then the host A
Consider a case where the host C requests the printer for the exclusive right before the exclusive right is released.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, on the host side,
In step S31, the host sends an exclusive right setting request to the printer for permission to exclusively use the printer. Next, in step S32, it is checked whether or not the printer side has given permission to acquire the exclusive right. Here, if the exclusive right is not given to the host that has transmitted the exclusive right setting data, the process is ended, but if the exclusive right is given, the process proceeds to step S33. In step S33, output data is transmitted to the printer, and then in step S33.
At 34, the acquired exclusive right release request is transmitted to the printer.

By the above processing, the host A in FIG.
Is given the exclusive right, while host C is not given the exclusive right. Next, in response to such processing on the host side, the printer side executes the following processing. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in step S41, the exclusive right setting data (setting request / cancellation request) is received from the host. Next, in step S42, the CPU 12 checks whether the received data is a setting request or a release request, and if it is a release request, the process proceeds to step S43 to release the already set exclusive right. Then, the process ends. On the other hand, if the received data is a setting request, the process proceeds to step S44.

In step S44, it is checked whether the printer is currently occupied by another host. here,
If the printer is occupied by another host,
The process proceeds to step S45, and the information indicating that the exclusive right cannot be given because the exclusive right has already been acquired by another host is transmitted to the host that issued the exclusive right setting request, and the process ends. At this time, the same information is simultaneously displayed on the display panel 1012d of the printer shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the printer is not occupied by any host other than the host that issued the exclusive right setting request, the process proceeds to step S46, and the host that issued the exclusive right setting request The information indicating that the printer is given the exclusive right is sent to the host, and the process ends. At this time, the same information is simultaneously displayed on the display panel 1012d of the printer.

By such processing, the information indicating that the printer A is given the exclusive right is transmitted to the host A, but the exclusive right is given to the host C because the exclusive right has been acquired by another host. You will be sent information that you cannot. In the example described above, with respect to the host that has issued the exclusive right setting request to the printer, if the exclusive right related to the use of the printer has not been acquired by another host, the exclusive right can be acquired, and the exclusive right already acquired. For example, the information that the exclusive right cannot be obtained is received.

[Second Phenomenon] Here, in the state where the host A or the host C shown in FIG. 7 has the exclusive right of the printer, the host B sends the print data to the printer without making the exclusive right setting request. Consider the case. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the host side (host B) performs step S51.
Then, the print data reception request is transmitted to the printer. Next, in step S52, a response from the printer is received and analyzed, and it is checked whether the host that has transmitted the output data has the exclusive right. Here, if the exclusive right is not set, the process proceeds to step S53 to determine whether or not to continue the data transmission. Here, if the process is to be continued, the process returns to step S52, but if the process is interrupted midway and data is not output, the process is terminated. This decision is made by the host beforehand.
It may be automatically performed according to the condition set in M13c, or a message may be displayed on the CRT 10 and the final instruction from the user may be obtained. The instruction from the user is input from the keyboard (KB) 9a or the pointing device 9b.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S52 that there is an exclusive right, the process proceeds to step S54,
Send the output data to the printer. Then, step S
At 55, the obtained request for releasing the exclusive right is output to the printer, and the process is ended. Next, in response to such processing on the host side, the following processing is executed on the printer side.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, step S61
Then, the print data reception request is received. Next, in step S62, it is determined whether the CPU 12 has given the exclusive right to the printer to the requesting host. If the exclusive right is given to another host instead of the host, the process proceeds to step S63 and step S61.
Since the host that issued the print data reception request received in step 1 is given the exclusive right to another host,
The information indicating that the printer cannot output or receive the print data is transmitted, and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the exclusive right is not currently given to any host, the process proceeds to step S64, and the exclusive right of the printer is given to the host which has issued the print data reception request, and to that effect. The host is notified, print data is received from the host to which the exclusive right is given in step S65, and print output is performed based on the received data in step S66.

Considering the above-mentioned processing in the relationship between the host A and the host B shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the exclusive right is given to the host A, a print data reception request from the host B is received. However, the printer does not receive the print data, but when the print data receiving request is received from the host B when the host A is not given the exclusive right, the printer automatically acquires the exclusive right to the host B. And print data is received.

Therefore, in the example described above, for the host that tried to transmit the print data without setting the exclusive right, the printer determines whether the exclusive right is set at that time.
Receiving print data or rejecting it. With the above configuration, when the printer in the system environment is occupied, the host can know the information that the printer is occupied, and therefore, tries to use the printer occupied by another host. In this case, there is also an advantage that the reason why the print output cannot be performed can be clearly known.

In the above embodiment, the system environment as shown in FIG. 7 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an environment in which a plurality of hosts share a plurality of printers. But good. If the printer does not give the exclusive right to the host that tried to send the print data without setting the exclusive right, the host that is trying to send the print data will get the exclusive right. For example, data reception processing similar to the conventional one may be performed without giving the right.

Further, although the laser beam printer is used as an example of the printer in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, for example, a printer using another printing method such as an inkjet printer or a thermal transfer printer may be used. Further, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the system or the device operates in a predetermined manner by reading the program into the system or the device from the storage medium storing the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention. To do.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a system environment in which a plurality of hosts share a printer, a certain host can occupy and use the printer, thereby outputting a large amount of data. In doing so, there is an effect that the output can be output without being confused with the output result from another host.

Further, since the printer output can be performed without being interrupted by another host, there is an effect that high speed print output can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a laser beam printer (LB) that performs printing according to an electrophotographic system that is a typical embodiment of the present invention.
P) is a side sectional view showing the configuration of 1000.

FIG. 2 is a functional internal configuration of LBP1000 and LBP1.
000 is a block diagram showing a system environment in which 000 is used.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control on the host side in the case of a first event, regarding exclusive use control related to printer use in the printer system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control on the printer side in the case of a first event, regarding exclusive use control relating to printer use in the printer system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control on the host side in the case of a second event, regarding exclusive use control relating to printer use in the printer system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control on the printer side in the case of a second event, regarding exclusive use control relating to printer use in the printer system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a system environment in which the control of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is executed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 12 CPU 2, 19 RAM 3, 13 ROM 4, 15 System Bus 9a Keyboard 9b Pointing Device 10 CRT 11, 14 External Storage Device 17 Printer Engine 1000 Printer 1001 Printer Controller 1012 Operation Unit 2000 Control Unit 3000 Host Computer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Takashi Okazawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printer control method applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, the first requesting step wherein the first host requests occupation of the printer via the network. A permission step in which the printer gives the first host permission to occupy the printer according to the usage status of the printer; and a transmission step in which the first host transmits print data to the printer based on the permission to occupy the printer. A printer control method comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying step of notifying the first host of denial of occupancy when the printer has given occupancy permission to a host other than the first host. The printer control method according to claim 1. 3. The printer control method according to claim 1, further comprising a second request step of requesting the printer to release the occupation after the transmission in the transmitting step. 4. A printer control method applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, wherein the first host requests the printer to receive print data via the network. 1 requesting step, a permission step in which the printer gives permission to occupy the first host according to the usage status of the printer upon reception of the reception, and the first host determines the And a step of transmitting print data to the printer. 5. A printer system applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, wherein the first host requests first occupancy of the printer via the network. And a transmission unit that transmits print data to the printer based on permission of the printer from the printer in response to the request, the printer occupying the first host according to the usage status of the printer. And a notifying means for notifying the first host of the non-occupancy permission when the host other than the first host is given the occupancy permission. Printer system. 6. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein the first host further includes second requesting means for requesting the printer to release the occupation after transmitting the print data. 7. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein the printer further includes a display unit for displaying permission of the permission unit or non-permission of notification by the notification unit. . 8. A printer system applied to a system in which a plurality of hosts share a printer via a network, wherein the first host requests the printer to receive print data via the network. 1 requesting means, and a transmitting means for transmitting print data to the printer based on permission of occupancy from the printer according to the request, the printer according to the usage status of the printer. And a notifying means for notifying the first host of the non-permission of reception when the host other than the first host is given the exclusive permission. Characteristic printer system.