CN100409170C - Print controller, control method, a recoding medium, and a program for the same controller - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a technique for reducing a process load when a print job (print data) is output from a client computer to a printer side and guaranteeing the order of prints more securely than the prior art. When an occupancy request is received from a client computer (S404: YES), the printer 7 decides whether to permit occupancy (S416 to 418), and returns a response showing whether to permit or refuse occupancy on the basis of the result of the decision (S422). If the decision made is to refuse occupancy, an identifier to identify the source of the request is registered in a connection refusal information list 202 (S424). Afterwards when occupancy is released, occupancy is permitted to an occupancy request accompanied by a registered identifier (S418: YES); if not, occupancy is refused (S418: NO).

Description

Print control unit and control method

Technical field

The present invention relates to guarantee the structure of page order.

Background technology

In office environment etc., a plurality of client computers are shared the mode of a printer and are popularized.

When adopting the mode of such printer sharing, be subjected to being used for from the restriction of client computer, so, then connection can not be set if other client computer is taking printer sometimes to the linking number of printer transmission print job.

The result, there is following such problem, that is: the initial request that takies of attempting taking the client computer of printer is rejected, and next when other client computers are attempted taking printer, if taking of printer is disengaged by chance, then it has taken printer, causes the print request order inconsistent with print data transmission order.

In view of such problem, in patent documentation 1 (the flat 02-146618 communique of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open), following technology is disclosed, be the client printer of printer sharing to the print request person of sending, response comprises the bag (packet) of printing the reservation code, when printer side is finished print processing, successively the client computer request of carrying out reservation is transmitted the print data that comprises printing reservation code at every turn.

And then, in patent documentation 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 2001-014118 communique), following structure is disclosed, that is: according to print request from client computer, group is weaved in the print request person's of sending the client computer IP address and the operation ID of operation, login as the operation reservation, client computer (IP address) request of sending reservation is transmitted operation, the operation ID of this operation is included in this operation reservation.

Summary of the invention

But, in above-mentioned patent documentation 1, have problem as follows, that is, from client computer during to printer side output print operation (print data), printer side becomes main body, therefore handle becoming complicated, we can say that also there is same problem in patent documentation 2.

The present invention finishes in view of the above problems, and its purpose is, provides a kind of and alleviates from the processing load of client computer during to printer side output print operation (print data), and guarantee the structure of page order than conventional art more reliably.

The present invention finishes in view of the problem of above-mentioned conventional art.

A technical scheme of the present invention provides a kind of print control unit that can communicate by letter with signal conditioning package, it is characterized in that: comprise judging unit, receive the request that takies to print control unit of sending from above-mentioned signal conditioning package, judgement could take; The 1st response unit according to the judgement of above-mentioned judging unit, returns the above-mentioned response that could take of expression; And login unit, by above-mentioned judgment unit judges when not allowing to take, login is used to discern the above-mentioned identifier that takies the request person of sending, above-mentioned judging unit, be judged as do not allow to account for after, response takies d/d situation, when receive follow above-mentioned identifier take request the time, take request and be judged as and allow to take above-mentioned; When receiving when request of taking of not following above-mentioned identifier, take request and be judged as and do not allow to take above-mentioned.

Other characteristics of the present invention and advantage will obtain clearly by the ensuing explanation of carrying out with reference to accompanying drawing, and be in all accompanying drawings, attached with identical label to identical or similar part.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the figure of an example of the integrally-built summary of expression print system.

Fig. 2 A, 2B are the figure of an example of the printer block diagram of expression embodiment.

Fig. 3 is the figure of communication function of the network interface of presentation graphs 1.

Fig. 4 A, 4B are the figure of an example of the processing sequence of this print system of expression.

Fig. 5 is the figure of an example of the processing sequence of this print system of expression.

Fig. 6 is the figure of an example of the processing sequence of this print system of expression.

Fig. 7 is the figure of an example of the processing sequence of this print system of expression.

Fig. 8 is the figure of an example of processing sequence of the network interface 21 of presentation graphs 1.

Fig. 9 is the figure of an example of operation that expression the is used for setting network interface 21 setting picture of accepting priority.

Figure 10 is the figure of an example of the communication sequence of this print system of expression.

Figure 11 is the figure of an example of the communication sequence of this print system of expression.

Figure 12 is the figure of an example of the communication sequence of this print system of expression.

Figure 13 is the figure of an example of the communication sequence of this print system of expression.

Figure 14 is the figure of an example of the printer block diagram of expression embodiment.

Figure 15 is the figure of an example of the communication sequence of this print system of expression.

Figure 16 is the figure of an example of the communication sequence of this print system of expression.

Figure 17 is the process flow diagram of the exemplary process order of this print system.

Figure 18 is the figure that illustrates about the example of asking a message that takies.

Figure 19 is the figure that illustrates about the example of asking a message that takies.

Embodiment

Describe preferred implementation of the present invention in detail below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.Embodiment will be explained the relevant configuration of each ingredient, and except clear and definite explanation was arranged, scope of the present invention was not subjected to the numerical expression that proposes in these embodiments and the restriction of numerical value.

[the 1st embodiment]

Fig. 1 is the block diagram of summary of the system of expression present embodiment.Among the figure, PC1 and PC11 are computing machines, have CPU, storer, hard disk, floppy disk (Floppy: registered trademark) the hardware (not shown) of so-called common signal conditioning package such as driver, keyboard, mouse, monitor, network interface.In the present embodiment, below, this computing machine is called client computer.

2 and 12 is operating system, hardware that administration client 1 or 11 has and application program 3 or 13, printed driver 4 or 14, language (language) monitor 5 or 15, network port driver 6 or softwares such as 16.As representational operating system, for example can enumerate the Windows (registered trademark) of company of Microsoft (Microsoft) etc.

Application program 3 or 13 for example has such document, figure are generated and edit of word processing program (word processor); The function that the comparison film image is edited.In addition, can also carry out indicating based on the printing of the application data that generates and edited.

4 and 14 is printed drivers, reads in the print command that application program 3 or 13 sends (perhaps receiving via operating system 2 or 12), and this print command is converted to language monitor 5 or 15 or printer 7 explainable printer command.

5 and 15 is language monitor, receives the printer command of printed driver 4 or 14 outputs, sends to printer 7 via network port driver 6 or 16.In the print system based on client computer, on one side this transmission need receive the detailed status of printer, Yi Bian cooperate the printing conditions of printer to carry out, this processing is undertaken by language monitor.It is generally acknowledged that in the print system of PDL type, this processing can alleviate.

6 and 16 is network port drivers, via network interface language monitor 5 or 15 printer command of exporting is sent to printer 7, and output to language monitor 5 or 15 when receiving state (status) from printer 7.The 7th, printer carries out various processing about printing according to the printer command that receives from network port driver 6 or 16.

Fig. 2 A is the block diagram of structure of the printer 7 of presentation graphs 1 in more detail.Among the figure, the 21st, network interface receives various commands such as printer command from client computer 1 or 11.The 26th, be known as the part of printer controller, have various functions.

The 22nd, FIFO (first in first out) storer, the view data that storage receives from network interface 21.23 pairs of view data that are stored in the FIFO storer 22 of decoding circuit are decoded, and output to Printer Engine 24.Printer Engine 24 is laser printer engines, and according to the indication of control circuit 25, the view data of exporting according to decoding circuit 23 prints.The 25th, control circuit for example is made of single-chip CPU, carries out the intercommunication with network interface 21, and the control of FIFO storer 22, decoding circuit 23, Printer Engine 24.

Fig. 2 B is that expression is by the information of the network interface 21 of Fig. 2 A or printer controller 7 preservations.

The 201st, an example of priority list.Can set by Fig. 9 described later by client computer.For example, " 192.168.0.10:5 " expression IP address is " 192.168.0.10 ", and priority is " 5 ".In the present embodiment, the more little expression priority of numeral is high more.

The 202nd, connect an example of refusing information list.Each information in the tabulation, expression identification connect the identifier (may also be referred to as and connect refusal information) of the client computer that has been rejected.This connection refusal information list 202 is the information that generates in the S424 of Fig. 4 A described later.In addition, be presented at the identifier on tabulation top, expression is to login earlier in chronological order.Among the figure 203 represents timer value, (overtime (time out) for example takes place) when having satisfied predetermined condition, and corresponding identifier is deleted from connect the refusal information list.Detailed processing will illustrate in Fig. 4 B described later.

In addition, though in 202, the IP address table is shown identifier, the invention is not restricted to this.For example, also can the application client computer name, user name, MAC Address, group identifier and other identifiers etc.

Fig. 3 is the figure of structure of procotol of the network interface 21 of presentation graphs 2A.

Data are followed each agreement, and (Ethernet: registered trademark) network is imported in network interface, is imported to network in network interface then from the Ethernet of below.The top is a printer.The agreement that arrives printer is arranged, the agreement of only implementing processing in network interface is also arranged.(A) be the agreement of printing usefulness, arrive network interface by Transmission Control Protocol, network interface sends by printer interface its content to printer.Response from printer also is to the client computer loopback by Transmission Control Protocol.(B) be the agreement of resource (resource) control usefulness, this is daily record (log) information about various printers.The log information that the print processing of network interface and printer asynchronous transmission and printer is consistent, this resource information is stored in the network interface.Therefore, come the resource control agreement of automatic network, by network interface handle, loopback.(C) snmp protocol, the part that expression has the part handled till printer and network interface to handle.For other (D), (E), (F), also represent same action.

Below, an example of moving to the printing in the print system illustrated in fig. 3 at Fig. 1 is described.

At first, when the operator when the indication of client computer 1 side operating application program 3 is printed, print command is sent to printed driver 4 from application program 3 via operating system 2.Printed driver 4 is according to the print command of sending from application program 3, convert view data to and compress, with the view data after the compression, export together with view data the finish command of the end of the page or leaf initiation command of the length of the row (line) of paper size, specified bitmap data and line number etc., presentation video data.

When having exported printer command, operating system 2 passes to language monitor with the printer command of being exported successively after beginning to language monitor 5 notice operations.Language monitor 5 will take request command and send to printer 7 via network port driver 6 after operation begins.

Language monitor 5 sends to printer 7 successively with the printer command that receives after successfully taking printer.In addition, language monitor 5 is before sending to printer 7 with the view data order, and the transmit status request command is obtained the state of printer 7, confirms that the view data order can send.Language monitor 5 sends the print request order after sending 1 page printer command.Control circuit 25 is printed beginning to Printer Engine 24 indications after receiving the print request order.And language monitor 5 is under the situation of printing normal termination of expression page or leaf at the printer modes of obtaining, and discharges corresponding page memory.On the other hand, language monitor 5 is under the situation of the state representation mistake (error) that obtains, and the page or leaf of attempting never normal termination printing sends again.

Then, after sending whole pages printer command of operation, language monitor 5 not paper such as the row of grade is finished just to send to take and is removed order.In addition, language monitor 5 is after transmission takies the releasing order, also continue to obtain the state of printer 7, represent at the printer modes of obtaining under the situation of printing normal termination of page or leaf, discharge corresponding page memory, and detecting under the wrong situation, send once more and take request command, attempt restoring faulty page.

In addition, though in the explanation of the example that above-mentioned printing is moved, be illustrated with regard to the example of printed driver generation bitmap image data as print data, present embodiment is not limited thereto.For example, also can be applied to the LIPS of Canon Co., Ltd, the so-called PostScripts such as PostScript3 of Adobe Systems company, can be applied to the various forms of data that printer makes an explanation, finally writes down to recording medium.In addition,, be not limited to laser printer, can enumerate the example of the printer of ink-jet printer, other printing types as applicable printer.

Then use Fig. 4 A and Fig. 4 B that the processing of the network interface 21 (printer) of Fig. 2 A is elaborated.Below, at first the S401 to S404 to Fig. 4 A describes, and then, explanation (1) is judged as the processing under the situation that is in S404 successively, and (2) are judged as the processing under the situation not in S404, the processing of last key diagram 4B.

At first, in S401, carry out session (session) and handle.More particularly, carry out processing to the SYN in the Transmission Control Protocol.Transmission Control Protocol is as being transport layer protocol having illustrated among Fig. 3.Then, judge in S402 whether the identifier of login in connecting the refusal information list has surpassed maximal value.

In S402, if the judgment is Yes, promptly reach MAX (maximal value), then client computer is carried out RESET response (S428) at the login number that connects the client computer identifier on the refusal information list 202.Can be assumed to be value more than 0 about this MAX value.Limited by login number the client computer identifier, can conserve memory.

In addition, in the judgment processing of S402, if receive the connection request of printer control, condition responsive etc., then no matter the login number of client computer identifier how, all is judged as not via other communication port.

On the other hand, if the judgment is No, then this network interface 21 carries out the processing corresponding to the various command that receives from the outside in S402.Below, be described in detail.At first, in S403, receive the order of sending from external device (ED)s such as client computer 1, client computer 11.When in S403, being judged as when being, judge the kind of order later at S404.On the other hand, when in S403, being judged as not, processing is turned back to S401, wait for receiving order.

In S404, judge whether to receive and take request command.Particularly, the recognition command sequence number, and identification takies request command.Take the communication port that request command also can be interpreted as obtaining the communication that is used for print data herein.The result is the port that is used for print data (print job) by obtaining, and can take the function about the printer of printout.The state that below this has been taken is called seizure condition.In addition, printer receives and the communication port of responsive state request being used for, with the communication port that receives print data (print job) be not under the situation of same port, the seizure condition in this condition responsive is different with above-mentioned seizure condition.For example, the request etc. that takies from PC2 from the S602 that takies request, Fig. 6 of PC1 of the S501 of Fig. 5 is corresponding to be judged as the request from client computer that is in S404.

Below, the request that takies that receives the printer that sends from client computer is described, this takies request and is judged as being in S404, until the processing till the S422.

(1) (in S404, is judged as the situation that is)

When being judged as in S404 when being, in S415, network interface 21 (perhaps also can be printer 7) judges whether to be in seizure condition.Shown in the S601 of for example Fig. 6 like that, sending under the situation of print data (operation) from PC1, in S415, be judged as and be.

In S415, if the judgment is No, will handle to S416 and shift; If the judgment is Yes, will handle to S423 and shift.Situation about shifting to S416 at first is described.

In S416, whether judgement will login to the identifier that network interface 21 takies the client computer of request is connecting on the refusal information list 202.

In S416, if the judgment is No, S419 is transferred in processing.On the other hand, if the judgment is Yes, transfer to S417, relatively login single or a plurality of client identifier in connecting refusal information list 202, with the priority of the client identifier that takies the request person of sending.About priority, with in Fig. 2 B, illustrate the same.

If the comparative result of S417 is the priority of client identifier that takies the request person of sending, than the height that connects the client identifier in the refusal information list 202, then transfer to S419, with the printer busy of the client computer of asking the person of sending.

On the other hand, if the comparative result of S417 is the priority that takies the request person's of sending client identifier, be less than or equal to the priority that connects the client identifier in the refusal information list 202, then S418 is transferred in processing, judge whether connection refuses should preferentially to be connected the client identifier of (being equivalent to login the earliest by the time sequence) in the information list 202 consistent with the client identifier that takies the request person of sending.

If the judged result of S418 is then transferred to S419 with processing for being, to print taking of machine; If the judgment is No, S423 is transferred in processing.For example, with the corresponding judgement (S702) of the request that takies of S701 among Fig. 7, corresponding to being judged as situation not among the S418.In addition, for example, it is corresponding to be judged as the situation that is among the S802 among Fig. 8 and this S418.

In S419, obtain print data with the communication port of (perhaps print job with) (in the drawings, record and narrate for NIC the processing that takies).Then, in S420, take request, in S421, obtain response, set the corresponding therewith value (for example among described later Figure 13 be OK) of loopback of wanting to client computer to the notice of S420 from printer controller 26 to printer controller 26 notice.

In S422, the client computer that takies the request person of sending is carried out the response of the following value of setting in view of the situation in S421.At this moment, response connects (communication) from the request that takies (connection request) of S404 with current be connected (communication) that is just taking with paralleling, and 2 sessions temporarily are set.Though be illustrated in after the processing of S422, S401 is returned in processing, but under the state that temporarily is provided with connection, do not need to carry out once more the session processing of S401, the processing of S402, processing is being turned back under the situation of S401 via S409, omit the processing of S401, S402, shift to the processing of S403.

On the other hand, when in S415, being judged as when being, will handling to S423 and shift, to connect reservation.In S423,, judge whether the identifier of the client computer that has carried out the request that takies has been logined on connection refusal information list 202 by tabulation is analyzed.

When in S423, being judged as when being, will the timer value that corresponding identifier carries out timing be resetted, will handle to S427 and shift.When in S423, being judged as not, will handling to S424 and shift.

In S424, new login takies the request person's of sending client computer identifier in connecting refusal information list 202.Be used to discern the identifier that takies the request person of sending by login in this S424, can print control unit to take discharge after, if there is the request that takies follow the identifier of being logined, then is judged as and can takies; And for the request that takies of not following identifier, be judged as and can not take, can guarantee the rationality of page order more reliably.

Login client identifier with reference to client information accordingly with priority this moment.For example shown in the S604 of Fig. 6 to the appending of the identifier that connects the refusal information list, shown in the S703 of Fig. 7 to appending of the identifier that connects the refusal information list etc., all be equivalent to the processing of this S424.

In addition, to taking the priority of the client identifier of asking the person of sending, the GUI of Fig. 9 by aftermentioned figure sets, for the client computer (for example parameter being appointed as in the IP address) that does not have login in priority list, be that the lowest class (being priority 10 in the present embodiment) is logined with priority level initializing.

In S425, start the counter that is used for the identifier of new login is carried out overtime judgement.Handle and in Fig. 4 B described later, to be described in detail about the supervision of this counter.

In S427, make the client computer that takies the request person of sending of printer, connect with current being connected abreast of just taking, though can't allow to take printer, but expression carried out the order (Already Reserved order) of the reservation that takies, be set at the order that loopback is used.Under the situation of the response of carrying out this Already Reserved, also the session situation can be controlled to be temporary transient 2 sessions simultaneously, can reduce the resource of network interface 21 (printer side).

In S422, the order that will set in S427 is transmitted back to the client computer that takies the request person of sending from printer.At this moment, carry out the loopback of AlreadyReserved order in the communication layers higher than transport layer.In addition, to in Figure 13 described later, describe, receive the client computer of the loopback of Already Reserved order, and only need to cut off Transmission Control Protocol and connect, temporary transient and current be connected (communication) that is just taking connects (communication) abreast and gets final product, and can lighten the load.

Then, illustrate and in S404, be not judged as not the processing of S405 to S414, S421 and S422.

(2) (in S404, be judged as situation not)

When in S404, being judged as not, in S405, judge whether the order that receives is data dump (data clear) request command, be judged as when being, via S408, S409, processing is removed in the data buffer of carrying out in the network interface 21, and, also order is sent to printer, processing is removed in the data buffer that prints pusher side.In S421, after result is removed in the data buffer that has responded printer side, in S422, carry out loopback to client computer based on this response.In addition, though be illustrated in after the processing of S422, S401 is returned in processing, but be provided with under the state of temporary transient connection, do not need to carry out once more the session processing of S401, the processing of S402, processing is being returned under the situation of S401 via S421, omitted the processing of S401, S402, shifting to the processing of S403.

On the other hand, when in S405, being judged as not, in S406, judge whether to receive printer control command.

In S406, whether receive the judgement of printer control command.Be judged as under the situation that is, the printer control command that receives is being notified to printer from network interface 21, printer is handled according to printer control command.In S406, if the judgment is No, processing is shifted to S407.

In S407, whether receive the judgement of status request.Being judged as under the situation that is, in S409, order is sent to printer side, obtaining the state of being asked, with in response and the setting state that obtains is the state (S421) of response usefulness from printer.In S422, the state that will set in S421 is to the client computer loopback.When in S407, being judged as not, making to handle and transfer to S410.

In S410, judge whether to receive print data, if the judgment is Yes, to the order (in PostScript, also can use bitmap image data etc.) of printer side transmission print data, to carry out record based on the print engine of the print data that in S412, receives.On the other hand, when in S410, being judged as not, processing is shifted to S411.

In S411, judge whether to receive the order that setting etc. that request NIC carries out NIC itself is enclosed in the processing in the NIC itself.If the judgment is Yes, after the processing in finishing NIC, this result is set at the data (S421) that respond usefulness in S411, the data that will set in S421 in S422 respond client computer.

Then, Fig. 4 B is described.Fig. 4 B is illustrated in corresponding the taking of identifier of logining in connecting refusal information list 202 and asks not have under the submitted at the fixed time situation processing of deletion corresponding identifier.Thus, can suppress to connect refusal information list 202 needed memory spans.

In S441, judge in connecting refusal information list 202, whether there is client identifier (connecting refusal information).

In S441, if the judgment is Yes, in S422, choose initial client identifier, in S443, judge whether overtime.In addition, also can be set in the process flow diagram of Fig. 4 B, judge whether overtimely, and the invention is not restricted to this, for example both can adopt clock count, also can adopt predetermined conditions such as predetermined quantity from the request that takies of other client computers.

In S443, if the judgment is Yes, selected client identifier is deleted from connect the refusal information list.

Then, in S435, judge whether to exist next client identifier (connect refusal information),, carry out the later processing of S444 repeatedly if exist then similarly judge whether overtimely.

Deleted under the situation that connects refusal information at the process flow diagram that utilizes this Fig. 4 B, in the S416 of above explanation, be judged as and do not connect refusal information.

Process flow diagram by Fig. 4 A and Fig. 4 B can obtain following effect.

According to this print system, from client computer during to printer side output print operation (print data), the processing load that can alleviate printer side and client-side compared with the past, and, the rationality that can guarantee page order more reliably compared with the past by easy structure.

In addition, supposed that also for example LPR (Line Printer daemon protocol) like this, keep a plurality of sessions, make each client computer print machine and take request mode by the order that has kept session, but under this mode, at least need by each session, obtain the IP address corresponding, port sequence number, MAC Address, sequence number, timer information, window size, transmission byte number etc. and be used for the management of agreement socket (socket) and the information of control, need the lots of memory resource for this reason with the signal conditioning package of keeping session.As a result, printer side needs the memory area of a lot of management usefulness, and then causes the printer cost unnecessarily to rise.

And, in the present embodiment,, just can guarantee to take order to a plurality of signal conditioning packages by managing 2 sessions to this difference, save the resource of printer side, and suppress storer and use, and then can on the basis that does not reduce function, cut down the printer cost.

And then, in this print system,, be 2 sessions of temporary transient management from the time series angle, compare with the mode that continues to be provided with 2 sessions always, can further promote the saving of resource, storer, cost.

Then, each step with the process flow diagram of Fig. 4 A, Fig. 4 B describes with the block diagram of Fig. 5 to Fig. 8 is corresponding.

Fig. 5 is illustrated in printer side (network interface 21) and does not login the situation that connects refusal information list 202.In this case, in when request of taking that prints machine 7, in the S404 of Fig. 4 A, be judged as and be, in S415, be not judged as not, in S416, be judged as not, no matter which side of PC1 (client computer), PC11 (client computer) can both take printer, make printer print output from.

Fig. 6 is illustrated in printer 7 and is taken by PC1, just carries out data via the communication port of print data (print job) usefulness and sends under the state of (S601), has sent the situation (S602) of the request that takies of printer from PC2.

In S603, expression is refused to connect to the request of S602, from the situation of printer 7 to PC2 loopback Already Reserved order.

Fig. 7 is illustrated in and has carried out sending and based on this printout from the print data (print job) of the PC1 of Fig. 6, and after having carried out taking release, sends the situation of the request of taking (S701) once more from PC1.

But, in Fig. 7 and since with the PC2 of priority 3 as discernible printing reservation login connecting on the refusal information list 202, therefore, return the Already Reserved order (S702) that refusal connects to PC1 from printer 7.And then, in S703 will with the identifier that takies the corresponding PC1 of request of S701, sign in to connect together with precedence information (being priority 5 among the figure) and refuse on the information list.

Then, receive the PC1 of Already Reserved order, although the transmission of print job finishes as yet, also temporarily disconnected connects, and connects again again, carry out with S701 same take processing.

Fig. 8 represents according to login in Fig. 7 in the identifier that connects the PC2 on the refusal information list 202, the situation of preferentially carrying out the request that takies of PC2.

In S801, carry out the request that takies from PC2, the identifier of login on connection refusal information list 202 according to Fig. 7 returns the response that PC2 has taken printer from printer 7 to PC2.

In S803, from connecting the identifier of refusal information list deletion PC2.In addition, also can based on from PC2 after the printout (row's paper of final page) of the printer 7 of the print data (print job) of printer 7 output finishes, from connecting refusal information list deletion PC2.

Fig. 9 represents the GUI of priority that is used to set each client computer of network interface of the present invention.With GUI corresponding application program shown in Figure 9, both can be based on the utility routine (utility) of prior login on client computer, also can show by Web browser according to the HTML information that the Web server of using from printer is obtained.

901 are used to whether carry out taking by the print queue order setting of printing.Herein, the project settings with 901 is the processing of ON, and is corresponding with the process flow diagram of carrying out Fig. 4 A, Fig. 4 B that illustrate previously.Otherwise, be set at the processing of OFF, the process flow diagram of execution graph 4A, Fig. 4 B does not make printer carry out the printer busy processing of Figure 12.

The 902nd, be used to whether to consider the project of the setting of preferential client computer, by being ON, can set the judgment processing of S417 step in the process flow diagram that whether carries out Fig. 4 A with this project settings.Be under the situation of OFF with 902 project settings, the judged result of the S417 of Fig. 4 A will always be " low or equal ".In addition, in S424, carry out login process priority for client identifier ground.

The client identifier that 903 expressions set, 904 represent the priority to the identifier of being logined.In addition, what also illustrated as mentioned is such, and the numeral of priority low priority more is just high more.Can certainly be that to be set at the big more priority of numeral high more.

The 905th, new in priority list the input frame during the login client identifier, the 906th, set input frame corresponding to 905 priority.

Via the setting that GUI imported of this Fig. 9,, and be saved from client computer notice printer side.As preserving the position, promptly can be the predetermined storage part of network interface 21, also can be printer side.

By creating the GUI of this Fig. 9, can construct the print system flexibly of the printer environment for use that adapts to the user.

Then, use Figure 10 to Figure 13, the exchange of the information between the client computer in the present embodiment, network interface 21, the printer is described in detail.

Figure 10 represents the flow process of the various information under the situation of print request of having sent from the client computer of this print system.

The client computer of net computer among the figure-1 and Fig. 1 is corresponding, language monitor is corresponding with the language monitor of Fig. 1, network port driver is corresponding with network driver 16 among Fig. 1, and the network interface of network interface unit and Fig. 2 A is 21 corresponding, printer is corresponding with the printer 7 (except the network interface 21) of Fig. 2 A.

In the time that print data will being sent, at first carry out opening of port in language monitor (being called LM later on) by OpenCon () function.After the port monitor (network port driver) of network receives this function, by Transmission Control Protocol Syn is sent to network interface, network interface to this loopback under the situation of Ack, can communicate (corresponding to the S404 of Fig. 4 A) with network interface.What return is not that (corresponding to the S428 of Fig. 4 A) is mistake under the situation of Ack but Reset, and LM will carry out retry (retry) after this.OpenCon () function sends by Syn and connects, and after having set up connection, Reply (OK) is returned to LM.

What return is under the situation of Ack, further continues to send " Reserve " order in order to print taking of machine by WritePort (Reserve) function.WritePort () order owing to storing in the data that pass to this function, so this order is described to WritePort (Reserve).This order is a printer control command, is structured in (with reference to Fig. 3) on the application layer.For this Reserve order, need walk abreast with taking of printer with being consistent and carry out the processing that takies of network interface itself.Wait is also carried out the processing that takies in the network interface from the response of the Reserve of printer order, with its result to the loopback of client computer side.If printer be not by net computer but by the such client requests of USB and printing, then the response from printer is loopback Already Reserved, so network interface do not take, but with this error code to the printer side loopback.

After taking successfully, client computer prints obtaining of machine state by WritePort (GetStatus) function.The state of printer, if the institute of network interface high-speed cache own, then only handle also loopback and give client computer by network interface.Then, client computer is judged the state of printer, if can begin to print, sends the GoOnLine order, transfers to online (online).Afterwards, on one side the inspection state print the transmission of data on one side.Carry out end process at last.

The network interface that Figure 11 represents this print system receives the flow process of the various information under the situation of the request that obtains of status information of the request that obtains, printer of the counter information of printer from client computer.

Different during with the printing of Figure 10, do not need TCP to connect, printed driver sends the GetCounter order by WritePort (GetCounter) function to the port request of network.Network port monitor sends to network interface by UDP with the GetCounter order.Obtain counter information, need inquire, GetCounter order is sent to printer to printer, receive answer after, further will answer by UDP and transmit to the client computer side.Printed driver reads the value by the loopback of ReadPort () function, and receives the result of GetCounter order.

Under the situation that has sent the GetStatus order, client computer is also by same method receiving status information.But, return the cache information of network interface as status information.Because network interface is a state of obtaining printer asynchronously, therefore carry out such processing." asynchronous " state transfer device here is by obtaining status information from the poll (polling) of network interface 21 or from the notice of the state updating information of printer.

By obtaining of the information of carrying out like this, client computer obtains the information such as state of printing equipment, and shows.

Figure 12 is illustrated in the flow process when reception is asked from taking of a plurality of net computers in this print system, 901 of expression Fig. 9 by above explanation, the project settings that will " carry out by the preferential printing of taking of page order " is OFF, the flow process of the various information when this setting is reflected to printer side.The explanation of carrying out below the characteristic part of special extraction.

In S1201, when in the print procedure of net computer-1, under the situation that net computer-2 prints (OpenCon () function), network interface is by the connection request loopback Reset (corresponding to the S428 of Fig. 4 A) on the TCP of client computer-2.

In S1203, the language monitor of client computer-2 receive to connect not have the information (error notification) set up (S1202), and temporarily disconnected connects, and sends OpenCon () function again after the several seconds once more, attempts connection again.Like this, because temporary transient the releasing connects, therefore can alleviate the connection processing load (alleviating the load of setting up session simultaneously) of printer side.

As this action, when the connection of other client computer during this retry has been set up and begun printing,, still receive error notification even if the result causes client computer-2 to ask again to connect, will carry out retry 3 times.

According to different situations, the situation that the order of printing is obviously incured loss through delay retry also can appear carrying out repeatedly sometimes.

Figure 13 is illustrated in the flow process when reception is asked from taking of a plurality of net computers in this print system, expression is via 901 of Fig. 9 of above explanation, the project settings that will " carry out by the preferential printing of taking of page order " is ON, the flow process of the various information when this setting is reflected to printer side.The explanation of carrying out below the characteristic part of special extraction.

In S1301, when in the print procedure of client computer-1, under the situation that client computer-2 prints (OpenCon () function), network interface is by the connection request loopback Ack on the TCP of client computer-2.Client computer can be by receiving Ack, sends to printer 7 to be used to make it to carry out the request that takies of the judgement of S423 etc.These are different with Figure 12.

Afterwards in S1304, client computer-2 is owing to set up the TCP connection, therefore send Reserve order (corresponding to the order of printer reception among the S403 of Fig. 4 A), and in this case, network interface returns Already Reserved signal (corresponding to S427, the S422 of Fig. 4 A) to this order in S1305.Then, network interface will carry out this client information (identifier of client computer) that takies request and be saved in tabulation and go up (S424 that is equivalent to Fig. 4 A).

After mistake was returned in order to Reserve, the client computer side was carried out CloseCon () function in S1307, and the transmission of print data (print job) does not finish as yet, also closes the TCP that has set up and connect in S1308.Carry out retry afterwards.Like this, because temporary transient the releasing connects, the result can alleviate the connection processing load (alleviating the load of setting up session simultaneously) of printer side.

In S1309, network interface to the Reserve process of commands of this retry is, is kept at the client information in the network interface and the comparison (corresponding to S417, the S418 of Fig. 4 A) of current client information.

If from the request that takies (corresponding in S418, being judged as the situation that is) of same client machine information, then in S1310, allow to take (corresponding to S419, S420, the S421 of Fig. 4 A), and deletion is kept at the client information (corresponding to the S803 of Fig. 5) in the network interface.If from the request that takies of different client informations, then loopback Already Reserved.By like this, can make once to be rejected the client computer that takies and preferentially to take, can be by the printer busy that follow print job to send along pagination that sends of operation.

Become waiting list by the client information that makes preservation, can proofread and correct page order, the number of times of correction equals the quantity of this wait formation.Be prerequisite necessarily to carry out retry in the above-described embodiment, if certain client computer is no longer carried out the transmission again of operation, then just can't proceed from other the processing of client computer, therefore, the time that enters this wait formation is managed, under situation about till certain retry interval, not sending again, from waiting list, it is deleted (corresponding to the S444 of Fig. 4 B).

In the present embodiment, sending, discharging of the connection during printing carried out under the printer module of client computer is leading all.Though existing network interface identification to print finishes, sending TCP from network interface to the request of network port monitor thus connects, receive request back client computer and begin to print such control method, but in the method, need network port monitor that the port of certain TCP is carried out poll, monitor connection request.And in this print system, do not need above supervision.

As above, according to above-mentioned embodiment, can alleviate and load to the processing of printer side output print operation (print data) time, and guarantee page order more reliably from client computer.

[the 2nd embodiment]

In above-mentioned the 1st embodiment, such mode has been described, promptly, the communication layers (for example TCP layer) of printer side below transport layer receives the connection request from client computer, represent to connect the response of (being Ack in the time of can connecting), carrying out sending the request of taking from client computer under the situation about connecting, printer side judges that this could take, and represents the response that could take in the communication layers higher than transport layer.But, the invention is not restricted to this mode.

Also can be the order that in S404, need not judge whether to receive the request of taking, be judged as existence by the visit below the transport layer and take request, carry out the later processing of S415 at the layer higher than transport layer.Especially in the system that only allows in 1 to connect in communication, also can be set at ACK or RESET the responding of SYN, expression could take.By like this, can obtain further to simplify the effect of print system.

More particularly, the S401 to 404 of Fig. 4 A is blanket to together, if detect SYN, only need regard it as request of taking (among the S404 being) from the client computer side, carry out the later processing of S415 and get final product.

But in this case, in the processing of S419 to S422, the data that are transmitted back to the client computer side from printer side are ACK, and the data of loopback are RESET in S427 to S422.And, after having carried out connection, only need carry out the later processing of S405 and get final product.

Like this, by the message exchange of the communication below the transport layer, also can obtain the effect same with the 1st embodiment.

[the 3rd embodiment]

Then, the rational structure about the page order of in the respective embodiments described above assurance printer side main body illustrates variation.In addition, in the present embodiment, be judged as under the unallowed situation in the request that takies that receives printing equipment and to taking, the identifier that will be used to discern the request that the takies person of sending that will preferentially connect is kept at the print control unit side, and this point does not have different with above-mentioned embodiment.

The summary of the print system in the present embodiment is expressed as Figure 14.For the label identical, be set at and have the function same, and omit detailed explanation with above-mentioned embodiment with Fig. 2 A.

Arrangement certificate (numbered ticket) sends that portion 27 has in the implementation of print job or arrangement certificate management mode when activating (enable), printer receive take request after, send the function of operation arrangement certificate.

Be included in the arrangement certificate and send arrangement sequence number counter in the portion 27, the count value that will put sequence number counter when existence takies request adds 1, sends operation arrangement certificate according to this count value, asks the person's of sending client computer to respond to taking.This puts sequence number counter in order, is activated when printer is being handled the print job that receives or when arrangement certificate management mode, and every reception does not once have the request that takies of arrangement certificate, just carries out 1 count value and adds 1.

Current operation (current job) management counter 28 makes initial value identical with the value of arrangement sequence number counter, and printer is activated when putting the certificate management mode in order, the end of job each time and carry out 1 count value and add 1.In addition, when the value of arrangement sequence number counter and current task management counter is consistent, puts the certificate management mode in order and become forbidding (disable).

Receive that from printer interface the client computer of putting certificate in order will take request by poll and send to printer together with the arrangement certificate.

Printer 7 receive band arrangement certificate take request the time, operation in front finishes, and under the value of the current task management counter situation consistent with arrangement sequence number subsidiary in taking request, accept the request that takies of printer, make the client computer that takies the request person of sending deliver to print data (print job).

In operation arrangement certificate, comprise the count value and the intrinsic only title (IP address, USB ID, MAC Address etc.) of printer of for example putting sequence number counter in order herein.

Then, use the processing of the flowchart text printer 7 of Figure 15.To put in Figure 14 that certificate sends portion 27, current task management counter 28 describes as the part of the function of printer controller 26 in order, but obviously, it network interface 21 sides both can be arranged on, also can at random be configured.

At first, in S1501, the client computer of any from PC1,11,12,13 receives the request that takies.Take the reception of request for this, carry out the processing same with the S401 to 404 of Fig. 4 A.Be to judge in S1502 whether the request that takies has attached operation arrangement certificate, and this point is different with Fig. 4 A, Fig. 4 B in the process flow diagram of Figure 15.Enter S1503 when in S1502, being judged as to make when being to handle, make to handle when being judged as not to enter S1510.

At first, be that the situation that promptly receives the request that takies of not putting certificate in order describes in S1502, being judged as.

Judge in S1503 whether printer is handling print job.

In S1503, if the judgment is No, in S1509, judge whether to be arrangement certificate management mode; If the judgment is Yes, processing is shifted to S1506.

On the other hand,, processing is shifted to S1504, in S1504, carried out mode switch when in S1503, being judged as when being.More particularly, set up mark (flag), transfer to the arrangement certificate and send pattern.

The FULL that in S1505, judges the arrangement sequence number counter mark whether to be activated (corresponding to connecting the situation that refusal information has reached the MAX value among the S402 of Fig. 4 A).Be activated if be judged as, make to handle and transfer to S1521; Be not activated if be judged as, processing is shifted to S1506.

In S1506, the count value of putting sequence number counter in order is added 1, in S1507, according to the value and intrinsic value (USB ID orMAC address) the generation operation arrangement certificate of printer of the counter that counts to get among the S1506.The operation arrangement certificate that will generate in S1507 in S1508 is to the client computer loopback.

Then, in S1502, being judged as situation not, promptly receive the situation that has the request that takies of putting certificate in order and describe.

Judge in S1510 whether printer is in standby (standby) state, and holding state makes processing shift to S1511 if the judgment is Yes; Be not holding state, promptly printer is taken by certain client computer, is carrying out under the situation of print job, and processing is shifted to S1521.

In S1511, the arrangement sequence number counter value and the current Count of Jobs device value of comparisons arrangement certificate, the comparative result of analysis S1511 in S1512.

Under the situation of the arrangement sequence number counter value=current Count of Jobs device value of operation arrangement certificate, processing is shifted to S1513; Under situation in addition, processing is shifted to S1521.

In S1513, the client computer that has allowed to send the request that takies of band arrangement certificate takies printer, finishes notice as taking, and the notice client computer has been finished the preparation (DataSend:Reserve (OK) that is equivalent to S1310) that takies.

In S1515, the work data that reception is sent from the client computer that takies the person of sending (print data), in S1516, carry out printout based on the work data that has received, when in S1517, being judged as print processing when having finished, count value with current task management counter in S1518 adds 1, judges in S1519 whether arrangement sequence number management mode finishes.More particularly, at arrangement sequence number counter value=current task management Counter Value, finish under the situation of arrangement sequence number management mode forbidding, situation in addition makes processing shift to S1522.

In S1522, standby is until till the request that takies of reception from client computer, in S1523, judge that whether the renewal timer count value afterwards that follows hard on current task management counter is more than or equal to predefined timeout value.Processing is shifted when in S1523, being judged as when being to S1518; When being judged as not, S1501 is returned in processing.

When arrangement certificate management mode, after current task management counter is counted and can be accepted next operation, during certain is certain more than, do not receive under the situation of the request that takies of corresponding band arrangement certificate, for overtime.Then, current task management counter is counted, accepted the operation of next arrangement sequence number.Thus, can avoid because the sluggishness that the fault of host computer side causes operation to handle.

In S1521, send the notice that the expression refusal takies request to client computer.The notice of this expression refusal is equivalent to the S427 that for example illustrates and the Already Reserved of S422, S1305 in the 1st embodiment.Receive the client computer of the notice of this refusal connection, the connection of temporarily disconnected Transmission Control Protocol, the retry that carries out the request that takies of S1501 sends, to take printer once more.

Then, use the process flow diagram of Figure 16, the action with the process flow diagram corresponding client computer-side of Figure 15 is described.At first, in S1601, send the printing initiation command.Printing initiation command sends according to the printing indication via the user of the user interface of printed driver etc.

In S1602, the print data of carrying out based on the data that become print object generates processing.In S1602, carry out bitmap image data and generate and handle (below be called RIP).As explaining explanation in the above-described embodiments, be not limited to bitmap image data.

In S1603, generate the print job that comprises through the view data of RIP, pass to the print data sending module of client computer.

In S1604, before printer sends print job, the request of will taking earlier sends to printer.About taking Request Processing, as setting forth among the S401 to 403 of Fig. 4 A.

In S1605, judge whether to receive the notice that allows to take, promptly take and finish notice from printer interface.Receive if be judged as, will handle to S1606 and shift; If do not receive, will handle to S1611 and shift.In S1611, the print job that generates is sent to network interface 21.Receiving the printer side of this transmission, the same processing of carrying out Yu in the S412 of Fig. 4 A, illustrating.

In S1606, continue to obtain operation arrangement certificate from printer.About this operation arrangement certificate, with the same what above illustrated.

In S1607, printer is included among the S1606 request that takies of the operation arrangement certificate of obtaining from printer side.

Next in S1608, obtain the value of current task management counter from current task management counter 28.

In S1609, the value of the arrangement the sequence number whether value of judging current task management counter keeps greater than printer.If be judged as the value of the arrangement sequence number of possessing, will handle to S1612 and shift greater than printer; Shift otherwise will handle to S1610.

In S1610, judge whether to have obtained and take, take if can obtain, processing is shifted to S1611; If receive the refusal notice of the request of taking, processing shifted to S1614.

In S1614, the sequence number of the operation arrangement certificate that calculate the value of the current task management counter obtain in S1608, keeps with printer poor if difference is big, then increases stand-by time, shortens stand-by time along with the minimizing of difference later at every turn.Thus, can further reduce the generation of the unnecessary traffic (traffic).In the present embodiment, owing to be to manage indirectly in printer side via the task management certificate to be used to discern the identifier that takies the request person of sending, therefore can realize the processing of the adjustment of stand-by time in the client computer side.

Herein, the corresponding relation of the increase and decrease of difference and stand-by time can be set from the guidance panel of printer main body or from client computer is long-range by user's indication.

Then, in S1613, carry out standby according to the stand-by time of in S1614, setting and handle.The standby processing is carried out the later processing of S1607 after finishing repeatedly.

On the other hand, in S1609, be judged as under the situation that is, in S1612, carry out the discarded of operation arrangement certificate.This is corresponding to the overtime judgment processing of for example passing through the S1523 of Figure 15, the taking request of the response client computer of controlling oneself and the sequence number of the operation arrangement certificate that sends is left in the basket, contingent action when printer side is waited for the sequence number of operation arrangement certificate of next operation.When having carried out operation arrangement certificate discarded in S1612, client computer takies request once more in S1604.

[the 4th embodiment]

In the respective embodiments described above, to PC1,11 and printer 7 print system of having carried out communicating to connect be illustrated.But, the invention is not restricted to this.Can suppose the more applications example.

For example, above-mentioned printer can also be used as can with the printing server of a plurality of printer communication, use above-mentioned each the order and process flow diagram.By like this, can similarly alleviate the load of printing server with the 1st embodiment, the result can obtain for example both to have realized printer server cheaply, and the part that printer server will be lightened the load is carried out other effects such as processing.

And, as other application examples, except client computer and print system that printer service is connected, can also suppose the client computer in the 1st embodiment, be used as the mode of the printer service in the middle of a plurality of client computers and a plurality of printer.

Thus, can alleviate the processing load of the client computer in the respective embodiments described above, simplify software configuration etc., and then can obtain same effect, load as the processing that can alleviate print service, and the software configuration of simplification print service etc.

[the 5th embodiment]

In the respective embodiments described above, " Already Reserved " information representation printer is taken by other client computers, perhaps takies reservation and logins.Particularly, illustrated, from printer main body response Already Reserved order as the response of the request that takies under the situation that can't take for client computer.

In the present embodiment,, illustrate, send the situation of different responses from printer main body according to having or not login to comprise the connection refusal information of the identifier of other client computers as application examples further.Below, illustrate on the basis of " Already Reserved " information, also return the concrete example of " New Registered " information, " Already Registered " etc.And, in the present embodiment, receive client computer from the response message of printer side, obtaining from printer side is that who takies (printing), the operation that takies is details such as which type of operation.In addition, this is obtained by other communication port different with the communication port that is used for " Already Reserved " information etc. and is undertaken.Particularly, at first,, be issued to printer side from client computer via above-mentioned other ports as " job information obtains order " that in S406, S1706, be judged as one of printer control command.In S406, S1706, receive the NIC of " job information obtains order ", the job information control command that receives is transmitted to printer, receive response from printer to it, the information of this reception is transmitted back to client computer.In being transmitted back to the information of client computer, comprise job name corresponding to the operation of printing, operation owner's name, sent the client computer name of operation etc.Figure 18 described later, Figure 19 are based on the information of the information demonstration of this operation of printing.

Then, on one side with reference to the process flow diagram of Figure 17, the processing of the network interface 21 (printer) of further explanatory drawings 2A on one side.In addition, herein to being elaborated with Fig. 4 A, place that Fig. 4 B is different.

At first, the processing of S1701 to S1721, identical with the explanation in Fig. 4 A, Fig. 4 B basically, therefore omit detailed explanation.Below, be that prerequisite describes in S1715, to be judged as the situation that is or in S1718, to be judged as situation not.

After in S1723, not being judged as not, the identifier of identification client computer appended to sign in to connecting in the refusal information.Then, via S1724 to S1725, in S1727, will there be the information setting that takies reservation that takies reservation, carried out taking the request person's of sending client computer by printer main body of other client computer to be response to client computer.More particularly, printer main body on the basis of " Already Reserved ", also is provided with " New Registered ".The client computer that takies the request person of sending is given in the value loopback that will be provided with in S1727 in S1722 then.

On the other hand, being judged as the situation that is in S1723, is that other client computer has been logined situation about refusing in the information list connecting.In this case, will carry out taking the information of reservation, be set to from printer main body to the loopback value that takies the request person of sending client computer by other client computer.More particularly, in S1728, on the basis of AlreadyReserved, Already Registered also is set by printer main body.The client computer that takies the request person of sending is given in the value loopback that will be provided with in S1728 in S1722 then.

Then, the information about printer busy can be obtained and show to client computer simply by obtain the value (information) that is provided with in above-mentioned S1727, S1728.For example, can suppose that also the client computer side use communication port different with the communication port that takies request obtains the mode about the details of printer busy.But, according to aforesaid way, need not to carry out such processing, can discern occupancy to a certain extent, take the reservation situation.

In addition, after the value that is provided with is sent to client computer from printer side,, and close the TCP connection in S1727, S1728 from client computer output TCP:Fin.About the processing of this " TCP:Fin ", as illustrating among the above-mentioned S1308.Close the processing that TCP connects by this, can " Already Reserved " geometric ratio transport layer is higher or the message of the communication layers more than the transport layer, offer each of a plurality of client computer of having carried out the request that takies.That is, make the occupancy of printer side be taken the reservation situation by the client computer utilization more than the Finite Number by limited linking number,, easily be notified to client computer by being used to the communication port of the request that takies.

Figure 18, Figure 19 represent to handle the message example that shows according to the response of the S1722 of above-mentioned Figure 17 in client computer.

The S1801 of Figure 18, the demonstration example of the client computer of expression when printer side receives the value that is provided with via the communication port that takies request among S1727.More particularly, be that client computer receives " Already Reserved+New Register ", and show an example of corresponding therewith information.In 1801, the expression printing equipment is taken by other client computer, and can take reservation.In addition, as the message example, being not limited to the represented character string of Figure 18, also can be other character strings.And, can also be graphic demonstrations such as figure, photo.

In addition, the demonstration of 1802 expressions " information of the operation of printing " that obtains from printer side based on client computer.Should " information of the operation of printing ", the same with in explanation above obtained via the communication port different with the communication port of the information that is used for " Already Reserved " etc. by client computer.The information of the operation of printing is the information about the current print job of handling of printer, in 1802, comprises Job Details such as number of print pages.

On the other hand, 1901 among Figure 19 is illustrated in from printer side and receives under the situation of the value that is provided with the demonstration example of client computer via the communication port that takies request among S1728.Be that client computer receives " Already Reserved+Already Registered ", Dui Ying demonstration therewith.In 1901, the expression printing equipment is taken by other client computer, and also can't take reservation.In addition, as the message example, being not limited to the represented character string of Figure 19, also can be other character strings.And, can also be graphic demonstrations such as figure, photo.

The 1902nd, the demonstration example of " my job information ", particularly, expression waiting status (the 2nd waiting status) etc.Owing to the job information that client computer itself has been sent or be scheduled to send is kept in the storer, therefore do not need to obtain above-mentioned " my job information " from printer side specially.

Like this, by the process flow diagram of Figure 17, even client computer is not obtained the information of the operation of printing especially via predetermined port, also can with take Request Processing interlocking ground, easily obtain printer side occupancy, take the reservation situation.And the result notification that this can be obtained is given the user.In addition, also can obtain same effect by the process flow diagram of Fig. 4 A, Fig. 4 B.

And then client computer if desired, just can be obtained detailed job information and it is notified to the user by obtaining the information of the operation of printing.

On the one hand, in the respective embodiments described above,, cut off communication session from the client computer side, but also can cut off communication session from printer side as shown in the S1308 of Figure 13.

[other embodiments]

The procedure code of the software of the function by will being used to realize above-mentioned embodiment offers device or the intrasystem computing machine that is connected with various device, make above-mentioned various device action, to realize the function of above-mentioned embodiment, by make above-mentioned various device move situation about implementing according to the program in the computing machine that is stored in this system or device (CPU or MPU), be also contained in the category of the present invention.

In this case, the procedure code of above-mentioned software itself is realized the function of above-mentioned embodiment, and this procedure code itself and the device that is used for this procedure code is offered computing machine for example, have been stored the recording medium of this procedure code, constitutes the present invention.Recording medium as this procedure code of record can use for example floppy disk, hard disk, CD, photomagneto disk, CD-ROM, tape, non-volatile storage card, ROM etc.

And, only do not carry out the procedure code that is provided by computing machine, realize the function of above-mentioned embodiment, this procedure code and running OS (operating system) on computers or with the situation of the common function that realizes above-mentioned embodiment such as other application software under, this procedure code is also contained in the embodiments of the present invention.

And, the present invention also comprise the procedure code that provided be written to the expansion board of inserting computing machine, with the storer that functional expansion unit had that computing machine is connected after, the CPU that this expansion board, functional expansion unit had etc., indication according to this procedure code, part or all of the processing that execution is actual handled the situation of the function that realizes above-mentioned embodiment by this.

Claims (18)

1. the print control unit that can communicate by letter with signal conditioning package is characterized in that, comprising:

Judging unit receives the request that takies to print control unit of sending from above-mentioned signal conditioning package, and judgement could take;

The 1st response unit according to the judgement of above-mentioned judging unit, returns expression and could carry out the above-mentioned response that takies; And

The login unit, by above-mentioned judgment unit judges when not allowing to take, login is used to discern the above-mentioned identifier of asking the person of sending that takies;

Wherein, above-mentioned judging unit, be judged as do not allow to take after, response takies d/d situation, when receive be attended by above-mentioned identifier take request the time, take request and be judged as and allow to take above-mentioned; When receiving when request of taking of not following above-mentioned identifier, take request and be judged as and do not allow to take above-mentioned.

2. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Also comprise the 2nd response unit, receive from signal conditioning package when the connection request that print control unit sends, return the response that expression could connect,

Above-mentioned signal conditioning package is according to the response of above-mentioned the 2nd response unit, when this response is the request of taking of sending in the time of can connecting.

3. print control unit according to claim 2 is characterized in that:

The response of above-mentioned the 2nd response unit is in transport layer or the transmission of the communication layers under it, and the response of above-mentioned the 1st response unit is in the communication layers transmission than the transmission floor height.

4. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

The response of above-mentioned the 1st response unit is the order in transport layer or the transmission of the communication layers under it.

5. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned signal conditioning package according to the response of above-mentioned the 1st response unit, when response is can not take the time, even the transmission of print job finishes also to cut off from the connection of signal conditioning package to print control unit as yet, and rebulids connection.

6. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Also comprise delete cells, when under predetermined condition, do not receive corresponding with the identifier that has carried out login by above-mentioned login unit when taking request, the deletion corresponding identifier.

7. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Be released above-mentioned taking, and had under the situation of identifier by login unit login, as new when taking request, above-mentioned judging unit will be corresponding to the priority of the identifier of this new request that takies, compare with the priority of above-mentioned listed identifier, relatively judge based on this.

8. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

According to setting indication, set and above-mentioned identifier corresponding priorities from above-mentioned signal conditioning package.

9. print control unit according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned signal conditioning package is according to the response display message of above-mentioned the 1st response unit.

10. the control method that takies order of a printer is characterized in that, comprising:

The 1st determining step receives the request that takies of the print control unit that sends from signal conditioning package, and judgement could take;

The 1st response of step according to the judgement of above-mentioned the 1st determining step, is returned expression and could be carried out the above-mentioned response that takies;

Login step is being judged as by above-mentioned the 1st determining step when not allowing to take, and login is used to discern the above-mentioned identifier that takies the request person of sending; And

The 2nd determining step does not allow to take back response and takies and be released this situation being judged as, when receive be attended by above-mentioned identifier take request the time, be judged as and allow to take; Do not allow to take when receiving when request of taking of not following above-mentioned identifier, being judged as.

11. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

Also comprise the 2nd response of step, receive from signal conditioning package when the connection request that print control unit sends, return the response that expression could connect,

Above-mentioned signal conditioning package is according to the response of above-mentioned the 2nd response of step, when this response is the request of taking of sending in the time of can connecting.

12. control method according to claim 11 is characterized in that:

The response of above-mentioned the 2nd response of step is in transport layer or the transmission of the communication layers under it, and the response of above-mentioned the 1st response of step is in the communication layers transmission than the transmission floor height.

13. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

The response of above-mentioned the 1st response of step is the order in transport layer or the transmission of the communication layers under it.

14. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned signal conditioning package according to the response of above-mentioned the 1st response of step, when response is can not take the time, even the transmission of print job finishes also to cut off from the connection of signal conditioning package to print control unit as yet, and rebulids connection.

15. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

Also comprise the deletion step, when under predetermined condition, do not receive corresponding with the identifier that has carried out login by above-mentioned login step when taking request, the deletion corresponding identifier.

16. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

Be released above-mentioned taking, and have under the situation of identifier by the login step login, when new taking asked, above-mentioned the 2nd determining step will be corresponding to the priority of the identifier of this new request that takies, compare with the priority of above-mentioned listed identifier, relatively judge based on this.

17. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

According to setting indication, set and above-mentioned identifier corresponding priorities from above-mentioned signal conditioning package.

18. control method according to claim 10 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned signal conditioning package is according to the response display message of above-mentioned the 1st response of step.

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