JP2000122827A - Method and device for selecting printers - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer selecting method and device which select a printer by reflecting not only the performance and situation of a printer but also a user's request. SOLUTION: A priority calculating part 14 calculates the priorities of printers based on a user's request in which weight and limiting value are utilized in addition to the function and situation of the printers acquired by a printer information detecting part 11 and shows them on a displaying and inputting part 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting a printer, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for selecting an optimum printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a distributed system constructed by networking, a plurality of printers are connected to a network. These printers do not always have the same function and performance, and a plurality of types of printers are often connected.

For this reason, when printing, the user needs to select a printer suitable for the job. For example, when performing color printing, it is necessary to select a color printer, and when performing printing with high image quality, it is necessary to select a high resolution printer.

[0004] However, it is more difficult to grasp all the functions and performances of a plurality of printers as the number of printers increases, and the user uses only printers within a range that the user can know. Therefore, not only is it difficult to select an optimal printer, but also a printer that has the same function is congested while one is congested and the other is vacant. .

[0005] Therefore, as a technique for solving the above-mentioned problems, a "printer selecting apparatus" described in JP-A-6-161885 and a "printing apparatus selecting method and data processing" described in JP-A-7-220215 are disclosed. Network "has been proposed. A “printer selection device” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-161685 acquires information such as the characteristics of each printer on a network, and automatically selects a printer by performing a search under predetermined conditions. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-220215 discloses a “printing device selection method and data processing network” that acquires the performance and status of each printer on the network, the distance to the printer, and the like, ranks the printers, The printer ranked higher is displayed as a candidate, and the user is allowed to select a desired printer.

[0006]

As described above, in the prior art, a printer is selected based on information such as the performance of the printer and the status of the spool (waiting time). Printers are not always what the user desires. For example, when selecting a printer capable of high-speed output with high image quality, the printer to be selected is different depending on whether high-quality or high-speed is prioritized. However, the priority is often different depending on the user. Therefore, it can be said that only information on the performance and status of the printer is insufficient for the user to select a truly desired printer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printer selection method and apparatus capable of selecting a printer by reflecting not only the performance and status of the printer but also a user's request.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer selecting method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network. And obtaining the operation status, calculating the priority of each of the plurality of printers based on the obtained function and operation status, and creating and displaying a list of the plurality of printers based on the calculated priority. Features.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the priority is determined in consideration of weight information determined in advance by a result of a questionnaire given to a user. And

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the priority is determined in consideration of limit value information for suppressing use of a predetermined function among the functions. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the priority is determined in consideration of a limit value for restricting use of a predetermined printer among the plurality of printers. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a printer selection device for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, a printer information acquisition unit for acquiring functions and operation statuses of the plurality of printers, Priority calculating means for calculating the priority of each of the plurality of printers based on the function and operation status obtained by the printer information obtaining means; and the plurality of printers based on the priority calculated by the priority calculating means. And a list creation display means for creating and displaying the list.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the priority calculating means determines the priority by referring to weight information determined in advance by a result of a questionnaire given to the user. It is characterized in that it is calculated.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the priority calculating means calculates the priority by referring to limit value information for restricting use of a predetermined function among the functions. It is characterized by doing.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the priority calculating means is configured to determine the priority by referring to limit value information for restricting use of a predetermined printer among the plurality of printers. Is calculated.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a printer selection method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer selection device. The printer selection device includes a server 1 and a client 2 connected to the server 1 via a network. The server 1 includes a printer information detecting unit 1
1 and an output relationship database 12, a display relationship database 13, a priority calculation unit 14, a candidate list creation unit 15, and a display screen creation unit 16.
Comprises a display / input unit 21.

The printer information detecting section 11 acquires information (performance, status, etc.) of each of a plurality of printers connected to the network, and the output relation database 12 stores information on the printer acquired by the printer information detecting section 11. Store. In addition, the display relation database 13 displays and displays
Information for creating a display screen to be displayed on the input unit 21 is stored, and the priority calculation unit 14
The priority of each printer is determined based on the information about the printer stored in the client 2, the document format information 25 of the document to be printed passed from the client 2, and the request setting 26 input from the display / input unit 21 by the user. calculate. The candidate list creation unit 15 creates and displays a printer candidate list suitable for a document to be printed based on the priority calculated by the priority calculation unit 14 and information on the printer stored in the output relation database 12. The screen creation unit 16 creates a ranking candidate selection screen 27 based on the candidate list created by the candidate list creation unit 15 and information stored in the display relation database 13, and displays it on the display / input unit 21. The display / input unit 21 displays necessary information to the user and inputs an instruction from the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a network to which the server 1 and the client 2 are connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the network 10 is connected to a server 1, a plurality of clients 2 (2-1 to 2-n), and a plurality of printers 3 (3-1 to 3-m).
When printing a document created or edited from the client 2, an appropriate printer must be selected from the printers 3-1 to 3-m.
0, the server 1 creates an appropriate printer list based on the performance and status of the printer and the user's request and displays it on the client 2 as described above, so that the user selects a desired printer from the displayed list. Just do it. It should be noted that other servers and scanners can be connected to the network 10 as a matter of course.

Next, the operation of the server 1 will be described.
The server 1 calculates the priority of the printer 3 based on the performance and status of the printer 3 and a request from a user, and creates an appropriate printer list. Hereinafter, the printers 3 connected to the network 10 are “black and white large”, “black and white composite”, “black and white only”, “black and white small”, “color large”,
In the following description, it is assumed that there are six “color” printers, and there are user-specific requests and user-wide requests (for example, company) as user requests.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing examples of printer information (performance, operation status, etc.) obtained by the printer information detection unit 11 of the server 1. FIG. Printer information detector 11
As shown in the figure, the distance from each printer to the seat A (for example, the position of the client 2-1), the presence or absence of a duplex printing function, the availability of OHP output, the speed of color printing, the speed of monochrome printing, and the resolution , The number of recycled paper in the paper tray, the number of plain paper in the paper tray, the number of high-quality paper in the paper tray, and the spool status of the job.
To 100 and stored in the output relation database 12.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a request of the whole user such as a company. In this example, the request is stored in the output relation database as a limit value of 0 or 1. The limit value is used such that 1 indicates no limit and the priority decreases as the value approaches 0. It should be noted that FIG. 7A shows the limit values for the use of paper and the use of the duplex printing function, and FIG. 9B shows the limit values for the power consumption.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a request individually made by the user. FIG. 7A shows an example of a request when a user prints a document to be printed as a test print for self-confirmation, and requests a high-speed printing on both sides of recycled paper from a printer close to the user's seat. are doing.

FIG. 2B shows an example of a request when the user prints a document to be printed for submission. The user can easily print (in high resolution) a color image on plain paper at high speed. Is demanding.

Further, the requests individually made by the users include those shown in FIG.
Are weighted as shown in (1), and a printer closer to the user's request can be selected with fewer setting items. The weight shown in FIG. 7 may be the same for the entire user or for a plurality of users, or may be different for each user. In addition, the weight may be determined based on the user's usage record, or a questionnaire may be taken in advance, and the weight may be determined from the result.

Here, the operation of the server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of the operation of the server 1. Server 1
Starts operation based on a printer selection request from the client 2 (step 101), and the priority calculation unit 14 acquires printing conditions such as the document format information 25 and the request setting 26 from the client 2 (step 102).

Next, the priority calculation unit 14 creates a list of request items (see FIG. 6) based on the obtained request setting 26, and sets the number of items RN (step 10).
3).

Subsequently, the printer information detecting section 11 detects the printer 3 on the network 10 and acquires the functions and status of the printer 3 and stores them in the output relation database 12, which is acquired by the priority calculating section 14. Printer number PN
Is set (step 104). Next, the priority calculation unit 14 initializes a variable i to 1 (step 105), and further initializes variables d and j to 1 (step 106).

Next, the priority calculation section 14 refers to the information on the printer 3 stored in the output relation database 12 and checks whether or not the printer Pi has a function corresponding to the request Rj (step 107). . If the printer Pi has a function corresponding to the request Rj (step 1
07 (YES), the function value of the printer Pi (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is obtained (step 108), and the printer P
If there is no function corresponding to the request Rj in i (NO in step 107), the function value of the function to substitute for the function is acquired (step 109), and the value of the variable d is incremented (step 110). . After completing the acquisition of the function value, the priority calculation unit 14 acquires the weight for the request Rj (Step 111), and increments the value of the variable j (Step 112).

The processes in steps 107 to 112 are repeated until the value of the variable j exceeds the value of the number of required items RN, that is, until the acquisition of the function values and weights for all the required items is completed (step 107). NO at 113),
When the value of the variable j exceeds the value of the number of items RN (step 11)
3 (YES), a limit value (see FIG. 5) is obtained (step 114).

Subsequently, the priority calculation unit 14 calculates the priority of the printer Pi from the acquired function values, weights, limit values, and the like (step 115), and uses the value of the variable d indicating the number of function substitutions. The priority is subtracted (step 116), and the variable i
Is incremented (step 117). Note that examples of priority calculation and subtraction will be described later.

Next, if the value of the variable i does not exceed the value of the number of printers PN (NO in step 118), the process returns to step 106 and repeats the same processing. Of the printer 3 is calculated.

If the value of the variable i exceeds the value of the number of printers PN by repeating this process, that is, if the calculation of the priority for all printers is completed (YE in step 118).
S), the candidate list creating unit 15 creates a list by sorting the printers 3 in ascending or descending order of priority (step 1).
19), based on this list, the display screen creation unit 16 creates a ranking candidate selection screen 27 by referring to information (including components necessary for screen display such as icons) of the display relation database 13 and displays / inputs it. Is displayed on the section 21 (step 1
20), and terminate the process (step 121).

Next, the calculation of the priority in step 115 and the subtraction of the priority in step 116 will be described. When the user makes a request for performing self-confirmation printing shown in FIG. 6A, the priority calculation unit 14 determines that the function value “distance from the seat A” corresponding to the request item “near me” And the function value "black and white printing speed" and the function value "job status" corresponding to the request item "fast" (In order to print quickly, not only the printer speed but also a printer with few spooled jobs is desirable. Therefore, the function value “double-sided function” corresponding to the requested item “double-sided” and the function value “sheet-feed tray recycled sheet number” corresponding to the requested item “recycled paper” are obtained, and the weight for each function value is obtained. . Expression using the limit value and the number of times of substitution in addition to the acquired function value and weight (distance from seat A × weight + (black and white printing speed−job state))
X weight + double-sided function x weight + number of recycled sheets in paper feed tray x weight) x paper limit value x double-sided limit value x power limit value / substitute number

Therefore, in the case of a "large black-and-white" printer, the distance from the seat A is 0 and its weight is 1.16 (1+
0.16, see FIG. 7), the black-and-white printing speed is 75, the job status is 80, their weight is 1.25, and the duplex function is 100.
, The weight is 1.14, the number of recycled sheets in the feed tray is 80, and the weight is 1 (since there is no weight as shown in FIG. 7). The value is 1 for use of the double-sided function, the power limit value is 0.6 which is specific to the “large black and white” printer, and the substitute number is 1 because substitute is not performed (see FIG. 8, the value of d is the initial value 1). is there. Therefore,
The priority is (0 × 1.16 + (75−80) × 1.25 + 100 ×
1.14 + 80 × 1) × 1 × 1 × 0.6 / 1 = 145.

Similarly, a "black and white composite" printer is: (50 × 1.16 + (80-100) × 1.25 + 10
0 × 1.14 + 100 × 1) × 1 × 1 × 0.7 ÷ 1 = 1
73 The “black and white only” printer is: (30 × 1.16 + (50−90) × 1.25 + 100
× 1.14 + 50 × 1) × 1 × 1 × 0.8 ÷ 1 = 119.

Further, since the "black and white small size" printer does not have a double-sided function, it can be replaced with a single-sided function.
The function value “single-sided function” is used instead of the function value “double-sided function”, and the double-sided limit value is set to 0.7 for single-sided use, and the number of substitutes is set to 2. (100 × 1.16 + (10−10) × 1.25 + 0) ×
1.14 + 40 × 1) × 1 × 0.7 × 1 ÷ 2 = 55

Furthermore, since the "large color" printer does not have a double-sided function and cannot use recycled paper, the printer is replaced with a single-sided function and plain paper. The function value "single-sided function" is used instead of the function value "paper tray recycled paper", and the function value "paper tray plain paper" is used. .7, the number of substitutions is 3, and (70 × 1.16 + (100−70) × 1.25 + 0 ×
1.14 + 70 × 1) × 0.6 × 0.7 × 0.4 / 3 =
Similarly, the “color” printer uses the function value “single-sided function” and the function value “paper tray plain paper”, sets the paper limit to 0.6 for plain paper, the double-sided limit to 0.7 for single-sided use, Assuming that the number of times of substitution is 3, (10 × 1.16 + (23−40) × 1.25 + 0 ×
1.14 + 100 × 1) × 0.6 × 0.7 × 0.5 ÷ 3
= 6.

The priority calculated in this manner is further normalized to 0 to 100, and is displayed as a ranking candidate selection screen 27 as shown in FIG.
To be displayed.

When the user makes a request for printing for submission shown in FIG. 6B, the priority calculation unit 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a function value “color print speed” and a function value “job status” corresponding to the request item “fast” and the request item “color”, a function value “resolution” corresponding to the request item “look”, and a request item “ The function value “sheet feed tray normal sheet number” corresponding to “plain paper” is obtained, and the weight for each function value is obtained. Expression using the limit value and the number of substitutes in addition to the acquired function value and weight (resolution × weight + (color printing speed−job state) × weight + paper tray plain paper × weight) × paper limit × double-side limit ×
Calculate the priority by the power limit / substitution number.

Therefore, in the case of a "large black and white" printer, (25 * 1.23 + (75-80) * 1.25 + 40 *
1) × 0.9 × 0.7 × 0.6 / 2 = 12 The “black and white composite” printer is (66 × 1.23 + (80−100) × 1.25 + 20
× 1) × 0.9 × 0.7 × 0.7 ÷ 2 = 17 The “black and white only” printer is (100 × 1.23 + (50−90) × 1.25 + 50
× 1) × 1 × 0.7 × 0.8 ÷ 3 = 23 The “black and white small” printer is (25 × 1.23 + (10−10) × 1.25 + 40 ×
1) × 1 × 0.7 × 1 ÷ 3 = 17 “Large color” printer is calculated as (15 × 1.23 + (100−70) × 1.25 + 70
× 1) × 0.9 × 0.7 × 0.4 ÷ 1 = 32 The “color” printer is (15 × 1.23 + (23−40) × 1.25 + 100
× 1) × 0.9 × 0.7 × 0.5 ÷ 1 = 31, and further normalized to 0 to 100,
It is displayed on the display / input unit 21 as a ranking candidate selection screen 27 as shown in FIG.

Note that the calculation formulas shown here are merely examples, and any formulas such as weights and limit values that can reflect the user's intention may be used. In addition, printers with a large number of substitutions are excluded from the list, and settings that cannot be substituted, for example, prohibition of substituting color printing with black and white printing, are prohibited. It may be excluded.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to the function and status of the printer, the priority of the printer is calculated and displayed based on the user's request using the weight and the limit value. Thus, the user can easily select a printer reflecting his or her own requirements without grasping the functions and status of each printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer selection device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a network to which a server 1 and a client 2 are connected.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (1) illustrating an example of printer information (performance, operation status, and the like) acquired by a printer information detection unit 11 of a server 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram (2) illustrating an example of printer information (performance, operation status, and the like) acquired by the printer information detection unit 11 of the server 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a request of the entire user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request individually performed by a user.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of weights.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (1) showing the flow of the operation of the server 1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (2) showing the flow of the operation of the server 1.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an output example of a ranking candidate selection screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 server 2, 2-1 to 2-n client 3, 3-1 to 3-m printer 10 network 11 printer information detection unit 12 output relation database 13 display relation database 14 priority calculation unit 15 candidate list creation unit 16 display screen Creation unit 21 Display / input unit 25 Document format information 26 Request setting 27 Ranking candidate selection screen

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printer selection method for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, comprising: acquiring functions and operating states of the plurality of printers; and acquiring the plurality of printers based on the acquired functions and operating states. A printer selection method, wherein the priority of each printer is calculated, and a list of the plurality of printers is created and displayed based on the calculated priority. 2. The printer selection method according to claim 1, wherein the priority is determined in consideration of weight information determined in advance by a result of a questionnaire given to a user. 3. The printer selection method according to claim 1, wherein the priority is determined in consideration of limit value information for suppressing use of a predetermined function among the functions. 4. The printer selection method according to claim 1, wherein the priority is determined in consideration of a limit value for suppressing use of a predetermined printer among the plurality of printers. 5. A printer selection device for selecting a desired printer from a plurality of printers connected to a network, wherein the printer information obtaining means obtains functions and operation statuses of the plurality of printers, and the printer information obtaining means obtains Priority calculating means for respectively calculating the priorities of the plurality of printers based on the function and the operating status, and creating and displaying a list of the plurality of printers based on the priority calculated by the priority calculating means A printer selection device comprising: 6. The printer selection method according to claim 5, wherein the priority calculation means calculates the priority by taking into account weight information determined based on a result of a questionnaire given to a user in advance. apparatus. 7. The printer selection device according to claim 5, wherein the priority calculation unit calculates the priority by referring to limit value information for suppressing use of a predetermined function among the functions. . 8. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the priority calculating unit calculates the priority in consideration of limit value information for restricting use of a predetermined printer among the plurality of printers. Selection device.