JP2000148433A - Information processing system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system which can improve its working efficiency by detecting the remaining quantity of a recording medium to be printed and comparing this remaining quantity with the reference value to notify the remaining quantity of the recording medium. SOLUTION: At the side of a printer, a request is received and an operation is started to detect the remaining number of sheets of a recording medium (S510), and the detected number of remaining sheets of the recording medium is transmitted to a computer terminal (S511). At the side of the computer terminal, the received number of remaining sheets of the recording medium is displayed (S503). Then the set number of print sheets that is previously inputted is compared with the current number of sheets of the recording medium (S505). If the number of sheets of the recording medium is smaller than the set number of sheets, a warning is shown to an operator via a display device, etc., (S506). Thus, it's possible to prevent such a case where the recording medium becomes deficient in a print mode and the printing operation is temporarily discontinued.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method capable of displaying the remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed by a printing apparatus on a computer terminal before a printing operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing apparatus for printing a plurality of prints having the same contents, generally, a specified number of recording media (transfer papers) must be sequentially supplied into the apparatus.

In such a printing apparatus, the recording operation is stopped when it is detected that the recording medium has run out, and
Display a warning or the like to the operator.

[0004] When this warning is displayed, the operator generally supplies paper and then resumes the recording operation.

[0005]

However, in recent years,
While it is required for such a printing apparatus to be able to perform recording in real time, a conventional printing apparatus performs a recording operation when the remaining amount of the recording medium is exhausted during the printing operation. It is necessary to stop the recording operation and supply the recording medium by the operator, and there is a problem that the recording operation must be interrupted for the time required for the operation.

Further, during a printing operation, the operator must sequentially monitor warnings such as the absence of paper displayed on a computer terminal or the like, which may cause a reduction in work efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information processing system and an information processing method capable of improving work efficiency by issuing a paper-out warning of the number of sheets to be set relative to the number of sheets to be printed before a printing operation. is there.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information processing system for exchanging information between a printing apparatus and an information processing terminal via communication means, wherein the information processing system is provided in the printing apparatus and prints information. Remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the recording medium; comparing means provided in the information processing terminal for comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value; An information processing system is configured by including the quantity notifying means.

The present invention also relates to an information processing system for exchanging information between a printing apparatus and an information processing terminal via a communication means, wherein the information processing system is provided in the printing apparatus and has a recording medium to be printed. Remaining amount detecting means for detecting the amount, comparing means for comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value,
An information processing system is configured by including a remaining amount notifying unit that is provided in the information processing terminal and notifies the remaining amount of the recording medium.

The present invention also relates to an information processing method for exchanging information between a printing device and an information processing terminal via a communication means, wherein the printing device determines the remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed. The information processing terminal further includes a remaining amount detecting step of detecting, a comparing step of comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value, and a remaining amount notifying step of notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium. Thus, an information processing method is provided.

The present invention also relates to an information processing method for exchanging information between a printing device and an information processing terminal via a communication means, wherein the printing device determines the remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed. The information processing terminal further includes a remaining amount detecting step of detecting, a comparing step of comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value, and a remaining amount notifying step of notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium in the information processing terminal. Thus, an information processing method is provided.

Also, the present invention provides a computer
A medium in which a program for performing transfer control of print data is recorded, wherein the control program is stored in a computer.
Providing a recording medium on which a transfer control program is recorded by detecting the remaining amount of the recording medium to be printed, comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value, and notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium. I do.

[0013] Here, when the print start button is pressed, the comparing means compares the remaining number of the recording medium with a preset number of prints. A warning can be displayed for the remaining number of recording media.

[0014] The printing apparatus may have means for printing on a plurality of recording media by transferring image data once.

[0015]

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

(First Example) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(System Configuration) First, a system configuration according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the print processing system.

The printing device 102 is constituted by a color card printer. The printing apparatus 102 has an interface for bidirectional communication with the computer terminal 101, and is connected by a connection cable 103. The computer terminal 101 includes a display device 101a,
A main body 101b, a keyboard 101c, and a mouse 10
1d. The storage device in the main body 101b includes:
A device driver 301 as shown in FIG. 4 described later is incorporated.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 102.

In the printing apparatus 102, the printer body 1
A feeder 201 on which a recording medium 200 is mounted and a paper surface height detection sensor 202 are provided on the outer surface of 10. The paper height detection sensor 202 detects the number of sheets supplied of the recording medium 200. As the recording medium 200, for example, A
Business cards, postcards, and the like can be used in addition to transfer paper of four sizes or the like. In the printer main body 110, there are provided color recording heads 110a to 110d, a transport belt 111 for transporting the transfer paper 200 facing these head surfaces, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows a device driver 301 incorporated in a storage device of the computer terminal 101.

FIG. 5 shows a dialog screen 401 of the device driver 301, in which the remaining paper amount 402 of the recording medium 200 detected by the paper height detection sensor 202 is displayed. Here, the remaining amount of paper is displayed as 72 sheets.

(System Operation) Next, a series of operations of the print processing system will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, the set number of prints, which is set in advance, and the recording medium 20 set on the feeder 201 are set.
This is an example in which the driver side (computer terminal side) has a function of comparing with the number of installations of 0 on the driver side (computer terminal side). FIG.
In the frame A, processing on the computer terminal 101 side is shown, and frame B shows processing on the printer 102 side as a printing apparatus.

First, a dialog of a device driver (hereinafter, referred to as a driver) is opened on the display device 101a of the computer terminal 101 by using the mouse 101d or the like (step S501). At that timing, a status is requested to the printer 102 (step S
502).

In response to the request, the printer 102 starts detecting the remaining amount of the installed number of recording media 200 (step S510). The remaining number of the installed sheets, which is the detection result, is transmitted to the computer terminal 101 (step S511).

The computer terminal 101 displays the remaining number of received installation sheets (step S50).
3). Thereafter, the operator presses a print button (step S504).

At the timing when the button is pressed, the driver compares the set number of prints previously input from the keyboard 101c or the like with the current number of installed recording media 200 (step S505).

If the number of installed recording media 200 is larger than the set number of prints, the printing operation is started as it is (step S514).

If the number of installed recording media 200 is smaller than the set number of prints, a warning is displayed to the operator using the display device 101a or the like (step S506). This prompts the operator to install the recording medium 200 for at least the set number of prints.

Then, after the print button is pressed again (step S507), a status is requested to the printer 102 at the timing of pressing the print button.

In response to the request, the printer 102 starts detecting the remaining amount of the installed number of recording media 200 (step S512). And the computer terminal 10
1 is transmitted with the result of the remaining amount detection (step S513).

On the computer terminal 101 side receiving the result of the remaining amount detection, the driver again compares the set number of prints with the current number of installed recording media 200 (step S505). This operation is continued until the number of installed recording media 200 exceeds the set number of prints.

In the above-described print processing system, a detecting means for detecting that the remaining amount of the recording medium 200 has run out, and the number of recording media 200 installed in the printer 102 based on a signal detected by the detecting means. Means for notifying the operator of a warning indicating that the remaining amount of the recording medium has run out.
It is possible to prevent the printing operation from being temporarily interrupted due to the disappearance of 0.

Thus, during mass printing, the operator presses the print button on the printer driver screen of the computer terminal 101 and, even when the operator leaves the system, performs the printing operation without reaching the target number of prints. Interruption can be prevented beforehand.

(Second Example) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the first
The description of the same parts as in the example is omitted, and the same reference numerals are given.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a series of operations of the printing system. In this example, the printer 102 has a function of comparing the set number of prints with the number of prints.

A driver dialog is opened from the computer terminal 101 (step S601). At that timing, a status is requested to the printer 102 (step S602).

In response to the request, the printer 102 starts detecting the remaining amount of the installed number of recording media 200 (step S610). The number of installations as a result of the detection is transmitted to the computer terminal 101 (step S611).

The computer terminal 101 displays the received installation number (step S603). Thereafter, the operator presses the print button (step S6).
04). At the pressed timing, the set number of prints is transmitted to the printer 102 side.

The printer 102 receives the transmitted signal, and starts detecting the remaining amount of the installed number of recording media 200 (step S610a).

Then, the set number of prints received is compared with the current number of installed recording media 200 (step S6).
12).

If the number of installed recording media 200 is larger than the set number of prints, the printing operation is started as it is (step S614).

If the number of installed recording media 200 is smaller than the set number of prints, a warning signal is sent to the computer terminal 101 (step S613).

On the computer terminal 101 side, a warning is displayed to the operator by the driver (step S).
606). This prompts the operator to install the set number of recording media 200.

After the print button is pressed again (step S607), the set number of prints is transmitted to the printer 102 at the timing when the print button is pressed (step S607).
608).

The printer 102 again compares the set number of prints with the current number of installed recording media 200 (step S612). This operation is continued until the number of installed recording media 200 exceeds the set number of prints.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer).
The present invention may be applied to an apparatus including two devices (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile machine).

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. Then, a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or M) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
PU) can read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium, so that the effects of the present invention can be enjoyed.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
(A mask ROM, a flash EEPROM, or the like) can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion port inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Means for detecting that there is no remaining recording medium before performing the recording operation; and warning means for warning the operator that the remaining amount of the recording medium is low by a detection signal output from the detecting means. Therefore, when it is detected that the recording medium has run out, the operator is warned that the supply of the recording medium is necessary, and thereafter, it is detected that the recording medium is supplied. Therefore, the recording operation can be continued as usual thereafter, and thereby the recording operation can be continuously performed to the end without temporarily stopping, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, when the operator prints a plurality of sheets, the operator can know the remaining amount of the print medium before starting the printing, so that it is not necessary to check the print medium one by one. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the user is separated and interrupted due to running out of paper during the printing operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a series of operations of a print processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a print processing system.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating a configuration of a paper surface height detection sensor. FIG. 3A is a side view illustrating a structure of a sensor unit attached to a printer main body, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the sensor unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen of a device driver (printer driver) of a printing apparatus installed in a computer terminal.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog screen of a printer driver.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a series of operations of a print processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Computer terminal 102 Printing device 110 Printer main body 200 Recording medium 202 Paper height detection sensor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system for exchanging information between a printing device and an information processing terminal via a communication unit, wherein the information processing system is provided in the printing device and detects a remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed. Remaining amount detecting means, comparing means provided in the information processing terminal, for comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value, and remaining amount notifying means for notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium. An information processing system characterized by the following. 2. An information processing system for exchanging information between a printing device and an information processing terminal via communication means, wherein the information processing system is provided in the printing device and detects a remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed. Remaining amount detecting means, comparing means for comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value, and remaining amount notifying means provided in the information processing terminal for notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium. An information processing system characterized by the following. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the comparing unit compares the remaining number of the recording medium with a preset number of printing when the printing start button is pressed, and the remaining amount notifying unit sets the recording before starting the printing operation. 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein a warning is displayed on the number of remaining media. 4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said printing apparatus has means for printing on a plurality of recording media by transferring image data once. . 5. An information processing method for exchanging information between a printing apparatus and an information processing terminal via a communication unit, wherein the printing apparatus detects a remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed. A detecting step; the information processing terminal; a comparing step of comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value; and a remaining amount notifying step of notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium. Information processing method. 6. An information processing method for exchanging information between a printing apparatus and an information processing terminal via a communication unit, wherein the printing apparatus detects a remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed. A detecting step; a comparing step of comparing the detected remaining amount of the recording medium with a reference value; and the remaining amount notifying step of notifying the remaining amount of the recording medium in the information processing terminal. Information processing method. 7. The comparing step includes, when a print start button is pressed, comparing the remaining number of the recording medium with a preset number of printed sheets. 7. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein a warning is displayed on the number of remaining media. 8. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the printing apparatus performs printing on a plurality of recording media by transferring print data once. 9. A medium recording a program for controlling transfer of print data by a computer, the control program causing the computer to detect a remaining amount of a recording medium to be printed, A recording medium on which a transfer control program is recorded, wherein the remaining amount of the medium is compared with a reference value, and the remaining amount of the recording medium is notified. 10. When the print start button is pressed, the remaining number of recording media is compared with a preset number of prints, and the remaining number of recording media is displayed as a warning before starting the printing operation. A recording medium on which the transfer control program according to claim 9 is recorded.