JP2000158760A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform high speed printing by changing the order of jobs to be processed depending on the processing speed of a host computer or the font under use. SOLUTION: A print job data is received from a host computer 3000 and stored in an RAM 19. The stored job is then parsed and the order of jobs to be processed is changed based on the information of processing speed of a computer included in the job. The jobs are then processed according to the changed order. Since the order of jobs to be processed can be changed according to the processing capacity of the host computer, waiting time of computer can be shortened for next job.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there is a printing apparatus as a device for taking in data supplied from a host computer and outputting the data in a predetermined form.

In a normal page printer, when a print job is received, the printing process is continuously performed in page units. When the printing is completed, the print job is discarded. Some printers have a function of printing a print job spooled by designation.

This function is used when a print job is output in a different order, or when a plurality of copies are printed.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, it is necessary for the user to specify the printing order and the like. Further, there is no relation between the font used in the data to be printed and the order of the jobs to be printed. Further, there is a problem that extra printing time is required when the font to be used is on a medium having a low processing speed such as a hard disk.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus which has solved the above-mentioned problems.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for executing a print job based on an instruction from an external device, comprising: a storage unit for temporarily storing the print job; A determination unit that determines the order of the print jobs to be processed from the print jobs stored in the storage unit; and an execution unit that executes the print jobs in the order determined by the determination unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the determining means determines the order of the print job from information on the processing speed of the external device included in the print job.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the determining means determines the order of the print job from font information used in the print job.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in claim 3, when the used font is on a medium having a low processing speed, there is further provided means for changing to a medium having a high processing speed. .

Further, the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in claim 3 or 4, the execution means changes a font to be used according to the font information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the print job stored in the storage means includes font data developed by an external device.

Further, the invention of claim 7 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 6
In any one of the first to third aspects, the apparatus further comprises means for changing the order of the print jobs in response to a print job change command from an external device.

Further, the invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprises means capable of bidirectional communication with an external device.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect further comprises means for notifying the information of the font data developed by the external device to another connected external device.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) Before describing this embodiment, the configurations of a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to the laser beam printer and the ink jet printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a first output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows, for example, the case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes and the like), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer; A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper. Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 1000 denotes an LBP main body 1
A printer control unit that controls the entire 500 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 is a semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving the laser beam 503 switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal. Laser light 15
Numeral 04 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 1505 to scan and expose an electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506,
Transferred to recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the LBP 1500, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1509, a conveyance roller 1510, and a conveyance roller 1511. It is supplied to the drum 1506. The LBP body 1500 has at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. If the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention is applicable to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1500 includes a printer CPU 12 based on a control program stored in a program ROM of a ROM 13 or a control program stored in an external memory 14. , And outputs an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface 16. The program ROM of the ROM 13 stores a control program of the CPU 12 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
3000 is a host computer. The CPU 12
It receives data and the like from the host computer 3000 via the interface 21, the input unit 18, and the like.

The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating the above output information. And the like used in. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, a character bitmap image data storage area, and the like. The access to the external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) and an IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20.

The external memory 14 is connected as an option and includes font data, an emulation program,
Stores form data and the like. The operation unit 1501 includes an operation panel, on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged.

The above-mentioned external memory 14 is not limited to one, and is provided with at least one or more, and an external memory storing an optional font ROM, an upgraded ROM of built-in fonts, various font scaler programs and the like in addition to the built-in fonts. Are configured to be able to be connected to a plurality. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) is provided.
The printer mode setting information from the printer 501 may be stored.

The processing operation of the printer control unit 1000 according to the first embodiment in the printing apparatus and the external apparatus having the above configurations will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a printer 1500 according to the first embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a control process of CPU 12 of FIG.

In step S11, data from the host computer is received. In step S12, the received data is stored in a storage device (RAM).

FIG. 4 shows an outline of the stored data. In the figure, a table 1 is a table for managing the order of jobs separately from the received data, in which addresses of jobs to be processed are set. The print job data can include font data developed by the host computer.

In step S13, the stored job is parsed. In step S14, the order of the jobs to be processed is changed based on the processing speed information of the host computer included in the parsed job. That is, the address of the table 1 for managing the order of the jobs in FIG. 4 is changed to bring the state as shown in FIG.

In step S15, processing is performed in the order of the changed jobs.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the order of jobs to be processed can be changed according to the processing capacity of the host computer, and the waiting time of the host computer for the next job can be reduced. Can be. Further, the order of jobs can be changed for each processing speed for the hosts connected on the network.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the host information is used to determine the processing order of the stored job. However, as in the second embodiment, the host information is used according to the font information used in the job. The order of the jobs may be changed.

FIG. 6 shows C of the printer 1500 in FIG.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a control process of a PU12.

In step S21, font information is extracted from the information in the parsed job, and the main font used is detected.

In step S22, the processing order of the jobs is changed from the extracted font information so that the fonts mainly used are in the same job in consecutive order.

Thus, when the same character is present in the output data, high-speed printing can be performed by the character cache function.

Further, at step S23, it is detected whether or not the font mainly used is on a medium such as a hard disk which has a slow processing time. If it is determined in step S24 that the medium has a low processing speed (hard disk), the font data is copied to a medium having a high processing speed such as a RAM in step S25.

According to the second embodiment, since jobs using the same font are consecutive, the possibility that this character cache function is used increases, and printing is performed in the order of received jobs. There is an effect that printing can be performed faster.

Further, by changing the font to a medium having a high processing speed, the development speed is increased, and there is an effect that printing can be performed at a high speed.

(Embodiment 3) In the case of a printer and a host computer capable of two-way communication, it is possible to notify the host computer of the changed job order within the printer, and the order can be changed from the host computer. Become.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a printer and a host computer capable of bidirectional communication. In the figure, 300
0 is a host computer, and CPU 1 is a figure, an image, a character, a table (including a spreadsheet, etc.) based on a document processing program or the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 3.
Etc. are executed. The CPU 1 controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 4 in a centralized manner.

The program ROM of the ROM 3
Stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like.
The font ROM stores font data and the like used in the document processing. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls a key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown).
Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A memory controller (MC) 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy disk (FD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, and the like. 8 is a print controller (PRTC)
Then, it is connected to the input unit 18 in the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500. The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font in the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, and executes WYSI on the CRT 10.
WYG is possible. Further, the CPU 1 has a CRT 1
The registered various windows are opened based on a command designated by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on 0 to execute various data processing.

FIG. 8 shows a printer 1500 according to the third embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a control process of CPU 12 of FIG. In step S31, font information is extracted from information in the parsed job, and a main font used is detected. In step S32, the order of the jobs is changed from the extracted font information so that the fonts mainly used are consecutive in the same job.

When the same character exists in the output data, high-speed printing can be performed by the character cache function.

Further, in step S33, the changed job order and the font mainly used are notified to the host computer.

The host computer that has received the notification notifies, for example, the order of the changed job, if any, in which the job is to be changed. Further, for example, a font mainly used is changed to a font used as a standard. In this way, when the print data is created next time, it is possible to designate a font having a high processing speed to the printing apparatus as a standard.

In step S34, it is determined whether or not the order of the jobs has been changed from the host computer. If there is a change, the order of the jobs to be processed is changed in step S35.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the order of jobs to be processed can be changed according to the processing speed of the host computer and the font being used, so that high-speed printing can be performed. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible for a user to specify a job order, and it is also possible to unify fonts to be used, so that high-speed printing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control processing of the printer according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a job management table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a job management table according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating printer control processing according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system and a host computer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating printer control processing according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 CPU 13 ROM 17 printing unit 19 RAM

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Honma 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Hino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Miya ▲ Saki ▼ 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C061 BB10 HH07 HJ06 HK05 HK11 HN15 HQ17 2C087 BA01 BA02 BA09 BC03 BC05 BD01 BD13 BD43 BD46 5B021 AA01 AA02 CC05 DD12 JJ01 9A001 JJ35

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for executing a print job based on an instruction from an external device, a storage unit for temporarily storing the print job, and determining an order of the print job to be processed from the print job stored in the storage unit. A printing unit that executes the print jobs in the order determined by the determining unit. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines an order of the print job from information on a processing speed of an external device included in the print job. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines a print job order from font information used in the print job. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a unit for changing the medium to a medium having a high processing speed when the font being used is on a medium having a low processing speed. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the execution unit changes a font to be used in accordance with the font information. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job stored in the storage unit includes font data developed by an external device. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing the order of the print jobs in response to a print job change command from an external device. 8. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means capable of bidirectional communication with an external device. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for notifying information of the font data developed by the external device to another connected external device.