JP2000163232A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm the states of plural printers with a terminal device while reducing the traffic as much as possible. SOLUTION: When the printing controller 241 of a printer 2a receives a state request start instruction from a terminal device 1a, it produces a state response showing a state in every fixed monitoring interval or when a printing error such as paper jamming occurs. When a state response is produced, the inputting and outputting part 234 of the printer 2a transmits the state response to the registered terminal device 1a. The information monitoring part of the device 1a extracts the state of the printer from the received state response and shows it on a displaying part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system in which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected via a network such as a LAN, and more particularly to a method for preventing an increase in communication volume.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing system in which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected via a network such as a LAN, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-214932, a console of an administrator is used. The status of the printer connected to the network is obtained and controlled from such a remote location, or the print server monitors the status of the printer and monitors the status change, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-248889. Upon detection, the status of the printer is notified to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus displays the status of the received printer, or detects an abnormal operation of the printer as described in JP-A-9-305334.
After a predetermined period of time, it monitors whether the operation error has been resolved and selects the host that sent the print data that was being processed when the operation error was detected, or the host that sent the printer data before or after that, and an error occurred. By transmitting information, the status of all printers connected on the network is acquired from the terminal device and displayed on the status display such as status icons and status messages, and the status of the printer device is displayed on the terminal device in real time. They are being monitored.

[0003]

However, if a plurality of terminal devices transmit a status request to a plurality of printer devices each time on a polling basis in order to acquire the status of each of the plurality of printer devices, the communication volume is reduced. There is a problem that it is increased carelessly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problem and to provide a printing system capable of confirming the status of a plurality of printers with a terminal device while minimizing the amount of communication.

[0005]

A print system according to the present invention is a print system connected to a network such as a LAN to which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected. When the status request start instruction is input, the unique information for specifying the designated printer is registered, a status request is transmitted to the registered printer, and the printer is
When a status request is received from a terminal device, information specific to the terminal device is extracted from the received status request and registered, and the status of each device is acquired at predetermined predetermined monitoring intervals, and the status of each device is entered. Create a status response, send the created status response to each terminal device with unique information registered, the terminal device extracts the status of each device from the received status response,
The information is displayed together with the unique information for specifying the printer device.

A print system according to a second aspect of the present invention is a print system connected to a network such as a LAN to which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected. When the printer receives the status request from the terminal device, it registers the unique information for identifying the designated printer device, transmits a status request to the registered printer device, and when the printer device receives the status request from the terminal device, it registers the terminal device from the received status request. Retrieve and register the unique information to be specified, acquire the status of each device at predetermined monitoring intervals, create a status response containing the status of each device, and when the status of each device changes And transmits the changed status response to each terminal device in which the unique information is registered. Taking out the status of each device from the received status response, and displaying with specific information identifying the printer device.

A print system according to a third aspect of the present invention is a print system which is connected to a network such as a LAN to which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected. Upon receipt, the status of each device is acquired at predetermined monitoring intervals, and a status response containing the status of each device is created. When the status of each device changes, the changed status response is transmitted to the network. , And each terminal device extracts the status of each device from the received status response and displays the status together with information specific to the printer device.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing system according to the present invention
A plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected via a LAN. In the terminal device, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk device (HDD), a network interface card (NIC), an input unit, a display unit, an input / output unit, and an information monitoring unit are connected by a system bus. The printer device is a network interface card (NI
C), a hard disk drive (HDD), a printer controller, a print controller, a paper feed tray, a print engine, and a paper discharge tray are connected by a system bus.

When a printer monitoring program is started on any of the terminal devices, an operator operates an input unit to designate a printer device to be monitored and inputs a status request start instruction. Is registered in the HDD, a status request start instruction including the information of the terminal device is created, and the status request start instruction is transmitted to the printer device via the NIC. When the printer device receives the status request start instruction via the NIC, the input / output unit extracts information specifying the terminal device from the status request start instruction and registers the information in the HDD. The print controller of the printer monitors the status of the paper feed tray and the print engine at regular monitoring intervals and during the printing process.
When a printing error such as a paper jam occurs at regular monitoring intervals or when a paper jam occurs, a status response indicating the status is created and sent to the input / output unit. When a status response is sent, the input / output unit
The information of the terminal device registered in D is extracted, and a status response is transmitted to the terminal device via the NIC. When receiving the status response from the printer device, the information monitoring unit of the terminal device extracts the status of the printer device from the status response and displays it on the display unit.

When a status request end instruction is input from the input unit to the terminal device that has confirmed the status of the printer device, the information monitoring unit extracts information for specifying the specified printer device from the HDD. A status request end instruction is notified to the printer via the NIC. Thereafter, the information monitoring unit deletes the information specifying the printer device from the HDD. Upon receiving the status request end instruction, the input / output unit of the printer deletes the information specifying the terminal device from the HDD.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the printer system
A plurality of terminal devices 1a, 1b to 1n and a plurality of printer devices 2a, 2b, 2c are connected via a LAN 3.
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the terminal devices 1a, 1b to 1n include a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk drive (HDD) 14, a network interface card (NIC) 15, an input unit 16, and a display unit 17.
And an input / output unit 18 and an information monitoring unit 19 are connected by a system bus. The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 1 based on a startup program and the like and various data stored in the ROM 12. The RAM 13 functions as a main memory of the CPU 11, and stores a program code, a data code, and the like. The HDD 14 is used for registering programs such as a printer monitoring program and an operation system program and for creating a data file and the like. NIC15
Performs communication processing with peripheral devices such as the printer devices 2a to 2c and other terminal devices via the LAN 3. The input unit 16 has a keyboard and a mouse, and is used for inputting data such as characters. The display unit 17 displays data such as characters and images and various information. The input / output unit 18 is connected to the HDD 14 or NI
The input / output of the input unit 16 and the display unit 17 is controlled. The information monitoring unit 19 checks the status of the printer devices 2a to 2c connected to the LAN 3.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the printer devices 2a to 2c include a network interface card (NIC) 21 and a hard disk device (HDD) 22.
, Printer control unit 23, print control unit 24, and paper feed tray 2
5, the print engine 26 and the paper discharge tray 27 are connected by a system bus. The NIC 21 performs a communication process with each of the terminal devices 1a to 1n via the LAN 3. The HDD 22 is used for creating and storing print data, a development file, a temporary file, a queue file, and the like. Printer control unit 2
Reference numeral 3 includes a CPU 231, a ROM 232, a RAM 233, an input / output unit 234, and a print control unit 235. CPU23
1 controls the operation of the entire printer apparatus based on a printer control program stored in the ROM 232 and the like. R
The AM 233 is used for output information development such as font development and data storage when the CPU 231 performs print processing. The input / output unit 234 controls input / output of the NIC 21 and the HDD 22. The print control unit 24 includes a print controller 241, a paper feed tray control unit 242, a print engine control unit 243, and a discharge tray control unit 244. The print controller 241 controls the paper feed tray control unit 242, the print engine control unit 243, and the discharge tray control unit 244,
The statuses of the paper feed tray 25, the print engine 26, and the paper discharge tray 27 are monitored. The paper feed tray control unit 242 feeds the designated print paper to the print engine 26. The print engine control unit 243 controls the operation of the print engine 26, and prints print data on the sent recording paper. The discharge tray control unit 244 discharges the printing paper to the designated tray.

The printer 2a configured as described above
2c perform initial settings of the print engine 26 and the like at the time of initial startup. In this state, when print data is sent from any of the terminal devices 1a to 1n and print data is input from the NIC 21, the input print data is expanded and the RAM 23
3 and notifies the print control unit 235 of a print instruction. When a print instruction is notified, the print control unit 235
Print data from the print controller 233
Transfer to 1. When the print data is sent, the print controller 241 notifies the paper feed tray control unit 242 of a feed instruction of the designated paper feed tray, notifies the print engine control unit 243 of a print data print instruction, and controls the discharge tray control. Part 24
The print instruction is notified to the discharge tray designated at No. 4 and the printing process is executed. During this printing process, the print controller 241 monitors the states of the paper feed tray 25, the print engine 26, and the paper discharge tray 27, and notifies the print control unit 235 of the printing result when the printing process is completed.

In the printing system configured as described above, each of the printers 2a to 2c is operated by the terminal 1a to 1n.
The process for monitoring the state of the above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a printer monitoring program is started in one of the terminal devices 1a to 1n, for example, the terminal device 1a (step S1), the operator specifies a printer device to be monitored by operating the keyboard of the input unit 16, for example, the printer device 2a. And inputs a status request start instruction (step S2), the information monitoring unit 19 registers network information such as a printer name and an IP address for specifying the designated printer device 2a in the HDD 14 (step S2).
3) Create a status request start instruction including network information such as the user name and IP address of the terminal device 1a, and transmit the status request start instruction to the printer device 2a via the NIC 15 (step S4). When the printer device 2a receives the status request start instruction via the NIC 21 (step S21), the input / output unit 234 extracts the information specifying the terminal device 1a from the status request start instruction and registers it in the HDD 22 (step S22). The print controller 241 of the printer device 2a controls the feed tray 25 and the print engine 26 at regular monitoring intervals and during the printing process.
And the state of the paper discharge tray 27, and when a printing error such as a paper jam occurs at a constant monitoring interval (step S2).
(3, S24), the statuses such as the remaining amount of the printing toner, the remaining amount of the printing paper, and the printing error information are acquired to create a status response, and sent to the input / output unit 234 via the printing control unit 235 (step S25). When the status response is transmitted, the input / output unit 234 extracts the information of the terminal device 1a registered in the HDD 22, and transmits the status response to the terminal device 1a via the NIC 21 (step S26). When receiving the status response from the printer device 2a (step S5), the information monitoring unit 19 of the terminal device 1a extracts the status of the printer device 2a from the status response, converts this status into an image or a character code, and displays it on the display unit 17. (Step S6).

The status of the printer device 2a is checked in this way.
When the status request end instruction is input by designating “a” (step S7), the information monitoring unit 19 extracts information specifying the designated printer device 2a from the HDD 14, and
A status request end instruction is notified to the printer device 2a via the NIC 15 (step S8). Thereafter, the information monitoring unit 19 deletes the information for specifying the printer device 2a from the HDD 14 (Step S9). When receiving the status request end instruction from the terminal device 1a (step S27), the input / output unit 234 of the printer device 2a deletes the information specifying the terminal device 1a from the HDD 22 (step S2).
8).

When the terminal device 1a inputs the end of the processing of the printer monitoring program from the input unit 16 (step S10), the information monitoring unit 19 sends a status request end instruction to all the printer devices registered in the HDD 14. The printer monitoring program is transmitted (step S11), all information for specifying the printer registered in the HDD 14 is deleted, and the printer monitoring program ends (step S12).

As described above, when a status request is issued from any of the terminal devices 1a to 1n, the printer 2a issues a status request request only at regular monitoring intervals and only when a printing error such as a paper jam occurs. Since the status response is transmitted to the terminal device having the above, the terminal device does not need to notify the printer device of the status request each time, and the communication amount can be reduced as much as possible.

In the above embodiment, when the terminal device 1a-1n activates the printer monitoring program and makes a status request request to the printer devices 2a-2c, the printer device 2
a to 2c have described the case where the status response is transmitted to the terminal devices 1a to 1n at regular monitoring intervals and when a printing error such as a paper jam occurs.
2c, the status response created by checking the status of the paper discharge tray 27 and the like at regular monitoring intervals is stored in the HDD 22, and the input / output unit 234 stores the status response created last time and the status response created this time. And if the status response does not change, the status response stored in the HDD 22 is updated, and the status response is transmitted to the terminal devices 1a to 1n only when the status response changes and when a printing error occurs. You may do it. As described above, only when the status response has changed and when a printing error has occurred, the terminal devices 1a to 1a to
By transmitting the status response to 1n, the communication traffic between the printer devices 2a to 2c and the terminal devices 1a to 1n can be further reduced.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the terminal devices 1a to 1a
1n, when checking the status of the printer devices 2a to 2c, each of the printer devices 2a to 2c for each of the terminal devices 1a to 1n.
To each printer device 2a to
2c describes the case where the status response is individually transmitted to each of the terminal devices 1a to 1n. For example, when the status request is sent from the terminal device 1a to the printer device 2a, all the status responses created by the printer device 2a are transmitted. May be transmitted to the terminal devices 1a to 1n using the broadcast transmission method. By broadcasting the status response to all the terminal devices 1a to 1n in this manner, the traffic can be significantly reduced.

In the above embodiment, the printers 2a to 2a
The case where the status response is created by confirming the status of the paper discharge tray 27 or the like at a constant monitoring interval regardless of the presence / absence of the status request request has been described in c.
When a status request is issued to a to 2c, the status of the paper discharge tray 27 or the like may be checked at regular monitoring intervals.

[0022]

According to the present invention, as described above, the printer notifies the terminal of the status of the printer at regular intervals, so that the terminal notifies the printer of the status request each time. The communication amount between the terminal device and the printer device can be reduced.

Further, the printer device monitors the status of the printer device at regular monitoring intervals, and notifies the terminal device of the status of the printer device only when there is a change in the status, thereby enabling communication between the terminal device and the printer device. The amount can be further reduced.

Furthermore, when the printer notifies the terminal device of the status of the printer, the communication is broadcasted to all the terminal devices connected to the network, so that the communication amount can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 terminal device 2 printer device 3 LAN 11 CPU 14 HDD 15 NIC 16 input unit 17 display unit 18 input / output unit 19 information monitoring unit 21 NIC 22 HDD 23 printer control unit 24 print control unit 231 CPU 234 input / output unit 235 print control unit 241 print controller 242 paper feed tray control unit 243 print engine control unit 244 control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a print system connected to a network such as a LAN to which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected, when a terminal device inputs a status request start instruction of the printer device, the terminal device receives a designated printer. Register the unique information that identifies the device, send a status request to the registered printer device, and when the printer device receives the status request from the terminal device, extract the unique information that identifies the terminal device from the received status request. Register, acquire the status of each device at predetermined monitoring intervals, create a status response containing the status of each device, and send the created status response to each terminal device with unique information registered. The terminal device extracts the status of each device from the received status response and identifies the printer device. A printing system characterized by displaying the information together with specific information to be specified. 2. A printing system connected to a network such as a LAN to which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected. Register the unique information that identifies the device, send a status request to the registered printer device, and when the printer device receives the status request from the terminal device, extract the unique information that identifies the terminal device from the received status request. Register, obtain the status of each device at predetermined monitoring intervals, create a status response containing the status of each device, and when the status of each device changes, identify the changed status response. Information is transmitted to each registered terminal device, and the terminal device determines each device from the received status response. A print system for extracting a state of a chair and displaying the state together with information specific to a printer device. 3. In a print system connected to a network such as a LAN to which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printer devices are connected, when the printer device receives a status request from a certain terminal device, the printer device performs predetermined constant monitoring. Acquires the status of each device at intervals, creates a status response containing the status of each device, and when the status of each device changes, sends the changed status response to all terminals connected to the network A printing system, wherein each printing device transmits the status to a device, and each terminal device extracts the status of each device from the received status response and displays the status together with information specific to the printer device.