JP2001047676A - Printer apparatus, method for controlling printing, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a plurality of application data at the side of a printer by storing received print data and related information, receiving designation information related to print data in accordance with displayed related information, and carrying out printing on the basis of stored print data according to the designation information. SOLUTION: Print data when received is temporarily stored in a memory device, and it is judged whether or not batch printing is designated. When batch printing is judged to be designated, information related to the stored print data is displayed (S601), and an input of a job control operation (designation information) for the information related to the print data is accepted (S602). When an 'OK' button is received (S603), print job data is read out in an order designated by the received job control (S604). A finishing process incidental to each print job is invalidated (S605). After image data is generated (S606), the data is printed (S607). A finishing process designated by the job control is carried out (S608 and S609) after the data are all processed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and a print data printing control method, and more particularly to a printer capable of controlling and printing a plurality of application data on the printer side and a print data print control method.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as "PC") and printers have become widespread, and various application software have been distributed. For this reason, in general homes and offices, a plurality of application softwares are frequently used depending on the use of the user.

For example, word processing software and editor software are often used to create sentences, and spreadsheet software is often used to create spreadsheets and graphs. In addition to this, it has become common to use dedicated application software suitable for each application, such as when creating images or presentation materials.

By the way, the user has
There is a case in which it is desired to print each application data created by a plurality of application software with a printer and collect them as one document (material). In such a case, the user has generally taken the following method.

The first is a method in which a user who has created such application data causes a printer to print the application data in a desired order in which the application data is to be collected as data. Normally, these are printed out in the order in which the printer spools the print job, so after all printing is completed, the user checks that the print job is in the desired order, and then collects it with staples, etc. Finishing treatment was being performed.

However, in this method, print jobs must always be generated in the order in which they are to be collected, and there is a problem that, when a large amount of materials are created, the usability is poor and the work efficiency is significantly reduced. .

Second, data (spreadsheet data, drawing data, etc.) created by other application software such as word processing software or other DTP software, for example.
There was a method of combining data into one word processing software using a paste command or the like.

However, this method also has a problem that the user must lay out a plurality of application data before printing them and combine them as one data. Another problem is that data cannot be combined into one data unless the data is in a format compatible with word processing software or DTP software.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer and a print control method for controlling a plurality of application data on the printer side.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is specified as follows.

That is, the present invention provides a receiving unit for receiving print data and related information relating to the print data, a storing unit for storing the print data and the related information received by the receiving unit, and a receiving unit for receiving the print data and the related information. Display means for displaying the related information, receiving means for receiving instruction information for the print data according to the related information displayed on the display means, and storage means for storing the instruction information in the storage means according to the instruction information received by the receiving means. A printing unit for performing printing based on print data.

Here, the receiving means may be at least two of the plurality of print data stored in the storage means.
Upon receiving the instruction information for instructing the print data to be printed, the printing unit, according to a predetermined printing order,
The printing is performed based on the instructed print data. As a result, the printer prints two or more independent print data in a predetermined print order,
The user can obtain a printed material in which the printed materials based on the respective print data are combined into one.

The receiving means receives instruction information for designating a print order among a plurality of print data stored in the storage means, and the printing means receives the instruction information in accordance with the designated print order. The printing is performed based on the print data. This allows the user to specify the order for batch printing regardless of the order of the print data received by the receiving unit.

[0011] Further, the receiving means receives instruction information on finishing processing for the at least two or more designated print data, and the printing means performs finishing processing on the entire print data. I do. As a result, the printer performs the finishing process on the combined printed matter,
A printed material that has been subjected to a finishing process can be obtained.

Still further, the printing means assigns a series of page numbers to at least the two or more designated print data on the basis of the instruction information on the finishing process.

[0013] The printing means may perform steeble processing or the printed material on a printed material obtained by performing printing based on the instructed at least two or more print data based on the instruction information on the finishing process. Characterized in that any one of the punching processes is performed. Further, the printing unit performs a predetermined allocation process when performing printing based on the print data.

Further, the printing means replaces the predetermined setting information given to each of the print data with
According to the instruction information received by the receiving unit, printing based on the print data is performed.

It is preferable that the related information includes at least identification information of print data given by a user.

Further, the invention of the above-mentioned apparatus is also realized as an invention of a method. That is, the present invention provides a first step of receiving print data and related information related to the print data, a second step of storing the print data and the related information received by the receiving unit, A third step of displaying the received related information, a fourth step of receiving instruction information for the print data in accordance with the related information displayed on the display means, and the storing of the instruction information received by the receiving means. And a fifth step of performing printing based on the print data stored in the means.

Further, the present invention is realized as a program or a recording medium on which the program is recorded. That is, a recording medium in which a program is recorded by causing a control device of a printer to realize a predetermined function, wherein the program stores received print data and related information related to the print data in a storage device, Means for displaying the related information stored in the apparatus on a display device, means for receiving instruction information for the print data input from a user via an input device according to the related information displayed on the display device, and Means for generating image data based on the print data in accordance with the instruction information.

The recording medium includes, for example, a hard disk (HD), a DVD-RAM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, and the like, as well as a RAM and an RO.
M and other memories. Further, the control device of the printer is, for example, a so-called central processing unit such as a CPU or an MPU performs predetermined processing by interpreting a program.
A so-called microcomputer is also included.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of print data are received by the receiving means, information based on related information is duplicated in each of the plurality of print data, and information which becomes a problem when collective printing is performed. If there is, a configuration may be adopted in which the information causing this problem is deleted.

Further, according to the present invention, the printing means may further include a function of performing test printing, and may be configured to perform printing of a desired number of copies after the test printing.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a network, and 2 and 3 denote PCs connected to the network 1 and used by a user to actually create materials, and 4 denotes a printer for printing on a print recording medium. The PCs 2 and 3 incorporate a printer driver for causing the printer 4 to print application data. The network 1 is realized by, for example, Ethernet, but the type and connection form can be variously modified. Further, the print system is not limited to a system configured by a LAN connection by the network 1, but may be a system configured by a local connection such as a parallel cable. The printer 4 has a printer server function and stores print data sent from the PCs 2 and 3.

Now, it is assumed that a user is working on the PC 2. The user separately creates a plurality of application data (texts, figures, tables, etc.) on the PC 2 using various application software.

For example, a sentence is created as application data having a file name "WORD" using word processor software. Similarly, spreadsheet data has the file name "CELL", figure data has the file name "DRAW",
For presentation data, use the file name "PRESEN
T "is created as application data.

Here, it is assumed that each of these application data is printed by a printer as a set of data.

First, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation processing of the printer driver on the PC. In the figure,
Upon receiving a print instruction from each application software, the printer driver controls to display a print dialog box (STEP 201), and receives input of information (print options) related to print settings (STEP 202). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI screen of a print dialog according to the embodiment. The user can input predetermined information using the user interface function of the PC 2. For example, it is assumed that the second and third pages of the application data “WORD” having five pages are printed. In FIG.
Is a unique name given when the user issues a print instruction. This only needs to allow the user to identify each application data on the printer 4.
Also, "2-3" pages are designated in the column for inputting the print range. The print range is specified, for example, in page units.
If the user wants to print together with other materials, check the checkbox of “collective printing”. Thereby, it is possible to notify the printer 4 that the application data is to be collectively printed. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the presence / absence of finishing processing such as “Steeple” and “Punch”, and input of “Page number” and “Copies” are accepted.

Returning to FIG. 2, when the printer driver receives an OK instruction via the GUI screen of the print dialog box (STEP 203), the printer driver prints the print data based on the application data and the print setting information input via the GUI screen. Is generated (STEP 20).
4). The print data is, for example, a printer control language interpreted by the printer 4. After generating the print data, the printer driver transmits the print data to the printer 4 via the network interface (S).
TEP205).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of print data generated by the printer driver. The print data includes a print job data section 41 and a job header 42.

The print job data section 41 includes application data to be actually printed and command data based on print setting information. The print setting information is, for example,
Reflected in the input information, it includes information such as the presence or absence of batch printing and the presence or absence of stapling.

The print job header section 42 contains information related to the print job data section 41. The print job header section 42 includes identification information (for example, an IP address) on the network of the PC that has issued the request for the print job, a machine name on the network, a user name, a name of the application software that created the data, a file name, and an ID. Etc.

The contents of the print data are not limited to the contents shown in the figure, and information such as presence / absence of collective printing and presence / absence of stapling may be configured as a part of the print job header.

In FIG. 2, the print job header section 42 and the print job data section 41 are shown continuously, but are configured as independent data.
They may be transmitted separately.

Next, the operation of the printer 4 will be described. The printer 4 typically includes a processor and an RO.
M, a control device equipped with a RAM, and a processor
A predetermined process is performed by interpreting the program stored in the OM.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the operation processing of the printer. Upon receiving the print data (STEP 501), the printer 4 temporarily stores the print data in a storage device such as a hard disk provided therein (STEP 501).
EP 502). The storage device manages each print data.

The printer 4 analyzes the received print data (STEP 503), and determines whether or not the collective printing is instructed (STEP 504). In FIG. 504, when it is determined that the instruction to perform the batch printing is not given, the normal printing is performed. That is, the printer 4 generates bitmap image data based on the printer job data section (STEP 505).
By supplying this to the print engine, printing is realized (STEP 506). On the other hand, in STEP 504, when it is determined that an instruction to perform collective printing has been given, the user interface provided in the printer 4 Until the user inputs instruction information,
Suspend the processing once.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation processing of the printer when the collective printing is instructed. Printer 4
When a screen display for batch printing is instructed from the menu screen via the user interface unit, information on print data stored so far in the hard disk is displayed on the user interface unit (STE).
P601). The printer 4 accepts a user's input of a job control operation (instruction information) for the information on the print data (STEP 602). FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user interface unit. This user interface unit is realized by, for example, a touch panel method. The job list area 71 shows a list of print data (jobs) stored on the hard disk. This display is only required to uniquely identify the print job data, and in this example, the ID input by the user on the PC is displayed. The user can specify an arbitrary number of print data to be printed from the print data displayed in the job list area 71, and can specify a print order. The designation of the print data to be printed is performed, for example, by repeatedly moving the cursor pointer indicated by hatching in the figure with the cursor button 72 and confirming with the confirm button (#). To specify the printing order, use the cursor button 72
After selecting the print data whose order is to be changed with the select button (*), the cursor data is moved with the cursor button 72, and the determination is repeated at the desired position with the determination button. For example, in a state where “HYOUSHI” is selected, the upper cursor button 72 is selected three times to move to the top line of the job list. The ordinal number indicating the printing order may be directly input using the numeric keypad.

The "number of copies" indicates the number of copies of the printed matter to be printed by the grouping process. For example, a numerical value is input from a numeric keypad. “Page number” is a designation for pagination of a printed matter to be printed by the batch processing, and whether a serial number is assigned to each print data,
It is designated whether to assign a serial number to the final printed matter. “Steeple” and “punch” are finishing processes, and designate finishing processes for a print obtained by printing a plurality of selected and printed print job data. “Layout” specifies how to allocate image data based on print data to a print recording medium.
For example, there are 2UP for allocating two pages of data in the application software to one sheet, and １ ／ UP for allocating one page of data in the application software to two sheets.

Note that by selecting "detailed processing", more detailed print settings may be designated. For example, the paper size may be specified for each print job data.

Upon receiving the "OK" button (STEP 603 in FIG. 6), the printer 4 reads out the print job data in the order specified by the received job control (STEP 604). The printer 4 invalidates finishing processes such as steeping and punching attached to each print job data (STEP 605), generates image data (STEP 606), and performs printing on a print recording medium (STEP STEP 607). Printer 4
Determines whether all the print job data specified by the job control has been processed (STEP 608), and if it is determined that the print job data has not been processed, the above-described STEP 604 is executed.
Return to In step 608, if the printer 4 determines that all the print job data has been processed,
A finishing process is performed on the entire print job data specified by the job control (STEP 609). In other words, the finishing process for the entire print job data here is to perform a finishing process such as steeping on a printed material obtained by printing the designated plurality of print job data. Printer 4
If the number of copies specified by the job control has not been printed, the process returns to STEP 604, and the above process is repeated until the number of copies specified is reached (STEP 610).

Here, control in the case of receiving the following four print job data and performing collective printing will be described. (1) Application data: Document data ID: BUNSHO IP address of the created PC: 123.456.xx1 Machine name of the created PC: PC001 User name: A Application name: Word processor software File name: DOCUMENT Print page: 2-3 pages Steep (2) Application data: Image data ID: GAZOU IP address of the created PC: 123.456.xx1 Machine name of the created PC: PC001 User name: A Application name: Draw software File name: DARW Print page: Pages 6-9 Presence or absence of stapling: None (3) Application data: Spreadsheet data ID: HYOU IP address of created PC: 123.456.xx1 Machine name of created PC: PC001 User name: A Application name: Spreadsheet software File name: CELL Print page: 1 to 5 pages (4) Application data: Document data ID: HYOUSHI IP address of created PC: 123.456.xx1 Machine name of created PC: PC001 User name: A Application name: Word processor software File name: FRONT Print page: 1 page Presence: Yes If these four print data are received in order, the interface screen of the printer 4 is as shown in FIG.
Here, the print job data (4) (1) (3)
When batch printing is performed in the order of (2), the order of the print data is changed using a cursor key or the like. According to this instruction, a total of 10 pages of data including the first page of the document data, the second and third pages of the document data, the first to fifth pages of the spreadsheet data, and the second and third pages of the image data are printed together. can do.

In the case of using the stapling for finishing, by selecting the finishing stapling icon, these ten pages of materials are bound together regardless of whether or not the stapling is set in the application data. be able to. By designating the number of copies of this material with a numeric key or the like, the number of copies of the printed material can be determined.

Here, the case where print job data from the same PC and the same user is received has been described as an example. However, it is also possible to create a group of materials based on print job data from different PCs and different users. It is possible.

Further, a function may be provided for performing trial printing of print data that has been combined into one as a summary document. In this case, when the user instructs test printing, partial test printing may be performed, the print result may be confirmed, and then the required number of copies may be received.

As described above, by using the printer according to the present embodiment, the printing order, the number of copies, and the presence or absence of the setting of the stapling, which have been determined by the user at the time of creation, are requested by the printing job after the printing job is requested. It can be changed as appropriate.

The above embodiments are exemplifications for describing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to only these embodiments. The present invention, unless departing from the gist thereof,
It can be implemented in various forms. For example, the operation of the function realizing means has been described sequentially, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this. Therefore, as long as no inconsistency occurs in the operation, the order of processing may be changed or the operation may be performed in parallel.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, print job data is received by the printer,
Based on this, it is possible to control the printing order, the number of copies to be printed together, the presence / absence of the stapling, and the like, so that the user's request for printing can be controlled more flexibly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and a network to which the printer is connected.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining operation processing of the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a GUI screen of a print dialog according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents of print data according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining operation processing of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining operation processing of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an interface screen of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Network 2 3 Personal computer (PC) 4 Printer

Claims (11)

[Claims] A receiving unit configured to receive print data and related information related to the print data; a storage unit configured to store the print data and the related information received by the receiving unit; Display means for displaying, receiving means for receiving instruction information for the print data according to the related information displayed on the display means, and print data stored in the storage means according to the instruction information received by the receiving means. A printer, comprising: printing means for performing printing. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives at least two pieces of print data to be printed from among the plurality of print data stored in the storage unit. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed based on the designated print data in accordance with the following. 3. The receiving means receives instruction information for instructing a printing order among a plurality of print data stored in the storage means, and the printing means receives the instruction information in accordance with the instructed printing order. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein printing is performed based on the print data. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives instruction information relating to finishing processing for the at least two or more designated print data, and the printing unit performs finishing processing for the entire print data. The printer according to claim 2, wherein 5. A printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said printing means assigns a series of page numbers to at least the two or more designated print data on the basis of the instruction information on the finishing process.
The printer described. 6. A printing method according to claim 1, wherein said printing means performs a stealing process or a printing process on a printed material obtained by performing printing based on the instructed at least two or more print data based on the instruction information on the finishing process. 6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein any one of a punching process and a punching process is performed. 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said printing means performs a predetermined allocation process when printing based on said print data. 8. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs printing based on the print data in accordance with the instruction information received by the receiving unit instead of the predetermined setting information given to each of the print data. The printer according to claim 1. 9. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the related information includes at least identification information of print data given by a user. 10. A first step of receiving print data and related information related to the print data, a second step of storing the print data and the related information received by the receiving unit, and receiving by the receiving unit. A third step of displaying the related information, a fourth step of receiving instruction information for the print data in accordance with the related information displayed on the display means, and a storing step of receiving the instruction information received by the receiving means. And a fifth step of performing printing based on the print data stored in the printer. 11. A recording medium on which a program is recorded by causing a control device of a printer to realize a predetermined function, the program comprising: means for storing received print data and related information relating to the print data in a storage device; Means for displaying related information stored in the storage device on a display device; means for receiving instruction information for the print data input from a user via an input device according to the related information displayed on the display device; Means for generating image data based on the print data in accordance with the received instruction information.