JP2001092619A - Device and method for controlling print output - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print output controller and a print output controlling method for operating printer outputs in the priority order. SOLUTION: Print jobs are received through a network or the like, and set in plural queues corresponding to the priority order, and only the queues whose outputs are ended are deleted from the queues. When print outputs are reserved or abnormally ended, the queues are maintained while the priority order and input order of the input states are held, and the job selection is successively executed in the priority order. Thus, the queue whose priority is high can be always preferentially processed, and even when the queue printing is reserved due to a printer error, the queue whose priority is high can be immediately processed when the printer is restored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print output control device and a print output control method for controlling print processing of image data generated by various image generation devices connected to communication means such as a network and a dedicated channel. An image obtained by a medical image diagnostic apparatus is received via a channel dedicated to data communication, a network, or the like,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print output control device and a print output control method for executing priority order output in output processing by a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various image diagnostic apparatuses have been used as medical diagnostic apparatuses. For example, as a representative device, an ultrasonic diagnostic device, an MR (Magnetic re)
sound) device, CT (Computerize)
d Tomography) device, CR (Computing)
ed Radiography) device. These diagnostic imaging devices are called modality devices. Image data photographed by these various modality devices is processed in various modes, such as being printed out by a film printer, or stored in storage means for data storage.

For example, in a diagnosis using a CT apparatus,
A CT technician, which is an image diagnostic apparatus, is operated by a laboratory technician, and a tomographic image or the like of a patient is captured. This image can also be displayed on a video display on the console of the device. Further, by operating a film recorder called an imager connected to a modality (CT device), an image necessary for diagnosis is specified, and the specified image is input to the imager and printed on a large-format film by a printer, for example. Be out. This film is given to a doctor as a diagnostic image, and a patient is diagnosed.

Usually, several frames of diagnostic images are laid out on one film. Further, if necessary, attribute information such as patient name, patient ID, physician in charge, examination date and time, examination conditions, gender of the patient, and date of birth may be added to the diagnostic image recorded on the film. is there.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, MR (Magne
tic resonance) device, CT (Compu)
Terminated Tomography) equipment, CR
(Computed Radiography) Various image data shot by various modality devices such as devices are connected to their own printers and printed out, or when one printer is shared by a plurality of modalities, Printed via dedicated lines for dedicated modality devices or via a network
It is common to connect to a server and print out images from a plurality of modalities with a single printer.

[0006] As an output printer for medical diagnostic images,
Film printers of the type that forms images on photosensitive film instead of plain paper are used. The use of a film as an output medium has much higher resolution (particularly, a larger dynamic range) than plain paper, and relies on being able to accurately observe an affected area based on an output image.

In an environment where a printer is shared by a plurality of modalities, for example, in an environment where one or a plurality of printers are connected to a network, a printer output request for image data photographed by various modality devices is managed. A print output control device as a print server for printer management is connected, and manages a print job as a print request from each modality.

In a medical image data communication network system, when a plurality of film printers are connected to a print output control device, each film printer usually has one or more different sizes and plural types of trays. Thus, a large number of film sizes and film types can be provided to a client making a printout request.

Further, gradation characteristics of each film printer,
By connecting printers having different output capabilities such as recording format and resolution, a specific printer having appropriate output characteristics is selected and output for image data captured by each medical diagnostic imaging device (modality). This makes it possible to obtain an output adapted to the characteristics of various medical diagnostic imaging devices.

[0010] Image data output film for medical diagnostic images
For the size, for example, half cut (350 mm x 430 m
m), large angle (350 mm x 350 mm), B4 (360
mm × 240 mm). Two types of films, blue and clear, are available. The recording format means the number of frames per page of the film, portrait orientation / landscape orientation, and the like. Various output variations can be made possible by enabling different types of output in each printer. .

In a configuration in which one or a plurality of printers are shared by a plurality of modalities, data received from various modalities via a dedicated data communication channel, a network, or the like is output by a printer. In some cases, print requests from a plurality of modalities may conflict.

As a well-known processing configuration for the occurrence of print request conflicts, a plurality of print jobs are managed as a queue, a first-in first-out (FIFO) method,
Alternatively, there is a method in which a processing order is uniquely determined by a last-in first-out (LIFO) method and a print job is processed according to a queue.

[0013] In such a queue-type print job processing method, the print output control device controls the job status of the printer connected to the print output control device, ie,
The printer is in a state in which the printer can execute the job together with the status management such as job execution and job end, or the job cannot be executed. The printer detects an inoperable state or the like due to various reasons, such as waiting for toner replenishment, and outputs print data to a printer or controls output standby according to the state. When a plurality of printers are connected to the print output control device, control may be performed to change the output destination by grasping the status of each connected printer.

Further, there is a configuration in which a priority is assigned to each print job queue, the queue is rearranged in accordance with the priority, and a job having a higher priority is processed first. As one processing mode of the print job management means having such a priority assignment queue, when there is a job waiting to be processed which has already been ordered as a queue, the priority of a print job to be input later and the priority of the print job already input There is a configuration in which a comparison process with the priority of a print job queue is performed, and a queue rearrangement process is sequentially performed every time a new job is input.

For queues that cannot be output due to the status of the printer and need to be reprocessed, the queues are rearranged in various forms, such as rearranged at the end of a queue waiting for processing. The configuration is well known.

[0016]

However, the queue rearrangement process by comparing the priority of the input queue in the print job management means with the priority of the already input queue, or output according to the state of the printer. The queue rearrangement process for queues that cannot be performed becomes complicated as the number of queues to be processed increases, resulting in a complicated processing program and an increase in processing load. Also, the algorithm for setting the difference in the priority assigned to each print job is complicated with the increase in jobs, and it may be difficult to assign an appropriate priority.

In addition, a print job that has become unavailable due to the state of the printer and has been put on hold as a print job requiring reprocessing has the same priority as all newly entered jobs, as well as a newly input job. Perform a comparison and reorder the queues, or
In general, processing such as rearrangement at the end of the processing queue is performed. However, as described above, the queue rearrangement processing becomes complicated as the number of processing queues increases. This will increase the load. Also, if the process of rearranging the job at the end of the queue is performed, there is a problem that the processing order is delayed even if the priority of the job is high, and even if the status of the printer is recovered, However, even if the processing of the reprocessing queue becomes possible, there is a problem that the job processing is not started until all the processing of the previous queue is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. In a print output control device that executes job processing according to the priority of a print job, a queue rearrangement process is not performed. For example, a print output control apparatus and a print output control method that ensure priority order output by enabling a print job in a held state that needs reprocessing to be held in a queue while maintaining the priority thereof are secured. The purpose is to provide.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform job processing in response to the status of a printer connected to a print output control device, and to output a job in a state in which job execution is impossible due to the status of the printer. A print output control device and a print output that can temporarily execute a held job at a position with a high priority immediately when the printer is temporarily held and the device status is recovered and becomes ready for output. It is an object to provide a control method.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above-described object, and a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a print job output from a data processing apparatus in accordance with a processing priority. A print output control device that sets a queue, which is a processing queue corresponding to a print job, and sequentially controls print processing by outputting print data to a printer in accordance with the queue, and an input control that receives a print job. And a plurality of queues having different priorities, a print job management unit for setting the print job determined by the input control unit to a queue corresponding to the processing priority of each job, and Output control means for sequentially taking out the queue from the queue and outputting print data corresponding to the taken out queue to the printer. The print job management means holds the processing order of the jobs set in the queue until the jobs set in the queue can be output by the printer, and processes the jobs set in the queue and put on hold. A print output control device has a configuration in which the replacement process is not performed.

Further, in the print output control apparatus according to the present invention, the print job management means sets a queue for a held job in a print processing incomplete state due to a printer device state or the like with respect to a job set in the queue. When a new job is output to a printer and the print job can be processed for the hold job, the hold job is preferentially selected as the next processing job, and is output via the output control means. And outputting the data to a printer.

Further, in the print output control apparatus according to the present invention, the print job management means is configured to complete processing of all jobs set in the high-priority queue or to set the print job in the high-priority queue. If any of the job processing is on hold,
It is characterized in that a job set in the next highest priority queue is set as the next output job.

Further, in the print output control apparatus of the present invention, the print output control apparatus has a configuration for executing output control for a plurality of connected printers, and the print job management means sets an output destination printer identifier in a queue. Characterized in that the next output job is determined according to the device status of each connected printer.

Further, in the print output control apparatus according to the present invention, the print job management means sequentially executes jobs having the same output destination printer and the same priority set in one queue according to a first-in first-out (FIFO) processing method. , A configuration for determining a processing job.

Further, the print output control device of the present invention further includes a data transmission source identification processing unit for identifying a data transmission source of a print job output from the data processing device, and the data transmission source identification processing unit. Priority determining means for determining the output priority of the transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source.

Further, the print output control device of the present invention further comprises an output printer for determining an output printer of the transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source identified by the data transmission source identification processing means. Determining means.

Further, in the print output control device according to the present invention, the data processing device is a medical image diagnostic device.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a queue, which is a processing queue corresponding to a print job, is set in accordance with the processing priority of a print job output from the data processing apparatus, and print data is sequentially stored. A print output control method for controlling a print processing order by outputting to a printer, wherein a priority determination processing step of receiving a print job and determining a processing priority, and a processing priority determined in the priority determination processing step A queue setting step of setting a job to a queue corresponding to any one of a plurality of queues having different priorities; and taking out the set queue and printing / printing the print queue corresponding to the extracted queue.
An output step of outputting data to the printer, holding the processing order of the job set in the queue until the job set in the queue can be output by the printer, setting the job in the queue and suspending the processing. The print output control method is characterized in that the processing order of the jobs is not changed.

Further, according to the print output control method of the present invention, for a job set in a queue, a held job in a print processing incomplete state due to a printer error or the like is held while maintaining the queue setting order, When a new job is output to the printer, when the print processing of the hold job becomes possible, the hold job is preferentially selected as the next processing job and output to the printer.

Further, according to the print output control method of the present invention, when the processing of all the jobs set in the high-priority queue is completed, or the processing of the jobs set in the high-priority queue is suspended. In any of the above cases, the job set in the queue with the next highest priority is set as the next output job.

Further, the print output control method of the present invention is characterized in that an output destination printer identifier is held for each job set in a queue, and the next output job is determined according to the device status of each connected printer. .

Further, according to the print output control method of the present invention, first-in, first-out (FIFO) jobs for the same priority printer set in one queue and having the same output destination printer.
O) Processing jobs are sequentially determined according to the processing method.

Further, the print output control method of the present invention further includes a data transmission source identification processing step for identifying a data transmission source of a print job output from the data processing device, and the data transmission source identification processing step. And a priority determining step of determining an output priority of transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source.

Further, the print output control method according to the present invention further comprises an output printer for determining an output printer of the transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source identified in the data transmission source identification processing step. And a determining step.

[0035]

The print output control apparatus and the print output control method according to the present invention are, for example, CT (Computed).
Tomography) equipment, CR (Compute)
d Radiography device, MR (Magne
The present invention relates to a print output control device and a print output control method for processing a print request from an external device connected to a modality device such as a tic resonance device, a terminal device such as a workstation, or the like via a network or a dedicated line.

The print output control device according to the present invention has, among other things, a function as a print server for printing a medical diagnostic image supplied from a modality device on a photosensitive film, and the priority of each received print job. And a print output control method which enables output with a priority set by setting a processing order according to the following.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are:
It will become apparent from the following more detailed description based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a print output control device and a print output control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a network system 100 to which a print output control device and a print output control method of the present invention are applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, an MR for magnetic resonance for computer tomography is provided on a network.
(Magnetic Resonance) Apparatus 50
A, RI device 50B, US device 50C, DSA device 50D for digital subtraction angiography, CT (Comp
utated tomography (CR) device 50E, CR (Computed) for computer radiography
A plurality of modality devices, such as a radiography device 50F, which are medical image supply sources, and other workstations 10A and 10B are connected. Normally, each of the modality devices 50 is provided in a dedicated diagnostic room (not shown) in the hospital.

On the network system 100, medical images captured by a plurality of modality devices 50A, 50B,... Are observed using, for example, a workstation 10A having a monitor operating as an image viewer, and a database 305 is provided. Processing such as transfer to the workstation 10B functioning as a file server and storage in the database 305 can be performed.

The image viewer attached to the workstation 10A retrieves, for example, a plurality of past diagnostic images from the database 305 attached to the workstation 10B and checks the progress of the recovery or the progress of the medical condition on the display screen. And a CRT (Cathod) having a large screen and a high resolution.
e Ray Tube).

Further, the medical images picked up by the modality devices 50A, 50B... On the network system 100 are transferred to the print output control device 200, and the film printing printers A, 201 connected to the print output control device 200. , Printer B, 202 (printout). The print output control device 200 functions as a print server, has one or more printers 201 and 202 locally connected, and prints image data.

The print output control device 200 performs appropriate format processing on image data transferred from each of the modality devices 50 on the network, for example, layout processing on a film of a predetermined size, enlargement or reduction of an image. After performing various processing such as processing, the image is output by the printer.

The print output control device 200 usually has
A plurality of (two in the example shown in FIG. 1) film printers 201 and 202 are connected, and each of the film printers has one or more trays. And a film type can be provided. The number of printers that can be connected to one print server depends on, for example, the number of ports supported by the server application.

As the output printer for medical diagnostic images, a film printer of a type that forms an image on a photosensitive film instead of plain paper is generally used. The use of a film as an output medium has much higher resolution (particularly, a larger dynamic range) than plain paper, and relies on being able to accurately observe an affected area based on an output image.

Each film printer has a gradation characteristic,
There are differences in output capabilities such as recording format and resolution. The film size mentioned here is half cut (350m
mx 430mm), large angle (350mm x 350mm),
There are variations such as B4 (360 mm × 240 mm). Two types of films, blue and clear, are available. Further, the recording format means the number of frames per one page of the film or the vertical / horizontal setting.

By disposing the print output control device 200 functioning as a print server on a network, an expensive printer for film printing can be shared among a plurality of modality devices. That is, an image file captured on the modality device can be transferred to a remote print server and printed out. Further, by arranging the file server 10B on the network, the image files can be stored in a shared database, and the diagnostic data of many patients can be collectively managed in the hospital. Further, by taking out the diagnostic image from the file server at a later date, it is possible to compare and display the diagnostic image with the latest captured image and determine the healing status and the progress of the medical condition. Further, a workstation for browsing images different from the modality device may be provided on the network.

The print output control device 200 includes printers A and 201 connected to the print output control device 200,
The printer B 202 is appropriately selected, and each modality device 5 is selected.
0A... Or image data transferred from the workstation 10A or the like via a network. Printer A, 201, Printer B, 2
No. 02 has a plurality of sorter bins, and can select and output any sorter bin for each of the print output data.

Normally, each of the print output control device 200, the workstations 10 and the modality devices 50...
It is connected to a network by an interface card (NIC: not shown).

In FIG. 1, the network is, for example, a LAN (Local Area) laid in a single hospital.
Network). The LAN may be composed of a single LAN segment 20 or a plurality of LAN segments interconnected via a router (or gateway) 30. Alternatively, the network is a WAN (Wide Area) configured by connecting LANs of remote hospitals via a dedicated line or the like.
Network or a wide area network such as the Internet.

Each workstation 1 on the network
, And each modality device 50, the print output control device 200, and the like are connected by a predetermined communication protocol. For example, OSI (Open Systems)
In a reference standard model, the physical layer and the data link layer of the network are Ethernet, and the transport layer and the network layer are TCP / IP (Transmission Control).
rol Protocol / InternetProt
ocol).

As an upper layer above the session layer, DICOM (Digital Image) is used.
g and Communication for M
a) protocol, and communication protocols other than DICOM can be used together in a network. The print output control device 200 has an interface for receiving each communication protocol used in the network.

According to the medical image communication network system 100 as shown in FIG. 1, all medical diagnostic data obtained in the hospital is digitized, and the diagnostic data is distributed and shared between a plurality of terminal devices on the network. can do. That is, the diagnostic data obtained in one diagnostic room is converted into another diagnostic room (or a remote hospital diagnostic room).
You can browse at. In addition, by extracting past diagnostic images from the database 305 as appropriate, it is possible to confirm the progress of recovery and the evolution of medical conditions. In addition, an expensive printer for outputting images captured by the modality devices 50 and images retrieved from the database 305 can be shared between a plurality of modality devices and workstations.

As described above, each of the modality devices 50.
And the workstations 10 are networked, the film printer is a modality device 50.
... and in a separate room, a remote location.
For this reason, each modality device 50 that is the print request source
It is difficult for the... Side to specify the printer or instruct a priority output while sequentially checking the status of the printer.

The print output control device 200, which is the print output control device of the present invention, includes a CT device, an MR device, and a CR device.
When image data output from various medical diagnostic image capturing apparatuses such as the apparatus, that is, the modality apparatus 50, or a connected workstation is received as a print job via a network, processing according to the priority of each print job is performed. The order is set, that is, the print job queue is set, and control for executing the printing process according to the priority is performed.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram for explaining the function of the print output control device of the present invention, together with each connection device. The print output control device 200 is connected to a network via an input control unit 211 having an interface. The network is connected to a plurality of modality devices 501 to 503 as image diagnostic apparatuses, and further connected to various devices such as a file server 10B having a database 305 and a workstation 10A having an image display.

The modality devices 501 to 503 connected to the network transmit various diagnostic image data to the print output control device 200. In addition, the workstation 10A retrieves, for example, past accumulated images of the various modality devices 501 to 503 accumulated in the database 305, confirms them on a display, and prints a print page,
Alternatively, the image data can be transmitted to the print output control device 200 after designating an area or the like or performing a predetermined editing process.

The print output control device 200 that has received the image data from the workstations 10A and 10B and the various modality devices 501 to 503 is connected to the printers 201 and 202 locally connected to the print output control device 200.
Functions as a print server that executes printout of image data using the.

The function of the print output control device will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Print output control device 200
Is a workstation 10 connected to the network.
A and 10B, upon receiving data from each of the modality devices 501 to 503, first, the input control unit 211 determines three types of data based on the image data sent along with the print request (print job) and its attribute data. Of the print job holding unit 212, that is, a queue 2 in which print jobs are arranged in the order of processing, by adding an input data priority attribute (High, Medium, Low)
Input to 12a, 212b, 212c. In the example of FIG. 2, the priority is set to “High”, “Medium”,
Although three types of “Low” are used, the types of priority are not limited to three, and may be two or four or more classifications.

The queue 212a in the print job holding unit 212 is a queue for arranging print jobs having high print output priorities (High) in the order of input.
12b, the print output priority is medium (Medium)
Are arranged in the order of input, and the queue 212c is a queue for arranging the print jobs of low print output priority (Low) in the order of input.

In each of the queues 212a to 212c shown in FIG. 2, a previously input job is shown at the top, and a new input job is set downward with time. That is, first-in first-out (FIF
The processing is performed in the O) method. Therefore, basically, the processing proceeds from the print job with the highest priority and in the order of input.

Note that High, Me for input data
The priority order of “dium” and “Low” can be added by, for example, identifying the data processing device (modality or the like) that issued the print job from the attribute data and adding a preset priority order to the device. A configuration may be adopted in which priorities of High, Medium, and Low are included in the attribute data in advance, and the priority is set based on the attribute data. An example having a configuration for identifying a data processing device will be described as a second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, output destination identification data (whether to output to printer A or output to printer B) is set in each queue. When the processing of 202 is completed and new job processing becomes possible, image data corresponding to the print job queue indicated by the pointer 250 is output to the printer.

As described above, the printers 201 and 201
02 is configured to provide a number of different film sizes and film types,
Each printer has different output capabilities such as gradation characteristics, recording format, and resolution. For example, a film that can be output
The size is half cut (350 mm x 430 mm), large angle (350 mm x 350 mm), B4 (360 mm x 24 mm)
0 mm), and two types of films, blue and clear, are prepared.

The image data transferred from each modality sends out a processing mode at the time of output together with the image data as attribute data so that the optimum printing can be executed. A printer capable of outputting an image defined as is set and set in the queues 212 a to 212 c of the print job holding unit 212. Alternatively, if an output destination is specified in the attribute data, the specified printer may be set as the output destination.

Assuming that a queue waiting for processing as shown in FIG. 2 is set in the print job holding unit 212, a pointer 250 is set to the head queue of the queue 212a (high) having the highest priority, and this queue is set. Is output to the printer A 201 by the output control unit 213.
Is output via.

The pointer 250 moves the designated job in the order of priority, and in the next state shown in FIG. 2, the pointer 250 is set to the data of the queue registered second in the queue 212a, and the state of the printer B is processed. If it is possible, the data corresponding to this queue is output to the printer B 202.

These processes are performed by the print job holding unit 21
2, the queue 212a (high) with a high priority and the queue 21 with a medium priority
2b (Medium), low-priority queue 212c
(Low).

At this time, when new input image data, that is, a new print job is generated, the input control unit 211 assigns High, High, or Low to the job based on the image data sent along with the print request and its attribute data. Med
The priority is added to one of ium and Low, and the corresponding queues 212a, 212a,
An input is made at the end of one of the queues 212b and 212c. That is, the FIFO processing is executed in units of queues for each priority. However, if the output destination is different even for the same priority queue, the pointer is moved at the end of the processing of each printer. For example, the output destination: A is being processed, and the output destination: B can be processed. In this state, the job of the output destination: B is executed even if the job of the output destination: A previously input exists. Therefore, more precisely, the same output destination is specified, and the FIFO processing is executed for jobs having the same priority.

The queue held in the queue in the print job holding unit 212 is deleted when the printing process is completed. However, if output is not possible due to the status of the printer or if printing is not completed due to a print error or the like, the queue in the print job holding unit 212 is held as it is. Therefore, the priority order and the input order are maintained as they are. When determining the next processing job, select a job that can be processed according to the priority order.

The output control unit 213 receives status information of the connected printer from each printer. The print job holding unit 212 inquires of the output control unit 213 as to whether or not each job whose processing order has been set in accordance with the priority order queue can be processed from the first job. Set as a processing job.

For example, in the print job holding unit 212, the first job designates the printers A and 201, and A4
When the output of the size is set as the attribute data, if the printer 201 has run out of A4 size paper, the job cannot be processed. Without performing the process, it is further determined whether the jobs set in the queue can be processed in the order of priority and in the order of input. The job determined to be processable by the process propriety determination is output as the next process job.

The pointer 250 is set to indicate the next job to be output. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the pointer 250 is set to the job "output destination: A" at the upper right end having the highest priority. In the present embodiment, two printers, 20
1, 202 are connected, for example, the printer A
Is being processed, and the printer B can process the next job, the pointer 250 skips the job specifying the output destination A and shifts to the job specifying the output destination B. Set as the next output job.

The output control unit 213 detects the processing status of the connected printers 201 and 202, and the printer / job holding unit 212 moves the pointer 250 according to the processing status detected by the output control unit 213, and Performs dynamic setting of output data. Movement of the pointer 250 between different priority queues, ie, High → Medium,
Alternatively, Medium → Low is performed as follows.
When the processing of all the jobs set to the high-priority queue is completed, or when the processing of the job set to the high-priority queue is on hold, To the higher priority queue,
The job that has been input first in the priority queue is determined as the next output job, and if it can be processed, the job is output to the printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a specific processing mode of the queue held in the print job holding unit 212.

FIGS. 3A to 3F show examples of changes in the queue and the pointer 250 in the print job holding unit 212 that occur over time from (a) to (f). . In FIG. 3, in order to avoid complication of description, “Hig
h "and" Medium "are shown.

In FIG. 3A, the pointer 250 is set to the job queue 301 having the highest priority and the earliest input order. Here, when the printer A becomes ready for processing, the print target image data corresponding to the job queue 301 is output to the printer A, and the printing process by the printer A is started.

However, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the printer A specified by the job queue 301 at the head of the queue is
It is assumed that print output that satisfies job processing requirements cannot be performed. For example, this job queue 3
If the printer A has run out of A4 size paper when 01 requests an A4 size output, the job queue 301 cannot be processed. Therefore,
No data output relating to the job queue 301 is performed.

Next, in FIG. 3B, the pointer 250
Indicates the job queue 302 having the next highest priority and the earliest input order.
Is set to Here, when the printer B is in a processable state, the print target image data corresponding to the job queue 302 is output to the printer B, and the printing process by the printer B is started. Note that a double line frame indicates a job queue during output processing by the printer.

Next, in FIG. 3C, the pointer 250
Next, the job queue 303 is set in the job queue 303 having the highest priority and the shortest input order. Here, if the printer A can process the job of the job 303, the print target image data corresponding to the job queue 303 is output to the printer A, and the printing process by the printer A is started. For example, if the job queue 303 is a job that has a B4 size sheet output and the printer A is capable of outputting a B4 size sheet, the job queue 303 can be processed. Is output to the printer A.

FIG. 3D shows a state in which a pointer 250 is newly set in the job queue 301 in which the processing in the printer A has been suspended. The print data of the queue 303 indicated by the pointer 250 in FIG. 3C is output to the printer A to start printing of the queue 303, and the queue 301 remains as an unprocessed queue.

The print job 212 inquires of the output control unit whether or not processing is possible in order from the queue having the highest priority, and sets a pointer 250 to a printable job. Queue 3
If the print processing of the queue 301 has been restored to a state where the print processing of the queue 301 can be performed at the time when the print output processing by the printer A of No. 03 is completed, for example, A4 paper is set and the job 301
Is possible, the pointer 250 points to the job queue 301 having the highest priority among the queues that can be processed and having the earliest input order, and the data in the job queue 301 is output to the printer A. You.

Next, FIG. 3E shows the state of the queue and the pointer at the time when the print output processing of the job queue 301 in the printer A is executed and the pointer moves to the priority -Medium. At the time shown in FIG. 3 (e), the processing of the pointer instruction job queue 303 of FIG. 3 (c) has been completed, and the job queue 303 has been deleted at the time of FIG. 3 (e).

Next, FIG. 3F shows a state at the time when the print output processing of the job queue 304 is executed in the printer A, and the pointer moves to the next job queue 305 having the priority (Medium). . At the time shown in FIG. 3 (f), the processing of the queue 301 temporarily suspended has been completed, and the job queue 301 has been deleted at the time shown in FIG. 3 (f).

As described above, in the configuration of the print output control apparatus of the present invention, only the processing queue for which the print output has been normally completed is deleted, and when the print output is suspended, the queue remains in the input state. Since it is configured to hold and reset the pointer, it is possible to always process the high-priority queue with priority, and when the output is suspended depending on the printer status or due to a printer error etc. Even when the printing of the job is interrupted, when the printer recovers, it is possible to immediately process the high-priority queue.

[Embodiment 2] In Embodiment 1 described above,
When the print output control device 200 receives image data from each image data output device, for example, each of the modalities 50 to 50 or the workstation 10 shown in FIG. 1, the input control unit 211 (see FIG. 2) responds to the print request. Based on the image data to be sent and its attribute data, the data has three types of input order priority attributes (High, Mediu).
m, Low) are added to the corresponding queues of the print job holding unit 212, that is, queues 212a, 212b, and 212c in which print jobs are arranged in the order of processing.

In the second embodiment, when the print output control device receives image data from a data processing device such as a modality, it executes data source identification processing to identify the identified data source (various modalities or workstations).
, A data processing apparatus, that is, a table in which image generation apparatuses such as modalities are associated with priorities is searched to set priorities.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram for explaining the function of the image output apparatus 400 according to the second embodiment, together with connected devices. The print output control device 400 is connected to a network via an input control unit 211 having an interface. The network is connected to a plurality of modality devices 501 to 503 as image diagnostic apparatuses, and further connected to various devices such as a file server 10B having a database 305 and a workstation 10A having an image display.

The modality devices 501 to 503 and the workstation 10 A connected to the network transmit various diagnostic image data to the print output control device 400.

The functions of the print output control device 400 will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the print output control device 400 has a data transmission source identification processing unit 410. The data transmission source identification processing unit 410 has a configuration that can support a plurality of communication protocols used by each device connected to the network, and determines the modality or the workstation of the data transmission source according to each protocol. Execute

For example, when data is received in accordance with DICOM, which is often used as a medical image data communication protocol, an application entity title (Appl) transmitted when a data communication session is established.
identification entity title), and identifies the data transmission source based on this data. For example, FINP (Fuji
i Information Network Pro
In the case of using “tocol”, tag data as information relating to a transmission image is transmitted in a step before transmitting image data, so that “starting device” information included in the tag data is extracted and To identify. In addition, a data transmission source identification process corresponding to each communication protocol used on the network is executed to determine a device that has transmitted data.

In data source identification processing section 410,
When the data transmission source is determined, the identified data transmission source (device ID) is sent to the priority determination unit 420 as identification data.

The priority determining unit 420 determines the priority (High, Medium, Low) to be output by the printer based on the data transmission source (device ID). The priority determination uses the priority determination table 430 held by the priority determination unit 420.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the priority determination table.
FIG. 5 shows a sample of the priority determination table in which the device ID indicating the data transmission source device and the priority (High, Medium, Low) are associated with each other.

The priority determining section 420 of the print output control device 400 determines, based on the priority determination table 430, the printer 20 connected to the print output control device 400.
The output priority is determined using 1,202.

The three types of input order attributes (High, Med
The data to which any of “ium” and “low” is added is set as the corresponding queue of the print job holding unit 212, and the queue 212 in which the print jobs are arranged in the processing order.
a, 212b, and 212c.

The following processing is the same as in the first embodiment, and the queues 212 a and 21 in the print job holding unit 212
2b and 212c are processed in the priority order and the input order, that is, the processing is performed in a first-in first-out (FIFO) manner for each priority order.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the print output control device 400 holds a table in which priorities are set in advance in accordance with an image processing device such as a modality, that is, a device that executes output of print job data. Accordingly, the priority can be set by identifying the device that has output the image data without determining the priority based on the image data or the attribute data. Therefore, appropriate priority setting processing can be performed even in an environment in which image data according to various protocols is received and uniform priority determination based on attribute data is difficult.

[Third Embodiment] Further, as a third embodiment of the print output control apparatus of the present invention, when the print output control apparatus receives image data, it executes a data transmission source (various modality or workstation) identification process. A description will be given of a configuration in which, based on an identified data transmission source, a table in which image generation apparatuses (various modalities, etc.) are associated with priorities and printers is searched, priorities are set, and output printers are set. I do.

FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram for explaining the function of the image output apparatus 600 according to the third embodiment, together with each connected device. The print output control device 600 is connected to a network via an input control unit 211 having an interface. The network is connected to a plurality of modality devices 501 to 503 as image diagnostic apparatuses, and further connected to various devices such as a file server 10B having a database 305 and a workstation 10A having an image display.

The modality devices 501 to 503 and the workstation 10 A connected to the network transmit various diagnostic image data to the print output control device 600.

The functions of the print output control device 600 will be described focusing on the differences from the first and second embodiments.

In the third embodiment, the print output control device 600 has the same data transmission source identification processing unit 610 as in the second embodiment. The data transmission source identification processing unit 610 has a configuration that can support a plurality of communication protocols used by each device connected to the network, and determines the modality or workstation of the data transmission source according to each protocol. Execute As described in the second embodiment, data transmission source identification processing according to each communication protocol such as DICOM and FINP is executed, and a device that has transmitted data is determined.

In the data transmission source identification processing unit 610,
When the data transmission source is determined, the identified data transmission source (device ID) is sent to the priority and printer determination unit 620 as identification data.

The priority and printer determining section 620 determines the priority (High, Medium, Low) to be output by the printer and the printer to be output, that is, the printer A, 201 or the printer, based on the data transmission source (device ID). It is determined which of B and 202 is to be printed as an output destination. For the determination of the priority and the printer, the priority and printer determination table 630 held by the priority and printer determination unit 620 is used.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the priority and printer determination table. FIG. 7 shows a sample of a table in which the device ID indicating the device of the data transmission source, the priority (High, Medium, Low), and the printer ID as the identification value of the output printer are associated.

The priority and printer determination unit 620 of the print output control device 600 determines the output priority in the output using the printers 201 and 202 connected to the print output control device 600 based on the priority and the printer determination table 630. And the output printer.

The three types of input order attributes (High, Med
ium, Low) and the data to which the output printer identification data is added are set as the corresponding queues of the print job holding unit 212, and the queues 212a, 212b,
12c.

The following processing is the same as in the first and second embodiments.
The queue 212a in the print job holding unit 212,
212b and 212c are processed in the order of priority and in the order of input, that is, processing is performed in a first-in first-out (FIFO) manner for each priority.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the print output control device 400 holds a table in which the priority order and the output printer according to the device that executes image output are set in advance, so that the image data or The priority and the output printer can be set by identifying the device that has output the image data without executing the priority determination based on the attribute data and the process of selecting the output printer. Therefore, even in an environment where image data according to various protocols is received and uniform priority determination and output destination determination processing based on attribute data are difficult, appropriate priority setting and output printer setting processing can be performed.

The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which an image output device such as a modality or a workstation and a print output control device are connected by a network has been described. However, each image output device and the print output control device are connected by a dedicated line. The present invention is applicable to such a configuration. That is, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example, and should not be construed as limiting. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims described at the beginning should be considered.

[0114]

As described above, according to the print output control apparatus and the print output control method of the present invention, in a print output control apparatus to which a plurality of medical image diagnostic apparatuses are connected, for example, image data is transmitted via a network. Is stored in the print job holding unit as a queue as a queue according to the priority, and only the queue whose output has been normally completed is deleted from the print job holding unit.
If the print output is suspended or not completed normally, the queue is kept in the input state, and the priority order of the pointers is configured to be sequentially executed.
A high-priority queue can always be processed with priority, and even if printing of the queue is suspended due to a printer error or the like, the high-priority queue is immediately restored when the printer recovers. The queue can be processed.

Further, according to the print output control device and the print output control method of the present invention, each device that transmits a print job is identified by the data source identification process, and the output process priority is determined according to each data source. Is automatically set, it is possible to receive image data according to various protocols and perform an appropriate priority setting process even in an environment where uniform priority determination based on attribute data is difficult.

Further, according to the print output control device and the print output control method of the present invention, each device that transmits a print job is identified by the data source identification process, and the output process priority is determined according to each data source. And automatically configures the output printer, so that it receives image data according to various protocols, and performs appropriate priority determination based on attribute data and appropriate priority even in an environment where output printer setting processing is difficult. Setting processing and output printer setting processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a network system for sharing medical images between terminal devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a print output control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a network system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a processing mode of a processing queue in a print job holding unit of the print output control device of the present invention in a time-series manner.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a print output control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention together with a network system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a priority determination table of the print output control device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a print output control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention together with a network system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a priority and a printer determination table of the print output control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 network system 10A, 10B workstation 30A-30C router 50A-50G modality device 200 print output control device 201, 202 printer 211 input control unit 212 print job holding unit 212a-c queue 301-305 job queue 400 print output control device 410 Data transmission source identification processing unit 420 Priority determination unit 430 Priority determination table 600 Print output control device 610 Data transmission source identification processing unit 620 Priority and printer determination unit 630 Priority and printer determination table

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP10 AS11 AS13 HJ06 HQ17 HR02 4C096 DE04 DE07 DE10 5B021 AA01 AA18 CC04 EE02 5C062 AA05 AA06 AA16 AA29 AA31 AA35 AB17 AB22 AB24 AB38 AB42 AB53 AC22 AC02 AF24 AC24

Claims (15)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a queue which is a processing queue corresponding to the print job is set according to a processing priority of the print job output from the data processing apparatus, and print data is sequentially output to the printer according to the queue. A print output control device that controls the order of print processing by using an input control unit that receives a print job and a plurality of queues having different processing priorities, and processes the print job received by the input control unit for each job. Print job management means for setting a queue corresponding to the priority; sequentially taking out queues from the queues in the print job management means;
Output control means for outputting data to a printer, wherein the print job management means retains the processing order of the jobs set in the queue until the printer can output the jobs set in the queue, A print output control apparatus having a configuration in which the processing order of a job set in a queue and suspended is not changed. 2. The print job management unit according to claim 1, wherein the print job managing unit holds the held jobs in a print processing incomplete state while maintaining the queue setting order, and outputs a new job to the printer. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the print processing of the hold job becomes possible, the hold job is selected as a next processing job with priority and output to the printer via the output control means. 3. The print output control device according to 1. 3. The print job management unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing of all the jobs set in the high-priority queue is completed, or the processing of the jobs set in the high-priority queue is in a suspended state. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the job set in the queue having the next highest priority is set as the next output job.
Or the print output control device according to 2. 4. A print output control device having a configuration for executing output control for a plurality of connected printers, wherein the print job management means holds an output destination printer identifier for each job set in a queue, and 4. The print output control device according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration for determining a next output job according to a device status of the printer. 5. The print job management means is configured to sequentially determine processing jobs for jobs having the same output destination printer and the same priority set in one queue in accordance with a first-in first-out (FIFO) processing method. The print output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The print output control device further comprises: data transmission source identification processing means for identifying a data transmission source of a print job output from a data processing device; and data identified by the data transmission source identification processing means. 6. The print output control device according to claim 1, further comprising: priority determination means for determining an output priority of transmission data from the data processing device based on a transmission source. 7. The print output control device further includes: an output printer determining unit that determines an output printer of transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source identified by the data transmission source identification processing unit. The print output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: 8. The print output control device according to claim 1, wherein said data processing device is a medical image diagnostic device. 9. A print processing sequence in which a queue, which is a processing queue corresponding to a print job, is set according to the processing priority of a print job output from the data processing apparatus, and print data is sequentially output to a printer. A priority determination processing step of receiving a print job and determining a processing priority; and a plurality of different priority levels depending on the processing priority determined in the priority determination processing step. A queue setting step of setting a job in one of the queues; and an output step of taking out the set queue and outputting print data corresponding to the taken-out queue to a printer. Processing order of the jobs set in the queue until the output of the job by the printer becomes possible A print order control method which does not perform the processing order change processing of a job set in a queue and held for processing. 10. A job set in a queue is held in a print processing incomplete state due to a status of a printer device or the like, and is held while maintaining the setting order of the queue, and a new job is output to the printer. 10. The print output control method according to claim 9, wherein when the print processing of the hold job becomes possible, the hold job is selected with priority and output to a printer. 11. When the processing of all the jobs set in the high-priority queue is completed, or when the processing of the jobs set in the high-priority queue is on hold 11. The print output control method according to claim 9, wherein a job set in a queue having the next highest priority is set as a next output job. 12. The printer according to claim 9, wherein an output destination printer identifier is held for each job set in the queue, and the next output job is determined according to the device status of each connected printer.
12. The print output control method according to any one of claims 1 to 11. 13. The printer according to claim 9, wherein jobs having the same output destination printer and having the same priority set in one queue are sequentially processed in accordance with a first-in first-out (FIFO) processing method. The print output control method according to any one of the above. 14. The print output control method, further comprising: a data transmission source identification processing step for identifying a data transmission source of a print job output from a data processing apparatus; 14. The print output control method according to claim 9, further comprising a priority determining step of determining an output priority of transmission data from the data processing device based on a transmission source. 15. The print output control method, further comprising: an output printer determining step of determining an output printer of transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source identified in the data transmission source identification processing step. 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein:
The print output control method according to any one of the above.