JP2001117736A - Method and system for printing processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide printing processing method and system capable of reducing client's load and efficiently executing printing processing. SOLUTION: Plural PDL generation servers 3 are provided, one of the servers 3 is selected in accordance with the existence of an application in each server 3 and the load state of each server 3 and the selected server 3 generates PDL data from application data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print processing method and system, and more particularly, to a network print processing method and system that can reduce processing at a client when performing print output from a network printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general network environment, when data created by application software is printed by a client, a page driver (PDL) is printed by a printer driver incorporated in the client.
An option language is generated, transferred to the print service, and printed out from the printer.

However, when printing large-sized output data, the processing capability of the client is low.
Since a lot of time is required to generate PDL from output data, and since a large number of print processes from a client are concentrated on a print service, more time is required between execution of printing and printing. There was a problem that required time.

[0004] Therefore, in the "network system and print processing method of the network system" described in JP-A-8-339276, a dedicated printer driver is incorporated in each of the client and the print service, and when the client executes printing, The printer driver incorporated in the client inquires of the print service about the print processing capability, and acquires the load information of the print service at this time. When the processing load of the print service is low, the client transfers the output data to the print service according to the load information, and the print service generates the PDL. In addition, when the processing load of the server is high, a client directly generates PDL from output data, thereby proposing a network print processing method for performing print processing efficiently.

[0005]

However, in the above-described print processing method in the network system, the printer driver incorporated in each of the client and the print service is a dedicated printer driver having a function of performing cooperative processing. There is a lack of versatility because there is a printer driver that provides load distribution is also incorporated in the client,
If a large number of client computers exist in the network and the load is concentrated on the print service, the processing in the print service is rejected. As a result, the client must perform the process of generating PDL from the output data. In addition, there is a problem that the efficiency of the print processing capacity is low.

Further, when generating PDL, in addition to a printer driver, processing is performed in conjunction with application software. However, since this application software is incorporated only in the client, this PDL is not used.
The client has to perform a part of the process of generating L, and this process cannot be completely distributed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a print processing method and system capable of reducing the load on a client and performing print processing efficiently.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print processing method for performing print output from a printer connected to a network. A plurality of print data generation servers that generate print data based on application data to be connected are connected, a desired print data generation server is selected from the plurality of print data generation servers, and printing is performed by the selected print data generation server. Print output is performed by generating data and transferring the generated data to the printer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the selection is made based on the presence or absence of application software corresponding to the application data to be output in each of the plurality of print data generation servers. It is characterized by the following.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the invention, the selection is performed based on a load state in each of the plurality of print data generation servers.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the selection is performed by a print service for receiving application data transmitted from a client.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the selection is performed by a client that transmits application data, and the client transmits the application data to the selected print data generation server. It is characterized by.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the selection is performed when each of the plurality of print data generation servers has application software corresponding to the received application data. Generating print data based on the application data, and not having application software corresponding to the received application data,
The application data is transferred by transferring the application data to another print data generation server.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print processing system for performing print output from a printer connected to a network, comprising a plurality of print data generating means for generating print data based on application data dependent on application software. And a selection unit for selecting a predetermined print data generation unit from the plurality of print data generation units based on the application data, and printing based on the application data by the print data generation unit selected by the selection unit. Data is generated and printed out from the printer.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the selection unit is configured to determine whether or not there is application software corresponding to the application data to be output in each of the plurality of print data generation units. The selection is performed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the selection unit performs the selection based on a load state in each of the plurality of print data generation units.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a client for sending out the application data and a print server for receiving the application data sent from the client. It is characterized by being provided in the print server.

[0018] The invention of claim 11 is the invention of claim 7, further comprising a client for transmitting application data, wherein the selecting means is provided in the client.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the selecting means is provided in the print data generating means, and the print data generating means is configured to execute application software corresponding to the received application data. If the print data generation unit has the application data corresponding to the received application data, if the print data generation unit does not have application software corresponding to the received application data,
The application data is transferred to another print data generation unit.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a print processing method and system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of clients 2 (2-
1 to 2-3) and a plurality of PDL generation servers 3 (3-1)
To 3-4), a print server 4 is connected, and a printer 5 is connected to the print server 4. Although the printer 5 is connected to the print server 4 here, the printer 5 may be connected directly to the network 1.

In this system, the client 2 sends application data created by application software (hereinafter abbreviated as an application) to the print server 4 as it is, and the application data sent to the print server 4 generates PDL data. The data is converted into PDL data by one of the servers 3-1 to 3-4, and output from the printer 5 via the print server 4 again.

Here, the flow from creation of application data to printing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the client 2 includes application software 21 and a data transfer unit 22. The PDL generation server 3 includes application software 31, a PDL generation unit 32, and a data transfer unit 33. It is composed. The print server 4 includes a PDL generation server selection unit 41 and a data transfer unit 42.
It comprises.

The application data created by the application 21 of the client 2 is transmitted to the print server 4 at the time of printing. When the print server 4 receives the application data from the client 2, the PDL is performed based on the application data.
Is selected by the PDL generation server selection unit 41 and the application data is transmitted from the data transfer unit 42 to the selected PDL generation server 3.

In the PDL generation server 3, the data transfer unit 3
3 converts the received application data into the PDL generating unit 3
2 generates PDL data while sharing processing with the application software 31. The PDL data generated by the PDL generation unit 32 is transferred to the print server 4 via the data transfer unit 33, and is printed out from the printer 5.

Next, a process of selecting the PDL generation server 3 by the PDL generation server selection unit 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an application installed in each unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the print server 4.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the clients 2-1 to 2-3 includes application software (A) 21-1, application software (B) 21-2, and application software (C).
21-3, and PDL generation servers 3-1 and 3-2.
Is the application software (A) 31-1
It is assumed that the PDL generation server 3-3 has application software (B) 31-2 and the PDL generation server 3-4 has application software (C) 31-3.

When the print server 4 receives the application data from the client 2, it starts the processing,
The DL generation server selection unit 41 checks whether or not the application software corresponding to the received application data is installed in each PDL generation server 3 (step 71), and checks the load state (step 72). These checks are performed for all P
Performed on the DL generation server 3 (N in step 73)
O) When all the PDL generation servers 3 have been checked (YES in step 73), the PDL server 3 to be used is selected based on the check result (step 7).
4). The PDL server 3 selected here has an application corresponding to the application data to be processed and has the lightest load. For example, application software (A) 21-
When the application data created in step 1 is received, the PDL generation servers 3-1 and 3-2 having the application software (A) 31-1 are selected with a light load. When the application software (B) 31-2 receives the application data created by the application software (B) 21-2, only the PDL generation server 3-3 has the application software (B) 31-2. Regardless, the PDL generation server 3-3 is selected.

When the PDL generation server 3 to be used is selected, the application data is transmitted to the selected PDL generation server 3 (step 75).
The PDL data is generated by the generation unit 32 (step 7).
6) The print server 4 receives this and transfers it to the printer 5 (step 77), and ends the processing.

Here, the case where each PDL server 3 has only one application has been described, but in practice, it often has a plurality of applications.

Next, a second embodiment of the print processing method and system according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing process.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the clients 102-1 to 102-3 includes application software (A) 121-1, application software (B) 121-2, and application software (B) 121-2. C) PD along with 121-3
An L generation server selection unit 123 is provided, and the PDL generation servers 103-1 and 103-2 transfer the application software (A) 131-1 to the PDL generation server 10-1.
3-3 is application software (B) 131
-2, and the PDL generation server 103-4 includes application software (C) 131-3. The PDL generation server selection unit 123 included in each client 102 corresponds to the PDL server selection unit 41 in the above-described first embodiment.

In this system, the client 1
When a print instruction is issued for the application data created in step 02, the PDL generation server selection unit 12
3 checks whether or not the application software corresponding to the received application data is installed in each PDL generation server 103 (step 171), and checks the load status (step 17).
2). These checks are performed for all PDL generation servers 1
03 (NO in step 173), and when all the PDL generation servers 103 have been checked (YES in step 173), the PDL server 103 to be used is selected based on the check result (step 17).
4). The PDL server 103 selected here has an application corresponding to the application data to be processed and has the lightest load as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

When the PDL generation server selection unit 123 selects the PDL generation server 103 to be used, the selected PD
The application data is transmitted to the L generation server 103 (step 75). The PDL generation server 10
3, the application software 131 and the PDL generation unit 13 based on the received application data.
2 generates PDL data (step 176) and transmits it to the print server 104 (step 177).
The print server 104 transfers the received PDL data to the printer 105 (Step 177), and
5, and the process ends.

In the first embodiment, the print server 4 includes the PDL generation server selection unit 41.
In the second embodiment, the configuration in which the client 102 includes the PDL generation server selection unit 123 has been described.
The DL generation server selection unit 41 (123) may be configured as an independent selection server. In this case, application data transmitted from the client 2 (102) is received by the selection server, and then the selection server is selected. The printing process is performed via the PDL generation server 3 (103).

Further, in the present invention, it is also possible to adopt a configuration without a PDL generation server selection unit, and a description will be given below as a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of a printing process.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, each of the clients 202-1 to 202-3 includes application software (A) 221-1, application software (B) 221-2, and application software (B) 221-2. C) 221-3, and the PDL generation servers 203-1 and 203-2 transfer the application software (A) 231-1 to the PDL
The generation server 203-3 transfers the application software (B) 231-2 to the PDL generation server 203-4.
Have application software (C) 231-3, respectively.

In the third embodiment, the PDL generation server 203 to be used is determined by the PDL generation server 203 itself. For example, the application data generated by the client 202-1 is first stored in the PDL generation server 20.
3-1 where PDL can be generated if possible.
If PDL data is generated by the DL generation server 203-1 but PDL cannot be generated, the application data is further transferred to the PDL generation server 203-2, and the PDL generation server 203-2 performs similar processing. Is performed.

To explain this flow, when the client 2 executes printing of application software, the client 2 transfers the application data to the PDL generation server 203-1 which is the first PDL generation server (step 271). The PDL generation server 203-1 checks whether an application corresponding to the received application data is installed (step 272). If the application is not installed (NO in step 273), the application data Is transferred to the PDL generation server 203-2 (step 274). Then, the PDL generation server 203-2, which has received the application data, checks whether the corresponding application is similarly installed (step 272).

As described above, the PDL generation server 203
Check if there is a corresponding application,
If the corresponding application is installed (YES in step 273), PDL data is generated without transferring the application data (step 2).
75) The generated PDL data is transferred to the printer server 204.
(Step 276), and the process ends.

In each of the first to third embodiments, it has been described that the client 2 (102, 202) creates the application data. You can use the one generated by the client. Therefore, client 2 (102, 202)
Need not necessarily have a corresponding application. Therefore, the client 2 (102, 202) can issue a print instruction even for application data that cannot be installed due to a difference in platform.

[0044]

As described above, a plurality of PDL generation servers are provided, a PDL server is selected in accordance with the presence / absence of an application in the PDL generation server and a load state, and the PDL data is converted from the application data in the selected PDL server. , The print processing can be performed at high speed without depending on the processing capacity of the client and without requiring time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating applications installed in respective units illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of the print server 4.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing process according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing process according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network 2, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 client 3, 3-1 to 3-4 PDL generation server 4 print server 5 printer 21 application software 22 data transfer unit 31 application software 32 PDL generation unit 33 data transfer Unit 41 PDL generation server selection unit 42 data transfer unit 101 network 102 client 103 PDL generation server 104 print server 105 printer 121 application software 123 PDL generation server selection unit 131 application software 132 PDL generation unit 201 network 202 client 203 PDL generation server 204 print Server 205 Printer 221 Application software 231 Application software Wear 232 PDL generator

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A print processing method for performing print output from a printer connected to a network, wherein a plurality of print data generation servers for generating print data based on application data depending on predetermined application software are connected to the network. Selecting a desired print data generation server from the plurality of print data generation servers, generating print data with the selected print data generation server, and transferring the generated print data to the printer to perform print output. Print processing method. 2. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the selection is performed based on the presence or absence of application software corresponding to the application data to be output in each of the plurality of print data generation servers. 3. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the selection is performed based on a load state in each of the plurality of print data generation servers. 4. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the selection is performed by a print service that receives application data transmitted from a client. 5. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the selection is performed by a client that transmits application data, and the client transmits the application data to the selected print data generation server. 6. When the plurality of print data generation servers have application software corresponding to the received application data, the selection includes generating print data based on the application data and receiving the print data. 2. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein when the application data corresponding to the application data does not have the application data, the application data is transferred to another print data generation server. 7. A print processing system for performing print output from a printer connected to a network, comprising: a plurality of print data generating means for generating print data based on application data dependent on application software; And a selection unit for selecting a predetermined print data generation unit from the plurality of print data generation units. The print data generation unit selected by the selection unit generates print data based on the application data, and the printer A print processing system for performing print output from a printer. 8. The printing method according to claim 7, wherein the selection unit performs the selection based on the presence or absence of application software corresponding to the application data to be output in each of the plurality of print data generation units. Processing system. 9. The print processing system according to claim 7, wherein the selection unit performs the selection based on a load state in each of the plurality of print data generation units. 10. The print server according to claim 1, further comprising: a client that sends application data; and a print server that receives application data sent from the client, wherein the selection unit is provided in the print server. Item 7. The print processing system according to Item 7. 11. The print processing system according to claim 7, further comprising a client for sending application data, wherein said selecting means is provided in said client. 12. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit is provided in the print data generation unit, and the print data generation unit includes application software corresponding to the received application data. If the print data generation unit does not have application software corresponding to the received application data, the print data generation unit transfers the application data to another print data generation unit. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein
The print processing system according to the above.