JP2001117738A - Network printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network printer capable of autonomously detecting the mutual operation states of respective printers without changing the set contents of substitutive printing in a computer, sharing loads by these printers and suitably and quickly coping with a command from the computer. SOLUTION: Each of printers 2a to 2c periodically transmits an operation information response request signal to other printers, and when a command signal is generated from each of personal computers 3a, 3b, transmits an interference request signal 9a for driving the response source printer held at a driven state to the response source printer so as to temporarily transmit an interference signal for interfering the command signal. Since the mutual operation states of the printers 2a to 2c can be autonomously detected on the printer side without changing the set state of substitutive printing on the computer side and increasing a cost for changing the management conditions of the computer and suitable load sharing is executed, operation control for automatically interfering a computer command to the driven printer once can be quickly and accurately executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network printing apparatus in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are driven by a plurality of computers via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art OA equipment such as facsimile machines, copiers, printers, etc., and personal computers are connected via a LAN (Lo) network.
cal Area Network (local information communication network) is configured and connected to each other, and an OA device is selected and operated according to a command signal from a personal computer, thereby causing the OA device to efficiently execute work processing. ing. In this case, the O which received the command signal from the personal computer
The A-device performs an operation based on the command signal or rejects the command signal by selecting either accepting or rejecting the command signal at the present time according to its own operation performance and operating state. I was

[0003]

In a network of this kind of LAN configuration, a plurality of personal computers share a common O
A device is usually used, and in this case, there is a tendency that a specific personal computer frequently uses a predetermined type of OA device. With these things in mind,
When a plurality of personal computers and a large number of OA devices are configured as a LAN by a network, each personal computer has a plurality of OA devices in advance.
A so-called proxy printing method is adopted in which the device A is registered, and priorities are set in advance for the registered OA devices, and the execution of the work is assigned to the OA device capable of executing the work in accordance with the priority.

However, in practice, proxy printing is set on a personal computer, and effective processing is not performed on the effective number of operating OA devices and the operating time. At this time, it is not possible to respond immediately, but in cases where it is efficient to preferentially execute a work based on this command signal after a predetermined delay time, fine-grained control is performed for each case. Not necessarily. In this case, the LAN configuration O
In general, the number of personal computers that use the device A tends to increase rapidly, and changing the operation management and the setting of the use conditions for a large number of personal computers causes a problem in the cost of changing the management conditions.

The present invention has been made in view of the current state of operation of OA equipment which is configured by a LAN with a computer and a network as described above, and operates according to instructions from the computer. In the present invention, a facsimile, a copying machine, When OA devices such as printers are collectively referred to as printing devices, the purpose is to autonomously detect the operating state of each other on the printing device side without changing the setting of proxy printing on the computer side, and An object of the present invention is to provide a network printing apparatus capable of appropriately responding to a command and appropriately responding to an operation command by performing appropriate load sharing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printing apparatuses each having a network interface unit for performing an interface operation based on a control algorithm are provided via a network.
A network printing device connected to a plurality of computers, wherein the printing device executes printing based on a command signal from the computer, and periodically requests a response of operation information from another printing device according to the control algorithm. Operating information requesting means for sending a request signal; operating information responding means for sending a response signal to the source of the request signal in accordance with the control algorithm; and printing in response to an operation state in accordance with the control algorithm. An interference request signal transmitting means for transmitting an interference request signal for causing a device to perform communication interference in accordance with a command from the computer is provided in the network interface unit.

According to such a means, a request signal for requesting a response of the operation information to another printing apparatus is periodically transmitted by the operation information requesting means, and the operation information responding means responds to the transmission source of the request signal. A signal is sent, and a jamming request signal sending means sends a jamming request signal to the printing apparatus which has responded that the printer is in the operating state to cause a command from the computer to cause communication jamming. The printers autonomously detect each other's operating status without changing the setting conditions of the printers, and send a computer command issued to the operating printers under an appropriate load sharing condition by using the operating information responding means. Is automatically controlled based on the response of the user.

[0008] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the operation information response means responds during a printing operation or a standby operation. Is what you do.

According to such a means, the operation information response means responds during the printing operation, whereby the operation of the first aspect of the invention is realized.

[0010] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the operation information responding means responds during a printing operation for a predetermined time or a standby. It is characterized by the following.

According to such means, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 1, since the response during the printing operation for a predetermined time is performed by the operation information response means, the printing apparatus receiving the instruction from the computer. Thus, based on the transmitted disturbance request signal, appropriate and effective communication disturbance is performed for a predetermined time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation information responding means responds during a printing operation of a predetermined number of sheets or in a standby state. It is characterized by the following.

According to such means, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, since the response during the printing operation of the predetermined number of sheets is performed by the operation information response means, the printing apparatus receiving the instruction from the computer. Thus, based on the transmitted disturbance request signal, an appropriate and effective communication disturbance is performed for a predetermined time required for a predetermined number of print operations.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus of the present embodiment,
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a signal transmitted and received between printing apparatuses in the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an autonomous control operation on the printing apparatus side of the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, OA equipment such as a facsimile, a copying machine, and a printer provided with a printing unit 5 and a network interface unit 6 are collectively referred to as a printing device 2 for convenience. For simplicity, the overall configuration is such that two personal computers 3a and 3b and three printing devices 2a to 2c are connected to the network 1 via a network as shown in FIG. The following describes the case where The network interface 6 of each of the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c performs an interface operation according to a predetermined control protocol. In the present embodiment, in particular, the network interface 6 requests a response of operation information to another printing apparatus from the network interface 6 according to a control algorithm. An operation information requesting unit that periodically sends a request signal, an operation information response unit that sends a response signal to a transmission source of the request signal, and a printing device that has responded that it is in an operation state.
An interference request signal transmitting means for transmitting an interference request signal for causing a command from the personal computers 3a and 3b to cause communication interference is provided.

In the present embodiment, the printing apparatuses 2a to 2a
The signal transmitted and received between C and C has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 3A shows a request signal 7 transmitted from the operation information requesting means, which reads the ID information and the print status on the network. Request data. FIG. 4B shows a response signal 8a transmitted from the operation information response means.
It is composed of ID information on the network and print status read response data indicating printing or waiting. FIG. 8C) shows an interference request signal 9a sent from the interference request signal sending means, which is composed of ID information on the network and print interference data.

The autonomous control operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 4 focusing on the operation of the printing apparatus 2a. In step S1 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, a timer for the control operation of the printing apparatus 2a is set, and the process proceeds to step S2, where the network interface 6 transmits a response of operation information from another printing apparatus as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the request signal 7 for requesting is received. If the request signal 7 has been received, the process proceeds to step S3 to determine whether the printing unit 5 of the printing device 2a is currently performing a printing operation. A determination is made as to whether or not it is. If it is determined in step S3 that the printing unit 5 of the printing device 2a is currently performing a printing operation, the process proceeds to step S4, where the response signal 8a as shown in FIG. Is sent. Based on such a response signal, the printing apparatus that has transmitted the request signal detects that the printing apparatus 2a is currently performing a printing operation.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S2 that the network interface 6 has not received the request signal 7 from another printing apparatus, the flow advances to step S5.
It is determined whether or not a predetermined time T set in advance has elapsed from the setting of the timer. If the predetermined time T has not elapsed, the process returns to step S1 and the request signal 7 has not been received from another printing apparatus. In this state, it waits for a predetermined time T to elapse. If it is determined in step S5 that the predetermined time T has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S6, in which the operation information requesting unit of the network interface 6 of the printing apparatus 2a sends the information to another printing apparatus, for example, the printing apparatus 2b, as shown in FIG. A request signal 7 as shown in a) is transmitted.

Then, the process proceeds to step S7, where the printer 2b which has transmitted the request signal 7 sends a response signal 8a including print status read response data indicating that a print operation is being performed, as shown in FIG. 3B. Is the printing device 2a of the transmission source.
A determination is made as to whether or not the data has been transmitted. Then, in step S7, when a response signal 8a indicating that the printing device 2b is currently performing a printing operation is transmitted from the printing device 2b to the printing device 2a, the process proceeds to step S8, where the printing device 2a transmits the printing device 2b. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), when a command signal is transmitted from the personal computer 3a or the personal computer 3b, the printer 2b transmits a disturbing signal for disturbing the command signal a predetermined number of times, for example, once. An interference request signal 9a including the interference data is transmitted.

After completion of the transmission of the interference request signal in step S8, or in step S7, if there is no response during printing from the printing device 2b that transmitted the request signal 7, the process proceeds to step S9, and all other processes are performed. Request signal 7 to the printing device
Is determined whether the transmission of the request signal 7 to the printing device 2c has not been completed. In this case, the process returns to step S6 to return to the printing device 2c.
The request signal 7 is transmitted. Then, step S7
In step S8, the same processing as that performed on the printing apparatus 2b is performed, and the process proceeds to step S9.
If it is determined that the transmission of the request signal 7 to all the other printing apparatuses and the subsequent processing are completed, the process returns to step S1, and the processing described above is repeated.

Although the above description has been made mainly on the printing apparatus 2a, the same processing is also performed on the printing apparatuses 2b and 2c, and the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c autonomously detect the operating state of each other. In a state in which appropriate load sharing is performed, control is automatically performed during printing operation so as to interrupt commands from the personal computers 3a and 3b.

Thus, according to the present embodiment,
Each of the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c periodically transmits a request signal 7 requesting a response of the operation information to another printing apparatus, and sends a request to the personal computer 3 to the printing apparatus that has responded that the apparatus is operating.
a or a personal computer 3b, a disturbing request signal 9a for driving the responding printing apparatus is transmitted so that a disturbing signal for disturbing the command signal is transmitted once. Therefore, without changing the setting state of the proxy printing on the computer side, without increasing the cost due to the change of the management conditions on the computer side, the printing apparatus side autonomously detects the operating state of each other, and In a state where the load is shared, it is possible to quickly and accurately control an operation of automatically interrupting a computer command issued to an operating printing apparatus only once.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a signal transmitted and received between printing apparatuses in the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an autonomous control operation on the printing apparatus side of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the operation information responding means of the network interface unit 6 of the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c operates when the printing unit 5 operates, as shown in FIG.
It is configured to transmit a response signal 8b including data of a predetermined required printing time. Also, the printing devices 2a to 2c
5 transmits to the transmission source of the response signal indicating that it is operating, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), it is configured to transmit an interference command signal 9b including a predetermined required printing time factor. The configuration of other parts of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first
Since the embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will not be repeated.

An autonomous control operation centering on the operation of the printing apparatus 2a of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S11 of the flow chart of FIG. 6, a timer for controlling the printing apparatus 2a is set, and the process proceeds to step S12, where the network interface 6 is operated by another printing apparatus as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the request signal 7 requesting the response of the information has been received. If the request signal 7 has been received, the process proceeds to step S13, and the printing unit 5 of the printing device 2a
It is determined whether or not is currently printing. In step S13, when it is determined that the printing unit 5 of the printing device 2a is currently performing the printing operation for a predetermined required time, the process proceeds to step S14, and the printing device of the transmission source of the request signal transmits the request signal shown in FIG.
A response signal 8b as shown in (b) is transmitted. Based on such a response signal 8b, the printing apparatus that has transmitted the request signal detects that the printing apparatus 2a is currently performing a printing operation for a predetermined required time.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S12 that the network interface 6 of the printing apparatus 2a has not received the request signal 7 from another printing apparatus,
Proceeding to step S15, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T set in advance from the setting of the timer has elapsed. If the predetermined time T has not elapsed, the process returns to step S11 and a request signal from another printing apparatus is sent. 7 is not received, and waits for a predetermined time T to elapse. If it is determined in step S15 that the predetermined time T has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S16, in which the operation information requesting unit of the network interface 6 of the printing apparatus 2a sends the printing information to another printing apparatus, for example, the printing apparatus 2b, as shown in FIG. A request signal 7 as shown in a) is transmitted.

Next, proceeding to step S17, a printing state read response indicating that the printing operation is being performed for a predetermined necessary time is received from the printing apparatus 2b which has transmitted the request signal 7, as shown in FIG. 5A. A response signal 8b including data is
A determination is made as to whether or not the data has been transmitted to the transmission device 2a. Then, in step S17, when a response signal 8b indicating that the printing device 2b is currently performing a printing operation for a predetermined required time is transmitted from the printing device 2b to the printing device 2a, the process proceeds to step S18, where printing is performed. When a command signal is transmitted from the personal computer 3a or the personal computer 3b to the printing device 2b as shown in FIG. An interference request signal 9b containing print interference data to be transmitted for a time is transmitted.

After completion of the transmission of the interference request signal in step S18, or when there is no response during printing from the printing device 2b that transmitted the request signal 7 in step S17,
Proceeding to step S19, it is determined whether the transmission of the request signal 7 to all the other printing apparatuses has been completed. In this case, the transmission of the request signal 7 to the printing apparatus 2c has not been completed. Is returned to step S16, and the request signal 7 is transmitted to the printing device 2c. Then, in steps S17 and S18, the same processing as that performed for the printing device 2b is executed, and
Proceeding to 19, request signal 7 for all other printing devices
When it is determined that the transmission and subsequent processing are completed, the process returns to step S11, and the processing described above is repeated.

Although the above description has been made mainly on the printing apparatus 2a, the same processing is executed in the printing apparatuses 2b and 2c. The printing apparatuses 2a to 2c autonomously detect the operating state of each other, and During the printing operation, control is automatically performed so as to obstruct the instructions from the personal computers 3a and 3b.

Thus, according to the present embodiment,
Each of the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c periodically transmits a request signal 7 requesting a response of the operation information to another printing apparatus, and sends a request to the personal computer 3 to the printing apparatus that has responded that the apparatus is operating.
or a command signal from the personal computer 3b, a disturbing request signal 9a for driving the responding printing apparatus is transmitted so that a disturbing signal for disturbing the command signal is transmitted for a predetermined time required for printing. You. Therefore, without changing the setting state of the proxy printing on the computer side, without increasing the cost due to the change of the management conditions on the computer side, the printing apparatus side autonomously detects the operating state of each other, and Controlling the operation of automatically interrupting a computer command issued to an active printing device based on the printing time of the active printing device while load sharing is performed, quickly and accurately. It becomes possible.

Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a signal transmitted and received between printing apparatuses in the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an autonomous control operation on the printing apparatus side of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the operation information responding means of the network interface unit 6 of the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c operates as shown in FIG.
It is configured to transmit a response signal 8c including data of a printing time required for printing a predetermined number of sheets. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the interference request signal sending means of the network interface unit 6 of the printing devices 2a to 2c sends the response signal indicating that it is operating to a predetermined number of sheets as shown in FIG. It is configured to transmit the interference command signal 9c including the various time factors. The configuration of the other parts of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

An autonomous control operation centering on the operation of the printing apparatus 2a of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

At step S21 in the flowchart of FIG. 8, a timer for the control operation of the printing apparatus 2a is set, and the process proceeds to step S22, where the network interface 6 is operated from another printing apparatus as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the request signal 7 requesting the response of the information has been received. If the request signal 7 has been received, the process proceeds to step S23, and the printing unit 5 of the printing device 2a
It is determined whether or not is currently printing. If it is determined in step S23 that the printing unit 5 of the printing device 2a is currently performing the printing operation for the printing time necessary for printing a predetermined number of sheets, the process proceeds to step S24, and the printing device that has transmitted the request signal sends the request signal to the printing device. A response signal 8c as shown in FIG. 7 (a) is transmitted. Based on such a response signal 8c, the printing apparatus that has transmitted the request signal detects that the printing apparatus 2a is currently performing a printing operation for a time necessary for printing a predetermined number of sheets.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S22 that the network interface 6 of the printing device 2a has not received the request signal 7 from another printing device,
Proceeding to step S25, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T set in advance from the setting of the timer has elapsed. If the predetermined time T has not elapsed, the process returns to step S21 and a request signal from another printing apparatus is sent. 7 is not received, and waits for a predetermined time T to elapse. If it is determined in step S25 that the predetermined time T has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S26, in which the operation information requesting unit of the network interface 6 of the printing device 2a sends the printing information to another printing device, for example, the printing device 2b, as shown in FIG. A request signal 7 as shown in a) is transmitted.

Next, the process proceeds to step S27, where the printing device 2b that has transmitted the request signal 7 determines that the printing operation is being performed for the time required for printing a predetermined number of sheets, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the response signal 8c including the indicated print status read response data has been transmitted to the transmission source printing device 2a. Then, in step S27, when a response signal 8c is transmitted from the printing device 2b to the printing device 2a indicating that the printing device 2b is currently performing a printing operation for a time required for printing a predetermined number of sheets, the process proceeds to step S28. When a command signal is transmitted from the printing device 2a to the printing device 2b and from the personal computer 3a or the personal computer 3b, as shown in FIG. , An interference request signal 9c including print interference data to be transmitted for a time required for printing a predetermined number of sheets.
Is sent.

After completion of the transmission of the interference request signal in step S28, or when there is no response during printing from the printing device 2b that transmitted the request signal 7 in step S27,
Proceeding to step S29, it is determined whether transmission of the request signal 7 to all other printing apparatuses has been completed. In this case, transmission of the request signal 7 to the printing apparatus 2c has not been completed. Is returned to step S26, and the request signal 7 is transmitted to the printing device 2c. Then, in steps S27 and S28, the same processing as that performed for the printing apparatus 2b is executed, and
Proceeding to 29, request signal 7 for all other printing devices
When it is determined that the transmission and subsequent processing are completed, the process returns to step S21, and the processing described above is repeated.

Although the above description has been made mainly on the printing apparatus 2a, the same processing is executed on the printing apparatuses 2b and 2c, respectively, and the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c autonomously detect the operating state of each other. During the printing operation, the PCs 3a, 3a
Control that interferes with the command b is automatically performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Each of the printing apparatuses 2a to 2c periodically transmits a request signal 7 requesting a response of the operation information to another printing apparatus, and sends a request to the personal computer 3 to the printing apparatus that has responded that the apparatus is operating.
or a command signal 9a for driving the responding printing apparatus so that, when a command signal from the personal computer 3b is generated, a disturbing signal that disturbs the command signal is transmitted based on the printing time of the number of sheets being processed. Is sent. For this,
The printers autonomously detect each other's operating status without changing the settings for proxy printing on the computer and without increasing the cost due to changes in management conditions on the computer, and perform appropriate load sharing. In a state where the printing apparatus is in operation, the computer command issued to the operating printing apparatus is automatically and promptly and appropriately controlled based on the printing time corresponding to the number of prints processed by the operating printing apparatus. It is possible to do it surely.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printing apparatuses having a network interface unit for performing an interface operation based on a control algorithm are connected to a plurality of computers via a network. The printing operation is performed by the printing apparatus based on the command signal from the printer. The network interface unit is provided with operation information requesting means, operation information response means, and interference signal sending means which operate according to a control algorithm. The operation information requesting means sends a request signal for periodically requesting another printing apparatus to respond to the operation information, and the operation information response means sends a response signal to the transmission source of the request signal. The sending unit sends an interference request signal that causes communication from the computer to the printing device that has responded that the printer is in the operating state. Without increasing costs
The printing device side autonomously detects the operating state of each other, and in a state where appropriate load sharing is performed, issues a computer command issued to the operating printing device based on the response of the operation information response unit. In addition, it becomes possible to control the operation of automatically disturbing quickly and accurately.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the effect of the first aspect of the present invention is realized by the operation information response means performing a response during the printing operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the response during the printing operation for a predetermined time is performed by the operation information response means.
The printing device, which has received the instruction from the computer, can appropriately and effectively perform communication interference over a predetermined time based on the transmitted interference request signal.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, a response during the printing operation of a predetermined number of sheets is performed by the operation information response means.
The printing apparatus, which has received the command from the computer, can appropriately and effectively perform communication interference for a predetermined time required for a predetermined number of print operations based on the transmitted interference request signal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a signal transmitted and received between printing apparatuses in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an autonomous control operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a signal transmitted and received between printing apparatuses according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an autonomous control operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a signal transmitted and received between printing apparatuses in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an autonomous control operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 2a-2c Printing device 3a-3b Personal computer 5 Printing part 6 Network interface

Claims (4)

[Claims] A plurality of printing apparatuses each having a network interface unit that performs an interface operation based on a control algorithm are connected to a plurality of computers via a network, and based on a command signal from the computers, the plurality of printing apparatuses are connected to the plurality of printing apparatuses. An operation information requesting unit that sends a request signal for periodically requesting a response of operation information to another printing device according to the control algorithm, and a network printing device that performs printing. Operating information responding means for transmitting a response signal to the transmission source; and a disturbance request signal for causing the printer from which the response has been made to be in operation according to the command from the computer to disturb communication in accordance with the control algorithm. Means for transmitting an interference request signal to be transmitted, Network printing device, characterized in that provided in the face portion. 2. The network printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation information responding unit responds during a printing operation or a standby state. 3. The network printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation information responding unit responds during a printing operation for a predetermined time or during a waiting period. 4. The network printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation information responding unit responds during a printing operation of a predetermined number of sheets or during a standby state.