JP2001162900A - Print controller, printing system, method for processing printing, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print controller, a printing system, a method for processing printing and a storage medium capable of preventing interruption of printing due to an insufficiency of expendable supplies. SOLUTION: When a print request is received from an application (801), a designated printer name of print data and a quantity of expendable supplies to be used of the print data are acquired and stored (802 to 805). Then, the stored quantity of the supplies is sequentially compared with the residue of the stored supplies of the each printer separately acquired and stored (806, 807, 809), and if there is a printer having a sufficient residue of the supplies, print data is transferred to the printer through a network (811), and printing is executed. If there is no printer having the sufficient residue of the supplies, a user is informed of the effect.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing control device and the like, and more particularly to management of consumables thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing is performed by a printer connected to a network, print data is sent from a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) to the printer, and consumables (print paper, staples, etc.) of the printer are printed during printing. When it disappeared, the printing process was interrupted. Then, the printing process is restarted when the user replenishes the consumables.

[0003]

However, the printing process is interrupted, and the printing process is not resumed unless the user performs any processing, thereby causing a problem that the work efficiency is reduced.

In addition, the user has to replenish consumables during the printing process, and the user's work occurs during the printing process. .

[0005] The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and provides a print control device, a print system, a print processing method, and a storage medium which can prevent interruption of printing due to a shortage of consumables. It is intended for.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a printing control device is provided with the following (1), (2),
The printing system is configured as described in (3), and the printing system is described in (4) to
It is configured as in (9) and the print processing method is as follows (10)
And the storage medium is configured as in the following (11).

(1) A printing control device which can be connected to a printing device via a network, wherein a consumable supply remaining amount obtaining means for obtaining the remaining amount of each consumable product of the printing device, and a printing control device which is to be used in print data. A consumable amount obtaining unit for obtaining the consumable amount, and a comparison comparing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining unit with the consumable amount remaining of each printing device obtained by the consumable amount obtaining unit. And a notifying means for notifying the user when there is no printing apparatus that satisfies the requirement of consumable amount ≧ consumable amount as a result of the comparison by the comparing unit.

(2) A print control device which can be connected to a printing device via a network, wherein a consumable supply remaining amount obtaining means for obtaining a consumable remaining amount of each of the printing devices, and a printing control device which is to be used in print data. A consumable amount obtaining unit for obtaining the consumable amount, and a comparison comparing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining unit with the consumable amount remaining of each printing device obtained by the consumable amount obtaining unit. Means and a consumable shortage calculating means for calculating a consumable shortage amount of the printing apparatus when there is no printing apparatus satisfying a requirement of consumable amount ≧ consumable amount; A printing control apparatus comprising: a notifying unit that notifies a user of a result calculated by the consumable shortage amount calculating unit.

(3) A printing control device which can be connected to a printing device via a network, wherein a consumable goods remaining amount obtaining means for obtaining a consumable goods remaining amount of each of the printing device, and a printing data to be used in the printing data. A consumable amount obtaining unit for obtaining the consumable amount, and a comparison comparing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining unit with the consumable amount remaining of each printing device obtained by the consumable amount obtaining unit. And a control unit for stopping printing when there is no printing device that satisfies the condition of consumable supply amount ≧ consumable supply amount as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit.

(4) A printing system comprising: the printing control device according to any one of (1) to (3); and at least one printing device controlled by the printing control device via the network. .

(5) In a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network, a search for searching for an outputable printer is performed. Means, printer name storage means for storing the printer name searched by the search means in the consumables remaining information table, consumables remaining amount obtaining means for obtaining the consumables remaining amount of each printer, and the consumables remaining amount A consumables remaining amount storage unit for storing the remaining amount of consumables obtained by the consumables remaining amount obtaining unit in an information table; and a desired printing by any of the plurality of printers based on the consumables remaining amount information table. A printing system comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether data can be printed.

(6) A receiving system for receiving a print request from an application in a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printer is connected on the same network. Printer name obtaining means for obtaining the specified printer name of the print data, printer name storing means for storing the specified printer name obtained by the printer name obtaining means, and obtaining the amount of printer consumables to be used in the print data Consumable amount obtaining means for storing, the consumable amount storing means for storing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means, the consumable amount remaining of the designated printer stored in the printer name storing means and the consumable amount. Comparing means for comparing the amount of consumables stored in the quantity storing means, and printing based on the comparison result of the comparing means Printing system comprising setting means for setting a printer, a transfer means for transferring the print data to the printer that is set by the setting means.

(7) In a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of two-way communication with the printers is connected on the same network, the printers that have sufficient consumables are: A printing system comprising: a notifying unit for notifying a user that no printing is present; a determining unit for determining whether to stop printing; and a control unit for controlling to stop printing based on the determination by the determining unit. .

(8) In a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network, and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network, the number of consumables of each printer is determined. Calculating means for calculating, a notifying means for notifying the user of the information on the shortage of consumables of the printer calculated by the calculating means, means for determining whether or not to stop printing, and determining whether or not a printer to be printed has been selected. A printing system comprising: a determination unit; a unit that sets a selected printer as a printer to be printed; and a control unit that controls so as to stop printing.

(9) A receiving system for receiving a print request from an application in a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network. Printer name obtaining means for obtaining the specified printer name of the print data, printer name storing means for storing the specified printer name obtained by the printer name obtaining means, and obtaining the amount of printer consumables to be used in the print data Consumable amount obtaining means, a consumable amount storing means for storing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means, a consumable amount remaining for each printer, and a consumable amount stored in the consumable amount storing means. Comparing means for comparing the quantity of goods, transfer means for transferring print data to a printer based on the comparison result of the comparing means, And control means for controlling so as to stop,
Printing system with.

(10) A print processing method in a print control device which can be connected to a printing device via a network, wherein a step A of acquiring the remaining amount of consumables of each of the printing devices, a consumption scheduled to be used in print data Step B for acquiring the amount of consumables, Step C for comparing the remaining amount of consumables of each printing device obtained in Step A with the amount of consumables obtained in Step B, and a comparison result in Step C. And a step D of stopping printing and notifying the user of desired information when there is no printing device that satisfies the condition of consumable amount ≧ consumable amount.

(11) A storage medium storing a program for realizing the print processing method according to (10).

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment of a printing system. Note that the present invention is not limited to the form of the printing system, but is supported by the description of the embodiment, and in the form of a print control device, in the form of a print processing method, and further, a program for realizing the print processing method. Stored, C
The present invention can be implemented in the form of a storage medium such as a D-ROM.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host 10 and a printer 20 in a "printing system" according to a first embodiment.

The host 10 is implemented as a personal computer as shown in FIG.
The printer 20 is implemented as an electrophotographic printing apparatus using a laser beam. The host 10 includes a control unit 1010 having a CPU to execute the entire processing in the host device, a storage unit 1030 used as a work area for storing data in the processing performed by the control unit 1010, and a display having a CRT and the like. Part 10
40, an input block 1070 having a keyboard and the like, and a medium reading unit 1050 for reading data stored in a floppy disk 1060 as a storage medium.

On the other hand, the printer 20 has a similar control unit 20.
10 and a storage unit 2030. Printer 2
0 indicates a printing unit 2040 and a consumables remaining amount detection unit 205
0 is provided. The consumables remaining amount detection unit 2050 is composed of a paper remaining number detection unit, a staple remaining number detection unit, and the like in detail.

The storage unit 1 of the host 10 in FIG.
It is assumed that the module according to the present invention is mounted on the disk device 030, and the module is read into the RAM of the storage unit 1030 of the host in FIG. 1 and executed when the host 10 is started.

Further, the medium reading unit 10 of the host shown in FIG.
From 50, it is also possible to load the module and related data according to the present invention into the host 10 and execute it. It is assumed that the module and related data according to the present invention are recorded on the recording medium 3020 in FIG. 3, and the recording is configured as shown in FIG. In this case, the module and related data according to the present invention recorded on the recording medium 3020 can be loaded into the host 10 through the medium reading unit 3010 in FIG. This recording medium 302
When 0 is set in the medium reading unit 3010 of the host 10,
Under the control of the OS and the basic I / O program, the module and related data according to the present invention are read from the recording medium 3020, loaded into the RAM of the storage unit 1030, and become operable. FIG. 4 shows a memory map in a state where the module is loaded into the RAM of the storage unit 1030 and becomes operable.

The module and related data according to the present invention recorded in the recording medium 3020 in FIG. 3 are temporarily stored (installed) in a disk device or the like of the storage unit 1030, and the module and related data according to the present invention are stored. May be loaded into the RAM of the storage unit 1030 from a disk device or the like of the storage unit 1030 at the stage of operating.

The module according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.
Are coded based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

The present invention will be described on the premise of the above.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, one host and three printers (P1, P2, P3) are connected on a network, and the host and each printer can perform bidirectional communication. Shall be. It is also assumed that the output of each printer can be performed from the host.

First, the "printer consumables remaining amount obtaining process" of FIG. 7 will be described.

The control unit 1010 of the host shown in FIG.
It is determined whether an instruction to end the printer consumables remaining amount acquisition process has been issued (step 701). This instruction is performed, for example, when the user issues an instruction from the input unit 1070 of the host in FIG. The control unit 1010 of the host
If it is determined that there is no instruction to end the consumables remaining amount acquisition processing, a printer capable of outputting on the network is searched (step 702), and the storage unit 1030 of the host stores FIG.
Create a consumables remaining amount information table as shown in (a),
The acquired information is stored (Step 703). In the case of the present embodiment, the printers that can output are P1, P2, and P3, and thus the printer names P1, P2, and P3 are stored.
Next, the remaining amount of the consumables of each of the printers P1, P2 and P3 is obtained from each printer (Step 704), and Step 70 is performed.
The acquired consumables remaining amount information is stored in the consumables remaining amount information table created in step 3 (step 705). In the case of this embodiment, the remaining amount of consumables of the printers P1, P2, and P3 is as shown in FIG. The control unit 1010 of the host determines whether or not n minutes have elapsed since all of the processing in steps 701 to 705 has been completed (step 706). It is determined whether or not there has been an instruction to end the quantity acquisition process (step 701). After that, as above,
Until there is an instruction to end the processing for obtaining the remaining amount of consumables of the printer, a printer capable of outputting is searched, the remaining amount of consumables of each printer is obtained, and the consumables remaining amount information table is updated to the latest state. If there is an instruction to end the printer consumables remaining amount acquisition process, the “printer consumables remaining amount acquisition process” ends. Next, the printing process of FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described.

When the control unit 1010 of the host receives a print request from an application (step 801),
The printer name specified in the print data is acquired (step 802) and stored in the storage unit 1030 of the host 10 as shown in FIG.
A print data consumable information table as shown in (b) is created, and the acquired information is stored (step 803). In the case of this embodiment, since the designated printer of the print data is P1, the designated printer name is stored as P1. Next, the quantity of printer consumables to be used in the print data (hereinafter, referred to as print data consumables) is obtained from the print data (step 804), and is obtained in the print data consumables information table created in step 803. Consumable information is stored (step 805).

Then, in the printer consumables remaining amount obtaining process of FIG. 7, the consumables remaining amount of the printer P1 (FIG. 6A) stored in the storage unit 1030 of the host and the print data consumables stored in step 805 are stored. Information (Fig. 6 (b))
Are compared by the control unit 1010 of the host (step 80).
6).

If the remaining amount of the consumables of the printer P1 is equal to or larger than the print data consumables quantity, the print data is transferred to the printer P1 (step 811), and the printing process on the host 10 ends.

In the example of FIG. 6, since the remaining amount of consumables of the printer P1 is smaller than the print data consumables quantity,
Since the number of four sheets is insufficient, the control unit 1 of the host
010 compares the remaining amount of consumables of the printer P2 with the number of print data consumables (step 807). If all the consumables remaining in the printer P2 are equal to or larger than the print data consumables quantity, the printer to be printed is set to P2 (step 808), and the print data is transferred to the printer P2 (step 811). Ends.

In the example of FIG. 6, since the remaining amount of consumables of the printer P2 is smaller than the print data consumables quantity,
Since the four sheets and the staples are insufficient, the control unit 1010 of the host compares the remaining amount of the consumables of the printer P3 with the number of the print data consumables (step 809). In the example of FIG. 6, since all the consumables remaining in the printer P3 are equal to or larger than the print data consumables quantity, the printer to be printed is set to P3 (step 810), and the print data is transferred to the printer P3 (step 811). The printing process on 10 ends.

If the consumables remaining amount of the printer P3 is smaller than the print data consumables quantity, the user is notified by displaying on the display unit 1040 of the host 10 that there is no printer that has sufficient consumables (step). 90
1). Then, an inquiry is made to the user as to whether or not to stop printing (step 902). If the user determines to stop printing, the printing is stopped (step 903), and the printing process on the host ends. The determination as to whether or not the user wants to stop printing can be made by, for example, the input unit 1070 of the host 10 in FIG.
This is done by giving more instructions. If the user determines not to cancel printing, the print data is first transferred to the designated printer (printer P1) without changing the print settings (step 811), and the print processing on the host 10 ends. .

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Printing is interrupted due to running out of consumables during printing, and the work efficiency does not decrease continuously.

(Second Embodiment) As a second embodiment, an improvement in processing when consumables are insufficient in all printers can be considered.

In the first embodiment, if the consumables are insufficient in all the printers, a notification of "insufficient consumables" is given and the printing is stopped by the user's instruction, or the printer specified first is sent to the printer designated first. Output was being performed. However, if the user can be informed in advance of the "shortage of consumables", the user can replenish the consumables that are missing before starting printing, and if the consumables are insufficient during printing by the printer. Printing can be prevented from being interrupted.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a mechanism is provided for calculating the shortage of consumables and notifying the user. Since the hardware configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted with reference to this.

The present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The processing in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as in the first embodiment. Here, processing when consumables are insufficient in all printers (FIG. 10)
Will be described only.

When it is determined that the consumables are insufficient in all the printers, the controller 1010 of the host shown in FIG.
Are the printers (here, the printers that can output are P1,
P2) is calculated (step 10).
01), information on the shortage of consumables of each printer is displayed on the display unit 1040 of the host 10 (step 1002). For example, “All printers that can output are short on consumables. Printer P1: 55 sheets of A4 paper shortage, printer P
2: Insufficient 40 A4 sheets / insufficient 5 staples ". Next, an inquiry is made to the user as to whether or not to stop printing (step 1003). If the user determines to stop printing, the printing is stopped (step 1003).
6) The print processing on the host 10 ends. If the user determines not to stop printing, the control unit 1 of the host 10
Step 010 determines whether the user has selected a printer for printing from the input unit 1070 of the host 10 (step 1004). If it is determined that the user has selected a printer for printing, the selected printer is set as a printer for printing (step 1005), the print data is transferred to the printer (step 811), and the print processing on the host 10 ends. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
In the case of a shortage of consumables, the user can know the situation, and can take prompt action.

(Embodiment 3) This embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the hardware configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Since the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that in the first embodiment, only FIG. 11 will be described here.

The control unit 1010 of the host 10 receives a print request from an application (step 1101).
Steps 801 to 806 of the first embodiment are the same as those from step 801 to step 806 in which the remaining amount of consumables of the printer P1 is compared with the print data consumable quantity. In this embodiment, if the remaining amount of the consumables of the printer P1 is smaller than the print data consumables quantity, the printing is stopped (step 110).
8), the printing process on the host 10 ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Printing is not interrupted by running out of consumables during printing.

What has been described as an example in each of the embodiments described above is effective even if it is replaced with the following.

Printer: Plotter, copier, FAX, etc. Host: Personal computer, workstation, mini-computer, etc. Control unit: Software, ROM, RAM, etc. Connection unit: Serial interface board, parallel interface board, network interface Board, etc. Storage unit: Memory, magnetic disk unit, magneto-optical disk unit, magnetic tape unit, etc. Printing unit: Laser beam system, valve jet system, LED system, thermal transfer system, etc. Display unit: CRT, liquid crystal, etc. Input unit ... … Keyboard, mouse, trackball, etc. Medium reading unit… FD device, MO device, CD-ROM device, IC memory card device, etc. Storage medium… FD, MO, CD-ROM, IC memory card, etc.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to prevent printing from being interrupted due to a shortage of consumables, thereby preventing a reduction in work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a module is supplied to a host.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a memory map;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a module.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table for consumables;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating printer consumables remaining amount acquisition processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 host 1010 host control unit 1020 host connection unit 1030 host storage unit 1040 host display unit 20 printer 2010 printer control unit 2050 printer consumables remaining amount detection unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A print control device connectable to a printing apparatus via a network, comprising: a consumable goods remaining amount obtaining unit for obtaining a consumable goods remaining amount of each of the printing apparatuses; A consumable amount obtaining means for obtaining the consumable amount; and a comparing means for comparing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means with the consumable amount remaining of each printing device obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means. And a notifying unit for notifying a user when there is no printing device satisfying the requirement of consumable amount ≧ consumable amount as a result of the comparison by the comparing unit. . 2. A printing control apparatus which can be connected to a printing apparatus via a network, comprising: a consumable supply remaining amount obtaining unit for obtaining a consumable remaining amount of each of the printing apparatuses; A consumable amount obtaining means for obtaining the consumable amount; and a comparing means for comparing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means with the consumable amount remaining of each printing device obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means. As a result of the comparison by the comparing means, when there is no printing apparatus that satisfies the requirement of the consumables amount ≧ consumables amount, the consumables shortage amount calculating means for calculating the consumables shortage amount of the printing apparatus; A printing control apparatus, comprising: a notifying unit that notifies a user of a result calculated by the product shortage amount calculating unit. 3. A print control apparatus connectable to a printing apparatus via a network, comprising: a consumable goods remaining amount obtaining unit for obtaining a consumable goods remaining amount of each of the printing apparatuses; A consumable amount obtaining means for obtaining the consumable amount; and a comparing means for comparing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means with the consumable amount remaining of each printing device obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means. And a control unit for stopping printing when there is no printing device that satisfies the requirement of consumable supply amount ≧ consumable supply amount as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit. 4. A printing apparatus comprising: the printing control apparatus according to claim 1; and one or more printing apparatuses controlled by the printing control apparatus via the network. system. 5. A search means for searching for an output-capable printer in a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printer is connected on the same network. When,
A printer name storage unit for storing the printer name searched by the search unit in the consumables remaining amount information table; a consumables remaining amount obtaining unit for obtaining the consumables remaining amount of each printer; The desired print data is printed by any of the plurality of printers based on the consumables remaining amount storage unit for storing the consumables remaining amount acquired by the consumables remaining amount acquiring unit and the consumables remaining amount information table. A printing system comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the printing is possible. 6. A printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network, a receiving system for receiving a print request from an application. Printer name obtaining means for obtaining a specified printer name of print data, printer name storing means for storing the specified printer name obtained by the printer name obtaining means, and obtaining a printer consumable amount to be used in the print data. Consumable amount obtaining means, consumable amount storing means for storing the consumable amount obtained by the consumable amount obtaining means, the consumable amount of the designated printer stored in the printer name storing means and the consumable amount Comparing means for comparing the amount of consumables stored in the amount storing means, and a printer for printing based on the comparison result of the comparing means. And a transfer unit for transferring print data to the printer set by the setting unit. 7. In a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network, and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network, there are printers that have sufficient consumables. Notifying means for notifying the user that the printing is not to be performed, determining means for determining whether or not to stop printing, and control means for controlling to stop printing based on the determination by the determining means. And printing system. 8. In a printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network, the number of consumables of each printer is calculated. Calculating means, a notifying means for notifying the user of the information on the shortage of consumables of the printer calculated by the calculating means, a means for determining whether or not to stop the printing, and determining whether or not a printer to be printed has been selected. A printing system comprising: means for setting a selected printer as a printer for printing; and control means for controlling to stop printing. 9. A printing system in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network and a host capable of bidirectional communication with the printers is connected on the same network, a receiving system for receiving a print request from an application. Printer name obtaining means for obtaining a specified printer name of print data, printer name storing means for storing the specified printer name obtained by the printer name obtaining means, and obtaining a printer consumable amount to be used in the print data. Consumables obtaining means, consumables storing means for storing the consumables obtained by the consumables obtaining means, consumables remaining for each printer and consumables stored in the consumables storing means Comparing means for comparing the amount, transfer means for transferring print data to the printer based on the comparison result by the comparing means, and printing stop And a control means for controlling the printing system. 10. A print processing method in a print control device that can be connected to a printing device via a network, wherein a step A of acquiring the remaining amount of each consumable of the printing device is provided.
Step B of acquiring the amount of consumables to be used in the print data; and Step C of comparing the remaining amount of consumables of each printing device obtained in Step A with the amount of consumables obtained in Step B. And a step D of stopping printing and notifying the user of desired information when there is no printing apparatus that satisfies the requirement of consumable supply amount ≧ consumable supply amount as a result of the comparison in step C. Print processing method. 11. A storage medium storing a program for realizing the print processing method according to claim 10. Description: