JP2001175442A - Print server device and information processor and print job preservation managing method and preserved job generating method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To asynchronously notify completion of printing to a client device, in response to a preserved job which cannot be preserved on a server device. SOLUTION: Before the completion of printing is notified to a client device 102, the allowable amounts of writing of a preserved job file part 515 on a server device 101 are determined, and when the job preservation is possible, a preserved job management processing part 512 notifies the completion of printing to the client device 102, and manages a print job which cannot be preserved as a job in a preservation waiting state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server device and a client device for managing print data and print job information output from a plurality of clients connected to a network to a network printer connected to the network. The present invention relates to a print job management system, a method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, in an environment using a network printer, it has not been often performed that a plurality of clients on a network directly transmit print data to the network printer. This is because when the network printer receives a plurality of print data from a plurality of client devices, the load on the order control and the reception process increases, and the cost of the network printer increases to cope with the load.

[0003] Therefore, in many cases, a network OS is used to set and use a print server on a network. In a print job storage system using such a print server, print data is transferred from a client to a print server, and the print data is stored in a specific location of the print server. At the same time, the print server is designated as an output destination of the print data. The print order of the network printer is managed, and when the print order is reached, the stored print data is read, the print data is transmitted to the network printer, and printing is executed.

In this case, the print server must accept print data for the managed network printer from a plurality of clients on the network.
As the number of clients and the number of network printers increase, the load on the print server increases.

For this reason, when a print data storage medium (for example, a hard disk) in the print server becomes unavailable due to an error such as insufficient capacity,
In addition to storing print data received from each client device, even print data transmission processing to a network printer cannot be performed.

[0006]

For this reason, recently, a print server only accepts a print request for a print job,
A mechanism has been conceived in which print data to be actually printed is held by a client, and after a print data transmission permission is received from a print server, the client device directly transmits the print data to a network printer.

To solve the problem that print processing cannot be executed due to a failure of the print server, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-24 / 1998.
0469 network print system and information processing apparatus.
Since the print data held by the client was deleted when printing was completed, normally completed print data could not be stored on the server computer.

Therefore, before notifying the completion of printing, a storage medium on the server computer (here, a description will be given using a hard disk on the computer for the sake of simplicity, but a removable storage medium such as an MO may be used. Is)
A server computer having print completion notifying means for notifying a client computer of the completion of printing and setting a print job that cannot be saved to a waiting state for storage only when the print allowance is determined and storage is possible; Do not delete the print data when
A client computer having storage job transmitting means for transmitting print data and print job information collectively to the server computer as a storage job, and deleting the storage job when transmission is completed; and storing the storage job transmitted from the client computer. By storing the job in the designated directory, and periodically deleting the saved jobs that have passed the designated retention period, and notifying the print completion notifying means that the storage allowance has increased, the For example, a print job storage management system having a storage job management unit that can asynchronously notify the completion of printing for a storage job that cannot be stored in the print job.

According to this, a print job that has been notified of printing completion is retained in a specified directory on the server computer for a specified period, and a print job that cannot be saved on the server computer is printed by the client computer It will be saved in the save waiting state above. However, for jobs waiting to be stored,
As soon as the storage capacity on the server computer becomes available, the completion of printing is notified asynchronously, and the data is stored in a designated directory on the server computer at that time.
As a result, it is possible to prevent a state in which a print completed job cannot be stored on the server computer due to insufficient storage capacity on the server computer.

Further, when reprinting a stored job stored in the server computer, if only RAW data storing device information is stored, the output destination printer is limited to a printer having exactly the same specifications. I couldn't reprint on another printer.

Therefore, a print job storage management system capable of reprinting a storage job according to an output destination printer by storing RAW data and EMF data together in a storage job file is considered.

In addition, when the print data stored in the stored job file is RAW data, there is a restriction that printing can be performed only on the same printer when reprinting.

A first object of the present invention is to determine the size of print job data and the allowable size of a storage directory on a server computer, and notify the completion of printing only when storage is possible.

A second object of the present invention is to collectively transmit print data and print job information as a save job to a server computer in response to a print completion notification from the server computer. Deleting a stored job. Further, a third object of the present invention is to receive a storage job transmitted from a client computer and store it in a directory on a server computer specified separately, and periodically after a storage period specified separately. Deleting a stored job.

A fourth object of the present invention is to enable RAW data and EMF data to be stored in a save job file at the same time, thereby enabling reprinting without limiting the output destination.

A fifth object of the present invention is to select an arbitrary stored job file stored in a server computer and print data (RAW, EM, RAW) transmitted from the server.
According to F), print data can be sent directly to a spooler and printed, or printing can be performed at a normal application level in which print data is generated by a printer driver via GDI.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the RAW data generated at the time of reprinting is re-saved as a new save job file.

[0018]

A first invention according to the present invention is a print server device capable of receiving a print job to be printed from an information processing device via a network,
The storage job data, which is created by integrating print data to be printed by the printing device and print job information, received from the information processing device, is stored in the memory, and the storage process is performed even after the printing process by the printing device is completed. A storage job management unit that manages job data; and an output control unit that outputs stored job data managed by the storage job management unit to the outside in response to a reprint request received from the information processing apparatus. Things.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the stored job management means stores the stored job data transmitted from the information processing apparatus for a specified period, and stores the stored job data in the memory after the specified period elapses. Is to be deleted from

The third invention according to the present invention further comprises a judging means for judging whether the storage job data can be managed by the storage job management means in response to a storage request from the information processing apparatus. The storage job management unit stores and manages the storage job data when the determination unit determines that the storage job data can be managed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the storage file cannot be managed, the storage job management unit determines the print job ID and storage job size requested to be stored. Are registered and managed in a save waiting list.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a detecting means for detecting a registrable print job ID by comparing the free space of the memory with a stored job size registered in the storage waiting list. It is.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the storage job management means manages print data in a device-dependent data format and intermediate data in a device-independent data format. If the printing destination indicated by the reprint request received from the printing device is the same type of printing device as the printing device of the original printing destination, the output control unit depends on the device managed by the storage job management unit. The print control unit outputs the print data to be printed to the outside, and on the other hand, when the print destination indicated by the reprint request received from the information processing device is a print device of a type different from the print device of the original print destination, the output control unit Is for outputting intermediate data independent of the device managed by the storage job management means to the outside.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the intermediate data is EMF data, and the print data is RAW data.
Data.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for generating a print job to be printed by a printing apparatus via a network, wherein the printing apparatus generates print data to be printed by the printing apparatus. Data generation means, and storage data generation means for generating storage job data that integrates the print data and print job information based on the print data to be stored even after the printing process of the print data is completed in the printing device; And transmission control means for transmitting the stored job data generated by the stored data generating means to the print job management device via a network.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the print job management apparatus further comprises condition specifying means for specifying storage conditions for storing stored job data.

[0027] In a tenth aspect according to the present invention, the storage condition is a storage period.

[0028] In an eleventh aspect according to the present invention, the storage condition is a print durability count.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the stored data generating means generates stored data including the print data in a device-dependent data format and intermediate data in a device-independent data format. is there.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an obtaining means for obtaining a list of stored data managed from the print job management apparatus, and a storage to be reprinted from the obtained list of stored data. The apparatus further includes reprint designation means for designating data.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the case where intermediate data is received from the print job management device in response to a reprint instruction from the reprint designating unit, a plurality of print data generating units can The print data generating means corresponding to the printing device to be printed is selected, and print data for the printing device to be reprinted is generated from the intermediate data.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the print data generated when the intermediate data is reprinted is stored again in the print job management device as stored job data.

[0033]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a printing system to which a printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied, and particularly corresponds to a system for storing and managing print jobs. In this embodiment, it is assumed that n client computers are connected.

In the figure, client computers 102, 103, and 104 are connected to a network 106 by a network cable and can execute various programs such as application programs.
A printer driver for creating print data is installed.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a server, which is connected to a network 106 by a network cable. The server 101 according to the present embodiment includes the client computer 10
It has a function of storing the print job information from 2, 103, and 104 as an aggregation file.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a network printer.
And prints print data transmitted from the client computer. Reference numeral 106 denotes a network, which is connected to a client computer, a server, a network printer, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the client computer 102 shown in FIG. The client computers 103 and 104 have the same configuration.

Referring to FIG. 2, a CPU 200 executes an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a print job storage management program, and the like stored in an HD (hard disk) 205 and a RAM 202.
To temporarily store information, files, and the like necessary for executing the program.

The ROM 201 stores programs such as a basic I / O program and various data such as font data and template data used in document processing.
Reference numeral 202 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 200. Reference numeral 203 denotes an FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk) drive which can load a program or the like stored in the FD 204 into the computer system through the FD drive 203 as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 204 denotes an FD, which stores a print job storage management program and related data described in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the stored contents. 4, reference numeral 400 denotes data content of the FD 204; 401, volume information indicating data information; 402, directory information; 403, a print job storage management program described in the present embodiment; is there.

The print job storage management program 403 is program-coded based on the flowchart of the network printer control procedure shown in FIGS.

An HD 205 stores an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a print job storage management program, related programs, and the like. A keyboard 206 is used by a user to input a command of a device control command to the client computer. A display 207 displays a command input from the keyboard 206, a status of the printer, and the like. A system bus 208 controls the flow of data in the client computer.

FIG. 3 shows a memory map when the network printer control program is loaded into the RAM 202 and becomes executable. In this embodiment, F
An example is shown in which the print job storage management program and related data are directly loaded from the D 204 to the RAM 202 and executed. However, other than this, the print job storage management program and the related data may be loaded from the HD 205 to the RAM 202.

The medium for recording the print job storage management program may be a CD-ROM, an IC memory card, or the like, other than the FD. Further, the print job storage management program is recorded in the ROM 201, and is configured to be a part of a memory map.
It is also possible to execute at 00.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a basic I / O program, which is output from the HD 205 when the control device is turned on.
S is an area where a program having an IPL (Initial Program Loading) function or the like for starting the operation of the OS is loaded into the RAM 202 and is started. 30
Reference numeral 2 denotes an OS; 303, a print job storage management program; 304, related data;
A work area 5 is provided for the CPU 200 to execute the network printer control program.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a software module configuration of a printing system to which a client computer and a server according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. These are supplied from the FD, for example.

In the figure, reference numeral 501 denotes a software module configuration of a client computer, 502 denotes a software module configuration of a server, and 503 denotes a network printer. An application module 504 creates print data stored in the print job storage management system of the present invention. The application 504 creates document data and prints it using GDI, which is an OSS drawing means.
(Graphic Device Interface)
e) Output as drawing data (referred to as GDI function) to 508. 505 is a Microsoft-made O
This is a printer driver that operates by being incorporated in S (Windows (registered trademark)).

Reference numeral 506 denotes a printer spooler in Windows, and 507 denotes a control monitor for a network printer. Reference numeral 509 denotes a print storage job transmission unit, and print data 510 (RAW + EMF as described later in the present invention)
And a save job data in which print job information is collected. 511 is Windows
This is a registry registered in the system, in which a server name as a transmission destination or a directory holding stored job data is set.

When printing is performed by the application 504, the document data is converted into GDI functions as drawing data by G
DI 508, and GDI 508 outputs the DDI function (D
This is converted into a drawing command in a format that can be executed by a driver called “device driver interface”. Printer driver 505 receiving the DDI function
Is converted into a printer language (page description language) that can be interpreted by the print destination network 503. Also, Win
In Windows OS, EMF (EnhancedMeta)
File) can be spooled in a device-independent intermediate data format file. The EMF data is for storing the drawing content in a binary format based on the GDI function issued by the application. When the spool ends, E
Drawing contents temporarily stored by an EMF spooler (not shown) as MF data are output to the GDI 508 as GDI functions. The print data in the page description language format generated by the printer driver 505 is called RAW data.

Reference numeral 512 denotes a stored job management processing unit according to the present invention, which is transmitted from an RPC (Remote Procedure) from a 509 print stored job transmission unit on the client computer.
This is a module that receives stored job data sent using eCall) or transmits specified print data.

Reference numeral 513 denotes a server registry registered in the Windows system, which can control the operation of the print storage job management processing unit 512 based on information such as the storage destination and storage period of the storage job file.

Reference numeral 514 denotes a print completion notification processing unit which receives a print completion event for print data transmitted from the monitor 507 of the client 102 from the network printer 503 and determines whether or not the print completion event can be saved.
509, a print completion notification is sent to the print storage job transmission processing unit using RPC.

Reference numeral 515 denotes a file in which the stored job is stored as a file.
Indicates a storage job list, and 518 indicates a list structure used for a storage waiting job list. 519 is a reprint GUI
(Reprint GUI providing module), which provides a user interface for reprinting an arbitrary stored job from the client. These modules constitute a print job storage management system according to the present invention, and are supplied from a storage medium, that is, the FD 204 in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows the client 102 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a data structure of a registry 511 of FIG.
For example, a case is shown in which the information includes server operation information, a server name, a server IP address, and the like.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the data structure of the registry 511 of the server 101 shown in FIG. 6, and shows, for example, a case where the registry 511 includes a log storage destination, error information, a log storage period, and the like.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the data structure of the list structure of the server 101 shown in FIG. 6, and includes, for example, an index, a job ID, a storage job file name, a storage job size, a log storage period, a user name, This example shows a case where the information is composed of a document name, a printer name, a driver name, and addresses of the following list.

The print job storage management process when printing from the client PC 102 to the network printer 105 in the printing system configured as described above will be described below.

In the present embodiment, description will be made based on the printing system of the virtual print server system. FIG.
In a virtual print server system with a configuration like
The processing is performed as follows. Client PC 501 (1
02), if printing is started from the application 504, the print control program executes the EM that spools the drawing contents issued from the application 504.
The F data is accessed, and a copy thereof is generated in the stored job data 510. The RAW data, which is a printer control language generated by the printer driver 505 based on a print command from the GDI 508, is also stored in the previously stored E.
The same print job as the MF data is stored in association with the identifier using the identifier. Print job (EMF data
+ RAW data), the client 1
02 is the print data name, host name, print request time,
The print request information (print data is not included) including the name of the printer of the print output destination is transmitted to the print server 101 (server 502). The print server 101 manages the order of print requests for each output destination printer, and waits for printing at a network printer. That is, when there are no more print jobs being printed, the print server 101 prints to the client that has requested print request information in the next print order. Notify permission. The print permission includes a print data name to be printed, a requested time, and the like.

Upon receiving a print instruction from the server 502, the client searches the stored job data 510 (or the spooler 506) for a print job whose printing has been permitted based on the division within the print permission. Then, the print data that is the RAW data stored in the storage job data 510 is read out, and the monitor 507 sends the read out print data to the output destination network printer 503 by LP.
Transmission is performed using R, and printing is performed. As described above, the print server manages the print order, the client spools the print data, and when the print order comes, the client itself transmits the print data to the network printer, thereby printing the print data on the network. Since the number of times of communication is reduced, the load on the network is reduced. Further, since the print server only manages the printing order, the processing is lightened without having to prepare a large spooler. It is also possible to virtually use any one of the clients as a print server without installing a dedicated machine.

The print completion notification processing unit 514 waits for an output completion event from the network printer 503, and upon receiving the output completion event, determines the remaining capacity of the storage job storage directory set in the registry 513, and stores it. If possible, it notifies the storage job transmission processing unit 509 of a print completion notification.

Upon receiving this notification, the storage job transmission processing unit creates a storage job in which print data (including both EMF data and RAW data) and print job information are compiled, and stores the storage job in the storage job management processing unit 512. Send The storage job management processing unit that has received the storage job stores the storage job as a storage job file in the specified directory set in the registry 513.

If the print completion notification processing unit 514 determines that the storage job cannot be stored, the job is held in a storage waiting state in which no completion notification is issued for the job. With respect to the job in the waiting state, the print completion notification processing unit 51 issues a timing at which the stored job management processing unit 512 periodically deletes the stored job that has exceeded the storage period.
4 is notified that the remaining capacity of the storage directory has increased, a job that can be stored is searched for from the jobs in the storage waiting state, and the storage job transmission processing unit 509.
Is notified of the print completion notification. As a result, the job waiting to be stored is stored as a stored job file, similarly to the job whose printing has been completed.

Further, when reprinting the stored job file, the client 501
12 requests the currently stored storage job list. Stored job management processing unit 512 in response to the request
Returns the contents of the storage job list receiver 517.

The storage job transmission processing unit 5 receiving this
09 controls so that a list of print jobs stored on the reprint GUI 519 is displayed on the display unit. Then, the user is prompted to select an arbitrary storage job and an output destination printer. The print control program designates the ID of the job selected by the user and the output destination printer, and requests the stored job management processing unit 512 again for the print data stored in the stored job file.

In response to this request, the storage job management processing unit 5
Reference numeral 12 returns print data corresponding to the designated printer from the designated storage job file. The reprint GUI 519 that receives the print data via the storage job transmission processing unit 509 determines the type of the print data (RAW, EMF)
Prints via GDI or sends print data directly to the spooler to execute printing. The print data generated as a result of printing is converted into a new storage job file 510 composed of RAW data + EMF data by the storage job transmission processing unit 509, and stored in the server in the above-described procedure.

As described above, in the print job storage management system, a print job printed from a plurality of clients 102 to 104 is stored as a stored job in a designated location (stored job file 515 in FIG. 6) on the server. Can be.

It is not necessary to save the print job for every print job. Therefore, when the user gives a print instruction at the client, the user is asked to specify whether to save the print job after printing or to delete without saving after printing. The printer driver property screen displayed on the client will be described with reference to FIG. With the printer driver installed in the client, the user can set print settings using the screen shown in FIG. With this user interface, the user can set print resolution, gradation, graphic mode, paper size, print layout, paper orientation, stamp, and the like.

Further, by checking the “Save print job” check box 1401, the client performs processing of saving the print job to the server after printing is completed, and printing is performed without checking the check box 1401. In this case, after the printing is completed by the printer, the print data stored in the client is deleted without being uploaded to the server.

By pressing the "save setting" button 1402, detailed settings for storing the print job in the server can be performed. In the storage setting, a storage period, which is a period during which a print job is stored in the server, and a print durability count can be set. The print durability count means deleting a print job stored in the server when the print job has been printed a certain number of times. The print job is stored in the server until the print count is printed.

Also, a device-independent format (EM
F) and the device-dependent format (RAW) data are stored, and the more convenient one is selected for reprinting and outputting to the output destination printer. It is possible to output to different output destinations, and when outputting to the same output destination, it is possible to provide a reprint process that has an effect of improving the print throughput.

In this embodiment, Windows is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
And other OSs can be constructed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. This corresponds to the print completion notification processing procedure by the print completion notification processing unit 514 shown in FIG.

The outline of this processing is described in the network printer 5
A process of waiting for an output completion event from the MFP 03 and determining whether or not the job can be saved as a save job, and then notifying the save job transmission processing unit 509 of the completion of printing is shown. The print completion notification processing unit is provided as an event-driven resident service in which processing is executed by various events from each module of the present invention, a network printer, and an OS.

First, in step 601, an output completion event from the network printer, a storage capacity change event, or an end event of the present invention is awaited. If an event has occurred, it is determined in step 602 whether the event is an end event. As a result of the judgment, O
If the event is an end event from S, the process ends after releasing the internal memory.

If the result of the determination is that the event is not an end event, it is determined in step 603 whether the event is a change in the remaining amount of the storage destination directory. If the result of the determination is that the event is a remaining amount change, step 60
In step 4, the capacity that can be stored in the storage destination directory specified by the registry 513 is acquired.

In step 605, the size of the storage job and the storage capacity are compared from the top of the storage waiting list 518 to search for a job that can be stored. Next, in step 606, it is determined whether or not a savable storage job has been found as a result of the search. If it is found that the storable job has not been found, the process waits for the next event in the event waiting process in step 601.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 606 that the job has been found, in step 607, a print completion notification for the job is sent to the stored job transmission processing unit 509 using RPC. Then, in step 608, the job is deleted from the storage waiting list 518 and added to the storage job list 517. Thereafter, in the event waiting process of step 601, the next event is waited.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 603 that the event is not a remaining amount change event, it is determined in step 609 whether the event is a print completion event. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the event is not the print completion event, in the event waiting process of step 601,
Wait for the next event.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 609 that the event is a print completion event from the network printer, in step 610, the capacity that can be stored in the storage destination directory specified by the registry 513 is acquired.

Next, in step 611, the size of the stored job is compared with the remaining amount.
In step 612, a print completion notification for the job is sent to the stored job transmission processing unit 509 using RPC.

Thereafter, in step 613, the job is deleted from the print job list 516, and the stored job list 517 is deleted.
Add to Thereafter, in the event waiting process of step 601, the next event is waited.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step 611, if it is determined that the data cannot be saved, in step 614,
Deleted from the print job list 516, and stored waiting list 5
Add to 18. Thereafter, in the event waiting process of step 601, the next event is waited.

By repeating the above processing, it is possible to notify the completion of printing only for jobs that can be stored as stored jobs.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the stored job transmission document R order procedure by the stored job transmission processing unit 509 shown in FIG. .

The outline of this process is to create a save job from print job data (RAW data) created by the print process of the application 504 on the client PC 102 and print job information. At this time, by setting the metafile spool function to be valid as a spooler of the system, device-independent EMF data before the print data is interpreted as RAW data by the driver can be acquired. The EMF data generated by the above-described EMF spooler (not shown) is monitored by the monitor 507 and a separate file having a job ID as a file name (extension: EM
Copy to F). Then, the storage job including the print job data including the EMF data and the print job information is transmitted to the storage job management processing unit of the server after confirming the normal operation of the server 502. If there is some failure in the server and communication cannot be performed normally, the client 501
Is stored as a saved job file. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transferring the stored job file to the server when the server is restored or the capacity of the storage destination is secured. The storage job transmission processing unit is provided as an event-driven resident service in which processing is executed by each module of the present invention or various events from the OS.

First, in step 701, a print completion event or an end event is awaited. If an event notification is generated, it is determined in step 702 whether or not the event is an end event. Ends the processing after releasing the internal memory.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 702 that the event is not an end event, in step 703,
It is determined whether or not the event is a print completion notification event. If it is determined that the event is not a print completion notification event, the next event is waited for in the event waiting process of step 701.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 703 that the event is a notification event of print completion, in step 704, the EMF data whose file name is the job ID stored on the monitor 507 is combined with the RAW data. Created print data and print job information as one saved job file. At this time, the file name obtained by changing the job ID to a character string (extension: SP
L).

Next, in step 705, the created storage job file is transferred to the server 511 designated by the registry 511. Thereafter, in step 706, it is determined whether or not the transmission was successful. If it is determined that the process has ended with an error, the file is transferred again in step 705. Repeat this until successful.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 706 that the transmission was successful, then in step 707 the storage job file to be transmitted, or the print data and print job information for creating the storage job file, is stored in the internal memory. Delete from local disk. afterwards,
In the event waiting process of step 701, the next event is waited for.

By repeating the above processing, it is possible to transmit to the server 101 a storage job file in which print job data and print job information of a completed print job are combined.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the printing system of the present invention, and corresponds to the stored job management processing procedure by the stored job management processing unit 512 shown in FIG.

The outline of this process is a process for saving a save job transmitted from the save job transmission processing unit 512 of the client 501 in a directory designated as a save job file. The storage job management processing unit is provided as an event-driven resident service in which processing is executed by each module of the present invention or various events from the OS.

First, in step 801, a standby job reception event, a timer event, or an end event is awaited. If an event notification is generated, in step 802, it is determined whether the event is an end event.
If it is determined that the event is the end event from the OS, the internal memory is released, and then the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 802 that the event is not an end event, it is determined in step 803 whether or not the event is a timer event notified at regular intervals. If it is determined that the event is a timer event, the process proceeds to step 804. , A storage job file that exceeds the storage period specified in the registry 513 is searched.

In step 805, it is determined whether or not a search job file exceeding the storage period has been found as a result of the search. If it is determined that the storage job file has not been found, the next event is processed in the event waiting process in step 801. wait.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 805 that a storage job file exceeding the storage period has been found,
In step 806, the stored job file is deleted. Next, in step 807, the print completion notification processing unit 514 is notified that the remaining amount of the directory storing the storage job has increased.

The print completion notification processing section 51 receiving this notification
4, as described above, the job waiting list 518 is stored.
From the client 10 to find an appropriate storage job
The second storage job transmission processing unit 509 is notified of the completion of printing. As a result, the storage job is transferred, and in step 801, a reception event is sent.
This process is repeated for the stored job files found in the search process of step 804. Then, step 801
Waits for the next event in the event waiting process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 803 that the event is not a timer event, then in step 808,
It is determined whether the received event is a received event. If it is determined that the received event is not a received event, the process waits for the next event in the event waiting process of step 801.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 808 that the event is a reception event, in step 809, the name of the storage destination directory designated by the registry 513 is obtained. Next, in step 810, a file having the same name as the save job file is created in the save destination directory, and written to this file.

Next, in step 811, the next transmission data is received. In step 812, it is determined whether or not the reception data is completed. If NO, that is, if it is determined that transmission is to be continued, the process returns to step 810, Write the received data to the saved job file created earlier.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 812 that the received data has been completed, then in step 813, the last unwritten received data is written to the file. After that, the next event is waited for in the event waiting process of step 801.

By repeating the above processing, the storage job received from the client 102 by the storage job management processing unit 512 can be stored in the designated location.

By repeating the above processing, the stored job received from the client by the stored job management processing unit can be stored in the designated location.

According to the above-described embodiment, only a job for which printing has been completed can be collectively managed by the server device as a save job, and the client device can take over the saving of the print job even in the event of a server failure.

Further, when the storage capacity on the server device increases, the storage job can be automatically uploaded from the client device, and the data transfer processing burden on the client device by the user can be reduced.

FIG. 14 shows a reprint GUI (graphical user interface) provided and started from the stored job transmission processing unit of the present invention.

The reprint GUI includes input controls, selection controls, and check controls as shown in the figure. For the storage server name, enter the name of the server computer that is the storage destination of the storage job, and for the storage job list, the contents of the storage list stored in the storage server are displayed. Printers that can be used in the client computer are listed in the output destination printer name, and a printer having the same attribute as the job selected in the stored job list is automatically displayed as current. If there is no printer having the same attribute, the current display is not changed without automatic adjustment.

When Update Storage Destination is checked, the contents of the check are passed to a storage job management processing unit to be described later, the current storage job file is deleted after print data is extracted, and the storage job stored after reprinting is deleted. Updated with file.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the fourth data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. The reprint GUI providing module 51 shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of prompting a user to set reprinting via a GUI provided by a reprinting GUI 9 (hereinafter, referred to as a reprinting GUI module).

At step 901, the reprint GUI module 519 activates the reprint GUI shown in FIG. Then, in step 902, the storage job transmission processing unit 509 obtains a list of printers available on the client computer (EnumPrinter).
s ()), which is added to the output printer name list control.

In step 903, the reprint GUI module 519 determines whether the cancel button 1406 has been pressed. If the result of the determination is that cancel has been instructed, the reprint GUI module ends. If no cancellation is instructed, the process is continued.

In step 904, the reprint GUI module 519 sends an RPC (Rem) to the storage destination server 1401 specified by the user on the GUI shown in FIG.
Note that the stored job list is requested from the stored job management processing unit on the server computer by using “noteProcedureCall”. The obtained stored job list is added and displayed in the stored job list control.

In step 905, the reprint GUI module 519 determines a job to be reprinted selected by the user from the stored jobs displayed in the stored job list 1402. Subsequently, in step 906,
The reprint GUI module 519 determines the printer that is actually output by the user and selected from the output destination printer list 1403 which is a pull-down window. These determinations may be made by determining which candidate area has been clicked by the user operating the pointing device such as a mouse.

Also, in step 907, the reprint G
The UI module 519 determines whether the user has selected the check box 1404 indicating whether to update the storage destination. When Update Storage Location is selected, the selected storage job is deleted and replaced with a new storage job stored after reprinting.

In step 908, the reprint GUI module 519 determines whether the reprint button 1405 has been pressed. Reprint button 14 by user
If it is determined that “05” has been pressed, step 909 is performed.
15, the reprint processing shown in FIG. 15 is executed based on the update of the storage job ID, the printer driver name of the output destination printer, and the storage job selected in the above processing. The process ends when either the reprint button 1405 is pressed or the cancel button is pressed.

With the above processing, the reprint processing for an arbitrary stored job is started from the reprint GUI.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the fifth data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention, and is a flowchart showing the processing of the stored job management processing unit 512 when reprinting is executed. .

In step 1001, the stored job management processing unit 512 issues a print data extraction request using a RPC from the stored job transmission processing unit via the reprint GUI 519 (shared file name for receiving print data, job ID, printer Driver name, update flag).

In step 1002, the stored job management processing unit 512 searches the stored job list for stored job information based on the job ID received in step 1001. In step 1003, as a result of the search, if the designated storage job is not registered in the list,
Returns an error to the caller.

As a result of the search, if it is registered, in step 1004, the stored job management processing unit 512
Compares the printer driver name stored in the stored job list with the output destination printer driver name. If the comparison results in a different model, or a different attribute,
In step 1010, the storage job management processing unit 51
2 extracts only the EMF data from the stored job file.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1004 that the model is the same, that is, the attribute is the same,
In 005, the storage job management processing unit 512
Extract only W data. Thereby, useless data transfer can be avoided. In step 1006, the stored job management processing unit 512
Write the extracted print data to the print data writing shared file passed in. Then, step 100
In step 7, the stored job management processing unit 512 writes the type of print data in a return value returned to the caller. At this point, the writing of the print data to be passed to the client is completed.

In step 1008, the stored job management processing unit 512 determines whether or not the update flag is set. If the result of the determination is that the update flag has not been set, the process is terminated and the update flag is set. If so, in step 1009, the storage job file that is the source of the reprint is deleted. Deleting deletes the original saved job file, but reprinting creates a new saved job file,
As a result, the stored job file is updated.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the sixth data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention, and is a flowchart showing the processing of reprinting.

In step 1101, the reprint GUI
The item designated by 519 is set as an RPC parameter. In step 1102, a shared file for receiving print data is created. As a result of the print data request by the RPC, the print data is written to the shared file.

In step 1103, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15 is executed, and the storage job transmission processing unit 509 receives the print data. In step 1104, the attribute of the print data stored in the return value is determined. If the result of the determination is that the received print data is EMF data, step 110
In step 5, a device context of a device to be printed (here, a printer) is created according to a procedure for printing from a normal application. The device context is a type of file in which the attributes of the paper to be drawn, the capabilities of the printer, and the attributes are written, and printing can be realized by drawing on a metafile handle created based on the device context.

In step 1106, the acquired EM
F data and a metafile handle from the device context are obtained. In step 1107, E
Draw the MF file. When rendering the EMF, the GDI 508 generates print data in conjunction with a printer driver by calling a dedicated GDI function (PlayMetaFile ()).

At step 1108, the metafile handle is deleted. In step 1109, the GDI is notified of the end of the printing process by deleting the device context. At this point, the generated print data is sent to the spooler and normal printing is performed. If the result of the determination in step 1104 is that the data is RAW data, in step 1111 the printer for printing is opened and the print data is sent directly to the spooler.

In step 1112, the print data received from the server is written to the printer as it is, so that the print image at the time of storage is sent to the printer as it is. In step 1113, when all the print data has been sent, the printer is closed.
Then, in step 1110, the shared file that received the print data is deleted.

With the above processing, print data can be extracted from the stored job stored in the storage server and re-output to the designated printer.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by a printing system to which the server device and the client device according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the server device and the client device according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

FIGS. 11 to 13 and FIG. 1 in this embodiment.
The functions shown in FIGS. 5 to 17 may be executed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes a new function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
A DR, a CD-RW, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0141]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Only the jobs for which printing has been completed can be collectively managed by the server as stored jobs, and the client can take over the storage of the print job even in the event of a server failure.

Further, when the storage capacity on the server increases, the storage job can be automatically uploaded from the client.

Further, the client retrieves the stored job stored in the server, and if the same printer is used, exactly the same print image can be reproduced. If the print job is output to a different printer, the print image is close to the original print image using EMF. Output is enabled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system to which a print job storage management system according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a client computer in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a memory map when a program is expanded from the FD shown in FIG. 4 to a RAM in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a memory map showing data inside the FD in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a client computer in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship with FD in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a software module configuration of a client computer and a server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a registry configuration of a client.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a registry configuration of a server.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a list.

10 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on the display device of the client device shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print completion notification processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a storage job transmission processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a stored job management processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a reprint GUI of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a reprint GUI according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a reprinting process of a storage job transmission processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print data extraction process of the storage job management processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a server device and a client device according to the present invention.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A print server device capable of receiving a print job to be printed from an information processing device via a network, comprising: print data to be printed by the printing device and print job information received from the information processing device. A storage job management unit that stores the storage job data created by integrating the storage job data in a memory, and manages the storage job data even after the printing process by the printing device is completed; On request
An output control unit for outputting the stored job data managed by the stored job management unit to the outside, and a print server device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage job management unit stores the storage job data transmitted from the information processing apparatus for a specified period, and deletes the storage job data from the memory after the specified period. The print server device according to claim 1. 3. A storage device according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the storage job data can be managed by the storage job management unit in response to a storage request from the information processing apparatus. The print server device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that job data management is possible, the storage job management unit stores and manages the storage job data. 4. The storage job management unit registers and manages a print job ID and a storage job size requested to be stored in a storage waiting list when the determination unit determines that the storage file cannot be managed. The print server device according to claim 3, wherein 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect a print job ID that can be registered by comparing a free space of the memory with a storage job size registered in the storage waiting list. Print server device. 6. The storage job management unit manages print data in a data format that depends on a device and intermediate data in a data format that does not depend on a device. If the printing destination indicated is a printing device of the same type as the printing device of the original printing destination, the output control means outputs print data depending on the device managed by the storage job management means to the outside. On the other hand, when the printing destination indicated by the reprint request received from the information processing device is a printing device of a type different from the printing device of the original printing destination, the output control unit is configured by the storage job management unit. 6. The print server device according to claim 1, wherein intermediate data that does not depend on a managed device is output to the outside. 7. The print server device according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate data is EMF data, and the print data is RAW data. 8. An information processing apparatus for generating a print job to be printed by a printing apparatus via a network, wherein the printing apparatus generates print data to be printed by the printing apparatus; and the printing apparatus. A storage data generating unit that generates storage job data that integrates the print data and print job information based on the print data and that is to be stored even after the print processing of the print data is completed. Transmission control means for transmitting the stored job data to the print job management device via the network. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising condition specifying means for specifying a storage condition for storing the storage job data in said print job management apparatus. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the storage condition is a storage period. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the storage condition is a print durability count. 12. The storage data generating unit generates storage data including the print data in a device-dependent data format and intermediate data in a device-independent data format. An information processing device according to any one of the above. 13. An acquiring unit for acquiring a list of stored data managed from the print job management apparatus, and a reprint designating unit for designating stored data to be reprinted from the acquired list of stored data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: 14. When receiving intermediate data from the print job management device in response to a reprint instruction from the reprint designation unit, a plurality of print data generation units correspond to the printing device to be reprinted. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a print data generation unit is selected, and print data for a printing apparatus to be reprinted is generated from the intermediate data. 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print data generated when the intermediate data is reprinted is stored again in the print job management apparatus as storage job data. 16. A printing system, comprising: an information processing device that generates a print job via a network; and a print server device that can receive a print job to be printed from the information processing device. Print data generating means for generating print data to be printed by the printing apparatus, and the print data and a print job based on the print data to be stored even after print processing of the print data is completed by the printing apparatus The print server comprising: storage data generation means for generating storage job data in which information is integrated; and transmission control means for transmitting the storage job data generated by the storage data generation means to a print server device via a network. The apparatus receives, from the information processing apparatus, print data to be printed by a printing apparatus and print job information. A storage job managing unit configured to store the storage job data created in the memory in a memory and to manage the storage job data even after the printing processing by the printing apparatus is completed; and a reprint request received from the information processing apparatus. In response to the,
An output control unit for outputting stored job data managed by the stored job management unit to the outside.