JP2001202213A - Printer server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer server for preferentially operating the print processing of a print job transmitted from the terminal equipment of a user in a hurry when plural print jobs are turned into a print processing waiting state. SOLUTION: This printer server TU0 is provided with an LAN interface part 12 for receiving a print job from terminal equipment with a terminal number (p) through an LAN 2, and for generating reception information 'job [p]' indicating that the print job is received from the terminal equipment, and for outputting it to a priority setting part 13, a priority setting part 13 for setting priority which is made higher according to the longer lapse time since the input of the latest reception information 'job[p]' in each terminal equipment, and a print job processing part 43 for preferentially operating the print processing of the print job transmitted from the terminal equipment whose priority is higher in principle when the plural print jobs are turned into a print processing waiting state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer server for causing a printer to print a print job received from a plurality of terminal devices, and more particularly, to a print server when a plurality of print jobs are in a print processing waiting state. The present invention relates to a technique for determining a print job to be processed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of OA (Office Automation), many companies have developed word processors, documents, and so on.
One terminal device such as a personal computer loaded with image processing software is assigned to one person, and documents and illustrations are created. These terminal devices are LAN (Local
The printer is connected to a printer server through an area network (printer) to perform print processing, and print processing for printing created documents and the like on print paper is performed by sharing the printer with all the users. Here, information to be subjected to print processing is referred to as “print job”, and printed print paper discharged from the printer is referred to as “output paper”.

[0003] A printer server is connected to a LAN from each terminal device.
Is temporarily stored in a memory, the print job is read from the memory, and the printer performs a print process. By the way, during a print process of a certain print job, another print job may be transmitted one after another, and a plurality of print jobs may be stored in the memory. That is, a plurality of print jobs may be in a print processing waiting state.

A conventional printer server handles a received print job in the memory on a first-in first-out basis.
Subsequent print processing is performed in the order of arrival of the print jobs.

[0005]

By the way, the contents of the document creation work performed in each terminal device and the manner of proceeding are different for each user, and therefore, various print processing waiting situations occur. For example, each time a user A issues a print instruction every time a print job is completed, the user B completes a plurality of print jobs and then collectively tries to retrieve output paper from a printer. It is assumed that the print instruction is issued in the interval between the user A's print instruction. In this case, after the print job of the user A is stored in the memory of the printer server (the first half print job), the print job of the user B is stored, and then the print job of the user A is stored. Are stored (print job in the latter half).

In such a case, even if the user B rushes to take out the output paper, the conventional printer server described above
The user B is kept waiting until the output paper for the first half print job of the user A who is creating the second half print job (that is, the user who has not rushed to obtain the output paper) is discharged. It will be. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a printer server that performs print processing with priority given to a print job transmitted from a terminal device of a hurrying user.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer server according to the present invention is a printer server that receives print jobs transmitted from a plurality of terminal devices and causes a printer to perform print processing. A print job storage unit that stores the received print job in association with the terminal device of the transmission source; a timer unit that counts the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job in each terminal device for each terminal device; Priority setting means for setting a priority according to the elapsed time for each terminal device, and control means for performing print processing based on the priority when a plurality of print jobs are in a print processing waiting state. It is characterized by having.

The priority setting means sets a higher priority as the elapsed time is longer, and the control means sets one terminal having the highest priority among the print jobs stored in the storage means. A print job to be printed next is determined from print jobs in the apparatus, and the print job is performed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer system 1 having a printer server TU0 according to the embodiment. A plurality of personal computers having a keyboard and a mouse as input means.
One is connected to the printer 3 through the AN2, and one of the personal computers (TU1 to TUP) is used exclusively for the printer server TU0.
It is used as a terminal device for creating documents and the like.

[0010] P terminal devices having the same configuration are installed (P is an integer of 2 or more), and each terminal device (TU1 to TUP) is 1, 2, 3, ..., p, ... identified by the P-th terminal number. Further, “0” is assigned as an identification number to the printer server TU0. When each terminal device receives a print instruction via the input unit,
The print job instructed is given the identification number of the destination (in this case, the identification number “0” of the printer server TU0) and the terminal number “p” which is the identification number of the sender, and Send the job to LAN2.

FIG. 2 is a part of a functional block diagram showing the printer server TU0. As shown in the figure, the printer server TU0 has a timer unit 11, a LAN interface unit 12, a priority setting unit 13, a print job processing unit 14, a priority change unit 15, and a printer interface unit 16. The timer unit 11 indicates the current time (time). The timer unit 11 is referred to by the priority setting unit 13, the print job processing unit 14, and the priority changing unit 15 as necessary.

The LAN interface section 12 selects and receives data addressed to itself, that is, the printer server TU0, from the data transmitted from each of the terminal devices TU1 to TUP to the LAN2. If the received data is a print job, it outputs a print job with the source terminal number to the print job processing unit 14 and indicates that a print job has been received from the terminal device with the terminal number (p). A code “job” is generated as information, and “job [p]” obtained by adding a terminal number to the code is output to the priority setting unit 13 as reception information.

[0013] The priority setting unit 13 is configured as shown in FIG.
It has a priority storage table 131. The priority storage table 131 stores the reception information “job” output from the LAN interface unit 12 for each terminal number.
[P] ”is received last time (tl), the elapsed time (tk) from the time of receipt, and the priority (priority) determined by the degree of the elapsed time are the terminal numbers 1 to P and They are stored in association with each other.

The priority setting section 13 has a buffer memory (not shown) for temporarily storing received information "job [p]" input from the LAN interface section 12, and has a predetermined extremely short length. In the cycle, the buffer memory is searched, and the received information "job
[P] ”is stored in the buffer memory.

When the reception information “job [p]” is detected, the timer 11 is referred to, and the time of the detection is set as the reception time (reception time) of the print job, and the corresponding terminal number in the priority storage table 131. (Reception time (tl) is updated), and the reception information “job [p]” is deleted from the buffer memory. If the reception information “job [p]” of the terminal number to be detected is not stored, the timer unit 11 is referred to and stored from the time (time) corresponding to the terminal number. The elapsed time (tk) is obtained by subtracting the received time (tl), and the elapsed time (tk) is stored in the corresponding storage area (the elapsed time (tk) is updated). Therefore, the elapsed time (tk) represents the elapsed time since the last print job was received, that is, the elapsed time since the latest print job in the corresponding terminal device was received.

Further, the priority setting unit 13 sets the reception time (t
l) and the elapsed time (tk), along with "0",
The priority (priority) represented by a numerical value of either “1” or “2” is updated. When the elapsed time (tk) is shorter than the first reference time (TK1), the priority setting unit 13 sets the priority (priority) to “0” and is equal to or longer than the first reference time (TK1). If the time is less than the second reference time (TK2), the priority (priority) is set to “1”. If the time is more than the second reference time (TK2), the priority (priority) is set to “2”. Set. Note that TK1 <TK2, for example, TK
1 is set to 1 minute and TK2 is set to 5 minutes.

In the terminal device having the priority "2", since a long time (at least 5 minutes) has passed since the user of the terminal device gives a print instruction, the user leaves the seat. It can be said that there is a high possibility that the user is away from the printer 3 to retrieve output paper. On the other hand, priority
Since the time has not passed much since the print instruction was issued in the terminal device with “0”, work such as document creation is performed more continuously than the user of the terminal device with priority “2”. It can be determined that the possibility is high. Therefore, even if the print processing of the print job from the terminal device is performed and the output paper is discharged from the printer 3, it is considered that the output paper is likely to be left as it is. In addition, the terminal device having the priority “1” is in an intermediate state between the two, and it can be determined that there is a high possibility that the user of the terminal device will go to get an output sheet from now on.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the priority (prio
It is considered that the user of the terminal device with a higher priority (rity) hasten the acquisition of the output paper, and the print job processing unit 14 performs the processing described later to assign the print job from the terminal device to a higher priority (priority). Print processing is performed in preference to a print job from a terminal device having a low number of print jobs.

The print job processing section 14 has a print job buffer 141 as shown in FIG.
The print job input from the AN interface unit 12 is temporarily stored in the print job buffer 141. The print job is stored in the storage location identified by the buffer number 1 to N (N is a positive integer) with the smallest buffer number of the empty buffer (buffer with the flag turned off). . At this time, the terminal number transmitted with the print job and the time (tr) at which the print job was received are stored in each storage area associated with the buffer number, and the flag corresponding to the buffer number is turned on. To Note that the reception time (t
r) is obtained by referring to the time output from the timer unit 11 when the print job is received (when a print job is input to the print job processing unit 14).

The priority storage area of the print job buffer 141 corresponds to the terminal number (p) stored in the terminal number storage area among the priorities stored in the priority storage table 131. In principle, the priority is stored as it is, but in a predetermined case,
A value in which the priority of the priority storage table 131 is increased by one is stored.

The advance change process is performed by the priority changing unit 15. The print job processing unit 14
When the printer 3 is ready for print processing, the terminal number (p) and reception time (tr) pairs stored in the print job buffer 141 are sequentially output to the priority changing unit 15 in ascending buffer number order. Then, the priority (priority) of the output terminal number (p) is changed as necessary. Then, the priority (priority) changed by the priority changing unit 15 or the unchanged priority (priority) unchanged is stored in the priority storage area of the corresponding buffer number. The priority changing process performed by the priority changing unit 15 will be described later.

The print job processing unit 14 refers to the priority stored in the print job buffer 141 to determine the next print job to be subjected to print processing. This will also be described later in detail. Will be described. As described above, when the priority change unit 15 receives the priority change instruction accompanied by the pair of the terminal number (p) and the reception time (tr) from the print job processing unit 14, the priority change unit 15 sets the reception time (tr) and the priority. The priority (priority) of the terminal device having the terminal number (p) is determined from the priority (priority) stored in the priority storage table 131 of the degree setting unit 13. The priority changing unit 15 is configured to obtain the current time (time) obtained from the timer unit 11.
Is subtracted from the reception time (tr) to obtain the elapsed time from the reception time to the present. If the obtained elapsed time is shorter than the predetermined time (TRS), the priority storage table 13
1, the priority (priori) of the terminal number (p)
ty) is output to the print job processing unit 14 as a priority as it is. On the other hand, if the obtained elapsed time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (TRS), the terminal number (p)
The value obtained by adding 1 to the priority (priority) of the
rity) is output to the print job processing unit 14.

As described above, the basic concept of the present embodiment is that a print job from a terminal device having a higher priority determined by the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job is given priority over the print processing. Based on
The priority (pr stored in the priority storage table 131
iority) may be used as it is as the priority of the print job buffer 141. However, for a print job for which a considerable time (TRS) has elapsed since the printer server TU0 received the print job, the print processing is performed for a very long time. Considering that it is not preferable to keep in the waiting state, the priority (priority) of the priority storage table 131, that is,
Instead of using the priority set for each terminal device as it is, a value obtained by adding 1 to the priority is used as the priority for storing in the print job buffer 141. Since the value of the priority (priority) 0 to 2 in the priority storage table 131 or the value obtained by adding 1 to the priority becomes the priority of the print job buffer 141, the priority stored in the print job buffer 141 (Priority) is
It takes one of the values 0, 1, 2, and 3. The predetermined time (TRS) is set to, for example, 10 minutes.

The print job processing unit 14 includes the printer 3
Is ready for print processing, the priority change unit 15 determines the priority of each print job stored in the print job buffer 141, and updates the priority of the print job buffer 141. , A print job to be printed next is determined.

The print job processing section 14 first searches for a print job having the highest priority "3". The search is performed for buffer numbers for which the flag is ON, in ascending order of buffer numbers of the print job buffer 141. When a print job of priority "3" is found, the print job is output to the printer interface unit 16 and the corresponding flag is turned off.

Even if the search is performed up to the last buffer number N,
If there is no print job of priority "3", the priority is lowered by one to "2", and a similar search is performed. Or later,
When a search is performed by sequentially lowering the priority one by one and a corresponding print job is found, the print job is output to the printer interface unit 16 and the corresponding flag is turned off.

The printer interface section 16 outputs a print job input from the print job processing section 14 to the printer 3. Printer interface 1
6 monitors the processing status of the printer 3 and outputs a print enable / disable signal (printstatus) to the print job processing unit 14. When the printer 3 is performing the printing process, the print enable / disable signal is changed to a busy signal (printstatus = BUSY),
When the print processing is completed and a new print processing can be performed, the ready signal (printstatus =
READY). Therefore, the print job processing unit 14 can determine whether or not the printer 3 is in a state in which a new print job can be processed by checking the print enable / disable signal (printstatus).

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a priority setting process by the priority setting unit 13. A program whose contents include the processing shown in the flowchart is started when the power of the printer server TU0 is turned on. First, as an initial setting, the priority storage table 131
Area for storing the reception time (tl) of all terminal numbers (Fig. 3)
Is stored at the time of starting the program, and 1 is stored in a variable "p" for specifying a search target (terminal number) in the buffer memory (step S1).

Next, the buffer memory is searched to confirm the presence or absence of the reception information "job [1]" of the terminal number 1 (p = 1) (step S2).
1, the reception time (tl) of terminal number 1 is changed to the time (tim
e) (step S3), if not, step S3
3, the reception time (tl) is subtracted from the time (time) at that time to obtain the elapsed time (tk), and the elapsed time of the terminal number 1 in the priority storage table 131 is updated (step S4). ).

Subsequently, according to the length of the elapsed time (tk) of the terminal number 1, the terminal number 1 in the priority storage table 131 is stored.
Update the priority of. If the elapsed time (tk) of the terminal number 1 is less than the first reference time TK1 (Yes in step S5), the priority (priority) is set to 0 (step S6), and the second reference time TK1 and the second reference time TK1 or more are set. If the time is less than the reference time TK2 (Yes in step S7), the priority (priorit)
y) is set to 1 (Step S8), and when it is equal to or longer than the second reference time TK2 (No in Step S7), the priority is set to 2 (Step S9).

The above processing (steps S2 to S
9) is repeated up to terminal number P (step S1).
0) Further, when the processing for the terminal number P is completed (Yes in step S11), the variable “p” is set to 1 (step S12), and so on.
The update of the priority of P is repeated. The repetition cycle of this update is set to an extremely short time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of storing a print job in the print job buffer 141 by the print job processing unit 14 and determining the next print job among the stored print jobs. In this flowchart, the print job storage processing (steps S20 to S21) and the priority update processing of the print job buffer 141 (steps S30 to S36)
And a print job determination process (steps S40 to S48) for the next print process.

First, the print job processing unit 14
When a print job is input from the N interface unit 12 (FIG. 2) (Yes in step S20), the print job and other necessary items described above are stored in the print job buffer 141 (step S21).
Then, a print enable / disable signal (printstatus) from the printer interface unit 16 (FIG. 2) is output as a busy signal (p
rintstatus = BUSY) or ready signal (printstatus = READY)
Is checked (step S22), and a busy signal (prin
If tstatus = BUSY (No in step S22), the process returns to step S20, and the ready signal (printstatus = READ)
If Y) (Yes in step S22), the process proceeds to the priority update process (steps S30 to S36).

In the priority update process, first, 1 is stored in a variable "n" for specifying the terminal number to be updated in the print job buffer 141 (step S30), and the flag of the buffer number 1 (n = 1) is set. It is determined whether or not the switch is on (step S31). If it is not on (No in step S31), the variable "n" is incremented by 1 to switch the terminal number to be updated. If it is on (Yes in step S31), the process proceeds to step S32.

In step S32, the terminal number (p) and the reception time (tr) stored in the storage area of the buffer number n are output to the priority changing unit 15, and the priority changing unit 15 outputs the priority. Is determined (step S33). FIG.
5 shows a flowchart of the priority determination process by the priority changing unit 15. The priority changing unit 15 determines whether the elapsed time from the reception time (tr) input from the print job processing unit 14 to the present is shorter than a predetermined time (TRS) (step S50).

If it is short (Yes in step S50),
The priority (priority) (priority stored in the priority storage table 131) corresponding to the terminal number (p) input from the print job processing unit 14 is directly used as the priority to be stored in the print job buffer 141. Output to the print job processing unit 14 (step S51),
If not short (No in step S50), 1 is assigned to the priority (priority) (priority stored in the priority storage table 131) corresponding to the terminal number (p) input from the print job processing unit 14. The added value is output to the print job processing unit 14 as a priority to be stored in the print job buffer 141 (step S52).

Referring back to FIG. 6, the print job processing unit 14 receives the priority (priority) input from the priority changing unit 15.
Is stored in the storage area corresponding to the terminal number p in the print job buffer 141 (step S34). Thereafter, the processing of steps S31 to S35 is repeated, the buffer number is sequentially switched, and the priority of the buffer number in which the print job is stored is updated. When the process is completed up to the buffer number N (Yes in step S36), the process proceeds to a print job determination process (steps S40 to S48).

First, a variable "i" for specifying the priority
(Step S40), and sequentially from buffer number 1 (steps S41 and S45), and determines whether the priority of the buffer number for which the flag is on (Yes in step S42) is 3 (i = 3) or more. (Step S4
3). The print job of the buffer number first determined to have the priority of 3 or more is output to the printer interface unit 16 (step S44). Note that the print job is output to the printer 3 via the printer interface unit 16, and when the print processing of the print job is started, the print enable / disable signal is a busy signal until the processing is completed. The job processing unit 14 only executes print job storage processing.

Even if the search is performed up to the buffer number N (Yes in step S46), if none of the priorities corresponds to 3 or more, the priority "i" is sequentially lowered by one (step S47). ), The same processing (steps S41 to S46) is performed for each priority. If there is no corresponding print job even after searching for the lowest priority 0 (Yes in step S48), that is, if no print job is stored in the print job buffer 141, step S20 is performed. Then, the process waits for a print job input.

As described above, according to the printer server TU0 according to the embodiment, the higher the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job in each terminal device, the higher the priority is set for each terminal device. Is done. And
When print processing by the printer 3 becomes possible,
When multiple print jobs are waiting to be processed for printing, in principle, the print job from the terminal device with the higher priority at that time has priority over the print job from the terminal device with a lower priority. Then, the print job to be subjected to the next print processing is determined.

As a result, regardless of the order in which the print jobs are received by the printer server TU0 and the number of print jobs stored in the print job buffer 141, the user of the terminal device with a high priority, that is, the user leaves the seat and outputs the output paper A print job of a user who is considered to be picking up the printer 3 (a user who is in a hurry to print the print job) is a user of a low-priority terminal device, that is, a user who has not issued a print instruction, and The print job is processed in preference to a print job of a user who is likely to be continuously creating documents or the like (a user who is not particularly rushed to perform print processing).

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following embodiments can be considered. (1) In the above embodiment, for a print job for which a considerable time (TRS) has elapsed since the printer server TU0 received the print job, a change is made to raise the priority determined by the terminal device by one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the basic idea of the present invention is that print processing is preferentially performed for a print job from a terminal device having a higher priority determined by the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job. In order to stick to the idea, the above-mentioned advance change may not be performed.

Therefore, the priority changing unit 15 is abolished, and
In the priority storage area of the print job buffer 141,
The priorities stored in the priority storage table 131 are stored as they are. In order to realize this, in step S32 of the flowchart of FIG. 6, the print job processing unit 14 outputs only the terminal number (p) stored in the storage area of the buffer number n to the priority setting unit 13. I do. Then, the processing in step S32 and the flowchart in FIG. 7 are abolished, and in step S34 in FIG.
The priority setting unit 13 reads out the priority corresponding to the terminal number (p) input from the print job processing unit 14 from the priority storage table 131 and outputs it to the print job processing unit 14. (2) In the above-described embodiment, when there are a plurality of print jobs having the same priority, the print job stored in the storage area having the smallest buffer number in the print job buffer is selected as the print job to be printed next. It is. That is, among the print jobs having the same priority, the print job to be subjected to the next print processing is selected regardless of the order in which the print server TU0 receives the print jobs. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the print job exists, it refers to the reception time (tr) in the print job buffer 141 (FIG. 4) and selects the print job with the earliest reception time (tr) as the print job to be subjected to the next print processing. It may be.

As a result, when a plurality of print jobs from the same terminal device are in a print processing waiting state, the print processing is started from the print job which is firstly received (received) by the printer server. Will be executed. (3) In the above embodiment, the print job to be subjected to the next print processing is determined by referring to the priority set in several stages depending on the degree of the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job in each terminal device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When a plurality of print jobs are in a print processing waiting state, the elapsed time (tk) is referred to in the priority storage table 131 (FIG. 3), and A print job to be printed next may be determined from print jobs from a long terminal device. (4) In the printer system of the above embodiment,
Although the personal computer is used as the printer server, the present invention is not limited to this, and a dedicated printer server machine may be used instead of the personal computer.

Alternatively, instead of a personal computer (printer server) and a printer, a network compatible printer, that is, a printer with a built-in printer server may be used.

[0046]

As described above, according to the printer server of the present invention, when a plurality of print jobs are in a print processing waiting state, according to the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job. Since the print processing is performed based on the priority set for each terminal device, for example, if the higher the elapsed time, the higher the priority is set, the longer the elapsed time, the longer the terminal device (the priority of the terminal device). The higher the print job in the terminal device, the higher the print job in the terminal device of the user who is considered to be in a hurry to perform the print process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printer system.

FIG. 2 is a part of a functional block diagram illustrating a printer server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a priority storage table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a print job buffer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a priority setting process by a priority setting unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of storing a print job in a print job buffer and determining a next print job among the stored print jobs by a print job processing unit.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a priority changing process by a priority changing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 printer 11 timer unit 12 LAN interface unit 13 priority setting unit 14 print job processing unit 15 priority change unit 16 printer interface unit 131 priority storage table 141 print job buffer TU0 printer server TU0 to TUP terminal device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Tsuboi 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C061 AP01 HQ06 HQ17 HR02 5B021 CC04 EE01

Claims (2)

[Claims] A print server for receiving a print job transmitted from a plurality of terminal devices and causing a printer to perform print processing, wherein the print job storage means stores the received print job in association with a transmission source terminal device. A timer for measuring the elapsed time from the reception of the latest print job in each terminal device for each terminal device; and a priority setting device for setting a priority according to the elapsed time for each terminal device. And a control unit for performing print processing based on the priority when a plurality of print jobs are in a print processing wait state. 2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the priority setting unit sets a higher priority as the elapsed time is longer, and the control unit selects one terminal having the highest priority among the print jobs stored in the storage unit. 2. The printer server according to claim 1, wherein a print job to be printed next is determined from print jobs in the apparatus, and the print job is processed.