JP2001202220A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system for improving printing efficiency, and for effectively utilizing resources on this system. SOLUTION: When data are transferred from a host 100 to a high speed color controller 120, the high speed color controller 120 analyzes which of a high speed color printer 110, a GDI printer 130, high speed black and white composite equipment 140, and a low speed color printer 150 which are connected on a network should be used for improving printing efficiency. The high speed color controller 120 transfer the data to a picture printing device for operating printing based on the analyzed result. Also, at the time of transferring data to the GDI printer 130 as the result of the analysis, the high speed color controller 120 develops the data to an intermediate code, and transfer the intermediate code to the GDI printer 130.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system in which a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses such as printers are connected on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, network printers have become widespread with the development of networks. As a result, many computers, printers, and copiers (multi-function peripherals) with a printer function have been connected on the same network.

Therefore, a user can specify a printer on a network from a user's personal computer in accordance with the type and amount of a file to be output, and can output the file from a printer desired by the user.

For example, when a large amount of color data needs to be printed, a user selects a high-speed color printer equipped with an external high-speed controller and outputs the color data. When printing a few black and white data, the user selects a black and white printer installed on the user's side and outputs this data.

[0005] As data used for conference materials and the like, a black and white multifunction peripheral having a finishing function, which is used as a group printer, is selected and output. OHP
A small A4 dedicated color printer is selected for the data.

As described above, since a plurality of types of printers are connected on the network, the user can use the printers properly according to the type and amount of data desired to be printed. As described above, by selectively using the printer device according to the type and amount of data, the printing efficiency on the network is improved.
As a result, the printing cost on the network decreases.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image forming system. According to FIG. 2, this conventional image forming system includes a host 200, a high-speed color printer 21
0, a high-speed color controller 220, a low-speed black-and-white printer 230, a high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240, and a low-speed color printer 250.

[0008] As shown in FIG.
Has a high-speed black and white controller 241 and a high-speed black and white plotter 242. The low-speed color printer 250
A low-speed color controller 251 and a low-speed color plotter 252 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the high-speed color printer 210 does not include a controller, but has an external controller as the high-speed color controller 220. The high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240 has a finishing function of performing a finishing process on a print result.

When printing a large amount of color data, printing the data using the high-speed color printer 210 improves the printing efficiency on the network. Therefore, the color data is transmitted in the directions indicated by the broken arrows marked “1” and “7” in FIG.

That is, the color data transmitted from the host 100 to the high-speed color controller 220 is:
It is developed by the high-speed color controller 220. The color data developed by the high-speed color controller 220 is transmitted to the high-speed color printer 210, and is printed on a sheet by the high-speed color printer 210.

When printing several sheets of black-and-white data, printing this data using a low-speed black-and-white printer 230 improves the printing efficiency on the network.
Also, low speed black and white printers are typically located on the user's side. Therefore, when printing several sheets of monochrome data, the convenience for the user is improved by using the low-speed monochrome printer 230 on the user (host 100) side. Therefore, these several black and white data are “1” in FIG.
And transmitted in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow labeled "2".

That is, the several pieces of black-and-white data transmitted from the host 200 to the high-speed color controller 220 are transferred to the low-speed black-and-white printer 230 and printed on paper. In addition, the low-speed monochrome printer 230 is a GDI (graphi
cs device interface) In the case of a printer, these several pieces of black and white data are developed into an intermediate code by the host 200. The black-and-white data developed into the intermediate code is transferred to a low-speed black-and-white printer 230 which is a GDI printer.
Is printed on paper.

When printing a plurality of copies of black-and-white data used as a material for a conference or the like, and wishing to perform finishing processing on the print result, this data is output to the high-speed black-and-white multifunction printer 2.
40 must be used. Therefore, the black and white data used as the material for this meeting or the like is “1” in FIG.
It is transmitted in the directions indicated by the dashed arrows marked “3” and “4”.

When printing a large amount of black and white data, printing this data using the high-speed black and white multifunction peripheral 240 improves the printing efficiency of this network. Therefore, as described above, this black and white data is "1" in FIG.
It is transmitted in the directions indicated by the dashed arrows marked “3” and “4”.

That is, the black-and-white data transmitted from the host 200 to the high-speed color controller 220 is transferred to the high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240. This black and white data
High-speed monochrome controller 241 in high-speed monochrome MFP 240
, And is printed on a sheet by the high-speed monochrome plotter 242.

When printing several pieces of color data, printing the data using a low-speed color printer improves the printing efficiency on the network. Therefore, these several pieces of color data are “1” in FIG.
It is transmitted in the directions indicated by the dashed arrows marked “5” and “6”.

That is, the several pieces of color data transmitted from the host 200 to the high-speed color controller 220 are transferred to the low-speed color printer 250. These several sheets of color data are developed by the low-speed color controller 251 in the low-speed color printer 250 and printed on paper by the low-speed color plotter 252.

[0018]

However, it is rare to print a large amount of color data as in the above-mentioned prior art. Therefore, according to the above-described related art, the high-speed color controller 220 is not operated for a long time. As a result, the printing efficiency of the network in the above-described conventional technology is low.

Usually, several sheets of black and white data that are printed at a high frequency are printed from a printer (low-speed black and white printer 230) installed on the user's side. here,
If the printer device (the low-speed black and white printer 230) that prints several black and white data is a GDI printer, the host 200 must develop the data into intermediate codes. Therefore, the burden on the host is large. Further, the printing efficiency of the network in the related art is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image forming system with high printing efficiency in a system in which a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses are connected on a network. .

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming system which effectively utilizes a printer controller connected to a network and which is infrequently used, and which effectively utilizes resources on the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that reduces the load on a host connected to a network.

[0023]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system having a host computer, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a printer controller. Data type analyzing means for analyzing the type of data transmitted from the computer, and transfer destination determining means for determining a destination image forming apparatus to which data is to be transferred based on the type of data analyzed by the data type analyzing means. And
The image forming apparatus transfers data to the image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determining unit, and the image forming apparatus forms an image of the data transferred from the printer controller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the system of the first aspect, the printer controller determines whether to expand the data into an intermediate code according to the destination image forming apparatus determined by the destination determining means. The image processing apparatus further includes an expansion determining unit, expands the data determined to be expanded into the intermediate code by the expansion determining unit into the intermediate code, and transfers the intermediate code to the transfer destination image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determination unit. The image forming apparatus is for forming an image of the intermediate code transferred from the printer controller.

The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
Is characterized in that the data type analysis means analyzes whether or not the data is only black and white data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the data type analyzing means includes:
It is characterized in that it is analyzed whether or not data is to be image-formed for a predetermined number or more.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the data type analyzing means includes:
The printer controller analyzes the type of the data page, and the printer controller includes a data dividing unit that generates a job in which the data is divided for each page type based on the type of the data page analyzed by the data type analyzing unit. Further, the transfer destination determining unit determines the image forming apparatus to which the job generated by the data dividing unit is transferred, and the printer controller determines the job generated by the data dividing unit by the transfer destination determining unit. Transfer to the determined image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus
It is characterized in that the job transferred from the printer controller is image-formed.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a first configuration diagram showing a configuration of a network according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, this network includes a host 200, a high-speed color printer 210, a high-speed color controller 220, a low-speed black-and-white printer 230, a high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240, and a low-speed color printer 250.

The high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240 has a high-speed black-and-white controller 241 and a high-speed black-and-white plotter 242. The low-speed color printer 250 has a low-speed color controller 251 and a low-speed color plotter 252. It is assumed that the high-speed monochrome MFP 240 has a finishing function. As shown in FIG. 2, the high-speed color printer 210 does not have a built-in controller but has an external controller (high-speed color controller 220).

(First Operation Example) FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a first operation in which the network shown in FIG. 2 selects a printer device for printing data. Hereinafter, the first operation of the network shown in FIG. 2 for selecting a printer device for printing data will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The host 200 transmits the data to the high-speed color controller 220 (Step S300). The high-speed color printer 210 receiving the data analyzes the data (file) (step S30).
1).

As a result of the above analysis, when the data is all black and white and the number of printed sheets is small (step S302 / Y)
ES), the high-speed color printer 210 converts this data into
Transfer to low-speed monochrome printer 230. This data is printed on the paper by the low-speed monochrome printer 230 (step S303).

Usually, a plurality of low-speed monochrome printers 230 are installed on a network. Therefore, the high-speed color printer 210 transmits the data to the user (host 20
The data is transferred to the low-speed black and white printer 230 installed on the side of 0).

Thus, the user can obtain the print result from the printer device existing on the user's side. Therefore, this network is more convenient.

As a result of the analysis, if the data is not all black and white data or the number of printed sheets is large (step S
302 / NO), the high-speed color printer 210 determines whether this data is monochrome data and the number of printed sheets is large (step S304).

If the data is monochrome data and the number of prints is large (step S304 / YES), the high-speed color controller 220
Transfer this data. This data is developed by the high-speed black-and-white controller 241 in the high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240, and is printed on paper by the high-speed black-and-white plotter 242 (step S305).

As a result of the analysis, if the data is black-and-white data and subjected to a finishing process (step S306 / YES), the high-speed color controller 220 sends the data to the high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 240. Transfer data. This data is stored in the high-speed monochrome MFP 24
The image is developed by the high-speed black-and-white controller 241 within 0 and printed on a sheet by the high-speed black-and-white plotter 242 (step S305). This printing result is subjected to a predetermined finishing process.

If the data is not only monochrome data (step S306 / NO), the high-speed color controller 220 determines whether the data is color data and prints a small number of sheets (step S30).
8). If the data contains color data and the number of printed sheets is small (step S308 / Y
ES), the high-speed color controller 220 transfers this data to the low-speed color printer 250. This data is developed by the low-speed color controller 251 in the low-speed color printer 250, and the low-speed color plotter 252
Is printed on paper (step S309).

If the data contains color data and the number of printed sheets is large (step S310)
/ YES), the high-speed color controller 220 develops this data (step 311) and transfers it to the high-speed color printer 210. The high-speed color printer 210 prints this data on paper (step S312).

According to the above-described embodiment, the user simply transmits the data from the host 200, and the data is printed from a printer device most suitable for printing the data. Therefore, the burden on the user required for the printing process is reduced. The printing efficiency of this network is
Get higher.

In the prior art, according to the above-described embodiment, the high-speed color controller 220 selects a printer device for printing data, which is performed by the user. Therefore, as described above, the working time of the high-speed color controller 220 that is not frequently used increases. That is, network resources can be effectively used.

(Second Operation Example) FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a second operation in which the network shown in FIG. 2 selects a printer device for printing data. Hereinafter, the second operation of the network shown in FIG. 2 for selecting a printer device for printing data will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.

The host 200 transmits the data to the high-speed color controller 220 (Step S400). The high-speed color printer 210 that has received this data analyzes this data (file) (step S401).

As a result of this analysis, the high-speed color controller 220 determines whether to divide the data into a plurality of jobs (step S402). For example, when black-and-white data and color data are mixed in data, the data is divided into a black-and-white data portion (job) and a color data portion (job). Printing increases the printing efficiency of this network.

The most suitable printer for printing may be selected according to the type of data, for example, a graphic file, table data, text, or the like.

Therefore, the high-speed color printer 210 divides data in which black-and-white data and color data are mixed based on the above analysis result, and creates a plurality of jobs. Further, data of only black and white or data of only color is not divided and is regarded as one job.

As a result of the above analysis, when the job is black and white and the number of printed sheets is small (step S403 / YE)
S), the high-speed color printer 210 transfers this job to the low-speed monochrome printer 230. This job is printed by the low-speed monochrome printer (step S404).

Usually, a plurality of low-speed monochrome printers 230 are installed on a network. Therefore, the high-speed color printer 210 transmits the job to a user (host 20).
The data is transferred to the low-speed black and white printer 230 installed on the side of 0). As a result, the user (user 20)
The print result can be obtained from the printer device existing on the side of (0). Therefore, this network is more convenient.

As a result of the analysis, if the job is not monochrome and the number of printed sheets is not small (step S403 /
NO), the high-speed color printer 210 determines whether the job is black and white and the number of printed sheets is large (step S).
405).

If the job is monochrome and the number of prints is large (step S405 / YES), the high-speed color controller 220 transfers the job to the high-speed monochrome multi-function peripheral 240. This job is executed by the high-speed monochrome MFP 240
The image is developed by the high-speed black-and-white controller 241 and printed on paper by the high-speed black-and-white plotter 242 (step S406).

The job is color data (step S
(405 / NO), and when the number of prints of the job is small (step S407 / YES), the high-speed color controller 220 transfers this job to the low-speed color printer 250. This job is executed by the low-speed color printer 250.
The image data is developed by the low-speed color controller 251 and printed on a sheet by the low-speed color plotter 252 (step S408).

If the job is color data and the number of prints of this job is large (step S409 / YE)
S), the high-speed color controller 220 develops this job (step 410), and the high-speed color printer 210
Transfer to The high-speed color printer 210 prints this job on paper (step S411).

According to the above-described embodiment, the user simply transmits the data from the host 200, and the data is printed from a printer device most suitable for printing the data. Therefore, the burden on the user required for the printing process is reduced. The printing efficiency of this network is
Get higher.

In the prior art, according to the above-described embodiment, the high-speed color controller 220 selects a printer device for printing data, which is performed by the user. Therefore, as described above, the working time of the high-speed color controller 220 that is not frequently used increases. That is, network resources can be effectively used.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the high-speed color controller 220 divides data based on predetermined conditions, creates a job, and selects an optimum printer for each job. Therefore, the printing efficiency of this network is higher. Also, in the prior art, the printing efficiency of this network is higher than when the user selects the most suitable printer device for printing the entire data. In addition, this allows effective utilization of network resources.

(Third Operation Example) FIG. 1 is a second configuration diagram showing a configuration of a network according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this network includes a host 100, a high-speed color printer 110, a high-speed color controller 120, a GDI printer 130, a high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 140, and a low-speed color printer 150.

The high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 140 has a high-speed black-and-white controller 141 and a high-speed black-and-white plotter 141. The low-speed color printer 150 has a low-speed color controller 151 and a low-speed color plotter 152. It is assumed that the high-speed monochrome MFP 140 has a finish function. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the high-speed color printer 110 does not have a built-in controller but has an external controller (high-speed color controller 120).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a third operation in which the network shown in FIG. 1 selects a printer device for printing data. Hereinafter, a third operation of the network shown in FIG. 1 for selecting a printer device for printing data will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.

The host 100 sends the data to the high-speed color controller 120 (step S500). The high-speed color printer 110 receiving this data analyzes this data (file) (step S501).

As a result of the above analysis, when the data is all black and white and the number of printed sheets is small (step S
502 / YES), the high-speed color printer 110 develops this data into an intermediate code (step S50).
3). The data expanded into the intermediate code is transferred from the high-speed color printer 110 to the GDI printer 130. This data is printed by the GDI printer 130 (step S504).

Usually, a plurality of GDI printers 130 are installed on a network. Therefore, the high-speed color printer 120 transmits the data to the user (host 100).
Is transferred to the GDI printer 130 installed on the side of. As a result, the user can acquire the print result from the printer existing on the user's side. Therefore, this network is more convenient.

As a result of the analysis, if the data is not all black and white and the number of printed sheets is not small (step S5)
02 / NO), the high-speed color printer 110 determines whether this data is monochrome data and the number of printed sheets is large (step S505).

When the data is monochrome data and the number of printed sheets is large (step S505 / YE)
S), the high-speed color controller 110 transfers this data to the high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 140. This data is developed by the high-speed black-and-white controller 141 in the high-speed black-and-white multifunction peripheral 140 and printed on paper by the high-speed black-and-white plotter 142 (step S506).

As a result of the analysis, if the data is black-and-white data and subjected to finishing processing (step S507 / YES), the high-speed color controller 110 Transfer data. This data is stored in the high-speed monochrome MFP 14
The image is developed by the high-speed black-and-white controller 141 within 0 and printed on a sheet by the high-speed black-and-white plotter 142 (step S508).

If the data contains color data (step S507 / NO) and if the number of printed data is small (step S509 / YE)
S), the high-speed color controller 110 transfers this data to the low-speed color printer 150. This data is developed by the low-speed color controller 151 in the low-speed color printer 150, and the low-speed color plotter 152
Is printed on paper (step S510).

If the data contains color data and the number of printed data is large (step S511 / Y)
ES), the high-speed color controller 110 develops this data (step 512), and
Transfer to 0. The high-speed color printer 110 prints this data on paper (step S513).

Note that the high-speed color controller 110
As shown in the second operation example, data may be divided according to predetermined conditions, and an optimal printer device for printing for each job may be selected. According to this, the printing efficiency of this network is higher. Also, in the prior art, the printing efficiency of this network is higher than when the user selects the most suitable printer device for printing the entire data.

According to the above-described embodiment, the user simply transmits the data from the host 100, and the data is printed from a printer device most suitable for printing the data. Therefore, the burden on the user required for the printing process is reduced. The printing efficiency of this network is
Get higher.

In the prior art, according to the above-described embodiment, the high-speed color controller 110 selects a printer device for printing data, which is performed by the user. Accordingly, as described above, the working time of the high-speed color controller 110 that is not frequently used increases. That is, network resources can be effectively used.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the high-speed color controller 110 performs the development into the intermediate code which is normally performed by the host 100. Therefore, the load on the host 100 in the printing process is reduced. Consequently, the printing efficiency of this network is further improved. Further, as described above, the operation time of the high-speed color controller 110 that is infrequently used increases. In addition, this allows effective utilization of network resources.

[0072]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming system having a host computer, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a printer controller, the printer controller is connected to the host computer. Data type analyzing means for analyzing the type of data transmitted from the MFP, and transfer destination determining means for determining a destination image forming apparatus to which the data is to be transferred based on the type of data analyzed by the data type analyzing means. Transferring the data to the image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determining means. The image forming apparatus forms the image transferred from the printer controller. Data transfer to the printer controller without selecting the image forming device It is possible to image formation by using an optimal image forming apparatus to the image forming data. Therefore, the burden on the user required for the image forming process is reduced.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the printer controller selects the most suitable image forming apparatus for forming data. That is, the use frequency of the printer controller increases. Therefore, as the frequency of use of the frequently used printer controller increases, network resources can be effectively used.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the data is
Depending on the type, an image is formed by an image forming apparatus most suitable for forming an image. Therefore, the image forming efficiency of the image forming system is high.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the system of the first aspect, the printer controller determines whether or not to expand the data into an intermediate code according to the destination image forming apparatus determined by the destination determining means. Further comprising expansion determining means for determining, expanding the data determined to be expanded into the intermediate code by the expansion determining means into an intermediate code, and transferring the intermediate code to the transfer destination image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determining means Since the image forming apparatus forms the intermediate code transferred from the printer controller, the host computer does not need to develop the data into the intermediate code, and the load on the host computer in the image forming process is reduced. It is reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the printer controller expands the data into the intermediate code, it is possible to effectively use the controller which is used less frequently.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the system of the first or second aspect, the data type analyzing means analyzes whether or not the data is only black and white data. Are used for image formation of only black and white data and for image formation of color data. Thereby, the image forming efficiency in the image forming system increases.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the data type analyzing means analyzes whether or not the data is to be image-formed for a predetermined number or more. Accordingly, the role of the image forming apparatus is divided between an apparatus for forming an image of a predetermined number of data or less and an apparatus for forming an image of a predetermined number of data or more. Thereby, the image forming efficiency in the image forming system increases.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, for each page,
By selecting an image forming apparatus for forming an image, the image forming efficiency in the image forming system is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a first network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a second network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a first operation of selecting a printer device on which a network prints data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a second operation of selecting a printer device on which data is printed by the network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a third operation of selecting a printer device on which data is printed by the network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 200 Host 110, 210 High-speed color printer 120, 220 High-speed color controller 130 GDI printer 140, 240 High-speed monochrome MFP 141, 241 High-speed monochrome controller 142, 242 High-speed monochrome plotter 150, 250 Low-speed color printer 151, 251 Low-speed color controller 152, 252 Low-speed color plotter 230 Low-speed monochrome printer

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image forming system including a host computer, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a printer controller, wherein the printer controller analyzes a type of data transmitted from the host computer; Based on the type of data analyzed by the data type analyzing unit, the image processing apparatus has a destination determining unit that determines a destination image forming apparatus that transfers the data.
An image forming system for transferring the data, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image of the data transferred from the printer controller. 2. The printer controller according to claim 1, further comprising: expansion determining means for determining whether or not to expand the data into an intermediate code according to the transfer destination image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determining means. Developing the data determined to be expanded into the intermediate code by the determining means into the intermediate code, and transferring the intermediate code to the transfer destination image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determining means, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an image of the intermediate code transferred from the printer controller is formed. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the data type analysis unit analyzes whether the data is only black and white data. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data type analysis means analyzes whether or not the data is to be image-formed for a predetermined number or more. The image forming system as described in the above. 5. The data type analysis unit analyzes a type of the data page, and the printer controller analyzes the data based on the type of data page analyzed by the data type analysis unit. And a data dividing unit for generating a job divided for each type of page, wherein the transfer destination determining unit determines an image forming apparatus to which the job generated by the data dividing unit is transferred. The printer controller transfers the job generated by the data dividing unit to the image forming apparatus determined by the transfer destination determining unit, and the image forming apparatus converts the job transferred from the printer controller into an image. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image forming system is formed. M