JP2001337805A - Print system and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten printing time. SOLUTION: In a print system, where two or more printers are connected to a computer with an IEEE 1394 serial bus, first, there is decided whether cluster printing is specified, in which one print job is executed with two printers (21). When specified, there are designated the printers to be used (22), and decided portions assigned to respective printers (23), then which are notified to the printers (24). The printers receiving them, read out the assigned portions from a printing queue of a client (26), to print (27).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device, such as a host computer, and a printing device, each of which includes an IEEE 139 device.
The present invention relates to a printing system connected by a bus having a function of a memory bus model such as a four bus, a control method thereof, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional methods for connecting a host computer to a printing apparatus include a connection using a parallel cable, a connection using a serial cable, a connection using a SCSI cable, and an EtherNet connection.

[0003] Further, a normal printing system is a push model in which print data is unilaterally transmitted from a host computer to a printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus forms a permanent visible image on recording paper. It was not a pull model to acquire print data from the host computer to the host computer.

Further, in a normal printing system, one printing apparatus forms a permanent visible image on a recording sheet from the beginning to the end by one printing apparatus.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional printing system, since one print job is printed by one printer, even if another printer is connected to the control device, the print job is not printed. The printer is not running, which takes time to print. Further, since printing is performed by the push model, the control device cannot perform other processing until all data relating to the print job is transferred from the control device to the printer device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and reduces the time during which a control device is restrained for processing a print job. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system and a control method thereof, in which the printing time is reduced by dispersing the processing and the load on a specific printer is prevented from being concentrated.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement.

[0008] A printing system in which a control device and a printer device are connected by a connection means capable of accessing a storage unit of the control device from the printer device. Means for designating a location where data to be printed is stored; acquiring means for acquiring data stored in the designated location from the printer to the control device; and printing data acquired by the printer. Means.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for erasing, by the printer device, data acquired by the acquiring means, which is stored in the control device.

Preferably, the control device is connected to a plurality of the printer devices, and the control device further includes means for dividing data to be printed and assigning the data to the plurality of printer devices.

Alternatively, there is provided a print control device connected to a plurality of printers and a connection unit capable of accessing the storage unit from the plurality of printers, wherein data to be printed is divided and assigned to the plurality of printers. An allocation unit; and a unit that specifies, for each of the plurality of printer devices, a location where data to be printed by each printer device is stored in accordance with the allocation by the allocation unit.

[0012] Alternatively, the printing control device and a printer device connected by a connection means capable of accessing a storage unit of the printing control device, wherein the printing control device
Means for receiving the location where the data to be printed is stored;
An acquisition unit for acquiring data stored in a designated location from the print control device, and a unit for printing the acquired data.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] The present embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that what is described as a printing device is a device that can be printed from a host computer. Examples of the printing device include a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile. There are various types of printers, for example, a laser beam printer, an ink jet printer, and the like.

FIG. 1 shows a module constituting a printing system of the present embodiment in an environment in which two printing apparatuses each having an IEEE 1394 connector and a host computer having an IEEE 1394 connector are connected by an IEEE 1394 cable. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a printer and a printing apparatus, and corresponds to a configuration in which the system outputs print data to the printing apparatus. Although two printers are used for the sake of convenience, any number of printers may be used.

The client computer 1 transmits print information including print data and control codes to the printers 2 and 3 which are printing devices. Further, the client computer 1, the printer device 2, and the printer device 3 are connected by an IEEE 1394 cable.
It is possible to directly refer to a print queue in which a print job stored on the client computer 1 is stored.
And print information including a control code. The printer device 2 and the printer device 3 include a printing mechanism for forming a desired permanent visible image on recording paper, a controller for controlling the entire printer, a printer controller for controlling the printing mechanism, and a computer. And a bus bridge control unit for controlling the interface of the system.

The application 11 is software for creating data intended by the user. When the operating system of the host computer is Microsoft Windows, the application 11 also includes a graphic device interface (GDI) that mediates data between the application and a data processing unit such as a printer driver.

The data processing unit 12 is used for the application 1
The printer device 2 and the printer device 3 generate print data for forming the data sent from the printer 1 on the permanent visible image recording paper, and print information including a control code and the like. The print queue 13 serving as a storage medium stores print data formed by the data processing unit and print information including control codes and the like. The storage medium includes a hard disk, a memory, and the like.

The print queue management unit 14 includes the output destination management unit 1
6 is assigned to the printer device 2 and the printer device 3 of the print information stored in the print queue 13 for each output destination obtained from the printer 6. And information about the data allocated to the printer device 3 is transmitted and set.

The output destination management unit 16 acquires output destination data information from output destination data 17 which is a storage medium. The storage medium includes a hard disk, a memory, and the like. The output destination management unit 16 also supports a case where a printer device is newly added to or removed from the bus, which is a feature of IEEE 1394. The latest information of the device is managed.

The user setting section 15 is capable of setting options relating to an output destination, and setting such as selecting an output destination from an output destination list obtained from the output destination management section 16.

The bus bridge controller 18 controls an interface between the printer 2 and the printer 3. In addition, by making use of a memory bus model which is a feature of IEEE 1394, it is possible for the printer device to acquire data in a storage medium on the client computer. Note that the memory bus model is an IEEE 139
This refers to a configuration in which devices connected to each other via four buses can access storage media such as memories included in each other. That is, by the mechanism of this memory bus model,
The printer connected to the host computer via the IEEE 1394 bus can access the storage medium of the host computer via the bus and read and write data.

In the printer device 2, a bus bridge control unit 21 controls an interface with the client computer 1 and print queues 13 through a bus bridge control unit 18 of the client computer.
It is possible to directly refer to the contents of The controller unit 22 includes a control unit that controls the entire printer device, a printer control unit that controls the rear part of the printing press, and the like. Also,
Upon receiving the assignment setting of the printing section, the print information is effectively acquired from the print queue 13 so that the printer section 23 does not have a waiting time, and is passed to the printer section 23. Reference numeral 23 denotes a printer unit, which includes a printing mechanism unit for forming a permanent visible image on recording paper, and notifies the controller unit 22 when the printing process is completed. The printer device 3 is similar to the printer device 2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an algorithm in the data processing apparatus according to the present invention when one print job is shared by a plurality of printing apparatuses. Note that (21) to (28) indicate each step.
Hereinafter, a process in which one print job is shared by a plurality of printing apparatuses as in the present process will be described as cluster printing. Steps (21) to (24) are performed by the client computer 1, and step (2)
Steps 5) to (27) are performed by the printers 2 and 3. In step (28), the print data transmitted from the client computer 1 is transmitted to the printer 2 or 3
Is a process for printing.

When printing is started, the flow advances to step (21) to determine whether cluster printing has been set.
In the case of No, the process proceeds to step (28) and normal printing is performed. If the determination is Yes, the process proceeds to step (22), and the process proceeds to creation of a list of printers to which the job is to be distributed, that is, a print destination list. Since there are various methods for creating a print destination list of a job, details will be described with reference to FIG.

When the print destination of the job is determined in step (22), the process proceeds to step (23), where a portion assigned to each printing device is assigned. For example, in a case where a printed matter of 10 pages is shared and printed by two printer apparatuses, a printer 2 and a printer 3, a method of printing a page 1 to 5 as a printer 2 and a method from page 6 to a page 10 as a printer 3 is used. Is appropriately divided for each page. Further, for example, in the case of two-copy printing, the first copy is performed by the printer 1 and the second copy is performed by the printer 2. In the present embodiment, since the user manually inputs the distribution method, any allocation can be performed.

When the printing section of each printing apparatus is determined in step (23), the process proceeds to step (24), where the printing section is notified to each printing apparatus and set. As a setting content, a method of passing the address and the data length of the storage medium on the client computer can be considered. Also, the client computer and the printing device can understand each other,
Any format may be used as long as the printing section can be specified.

Next, proceeding to step (25), the printing apparatus determines whether there is print data in a print queue secured in a storage medium such as a hard disk on the passed client computer. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to step (26) to efficiently acquire the print data of the printing section from the print queue, delete the acquired data, and perform the printing process in step (27).

Then, the process returns to step (25), and it is determined whether or not the job which could not be processed remains in the assigned part. For example, it is conceivable that there is a job remaining in the responsible part, such as when the data of the responsible part is large and not all data has been acquired in the previous step (26). If yes, step (26), as before,
Then, the process proceeds to step (27) to acquire and print the data, erase the acquired data, and return to step (25). This process is repeated until there is no more job in the assigned portion, and the process ends when all jobs in the assigned portion are printed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for creating a print destination list of a job in step (22) in FIG. In the present embodiment, the user is made to select from the candidates. Note that (31) to (36) indicate each step.

In step (31), the IEEE 13
In a LAN configured with a 94 serial bus, a LAN
An output destination list of the printing apparatuses usable above is obtained from a list of devices on the LAN stored in a storage medium in advance. If there is no device list, step (3)
In 1), an output destination list of printing devices available on the LAN is created.

Next, proceeding to step (32), the user
It is determined whether any filtering settings have been made for the list display. In the case of No, the process proceeds to step (35), and the entire list is displayed. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to step (33), and the output destination according to the filtering setting is displayed. For example, a filter that displays only the printer corresponding to the printer driver of the client computer, an engine speed per minute that is higher than a certain speed, color printing is possible, or a printer that can print on both sides is used. For example, filtering based on the capability of the printing apparatus, such as setting an optional device, can be considered. There are various filtering settings, and other possible filtering methods may be used.

Next, the routine proceeds to step (34). For example, there may be a case where filtering conditions are severe and no candidate is listed in the list, or a case where only one output destination is a candidate and cluster printing cannot be performed.
Thus, in step (34), the user is determined whether the list is sufficient. If No, the entire list is displayed in step (35), and step (36)
Proceed to. If yes, use the filtered list and go to step (36). Step (36)
, A print destination list is created by making the user select.

As described above, two or more IEEE1
A printing device with a 394 connector and an IEEE 139
The host computer provided with the connector No. 4 is IEEE
In an environment connected by 1394 cables, IE
Utilizing the memory bus model, which is a feature of EE1394, the data in the storage medium on the host computer is
It is possible for the printing apparatus to acquire the information using the trigger itself, and it is possible to perform printing by sharing one print job among a plurality of printing apparatuses. As a result, the time required for printing can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, cluster printing is realized by displaying a list of printers that are candidates for printing and allowing the user to select a desired printer from the list. However, there is a case where the same printing apparatus is always connected to the LAN, and cluster printing is always performed using these printers. In such a case, a printer to be used is set in advance, and step (22) in FIG. 2 is omitted, and the set printer is determined as a printing destination.

In the case of this embodiment, a plurality of printing devices
From the user's point of view, a printing apparatus that always behaves as if it were a single printing apparatus, for example, a printing apparatus capable of printing 16 sheets of A4 paper per minute, uses two printing apparatuses, and can use 32 printing apparatuses per minute. It is like a printing device with the ability to print sheets.

In this way, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to more easily execute cluster printing.

[Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment, the printer to be printed is determined automatically by the client computer, but the setting of the printing section must be performed by the user.

However, for example, if two fixed printers are always connected to the LAN, half of the total print amount can be performed by the printer 2 and the rest can be performed by the printer 3. In this case, it is not necessary to set the printing section for each printing apparatus each time, and step (24) in FIG. 2 is automated, the print data is divided into halves, the first half is assigned to the printer 2, and the second half is assigned to the printer 3. .

By doing so, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the user does not need to assign the print section, so that the processing time can be further reduced, and The burden can be reduced.

Further, by combining the second embodiment and the third embodiment and automating the steps (22) to (24) in FIG. 2, the time and labor for inputting these steps by the user can be saved, The processing time and the burden can be further reduced.

[Fourth Embodiment] In FIG. 1 in the description of the first embodiment, the computer and the printer are connected to each other by an IEEE1394 bus via a bus bridge control unit. This is because, in a host computer, an internal device is normally IEEE 139.
In order to directly refer to the storage medium connected to the PCI bus inside the host computer from the printing device connected to the IEEE 1394 bus, the bus is used. A converter called a bridge is required.

However, when the internal devices including the storage medium on the host computer are also connected by the IEEE1394 bus, the bus bridge is not necessary. Naturally, the printing apparatus does not need a bus bridge if the internal devices are connected by the IEEE1394 bus. That is, if the internal bus is also an IEEE 1394 serial bus, there is no need for a bus bridge control unit.

[Fifth Embodiment] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including a single device can be used. (For example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Alternatively, this can be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts (shown in FIG. 2 and / or FIG. 3).

Hereinafter, the configuration of a computer-readable memory storing a data processing program readable by the printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by the printing system according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. 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.

The functions of this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as a ROM, a flash memory, an FD, or an external storage medium via a network.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In addition to reducing the amount of time the control device is tied up to process print jobs, if multiple printers are connected, the processing time is reduced by distributing processing to them, and Can be prevented from being concentrated.

Further, there is an effect that high-speed printing can be realized at low cost by using a plurality of inexpensive low-speed printing apparatuses without using expensive high-speed printing apparatuses.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system connected to a client computer and a printer device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 print execution client computer 11 application 12 data processing unit 13 print queue 14 print queue management unit 15 user display / input unit 16 output destination management unit 17 output destination data 18 bus bridge control unit 2 printer device 2 21 bus bridge control unit 22 controller Unit 23 printer unit 3 printer device 3 31 bus bridge control unit 32 controller unit 33 printer unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A printing system in which a control device and a printer device are connected by a connection means capable of accessing a storage unit of the control device from the printer device. Means for specifying the location where the data to be printed is stored; obtaining means for obtaining the data stored in the specified location from the printer to the control device; and obtaining the data obtained by the printer. A printing system comprising: a printing unit. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for deleting, by the printer device, data acquired by the acquiring means, which is stored in the control device. 3. The control device is connected to a plurality of the printer devices, and the control device further includes means for dividing data to be printed and assigning the data to the plurality of printer devices. The printing system according to claim 1. 4. A print control device connected to a plurality of printer devices and a connection unit capable of accessing a storage unit from the printer devices, wherein data to be printed is divided and assigned to the plurality of printer devices. A print control apparatus comprising: an allocating unit; and a unit that specifies, for each of the plurality of printer devices, a location where data to be printed by each printer device is stored, in accordance with the allocation by the allocating unit. 5. A printing apparatus connected by a printing control device and a connection unit capable of accessing a storage unit of the printing control device, wherein a location where data to be printed is stored from the printing control device. A printer device comprising: a receiving unit; an obtaining unit that obtains data stored in a specified location from the print control device; and a unit that prints the obtained data. 6. The printer device according to claim 5, further comprising: a unit that deletes data acquired by the acquisition unit and stored in the print control device. 7. A method for controlling a printing system, wherein a control device and a printer device are connected by a connection means capable of accessing a storage unit of the control device from the printer device, the control device comprising: A step of specifying a location where data to be printed is stored for the device; an obtaining step of obtaining data stored in a specified location from the printer to the control device; and obtaining by the printer And a step of printing the converted data. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of erasing the data acquired in the acquiring step, which is stored in the control device. 9. A control method for a print control device connected by a plurality of printer devices and a connection unit capable of accessing a storage unit from the plurality of printer devices, wherein the data to be printed is divided into the plurality of printer devices. An allocation step of allocating to the apparatuses, and a step of designating, for each of the plurality of printer apparatuses, a location where data to be printed by each of the plurality of printer apparatuses is stored in accordance with the allocation by the allocation step. A control method of the control device. 10. A method for controlling a printing device connected to a printing control device and a connection unit capable of accessing a storage unit of the printing control device, wherein data to be printed is stored from the printing control device. A step of receiving the location, a step of acquiring the data stored in the designated location from the print control device, and a step of printing the acquired data. 11. An assigning means for dividing data to be printed and assigning the data to the plurality of printers by a plurality of printers and a computer connected by a connection means capable of accessing the storage unit from the printers; According to the assignment by the assigning means, a computer program for realizing, for each of the plurality of printers, means for designating a place where data to be printed by each printer is stored is stored. Computer readable storage medium. 12. A means for receiving a location where data to be printed is stored from the print control device by a print control device and a printer device connected by a connection device capable of accessing a storage unit of the print control device. And a computer-readable program for realizing an acquisition unit for acquiring data stored in a specified location from the print control device, and a unit for printing the acquired data. Storage medium.