JP2003108346A - Printer, print system, print method, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower billing amount for surrogate print. SOLUTION: A printer has a means that retrieves an apparatus having a processing function for a job designated in retrieval processing when surrogate print is required, a means that acquires an amount billed when the job is executed with each retrieved apparatus and a selection means that selects the apparatus to which inexpensive amount is billed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a proxy printing system having a device control language utilizing bidirectional communication, which is configured by connecting a computer device and a printer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer apparatus saves the trouble of finding a printing apparatus that has performed proxy printing (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-031568).
No.), a printer that performs proxy printing according to a predetermined device priority (JP-A-11-167472), or when a printer error occurs, it is registered in the output queue corresponding to the printer in which the error occurred. The unprocessed file output request is re-registered in the output queue corresponding to another normal printer to change the output destination printer (Japanese Patent No. 02947112).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the job on the system switches the output destination when the substitute condition occurs at the designated output destination regardless of the charge of the job, it is intended to perform a trial print in monochrome. However, there has been a problem in that the output destination of printing is changed for an expensive color machine that can accidentally print, and the fee is more expensive than expected.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve this problem, and for this purpose, an apparatus having a processing function of a job designated in a search process at the time of proxy printing request is provided. (EN) A printing device provided with a means for searching, a means for acquiring the amount charged when a job is executed by each searched device, and a selection means for selecting the device with a low charging amount, etc. Is.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION <First Embodiment> The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a module and a printer device that constitute a printing system of this embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer (terminal) which outputs print information including print data and control codes to an input / output device.
Send to 201-205.

Further, the host computer (terminal) 1 acquires printer status information by performing bidirectional communication with the printer devices 201 to 205 in this embodiment.

The printer devices 201 to 205 are a printing unit for forming a desired permanent visible image on recording paper, a control unit for controlling the entire printer device, and a transmission / reception processing unit for controlling transmission / reception processing with a host computer. , 205 is a high speed monochrome machine in this example, 201 and 203 are color machines, and 202 and 204 are low and medium speed monochrome machines. It is a machine.

The print job creation unit 105 generates print data, print setting information and control code for outputting the data sent from the application to the input / output device.

The print job creation unit 105 adds the final processing method in the input / output device to the print setting information as job attribute information.

The transmission / reception processing unit 110 controls the interface for transmission / reception with the printer device, transmits print information including print data, print setting information, and control code to the input / output device, and transmits / receives information from the input / output device. Controls reception.

The output management unit 110a manages the writing / reading processing to the connection port, and also manages the information obtained from the input / output device in the auxiliary storage device 104 as necessary.

At the same time, the output management unit 110a confirms the state of the input / output device side, confirms the attribute information of the print job, processes the respective information, and judges the output or transfer to the input / output device.

The device search unit 109 searches for input / output devices on the local and network connected to the host computer (terminal) according to a user's instruction via the device status display unit 107 or an instruction from the output management unit 110a. The device status display unit 107 or the output management unit 110a is notified of the information.

On the side of the input / output device, the control language section instructs each section (printing section / control section) to perform processing that prompts the print data processing method, and the print data is stored in the auxiliary storage device as necessary. Hold and print processing.

The host computer may be a general personal user terminal device as shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1200 is a computer PC. PC
The 1200 includes a CPU 1201 and is stored in a ROM 1202 or a hard disk (HD) 1211 or a flexible disk drive (FD) 1212.
The device control software supplied from the computer is executed to collectively control each device connected to the system bus 1204.

The CPU 1201 and RO of the PC 1200
The program stored in the M1202 or the hard disk (HD) 1211 realizes the function of each unit such as billing according to the present embodiment.

A RAM 1203 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 1201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 1205 is a keyboard (K
B) Control instruction input from 1209 or a device (not shown).

Reference numeral 1206 denotes a CRT controller (CRT
C) controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 1210. 1207 is a disk controller (DK
In C), a boot program (startup program: a program for starting execution (operation) of hardware or software of a personal computer), a plurality of applications, edit files, user files, a hard disk (HD) 1211 for storing a network management program, and the like, and It controls access to the flexible disk (FD) 1212.

Reference numeral 1208 denotes a network interface card (NIC), which is a network printer, another network device, or another P device via the LAN 1220.
It exchanges bidirectional data with C.

2 to 3 show one example of the method of use for explaining the apparatus constituting the printing system of this embodiment. This embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart.

In the environment where the connection setting with the input / output device (for example, 202) is made on the host computer side, the user issues a print request together with the designation of the destination of the A4 monochrome document according to the specification of the input / output device 202, for example, on the host computer side. When the request is transmitted to the transmission / reception processing unit 110, which is the transmission / reception processing unit 110 (s301), the transmission / reception processing unit 110 checks the device control unit 106 and the control language monitor in order to confirm whether or not the output request is made quickly. I / O device 20 via unit 108
State 2 is acquired (s302 to s303).

At this time, if the user does not meet the preset conditions for executing the proxy printing (s305)
(S306) Normal print processing is continued (s307 to s308).

As a proxy printing condition, it is possible to set whether the status is an error (s305) or a large amount of printing processing is being performed (s306). When it has a function of holding a print job, the number of held print jobs and the total number of pages are also included.

If there is some error in the input / output device 202 due to the above conditions and proxy printing is to be executed, the print job is analyzed first in order to search for an input / output device that meets the print job request function. Do (s309).

In this analysis, it is assumed that the job is, for example, a 10-page job with a monochrome setting of A4 in this example.

Input / output devices 201 to 20 in device search (s310)
After confirming the existence of 5, and collecting the capability information of each device in s311 to s312, the attribute confirmation as an output destination candidate is performed (s201), and then the charging status of each candidate is simulated.

In this example, if the charging priority (s203) is set, the input / output devices 201 and 203 are 300 yen and the input / output device 205 is 80 yen, which is the cheapest input / output device in the charge order sort (s204). 205 is set as the first candidate.

On the other hand, when the original is a color job for the color machine 201, if the attribute priority sort is set, the substitute destination is given priority to the color printing capability of the input / output device in s205, and the input / output device 203 It is set as the first candidate.

The first candidate input / output device notifies the output management unit 110a of the search information together with information of other searched input / output devices. (S313)

The user selects the first program selected by the program at this time.
Candidates can be confirmed via the device status display unit 107 (s315) If the user has automatically selected proxy printing (s314), switch the output destination to the connection port of the first candidate I / O device. (S321) Output is executed (s322) and the end is notified to the user to finish printing (s323). However, if the user manually selects proxy printing, the first input / output device is displayed. In the device status display unit 107, a list of other searched input / output devices is also displayed as a candidate together with the matching information (s315 to s316).

If there is a substitute printing device that matches the first candidate from the offline devices, it is displayed (s317).

In this embodiment, the input / output device 205 is displayed as a proxy candidate because the charging is the cheapest.

When the proxy device is selected automatically or by user selection according to the display, the job is transmitted to the input / output device according to step s321, and the A4 monochrome 10-page job of this embodiment is printed by confirming the charge from the input / output device 205. Is executed.

Similarly to the conventional case, the user can cancel the search if the first candidate is a blank search state or a proxy state that the user does not like (s324, s325).

<Second Embodiment> In the above example, an A4 monochrome 10-page job has been described as an example. However, in a color job of a color machine, a candidate for confirming the price and switching the output to an inexpensive monochrome machine. It is also possible to make a selection.

<Third Embodiment> In the above example, no time limit is set for the search of the input / output device, but a large number of input / output devices exist in the environment to be searched, and the input / output device is required for output. It may be time-consuming to check the setting ability. In that case, by setting a timeout in the device searching unit 109, it is possible to reduce the waiting time at the time of searching and provide the user with a smooth alternative printing candidate. is there.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the first embodiment, print data, job management information, etc. are saved in the program memory.
Although saved, it goes without saying that the data can be recorded in an external storage medium such as an auxiliary storage device or an FD or MO.

Further, this management information can also be confirmed by the user by an application having a device status display section.

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

Further, the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), but also to a device composed of one device (eg, copying machine, facsimile machine). You may.

Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized for a computer in an apparatus or system connected to the various devices so that the various devices are operated to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. What is implemented by supplying the program code of software for operating the above-mentioned various devices according to the program stored in the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the scope of the present invention.

Further, in this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself constitutes the present invention. As a transmission medium of the program code, a communication medium (a wired line such as an optical fiber or a wireless line) in a computer network (LAN, WAN such as the Internet, a wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying the program information as a carrier wave. Etc.) can be used.

Further, means for supplying the program code to a computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. A flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used as a recording medium for storing the program code.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the supplied program code by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) or the other where the program code is operating in the computer. It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the application software of the above.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or function expansion unit is instructed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like included in the above-mentioned performs some or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It should be noted that the shapes and structures of the respective portions shown in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby provided. It should not be construed as limiting. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or the main features thereof.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a proxy printing system, an input / output device such as a printer and a host computer are connected via a communication interface, and a function of substituting another input / output device such as a printer for a print request in a proxy printing system Bidirectional communication means with the host computer on the input / output device side, means for notifying print function information of the device, option installation information, means for determining job attribute information, and billing information when the job is printed In the host computer side, means for analyzing the attribute information of the job, means for searching an input / output device such as a printer capable of printing, and search processing at the time of proxy printing request,
By providing a means for selecting a device equipped with a designated job processing means, a means for obtaining a charge amount when printing a job, and a means for selecting an input / output device with low charge information, the user can obtain the charge information. Acting while checking,
It is possible to provide a proxy printing system capable of executing output destination management such as distribution and preventing the phenomenon of being confused by unexpected charges in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a module and an input / output device that constitute a proxy printing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a port determination algorithm of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an algorithm of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general personal user terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Host computer (terminal) 101 CPU 102 RAM 103 ROM 104 Auxiliary storage device 105 Print job creation unit (including application / driver) 106 Device control unit 107 Device status display unit 108 Control language monitor unit 109 Device search unit 110 Transmission / reception processing unit 110a Output management unit 2 LAN 201 I / O device (color printer device) 202 I / O device (low speed monochrome printer device) 203 I / O device (color printer device) 204 I / O device (medium speed monochrome printer device) 205 I / O device ( High-speed monochrome printer / multifunction device)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A proxy printing system in which an input / output device and a host computer are connected via a communication interface and has a function of substituting a print request for another input / output device when there is a failure. Then, on the input / output device side, bidirectional communication means with the host computer, means for notifying the printing function information of the device and option mounting information, means for judging the attribute information of the job, and the job are printed. In the host computer side, a means for analyzing the attribute information of the job, a means for searching an input / output device capable of executing printing, and a search process at the time of the proxy printing request are provided. A means for selecting a device having a designated job processing function, a means for obtaining a charge for printing a job, and an input / output device with low charge information. Means of selecting a printing system characterized by having a city. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the input / output device is a printer. 3. A means for searching a device having a job processing function specified in a search process when a proxy printing request is made, and an amount charged when a job is executed by each searched device. A printing apparatus comprising means and selection means for selecting the above-mentioned device having a low billing amount. 4. A step of searching for a device having a job processing function specified in the search process when a proxy printing request is made, and obtaining an amount charged when the job is executed by each searched device. A printing method comprising steps, and a step of selecting the above-mentioned device having a low charge amount. 5. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the printing method according to claim 4. 6. A program for causing a computer to execute the printing method according to claim 4.