JP2003118211A - Printer with function for managing print job - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer having a Web server function in which a received print job can be waited and browsing of the print job is managed. SOLUTION: The printer comprises a Web server function means 22, means 22 for monitoring the situation of a print job being printed by the printer, and a memory 24 for storing the situation of a print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a Web page.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having a print job management function connected to a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A schematic configuration of a printer 10 having a Web server function will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, 11 is a printer housing of a label printer, for example. A paper conveyance path 12 is provided in the housing 11,
A continuous paper 13 is arranged at the end of the paper transport path 12. The continuous paper 13 is conveyed by the paper conveying rollers 14. The print head 1 faces the paper transport path 12.
5 are provided. Further, an ink ribbon 16 is supplied between the print head 15 and the continuous paper 13 conveyed on the paper conveyance path 12. The ink ribbon 16 is wound around the winding-side ink ribbon roller 17.

A LAN interface 17 is attached to one side surface of the housing 11. Reference numeral 18 is a main controller.

Next, the system configuration of the printer will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, 21 is a CPU
(Central processing unit). On the system bus 21a from the CPU 21, a control program for driving the printer,
A program ROM (read only memory) 22 in which a program as a web server function means and other control programs are stored, a drawing memory 23 in which print data is stored as bitmap data, and a web page is an HT
RAM (random access memory) 24 stored as an ML (Hyper Text Makeup Language) file,
A LAN driver 25, a print head driver 26, an ink ribbon driver 27, and a paper transport driver 28 are connected. A LAN interface 31 is connected to the LAN driver 25, a print head 32 is connected to the print head driver 26, an ink ribbon roller 33 is connected to the ink ribbon driver 27, and a paper carrying roller 34 is connected to the paper carrying driver 28. There is.

Then, the printer 10 described above is connected to the Internet via the LAN interface 31,
Consider a system in which a client PC (personal computer) 41 is connected to the Internet.

First, the client PC 41 activates the installed browser. Then, by specifying the IP address of the printer 10 and the HTML file name for the initial screen, the client PC 41 is connected to the printer 10 via the Internet.

The specified HTML file is
It is received by the Web server function installed in the program ROM 22 via the LAN interface 31 and the LAN driver 25. Then, the HTML file stored in the RAM 24 is called by this Web server function, and the client PC 4 is accessed via the Internet.
Deliver to 1. The browser of the client PC 41 decodes the delivered HTML file and displays the initial screen on the display unit as shown in FIG. For example, the printer status (during idle) is displayed as shown in FIG.

The client PC 41 is the printer 1
It is also possible to start printing for 0. In this case, the printer 10 receives the print start command via the Internet, and immediately upon receiving the print job as shown in FIG. 10, print processing is performed.

[0009]

Therefore, when the client PC 41 is located at the head office and the printer 10 is installed at a branch office located away from the head office, when the print job is sent from the client PC 41 to the branch office, the label is immediately printed. If printing is started, inconvenience occurs. The reason is that, since the label sticking work is performed in the branch office where the printer 10 is installed, it is optimal that the branch office decides the timing to start printing the label. That is, when the printer 10 receives a print job even if there is no product to be labeled, the unprinted label will overflow if the printer 10 prints immediately, which will hinder the label sticking work. was there.

Further, in the conventional printer, it is not possible to monitor the status of the print job.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to allow a printer having a Web server function to hold a received print job and to manage the viewing of the print job. It is to provide a printer with a print job management function that can perform printing.

[0012]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a print job management function, comprising: a web server function means;
The present invention is characterized by comprising print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of the print job and storage means for storing the status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a Web page.

A printer with a print job management function according to a second aspect is characterized in that the status of the print job according to the first aspect is print standby, print spool, print, and print end.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a print job management function, a Web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, and a print job status monitored by the print job monitoring means. It is characterized by comprising a storage means for storing as a page, a designating means for designating a print standby job displayed on a Web page, and a print processing means for performing a print processing of the print job designated by the designating means. To do.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a print job management function, a Web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, and a status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means. It is characterized by comprising a storage means for storing as a page and a means for displaying a print job for which printing is completed as a print history on the Web page.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a print job management function, a Web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, and a print job status monitored by the print job monitoring means on the Web. A storage means for saving as a page, a judging means for judging whether the received print job is an immediate print job for executing immediate printing or a stored print job waiting for printing, and the print job received by this judging means is an immediate execution job. If it is determined that there is a print job of the print job, if the print job received by the determination means is a stored print job, the status of the print job as a print waiting job Means for storing in the Web page.

In the printer with a print job management function according to a sixth aspect, the remaining memory capacity when storing the web page as a print waiting job in the storage means according to the fifth aspect is W.
It is characterized by being displayed on the eb page.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer having a print job management function, a Web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, and a print job status monitored by the print job monitoring means. It is characterized by comprising storage means for storing as a page and means for displaying on the Web page the remaining number of printable sheets that can be printed by this printer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a print job management function, a Web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, and a print job status monitored by the print job monitoring means. Storage means for saving as a page, print end job saved as a web page in this storage means by a user, automatically after a predetermined time has elapsed, or when the number of print end jobs has reached a predetermined number, or use of print job memory Means for automatically erasing when the amount becomes constant.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings
The embodiment will be described. The configuration of the printer 10 according to the first embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 7, and the system configuration thereof is the same as that of FIG. However, in the first embodiment, the program ROM 22 includes a control program for driving the printer, a program as the Web server function means, and a print job monitoring means for managing print jobs as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Is stored as a control program. Further, the RAM 24 stores an HTML file as a Web page as shown in FIG. 1, an area for storing the remaining number of printable sheets issued by the printer 10, and an area for storing the remaining memory capacity available in a print waiting folder described later. Is provided. HT
The contents of the ML file are constantly updated with the latest data by the control program stored in the program ROM 22.

Further, in this embodiment, the state of the print job is divided into four statuses and managed. The first is a print waiting job, the second is a spooling job, the third is a printing job, and the fourth is a print end job. In order to manage print jobs with four statuses in this way, RAM
In FIG. 24, folders as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) to (D) are provided. The control of the flowchart of FIG. 2 describes the process from the reception of one print job to the deletion thereof, and the movement of the print job between folders is stored in the program ROM 22 in a multitasking manner. It is controlled by the control program.

Next, FIG. 1 shows a browser screen activated on the client PC 41. The content corresponding to this display content is stored in the RAM 24 of the printer 10 as an HTML file.

Therefore, the contents of the HTML file stored in the RAM 24 will be described by explaining the browser screen of FIG. Of the browser screens in Figure 1,
Part A is an HTML file part stored in the RAM 24. The print job management screen A1 is shown on the right side of the portion A, and various management screens A2 showing the printer status etc. are shown on the left side.

On the print job management screen A1, print start is activated for all print waiting jobs. Specifically, the print job registered in the print waiting folder in FIG. 4A is moved to the spooling folder in FIG. 4B.

A print button 51 is displayed on the right side of each of the print job names “JOB001.DAT” and “JOB002.DAT” registered in the print waiting folder. Here, when the print button 51 is pressed, the corresponding print job is displayed in FIG.
It is moved to the spooling folder in (B).

Further, print job names "JOB003.DAT" and "JOB004.D" registered in the spooling folder of FIG. 4B.
On the right side of "AT", "spooling" 52 indicating that the printing process is being performed is displayed. Here, “in spool” means that the printing is waiting.

The print jobs registered in the spooling folder in FIG. 4B are taken out one by one, moved to the printing folder in FIG. 4C, and printed. Figure 1
Then, "printing" 53 indicating that the print job name "JOB005.DAT" is being printed is displayed.

The print job name after printing is shown in FIG.
It is moved to the print end folder in (D). In FIG. 1, “printed” 54 indicating that the print job name “JOB006.DAT” has been printed is displayed. On the right side where "printed" 54 is displayed, a "reissue" button 55 for reissuing a printed print job and an "erase" button 56 for erasing the print job are displayed. In FIG. 1, only one printed job is displayed, but all print jobs that have completed printing are registered in the print end folder. Then, "printed" 54 is displayed on the right side of all the print job names that have been printed, and "reissue" button 55 and "erase" button 56 are displayed.

Here, when the "reissue" button 55 is pressed,
The print job registered in the printed job file is moved to the spooling job folder. Also, "erase"
When the button 56 is pressed, the print job registered in the printed job file is deleted.

In this manner, the printed print job continues to be registered in the print job file unless the "reissue" button 55 or the "erase" button 56 is pressed.
That is, such printed jobs continue to be displayed on the print job management screen A1. Therefore, it is possible to know the print history of what print job has been printed.

A printer status display 61 is displayed on the management screen A2, a remaining number display 62 is displayed in the RAM 24 on the lower side thereof, and a RA number is displayed on the lower side thereof.
Display the remaining capacity of the print waiting folder counted in M24 6
3 is done.

In this way, since the remaining number display 62 is displayed, it is possible to know the paper supply timing of the printer 10. Further, since the remaining capacity display 63 of the print waiting folder is displayed, it is possible to know how many print jobs the printer 10 can receive.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention configured as above will be described. First, an example will be described in which print data is transmitted from the PC 41 connected to the Internet to the printer 10 as shown in FIG. 4, and the output of the print data is activated on the printer 10 side.

The client PC 41 activates the installed browser. Then, by specifying the IP address of the printer 10 and the HTML file name for the initial screen, the client PC 41 is connected to the printer 10 via the Internet.

Next, a print job including print data is sent from the client PC 41 to FTP (File Transfer Package).
To transfer. This print job is a stored print job that waits until the print button 51 is operated,
An immediate print job is specified to start printing as soon as a print job is received. That is, when the save print job is designated, the command to transfer the print job to the print waiting folder of FIG. 3A is designated by FTP, and when the immediate print job is designated, the print job is designated. The command to transfer to the 3 (B) spooling sender is FTP
Specified by.

The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 for receiving this print job is performed. The printer 10 determines whether the received print job is an immediate print job (step S1). That is, when the printer 10 determines that the FTP does not include the command to transfer the received print job to the spooling folder in FIG. 3B, the printer 10 transfers the print job to the print waiting folder in FIG. 3A. Be done (step
S2). The print waiting job registered in the print waiting folder waits for printing until the print button 51 on the browser screen shown in FIG. 1 is pressed. That is, the determination in step S3 determines whether the print button 51 has been pressed. If the determination in step S3 is "YES", the print job registered in the print waiting folder in FIG. 3A is transferred to the spooling folder in FIG. 3B.

In this way, it is possible to specify a print job that does not start printing immediately, so that the printer 10 can print when necessary.

By the way, in the judgment of step S1, "YE
If it is determined to be "S", the received print job is registered as a spooling job in the spooling folder in FIG. 3B (step S4).

Then, it is determined whether or not the print job registered in the spooled folder can start printing (step S5). In this determination, when the printing of the print job registered in the printing folder is completed, it is determined that the printing can be started.

If "YES" is determined in this step S5, the print job to be printed next is selected from the print jobs registered in the spooling folder and printing is started (step S6). . The print job whose printing has started is registered as a printing job in the printing folder in FIG. 3C (step S).
7).

Then, it is judged whether or not the printing of the printing job registered in the printing folder is completed (step S
8).

If the determination in step S8 is "YES", the printing job registered in the printing folder is registered in the printing end folder in FIG. 3D as a printing end job ( Step S9).

As described above, the print jobs received by the printer 10 are sequentially registered in the print waiting folder, the spooling folder, the printing folder, and the print end folder. ) Will be accumulated in the print end folder.

Further, although the print jobs registered in the print waiting folder, the spooling folder, the printing folder, and the print end folder are changed as described above, the We of the RAM 24 is changed.
The HTML file for page b is constantly updated so that the print job status is the latest.

Therefore, the client PC 41 can accurately know the status of the print job transmitted to the printer 10.

Then, it is determined whether or not a reissue instruction has been issued (step S10). This is determined by whether the reissue button 55 in FIG. 1 has been pressed. This step S10
If the result of the determination is “YES”, the print end job registered in the print end folder is re-registered in the spooling folder as a spooling job (step S4). When printing can be started, the print job is printed again.

In this way, a print job that has already been printed can be printed again.

By the way, "NO" is determined in the step S10.
When it is determined that the erase button 56 has been pressed (step S11). As described above, since the print jobs for which printing has been completed are accumulated in the print completion folder, this delete button 56 is provided to delete print jobs that do not need to be printed again.

If "YES" is determined in step S11, the process of deleting the print end job from the print end folder is performed (step S12).

The deletion of the print end job from the print end folder is executed when the delete button 56 is pressed. However, the print end job is automatically deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed since the print end job was registered in the print end folder. May be. Further, the number of print end jobs registered in the print end folder may be deleted when the number of print end jobs reaches a certain number. Further, when a certain amount of the memory of the printer 10 is used for a print job, the print job registered in the print end folder may be deleted.

Since the print jobs registered in the print end folder are deleted in this way, it is possible to prevent the memory from being wasted by print jobs that are not needed in the print end folder.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the W of the printer 10 is
A variable field is provided on the eb page as shown in FIG. The other configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

Reference numeral 70 is a Web browser screen of the printer 10. 71 is a variable field. When the print data in the print job transmitted from the client PC 41 is temporarily changed, the variable field 71 can be set by setting the changed data in the variable field 71 on the printer 10 side.

On the right side of the variable field 71, a valid button 72 and a invalid button 73 are provided. To validate the print data set in the variable field 71,
The valid button 72 is operated, and when invalidating, the invalid button 73 is operated.

The flowchart of FIG. 3 is for explaining the process for the print data set in the variable field 71 in the print process performed by the printer 10. That is, it is determined whether to use the variable field 71 (step S21). This determination is made based on whether the valid button 71 is operated.

When the result of this judgment is "YES", the print data described in the variable field 71 is incorporated into the print content and printing is performed (step S22).

On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the determination in step S21, the print data set in the variable field 71 is not taken in, and printing is performed using the print data transmitted from the client PC 41. I have to.

As described above, by providing the variable field 71, the print content can be temporarily changed on the printer 10 side.

When a print job is sent from the client PC 41 to the printer 10 by e-mail, if the subject of the mail is "PRTDATA",
The printer 10 side determines that it is an immediate print job and
If the subject is "OOL", it may be determined that the print job is a save print job.

[0060]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, W
A printer having an eb server function can be provided with a print job management function that can hold a received print job and can manage the viewing of the print job.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a browser screen according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a print-waiting fender or the like according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a browser screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing configurations of a printer of the present invention and a conventional printer.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention and a conventional printer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional Web browser screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a conventional operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... CPU (central processing unit), 22 ... Program ROM (read only memory) 23 ... drawing memory, 24 ... RAM (random access memory) 25 ... LAN driver, 26 ... Print head driver, 27 ... Ink ribbon driver, 28 ... Paper transport driver.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, and a storage means for storing the status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a web page. A printer with a print job management function. 2. The status of the print job includes print standby,
2. The printer with a print job management function according to claim 1, wherein the print spooling, the printing is in progress, and the printing is finished. 3. Web server function means, print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of print jobs, storage means for saving the status of print jobs monitored by the print job monitoring means as a web page, and on the web page A printer with a print job management function, comprising: a designating unit that designates the displayed print waiting job; and a print processing unit that performs a print process of the print job designated by the designating unit. 4. A web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, a storage means for saving the status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a web page, and the printing is completed. A printer with a print job management function, comprising: a means for displaying a print job as a print history on the Web page. 5. A web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, a storage means for saving the status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a web page, and a received print. Judgment means for judging whether the job is an immediate print job for executing immediate printing or a stored print job waiting for printing, and if the print job received by this judgment means is an immediate execution job, the print job And a means for storing the print job status in the Web page as a print waiting job when the print job received by the determination means is determined to be a stored print job. A printer with a print job management feature. 6. The remaining memory capacity when the storage means stores a web page as a print waiting job is set to the We
The printer with print job management function according to claim 5, wherein the printer is displayed on page b. 7. A web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, a storage means for saving the status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a web page, and a printer A printer with a print job management function, comprising: a unit for displaying the number of remaining printable sheets on the Web page. 8. A Web server function means, a print job monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job, a storage means for saving the status of the print job monitored by the print job monitoring means as a web page, and a storage means for this. The print end job saved as a Web page is automatically deleted after a user's instruction or after a certain period of time, or when the print end job reaches a certain number or when the print job memory usage becomes constant. A printer with a print job management function, comprising: