JP2003323279A - Network print system and management method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more accurately evaluate the optimal number of copies of a job to be executed among available output units. <P>SOLUTION: A print job is accepted with a master output unit (16). Subsequently, if any other specific print unit can execute a received print job, an inquiry is made, to other print units on a network, about the characteristic of each of other output units and that a print job waiting for determination is to be determined (20). Furthermore, the print job is transferred from the master output unit to each of the other output units which can execute the print job (22). Then, the completion of a part of the accepted print job is reported from each of the other output units (26). Finally, the assignment of the number of copies of the accepted print job to be printed with the master output unit and each of the other output units is determined (32). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to use of a network printing system, and more particularly, to a multi-network hard copy such as a copier or printer for printing a job given to one of output devices. The present invention relates to a management method for a network printing system that efficiently uses output devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art In a networked office environment, it is preferable to have multiple hard copy output devices to assist in job completion when copying multiple documents. This is usually done by having a master device, ie the one device on which the operator initiated the job, which queries other (slave) devices on the network to determine its availability and capabilities, and , Divide the number of copies to be made between available devices.
There is a problem with the master device in determining exactly how to divide the work so that the total job is completed in the shortest possible time.

The general concept of querying support for a device for capabilities and making decisions based on accepted replies is well known in the prior art.

US Pat. No. 5,978,560 to Tan et al., “Distribution Printing System Load Balancing Using Enhanced Printer Characteristics,” granted Nov. 2, 1999.
The issue describes that networked printers assign additional print jobs depending on how many print jobs are already in the queue.

US Pat. No. 5,940,186, "Multi-Printer Module Electrophotographic Printing Apparatus," granted to Bary et al. On August 17, 1999 and January 21, 1997.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,416, entitled "Multi-Printer Module Electrophotographic Printing Device," is issued to a method of distributing print jobs to a multi-printer engine.
And a method of distributing images for printing to a multi-printer module having an image distribution device for determining which image gets which engine.

US Pat. No. 5,859,711, "Multi-Print Engine with Virtual Job Routing," granted to Bary et al. On January 12, 1999, performs a RIP print job on image data and is then available. It describes a method of transferring the page image of the print result to a different print engine.

US Pat. No. 5,748,077, entitled "Digital Printing Using Multiple Cooperative Modular Printing Devices," granted to Silverbrook on July 21, 1998, is a system for duplex printing in which both sides are printed simultaneously. Is described.

US Pat. No. 5,699,102 entitled "Data Independent Printer, Impact Copier / Printer System for Registered [sic] Communication", granted to Ng et al. On Dec. 16, 1997, A method for transferring print data to an engine for printing with an editing step is described. Distributing print result images to other printing devices on the network is also included, but this document does not mention determining the printing characteristics / performance of the output device to which the print job is distributed.

US Pat. No. 5,467,434, issued Nov. 14, 1995 to Hower, Jr. et al., "A Method for Determining the Availability of Printer Options and Resolving Conflicts in the Combination of Print Job Selections." Describes a method for storing in a profile structure the characteristics of a group of networks connected to a printer device. The profile structure is utilized by a print job manager that distributes input print jobs to optimal printer devices based on print job characteristics.

US Pat. No. 5,287,194 granted to Lobiond on Feb. 15, 1994, "Distributed Printing," is the basic concept of assigning print jobs between one or more printers. However, it does not mention the determination of dynamic capacity.

US Pat. No. 5,179,673 issued to Steely, Jr. et al. On January 12, 1993, entitled "Using a Ring Buffer to Activate or Stream Information in the Pipeline. , Subroutine Return Prediction Mechanism for Comparing Predicted Address with Real Address, "discloses a stack technique for data transfer.

US Pat. No. 4,125,874 entitled "Multi-Printer Control", issued to Higashide et al. On November 14, 1978, discloses a method by which a central processing unit distributes print data to a group of networked printers. Is disclosed.

[0013]

However, none of the above systems or methods describe a solution to the problem of multiple output devices as disclosed herein.

Thus, the present invention, referred to as dynamic performance determination, provides an output distribution method for allocating the number of print jobs among a plurality of output devices on a network according to the potential of each output device. Is intended.

[0015]

According to a management method of a network printing system of the present invention, the performance of each output device in a network printing system in which a plurality of output devices having characteristic settings are connected to a network is dynamically determined. A method of managing a network printing system, comprising: a step of accepting a print job by a master output device as an output device; and a master output device that determines whether a print job accepted by a slave output device as an output device can be executed. From the master output device to each slave output device on the network from which the print job can be executed by the inquiry, and the step of transferring the print job from the master output device to each slave output device. Report completion of only one print job A method, based on the results reported by each slave output device, and a step of determining the allocation of the number of copies of the print job to be executed in the master output device and the slave output devices.

The network printing system of the present invention is a network printing system for dynamically determining the performance of each output device in a network printing system in which a plurality of output devices having characteristic settings are connected to a network. , The master output device as the output device,
A receiving unit that accepts a print job, an inquiry unit that inquires of each slave output device on the network whether or not the print job accepted by the slave output device as an output device can be executed, and the print job can be executed by the inquiry. Based on the transfer means for transferring the print job to each slave output device found to be the same and the result of executing the transferred print job by each slave output device, the print job to be executed by the master output device and each slave output device And a determining means for determining the allocation of the number of copies.

In such a system and management method,
When the master output device accepts the print job (accepting step and acceptance means), the master output device inquires of each slave output device via the network whether or not the print job accepted by the slave output device can be executed ( Inquiry step and inquiry method). As a result, when the master output device transfers the print job to each slave output device capable of performing the print job (transfer step and transfer means), each slave output device that accepts the print job master output of completion of one copy of the print job. Report to the device (reporting step and reporting means). And a master output device (determination step and determination means)
Determines the allocation of the number of print jobs to be executed by the master output device and each slave output device based on the report result from each slave output device.

This makes it possible to easily determine the characteristics of each slave output device and the waiting print job. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine how to divide the work amount so that the total job is completed in the shortest possible time.

This summary and objectives of the invention are provided to enable a quick and natural understanding of the invention. A more general understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with respect to the drawings.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As mentioned above, the conventional approach to solving the problem of multi-output devices is to print jobs regardless of whether they are master devices, that is, copiers, printers or multi-function peripherals (MFPs). Each of the available output devices on the network, that is, the slave output device 10 shown in FIG. 2, is queried for that page in minutes and each slave output is based on this information. The number of jobs to be executed by the apparatus 10 is calculated. Whether or not the optimum result is obtained depends on the capability of each slave output device 10. The method of the present invention more accurately evaluates the optimal division of the number of job copies to be made among the available slave output devices 10.

In the context of networked digital output devices, the capability of slave output device 10 from the input of a digital data stream to the printing of a page is important. The method disclosed herein is a method for evaluating the printing speed of the slave output device 10 and optimally distributing the number of copies of a job to be performed among the available slave output devices 10.
Note the dynamic determination of zero capabilities.

The system according to the method of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a number of other slave output devices 10,
It includes a master output device 12 and a communication network 14 connected to them. In addition, the network 14
A host computer 8 that outputs a print job is connected to.

It should be noted that any of the output devices (copier,
The printer, the MFP, etc.) may not be fixed to the slave output device 10 and the master output device 12. For example, an output device from which a user reads a document or an output device from which print data is transmitted from the host computer 8 is
When the print output amount (the number of copies and / or the number of pages) is large, it may be possible to temporarily function as the master output device 12 to execute the print job.

The slave output device 10 and the master output device 12 are, for example, substantially the same as shown in FIG.
The multi-function output device 42 includes a control unit 44, an image reading unit 46, an image processing unit 48, a print engine unit 50, a memory unit 52, and an interface unit (I / F in the figure) 54.

The image reading unit 46 is a device such as a scanner for reading a document image so that the multi-function output device 42 functions as a copying machine. Image processing unit 48
Is image data read by the image reading unit 46 or print data given from the outside for print output, and data temporarily stored in the memory unit 52 can be used for various image processing and scaling processing. Perform processing. The print engine unit 50 is a unit that executes print processing by various printing methods such as an electrophotographic process in order to print out the data processed by the image processing unit 48.

The memory section 52 has a ROM for storing various programs for the control section 44 to control the operation of each section of the multi-function output device 42, and also the arithmetic processing required during the control processing by the control section 44. And a RAM used as a work area for temporary storage of data. Further, the ROM stores a dynamic performance determination program for executing steps 1 to 9 of the method described below, while the RAM stores image data of a page to be printed in the method described below. The content of the received print job is stored.

The interface section 54 is a section for performing communication processing with other devices (host computer 8 and output devices 10 and 12) via the network 14.

The control unit 44 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a microprocessor, and controls the operation of each unit of the multi-function output unit 42 by executing the above-mentioned program stored in the ROM, and also operates the unit. By executing the dynamic performance determination program, job allocation processing in this network printing system, which will be described later, is executed.

Next, the functional blocks realized by the control unit 44 executing the above dynamic performance determination program will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 44 includes a job receiving unit 102, an inquiry unit 104, and a job transfer unit 10.
6, the report unit 108 and the job determination unit 110 are included as functional blocks.

The receiving unit 102 receives a print job from the host computer 8 or the like and stores it in the memory unit 52.

The inquiry unit 104 determines that the characteristics of each slave output device 10 and the waiting print job are determined when the print job accepted by the specific slave output device 10 can be executed. Contact us.

The job transfer unit 106 includes an inquiry unit 10
The print job is transferred to each slave output device 10 capable of executing the print job responding to the inquiry by the command No. 4. The reporting unit 108 reports the completion of the first copy of the print job received by each slave output device 10 to the master output device 12.

The job determination unit 110 determines the number of received print jobs to be printed by the master output device 12 and each slave output device 10, based on the result reported from each slave output device 10. Further, the job determination unit 110 determines the allocation of the number of print jobs to be executed by all the slave output devices 10 and the master output device 12 after all the slave output devices 10 have reported to the master output device 12. Further, the job determining unit 110 determines the number of print jobs to be executed by all the slave output devices 10 and the master output device 12 after a lapse of a predetermined time from the transfer of the print job to the slave output devices 10 by the job transfer unit 106. When deciding the allocation, the number of copies to be printed is allocated only between the master output device 12 and the slave output device 10 that has completed the report by the reporting unit 108. Further, the job determination unit 110 determines the allocation of the number of copies to be printed by each slave output device 10 after the reports by the reporting units 108 of all slave output devices 10.

The method of the present embodiment is suitable for operating with a master output device (MOD) 12 connected to a communication network 14, as outlined in FIG. A number of other output devices (OODs) described herein as slave output devices 10 are also connected to the network 14 in tandem. Hereinafter, the method of the present embodiment performed in the above system includes the following steps.

1. The operator operates the master output device 12
Then, the multi-copy job is started (step 16).

2. The master output device 12 scans and scans the image of each page of the print job for digital storage (step 18). Steps 16 and 18 are referred to herein as print job acceptance.

3. The master output device 12 makes an inquiry via the communication network 14 to the slave output device 10 as an available output device (OD) having the capabilities required for the job such as double-sided, stapling, and page alignment (step 20). The power of an OD defines its characteristics. Here, the collaborative OD should include the MOD and all capable OODs.

4. The master output device 12 transfers data to each available slave output device 10 for the job (step 22). The data is the ability to print the job, i.e. it contains the proper characteristics.

5. Each slave output device 10 receives the data transferred from the master output device 12 (step 24) and prints one copy for the job (step 26).

6. The slave output device 10 may or may not have the ability to store page image data and print each part using the page image data, and therefore, the slave output device 10 distinguishes them and reports them to the master output device 12 ( Step 26).

A. When the slave output device 10 cannot store page image data, it reports back to the master output device 12 the time required from the start of data reception to the completion of printing the last page of the job. The slave output device 10 must resend the print data from the master output device 12 every time one copy is printed, and (1
It also reports that so far one copy has been printed out (to measure the time required to print one).

B. If slave output device 10 can store page image data, slave output device 10 prints a second copy from the internally stored page image data to determine the time required to print one copy of the job.
Then, the slave output device 10 determines the time required for printing the second copy, and (currently, the first copy printed out while storing the page image data and the second copy printed out the stored page image data). It will report back that the print output of 2 copies has been completed.

The memory capacity and printing time are further determined by each OD.
Stipulate the characteristics of. Capabilities such as duplex printing, stapling, etc. for OD are known at the beginning of the operation, while other things such as the ability to store print jobs and print times are variable in character and determined during the printing operation. To be done. The ability to store print jobs may be provided in the OD, but memory for such storage is
It may not be available for a particular print job under MOD control, as it may be filled with other results such as lower priority jobs.

7. When the master output device 12 receives the report from the slave output device 10 (step 28),
It prints a copy of the job itself (step 30) and records the time. Step 22 if MOD processing capability allows
It is desirable to perform step 30 performed in parallel with 28.

8. The master output device 12 allocates the number of copies to be made between the available master output device 12 and each slave output device 10 based on the report from the slave output device 10. For this reason, one of several methods is used, which method comprises the following steps:

A. The master output device 12 selects the standby state until all slave output devices 10 report their printing time before performing the calculation for optimizing the distribution of the copies among the slave output devices 10.

B. The master output device 12 has a configurable amount of time (1
Choose to wait) Then, the master output device 12 divides (assigns) the number of copies to be output between the master output device 12 itself and the reporting output device after the lapse of the set time, and the output device that has not yet reported is to be used. Consider it too late.

C. When a print job with a large number of copies exceeding the predetermined number set in the network is executed, the master output device 12 selects to start printing with a small number of copies on each output device that has reported, and Delay the final copy allocation calculation until the output device reports. In this case, the MOD itself may continue printing a small number of copies after calculating the time required to print out one copy.

9. When the master output device 12 determines the number of copies to be printed by and by each slave output device 10 (step 32), the master output device 12 initializes the output process in the slave output device 10 and indicates that the process should be started. According to the above, the number of copies to be made by each slave output device 10 is communicated (step 3
4).

As described above, it will be understood that in the method of dynamic capacity determination, further changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. .

[0052]

As described above, the management method of the network printing system according to the present invention executes the step of accepting the print job by the master output device as the output device and the execution of the print job accepted by the slave output device as the output device. Querying each slave output device on the network from the master output device whether it is possible,
Transferring the print job from the master output device to each slave output device found to be print job executable by the inquiry; and reporting the completion of only one copy of the transferred print job by each slave output device. Determining the allocation of the number of print jobs to be executed by the master output device and each slave output device based on the results reported by each slave output device.

Further, the network printing system of the present invention comprises a master output device and a slave output device connected to the network, the master output device receiving means for receiving the print job, and the slave output device capable of executing the print job. Inquiry means for inquiring to each slave output device on the network whether or not, and a transfer means for transferring the print job to each slave output device found to be print job executable by the inquiry,
The slave output means has a determination means for determining the allocation of the number of copies of the print job to be executed by the master output device and each slave output device based on the result of executing the transferred print job. It is possible to accurately determine how to divide the work amount so that the total job is completed in the shortest possible time. as a result,
The effect that the optimal division of the number of jobs to be executed between the available master output device and each slave output device can be evaluated more accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a dynamic capacity determination method for a network printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the network printing system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a multi-function output device that constitutes a master output device and a slave output device in the network printing system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functional blocks executed by a control unit in the multi-function output device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Slave output device (output device) 12 Master output device (output device) 14 Communication network 52 memory unit (storage means) 102 job receiving unit (receiving means) 104 Inquiry Section (Inquiry Means) 106 job transfer unit (transfer means) 108 Report Department (reporting means) 110 job determination unit (determination means)

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Girly Lin Goebel             Washington, United States 98662,             Vancouver, Nine Tisadoa             Venue N. E. 12600 F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH09 HJ06 HQ02                 5B021 AA01 BB00 EE03

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A network printing system management method for dynamically determining the performance of each output device in a network printing system in which a plurality of output devices having characteristic settings are connected to a network. The master output device accepts the print job, the slave output device as an output device inquires from the master output device to each slave output device on the network whether the print job can be executed, and the inquiry Transferring the print job from the master output device to each slave output device found to be capable of executing the print job; reporting the completion of only one copy of the transferred print job by each slave output device; Based on the results reported by the slave output device There, the management method of network printing system characterized by comprising the steps of determining the allocation of the number of copies of the print job to be executed in the master output device and the slave output devices. 2. The determining step determines allocation of the number of print jobs to be executed by all the output devices after all the other output devices have reported to the master output device. The management method for the network printing system according to claim 1. 3. The master output device and the transfer device when the determining step determines the number of print job copies to be executed by all the output devices after a predetermined time has elapsed from the transfer of the print job by the transfer step. 2. The management method for a network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the number of copies to be printed is allocated only among the slave output devices that have reported that the printing of one copy of the print job has been completed. 4. When the number of copies to be printed exceeds a predetermined number, the slave output device which has reported the completion of one copy of the received print job is caused to start printing, and the master output device itself also prints one copy in the meantime. After starting the printing after calculating the time required for the print output of, the above-mentioned determining step determines the allocation of the final number of copies to be printed by the master output device and each slave output device after reporting by all the slave output devices. The management method for a network printing system according to claim 1, wherein 5. The management method for a network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step stores the received print job in a storage means. 6. The management method for a network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the determining step is executed in the master output device. 7. A network printing system for dynamically determining the performance of each output device in a network printing system in which a plurality of output devices having characteristic settings are connected to a network, the master output device being an output device. Is a receiving means for accepting print jobs, an inquiry means for inquiring each slave output device on the network whether or not the print job accepted by the slave output device as an output device can be executed, and the print job can be executed by the inquiry. It should be executed by the master output device and each slave output device based on the transfer means for transferring the print job to each slave output device found to be the above, and the result of executing the transferred print job by each slave output device. And a determination means for determining the allocation of the number of print jobs Network printing system according to claim Rukoto. 8. The slave output device according to claim 7, further comprising reporting means for reporting completion of only one copy of the print job transferred by the transfer means to the master output device. Network printing system. 9. The deciding means decides an allocation of the number of print jobs to be executed by all the output devices after all of the slave output devices have reported to the master output device. 8. The network printing system according to item 8. 10. The master output device and the transfer device when determining the number of print jobs to be executed by all the output devices after a predetermined time has passed from the transfer of the print job by the transfer step. 9. The network printing system according to claim 8, wherein the number of copies to be printed is allocated only among the slave output devices that have reported that the printing of one copy of the print job that has been completed has been completed. 11. The master output device, when the number of copies to be printed exceeds a predetermined number, causes the slave output device that has reported the completion of one copy of the received print job to start printing, and the master output device itself. In the meantime, printing is started after calculating the time required to print out one copy, and the determining means should print on the master output device and each slave output device after reporting by the reporting means of all slave output devices. 9. The network printing system according to claim 8, wherein the final allocation of the number of copies is determined. 12. The network printing system according to claim 7, wherein the master output device further comprises a storage unit for storing the print job received by the receiving unit.