JP2003330638A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the list of a print history in response to a request from a user, and to allow the user to select print data to be re-printed, and to depress a print button for easily printing data printed in the past with a small workload and time. <P>SOLUTION: Each time print is executed, the history information of the print job and PDL object data generated by a printer driver are stored. When the user designates the print job from the list display of the print history, and executes reprint, the stored PDL object data are transferred to a print spooler to execute reprint. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The output information from application software (such as a word processor) running on a host computer is converted into print data that can be analyzed by a printing device, and the print data is transferred to the printing device to execute printing. It relates to a printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing system, when printing print data (a data file created by an application) stored in a secondary storage device of a computer, a user executes printing in the following procedure. .

For example, as basic software (OS) of a host computer, Windows (R) NT or W
Windows (R) 98 (all are Microsoft
The case of using a registered trademark of ft company) will be described.

On these basic software, print data is stored in the form of a file.

First, the user must search for the desired print data file using an application such as Explorer. When the number of data files is increasing or they are organized in a deep hierarchical structure, searching for the target file is also a difficult task. And
After finding the print data file, the application that created the print data file (eg, word processing software, spreadsheet software, etc.) is executed to open the print data file. Then, printing can be performed by executing a print command provided as a service of the application.

[0006]

As described above, when printing the data created by the application, the user has to perform the above-described work every time. The same is true for data printed just a few minutes ago, and if printing is performed frequently, the addition of the user will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and every time printing is executed, the document name (file name), application name, user name, print date and time of the print job is saved as a print history. At the same time, the PDL object data generated by the printer driver is saved as a file. Then, the print history information list is displayed at the request of the user. The user can select the print data to be reprinted from the print history and execute the print simply by pressing the print button, so that the data that has been printed in the past can be easily and quickly printed with a smaller amount of work.
Intended for printing.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus and an external apparatus of the present invention have the following configurations.

That is, the host computer expands the print data at the time of execution of printing, and selects "save" by the selecting means for selecting whether to save the PDL object generated by the printer driver. In this case, a means for saving the PDL object of the print data as a file and a means for simultaneously saving the file name of the print data, the PDL object file name, the application name, the user name, the print date and time, etc. A means for displaying a list of histories, a means for selecting print data from the print history displayed by the display means and executing printing, and a PDL object file of the print data, when the printing is executed, to the print spooler. Means for transmitting and printing.

In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus and the external apparatus of the present invention have the following configurations.

That is, the host computer stores a file name, an application name, a user name, a print date and time of the print data as a print history when printing is performed, and a print frequency based on the print history information. Means for determining whether the print data has a high print frequency, a means for automatically saving the PDL object generated by the printer driver when the determiner determines that the print data has a high print frequency, and A means for displaying a history list of high print data, a means for selecting print data from the print history displayed by the display means and executing printing, and a PDL object file of the print data when the printing is executed. Means for transmitting to the print spooler to realize printing.

To achieve the above object, the printing apparatus and the external apparatus of the present invention have the following configurations.

That is, in the first and second aspects, the PDL object data of the print data is stored in the storage device of the host computer.
Means for storing the L object data in the storage device of the printer.

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

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) (Description of Printing System Configuration (FIG. 1)) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is
The host computer 3000, which is a higher-level device, and the printer 1000, which is a printing device, are connected to each other via the bidirectional interface 21. It should be noted that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the LAN may be a single device or a system including a plurality of devices.
Even in a system in which processing is performed via a network such as (Local Area Network),
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer (external device) in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3. A CPU 1 that executes document processing is provided, and the CPU 1 generally controls each device connected to the system device 4.

Further, the ROM for the program of the ROM 3
The ROM 3 stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like.
The font ROM of 1 stores the font data and the like used in the document processing, and the data ROM of the ROM 3 stores various data used in the document processing. A RAM 2 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 1. 5 is a keyboard controller (KB
In C), key input from the keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown) is controlled. A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls the display of a CRT display (CRT) 10. 7 is a memory controller (MC),
Hard disk (HD), floppy (R) disk (F) that stores boot programs, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, etc.
Control access to the external memory 11 such as D). A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1000 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21, and the printer controller unit 10
The communication control processing with 01 is executed. The CPU 1
For example, WYS1WYG on the CRT 10 is possible by executing outline font rasterization processing on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2. Further, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on a command designated by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

In the printer 1000, a printer CPU 12 generally controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 20 based on a control program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 13 and a printing unit. An image signal as output information is output to a print mechanism unit (printer engine) 17 connected via the interface 16. The program ROM of the ROM 13 stores the control program of the CPU 12 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 to 11. CP
The U12 is capable of performing communication processing with the host computer via the input / output unit 15, and is configured to be able to notify the host computer 3000 of information and the like in the printer. Reference numeral 14 is a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 14 is used as a drawing memory for storing print data and image bitmap data received from the host computer, a video signal ON / OFF information storage area, and other work areas. Reference numeral 18 denotes the above-mentioned operation panel, on which switches for operation, LED indicators and the like are arranged.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the processing configuration of the print function in the control unit 1 of the host computer and the control unit 12 of the printer shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. It is attached.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a host computer that functions as a server or a client, for example, which outputs print information including print data and control codes to the printer 1000.

The printer 1000 is roughly divided into a functional unit and a controller unit 100 and an operation panel unit 11.
0, the printing mechanism unit 17. In this embodiment, a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) is specifically assumed as the printer 1000. Needless to say, the printer to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to the LBP, and may be a printer of another printing method such as an inkjet printer or a thermal (thermal transfer) printer.

In the printer 1000, the controller section 100 includes an interface (I / F) section 15 which is a connecting means with the host computer 200, and a reception buffer 10 for temporarily holding and managing received data and the like.
1. A transmission buffer 102 for temporarily holding and managing transmission data, a command analysis unit 104 for analyzing print data, a print control processing execution unit 105, an image processing analysis execution unit 103, a page memory 106, an output control unit. It is composed of 107 and the like. Interface (I / F) unit 15
Is a communication means for transmitting / receiving print data to / from the host computer 200. The print data received through the interface (I / F) unit 15 is sequentially accumulated in the reception buffer 101, which is a storage unit that temporarily holds the data, and the command analysis unit 104 or the image processing analysis execution is performed as necessary. It is read and processed by the unit 103.

The command analysis unit 104 is composed of a control program conforming to each print control command system and print job control language, and the commands analyzed by this command analysis unit 104 include text printing, graphics, images, etc. The analysis result of the print data relating to the drawing is processed by giving an instruction to the image processing analysis executing unit 103, and the commands other than the drawing such as the paper feed selection and the reset command are processed by the print control processing executing unit 1.
05 is instructed and processed.

The image processing analysis executing unit 103 successively develops each object of characters and images in the page memory 106. Further, when decompressing the compressed image data, the image processing analysis executing unit 103 performs decompression processing. The page memory 106 may be managed by this expansion processing and the chasing of the output of the video signal to the printing mechanism unit (printer engine) 17, that is, the banding control. An expandable area may be secured.

The operation panel 110 is for setting and displaying various states of the printer. The output control unit 107 converts the content of the page memory 106 into a video signal and transfers an image to the printing mechanism unit (printer engine) 17. The printing mechanism unit 17 is a mechanism for forming a permanent visible image on the recording paper by using the received video signal.

The printer 1000 has been described above. Next, the configuration of the host computer 200 will be described.

The host computer 200 is configured as one computer system including a keyboard 9 which is an input device, a mouse 220 which is a pointing device, and a display monitor which is a display device. Host computer 200
Is Windows (R), UNIX (R), MacO
It is assumed that it is operating under a basic OS such as S.

When the functions on the basic OS are roughly classified by focusing only on the functional parts relating to the present invention on the host computer side, the application software 201 and the graphic device interface which is a part of the basic OS (hereinafter referred to as GDI). ) 202, printer driver 2
03, a print spooler 204 for temporarily storing the data generated by the printer driver, and a print history monitor 205 which is a means for displaying a list of print histories of the present invention and reprinting the selected print data. I can think.

Although these names and functional frameworks may be slightly different depending on the basic OS, as long as they are modules that can realize each technical means referred to in the present invention, those names and frameworks are not so important to the present invention. Not a big problem. Modules called GDI and printer drivers are Windows (R) 98 and Windows (R)
It is unique to NT, and can be realized in other basic OSs with a module called a graphic kernel or a print filter, for example. Similarly, the print spooler 204 can be realized by incorporating a process in a module called a print queue.

In general, the host computer 200 including these components is the CPU shown in FIG.
Under the hardware such as 1, RAM2, ROM3, and external memory 11, software called basic software (B
IOS) controls the control, and the application software operates under the basic software.

The printer driver 203 and the print history monitor 205 are also positioned as one of the application software. The application software 201 is, for example, application software that operates on basic software such as a word processor and a spreadsheet. In addition, a plurality of application software programs are activated at any timing (varies depending on the main memory capacity), and they are shown as an application 206.

Next, a case where an arbitrary image editing software is used as the application 201 will be described as an example.

When the image is printed by the application 201 and the image is printed,
Printing is executed by selecting a print menu displayed on the display monitor 10 with the mouse 220 or the like. Next, the application 201 calls the GDI 202 which is a partial function of the basic OS. This GDI202
Is a group of basic functions that controls display devices such as screen displays and printouts, and printing devices. By using this group of basic functions, application software of each company can identify parts that depend on the model (hardware). It is possible to operate application software without being aware of it.

Next, in the GDI 202, the printer driver 2 that manages information depending on the model of each printing device.
03 to printing device (printer 1000 in this case)
API called from the application software 201 by fetching information such as drawing ability and print resolution
The function is processed, and the function provided by the printer driver to the GDI 202 is called according to the processing content. This function is a predefined interface (Dev
ice Driver Interface Commonly known as DD
In I), the creator of the printer driver creates the printer driver focusing on the data conversion from this interface to the actual printing device.

The printer driver 203 is the GDI 20.
2, the print data (drawing data) generation processing 207 and the printer control command generation processing based on the DDI information received from 2 and the print environment setting set by its own graphical user interface (GUI). Then, 208 is performed and the data is sent to the print spooler 204. In addition, these data are print spooler 2
04, and further through the I / F unit 8 which is a connecting means of the host computer 200, to the printer 100.
Will be sent to 0.

Next, the internal structure of the print history monitor of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the print history monitor. Portions common to those in the above-mentioned drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the print history monitor 205
Mainly includes the print history data generation unit 300 and the print history UI.
The control unit 301, the print execution unit 302, and the print history database 3 stored in a secondary storage device such as an HDD
It is composed of 03 modules.

The print history database 303 stores print history data and PDL object data files. As an example, FIG. 4 shows the structure of print history data. Each print data is maintained and managed by the print history ID, and a file name, application name, user name, etc. are attached. In addition, the PDL object file name is linked to a physical file so that it can be retrieved at any time.

The print history data generation unit 300 generates print history data for each print execution, registers and saves it in the print history database, and notifies the print history UI control unit. Also, the PDL object file is saved.

The print history UI control unit 301 is a module that mainly controls the user interface in the print history monitor. The print history list is displayed and the user selects print data to start reprinting.

The print execution unit 302 is a module that controls print execution of print data. Printing is executed by searching the PDL object file corresponding to the print data selected by the user in the print history list and transferring it to the printer spooler.

[0043]

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the print history data generator of the print history monitor of this embodiment.

This print history data generation unit is executed at the same time when the computer is activated and exists as a resident program. First, in step S11, it is monitored whether or not printing has been executed, and if any printing has been executed, it is confirmed in step 12 whether or not the setting is registered in the print history. Here, as the setting method, "register in print history" is displayed on the setting screen of the printer driver as shown in FIG.
A check box item is created to enable the setting at the user's discretion. If it is set to be registered in the print history, the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if it is not set, nothing is done with respect to the print data,
It is monitored again in S11 whether printing is executed.

In step S13, print information is acquired from the printer driver, and print history data is generated in step S14 based on the information. Then, in step S15, it is searched whether or not a document having the same document name already exists in the print history database. If it does not exist, the process proceeds to step 17, and the created print history data is registered / stored in the print history database. In step 18, the PDL object data (spool file) is also saved as a file. On the other hand, if a document having the same document name already exists in the print history database, the print date and time is updated in step S16. (You may simply execute overwriting save) The above is performed when one print job is executed, and step S11 is executed again.
Return to and wait for print job execution.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the print history UI control section of the print history monitor of this embodiment.

First, in step S21, the print history list Wi
Wait for start up. In the present invention, the method of activating the print history list window is not limited, and a UI driver of the printer driver may be provided with an activation button to be activated by the user or automatically when the computer is activated.

Any method may be used, such as When the print history list window is activated, the print history data is acquired from the print history database in step S22, and the print history list window is displayed on the display monitor in step S23. As an example, as shown in FIG. 6, the print history list Window has a graphical user interface and displays the past print history in an easy-to-understand manner. In FIG. 6, the print document name (file name), application name, user name, and print date and time are displayed as a list, but the display contents are not limited to this, and the contents of past print history can be easily understood. Anything will do as long as it is available. In S24, Windows
Waiting for w to finish. Next, in S25, it is monitored whether the print history database has been updated. This may directly monitor whether or not the print history database has been updated, or may receive an update notification from the print history data generation unit when the database is updated. If it is found that the print history database has been updated, the process returns to step S22 to update the print history list Window. In step S26, it is monitored whether the user has selected print data to be reprinted and pressed the print execution button. Print history UI control unit 30
1 provides a means for selecting print data to be reprinted. In the example of FIG. 6, the check box “print” on the leftmost side of the UI corresponds to this. Of course, the selection method is not limited to this, and a list box format or radio buttons may be used. Then, the print data is selected, and printing is performed by pressing the print execution button located below the UI. When the print execution button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S27, the print execution command and the print history ID of the print data to be reprinted are passed to the print execution unit 302, and the execution of printing is notified.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the print execution unit of the print history monitor of this embodiment.

First, in step S31, the print history UI control unit waits for a print execution notification. When the print execution command is received, the process proceeds to step S32, and the print history data is retrieved from the database based on the print history ID received at the same time. Then, in step S33, it is confirmed whether or not the PDL object file indicated by the print history data exists. If the PDL object file exists, the process proceeds to step S34, the PDL object file is transferred to the print spooler, and printing is executed. If the PDL object file specified here does not exist, a print impossible error is displayed in step S35, and the process returns to step S31.

As described above, in the first embodiment, for the print job designated by the user as "register in print history", print data is selected from the print history list display,
Re-printing is possible just by pressing the print execution button, and it is possible for the user to save the work of the driver such as starting the corresponding application and analyzing and expanding the print data output by the application. It has the effect of reprinting with a small amount of work.

In the first embodiment, whether or not to register in the print history is selected by the user's judgment. However, in the second embodiment, basically all print history data is automatically printed if the print data with high printing frequency is automatically printed. I will explain what I tried to register.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the print history data generator of the print history monitor in the second embodiment.

First, in step S41, the process waits for printing. When printing is executed, print history information is acquired from the printer driver in step S42. Then, in step S43, print history data is created, and in step S4
In step 4, it is determined from the past history information of the print data whether the printing frequency is high. As a determination method, the print count of each print data is compared based on the history information. If the print data is in the top 10 data, the process proceeds to step S46. If not, the process proceeds to step S45 to update only the print history data. To do. The print history is updated in step S46, and the PDL object data (spool file) is saved as a file in step S47.

The method of determining whether or not to save the PDL object data based on the printing frequency shown here is merely an example, and any method may be used to determine whether or not the data is "printing frequently."

As described above, in the second embodiment, since the PDL object file of the print data having a high printing frequency is automatically saved, the user can easily perform the operation with a smaller amount of work as in the first aspect. It has the effect of being able to reprint.

Although the PDL object file is stored in the host computer in the first and second embodiments,
It is possible to expect the same effect even if it is saved in the printer. In this case, when reprinting is executed, a command for designating a PDL object file name is transferred from the host to the printer, and the printer which receives the command fetches the corresponding PDL object file and executes printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system including a host computer and a printer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a processing configuration of a print function in a control unit of a host computer and a control unit of a printer in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing the print history monitor of FIG. 2 as a functional block diagram.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of print history data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a driver setting display UI according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a UI for displaying a print history list according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control process of a print history data generation unit in FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a print history UI in FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flow chart which shows control processing of a control part.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control process of a print execution unit in FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control process of a print history data generation unit in FIG. 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a printing system in which data created by application software (such as word processor) operating on a host computer is transferred to a printer and printing is performed, the host computer expands the print data when executing printing. Selecting means for selecting whether or not to save the PDL object generated by the printer driver, and means for saving the PDL object of the print data as a file when the "saving" is selected by the selecting means A means for storing a file name of data, a PDL object file name, an application name, a user name, a print date and time as a print history, a means for displaying a list of the print history, and a print history displayed by the display means. A means to select data and execute printing When printing is performed, printing system comprising: the means for implementing the transmitted print PDL object file of the print data to the print spooler, the. 2. A printing system in which data created by application software (such as word processor) running on a host computer is transferred to a printer and printing is performed, the host computer is configured to print when printing is executed. A means for storing a data file name, an application name, a user name, a printing date and time, etc. as a print history, a means for judging whether or not the print data has a high print frequency from the print history information, and a judgment means for printing When it is determined that the print data has a high frequency, a means for automatically saving the PDL object generated by the printer driver, a means for displaying a history list of print data with a high print frequency, and a display means for displaying the history are displayed. A method of selecting print data from the print history and executing printing, and And a means for transmitting the PDL object file of the print data to the print spooler to realize printing, and a printing system. 3. In claim 1 and claim 2, the PDL object data of the print data is stored in the storage device of the host computer, but in this claim 3, a means for storing the PDL object data in the storage device of the printer. And a printing system.