JP2003330651A - Output device and output method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely print by a printer by which a user wants to print by going to the printer side, and designating the printer. <P>SOLUTION: A job notice procedure for noticing job information to a plurality of printer, a job transmission procedure for transmitting the job in response to a job transmission instruction form the printer, a job information storing part for receiving and storing job information in the printer, a job information display part for displaying the stored job information, a print instructing part for making a user directly instruct print, a job transmission instruction noticing part for noticing the print job transmission instruction to the host, a cancel instruction noticing part for noticing a job information cancel instruction to the other printer, and a job information canceling part for canceling the job information in response to the cancel instruction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output of a printer connected to an output device such as a plurality of host computers and other printers on a network via a bidirectional interface. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an output method in the apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when there are a plurality of printing apparatuses on a network, a user generally designates which printing apparatus to output a print job to a host computer. However, conventionally, in order to designate a printing apparatus by a name on the network (such as an IP address or a name registered in a host computer), the printing apparatus to which the user wants to output is designated. There was a problem that you could not specify it if you did not know the name. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible for a user to directly go to a printing apparatus to which he / she wants to output and to specify that printing is to be performed from the printing apparatus, thereby ensuring the user's printing. The purpose is to print from the printing device that you want to print. [0005] The output device of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration. That is, a print job notification program for notifying a plurality of printing devices on a network of information on a print job to be printed on a host computer, and a print job sending program for receiving a print job sending instruction from the printing device and sending the print job. A print job information storage unit for receiving and storing print job information in the printing apparatus, a print job information display unit for displaying the stored print job information, and a user directly instructing printing by the printing apparatus. A print instruction section,
A print job sending instruction notifying unit for notifying the host computer of a print job sending command, a cancel command notifying unit for notifying another printing device on the network of a print job information canceling command, and print job information receiving a print job information canceling command. And a print job information canceling unit for canceling the job. (Operation) In this configuration, the user can go directly to the printing apparatus to which he / she wants to output and designate printing from the printing apparatus, so that the printing apparatus which the user wants to print can reliably print. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment) Before describing the configuration of this embodiment, a configuration of a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. I do. The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to the laser beam printer and the ink jet printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a first output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows a case of a laser beam printer (LBP), for example. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and stores the information. , A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.
Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 1001 denotes an LBP main body 10
This is a printer control unit that controls the entire 00 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer.
The printer control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on / off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal. The laser beam 1004 is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet. This recording paper uses a cut sheet, and the cut sheet recording paper is LBP10
The sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 1008 mounted on the sheet feeder 00, is taken into the apparatus by a sheet feed roller 1009, a conveying roller 1010 and a conveying roller 1011, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006. Also, the LBP body 1000
Equipped with at least one or more card slots (not shown),
In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) with a different language system can be connected. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. Note that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention is applicable to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer which executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program or the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 3. C
The CPU 1 is provided with a PU 1 and controls each device connected to the system device 4 as a whole. A program ROM of the ROM 3
Has C as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
The control program of the PU 1 is stored. The font ROM of the ROM 3 stores font data and the like used in the document processing. The data ROM of the ROM 3 stores various data used in the document processing and the like. Remember. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. 5 is a keyboard controller (KBC),
It controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). 6 is a CRT controller (CRT
In C), the display of the CRT display (CRT) 10 is controlled. Reference numeral 7 denotes a memory controller (MC), a boot program, various applications, font data,
It controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy (R) disk (FD) for storing user files, edited files, and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC), which is connected to a printer 150 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21.
0 to execute a communication control process with the printer 1000. The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font in the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, and executes WY processing on the CRT 10.
SIWYG is possible. Further, the CPU 1
Various registered windows are opened based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on T10, and various data processes are executed. In the printer 1000, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU which controls various devices connected to a system bus 15 based on a control program or the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 13 or a control program or the like stored in an external memory 14. Control access to
An image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface 16. The program ROM of the ROM 13
CPU 1 as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
2 and the like. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information, and the data ROM of the ROM 13
In the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk, information used on a host computer is stored. The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer and the like. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an extension port (not shown). In addition,
The RAM 19 is used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. The access to the external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) and an IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes the above-described operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are connected. It may be configured to be able to do so. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012. In the printer control system thus configured, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the tables of FIGS. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes an I / O unit, which is capable of bidirectional communication with all printers on the network via the network. Reference numeral 302 denotes print job data to be printed by the user from now on, which is stored in 2 or 11 above. 303
Is the name of the file included in the print job 302 or the name of the application that created the print job.
The print job information including the name of the user operating the 000, the host name of the 3,000, the current time, etc.
This is a print job notification program for notifying all printers on the network through the above-described printer, and is stored in the above item 3 or 11. Reference numeral 304 denotes a print job delivery command sent from a printer on a network.
1 is a print job delivery program that delivers the print job 302 to the printer that issued the print job delivery command, and is stored in the print job 3 or 11. An I / O 305 is capable of bidirectional communication with all printers and host computers on the network via the network. Reference numeral 306 denotes a print job information storage unit that receives the print job information notified from the 303 and stores the print job information in the 19. A print job information display unit 307 displays print job information and print job information received, and is included in the print job information display unit 1012.
Reference numeral 308 denotes a print instruction unit for directly instructing the user to print the print job displayed in the area 307, and is included in the area 1012. 309 is the aforementioned 308
The print job delivery command notifying unit notifies the host that has received the print command of the print job information and notifies the host of the print job delivery command. Reference numeral 310 denotes a cancel command notifying unit that receives the print command of 308 and notifies a printer on another network of a print job information cancel command. A print job information canceling unit that receives the print job information cancel command from a printer on a network and deletes the print job information included in the item 19. 312
Is a PDL / RIP that interprets a print job and develops it into an image. When the print job of 302 is created by a user operation or an application program on the 3000, the date and time of creation of the print job, the name of the user who owns the print job, and the 3000
Then, print job information including the host name and the name of the application that created the print job is created (step 402), and the print job information is notified to all the printers on the network through 301 (step 403). The print job information is not limited to this, and may be only a part of the information, or other information such as the file size of the print job may be added. The step 303 comprises the steps 401 and 402. Wait until a print job delivery command is notified from a printer on the network (step 404). When the print job delivery command is received, the print job 302 is delivered to the printer that issued the print job delivery command (step 404). 405). Step 304 comprises steps 404 and 405. The 1000 keeps the start state until print job information is notified from the 3000 on the network via the 305 (step 50).
2). Upon receiving the print job information, the print job information is stored in the step 19 (step 503), and the stored job information is displayed in the step 307 (step 504). At this time, the content to be displayed is not limited to all the print job information, but may be only a part of the information, or only the information that the print job information has been received may be displayed.
Step 306 includes steps 502, 503, and 504. After the step 504 is completed, the user directly
, Or a print job information cancel instruction notified from the network through the 305 (steps 505 and 50).
6). When a print instruction is received from the user in step 505, a print job cancel command is notified to all the printers equivalent to the 1000 on the network via the 305 (step 509). The print job delivery command is notified (step 510), the 302 delivered from the 3000 is interpreted by the 312, developed, the developed image is printed by the 17 and the process returns to the start state (step 51).
1). When the print job information cancel instruction is received in step 506, the print job information stored in the item 19 is deleted (step 507), the print job information displayed in the item 307 is deleted, and the process returns to the start state (step 508). ). (First Embodiment) It is needless to say that a similar effect can be obtained by setting a password in the print job 302 and including the password in the print job information and inputting the password in 308. . (Second Embodiment) It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if a plurality of print job information can be received in the embodiment. In this case, in step 402, a print job ID corresponding to the print job 302 is added to the print job information, and in step 405, the print job corresponding to the print job ID included in the print job delivery command is delivered. FIG.
Is divided into three procedures shown in FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b) and 6 (c), each of which operates in multitasking. Steps 602, 603, and 604 correspond to step 50, respectively.
2, 503 and 504. However, step 60
In 3, a plurality of print job information can be stored in the 19, and in step 604, all the print job information is displayed on the 307, and the process returns to step 602. The print job information 307 does not have to be displayed all at once, and may be displayed one by one by operating the user 1012. By directly operating the 308, the user selects a print job to be printed from the print job information displayed in the 307 and issues a print instruction. Steps 611, 612,
613 and 614 correspond to steps 505, 509 and 5 respectively.
10, 511. However, the print job ID of the print job selected by the user to issue a print instruction is
At step 12, a print job cancel instruction is added, and
At step 13, it is added to the print job delivery command. Step 60
7, 608 and 609 are steps 506 and 50, respectively.
7,508. However, the print job information corresponding to the print job ID included in the print job cancel command is deleted from step 19 in step 608, and step 6
Only the print job information deleted at step 09 is deleted from the display at step 307. (Third Embodiment) In the embodiment, step 40
Although the print job information is notified to all the printers on the network in 3, the same effect can be obtained by notifying only the printers registered in the 3000 or only the printers matching some conditions. It goes without saying that you can get it. (Fourth Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the print job information is notified from the 3000. However, the print job information is not notified but the print job delivery command wait state is entered (the process jumps from step 401 to step 404). At 1000, the user enters a print instruction wait state without waiting for print job information (jumps from step 501 to step 505), and the user operates the 308 and waits for a print job delivery command. Address etc.)
, The same effect can be obtained. At this time, step 509 is not performed, and step 505 is performed.
To step 510. As described above, according to the present invention, the user can directly go to the printing device to which he / she wants to output, and specify the printing from the printing device, so that the user wants to print reliably. There is an effect that printing can be performed from the printing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a first output device to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of functions realized by the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a host computer in the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in a printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Description of Signs] 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 System bus 12 CPU 13 ROM 19 RAM 3000 Host computer 1000 Printer

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A print job information notifying means for notifying a plurality of printing devices on a network of print job information to a host computer, and receiving a print job sending instruction from the printing device to send a print job to the host computer. Means for sending and receiving print job information notified from the print job information notifying means to the printing apparatus,
A print job information display section for displaying registered print job information, a print instruction section for instructing a user to print a print job displayed on the print job information display section with the printing apparatus, and printing on the host computer A print job sending command notifying unit for notifying a job sending command, a cancel command notifying unit for notifying another printer on the network of a print job information canceling command, and printing for receiving the print job information canceling command and canceling the print job information. A printing apparatus having a job information canceling unit.