JP2004021616A - Printer, print control system, information processor, print control method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer saving resources of a host computer and smoothly performing printing while reducing excessive traffic in a network. <P>SOLUTION: Receipt of job information from an information processing device connected to the network 20 via an input part 7 is waited (S1). In receipt of the job information, the received job information is spooled to a jog information storage part (S2). It is determined whether the printer is operable for processing a job or not (S3). If the printer is operable, the received job information is analyzed to specify a transmission source of the job information (S4). A transmission request for a job body is sent to the specified transmission source of the job information (S5). It is determined whether print data matching the transmission request for the job body is received from the information processing device 13 or not (S6). In receipt of the print data, job processing is carried out (S7). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to, for example, a printing device, a printing control system, an information processing device, a printing control method, a program, and a storage medium connected to a host computer via a bidirectional interface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printing apparatuses have been increasingly shared and used by a plurality of users due to the spread of network environments. For this reason, the spooler in the printing apparatus may become full due to the job waiting for printing. In such a case, the job is put on standby in a spooler in the host computer, and the host computer has to check the status of the spooler in the printing apparatus periodically.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, when the host computer has to periodically check the status of the spooler in the printing apparatus, an extra process occurs in the host computer, which consumes resources in the host computer. Further, when many host computers are connected to the network, a load is imposed on the network in order to transmit / receive a confirmation packet to / from the spooler in the printing apparatus.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention provides a printing apparatus, a print control system, an information processing apparatus, a print control method, a program, and a storage medium that can perform printing smoothly while saving resources of a host computer and suppressing unnecessary traffic on a network. The purpose is to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs printing in accordance with a job received from an information processing apparatus, wherein a job information receiving unit that receives job information from the information processing apparatus; Job information storage means for storing job information; state detection means for detecting whether or not the job can be executed; and Transmission source specifying means for specifying the transmission source of the job information; job transmission requesting means for requesting the specified transmission source information processing apparatus to transmit a job body; transmitting from the information processing apparatus in response to the request And a job receiving means for receiving the completed job body.
[0006]
Further, in the print control system according to the present invention, in the print control system in which the printing apparatus receives a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus and performs printing in accordance with the received job, the printing apparatus Job information receiving means for receiving information, job information storing means for storing the received job information, state detecting means for detecting whether or not the job can be executed, and execution of the job possible If the job information is in a proper state, a transmission source specifying unit that specifies a transmission source of the job information from the stored job information, and a job transmission request unit that requests the information processing apparatus of the specified transmission source to transmit a job body. And a job receiving means for receiving a job body transmitted from the information processing apparatus in response to the request, wherein the information processing apparatus stores the job information And job information transmitting means for signal, a job transmission request receiving means for receiving a request for transmission of the job body, characterized in that a job transmitting means for transmitting the job body in response to the request.
[0007]
Further, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that causes a printing apparatus that specifies a transmission source from job information and requests transmission of a job body to perform printing when a job can be executed. A job information transmitting unit that transmits the job information to the printing apparatus; a job transmission request receiving unit that receives a request for transmission of the job body; and a job transmitting unit that transmits a job body in response to the request. It is characterized by having.
[0008]
Further, according to the print control method of the present invention, in the print control method in which the printing apparatus receives a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus and performs printing in accordance with the received job, the information processing apparatus A job information transmitting step of transmitting the job information transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus, a job information receiving step of receiving the job information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, a job information storing step of storing the received job information, Is a state detecting step of detecting whether or not the job can be executed; and, if the job can be executed, transmitting the job information specifying the transmission source of the job information from the stored job information. Source specifying step, and a job transmission requesting step in which the printing apparatus requests the information processing apparatus of the specified transmission source to transmit a job body. A job transmission request receiving step in which the information processing apparatus receives a request for transmission of the job body; a job transmission step of transmitting the job body to the printing apparatus in response to the request; A job receiving step of receiving a job body transmitted from the information processing apparatus.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a printing apparatus, a printing control system, an information processing apparatus, a printing control method, a program, and a storage medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to the first embodiment. The printer control system according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses 13, 23, 33 and a printer 15 are connected via a network 20. The number of information processing devices and printers connected to the network 20 is not particularly limited.
[0011]
In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes the printer described above. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU in the printer, which executes a control program (including a control program shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 described later) stored in a ROM 2 and controls access to various devices connected to a system bus 5. And outputs an image signal as print data to a printing unit (printer engine) 12 connected via a printing unit interface (I / F) 11. As described above, the ROM 2 stores the control programs executed by the CPU 1 and shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The CPU 1 can communicate with a plurality of information processing devices 13, 23, and 33 connected to the network 20 via the input unit (NIC) 7 and the interface cable 6.
[0012]
Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. Here, the configuration is such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown). The RAM 3 is used for a recording data development area, an environment data storage area, and the like, and holds a transmission request waiting time and the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes a timer for counting whether or not a transmission request waiting time has been reached, as described later.
[0013]
A non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 4 stores printer mode setting information and the like from an operation panel 16 connected via an operation panel interface (I / F) 10. Access to the hard disk (HD) 9 is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 8. The hard disk 9 is connected as an option and stores downloaded fonts, printer information, and the like. In addition, at least one or more card slots (not shown) are provided, and an option card and a card (emulation card) storing a program for interpreting a printer control language of a different language system in addition to a built-in font can be connected. Have been.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the print control processing procedure. This processing program is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 1 as described above. First, the process waits for reception of job information from the information processing device connected to the network 20 via the input unit 7 (step S1). When the job information is received, the received job information is screened in the job information storage unit (step S2). Here, the job information storage unit may be allocated to a specific area in the RAM 3 that is a main memory, or may be allocated to a specific area in a secondary storage device such as a hard disk. The job information is information that can specify a transmission source, and may be node information such as a node ID or job user information such as a job user name.
[0015]
It is determined whether or not the printing device is ready for job processing (step S3). If the job cannot be processed, the process of step S3 is repeated until the job can be processed. When the job can be processed, the received job information is analyzed and the transmission source of the job information is specified (step S4). Then, a transmission request for the job body is transmitted to the transmission source of the specified job information (step S5).
[0016]
It is determined whether the print data corresponding to the transmission request of the job body has been received from the information processing apparatus (step S6). If it has not been received, the process of step S6 is repeated, and the process waits until it is received. On the other hand, when print data is received, job processing is executed (step S7). Thereafter, the present process ends.
[0017]
As described above, in the print control system according to the first embodiment, first, only the minimum job information is spooled in the printing apparatus, and after the preparation for printing the job is completed, the printing apparatus requests the transmission of the job body. Printing can be performed smoothly while saving resources of the host computer (information processing device) and suppressing unnecessary traffic on the network. Further, by storing the job information in the RAM 2 serving as the main memory, it is possible to perform high-speed processing. Further, by storing the job information in the hard disk 9 as the secondary storage device, it is possible to suppress the unit price for securing the job information to be low.
[0018]
[Second embodiment]
The configuration of the print control system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print control processing procedure according to the second embodiment. This processing program is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 1 as described above.
[0019]
First, the process waits for reception of job information from the information processing device connected to the network 20 via the input unit 7 (step S11). When the job information is received, the received job information is screened in the job information storage unit (step S12). Here, the job information is information that can specify a transmission source, and may be node information such as a node ID or job user information such as a job user name.
[0020]
It is determined whether or not the printing device is ready for job processing (step S13). If the job cannot be processed, the process of step S13 is repeated until the job can be processed. When the job can be processed, the received job information is analyzed and the transmission source of the job information is specified (step S14). Then, a transmission request for the job body is transmitted to the transmission source of the specified job information (step S15).
[0021]
The timer 18 is started to start counting (step S16). Then, it is determined whether or not the print data corresponding to the transmission request of the job body has been received from the information processing apparatus (step S17). If print data has been received, job processing is executed (step S18). Thereafter, the present process ends. On the other hand, if the print data has not been received, it is determined whether or not the count value of the timer 18 has reached the value of the transmission request waiting time stored in the RAM 3 (step S19). If not, the process returns to step S17. On the other hand, if it has reached, it is determined that there is no response from the information processing apparatus 13, and the corresponding job information is discarded (step S20). Thereafter, the present process ends.
[0022]
As described above, in the second embodiment, by discarding the job information for which there is no response, the storage area of the job information storage unit can be released and used effectively.
[0023]
[Third Embodiment]
The configuration of the print control system of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print control processing procedure according to the third embodiment. This processing program is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 1 as described above.
[0024]
First, the process waits for receiving job information from the information processing device connected to the network 20 via the input unit 7 (step S31). When the job information is received, the received job information is screened in the job information storage unit (step S32). Here, the job information is information that can specify a transmission source, and may be node information such as a node ID or job user information such as a job user name.
[0025]
It is determined whether or not the printing device is ready for job processing (step S33). If the job cannot be processed, the process of step S33 is repeated until the job can be processed. When the job can be processed, the received job information is analyzed and the transmission source of the job information is specified (step S34). Then, a transmission request of the job body is transmitted to the transmission source of the specified job information (step S35).
[0026]
The timer 18 is started to start counting (step S36). Then, it is determined whether or not the print data corresponding to the transmission request of the job body has been received from the information processing apparatus 13 (step S37). If print data has been received, job processing is executed (step S38). Thereafter, the present process ends. On the other hand, if the print data has not been received, it is determined whether or not the count value of the timer 18 has reached the value of the transmission request waiting time stored in the RAM 3 (step S39). If not reached, the process returns to step S37. On the other hand, if it has reached, it is determined that there is no response from the information processing apparatus, and the corresponding job information is discarded (step S40). Then, the discarded job information is notified (step S41). As a method of notifying the job information, the discarded job information may be displayed on a display unit provided on the operation panel 16, or the discarded job information may be printed out from the printing unit 12. Thereafter, the present process ends.
[0027]
As described above, in the third embodiment, the user can confirm that the job information has been discarded because there is no response.
[0028]
The above is an explanation of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions described in the claims or the functions of the configurations of the embodiments are not limited to those described in the claims. Any configuration that can be achieved is applicable.
[0029]
Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the program code itself realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the program itself and a storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.
[0030]
In the above embodiment, the program codes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are stored in the ROM serving as a storage medium. The storage medium for supplying the program code is not limited to the ROM, and for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a nonvolatile memory card, and the like can be used.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, only the minimum job information is spooled in the printing apparatus, and after the preparation for printing the job is completed, the printing apparatus requests the information processing apparatus (host computer) to transmit the job body. Since the information processing apparatus sends the job body to the printing apparatus, the information processing apparatus does not need to periodically check the status of the spooler of the printing apparatus, so that resources of the information processing apparatus can be saved. Further, in handling various printing apparatuses in a network environment, a confirmation packet to the spooler is not required, so that printing can be performed smoothly while suppressing unnecessary traffic on the network.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a print control processing procedure.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print control processing procedure according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print control processing procedure according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
13, 23, 33 Information processing device 15 Printer 20 Network

Claims (11)

In a printing apparatus that performs printing according to a job received from an information processing apparatus,
Job information receiving means for receiving job information from the information processing apparatus;
Job information storage means for storing the received job information;
State detection means for detecting whether or not the job can be executed;
A transmission source specifying unit that specifies a transmission source of the job information from the stored job information when the job is executable.
Job transmission requesting means for requesting the specified information processing apparatus of the transmission source to transmit a job body;
A printing apparatus comprising: a job receiving unit configured to receive a job body transmitted from the information processing apparatus in response to the request. After the transmission of the job body is requested to the specified information processing apparatus of the transmission source, a timer activation unit that activates a timer,
Time lapse determining means for determining whether or not an elapsed time measured by the timer after requesting transmission of the job body has reached a predetermined time;
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a job information discarding unit that discards the job information when the job body is not received even when the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a discard information notifying unit for notifying the discarded job information. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information includes node information capable of specifying a transmission source or job user information. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information storage unit stores the job information in a main memory. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information storage unit stores the job information in a secondary storage device. The printing apparatus receives a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus, and in a print control system that performs printing according to the received job,
The printing device,
Job information receiving means for receiving job information from the information processing apparatus;
Job information storage means for storing the received job information;
State detection means for detecting whether or not the job can be executed;
A transmission source specifying unit that specifies a transmission source of the job information from the stored job information when the job is executable.
Job transmission requesting means for requesting the specified information processing apparatus of the transmission source to transmit a job body;
Job receiving means for receiving a job body transmitted from the information processing apparatus in response to the request,
The information processing device,
Job information transmitting means for transmitting the job information;
Job transmission request receiving means for receiving a request for transmission of the job body,
A print control system comprising: a job transmitting unit that transmits a job body in response to the request. An information processing apparatus that causes a printing apparatus that requests transmission of a job body by specifying a transmission source from job information to perform printing when the job is executable.
Job information transmitting means for transmitting the job information to the printing apparatus;
Job transmission request receiving means for receiving a request for transmission of the job body,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a job transmission unit that transmits a job body in response to the request. The printing apparatus receives a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus, and performs a printing according to the received job.
A job information transmitting step in which the information processing apparatus transmits the job information to the printing apparatus;
A job information receiving step in which the printing apparatus receives job information transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
A job information storing step of storing the received job information;
A state detecting step of detecting whether or not the printing apparatus is in a state in which a job can be executed;
A source identification step of identifying a source of the job information from the stored job information when the job is executable;
A job transmission requesting step in which the printing apparatus requests the identified information processing apparatus of the transmission source to transmit a job body;
A job transmission request receiving step in which the information processing apparatus receives a request for transmission of the job body;
A job transmitting step of transmitting the job body to the printing apparatus in response to the request;
A print receiving method for the print device to receive a job body transmitted from the information processing device. A storage medium storing computer-readable program codes for realizing the printing apparatus according to claim 1. A program having a computer-readable program code for realizing the printing apparatus according to claim 1.

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