JP2004094562A - Distributed printing system, control method therefor, and program for realizing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distributed printing system for enhancing activity as the whole system, a control method for the system, and a program for realizing the control method. <P>SOLUTION: When a printable number of sheets is input into a clustering server 32 under a fully toner-filled tank condition in each printer 11a-11c, via a consumable information input part 3 in the each printer, the number of printing pages is counted in the each printer in every indication of distributed printing by the clustering server 32, by a print page counting part 4 for the each printer, and a residual printable number of sheets is calculated in the each printer. When a mode for smoothing using frequencies of all the printers is set by a printer using frequency setting mode selecting part 5 for the each printer, a using frequency weighting value for the each printer is set to bring a residual printable number value for the each printer into zero equally in the same basis, by a using frequency weighting value setting part 6 for the each printer, and the used printer is selected by a printing printer selecting part, according to the set using frequency weighting value for the each printer to conduct the distributed printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distributed printing system that distributes one document data on a client to a plurality of printing devices on a network and prints the document, thereby enabling high-speed document creation, a control method thereof, and a program for realizing the control method. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a conventional distributed printing system.
[0003]
A clustering server 5002 is arranged between a client PC (personal computer) 5001 and a network printer group 1503. The clustering server 5002 converts a print job on the client PC 5001 into a color page according to a print object of each page. In the color printer 1500c, the monochrome pages are distributed to the respective printers 1500a to 1500c so that the monochrome pages are printed using the monochrome printers 1500a and 1500b.
[0004]
Hereinafter, a general processing flow of the distributed printing system 5000 will be described.
[0005]
When a user prints application data, a corresponding application is started on the client PC 5001, and PDL (Page Description Language) data is generated using a printer driver 5011 of a typical printer (here, a color printer 1500c). Transfer to the clustering server 5002. In the clustering server 5002, the dedicated software is activated, and the page is re-edited for each printer so that the PDL data received from the client PC 5001 can be distributed and printed to the respective printers 1500a to 1500c connected to the network 4001. The PDL data is transmitted to each of the printers 1500a to 1500c.
[0006]
Further, the clustering server 5002 has a function of saving PDL data once received from the client PC 5001, and can be reprinted any number of times by inputting a command to the clustering server 5002.
[0007]
On the other hand, when the user directly inputs a PDF (Portable Document Format) file to the distributed printing system 5000, the print setting utility software 5012 on the client PC 5001 starts up, and print finishing processing such as print data imposition processing is performed. The user makes settings and sends the PDF data with the finishing information added to the clustering server 5002. The client server 5002 converts the PDF data into PDL data, re-edits the page for each printer so that the printers 1500a to 1500c connected to the network 4001 can perform distributed printing, and forms each printer 1500a to 1500c as cluster print data. The PDL data is transmitted to 1500c.
[0008]
The print setting utility software 5012 on the client PC 5001 can also read a job stored in the clustering server 5002, and has a function of merging a newly developed job printed in the past with a new job for printing. are doing.
[0009]
Next, the internal functions of the clustering server 5002 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 29 and 30.
[0010]
When print jobs from a plurality of client PCs 5001a to 5001c are received by the client interface management unit 5021, the input job management unit 5022 queues them sequentially.
[0011]
The job scheduling management unit 5023 manages processing schedules such as advance processing of priority jobs and centralized printing at night.
[0012]
The rasterization processing unit 5024 can generate a thumbnail image by rasterizing the print data, feed it back to the client PC, and rasterize the directly input PDF data into image data.
[0013]
The image compression unit 5025 compresses rasterized image data and large-volume image data attached to PDL data.
[0014]
The output job management unit 5026 allocates print data to the adaptive printer in page units according to the print objects in the job, and divides the PDL data. If necessary, modify the PDL data to include a slip sheet to sort the output from different printers.
[0015]
The output device management unit 5027 designates finishing and sorting of each printer used for printing, and actually executes printing.
[0016]
The memory 5028 and the HDD (hard disk device) 5029 function as data storage and a work unit.
[0017]
FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing the job division function of the output job management unit 5026 in more detail.
[0018]
It is assumed that a monochrome printer 1500a and a color printer 1500c are prepared as clustering printers. The original job is a print job in which monochrome pages and color pages are mixed in page units. The output job management unit 5026 divides the page into monochrome pages (pages 1, 4, 5, 8) and color pages (pages 2, 3, 6, 7), and inserts a missing sheet into a missing page for page alignment after printing. Insert
[0019]
Here, the slip sheet is usually a blank sheet, and a colored sheet may be used so as to be conspicuous. In the case of using colored paper, a paper cassette in which the colored paper has been replenished in the paper supply unit of the printer is set in advance as paper supply information in the clustering server 5002, and when the paper comes to a slip sheet page during printing, the colored paper is supplied. One blank sheet is fed from the sheet cassette. The slip sheet can be reused many times.
[0020]
In this way, the output job management unit 5026 prints the “1, 4, 7, 5, 8” page as a monochrome printer job, and “2, 3, 6, 6” as a color printer job. , 7 "page is created.
[0021]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a distributed printing system including a printer server, a client, and a plurality of printers having a distributed printing function, generally, a priority printer to which a print job is preferentially sorted is determined based on whether or not a specific function such as print speed or print quality is provided. Selected / set. As a result, among the plurality of printers arranged on the distributed printing system, the printer is divided into a frequently used printer that is always used preferentially and a printer that is rarely used and that is rarely used. Often, it has not been possible to say that each activity (utilization rate) of the network printer in the distributed printing system has settled at an appropriate value.
[0022]
Although several inventions for managing consumables information of network printers have been filed, the appropriate frequency of use of all network printers is dynamically managed to prevent overused printers and overused printers. The function of notifying the server and the client has not yet been proposed. Regarding the frequency of use, it is natural that the frequency of use of a high-speed printer with a large amount of mounted toner is higher than the frequency of use of a low-speed printer. A system for notifying an appropriate frequency of use weighted by the performance value of each printer has not yet been proposed.
[0023]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-227341 discloses an image output apparatus capable of operating by detecting the status of consumables of an image output apparatus between an image processing apparatus connected to a network and a plurality of image output apparatuses. Although a configuration is described in which the image processing device selects the device and performs the printing process, this configuration also has the function of actively eliminating the image output device that is likely to be unusable, and is connected to a distributed printing system. There is no function of notifying the appropriate use frequency values of the plurality of printers.
[0024]
Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-71581 proposes a system for predicting consumables life information of a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to a network and notifying the user of the information. The function is to centrally control the printer and predict in advance that the toner will be low.There is a function to monitor the overused printer and the overused printer at all times and notify the client user of the appropriate usage frequency value. I didn't.
[0025]
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-148432 discloses a system in which consumables life information of a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to a network is collected and managed. A network management device that searches for compatible image processing devices and displays the same on a display has been proposed. This device is provided with a centralized management of consumables information and a consumable product between image processing devices. The "use frequency" is simply obtained by counting the number of printed sheets and detecting the amount of remaining toner, and is calculated from the performance information of the image processing apparatus or the performance information of each image processing apparatus such as the full toner amount. The concept of "appropriate use frequency" is not taken into account.
[0026]
Currently, the mainstream of users who use the distributed printing system are those who provide copy services and simple publishing as a business, and print hundreds of thousands of non-stop printers a day by arranging several printers with the same specifications. It is carried out. For such a user, a situation in which only a specific printer needs frequent maintenance will interrupt the work, and can be said to be an abominable situation.
[0027]
The present invention has been made in view of this point, and provides a distributed printing system capable of further improving the activity of the entire system, a control method thereof, and a program for realizing the control method. With the goal.
[0028]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a distributed printing system according to claim 1 is a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing devices connected via a network. Wherein the server distributes the print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the server includes an input unit for inputting each piece of consumable information of each of the printing devices; A measuring unit for measuring the number of printed pages, and the printing of each of the printing devices based on the consumable information of each printing device input by the input unit and the number of printed pages of each printing device measured by the measuring unit. A calculating means for calculating each use frequency of the apparatus, and a printing apparatus in which the use frequency is biased as a result of the calculation by the calculating means, is specially used. As time printing apparatus, characterized by having a notification means for notifying the client.
[0029]
In the distributed printing system according to the second aspect, in the distributed printing system according to the first aspect, the client includes a notifying unit that notifies a user of the client of the specific use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. It is characterized by having.
[0030]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed printing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the consumable information indicates the life of the consumable of the printing apparatus by the number of printed sheets. .
[0031]
In the distributed printing system according to the fourth aspect, in the distributed printing system according to the third aspect, the life of the consumable is represented by the number of prints when the printing apparatus performs printing by an electrophotographic method. Is the number of printable sheets when the toner is full, the number of durable sheets of the fixing device, or the number of printable sheets of fixing oil.
[0032]
In the distributed printing system according to the fifth aspect, in the distributed printing system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, it is preferable that the calculating unit increases the number of printable sheets as the number of printable sheets increases. Under the definition that there is, an appropriate use frequency of each of the printing apparatuses is calculated based on the input consumable information.
[0033]
The distributed printing system according to claim 6, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 5, the server further includes an average value calculating unit that calculates an average value of the appropriate use frequency calculated by the calculating unit. The notifying means includes means for notifying the client of a printing apparatus of a usage frequency value having a value that is a certain distance away from the average value calculated by the average value calculation means as the specific usage frequency printing apparatus. I do.
[0034]
8. The distributed printing system according to claim 7, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 5, the server uses the least frequently used printing device among the least frequently used printing devices among the proper usage frequencies calculated by the calculation unit. The notifying means further comprises means for notifying the client of the determined least used printing device as the specific use frequency printing device.
[0035]
In the distributed printing system according to the eighth aspect, in the distributed printing system according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the client-side notifying unit displays the unique use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit on a display unit. Thus, the user of the client is notified.
[0036]
In order to achieve the above object, a distributed printing system according to claim 9 is a distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing devices connected via a network. Wherein the server distributes the print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the server comprises: input means for inputting printing performance information of each of the printers; and printing of each printing device of each of the printing devices. Measuring means for measuring the number of pages, and each printing device based on each printing performance information of each printing device input by the input means and each printing page number of each printing device measured by the measuring means Calculating means for calculating each of the use frequencies, and a printing apparatus in which the use frequency is biased as a result of the calculation by the calculating means. As use frequency printing device; and a notification unit configured to notify the client.
[0037]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the distributed printing system according to the ninth aspect, the client includes a notifying unit that notifies a user of the client of the specific use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. It is characterized by having.
[0038]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the distributed printing system according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the print performance information represents the number of prints per unit time of the printing apparatus.
[0039]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the distributed printing system according to any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, it is preferable that the calculating unit appropriately increases the number of printed sheets for a printer having a larger value of the print performance information. Under the definition of frequency, a proper use frequency of each printing apparatus is calculated based on the input printing performance information.
[0040]
14. The distributed printing system according to claim 13, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 12, the server further includes an average value calculating unit that calculates an average value of the appropriate use frequency calculated by the calculating unit. The notifying means includes means for notifying the client of a printing apparatus of a usage frequency value having a value that is a certain distance away from the average value calculated by the average value calculation means as the specific usage frequency printing apparatus. Do
[0041]
In the distributed printing system according to the fourteenth aspect, in the distributed printing system according to the thirteenth aspect, the client-side notifying unit displays on the display unit the unique usage frequency printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. , Is notified to the user of the client.
[0042]
In order to achieve the above object, a distributed printing system according to claim 15 is a distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing devices connected via a network. Wherein the server distributes the print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the server includes an input unit for inputting each piece of consumable information of each of the printing devices; Measuring means for measuring the number of printed pages, and consumables information of each printing apparatus input by the input means and the number of printed pages of each printing apparatus measured by the measuring means, Weighting means for weighting the frequency of use, and based on the frequency of use of each printing apparatus weighted by the weighting means. It characterized by having a selection means for selecting a printing device to be used for printing.
[0043]
16. The distributed printing system according to claim 16, wherein the server further comprises a notifying unit for notifying the client of information on the printing device selected by the selecting unit, in the distributed printing system according to claim 15. I do.
[0044]
The distributed printing system according to claim 17 is the distributed printing system according to claim 16, wherein the client further includes a notifying unit that notifies a user of the client of information on the printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. It is characterized by having.
[0045]
In the distributed printing system according to claim 18, in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, the consumable information indicates that the life of the consumable of the printing apparatus is represented by the number of printed sheets. Features.
[0046]
In the distributed printing system according to claim 19, in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, the weighting unit sets each of the consumables of each of the printers at the same time. The use frequency of the printing apparatus is weighted.
[0047]
In the distributed printing system according to claim 20, in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 15 to 19, when the user of the server specifies a specific printing device, the server prints to the printing device. It is characterized by further comprising an instruction means for instructing.
[0048]
In order to achieve the above object, a distributed printing system according to claim 21 is a distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. Wherein the server distributes the print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the server includes an input unit for inputting each piece of consumable information of each of the printing devices; A measuring unit for measuring the number of printed pages, and a mode selection for selecting any one of a first mode for maintaining all of the printing apparatuses at once and a second mode for individually maintaining each of the printing apparatuses. Means, a mode selected by the mode selection means, and a deletion of each printing apparatus inputted by the input means. Weighting means for weighting the use frequency of each printing device based on the product information and the number of each printed page of each printing device measured by the measuring device; and a weighting device for each of the printing devices weighted by the weighting device. A printing device selection unit for selecting a printing device to be used for printing based on the frequency of use.
[0049]
The distributed printing system according to claim 22, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 21, the server further includes a notifying unit that notifies the client of information on the printing device selected by the printing device selecting unit. Features.
[0050]
23. The distributed printing system according to claim 23, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 22, the client further includes a notifying unit that notifies a user of the client of information on the printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. It is characterized by having.
[0051]
A distributed printing system according to claim 24, wherein in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 23, the consumable information indicates the life of the consumable of the printing apparatus by the number of printed sheets. Features.
[0052]
26. The distributed printing system according to claim 25, wherein in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 24, when the first mode is selected by the mode selecting means, The use frequency of each of the printing apparatuses is weighted so that the replacement time of each consumable is at the same time.
[0053]
27. The distributed printing system according to claim 26, wherein in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 24, when the second mode is selected by the mode selecting unit, the weighting unit sets each of the printing modes. The frequency of use of each of the printing apparatuses is weighted such that the apparatus is ready to replace its consumables at regular intervals.
[0054]
In the distributed printing system according to claim 27, in the distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 26, when the user of the server specifies a specific printing device, the server performs printing on the printing device. It is characterized by further comprising an instruction means for instructing.
[0055]
The distributed printing system according to claim 28, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 23, the client further includes instruction means for instructing the server to shift the server to the first mode to the server. I do.
[0056]
The distributed printing system according to claim 29, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 28, when the server receives an instruction to the first mode from an instruction unit of the client, the server switches to the first mode. It is characterized by further comprising a transfer means for performing the transfer.
[0057]
30. The distributed printing system according to claim 30, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 28 or 29, the instruction unit is configured to execute the second printing on a condition that a request regarding image quality of a printing result is not specified by a user of the client. It is characterized by instructing a shift to the first mode.
[0058]
The distributed printing system according to claim 31, wherein in the distributed printing system according to claim 28 or 29, the instructing unit is configured to execute the second printing on a condition that a request for finishing printing results is not specified by a user of the client. It is characterized by instructing a shift to the first mode.
[0059]
To achieve the above object, a distributed printing system control method according to claim 32, wherein the distributed printing system comprises at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. A control method for controlling a system, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the control method includes: Each consumable information of each printing device is input, the number of each printed page of each printing device is measured, each consumable information of each printing device input and each measured printing of each printing device is measured. Based on the number of pages, each usage frequency of each printing device is calculated, and as a result of the calculation, the printing device in which the usage frequency is biased is identified as a unique usage frequency printing device. And, and notifies to the client.
[0060]
To achieve the above object, a control method of a distributed printing system according to claim 33, wherein the distributed printing system comprises at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. A control method for controlling a system, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the control method includes: Each print performance information of each printer is input, the number of each print page of each printing device is measured, and the respective input print performance information of each print device and the measured each print page of each print device are input. The use frequency of each printing device is calculated based on the number, and as a result of the calculation, the printing device in which the use frequency is biased is printed as a specific use frequency print. As location, and notifies to the client.
[0061]
To achieve the above object, a control method of a distributed printing system according to claim 34, wherein the distributed printing system includes at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. A control method for controlling a system, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing devices, wherein the control method includes: Each consumable information of each printing device is input, the number of each printing page of each printing device is measured, the consumable information of each printing device input and the number of each printing page of each printing device measured are input. Is used to weight the frequency of use of each printing device, and based on the weighted usage frequency of each printing device, a mark used for printing is used. And selecting the device.
[0062]
To achieve the above object, a control method of a distributed printing system according to claim 35, wherein the distributed printing system includes at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. A control method of a system, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses, wherein the control method includes: A first mode for inputting each consumable information of the apparatus, measuring the number of each printed page of each printing apparatus, and maintaining all the printing apparatuses simultaneously, and a second mode for individually maintaining each printing apparatus. Selecting any one of the modes, the selected mode, the input consumable information of each printing apparatus, and the Based on the measured number of printed pages of each printing device, weighting the frequency of use of each printing device, based on the weighted usage frequency of each printing device, the printing device used for printing It is characterized by selecting.
[0063]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to claim 36 controls a distributed printing system that is connected via a network and includes at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses. A program for realizing a method, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses, wherein the control method includes: Each of the consumable information of each of the printing devices is input, the number of print pages of each of the printing devices is measured, and the consumable information of each of the input printing devices and the measured number of each of the printing devices are input. Based on the number of printed pages, each usage frequency of each printing device is calculated, and as a result of the calculation, the printing device in which the usage frequency is biased is identified as a specific usage frequency. As a printing apparatus, and notifies to the client.
[0064]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to claim 37 controls a distributed printing system that is connected via a network and includes at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses. A program for realizing a method, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses, wherein the control method includes: Each print performance information of each printer is input, the number of each print page of each printing device is measured, and the input print performance information of each print device and each print of each measured print device are measured. Based on the number of pages, the usage frequency of each printing device is calculated, and as a result of the calculation, the printing device in which the usage frequency is biased is used as a unique device. As frequency printing apparatus, and notifies to the client.
[0065]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to claim 38 controls a distributed printing system that is connected via a network and includes at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses. A program for realizing a method, wherein the server distributes print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses, wherein the control method includes: Each of the consumable information of each of the printing devices is input, the number of each of the printing pages of each of the printing devices is measured, and the consumable information of each of the printing devices input and each of the measured printing pages of each of the printing devices are measured. The frequency of use of each printing device is weighted based on the number, and printing is performed based on the weighted use frequency of each printing device. And selects a printing device for use.
[0066]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to claim 39 is a program for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. A program for realizing, wherein the server distributes the print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses, wherein the control method includes: A first mode for inputting the consumable information of each printing device, measuring the number of pages printed on each printing device, and maintaining all the printing devices simultaneously, and a second mode for individually maintaining each printing device. Mode, any one of the modes is selected, and the selected mode, and the consumables information of each of the printing devices that have been input are selected. And weighting the frequency of use of each printing device based on the measured number of printed pages of each printing device and printing based on the weighted usage frequency of each printing device. It is characterized by selecting a device.
[0067]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0068]
(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, blocks similar to those in FIG. Is omitted.
[0069]
As shown in FIG. 1, the distributed printing system 1 includes a plurality (for example, two) of client PCs 21 and 22, at least one clustering server 2, and a network printer group 5003.
[0070]
Although the client PCs 21 and 22 include all functions provided in the client PC 5001 in FIG. 28, they are not shown in FIG. 1, and only the functions 21a and 22a newly added in the present embodiment are included. Is shown.
[0071]
Similarly, the clustering server 2 includes all the functions provided in the clustering server 5002 in FIG. 28, but is not shown in FIG. 1 and the function 3 newly added in the present embodiment is omitted. 7 are shown.
[0072]
The network printer group 5003 includes printers 11a1, 11a2, 11b, and 11c. The printers 11a1 and 11a2 are completely the same product and are the fastest monochrome printers, the printer 11b is a monochrome printer that is slightly slower than the printers 11a1 and 11a2, and the printer 11c is a color printer at a lower speed.
[0073]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a color laser beam printer (CLP) 11c included in the network printer group 5003.
[0074]
As described above, the network printer group 5003 also includes the monochrome printers 11a1, 11a2, and 11b, but the configuration is the same as that in which the printing color of the color laser beam printer 11c is limited to only black. , The explanation is omitted.
[0075]
Further, the printer applicable to the present invention is not limited to a color laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a color printer of another printing method such as an ink jet printer or an LED printer may be used.
[0076]
2, the CLP body 1600 receives code data and image data described in a printer language (PDL) transmitted from an external host computer 3000 described later with reference to FIG. A controller 1000 for generating one-page magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (BK) multi-level image data, and a photosensitive drum that modulates a laser beam according to input multi-level image data A printer engine 1500 is provided for performing recording by a series of electrophotographic processes of forming a latent image by scanning upward, transferring the latent image to recording paper, and fixing the latent image.
[0077]
On the operation panel 1530, switches for operation, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the like are arranged.
[0078]
The controller 1000 and the printer engine 1500 are connected via an interface signal line 1200. The main interface signals include / RDY, / PRNT, / TOP, / LSYNC, VDO7 to VDO0, and VCLK. These signals will be briefly described below.
[0079]
The / RDY signal is a signal sent from the printer engine 1500 to the controller 1000. The printer engine 1500 can start a printing operation any time when the printer engine 1500 receives a / PRNT signal described later, or can continue the printing operation. It is a signal indicating that it is in a state.
[0080]
The / PRNT signal is a signal sent from the controller 1000 to the printer engine 1500, and is a signal for instructing the start of the printing operation or the continuation of the printing operation.
[0081]
The / TOP signal is a synchronization signal in the sub-scanning (vertical scanning) direction, and is transmitted from the printer engine 1500 to the controller 1000.
[0082]
The / LSYNC signal is a synchronization signal in the main scanning (horizontal scanning) direction, and is sent from the printer engine 1500 to the controller 1000.
[0083]
The VDO7 to VDO0 signals are image signals sent from the controller 1000 to the printer engine 1500 and indicate image density information to be printed by the printer engine 1500. VDO7 is represented by the most significant bit, and VDO0 is represented by the eight least significant bits. When the VDO7 to VDO0 signals are FFH ("H" is a symbol indicating that the preceding character is a hexadecimal number; the same applies hereinafter), the printer engine 1500 prints at the maximum density of the toner color during development, No printing at 00H. These are sent out in synchronization with the transfer synchronization signal VCLK.
[0084]
Next, control operations performed by the printer engine 1500 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0085]
Upon receiving the / PRNT signal from the controller 1000, the printer engine 1500 causes the drive unit (not shown) to rotate the photosensitive drum 1506 and the transfer drum 1508 in the direction shown by the arrow.
[0086]
Subsequently, charging of the roller charger 1509 is started, and the potential on the photosensitive drum 1506 is uniformly charged to a predetermined value.
[0087]
Next, the recording paper 1528 is fed from the paper feed cassette 1510 to the transfer drum 1508 by the paper feed roller 1511. The transfer drum 1508 is formed by stretching a dielectric sheet on a hollow support, and rotates at the same speed as the photosensitive drum 1506 in the direction of the arrow.
[0088]
When the recording paper 1528 is supplied to the transfer drum 1508, the recording paper 1528 is held by the gripper 1512 provided on the support of the transfer drum 1508, and the recording paper 1528 is transferred by the attraction roller 1513 and the attraction charger 1514. It is adsorbed on the drum 1508. At the same time, by rotating the support 1515 of the developing device, the developing device 1516M, 1516C, 1516Y and 1516Bk supported by the supporting member 1515 contains the magenta (M) toner as the first toner. The device 1516M faces the photosensitive drum 1506.
[0089]
The developing device 1516C is a developing device containing cyan (C) toner, the developing device 1516Y is a developing device containing yellow (Y) toner, and the developing device 1516Bk is a black (Bk) toner. This is a developing device containing toner.
[0090]
On the other hand, the printer engine 1500 detects the leading end of the recording paper 1528 attracted to the transfer drum 1508 by the detector 1517, generates a vertical synchronization signal / TOP at a predetermined timing, and sends the signal to the controller 1000. Upon receiving the first / TOP signal for the print page, the controller 1000 reads out the magenta data, which is the first print color, from the image data stored in the page memory in the printer RAM 1002 at a predetermined timing. The read 8-bit image data D7 to D0 are sent as image signals VDO7 to VDO0 to the printer engine 1500 in synchronization with the VCLK signal.
[0091]
The VDO7 to VDO0 signals output from the controller 1000 are input to a pulse width modulation circuit 1501 as shown in FIG. 3, and become a laser drive signal VDO having a pulse width (256 steps) corresponding to the level, and sent to a laser driver 1502. Is done. At the time of development, which will be described later, the amount of adhered toner is adjusted in accordance with the pulse width of the laser drive signal VDO, whereby 256 shades of each color are reproduced.
[0092]
Next, a laser beam 1527 from a laser diode 1503 driven in accordance with the laser drive signal VDO is deflected by a rotary polygon mirror 1504 which is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow by a motor (not shown), and is coupled on an optical path. The photosensitive drum 1506 is scanned in the main scanning direction via the image lens 1505 to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1506. At this time, the beam detector 1507 detects a scanning start point of the laser beam. A / LSYNC signal, which is a horizontal synchronizing signal for determining an image writing timing of main scanning, is generated from this detection signal.
[0093]
The main scanning operation described above is repeated, and a magenta latent image for one page is formed on the photosensitive drum 1506.
[0094]
Returning to FIG. 2, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1506 is developed by the developing device 1516M containing the above-mentioned magenta toner, and becomes a magenta toner image. The magenta toner image is transferred by a transfer charger 1519 onto a recording sheet 1528 that is attracted to a rotating transfer drum 1508. At this time, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1506 without being transferred is removed by the cleaning device 1525.
[0095]
With the above operation, a magenta toner image for one page is formed on the recording paper 1528.
[0096]
Next, the support 1515 of the developing device is rotated so that the developing device 1516C containing the cyan toner as the second toner is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1506. Subsequently, as in the case of magenta, the leading end of the recording paper 1528 rotating while being attracted to the transfer drum 1508 is detected by the detector 1517, and a vertical synchronization signal / TOP is generated and sent to the controller 1000. In response, the controller 1000 reads cyan data from the page memory 1002.
[0097]
Hereinafter, by the same operation, the cyan toner image is transferred onto the recording paper 1528 so as to overlap the magenta toner image.
[0098]
Further, similarly, the respective toner images of yellow as the third toner and black as the fourth toner are transferred onto the recording paper 1528 in a superimposed manner, and become a full-color toner image.
[0099]
The recording paper 1528 onto which all the four color toner images have been transferred is separated from the transfer drum 1508 by the separation claw 1521 via the separation charger 1520, and is supplied to the fixing device 1523 by the conveyance means 1522. At this time, the transfer drum cleaner 1526 cleans the surface of the transfer drum.
[0100]
The toner image on the recording paper is melted and fixed by being heated and pressed by the fixing device 1523, and becomes a final color output image. Then, the recording paper on which the recording has been completed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 1524.
[0101]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a client PC and a host computer used as a clustering server.
[0102]
In the figure, the host computer 2 includes a host computer control unit 2000.
[0103]
The host computer control unit 2000 includes a CPU 2001 that executes processing of a document in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets and the like) are mixed based on a document processing program or the like stored in a program area of the ROM 2003. , The CPU 2001 generally controls each of the devices 2002 to 2008 connected to the system bus 2004.
[0104]
The program area of the ROM 2003 stores a control program of the CPU 2001, the font area of the ROM 2003 stores font data used for the document processing, and the data area of the ROM 2003 stores the document processing. For example, various data (for example, overlay form data, background image data, and external characters) used when performing such operations are stored.
[0105]
The RAM 2002 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 2001.
[0106]
A keyboard controller (KBC) 2005 controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 3001 or a pointing device (not shown).
[0107]
A CRT controller (CRTC) 2006 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 3002.
[0108]
A disk controller (DKC) 2007 controls access to an external memory 3003 such as a hard disk (HD) and a flexible disk (FD) that store a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, and the like.
[0109]
A network controller (NWC) 2008 connects to the printer group 5003 via the network 4001 to perform printing, and connects to another host computer (not shown) to transmit and receive data.
[0110]
Note that the CPU 2001 executes, for example, processing (rasterization) of an outline font in a display information area set on the RAM 2002, and enables WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) on the CRT 3002.
[0111]
Further, the CPU 2001 opens various registered windows based on commands specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT 3002, and executes various data processing.
[0112]
The printer 11 includes a printer CPU 1001. The CPU 1001 comprehensively controls access to various devices 1002 to 1007 connected to the system bus 1004 based on a control program or the like stored in a program area of the ROM 1003, and print unit interface (I / F) 1006. An image signal as output information is output to the printer engine 1500 connected via the.
[0113]
In a program area of the ROM 1003, a control program of the CPU 1001 and the like are stored. The font area of the ROM 1003 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information, and the data area of the ROM 1003 stores overlay forms and external character information used on the host computer 2.
[0114]
The CPU 1001 can communicate with the host computer 2 via a network controller (NWC) 1005, and can notify the host computer 2 of information in the printer 11 and the like.
[0115]
The RAM 1002 functions as a main memory, a work area, a page memory, and the like of the CPU 1001, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an expansion RAM module connected to an expansion port (not shown). Note that the RAM 1002 is also used as an output information development area, an environment data storage area, and the like.
[0116]
An image generation unit (RIP) 1007 is hardware that assists the CPU 1001 in generating print data by calculation, and performs high-speed processing of enlargement / reduction, rotation, color conversion, and superposition of print data by a logic circuit. It is configured.
[0117]
In addition, on the operation panel 1530, as described above, switches for operation, an LCD, and the like are arranged.
[0118]
Note that an NVRAM (Non-volatile RAM) (not shown) may be provided and printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1530 may be stored.
[0119]
Returning to FIG. 1, the clustering server 2 and the client PCs 21 and 22 are connected via a network 4002, and the clustering server 2 and the network printer group 5003 are connected via a network 4001. This configuration focuses on printing performance for localizing the network, reducing network traffic, and achieving high-speed printing. The client PC, the clustering server, and the printer group may be connected to only one network. .
[0120]
The following units are realized on the clustering server 2 by utility software.
[0121]
The printer consumables information input unit 3 is for inputting the printable number of sheets of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c when the toner is full to the clustering server 2.
[0122]
The printer print page number measuring unit 4 is for measuring the number of print execution pages of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c.
[0123]
The printer use frequency setting mode selection unit 5 includes a mode in which only a specific printer is preferentially used (designated printer priority mode) and a mode in which all printers are used in order to dynamically designate the maintenance time of consumables of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c. This mode is used to select one of two modes for setting the frequency of use of the printer, that is, a mode in which the printer is used evenly (print amount smoothing mode).
[0124]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining two types of modes for setting the use frequency.
[0125]
In the figure, the designated printer priority mode is a mode in which the clustering server 2 preferentially transmits a print job to the designated printer when a print printer is not designated from the client PCs 21 and 22. However, when the designated printer cannot perform printing due to a paper jam or no paper, the clustering server 2 transmits a print job to a printer other than the designated printer. In addition, the degree of priority is not limited to (100%), and can be controlled according to a printer use frequency weight value described later.
[0126]
The print amount smoothing mode is a mode in which print jobs are distributed while controlling the use frequency of all printers to appropriate values, and the maintenance time of each printer can be concentrated at a certain time. The appropriate amount of printing is controlled by the printer usage frequency weight value calculated based on the production performance of each printer and the remaining amount of consumables. Is set lower.
[0127]
Returning to FIG. 1 again, each printer usage frequency weight value setting unit 6 specifies which ratio of the network printers 11a1 to 11c to use according to the usage frequency mode selected by each printer usage frequency setting mode selection unit 5. This is for setting a use frequency weight value.
[0128]
The print printer selection unit 7 is for automatically selecting a printer to be used for printing from the network printers 11a1 to 11c in accordance with the set values set by the respective printer use frequency weight value setting units 6.
[0129]
Switching of the print printer by the print printer selection unit 7 is effective only when the user of the client PCs 21 and 22 uses the functions of the present embodiment. Is explicitly specified, for example, if the user wants to print with the high-quality color printer 11c, the clustering server 2 follows the request and prints with the specified printer.
[0130]
The print printer notification units 21a and 22a on the client PCs 21 and 22 indicate to the printer how many (how many pages or copies) the print job for which the clustering server 2 has automatically instructed the distributed printing is printed. This is for notifying the users of the PCs 21 and 22.
[0131]
Hereinafter, control processing executed by the distribution printing system 1 configured as described above will be described.
[0132]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system 1.
[0133]
First, the administrator of the clustering server 2 inputs the consumable information of the network printers 11a1 to 11c to each printer consumable information input unit 3 from the keyboard 3001. Here, the consumable information is the number of printable sheets of each printer when the toner is full, and the number of sheets of A4 or LETTER paper is clustered from the [consumable information setting screen] in FIG. 7A. Input to server 2. In the example shown,
Printer A1 & A2 = 8000 sheets
Printer B = 3000 sheets
Printer C = 1000 sheets
And This consumable information is held in each printer information input unit 3 as Pmax_X (X is a printer ID) (step S1).
[0134]
As the consumable information, in addition to the number of printable sheets when the toner is full, the life of the photosensitive drum (recommended number of replacement prints), the life of the fixing device (recommended number of replacement prints), the number of printable fixing oils, and the like. No. Dmax_X (photosensitive drum life value), Fmax_X (fixer life value), and Omax_X (oil replacement value) may be held, respectively, but the toner replacement value that can be said to be the smallest value is the consumables information of the present embodiment. I do.
[0135]
Each printer print page number measurement unit 4 has a function of recording the number of print pages of each printer in A4 or LETTER paper format every time the clustering server 2 executes distributed printing. This value is defined as Pcnt_X. Hold. Further, a difference from the consumables information value is calculated and stored as a remaining printable sheet number value (indicating a margin before replacement of consumables) P_X as follows (step S2). Here, X indicates a printer ID.
[0136]
P_X = Pmax_X−Pcnt_X
The value P_X is updated for each print job.
[0137]
Then, the remaining printable number of each printer is displayed on the display 3002 of the clustering server 2 as shown in the "count display screen of remaining printable number" in FIG. 7B.
[0138]
Returning to FIG. 6, the printer usage frequency setting mode selection unit 5 of the clustering server 2 weights the usage frequency of all printers according to the amount of remaining toner, and makes the toner consumption pace constant throughout all printers. When the “smoothing mode” is selected, the printer use frequency weight value setting unit 6 sets the remaining printable sheet number values P_A1, P_A2, P_B, and P_C of the network printers 11a1 to 11c to “0” simultaneously. In order to adjust the use frequency, each printer use frequency weight value W_X (X indicates a printer ID) is set (step S3).
[0139]
Each printer use frequency weight value W_X is calculated by the following equation.
[0140]
W_X = P_X / ΣP_N (N represents all printers)
Here, assuming that the number of remaining printable sheets of each printer is P_A1 = 4000, P_A2 = 3000, P_B = 2500, and P_C = 500, each printer use frequency weight value W_X at this time is
W_A1 = 4000/10000 = 0.4
W_A2 = 3000/10000 = 0.3
W_B = 2500/10000 = 0.25
W_C = 500/10000 = 0.05
It becomes. This means that, of future print jobs, for a job for which a print printer is not specifically designated, 40% of the number of pages is transferred to the printer 11a1, 30% to the printer 11a2, 25% to the printer 11b, and 11c means that a print job of 5% is transferred (step S4).
[0141]
Then, as shown in “Display of printer use frequency weight value” in FIG. 8A {when the print amount smoothing mode is set}, the use frequency weight value of each printer is sequentially displayed on the clustering server 2. The administrator of the clustering server 2 can monitor the information.
[0142]
Returning to FIG. 6, the print printer selecting unit 7 automatically transfers the print data to each printer according to each printer use frequency weight value W_X, and executes distributed printing (step S5). The printer use frequency weight value W_X is updated for each print job.
[0143]
Which printer has executed printing is notified to the client user by the print printer notification units 21a and 22a (step S6).
[0144]
If the toner becomes low before the printable sheet number value P_X = 0, and consumables must be replaced or replaced, the consumables information is corrected to a smaller value. On the other hand, even if the printable sheet number value P_X becomes a minus display, if the toner is not low forever and it is not necessary to replace or replace consumables, the consumables information is corrected to a larger value. As a result, the accuracy with which the consumables replacement time is reached simultaneously is further improved.
[0145]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the clustering server automatically monitors the remaining number of printable sheets by comparing the consumable item life information of the printer with the number of prints information, so that the clustering server automatically adjusts the consumable item according to the consumption rate of the consumable item. Since the use frequency of each printing printer is dynamically adjusted, the activity (utilization rate) of the entire system can be increased, and simultaneous maintenance can be performed without waste.
[0146]
In the present embodiment, the printing amount smoothing mode in which the consumables replacement time of all printers is simultaneously selected and described will be described. On the other hand, for users who do not have regular holidays, the printers used are all at once. In some cases, it is more convenient for the maintenance time to be reached in turn, and in this case, the "designated printer priority mode" in which only a specific printer is preferentially used by the printer use frequency setting mode selection unit 5 is selected. . In this mode, the use frequency weight value W_X is forcibly set to a large value only for the designated printer, and the use frequency is made larger than that of the other printers. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the remaining printable number P_X becomes “0”, that is, when the maintenance time is reached, a function of automatically changing the printer designated to the priority mode in a predetermined order is provided. Then, when the priority printer reaches the maintenance time, it is automatically changed in sequence.
[0147]
Then, as shown in “Display of printer use frequency weight value” in FIG. 8B {when the designated printer priority mode is set}, the designated printer use frequency weight value screen is displayed on the clustering server 2. The usage frequency of the priority printer (the printer 11a1 in the illustrated example) is fixed (“0.8” in the illustrated example), and only the other printer usage frequency weight values are (1-designated weight value of the priority printer) (the illustrated example). In this case, “0.2”) is distributed by the value of the remaining printable number (P_X), and is automatically updated.
[0148]
(Second embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system 31 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0149]
28, those blocks which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIGS. 1 and 28 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0150]
As shown in FIG. 10, the distributed printing system 31 includes a plurality (for example, two) of client PCs 41 and 42, at least one clustering server 32, and a network printer group 5003.
[0151]
Although the client PCs 41 and 42 include all the functions provided in the client PC 5001 in FIG. 28, they are not shown in FIG. 10 and only the functions 41a and 42a newly added in the present embodiment are included. Is shown.
[0152]
Similarly, the clustering server 32 includes all the functions provided in the clustering server 5002 in FIG. 28, but illustration thereof is omitted in FIG. 10 and functions newly added in the present embodiment. Only 3, 4, 33 and 34 are shown.
[0153]
The clustering server 32 and the client PCs 41 and 42 are connected via a network 4002, and the clustering server 32 and the network printer group 5003 are connected via a network 4001. This is a configuration in which printing performance is emphasized to achieve high-speed printing by reducing network traffic, and the client PC, the clustering server, and the printer group may be connected to only one network.
[0154]
The following units are realized on the clustering server 32 by utility software.
[0155]
The printer consumable information input unit 3 is for inputting the printable number of sheets of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c when the toner is full to the clustering server 32.
[0156]
The printer print page number measuring unit 4 is for measuring the number of print execution pages of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c.
[0157]
Each printer use frequency calculation unit 33 is for quantifying the use frequency of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c based on the value measured by each printer print page number measurement unit 4.
[0158]
The unique use frequency printer detection unit 34 compares each printer use frequency value calculated by each printer use frequency calculation unit 33, and if there is a printer showing a use frequency value exceeding a certain level from the average, The printer is regarded as a special use frequency printer and the client PCs 41 and 42 are notified of the information.
[0159]
The special use frequency printer notification units 41a and 42a on the client PCs 41 and 42 notify the user of the client PC of excessively used printers and excessively unused printers based on the notification information from the clustering server 32, and use the users. This is for urging the user to change the printer.
[0160]
Hereinafter, control processing executed by the distributed printing system 31 configured as described above will be described.
[0161]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system 31.
[0162]
First, the administrator of the clustering server 32 inputs the consumable information of the network printers 11a1 to 11c to each printer consumable information input unit 3 from the keyboard. Here, the consumable information is the number of printable sheets of each printer when the toner is full, and the number of sheets of A4 or LETTER paper is input. As an example,
Printer A1 & A2 = 8000 sheets
Printer B = 3000 sheets
Printer C = 1000 sheets
And This consumable information is held in each printer information input unit 3 as Pmax_X (X is a printer ID) (step S11).
[0163]
As the consumable information, in addition to the number of printable sheets when the toner is full, the life of the photosensitive drum (recommended number of replacement prints), the life of the fixing device (recommended number of replacement prints), the number of printable fixing oils, and the like. No. Dmax_X (photosensitive drum life value), Fmax_X (fixing device life value), and Omax_X (oil replacement value) may be held, respectively, but the toner replacement value that can be said to be the smallest value is used as consumable information in the present embodiment. I have.
[0164]
Each printer print page number measuring unit 4 has a function of recording the number of print pages of each printer in A4 or LETTER paper format every time the clustering server 32 executes distributed printing, and holds this value as Pcnt_X. . Further, a difference from the consumables information value is calculated and held as a remaining printable sheet number value (indicating a margin before replacement of consumables) P_X as follows (step S12). Here, X indicates a printer ID.
[0165]
P_X = Pmax_X-Pcnt_X (X is a printer ID)
The value P_X is updated for each print job.
[0166]
Next, each printer use frequency calculation unit 33 of the clustering server 32 calculates the change ΔP_X of the remaining printable number of each printer at regular intervals such as one day or one week.
[0167]
ΔP_X = P (−1) _X−P (0) _X (X is a printer ID)
Then, a printer use frequency value U_X (X is a printer ID) is defined and calculated by the ratio of the remaining printable sheet number change ΔP_X and the consumables information Pmax_X as follows (step S13).
[0168]
U_X = ΔP_X / Pmax_X (X is a printer ID)
This definition is based on the assumption that the normal usage is that the higher the speed of the machine, the larger the amount of accumulated toner, and the higher the speed of the machine, the more frequently it is used. It is. In the present embodiment, the initial toner accumulation amount of each printer is
Printer A1 & A2 = 8000 sheets
Printer B = 3000 sheets
Printer C = 1000 sheets
Therefore, the remaining printable sheet number change ΔP_X is
ΔP_A1: ΔP_A2: ΔP_B: ΔP_C = 8: 8: 3: 1
Is the appropriate frequency of use. That is, for example, if there are 2,000 print jobs,
Printer A1 = 800 sheets
Printer A2 = 800 sheets
Printer B = 300 sheets
Printer C = 100 sheets
If the printer group 5003 is used for printing, it is considered that the printer group 5003 is used with the highest activity.
[0169]
The unique use frequency printer detection unit 34 compares each printer use frequency value U_X (X is a printer ID) calculated by each printer use frequency calculation unit 33, and obtains an average value Uave. When the difference ratio ΔUave_X (X is the printer ID) from the average value Uave exceeds a certain level (for example, ± 30%), the printer of the corresponding printer usage frequency value U_X is overused or overused. And transfers the information to the client PCs 41 and 42 (step S14).
[0170]
As shown in FIG. 12, the above-mentioned parameters, that is, the consumables information Pmax_X, the remaining printable number P_X, the remaining printable number change ΔP_X, the use frequency U_X, and the difference ratio ΔUave_X from the average use frequency are shown in FIG. 32 and is monitored by a system administrator. In particular, when the difference ratio ΔUave_X from the average usage frequency exceeds a predetermined value (± 30% in this case), the display is switched to a conspicuous display such as a reverse display to call attention of the system administrator. I have to.
[0171]
Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the unique use frequency printer notification units 41a and 42a on the client PCs 41 and 42, based on the notification information from the unique use frequency printer detection unit 34 on the clustering server 32, notify the client PCs. The user is notified of an excessively used printer and an excessively unused printer, and is prompted to change the used printer (step S15).
[0172]
Here, the movement of the client PCs 41 and 42 when the special use frequency printer notification units 41a and 42a are activated will be supplemented with reference to FIG.
[0173]
First, the user of the client PC (client PC 41 or 42) starts a print window from application software in order to execute a print job (step S21). At this time, if there is no notification of the use frequency printer from the unique use frequency printer detection unit 34 of the clustering server 32, the default printer is selected as it is, and printing is performed using this printer (step S22 → S25). If there is a notice of the use frequency printer, the special use frequency printer notification unit 43 pops up a new window (overuse or underuse printer notification window) and displays a recommended use printer (in this case, an underuse printer). (Step S23). When the user of the client PC switches to the recommended printer and executes printing according to the notification information (steps S24 → S25), the usage rate of the network printer group is corrected to a correct value.
[0174]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the remaining number of printable pages is monitored from the printer consumables life information and the number of printed pages, the printer usage frequency is calculated, and excessively used printers and excessively unused printers are determined by the user. , And the appropriate printer to be used is selected, so that the activity (utilization rate) of the entire system can be increased.
[0175]
Also, in the present embodiment, the activity of each printer is not automatically increased as compared with the first embodiment, and a large number of parts rely on the manual operation of the user of the client PC. Has the advantage that the addition of functions is simplified and the implementation is extremely easy.
[0176]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system 51 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 28, the same blocks as those in FIGS. 1, 10, and 28 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0177]
As shown in FIG. 15, the distributed printing system 51 includes a plurality (for example, two) of client PCs 41 and 42, at least one clustering server 52, and a network printer group 5003.
[0178]
The clustering server 52 includes all the functions provided in the clustering server 5002 in FIG. 28, but is not shown in FIG. 10 and only the functions 53 to 56 newly added in the present embodiment are included. Is shown.
[0179]
The clustering server 52 and the client PCs 41 and 42 are connected via a network 4002, and the clustering server 52 and the network printer group 5003 are connected via a network 4001. This is a configuration in which printing performance is emphasized to reduce network traffic and achieve high-speed printing, and a configuration may be such that a client PC, a clustering server, and a printer group are connected to only one network.
[0180]
On the clustering server 52, the following units are realized by utility software.
[0181]
Each printer performance information input unit 53 is for inputting the print speed (ppm: page per minute) of the network printers 11a1 to 11c to the clustering server 52.
[0182]
The printer print page number measuring unit 54 is for measuring the number of print execution pages of the network printers 11a1 to 11c.
[0183]
Each printer use frequency calculation unit 55 is for digitizing the use frequency of the network printers 11a1 to 11c based on the measurement value measured by each printer print page number measurement unit 54.
[0184]
The unique use frequency printer detection unit 56 compares the respective printer use frequency values calculated by the respective printer use frequency calculation units 55, and if there is a printer that shows a use frequency value exceeding a certain level from the average, The printer is regarded as a special use printer and the information is transferred to the client PCs 41 and 42.
[0185]
The special use frequency printer notification units 41a and 42a on the client PCs 41 and 42 are functionally the same as those described in the second embodiment.
[0186]
Hereinafter, control processing executed by the distributed printing system 51 configured as described above will be described.
[0187]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system 51.
[0188]
First, the administrator of the clustering server 52 inputs printing speed information of each network printer as performance information to each printer performance information input unit 53 based on the keyboard or status information from the network printers 11a1 to 11c. Here, the performance information is the number of prints per minute on A4 or LETTER paper of each printer. As an example,
Printer A1 & A2 = Monochrome 60 ppm
Printer B = monochrome 20ppm
Printer C = 10 ppm color
And As shown in FIG. 17, this performance information is held in each printer performance information input unit 53 as PM_X (X is a printer ID) (step S31).
[0189]
Each printer print page number measuring unit 54 has a function of recording the number of print pages of each printer in A4 or LETTER paper format every time the clustering server 52 executes distributed printing, and holds this value as Pcnt_X. (Step S32). The value Pcnt_X is updated for each print job.
[0190]
Next, each printer use frequency calculation unit 55 of the clustering server 52 calculates a change in the number of printed sheets of each printer at regular intervals such as one day or one week.
[0191]
ΔPcnt_X = Pcnt (0) _X−Pcnt (−1) _X (X is a printer ID)
Then, the print rate is calculated by the ratio of the print quantity change ΔPcnt_X and the performance information PM_X.
A linter use frequency value U3_X (X means a printer ID, and U3 means a use frequency value in the present embodiment) is defined and calculated as follows (step S33).
[0192]
U3_X = ΔP_X / PM_X (X is the printer ID)
The reason for this definition is that the usage frequency proportional to the printing speed is considered to be the appropriate usage frequency, since it is considered that the normal usage is that the toner accumulation amount is higher in the high-speed machine and the usage frequency is higher in the high-speed machine. . In the present embodiment, the printing speed of each printer is
Printer A1 & A2 = 60ppm
Printer B = 20 ppm
Printer C = 10 ppm
Therefore, the print number change ΔPcnt_X is
ΔPcnt_A1: ΔPcnt_A2: ΔPcnt_B: ΔPcnt_C = 6
: 6: 2: 1
The printer group 5003 is considered to be used with the highest activity when the frequency of use is appropriate.
[0193]
The unique use frequency printer detection unit 56 compares the respective printer use frequency values U3_X (X is the printer ID) calculated by the respective printer use frequency calculation units 55, and obtains an average value Uave. When the difference ratio ΔU3ave_X (X is the printer ID) from the average value Uave exceeds a certain level (for example, ± 30%), the printer of the corresponding printer usage frequency value U3_X is overused or overused. And transfers the information to the client PCs 41 and 42.
[0194]
The above parameters, that is, the performance information PM_X, the number of prints Pcnt_X, the change ΔPcnt_X of the number of prints, the use frequency U3_X, and the difference ratio ΔU3ave_X from the average use frequency are displayed on the display of the clustering server 52 as shown in FIG. Displayed and monitored by the system administrator. In particular, when the difference ratio ΔU3ave_X from the average use frequency exceeds a predetermined value (± 30% in this case), the display is switched to a conspicuous display such as a reverse display to call attention of the system administrator. I have to.
[0195]
Next, as shown in FIG. 19, the unique use frequency printer notification units 41a and 42a on the client PCs 41 and 42, based on the notification information from the unique use frequency printer detection unit 56 on the clustering server 52, The user is notified of an excessively used printer and an excessively unused printer, and is prompted to change the used printer (step S35).
[0196]
Here, the movement of the client PCs 41 and 42 when the special use frequency printer notification units 41a and 42a are activated will be supplemented with reference to FIG.
[0197]
First, the user of the client PC starts a print window from application software to execute a print job (step S41). At this time, if there is no notification of the usage frequency printer from the unique usage frequency printer detection unit 56 of the clustering server 52, the default printer is selected as it is, and printing is performed using this printer (step S42 → S45). If there is a notice of the use frequency printer, the special use frequency printer notification unit 43 pops up a new window (overuse or underuse printer notification window) and displays a recommended use printer (in this case, an underuse printer). (Step S43). When the user of the client PC switches to the recommended printer and executes printing according to the notification information (steps S44 → S45), the usage rate of the network printer group is corrected to a correct value.
[0198]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the printer use frequency is calculated from the printer performance information and the number of printed sheets information, the excessively used printer and the excessively unused printer are notified to the user, and the appropriate used printer is selected. As a result, the activity (utilization rate) of the entire system can be increased.
[0199]
Also, in the present embodiment, the use of the consumable information such as the number of prints when the toner is full in the second embodiment is used, but the performance information of the printer is used for the distribution ratio of the use frequency. Also, the performance information can be input even from the status information from the network printer. Therefore, the work of the initial setting can be omitted, the work of the system administrator can be reduced, and the work of the clustering server can be reduced. There is an advantage that automatic monitoring becomes possible.
[0200]
(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system 61 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 28, the same blocks as those in the first, FIG. 10, FIG. 15, and FIG. 28 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0201]
As shown in FIG. 21, the distributed printing system 61 includes a plurality of (for example, two) client PCs 41 and 42, at least a clustering server 62, and a network printer group 5003.
[0202]
Although the client PCs 41 and 42 include all the functions provided in the client PC 5001 in FIG. 28, they are not shown in FIG. 2 and only the functions 41b and 42b newly added in the present embodiment are included. Is illustrated.
[0203]
Similarly, the clustering server 62 includes all the functions provided in the clustering server 5002 in FIG. 28, but is not shown in FIG. 21 and functions 53 newly added in the present embodiment. Only -54 and 63 are shown.
[0204]
The clustering server 62 and the client PCs 41 and 42 are connected via a network 4002, and the clustering server 52 and the network printer group 5003 are connected via a network 4001. This is a configuration in which printing performance is emphasized to achieve high-speed printing by reducing network traffic, and the client PC, the clustering server, and the printer group may be connected to only one network.
[0205]
On the clustering server 62, the following units are realized by utility software.
[0206]
Each printer performance information input unit 53 is for inputting the print speed (ppm: page per minute) of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c to the clustering server 62.
[0207]
The printer print page number measuring unit 54 is for measuring the number of print execution pages of the network printers 11a1 to 11c.
[0208]
Each printer use frequency calculation unit 55 is for digitizing the use frequency of each of the network printers 11a1 to 11c based on the measurement value measured by each printer print page number measurement unit 54.
[0209]
Up to this point, the components are the same as those of the third embodiment.
[0210]
The under-used printer detection unit 63 compares the respective printer usage frequency values calculated by the respective printer usage frequency calculation units 55, regards the printer showing the lowest usage frequency value as a recommended printer to use, and sends the client PCs 41 and 42 It is for transferring the information.
[0211]
The under-used printer notification units 41b and 42b on the client PCs 41 and 42 are for receiving information from the under-used printer detection unit 63 on the clustering server 62 and notifying the user of the client PC of the recommended printer.
[0212]
Hereinafter, control processing executed by the distributed printing system 61 configured as described above will be described.
[0213]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system 61.
[0214]
First, the administrator of the clustering server 62 inputs print speed information of each network printer as performance information to each printer performance information input unit 53 based on status information from the keyboard or the network printers 11a1 to 11c. Here, the performance information is the number of prints per minute on A4 or LETTER paper of each printer. As an example,
Printer A1 & A2 = Monochrome 60 ppm
Printer B = monochrome 20ppm
Printer C = 10 ppm color
And As shown in FIG. 17, this performance information is held in each printer performance information input unit 53 as PM_X (X is a printer ID) (step S51).
[0215]
Each printer print page number measuring unit 54 has a function of recording the number of print pages of each printer in A4 or LETTER paper format every time the clustering server 62 executes distributed printing, and sets this value as Pcnt_X. It is held (step S52). The value Pcnt_X is updated for each print job.
[0216]
Next, each printer usage frequency calculation unit 55 of the clustering server 62 calculates a change amount ΔPcnt_X of the number of printed sheets of each printer at regular intervals such as one day or one week.
[0217]
ΔPcnt_X = Pcnt (0) _X−Pcnt (−1) _X (X is a printer ID)
The printer use frequency value U4_X (X means the printer ID and U4 means the use frequency value in the present embodiment) is expressed by the ratio of the print number change ΔPcnt_X and the performance information PM_X as follows. And calculate (step S53).
[0218]
U4_X = ΔP_X / PM_X (X is the printer ID)
The reason for this definition is that the usage frequency proportional to the printing speed is considered to be the appropriate usage frequency, since it is considered that the normal usage is that the toner accumulation amount is higher in the high-speed machine and the usage frequency is higher in the high-speed machine. . In the present embodiment, the printing speed of each printer is
Printer A1 & A2 = 60ppm
Printer B = 20 ppm
Printer C = 10 ppm
Therefore, the print number change ΔPcnt_X is
ΔPcnt_A1: ΔPcnt_A2: ΔPcnt_B: ΔPcnt_C = 6: 6: 2: 1
The printer group 5003 is considered to be used with the highest activity when the frequency of use is appropriate.
[0219]
The under-used printer detection unit 63 compares each printer usage frequency value U4_X (X is a printer ID) calculated by each printer usage frequency calculation unit 55, and regards the printer with the lowest usage frequency value as a recommended printer to use. The information is transferred to the client PCs 41 and 42 (step S54).
[0220]
Note that the above parameters, that is, the performance information PM_X, the number of printed sheets Pcnt_X, the change in the number of printed sheets ΔPcnt_X, and the use frequency U4_X are displayed on the display of the clustering server 62 and monitored by the system administrator as shown in FIG. You. The printer with the lowest usage frequency value is switched to a conspicuous display such as a reverse display to draw the attention of the system user.
[0221]
Next, as shown in FIG. 24, the under-used printer notification units 41b and 42b on the client PCs 41 and 42 display a pop-up window based on the notification information from the under-used printer detection unit 63 on the clustering server 62. Then, the user of the client PC is notified of the excessive unused printer, and the user is urged to change the used printer (step S55). The pop-up window can be selected between a mode for displaying each print and a mode for popping up only when the under-used printer name notified from the clustering server 62 is changed.
[0222]
Here, the movement of the client PCs 41 and 42 when the underused printer notification units 41b and 42b are activated will be supplemented with reference to FIG.
[0223]
First, the user of the client PC starts a print window from application software to execute a print job (step S61). At this time, if the window pop-up condition of the under-used printer notification sections 41b and 42b prohibits display for each printing and the under-printed printer name is not updated, the default printer of each of the client PCs 41 and 42 is selected as it is. Printing is performed using this printer (steps S62 → S63 → S66). However, under other conditions, the under-used printer notification sections 41b and 42b open a new window (under-used printer notification window). Is displayed in a pop-up, and a recommended printer (in this case, an underused printer) is displayed (steps S62 → S64). When the user of the client PC switches to the recommended printer and executes printing according to the notification information (step S65), the usage rate of the network printer group 5003 is corrected to a correct value.
[0224]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the printer use frequency is calculated from the printer performance information and the number of prints information, the user is notified of an excessively unused printer, and the appropriate printer to be used is selected. Thus, the activity (utilization rate) of the entire system can be increased.
[0225]
Also, in the present embodiment, an excessively used and unused two printers are detected from the average of the use frequency of each printer in the third embodiment, and the printers are notified to the client PC. Since only unused printers are notified, there is an advantage that the present invention can be realized with respect to the current distributed printing system with simpler functions.
[0226]
(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system 71 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same blocks as those in FIGS. 1, 10, 21, and 28, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0227]
As shown in FIG. 26, the distributed printing system 71 includes a plurality of (for example, two) client PCs 21 and 22, at least one clustering server 2, and a network printer group 5003.
[0228]
Although the client PCs 21 and 22 include all the functions provided in the client PC 5001 in FIG. 2, their functions are not shown in FIG. 26, and the functions 21a, 21c, Only 22a and 22c are shown.
[0229]
Similarly, the clustering server 2 includes all the functions provided in the clustering server 5002 in FIG. 28, but is not shown in FIG. 26, and the function 3 newly added in the present embodiment is omitted. Only 7 are shown.
[0230]
The clustering server 2 and the clients 21 and 22 are connected via a network 4002, and the clustering server 2 and the network printer group 5003 are connected via a network 4001, which localizes the printer network. This configuration emphasizes printing performance to reduce network traffic and achieve high-speed printing, and a configuration may be such that a client PC, a clustering server, and a printer group are connected to only one network.
[0231]
The clustering server 2 controls the frequency of use of the network printer, which has exactly the same function as that described in the first embodiment, and averages or weights the consumption rate of the consumables of each printer. A function of dynamically controlling the maintenance time of the network printer. In the present embodiment, the mode for executing the function is particularly referred to as “printer use frequency control mode”.
[0232]
The printer use frequency control mode shift selection units 21c and 22c on the client PCs 21 and 22 issue commands for shifting the clustering server 2 to the printer use frequency control mode.
[0233]
Next, a rough operation of the distributed printing system 71 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
[0234]
On the client PC, when a print window is opened and a print job is transmitted to the clustering server 2, a command to shift the clustering server 2 to the printer usage frequency control mode is printed by the printer usage frequency control mode shift selection units 21c and 22c. It is added to the job (step S71).
[0235]
Here, the conditions for shifting to the printer usage frequency control mode are as follows:
(1) In the case of a job requiring a high image quality by the user such as high-quality printing, the mode is not shifted to the printer use frequency control mode.
(2) In the case of a job requiring a special finishing device such as booklet printing, the mode is not shifted to the printer use frequency control mode.
And
[0236]
The clustering server 2 receives the print job from the client PC (step S81), and if there is no printer usage frequency control mode shift command, as in steps S101 to S108 of FIG. In accordance with the above, an optimal printer is selected and printing is executed (steps S82 → S83).
[0237]
On the other hand, if there is a command to shift to the printer use frequency control mode, the clustering server 2 automatically sets the used printer to approach the printer use frequency determined by the printer use frequency control mode, as in steps S1 to S5 in FIG. To execute printing (steps S82 → S84).
[0238]
In any case, after executing the distributed printing, the printer printer notification units 21a and 22a on the client PCs 21 and 22 notify the user of the client PC of which printer has executed the printing.
[0239]
As described above, in the first embodiment, the transition to the printer use frequency control mode is determined on the clustering server based on the condition of the presence or absence of the designated printer, whereas in the present embodiment, Since the determination is made by the printer use frequency control mode shift selection unit on the client PC, there is an advantage that the mode selection condition of the clustering server can be set more finely.
[0240]
A storage medium storing the program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus is stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved by reading and executing the program code.
[0241]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0242]
Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD + RW, and a magnetic disk. A tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used. Further, the program code may be supplied from a server computer via a communication network.
[0243]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of each of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0244]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0245]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the consumables life information of the printer and the number of prints are compared on the clustering server, and the remaining printable number is monitored. Thus, the frequency of use of each printing printer can be dynamically adjusted, so that the activity (utilization rate) of the entire clustering printing system can be improved and the maintenance time can be easily adjusted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a color laser beam printer included in the network printer group of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical unit of the color laser beam printer of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a client PC and a host computer used as a clustering server.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining two types of modes set by the respective printer use frequency setting mode selection units in FIG. 1 regarding the use frequency of the printer.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system of FIG. 1;
7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of consumables information and a display screen of a count of the number of remaining printable sheets displayed on the display of the clustering server in FIG. 1;
8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a printer use frequency weight value displayed on the display of the clustering server in FIG. 1 when a print amount smoothing mode is set and when a designated printer priority mode is set. It is.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation mode of the clustering server when each of the printers in the group of printers shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system of FIG. 10;
12 is a diagram illustrating an example of consumables information for each printer displayed on a display of the clustering server in FIG. 10;
13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed when a special use frequency printer notification unit on the client PC in FIG. 10 notifies a user of the client PC of an excessively used printer and an excessively unused printer. .
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation process executed by the client PC when the special use frequency printer notification unit on the client PC in FIG. 10 is activated.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of control processing executed by the distributed printing system of FIG. 15;
17 is a diagram showing an example of a performance information setting screen displayed on the display of the clustering server in FIG. 15;
18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer usage frequency screen displayed on the display of the clustering server in FIG. 15;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed when the special use frequency printer notification unit on the client in FIG. 15 notifies the user of the client PC of an excessively used printer and an excessively unused printer.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation process executed by the client PC when the special use frequency printer notification unit on the client PC in FIG. 15 is activated.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system of FIG. 21;
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer usage frequency screen displayed on the display of the clustering server in FIG. 21;
24 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed when the under-used printer notification unit on the client PC in FIG. 21 notifies a user of the client PC of an excessively unused printer.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a procedure of operation processing executed by the client PC when the under-used printer notification unit on the client PC in FIG. 21 is activated.
FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed printing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the distributed printing system of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of a conventional distributed printing system.
FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional distributed printing system.
FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a conventional clustering server control process.
FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a job division process executed by the job management unit in FIG. 29;
[Explanation of symbols]
1,31,51,61,71 Distributed printing system
2,32,52,62 Clustering server
3 Printer consumables information input section
4,54 Each printer print page number measurement section
5 Each printer usage frequency setting mode selection section
6 Each printer usage frequency weight value setting unit
7 Printer selection section
11a1, 11a2, 11b, 11c Printer
21, 22, 41, 42 Client PC
21a, 22a Print printer notification unit
21c, 22c Printer usage frequency control mode shift selector
33, 55 Each printer use frequency calculation unit
34,56 Unique use frequency printer detector
41a, 42a Unique use frequency printer notification unit
41b, 42b Underused printer notification unit
53 Printer performance information input section
63 Underused Printer Detector
1000 Printer Controller
1001 Printer CPU
1002 Printer RAM
1003 Printer ROM
1004 Printer system bus
1005 Network controller
1006 Engine interface
1007 Image generation unit
1200 interface signal line
1500 color printer engine
1502 Laser driver
1503 laser diode
1504 rotating polygon mirror
1505 Imaging lens
1506 Photosensitive drum
1507 Beam detector
1508 Transfer drum
1509 Roller charger
1510 Paper cassette
1511 Paper feed roller
1512 Gripper
1513 Suction roller
1514 Suction charger
1515 Developing device support
1516 Each color developing device
1517 Recording paper edge detector
1518 Optical unit
1519 Transfer charger
1520 Separate charger
1521 Separating claw
1522 Transport means
1523 Fixing device
1524 output tray
1525 Cleaning device
1526 Transfer drum cleaner
1527 laser beam
1528 Recording paper
1530 Operation unit
1600 color printer
2000 Host computer control unit
2001 Host CPU
2002 Host RAM
2003 Host ROM
2004 Host system bus
2005 Keyboard Controller
2006 CRT controller
2007 Disk Controller
2008 Network Controller
3001 keyboard
3002 CRT
3003 Host external memory
4001 Network
4002 Network
5001 Client PC
5002 Clustering server
5003 Network printers
5011 Printer driver
5012 Print setting utility software
5021 Client interface management unit
5022 Input job management unit
5023 Job schedule management unit
5024 rasterization processing unit
5025 Image compression unit
5026 Output job management unit
5027 Output device management unit
5028 memory
5029 HDD

Claims (39)

A distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server transmits print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses. In what is assigned to the device,
The server comprises:
Input means for inputting each consumable information of each of the printing devices;
Measuring means for measuring the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Calculating means for calculating each use frequency of each printing device based on each consumable information of each printing device input by the input means and each number of print pages of each printing device measured by the measuring means; When,
A distributed printing system, comprising: a notifying unit that notifies the client of a printing device having a biased usage frequency as a unique usage frequency printing device as a result of calculation by the calculation unit. The client,
The distributed printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a user of the client of the specific use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notification unit. 3. The distributed printing system according to claim 1, wherein the consumables information indicates a life of the consumables of the printing apparatus by the number of printed sheets. 4. When the life of the consumable is expressed by the number of prints, the number of printable sheets when the toner is full, the number of durable sheets of the fixing device, or the amount of the fixing oil when the printing apparatus performs printing by an electrophotographic method. 4. The distributed printing system according to claim 3, wherein the number of printable sheets is any one of the following. The calculating means may determine, based on the input consumable information, that the proper use frequency of each printing device is based on the definition that increasing the number of prints is appropriate for a printing device having a larger number of printable sheets. The distributed printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein is calculated. The server comprises:
Average value calculating means for calculating an average value of the appropriate use frequency calculated by the calculating means,
The notifying unit has a feature of notifying the client of a printing device of a usage frequency value having a value separated from the average value calculated by the average value calculation unit by a certain value as the specific usage frequency printing device. The distributed printing system according to claim 5, wherein: The server comprises:
The apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines the printing device having the lowest usage frequency among the proper usage frequencies calculated by the calculation unit as the least-used printing device,
The distributed printing system according to claim 5, wherein the notifying unit notifies the client of the determined least used printing device as the specially used printing device. 8. The client-side notifying unit notifies the user of the client by displaying the unique use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit on a display unit. Distributed printing system. A distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server transmits print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses. In what is assigned to the device,
The server comprises:
Input means for inputting each print performance information of each printer,
Measuring means for measuring the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Calculating means for calculating each use frequency of each printing device based on each printing performance information of each printing device input by the input means and each number of printing pages of each printing device measured by the measuring means; When,
A distributed printing system, comprising: a notifying unit that notifies the client of a printing device having a biased usage frequency as a unique usage frequency printing device as a result of calculation by the calculation unit. The client,
The distributed printing system according to claim 9, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a user of the client of the specific use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notification unit. The distributed printing system according to claim 9, wherein the print performance information indicates the number of prints per unit time of the printing apparatus. The calculating unit defines that the larger the number of prints of the print performance information is, the more appropriate the frequency of use is to use a larger number of prints, based on the input print performance information, The distributed printing system according to claim 9, wherein a use frequency is calculated. The server comprises:
Average value calculating means for calculating an average value of the appropriate use frequency calculated by the calculating means,
The notifying unit notifies the client of a printing device of a usage frequency value that is a certain value away from the average value calculated by the average value calculation unit as the specific usage frequency printing device. The distributed printing system according to claim 12, wherein 14. The distribution according to claim 13, wherein the client-side notifying unit notifies the user of the client by displaying the unique use frequency printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit on a display unit. Printing system. A distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server transmits print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses. In what is assigned to the device,
The server comprises:
Input means for inputting each consumable information of each of the printing devices;
Measuring means for measuring the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Weighting means for weighting the frequency of use of each printing device, based on the consumables information of each printing device input by the input means and the number of printing pages of each printing device measured by the measuring means,
Selecting means for selecting a printing apparatus to be used for printing based on the frequency of use of each printing apparatus weighted by the weighting means. The server comprises:
16. The distributed printing system according to claim 15, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify the client of information on the printing device selected by the selection unit. The client,
17. The distributed printing system according to claim 16, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies a user of the client of the information on the printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. The distributed printing system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the consumable information indicates the life of the consumable of the printing apparatus by the number of printed sheets. 19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the weighting unit weights the frequency of use of each of the printing apparatuses so that the replacement time of each of the consumables of each of the printers is at the same time. Distributed printing system. The server comprises:
20. The distributed printing system according to claim 15, further comprising an instruction unit that instructs the printing device to perform printing when a user of the server specifies a specific printing device. A distributed printing system comprising at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server transmits print data output from the client to each of the printing apparatuses. In what is assigned to the device,
The server comprises:
Input means for inputting each consumable information of each of the printing devices;
Measuring means for measuring the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Mode selection means for selecting any one of a first mode for simultaneously maintaining all of the printing apparatuses and a second mode for individually maintaining each of the printing apparatuses;
Each of the printing devices based on the mode selected by the mode selection unit, the consumable information of each of the printing devices input by the input unit, and the number of print pages of each of the printing devices measured by the measurement unit. Weighting means for weighting the use frequency of
A printing device selecting unit that selects a printing device to be used for printing based on the use frequency of each of the printing devices weighted by the weighting unit. The server comprises:
22. The distributed printing system according to claim 21, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the client of information on the printing device selected by the printing device selection unit. The client,
23. The distributed printing system according to claim 22, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying the user of the client of the information on the printing device notified by the server-side notifying unit. The distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the consumables information indicates a life of a consumable of the printing apparatus by the number of printed sheets. When the first mode is selected by the mode selection means, the weighting means weights the frequency of use of each printing device so that replacement time of each consumable of each printer is at the same time. The distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the printing is performed. When the second mode is selected by the mode selection unit, the weighting unit uses the frequency of use of each of the printing devices so that each of the printing devices sequentially exchanges its consumables at regular intervals. The distributed printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein a weight is assigned to the distributed printing system. The server comprises:
27. The distributed printing system according to claim 21, further comprising an instruction unit for instructing the printing device to perform printing when a user of the server specifies a specific printing device. The client,
24. The distributed printing system according to claim 23, further comprising an instruction unit configured to instruct the server to shift the server to the first mode. The server comprises:
29. The distributed printing system according to claim 28, further comprising a transition unit that shifts to the first mode when receiving an instruction to the first mode from the instruction unit of the client. 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the instruction unit instructs a shift to the first mode on condition that a request regarding image quality of a print result is not specified by a user of the client. Distributed printing system. 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the instruction unit instructs the shift to the first mode on condition that a request for finishing a print result is not specified by a user of the client. Distributed printing system. What is claimed is: 1. A control method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. In the method of distributing data to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Via input means, input each consumable information of each of the printing devices,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Based on the input consumables information of each of the printing devices and the measured number of printed pages of each of the printing devices, calculate the frequency of use of each of the printing devices,
As a result of the calculation, a printing apparatus in which the usage frequency is biased is notified to the client as a special usage frequency printing apparatus, and the client is notified of the printing apparatus. What is claimed is: 1. A control method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. In the method of distributing data to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Through the input means, input each printing performance information of each of the printers,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Based on each of the input printing performance information of each of the printing devices and the measured number of printed pages of each of the printing devices, calculate each use frequency of each of the printing devices,
As a result of the calculation, a printing apparatus in which the usage frequency is biased is notified to the client as a special usage frequency printing apparatus, and the client is notified of the printing apparatus. What is claimed is: 1. A control method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network. In the method of distributing data to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Via input means, input each consumable information of each of the printing devices,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Based on the input consumable information of each printing device and the measured number of printed pages of each printing device, weighting the usage frequency of each printing device,
A control method of a distributed printing system, wherein a printing device to be used for printing is selected based on the weighted use frequency of each printing device. A method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server transmits print data output from the client. In what is assigned to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Via input means, input each consumable information of each of the printing devices,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Selecting one of a first mode in which all of the printing apparatuses are simultaneously maintained and a second mode in which each of the printing apparatuses is individually maintained;
Based on the selected mode, the input consumables information of each of the printing devices and the measured number of printing pages of each of the printing devices, weighting the use frequency of each of the printing devices,
A control method for controlling a distributed printing system, wherein a printing device to be used for printing is selected based on the weighted use frequency of each of the printing devices. A program for realizing a control method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server comprises: In the method of distributing print data output from a client to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Via input means, input each consumable information of each of the printing devices,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Based on the input consumables information of each of the printing devices and the measured number of printed pages of each of the printing devices, calculate the frequency of use of each of the printing devices,
As a result of the calculation, a program is provided that notifies the client of a printing apparatus having a biased usage frequency as a unique usage frequency printing apparatus. A program for realizing a control method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server comprises: In the method of distributing print data output from a client to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Through the input means, input each printing performance information of each of the printers,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Based on each of the input printing performance information of each of the printing devices and the measured number of printed pages of each of the printing devices, calculate each use frequency of each of the printing devices,
As a result of the calculation, a program is provided that notifies the client of a printing apparatus having a biased usage frequency as a unique usage frequency printing apparatus. A program for realizing a control method for controlling a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network, wherein the server comprises: In the method of distributing print data output from a client to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Via input means, input each consumable information of each of the printing devices,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Based on the input consumable information of each printing device and the measured number of printed pages of each printing device, weighting the usage frequency of each printing device,
A program for selecting a printing device to be used for printing based on the weighted use frequency of each of the printing devices. A program for realizing a control method of a distributed printing system including at least one client, at least one server, and a plurality of printing apparatuses, which is connected via a network, wherein the server comprises: In distributing the output print data to each of the printing devices,
The control method includes:
Via input means, input each consumable information of each of the printing devices,
Measure the number of each printed page of each printing device,
Selecting one of a first mode in which all of the printing apparatuses are simultaneously maintained and a second mode in which each of the printing apparatuses is individually maintained;
Based on the selected mode, the input consumables information of each of the printing devices and the measured number of printing pages of each of the printing devices, weighting the use frequency of each of the printing devices,
A program for selecting a printing device to be used for printing based on the weighted use frequency of each of the printing devices.

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