JP2005038356A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system capable of efficiently executing a printing process, flexibly processing print data from a user who has not specified priority print with consideration to the state of print data from a user who has specified priority print, about a print device capable of print reservation. <P>SOLUTION: The print system preferentially reserves a print process and executes the print process for the print data of the corresponding user and does not execute a print process of print data from the other user who has not specified priority print during a period of time when the reservation is kept. In this regard, even the print process of print data from the other user who has not specified priority print can be printed in the case that priority print is not executed and the efficiency of the process is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system capable of making a print reservation.

  With the spread of computers centering on personal computers, printer devices (printing devices) as peripheral devices have also spread and various printers have been proposed. In particular, in a printing apparatus capable of making a print reservation, an invention has been proposed in which when a printing time slot is reserved, the user who has made the reservation in the time slot can exclusively use the printing apparatus.

Patent Document 1 is an image processing apparatus shared by a plurality of users, which accepts a print job in a state in which no print job is received, and preferentially prints a reservation person over other users during a reserved time period. It is an invention.
JP 2000-242460 A

  In the above-described conventional printing apparatus, a method for verbally transmitting reservation settings and a printing apparatus connected to a network temporarily disconnect from the network and perform a local connection are performed. For this reason, for example, in the case of oral transmission, if print data is mistakenly transmitted to a printing apparatus that has been reserved, the printing process of the original reservation person is obstructed, and a printed matter cannot be created by the target time.

  In addition, when changing the connection form of the printing apparatus, the change work is complicated, and the other person is within the reservation time and cannot be used during the time when the reservation person is not using it. However, it has become the exclusive use time substantially, and the total printing efficiency is deteriorated.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus in which a printing device having a clock function and a terminal device capable of designating a preferential use time zone of a specific user are connected to the printing device via a network. The printing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores user information corresponding to the time zone specified by the terminal device, and searches the storage unit when print data is supplied from the terminal device. Determining means for determining whether the user and the time zone coincide with each other, printing means for performing print processing of the print data when the determination result matches, and storing the print data when the determination result does not match. And a printing control means for causing the printing means to perform the printing process of the print data when the print data from the user who has designated the preferential use is not being processed. It can be achieved by providing a system.

Here, the terminal device is a personal computer (PC) or the like connected to a network such as a LAN, and the user operates these terminal devices to designate a desired time zone and cause the printing apparatus to perform printing processing. be able to.
In the printing apparatus in which the above designation is performed, when the print data is input, the user name and the above time zone are determined, and if they match, the print data is preferentially printed. With respect to input of print data from a user without priority designation, print processing can be performed when print processing from a user with priority designation is not performed.

With this configuration, print processing can be performed efficiently, and print data processing from a user who has not been designated for priority can be handled flexibly depending on the status of print data from a user who has been designated for priority. In addition, the printing process can be performed more efficiently.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, printing from a user who designates the preferential use while the print control unit causes the print unit to process the print data. When data is input, the print data is preferentially printed.

With this configuration, the printing process from the user who has specified the priority is performed with the highest priority, and the rapid printing process is performed.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the print data from the user who has designated the preferential use is preferentially printed and then stored in the storage unit. In this configuration, print data of preferentially used users is printed.

The print data from the priority designated user is given the highest priority, and the print data of other users is also efficiently processed. With this configuration, the printing apparatus connected to the network can be efficiently used. It operates well.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, or third aspect, the first and second printed matter discharge means are provided, and a print result from a user who designates the preferential use is displayed as the first print result. In this configuration, a print result from a user who has been discharged to one printed matter discharge unit and has not designated the preferential use is discharged to the second printed matter discharge unit.

  With this configuration, the print result of the print data from the user who has specified the priority use and the print result of the print data from the user who has not specified the priority use are printed on different output trays or the like. It is a configuration that can be discharged to the discharge means, reliably separate the printing results, and facilitate organization.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the above-described first, second, third, or fourth aspect, wherein when the print data is printed from a user who has set the preferential use time zone, the remaining consumables are left. When the amount of the consumables cannot be printed, the corresponding warning is issued.
By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to solve problems such as interruption of printing processing during printing and maintenance during the printing. In addition, when the remaining amount of consumables is insufficient, it is possible to obtain a convenient printing system by displaying specific information of the consumables.

  According to the present invention, print processing can be efficiently performed with the above-described configuration, and print data processing from a user who has not performed priority designation can also be flexibly adapted depending on the state of print data from a user who has performed priority designation. The printing process can be performed more efficiently.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system including a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus used for the description of the present embodiment is a printer apparatus 1 connected to a network such as a LAN (local area network). Terminal devices 2 and 3 are host devices, and are connected to the printer device 1 via a network.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the printer apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, a printer device 1 includes a CPU 4, a RAM 5, a print discharge processing unit 6, a print data processing unit 7, a print job data management unit 8, a print reservation processing unit 9, a transmission / reception processing unit 10, a printing device engine unit 11, a display device. 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a print job processing state management unit 14, a print reservation storage unit 15, a timer 16, and a communication interface (I / F) 17.

  The CPU 4 is a central processing unit of the printer apparatus 1 and performs print control according to a program stored in a ROM (not shown). The RAM 5 is used as a work area, for example, in control processing performed by the CPU 4. The configuration and functions of the print data processing unit 7, the print job data management unit 8, the print reservation processing unit 9, etc. will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing time zone prediction processing, which is a basic function in the present system, and reserves a time zone by communicating with the printer device 1 using the terminal device 2 or 3. In this case, first, the user drives a print reservation program for performing a reservation operation, reads information on the current reservation state from the printer apparatus 1, and displays a reservation state screen shown in FIG. 3A, for example.

  The user refers to the reservation status screen, and if there is no reservation in the time zone where the printing work is desired, the reservation screen is displayed by operating the reservation button. FIG. 3B shows a reservation screen. The user inputs a reservation name and a desired reservation time zone, and operates a registration button. When canceling registration, the cancel button is operated.

  By operating the registration button, reservation data is transmitted to the printer apparatus 1 (arrow indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5A), and the reservation data is supplied to the printer apparatus 1. The reservation data is input to the storage unit in the printer apparatus 1 to register a reservation time zone. The data for which the new reservation time zone has been registered is immediately displayed on the display unit.

The state before accepting the reservation is the recording state shown in FIG. 7C, and the state after accepting the reservation is the recording state shown in FIG. Therefore, when there is a subsequent print status acquisition request from the terminal device 2 or 3, the reservation information shown in FIG.
Hereinafter, the process of this example is demonstrated concretely. First, FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram of signal flows in the printer apparatus 1, and is a diagram for specifically explaining the processing of this example.

Through the communication interface (I / F) 17 of the printer apparatus 1, information such as print reservation related data, print data, and print status data is communicated with the terminal apparatus 2 or 3.
The transmission / reception processing unit 10 delivers the received data to the print reservation processing unit 9 and the print job data management unit 8 according to the received data content. For example, when the data is print reservation status notification request data, the data is transferred to the print reservation processing unit 9, and the print reservation processing unit 9 reads the current print reservation status from the print reservation storage unit 15, generates response data, A transmission request is sent to the transmission / reception processing unit 10.

  In the case of print job data, the print job data management unit 8 obtains print reservation status data from the print reservation storage unit 15, obtains current time information from the timer 16, and prints the print job data management unit 8. The user ID is obtained from the job data. Then, it is determined whether the print job data is a print request from a specific user who made a reservation or a print request from another user, and is registered with the print job processing state management unit 14 together with the print job identification information. I do.

  Next, when print data is stored in the reception buffer 21, if it is a print request from a print reservation user, the print data is stored in the reservation reception buffer 21a. On the other hand, if it is a print request from a non-printing reserved user, it is stored in the non-reserving reception buffer 21b. In the case of a print request from a non-print reservation user, when the capacity of the reception buffer 21b is insufficient and cannot be stored, the print data is transferred to the auxiliary storage device 13 by the first-in first-out method.

  The print job data management unit 8 repeats the above processing and registers the reception end state in the print job processing state management unit 14. The print data processing unit 7 monitors the print job processing state management unit 14 to know the start of reception of new print job data, and makes the started print job data ready to be generated in the image memory (RAM). Then, the transmission source user of the print job data is determined, and in the case of a reserved user, the data is extracted from the reception buffer 21a for the reserved user, and the image data is generated in the image memory for the reserved user.

  The above process is repeated. For example, when generation of an image memory for one page is completed, information on completion of the image memory is registered in the print job processing state management unit 14. On the other hand, in the case of a non-reserved user, the data is taken out from the reception buffer 21b for the non-reserved user, and image data is generated in the image memory for the non-reserved user. Similarly, the image memory completion information is registered in the print job processing state management unit 14.

  The print discharge processing unit 6 knows that the image memory has been completed for one page by monitoring the print job processing state management unit 14, and the completed image data is for the reserved user and processes the print job of the currently reserved user. If it is medium, the printing process is continued. For this reason, the printing apparatus engine unit 11 is notified of the start of printing together with designation related to printing, and then transmits the image data to the printing apparatus engine unit 11. On the other hand, when the completed image data is for a non-reserved user and a print job for a non-reserved user is currently being processed, the non-reserved user's print discharge process is interrupted and priority is given to the discharge of the reserved user's printed matter, At the end time, the non-reserved user's printed matter discharge process is resumed.

  FIG. 5 shows a time slice of each processing unit of the priority printing process in this example. In the figure, during the processing for the print request from the user (user D) of the terminal device 2 within the reserved time registered before the user (user A) of the terminal device 3, a print request is made from the user of the terminal device 3. The processing procedure at the time of breaking is shown.

  First, print data is generated by the terminal device 2 (404 shown in FIG. 5), and the generated data is delivered to the data transmission unit in units of one page (405 shown in the figure). The data transmission unit immediately transfers the transferred print data to the printer apparatus 1. In this case, since the normal print data generation process has a much larger load than the data transmission process, the data transmission is in a form of waiting for the generation of print data in units of one page (406 and 407 shown in the figure). 408 and 409). Further, when the printing process on the terminal device 3 is started with a slight delay (401 shown in the figure), print data is similarly generated and delivered to the data transmitting unit (402 shown in the figure).

  The printer apparatus 1 starts receiving print job data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 2, refers to print reservation information, and determines that the print job data is from a non-reserved user. However, since the processing of the print job data of the reserved user is not performed at this time, the print processing of the print job data of the non-reserved user is started. While this print processing is being performed, reception of print job data transmitted from the terminal device 3 is started, reservation information is determined, and if it is determined that the print job data is from a reserved user, the print job data management unit 8 Is notified of priority printing (reception occupancy start) (413 shown in the figure), the reception of the print data of the non-reserved user is suspended, and the reception of the print job data of the reserved user is started (shown in the figure). 409).

  Since the terminal device 2 can receive data in units of one page (for example, between 409 and 410 shown in the figure), when it is determined that reception of print job data from the reservation user is not performed for a certain period of time, the print job The data management unit 8 is notified of the completion of reception occupation (414 shown in the figure), and the reception of the print job data of the non-reserved user is resumed (408 shown in the figure).

The print job data reception process repeats the above process (410 to 412, 415 to 419 shown in the figure), but is received immediately when the print job data reception process from the reserved user of the terminal device 2 is completed. The occupation end notification is made (420 shown in the figure).
The print data processing unit 7 takes out the print job data of the non-reserved user of the terminal device 2 previously stored in the reception buffer 21 and starts image formation (421 shown in the figure).

The above processing is for the first page, but the same processing is repeated for the second and subsequent pages, and the printing process of the reserved user is performed with priority.
When the print data processing unit 7 starts generating the image memory of the reserved user (425 shown in the figure) and the print discharge processing unit 6 is notified of the start of print discharge occupation (438 shown in the figure), the non-reserved It is determined whether the user's image memory has been prepared for one page, and if not, the print discharge of the completed non-reserved user's image memory is suspended, and the print user occupies the print discharge for print discharge processing of the reserved user's print job data It will be in the start state.

  Thereafter, when the generation of the image memory of the print reservation user is completed one page at a time, print discharge processing is performed (434 to 436 shown in the figure). When the end of print discharge occupation is notified at the time of printing and discharging the last page of the print job data of the reserved user (439 shown in the figure), the print discharge processing of the non-reserved user becomes possible. The print discharge process is performed only when the image memories for one print job are prepared at the time of notification. However, since the image memory for one print job is prepared in the above example, the image memory of the non-reserved user is sequentially discharged (448 to 450 shown in the figure).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the above processing, and is a flowchart for explaining processing of the print job processing state management unit 14.
First, when it is activated (501 shown in the figure), an initialization process is executed (502 shown in the figure), a print data reception process is performed, and a print data reception waiting state is entered (503 shown in the figure).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether the print job data is received based on the data input (504 shown in the figure). If print job data is received, print reservation status data is read (steps 504 and 505 shown in the figure). The read reservation information is compared with the print job data (506 shown in the figure). If the print job data is from the reserved user, the start of data reception is registered and the print job status is updated (shown in the figure). 507).

In this case, since the print job data is from the reserved user, the reception occupancy process (508 in the figure) sets the reception interruption of the print data from the non-reservation user and sets the start of reception of the print data from the reservation user. The received data is stored (509 shown in the figure).
On the other hand, when it is determined that the received data is received from a non-reserved user in comparison with the reserved information (NO in 506 shown in the figure), information on the start of receiving a new print job from the non-reserved user is registered and the print job The situation is updated (518 shown in the figure). Further, it is determined whether print job data is already received from the reserved user, and if it is being received, it is determined whether the received data from the print reserved user has not been received for a certain period of time (519 and 520 shown in the figure). If the reception data from the print reservation user has not been received for a certain period of time, a reception occupation end process is performed (521 shown in the figure), and the reception of the print data from the non-reservation user is resumed. On the other hand, when reception data from a print reservation user has been received for a certain period of time, reception standby processing is performed (522 shown in the figure), and reception of print data from a non-reservation user is interrupted.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the reception of the print job data set by the above processing is completed (510 shown in the figure). If the reception of the print job data is completed, it is determined whether or not there is a print job data reception request from the print reservation user. (511 shown in the figure). If the print job data is from the reserved user, the reception occupation end process is performed, the reception of the print data from the non-reserved user is resumed (512 shown in the figure), and the received print job processing status is updated ( 513 shown in FIG. On the other hand, if there is no print job data reception request from the print reservation user, the received print job processing status is updated (514 in the figure).

Next, FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the print data processing unit 7. Also in this case, initialization processing is performed (601 shown in the figure), and the print job data in the reception buffer 21 is checked (602 shown in the figure).
Next, the presence / absence of data in the reception buffer 21 is determined for each user (603 shown in the figure). If data exists in the reception buffer 21 of any user, the print job processing status is read (in the figure). 605).

  Next, it is determined whether the data is the reserved user's received data (606 shown in the figure), and if it is the reserved user's received data, the reception data extraction destination is set (607 shown in the figure). In this case, the reception data extraction destination is set in the reception buffer 21a for the reserved user.

  In this case, it is further determined whether the reserved user's image memory is created at a page break (608 shown in the figure), and if it is a page break, an image memory generation occupation start process is performed (609 shown in the figure). That is, in this case, the creation of the image memory of the non-reserved user is set to be interrupted, the print job processing status is updated, and information on the start of generation of the new image memory of the reserved user is registered (610 shown in the figure).

  On the other hand, if it is not the reserved user's received data in the above-described determination (606 shown in the figure), it is determined whether the reserved user's image memory creation is a page break (618 shown in the figure), and the page break is determined. If it is, the extraction destination of the received data is set (619 shown in the figure). In this case, the reception destination of the reception data is set in the reception buffer 21b for non-reserved users. Further, it is determined whether the creation of the image memory of the non-reserved user is a page break (620 shown in the figure), and if it is a page break, the print job processing status is updated to generate a new image memory for the non-reserved user. The start information is registered (621 shown in the figure).

  Next, image memory generation processing based on the above settings is performed (611 shown in FIG. 6), and print job data analysis processing is performed to generate an image memory. Thereafter, it is determined whether one page of image memory has been created (612 shown in the figure). When one page of image memory has been created, if the image memory is for a reserved user, an image memory generation occupation termination process is performed. Then, update processing of the print job processing status is performed (613 to 615 shown in the figure). On the other hand, if the image memory is for a non-reserved user, an image memory saving process is performed, and a print job processing status update process is performed (613, 616, and 617 shown in the figure).

Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the print discharge processing unit 6. Initialization processing is performed in the same manner as described above (701 and 702 in the figure), and the print job processing status is read (in the figure). 703).
Next, the presence / absence of a completed page in the image memory is determined for each user (704 shown in the figure), and if there is a completed page for any user, it is determined whether it is a reserved user's completed page (shown in the figure). 705), if it is the reserved user's completed page, it is determined whether the completed page is the first page of the print job data (706 shown in the figure). If it is the first page, a print discharge occupation start process is performed (707 shown in the figure). In this case, the print discharge process of the non-reserved user is interrupted, the print job processing status is updated, and the new print discharge start information of the reserved user is registered (708 shown in the figure).

  On the other hand, if it is not the completed page of the reserved user in the above determination (705 shown in the figure), it is immediately determined whether the print discharge of the reserved user is a break of the print job (715 shown in the figure). If there is a break, it is determined whether the non-reserved user has completed pages for one print job (716 shown in the figure). If the completed pages of the non-reserved user are prepared for one print job, the print job processing status is updated and new print discharge start information of the non-reserved user is registered (717 shown in the figure).

  Next, a completed page image transfer process based on the above settings is performed (709 shown in the figure), and the completed page data expanded in the image memory is transmitted to the engine unit to execute the image transfer process. Then, it is determined whether the image transfer process has been completed for one print job (710 shown in the figure). If it is completed for one print job, it is determined whether the print job is for a reserved user (711 shown in the figure). If it is for a reserved user, a print discharge occupation end process is performed, and a print job process status update process is performed (712 and 713 shown in the figure). On the other hand, if the print job is for a non-reserved user, the print job processing status is updated (714 shown in the figure).

As described above, according to this example, the print job data management unit 8, the print data processing unit 7, and the print discharge processing unit 6 give priority to the reserved user print process, while the reserved user print process. If no printed matter is discharged, non-reserved user print processing is performed to construct a total efficient printing system.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. This example is an invention in which the outlet for printed matter is changed depending on whether the user is a reserved user or a non-reserved user. This will be specifically described below.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating this example. Similarly to the above, initialization processing is first performed (801 and 802 shown in the figure), and the print job processing status is read (803 shown in the figure).
Next, the presence / absence of a completed page in the image memory is determined for each user (804 shown in the figure), and if there is a completed page for any user, it is determined whether it is a reserved user's completed page (shown in the figure). 805). Here, if the completed page belongs to the reserved user, it is determined whether the completed page is the first page of the print job data (806 shown in the figure). If it is the first page, update processing of the print job processing status is performed (807 shown in the figure), and new print discharge start information of the reserved user is registered.

  Next, the paper discharge port is set (808 shown in the figure). That is, the paper discharge port of the printing result for the print job data from the reservation user is set. For example, settings such as discharge to a sheet discharge port on the upper surface of the apparatus that performs so-called face-down discharge, discharge to the side of the apparatus that performs face-up discharge, and the like are performed.

  On the other hand, if it is not the completed page of the reserved user in the above determination (805 shown in the figure), it is determined whether or not a fixed time has passed since the reserved user's print discharge (816 shown in the figure), and the fixed time has passed. If this is the case, a print discharge occupation end process is performed (817 shown in the figure), and it is determined whether or not the non-reserved user has completed one print job, and the completed page is the first page (shown in the figure). 818). If the above conditions are met, the print job processing status is updated, and new print discharge start information of the non-reserved user is registered (819 shown in the figure). Then, the paper discharge port is set (820 shown in the figure). That is, in this case, the paper discharge port of the print result for the print job data from the non-reserved user is set.

  Next, a completed page image transfer process based on the above settings is performed (810 shown in the figure), and the completed page data expanded in the image memory is transmitted to the engine unit to execute the image transfer process. Then, it is determined whether the image transfer process has been completed for one print job (811 shown in the figure), and if it is completed for one print job, it is determined whether the print job is for a reserved user (812 shown in the figure). If it is for a reserved user, a print discharge occupation end process is performed, and a print job process status update process is performed (813 and 814 shown in the figure). On the other hand, if the print job is for a non-reserved user, update processing of the print job processing status is performed (815 shown in the figure).

As described above, according to this example, the paper discharge port is divided according to whether the print job data is data from a reserved user or data from a non-reserved user, and a convenient printing system is provided. Is.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This example is an invention for constructing an efficient printing system by displaying a warning or the like based on the state of consumables. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of this example. As described above, initialization processing is first performed (1000 and 1001 shown in the figure), and it is determined whether print reservation registration data is received (1002 shown in the figure). When the print reservation registration data is received, the print reservation information is read (1004 shown in the figure), the print job processing status is read (1005 shown in the figure), and the consumable item is read. The remaining amount information reading process is performed (1006 shown in the figure).

  Next, the number of printable sheets is counted (1007 shown in the figure). This printable sheet number counting process is a process of calculating the printable sheet number from the remaining amount information of consumables such as paper and toner according to, for example, paper size, color / monochrome, and print content. Then, it is determined from the calculation result whether printing processing for the number of prints is possible (1008 shown in the figure).

  Here, if it is determined that the printing process for the scheduled number of prints is possible based on the calculation result, image display data is created (1009 shown in the figure), and display data for the print reservation registration completion screen is created. . On the other hand, if it is determined that the printing process for the number of prints to be made is impossible based on the calculation result, display data for the warning screen is created (1013 shown in the figure).

Therefore, the user can know the shortage of consumables by looking at the screen display. After that, the print reservation information is updated (1010 shown in the figure), and the print reservation information is written (1011 shown in the figure).
On the other hand, if the print reservation status display request data is received in the above determination (1003 shown in the figure), the print reservation status reading process is performed (1015 shown in the figure), and the print job processing status reading process is executed. (1016 shown in the figure), and further reading processing of the remaining amount information of consumables is executed (1017 shown in the figure). Then, the number of printable sheets is counted (1018 shown in the figure), and it is determined from the calculation result whether the printing process for the number of print reservations is possible (1019 shown in the figure).

  If it is determined that the number of prints can be printed based on the calculation result as described above, image display data is created (1020 shown in the figure), and the display data of the print reservation registration completion screen is displayed. create. On the other hand, if it is determined based on the calculation result that it is impossible to print the scheduled number of prints, display data for a warning screen is created (1021 shown in the figure).

Therefore, in any case, the user can know the shortage of consumables by looking at the screen display. The above display can be understood by the user viewing the transmitted display screen by the subsequent transmission request process (1012 shown in the figure).
Note that the processing shown in FIG. 11 is also configured to display a warning based on the remaining amount information of the consumables, and only the processing different from that in FIG. 10 will be described. In the example shown in the figure, in the process (1108 shown in the figure), it is determined from the calculation result whether the printing process for the scheduled number of prints is possible. (1109 shown in the figure).

  Here, if the consumable item to be deficient is printing paper, display data of a warning screen indicating that the remaining amount of paper is insufficient is created (1110 shown in the figure). Then, display is made on a panel LCD or the like (1111 shown in the figure). On the other hand, if the shortage consumable is not printing paper, consumable shortage display data is created and similarly displayed on the panel LCD or the like (1115 and 1116 shown in the figure).

As described above, when the consumable is paper, the user can be informed of the shortage of paper by the above processing, and more detailed information can be notified to the user.
Further, the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is a process based on the remaining amount information of consumables in the print discharge processing unit 6, and the counting process based on the remaining amount information of consumables is performed on the process shown in FIG. It is a configuration. Therefore, although detailed description of the flowchart is omitted, the processing different from the processing shown in FIG. 9 is processing for acquiring consumable remaining amount information 1205 shown in FIG. , 1223, and the like, and a warning process based on the counting result (1222 shown in the figure).

  With this configuration, it is possible to provide a more convenient printing system that gives a user a necessary warning based on the remaining amount information of consumables.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram of a printer apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the prediction process of the time slot | zone which is a basic function in this system. FIG. 6 is a correlation diagram of signal flows in the printer apparatus. It is a figure which shows the time slice of each process part of the priority printing process in this example. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a print job processing state management unit. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a print data processing unit. It is a flowchart explaining the process of a printing discharge process part. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a modified example of the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a modified example of the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer device 2, 3 Terminal device 4 CPU
5 RAM
6 Print Ejection Processing Unit 7 Print Data Processing Unit 8 Print Job Data Management Unit 9 Print Reservation Processing Unit 10 Transmission / Reception Processing Unit 11 Printing Device Engine Unit 12 Display Device 13 Auxiliary Storage Device 14 Print Job Processing Status Management Unit 15 Print Reservation Storage Unit 16 Timer 17 Communication interface (I / F)
20 Receive buffer 21a Image memory (for non-reserved users)
21b Image memory (for reserved users)

Claims (5)

A printing system in which a printing device having a clock function and a terminal device capable of designating a preferential use time zone of a specific user are connected to the printing device via a network;
The printing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores user information corresponding to the time zone specified by the terminal device;
When printing data is supplied from the terminal device, the storage unit is searched to determine whether the user and the time zone match,
Printing means for performing printing processing of the print data when the determination results match;
When the determination result is inconsistent, the print data is stored, and when the print data from the user who designates the preferential use is not processed, the print unit performs the print data print processing. Printing control means to perform,
A printing system comprising: While the print control unit causes the printing unit to process the print data, if there is an input of print data from the user who designates the priority use, the print data is preferentially printed. The printing system according to claim 1. The print data of a non-priority use user stored in the storage unit is subjected to print processing after preferentially performing print processing of print data from a user who designates the preferential use. 2. The printing system according to 2. First and second printed matter discharge means are provided, the print result from the user who has designated the priority use is discharged to the first printed matter discharge means, and from the user who has not designated the priority use. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing result is discharged to the second printed material discharging unit. When performing print processing of print data from a user who has set the preferential use time zone, the remaining amount of consumables is determined, and if printing for the remaining amount of consumables is impossible, a corresponding warning is issued. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is performed.

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