JP2005149159A - Information processor, printer, printing processing method for information processor, printing processing method for printer, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent one document from being mixed with other user document in outputting a plurality of jobs as the one document by holding printing from the other user in the course of printing the plurality of continued jobs from the same user. <P>SOLUTION: Information processors 1A-1, 1A-2, each, comprise: a setting input section 31 inputting set setting information; an OS (Operating System) information acquisition section 32; and a printing data processing section 33 preparing printing data by adding information on continuous printing designation applied to the plurality of jobs and information on a designated time-out time designation to print output object data. A printer 2A comprises: a data reception section 41; a data analysis section 42; and a continuous job printing determination section 43 receiving no other job printing except continuity-designated job when the continuous printing designation is applied to the plurality of jobs by determining whether or not a printing request involves the continuous printing designation applied to the plurality of jobs from the analysis result, or inhibiting the interruption of the other job under job printing by releasing the continuous printing designation when the user conducts no next continuous printing designation within the designated time-out time in the course of the continuous printing designation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  According to the present invention, a plurality of information processing apparatuses (for example, a personal computer) and a single printing apparatus (for example, a printer) are connected via a communication line (network), and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is made. The present invention is used in a system that receives and prints out with the printing apparatus.

  In particular, the present invention is an information processing capable of avoiding mixing with other user documents when it is desired to suspend printing from other users and output a plurality of jobs as one document during printing of a plurality of consecutive jobs from the same user. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing processing method for an information processing apparatus, a printing processing method for a printing apparatus, and a recording medium on which a program is recorded.

A conventional example of a printing apparatus will be described below.

(1): Conventional example 1
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus or printing system, an apparatus, a system, or a plurality of documents having a function of interrupting the printing of a user's document that rushes printing during other job printing by assigning a priority to a job. There has been known an application (program) that outputs a job collectively (see Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, Patent Document 1 will be described as Conventional Example 1.

  Conventional Example 1 provides an image processing apparatus capable of performing efficient recording even when a plurality of image information generating means generate image information arbitrarily. A priority order for printing image information output from a fax unit or a file unit included in a reader or an external device by a printer is input in advance from the operation unit, and the CPU receives image information from a certain image information generation unit. The content is that the interrupt printing is permitted based on the priority inputted in advance when a print request is received from another image information generating means during printing.

(2): Conventional example 2
Conventionally, for a device having a plurality of paper discharge trays, a technique for distributing jobs processed in parallel to each tray in accordance with print settings and discharge port designations for each user in which the devices are stored in advance has been known (Patent Literature). 2). Hereinafter, Patent Document 2 will be described as Conventional Example 2.

  Conventional example 2 processes print requests from a plurality of clients or a plurality of users at high speed so that they are not mixed with each other. The network printer has a function as a server, receives print requests from a plurality of clients, and outputs print results relating to these print requests to different trays of the paper feed mechanism. The network printer processes the print request from each client while switching, for example, by time division.

  Since the network printer stores operation setting data corresponding to each client in the print operation mode table, the print operation setting data is not transferred from the client to the network printer at the time of switching.

(3): Conventional example 3
Conventionally, there has been known a technique in which only a job for which an identification name is designated is assigned to a designated tray (see Patent Document 3). Hereinafter, Patent Document 3 will be described as Conventional Example 3.

  In the conventional example 3, when the image recording apparatus performs sorting by identification name, even when data that does not correspond to the designation of the identification name is received, the print job in which the paper discharge port is designated and It is to provide an excellent paper discharge sorting environment without mixing other print jobs.

  For this reason, the image recording apparatus determines whether or not an identification name is specified for the print job received from the host computer. If it is determined that the identification name is specified for the print job, the same identification name is set. When a print job discharge port is determined as a registered discharge port or an empty discharge port, and it is determined that the identification name is not designated, the print job discharge port is recognized as incorrect data. Is determined to be an empty paper discharge port or a predetermined preliminary paper discharge port.

(4): Conventional example 4
Hereinafter, Patent Document 4 will be described as Conventional Example 4. In the conventional example 4, a plurality of series of print jobs printed from a plurality of host computers at an arbitrary timing are arranged in the order specified for the same printer even if normal print jobs are mixed and spooled to the print server. Print continuously.

The print server discriminates between a plurality of print jobs sent from the client at an arbitrary timing and a print job with a specified order and a print job without a specified order. The job printing order is rearranged in the designated order and aligned, and the output order of the arranged print jobs to the printer is controlled based on the alignment state.
JP-A-5-136918 JP-A-9-160732 JP 2001-94719 A JP 2001-75768 A

(1): In Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, the output from different applications as well as the output from the same application such as EXCEL (Microsoft Excel: registered trademark) is continuously output as one document for each sheet. If the job priority is raised by another user, even if the job priority is increased, other users' jobs will be mixed between jobs or in the job. .

  (2): In Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, if there are multiple trays, if each user outputs to a different tray, it is possible to prevent jobs from being mixed with other users, but multiple trays are available. The apparatus is expensive, and preparing trays for the number of users is very expensive. Also, when a tray is shared by multiple users, if the user who shared the tray prints multiple jobs almost simultaneously, it will be mixed for at least one job, and multiple jobs can be output together. Disappear.

  (3): In Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, if an interrupt during a job is not performed through an application that combines multiple documents into one job, other users' documents will not be mixed, but a dedicated application There was a problem that it took a lot of time to purchase and install it separately and specify it when printing.

  (4): Patent Document 4 requires a server that manages print jobs and collects (controls) continuous print jobs. For this reason, there is a possibility that a job printed without going through the server is interrupted because it cannot be controlled.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is the same by prohibiting printing by interruption from another user during continuous printing of a plurality of jobs from the same user with extremely simple processing without using a dedicated application. It is an object to prevent a plurality of jobs from a user from being mixed with other user documents when it is desired to output as one document.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  (1): A plurality of information processing devices (for example, a personal computer) and one printing device (for example, a printer) are connected via a communication line (network), and a print request from any one of the information processing devices is sent In the information processing apparatus of the system that accepts and outputs a print by a printing apparatus, continuous printing designation is made from a setting input unit that inputs setting information set on a printing designation screen and OS information managed by an OS (OS: Operating System). Based on the OS information acquisition unit for acquiring the OS information including the clock information (information including time) and user name information, the setting information set by the setting input unit, and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit And at least a print data processing unit that creates print data by adding information for specifying continuous printing of multiple jobs and information for specifying a specified timeout time to print output target data. And said that you are.

  (2): In the printing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received by the printing apparatus and printed. A data receiving unit that receives print data from any one of the information processing apparatuses, a data analysis unit that analyzes the received print data, and whether the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs based on the analysis result. If multiple jobs are specified for continuous printing, job printing other than continuous specification will not be accepted, and if the user does not specify the next continuous print within the specified timeout period during continuous print specification, specify continuous print specification. By canceling, the interruption of other jobs during job printing is prohibited (only multiple documents from the same user are continuously performed, and print requests from other users are suspended). And a print determination unit.

  (3): The information processing apparatus of a system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received by the printing apparatus and printed. In this print processing method, OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation is acquired from a setting procedure for inputting setting information set on the print designation screen and OS information managed by the OS. Based on the OS information acquisition procedure, the setting information set by the setting input unit, and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit, the information for specifying continuous printing and the information for specifying the specified timeout time for a plurality of jobs are displayed as print output target data. And a print data creation procedure for creating print data in addition to the above.

  (4): a connection between a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus via a communication line, and the printing apparatus of the system that receives a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses by the printing apparatus and outputs the print request. In the print processing method, a data reception procedure for receiving print data from any one of the information processing devices, a data analysis procedure for analyzing the received print data, and a continuous print of a plurality of jobs from the analysis result If the print request is a continuous print specification for multiple jobs, the user does not accept other job prints other than the continuous specification, and the user performs the next continuous print specification within the specified timeout time during continuous print specification. If there is not, a continuous job print determination procedure for canceling continuous print designation and prohibiting interruption of other jobs during job printing is provided. The

(Function)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of each of the above configurations will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, this system connects a plurality of information processing apparatuses 1A-1, 1A-2 and one printing apparatus 2A via a communication line (or network) 3, and any information processing This is a system in which print requests from the apparatuses 1A-1 and 1A-2 are received and printed out by the printing apparatus 2A.

(a): Operation of (1) and (3) In the information processing apparatus 1A-1 or 1A-2, the setting input unit 31 is set by an operator or the like on the print designation screen of the display device (not shown). The information is input, and the OS information acquisition unit 32 acquires OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation from the OS information of the OS information unit 23 managed by the OS.

  Also, the print data processing unit 33 prints information for specifying continuous printing and information for specifying a specified timeout time for a plurality of jobs based on the setting information set by the setting input unit 31 and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit 32. Print data for a print request to be sent to the printer 2 is added to the output target data (added to the header portion of the print data). Then, a print request is sent to the printing apparatus 2A via the communication line using the created print data.

(b): Operation of the above (2) and (4) In the printing apparatus 2A, the data receiving unit 41 receives the print data from any of the information processing apparatuses 1A-1 or 1A-2, and the data analyzing unit 42 Analyzes the received print data. Then, the continuous job print determination unit 43 determines whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs from the analysis result. If the user does not designate the next continuous printing within the designated timeout time during the continuous printing designation, the interruption of other jobs during job printing is prohibited by canceling the continuous printing designation.

(1): Interruption by another user can be prohibited during continuous printing of a plurality of jobs of the same user by using extremely simple processing (or procedure) without using a dedicated application. In addition, it can be expected that the output result (printed paper) is prevented from being mistaken and the sorting work is reduced.

  (2): Since the printing apparatus on the output side controls the continuous printing, the printing is not interrupted to a job not via the server as in the conventional example 4.

  (3): When the continuous print job is controlled by specifying a timeout, it is easy to realize on the printing apparatus side, and there is an effect that the user does not need to be aware of the end of the continuous print specification. In addition, when continuous printing is desired, documents are usually prepared by one user, and it is easy to understand that printing is performed in order, and the present invention can sufficiently satisfy the requirements.

§1: Description of System Configuration Example FIG. 2 is a system configuration example. This system includes a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter also simply referred to as “personal computers”) 1-1, 1-2, 1-3... 1-n on a communication line (for example, a network such as a LAN) 3. In this system, one printer 2 is connected and printing is performed by sharing one printer 2 from the plurality of personal computers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3. The personal computer is an example of the information processing apparatus.

§2: Description of configuration of personal computer FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a personal computer. The personal computer shown in FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of any one of the personal computers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3... 1-n shown in FIG. Let's assume that all computers have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a display device 11, a keyboard / mouse 12, a removable disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “RDD”) 13, a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 14 and the like are connected to the personal computer main body 1B. Has been. The personal computer main body 1B is provided with a print instruction unit 21, a printer driver 22, an OS information unit 23, and the like. The printer driver 22 includes a setting input unit 31, an OS information acquisition unit 32, a print data processing unit 33, and the like.

  The OS information unit 23 stores clock information (information including time) managed by the OS and various OS information including user name information. The print instruction unit 21 gives a print instruction to the printer driver 22 based on information designated or input by an operator or the like from a display screen displaying print information. The printer driver 22 sets various information at the time of printing in accordance with an instruction from the print instruction unit 21, takes in print data, and drives the printer 2.

  The setting input unit 31 inputs setting information set by the operator from the setting screen of the display device 11. The OS information acquisition unit 32 acquires OS information including clock information, user name information, and the like from the OS information unit 23 managed by the OS (operating system). Based on the setting information set by the setting input unit 31 and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit 32, the print data processing unit 33 prints information on continuous printing designation and designation timeout time designation information for a plurality of jobs. Print data is created by adding to output target data.

  The print instruction unit 21 of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 3, the setting input unit 31 in the printer driver 22, the OS information acquisition unit 32, and the print data processing unit 33 are each configured by a program. In addition, a CPU or the like (not shown) is provided in the personal computer main body 1B, and the CPU executes the program to execute the processing of each unit in the personal computer main body 1B.

§3: Description of printer configuration FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a printer. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer 2 includes a data receiving unit 41 that receives data from the personal computer 1, a data analyzing unit 42 that analyzes the received data, and a continuous job determination unit that performs continuous job determination processing. 43, a printer engine unit 47 for printing the instructed data, a clock 44, a counter 45, a memory 46, and the like.

  Then, the continuous job determination unit 43 determines whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs from the analysis result of the data analysis unit 42. If the user does not designate the next continuous printing within the designated timeout period while the continuous printing is designated, the interruption of other jobs during job printing is prohibited by canceling the continuous printing designation.

  The data receiving unit 41, the data analyzing unit 42, and the continuous job determining unit 43 are each configured by a program. The printer 2 is provided with a CPU, a non-volatile memory, etc. (not shown), and the processing of each unit in the printer 2 can be realized by the CPU executing the program.

§4: Explanation of processing during interrupt-prohibited printing FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of processing outline during printing, FIG. A shows a print designation screen example of a printer driver, and FIG. B shows a print execution time and a print example. . Hereinafter, processing at the time of interrupt-prohibited printing will be described.

(1): Explanation of continuous printing control Although continuous printing is specified on the printer driver 22 side of the personal computer 1, control is performed on the printer 2 side. In this case, if the printer driver 22 of the personal computer 1 designates the content (or gist) of “perform continuous job printing”, the printer 2 embeds it in the header portion of the print data spooled by the printer driver 22. It is reflected in the information (whether or not continuous job printing is specified, timeout time, continuous printing specified user name).

  For example, when job continuous print designation: yes, timeout time: 60 seconds, continuous print designation user name: userA, and print start time: 10:00: JOBCONTINUE = Y; TIMEOUT = 60; USER = userA; TIME = 10 : 00: 00; is added to the header portion of the print data to be printed out, and processing for creating print data to be output to the printer 2 is performed.

  In this way, in the printer driver 22 of the personal computer 1, the print data processing unit 33 designates continuous printing of a plurality of jobs based on the setting information input by the setting input unit 31 and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit 32. Is added to the print output target data, and print data to be requested to the printer 2 is created. The printer 2 that has received the print data refers to the information of the print data, performs a determination process of the printer 2 to be described later, and executes printing.

(2): Explanation of user distinction As described above, the printer driver 22 of the personal computer 1 embeds a user name in the print data during printing. For example, in the case of a Windows (registered trademark) login name, this user name can be acquired from the OS from the printer driver 22 using a Windows API (Aplication Programming Interface). At the same time, the print start time can be acquired from the OS. Then, the printer 2 refers to the “USER =” designation in the print data, and determines whether or not it matches the current user name during continuous printing.

(3): Explanation of the entire processing of the personal computer and the printer Hereinafter, the entire processing of the personal computer 1 and the printer 2 will be described. As described above, FIG. 5A is an example of a printer print designation screen of the printer driver 22 in the personal computer 1. In the print setting item, the paper size and the like are designated, and the job is continuously printed ( It is possible to specify whether or not to perform continuous job printing) and to specify a designated timeout time when performing continuous job printing (designation of a continuous designated timeout time).

  FIG. 5B is a print execution time and print example from the personal computers 1-1 and 1-2 of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. , D indicates that continuous job designation printing is performed, and that the document C alone is printed from the personal computer 1-2.

  In this case, in the document A, the print request source: 1-1, job continuous print designation: yes, timeout time: 60 seconds, print designation time: 10:00:00. In the document B, the print request source is 1-1, the job continuous print designation is: Yes, the timeout time is 60 seconds, and the print designation time is 10:00:20. In document C, the print request source is 1-2, job continuous print designation: none, timeout time: none, and print designation time: 10:00:30. In the document D, the print request source is 1-1, the job continuous print designation is: Yes, the timeout time is 60 seconds, and the print designation time is 10:00:50.

  When printing such a document, the print execution time is in the order of output of document A-> document B-> document C-> document D. For the user of the personal computer 1-1, document A-> document B-> document D is put together. Assume that no interruption of document C is desired. Now, when printing is performed in the above state, first the printing of the document A is accepted. At this time, since continuous job printing is not in progress, printing is performed first, but since continuous job printing is designated, a flag indicating that continuous job printing is in progress is set, the designated timeout time is started, and the user name of document A is recorded.

  Next, when printing of the document B is accepted, continuous job printing is in progress, the print execution time is also 20 seconds from the document A print and within 60 seconds of the timeout time, continuous job designation is specified, and Print. After printing, the continuous job timeout count (for example, using the counter 45 shown in FIG. 4) is reset, and the count is started again.

  Next, the document C is accepted, but continuous job printing is in progress, and the print execution time is 10 seconds after the document B and within 60 seconds of the timeout time, but this job is temporarily suspended because no continuous job is specified. The next job is accepted. Document D is printed because the printing execution time is 30 seconds after the document printing and the timeout time is 60 seconds, the continuous job is specified, and the user (same user) is printing the continuous job. Finally, a pending job for document C is received, and printing is performed after a timeout period from document D.

  In this way, it is possible to prohibit interruption by another user during continuous printing of a plurality of jobs with a very simple procedure without using a dedicated application. In addition, it is possible to prevent mistakes in output results and reduce sorting work.

(4): Other Description Comparison with Conventional Example 4 When sharing a network printer as the printer 2, a mode in which a client prints via a single server and a mode in which a plurality of clients directly print on a printer There is.

  Conventional example 4 requires a server that manages print jobs and collects (controls) continuous print jobs. For this reason, there is a possibility that a job printed without going through the server is interrupted because it cannot be controlled. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the output-side printer 2 controls continuous printing, printing is not interrupted to a job that does not pass through the server.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the continuous print job is controlled by time-out designation, there is an advantage that it is easy to realize on the printer 2 side and the user does not need to be aware of the end of the continuous print designation. Furthermore, when it is desired to perform continuous printing, it is usually provided by one user of a document, and it is easy to understand that printing is performed in the order in which it is desired to output, and the present invention can sufficiently satisfy the requirements.

§5: Explanation of processing on personal computer side (printer driver) FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of the printer driver. Hereinafter, the processing of the printer driver 22 on the personal computer side will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, S1 to S10 indicate each processing step.

  First, when there is a print instruction from the operator (an instruction from the screen using a keyboard or a mouse), the print instruction unit 21 issues a print instruction to the printer driver 22. Next, in the printer driver 22, the setting input unit 31 reads the setting information (setting information at the time of printing) set by the operator (S1), and determines whether the print data processing unit 33 is a continuous job designation (S2). . As a result, if a continuous job is specified, “JOBCONTINUE = Y” is added to the header (S3), and a specified timeout time “TIMEOUT = xx” is added to the header (S4). Then, the OS information acquisition unit 32 acquires OS information including clock information and user name information from the OS information unit 23 (S5).

  Next, the user name “USER = xx” is added to the header (the header portion of the print data) (S6), the print execution time “TIME = xx” is added to the header (S7), and the print data change process is performed (S7). S8) This process is terminated.

  If there is no continuous job designation in the process of S2, “JOBCONTINUE = N is added to the header (S9), and the specified timeout time“ TIMEOUT = 0 is added to the header (S10), and the process proceeds to S5. .

  As described above, the print data processing unit 33 uses the setting information input by the setting input unit 31 and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit 32 to specify continuous print designation information and designation timeout time designation for a plurality of jobs. Print data is created by adding information to print output target data. Thereafter, the print data is sent to the printer 2 to make a print request.

§6: Explanation of processing on the printer side FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of the printer. Hereinafter, the processing of the printer 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, S11 to S22 indicate processing steps.

  First, when the data receiving unit 41 receives a job (print request) from the personal computer 1 (S11), the data analyzing unit 42 analyzes the received job. Based on the analysis result, the continuous job determination unit 43 determines whether or not continuous job printing is performed (S12). As a result, if it is continuous job printing, the continuous job determination unit 43 determines whether or not it is within the continuous job printing timeout (S13). If it is not within the continuous job printing timeout, the process proceeds to S12, and continuous job printing. If it is within the timeout, it is determined whether or not continuous job printing is specified (S14).

  As a result, if there is continuous job printing designation, the continuous job determination unit 43 determines whether or not the continuous job being printed is printed by the user (same user) (S15). If printing, printing is executed, and continuous job timeout counter reset (counter 45 in FIG. 4 is reset) and count start (counter 45 in FIG. 4 is started) are performed (S16). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a pending job and there is a pending job (S17). If there is a pending job and there is a pending job, the process proceeds to S12. Exit.

  If it is determined in step S12 that continuous job printing is not in progress, the received job is printed (S19), and it is determined whether continuous job printing is specified (S20). As a result, when continuous job printing is specified, continuous job timeout count reset and count start are performed, the continuous job printing flag (a flag is provided in the memory 46 in FIG. 4) is turned ON, and continuous job printing user recording is performed. (S21). Then, the process proceeds to S17.

  If the continuous job printing is not designated in the process of S20, the continuous job printing flag is turned OFF, the continuous job timeout count reset and count stop are performed (S22), and the process proceeds to S17. If the continuous job printing is not designated in the process of S14 and if the continuous job being printed is not printed from the user in the process of S15, the received job is put on hold (S18), and the process proceeds to S17. To do.

§7: Description of specific device example and recording medium FIG. 8 shows a specific device example. The information processing apparatuses 1A-1 and 1A-2 shown in FIG. 1 are realized by an arbitrary computer such as a workstation or a personal computer (the personal computers 1-1, 1-2,... 1-n in FIG. 2). Can do. This apparatus comprises a computer main body 5, a display device 11 connected to the computer main body 5, an input device (keyboard / mouse, etc.) 12, an RDD (removable disk drive) 13, an HDD (hard disk device) 14, and the like. .

  The computer body 5 includes a CPU 51 that performs various internal controls and processes, a ROM 52 (nonvolatile memory) for storing programs and various data, a memory 53, and an interface control unit (“I / F”). 54), a communication control unit 55, and the like. The RDD 13 includes a flexible disk drive and an optical disk drive.

  In the apparatus having the above-described configuration, for example, a program for realizing the processing of the information processing apparatus or the personal computer 1 is stored in a magnetic disk (recording medium) of the HDD 14, and the CPU 51 reads and executes the program. Thus, the processing performed by the information processing apparatuses 1A-1, 1A-2 or the personal computers 1-1, 1-2, ... 1-n is executed.

  However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the program may be stored in the magnetic disk of the HDD 14 as follows, and the CPU 51 may execute the program to execute the processing. .

  a: A program (program data created by another device) stored in a removable disk created by another device is read by the RDD 13 and stored in a recording medium of the HDD 14.

  b: Data such as a program transmitted from another device via the communication line is received via the communication control unit 55, and the data is stored in a recording medium (magnetic disk) of the HDD 14.

  The printer 2 is also provided with a CPU (not shown), and the CPU in the printer 2 executes a program recorded in advance in a non-volatile memory or the like in the printer 2 by the CPU in the printer 2. 2 can also be performed.

(Appendix)
The following configuration is appended to the above description.

(Appendix 1)
In the information processing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed out by the printing apparatus,
A setting input section for inputting setting information set on the print designation screen;
An OS information acquisition unit that acquires OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation from OS information managed by the OS;
Based on the setting information set by the setting input unit and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit, information for specifying continuous printing of a plurality of jobs and information for specifying a specified timeout time are added to the print output target data to obtain print data. A print data processing unit for creating
An information processing apparatus comprising at least

(Appendix 2)
In the printing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed by the printing apparatus,
A data receiving unit for receiving print data from any one of the information processing devices;
A data analysis unit for analyzing the received print data;
Based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs. A continuous job printing determination unit that prohibits interruption of other jobs during job printing by canceling continuous printing designation when the next continuous printing designation is not performed within the time period, Printing device.

(Appendix 3)
A print processing method of the information processing apparatus of a system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed by the printing apparatus In
A setting procedure for entering setting information set on the print designation screen;
An OS information acquisition procedure for acquiring OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation from OS information managed by the OS;
Based on the setting information set by the setting input unit and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit, information for specifying continuous printing of a plurality of jobs and information for specifying a specified timeout time are added to the print output target data to obtain print data. Print data creation procedure to create
A print processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

(Appendix 4)
In the printing processing method of the printing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a printing request from any of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed by the printing apparatus. ,
A data reception procedure for receiving print data from any one of the information processing apparatuses;
A data analysis procedure for analyzing the received print data;
From the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs. If the next continuous print designation is not performed within the specified timeout period, the continuous print designation procedure for prohibiting interruption of other jobs during job printing by canceling the continuous print designation,
A printing processing method for a printing apparatus, comprising:

(Appendix 5)
A plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and the printing apparatus of the system that receives a print request from any of the information processing apparatuses by the printing apparatus and outputs the print request,
A data receiving unit for receiving print data from any one of the information processing devices;
A data analysis unit for analyzing the received print data;
Based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs. A program for realizing the function of a continuous job print determination unit for prohibiting interruption of other jobs during job printing by canceling continuous print designation when the next continuous print designation is not performed within the time, or the program A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded.

(Appendix 6)
In the information processing apparatus of the system that connects a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus via a communication line, and receives a print request from any of the information processing apparatuses by the printing apparatus,
A setting input section for inputting setting information set on the print designation screen;
An OS information acquisition unit that acquires OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation from OS information managed by the OS;
Based on the setting information set by the setting input unit and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit, information for specifying continuous printing of a plurality of jobs and information for specifying a specified timeout time are added to the print output target data to obtain print data. A program for realizing the function of a print data processing unit for creating a computer, or a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

It is a principle explanatory view of the present invention. It is a system configuration example in an embodiment. It is a block diagram of the personal computer in embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer in an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of processing at the time of printing in the embodiment, in which FIG. A shows an example of a print designation screen of a printer driver, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing of a printer driver in the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the printer according to the embodiment. It is a specific example of an apparatus in an embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1-1, 1-2... 1-n PC (personal computer)
1A-1, 1A-2 Information processing device 1B PC main body 2 Printer 2A Printing device 11 Display device 12 Keyboard / mouse 13 RDD (Removable disk drive)
14 HDD (Hard Disk Device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Print instruction part 22 Printer driver 23 OS information part 3 Communication line 31 Setting input part 32 OS information acquisition part 33 Print data processing part 41 Data reception part 42 Data analysis part 43 Continuous job printing determination part 44 Clock 45 Counter 46 Memory 47 Printer Engine section 5 Computer body 51 CPU
52 ROM
53 Memory 54 I / F Control Unit 55 Communication Control Unit

Claims (5)

In the information processing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed out by the printing apparatus,
A setting input section for inputting setting information set on the print designation screen;
An OS information acquisition unit that acquires OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation from OS information managed by the OS;
Based on the setting information set by the setting input unit and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit, information for specifying continuous printing of a plurality of jobs and information for specifying a specified timeout time are added to the print output target data to obtain print data. A print data processing unit for creating
An information processing apparatus comprising at least In the printing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed by the printing apparatus,
A data receiving unit for receiving print data from any one of the information processing devices;
A data analysis unit for analyzing the received print data;
Based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs. A continuous job printing determination unit that prohibits interruption of other jobs during job printing by canceling continuous printing designation when the next continuous printing designation is not performed within the time period, Printing device. A print processing method of the information processing apparatus of a system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a print request from any one of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed by the printing apparatus In
A setting procedure for entering setting information set on the print designation screen;
An OS information acquisition procedure for acquiring OS information including clock information and user name information necessary for continuous printing designation from OS information managed by the OS;
Based on the setting information set by the setting input unit and the OS information acquired by the OS information acquisition unit, information for specifying continuous printing of a plurality of jobs and information for specifying a specified timeout time are added to the print output target data to obtain print data. Print data creation procedure to create
A print processing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising: In the printing processing method of the printing apparatus of the system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and a printing request from any of the information processing apparatuses is received and printed by the printing apparatus. ,
A data reception procedure for receiving print data from any one of the information processing apparatuses;
A data analysis procedure for analyzing the received print data;
From the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs. If the next continuous print designation is not performed within the specified timeout period, the continuous print designation procedure for prohibiting interruption of other jobs during job printing by canceling the continuous print designation,
A printing processing method for a printing apparatus, comprising: A plurality of information processing apparatuses and one printing apparatus are connected via a communication line, and the printing apparatus of the system that receives a print request from any of the information processing apparatuses by the printing apparatus and outputs the print request,
A data receiving unit for receiving print data from any one of the information processing devices;
A data analysis unit for analyzing the received print data;
From the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the print request is a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs. When a continuous print designation for a plurality of jobs is made, job printing other than the continuous designation is not accepted, and the user designates a timeout during continuous printing designation. A program for realizing the function of the continuous job print determination unit for prohibiting interruption of other jobs during job printing by canceling the continuous print designation when the next continuous print designation is not performed within the time.

Images