JP2005186559A - Printing device, server device and job processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a job processing environment which can freely output a subsequent printing job in precedence over other accumulated printing jobs. <P>SOLUTION: When the CPU of a printing device 100 receives a printing job the desired printing completion time of which is specified from a task PC120 and judges that the printing and outputting is not ready within the desired printing completion time, the CPU inquires about the approval of an output sequence change of the print job to a task PC130 or the like, inquirers for the respective printing jobs accumulated in an output standing-by state. Then, from the approval result replied to the inquiry, the CPU requests the other printing device 110 for changing the output sequence of the update printing job received from the task PC120 or the replacement output of the newest printing job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a server apparatus and a job processing method for receiving a print job from a plurality of computer apparatuses connected to a computer network and performing a printing process, a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, and a program It is.

  Conventionally, as this type of printing system, the following Patent Documents 1 to 5 have already been published.

  Among these, in JP-A No. 2004-151867, when a job is added to the print queue 16, the job processing for printing the job is determined from the program conditions of the job, the number of original image pages, and the data compression rate information of each page. Time and job end time are calculated in the main processor. When a job is sent from the print queue to the print output unit, the print processor unit updates the print end time of the job in the print queue. Since the waiting time from the calculation result to the end of printing of each job is displayed on the display unit, it is possible to inform the print requester when the job will be finished on the spot or by telephone return call. Is described.

  In Patent Document 2, a client computer sends a new print job to a network printer or the like, and the approximate print time of the new print job is added to the total print time of the previous print job held by the network printer. It is described that the total printing time is updated, the total printing time of the result is returned to the client computer, and the client computer displays the returned total printing time as the time or time until the print job is completed. ing.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a server client system in which printing apparatuses are connected via a plurality of networks, and print data is appropriately divided and distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses on a print server shared and used by clients. , The conversion driver calculates the output time of the print data by each printing device based on the printing performance data of each printing device which is a candidate for pre-defined distributed allocation, and the scheduler completes printing by each printing device at the same time It is described that the division of print data is optimized so that the divided print data is allocated to each printing apparatus.

  Patent Document 4 includes a printer information DB that stores a printing schedule and location information of a printer. A print request including print data and delivery destination information is received from the user terminal, the print end time prediction unit predicts the print end time when printing is performed for each printer, and the delivery time prediction unit determines the location of each printer. Estimate the time required for delivery. Since the output printer determination unit determines which printer is to print the print data based on the prediction result, it is possible to select a printer to execute printing according to the time required from the print request to delivery. It describes what you can do.

Furthermore, in Patent Document 5, in a printing system in which a plurality of computers and a host computer request printing of print data to a plurality of printers via a network, the time required for printing the print data is indicated for each printer. An input operation such as a keyboard or a mouse for setting a desired print end time when executing document printing. A printing system having a means in a host computer. There has been disclosed a printing system in which print data to be printed in a hurry can be preferentially printed without being mixed with other print data. In this print system, the printer of the print system sets the print end scheduled time of each print data and the desired print end time of each print data set by the desired print end time setting means for a plurality of print data requested to be printed. If there is a printing order switching means for switching the printing order in comparison, and the scheduled print end time exceeds the desired print end time even if the printing order switching means is used in a specified printer in an environment with a plurality of printers In this case, a search result obtained by searching for another printer that is predicted to be able to finish printing by the desired print end time, and a print method that can be completed by the desired print end time are determined from the search result, and the print method is determined for the user. It is described that it has notifying means for notifying and also having a printing method reselecting means.
JP-A-7-76155 JP-A-10-157251 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194911 JP 2001-31393 A JP 2002-259110 A

  According to each of the prior arts described above, the contents of a print job are analyzed and a print completion time or print time in a specific printing apparatus is predicted and notified, or an appropriate printing apparatus is provided according to the time until the printing is completed. It is possible to assign a print job, change the print order by comparing the expected print end time and the desired print end time of each print data set by the print end desired time setting means.

  However, even for a rushed print job, it is cumbersome to input the print end time each time, so the print priority and the desired print end time are not necessarily set. For this reason, if a print job that is in a hurry but has no print priority or desired print end time is interrupted by many print jobs later, the requester of this print job does not know. However, there is a problem in that the completion of the print job is delayed and printing does not end at the expected time.

  Further, when printing is really urgent, there is a problem that if the currently executed print job is printing a large number of copies, the current print job will not be completed and will not be in time.

  Furthermore, there is also a problem that if the end time is unavoidable, when a print job is assigned to another printer, a department that should not be burdened will be charged.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it is a printing apparatus that receives a print job from a plurality of computer apparatuses connected to a computer network and performs print processing. When a print job with a specified print completion desired time is received from any computer device, the latest print job received from any computer device is analyzed and the processing time is calculated until the print processing is completed. The calculated processing time is compared with the desired print completion time specified in the print job to determine whether the print output can be performed within the desired print completion time. The print output is not possible within the desired print completion time. Output order of print jobs to the requesting computer device stored in the storage means waiting for output. Inquiries about the approval of the change, and based on the approval result returned from the requesting computer device for the inquiry, the output order of the latest print job is changed, or the transfer output of the latest print job is transferred to another print By requesting the device, even if a print job with a desired print completion time is received and a request cannot be satisfied even if multiple print jobs are already waiting to be output, After that, the user of another print job who has committed the print completion time will be inquired about the approval of the interrupt output afterwards, and the approval will be obtained after clearly indicating the delayed output status to the user who supports the interrupt output. In this case, subsequent print jobs can be freely output prior to other stored print jobs, and even if approval is not obtained, they can be output by other printing devices. If possible, it is to provide a printing apparatus, a job processing method, a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, and a program capable of constructing a job processing environment in which the print job can be freely transferred and output efficiently. .

  A second object is to provide a plurality of computer devices connected to a computer network and a server device that controls a print job by transmitting a print job received from each computer device to one of the plurality of print devices. When a print job with a specified print completion desired time is received from a computer device, the latest print job received from any computer device is analyzed to calculate the processing time until the print processing is completed, and the calculation Is compared with the desired print completion time specified in the print job to determine whether printing can be performed within the desired print completion time, and determined that printing cannot be performed within the desired print completion time. Print job to the requesting computer device of each print job stored waiting for output in the storage means Inquires about the approval of the output order change, and changes the output order of the latest print job or the output of the transfer of the latest print job based on the acceptance result returned from the requesting computer device in response to the inquiry. Requesting the printer to receive a print job with the desired print completion time in a state where multiple print jobs are already waiting to be output, and the request cannot be satisfied. Even after that, the user of another print job who is committed to the print completion time inquires the approval of the interrupt output afterwards, and approves after clearly indicating the delayed output status to the user who supports the interrupt output. If it is removed, subsequent print jobs can be freely output in advance of other stored print jobs, and even if approval is not obtained, other print devices can be output. By providing a server device and a job processing method that can construct a job processing environment that can output the print job freely and output it efficiently, a storage medium that stores a computer-readable program, and a program is there.

  A first invention according to the present invention is a printing apparatus (for example, the printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1) that receives a print job from a plurality of computer apparatuses connected to a computer network and performs print processing. Storage means (for example, the hard disk 38 shown in FIG. 3) that sequentially stores the print jobs received from the computer, and reception means (for example, the LAN adapter 34 shown in FIG. 3) that receives from the computer device a print job that can specify the desired print completion time. ), A calculation unit (for example, the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 3) that calculates the processing time from the analysis of the latest print job received from one of the computer apparatuses to the end of the printing process, and the calculation unit. Compare the processing time with the desired print completion time specified in the print job, and print within the desired print completion time. If it is determined by the determination means (for example, CPU 31 shown in FIG. 3) whether or not printing is possible and printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, it is stored in the storage means waiting for output. Inquiry means (for example, the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 3) for inquiring to the requesting computer apparatus of each print job that the print job output order has been accepted, and the requesting computer apparatus for the inquiry means are returned. Job management means (for example, the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 3) for requesting another printing apparatus to change the output order of the latest print job or to transfer the latest print job based on the acceptance result. It is characterized by having.

  The second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the inquiry means generates a message for inquiring consent to change the output order of the print job.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the message for inquiring acceptance of the change in the output order of the print job generated by the inquiry means includes the output completion time information before and after the change and the requester name. And

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an acquisition unit that acquires an output required time of a print job requested for transfer output from another printing apparatus, and an output required time of the print job acquired by the acquisition unit are accumulated. A transfer determination unit (for example, the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 3) that determines whether or not transfer output can be accepted by comparing the print completion desired time of each print job waiting for output, and a transfer request source of the determination result by the transfer determination unit And a notification means (for example, CPU 31 shown in FIG. 3) for notifying other printing apparatuses.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when it is notified from the other printing device that a transfer output request can be accepted, the name of the other printing device that is the transfer destination is assigned to the computer device requesting the output job. It has the transmission means (for example, CPU31 shown in FIG. 3) which transmits.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the information indicating the degree of urgency specified in the latest print job is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the determination unit determines the processing time calculated by the calculation unit and the printing. The print completion desired time specified in the job is compared, and it is determined whether printing can be performed within the print completion desired time.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing management means for managing billing information associated with output processing of each print job, a print job for which the output of the transfer job is managed by managing whether the attribute of each print job is output by transfer. Charge processing means for canceling the charge to the request source.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of computer devices connected to a computer network, and a server device that controls a print job by transmitting a print job received from each computer device to any one of the plurality of printing devices. One of storage means (not shown) for sequentially storing print jobs received from the respective computer devices, and receiving means (not shown) for receiving from the computer devices a print job capable of designating a desired print completion time. A calculation means (not shown) for calculating a processing time from the analysis of the latest print job received from the computer apparatus to the end of the printing process, and the processing time calculated by the calculation means and the print job Judgment means for determining whether or not printing output is possible within the desired print completion time by comparing with the desired print completion time (Not shown), and when the determination unit determines that printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, printing is performed on the requesting computer device of each print job stored in the storage unit waiting for output. Inquiry means (not shown) for inquiring about approval of job output order change, and change of output order of the latest print job based on an acceptance result returned from the requesting computer device to the inquiry means, Alternatively, it has job management means (not shown) for requesting another printing apparatus to perform a transfer output of the latest print job.

  The ninth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the inquiry means generates a message inquiring permission to change an output order of a print job.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the message for inquiring acceptance of the change in the output order of the print job generated by the inquiry means includes the output completion time information before and after the change and the requester name. And

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the output required time of a print job requested for transfer output is compared with the print completion desired time of each print job waiting for output to determine whether transfer output can be accepted. And a transmission unit that transmits a name of another printing apparatus that is a transfer destination to the computer apparatus that is a request source of the output job when the transfer determination unit determines that the transfer is possible. And

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, when the information indicating the degree of urgency specified in the latest print job is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the determination unit determines the processing time calculated by the calculation unit and the printing. The print completion desired time specified in the job is compared, and it is determined whether printing can be performed within the print completion desired time.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided billing management means for managing billing information associated with output processing of each print job, and management of whether or not the attribute of each print job is output by transfer. Charge processing means for canceling the charge to the request source.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job processing method in a printing apparatus for receiving a print job from a plurality of computer apparatuses connected to a computer network and performing a printing process, wherein the print job received from each computer apparatus is received. An accumulation step (step S422 shown in FIG. 5) that sequentially accumulates in the accumulation means, a reception step that receives a print job that can specify the desired print completion time from the computer device, and the latest print that is received from any computer device A calculation step (step S524 shown in FIG. 6) for calculating a processing time from analyzing the job to ending the printing process, a processing time calculated by the calculation step, and a desired print completion time specified in the print job To determine whether print output is possible within the desired print completion time Step (step S525 shown in FIG. 6) and if it is determined by the determination step that printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, the request source of each print job stored in the storage means waiting for output An inquiry step (step S526 shown in FIG. 6) for inquiring the computer device about the approval of changing the output order of the print job, and an approval result returned from the requesting computer device for the inquiry step, Job management means (steps S529 and S531 shown in FIG. 6) for changing the output order of the latest print job or requesting another printer to perform the output change of the latest print job. .

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of computer devices connected to a computer network and a server device that controls a print job by transmitting a print job received from each computer device to any one of the plurality of printing devices. A job processing method comprising: a storage step of sequentially storing print jobs received from each computer device by a storage unit; and a receiving step of receiving a print job from which the print completion desired time can be specified from the computer device. A calculation step for calculating a processing time from the analysis of the latest print job received from the computer device to the end of the printing process; a processing time calculated by the calculation step; and a desired print completion time specified in the print job To determine whether print output is possible within the desired print completion time. And when the determination step determines that the print output is not possible within the desired print completion time, the print job is sent to the requesting computer device stored in the storage means waiting for output. An inquiry step for inquiring about the approval of the output order change, and the change of the output order of the latest print job or the latest print based on the acceptance result returned from the requesting computer apparatus for the inquiry step. And a job management step of requesting another printing apparatus for job transfer output.

  A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a program for executing the job processing method according to any one of the fourteenth to fifteenth aspects is stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

  A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is a program for executing the job processing method according to any one of the fourteenth to fifteenth aspects.

  According to the present invention, in a state where a plurality of print jobs are already stored waiting for output, even if a situation occurs in which a print job with a desired print completion time is received and the request cannot be satisfied, A user of another print job who promised the print completion time was later inquired about the approval of the interrupt output, and the approval was obtained after clearly indicating the delayed output status to the user who cooperated with the interrupt output. In this case, subsequent print jobs can be freely output prior to other accumulated print jobs, and even if approval cannot be obtained, the print jobs can be freely transferred if they can be transferred by another printing device. There is an effect that it is possible to construct a job processing environment that can be transferred and output efficiently.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to an example of a printing system in which a plurality of printing apparatuses and a plurality of PCs can communicate via a communication line. .

  In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus (A) 100, a printing apparatus (B) 110, a business PC (A) 120, a business PC (B) 130, and a business PC (C) 140 are mutually connected via a communication line 150 according to a predetermined protocol. It is connected so that it can communicate.

  In the printing apparatus (A) 100, a print history information storage unit 101, a user table 102, and a spool data storage unit 103 for managing a print job requested by the user in a hard disk 38, which will be described later, are secured. ing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the business PCs 120, 130, and 140 shown in FIG. 1, and is assumed to include hardware as a general data processing apparatus.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU, which is connected to the system bus 20 by system software (including an operating system (OS)) loaded from the hard disk 28 into the RAM 22 when the hardware is recognized by the BIOS stored in the ROM 23. Various input / output processes (including a print job management process to be described later) using the device to be controlled are comprehensively controlled.

  A LAN adapter 24 is connected to a network cable for connecting to the communication line 150, and controls communication processing with an external device using a predetermined protocol. A video adapter 25 is connected to a display device (not shown), and performs information display control on the display device by reflecting the operation of the keyboard 26 and the mouse 27. A CD-ROM drive 29 reads desired data and applications from a CD-ROM storing various application programs.

  The CPU 21 is configured to be able to communicate with the printing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 110 via a printing control program (printer driver) stored in the hard disk 28, and transmits an inquiry from the PC described later to the printing apparatus. Or a response to the transmission can be received.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatuses 100 and 110 illustrated in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a CPU, which loads a print control program stored in the ROM 33 or the hard disk 38 into the RAM 32, processes a job process received via the LAN adapter 34, and obtains a status of the process being requested. Or a reply process for a predetermined inquiry from the PC.

  The hard disk 38 has the print history information storage unit 101, the user table 102, and the spool data storage unit 103 shown in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, information is recorded by the CPU 31 in the print history information storage unit 101 for a charging process when the printing apparatus is changed.

  The user table 102 stores a user ID, a user name, an IP address, and a department to which the user belongs. The spool data 103 stores the data shown in FIG. 4, but the print job for which printing has been completed is deleted by the CPU 31.

  Reference numeral 35 denotes a liquid crystal display unit that can perform settings for the printer engine 36 constituted by a touch panel, for example, and performs processing for displaying the status of the printer engine 36. Reference numeral 37 denotes a scanner engine, which communicates with the CPU 31 using a predetermined protocol and reads a document image based on scanning conditions designated by the CPU 31. A hard disk 38 functions as a spooler that spools jobs received via the LAN adapter 34 and the system bus 30 in a predetermined order or according to a preset priority order, or print jobs for a predetermined period for security print processing. It also has a holding function.

  The scanner engine 37 can read a gray scale document or a color document, and the printer engine 36 executes an electrophotographic process such as a laser beam printer engine or an inkjet head. The present invention can also be applied to an inkjet printer engine that discharges ink droplets.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of a received print job stored in the print history information storage unit 101 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the print job includes a print management number, an IP address, a job flag, a printer, a page, a print completion schedule, a user ID, data, a desired print completion time, a status, and the like. The first digit indicates the request source status, the second digit indicates the request destination status, the third and fourth digits indicate the request destination response status, and the fifth and sixth digits indicate the transfer status. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention, and print information including print job information between the business PC 120 and the printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is received. Corresponds to the data processing procedure. S401 and S402 correspond to steps executed under the control of the CPU 21 of the business PC 120, and S421 and S422 correspond to steps executed under the control of the CPU 31 of the printing apparatus 100.

  First, in step S401, the business PC-A 100 selects a “print” button or a print menu in any application program that is selectively activated from among various application programs installed in the hard disk 28. Then, the screen of the printer driver is displayed on the display device (not shown) by the CPU 21.

  In step S402, print information including print job information including the user ID of the user who requested printing, the IP address of the PC that requested printing, and the print completion desired time is printed via the LAN adapter 24 and the communication line 150. Transmitted to the device 100.

  In response to this, the printing apparatus 100 receives print information via the LAN adapter 34 and the system bus 30 in step S421, and in step S422, the print job reception buffer (hereinafter referred to as reception buffer) secured in advance in the RAM 32 by the CPU 31. The print information is added with a unique number and reception time information and stored as print job data.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. Processing of print job information received by the printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 (a series of processes from analysis to printing) ) Corresponds to the procedure. Note that S521 to S535 correspond to steps executed under the control of the CPU 31 of the printing apparatus 100.

  First, in step S521, when the CPU 22 refers to the reception buffer in the RAM 22 and determines that print job data exists in the reception buffer, the print job data having the oldest reception time is read into the work area of the RAM 22.

  Next, in step S522, it is determined whether a new print job has been received from the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 110, or the like. If it is determined that a new print job has been received, the process proceeds to step S523. If it is determined that a new print job has not been received, the process proceeds to step S527 and subsequent steps.

  In step S523, the print job data read into the work area on the RAM 22 is analyzed, and the CPU 31 determines the time required for printing in the printing apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 31 determines the required print time based on the number of pages in the print job, data attributes (color / monochrome, character / image, resolution, gradation, etc.), description language type, and the like. Shall be executed.

  Next, in step S524, the print job data secured on the hard disk 38 is additionally written to the spool data 103 in the data format shown in FIG. 4, and when the additional writing ends normally, the reception buffer and work area on the RAM 32 are written. The print job data is deleted, and the memory in the RAM 32 is released.

  In step S525, the print completion desired time of the print job (hereinafter abbreviated as the target job) written in the spool data 103 in step S524 is compared with the expected print completion time, and printing is performed before or simultaneously with the print completion desired time. When it is determined whether the scheduled completion time has arrived, that is, whether it is in time for the desired time, and if it is determined that it is in time, the process proceeds to step S527, and if the scheduled print completion time comes after the desired print completion time (that is, desired) If not in time), the process proceeds to step S526.

  In step S526, a print order change request process in which print order change request information is transmitted to the requesting user of the print job written in the spool data 103 before the target job (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 7). ) And the process proceeds to step S527. Further, the reply process to the request on the business PC side will be described later with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Next, in step S527, the answer reception buffer secured in advance in the RAM 22 is referred to and answer information is loaded into the work area.

  In step S528, it is determined in step S527 whether a new OK or NG answer has been received. If it is determined that a new answer has been received, the process proceeds to step S529. If it is determined that a new answer has not been received, the process proceeds to step S532.

  In step S529, when OK is newly received, the third or fourth digit of the job flag of the corresponding print job of the spool data 103 is updated based on the response information, and the spool data 103 is updated based on the response information. After the print job data order and scheduled print completion time are changed, the response data in the reception buffer and work area on the RAM 32 is deleted.

  On the other hand, if NG is newly received, the response data in the reception buffer and work area is deleted, and then the process proceeds to step S530.

  In step S530, the value of the job flag, the estimated print completion time, and the desired print completion time are compared for the print job for which the new response has been received, and it is determined whether an additional print order change request is necessary based on the NG response. If it is determined that an additional print order change request is necessary, the process proceeds to step S531. If it is not determined that an additional print order change request is necessary, the process proceeds to step S532.

  In step S532, the value of the job flag, the expected print completion time, and the desired print completion time are compared for the print job for which the desired print completion time is specified, and it is determined whether the job transfer process is necessary.

  Specifically, the desired print completion time is specified, but there is no or insufficient destination print job that can be requested (a print job in the prior order that has not been requested to change the order). If it is determined (for example, if all the priority order print jobs that can be requested to change the order are not given in time), it is determined that transfer is necessary.

  If it is determined that the job transfer process is necessary, the process proceeds to step S533. If the job transfer process is not determined to be necessary, the process proceeds to step S534.

  In step S533, job transfer processing, which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 9, is executed.

  In the present embodiment, job transfer processing refers to execution of a print job by another cooperating printing apparatus, and a printing request is made as to which printing apparatus is to execute a normal print job. The user is notified. Next, in step S534, the print job data of the spool data 103 is sent to the printer engine 36, and printing is executed.

  In step S535, the requesting user of the print job that has completed printing is notified of the completion of the print job, and the print job data that has been printed in the spool data 103 is moved from the spool data 103 to the print history information storage unit 101. (Deleted after copying). Thereafter, the process returns to step S521.

  As a result, when a user on the PC side wants to print at a desired time, a necessary print job is selected, and a broadcast notification is sent to the requester of the print job.

  Even if the request is received, an OK / NG pop-up is displayed on the PC screen, and a new scheduled print end time is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether the request is accepted or not, and respond by pressing the button. Therefore, it does not take time and effort, and it is not interrupted without knowing it, and there is no inconvenience that printing is delayed without knowing.

  Even if there is no response, if the print job requires a long time, the order can be automatically lowered, so the order of one print job could not be moved, so it does not complete at the desired print time. Can be minimized.

  If an NG response is received, a request message is broadcast to other requesters of equal or higher print jobs, so that new operations are not required and comfortable operation is possible.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the printing order change request processing procedure shown in FIG. Note that S621 to S624 correspond to steps executed under the control of the CPU 31 of the printing apparatus 100.

  First, in step S621, a request destination job for changing the printing order is calculated from the difference between the desired print completion time of the target job and the expected print completion time.

  As a request destination job to be requested, the first job (a) selects a print job with a long print time and a print completion time not designated with the highest priority. If this first process (a) is executed and the printing order of the print job is changed, if the expected print completion time is earlier than the desired print completion time, the following second process (b) is Not done.

  A print job other than the first process (a) and the second process (b), which is a job with a long print time and for which a print completion desired time is not designated, is selected next. If the print order of the print job in the second process (b) is changed, if the scheduled print completion time is earlier than the desired print completion time, the process proceeds to step S622.

  Thereafter, the same processing is repeated until the scheduled print completion time is earlier than the desired print completion time. Finally, the estimated print completion time when the request destination print order is changed is calculated and stored in the work area of the RAM 32.

  In step S622, the second digit of the job flag of the requested job is updated to “1” in the print job data of the spool data 103 on the hard disk 38, and the first digit of the job flag of the target job is “1”. Update to

  Next, in step S623, the request message screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit of the requested business PC based on the IP address and the user ID corresponding to the requested job of the print job data of the spool data 103. Request message is generated and stored in the work area of the RAM 32.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a request message displayed on the display device of the PC 120 shown in FIG.

  In the example of the request message shown in FIG. 8, at least information indicating that a request for changing the printing order has been requested, information for inquiring whether or not to accept, a print completion scheduled time after changing the printing order, and a reply button (accepting button and rejection) Button) is displayed. Note that as shown in FIG. 8, the user ID of the person who requested printing and the scheduled print completion time before changing the printing order may be displayed.

In step S624, the request message stored in the work area of the RAM 32 is transmitted to the requested business PC. This is the end of the description of FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. The response of the business PC that has received the request message for requesting the change of the printing order of the business PC 120 or the like shown in FIG. Corresponds to the processing procedure. S701 to S707 correspond to steps executed under the control of the CPU 21 such as the business PC 120.

  First, in step S <b> 701, the business PC-A receives a request message via the communication line 150 and stores it in the work area of the RAM 22.

  In step S702, the message screen for confirming the change of the print request shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display device of the business PC-A. For example, the timer is started from the displayed time point, and the elapsed time is stored in the RAM 22 And the elapsed time is updated every second.

  In step S703, it is determined whether or not the OK button BT1 is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 8. If it is determined that the OK button BT1 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S704.

  On the other hand, if it is not determined that the OK button BT1 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S705.

  In step S704, information indicating that the change request has been accepted is transmitted to the requesting printing apparatus, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S705, it is determined whether or not the NG button BT2 is pressed on the message screen shown in FIG. 8. If it is determined that the NG button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S707, and it is determined that the NG button BT2 is pressed. If not, the process proceeds to step S706.

  In step S706, it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) has elapsed by reading the value of the timer (internal timer that can be managed by the CPU 21) started in step S702, and it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed. The process proceeds to step S707, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S703.

  In step S707, information indicating that the change request has been rejected is transmitted to the requesting printing apparatus, and the process ends.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the job transfer processing procedure by the printing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 110 shown in FIG. S821 to S828 are executed under the control of the CPU 31 of the printing apparatus 100, and S841 to S848 correspond to the steps executed under the control of the CPU 31 of the printing apparatus 110.

  First, in step S821, transfer request information is generated based on the determination result of step S532 shown in FIG. 6 and stored in the work area of the RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 100. The transfer request information is almost the same as the print job data shown in FIG. 4, but it is assumed that the required print time is recorded instead of the scheduled print completion time.

  Next, in step S822, transfer request information is transmitted from the printing apparatus 100 to the printing apparatus 110. The printing system shown in FIG. 1 shows a case where there are two printing apparatuses. However, in a printing system in which a large number of printing apparatuses are connected, the transmission destination is not limited to the printing apparatus 110.

  In step S841, the printing apparatus 110 receives the transfer request information. Next, in step S842, whether or not the print job can be transferred is determined based on the required printing time and the print job data in the transfer request information, and the determination result is stored in the work area of the RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 110.

  Specifically, it is determined whether a print job that exceeds the desired print completion time is generated by interrupting the requested print job.

  In step S843, whether transfer is accepted or not is determined. If it is determined that the transfer is accepted, the approval information is transmitted from the printing apparatus 110 to the printing apparatus 100 in step S844. In step S823, the approval information is transmitted from the printing apparatus 110. The printing apparatus 100 receives the approval information, and the print data to be transferred is transmitted from the printing apparatus 100 in step S824. The printing data transmitted from the printing apparatus 100 is received in step S845, and the reception is received in step S846. The stored print data is stored in the reception buffer on the RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 110, added to the spool data 103 in a predetermined printing order, and information indicating that the reception is completed is transmitted from the printing apparatus 110 to the printing apparatus 100 (S847). ).

  In step S825, upon receiving the reception completion notification, the printing apparatus 100 transmits a print destination change notification to the business PC that requested the transferred print job (S826), and updates the job flag in step S828. The process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S843, it is determined whether or not the transfer can be accepted. If the acceptance is determined to be NG, information indicating that the printing apparatus 110 rejects is transmitted from the printing apparatus 110 to the printing apparatus 100 in step S848. Is received, the job flag is updated in step S828, and the process ends.

  Allocate print jobs to other printing devices, exchange billing data between the original printing device and the destination printing device, and calculate the transfer amount after offset processing at the predetermined timing (end of month or specified closing date) You may comprise.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the print management server 200 manages print jobs of the printing apparatuses 100 and 110 (change of job order, transfer, etc.). The transfer process of the printing apparatus 100 shown in the first embodiment can be performed on the print management server 200 without storing the print job transfer function as a program in advance, and the function of the printing apparatus is not expanded. Data processing equivalent to that in the first embodiment can be performed.

  Further, through the print management server 200, it is possible to flexibly cope with addition of other functions.

  The configuration of the data processing program that can be read by the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs readable by the printing system according to the present invention.

  Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, 9, and 10 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to 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 the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to the specific descriptions in the present specification by those skilled in the art.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  According to the above-described embodiment, when printing is desired at a desired time, a necessary print job is selected and a broadcast notification is sent to the requester of the print job, so that it can be requested with a single touch. Even if the request is received, an OK / NG pop-up is displayed on the PC screen, and a new scheduled print end time is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether the request is accepted or not, and respond by pressing the button. Therefore, it does not take time and effort, and it is not interrupted without knowing it, and there is no inconvenience that printing is delayed until it is unknown.

  Even if there is no response, if the print job requires a long time, the order can be automatically lowered, so the order of one print job could not be moved, so it does not complete at the desired print time. Can be minimized.

  If there is an NG response, a request message is broadcast to other print job requesters of equal or higher quality, so that no new effort is required.

  When urgency is specified as high, interrupts can be made when one copy is completed, so that confusion on the interrupted side can be prevented while minimizing loss time, and even when a print job is transferred There is an effect of enabling an appropriate billing process.

In the above embodiment, an example of a printing system that does not perform charging processing or the like when a so-called print job is output has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a printing system that performs predetermined charging processing when a print job is output. At that time, by storing and managing the transfer information, for example, when any printing device transfers the output destination of the print job to another printing device, the transfer of the transferred output job is transferred. You may charge the printing apparatus that has made the request and control the printing apparatus or the server apparatus to execute a charging management process that cancels each charging process for each settlement.

  Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately adjust the disadvantages due to the transfer printing output, increase the print job output efficiency of the entire printing system, and freely construct an appropriate billing operation system.

  In the first and second embodiments, the print jobs of the printing apparatuses 100 and 110 have been described as examples. However, the present invention can be applied to a print job accompanied by a scanner job.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of business PC shown in FIG. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a received print job stored in a print history information storage unit illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 2nd data processing procedure in the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 3rd data processing procedure in the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the request message displayed on the display apparatus of PC shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 4th data processing procedure in the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 5th data processing procedure in the printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the printing system which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores the various data processing program which can be read with the image processing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100, 110 Printing apparatus 101 Print history information storage unit 102 User table 103 Spool data 120, 130, 140 Business PC
150 communication line

Claims (17)

A printing device that receives a print job from a plurality of computer devices connected to a computer network and performs print processing.
Storage means for sequentially storing print jobs received from each computer device;
Receiving means for receiving a print job capable of designating a desired print completion time from the computer device;
Calculating means for analyzing a latest print job received from any computer device and calculating a processing time until the print processing is terminated;
A determining unit that compares the processing time calculated by the calculating unit with the print completion desired time specified in the print job to determine whether printing output is possible within the print completion desired time;
When the determination unit determines that printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, the output order of the print job is changed to the requesting computer device of each print job stored waiting for output in the storage unit Inquiry means to inquire about acceptance of
Based on the acceptance result returned from the requesting computer device to the inquiry means, a request for changing the output order of the latest print job or a transfer output of the latest print job to another printing device is made. Job management means to perform,
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inquiry unit generates a message asking for acceptance of a change in the output order of the print job.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message for inquiring acceptance of the change in the output order of the print job generated by the inquiry unit includes output completion time information before and after the change and a requester name. Acquisition means for acquiring the required output time of a print job requested for transfer output from another printing device;
A transfer determination unit for comparing the required output time of the print job acquired by the acquisition unit and the print completion desired time of each print job waiting for output to determine whether transfer output can be accepted;
A notification means for notifying the determination result by the transfer determination means to another printing apparatus as a transfer request source;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   When it is notified from the other printing apparatus that a transfer output request can be accepted, it has a transmission means for transmitting the name of the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination to the requesting computer apparatus of the output job. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   When the information indicating the degree of urgency specified in the latest print job is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the determination unit includes a processing time calculated by the calculation unit and a print completion desired time specified in the print job. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus determines whether printing output is possible within a desired print completion time. Billing management means for managing billing information associated with output processing of each print job;
Charging processing means for managing whether the attribute of each print job is output by transfer and canceling the charge to the request source of the transferred print job;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of computer devices connected to a computer network, and a server device that controls a print job by transmitting a print job received from each computer device to one of the plurality of printing devices,
Storage means for sequentially storing print jobs received from each computer device;
Receiving means for receiving a print job capable of designating a desired print completion time from the computer device;
Calculating means for analyzing a latest print job received from any computer device and calculating a processing time until the print processing is terminated;
A determining unit that compares the processing time calculated by the calculating unit with the print completion desired time specified in the print job to determine whether printing output is possible within the print completion desired time;
When the determination unit determines that printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, the output order of the print job is changed to the requesting computer device of each print job stored waiting for output in the storage unit Inquiry means to inquire about acceptance of
Based on the acceptance result returned from the requesting computer device to the inquiry means, a request for changing the output order of the latest print job or a transfer output of the latest print job to another printing device is made. Job management means to perform,
The server apparatus characterized by having.   9. The server apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inquiry unit generates a message for inquiring acceptance of a change in the output order of a print job.   9. The server apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the message for inquiring acceptance of the change of the output order of the print job generated by the inquiry unit includes output completion time information before and after the change and a requester name. A transfer determination means for comparing the output required time of the print job requested for transfer output and the print completion desired time of each print job waiting for output to determine whether transfer output can be accepted;
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a name of another printing apparatus serving as a transfer destination to a computer apparatus serving as a request source of the output job when the transfer determination unit determines that the transfer is possible. Server device.   When the information indicating the degree of urgency specified in the latest print job is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the determination unit includes a processing time calculated by the calculation unit and a print completion desired time specified in the print job. The server apparatus according to claim 8, wherein it is determined whether or not printing output is possible within a desired print completion time. Billing management means for managing billing information associated with output processing of each print job;
Charging processing means for managing whether the attribute of each print job is output by transfer and canceling the charge to the request source of the transferred print job;
The server device according to claim 8, comprising: A job processing method in a printing apparatus that receives a print job from a plurality of computer apparatuses connected to a computer network and performs print processing,
An accumulation step for sequentially accumulating print jobs received from the respective computer devices in an accumulation means;
Receiving a print job capable of designating a desired print completion time from the computer device;
A calculation step for analyzing a latest print job received from any computer device and calculating a processing time until the print processing is terminated;
A determination step of comparing the processing time calculated in the calculation step with a print completion desired time specified in the print job to determine whether printing output is possible within the print completion desired time;
If it is determined in the determination step that printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, the output order of the print job is changed with respect to the computer requesting the print job stored in the storage means waiting for output. An inquiry step to inquire about acceptance,
Based on the acceptance result returned from the requesting computer device for the inquiry step, a request for changing the output order of the latest print job or a transfer output of the latest print job to another printing device is made. Job management means to perform,
A job processing method. A job processing method in a plurality of computer devices connected to a computer network and a server device for controlling a print job by transmitting a print job received from each computer device to any of the plurality of printing devices,
An accumulation step of sequentially accumulating print jobs received from the respective computer devices in an accumulation unit;
Receiving a print job capable of designating a desired print completion time from the computer device;
A calculation step of analyzing a latest print job received from any computer device and calculating a processing time until the print processing is completed;
A determination step of comparing whether the processing time calculated in the calculation step and the print completion desired time specified in the print job are printable within the print completion desired time;
If it is determined in the determination step that printing output is not possible within the desired print completion time, the output order of the print job is changed with respect to the computer requesting the print job stored in the storage means waiting for output. An inquiry step to inquire about acceptance,
Based on the acceptance result returned from the requesting computer device for the inquiry step, a request for changing the output order of the latest print job or a transfer output of the latest print job to another printing device is made. Job management steps to perform,
A job processing method.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the job processing method according to claim 14.   A program for executing the job processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 15.

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