JP2006178767A - Printing reservation system and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system and its control method capable of printing surely printing contents such as time and a printing format designated by a user even when a plurality of printing jobs are reserved. <P>SOLUTION: Printing is reserved from a host computer 3000 for a printer 1500 capable of setting the plurality of printing jobs. Printing data to be printed are held in an external memory 111 and printing reservation is made for the printer 1500, where it is decided whether or not the printing execution is possible at the designated time in the printing reservation. The host computer 3000 determines the printing reservation of the printing data on the basis of the decision result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print reservation system that executes printing from a printing apparatus connected via a network at a time reserved from a print instruction apparatus, and a control method therefor.

  In recent years, in order to share a printing apparatus, a configuration has been adopted in which a printing apparatus and a plurality of client apparatuses are connected to each other via a network. In such a configuration, since a plurality of client devices share and use the same printing device, when a print job is submitted from the plurality of client devices at the same time, printing is executed in the order of submission. The Rukoto. For this reason, there is a problem that waiting for a print job occurs.

  However, depending on the type of print job, it is not always necessary to print out immediately when a print job is requested to the printing device. Considering the influence on the print job, there are many cases where it is desired to print out a large amount of data at night when the printing apparatus is not used frequently.

  In view of this, a technique is disclosed in which a print time can be specified when a print job is requested from a client device (see Patent Document 1). According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a printing apparatus receives a print job request (reservation) for which a printing time is designated from the client apparatus, the print data is stored as it is until the designated time is specified. It is possible to execute print output when the time comes, and by causing a print job with a low urgency or a large amount of data to be printed in a time zone where the frequency of use of the printing apparatus is low, It is possible to suppress the influence on other print jobs.

In addition, the printer side (printer main body or server machine for processing print data) accepts a print job reservation requested by specifying the print time from the client device, and when the specified print time arrives, the printer side A technique for executing printing by requesting print data from an apparatus is disclosed (see Patent Document 2). According to the technology described in Patent Document 2, when the print time arrives, the print data is requested from the client device and printing is performed, so the storage capacity of the storage device for storing print data provided on the printer side is reduced. can do.
JP-A-6-340151 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-234881

  However, the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, when accepting a print job reservation, do not determine whether the print job that accepts the reservation from the client device can actually be printed at the reservation time. Since the reservation is accepted, there remains a problem that the printing may not be completed at the reservation time depending on the contents of the reserved print job and the existence of the already reserved print job.

  In addition, when it is determined whether printing is actually possible only when a print reservation is received, the printer device environment (for example, the remaining paper number, set paper size, remaining toner amount, There is a possibility that the printing may not be completed at the reserved time due to a change in the remaining number of staples or the like and the reservation contents of other print jobs after the print reservation.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and even when a plurality of print jobs are reserved, it is possible to reliably print with print contents such as a time specified by the user and a print format. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system and a control method thereof.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a print control apparatus capable of setting a plurality of print reservations, and a print instruction apparatus connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executing print reservations. A printing system,
The printing control device is
Receiving means for receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
Determining means for determining whether printing at a time specified in the print reservation is possible;
Notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus of a determination result regarding whether or not the print reservation is possible by the determination means;
The printing instruction device is
Obtaining means for obtaining information about the print reservation from an application;
Transmitting means for transmitting information relating to the print reservation to the print control device;
And a confirming means for confirming a print reservation based on the determination result notified by the notifying means.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a print control apparatus capable of setting a plurality of print reservations, and a print instruction apparatus connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executing print reservations. A printing system comprising:
The printing control device is
Receiving means for receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
Determining means for determining whether printing at a time specified in the print reservation is possible;
If the determination unit determines that printing is possible, printing is performed at the time designated by the print reservation. If the determination unit determines that printing is not possible, printable candidates are determined based on the print reservation. Printing means for calculating and executing printing according to the printable candidates,
The printing instruction device is
Obtaining means for obtaining information about the print reservation from an application;
Transmission means for transmitting information relating to the print reservation to the print control apparatus.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, a printing system according to the present invention includes:
A printing means capable of setting a plurality of print reservations;
Holding means for holding print data to be printed by the printing means;
Reservation means for making a print reservation for the print data to the printing means;
Determination means for determining whether or not printing of the print data by the printing means is possible at the time specified in the print reservation;
Confirming means for confirming a print reservation of the print data based on a determination result by the determining means;
Control means for causing the printing means to print the print data held in the holding means with the contents of the print reservation decided by the decision means.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a print control apparatus that can set a plurality of print reservations, and a print instruction apparatus that is connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executes print reservations A method for controlling a printing system comprising:
In the printing control device,
A receiving step of receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
A determination step of determining whether printing at a time designated by the print reservation is possible;
And a notification step of notifying the print instruction device of a determination result regarding the availability of the print reservation in the determination step,
In the printing instruction device,
An acquisition step of acquiring information about the print reservation from an application;
A transmission step of transmitting information related to the print reservation to the print control device;
And a confirmation step of confirming a print reservation based on the determination result notified by the notification step.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a print control apparatus that can set a plurality of print reservations, and a print instruction apparatus that is connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executes print reservations A method for controlling a printing system comprising:
In the printing control device,
A receiving step of receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
A determination step of determining whether printing at a time designated by the print reservation is possible;
If it is determined in the determination step that printing is possible, printing is performed at the time specified in the print reservation. If the determination step determines that printing is not possible, printable candidates are determined based on the print reservation. Calculating and executing a printing process for executing printing according to the printable candidates,
In the printing instruction device,
An acquisition step of acquiring information about the print reservation from an application;
And a transmission step of transmitting information related to the print reservation to the print control apparatus.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a control method for controlling a printing system including a printing unit capable of setting a plurality of printing reservations.
A holding step for holding print data to be printed by the printing unit in a holding unit;
A reservation step for making a print reservation for the print data to the printing means;
A determination step of determining whether printing of the print data by the printing unit is possible at the time specified in the print reservation;
A confirmation step of confirming a print reservation of the print data based on a determination result by the determination step;
And a control step of causing the printing means to print the print data held in the holding means with the contents of the print reservation decided in the decision step.

  According to the present invention, even when a plurality of print jobs are reserved, it is possible to surely execute printing with the printing contents such as the time specified by the user and the printing style.

  Hereinafter, a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a printing reservation procedure, and the like will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As long as various functions such as print reservation according to the present invention are executed, it may be a single device, a system composed of a plurality of devices, or via a network such as a LAN or WAN. It may be a system that is connected and performs processing. That is, the system configuration to which various terminals described in the following embodiments are connected is an example, and it is needless to say that there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer. The external memory 111 such as a ROM 103 or a hard disk (HD) or a removable portable storage medium (for example, a flexible disk (FD)) has a BIOS as a control program for the CPU 101. (Basic Input / Output System), an operating system program (OS), various programs to be described later necessary for realizing functions executed by each server or each PC, and the like are stored. The OS used in the present embodiment is assumed to be, for example, Windows (registered trademark) XP (manufactured by Microsoft Corporation), but is not limited thereto.

  In the host computer 3000 shown in FIG. 1, the RAM 102 functions as a main memory, work area, or the like of the CPU 101. The CPU 101 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 102 and executing the program.

  An input controller (input C) 105 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 109 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). Further, the video controller (VC) 106 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 110. The display device may be a liquid crystal display as well as a CRT. These are used by the administrator as necessary, and are not directly related to the present embodiment.

  Furthermore, the memory controller (MC) 107 is a hard disk (HD) or flexible disk (FD) that stores a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, etc., or PCMCIA. Controls access to an external memory 111 such as a CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory connected to the card slot via an adapter.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 108 connects and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP or data transmission / reception with the printer 1500 is possible. Note that the CPU 101 enables display on the CRT 110 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 102, for example. Further, the CPU 101 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 110.

  Next, in the printer 1500 connected to the host computer via the network 121, the CPU 112 uses the system bus based on the control program stored in the program ROM 113 b of the ROM 113 and the control program stored in the external memory 114. An image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 117 connected to 115 via a printing unit interface (I / F) 116. Further, a control program for the CPU 112 is stored in the program ROM 113b of the ROM 113. The font ROM 113a of the ROM 113 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information. Further, the data ROM 113c of the ROM 113 stores information used on the host computer 3000 in the case of a printer that does not have the external memory 114 such as a hard disk (HD) or a flexible disk (FD).

  In the printer 1500, the CPU 112 can perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 118, and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. Further, the RAM 119 is a main memory of the CPU 112 and functions as a work area or the like. Here, the RAM 119 is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 119 is also used for an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like.

  Access to the above-described external memory 114 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 120. The external memory 114 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. The operation unit 122 includes an operation panel, and switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged.

  The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems are connected. It may be configured to be able to. Further, the printer mode setting information from the operation unit 122 having an NVRAM (not shown) and having an operation panel may be stored.

  In the present embodiment, the page description language (hereinafter abbreviated as “PDL”) supported by the printer 1500 is relatively, for example, LBP Image Processing System (manufactured by Canon Inc., hereinafter referred to as “LIPS”). Although it is assumed that it is advanced PDL, it is not restricted to this.

  In this embodiment, a printing device control program (hereinafter referred to as “printer driver”) is recorded in the external memory 111 and is executed by the CPU 101 by being loaded into the RAM 102 as necessary. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the definition file and various information tables used by the printer driver are stored in the external memory 111, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a main flow when transmitting print job data from the host computer 3000 to the printer 1500 in the printing system shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, an application program (hereinafter referred to as “application”) 201, graphic engine 202, printer driver 203, and print subsystem 204 in the host computer 3000 are files stored in the external memory 111 shown in FIG. The program module is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the OS or a module using the module when it is executed.

  The application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to an external memory 111 such as a hard disk (HD) via a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, or a network described later.

  The application 201 stored in the external memory 111 is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, output (rendering) is similarly performed using the graphic engine 202 loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101.

  The graphic engine 202 activates a printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus (printer). As a result, the printer driver 203 is executed by the CPU 101 loaded from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102. The graphic engine 202 uses the printer driver 203 to convert the output of the application 201 into a printer control command by PDL.

  The printer control command converted by the printer driver 203 is output to the printer 1500 via the communication interface 108 via the print subsystem 204.

  The print subsystem 204 is activated by the OS, loaded from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101, and scheduling of print jobs, connection control with the host computer with the printer, and printer status. Management.

  The printer driver 203 not only generates a printer control command for the output of the printing or drawing command instructed from the application 201 as described above, but also instructs the printer to reflect the output in the print output. A function for performing settings for controlling the functions of the driver 203 and the printer 1500 main body (hereinafter referred to as “user interface”), a function for storing the settings, and a capability of the printer driver 203 and the printer 1500 main body include applications, A function for providing information to the OS, a function for generating a printer control command when the function set by the user interface is a function of the printer, and a function for setting the user interface by the printer driver. Has functions to realize functions

  FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of another printing system to which the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 in the printing system shown in FIG. 1 can be applied. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a network to which a plurality of client computers 3000, a printer 1500, and a print server computer 4000 are connected. Here, the host computer 3000 shown in FIG. 1 indicates the client computer 3000 shown in FIG. 3, but when the printer 1500 is connected to the print server computer 4000 via the local interface 302 such as Centronics or USB, FIG. A print server computer 4000 is included in the host computer 3000 shown in FIG.

  In the case of the printing system shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the communication I / F controller 108 of the client computer 3000 has a function of a network interface card (NIC). The printer 1500 is directly connected to the network 301 even when connected to the print server computer 4000 via the local interface 302 such as Centronics or USB, and connected to the network 3000 via the print server 4000. It may be a form. Note that the input unit 118 of the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301 has a function of a network interface card (NIC).

  Here, when a print job is transmitted from each client computer 3000 to the printer 1500 connected to the network 301 via the print server computer 4000, each client computer 3000 first has the print server computer 4000 via the print subsystem 204. Send a print job to The print server computer 4000 transmits the print job transmitted from each client computer 3000 to the printer 1500 via a print subsystem on the print server computer 4000 (not shown). Thus, each client computer 3000 can transmit a print job to the printer 1500 via the print server computer 4000.

  When a print job is transmitted from each client computer 3000 to the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301, each client computer 3000 sends a print job to the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301 via the print subsystem 204. Send.

  Next, the basic processing flow of a printer driver suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows basic processing when the print instruction apparatus (host computer 3000 or print server computer 4000) according to an embodiment of the present invention causes the print control apparatus (printer 1500 or print server computer 4000) to perform printing. It is a timing chart which shows a flow. That is, it corresponds to the processing of the host computer application 201, graphic engine 202, and printer driver 203 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 2, since the application 201 does not directly communicate with the printer driver 203 but via the graphic engine 202 of the OS, the application 201 actually exchanges with the graphic engine 202. Do. The graphic engine 202 receives an instruction from the application 201 and instructs the printer driver 203.

  First, the application 201 notifies the graphic engine 202 of settings (printing settings) for printing such as single-sided / double-sided setting and number of copies setting via a memory secured in the RAM 102. Then, the printer driver 203 receives from the graphic engine 202 the initial setting of the memory area newly reserved on the RAM 102 that stores the print settings and information necessary for the printer driver 203 to perform print processing based on the print settings. A request for enabling is received (step S401). As a result, the printer driver 203 secures a memory area for holding information (printer driver information) necessary for the printer driver 203 to perform print processing, and initializes the memory area in accordance with the print settings.

  Next, when the printer driver 203 completes the necessary processing by receiving the initialization request for the information memory referred to by the printer driver 203, the printer driver 203 sets the print capability of the printer driver 203 according to the print setting received in step S401 to the graphic engine. 202 is notified. Then, the application 201 acquires a handle value necessary for associating the print job that is finally transmitted to the printer 1500 and the print setting reflected in the print job from the graphic engine 202 (step S402).

  Next, when the application 201 makes a print start request to the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the print start request from the graphic engine 202 (step S403). As a result, the printer driver 203 can start a PDL generation process, and the printer 1500 can generate a printer command necessary for starting printing. However, the printer 1500 generates a printer command necessary to start printing even when the first page (first page) print processing is started (when the first page drawing instruction is received from the application). There may be.

  Next, the application 201 gives a drawing instruction for realizing drawing of a drawing object such as a character or an image to the graphic engine 202. Then, the printer driver 203 receives the drawing instruction from the graphic engine 202 (step S404). As a result, the printer driver 203 appropriately generates a printer control command reflecting a specified drawing object, a page break, a request for changing a print setting (not shown), and the like, and outputs the printer control command to the printer 1500. Note that the number of pages to be printed is specified by the application 201.

  Next, when the application 201 makes a print end request to the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the print end request from the graphic engine 202 (step S405). As a result, the printer driver 203 generates a printer command necessary for the printer 1500 to end printing, and ends the PDL generation processing.

  Next, the application 201 notifies the graphic engine 202 of a request for discarding the handle value acquired in step S402. Then, the printer driver 203 receives from the graphic engine 202 a request to discard information (printer driver information) in a memory area that stores information necessary for the printer driver 203 to perform print processing (step S406). Accordingly, the printer driver 203 performs a process for discarding the printer driver information.

  One job for transmission to the printer 1500 is generated by the processing in steps S403 to S405 described above.

  In addition to the printer and host computer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing system according to the present embodiment further has a configuration in which print data from the application 201 is temporarily spooled with intermediate code data. In this system, the contents of the intermediate code data once spooled can be further processed. As a result, it is possible to realize functions that the application does not have, such as enlargement / reduction or printing by reducing a plurality of pages into one page with respect to the print data from the application 201.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a printing system extended so as to once generate a spool file 504 composed of an intermediate code when a print command is sent from the graphic engine 202 to the printer driver 203. In the printing system shown in FIG. 5, the contents of the spool file 504 can be further processed. This makes it possible to realize functions that the application does not originally have, such as enlargement / reduction or printing by reducing a plurality of pages into one page with respect to print data from the application.

  Therefore, in order to achieve these objects, as shown in FIG. 5, the system has been extended so that the printing system shown in FIG. 2 is spooled with intermediate code data. In order to process print data, settings are usually made from a window provided by the printer driver 203, and the printer driver 203 stores the setting contents on the RAM 102 or the external memory 111.

  Details of the printing system shown in FIG. 5 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 5, in this expanded printing system, the dispatcher 501 receives a DDI function that is a printing instruction from the graphic engine 202. When the print command (DDI function) received by the dispatcher 501 from the graphic engine 202 is based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the application 201 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 501 stores it in the external memory 111. The spooler 503, which is an internal spool processing module, is loaded into the RAM 102, and a print command (DDI function) is sent to the spooler 503 instead of the normal print data creation processing 507.

  The spooler 503 analyzes the received print command, converts it into an intermediate code for each page, and outputs it to the spool file 504. The intermediate code spool file stored in units of pages is referred to as a page drawing file (PDF). Further, the spooler 503 acquires processing settings (bookbinding printing, Nup, double-sided, stapling, color / monochrome designation, etc.) relating to the print data set for the printer driver 203 from the printer driver 203 as a file for each job. Save to the spool file 504.

  At this time, the setting file stored for each job is referred to as a job setting file (hereinafter simply referred to as “SDF (Spool Description File)”. This job setting file will be described later. Is generated as a file on the external memory 111, but may be generated on the RAM 102. Further, the spooler 503 loads the spool file manager 505 stored in the external memory 111 into the RAM 102, and spools it. The generation status of the spool file 504 is notified to the file manager 505. After that, the spool file manager 505 determines whether printing can be performed according to the contents of the processing settings relating to the print data stored in the spool file 504. .

  As a result, when the spool file manager 505 determines that printing can be performed using the graphic engine 202, the despooler 506 stored in the external memory 111 is loaded into the RAM 102, and the spool file 504 is sent to the despooler 506. Is instructed to print the intermediate code page drawing file described in (1).

  The despooler 506 processes the page drawing file of the intermediate code included in the spool file 504 according to the job setting file including the processing setting information included in the spool file 504, regenerates the GDI function, and again generates the GDI function via the graphic engine 202. Is output.

  When the print command (DDI function) received by the dispatcher 501 from the graphic engine 202 is based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the despooler 506 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 501 is not the spooler 1103. A print command is sent to the normal print data creation processing 507 of the printer driver. The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command including PDL based on the DDI function acquired from the graphic engine 202 and outputs the printer control command to the printer 1500 via the print subsystem 204.

  The operation environment suitable for carrying out the present embodiment or the entire processing content of the printer driver 203 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Next, printing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The operation of the system will be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the entire printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, FIG. 6 shows the operation of the printer main body or the relationship between a server device (print server computer 4000) or the like (hereinafter abbreviated as a server) and a client device (host computer 3000).

  First, when printing is started from an application, the client apparatus accepts a print request including print reservation information from the OS (step S601). Here, the print data is temporarily stored as a spool file by the spooler 503 of the printing system shown in FIG. Further, even when the internal spool process is not used in FIG. 5, it is possible to temporarily stop the printer and hold the print data 507 as a spool file. Print reservation information is set in advance at the client device at the start of printing or before the start of printing.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for selecting print reservation information. For example, the user can set the date, time, etc. of the print reservation using the user interface shown in FIG. 13 displayed on the monitor of the client device. Specifically, the print reservation date can be specified by clicking the corresponding date on the displayed calendar with a mouse or the like.

  Next, the transfer time to the printer is calculated from the size of the spool file temporarily held and the transfer speed on the network line (step S602). In other words, the transfer rate is determined from the time from the transmission of arbitrary data for acquiring the network transfer rate from the client device to the printer side until the return to the client device and the arbitrary data size. Then, the transfer time to the output data and the printer is calculated from the size of the spool file temporarily held and the transfer speed.

  For example, if 256 bytes of data are sent back to the device and the same 256 bytes of data are returned from the device and the time required for the transmission / reception is 1 second, the transfer rate is 512 bytes / second. If the spool file size is 1024 Kbytes, the transfer speed to the printer is 2000 seconds.

  Then, the print execution timing is determined (step S603). FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a process in which the server determines a print reservation designation time based on information transmitted from the client side.

  First, print reservation information such as a client name, a job name, a print reservation start time, and a job is transmitted from the client device to the server (step S701). FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of print reservation information transmitted from the client apparatus to the server in step S701. The print reservation data transmitted from the client device to the server includes the address of the client device that is the transmission source and the transmission in addition to the print reservation information such as the client name, job name, print reservation start time, and job shown in FIG. The address of the server device that is the destination is included. The information sent by the client device can be set in various ways, such as information set in advance on the client side, input by the user at the start of printing in the application, or information collected from the print job information on the driver side when the print job is spooled. There may be a collection method and information form. For example, like the user interface shown in FIG. 13, a setting screen is displayed on the client device, the reservation information is set by the user, and the information is transmitted to the server.

  Next, the server receives print reservation information from the client device (step S702). Then, the print reservation information shown in FIG. 11 sent from the client apparatus and the device configuration information at that time are acquired (step S703). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of device configuration information that can be acquired from a device. As shown in FIG. 10, as the information acquired from the device, various information such as the remaining amount of paper, the paper size, the paper type, and the remaining amount of toner can be considered.

  Further, information on the print reservation list managed by the server is acquired (step S704). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a print reservation list managed by the server in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the print reservation list includes a reservation number, client name, (print) job name, job size, print start time, data transfer required time, output required time, scheduled print end time, number of sheets, Includes paper size. Furthermore, the print reservation list includes setting information set at the time of reservation by the user, such as rounding control permission, whether or not halfway printing is permitted, and the minimum print permission font size.

  Then, it is confirmed whether or not the data to be printed can be printed at the designated time (step S705). Specifically, it is confirmed whether there is another job that is reserved for printing start at the reservation start time designated by the client device in the print reservation list managed by the server. As a result, if the print reservation start time does not overlap with other jobs, it is determined that printing is possible (Yes), and the print reservation is set at the time designated by the client device (step S708).

  On the other hand, if the print start times are duplicated, it is determined that printing is not possible (No), and a process is performed in which the reserved time is shifted to a time that is not duplicated with the time designated by the client device. Specifically, first, the job size is compared with the reservation list job whose designated time overlaps with the print job (step S723). Then, the reservation job with the smaller job size is corrected to be printed earlier than the designated time, and the print disclosure time is designated so that the reservation job with the larger job size is subsequently printed ( In step S724), a print reservation is set at each designated time (step S708).

  In addition, when the print start times overlap, the print start time with the larger job size may be set to be delayed. In addition, the print start time such as setting the time when the output of the reserved job ends before the output of other print jobs starts, or setting the reservation at the time when the output of other print jobs is expected to end There are various possible ways to set this. Here, the setting is made mainly with respect to the print start time, but it is possible to specify not only the print start time but also how many hours or days after the print reservation.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a print reservation job requested from the client apparatus with the current printer configuration can be output (step S709). That is, here, it is determined whether or not output is possible by checking the attribute of the reserved print job transmitted from the client device and the device status. For example, the paper size actually output in the print job is compared with the paper size set in the device. As a result, if the paper size intended by the client device is not set in the device, even if reserved printing is performed, the intended paper size is not output, and reserved printing does not make sense. The same applies to the paper type, remaining amount of paper, staple, toner, and the like.

  If it is determined that output is possible (Yes), the server transmits the print reservation result information set in the server to the client device (step S721). Further, the client apparatus receives print reservation result information from the server (step S710), and then sets (determines) the print start time (step S722).

  If it is determined in step S709 that the job of the client apparatus cannot be output with the current settings (No), rounding processing is permitted to determine whether the job attribute can be changed and output. A determination is made as to whether or not it has been performed (step S711). As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, as one piece of information managed by the server as a print reservation list, there is a set value indicating whether or not rounding processing of the reserved print job attribute of the client device is permitted. Whether to allow or not is determined by holding a specified value set by the server or the client device, or by a user setting the user device using a user interface as shown in FIG. Can be considered. It is also possible to make a setting such that uniform rounding processing cannot be executed for a print job that can be output when the job attribute is changed even when this rounding processing is not permitted.

  As a result, when the rounding process is permitted (Yes), the attribute of the print reservation job is compared with the device status, and the usable attribute is calculated (step S712). Here, specifically, the number of sheets and the sheet size will be described as examples. In the print reservation list shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that the print start time is 11:00 on December 1, 2004, the print end scheduled time is 11:50 on the same day, and a print job having a sheet size: 100 letters is to be reserved. . It is also assumed that the paper size set for the device at that time: 100 letters are set and 500 A5 sizes are set.

  At this time, in consideration of the print start time and end time, print jobs that have been reserved for printing with paper size: letter before that are No. 3 print job. 100 devices are set. When the number of sheets consumed in the third print job is 60, the number of letter sheets remaining when printing of the reserved job is started is 40 sheets. Therefore, when examining whether or not rounding processing is possible, if the paper size specified in the job is not set in the device, it can be output if it is changed to the paper size currently set in the device. In this case, it is determined that rounding is possible. Therefore, in the case of the above example, since the reserved job needs to print 100 sheets with the paper size: letter, 60 sheets of the paper are insufficient. On the other hand, if the paper size is changed to A5, 100 sheets can be printed. Therefore, in this case, it is determined in step S714 that the rounding process is possible.

  In addition, when the remaining amount of paper is small and output is impossible, output is possible by suppressing the number of sheets with double-sided printing, 2UP / 4UP / 6UP printing as job attributes. For example, when the above example is used, if the total number of sheets of print jobs to be reserved in the client apparatus is 100 sheets, but there are only 40 sheets available at that time, 4UP printing is performed. 25 sheets can be consumed without consuming 100 sheets. That is, it can be output by changing the job attribute from 1 × printing to 4UP. In this case as well, it is determined that rounding processing is possible in step S714.

  In addition, various workarounds are conceivable as the job attribute rounding process in step S714. Here, it is determined whether or not output is possible by changing the print job attribute (step S714). If output is possible by changing the attribute (Yes), the print reservation time and the client device are set as the print reservation time. A rounding candidate is notified to the client device (step S715).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S714 that rounding processing is not possible (No), or if it is determined in step S711 that rounding is not permitted (No), print reservation result information including the print reservation time from the server to the client device, A notification indicating that output is impossible is sent (step S718). If it is determined in step S709 that output is possible (Yes), the server notifies the client apparatus of print reservation result information (step S721).

  The client apparatus receives the print reservation result information notified from the server in steps S715, S718, and S721 (step S710). Thereafter, predetermined processing is performed to set (determine) the print start time (step S722).

  In other words, after the print reservation result information is acquired from the server (step S710), the client apparatus determines whether the print reservation is accepted by the server if it can be output with the current reservation setting (step S713). As a result, when it is determined that the print reservation has been accepted (Yes), the client apparatus sets (determines) the print reservation at the print start time (step S722). On the other hand, when the print reservation is not accepted (No), it is determined whether or not an output impossible notification is received from the server (step S717).

  As a result, when the output impossible notification has not been received (No), the client apparatus displays the rounding candidate (step S716), and determines whether or not the rounding candidate has been selected (step S719). As a result, when a rounding candidate is selected (Yes), a print reservation is set (confirmed) at the original print start time (step S722). On the other hand, when the rounding candidate is not selected in step S719 (No), it is selected whether or not to reset the job attribute (step S720).

  Here, in step S720, whether or not to reset the job attribute is determined by referring to a default value originally set in advance in the server or the client device, or a display or the like as shown in FIG. There are various determination methods, such as displaying a user interface prompting the user to make a setting and allowing the user to make a selection. That is, FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for selecting a priority order in rounding processing.

  If the job attribute is not reset in step S720 (No), the print start time is set (determined) as it is (step S722). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S720 that the job attribute is reset (Yes), the print job attribute is reset (step S707), and the process returns to step S701 to perform the above-described process again. When resetting the job attribute, the print reservation information that deletes the print reservation information of the old job attribute from the print reservation list and transmits the instruction to set the print reservation information with the reset job attribute in the print reservation list again in step S701. In step S707. The above is the print timing determination processing in step S603 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  After the processing in step S603, the output data is saved in the spool file 504 (step S604). In the printing system shown in FIG. 5, the print data 507 can be saved in a file such as “* .prn” instead of the intermediate code data without using the internal spool processing. There are various contents and methods.

  When the set print start time is reached, the reservation information is transmitted again from the client side to the printer server (step S605). Note that it is possible for the server to send the reservation information to the client side again based on the print reservation list, and processing in either the client device or the server is possible.

  Then, the server performs output data request processing to the client device (step S606). FIG. 8 shows the details of the job output permission determination, rounding process, output data transmission request process to the client apparatus, etc. (step S606) in the flowchart of FIG. 6 based on the information reserved for printing by the client apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating.

  First, the server acquires the device status and the job attributes of the currently reserved client device from the print reservation list. As the information acquired from the device, as shown in FIG. 10, various information such as the remaining amount of paper, the paper size, the paper type, the remaining amount of toner, the remaining amount of staples, and the like can be considered. Then, it is determined whether or not a print reservation job requested from the client apparatus with the current printer configuration can be output (step S801). Specifically, it is determined whether output is possible by comparing the attributes of the reserved print job with the device status.

  As a result, if it is determined that the reserved print data can be output (Yes), the server requests the client apparatus to transmit the output data (step S814), and the client apparatus transmits the output data to the printer (printer server). (Step S815). In this embodiment, the server requests the client device to transmit output data, and the client device transmits the output data to the printer (printer server). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, You may make it utilize the output data which the client apparatus transmitted to the printer (printer server) beforehand at the time of print reservation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S801 that output is not possible (No), it is determined whether or not job attribute rounding permission is set (step S802). The rounding permission can be set in various ways, such as setting a predetermined value in advance in the uniform server or client device, or setting from a user interface as shown in FIG. There is a way.

  As a result, when the job attribute rounding process is permitted (Yes), whether or not output is possible if the rounding process is performed on the output data determined not to be output in step S801, and the data It is determined whether or not the output format is within the allowable range of the user (step S803).

  A specific example of the rounding process availability determination in step S803 will be described. If the paper size specified in the job is not set in the device, it can be output if it is changed to the paper size currently set in the device. In this case, it is determined that rounding is possible. For example, if the paper size set in the job is B4, if the paper size set in the device is A4 / A5 / A3, then A4 / A5 / A3 set in the device from B4 Output is possible by changing to any paper size. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that the rounding process is possible.

  Also, when the remaining amount of paper is small and cannot be output, the job attribute can be output by suppressing the number of sheets in double-sided printing, 2UP / 4UP / 6UP printing. For example, if the number of sheets is set to 100 for a reserved job, but only 50 sheets remain in the device, if the print job attribute is set to 2UP, the number of sheets is 50, so output is possible. Become. In that case, it is determined that rounding is possible. Various other workarounds are possible.

  Thereafter, as to whether or not the output format after the rounding process is within an allowable range, there is a means for confirming the output font size as one of the determination methods. Since the number of sheets is insufficient, even if output is possible by reducing the number of sheets, if the printed characters are reduced so that they cannot be read, it does not make sense to output them. Therefore, it is determined here whether the output appearance after the rounding process is actually within the allowable range.

  Taking the font size as an example, first, the font size that is actually output and the minimum font size that permits printing are stored in the reserved print data shown in FIG. When output is possible by changing the job attribute to 4UP printing, the reduction rate of output data can be calculated by changing 1UP to 4UP. Using the reduction ratio, the font size after rounding processing (in this case, changing to 4UP printing) is calculated from the font size before rounding processing. When the output font size after the rounding process is within the allowable range, it is determined that the output is possible by performing the rounding process.

  If it is determined in step S803 that output is possible (Yes), it is then determined whether there are a plurality of rounding processing candidates (step S805). As a result, when there are a plurality (Yes), the rounding process is selected according to the priority order of the rounding process set in step S719 (step S807). If there is a rounding process different from the rounding process displayed and selected in step S719, it follows the value indicating the prioritization previously set by the user interface or the like in the client device. Then, a request for changing the attribute of the output data is notified from the server to the client device (step S810).

  After that, the client device that has received the output data attribute change from the server performs output data attribute change processing (step S811), and transmits the output data to the printer server (step S815). Note that if the client device transmits output data to the printer (printer server) in advance at the time of print reservation, the output data is discarded.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S802 that rounding is not permitted (No), or if it is determined in step S803 that the rounding process is not possible or the output appearance after the rounding process is outside the allowable range, that is, rounding is performed. If it is determined that it is impossible (No), it is determined whether or not permission to output partway through the reservation setting is set (step S804).

  Here, regarding the printing permission up to the middle, a predetermined value is set in advance in the server or the client device, or the user sets from a user interface as shown in FIG. There are various ways. Then, as one of the setting items when the client apparatus notifies the server of information at the time of print reservation, it is held as an item of the print reservation list of the server as shown in FIG.

  If it is possible to output halfway, for example, if the paper size of the reservation data is set in the device, but the remaining amount of paper is too small to output all the sheets, it will output as long as there is paper in the device That is. Therefore, if output is permitted partway (Yes), it is determined whether output is possible partway (step S806). If it is determined that the output can be performed halfway (Yes), the client apparatus is notified of how much further output is possible and is displayed on the printer panel (step S808). Then, a one-page job including information on how far can be output is transmitted to the printer (step S809). Thereafter, transmission of output data is requested from the server to the client device (step S814). Then, after receiving the output data transmission request from the server, the client device transmits the output data to the server (printer server) (step S815).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S804 that there is no output permission in the middle (No), and if it is determined in step S806 that output in the middle is not possible (No), it is determined that the reserved print data cannot be output to the client. The information is notified to the apparatus, and the fact is displayed on the display of the client apparatus, or is notified to the printer and displayed on the panel of the printer (step S812). Then, an output impossible notification job consisting of one page including the client name, job name, etc. is transmitted to the printer (step S813). The above is the details of the reserved print data output request processing in step S606.

  Thereafter, the printer receives the output data transmitted from the client device or the server and executes a printing process (step S607). Thereafter, regarding the job that cannot be output, device information is acquired periodically or when other print reservation information is transmitted to the server, and the printer device status is monitored (step S608). Then, when a situation in which a job that cannot be output is printed, the process returns to the processing of step S606 again, and print data output request processing is performed.

  Note that the printing system according to the present embodiment is not limited to the configurations and contents of the various tables in FIGS. 6 to 11 described above, and is configured with various configurations and contents according to applications and purposes. Needless to say.

  As described above, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, at the time of print reservation and print execution, the printer device configuration at that time can be grasped, and the output of the reserved print job can be executed as intended. . That is, not only simply accepting a print reservation as in the past, but also determining whether or not a reserved print job can be printed in the printer device configuration at the time of accepting a reservation and at the time of printing. Can be printed in the form of

  Although the embodiment has been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or storage medium (recording medium). The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a single device or an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in 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.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in 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.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a main flow when transmitting print job data from a host computer 3000 to a printer 1500 in the printing system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of another printing system to which a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500 in the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1 can be applied. 6 is a timing chart illustrating a basic processing flow when the print instruction apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention causes the print control apparatus to perform printing. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printing system that is expanded so as to once generate a spool file 504 composed of an intermediate code when a print command is sent from the graphic engine 202 to the printer driver 203. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the entire printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing in which a server determines a print reservation designated time and the like based on information transmitted from the client side. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, in order to describe in detail the output permission determination, rounding processing, output data transmission request processing to the client device (step S606), etc., based on the information reserved for printing by the client device. It is a flowchart of. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing reservation list | wrist managed by the server in the printing system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the device structure information acquirable from a device. It is a figure which shows an example of the print reservation information transmitted to a server from a client apparatus in step S701. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface for selecting the priority in a rounding process. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which selects printing reservation information.

Explanation of symbols

101, 112 CPU
102, 119 RAM
103, 113 ROM
104, 115 System bus 105 Input controller 106 Video controller 107 Memory controller 108 Communication I / F controller 109 Keyboard 110 CRT (monitor)
111 External memory (HD, FD)
113a Font ROM
113b Program ROM
113c Data ROM
114 External memory (HD)
116 Printing section I / F
117 Print Unit 118 Input Unit 120 Memory Controller 121 Data Transfer Path 122 Operation Unit 201 Application 202 Graphic Engine 203 Printer Driver 204 Print Subsystem 501 Dispatcher 502 Internal Spool Processing 503 Spooler 504 Spool File 505 Spool File Manager 506 Despooler 507 Print Data Creation Processing 1500 Printer 3000 Host computer (client computer)
400 print server computer

Claims (14)

A printing system comprising: a print control apparatus capable of setting a plurality of print reservations; and a print instruction apparatus connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executing print reservations,
The printing control device is
Receiving means for receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
Determining means for determining whether printing at a time specified in the print reservation is possible;
Notification means for notifying the print instruction apparatus of a determination result regarding whether or not the print reservation is possible by the determination means;
The printing instruction device is
Obtaining means for obtaining information about the print reservation from an application;
Transmitting means for transmitting information relating to the print reservation to the print control device;
A printing system comprising: a decision unit that decides a print reservation based on the determination result notified by the notification unit. The printing control apparatus further includes a calculation unit that calculates a printable candidate based on the print reservation when the determination unit determines that printing is not possible,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the print instruction apparatus of the printable candidate calculated by the calculation unit.   The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printable candidate includes at least one of a printable time in the print control apparatus and a printable attribute indicating a printable appearance. The print control device further includes a selection unit that selects a print reservation from the printable candidates notified by the notification unit;
The printing system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the confirmation unit confirms the print reservation selected by the selection unit. The print instruction apparatus further comprises holding means for holding the print data for which the print reservation has been made;
The printing control apparatus further includes a printing unit that acquires the print data from the holding unit included in the printing unit and executes printing when the printing reservation determined by the determination unit is executed. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   When the print time of the print reservation received by the receiving unit overlaps with the print time of other print reservations already reserved in the print control apparatus, the size of the print data relating to each print reservation is compared. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit that changes a print reservation time so that print data having a small size is printed earlier than print data having a large size. Printing system. A printing system comprising: a print control apparatus capable of setting a plurality of print reservations; and a print instruction apparatus connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executing print reservations,
The printing control device is
Receiving means for receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
Determining means for determining whether printing at a time specified in the print reservation is possible;
If the determination unit determines that printing is possible, printing is performed at the time designated by the print reservation. If the determination unit determines that printing is not possible, printable candidates are determined based on the print reservation. Printing means for calculating and executing printing according to the printable candidates,
The printing instruction device is
Obtaining means for obtaining information about the print reservation from an application;
A printing system comprising: transmission means for transmitting information related to the print reservation to the print control apparatus. A printing means capable of setting a plurality of print reservations;
Holding means for holding print data to be printed by the printing means;
Reservation means for making a print reservation for the print data to the printing means;
Determination means for determining whether or not printing of the print data by the printing means is possible at the time specified in the print reservation;
Confirming means for confirming a print reservation of the print data based on a determination result by the determining means;
And a control unit that causes the printing unit to print the print data held in the holding unit with the contents of the print reservation decided by the decision unit. Re-determination means for re-determining whether printing of the print data is possible at the time designated by the print reservation confirmed by the confirmation means;
A change unit that changes a print attribute of the print data when the re-determination unit determines that printing of the print data is impossible.
The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit causes the printing unit to print the print data whose printing attribute has been changed by the changing unit. A control method for a printing system comprising: a print control apparatus capable of setting a plurality of print reservations; and a print instruction apparatus connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executing print reservations,
In the printing control device,
A receiving step of receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
A determination step of determining whether printing at a time designated by the print reservation is possible;
And a notification step of notifying the print instruction device of a determination result regarding the availability of the print reservation in the determination step,
In the printing instruction device,
An acquisition step of acquiring information about the print reservation from an application;
A transmission step of transmitting information related to the print reservation to the print control device;
And a confirmation step of confirming a print reservation based on the determination result notified by the notification step. A control method for a printing system comprising: a print control apparatus capable of setting a plurality of print reservations; and a print instruction apparatus connected to the print control apparatus via a network and executing print reservations,
In the printing control device,
A receiving step of receiving information related to print reservation from the print instruction apparatus via the network;
A determination step of determining whether printing at a time designated by the print reservation is possible;
If it is determined in the determination step that printing is possible, printing is performed at the time specified in the print reservation. If the determination step determines that printing is not possible, printable candidates are determined based on the print reservation. Calculating and executing a printing process for executing printing according to the printable candidates,
In the printing instruction device,
An acquisition step of acquiring information about the print reservation from an application;
And a transmission step of transmitting information related to the print reservation to the print control apparatus. A control method for controlling a printing system including a printing unit capable of setting a plurality of printing reservations,
A holding step for holding print data to be printed by the printing unit in a holding unit;
A reservation step for making a print reservation for the print data to the printing means;
A determination step of determining whether printing of the print data by the printing unit is possible at the time specified in the print reservation;
A confirmation step of confirming a print reservation of the print data based on a determination result by the determination step;
And a control step of causing the printing means to print the print data held in the holding means with the contents of the print reservation decided in the decision step. A holding procedure for holding print data to be printed by a printing unit capable of setting a plurality of print reservations in a holding unit;
A reservation procedure for making a print reservation for the print data to the printing means;
A determination procedure for determining whether or not printing of the print data by the printing unit is possible at the time specified in the print reservation;
A confirmation procedure for confirming a print reservation of the print data based on a determination result by the determination procedure;
A program for causing a computer to execute a control procedure for causing the printing means to print the print data held in the holding means with the contents of the print reservation decided in the confirmation procedure.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 13.

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