JP2007128352A - Information processor and printing order management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage printing order of a host without providing a printer with special control functions in the host-base printer. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor has: a management information storage means; a management information update means; a registration situation decision means for referring to the management information; and a management information transmission means which, when it is decided by the registration situation decision means that the information on other information processors has been registered in the management information, transmits to other information processors management information in accordance with the information on other information processors registered in the management information and order in which the information on other information processors are registered in the management information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a printing order management method.

  A low-cost printer that is widely used in general households is generally a host-based printer that prints out print image data generated by a host.

  In general, in a “host-based printer”, first, page-unit image data developed based on application data on a host computer is uncompressed or compressed and output to a printer. The transfer control of the image data to the printer here is performed mainly by the host computer based on the acquired status obtained by the host computer. When the received image data is compressed, the printer decompresses the compressed image data, converts the decompressed image data into a video signal, and prints page by page. In some cases, the image data identified for each page is subjected to layout processing, for example, in 2 in 1, and printing based on the image data after layout processing is performed.

  Such a host-based printer receives a print job request from a certain host (referred to as a first host computer) and, when permitting transfer of print data, occupies a network and transfers data. Therefore, even if there is a print request from the second host computer during transfer, the printer cannot receive it. At this time, when the print data transfer of the first host computer is completed, it can be said that it is the correct printing order that the second host computer starts the print data transfer next. However, if there is a print request from the third host computer immediately after the first host computer finishes sending the print data, the second host computer is not given priority and the third host computer is given priority. The request from is received. As described above, when printing is performed by a host-based printer, there is a problem in that printing cannot be performed correctly in the order in which print requests are transmitted.

  As a method for solving such a problem related to the printing order, there is a method for controlling the printing order of the host by having a mechanism for managing the printing order on the printer side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this method, when the printer receives print requests from a plurality of host computers, the printer side manages the order collectively to control to receive print data in the correct print order.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-345099

  However, in the conventional method described above, since it is necessary to add a large-scale control function for managing the printing order to the printer, a host-based printer that does not have such a control function performs printing in the correct order. Was impossible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to correctly manage the printing order of a host in a host-based printing apparatus without giving the printing apparatus an extensive control function.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the information processing apparatus of the present invention includes management information storage means for storing management information for managing the printing order in the storage means, and other information processing apparatuses connected via a network. When the print waiting request is received, the information related to the other information processing apparatus is registered in the management information, the management information updating means for updating the management information, the management information is referred to, and the management information In the registration status determination means for determining whether or not information related to the information processing apparatus is registered, and in the registration status determination means, it is determined that the information related to another information processing apparatus is registered in the management information. Then, according to the order in which the information related to the other information processing apparatus registered in the management information and the information related to the other information processing apparatus are registered in the management information, Te, and having a management information transmitting means for transmitting the management information.

  The present invention also relates to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus, an occupancy request means for requesting the printing apparatus to occupy the printing apparatus to submit a print job to the printing apparatus, and another information processing apparatus. Reference means for referring to management information including a reservation for submitting a print job to the printing apparatus, and transfer means for transferring the management right of the management information to another information processing apparatus based on the reference of the management information by the reference means The other information processing apparatus to which the management right is transferred can occupy the printing apparatus.

  The storage means corresponds to, for example, a RAM 116 or HD 119 described later. The information processing apparatus corresponds to, for example, a host A11, a host B12, or a host C13 described later. The printing apparatus corresponds to, for example, a printer 10 described later.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention may be a printing order management method, a printing order management program, and a recording medium.

  According to the present invention, in the host-based printing apparatus, the printing order of the host can be correctly managed without providing the printing apparatus with a large-scale control function.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an example of a printing system. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 is connected to a plurality of host computers (host A11, host B12, host C13) via a network (for example, a LAN (Local Area Network)).

  An example of the hardware configuration of the host A11 is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of a host computer. As shown in FIG. 2, the host A 11 includes, as a hardware configuration, an input unit 111, a display unit 112, a recording medium drive unit 113, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 115, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 116. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 117, an interface unit 118, and an HD (Hard Disk) 119.

  The input unit 111 includes a keyboard and a mouse operated by an operator (or user) of the host A11, and is used to input various operation information and the like to the host A11. The display unit 112 includes a display or the like used by the operator of the host A11, and is used to display various information (or screens). The interface unit 118 is an interface that connects the host A11 to a network or the like.

  A program related to execution of a flow to be described later is provided to the host A11 by a recording medium 14 such as a CD-ROM, or downloaded through a network or the like. The recording medium 14 is set in the recording medium drive unit 113, and the program is installed from the recording medium 14 to the HD 119 via the recording medium drive unit 113.

  The ROM 115 records a program that is read first when the host A11 is powered on. The RAM 116 is a main memory of the host A11. The CPU 117 reads out a program from the HD 119 as necessary, stores it in the RAM 116, and executes the program to execute a flowchart (a part of) described later. In addition to the program, the HD 119 stores management information, print data, and the like, which will be described later.

  The hardware configurations of the host B12 and the host C13 are the same as the hardware configuration of the host A11 illustrated in FIG.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1 again, for example, the host A 11 transmits a print request command to the printer 10 in response to a print instruction from a user or the like via a print instruction user interface. When the printer 10 receives a print request command from the host A11, the printer 10 waits for reception of print data from the host A11 and enters a reception wait state. When the printer 10 enters a print data reception waiting state, the host A 11 can transmit the print data to the printer 10. Here, sending print data from the host A11 to the printer 10 includes processing for instructing to send data via communication hardware in the operating system in the host A11. “Data transmission” in the above description and the following description refers to such data transmission control.

  Here, when the printer 10 receives a print request command from the host A11 and is waiting to receive print data from the host A11, or the printer 10 is receiving print data from the host A11. The time is referred to as a state in which the host A 11 reserves (occupies) the printer 10. Generally, the printer 10 can only establish one or a finite number of communication sessions when receiving data from an external device. A session with the printer and data transfer are called occupying the printer.

  In the printing system of the present embodiment, when a host other than the host that reserves the printer 10 transmits a print request command to the printer 10 while a certain host reserves the printer 10, the printer 10 is reserved. Managing the order of sending the print request commands to the printer 10. As described above, the host that reserves the printer 10 manages the transmission order of the print request commands or the printing order (management information to be described later), so that the plurality of hosts connected to the printer 10 via the network It is possible to manage the printing order.

  The printing order management will be described by taking as an example a case where the host B 12 transmits a print request command to the printer 10 while the host A 11 reserves the printer 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of creation of management information. In FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 to 6 described later, a management list is shown as management information. Of course, as a form of management information, any information that can manage the printing order can be applied even if it is not a list, but in the following, a management list will be described as an example of management information.

  The printer 10 notifies the host B12 that it is currently reserved for the host A11 in order to notify the host B12 that it cannot accept the print request command of the host B12. In other words, the printer 10 transmits host information for identifying the reserved host (for example, the host A11) to the host B12. For example, a host name, a host IP address, a host user name, a host MAC address, or the like can be applied to the host information.

Upon receiving the notification, the host B12 detects that the printer 10 is reserved by the host A11, and transmits a print wait request command to the host A11. For example, when the host A11 receives a print wait request command from the host B12, the host A11 creates the management list 21 for managing the printing order, and registers the host B12 on the top of the management list 21, for example. More specifically, the host A11 stores identification information for identifying the host B12 on the top of the management list 21, for example.
Note that the timing at which the host A11 creates the management list 21 may not be when the print wait request command is received from the host B12 but, for example, when the reservation of the printer 10 is started.

  Subsequently, if the host C11 transmits a print request command to the printer 10 while the host A11 reserves the printer 10, the printer 10 notifies the host C13 that it cannot accept the print request command of the host C13. Therefore, the host C13 is notified to the host C13 that it is currently reserved by the host A11.

  Upon receiving the notification, the host C13 detects that the printer 10 is reserved by the host A11, and transmits a print wait request command to the host A11. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of management list update. When the host A11 receives the print wait request command from the host B12, the host A11 updates the management list 21, and registers the host C13 second from the top of the management list 21, for example.

  When the host A11 completes the transmission of print data to the printer 10, the host A11 refers to the management list 21 and determines which host is registered at the top of the management list 21. Based on the determination result, the host A11 passes the management list 21 (order management right or printer occupation right) to the host (for example, host B12) registered at the top of the management list 21 (transfer). To do). That is, based on the result of the determination, the host A11 sends the information registered at the top of the management list 21 (the identification identifying the host B12) to the host B12 registered at the top of the management list 21. Information, etc.) is deleted, and if there is information registered after (or below) the order of the deleted information, the management list 21 is sent up in that order.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of transfer of the management list from the host A to the host B. Receiving the management list 21, the host B 12 transmits a print request command to the printer 10, reserves the printer 10, and starts transmitting print data to the printer 10.

  When the host B 12 completes sending the print data to the printer 10, the host B 12 refers to the management list 21 and determines which host is registered at the top of the management list 21. Based on the determination, the host B12 passes the management list 21 to the host registered at the top of the management list 21 (for example, the host C13). That is, based on the result of the determination, the host B12 is registered with the host C13 registered at the top of the management list 21 with the information registered at the top of the management list 21 (identification identifying the host B12). The management list 21 from which the information and the like have been deleted is transmitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of transfer of the management list from the host B to the host C. Receiving the management list 21, the host C 13 sends a print request command to the printer 10, reserves the printer 10, and starts sending print data to the printer 10.

  As described above, the host that reserves the printer 10 has the management list 21 (order management right), and can execute printing in the correct order.

  An example of print order management processing in the host is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print order management processing in the host. Hereinafter, the host A11 will be described as an example.

  In step S <b> 61, the host A <b> 11 transmits a print request command to the printer 10. Progressing to step S62 following step S61, the host A11 determines whether the print data can be transmitted to the printer 10. If the host A11 determines that the print data can be transmitted to the printer 10 (yes in step S62), for example, the host A11 starts transmitting the print data, and proceeds to step S63 to determine that the print data cannot be transmitted to the printer 10. (No in step S62), the process proceeds to step S610. For example, when the host A11 receives a notification from the printer 10 that the print request command transmitted in step S61 cannot be received within a predetermined time, the host A11 determines that the print data cannot be transmitted to the printer 10, and the notification is transmitted for a predetermined time. If it is not received, it is determined that the print data can be transmitted to the printer 10.

  In step S63, the host A11 creates the management list 21 and stores it in, for example, the HD 119 shown in FIG. On the other hand, in step S610, the host A11 receives host information for identifying the host that reserves the printer 10 from the printer that has transmitted the print request command. As described above, for example, a host name, a host IP address, a host user name, and a host MAC address can be applied to this host information. In addition, as a method for acquiring host information from a printer other than the printer that sent the print request command, for example, which host has the exclusive right to transfer print data to the printer from the network by broadcasting or the like. You may make an inquiry.

  Progressing to step S611 following step S610, the host A11 transmits a print wait request command to the host identified by the host information received in step S610.

  Progressing to step S612 following step S611, the host A11 determines whether or not the management list 21 has been received from another host. If the host A11 determines that the management list 21 has been received from another host (YES in step S612), the host A11 stores the received management list 21 in, for example, the HD 119 shown in FIG. 2, and starts sending print data. If the process proceeds to step S64 and it is determined that the management list has not been received (no in step S612), the process of step S612 is repeated.

  In step S64, the host A11 determines whether a print wait request command has been received from another host. If the host A11 determines that a print wait request command has been received from another host (yes in step S64), the process proceeds to step S65, and if it determines that a print wait request command has not been received from another host (in step S64). no), the process proceeds to step S66.

  In step S65, the host A11 updates the management list 21. More specifically, the host A 11 sequentially registers identification information or the like for identifying the destination host that has transmitted the print wait request command in the management list 21 as a waiting host, and the management list 21. Update.

  In step S <b> 66, the host A <b> 11 determines whether transmission of print data to the printer 10 has been completed. If the host A11 determines that the transmission of the print data to the printer 10 has been completed (yes in step S66), the host A11 proceeds to step S67 and determines that the transmission of the print data to the printer 10 has not been completed (in step S66). no), it returns to step S64.

  In step S <b> 67, the host A <b> 11 determines whether a waiting host is registered in the management list 21. If the host A11 determines that the waiting host is registered in the management list 21 (yes in step S67), the host A11 proceeds to step S68, and determines that the waiting host is not registered in the management list 21. (No in step S67), the process proceeds to step S69.

  In step S68, the host A11 executes a process of transferring the management list 21 to, for example, the host registered at the top of the management list 21. That is, the host A11 transmits the management list 21 to, for example, the host registered at the top of the management list 21. On the other hand, in step S69, the host A11 deletes the management list 21.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the host-based printing apparatus, the printing order of the host can be correctly managed without providing the printing apparatus with a special control function.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an example of a printing system. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of a host computer. It is a figure which shows an example of preparation of a management list. It is a figure which shows an example of the update of a management list. It is a figure which shows an example of transfer of the management list from the host A to the host B. It is a figure which shows an example of transfer of the management list from the host B to the host C. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print order management processing in a host.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printer 11 Host A
12 Host B
13 Host C
21 Management List 111 Input Device 112 Display Device 113 Recording Medium Drive Device 114 Recording Medium 115 ROM
116 RAM
117 CPU
118 Interface device 119 HD

Claims (14)

Management information storage means for storing management information for managing the printing order in the storage means;
Management information updating means for registering information related to the other information processing apparatus in the management information and updating the management information upon receiving a print waiting request from another information processing apparatus connected via the network ,
Registration status determination means for referring to the management information and determining whether information related to another information processing apparatus is registered in the management information;
When the registration status determination means determines that the information related to the other information processing apparatus is registered in the management information, the information related to the other information processing apparatus registered in the management information and the other Management information transmitting means for transmitting the management information to another information processing apparatus according to the order in which the information related to the information processing apparatus is registered in the management information;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a management information deleting unit that deletes the management information when the registration status determining unit determines that information related to another information processing apparatus is not registered in the management information. 1. An information processing apparatus according to 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising management information creating means for creating the management information.   When another information processing apparatus connected via a network occupies the printer, the information processing apparatus further includes a print wait request transmission unit that transmits a print wait request to the other information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising management information receiving means for receiving the management information from another information processing apparatus connected via a network. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus,
Occupancy request means for requesting the printing device to occupy the printing device to submit a print job to the printing device;
Reference means for referring to management information including a reservation for submitting a print job to the printing apparatus of another information processing apparatus;
Transfer means for transferring the management right of the management information to another information processing apparatus based on the reference of the management information by the reference means;
Have
Another information processing apparatus to which the management right is transferred can occupy the printing apparatus. A printing order management method in an information processing apparatus,
A management information storage step for storing management information for managing the printing order in the storage means;
A management information update step of registering information related to the other information processing apparatus in the management information and updating the management information upon receiving a print waiting request from another information processing apparatus connected via a network; ,
When transmission of print data to a printing apparatus connected via a network is completed, the registration status is determined by referring to the management information and determining whether information on another information processing apparatus is registered in the management information A determination step;
In the registration status determining step, when it is determined that information related to another information processing apparatus is registered in the management information, information related to the other information processing apparatus registered in the management information and the other A management information transmission step of transmitting the management information to another information processing apparatus according to the order in which the information related to the information processing apparatus is registered in the management information;
A printing order management method comprising:   The management information deletion step of deleting the management information when it is determined in the registration status determination step that information related to another information processing apparatus is not registered in the management information. 8. The printing order management method according to 7.   The printing order management method according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a management information creation step of creating the management information.   When another information processing apparatus connected via a network occupies the printer, the information processing apparatus further includes a print wait request transmission step of transmitting a print wait request to the other information processing apparatus. The printing order management method according to claim 7 or 8.   9. The printing order management method according to claim 7, further comprising a management information receiving step of receiving the management information from another information processing apparatus connected via a network. A printing order management method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus,
An occupancy request step for requesting the printing device to occupy the printing device to submit a print job to the printing device;
A reference step for referring to management information including a reservation for submitting a print job to the printing apparatus of another information processing apparatus;
A transfer step of transferring the management right of the management information to another information processing apparatus based on the reference of the management information by the reference step;
The information processing apparatus to which the management right is transferred can occupy the printing apparatus.   A printing order management program for causing a computer to execute the printing order management method according to any one of claims 7 to 12.   14. A computer-readable recording medium on which the printing order management program according to claim 13 is recorded.

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