JP2007179140A - Printing system, printer, and printing controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate reprint processing without forcing a user to perform the registration processing of data for printing. <P>SOLUTION: This printing system includes: a printing controller for outputting print data: and a printer equipped with a printing means for executing printing based on the print data accepted from the printing controller, and a non-volatile storage means. The printer is provided with: a printing data recording means for accepting print data from the printing controller and recording the printing data relating to the printing data in the storage means; a reprinting control means for making the printing means execute printing based on the data for printing based on an operation from a user; and a data erasing means for printing for erasing the data for printing recorded in the recording means in the order of printing when predetermined conditions are satisfied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus including a storage device such as a hard disk and capable of recording printing data in the storage device.

  A printer that includes a storage device such as a hard disk and can register printing data in the storage device has been put into practical use.

  As described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in a printer capable of registering print data, when a print data registration command is received from a computer connected via a network or the like, a registration command is displayed. The printing data is attached with identification information and stored in a storage device. When a print instruction for the registered print data is received, the print data stored in the storage device is read out and printed.

  A user can print data without sending the print data from the computer to the printer by registering the print data related to the document to be printed in the printer. Accordingly, there is an advantage that it is possible to save the trouble of calling a document on a computer and performing a print command again for reprinting.

JP 2003-285475 A JP 2005-271510 A

  Both of the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are useful for saving the trouble of reprinting, but in order to perform reprinting, the user designates printing data in advance and registers it in the printer. I have to leave. For this reason, the process for reprinting becomes complicated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily perform reprinting processing without forcing the user to register printing data.

A printing system according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is
A print control device for outputting print data; and
A printing system including a printing unit that executes printing based on print data received from the print control device, and a printing device that includes a nonvolatile storage unit,
The printing apparatus includes:
When receiving print data from the print control device, print data recording means for recording print data related to the print data in the storage means;
Reprint control means for causing the printing means to execute printing based on the printing data based on an operation from a user;
And printing data erasing means for erasing the printing data recorded in the recording means in the order of recording when predetermined conditions are satisfied.

  According to the printing system of the present invention, since the printing data is recorded without requiring the user's registration instruction, the reprinting process can be easily performed without forcing the user to register the printing data. be able to. This is due to the fact that reprinting is often performed on recently printed documents.

A printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is
A printing apparatus that is connected to one or a plurality of printing control apparatuses and includes a printing unit that executes printing based on print data received from the printing control apparatus, and a nonvolatile storage unit.
When receiving print data from the print control device, print data recording means for recording print data related to the print data in the storage means;
Reprint control means for causing the printing means to execute printing based on the printing data based on an operation from a user;
And printing data erasing means for erasing the printing data recorded in the recording means in the order of recording when predetermined conditions are satisfied.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, since the printing data is recorded without requiring a registration instruction from the printing control apparatus, the reprinting process can be easily performed without forcing the user to register the printing data. Can be.

  Here, it is possible to further include an area securing unit that secures an area corresponding to the print control apparatus in the storage unit.

  At this time, the print data erasing unit is configured to print the recorded print data when the print data to be recorded cannot be stored in an area secured corresponding to the print control device related to the print data. It is desirable to delete them in the order recorded.

  Although it is considered that reprinting is often performed on a recently printed document, it is possible to prevent old printing data from remaining indefinitely and preventing storage of new printing data.

  Further, from the viewpoint of safety, the reprint control unit performs authentication based on the authentication code set for the print control apparatus, and when authenticated, performs printing based on the print data related to the print control apparatus. It is desirable to execute the printing means.

  In this case, after the authentication by the authentication code, the reprint control means displays a list of print data related to the print control apparatus recorded in the storage means, and displays the print data to be reprinted. The specification can be accepted.

  The printing data erasing means may erase the printing data when a predetermined period has elapsed since recording.

  This also prevents old print data from remaining forever and hindering storage of new print data.

The printing data recording means includes:
When print data is received from a print control apparatus that secures an area in the storage means, the print data related to the print data is recorded in the secured area in the storage means, and the received print data is stored in the memory If the printing control apparatus does not secure an area in the means, the printing data relating to the print data can be prevented from being recorded in the storage means.

A printer driver according to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is
A printing unit that executes printing based on the received print data; a non-volatile storage unit; and a print data recording unit that records print data related to the print data in the storage unit when the print data is received; When predetermined conditions are satisfied for reprint control means for causing the printing means to execute printing based on the printing data and printing data recorded in the recording means based on an operation from the user And a printer driver program for causing a computer to function as a print control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus comprising a printing data erasing means for erasing in the recorded order,
Instruction accepting means for accepting an instruction for securing an area to the storage means of the printing apparatus;
An authentication code receiving means for receiving an input of an authentication code when the instruction is received;
The computer is caused to function as an area securing request unit that transmits the received authentication code together with an identifier of the computer to the printing apparatus as an area securing request.

  According to the printer driver program of the present invention, since the printing apparatus is requested to register printing data without requiring a user registration instruction, the reprinting process is simplified without forcing the user to register the printing data. Can be done.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a network printing system to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in the figure, the network printing system has a configuration in which a plurality of computers 200 (computer A 200 a to computer C 200 c...) And a network compatible printer 100 are connected on a computer network 400. Such a configuration is typically an in-house LAN using an intranet, but the network 400 may be a wide area network using the Internet or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the network printing system as shown in FIG. 1, but can be applied to a local printing system in which a computer and a printer are directly connected.

  In FIG. 1, a computer 200 functions as a print control apparatus that transmits print data to the printer 100 and causes the printer 100 to execute printing. Processing as the print control apparatus is performed according to a computer program such as a printer driver installed in the computer 200.

  As the computer 200, a general personal computer including a display device, an input device, a storage device, a communication device, and the like can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the hardware configuration of the printer 100.

  As shown in the figure, the printer 100 includes a controller board 10, a print engine 20, an operation panel 30, an external interface 40, and a hard disk device 50.

  The controller board 10 includes a CPU 11 that executes a program, an SDRAM 12 that is a volatile memory, a memory control device 13 that controls reading and writing to the SDRAM 12, an image processing device 14 that performs image processing on image data to be printed, A device such as an input / output control device 16 for controlling access to the ROM 15, which is a non-volatile memory, and input / output processing with the operation panel 30 is mounted and controls various processes in the printer 100.

  The print engine 20 includes a printing mechanism 21 and a paper supply / discharge mechanism 22, and executes printing under the control of the controller board 10. The printing method of the printing mechanism 21 is a laser method in this embodiment, but is not limited to this, and may be an ink jet method, for example.

  The operation panel 30 includes a display device and operation buttons, and displays an operation menu or receives an instruction from a user. As the display device, for example, a touch panel type color liquid crystal display device can be used.

  The external interface 40 performs processing for connecting to a computer network such as a LAN, and the hard disk device 50 is a non-volatile storage device that stores print data and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a characteristic functional configuration constructed on the network printing system in the present embodiment. In this figure, attention is given to one computer 200 and the printer 100, but the other computer 200 connected to the network 400 can have the same functional configuration.

  As shown in the figure, an application unit 210, an operating system unit 220, and a printer driver unit 230 are constructed in the computer 200.

  The operating system unit 220 is a functional unit that provides a basic user interface, file management, job management, and the like in the computer 200.

  The application unit 210 performs processing for creating a document to be printed in accordance with a user operation.

  The printer driver unit 230 is a functional unit for controlling the printer 100. Specifically, when a print instruction is received from the user, print data of a document to be printed is created and output to the printer 100. For this reason, the printer driver unit 230 includes a user interface unit 231 and a print control unit 232.

  In this embodiment, the user interface unit 231 includes an area securing unit 231a. The area securing unit 231 a performs processing for securing an area for the computer 200 in the hard disk device 50 provided in the printer 100. In securing the area, the printer 100 is notified of the name (host name) of the computer and the personal identification number. The area securing process can be performed, for example, when a printer driver program is installed or when an instruction is received from a user.

  On the printer 100, a print processing unit 110, a user interface unit 120, a print data management unit 130, and a print execution unit 140 are constructed.

  The print processing unit 110 performs a process for causing the printer 100 to perform printing based on the print data sent from the computer 200.

  The user interface unit 120 receives instructions from the user and provides information to the user via the operation panel 30 or the like. Also, in this embodiment, when a reprint instruction is received from the user, after authenticating with a personal identification number, a list of files that can be reprinted is displayed and a process for accepting designation of a file to be printed is performed. .

  In addition, it is not restricted to the authentication by a PIN code, You may make it use the authentication by another method, for example, the authentication by a password authentication, ID card | curd.

  The print data management unit 130 records the print data sent from the computer 200 in a storage area secured by the computer 200 and performs a process for enabling reprinting without sending the print data again. . For this reason, the print data management unit 130 includes a user management unit 131 and a data storage unit 132.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the user management information 1310 stored in the user management unit 131. As shown in the figure, the user management information 1310 manages a host name 1310a for identifying the computer 200, a personal identification number 1310b used for authentication, and area information 1310c related to an area secured in the hard disk device 50 as one record.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the data storage information 1320 stored in the data storage unit 132. As shown in this figure, the data storage information 1320 manages the host name 1320a, the file name 1320b for identifying the data to be stored, the storage date and time 1320c, and the print data 1320d which is the substantial part of the stored data as one record. To do.

  Here, it is assumed that printing data is automatically recorded and accumulated without receiving a user instruction. When the capacity of the reserved area is exceeded, the storage date and time are deleted from the old print data.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the recorded printing data from being stored indefinitely and preventing the storage of new printing data.

  As for the format of the print data to be stored, the print data sent from the computer 200 may be recorded as it is, or may be recorded in a state of being developed in a bitmap or in an intermediate code state. It may be. In general, recording the print data as it is can reduce the capacity required for storage, and reprinting time can be shortened by recording in a state where the print data is expanded.

  Next, the flow of processing of the printing system in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the area securing unit 231 a of the printer driver unit 230 secures an area in the printer 100. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the screen displayed by the printer driver unit 230 at this time.

  This process can be performed following the installation process of the printer driver program, for example. Of course, it may be after installation. In this case, it is desirable to perform based on an instruction from the user.

  For example, the user interface unit 231 of the printer driver unit 230 performs a display as shown on a screen 501 in FIG. 9 to inquire the user whether or not to secure a storage area (S101).

  When the user gives an instruction to ensure (S102: Y), the display as shown in the screen 502 of FIG. 9 is performed to accept the setting of the password (S103). Here, the screen 502 is provided with a field for displaying a host name in addition to a password setting field. On the other hand, when there is no reservation instruction (S102: N), this process is terminated.

  When accepting the password setting via the screen 502 in FIG. 9, the printer driver unit 230 transmits the password and host name to the printer 100 as area reservation request information (S104).

  The print data management unit 131 of the printer 100 that has received the personal identification number and the host name as the area allocation request information secures the area of the hard disk device 50 and associates the allocated area information with the received personal identification number and the host name. Is recorded in the user management unit 131 (S105).

  In this embodiment, the capacity of the area to be secured is fixed, but this capacity can be set in advance by the administrator of the printing system. Alternatively, it may be automatically set according to the capacity of the hard disk device 50. Furthermore, each user may be allowed to set an arbitrary capacity when securing the area. In this case, it is desirable to set an upper limit value of the area that can be secured.

  When the print data management unit 130 secures the data storage area, the printer driver unit 230 displays a message indicating that the storage area has been secured, as shown in a screen 503 in FIG.

  Next, processing when the printer 100 receives a print job from the computer 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Upon receiving the print job, the printer 100 acquires the host name and file name included in the header portion of the print job (S201). When the print job does not include a file name, the job name or the like may be obtained instead of the file name, or an identifier such as a time stamp may be generated and replaced with the file name.

  Then, print data that is the main body of the print job is received (S202), and printing based on the print data is executed (S203). This printing process can be performed as usual.

  In addition, it is determined whether the computer 200 that has requested the print job is a computer for which an area has been reserved, that is, whether it is registered in the user management unit 131 (S204). As a result, if it is not registered (S204: N), this process is terminated after the printing is completed.

  On the other hand, if it is registered (S204: Y), the storage status of the area reserved for the computer 200 is confirmed (S205), old data is deleted if necessary, and new printing is performed. Data is stored in the data storage unit 132 (S206). At this time, the host name, file name, and storage date / time are also recorded. As described above, the print data format may be any of a print data format, a bitmap format, an intermediate code format, and the like. Then, when the storage and printing of the printing data is completed, this process is terminated.

  Details of the storage status confirmation process (S205) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In this process, the capacity of printing data to be stored is acquired (S2051). Then, referring to the data storage unit 132, the free capacity of the area allocated to the computer 200 is acquired (S2052).

  If the free capacity is larger than the capacity of printing data to be stored (S2053: Y), the confirmation process is finished and the printing data is stored (S206).

  On the other hand, if the available capacity is smaller than the capacity of the print data to be stored (S2053: N), the oldest stored print data is deleted (S2054). At this time, the corresponding record in the data storage unit 132 is also deleted.

  Then, the free capacity is compared again with the capacity of the print data to be stored (S2053), and the above processing is repeated until a free area can be secured.

  Note that in the storage status confirmation process (S205), all stored print data may be deleted and only the latest print data may be stored. Further, printing data that has been stored for a predetermined period, for example, one day, may be deleted.

  Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the recorded printing data from being stored forever and hindering the storage of new printing data.

  Next, reprint processing of stored printing data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the display screen transition diagram of the operation panel 30 shown in FIG. This process can be performed by the printer 100 alone, and the computer 200 is not required. Therefore, the printer 100 can be disconnected from the network 400 and moved to a place where reprinting is desired.

  This process starts when an execution instruction for the reprint process is received from the user (S301). An instruction to execute the reprint process can be received, for example, from a menu as shown on a screen 521 in FIG.

  When the execution instruction for the reprinting process is received, authentication with a password is performed (S302). The authentication process can be performed, for example, by displaying a numeric keypad on the operation panel 30 as shown on a screen 522 in FIG. Here, a touch panel display device is assumed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to input a password using a numeric keypad.

  If the entered password is registered in the user management unit 131, it is handled as authenticated. In addition, when authenticated, the host name can be specified by referring to the user management unit 131.

  Prior to inputting the password, the host name may be input. In this case, authentication can be performed by a combination of a host name and a password.

  When the authentication with the personal identification number is completed, the file name recorded in association with the specified host name is displayed with reference to the data storage unit 132 (S303). The list display of file names can be performed as shown on a screen 523 in FIG. 10, for example. On this screen, a menu for accepting file designation is displayed together with a list of files.

  When the designation of the file name is accepted on this screen (S304: Y), printing of the printing data associated with the designated file name is executed (S305). If the print data storage format is print data, the print data is expanded into bitmap data before printing. On the other hand, when the printing data storage format is bitmap data, printing can be executed as it is.

  As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to easily perform reprint processing for a document that has been printed recently. Further, since the printing data to be reprinted is stored without an instruction from the user, a complicated procedure is not necessary.

1 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of a configuration of a printing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of the printing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a functional configuration of the printing system. The figure which shows the structure of the data which a print data management part manages. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a flow when an area is secured in a printer. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a printer receives a print job. The flowchart explaining the confirmation process of the storage condition of an area | region. The flowchart explaining the reprinting process of the stored printing data. The figure which shows the screen transition at the time of ensuring an area | region in a printer. The figure explaining the screen transition at the time of the reprint process of the stored printing data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Controller board | substrate, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... SDRAM, 13 ... Memory control apparatus, 14 ... Image processing apparatus, 15 ... ROM, 16 ... Input / output control apparatus, 20 ... Print engine, 21 ... Printing mechanism, 22 ... Supply / discharge Paper mechanism 30 ... Operation panel 40 ... External interface 50 ... Hard disk device 100 ... Printer 110 ... Print processing unit 120 ... User interface unit 130 ... Print data management unit 131 ... User management unit 131 ... Print Data management unit 132 ... Data storage unit 132 ... Data management unit 140 ... Print execution unit 200 ... Computer 200 ... Printer 210 ... Application unit 220 ... Operating system unit 230 ... Printer driver unit 231 ... User Interface unit, 232 ... print control unit, 400 ... computer Data network

Claims (10)

A print control device for outputting print data; and
A printing system including a printing unit that executes printing based on print data received from the print control device, and a printing device that includes a nonvolatile storage unit,
The printing apparatus includes:
When receiving print data from the print control device, print data recording means for recording print data related to the print data in the storage means;
Reprint control means for causing the printing means to execute printing based on the printing data based on an operation from a user;
A printing system comprising: a printing data erasing unit that erases the printing data recorded in the recording unit in the order of recording when a predetermined condition is satisfied. A printing apparatus that is connected to one or a plurality of printing control apparatuses and includes a printing unit that executes printing based on print data received from the printing control apparatus, and a nonvolatile storage unit.
When receiving print data from the print control device, print data recording means for recording print data related to the print data in the storage means;
Reprint control means for causing the printing means to execute printing based on the printing data based on an operation from a user;
A printing apparatus, comprising: a printing data erasing unit that erases the printing data recorded in the recording unit in the order of recording when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
A printing apparatus, further comprising: a region securing unit that secures a region corresponding to the print control device in the storage unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,
The print data erasing means is configured to record the recorded print data when the print data to be recorded cannot be stored in an area secured corresponding to the print control apparatus related to the print data. A printing apparatus characterized by erasing in order. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The reprint control unit performs authentication using an authentication code set for a print control apparatus, and when authenticated, causes the print unit to execute printing based on print data related to the print control apparatus. Characteristic printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The reprint control means displays a list of print data related to the print control apparatus recorded in the storage means after authentication by the authentication code, and accepts designation of print data to be reprinted A printing apparatus characterized by that. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The printing data erasing means erases the printing data when a predetermined period elapses after recording. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,
The printing data recording means includes:
When printing data is received from a printing control apparatus that secures an area in the storage means, the printing data relating to the printing data is recorded in the secured area in the storage means. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,
The printing data recording means includes:
When the received print data is from a print control apparatus that does not secure an area in the storage means, the printing data relating to the print data is not recorded in the storage means. Printing device. A printing unit that executes printing based on the received print data; a non-volatile storage unit; and a print data recording unit that records print data related to the print data in the storage unit when the print data is received; When predetermined conditions are satisfied for reprint control means for causing the printing means to execute printing based on the printing data and printing data recorded in the recording means based on an operation from the user And a printer driver program for causing a computer to function as a print control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus comprising a printing data erasing means for erasing in the recorded order,
Instruction accepting means for accepting an instruction for securing an area to the storage means of the printing apparatus;
An authentication code receiving means for receiving an input of an authentication code when the instruction is received;
A printer driver program that causes the computer to function as area reservation requesting means for transmitting the received authentication code together with an identifier of the computer to the printing apparatus as an area reservation request.

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