JP2007179311A - Print controller, print control method, print control program and storage medium storing computer-readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change an output destination of data produced by a host computer from a printer set on a host computer side to an arbitrary printer when printing the data from the host computer. <P>SOLUTION: This print controller has a data operation means performing analysis of print data on the basis of setting information storing print control setting information set such that print data for a first virtual printer is outputted to a second virtual printer, and changing the output destination to the second virtual printer when the first virtual printer is set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, a print control program, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for changing the output destination of print data received from a host computer and performing reprinting.

  When printing data from the host computer, the data created by the host computer is converted into PDL data (print data) via a printer driver that exists as a virtual printer in the client computer and is output to the printer. In many cases, the printer at the print destination is set by an application program on the host computer side, and the output printer at the client computer cannot be changed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-305332 discloses a system for searching for an alternative printer and changing the output destination when the output destination printer is out of order.
JP 9-305332 A

In general, applications on the host computer side are often created exclusively for the corresponding system, and it has been difficult to change them.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-26883, since alternative printing is possible only when the output destination printer is out of order, there is a problem in that the output destination cannot be changed when the printer is not out of order. . For example, if the printer is not broken but it is desired to output to another printer, Patent Document 1 cannot cope with it.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to set an output destination of data created by the host computer on the host computer side when printing data from the host computer. It is to be able to change from an existing printer to an arbitrary printer.

In order to solve the above problems, a print control apparatus according to the present invention is a print control apparatus that controls output of received print data to a print apparatus.
Setting information storage means storing print control setting information set to output print data addressed to the first virtual printer to the second virtual printer;
Monitoring means for monitoring a spool area of the print control device;
When the first virtual printer is set as the output destination in the spool file detected by the monitoring means, the data processing means is provided for changing the output destination to the second virtual printer.

  According to the present invention, when printing data from a host computer, the output destination of data created by the host computer can be changed from a printer set on the host computer side to an arbitrary printer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a print control system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a host computer, which includes an information processing apparatus such as a general-purpose computer. The host computer 100 is communicably connected to the client computer 200 via a predetermined communication network 500. Specifically, it is connected by IP-VPN or corporate LAN. Further, on the host computer 100, an OS and applications (not shown) are running.

  When receiving a print request from the client computer 200 or another terminal (not shown), this application transmits data necessary for printing to the printer driver of the client computer 200. In addition to the data itself, the data necessary for printing at this time includes information on the presence / absence of form printing and the output destination printer.

  The printer driver receives a print command from the application and outputs it in a form that the printer 300 can interpret.

  The printer A 301 holds form data, and when a form is specified in the data received from the printer driver, printing can be executed by overlaying the form.

  When the printer B302 that does not hold the form data includes information related to form printing in the data received from the application, the client computer 200 overlays the form data and outputs it to the corresponding printer B302. Here, it is assumed that the printer A 301 holds form data and the printer B 302 does not hold form data. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The client computer 200 analyzes the print data present in the spool area received from the host computer 100, and if it is a corresponding printer, changes the output destination and outputs it.

  The printer 300 (including 301 and 302) may be a laser beam method, an electrophotographic method (for example, an LED method) other than the laser beam method, a liquid crystal shutter method, an ink jet method, a thermal transfer method, a sublimation method, or the like. The present invention can be applied even to the printing method.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus to which the client computer 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 can be applied. Note that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU that comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 220. The ROM 202 or the external storage 211 stores a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS), an application, a program code corresponding to the printer driver 100, each server or each PC. Various programs and the like necessary for realizing the function to be executed are stored in a computer-readable manner.

  The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 202 or the external storage 211 or another recording medium (not shown) into the RAM 203 and executing the program on the RAM 203.

  An input controller (input C) 205 controls input from a keyboard and pointing device (PD) 209. Note that the pointing device may be a mouse, a trackball, or other pointing devices. A video controller (VC) 206 controls display on the display device 210. The display device 210 may be a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, or another display device. These are used by the administrator as needed. The present invention is not directly related.

  A memory controller (MC) 207 controls access to the external storage 211. The external storage 211 includes a recording medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark) memory, a CD-ROM, and a DVD-ROM connected to a hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), or a PCMCIA card slot via an adapter. The external storage 211 stores a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  A printer controller (PRTC) 204 enables bidirectional communication with the printer 300.

  The printer 300 is connected to the client computer 200 and can execute a print command received from the PRTC 204. The connection form between the host computer 200 and the printer 300 is not limited to local connection, and connection via a network may be used. A plurality of units may be connected.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 controls display of a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210 and enables a user instruction from a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

  Note that a print control program for realizing the present invention is recorded in the external memory 211 and is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 202 as necessary.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a processing flow in the print control apparatus of the present invention.

  The print control program 310 is a module that runs on the client computer 200. This program is implemented as a resident application, and is started from the RUN service of the OS when Windows (registered trademark) is started. The print control program 310 includes the following processing units 311 to 315.

  The spool monitoring unit 311 constantly monitors the spool area 320 of the client computer by polling. The spool area 320 is used not only for processing print data received from the host computer 100 but also as a spool area for a printer registered in the client computer 200. Therefore, the spool area 320 is also used when outputting to another printer processed by the print control program 310.

  In this embodiment, when the print destination set in the host application 110 of the host computer 100 is to be changed, the corresponding virtual printer is set to be temporarily stopped as a monitoring target printer, and the print destination to be changed is set. And a printer. These definition methods will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows a print control program setting screen 800 in this embodiment. In the monitoring target printer 801, a printer that is set as a monitoring target this time set in the host application 110 of the host computer 100 is set.

  The virtual printer set as the monitoring target printer is in a suspended state, and the print data remains in the spool area 320. The print data of the virtual printer having the normal status that is not in the paused state is not collected in the spool area 320 because the print data is lost when printing is successful. When a pull-down button on the right side of the printer name column is pressed, a virtual printer set in the client computer 200 is displayed and can be selected from the virtual printer.

  The output destination printer 802 sets a printer to be output after the change. Similar to the printer name field, when the pull-down button on the right side is pressed, the computer set in the client computer 200 is displayed. In this example, the virtual printer is selected from the registered virtual printers. However, an arbitrary virtual printer may be selected by searching for the selected virtual printer. It is also possible to specify a printer that uses a different printer driver language.

  In the polling interval 803, the spool monitoring unit 311 sets a polling interval for monitoring the spool area 320.

  In the temporary stop confirmation presence / absence column 804, it is set whether or not it is necessary to check whether or not the printer set as the monitoring target printer 801 is in the temporary stop state. Details will be described later. Reference numerals 805 and 806 denote an OK button and a cancel button, respectively, which are used for respective purposes. The information set here is stored and used in the external storage 211 as print control program setting information.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  The data processing / operation unit 312 acquires the print data received from the host computer 100 from the spool area 320 and analyzes it, and converts the data so that it can be output to another printer if the data is the corresponding data. The overlay printing unit 313 performs overlay when the printer 300 after changing the output destination does not have an overlay function. As the form data to be overlaid at this time, the form data stored in the form DB 330 is used. The printer monitoring unit 314 monitors the status of the printer 300 when the print control program 310 is executed. The error processing unit 315 performs processing when various errors occur.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the first control processing procedure in the information control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the print control processing by the client computer 200. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 of the client computer 200 shown in FIG. 2 loading a program (print control program 310) stored in the external storage 211 or the like on the RAM 203 and executing it. In the figure, S401 to S402 indicate steps.

  When the print control program 310 is activated by the CPU 201, the processing of this flowchart starts.

  The spool monitoring unit 311 monitors the spool area 320 by periodic polling, and confirms whether data exists in the spool area 320 in step S401. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a spool file shown in FIG. If there is no data in the spool area 320, polling is continued according to the set interval. Assume that the polling interval follows the setting of the polling interval 803 set in FIG. If it is determined that data exists, the process proceeds to step S402.

  FIG. 9 is an image diagram of the printer folder 900 in which the virtual printer of the client computer 200 is displayed. The printer name 901 is a virtual printer name registered in the client computer 200, and the document 902 column stays in each virtual printer. The status of each virtual printer is displayed in the number of documents being displayed, status 903. In the printer set in the monitoring target printer 801 in FIG. 8, when the status column 903 is temporarily stopped and one piece of data is output to this virtual printer, the printer is counted in the document column 902. . Similarly, if two pieces of data are output, the count is two.

  FIG. 10 shows an area used by the virtual printer registered in the printer folder 900 to output data, which is indicated by a spool area 320 in FIG.

  For example, the spool file 1001 includes “0001.shd” and “0001.spl” files. In step S401, it is confirmed whether the spool file 1001 exists. If either file exists, it may be present, or may exist if two files are present.

  Hereinafter, the description returns to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S402, printer output destination change processing for changing the output destination is executed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure in the information control apparatus of the present invention, and is a flowchart showing an example of details of the output destination changing process S502 shown in FIG. In the figure, S501 to S510 indicate each step.

  First, in step S501, the setting file in the spool area 320 is analyzed. The contents of the spool file (FIG. 11) in which the output destination printer is described are analyzed, and it is determined in S502 whether the print data is relevant. If it is not the corresponding file, the process ends.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a spool file to be analyzed in step S501. Print data received from the host computer 100 or another computer is stored in the spool area 320 as a pair of two files such as a spool file 1001.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the first spool file 1101 set for the output destination printer (Printer) 1102 and the second spool file 1103 including the form ID 1104 are stored as a pair. The first spool file 1101 mainly includes settings related to printing, and the second spool file 1103 includes other data itself and contents related to form printing, and is often larger in size than the first spool file 1101. . Whether or not the file is a corresponding file is determined based on whether or not the printer name specified in the Printer column 1102 matches that specified in 801 in FIG.

Here, if it matches, it will be judged that it is an applicable file. Further, the determination of whether or not there is data in the queue in step S401 can also be made based on whether or not there is the first spool file 1101 set for the output destination printer 1102.
Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, if it is the corresponding file, the spool file 1001 is copied from the spool area 320 to the temporary storage area of the client computer 200 in step S503. The temporary storage area may be any area as long as the spool file 1001 can be processed by the data processing / operation unit 312. (For example, RAM 203 and external storage 211)

  In step S504, it is determined whether or not the spool file 1001 has been successfully copied. If the copy fails, polling control processing is executed in step S505. (This polling control process will be described with reference to FIG. 6.)

  Since the second spool file 1103 is large as described above, spooling may take time. In such a case, even if the first spool file 1101 is spooled, the spooling of the second spool file 1103 is not completed and copying fails.

  On the other hand, if the copy is successful, the process proceeds to step S506. The successfully copied state means a state where the first and second spool files 1101 and 1103 are paired and can be copied. In step S506, the second spool file 1103 paired with the first spool file 1101 indicating the output destination printer 1102 is analyzed.

  It is confirmed whether or not the form ID 1104 exists in the spool file. If the form ID 1104 exists, the overlay processing unit 313 overlays the form data in a format suitable for the spool file 1101 in step S507.

  The form data is stored in the external storage 211 of the client computer 200 as a form DB 330 in combination with the form ID. In the example of FIG. 11, the form ID is “EP-1000-01”, and the corresponding form data is acquired from the form DB 330. On the other hand, when the form ID does not exist or when it is determined that there is no corresponding form data, the process proceeds to step S508 without doing anything.

  At this time, standard form data prepared in advance may be overlaid. In step S508, the data is output to the alternative output destination printer set in step 802 in FIG. When outputting, it is possible to use a printer driver different from that specified in 801.

  In step S509, it is confirmed whether printing has been completed normally. If the printing has been completed normally, the original data (for example, the spool file 1001 in the spool area 320) is deleted in step S510. The completion determination here is performed using the OS or the printer driver function. If the output is not completed, the determination may be terminated as an error.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure in the information control apparatus of the present invention, and is a flowchart showing an example of details of the above-described step S505 polling control processing in FIG. In the figure, S601 to S603 indicate each step.

  As described above, if the spooling of the spool file 1001 is not completed, the process may not be completed. In order to solve this problem, the polling interval that has been set is shortened until the processing of the corresponding data is completed, and if the processing of the corresponding data is completed normally, it is restored to the original polling interval. Process.

  In step S601, the polling interval is changed. This changes the interval set in the polling interval 803 in FIG. 8 to an interval preset in the print control program (for example, 1 minute interval). In step S602, it is determined whether copying of the file that has failed to be copied (for example, the second spool file 1103) has been successfully copied.

  Specifically, in FIG. 11, if an error has occurred in “0001.spl” corresponding to “0001.shd”, it is determined whether or not the copy of the “0001.spl” file has succeeded. Polling is repeated at a short interval until the copy is successful. If the copy is successful, the polling interval is returned to the original in step S603 and the process is terminated.

  Thus, it is possible to reduce the time until the conversion process starts when the copy of the print data is not completed, and it is possible to prevent the process from being accumulated at the same time as making the user not wait.

<Third Embodiment>
In the first and second embodiments, settings are made such that a printer that is not desired to be printed is temporarily stopped (virtual printer set in 801 in FIG. 8), and processing is performed on the assumption. However, since the virtual printer on the client computer 200 can be easily resumed (for example, the state 903 in FIG. 9 is changed from “pause” to “ready”) by a mouse operation or the like, an erroneous operation by the user For example, there is a case where the temporarily stopped state of the printer once set is not maintained.
In such a case, printing is performed on a printer that is not desired to be printed, and there is a problem that the output to the printer that is originally set (the alternative output destination printer 802 in FIG. 8) is not successful. is there.

  Therefore, when this service is started, it is confirmed whether the virtual printer of the printer that is not desired to be output is in a paused state, and if not, it is paused.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth control processing procedure in the information control apparatus of the present invention, and is a flowchart showing processing executed before starting the first control processing shown in FIG. In the figure, S701 to S704 indicate steps.

  This flow is performed when “present” is set in the temporary stop setting confirmation presence / absence column 804 of FIG.

  In step S701, it is checked whether the monitored printer is in a paused state. This process is performed by the printer monitoring unit 314 for the monitoring target printer 801 in FIG. Here, if the target printer is in a paused state, there is no problem even if the subsequent processing is advanced, so the processing in step S703 is started.

  On the other hand, if the target printer is not in the paused state, the printer enters the paused state and then starts step S703. The subsequent processing in steps S703 and S704 is the same as the processing in S401 and S402 shown in FIG.

  As a result, even if the target printer is not in a paused state for some reason, it is possible to prevent output to a printer that was not originally intended to be output and at the same time to be output to a printer that is originally desired to be output. Play.

  The configuration and contents of the data or the like indicating the drawing command described above are not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the configuration and contents are configured according to the application and purpose.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, recording medium, or the like, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system or may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device.

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

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a recording medium (storage medium) that stores various data processing programs readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

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

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, when a program or data to be installed is compressed, a program to be decompressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.

As described above, a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.
In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, A silicon disk or the like can be used.

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

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. It becomes.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment and each modification mentioned above are also included in this invention.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus which can apply the client computer shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram showing a processing flow in the printing control apparatus of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 4th control processing procedure in the printing control apparatus of this invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print control program setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer folder in which a virtual printer is displayed in the print control apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example which shows an example of the spool area | region in the printing control apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the spool file in the printing control apparatus of this invention. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the recording medium (storage medium) which stores the various data processing program which can be read by the printing control apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Host Computer 110 Host Application 200 Client Computer 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 PRTC
205 Input Controller 206 Video Controller 207 Memory Controller 208 Communication I / F Controller 209 Keyboard PD
210 Display Device 211 External Storage Device 220 System Bus 300 Printer 301 Printer A
302 Printer B
310 Print Control Program 311 Spool Monitoring Unit 312 Data Processing / Operation Unit 313 Overlay Processing Unit 314 Printer Monitoring Unit 315 Error Processing Unit 320 Spool Area 330 Form DB
500 communication network

Claims (7)

In the print control device that controls the output of the received print data,
Setting information storage means storing print control setting information set to output print data addressed to the first virtual printer to the second virtual printer;
Monitoring means for monitoring a spool area of the print control device;
A print control apparatus comprising: a data operation unit that changes an output destination to the second virtual printer when the first virtual printer is set as an output destination in the spool file detected by the monitoring unit. . When the first virtual printer is set as an output destination in the spool file, overlay means for creating print data in which form data corresponding to the form ID included in the spool file is overlaid;
Output control means for outputting the print data created by the overlay means to a second virtual printer stored in the print setting information;
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The monitoring means monitors at a polling interval defined in the print setting information,
Obtaining means for obtaining the spool file from the spool area;
When the acquisition unit fails to acquire the spool file, the defined polling interval is set short, and when acquisition of the spool file that has failed to acquire succeeds, the polling interval is returned to the original interval. Polling control means;
The print control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:   4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printer monitoring unit that monitors the state of the first virtual printer and changes the setting to the paused state when the first virtual printer is not in the paused state. In a print control method for controlling the output of received print data,
Based on the print control setting information set to output the print data addressed to the first virtual printer to the second virtual printer,
A monitoring step of monitoring a spool area of the print control device;
A printing control method comprising: a data operation step of changing an output destination to the second virtual printer when the first virtual printer is set as an output destination in the spool file detected by the monitoring step . In the print control program that controls the output of received print data,
Based on the print control setting information set to output the print data addressed to the first virtual printer to the second virtual printer,
A monitoring step of monitoring a spool area of the print control device;
When the first virtual printer is set as an output destination in the spool file detected by the monitoring step, the data control step of changing the output destination to the second virtual printer is executed. program. In a storage medium storing a print control program for controlling the output of received print data,
Based on the print control setting information set to output the print data addressed to the first virtual printer to the second virtual printer,
A monitoring step of monitoring a spool area of the print control device;
When the first virtual printer is set as an output destination in the spool file detected by the monitoring step, the data reading step for changing the output destination is executed by the second virtual printer. Possible storage medium.