JP2007179371A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve an available printer in a short period based on priority for printing print data, in a printing system with a host computer (HPC) and a plurality of printers interconnected. <P>SOLUTION: A user inputs priority data to an HPC, which transmits the priority data and a state inquiry signal to a printer (host printer) of a first priority (S1). The host printer transmits, when the own printer is available (NO in S2), a print permission signal to the HPC (S3), and the HPC transmits print data to the printer having transmitted the print permission signal (S5). The host printer transmits, when the own printer is busy (YES in S2), a busy signal to the HPC, and transmits an inquiry signal to another printer of the next priority (S6). When the printer having received the inquiry signal is busy, the host printer repeats inquiry to other printers of lower priority. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system in which a host computer and a plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other, and a plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other.

  A host computer (hereinafter referred to as HPC) and a plurality of printers are connected so that they can communicate with each other, and a plurality of printers are connected so that they can communicate with each other. There is a printing system in which print data is transmitted and printing is executed by the printer. Specifically, after the user creates or prepares print data by operating the HPC, the user selects a printer to execute printing by a predetermined key operation based on a printer selection screen displayed on the HPC screen. . A series of printing operations performed by the user by performing the above operation on the printer is referred to as a print job.

  In the printing system, a plurality of HPCs may be connected to a plurality of printers. In this case, another print job execution request may be output from another HPC to the same printer while the specific printer is executing printing (busy state). The print job being executed on the printer is suspended until the end, and the user may be kept waiting.

  Conventionally, a system has been developed in which the above-described problems are solved and a print job output from the HPC is transmitted to a printer that is empty (not busy) at that time. For example, in a system in which a plurality of HPCs and a plurality of printers are connected to a network, a spool file that temporarily stores print data output from each HPC is provided, and the print data stored in the spool file is an empty printer. 2. Description of the Related Art A print processing apparatus that is transmitted to a printer is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In a system in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of printers are connected via a loop communication path, a processing request message output by the computer is sent around the loop communication path, and an empty printer responds to the processing request message. A system is known in which a response message including the identification symbol of the device itself is transmitted to the computer, and the computer recognizes the printer in an empty state by receiving the response message (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

Furthermore, in a form output system equipped with a plurality of printing devices, the print data output from the form file is selectively transmitted to an empty printing device that has the smallest functional difference from the designated printing device. There is known a system including an empty device search unit and an alternative destination selection unit (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-11-110163 JP-A-7-93275 JP-A-8-234944

  In the system described in Patent Document 1, the print data output from the host terminal is temporarily stored in the spool processing unit. When the designated printer is busy, the print data is sent to another nearby printer designated in advance. Configured to be transferred. However, a spool processing unit that accumulates print data output from a plurality of host terminals as described above requires a large-capacity storage device and print data usually has a large amount of information. The transmission and transfer of print data requires a relatively long time, and there is a problem that the waiting time of the user until printing is performed by the printer is correspondingly increased.

  In addition, when the designated printer is busy, it is only necessary that the other printer that is the next transfer destination of print data is close to the designated printer. There is a bug.

  That is, among the plurality of printers connected to the HPC, there are generally mixed printers having different print quality such as ink jet printers and laser printers. The print quality is different. Also, with regard to print data prepared by the user, for example, a printer with low print quality, such as a tentative print of print data of a type that is desirable to be printed with a printer with high print quality, such as a photographic image. There are various types of print data such as print data that does not interfere with printing.

  On the other hand, the user generally knows the print quality of each printer connected to the HPC, the difference in paper used, and the like, which is convenient for taking out the printed paper close to the user. In addition to the reason, there is a desire to preferentially select a printer that can be expected to have print quality that matches print data. That is, when the print data prepared by the user is printed by a printer selected under the condition that it is close to the user, there is a problem in that a print with quality satisfactory for the user is not always obtained.

  Further, when searching for an empty (not busy) printer according to a given priority, the print data is transmitted or transferred to an intermediate storage device or each printer as in the system described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, since print data often has a large amount of information, there is a problem that communication takes time.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in a printing system in which an HPC and a plurality of printers are connected to each other, an empty printer is searched in a short time based on the priority order input in advance by the user, and the print data is compared. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system that prints on a printer desired by a user within a short time.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a printing system in which a host computer and a plurality of printers are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other, and the plurality of printers are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other. A printer priority memory for storing printer priority data input by the user, printer priority data stored in the printer priority memory when a print start instruction is input by the user, and a transmission destination A first order printer (hereinafter referred to as a host printer) that stores a signal (hereinafter referred to as a status inquiry signal) for inquiring whether the printer of the printer is in a printable state or a busy state (hereinafter referred to as a status inquiry signal). Free printer search instructing means to send to and printing from any printer including the host printer When a signal indicating that the printing is possible (hereinafter referred to as a printable signal) is received, the print data is sent to the printer that has transmitted the printable signal based on the input of a print start determination instruction by the user. When the print data transmission means for transmitting together with the print setting data unique to the printer and the print enable signal are received from a printer other than the host printer, the printer that executes printing is changed from the first rank printer to the user. A plurality of printers, each of the plurality of printers temporarily receiving the printer priority data as a host printer when receiving the printer priority data transmitted from the empty printer search instruction unit. Stored in the printer priority temporary memory and the empty printer search instruction means When the signal is received, a state determination unit that determines whether the printer is in a printable state or a busy state, and when the state determination unit determines that the printer is in a printable state, Print enable notification means for sending a printable signal to the host computer, and printing impossible for sending a busy signal to the host computer when the status determination means determines that the printer is busy A state in which a status inquiry signal is transmitted to another printer of the next order stored in the printer priority temporary memory when it is determined that the printer is busy by the notification unit and the state determination unit If the inquiry means and the other printer are host printers, the status inquiry sent from the status inquiry means of the host printer When the determination signal indicates that the printer is ready for printing based on the status of the own printer determined by the status determination unit, the printable notification unit transmits a printable signal to the host computer. If the determination result is busy, a busy signal is transmitted to the host computer by the non-printable notification means and a busy signal is transmitted to the host printer that is the transmission source of the state inquiry signal. When the response means and the own printer is a host printer, when the busy signal transmitted from the response means of the other printer is received, the status inquiry means transmits the status inquiry signal to the other printer. Based on the printer priority order stored in the priority order temporary memory, the status is further lowered to another printer in the next order. Subordinate means for transmitting a signal, and when a user inputs the priority data of the printer and the print start instruction to the host computer, the first-order printer based on the priority data is Set to the printer, the status inquiry signal is transmitted to each printer in the order of the order based on the priority order data to search for a free printer, and the host computer determines which printer has transmitted the printable status signal. If the printer is the first rank printer, the printer that has sent the print data to the first rank printer without executing notification to the first rank printer and sends the print data to the first rank printer. If it is a printer other than the first-ranked printer, the user is notified that the print execution printer will be changed, and Characterized in that to execute the transmission to print the print data to the printer.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a host computer and a plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other, and the plurality of printers are connected to each other to be able to communicate with each other, Stored in the printer priority memory, the printer priority data stored in the printer priority memory when the user inputs a print start instruction, and the destination printer is in a printable state or a busy state. A free printer search instructing means for transmitting a signal for inquiring about which one (hereinafter referred to as a status inquiry signal) to a first-order printer (hereinafter referred to as a host printer) stored in the printer priority order memory; Signal indicating that printing is possible from any printer including the host printer (hereinafter, printable) Print data transmission means for transmitting print data to the printer that is the transmission source of the printable signal when the signal is received, each of the plurality of printers from the empty printer search instruction means When the printer priority data to be transmitted is received, a printer priority temporary memory for temporarily storing the printer priority data as a host printer and a status inquiry signal transmitted from the empty printer search instruction means are received. And determining whether the status of the own printer is a printable state or a busy state, and the host computer when the status determination unit determines that the own printer is in a printable state. The print ready notification means for transmitting a print ready signal to the printer and the status determination means A state inquiry means for transmitting a state inquiry signal to another printer of the next order stored in the printer priority temporary memory when it is determined that the printer is in the state, and the other printer is a host printer In this case, when the status inquiry signal transmitted from the status inquiry unit of the host printer is received, based on the status of the own printer determined by the status determination unit, if the determination result is a printable state, Response means for transmitting a printable signal to the host computer by the printable notification means and transmitting a busy signal to the host printer that is the transmission source of the status inquiry signal when the determination result is busy When the self printer is a host printer and the busy signal transmitted from the response means of another printer is received, the status inquiry means A lowering unit that transmits another status inquiry signal to another printer of the next order based on the printer priority stored in the printer priority temporary memory, and transmits the status inquiry signal; The first priority printer based on the priority order data stored in the printer priority order memory is set in the host printer by the user inputting a print start instruction to the host computer, and the priority order The status inquiry signal is transmitted to each printer in the order based on the data to search for a free printer, and the host computer transmits the print data to the printer that has transmitted the printable status signal to perform printing. Is executed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the printer priority stored in the printer priority memory can be rewritten by a user input.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first priority printer input by the user is set as the host printer, and the host printer inquires of each printer whether it is free or busy based on the priority. Thus, a search for a vacant printer is performed, so that a vacant printer is searched for in a relatively short time, and print data prepared by the user is printed in a vacant printer in the order desired by the user in a short time. In addition, when the printer on which printing is performed is a printer other than the printer of the first order, the user is notified of this fact from the HPC, so that the printer on which printing is performed is prevented from being erroneously recognized. Is done.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first priority printer is set as the host printer, and the host printer inquires of each printer whether it is free or busy based on the priority. Since the search is performed, a vacant printer is searched for in a relatively short time, and the print data is printed in a vacant printer in order of higher priority within a short time.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the printer priority can be rewritten by the user, the user can change the printer priority at an appropriate timing such as when the type of print data is changed. A suitable printer can be selected by changing the conditions.

  Hereinafter, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes two host computers (HPC) 3 and 4 that are communicably connected via a cable 2, three printers A, B, and The printer C is configured. The printers are also connected to each other via the cable 2 so that they can communicate with each other. Assume that printers A and C are laser printers with relatively high print quality, and printer B is an inkjet printer with relatively low print quality. Further, it is assumed that the printer A and the printer B are close to each other and are substantially the same, and the printer C is installed at a position slightly far from the HPC 3.

  The IP addresses of the printers A, B, and C are stored in the internal memories 3a and 4a of the HPCs 3 and 4, and communication from the HPCs 3 and 4 to the printers A, B, and C is performed by the memories 3a, 4 and C. This is done using the IP address stored in 4a. Similarly, the IP addresses of the printers A, B, and C and the IP addresses of the HPCs 3 and 4 are stored in the memories Aa, Ba, and Ca in the printers 3 and 4, respectively. Communication from the printers A, B, and C to the HPCs 3 and 4 is performed using IP addresses stored in the memories Aa, Ba, and Ca.

  Next, the configuration of the HPCs 3 and 4 will be described. Since the HPCs 3 and 4 have the same configuration, only one HPC 3 will be described. The HPC 3 includes a computer main body 6 including an input device 5 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device 7 such as a liquid crystal monitor. The user operates the input device 5 to create print data such as texts and graphics on the HPC 3, or appropriately processes and prints photographic images read from an internal or external storage medium on the display device 7. Data can be created.

  The display device 7 is configured to display an input screen for the priority order of the printer stored in the ROM in the computer main body 6 by a user operation, and the user can set the priority order of the printer while viewing the input screen. It is configured to allow input. The printer priority order input by the user is stored in the memory 3a in the computer main body 6.

  The printer priority order input by the user is, for example, “printer A, printer B, printer C”. In this case, printer A has the first order, printer B has the second order, and printer C has the third order. .

  Next, the configuration of the printer will be described. The printers A, B, and C are printers that print the print data received from the HPCs 3 and 4 based on the print setting data received from the HPCs 3 and 4. Printer priority order memories Aa, Ba, and Ca that temporarily store printer priority order data received from the printer. In the present embodiment, the printer priority order temporary memories Aa, Ba, and Ca also serve as memories for storing IP addresses.

  Each of the printers A, B, and C is either a response to a status inquiry signal from HPC 3, 4 or another printer, which will be described in detail later, or the status of the printer itself is either a printable empty state or a non-printable busy state. The microprocessors Am, Bm, and Cm for performing various processes such as determining the above are provided.

  Next, a print processing procedure when the user inputs “printer A, printer B, printer C” as described above as the printer priority will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The user first operates the input device 5 of the HPC 3 as described above to input the printer priority order, and the priority order data is stored in the printer priority order memory 3a of the HPC 3 (S1). Next, when the user similarly operates the input device 5 to input a print start instruction, the HPC 3 reads the printer priority data stored in the printer priority memory 3a, and the first priority printer A (hereinafter, referred to as the printer priority data). The printer priority order data is transmitted to the host printer), and a status inquiry signal for inquiring whether the printer is ready for printing or busy is transmitted (S1) (free printer search instruction means).

  The printer A (host printer) that has received the printer priority data and the status inquiry signal stores the printer priority data in the printer priority temporary memory Aa, and the status of the printer itself is either the printable status or the busy status. (S2) (state determining means), and if not busy (NO in S2), a printable signal is transmitted to the HPC 3 (S3) (printable notification means).

  The HPC 3 that has received the printable signal from the printer A (host printer) confirms that the user has pressed the print start determination key (S4), and then sends the print data and the printer A to the printer A (host printer). (S5) (print data transmission means). The printer A (host printer) that has received the print data and the print setting data starts printing.

  In this case, since printing is executed in the printer A to which the user has given the first priority, the user obtains paper printed by a laser printer that is close to the user himself (HPC 3) and has a relatively high print quality. be able to.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the printer is busy (YES in S2), the printer A (host printer) transmits a busy signal to the HPC 3 (S6) (unprintable notification means). ), A status inquiry signal is transmitted to the next-order printer B stored in the printer priority temporary memory Aa (S6) (status inquiry means).

  The HPC 3 that has received the busy signal from the printer A (host printer) recognizes that printing by the first-order printer A is impossible. Note that a printer is busy means that it is temporarily impossible to execute printing when the printer is executing a print job from another HPC or when a user is replenishing paper. The state that is.

  The printer B that has received the status inquiry signal from the printer A (host printer) determines whether the status of its own printer is the printable status or the busy status by the status determination means provided in the printer B itself (S2). If not busy (NO in S2), a printable signal is transmitted to HPC3 (S3). If busy (YES in S2), a busy signal is transmitted to HPC3. A busy signal is transmitted to the printer A (host printer) (S6) (response means).

  The HPC 3 that has received the printable signal from the printer B other than the host printer (printer A) displays on the display device that the printer that performs printing is changed from the first rank printer (notification means).

  The printer A (host printer) that has received the busy signal from the printer B transmits a status inquiry signal to the next-order printer C stored in the printer priority temporary memory Aa (S6) (lowering means). .

  The printer C that has received the status inquiry signal from the printer A (host printer) determines whether the status of its own printer is the printable status or the busy status by the status determination means provided in the printer C itself (S2). If not busy (NO in S2), a printable signal is transmitted to HPC3 (S3). If busy (YES in S2), a busy signal is transmitted to HPC. A busy signal is transmitted to the printer A (host printer) (S6) (response means).

  The HPC 3 that has received the printable signal from the printer B or C confirms that the user has pressed the print start determination key (S4), and then sends the print data to the printer B or printer C and the printer-specific information. Is sent (S5) (print data transmission means). As a result, printer B or printer C starts printing.

  When printing is executed by the printer B with the second highest priority, the user can obtain paper printed by an inkjet printer (printer B) that is close to the user but has relatively low print quality. When printing is performed by the printer C with the third highest priority, the user can obtain the paper printed by the laser printer (printer C) having a relatively high print quality, but installed at a distance. The paper discharged up to the printer C must be picked up. Note that the user is informed in advance by the display on the display device 7 that the printing is performed by the printer B or the printer C, not the printer A, so that the printed sheet is discharged from the printer A. The trouble that the user keeps waiting in expectation of this is prevented.

  To help understanding, when printer A (host printer) can print, printer A (host printer) is busy and printer B can print, and printer A and printer B are both busy and printer C is Refer to FIG. 3 (a), FIG. 3 (b) and FIG. 3 (c) for the mode of signal transmission / reception between the HPC 3 and each of the printers A, B, and C, divided into three printable cases. explain.

  When the printer A (host printer) can print, the printer priority order data and the status inquiry signal are transmitted from the HPC 3 to the printer A (host printer) as shown in FIG. Printer A (host printer) transmits a printable signal. The HPC 3 that has received the print enable signal transmits print data and print setting data to the printer A (host printer).

  When the printer A (host printer) is busy and the printer B can print, first, as shown in FIG. 3B, the printer priority order data and status inquiry signal from the HPC 3 to the printer A (host printer). Is sent. On the other hand, the printer A (host printer) transmits a busy signal to the HPC 3 and transmits a status inquiry signal to the printer B. The printer B that has received the status inquiry signal transmits a printable signal to the HPC 3. The HPC 3 that has received the print enable signal transmits print data and print setting data to the printer B.

  When both the printer A (host printer) and the printer B are busy and the printer C can print, first, as shown in FIG. 3C, the printer priority order data from the HPC 3 to the printer A (host printer) A status inquiry signal is transmitted. On the other hand, the printer A (host printer) transmits a busy signal to the HPC 3 and transmits a status inquiry signal to the printer B. The printer B that has received the status inquiry signal transmits a busy signal to the HPC 3 and the printer A (host printer). The printer A (host printer) that has received the busy signal from the printer B transmits a status inquiry signal to the next-order printer C. The printer C that has received the status inquiry signal transmits a printable signal to the HPC 3. The HPC 3 that has received the print enable signal transmits print data and print setting data to the printer C.

  Note that the user can appropriately change the printer priority order to be input according to the type of print data created or prepared by the user. For example, if the print data prepared by the user requires higher print quality, such as a photographic image, the priority of the laser printer that can obtain a relatively high print quality is raised, and the printer priority data Can be entered as “Printer A, Printer C, Printer B”.

  As described above, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, when searching for a printer in a free state, a printer in a free state is searched by transmitting an inquiry signal from the host printer to other printers in order, and the printer is in a free state. Since a printable signal is directly transmitted from another printer to the HPC 3 and the HPC 3 receives the printable signal from one of the printers and then transmits the print data directly to the printer. An empty printer is searched for in a shorter time as compared with the conventional apparatus that transmits and forwards print data before it is determined, and as a result, printing is executed in a shorter time in a higher-order printer desired by the user. be able to.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of a printing process procedure in the printing system. (A) is an explanatory view showing a mode of transmission / reception of signals between the HPC and each printer when the printer A (host printer) is printable, and (b) is a diagram showing how the printer A (host printer) is busy and the printer B FIG. 4C is an explanatory diagram showing a mode of signal transmission / reception between the HPC and each printer when the printer C is printable. FIG. 8C is an HPC when the printer C can print while the printer A (host printer) and the printer B are both busy. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode of signal transmission / reception between printers.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 3 Host computer 3a Printer priority memory 4 Host computer 4a Printer priority memory 5 Input device 6 Computer main body (free printer search instruction means, print data transmission means, notification means)
7 Display device
A Printer B Printer C Printer Aa Printer priority temporary memory Ba Printer priority temporary memory Ca Printer priority temporary memory Am Microprocessor (status determination means, print enable notification means, print impossible notification means, status inquiry means, response means, Deferred means)
Bm microprocessor (status determining means, printable notifying means, unprintable notifying means, status inquiry means, response means, deferring means)
Cm microprocessor (status determining means, printable notifying means, unprintable notifying means, status inquiry means, response means, deferring means)

Claims (3)

In a printing system in which a host computer and a plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other, and the plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other.
The host computer
A printer priority memory for storing printer priority data input by the user;
When a print start instruction is input by the user, the printer priority order data stored in the printer priority order memory and a signal for inquiring whether the destination printer is in a printable state or a busy state (hereinafter referred to as “printable state”) , A status inquiry signal) to a first order printer (hereinafter referred to as a host printer) stored in the printer priority order memory;
When a signal indicating that printing is possible (hereinafter referred to as a printable signal) is received from any printer including the host printer, based on the input of a print start determination instruction by the user, the transmission source of the printable signal Print data transmission means for transmitting print data to the printer together with print setting data unique to the printer;
Notification means for notifying the user that the printer that performs printing is changed from the first-order printer when the printable signal is received from a printer other than the host printer;
Each of the plurality of printers is
A printer priority temporary memory for temporarily storing the printer priority data as a host printer when the printer priority data transmitted from the empty printer search instruction means is received;
A state determination unit that determines whether the state of the printer is a printable state or a busy state when the state inquiry signal transmitted from the empty printer search instruction unit is received;
A printable notification means for transmitting a printable signal to the host computer when the state determination means determines that the printer is in a printable state;
A non-printable notification means for transmitting a busy signal to the host computer when the state determination means determines that the printer is busy;
State inquiry means for transmitting a state inquiry signal to another printer of the next order stored in the printer priority temporary memory when the state determination means determines that the printer is busy. ,
When the other printer is a host printer, when the status inquiry signal transmitted from the status inquiry means of the host printer is received, the determination result is printed based on the status of the own printer determined by the status determination means. If it is in a ready state, a printable signal is transmitted to the host computer by the printable notification means, and if the determination result is busy, a busy signal is sent to the host computer by the unprintable notification means. Response means for transmitting a busy signal to the host printer that is the transmission source of the status inquiry signal,
When the own printer is a host printer, when the busy signal transmitted from the response unit of the other printer is received, the other printer to which the status inquiry unit transmits the status inquiry signal is designated as the printer priority temporary memory. Based on the priority order stored in the printer, further lowering means for transmitting the status inquiry signal to another printer in the next order,
When the user inputs the priority data of the printer and the print start instruction to the host computer, the first-order printer based on the priority data is set as the host printer, and based on the priority data The status inquiry signal is transmitted to each printer in the order of rank, and a search for a free printer is executed. When the printer that has transmitted the printable status signal is the first rank printer, When the print data is transmitted to the first-ranked printer without performing notification to the first-order printer and printing is performed, and the printer that has transmitted the printable state signal is a printer other than the first-ranked printer. After notifying the user that the print execution printer is changed, the print data is transmitted to the printer. Printing system, characterized in that to perform the printing. In a printing system in which a host computer and a plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other, and the plurality of printers are connected to be able to communicate with each other.
The host computer
A printer priority memory storing printer priority data; and
When a print start instruction is input by the user, the printer priority order data stored in the printer priority order memory and a signal for inquiring whether the destination printer is in a printable state or a busy state (hereinafter referred to as “printable state”) , A status inquiry signal) to a first order printer (hereinafter referred to as a host printer) stored in the printer priority order memory;
Printing that transmits print data to a printer that is a source of the printable signal when a signal indicating that printing is possible (hereinafter, a printable signal) is received from any printer including the host printer A data transmission means,
Each of the plurality of printers is
A printer priority temporary memory for temporarily storing the printer priority data as a host printer when the printer priority data transmitted from the empty printer search instruction means is received;
A state determination unit that determines whether the state of the printer is a printable state or a busy state when the state inquiry signal transmitted from the empty printer search instruction unit is received;
A printable notification means for transmitting a printable signal to the host computer when the state determination means determines that the printer is in a printable state;
State inquiry means for transmitting a state inquiry signal to another printer of the next order stored in the printer priority temporary memory when the state determination means determines that the own printer is busy. ,
When the other printer is the host printer, when the status inquiry signal transmitted from the status inquiry means of the host printer is received, the determination result is printed based on the status of the own printer determined by the status determination means. If it is possible, a printable signal is transmitted to the host computer by the printable notification means. If the determination result is busy, it is sent to the host printer that is the transmission source of the status inquiry signal. A response means for transmitting a busy signal;
When the own printer is a host printer, when the busy signal transmitted from the response unit of the other printer is received, the other printer to which the status inquiry unit transmits the status inquiry signal is designated as the printer priority temporary memory. Based on the priority order stored in the printer, further lowering means for transmitting the status inquiry signal to another printer in the next order,
When the user inputs a print start instruction to the host computer, the first rank printer based on the priority order data stored in the printer priority order memory is set as the host printer, and based on the priority order data. The status inquiry signal is transmitted to each printer in order of rank, and a search for a free printer is executed. The host computer transmits print data to the printer that has transmitted the printable status signal to execute printing. A printing system characterized by that.   The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printer priority order stored in the printer priority order memory is rewritable by a user input.

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