JP2007328737A - Host device, data processor, and data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a host device, a data processor, and a data processing system improving usability by suitably changing a processing order with respect to a plurality of data processing jobs. <P>SOLUTION: In the data processing system 1, when setting of job order conditions is carried out in the host devices HS1-HSn when delaying a processing order of a printing process with respect to printing data than a processing order of other printing data, set job order condition information is sent to printers Pr1-Prm along wit the printing data. In the printers Pr1-Prm, if job order condition information is attached to sent printing data, a job order of the printing data is controlled on the basis of the job order conditions to carry out a print processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a host device, a data processing device, and a data processing system, and more specifically, a host device, a data processing device, and a data processing device that improve usability by appropriately changing the processing order of a plurality of data processing jobs. The present invention relates to a data processing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus that processes a series of print operations (print operations) including reception of print data, image expansion processing, and printing on paper as a single print job, the print jobs are printed in the order in which the print jobs are received. The job was being executed.

  However, the importance of print jobs (for example, urgency, confidentiality, amount of print data, etc.) is not all the same, and the importance varies depending on the print job.

  In addition, adding a priority code that prioritizes the print data to the print data means that the print device does not receive the print job unless the print data itself has received the print data of the previous print job. A print job cannot be printed first after the print job is stopped.

  When there are a plurality of print jobs waiting for transmission in a specific host device, the order of these print jobs can be changed by processing on the host device side.

  However, when transmission of the print data of one print job to the printing device is started, another print is performed during the print processing of one print job unless the print job is completed or interrupted. The job print process cannot be inserted.

  As a result, in such a conventional printing apparatus, the print job being processed outputs a large amount of print number data, or it has stopped waiting for paper replenishment due to a paper out of a certain size, etc. If you want to print the next print job preferentially, there is no processing method other than waiting for the previous print job to complete, and there is an urgent print job that cannot be waited for However, there is only a method of manually interrupting the previous print job and causing the next print job to be urgently printed.

  Conventionally, a print job interrupt system and an interrupt method for interrupting a job being printed, printing another job, and then restarting the interrupted job printing from the interrupted state have been proposed. (See Patent Document 1).

  That is, according to this conventional technique, a print job having a high priority is preferentially executed by interrupting a print job being executed and executing another print job.

  Conventionally, in order to control the order of jobs, an image forming apparatus that stores data in units of jobs and controls the order of jobs based on job image formation condition data has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). ). The image formation condition data includes job reception time, job image formation end time, image formation priority level, and the like.

Japanese Patent No. 3292242 JP 2001-232911 A

  However, in the above prior art, it is necessary to improve the job processing in an efficient and highly usable state.

  That is, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the job can be interrupted and the priority job can be executed first, but the job processing order cannot be arbitrarily changed, and the usability can be improved. In order to improve, there was a need for improvement.

  In the prior art described in Patent Document 2, the order is changed in units of jobs. However, the order is changed in units of jobs by making the time designation job earlier than the time non-designation job. For the time-specified jobs, the job with the earlier specified time is moved earlier than the job with the specified later time, and the jobs with higher priority level specified for the non-time-specified jobs are lower. Set the order so that the job is earlier than the specified job, and the jobs with the same priority level are set earlier than jobs that have a later job reception time than jobs that have the same priority level. In any job order setting, a specific job is set faster than other jobs, and a specific job cannot be set later than other jobs. In terms of the processes efficiently and utility running in good condition, it is necessary for improvement.

  For example, for a specific job, there is no problem even if the processing is slow, but when other important processing occurs later, by setting a low priority order, the job that occurred later It cannot be executed properly without interrupting the processing of the job of a person who wants to execute the job normally.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a host device, a data processing device, and a data processing system that can perform data processing such as print processing in an appropriate order and execute them efficiently and in a state of good usability. The purpose is that.

  The host device according to claim 1 is a host device that sends data to a data processing device and requests predetermined data processing, and sets the processing order of data processing on the data in the data processing device to other data. It is possible to set an overtaking permission condition when the processing order is later than the above processing order, and the set overtaking permission condition information is sent to the data processing apparatus together with the data to achieve the above object.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus for performing predetermined data processing on sent data, wherein the data processing order for the sent data is changed to another data processing order. When the overtaking permission condition information for making the data processing order slower is added, the above object is achieved by controlling the processing order of the data based on the overtaking permission condition.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing system in which data is sent from a host device to a data processing device, and the data processing device performs predetermined data processing on the data. It is possible to set overtaking permission conditions when the processing order of data processing for data is made slower than the processing order of other data, and the set overtaking permission condition information is sent to the data processing device together with the data, and the data When the overtaking permission condition information is added to the transmitted data, the processing device achieves the above object by controlling the processing order of the data based on the overtaking permission condition.

  In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 4, the data processing may be print processing for printing data on a predetermined recording medium.

  For example, as described in claim 5, the overtaking permission condition may be within a maximum overtaking permission number set as a total number of overtakings by other data processing to be overtaken.

  Further, for example, the overtaking permission condition may be within a maximum overtaking permission time set by a total overtaking time for other data processing to be overtaken.

  For example, as described in claim 7, the overtaking permission condition may be within a maximum number of overtaking permitted pages in which the total number of overtaking processing pages by other data processing to be overtaken is set.

  Further, for example, in the overtaking permission condition, the data amount of the data may be smaller than the data amount of the other data processing to be overtaken.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 9, the data processing is a printing processing for printing data on a predetermined recording medium, and the overtaking permission condition is that the remaining number of recording media is other than the overtaking permission target. Or more than the total number of recording media used in the data processing and the data printing processing.

  According to the host device of the present invention, when requesting data processing to the data processing device, it is possible to set an overtaking permission condition when the processing order of the data processing for the data is made slower than the processing order of other data. Since the set overtaking permission condition information is sent to the data processing apparatus together with the data, whether or not to set overtaking permission is selected according to the nature, importance, etc. of the data requesting data processing, and overtaking permission is selected. Conditions can be set, for example, by allowing overtaking of processing of data with a small amount of data and later processing of data with a large amount of data, improving the processing efficiency of data processing and improving usability it can.

  According to the data processing device of the present invention, when the overtaking permission condition information for making the processing order of the data processing for the data slower than the processing order of the other data is added to the transmitted data, Since the processing order of the data is controlled based on the overtaking permission condition, the data processing can be performed in the processing order according to the overtaking permission condition set according to the property, importance, etc. of the data itself. Usability can be improved while improving processing efficiency.

  According to the data processing system of the present invention, it is possible for a host device that requests data processing to the data processing device to set an overtaking permission condition when the processing order of data processing for data is slower than the processing order of other data. The overtaking permission condition information thus set is sent to the data processing device together with the data, and the data processing device adds the overtaking permission condition information to the transmitted data, based on the overtaking permission condition. Since the data processing order is controlled, an overtaking permission condition is appropriately set in the host device according to the nature and importance of the data itself, and the data processing apparatus performs processing according to the set overtaking permission condition. Data processing can be performed, and the usability can be improved while improving the processing efficiency of the data processing.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 6 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a host device, a data processing device, and a data processing system of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a host device, a data processing device, and a data processing system of the present invention. It is a block block diagram of the data processing system 1 to which the example is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a data processing system 1 includes a plurality of host devices HS1 to HSn and a plurality of printing devices Pr1 to Prm as data processing devices connected to a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Any number of host apparatuses HS1 to HSn and printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are connected depending on the scale of the data processing system 1 and the like.

  As the host devices HS1 to HSn, a normal computer or the like is used. Generally, as shown in FIG. 2, a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like (not shown), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), hardware 10 having a normal configuration such as an input unit such as a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The hardware 10 has a memory on an OS (Operating System) 11 such as Windows (registered trademark). Software such as the graphic engine 12, the printer driver 13, and the application 14 is installed.

  The host apparatuses HS1 to HSn will be described later by reading and introducing a job order setting processing program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), or a flexible disk. The job order setting processing function of the present invention is constructed.

  When a print command for a document created by the application 114 such as document creation software, graphic creation software, spreadsheet software, database software, etc. installed on the OS 11 is issued from the application 14, the host devices HS1 to HSn Then, document data (image data) and print setting data are passed to the printer driver 13.

  The graphic engine 12 performs screen drawing on the display in accordance with print data from the OS 11 or the application 14.

  The printer driver 13 is a module that creates print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that print document data received from the application 11, and serves as a user interface (UI) during printing. In addition to providing a print setting screen for performing various print settings, the print job priority order setting screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 can be displayed to enable setting of print job order conditions in a job order control processing function to be described later. To do.

  Then, the host apparatuses HS1 to HSn transmit the print data created by the printer driver 13 to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that are printing destinations via the network NW.

  The printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm interpret the received print data and create an appropriate image on a print medium such as paper, thereby realizing print processing as data processing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm include a controller 30, an engine 50, and the like, and the controller 30 performs host control according to the control mode set at that time and the control codes from the host apparatuses HS1 to HSn. A general term for control mechanisms that convert print data from the devices HS1 to HSn into video data and output the video data to the engine 50. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, NVRAM (Nonvolatile Random Access) Memory) 33, hard disk (HDD) 34, host I / F 35, network I / F 36, panel I / F 37, engine I / F 38, image conversion unit 39, and the like.

  The hard disk 34 stores various large-capacity data such as print data under the control of the CPU 31.

  Host devices HS1 to HSn, which are host devices, are directly connected to the host I / F 35 with a cable or the like. The host I / F 35 receives control signals and data of the host devices HS1 to HSn and from the printing devices Pr1 to Prm. A status signal to be sent to the host devices HS1 to HSn is sent out.

  The network I / F 36 is connected to the network NW, and the network I / F 36 receives control signals and data sent from the host devices HS1 to HSn to the printing devices Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. A status signal transmitted from the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to the host apparatuses HS1 to HSn via the network NW is sent out.

  The ROM 32 is a program for processing and managing data in the controller 30 and controlling peripheral modules, specifically various programs such as a basic processing program as the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm and a job sequence control processing program to be described later. And various data necessary for executing these programs are stored. This job order control processing program is not limited to the case where the program is stored in the ROM 32 in advance, and the ROM 32 can be written to, such as a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), or a flexible disk. A later-described job order control processing program recorded on the recording medium may be read and stored. As described above, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are constructed as the data processing apparatus of the present invention by introducing and executing the job order control processing program recorded on the recording medium.

  An operation panel (operation display unit) (not shown) is connected to the panel I / F 37. The operation panel performs various processes on the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm such as a mode of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm and a switching operation of fonts. In addition to various operation keys for performing various operations necessary for execution, a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) that displays the states of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is provided. The panel I / F 37 exchanges signals between the controller 30 and the operation panel.

  The CPU 31 uses the NVRAM 33 as a work memory based on a program stored in the ROM 32, controls each part of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, performs a printing process, and executes a job order control process to be described later. .

  The NVRAM 33 is used as a work memory of the CPU 31, and also manages print data from the host devices HS1 to HSn in units of pages and temporarily stores the data stored in the buffer as an actual drawing pattern (print pattern). Used as a bitmap memory or the like for storing the converted video data.

  The NVRAM 33 is a memory that retains the stored contents even when the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are turned off. The NVRAM 33 is data that needs to be retained even when the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are turned off. Various data and setting information used in the job order control process to be performed are stored under the control of the CPU 31.

  The engine 50 is connected to the engine I / F 38, and exchanges control signals and video signals from the controller 30 to the engine 50 and status signals from the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to the controller 30.

  The engine 50 performs image formation (printing process) by a predetermined printing method, for example, an electrophotographic method, based on the video signal and the control signal received from the controller 30 via the engine I / F 38. That is, the engine 50 is not shown in the case of the electrophotographic system, but is necessary for recording and outputting print data on paper (recording medium) by the electrophotographic system, such as a photoconductor, an optical writing unit, and a developing unit. A charging unit, a cleaning unit, etc., and an optical writing unit is operated by a video signal and a control signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, and toner (image forming material) is supplied to the photosensitive member by the developing unit. The toner image is formed by supplying and developing the toner image. The engine 50 feeds the sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit, transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member to the sheet, and conveys the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred to the fixing unit. Then, the image is formed by fixing the toner image on the paper by heating and pressurizing in the fixing unit.

  The image conversion unit 39 performs various image processing on the print data received from the host devices HS1 to HSn, in particular, manages the print data in units of pages and temporarily stores them in the buffer of the NVRAM 33, or actually stores the data stored in the buffers. The video data (video signal) converted into a drawing pattern (printing pattern) is converted and passed to the engine 50 via the engine I / F 38.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the data processing system 1 of this embodiment, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm determine the processing order of the print jobs according to the job order conditions specified by the host apparatuses HS1 to HSn, and process the print jobs.

  First, in the host devices HS1 to HSn, when the user makes a print request for the document data created by the application 14, the document data is passed from the application 14 to the printer driver 13 via the OS 11, and the printer driver 13 11 generates print data that can be interpreted by the printing devices Pr1 to Prm that print the document data, and displays the print job priority setting screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 to display the printing device Pr1. It is possible to set a job order condition for determining the processing order of the print job of the document data at .about.Prm.

  This print job priority order setting screen 20 is a setting that allows a print job of document data requested to be printed to be prioritized in other print job processes in the print job process in the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. Can be set, and when this “passed printing” is permitted, a job order condition which is a condition for permitting the “passed printing” can be set. . As the job order condition, the maximum number of times of overtaking is set in the print job priority setting screen 20 of FIG. 3 to set the maximum number of times (maximum number of overtaking allowed) that is permitted to be overtaken by other print jobs. , “Maximum number of overtaking” to set the maximum total time (maximum overtaking permission time) that is allowed to be overtaken by other print jobs, Maximum maximum number of prints that are allowed to be overtaken by other print jobs (maximum The “maximum number of pages to be overtaken” setting and the number of remaining sheets of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are set to the number of prints of other print jobs to be overtaken. Complete the print processing of your own print job before it runs out of paper and the total number of sheets required for the print processing of the current print job is exceeded Whether or not to set the job order condition setting item "Print up before the paper-out occurs," it is provided to be. Although not shown in the print job priority order setting screen 20 of FIG. 3, the condition that the data amount of the print data of its own print job is larger than the data amount of other print jobs to be overtaken is set. The job order condition (passing permission condition) may be set.

  When the host device HS1 to HSn performs an intended “overtaking print” setting operation on the print job priority setting screen 20 by the user, the set job order condition information is set as a parameter in the print data. Embedded in and transmitted to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm.

  When the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm receive the print data, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm perform a job order control process as shown in FIGS. That is, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm first check the parameters embedded in the received print data to check whether “passed printing” is valid (step S101), and “passed printing” is not valid. Sometimes, when there is no other print data for which “passed printing” received earlier is invalid, the print job of the received print data is executed in the normal priority order, for example, the order of acceptance, Is finished (step S102).

  In this case, the normal priority order is not limited to the order in which print data (that is, print jobs) is received, and the priority order may be set based on the size of the data size of the print data. For example, the priority order may be higher as the data size of the print data is smaller, or conversely, the priority order may be higher as the data size is larger.

  If “passed printing” is valid in step S101, the host apparatuses HS1 to HSn are set in the job order condition information based on the job order condition information set in the parameters of the print data. It is checked whether the print job of the print data has been overtaken by another print job by the “maximum overtake count” (step S103), and has been overtaken by another print job by the “maximum overtake count”. In some cases, the printing process of the received print data is executed, and the process is terminated (step S102).

  In step S103, when the print job Pr1 to Prm is not overtaken by the total number of “maximum overtake times” in total, the printing devices Pr1 to Prm print the print only for the “maximum overtake time” set in the job order condition information. It is checked whether the print job of data has been overtaken by other print jobs in total (step S104). When the print job is overtaken by the “maximum overtake time”, print processing of the received print data is executed. Then, the process ends (step S102).

  In step S104, when the print jobs Pr1 to Prm are not overtaken by the total “maximum overtake time” in total, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm perform the print by the “maximum overtake number of sheets” set in the job order condition information. It is checked whether the print job of data has been overtaken by other print jobs in total (step S105). When the print job is overtaken by “the maximum number of overtakes”, print processing of the received print data is executed. Then, the process ends (step S102).

  In step S105, when the print job Pr1 to Prm is not overtaken by another print job by the “maximum number of overtakes” in total, it is checked whether the next print job has been detected or the print processing has been completed. (Step S106) When the next print job is detected, it is checked whether or not “Print before out of paper” is set to be valid in the job order condition information (Step S107).

  In step S107, when “print before paper runs out” is set to be valid, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm execute the next print job first, so that the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm (main body) perform the following printing job. It is checked whether the remaining number of sheets (the number of remaining sheets) may be insufficient before the execution of the current print job is completed (step S108). Execution is continued and the process is terminated (step S109). Whether or not there is a possibility that this paper shortage may occur is determined, for example, by the number of sheets necessary for the next print job that can be processed first and the number of sheets necessary for the current print job. Is determined based on whether or not the number of sheets added is larger than the remaining number of sheets of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm.

  When the printing device Pr1 to Prm is set to “print before paper runs out” is disabled in step S107 or the next print job is executed first in step S108, the printing devices Pr1 to Prm If there is no possibility that the remaining number of sheets of Prm (main body) will be short before the execution of the current print job is completed, as shown in FIG. 6, is the “overtake printing” of the next job valid? If it is checked (step S110) and the “overtake printing” of the next print job is invalid, the process proceeds to step S103 shown in FIG. Judgment is made regarding the “maximum overtake count”, “maximum overtake time”, and “maximum overtake count”, and the previous print job is determined based on these job order conditions (the overtake condition). ), The first print job is executed first (step S102), and if the previous print job does not meet one of these job order conditions, the next print job is prioritized. Then, the process proceeds to step S106 to check whether the next print job is detected and whether the processing of the print job is completed (step S106).

  In step S110, if “passed printing” of the next print job is valid, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm detect that the next print job has been transmitted, or perform print processing until the print processing is completed. When it is executed (step S111) and it is detected that the next print job has been transmitted or until the print process is completed, the process proceeds to step S106 in FIG. 5 to detect the next print job. Or whether printing is finished (step S106).

  When the next print job is detected in step S106, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm move to step S107 and perform the same processing as described above.

  In step S106, when the processing of the print job being executed is completed, the print job sequence control processing is ended.

  As described above, in the data processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the host apparatus HS1 to HSn sets the job order condition when the print processing order (job order) for the print data is later than the processing order of other print data. (Passing permission condition) can be set, and the set job order condition information is sent to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm together with the print data, and the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm add job order condition information to the sent print data. Is added, the print data processing order (job order) is controlled based on the job order condition.

  Accordingly, the job order conditions are appropriately set in the host apparatuses HS1 to HSn according to the nature and importance of the print data itself, and the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm perform printing in the processing order corresponding to the set job order conditions. The processing can be performed, and the usability can be improved while improving the processing efficiency of the printing process.

  In addition, the data processing system 1 according to the present embodiment performs print processing for printing print data as data processing.

  Therefore, the printing process can be performed in the processing order according to the set job order condition, and the usability can be improved while improving the processing efficiency of the printing process.

  Further, the data processing system 1 according to the present embodiment uses, as a job order condition, that the total number of overtakings by other print jobs to be overtaken is within the set “maximum number of overtakings” (maximum overtaking permitted times). The print job processing order is controlled.

  Therefore, it is possible to set the maximum number of overtakings appropriately according to the importance of the print data to be requested for printing, etc., allow overtaking according to the set maximum overtaking times, and perform the printing process. Thus, it is possible to further improve the usability while improving the processing efficiency of the printing process.

  Further, the data processing system 1 according to the present embodiment uses, as a job order condition, that the total overtaking time for other printing processes to be overtaken is within the “maximum overtake time” (maximum overtake permission time) set. The print job processing order is controlled.

  Therefore, it is possible to set the maximum overtake time as appropriate according to the importance of the print data requested for printing, etc., and allow the overtake according to the set maximum overtake time and perform the print processing. Thus, it is possible to further improve the usability while improving the processing efficiency of the printing process.

  Furthermore, the data processing system 1 according to the present embodiment determines that the total number of pages to be overtaken by other data processing to be overtaken is within the “maximum number of pages to be overtaken” (maximum number of pages to be overtaken). As an order condition, the order of print jobs is controlled.

  Therefore, the maximum number of sheets to be overtaken can be set according to the importance of the print data requested to be printed, and the overtaking can be permitted according to the set maximum number of sheets to be overprinted. By performing the printing process, it is possible to further improve the usability while improving the processing performance of the printing process.

  Further, the data processing system 1 of the present embodiment controls the order of print jobs using “print before paper runs out” as a job order condition.

  Accordingly, it is possible to perform the print processing before the out-of-paper occurs in the print processing of the print data requested to be printed while appropriately giving priority to other print jobs, and the usability can be further improved.

  Furthermore, in the data processing system 1 of the present embodiment, if the fact that the data amount of the print data requested for printing is smaller than the data amount of other print processing to be overtaken is adopted as a job order condition (overtake permission condition), The processing efficiency of the printing process in the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm can be further improved.

  For example, if the data size of the print data requested to be printed is large and it takes a long time to print, but there is no need to rush to print, the amount of print data requested to be printed is another print process subject to overtaking. When “passed printing” is set with the job order condition being less than the data amount of the print data, and the print data is added to the job order condition information and sent to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm Then, the printing process as a whole of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm can be smoothly performed without interfering with other print jobs.

  That is, generally, the processing order of a print job is generally the order in which the print job is received, but if a time-consuming print job is received first, the next print job is not started until the end of the print job. . For example, if there is a print job A that takes 10 minutes and a print job B that takes 1 minute, if the print job processing is executed in the order of print job A → print job B, the processing of print job A ends after 10 minutes. However, the processing of print job B ends after 11 minutes. However, if the jobs are processed in the order of print job B → print job A, print job B ends after 1 minute and print job A ends after 11 minutes. In this case, the print job A ends one minute later than the case of processing in the order of the print job A → the print job B, but the print job B ends ten minutes earlier. Processing in the order of job B → print job A is more efficient with less time loss.

  In such a case, for print job A, which takes time, a print request is set by setting “overtake printing” with a job order condition that the data amount is smaller than the data amount of other print processing to be overtaken. Then, the print job B is allowed to pass the print job A, the rotation of the print job B which does not take time can be accelerated, the entire printing process can be smoothed, and the usability can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention appropriately changes the processing order of data processing such as print processing of print data to improve the processing efficiency and improve the usability while receiving a data processing request from the host device. The present invention can be applied to a data processing apparatus such as a printing apparatus that performs data processing and a data processing system including these host devices and data processing apparatuses.

1 is a block diagram of a data processing system to which one embodiment of a host device, a data processing device, and a data processing system of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of hardware and software of the host device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print job priority order setting screen displayed on the display of the host device of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. 5 is a flowchart showing job order control processing by the printing apparatus of FIG. 4. 6 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the job order control processing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Data Processing System NW Network HS1 to HSn Host Device Pr1 to Prm Printing Device 10 Hardware 11 OS
12 Graphic Engine 13 Printer Driver 14 Application 20 Print Job Priority Setting Screen 30 Controller 31 CPU
32 ROM
33 NVRAM
34 Hard Disk (HDD)
35 Host I / F
36 Network I / F
37 Panel I / F
38 Engine I / F
39 Image converter 40 Bus 50 Engine

Claims (9)

  In a host device that sends data to a data processing device and requests predetermined data processing, overtaking permission when the processing order of the data processing for the data in the data processing device is made slower than the processing order of other data A host device characterized in that conditions can be set and the set overtaking permission condition information is sent to the data processing device together with the data.   In a data processing apparatus that performs predetermined data processing on sent data, overtaking permission is given to the sent data when the processing order of data processing for the data is made slower than the processing order of other data A data processing apparatus that controls processing order of the data based on the overtaking permission condition when condition information is added.   In a data processing system in which data is sent from a host device to a data processing device, and the data processing device performs predetermined data processing on the data, the host device changes the processing order of data processing on the data to other data It is possible to set an overtaking permission condition when the processing order is later than the processing order, and the set overtaking permission condition information is sent to the data processing device together with the data, and the data processing device sends the overtaking data to the sent data. A data processing system characterized in that, when permission condition information is added, the processing order of the data is controlled based on the overtaking permission condition.   4. The host device according to claim 1, the data processing device according to claim 2, or the data processing system according to claim 3, wherein the data processing is print processing for printing data on a predetermined recording medium.   5. The host device according to claim 1, wherein the overtaking permission condition is that a total number of overtakings by other data processing to be overtaken is within a set maximum overtaking permission number. , Data processing device or data processing system.   5. The host device according to claim 1, wherein the overtaking permission condition is within a maximum overtaking permission time set for a total overtaking time for other data processing to be overtaken. 5. , Data processing device or data processing system.   5. The overtaking permission condition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the total number of pages to be overtaken by other data processing to be overtaken is within a set maximum number of pages to be overtaken. Host device, data processing device or data processing system.   5. The host device and data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the overtaking permission condition is that a data amount of the data is smaller than a data amount of other data processing to be overtaken. Or a data processing system. The data processing is printing processing for printing data on a predetermined recording medium, and the overtaking permission condition is used for the remaining number of recording media used for other data processing for overtaking permission and the printing processing of the data. 9. The host device, data processing device, or data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the number of recording media is equal to or greater than the total number of recording media.

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