JP2009020752A - Print job generation device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve processing efficiency from the start to the end of printing in comparison with a conventional technology requiring the previous setting of a print job type. <P>SOLUTION: The current print status of a printer 16 is detected (104), a print condition is detected (108 and 110), a current activity ratio of a CPU 12c and that of a memory (RAM 12d) are detected (112), a current band activity ratio of a network 18 is detected (128), and a current activity ratio of a CPU 14c of a server 14 is detected (134 and 136). Based on the detection results, a print job described by a printer language interpretable by a print execution device carrying out printing is generated (142), an intermediate form print job transformable into the print job described in the printer language is generated (106, 118, and 140), or a print job wherein an intermediate form print job and a print job described by the printer language are mixed is generated (124). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print job generation device and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a print data processing system that can suppress a load on a network is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the print data processing system described in Patent Document 1, as print data (print job) transmitted from a client to a server, RAW (a data amount that can be interpreted by a printer and smaller than print data in EMF (Enhanced Metafile) format is used. Ready to Print) data or EMF format print data, which is intermediate format print data that can be converted to RAW data, is preset as the format of print data sent by the user. When a print instruction is input from the client to the client, the client outputs RAW data or EMF format print data to the server based on preset contents. When the input print data is raw data, the server outputs the raw data to the printer without processing. When the input print data is EMF format print data, the server converts it to raw data. Output to the printer. As a result, data that flows on the network is compared with the case where print data in EMF format is transmitted by the user setting in advance so that RAW data is transmitted as print data transmitted from the client to the server. The amount is reduced and the load on the network is suppressed.
JP 2005-84898 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a print job generation apparatus that has a better processing efficiency from the start to the end of printing than in the case of a conventional technique in which a print job format is set in advance.

  In order to achieve the above object, a print job generation device according to claim 1 generates a print job based on print target data and a print condition when executing printing of the print target data. Current use of a generation unit and a calculation unit provided in a server connected to the job generation unit via a network so as to control a print execution apparatus that executes printing based on the print condition and the print job Rate, the current bandwidth usage rate of the network, the current printing status of the print execution device, and the current of the storage means temporarily used when the job is generated by the job generation means and the job generation means A detection unit that detects at least one of the usage rates and a printer language that can be interpreted by the print execution device based on a detection result of the detection unit. Generate a print job, generate a print job in an intermediate format that can be converted into a print job described in the printer language, or generate a print job in which the description in the intermediate format and the printer language are mixed Control means for controlling the job generation means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print job generation apparatus according to the second aspect, when the current usage rate of the job generation unit and the storage unit is detected by the detection unit, Based on the detection result, a print job described in the printer language is generated, an intermediate format print job is generated, or image data is included in the print target data. And converting the text data into a printer language description when the text data is included, thereby generating a print job in which the intermediate format and the printer language description are mixed. The generation means is controlled.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print job generation apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the control unit causes the detection unit to detect the print condition, a current usage rate of a calculation unit provided in the server, and a current bandwidth usage in the network. If at least one of the current print status of the print execution device is detected, a print job described in the printer language is generated based on the detection result of the detection means, or the intermediate format The job generation means is controlled to generate a print job.

  In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a fourth aspect of the invention generates a print job based on print data when the computer executes printing of the print target data and the print target data. Control of a print execution apparatus that performs printing based on the current usage rate of the storage unit that is temporarily used when the job generation unit generates a job and the job generation unit, the print condition, and the print job At least a current usage rate of a computing unit provided in a server connected to the job generation unit via a network, a current bandwidth usage rate of the network, and a current printing status of the print execution apparatus Based on the detection means and the detection result, a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the print execution apparatus is generated. Generating an intermediate format print job that can be converted into a print job described in the printer language, or controlling the job generation means to generate a print job in which the intermediate format and the description of the printer language are mixed Function as a means to

  According to the print job generation apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the processing efficiency from the start to the end of printing is improved as compared with the case of the prior art in which the format of the print job is set in advance.

  According to the print job generating apparatus of the second aspect, when the current usage rate of the job generating unit and the storage unit is detected, a print job described in the printer language is generated based on the detection result. Or generate an intermediate format print job, or convert image data to intermediate format when the data to be printed contains image data, and print text data when text data is included By converting to a language description, it is possible to generate a print job in which an intermediate format and a printer language description are mixed.

  According to the print job generating apparatus of the invention of claim 3, at least one of the printing conditions, the current usage rate of the computing means provided in the server, the current bandwidth usage rate in the network, and the current printing status of the print execution device. If one is detected, a print job described in the printer language can be generated based on the detection result, or an intermediate format print job can be generated.

  According to the program of the invention of claim 4, the processing efficiency from the start to the end of printing is improved as compared with the case of the prior art in which the format of the print job is set in advance.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a print job generation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a print job generation device that generates a print job based on print target data and print conditions when executing the print of the print target data. As a client 12, a server 14 that processes a print job input from the client 12 and outputs the print job, and a printer as a print execution device that executes printing based on the print job input from the server 14 16 are connected to each other via a network 18.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which Windows (registered trademark) is installed as an OS in the client 12 and the server 14 will be described below.

  The client 12 stores a ROM 12a as a storage medium storing a basic program such as an OS, a program for executing a print job generation processing routine, which will be described in detail below, and a program for executing various processing routines. An HDD (hard disk drive) 12b as a storage medium, a CPU 12c that reads and executes programs from the ROM 12a and the HDD 12b, a RAM 12d that temporarily stores data, an I / O (input / output) port 12e, and the like The ROM 12a, HDD 12b, CPU 12c, RAM 12d, and I / O port 12e are connected to each other via a bus 12f.

  The server 14 includes a ROM 14a as a storage medium storing a basic program such as an OS, a program for executing a print job output processing routine to the printer 16 described in detail below, and a program for executing various processing routines. Including a HDD (hard disk drive) 14b as a storage medium in which the program is stored, a CPU 14c that reads and executes programs from the ROM 14a and the HDD 14b, a RAM 14d that temporarily stores data, an I / O (input / output) port 14e, and the like The ROM 14a, HDD 14b, CPU 14c, RAM 14d, and I / O port 14e are connected to each other via a bus 14f.

  The server 14 monitors the print status of the printer 16, for example, the number of jobs waiting for printing (printing waiting job information) stored in the spool queue at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 5 seconds) and stores them in the HDD 14 b. The print waiting job information stored in the HDD 14b is updated every predetermined time (for example, every 5 seconds). For this reason, when the client 12 requests the server 14 to send print-waiting job information for the printer 16, the server 14 reads the print-waiting job information from the HDD 14b and sends the read print-waiting job information to the client 12. Send.

  Further, the server 14 detects the load state of the CPU 14c of the server 14, for example, the usage rate of the CPU 14c by executing a task manager program of Windows (registered trademark), for example, every predetermined time (for example, every second). The usage rate of the CPU 14c stored in the HDD 14b is updated every predetermined time (for example, every second). Therefore, when the client 12 requests the server 14 to transmit information (load information) regarding the load state of the server 14, the server 14 reads the usage rate of the CPU 14c from the HDD 14b and uses the read CPU 14c. The rate is sent to the client 12.

  Next, a print job generation processing routine executed by the CPU 12c of the client 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, this print job generation processing routine is an accepting unit of the client 12 such as a keyboard (not shown) so that printing based on data to be printed is executed under the printing conditions desired by the user. ) Or a mouse (not shown) is executed when the CPU 12c detects an instruction to execute printing input by the user operating the mouse. The above printing conditions include, for example, that each of a plurality of pages (N pages) is reduced and printed on one page (for example, Nup), and information (for example, network) about a printer on which printing is performed. The above position information (IP address)) is included, and printing based on such printing conditions can be realized by using the function of a Windows (registered trademark) print processor. The data to be printed includes at least one of text data and image data.

  First, in step 100, a transmission request for job waiting print information of the printer 16 is sent to the server 14.

  When print waiting job information is received from the server 14 at the next step 102, whether or not the number of print waiting jobs obtained from the print job information at the next step 104 is a predetermined value, for example, 1 or more. It is determined whether there is a job waiting for printing. That is, in step 104, if it is determined that there is a job waiting for printing, the current printing status of the printer 16 is not a status where printing can be executed immediately. If it is determined that there is no job waiting for printing, the printer 16 The current print status of the printer 16 is detected as the current print status of 16 is a status in which printing can be executed immediately.

  If it is determined in step 104 that there is a job waiting for printing, it can be interpreted by the printer 16 in the next step 106 based on the data to be printed and the printing conditions for which the print execution instruction is given. An intermediate format print job that can be converted into a print job described in a printer language is generated.

  That is, the time from when the user instructs the client 12 to execute printing by the printer 16 until the server 14 outputs the print job to the printer 16 and the printing by the printer 16 is completed is an intermediate format at the client 12. Is longer than the case where the print job described in the printer language is generated by the client 12. This is because when the client 12 generates an intermediate format print job, the server 14 converts the intermediate format print job into a print job written in a printer language that the printer 16 can interpret. It takes time. Therefore, if it is determined in step 104 that there is a job waiting for printing, even if a print job is output from the client 12, printing is not immediately executed by the printer 16, so the client 12 needs to generate a print job immediately. Therefore, it is preferable to generate a print job with a light load when generating. For this reason, in step 106, the client 12 cannot immediately generate a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16, but the CPU 12c does not generate the print job immediately. An intermediate format print job that reduces the load on the job is generated.

  In other words, in step 106, the CPU 12 c itself executes the processing in step 106 to generate an intermediate-format print job that can be converted into a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16. Will be controlled.

  In the next step 120, the generated print job is output to the spool (HDD 14b) of the server 14, and the print job generation processing routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that there is no job waiting for printing, in the next step 108, printing that requires that the generated print job is an intermediate format print job is included in the printing conditions. A predetermined printing condition is detected by determining whether or not the condition is included. As such a printing condition, for example, there is a printing condition in which each of a plurality of pages (N pages) is reduced and printed on one page (for example, Nup).

  If it is determined in step 108 that the printing condition that makes it necessary to be an intermediate format print job is included, it is necessary to generate an intermediate format print job. Generate a print job in the format.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 108 that the print condition that makes it necessary to be an intermediate format print job is not included, the next step 110 prints (including generation of the print job) in the foreground. By determining the setting at the time of printing provided from Windows (registered trademark) as to whether or not to perform the above, the load setting at the time of printing is determined. That is, in step 110, a predetermined printing condition is detected by determining a load setting during printing.

  If a negative determination is made in step 110, that is, if it is determined that the setting is to perform printing in the background, it is necessary to further reduce the load on the CPU 12c when generating a print job. In step 106, an intermediate-format print job is generated. This is because the load on the CPU 12c is lighter when an intermediate format print job is generated than when a print job written in a printer language is generated.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 110, in the next step 112, the current usage rate of the CPU 12c and the memory (RAM 12d) is executed by, for example, executing a task manager program of Windows (registered trademark). To detect.

  In the next step 114, it is determined whether or not the current usage rate of the CPU 12c detected in step 112 is a first predetermined value, for example, 30% or less. If an affirmative determination is made, that is, 30% or less. If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to the next step 126, and if a negative determination is made, that is, if it is determined that it is greater than 30%, the process proceeds to the next step 116.

  In step 116, it is determined whether or not the current usage rate of the CPU 12 c detected in step 112 is a second predetermined value that is larger than the first predetermined value in step 114, for example, 60% or less. As for the second predetermined value, it is easy for the CPU 12c to generate an intermediate-type print job with a light load, for example, experimentally or statistically (for example, a print job can be generated within a predetermined time). The usage rate of the CPU 12c when it is not easy to generate a print job described in a loaded printer language is obtained, and the obtained usage rate of the CPU 12c may be set as the second predetermined value. .

  If it is determined in step 116 that the current usage rate of the CPU 12c detected in step 112 is greater than the second predetermined value, in step 118, the print target for which the above-described print execution instruction has been issued. Based on the data and printing conditions, an intermediate format print job that can be converted into a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16 is generated, and the process proceeds to the next step 120.

  In other words, in step 118, the CPU 12 c itself executes the processing in step 118 to generate an intermediate format print job that can be converted into a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16. Will be controlled.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 116 that the current usage rate of the CPU 12c detected in step 112 is less than or equal to the second predetermined value, the memory (RAM 12d) detected in step 112 in the next step 122 It is determined whether or not the current usage rate is equal to or less than a third predetermined value, for example, 50%. For the third predetermined value, for example, experimentally or statistically, a portion corresponding to a print job in a printer language is used for a text portion including text data having a relatively small data capacity among data to be printed. When the print job is generated by generating the corresponding portion of the print job in the intermediate format for the image portion composed of image data having a relatively large data capacity, the load on the CPU 12c is reduced and The maximum value of the memory usage rate when the memory is not squeezed is obtained, and the obtained maximum value of the memory usage rate may be set as the third predetermined value.

  If it is determined in step 122 that it is 50% or less, in the next step 124, based on the print target data and the print conditions for which the print execution instruction is given, the print target data If a text part consisting of text data is included, a corresponding part of the print job is generated for the text part in the printer language. If an image part consisting of image data is included, For this image portion, a print job is generated by generating a corresponding portion of the print job in an intermediate format, and the process proceeds to step 120. As a result, a print job in which descriptions in the intermediate format and printer language are mixed is generated.

  In other words, in step 124, the CPU 12c controls the CPU 12c itself to generate a print job in which intermediate format data and data described in the printer language are mixed by executing the processing in step 124.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 122 that it is greater than 50%, in step 126, whether or not the print execution destination printer included in the print execution instruction described above is connected to the network. Determine whether. For example, in step 126, information indicating whether each printer is connected to the client 12 via a network or directly connected to the client 12 is stored in advance in the HDD 12b by the user. Is read from the HDD 12b, and it is determined whether or not the printer to execute printing is connected to the network.

  If the determination in step 126 is negative, that is, if it is determined that the printer to which printing is to be performed is directly connected to the client 12, in step 142, the print target for which the above-described printing execution instruction has been issued. Based on the data and the printing conditions, a print job described in a printer language interpretable by the printer 16 is generated, and the process proceeds to step 120.

  That is, in step 142, the CPU 12 c itself is controlled to generate a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16 by executing the processing in step 142.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 126 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the printing destination printer is connected to the client 12 via the network, the client 12 and the server 14 are connected in the next step 128. The current bandwidth usage rate of the network 18 is detected, for example, by executing a Windows (registered trademark) network monitor program.

  In the next step 130, it is determined whether or not the current bandwidth usage rate of the network 18 detected in step 128 is a fourth predetermined value, for example, 35% or more. For the fourth predetermined value, for example, the minimum value of the bandwidth usage rate at which collisions increase and delays and communication errors are likely to occur is obtained experimentally or statistically. The minimum value of the usage rate may be set as the fourth predetermined value.

  In the next step 132, it is determined whether or not the server 14 as a print server exists in the network. For example, in step 132, if a print server exists, information indicating the presence of the print server is stored in advance in the HDD 12b by the user, and this information is read from the HDD 12b to determine whether the print server exists in the network. To do.

  If the determination in step 132 is negative, that is, if it is determined that the print server does not exist in the network, the process proceeds to the next step 142, whereas if the determination is affirmative, that is, if the print server is determined to exist in the network. In the next step 134, the server 14 sends a load information transmission request to the server 14.

  When the load information is received from the server 14 in the next step 136, whether or not the current usage rate of the CPU 14c obtained from the load information is a fifth predetermined value, for example, 30% or less, in the next step 138. Determine whether. As for the fifth predetermined value, the CPU 14c can easily convert an intermediate format print job into a print job described in a printer language, for example, experimentally or statistically (for example, within a predetermined time). The usage rate of the CPU 14c at the time of (possible) is obtained, and the maximum value of the obtained usage rate of the CPU 14c may be set as a predetermined value.

  That is, in step 134 and step 136, the current usage rate of the CPU 14c of the server 14 is detected.

  If a negative determination is made in step 138, the process proceeds to the next step 142. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made, in step 140, the print target that has been instructed to execute printing is described. Based on the data and printing conditions, an intermediate format print job that can be converted into a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16 is generated, and the process proceeds to the next step 120. That is, in step 140, the CPU 12c executes the processing in step 140 so that the CPU 12c itself generates an intermediate-format print job that can be converted into a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16. Be controlled.

  Next, a print job output processing routine to the printer performed by the CPU 14c of the server 14 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the print job output processing routine to this printer is executed by the CPU 14c when the print job is input from the client 12 and the input print job is stored in the spool directory of the HDD 14b of the server 14. It is executed when detected.

  First, in step 200, the first print job, that is, the print job stored earliest in the spool directory is taken out.

  In the next step 202, it is determined whether or not the text portion and the image portion of the extracted print job are an intermediate format print job.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 202, the extracted print job is converted into a print job described in the printer language in the next step 204, and the process proceeds to the next step 210.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 202, it is determined in the next step 206 whether or not the retrieved print job is a print job in which the text portion is in an intermediate format and the image portion is described in a printer language. to decide.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 206, in the next step 208, only the text portion of the extracted print job is converted into a print job described in the printer language, and the process proceeds to the next step 210.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 206, in the next step 210, a print job described in the printer language is output to the printer 16.

  As described above, the printer 16 executes printing based on the print job output from the client 12 by the print job generation process and the print job output process to the printer described above.

  In this embodiment, in the print job generation process, the current printing status of the printer 16 is detected in step 104, the printing conditions are detected in steps 108 and 110, and the CPU 12c and the memory (RAM 12d) are detected in step 112. The current usage rate is detected, the current bandwidth usage rate of the network 18 is detected in step 128, the current usage rate of the CPU 14c of the server 14 is detected in steps 134 and 136, and the step is performed based on the detection result. 106, step 118, step 124, step 140, or step 142 has been described with respect to an example in which the corresponding print job is generated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the current print status of the printer 16, the print conditions, the client 12 Current use of CPU 12c and memory (RAM 12d) Rate, current bandwidth utilization of the network 18, and detects at least one of the current utilization of CPU14c server 14, based on the detection result, may generate a corresponding print job. In this case, for example, at least one of a negative determination at step 104, a negative determination at step 108, an affirmative determination at step 110, an affirmative determination at step 114, a negative determination at step 122, and an affirmative determination at step 130 was made. In this case, the process may proceed to step 142 in order to generate a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 16. At this time, as shown in Table 1 below, the current printing status of the printer 16, the printing conditions, the current usage rate of the CPU 12c and the memory (RAM 12d) of the client 12, the current bandwidth usage rate of the network 18, and the server 14 Based on at least one detection result of the current usage rate of the CPU 14c, the client 12 generates an intermediate format print job, generates a print job described in a printer language, or generates the intermediate format and the Generate a print job with mixed printer language descriptions.

It is the schematic which shows this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the print job generation process routine which CPU of the client in this Embodiment performs. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the print job generation process routine which CPU of the client in this Embodiment performs. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the print job output process routine to the printer which CPU of the server in this Embodiment performs.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printing System 12 Client 12c CPU
14 Server 14c CPU
16 Printer 18 Network

Claims (4)

Job generation means for generating a print job based on print target data and print conditions when executing printing of the print target data;
A current usage rate of a computing unit provided in a server connected to the job generation unit via a network so as to control a print execution apparatus that performs printing based on the print condition, the print job, and the network Current bandwidth usage rate, current printing status of the print execution device, and current usage rate of the storage unit temporarily used when the job is generated by the job generation unit and the job generation unit Detecting means for detecting one;
Based on the detection result of the detection means, a print job described in a printer language that can be interpreted by the print execution apparatus is generated, or an intermediate format print job that can be converted into a print job described in the printer language is generated. Control means for controlling the job generation means to generate or generate a print job in which the description of the intermediate format and the printer language is mixed;
A print job generation device.   When the current usage rate of the job generation unit and the storage unit is detected by the detection unit, the control unit executes a print job described in the printer language based on the detection result of the detection unit. Generating the intermediate format print job, or converting the image data into the intermediate format when the print target data includes image data and the text data when the image data is included. The print job generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job generation unit is controlled to generate a print job in which the intermediate format and the printer language description are mixed by converting data into a printer language description.   The control means detects at least one of the printing conditions, the current usage rate of the computing means provided in the server, the current bandwidth usage rate in the network, and the current printing status of the print execution device by the detection means. If so, the job generation means is controlled to generate a print job described in the printer language based on the detection result of the detection means or to generate the intermediate-format print job. Item 2. A print job generation apparatus according to Item 1. A computer generates a print job based on data to be printed and printing conditions for executing printing of the data to be printed, and temporarily used when a job is generated by the job generation unit Provided in a server connected to the job generation unit via a network so as to control a print execution apparatus that executes printing based on the current usage rate of the storage unit, the printing condition, and the print job. Means for detecting at least one of the current usage rate of the computing means, the current bandwidth usage rate of the network, and the current printing status of the print execution device, and interpretable to the print execution device based on the detection result Print in an intermediate format that can be generated or converted to a print job written in the printer language ® either generate a blanking or the intermediate form and the program for the printer language descriptions to function as means for controlling said job generating unit to generate a print job mix.

Images