JP3159573B2 - Print time measurement method for printer system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print time measuring method for a printer system in which a host computer is connected to a printer for printing print data output from the host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a print server which detects the time required for formatting or printing a stored document based on a request from a host computer and outputs the time to a host computer (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 17912). According to the printer system using such a print server, it is possible to know the time until the document stored in the print server is printed.

[0003]

However, in a printer system using a print server as described above,
There has been a problem in that it is not possible to mechanically and accurately measure the printing time required from the start of printing when transmission of print data from the host computer is started to the end of printing when printing is completed in the printer.

[0004] The following are conceivable connection modes between the host computer and the printer in the printer system. (1) “Printer-host computer type”, which is a basic connection configuration in which a printer and a host computer are connected one-to-one (2) A printer and a host computer are connected in series via a print buffer device "Printer-Print buffer device-Host computer type"

(3) “Printer-printer switch-host computer type” in which a printer and a host computer are connected in series via a printer switcher. (4) On a communication network such as a local area network (LAN). Printer and host computer
"Printer-LAN print server-host computer type" connected in series via an AN print server

As described above, when various devices are interposed between the host computer and the printer, or when the printer itself has complicated internal processing such as a laser printer, the data transfer time from the host computer to the printer and the printing time are reduced. In addition, there is a problem that it is not possible to grasp the time required for processing and the processing time in each device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to accurately know a print end time from when a printing instruction is issued from a host computer to when printing is completed in a printer. Aim. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to know the processing time in the relay device when the relay device is connected between the host computer and the printer.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print time measuring method for a printer system comprising a host computer and a printer for printing print data output from the host computer. In the host computer, the command of the time information parameter is defined, the print start time for starting the transmission of the print data is added to the command, and the command is transmitted to the printer together with the print data.The printer transmits the command received from the host computer to the command. The added print start time is separated and stored. After the print data received from the host computer has been printed, the print start time is subtracted from the print end time to obtain a print time.

In the host computer, a command of a time information parameter is defined, a counter of the host computer is started at the same time as the start of the transmission of the print data to the printer, and the counting of the unit time is started. The count value of the counter is added to the above command, added to the end of the print data, and sent to the printer. The printer separates the count value added to the command received from the host computer, and And starts counting up the counter for each unit time, ends the counting when printing of the print data received from the host computer is completed, and obtains the printing time from the count value of the counter at that time. .

Further, in a print time measuring method for a printer system in which a host computer and a printer for printing print data output from the host computer are connected in series via a relay device, A parameter command is defined, a print start time at which print data transmission is started is added to the command, and the command is transmitted to the relay device together with the print data.The relay device adds a passage time to the command received from the host computer. The print start time and pass time added to the command received from the relay device are separated and stored in the printer, and after the print data received from the host computer has been printed, printing is performed from the print end time. Start time Subtracting seeking print time, it obtains the processing time in the relay device by subtracting the print start time from the passing time.

[0011]

In the print time measuring method of the printer system according to the present invention, a command of a time information parameter is defined in a host computer, and a print start time for starting transmission of print data is added to the command and transmitted to the printer together with the print data. Then, the print start time added to the command received from the host computer in the printer is separated and stored, and after the print data received from the host computer has been printed, the print start time is subtracted from the print end time. Since the print time is obtained, the print end time from when the host computer issues a print instruction to when the printer finishes printing can be accurately known.

A command of a time information parameter is defined in the host computer, a counter of the host computer is started at the same time as the start of the transmission of the print data to the printer, and the counting of the unit time is started. The count value is added to the command, added to the end of the print data and sent to the printer.The printer separates the count value added to the command received from the host computer and stores it in the printer counter. Even if the count-up of the counter is started for each unit time, the count-up is completed when the printing of the print data received from the host computer is completed, and the print time is obtained from the count value of the counter at that time, the host computer may be configured to use the counter. Print a printer from issuing a print instruction from Yuta can know exactly print end time to the end.

Further, in a printer system in which a host computer and a printer for printing print data output from the host computer are connected in series via a relay device, the host computer defines a command of a time information parameter. The command is added to the command with a print start time to start sending the print data and sent to the relay device together with the print data.The relay device adds the passing time to the command received from the host computer and sends it to the printer. The print start time and the pass time added to the command received from the relay device are separated and saved, and after the print of the print data received from the host computer is completed,
If the print start time is subtracted from the print end time to obtain the print time, and the print start time is subtracted from the pass time to obtain the processing time in the relay device, the connection between the host computer and the printer can be obtained. It is possible to know the processing time at the relay device.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this printer system, a host computer 1 and a printer 2 that prints print data output from the host computer 1 are connected via a communication line 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the host computer 1. The host computer includes a CPU 4, a RAM 5, a ROM 6, a clock 7, an external storage device 8, an external storage device interface (I / F) 9, a printer interface 10, other I / O 11, and an I / F.
12 and a system bus 13.

The CPU 4 controls the host computer 1 and performs processing for transmitting print data and print start time to the printer. RAM5 is CPU4
Are memory areas for performing various processes. RO
M6 is a memory area in which various processing programs used by the CPU 4 are stored.

The clock 7 is a device for indicating the current time. The external storage device 8 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a magneto-optical disk device that stores various data such as print data. The external storage device I / F 9 is connected to the external storage device 8.
To control writing and reading of data.

The printer interface 10 has a communication line 3
And a data communication interface with the printer 2 via the. Other I / Os 11 are various input and output devices. The I / F 12 controls an interface of the other I / O 11. The system bus 13 is a communication line for exchanging data between the above units.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the printer 2. This printer has a CPU 14, RA
M15, ROM 16, clock 17, printer engine 1
8, printer interface 19, other I / O 20,
It comprises an I / F 21 and a system bus 22.

The CPU 14 controls the printer 2 and performs processing for obtaining the printer time. RAM15
Is a memory area for the CPU 14 to perform various processes. The ROM 16 is a memory area in which various processing programs used by the CPU 14 are stored.

The clock 17 is a device for indicating the time. The printer engine 18 performs a process of printing print data. The printer interface 19 controls an interface with the host computer 1 via the communication line 3. Other I / Os 20 are various input and output devices. The I / F 21 controls an interface of the other I / O 20. The system bus 22 is a communication line for exchanging data between the above units.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a print time measuring process in the printer system of the first embodiment. First, the CPU 4 of the host computer defines a command of a time information parameter, obtains a print start time at which the transmission of print data is started from the clock 7, adds the print start time to the command, and adds the command to the print data. Printer interface 10 additionally
To the printer 2.

On the other hand, the CPU 14 of the printer 2 separates and saves the print start time added to the command received from the host computer 1 by the printer interface 19, and prints the print data received from the host computer 1. After the printing, the printing end time is obtained from the clock 17 and the printing start time is subtracted from the printing end time to obtain the printing time.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the print time measuring process in the printer 2. Host computer 1
When the data is received from the device, it is determined whether the data is completed as shown in FIG. At first, since there is data, it is determined whether or not it is a time command. If it is a time command, the print start time is separated and stored in the memory, and the process returns to the first processing.

Further, since print data remains, which is not the end of data and time command, the print processing of the print data is repeated until there is no more data. When the data is completed, it is determined whether the print operation has been completed.When the print operation is completed, the print end time is obtained, and the print start time that has been saved is subtracted from the print end time to calculate the print time. Then, the process ends.

Next, the command of the time information parameter will be described. In the host computer 1, a command Cx having a parameter of time information in a printer language is defined. The command Cx is configured as shown in the following equation (1). Command Cx = Escape character + Command identification character (or character string) + Parameter (1)

The escape character serves as a separator for distinguishing the print data from the command. The command identification character (or character string) indicates that the command is a time information parameter command (time command). This is the print start time.

Next, a format of print data and a command transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of the print data, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format when a command is added to the print data of FIG.

When the host computer 1 causes the printer 2 to print, the host computer 1 creates print data in a format as shown in FIG. 6 and transmits data in a format with a command Cx added to the head as shown in FIG. I do.

Next, the processing for obtaining the print time will be described. When starting printing, the host computer 1 reads the current time from the clock 7, adds the current time to the parameter of the command Cx as the print start time Ts, and prints the data with the command Cx added at the beginning of the print data to the printer 2. Send to

On the other hand, the printer 2 is a host computer 1
Receives the data from the command Cx in the data.
And the print start time Ts added to the command Cx is stored and stored in the RAM 15. Then, at the end of the printing operation, the current time is obtained from the clock 17, this is set as the printing end time Te, and the printing time Tx is obtained by the following equation (2). Print time Tx = print end time Te-print start time Ts (2)

For example, if the escape character is "ESC", the command identification character is "T", and the command has a fixed length,
The sequence of the command Cx is as shown in the following expression (3). Cx = ESC + T + parameter (ESC: 1BH, T: 41H) (3)

When the host computer 1 starts printing at 10:45:30 on March 31, the print start time parameter is "0331104530", and the command Cx is expressed by the following equation (4). Cx = ESC + T + “0331104530” (4) Thus, the host computer 1 adds a command Cx in which the parameter of the print start time is added to the head of the print data for each print job break.

Upon receiving the data from the host computer 1, the printer 2 separates the command Cx from the data, stores and saves the parameter "0331104530" in the memory, and prints the print data. Then, when the print operation ends at 10:47:35 on March 31, the print end time parameter is “0331”.
104735 ".

Therefore, the print time Tx in this case is
Is calculated as 2 minutes and 5 seconds by the following equation (5). Tx = Te−Ts = “0331104735” − “0331104530” = 2 minutes and 5 seconds ... (5) The method of expressing the time of the parameter may be expressed by the elapsed time from a certain reference time.

By transmitting the obtained print time as status data to the host computer 1, the host computer 1 can know the time required from the start to the end of printing. Further, if the display is displayed on the display panel of the printer 2, the printer 2 can also know the print time.

In this manner, the time required from the start to the end of printing can be accurately measured, so that the user can easily know the time required for printing, and
Next, it can be used as a guide when knowing the print time when printing similar data.

If the user knows the print time,
All you have to do is pick up the printed paper when all the printing is done, and you can do other work while waiting for the print.
Furthermore, the printing speed (page /
Time), printing speed (character / time) and data processing (transfer) speed (byte / hour), and the performance of the printer system can be compared. Furthermore, it can be used as original information for accounting for the use of a printer used internally by an operating system (OS) or a device driver.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the printer system in the second embodiment is the same as that of the printer system shown in FIG. 2, and the respective internal configurations of the host computer 1 and the printer 2 are slightly different.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the host computer 1, and the same reference numerals are given to parts common to FIG. In the host computer 1 of the second embodiment, instead of the clock 7 in the host computer 1 of the first embodiment, a timer (interval timer) 23 for measuring a unit time and sending a signal to the CPU 4 is provided. The CPU 4 counts up a counter in the RAM 5.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer 2, and the same reference numerals are given to parts common to FIG. The printer 2 of the second embodiment is provided with a timer (interval timer) 24 for measuring a unit time and sending a signal to the CPU 14 instead of the clock 17 in the printer 2 of the first embodiment. The counter in the RAM 15 is counted up.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a print time measuring process in the printer system of the second embodiment. First, the CPU 4 of the host computer defines a command of a time information parameter, starts a counter in the RAM 5 and starts counting signals output from the timer 23 for each unit time.
0, the print data is transmitted.

Then, a count value at the end of the transmission of the print data is obtained, the count value is added to the command, the command is added to the end of the print data, and the command is transmitted to the printer 2 by the printer interface 10.

On the other hand, the CPU 14 of the printer 2 separates the count value added to the command received from the host computer 1 by the printer interface 19, saves the count value in the counter in the RAM 15, and
14 starts counting up from the count value, and counts signals output from the timer 24 every unit time. Then, a count value at the end of printing of the print data received from the host computer 1 is obtained, and a print time is obtained from the count value.

Next, the printing time measuring process in the printer 2 will be described. When print data is received from the host computer 1, the print data is sequentially accumulated. When a command added to the end of the print data is received, the count value of the command is stored in a counter in the RAM 15, and the CPU 14 counts the count value. The counting from the value is started, and the printing of the print data is executed.

When all the received print data has been printed, the count value at that time is obtained, and the print time is obtained from the count value. Note that print data may be received from the host computer 1 and printing may be started.

Next, the command of the time information parameter will be described. In the host computer 1, a command Cx having a parameter of time information in a printer language is defined. The command Cx is configured as shown in the above equation (1), and its parameter is a count value from the start of transmission of print data to the end of transmission.

Next, the format of the print data and the command transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 2 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a format when a command is added to the print data of FIG. When causing the printer 2 to print, the host computer 1 creates and transmits print data in a format as shown in FIG. 6, and when the print data transmission is completed, as shown in FIG. Add and send.

Next, the processing for obtaining the print time will be described. First, the CPU 4 of the host computer 1
An initial value “0” is set in a counter in the RAM 5, and at the same time as starting to send print data to the printer 2, counting of a signal output from the timer 23 per unit time is started. Then, the count value of the counter in the RAM 5 at the end of the print data transmission is added to the command Cx, and the command Cx is added to the end of the print data and transmitted to the printer 2.

When the printer 2 receives the print data from the host computer 1, the CPU 14 separates the last command Cx and stores the count value added to the command Cx in a counter in the RAM 15;
Immediately from the count value, the timer 24 starts counting up by a signal output every unit time.

The RAM 15 at the end of the printing operation
Is read out, and the print time is obtained from the count value. That is, the count value is a count value corresponding to the print time required from when the host computer 1 sends out the print data to when the printer 2 finishes printing.

The count-up of the counter is performed by an interrupt by a signal generated from a timer every unit time. When a command is output, the host computer 1 stops the counter and resets its count value to "0". The printer 2 also stops counting when the printing operation is completed.

For example, the timer 2 of the host computer 1
A case will be described in which the CPU 3 outputs a signal every second and the CPU 4 counts up a counter in the RAM 5 every second by interruption processing by a signal from the timer 23. First, if the escape character is "ESC", the command identification character is "T", and the command is fixed length,
The sequence of the command Cx is as shown in the above equation (3).

The host computer 1 starts sending the print data at 10:45:30 on March 31.
When the transmission ends at 10:46:25 a day, the count value Ts at the end of the transmission of the print data is “5”.
5 ", and the time parameter at that time is" 00000 ".
00005 ", and the command Cx is represented by the following equation (6): Cx = ESC + T +" 000000000055 "(6)

The host computer 1 adds the command Cx of the equation (6) to the end of the printer data and transmits the command to the printer. Thus, the host computer 1
Adds a command Cx to the end of print data to which a parameter of a count value at the end of sending print data is added at the end of each print job.

Upon receiving the data from the host computer 1, the printer 2 separates the command Cx from the data, and stores the parameter “00000000055” in the RAM 1.
The counter 5 in FIG. 5 stores and saves the data, starts counting up immediately from the count value of the parameter, and prints the print data.

Then, when the printing operation ends at 10:47:35 on March 31, the parameter of the count value at that time becomes "00000000125". Therefore,
In this case, the print time Tx = 125 counts = 2 minutes 5
Seconds.

The method of expressing the time of the parameter may be expressed by the elapsed time from a certain reference time. Further, by transmitting the obtained print time as status data to the host computer 1, the host computer 1 can know the time required from the start to the end of printing.

Further, by displaying on the display panel of the printer 2, the printer 2 can also know the printing time. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the count rate of the counter is set to once every second, but n times per second (n:
(Natural number).

As described above, the printer system according to the second embodiment has the same effects as those of the first embodiment, as long as the time intervals of the counters provided on both sides are predetermined and constant. The interval timer used in the second embodiment can use modules already provided in most host computers and printers, and does not necessarily need to incorporate a new clock, thereby simplifying the device.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this printer system, a host computer 1 and a printer 2 for printing print data output from the host computer 1 are connected in series via a communication line 3 via a print buffer 25 which is a relay device.

The internal configuration of the host computer 1 is as follows.
This is the same as the host computer 1 shown in FIG.
Is connected to The print buffer 25 is a data relay device of the printer system. The print buffer 25 adds a passing time to a command of data received from the host computer 1 and transmits the command to the printer 2.

The internal configuration of the printer 2 is the same as that of the printer 2 shown in FIG. 4, and a print buffer 25 is connected via a printer interface 19. Then, the print data in the data received from the print buffer 25 is printed, and the print time is obtained based on the time information of the command.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a print time measuring process in the printer system according to the third embodiment. First, the CPU 4 of the host computer defines a command of a time information parameter, obtains a print start time at which the transmission of print data is started from the clock 7, adds the print start time to the command, and adds the command to the print data. Printer interface 10 additionally
To the print buffer 25.

The print buffer 25 adds the passing time to the command received from the host computer 1 and sends the command to the printer 2. The CPU 14 of the printer 2 controls the print buffer 25 by the printer interface 19.
The print start time and the pass time added to the command received from the server are separated and stored.

Then, the printing of the print data received from the host computer 1 is executed. After the printing is completed, the printing end time is obtained from the clock 17 and the printing start time is subtracted from the printing end time to obtain the printing time. The processing time in the print buffer 25 is obtained by subtracting the printing start time from the passing time.

Next, the process of measuring the print time in the printer 2 and the processing time in the print buffer will be described. When the data is received from the print buffer 25, it is determined whether the data is completed. At first, since there is data, it is determined whether or not the data is a time command. If the data is a time command, the print start time and the passage time are separated and stored in the memory, and the process returns to the first processing.

Further, since print data remains, which is not the end of data and time command, the print processing of the print data is repeated until there is no more data.

When the data is completed, it is determined whether or not the printing operation has been completed. When the printing operation is completed, the printing end time is obtained, and the print start time which has already been saved is subtracted from the printing end time to perform printing. The time is calculated, the print start time is subtracted from the passing time, the processing time in the print buffer is calculated, and this processing ends.

Next, the command of the time information parameter will be described. In the host computer 1, a command Cy having a parameter of time information in a printer language is defined. The command Cy is configured as shown in the following equation (7). Command Cy = escape character + command identification character (or character string) + parameter 1 + parameter 2 (7)

The escape character serves as a separator for distinguishing the print data from the command. The command identification character (or character string) indicates that the command is a time information parameter command (time command). Is a print start time, and parameter 2 is a passage time in the print buffer.

Next, the format of print data and commands transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 2 will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format when a command is added to the print data of FIG. When causing the printer 2 to perform printing, the host computer 1 creates print data in a format as shown in FIG. 6, and transmits data in a format with a command Cy added to the head as shown in FIG.

Next, the processing for obtaining the print time will be described. When starting printing, the host computer 1 reads the current time from the clock 7 and uses the current time as the print start time Ts as the parameter 1 of the command Cy.
And the command C at the beginning of the print data
The data to which y has been added is transmitted to the print buffer 25.

In the print buffer 25, when data is received from the host computer 1, the passing time T1 which is the time when data transmission to the printer 2 is started is added as a parameter 2 to the command Cy in the data, and the Send to Printer 2 is print buffer 2
5, when the command C in the data is received.
The print start time Ts and the pass time T1 added to the command Cy are stored and stored in the RAM 15.

Then, at the end of the printing operation, the current time is obtained from the clock 17 and is used as the printing end time Te, and the printing time Tx is obtained by the above equation (2). Further, the processing time in the print buffer 25 is obtained by subtracting the print start time Ts from the passing time T1.

For example, if the escape character is “ESC”, the command identification character is “T”, and the command has a fixed length,
The sequence of the command Cy is as shown in the following expression (8).
The character ";" is used to separate the parameters. Cy = ESC + T + parameter 1 + parameter 2 (ESC: 1BH, T: 41H) (8)

When the host computer 1 starts printing at 10:45:30 on March 31st, the parameter 1 of the print start time is “0331104530”.
The command Cy is expressed by the following equation (9). Cy = ESC + T + “0331104530” (9) In this way, the host computer 1 adds the command Cy to which the parameter of the print start time is added to the head of the print data for each print job break.

When the print buffer 25 receives data from the host computer 1 and starts sending the data to the printer 2 at 10:46:30 on March 31,
The passing time parameter 2 is “0331104630”, and the command Cy is as shown in the following expression (10). Cy = ESC + T + “0331104530” + “;” + “033104630” (10)

When the printer 2 receives the data from the print buffer 25, the printer 2 separates the command Cy from the data, and the parameter Ts = “0331104530” in the parameter 1 thereof.
And T2 of parameter 2 = “0331104630” are stored and saved in the memory, and the print data is printed.

If the print operation ends at 10:47:35 on March 31, the print end time parameter becomes “0331104735” and Te = “03”.
31104735 "is recorded in the memory.

Therefore, the print time Tx in this case is
Is calculated as 2 minutes and 5 seconds by the following equation (11). Tx = Te−Ts = “0331104735” − “0331104530” = “00000000205” = 2 minutes and 5 seconds (11)

The processing time consumed in the print buffer 25 is obtained as 1 minute by the following equation (12). T1−Ts = “0331104630” − “0331104530” = “00000000100” = 1 minute (12)

Further, the processing time consumed by the printer 2 is obtained as 1 minute and 5 seconds by the following equation (13). Te-T1 = “0331104735” − “0331104630” = “0000000105” = 1 minute and 5 seconds (13)

Note that the method of expressing the time of the parameter may be expressed by the elapsed time from a certain reference time. Also, if the obtained print time and the processing time required by the print buffer are transmitted to the host computer 1 as status data, the host computer 1 can reduce the time required from the start to the end of printing and the processing time consumed by the print buffer. You can know.

Further, by displaying the information on the display panel of the printer 2, the printer 2 can know the print time. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the time by the clock is used as the time information parameter, but the count value by the counter in the second embodiment may be used.

As described above, in the printer system according to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained, and in addition, when the relay device is connected between the printer and the host computer, When connected via a LAN print server, the passage time of the relay device is recorded. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the total elapsed time until the end of printing and how much processing time is consumed in the relay device. Further, by accumulating the processing time in the relay device, it becomes possible to know a change in the processing time, which can be used for finding an abnormality in the relay device.

Next, as shown in FIG. 15, between the host computer 1 and the printer 2, n (n: natural number) print buffers, relay devices 26-1 to 26- such as a printer switch and a print server are provided. The above-described processing in a printer system connected in series via n will be described.

First, the host computer 1 defines a command Cy having a parameter of time information in a printer language. The command Cy is configured as shown in the following equation (14). Command Cy = escape character + command identification character (or character string) + parameter 1 + parameter 2 + ... + parameter p ... (14)

The escape character serves as a separator for distinguishing the print data from the command. The command identification character (or character string) indicates that the command is a time information parameter command (time command). Is the print start time, parameter 2 is the passage time in the first relay device 26-1, and the parameter p (p =
(n + 1) is the passage time at the n-th relay device 26-n.

Next, the processing for obtaining the print time will be described. When starting printing, the host computer 1 reads the current time from the clock 7 and uses the current time as the print start time Ts as the parameter 1 of the command Cy.
And the command C at the beginning of the print data
The data to which y is added is transmitted to the first relay device 26-1.

When the first relay device 26-1 receives the data from the host computer 1, it performs some processing here and starts sending data to the second relay device 26-2 in response to the command Cy in the data. The transmission time T1 which is the time at which the transmission is performed is added as the parameter 2 and transmitted to the second relay device 26-2. In this way, the passing time is added in each relay device, and the data is transmitted to the next relay device.

When the data is received from the (n-1) th relay device 26- (n-1), the n-th relay device 26-n sets the command Cy in the data at the time when the data transmission to the printer 2 is started. Is added as a parameter p and transmitted to the printer 2.

Upon receiving the data from the n-th relay device 26-n, the printer 2 separates the command Cy from the data and stores the print start time Ts and the passing times T1 to Tn added to the command Cy in the RAM 15. Remember and save. Then, at the end of the printing operation, the current time is acquired from the clock 17 and is set as the printing end time Te, and the printing time Tx is obtained by the above equation (2).

Further, the processing time in each relay device is obtained by the following equation (15). Time consumed in the m-th relay device 26-m = pass time in the m-th relay device−pass time in the (m−1) th relay device (1 <m <n) (15)

For example, if the host computer 1
When printing is started at 10:45:30 on the day, the parameter 1 of the print start time is “0331104530”.
And the command Cy is expressed by the following equation (16). Cy = ESC + T + “0331104530” (16) In this manner, the host computer 1 adds the command Cy to which the parameter of the print start time is added to the head of the print data for each print job break.

When the first relay device 26-1 receives data from the host computer 1 and starts sending the data to the second relay device 26-2 at 10:45:35 on March 31, the first relay device 26-1 Parameter 2 is “03311045
35 ", and the command Cy is represented by the following equation (17): Cy = ESC + T +“ 0331104530 ”+“; ”+“ 033111045 35 ”(17)

In the second relay device 26-2, the first relay device 2
Received data from 6 and sent the data on March 31 10
When transmission to the third relay device 26-3 is started at 1:45:45, the passing time parameter 3 is “033110454”.
5 ", and the command Cy is represented by the following equation (18): Cy = ESC + T +“ 0331104530 ”+“; ”+“ 03311045 35 ”+“; ”+“ 0331104545 ”(18)

In this manner, the transit time is added in each relay device, and the n-th relay device 26-n is added to the (n-1) -th relay device 26-n.
-When data is received from (n-1) and the data is started to be sent to the printer 2 at 10:46:30 on March 31, the passing time parameter p is "033110463".
0 ", and the command Cy is as shown in the following equation (19): Cy = ESC + T +“ 0331104530 ”+“; ”+“ 033114555 ”+“; ”+... (19)

The printer 2 is connected to the n-th relay device 26-
n, the command Cy is separated from the data, the parameters 1 to p are stored and stored in the memory, and the print data is printed. Then, when the printing operation ends at 10:47:35 on March 31,
The parameter of the print end time is “033110473
5 "and Te =“ 0331104735 ”is recorded in the memory.

Therefore, the print time Tx in this case is
Is obtained as 2 minutes and 5 seconds by the following equation (20). Tx = Te−Ts = “0331104735” − “0331104530” = “00000000205” = 2 minutes 5 seconds (20)

The processing time consumed by the first relay device 26-1 is obtained as 5 seconds by the following equation (21). T1−Ts = “0331104535” − “0331104530” = “0000000005” = 5 seconds (21)

Further, the processing time consumed by the second relay device 26-2 is obtained as 10 seconds by the following equation (22). T2-T1 = “0331104645” − “0331104635” = “0000000010” = 10 seconds (22) In this way, the processing time consumed by each relay device can be obtained.

Note that the method of expressing the time of the parameter may be expressed by the elapsed time from a certain reference time. The host computer 1 also uses the obtained print time and the time consumed in each relay device as status data.
By transmitting to the host computer 1, the time required from the start to the end of printing on the host computer 1 side and the time consumed by each relay device can be known.

Further, by displaying the information on the display panel of the printer 2, the printer 2 can also know the printing time and the time consumed in each relay device. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the time by the clock is used as the time information parameter, but the count value by the counter in the second embodiment may be used.

In this manner, the time required from the start to the end of printing can be accurately measured, so that the user can easily know the time required for printing, and
Next, it can be used as a guide when knowing the print time when printing similar data.

When a plurality of relay devices are connected between the host computer and the printer, the same time counting is performed in each relay device, so that the total elapsed time up to the end of printing and each relay device can be determined. It is possible to grasp the time consumed in the device. Further, since the processing time in each relay device is accumulated, a change in the processing time in a certain relay device can be checked, which can be used for finding an abnormality in the relay device.

As described above, according to the printing time measuring method of the printer system of the present invention, a print buffer device, a printer switching device,
The present invention can be applied to a case where various relay devices such as a LAN print server, a LAN, an operating system, and a device driver are connected.

[0108]

As described above, according to the print time measuring method of the printer system according to the present invention,
It is possible to accurately know the print end time from when the host computer issues a print instruction to when the printer finishes printing. When a relay device is connected between the host computer and the printer, the processing time in the relay device can be known.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a print time measurement process in a first embodiment of the printer system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a host computer 1 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the printer 2 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a print time measurement process in the printer 2 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of print data transmitted by the host computer of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format when a command is added to the head of the print data in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a host computer 1 in a second embodiment of the printer system of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a printer 2 in a second embodiment of the printer system of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a print time measurement process in a second embodiment of the printer system of FIG. 2;

11 is a diagram illustrating a format when a command is added to the end of the print data in FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a print time measurement process in the printer system of the third embodiment in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a format when a command for adding a plurality of time parameters is added to the head of the print data in FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system that is connected in series between the host computer 1 and the printer 2 via n relay devices 26;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Host computer 2: Printer 3: Communication line 4, 14: CPU 5, 15: RAM 6, 16: ROM 7, 17: Clock 8: External storage device 9: External storage device interface (I / F) 10, 19 : Printer interface 11, 20: Other I / O 12, 21: I / F 13, 22: System bus 18: Printer engine 23, 24: Timer 25: Print buffer

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print time measuring method for a printer system comprising a host computer connected to a printer for printing print data output from the host computer, wherein the host computer defines a command for a time information parameter. A print start time for starting transmission of print data is added to the command and the print data is sent to the printer together with the print data. The printer separates the print start time added to the command received from the host computer, A print time measurement method for a printer system, wherein the print time is obtained by subtracting the print start time from the print end time after saving and printing the print data received from the host computer. 2. A print time measuring method for a printer system comprising a host computer and a printer for printing print data output from the host computer, wherein the host computer defines a command of a time information parameter. When the transmission of the print data to the printer is started, the counter of the host computer is started to start counting the unit time. At the end of the transmission of the print data, the count value of the counter is added to the command, and the end of the print data is added. Attach to the tail and send it to the printer. In the printer, the count value added to the command received from the host computer is separated and stored in the counter of the printer, and the count of the counter per unit time is counted. Start up Wherein at the end of printing of the print data received from the host computer terminates the count-up, printing time measuring method of a printer system that the count value of the counter at that time and obtains the printing time. 3. A print time measuring method for a printer system in which a host computer and a printer for printing print data output from the host computer are connected in series via a relay device. A command of the information parameter is defined, a print start time for starting transmission of print data is added to the command, and the command is transmitted to the relay device together with the print data. To the printer, the printer separates and saves the print start time and the pass time added to the command received from the relay device, and finishes printing the print data received from the host computer. Later, the print end time A print time is obtained by subtracting the print start time from the print start time, and a processing time in the relay device is obtained by subtracting the print start time from the passing time.