JP3224322B2 - Network printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network printer device, and more particularly, to a network printer device in which printer emulation and / or form overlay execute the same print job with priority, regardless of the order in which print jobs are accepted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of personal computers or workstations are connected via a LAN, print files (print information) transferred from the personal computers or workstations are stored in a storage device, and print jobs are registered in a job table. There is a network printer device that sequentially takes out print jobs from the job table, generates an image based on print information corresponding to the print job, and prints the image on paper.

[0003]

In such a conventional network printer, print processing is performed in the order in which print information is received from a user (a personal computer or a work station). By the way, the description of the print data differs for each personal computer or workstation when the maker is different. For this purpose, the network printer device has an emulation program for interpreting various print data, and print information (emulation designation data).
Starts the emulation program specified in and interprets the print data. Switching this emulation program requires initializing the memory contents,
Switching takes a considerable amount of time. Further, the network printer has a printing function using a form overlay (a fixed form paper, which may be simply referred to as an overlay).
This is a function for overlaying and printing a print image on a form stored in advance. This form overlay is not constant and varies with the print job. When the form overlay is changed, the form overlay must be downloaded from a form overlay storage device such as a hard disk, or from a personal computer for storing the form overlay. Therefore, changing the form overlay requires a considerable amount of time.

As described above, when print jobs of the same emulation and the same overlay continue, it is not necessary to switch the emulation or change the overlay, so that the efficiency of the network printer is not reduced. However, since personal computers or workstations of various manufacturers are connected to the LAN and form overlays are different for each user, print jobs of the same emulation and the same overlay are rarely continued. In such a case, the emulation program is switched or the form overlay is changed for each job, so that the use efficiency of the network printer device is reduced and the high speed cannot be fully utilized. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a network printer capable of improving usage efficiency by minimizing the number of times of switching emulation programs and the number of times of changing form overlays.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. .., PCs or workstations, 20 is a network printer, 3
0 is a LAN. In the network printer device 20, LCNT is a LAN controller, PRTC is a printer controller, PRTM is a printing mechanism, MEM is a storage device such as a hard disk, JRF is a print job registration unit, JBTB is a job table, and PDF is a print order determination unit. .

[0006]

[Operation] In the job table JBTB, for each print job,
A column for entering a print job name (ID), a column for entering storage location information of print information in a storage device, a file name entry column, a file size entry column, a column for entering the name of an emulation program for interpreting print information, A column for entering the name of the form overlay, and a job instruction column (flag column) for entering data for instructing another print job using the same emulation program and the same form overlay are provided.

When new print information is input by the user, the print information is stored in the storage device MEM. The print information registration means JRF extracts an emulation program name and a form overlay name from the print information, and checks whether there is a print job having the same emulation program name and form overlay name in the job table JBTB. If the same print job exists, the print information registration unit JRF writes the print job name of the new print information in the job instruction column of the print job, and prints the print job corresponding to the new print information. Register in the table. Then, the printing order determination unit PDF
When printing according to a predetermined print job is completed, it is checked whether another print job is designated in the job instruction column 61g of the print job. If the print job is instructed, the print order determining means PDF performs printing in accordance with the specified print job by the printer controller PRTC and the printing mechanism PR.
If not instructed, the TM executes the printing in the order in which the print information is received, and deletes the printed print job from the job table JBTB. As described above, if there is a print job having the same emulation and the same form overlay as a completed print job, the job can be executed ignoring the print job receiving order, and the number of times of switching the emulation program and the number of times of changing the form overlay can be reduced. Thus, the efficiency of use of the network printer can be improved.

[0008] A second job instruction column is provided in the job table JBTB to designate another print job using a different overlay but different emulation. When new print information is input, the print job registration means JRF extracts an emulation program name and a form overlay name from the print information and outputs the job table JBTB.
It is checked whether a print job having a different emulation program name and the same form overlay name exists, and if so, the print job name of the new print information is entered in the second job instruction column of the print job. After the printing according to the predetermined print job is completed, the print order determining unit PDF checks whether or not another print job is designated in the first job designation field 61g of the print job. It is checked whether another print job is designated in the second job designation field. When another print job is designated in the second job designation field, the print order determination means PDF causes the printer controller PRTC and the printing mechanism PRTM to execute printing in accordance with the designated print job. If not instructed, the printing is performed in the order in which the print information is received. In this way, the number of times of changing the form overlay can be further reduced, and the use efficiency of the network printer can be further improved.

Further, a second job instruction column is provided in the job table JBTB for designating another print job which uses the same emulation program although the form overlay is different. When new print information is input, the print job registration means JRF extracts an emulation program name and a form overlay name from the print information, and the form overlay name differs in the job table JBTB.
Check whether a print job with the same emulation program name exists, and if so, check the second
Write the print job name of the new print information in the job instruction column. After the printing according to the predetermined print job is completed, the print order determination unit PDF checks whether another print job is designated in the first job designation field of the print job. It is checked whether another print job is designated in the job designation column 2. Printing order determination means PDF
When another print job is designated in the second job designation field, the printer controller PRTC and the printing mechanism PRT perform printing in accordance with the designated print job.
M, and if not instructed, prints in the order in which print information is received. In this way, the number of times of emulation switching can be further reduced, and the use efficiency of the network printer can be further improved. Note that the print job name of the new print information can be written in the first job instruction column by focusing only on the form overlay or only on the emulation program.

[0010]

【Example】

(a) First physical environment to which the present invention can be applied FIG. 2 is a first configuration diagram of a LAN network system to which the present invention can be applied. .. Are terminals such as personal computers (PCs) or workstations (WS), 20 is a network printer, and 30 is LA.
N. In the network printer device 20, S
VR is a server, and PRT is a printer. In this system, a high-performance PC / WS is used as a server SVR,
The printer PRT connected to the server is used in common.

(B) Configuration of Server FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the server SVR. In the figure, 51 is LA
N connector, for example, 10Base2, 10Base
There are connectors for eT and 10Base5. 52 is L
Transceiver for AN connector, CSMA / CD
Detects collisions and controls transmission / reception. Reference numeral 53 denotes a LAN controller which can control, for example, a TCP / IP communication protocol. 54 is a microcomputer (MP
U) and 55 are communication units for transmitting and receiving data in accordance with the printer PRT and RS232C or Centronics.
Is a RAM, 57 is a ROM, 58 is a SCSI interface unit, and 59 is a hard disk drive (HD). RO
The M57 stores a boot program, a system program, and the like, and the RAM 56 stores various software, a job table, and the like.

(B-1) Job Table The job table 56a is for registering print jobs in the order of reception, and as shown in FIG. 4, a column 61a for entering a print job name (ID) for each print job, and a hard disk 59. , A file name entry field 61c, a file size entry field 61d,
A column 61e for entering a name of an emulation program for interpreting print information, a column 61f for entering a name of a form overlay, a job for entering data indicating another print job using the same emulation program and the same form overlay Instruction column (flag column)
It has 61 g.

(B-2) Software The software includes a spooling control unit 56b, a print data transfer control unit 56c, a billing log control unit 56d, and the like. The spooling control unit 56b has a print data storage function.
56b-1 and a job management function 56b-2.
The print information transferred from a, 10b,... is spooled (stored) on the hard disk 59, and the print jobs are registered in the job table 56a in the order of reception, and the print jobs are taken out of the job table in a predetermined order. Has a function. The print data transfer control unit 56c has a function of reading print information corresponding to the current print job from the hard disk 59 and transferring the read print information to the printer PRT.
The accounting log control unit 56d has functions of collecting accounting information on jobs printed by the network printer, logging, and accounting management.

(B-3) Job Management Function The job management function 56b-2 of the spooling control section 56b includes a print job registration function section JRF for registering a print job in the job table 56a, and a print order determination function section PDF.
There is. When new print information is input by the user,
The print job registration function unit JRF extracts an emulation program name and a form overlay name from the print information, and checks whether there is a print job having the same emulation program name and form overlay name in the job table 56a. If the same print job exists, the print job registration function unit JRF writes the print job name (ID) of the new print information in the job instruction column 61g of the print job and responds to the new print information. The print job is registered in the job table 56a. For example, when a print job with ID = 3 in FIG. 4 is newly registered (the print job with ID = 4 has not been registered yet), the print job (ID) having the same emulation program name and form overlay name as the print job = 1). Therefore, the print job name (ID = 3) is entered in the flag column 61g of the print job with ID = 1, and the print job with ID = 3 is registered in the job table 56a.

When the printing according to a predetermined print job is completed and the printer becomes ready,
It is checked whether another print job is designated in the job instruction column 61g of the print job. If so, the print order determination function unit PDF determines that the specified print job is to be printed next. However, if no instruction has been given, it is determined that the print job having the highest priority in the print information receiving order (print job registration order) is to be printed next. For example, when a print job is registered in the job table 56a as shown in FIG. 4, after the printing of the first print job (ID = 1) is completed, the flag column 61g is referred to. ID = 3 in the flag column
Is printed, the next print job to be executed is I
It is determined that the print job is D = 3, and the print job with ID = 1 is deleted from the job table 56a. ID
When the print job of = 3 is completed, it is checked whether or not the print job name is entered by referring to the flag column 61g. In this case, since there is no entry, it is determined that the print job with the highest priority ID = 2 in the print job registration order is the print job to be executed next.

(B-4) Ethernet Frame As shown in FIG. 5, the Ethernet frame is composed of an Ethernet header EH, an information section I, and a frame check sequence section F.
The Ethernet header EH includes a preamble PRE for establishing synchronization, a destination address DA, a source address SA, and a type field TYP.
The type of the communication protocol (TCP / IP or IPX / SPX) is written in the type field TYP. In the information field I, a header (for example, TCP / IP header) PHD of each communication protocol, a network printer header NPH, print data (drawing data) D
T is included. Network printer header NPH
Contains a command CMD such as a print request and a file name FL.
N, emulation designation data EPI for designating an emulation program to be used, overlay designation data OLI for designating an overlay to be used, and the like. The transmission unit of the LAN is a frame, and a packet is referred to as a packet when the frame is packetized and transmitted. Therefore, although the terms packet and frame are mixed, the substance is the same.

(C) Configuration of Printer FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the printer. Reference numeral 71 denotes a printer control unit, 72 denotes an engine (printing mechanism), and 73 denotes an operator panel. In the printer control unit 71, reference numeral 72a denotes a microcomputer (MPU);
Is a communication unit that exchanges data with the server SVR in accordance with RS232C or Centronics, 72c is a RAM,
72d is a ROM, 72e is a SCSI interface unit,
Reference numeral 72f denotes a hard disk drive (HD), and reference numeral 72g denotes a drawing LSI that sequentially generates dot page image data for one page from print information and stores the image data in the RAM 72c. RAM
A work memory area 72c-1, a font storage area 72c-2 for storing fonts required for generating a print image, an overlay storage area 72c-3 for storing a form overlay, and a generated print image (bitmap data) It has a drawing page memory area 72c-4 for storing. The overlay required for printing is downloaded from the hard disk of the server SVR or an overlay storage terminal (client) on the LAN as appropriate. The ROM 72d stores a boot program and various emulation programs for interpreting print data. Examples of the emulation program include an FM sequence program, Japanese PostScript, and a SUN raster.

(D) Processing at the time of accepting a print job FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the processing when a print request is sent from the terminal to the server SVR. LAN controller 53 is LA
When a packet (frame) is received from the LAN via the N connector 51 and the transceiver 52, it is checked whether or not the destination address in the packet matches its own address. If they match, the packet (frame) is stored in the buffer, and if different, it is discarded. Then, in order to reconstruct data composed of a plurality of frames, a buffer is linked for each identical ID, and the above processing is repeated until the same ID ends.
Upon completion of the same ID, data (for example, print data) is transferred to the spooling control unit 56b, which is an upper layer. ...
Step 101 The spooling control unit 56b has a file management function, attaches a job number to the print data,
9 (step 102), and a print job corresponding to the print data is registered in the job table 56a (step 103).

The print job registration process is performed as follows. The print job registration function unit JRF of the job management function unit 56b-2 searches the job table 56a to check whether a print job is registered (step 103).
a, 103b). If not registered, the job for which printing is requested is registered in the job table 56a (step 103c), and the process ends. However, when another print job is registered in the job table 56a,
The print job registration function unit JRF extracts the emulation program name and the form overlay name from the print information, and checks whether there is a print job having the same emulation program name and form overlay name in the job table 56a (steps 103c and 103).
3d). If there is no print job having the same emulation program name and the same form overlay name, the job requested to be printed is stored in the job table 56a.
(Step 103c), and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a print job having the same emulation program name and the same form overlay name, the print job registration function unit JRF writes the print job name (ID) requested to be printed in the job instruction column 61g of the print job. (Step 103f). Then, the job for which printing has been requested is registered in the job table 56a (step 103c), and the process ends.

(E) Print Job Determination Process FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for determining a print job to be executed next. The print order determination function unit PDF of the job management function unit 56b-2 checks whether an unprinted job exists in the job table 56a (step 201), and if so, whether a printer ready command has been input from the printer. Check (step 202). When the printing is completed and the printer is ready, the print order determination function unit PDF checks whether there is a print job having the same emulation program name and form overlay name of the last printed job. That is, the CPU refers to the flag column 61g of the last printed job and checks whether another print job name is entered in the flag column (step 203). If so, the print job name entered in the flag column is passed to the print data transfer control unit 56c. As a result, the print data transfer control unit 56c reads the print information of the designated print job name from the hard disk 59 and transfers it to the printer PRT (step 20).
4). Thereafter, the print order determination function unit PDF deletes the print job whose printing has been completed from the job table 56a (step 205), and returns to the beginning.

On the other hand, if another print job name is not entered in the flag column in step 203, the print job having the highest priority in the print job registration order (print job reception order) is printed next. And decide
The print job name is passed to the print data transfer control unit 56c. As a result, the print data transfer control unit 56c reads the print information of the designated print job name from the hard disk 59 and transfers it to the printer PRT (step 206). Thereafter, the print order determination function unit PDF deletes the print job for which printing has been completed from the job table 56a (step 205), and returns to the beginning.

(F) Printer Processing FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the processing procedure of the printer. Server SVR
When the print data is transferred, the printer control unit 71 of the printer PRT analyzes the print data (step 301) and checks whether the emulation program matches the emulation program in the previous print job (step 302). If they match, the emulation program is not switched. If they do not match, the emulation program is switched to the emulation program specified by the print data (step 303). Next, it is checked whether the form overlay matches the form overlay in the previous print job (step 304). If they match, print processing is performed based on the print data (step 305). However, if the form overlay does not match the previous one, the server SVR
To request an overlay. The server SVR checks whether the requested overlay is stored on the hard disk 59 (step 306).
The overlay is transferred to the printer PRT. Printer P
After storing the overlay in the RAM 72c, the RT performs a printing process (step 305).

On the other hand, if the overlay is not stored on the hard disk 59 in step 306,
The server SVR requests the overlay from the overlay storage server OLSVR. Overlay storage server OL
The SVR retrieves the requested overlay and retrieves the server SVR
(Step 307), and the server transfers the overlay to the printer PRT. After storing the overlay in the RAM 72c, the printer PRT performs a printing process (Step 305). As described above, according to the present invention, if there is a print job having the same form emulation and form overlay of a print-completed job, the print job is executed ignoring the print job reception order. Therefore, the number of times of switching the emulation program and the number of times of changing the form overlay can be reduced as much as possible.
The use efficiency of the network printer device can be improved.

(G) Modification 1 of Job Management Control In the above, the print job name is entered in the flag column 61g when the emulation program and the overlay match, but in addition to the above, only the overlay matches. Or a case where only the emulation program matches. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of the job table in such a case.
The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as. The difference from the job table of FIG. 4 is that a second flag column 61h for designating the same print job only in the overlay is provided.
In the example of FIG. 10, when registering a new print job (ID = 3), the overlay of the print job matches the overlay of the registered print job (ID = 1). Write ID = 3 in the second flag field 61h. Next, when the print job (ID = 4) is registered, the emulation program and overlay of the print job both match those of the registered print job (ID = 1). Flag column 61
Write ID = 4 in h. Since the overlay of the print job with ID = 4 matches the overlay of the registered print job (ID = 3), ID = 4 is entered in the second flag column 61h of the registered print job.

In this state, the print job determination process is performed as follows. First, after executing the print job of ID = 1, it is checked whether another print job is designated by referring to the first flag field 61g. If so, another print job (ID = 4) is executed next. still,
The print job with ID = 1 is deleted from the job table.
Next, after executing the print job of ID = 4, it is checked whether another print job has been designated by referring to the first flag column 61g. If not instructed, a print job having the job name (ID = 4) of the printed job in the second flag field 61h is searched. If there is, the print job (ID = 3) whose overlay matches is executed. The printed print job (ID = 4) is deleted from the job table. In this way, the number of times of changing the form overlay can be further reduced, and the use efficiency of the network printer can be further improved. FIG. 11 shows the first job table.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process at the time of accepting a print job when a second flag column is provided, and the processes of steps 101 to 102 are the same as the processes in the flowchart of FIG. 7.

When there is a print request, the print job registration function unit JRF of the job management function unit 56b-2 (FIG. 3) searches the job table 56a and checks whether a print job is registered (steps 401 and 402). If not registered, the job requested to be printed is stored in the job table 5
6a (step 403) and the process ends. However, when another print job is registered in the job table 56a, the print job registration function unit JRF extracts the emulation program name and the form overlay name from the print information and stores the same in the job table 56a as the emulation program name. It is checked whether or not a registered print job exists (step 404). If not,
It is checked whether a registered print job with the same overlay exists (step 405). If not, the job requested to be printed is registered in the job table 56a (step 403), and the process is terminated. In step 405,
If there is a registered print job whose overlay matches, the job name (ID) of the print job requested to be printed is entered in the second flag field 61h of the registered print job (step 406). Next, the job for which printing is requested is registered in the job table 56a (step 403), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if there is a registered print job with the same emulation program name in step 404, it is checked whether or not a print job with the same overlay exists (step 407). If there is a print job with the same emulation program name and the same form overlay name, the print job registration function unit JRF
Writes the job name (ID) of the print job requested to be printed in the job instruction column 61g of the print job (step 408). When "NO" is obtained in step 407,
Alternatively, after the process of step 408, the process jumps to step 405 to check whether a registered print job having a different emulation program name but the same overlay name exists (step 405). After registering it in the job table 56a (step 403), the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a registered print job in which only the overlay matches, the job name (ID) of the print job requested to be printed is entered in the second flag column 61h of the registered print job (step 406). Next, the job for which printing is requested is registered in the job table 56a (step 403), and the process ends. In the above description, the print job name is entered in the first flag field 61g when the emulation program and the overlay match, and the second job is performed when only the overlay matches.
This is a case where the print job name is entered in the flag field 61h.
However, the configuration may be such that the print job name is entered in the first flag field 61g when the emulation program and the overlay match, and the print job name is entered in the second flag field 61h when only the emulation program matches. it can.

(H) Modification 2 of job management control In the above, the print job name is entered in the flag column 61g when the emulation program and the overlay match, but when only the emulation program matches, or When only the overlays match, the same processing can be performed by writing the print job name in the first flag field 61g. Control when only emulation is considered When print information is input, an emulation program name is extracted from the print information, and it is checked whether a registered print job having the same emulation program name exists in the job table. If there is a print job with the same emulation, the first flag field 61g of the print job
, Enter the print job name of the print information requested to be printed, and register the print job corresponding to the input print information in the job table 56a. Then, after the printing according to the predetermined print job is completed, it is checked whether another print job is designated in the job instruction column of the print job. Decide what to do.

Control When Only Overlay is Considered When print information is input, an overlay name is extracted from the print information, and it is checked whether a registered print job having the same overlay name exists in the job table. When a print job having the same overlay exists, the print job name of the print information requested to be printed is entered in the first flag field 61g of the print job, and the print job corresponding to the input print information is printed. Register in the table 56a. And
After the printing according to the predetermined print job is completed, it is checked whether another print job is designated in the job instruction field of the print job. If so, the other print job should be executed next. I decide to be a kimono.

(I) Another Configuration of Physical Environment to which the Present Invention can be Applied (i-1) Configuration FIG. 12 is another configuration diagram of a LAN network system to which the present invention can be applied. 10a, 10b, 10c: personal computer (PC) or workstation (WS)
, 20 is a network printer device, 30 is L
AN. The network printer 20 is a LAN
A LAN adapter (Front End Processor: FEP) 21 having a communication function with a printer and a full-scale server function and a printer 22 are integrated. In the physical environment shown in FIG. 2, the server SVR and the printer PRT are separately configured, and the printer is connected to the server and the network printer 2 is connected.
0. However, in the physical environment of FIG. 12, the printer is provided with a LAN adapter (Front End Processor: FE) having a communication function with the LAN and a full-scale server function.
P) is incorporated into the network printer device 20.

(I-2) Hardware of Network Printer FIG. 13 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of the network printer device in FIG. Reference numeral 20 denotes a network printer device, 21 denotes a LAN adapter unit (Front End Processor; FEP) having a LAN communication function, 22 denotes a printer control unit, 23 denotes an engine (printing mechanism), and 24 denotes a hard disk, and forms overlay, font, spooling. Storing print data, device definition information, billing log information, error log information, etc., a floppy disk 25 for downloading form overlays, fonts, and programs to a printer device; 26, a LAN (Ethernet: Ethernet)
LAN connector for connecting a network printer to t), 27 is a connector for RS232C or Centronics, 28 is an operator panel for displaying information from the printer, inputting instruction information to the printer, and displaying status, 29 is for The power supply unit supplies power to the printer control unit 22 and the like.

The FEP 21 has a LAN adapter function,
It controls drivers such as Ethernet and Token Ring. Ethernet 10Base5, 10Base
A connection connector 26 is provided so as to be compatible with each of 2BaseT and 10BaseT. FEP21 is RS
It has a 232C or Centronics connection interface, and has a function of controlling a plurality of communication protocols (multi-protocol control function).
Accepts IPX / SPX, Ethertalk, RS232C, Centronics, etc. In addition to the above functions,
The FEP 21 has a function of receiving print data via a LAN and performing spooling via a bus or scuzzy (SCSI), and a conversation control function accompanying communication between a terminal (client) and a printer. Spooling is a function of registering a print job in a job table according to the processing of FIG. 7 or FIG. 11 and storing print data on the hard disk 24 when a print request is received from each client.

The printer control unit 22 determines the next print job to be executed according to the processing shown in FIG. 8 with reference to the job table, reads out print data corresponding to the print job from the hard disk 24, and executes a predetermined emulation program. The main functions are a process of interpreting the description language of the print data based on the image data, a process of developing the print data and the overlay into a dot image for each page (drawing process), a control of an engine unit, and the like. The engine 23 transfers the image data that can be drawn (printed) sent from the printer control unit 22 onto a sheet of paper, and completes the printing process. FIG. 14 is a detailed hardware configuration diagram of the network printer, and the same parts as those in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Note that a portion not related to the LAN (RS232
C etc.) are omitted. In FEP21, 26a-
Reference numerals 26c denote connectors for 10Base2, 10BaseT and 10Base5, respectively.
b 'is a transceiver for 10Base2, 10BaseT, and performs CSMA / CD collision detection and transmission / reception control. Note that the transceiver 26c 'of 10Base5 is LA
N and the connector 26c. 21a is a LAN controller, which is TCP / IP, IPX / SPX, Et
A plurality of communication protocols such as hertalk can be controlled. 21b is a system bus, 21c is a microcomputer (MPU1), 21d is a dual port RAM for performing communication between the printer control unit 22 and the bus.
(DPRAM), 21e is a RAM for storing a job table or the like, 21f is a ROM, 21g is a SCSI interface unit, and 21h is a DMA (Direct Memory Access) control unit.

In the printer control unit 22, 2
2a is a system bus, 22b is a SCSI bus, 22c,
22d is a SCSI interface unit, 22e is a microcomputer (MPU2), 22f is a drawing LSI,
g is a RAM for storing image data such as bitmaps and a job table. Reference numeral 23 denotes an engine (printing mechanism), 24 denotes a hard disk, 25 denotes a floppy disk, and 28 denotes an operator panel. The job table is created by the spooling control function (job registration function) of the FEP 21 in accordance with the flow of FIG. 7 or FIG.
Stored twice in 2g. The print job to be executed next is determined by the print job determination function of the printer control unit 22 in accordance with the processing shown in FIG. 8, and printing of the print job is executed. As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention can be variously modified in accordance with the gist of the present invention described in the claims, and the present invention does not exclude these.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, if the emulation of a job for which printing has been completed and / or a print job having the same form overlay exists, the print job can be executed irrespective of the print job receiving order. The number of times of switching the program and the number of times of changing the form overlay can be minimized, and the use efficiency of the network printer can be improved. Further, according to the present invention, if there is a print job having the same emulation and the same form overlay as a print completed job, the job is executed irrespective of the print job receiving order, and only the emulation program or overlay is used. If there is a matching print job, the number of times the emulation program is switched or the number of times the form overlay is changed can be further reduced because the print job is executed irrespective of the receiving order, and the use efficiency of the network printer device can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of a physical environment to which the present invention can be applied;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a server.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a job table.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an Ethernet frame.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a printer.

FIG. 7 is a processing flow at the time of a print request.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a print job determination process to be executed.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a processing procedure of the printer.

FIG. 10 is another configuration diagram of the job table.

FIG. 11 is a process flowchart when a print job is received.

FIG. 12 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating a physical environment to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 13 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of a network printer.

FIG. 14 is a detailed hardware configuration diagram of a network printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10a, 10b personal computer or workstation 20 network printer device 30 LAN LCNT LAN controller PRTC printer controller PRTM printing mechanism MEM storage device such as hard disk JRF print job registration means JBTB ... Job table PDF ... Print order determination means

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 21/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of personal computers or workstations connected via a LAN to store print information transferred from the personal computers or workstations in a storage device and register a print job in a job table; , A print job is sequentially taken out of the network printer, and an image is generated on the basis of print information corresponding to the print job and printed on paper. A column for entering the information storage location, a column for entering the name of an emulation program for interpreting print information, a column for entering a form overlay name, and other print jobs using the same emulation program and the same form overlay. Job to fill in data to instruct Means for storing a job table having an entry field, and when new print information is input, an emulation program name and a form overlay name are extracted from the print information, and the emulation program name and the form overlay name are stored in the job table. It is checked whether or not the same print job exists. If the same print job exists, data indicating new print information is written in the job instruction column of the print job, and according to the new print information, Print job registration means for registering the print job in the job table, and after printing according to the predetermined print job is completed, check whether another print job is designated in the job designation field of the print job, and Print job according to the specified print job. Network printer apparatus provided with a printing order decision means for executing a printing in the order reception of the printing data. 2. A job table, comprising: a second job instruction field for designating another print job using a different emulation but using the same overlay. An emulation program name and a form overlay name are extracted from the print information, and a check is performed to determine whether a print job having a different emulation program name and the same form overlay name exists in a job table. Data indicating new print information is entered in the job instruction field, and the print order determining means, after printing according to the predetermined print job is completed, prints another print job in the first job instruction field of the print job. Is instructed, and if not, another print job is instructed in the second job instruction column. Examined, if it is instructed, to execute printing according to the print job is instructed, the network printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein to execute the printing order reception of the print information if not instructed. 3. A job table is provided with a second job instruction field for designating another print job using a different emulation program but using the same emulation program, and the print job registration means is adapted to input new print information. At this time, the emulation program name and the form overlay name are extracted from the print information, and it is checked whether a print job having a different form overlay name and the same emulation program name exists in the job table. Data indicating new print information is entered in the second job instruction field, and the print order determining means, after the printing corresponding to the predetermined print job is completed, writes another data in the first job instruction field of the print job. Check whether a print job has been instructed, and if not, enter another print job in the second job instruction column. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: checking whether the print job is instructed; if the print job is instructed, the print job is executed in accordance with the designated print job; Network printer device. 4. A printing apparatus connected to a plurality of personal computers or workstations via a LAN, storing print information transferred from the personal computers or workstations in a storage device, and registering a print job in a job table. , A print job is sequentially taken out of the network printer, and an image is generated on the basis of print information corresponding to the print job and printed on paper. Means for storing a job table having a column for entering a storage location of information, a column for entering a name of a form overlay, and a job instruction column in which data for instructing another print job using the same form overlay is entered; When print information is entered, form overlay Extract the name, check if there is a print job with the same form overlay name in the job table, and if the same print job exists, enter the data indicating the print information in the job instruction column of the print job Along with
Print job registration means for registering a print job corresponding to the print information in a job table; and, after printing corresponding to the predetermined print job is completed, whether another print job is designated in the job instruction field of the print job. A network printer device having a printing order determination unit for checking and executing printing according to a specified print job when instructed, and executing printing in the order of print information acceptance when not instructed.