JP3314738B2 - Print management 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 system for printing print output data created by data processing of a computer or the like, and more particularly, to a headquarters system, each base system or a terminal system whose printing destination is geographically distant. And a print management system hierarchized in multiple stages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A print management system in which printing destinations are geographically separated and are hierarchized in multiple stages such as a headquarters system, each base system, or a terminal system is, for example,
It is adopted between the headquarters of banks, convenience stores, etc. and each mother store or base branch, each branch or member store.
Heretofore, this type of apparatus has been designed to print in any location based on the print form type or the estimated print amount regardless of the runtime environment such as the change in the processing time zone at the time of printing or the change in the print amount. The print control method has been fixedly determined in advance whether to output.

The prior art will be described with reference to FIG. The system includes a headquarters system 1, a base system 2, and a terminal system 3. The headquarters system 1, base system 2, and terminal system 3 have a high-speed printing device group 105, a medium-speed printing device group 112, and a low-speed printing device 11, respectively.
4 are arranged.

[0004] The print control device 107 of the headquarters system 1
A print data management unit 108, a print output control unit 109,
And a communication control unit 110. The print data management unit 108 issues a print data print instruction or a print data transmission instruction to a print output destination based on an external instruction. The print output control unit 109 prints out print data to the high-speed printing apparatus group 105 in accordance with an instruction from the print data management unit 108. The communication control unit 110 transmits the print data to a target base according to an instruction of the print data management unit 108. The base print control device 111 transmits the received print data to the communication control unit 1 included in the print control device 107.
In accordance with an instruction from the printer 10, a printout is performed to the medium-speed printing device group 112, and the low-speed printing device 114
And print it out.

[0005] Further referring to FIG.
The specific operation of print control 07 will be described. The print request example 106 includes a print data group 1, a print data group 2,
The print data group 3, the print data group 4, and the print data group 5 include examples of print requests for five types of print data groups. The various print output destination examples 108 include five types of output 109 to the high-speed printing device of the headquarters system, output 110 to the medium-speed printing device of the base system, and output 111 to the low-speed printing device of the terminal system. An example of the output destination of the print data group is included. A print control apparatus according to the related art is used to describe each of the print requests of the print data group 1, the print data group 2, the print data group 3, the print data group 4, and the print data group 5 included in the print request example 106. When the print output is controlled in 107, as shown in FIG. 11, the output 109 to the high-speed printing device of the headquarters system included in the various print output destination examples 108, the output 110 to the medium-speed printing device in the base system, and the terminal system Is output to the output destination included in the output 111 to the low-speed printing apparatus. That is, the conventional print control device 107 prints the designated print data to the designated output destination in accordance with an external instruction, regardless of the fluctuation of the runtime environment.

[0006]

The prior art has the following problems. The first problem is that it flexibly responds to changes in the print processing environment at the time of printing, such as when it is difficult to dynamically change the print output destination in accordance with the amount of print data at the time of printing, that is, the amount of printing. That is not possible. The reason is that the print output destination determining means is only externally designated in advance and the print control function does not have a function of determining the print output destination based on the environmental conditions at the time of print output.

More specifically, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 11, the print data group 1 is printed on the high-speed printing apparatus of the headquarters system even though the print data fluctuates to a small amount at the time of printing. Has become. Also, print data group 4
Is printed on the high-speed printing device of the headquarters system at the time of printing even though the print time limit has run out, so it takes time to deliver after printing. ).

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, print management information for determining a print destination is input, and a print destination is determined based on the input print management information. It was configured as follows.

Here, the print management information includes a print amount and a print expiration date .
Determine the printing destination for the lower layer or the printing deadline is approaching
Is determined as the lower printing destination .

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a headquarters system 1, a base system 2, and a terminal system 3. The headquarters system 1 is a group of general computer systems that are centrally deployed at approximately one place, and is a group of systems that share a large amount of data processing, a large amount of printing processing, and the like. Base system 2
Is a regional system in which a wide area shared by the headquarters system 1 is divided into a plurality of regions, and is a system that shares print processing required in the region, management of the terminal system 3 deployed in the region, and the like. is there. The terminal system 3 is installed in the user department as a terminal system for requesting printing at the site print management device 12 and acquiring print output data.

The above hierarchical structure does not need to have three stages, but may be two stages or four or more stages. Headquarters system 1, base system 2, terminal system 3
Has a headquarters printing device group 5 and a base printing device group 1 respectively.
3. A terminal printing device 15 is provided. The headquarters printing apparatus group 5 is a high-speed type printing apparatus group mainly installed in the headquarters and corresponding to a large amount of printing processing. The base printing device group 13 includes:
This is a group of medium-speed printing devices installed mainly at bases. The terminal printing device 15 is a low-speed / low-volume printing type printing device mainly included in the terminal system. In the above example, a system that covers a wider area is provided with a higher-speed printing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the same-speed device or another type of printing device may be provided for each printing device. Good.

The external input / output device 4 is a general print management device 7
It is a means for exchanging information between the system and a human system. The external input / output device 4 functions as a unit for inputting print management information for determining a print destination, and the comprehensive print management device 7 is a print destination determination unit that determines a print destination based on the input print management information. Function as

The print data processing device 6 is a computer system that performs general data processing, and is responsible for print data generation and print data output request processing.
The terminal device 14 is a general terminal, and is an information transfer unit between the human print system and the local print management device 12 for making a print request to the local print management device 12 regarding print processing and for inquiring print data. is there.

The comprehensive print management device 7 is composed of a print management information maintenance / management unit 8, a print management information storage unit 9, a print data management unit 10, and a print control unit 11.

The print management information storage unit 9 stores print management information for determining a print destination designated externally in advance, as described later. The print management information includes a print amount, a print expiration date, a print area, a print time zone (time), a forced fix, and the like.

The print data management unit 10 manages print data requested to be printed from outside. The print control unit 11
The print destination which is activated by either a print request confirmation request from the print data management unit 10 or a print request confirmation request from the outside via the print management information maintenance management unit 8 and which corresponds to the print request for which the confirmation request has been made is determined. The print management information to be printed is obtained from the print management information storage unit 9 to determine the printing destination and the printing timing, and in accordance with this determination, control is performed to print out to the printing destination corresponding to the relevant timing. In this manner, each time a print output request is issued, the print destination is dynamically determined, and the print output can be made to the optimum print destination.

As shown in FIG. 2, the print management information storage unit 9 includes one or more print data management information storage units 9-1 each including one or more print data identification information areas 9-1-1. Headquarters printing destination condition storage unit 9 including printing condition area 9-2-1
-2 and a local printing destination condition storage unit 9-3 including one or more local printing condition areas 9-3-1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the print control unit 11 includes a print unit analysis unit 11-1, a time or time interval interrupt unit 11-2, a print output control unit 11-3, and a remote communication control unit. 11-4.

The print management information maintenance / management unit 8 supports the maintenance and management of print management information for determining a print destination by a human system via the external input / output device 4. More specifically, with regard to print management information managed by the print management information storage unit 9 based on instruction information including at least information for uniquely identifying print data, a new registration process instructed by a human system, It supports print management information change processing, deletion processing or inquiry processing.

The print management information storage section 9 stores print management information for determining various output destinations based on information for uniquely identifying print data. From the outside,
The print management information can be maintained through the external input / output device 4 and the print management information maintenance / management unit 8. Further, the print control information is referred to by the print control unit 11.

The print management information storage unit 9 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The print data identification information area 9-1-1 stores information for uniquely identifying print data and print management information for print output at the headquarters relating to the print data (print output to the head office printing device group 5). Local printing which stores information for approaching the area of the headquarters printing condition area 9-2-1 and print management information for printing out at the base (printing out to the base printing device group 13). And information for approaching the condition area 9-3-1. The condition area 9-2-1 for headquarters printing is:
For each type of print data, print management information for determining a head office printing device group 5 included in the head office system 1 as a printing destination is stored.

When this print management information is specifically exemplified,
When the print data amount is more than a certain amount and there is a certain number of days before the latest printing deadline, when the print data amount is more than a certain amount, when printing is possible within the specified printing time zone, or There are cases where the instruction is compulsorily given, and other single conditions or composite conditions are print output conditions that can be easily inferred by a person skilled in the art within the range of known techniques. The base printing condition area 9-3-1 includes the base printing apparatus group 13 included in the base system 2 for each type of print data.
Is stored as print management information. To specifically exemplify this print management information, when the print data amount is within a certain range, and there is a margin of a certain time or more before the latest printing deadline, when the print data amount is within a certain range, There are cases where printing can be performed within the specified printing time range, cases where printing data users forcibly give instructions, etc., and those skilled in this field also know other single conditions or compound conditions This is a print output condition that can be easily analogized within the technical scope.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a table for determining a printing destination based on a print amount and a print time limit as print management information.

The print data management unit 10 manages print data requested to be printed by the print data processing device 6 and also includes a print request including at least information for uniquely identifying the requested print data. The instruction information is notified to the print control unit 11. Upon receiving the print request instruction information, or as a print request from the outside via the print management information maintaining and managing unit 8 regarding the print data of which print output is being held, the print control unit 11 uniquely identifies the print data. When the print management information storage unit 9 receives
To obtain the corresponding print management information. Then, the printing destination and the printing timing are determined based on the acquired print management information, and the print data is printed out to the printing destination at the corresponding time.

The print controller 11 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The printing unit analysis unit 11-1 approaches the print management information storage unit 9 using the information received from the print data management unit 10 or the print management information maintenance management unit 8 for uniquely identifying the relevant print data, Get the desired print management information. If the printing time has not yet arrived in the printing management information relating to printing included in the acquired printing management information, the interrupt unit 1 of the time or time interval is used.
1-2, an interrupt request is issued together with the notification of the print management information.
The print output destination is determined based on the print management information related to printing included in the acquired print management information, and the following instruction is issued when the printable time has come. When the print output destination is the headquarters printing device group 5 included in the headquarters system 1, the notification is sent to the print output control unit 11-3. When the print output destination is the base printing device group 13 included in the base system 2 or the terminal printing device 15 included in the terminal system 3,
It notifies the remote print control unit 11-4 of a request for a print data takeover request to the corresponding site print management apparatus 12.

Time or time interval interrupt unit 11-2
Is a means for realizing an interrupt function that can be easily analogized by a person skilled in the art within the range of known technology, waits for a fixed time or a specific time, and notifies by an interrupt when a target time comes. I do. Upon receiving the notification from the printing unit analysis unit 11-1, the print output control unit 11-3 acquires the relevant print data from the print data management unit 10 and prints out the relevant print data to the relevant head office printing device group 5. Upon receiving the notification from the printing unit analyzing unit 11-1, the remote communication control unit 11-4 transmits a request for taking back the relevant print data to the local print management device 12 included in the relevant local system 2. When a response to the completion of preparation for the print data collection request is transmitted from the local print management device 12, the relevant print data is acquired from the print data management unit 10 and transmitted to the relevant local print management device 12. .

The local print management device 12 includes a print control unit 11
When a print data collection request is received from, preparation for print output of the print data is performed. When the print output destination is the site printing device group 13, preparations are made to enable print output by the device. When the print output destination is the terminal printing device 15 included in the terminal system 3, a print data collection request is made to the terminal device 14 included in the corresponding terminal system 3, and a response indicating completion of preparation is made from the corresponding terminal device 14. wait. When the preparation of each print output is completed, a response to the preparation of the print data collection request is transmitted to the print control unit 11. Next, when the relevant print data is received from the print control unit 11, the print data is printed out to the relevant print output destination.

Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7. First, regarding the operation relating to the maintenance of the print management information managed by the print management information storage unit 9,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the process waits for an instruction regarding maintenance of print management information from a human system via the external input / output device 4 (step A1). Next, the print management information maintenance / management unit 8 receives an instruction from the human system regarding maintenance of the print management information. The print management information maintenance / management unit 8 approaches the print management information storage unit 9 using information for uniquely identifying print data specified by a human system, and performs new registration processing, change processing of print management information, Support the deletion process or the inquiry process (step A2).

When a series of print management information maintenance processing is completed, the determined print management information is stored in the print management information storage unit 9 (step A3). Print management information storage unit 9
When the storage of the determined print management information is completed in (2), the process waits for a new instruction again (step A1).

Next, the operation related to the reception of the print request will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it waits for a print request from the print data processing device 6 (step B1). The print data management unit 10 receives a print request including at least information for uniquely identifying the print data from the print data processing device 6 (step B2). The print data management unit 10 acquires and stores the print data requested to be printed (step B).
3). The print data management unit 10 notifies the print control unit 11 that the print request has been received (step B4). When a series of print request receiving processing is completed, the process waits for a new print request again (step B1).

Next, the operation relating to the print output process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the print control unit 11 waits for a print output start request (step C1). When the print output start request is received, the contents of the request are analyzed (step C2). When the print request is a print request from the print data processing device 6 via the print data management unit 10, when the print request is a print request from an external human system via the print management information maintenance unit 8, or When a print request is received from a print data user via the base print management device 12 and the terminal system 3, the print management information storage unit 9 is approached using information for uniquely identifying the print data. Then, print management information on the target print data is acquired, and the validity of the print output timing is verified (step C3). If the print output timing is not appropriate, an instruction to interrupt the print output start request based on the received print request content is issued after the time has arrived or after a certain time has elapsed (step C4). If the print output time has come, the print output destination is determined based on the acquired print management information (step C5).

When the print output destination is the headquarters printing device group 5 included in the headquarters system 1, the relevant print data is obtained from the print data management unit 10, and the necessary editing is performed to perform the necessary editing. 5 (step C6).
If the print output destination is the base printing device group 13 included in the base system 2 or the terminal printing device 15 included in the terminal system 3, a request for print output preparation is transmitted to the local printing management device 12 (step C7). ).

In step C2, the content of the print request is
If the response is a completion of printing preparation from the base system 2, the corresponding print data is acquired from the print data management unit 10, necessary editing is performed, and the base print management device included in the corresponding base system 2 is obtained. 12 (step C
8).

Next, the operation relating to the printing process in the site system 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the local printing management apparatus 12 waits for a printing request (step D1). When the print request is received, the contents of the request are analyzed (step D2). If the print request is a print output preparation request from the print control unit 11 included in the headquarters system 1, the print output destination is analyzed (step D3). When the print output destination is the site printing device group 13, the output preparation to the corresponding site printing device group 13 is performed, and a notification of the completion of the print output preparation is transmitted to the print control unit 11 (step D4). When the print output destination is the terminal printing device 15 included in the terminal system 3, a print output preparation request is instructed to the corresponding terminal device 14 (step D5).

In step D2, the content of the print request is
In the case of a print output preparation completion notification from the terminal device 14 included in the terminal system 3, a notification of print output preparation completion is transmitted to the print control unit 11 (step D6). If the print request is a print data reception request from the print control unit 11 included in the headquarters system 1, the print output destination is analyzed (step D7). The print output destination is the base printing device group 13
In the case of (1), the corresponding print data is received from the print control unit 11, the received print data is edited as necessary, and the print data is printed out to the base printing device group 13 (step D8). The print output destination is the terminal printing device 15 included in the terminal system 3.
In the case of (1), the corresponding print data is received from the print control unit 11, the received print data is edited as necessary, and is notified to the terminal device 14 as print output data (step D).
9).

Next, a specific example of an output destination of print data will be described with reference to FIG. Examples 106 of the print request include:
Print data group 1, print data group 2, print data group 3
And an example of a print request for five types of print data groups, a print data group 4 and a print data group 5. The conceptual configuration 7 of the integrated print management device includes the print data management unit 10 in FIG. 1, the print control unit 11 in FIG. 1, and the print management information storage unit 9 in FIG. The print management information storage unit 9 of FIG. 1 included in the conceptual configuration 7 of the comprehensive print management apparatus stores, in the print management information storage unit 9 of FIG.
Contains. Examples of various print output destinations 18 include five types of printing included in the output 19 to the head office printing device of the head office system, the output 20 to the base printing device of the base system, and the output 21 to the terminal printing device of the terminal system. The output destination of the data group is included.

The print request group 1, print data group 2, print data group 3, print data group 4, and print data group 5 included in the print request example 106 are described by comprehensive print management. When the device 7 manages the print output with reference to the example 22 (or the table of FIG. 12) of the print destination determined print management information, the output 19 to the head office printing device of the head office system included in the various print output destination examples 18 The printout is performed to the output destination included in the output 20 to the local printing device of the local system and the output 21 to the terminal printing device of the terminal system.

The result of FIG. 8 is compared with FIG. 11 which is a conventional example. In the case of the example of FIG. 11, the print data group 1 is processed by the high-speed printing apparatus group of the headquarters system despite the small amount of print data, and the efficiency is deteriorated. For example, since the print data group 1 is printed by the terminal system 3, the printing efficiency is improved. Also, in the example of FIG. 11, the print data group 4 is printed in the headquarters system even though there is no margin for the print deadline, so it takes time for logistics after printing and it takes time for the printed matter to reach each base. However, according to the example of the present invention, the printed matter is printed at the base, so that the printed matter can be immediately distributed at the base, and the delivery time from the headquarters to the base can be shortened. Can be.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 9, the second embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG.
1 is directly connected to the headquarters system 1 without communication via the base system 2. In this case, the comprehensive print management device 7 comprehensively manages a plurality of types of site systems 2 and terminal systems 3 according to the amount of print output data. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG.

The terminal system 31 and the terminal system 3 included in the base system 2 both have the same function, and differ only in the connection destination. Also, the print control unit 11 and the base print management device 12 included in the headquarters system 1
And the information exchange means between the site print management device 12 included in the site system 2 and the terminal device 14 included in the terminal system 3 are the same.

As a result, the print control unit 11 included in the headquarters system 1 communicates with the terminal device 14 of the terminal system 31
The site print management device 12 included in the site system 2 can be controlled as the same device.

[0042]

According to the present invention, an optimum print output destination can be dynamically determined at the time of print output. The reason is that print management information relating to print output destination determination can be input in advance for each type of print data, and an optimum print output destination is determined at the time of print output according to the input print management information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a print management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating details of a print management information storage unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of a print control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a printing destination.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the print management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional print management system.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a printing destination in a conventional system.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing destination determination table according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 headquarters system 2 base system 3 terminal system 4 external input device 5 headquarters printing device group 6 print data processing device 7 general print management device 8 print management information maintenance management unit 9 print management information storage unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A headquarters system in which printing destinations are geographically separated.
System, each base system or terminal system.
Printing that is hierarchized in stages and that determines the printing destination
Means for inputting management information; and the input print management information.
Printing destination determining means for determining a printing destination based on the
In the print management system, the print management information for determining the print destination is a print amount.
The printing destination determining means determines that the lower the printing amount, the lower the layer
Print management system characterized by determining the print destination
M 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the printing destinations are geographically distant from each other,
System, each base system or terminal system.
Printing that is hierarchized in stages and that determines the printing destination
Means for inputting management information; and the input print management information.
Printing destination determining means for determining a printing destination based on the
In the print management system, print the print management information for determining the printing destination is printing date, the printing destination determination means which is characterized in that determining from the higher print deadline is approaching to the underlying print destination Management system. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing destinations are geographically separated, and
System, each base system or terminal system.
Printing that is hierarchized in stages and that determines the printing destination
Means for inputting management information; and the input print management information.
Printing destination determining means for determining a printing destination based on the
In the print management system, print management information for determining the printing destination is printing amount and printing date, the printing destination determination means, wherein the determining the printing destination according to the combination of print quantity and print date
Print management system that was.