JP3389154B2 - Network print system and network print method - 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 print system in which a plurality of printers are connected,
In particular, the present invention relates to a network printing system and a network printing method for giving priority to a plurality of connected printers to improve printing efficiency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a network print system in which a plurality of network printers are connected to a network, there has been proposed a technique for effectively utilizing the plurality of connected network printers, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-274096. The publication proposes a technology that sets the priority of the printer selected for each workstation, investigates the usage status of the printer in the order of the set priority, and outputs image information from an unused printer with a high priority. Has been done.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, when all the printers are in use, even if a print request is issued from the workstation, the image information to be printed from the workstation is transmitted to the printer. However, there is a problem in that the processing at the workstation is not completed and the work efficiency at the workstation is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to make a print request from a client computer even if a print request is made from the client computer when all network printers are in use. Provided are a network printing system and a network printing method, in which print data to be printed is transmitted to a network printer, processing at the client computer can be completed, and the network printer can be used efficiently without lowering work efficiency at the client computer. There is a point to do.

[0005]

The present invention has the following constitution in order to solve the above problems. A gist of the invention according to claim 1 is a network printing system in which a plurality of network printers are connected and print data from a client computer is printed from any one of the plurality of network printers. Network printer registration means for registering a plurality of the network printers to be used for printing from the printer, and printer usage status confirmation means for confirming the usage status of the network printer registered in the network printer registration means when a print request is made from the client computer. A printer usage status display means for displaying the usage status of the network printer confirmed by the printer usage status confirmation means; and the network printer registered in the network printer registration means. Comprising input means for accepting an input for specifying the network printer for printing, and a print data transmitting means for transmitting the print data to the designated the network printer by the input means the print data from the
However, the printer usage status confirmation means is
The print data transmitted by the transmission means is printed
Up to, the network specified by the input means
Network printer registration means other than a network printer
Status of the network printer registered in
And the print data transmitting means is the input means.
Other than the network printer specified by
The network registered in the network printer registration means
Network printer is ready for use.
When it is recognized, the network specified by the input means is
The print data sent to the network printer
The network that has been made cell-ready and is in the usable state
A network printing system is characterized by causing the printer to retransmit the print data . Summary of the Invention described in claim 2, in the network printer registered in the network printer registration means consists in a network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the to prioritizing. The gist of the invention according to claim 3 is that the printer use status confirmation means confirms the use status of the network printer registered in the network printer registration means for each priority, and the print data transmission means When it is confirmed by the printer usage status confirmation means that the network printer registered in the network printer registration means is available, the print data is sent to the available network printer. The network print system according to claim 2 , wherein the network print system transmits the data. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the printer usage status confirming unit is better than the network printer designated by the input unit until the print data transmitted by the print data transmitting unit is printed. The use status of the network printer registered in the network printer registration means having a higher priority is confirmed, and the print data transmission means is a network printer having a higher priority than the network printer designated by the input means. When it is confirmed that the network printer registered in the registration means is ready for use, the print data transmitted to the network printer designated by the input means is canceled and the network printer is ready for use. In front of the network printer that is in the state 1 through claim, characterized in that to re-send the print data
In the network print system according to any one of 3 above. A fifth aspect of the present invention is a network printing method in which a plurality of network printers are connected and print data from a client computer is printed from any one of the plurality of network printers. Register a plurality of the network printers to be used for printing from, and confirm the usage status of the registered network printers at the time of a print request from the client computer,
The usage status of the confirmed network printer is displayed, the network printer to print the print data is designated from the registered network printers, and the print data is transmitted to the designated network printer. , The transmitted print data
The specified network until the
The registered network printer other than the printer
Check the usage status of the
If the registered network printer other than linter is
When you confirm that it is ready for use ,
The print data sent to the specified network printer.
The data is canceled and the device is ready for use.
It consists in the network printing method comprising the this <br/> retransmitting the print data to the network printer. The gist of the invention according to claim 6 resides in the network printing method according to claim 5, characterized in that the registered network printers are given priority. The gist of the invention according to claim 7 is that the use status of the registered network printers can be checked when the usage status of the registered network printers is checked for each priority and it is confirmed that the registered network printers are available. 7. The network printing method according to claim 6 , wherein the print data is transmitted to the network printer in a normal state. The gist of the invention according to claim 8 is to confirm the use status of the registered network printer having a higher priority than the designated network printer until the transmitted print data is printed, When it is confirmed that the registered network printer having a higher priority than the designated network printer has become available, the print data transmitted to the designated network printer is canceled, and The network printing method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the print data is retransmitted to the network printer in an available state. A ninth aspect of the present invention resides in a storage medium that stores a program capable of executing the network print method according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a network print system according to the present invention.

The network print system of the first embodiment includes a client computer 1 for making a print request for created document information or image information (hereinafter referred to as print data), and print data in response to a print request from the client computer 1. The printer server 2 (1), 2 (2) for controlling the printing of the printer is connected via a local area network (LAN).
(1) and 2 (2) are the network printer 3 (1) for printing the print data created by the client computer 1,
3 (2) are connected respectively.

The client computer 1 has a printer information table 4 in which a printer server name selected in advance by an operator is registered together with a priority order.
In the first embodiment, in the printer information table 4, the printer server 2 (1) has the first printer priority, and the printer server 2 has the second printer priority.
(2) is registered respectively.

When the operator makes a print request for print data, the client computer 1 sequentially confirms the usage status of the printers in descending order of the printer priority registered in the printer information table 4, that is, the printer priority 1 The usage status of the network printer 3 (1) connected to the th printer server 2 (1) is sequentially confirmed, and the print data is transmitted to the printer server to which an unused network printer is connected. When all the network printers 3 (1) and 3 (2) connected to the printer servers 2 (1) and 2 (2) registered in the printer information table 4 are in use, the printer information table 4 All printer names and usage statuses of the network printers 3 (1), 3 (2) connected to the registered printer servers 2 (1), 2 (2) are displayed on the printer usage status display section 7 and operated. After waiting for the operator to specify the network printer 3, the print data is sent to the printer server 2 to which the network printer 3 specified by the operator using the input unit such as a keyboard is connected.

Further, the client computer 1 has a priority over the network printer 3 designated by the operator while the print data sent to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is not printed, that is, while waiting for printing. When the network printer 3 having a higher priority than the network printer 3 designated by the operator becomes available, the operator monitors the usage status of the network printer 3 with a high priority every predetermined time. The print data sent to the network printer 3 specified by is canceled, and the print data is sent again to the network printer 3 which has become available and has a higher priority.

The printer servers 2 (1), 2 (2) receive print data in response to a print request from the client computer 1 and output the print data to the network printers 3 (1), 3 (2). , Client computer 1
The printer name notification unit 5 that notifies the printer name connected to the client computer 1 and the usage status notification unit 6 that notifies the usage status of the printer connected to the client computer 1.

The printer name notifying unit 5 notifies the name of the connected printer when the client computer 1 confirms the usage status of the network printers 3 (1) and 3 (2).

When the client computer 1 confirms the usage status of the network printers 3 (1) and 3 (2), the usage status notification unit 6 notifies the usage status of the connected printer.

The network printer 3 outputs the print data received from the client computer 1 via the printer server 2.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the network print system according to the present invention.

First, the operator makes a print request from the client computer 1 (step A1). Next, the printer server name with the first printer priority: printer server 2 (1) is retrieved from the printer information table 4 stored in the client computer 1 (step A).
2). Next, the usage status of the network printer 3 (1) connected to the printer server 2 (1) is confirmed (step A3). If the network printer 3 (1) is not in use, the printer server 2 (1) notifies the client computer 1 of the printer name and usage status (usable) of the network printer 3 (1) (step A4).
The client computer 1 is the printer server 2 (1)
The print data is transmitted to the printer server 2 (1) based on the printer name of the network printer 3 (1) received from the printer and the notification of the use status (usable) (step A5). Upon receiving the print data, the printer server 2 (1) transmits the print data to the network printer 3 (1) to perform printing (step A6).

When the network printer 3 (1) is in use at step A3, it is confirmed whether or not the next candidate printer server is registered in the printer information table 4 (step A7). When the next candidate printer server is registered, that is, in the first embodiment, since the printer server 2 (2) is registered second in the printer priority order, the process returns to step A2 and the next candidate printer server, that is, The usage status of the printer server 2 (2) is confirmed, and the processing from step A3 to step A6 is performed.

If the next candidate printer server is not registered, that is, the printer server 2 (1), 2 (2) registered in the printer information table 4 has been used to check the usage status, and the printer server 2 ( 1) When all the network printers 3 (1), 3 (2) connected to 2 (2) are in use, the client computer 1 determines all printer servers registered in the printer information table 4. Two
(1) Acquire the printer name and the notification of the usage status from (2) (step A8), and acquire all the printer servers 2
From (1) and 2 (2), the notification of the printer name and the usage status is displayed on the printer usage status display unit 7 (step A9). The operator confirms the usage status of the network printers 3 (1) and 3 (2) displayed on the printer usage status display section 7 and designates the network printer 3 to print (step A1).
0), the client computer 1 transmits the print data to the network printer 3 designated by the operator (step A11).

Next, the client computer 1 has a higher priority than the network printer 3 designated by the operator until the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed. The usage status of is checked every predetermined time (step A12).

Until the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed,
When the network printer 3 having a higher priority than the network printer 3 designated by the operator does not become available, the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed as it is ( Step A6), until the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed, the network printer 3 having a higher priority than the network printer 3 designated by the operator is ready for use. When it becomes, the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is canceled (step A13). Then, the print data is retransmitted to the printer server 2 to which the network printer 3 having a higher priority than the network printer 3 designated by the operator in the usable state is connected (step A14), and the print data can be used. Printing is performed from the network printer 3 having a higher priority than the network printer 3 designated by the operator who has become in such a state (step A6).

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, even when all the network printers are in use when a print request is made from the client computer, all the network printers are used. Since the status is displayed on the printer usage status display unit 7 and the network printer to be printed can be designated by the operator, the print data to be printed is transmitted from the client computer to the network printer, and the processing at the client computer can be completed. This has the effect of not lowering the work efficiency of.

Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the more efficient network printer becomes available after the print data is transmitted to the network printer designated by the operator, the network designated by the operator is used. Since the print data sent to the printer can be canceled and the print data can be printed from the more efficient network printer, the network printer can be effectively used.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the network print system according to the present invention.

In the second embodiment, when the operator makes a print request, the network printer 3 (1) connected to all the printer servers 2 (1) and 2 (2) registered in the printer information table 4 from the beginning. 3 (2) is different from the first embodiment in that the usage status of 3 (2) is displayed on the printer usage status display unit 7 to allow the operator to specify the network printer 3 for printing the print data. It is similar to the form.

First, the operator makes a print request from the client computer 1 (step B1). Next, the registered printer server name is retrieved from the printer information table 4 stored in the client computer 1 (step B2). Next, the printer name and usage notification of the connected printers are acquired from all the printer servers 2 (1) and 2 (2) registered in the printer information table 4 (step B3), and the printer server 2 ( 1), 2
All printer names and notifications of usage status obtained from (2) are displayed on the printer usage status display section 7 (step B
4). The operator confirms the usage status of the network printers 3 (1) and 3 (2) displayed on the printer usage status display unit 7 and designates the network printer 3 to print (step B5). The print data is transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator (step B6).

Next, the client computer 1 is registered in the printer information table 4 other than the network printer 3 designated by the operator until the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed. The usage status of the network printer 3 connected to the printer server 2 is checked every predetermined time (step B7).

Until the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed,
If the network printers 3 other than the network printer 3 designated by the operator have not become available, the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed as it is (step B8). If the network printer 3 other than the network printer 3 designated by the operator becomes available until the print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by the operator is printed, the operator The print data transmitted to the network printer 3 designated by is canceled (step B9). Then, the print data is retransmitted to the printer server 2 to which the network printers 3 other than the network printer 3 designated by the operator in the usable state are connected (step B10), and the state becomes the usable state. Printing is performed from the network printer 3 other than the network printer 3 designated by the operator (step B8).

In this embodiment, if all the network printers 3 (1) and 3 (2) connected to the printer server registered in the printer information table 4 are in use, the operator After the print data is transmitted to the printer server 2 connected to the designated network printer 3, the client computer 1 is configured to check the usage status of the other network printer 3 at predetermined time intervals. Printer server 2
When the network printer 3 connected to is in the unused state, the client computer 1 may be configured to output a notification notifying that the network printer 3 is in the unused state.

Further, when the client computer 1 changes the network printer 3 designated by the operator, it is more preferable to display the changed network printer 3 information and notify the operator.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it is apparent that the respective embodiments can be modified appropriately within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the above-mentioned constituent members are not limited to those in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the number, position, shape, etc. suitable for carrying out the present invention can be adopted. In addition, in each figure, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0032]

According to the network print system and the network print method of the present invention, even if a print request is issued from a client computer when all the network printers are in use, the use statuses of all the network printers are displayed. Displayed in part 7,
Since the operator can specify the network printer to print, the print data to be printed from the client computer is sent to the network printer, the processing at the client computer can be completed, and the work efficiency at the client computer is not reduced. Play.

Further, according to the network print system and the network print method of the present invention, when the more efficient network printer becomes available after the print data is transmitted to the network printer designated by the operator, the operator designates the network printer. Since the print data sent to the network printer can be canceled and the print data can be printed from the more efficient network printer, the network printer can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a network print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the network print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the network print system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 client computer 2 (1), 2 (2) printer server 3 (1), 3 (2) network printer 4 Printer information table 5 Printer name notification section 6 Usage status notification section 7 Printer usage status display

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A network printing system in which a plurality of network printers are connected and print data from a client computer is printed from any one of the plurality of network printers, which is used for printing from among the plurality of network printers. Network printer registration means for registering a plurality of the network printers, and a print request from the client computer,
A printer usage status confirmation means for confirming the usage status of the network printer registered in the network printer registration means; and a printer usage status display means for displaying the usage status of the network printer confirmed by the printer usage status confirmation means. Input means for receiving an input for designating the network printer to print the print data from among the network printers registered in the network printer registration means, and the print data for the network printer designated by the input means. ; and a print data transmitting means for transmitting, said printer usage confirmation means, the print data transmission
Until the print data transmitted by the means is printed
While the network specified by the input means
Register to the network printer registration means other than the printer.
Check the usage status of the network printer recorded.
The print data transmission means is specified by the input means.
The network other than the network printer
The network printer registered in the printer registration means.
When it is confirmed that the linter is ready for use
The network network specified by the input means.
Cancel the print data sent to the
The network printer is ready to use
A network printing system, characterized in that the print data is retransmitted . Wherein said network printer registered in the network printer registration means, the network print system according to claim 1, wherein the to prioritizing. 3. The printer usage status confirmation means confirms the usage status of the network printer registered in the network printer registration means for each priority, and the print data transmission means checks the printer usage status. When it is confirmed by the means that the network printer registered in the network printer registration means is available, the print data is transmitted to the available network printer. The network printing system according to claim 2 . 4. The printer usage status confirmation means has a higher priority than the network printer designated by the input means until the print data transmitted by the print data transmission means is printed. The usage status of the network printer registered in the network printer registration means is confirmed, and the print data transmission means is registered in the network printer registration means having a higher priority than the network printer designated by the input means. When it is confirmed that the network printer is in a usable state, the print data transmitted to the network printer designated by the input means is canceled, and the network printer is in the usable state. Reprint the print data to the network printer. The network print system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the network print system is configured to transmit. 5. A network printing method in which a plurality of network printers are connected and print data from a client computer is printed from one of the plurality of network printers, which is used for printing from among the plurality of network printers. When registering a plurality of the network printers, when making a print request from the client computer,
The usage status of the registered network printer is confirmed, the usage status of the confirmed network printer is displayed, and the network printer to print the print data is specified from among the registered network printers. Until the print data is transmitted to the designated network printer and the transmitted print data is printed,
The registration other than the specified network printer
Check the usage status of the specified network printer, and register the other than the specified network printer.
The network printer is ready for use.
When it is confirmed that the network
The network printer in the usable state by canceling the print data transmitted to the printer
A network printing method comprising: retransmitting the print data to a client . 6. The network printing method according to claim 5, wherein the registered network printers are given priorities. 7. The usable state of the registered network printer is checked for each of the priorities, and when it is confirmed that the registered network printer is usable, the usable state is the usable state. 7. The network printing method according to claim 6 , wherein the print data is transmitted to a network printer. 8. The use status of the registered network printer having a higher priority than the designated network printer is confirmed until the transmitted print data is printed, and the designated network printer is confirmed. When it is confirmed that the registered network printer having a higher priority than that is in the usable state, the print data transmitted to the designated network printer is canceled and the usable state is set. 8. The network printing method according to claim 5 , wherein the print data is retransmitted to the lost network printer. 9. A storage medium in which a program capable of executing the network print method according to claim 5 is stored.