JP3639653B2 - Printer control system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer control system for transferring and printing data via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional network-based printing is performed by a printing system on the target printer or the printer server that has transferred the data to be printed as a spooling file to the target printer or printer server. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the data to be printed from the client is converted to a spooling file, transferred to the server via the network, temporarily stored in a file on the external storage device, and the client program of the print request source is executed when the storage is completed. release. Then, one-way control is performed in which the spooling file accumulated by the server device control is taken out and printed by the printer and monitored. The configuration of FIG. 5 will be briefly described below.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.
In FIG. 5, the client performs various processes, makes the result a spooling file, transfers it to the server via the network, and issues a print request. Here, the client includes an application, a spooling file, a print client, and the like. It is what is done.
[0004]
The application performs various business processes and requests printing of the results.
The spooling file is obtained by spooling the data requested by the application to be printed (an operation for editing the data so that it can be easily printed).
[0005]
The print client transfers a spooling file to a server via a LAN or WAN and requests printing.
The server receives a spooling file via a network and causes a printer to print it. Here, the server includes a print server, a writer, a spooling file, device control, and the like.
[0006]
The print server receives the spooling file transferred from the client via the network, and temporarily stores it as a spooling file in the external storage device.
[0007]
The writer causes the printer to print the spooling file passed from the print server via device control.
The device control outputs the data output from the writer to the printer, confirms whether the printer has received the data, checks the printer error, notifies the writer, or responds to an error retry request from the writer The printer is initialized and reprinted.
[0008]
The printer prints on paper according to the data content requested by the application.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, as described above, for example, a client creates print data as a spooling file and transfers it to a server via a network, and the received server temporarily accumulates the spooling file and causes the printer to print it. If the interface information and resource information at the print request source (here, the client) and the print destination (here, the server) are prepared in advance, printing can be performed normally. In an environment (an environment in which machines of other companies are connected, or machines with different architectures are connected in a mixed manner), all interface information and resource information cannot be retained, and printing is not possible or printing is partially text Or the print status of the print request or the printer status is Luo there is a problem that does not know.
[0010]
In order to solve these problems, the present invention realizes a system in which interface information and resource information are transferred together with print data from a print request source via a network, and normal printing is performed on the receiving side based on the interface information and resource information. It is an object.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, a server 1 transfers print data, interface information, and resource information to a client 12 via a network for printing, and includes an application 2, a requester 5, and the like. .
[0012]
The application 2 makes a print request.
The requester 5 adds interface information and resource information to the print data based on a print request from the application 2 and transfers it to the client 12 via the network.
[0013]
The client 12 causes the printer 15 to print based on the received print data, interface information, and resource information.
Next, the operation will be described.
[0014]
Based on the print request from the application 2, the requester 5 adds the printer interface information and resource information to the print data and transfers it to the corresponding client 12 via the network, and the provider 13 of the client 12 receives it from the network. Based on the interface information, the corresponding printer 15 is controlled to cause the printer 15 to print the received print data.
[0015]
Further, based on the print request from the application 2, the requester 5 adds the printer interface information and the print data resource information to the print data and transfers the print data to the client 12 via the network. The printer 15 is controlled based on the interface information received from the network, and the received print data is printed on the printer 15 using the received resource information.
[0016]
Accordingly, the interface information and resource information are transferred together with the print data from the print request source through the network, and the receiving side prints based on these, thereby connecting to the printer of the corresponding sequence and also corresponding resource information ( For example, special font characters can be used for normal printing.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments and operations of the present invention will be described in detail sequentially with reference to FIGS.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a server 1 is connected to a network, and here includes an application 2, an OS 3, a requester 5, a device control 6, and an I / F 7.
[0019]
The application 2 is an application program, and performs various business processes. Here, the application 2 issues a print request for printing the result.
The OS 3 is an operating system and performs overall control of the entire system. Here, the OS 3 is composed of the printer name switching means 4 and the like.
[0020]
The printer name switching means 4 switches between the local printer 8 and the remote printer 15 via the network based on the print request specifying the printer name from the application 2 depending on the printer name. It is.
[0021]
The requester 5 transfers print data, printer interface information, and resource information to the corresponding client 12 via the network based on a print request from the application 2. Here, the interface information is interface information for controlling the printer, and is information related to interfaces such as Centronisk, SCSI, RS-232C, and the like. The resource information is information required when printing print data such as an external character font.
[0022]
The apparatus control 6 controls the printer 8 via the I / F 7 for printing. The I / F 7 is an interface and is an interface (for example, Centronics, SCSI, RS-232C, etc.) for exchanging information for controlling the printer 8.
[0023]
The printer 8 prints print data on paper. Here, the printer 8 prints print data under the control of an interface called Centronics.
[0024]
The network printer 11 is a printer directly connected to the network, and prints print data on paper based on print data, interface information, and resource information from the server 1 or the like.
[0025]
The client 12 is connected to a network, and here includes a provider 13, an I / F 14, a printer 15, and the like.
[0026]
The provider 13 controls and prints the corresponding printer 15 based on the print data, interface information, and resource information received via the network.
[0027]
The I / F 14 is an interface with the printer 15.
The printer 15 prints print data on paper. In the case of printing, a printer having an interface format such as Centronics, SCSI, or RS-232C designated by the received interface information is selected and print data is printed on paper.
[0028]
As described above, for example, as shown in (1) in the figure, the interface information and the resource information are added to the print data and transferred over the network, the receiving client 12 or the like selects the printer that matches the interface information, and the print data By using resource information (for example, special fonts) for printing on paper by the printer 15, even in an open environment, printing can be performed using resource information according to an interface suitable for print data. Even if the interface is matched, there is no occurrence of resource information such as special character fonts that cannot be printed or garbled, and it is handled via a network in the same way as a local printer. Print to the printer remotely It has become possible.
[0029]
In addition, (2) in the figure indicates a route to be printed by the network printer 11 as in (1).
In the figure, (3) indicates a route for causing the local printer 8 to print via the device control 6 and the I / F 7.
[0030]
In the figure, (4) indicates a route that causes the OS 3 to print directly via the I / F 7 to the local printer 8.
Next, an exemplary operation of the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in detail according to the order shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0031]
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.
In FIG. 2, in S1, the application issues a print request with printer name information set.
[0032]
In S2, the requester 5 of the server 1 acquires a line.
S3 transmits an OPEN protocol.
S4 receives the OPEN protocol.
[0033]
On the other hand, the processing of S21 to S23 is similarly performed on the client 12 side of the print request destination via the network.
In S21, the provider 13 of the client 12 acquires a line.
[0034]
S22 receives the OPEN protocol corresponding to S3.
In step S23, the OPEN protocol is transmitted. In response to this, the OPEN protocol is received in S4 described above.
[0035]
The above S1 to S4 are performed by the print requesting server 1, and the print request destination client 12 performs S21 to S23, thereby transmitting the interface information and the resource information from the server 1 to the client 12.
[0036]
In S5, data is read. In this process, print data requested by the application 2 is read.
In S6, the requester 5 of the server 1 transmits the WRITE protocol.
[0037]
In S24, the provider 13 of the client 1 receives the WRITE protocol.
In S25, 1 byte is written to the printer port.
[0038]
In S26, it is determined whether the port state is normal or abnormal. If it is normal, it is determined whether the data is ended in S27. If YES, the process proceeds to S29. If NO in S27, the process returns to S25 and is repeated. On the other hand, if the state in S26 is abnormal, status mapping is performed in S28 (mapping is performed on the status setting location in the WRITE protocol based on the printer port status), and the process proceeds to S29.
[0039]
S29 transmits the WRITE protocol.
In S7, the requester 5 of the server 1 receives the transmission of S29.
In S8, it is determined whether there is an error. In the case of YES, a message is notified (displayed) in S9, and the process proceeds to S10. On the other hand, if NO, the process proceeds to S11.
[0040]
In S10, since it is determined that an error has occurred in YES in S8, a message to that effect is displayed to notify the user, and it is determined whether the error can be waited for. For example, when the printer runs out of paper, it is possible to wait, and when the printer is turned off, it is impossible to wait.
[0041]
In S11, it is determined whether it is a data end. In the case of YES, since it is determined that printing transmitted for all data has been completed, the process proceeds to S12. On the other hand, if NO, the process returns to S5 and repeats for the next data.
[0042]
S12 transmits the CLOSE protocol.
In S30, the provider 13 of the client 12 receives the CLOSE protocol.
[0043]
S31 transmits a CLOSE protocol.
In S13, the requester 5 of the server 1 receives the CLOSE protocol.
S14 releases the line.
[0044]
S32 releases the line.
As described above, when the requester 5 of the server 1 receives a print request from the application 2, the interface information and the resource information are transmitted to the provider 13 of the client 12 in accordance with the protocol, and then the print data is sequentially transmitted. Print sequentially on paper based on resource information. When an abnormality occurs during printing by the printer, the fact is transmitted and displayed by the requester 5. When an error that can be waited for is received, the process of waiting and retransmitting the data is repeated. As a result, it is possible to transfer the interface information and resource information together with the print data from the print request source via the network, and to perform printing based on these on the receiving side.
[0045]
FIG. 3 shows a sequence example (part 1) of the present invention. This is a sequence example when the provider 13 of the client 12 that is the print request destination determines that printing is not possible.
[0046]
In FIG. 3, in S <b> 41, the requester 5 of the server 1 reads print data from the application 2.
In S42, the data is written. At this time, the interface information and the resource information have been transmitted to the provider 13 of the client 12 by transmitting at the time of protocol transmission / reception after placing the line on the protocol and acquiring the line.
[0047]
In S43, the provider 13 of the client 12 receives the data.
S44 is determined to be unprintable. For example, it is determined that printing is not possible due to out of paper.
In S45, WRIT (abnormal), for example, offline, out of paper is transmitted.
[0048]
In step S46, the content transmitted in step S45 is received.
In S47, since the abnormality is received in S46, the requester 5 of the server 1 displays the fact of the abnormality and notifies the operator.
[0049]
In S48, it is determined whether recovery is possible. For example, in the case of an event that has a meaning of waiting due to running out of paper, it is possible to recover, wait after a predetermined time, and transmit again. On the other hand, if the event does not make sense to wait (for example, the printer is powered off), S48 determines that recovery is impossible and ends.
[0050]
In S50, the provider 13 receives the data transmitted in S49.
In step S51, the printer waits and it is determined that the printer has been restored because the paper has run out.
[0051]
In step S52, printing is performed.
S53 transmits WRITE (normal).
In S54, the requester 5 of the server 1 receives the content transmitted in S53.
[0052]
As described above, the requester 5 of the server 1 puts the interface information and resource information on the protocol to the provider 13 of the client 12 via the network, and when the printer cannot print, the requester 5 of the server 1 sends an error message to the requester of the server 1. If a message is displayed and recovery is possible, after waiting for a predetermined time and sending the data again to perform printing, even if a printer error at the print request destination occurs, the data is returned when it is normal after waiting. It is possible to print by resending.
[0053]
FIG. 4 shows a sequence example (part 2) of the present invention. This is an example of a sequence in the case where the provider 13 of the client 12 that is the print request destination causes the printer 15 to read data such as a barcode.
[0054]
In FIG. 4, the application 2 of the server 1 reads and inputs S61.
In S62, the application 2 inputs the read data length.
In S63, a command character string is input.
[0055]
In S64, the data input in S61 to S63 is transmitted (WRITE). In S65, the provider 13 of the client 12 receives the data (read instruction, read data length, command character string) transmitted in S64.
[0056]
In S66, the provider 13 performs WRITE (transmission) to the printer.
In S67, ST check is performed. This performs a reading check of the data reader unit attached to the printer 15.
[0057]
S68 reads ST2. This is because the data reader unit attached to the printer 15 reads the barcode.
In S69, the data read in S68 is transmitted (WRTE (normal)).
[0058]
In S70, the requester 5 of the server S1 receives the content transmitted in S69. From S71 to S73, the application 2 is notified of the data (return code (code indicating distinction between normal and abnormal)), data length, and data received in S70.
[0059]
As described above, the application 2 can read the barcode and the like by a data reader such as a barcode added to the printer 15 via the network and receive the data.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the interface information and the resource information are transferred together with the print data from the print request source via the network, the receiving side employs a configuration for printing based on these. It is possible to connect to a printer having the corresponding interface information and print normally using the corresponding resource information (for example, special font characters). As a result, the interface information and resource information of the printer are placed on the print protocol, and the print data is sent and the printer is controlled on the receiving side according to the interface information. It is possible to print normal characters having no character, and it is possible to connect the computer to a printer of each sequence (interface) and print it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sequence example (part 1) of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a second sequence example of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Server 2: Application (application program)
3: OS
4: Printer name switching means 5: Requester 6: Device control 7: I / F
8: Printer 11: Network printer 12: Network client 13: Provider 14: I / F
15: Printer

Claims (1)

In a printer control system that prints by transferring data over a network,
Based on the print request from the application program, the network is created by adding one of the printer interface information , Centronics, SCSI, RS-232C, and the special font , which is the print data resource information , to the received print data. Means for transferring to the terminal of the corresponding printer via
The printer is controlled based on any one of the received interface information , Centronics, SCSI, or RS-232C from the network, and the received print data is printed on the printer using the special font that is the received resource information. Means to
Means for transferring the print result to the print request management unit;
When the management unit determines that the print result is an anomaly that can be queued , the received print data includes one of Centronics, SCSI, and RS-232C, which are printer interface information, and print data resource information. A printer control system comprising means for adding a special font and transferring it to a corresponding printer terminal via a network .

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