JP3755317B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print system, and in particular, includes a terminal device that generates print data, a printer that prints the print data, and a server that manages the printer, and a print instruction from the terminal device The present invention relates to a printing system that receives information by the server and prints it using the printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a print system including a plurality of workstations (print client devices), a plurality of printers, and a print server that manages the printers has been constructed. In printing processing in such a printing system, the following items are required to be highly efficient and effectively used.
1. Efficiency related to the overall operation of printing operations such as print job submission, status monitoring, output sorting, output result confirmation, and output delivery
2. Use of transmission media in printing
3. Printing fee represented by print charge (charging system per unit number of printed sheets) 4. Effective use of consumables such as paper, ink, toner and drum
Conventionally, by introducing operation automation software that supports operations from input of a print job to sorting and delivery, work related to the overall operation of printing operations has been improved. In addition, a method for reducing the amount of transmission medium used has been proposed by using a network printing method for selecting a printer that performs printing processing using a reference and determining a transfer path (see Japanese Patent Application No. 9-257132). .
[0003]
In addition, a plurality of print modes (for example, resolution) are set in the printer, and the user designates, for example, a low resolution at the time of printing. Had reduced consumption. In addition, the print driver has a print language generation function that prints multiple pages on one sheet of paper, and the user specifies this function when printing to print multiple pages of print data on one sheet of paper. As a result, the number of printing paper consumed was reduced, leading to cost reduction.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional technology for reducing the printing fee and the consumption of consumables, when a user makes a print processing request from a workstation (puts a print job), the characteristics of the print processing (color / monochrome output) , High-detail / detail / normal mode designation output, etc.), and the printer's possession functions (available print language, print mode, number of paper supply trays, etc.) and setting status (charging system per unit print processing, paper supply) It is necessary for the user to identify the printer with a cost reduction awareness and make a print processing request after paying attention to new paper / backside paper that uses the back side that has already been used for single-sided printing. Yes, according to the user's intention.
[0005]
For this reason, the efficiency related to the overall printing business operation and the effective use of consumables have not been thoroughly implemented, leading to the loss of useless resources.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a printing system capable of printing in an appropriate printing mode with a minimum amount of resources and eliminating waste of consumables during printing. The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a terminal device that generates print data, a printer that prints the print data, and a server that manages the printer. A printing system that receives print instruction information from a terminal device by the server and prints by the printer, and prints in an appropriate mode for printing with a minimum amount of resources instead of the print instruction information. Setting means for setting whether to change to information,Holding means for holding printer environmental information including at least one of holding function information of the printer including the degree of detail of printing by the printer, a charging method per unit printing process, and paper information set in a paper supply tray; ,When changing to appropriate printing information is set by the setting means,The held function information and the environment information held in the holding meansOn the basis of theWith minimal resourcesSelecting means for selecting a printer for printing the print data;The print detail level that allows the print data to be printed with the minimum required resources is selected from the print detail levels held in the holding unit as the held function information of the printer selected by the selection unit, and the selected print detail level Converting means for converting the print data in accordance with:To the printer selected by the selection meansConverted by the converting meansControl means for transferring the print data.
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing system includes setting means, selection means, and control means.
[0009]
The setting means sets whether or not to change to appropriate print information for printing in an appropriate mode for printing with the minimum necessary resources instead of the print instruction information. In other words, whether or not to print the print data with the minimum necessary resources is set by this setting means.
[0010]
The selection unit selects a printer that prints the print data based on the proper print information when the setting unit sets the change to the proper print information. That is, a printer that prints the print data with the minimum necessary resources is selected.
[0011]
The control means controls to transfer the print data to the selected printer. At this time, the print data may be transferred directly from the terminal device to the printer, or may be transferred via a server.
[0012]
As a result, since printing is executed in a printer that prints print data with the minimum necessary resources, waste of consumables during printing can be saved.
[0013]
The setting unit, the selection unit, and the control unit may be provided in any one of the terminal device, the server, and the printer, or may be provided in another device that configures the print system.
[0014]
As a result, for example, even when the terminal device does not have a setting unit and appropriate print settings cannot be made, settings are made on the server side, appropriate print data is specified, and printing is performed with the minimum necessary resources. Data can be printed. Further, when both the terminal device and the server are provided with setting means, for example, the setting can be prioritized in the server. In this case, even when proper printing is not designated by the user at the terminal device, by setting in advance so that proper printing is designated at the server, printing is always performed by a printer that performs printing processing with the minimum necessary resources. You can also.
[0015]
Furthermore, claim 1Printing systemDetails of printing by the printerPrinter holding function information, a charging method per unit printing process, printer environment information including at least one of paper information set in the paper supply tray, and the selection means holds the holding information Based on the function information and the environment information, a printer that prints the print data with the minimum necessary resources is selected.The print detail level that can print the print data with the minimum necessary resources is selected from the print detail levels held in the holding means as the held function information of the printer selected by the selection means, and selected. The print data is converted according to the print detail level and transferred to the selected printer.
Thereby, when it is set to change the print instruction information to appropriate print information, the print data can be printed with the minimum necessary resources while suppressing the consumption of consumables such as ink and toner.
Note that this conversion means may be provided in any one of the terminal device, the server, and the printer, or may be provided in another device constituting the print system.
[0016]
On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 2 includes a terminal device that generates print data, a printer that prints the print data, and a server that manages the printer. A print system that receives print instruction information from the terminal device by the server and prints by the printer, and prints in an appropriate mode for printing with a minimum amount of resources instead of the print instruction information. Setting means for setting whether or not to change to proper printing information, printer holding function information including print language that can be processed by the printer, charging method per unit printing process, and paper supply tray Holding means for holding environmental information of the printer including at least one of paper information, and changing to appropriate printing information by the setting means A selection unit that selects a printer that prints the print data with the minimum necessary resources based on the held function information and the environment information held in the holding unit, and the selection unit selects Conversion means for converting the print data in accordance with a print language that can be processed by the printer, and control means for transferring the print data converted by the conversion means to the printer selected by the selection means. It is characterized by that.
[0017]
The printing system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of printer holding function information including a print language that can be processed by the printer, a charging method per unit printing process, and paper information set in the paper supply tray. Environment information of the printer including the printer, and the selection means selects a printer that prints the print data with the minimum necessary resources based on the possessed function information and the environment information. The print data is converted in accordance with the print language that can be processed by the printer selected by the selection means, and transferred to the selected printer.
Thus, when it is set to change the print instruction information to appropriate print information, a printer capable of printing print data with the minimum necessary resources regardless of the type of print language that can be used by the printer. You can choose.
Note that this conversion means may be provided in any one of the terminal device, the server, and the printer, or may be provided in another device constituting the print system.
[0018]
Further, as described in claim 3, the printer may hold the environment information of the printer and notify the server of the environment information.
[0019]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a network system to which the printing system of the present invention is applied. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to cost-reduction printing in which a printer with the lowest printing cost is selected and printed.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 100 includes a first network N1 and a second network N2.
[0021]
Among these, in the first network N1, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of terminal devices (hereinafter referred to as workstations) 12W1, 12W2, 12W3, 12W4, one server (hereinafter simply referred to as a server) 14 , And a plurality (four in this embodiment) of printers 16P1, 16P2, 16P3, and 16P4 are connected to each other via a local area network (LAN) 10. The printers 16P1, 16P2, 16P3, and 16P4 are managed by the server 14.
[0022]
In the second network N2, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of workstations 22W1, 22W2, 22W3, 22W4, one server 24, and a plurality (four in this embodiment) of printers 26P1, 26P2 are provided. , 26P3 and 26P4 are connected to each other via the LAN 20. The printers 26P1, 26P2, 26P3, and 26P4 are managed by the server 24.
[0023]
The first network N1 is connected to the LAN (FDDI / ISDN / X.25) 30 via the router 18 and the second network N2 via the router 28, respectively.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2, the workstation 12W1 controls transmission / reception of data performed via a transmission interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a transmission I / F) 110 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the outside, and the transmission I / F 110. Transmission control unit 120, application program 130 such as a word processor that generates print data, printer driver 140 that converts print data into print data and assigns cost-reduced print attributes to print data as necessary, print data A storage device 150 such as a magnetic disk for storing data, a spooling control unit 160 for controlling the order in which print data is stored and taken out, and an operation control unit 170 for receiving various operation requests from the user.
[0025]
In the application program 130, desired print data such as document data such as a word processor is created in accordance with a user's operation of a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. In addition, if necessary, cost reduction printing is designated. Various operations by the user are received from the operation control unit 160, and control of processing based on the operations is performed, and the result is displayed on a display or the like and notified to the user.
[0026]
The printer driver 140 converts print data generated by the application program 130 into various printer control languages (hereinafter referred to as “print language”), and generates print data. Further, a cost reduction print attribute indicating whether or not cost reduction printing is designated is given to the print data. The generated print data is temporarily stored in the storage device 150. The print data is taken out in the order controlled by the spooling control unit 160 having a queuing mechanism for controlling the print data storage and pick-up order, and transferred to the server 14 via the transmission I / F 110. The workstation 12W1 makes a print request for the print data to the server 14 by the transfer of the print data.
[0027]
The other workstations 12W2, 12W3, 12W4, 22W1, 22W2, 22W3, and 22W4 have the same configuration as described above.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3, the server 14 has a transmission interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a transmission I / F) 210 that transmits / receives data to / from the outside, and a transmission control unit that controls transmission / reception of data performed via the transmission I / F 210. 220, a transmission control unit 220, a cost reduction control unit 230 that checks the presence / absence of a cost reduction print attribute from the cost reduction print attribute of the print data, and assigns a cost reduction print attribute if necessary, Device status control unit 240 that manages and maintains information such as possessed function / environment and connected printer status, transfer destination control unit 250 that determines a printer to execute print processing, and storage such as a magnetic disk for storing print data A device 260, a spooling control unit 270 that controls the print data storage and retrieval order, and a user operating the server 14. Operation control unit 280 which accepts a seed operation request is provided.
[0029]
The cost reduction control unit 230 checks whether the print data received via the transmission I / F 210 has a cost reduction print attribute. If not, the cost reduction control unit 230 prints the preset cost reduction print attribute. Give to data. The print data to which the cost reduction print attribute is assigned is temporarily stored in the storage device 260.
[0030]
The device status control unit 240 receives information about the function / environment setting status of each printer input from the connected printer (printers 16P1, 16P2, 16P3, 16P4) via the transmission I / F 210, or a connection set by the user. A printer information management table 290 for managing printer information is held. Information in the printer information management table 290 is updated as needed when a change notification is received from the printer or when the setting is changed by the user.
[0031]
FIG. 5 shows an example of this printer information management table 290. In the printer information management table 290, information such as a device name, PDL, paper environment, print mode, and billing is set.
[0032]
Among these, the device name is set to a device name unique to each printer for identifying each printer connected via the network. In FIG. 5, the device name of the printer 16P1 is printer 1, the device name of the printer 16P2 is printer 2, the device name of the printer 16P3 is printer 3, and the device name of the printer 16P4 is printer 4.
[0033]
A print language that can be used by each printer is set in the PDL. In the paper environment, a paper supply tray that can be used by each printer and the type of paper that is currently set are set. In the print mode, a print detail level at which each printer can execute print processing is set. This print detail level varies mainly depending on the difference in print resolution. Generally, the higher the print detail level, the higher the consumption of consumables such as ink and toner. In addition, for the charge, a print charge fee required for each print is set.
[0034]
The device status control unit 240 also manages and maintains device status information of the connected printer input via the transmission I / F 210.
[0035]
The transfer destination control unit 250 is based on the cost reduction attribute given to the print data extracted from the storage device 260, the information in the printer information management table of the device status control unit 240, and the device status information of the connected printer. A printer suitable for printing the print data and having the lowest printing cost is determined. The spooling control unit 270 controls the print data extraction order from the storage device 260 at this time. The server 14 transmits print data to the printer determined by the transfer destination control unit 250 via the transmission I / F 210.
[0036]
The server 24 has the same configuration as described above.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 4, the printer 16P1 includes a transmission interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a transmission I / F) 310 that transmits / receives data to / from the outside, and a transmission that controls transmission / reception of data performed via the transmission I / F 310. Control unit 320, environment / state monitoring unit 330 for monitoring the own device's own function / environment setting state and device state, rasterizer 340 for converting print data to raster data, transfer unit 350 for transferring raster data to paper, transfer A print control unit 360 that controls the operation of the printing unit, a storage device 370 such as a magnetic disk for storing print data, a spooling control unit 380 that controls the order in which print data is stored and taken out, and a user who operates the workstation An operation control unit 390 that accepts various operation requests is provided.
[0038]
The storage device 370 has information on the functions held by the printer (types of supported printing languages, types of available printing modes, number of paper supply trays, etc.) and environment setting status (charging method, paper supply) Information on paper such as A4 new paper, B4 new paper, and A4 back paper set in the tray).
[0039]
These pieces of information can change the setting contents via the operation control unit 360, and when the setting is newly changed, the environment / state monitoring unit 330 changes the setting contents to the server via the transmission I / F 310. Be notified.
[0040]
Further, the environment / state monitoring unit 330 is performed by the transfer unit 350 via the spooling control unit 380 via the spooling control unit 380 and information on print data waiting for printing stored in the storage device 370 and the print control unit 370. The transfer processing information of the printer is acquired and the print processing status of the printer is monitored. In addition, the environment / state monitoring unit 330 also monitors the device state (normal / abnormal, reason for out of paper if abnormal).
[0041]
The printer 16P1 notifies the server of the change content via the transmission I / F 310 by the environment / status monitoring unit 330 even when the information on the device status or the print processing status is changed.
[0042]
The rasterizer 340 takes out the print data received via the transmission I / F 310 and temporarily stored in the storage device 370 and converts the print data into raster data that can be transferred to a sheet by the transfer unit 350. The spooling control unit 380 controls the print data extraction order from the storage device 370 at this time.
[0043]
The other printers 16P2, 16P3, 16P4, 26P1, 26P2, 26P3, and 26P4 have the same configuration as described above.
[0044]
Next, a control routine from the generation of print data to the completion of printing in the present embodiment will be described. In the following, as an example, print data is generated at the workstation 12W1, a print request for the print data is sent to the server 14, and the printer 16P1 is selected as the printer that executes the print processing at the server 14, and the print processing is performed. A description will be given assuming that the above is performed.
[0045]
First, in the workstation 12W1, the control routine shown in FIG. 6 is executed.
[0046]
In S101, the workstation 12W1 generates print data such as document data in an application program 130 such as a word processor. In addition, whether or not to specify cost reduction printing is set.
[0047]
In step S102, the printer driver 140 converts the generated print data into a print language that can be interpreted by the printer, generates print data, and assigns a cost reduction print attribute indicating whether or not cost reduction print is designated.
[0048]
In step S <b> 103, the print data is stored in the storage device 150 based on the control of the spooling control unit 160.
[0049]
In the workstation 12W1, print data is successively generated and stored in the storage device 150 by the processing of S101 to S103.
[0050]
The print data stored in the storage device 150 is extracted according to the queue control of the spooling control unit 160 (S104) and transferred to the server 14 via the transmission I / F based on the control of the transmission control unit 120 (S104). S105). A print request is sent from the workstation 12W1 to the server 14 by the transfer of the print data.
[0051]
In S106, the print data that has been transferred is deleted. Accordingly, the print data information is deleted from the queue of the spooling control unit 160. Next, referring to the queue of the spooling control unit 160, if another print data remains in the storage device 150 (S107), the process returns to S104, and the next print data is performed according to the queue control of the spooling control unit 160. From the storage device 150, and a print request for the print data is made in the same manner as described above.
[0052]
The print data transferred from the workstation 12W1 is sent to the server 14 via the network N1, and is received by the transmission I / F 210 of the server 14.
[0053]
In the server 14, the control routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed.
[0054]
The server 14 monitors the presence / absence of print data from the workstations 12W1, 12W2, 12W3, 12W4 (S201). When the print data with the cost reduction print attribute transferred from the workstation 12W1 is received by the transmission I / F 210 based on the control of the transmission control unit 220 (Yes in S210), the process proceeds to S202.
[0055]
In S <b> 202, based on the control of the cost reduction control unit 230, it is checked whether the received print data has a cost reduction print attribute.
[0056]
If the cost reduction printing attribute is assigned, the process proceeds to S204.
[0057]
If the cost reduction print attribute is not assigned, a default value (presence / absence) of the cost reduction print attribute preset in the server 14 is assigned to the print data (S203), and the process proceeds to S204.
[0058]
In S <b> 204, the print data with the cost reduction print attribute is stored in the storage device 260 based on the control of the spooling control unit 270.
[0059]
The print data with the cost reduction print attribute stored in the storage device 260 is taken out according to the queue control of the spooling control unit 270 (S205), and the process proceeds to S206, and the print execution printer determination process shown in FIG. 8 is performed. A subroutine to be executed is executed in the transfer destination control unit 250.
[0060]
Here, the print execution printer determination process of FIG. 8 will be described.
[0061]
In S221, the cost reduction printing attribute assigned to the print data is referred to, and it is determined whether or not cost reduction printing is designated in the print processing of the print data. If cost reduction printing is designated, the process proceeds to S222.
[0062]
In S222, print data holding characteristics (print language, designated paper size, designated print mode, single-sided / double-sided printing, etc.), information in the printer information management table 290 held in the device state control unit 240, and the connected printer device With reference to the status information, the printer that is suitable for printing the print data and has the lowest printing cost is selected as the printer that executes the printing process. Further, a paper supply tray for supplying paper used for the printing process is selected.
[0063]
At this time, if the selected printer has a plurality of printing modes (printing details), and printing with reduced printing details can reduce consumption of consumables such as ink and toner. It is determined that printing language conversion is necessary (S223), and printing language conversion is performed (S224).
[0064]
Here, the processing from S222 to S224 will be described with a specific example. Here, the device status control unit 240 of the server 14 holds information of the connected printers 16P1 to 16P4 shown in the printer information management table 290 of FIG. 5, and the server 14 prints cost-reduced printing from the workstation 12W1. A case will be described in which the A4 size is specified as the paper size, the high-detail print mode is specified as the print mode, and the print data with the print language ESC / P is received.
[0065]
First, the server 14 can normally output the print data from the connected printers 16P1 to 16P4 by referring to the information in the printer information management table 290 held in the device status control unit 240 and the device status information of the connected printer. Select a printer that is a candidate for executing the printing process. In this case, the printer 16P4 (device name printer 4) whose available print language is ART is excluded from the candidates for the execution printer for print processing.
[0066]
Next, the server 14 refers to the paper environment information in the printer information management table 290 and searches for a printer with a low printing cost from among the printers selected as candidates for the execution printer for the printing process. Here, A4 size paper is set in the printer 16P1 (device name printer 1) and the printer 16P2 (device name printer 2), and A4 size paper is new in the printer 16P3 (device name printer 3). Since only the paper is set, the printer 16P3 is removed from the candidates for the execution printer for the printing process.
[0067]
Next, the server 14 refers to the accounting information in the printer information management table 290 and searches for the printer with the lowest printing cost from among the printers selected as candidates for the printers to execute the printing process. The printer 16P1 (device name printer 1) charges 8 yen per print, and the printer 16P2 (device name printer 2) charges 10 yen per print, so the printer 16P1 (device name printer 1) ) Is selected as the execution printer of the printing process. At the same time, when the printing process is executed, a paper supply tray as a paper supply source is selected as the tray 1.
[0068]
The server 14 further refers to the print mode information in the printer information management table 290, determines that printing in the standard print mode consumes the least amount of consumables such as ink and toner, and sets the print data in high detail. Convert the print language from print mode to standard print mode.
[0069]
In the above-described print language conversion, the case where only the mode conversion within the same language is performed has been described as an example. However, the server 14 is provided with a print language conversion function between a plurality of print languages, for example, ESC / P Language conversion from ART to ART or vice versa may be performed. As a result, the number of printers that can be printed normally can be increased, and a printer with a lower printing cost can be searched from among a larger number of printers.
[0070]
For example, in the case of the example described above, if language conversion of print data from ESC / P to ART becomes possible, the printer 16P4 (device name printer 4) can output the print data normally. From among the printers 16P4, the printer with the lowest printing cost can be searched.
[0071]
Converts print data from ESC / P high-detail mode to ART standard mode and prints using paper (A4 size backing paper) set in tray 1 of this printer 16P4 (device name printer 4) By performing the process, it is possible to execute the print process at a lower cost than when the print process is executed by the previous printer 16P1 (device name printer 1).
[0072]
When the processes of S222 to S224 are performed and the execution printer for printing is selected, the process proceeds to S225, and the selected printer is determined as the execution printer for printing. At this time, information on the paper supply tray number to which the paper used for the printing process is supplied is also given to the print data.
[0073]
On the other hand, if cost reduction printing is not designated for the print processing of the print data (No in S221), the printer set at the time of print processing request in the workstation is determined as the print processing execution printer in S225.
[0074]
When the printing process execution printer is determined, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 7 and proceeds to the next S207.
[0075]
In S <b> 207, the print data for which the print processing execution printer is determined is transferred to the print processing execution printer via the transmission I / F based on the control of the transmission control unit 220. (In the following description, it is assumed that the printer 16P1 has been determined as the print processing execution printer.)
In S208, the print data that has been transferred is deleted. Accordingly, the print data information is deleted from the queue of the spooling control unit 270. Next, referring to the queue of the spooling control unit 270, if another print data remains in the storage device 260 (S209), the process returns to S205, and the next print data is performed according to the queue control of the spooling control unit 270. Is stored in the storage device 260, the printer that executes the printing process is determined in the same manner as described above, and the print data is transferred to the printer.
[0076]
The print data transferred from the server 14 is sent to the printer 16P1 via the network N1, and is received by the transmission I / F 310 of the printer 16P1.
[0077]
In the printer 16P1, a control routine shown in FIG. 9 is executed.
[0078]
The printer 16P1 monitors the presence / absence of print data from the server 14 (S301). When the print data with the cost reduction print attribute transferred from the server 14 is received by the transmission I / F 310 based on the control of the transmission control unit 320 (Yes in S301), the received print with the cost reduction print attribute is received. The data is stored in the storage device 370 based on the control of the spooling control unit 380 (S302).
[0079]
The print data with the cost reduction print attribute stored in the storage device 370 is taken out according to the queue control of the spooling control unit 380 (S304) when the transfer unit 350 becomes ready for transfer (S303), and is sent to the rasterizer 340. Passed.
[0080]
The print data is converted into raster data by rasterization 340 (S305). The transfer unit 350 transfers the converted raster data to the paper in the paper supply tray selected by the server 14 based on the control of the transfer control unit 360. That is, the printing process is performed (S306).
[0081]
In step S307, the print data that has been printed is deleted. Accordingly, the print data information is deleted from the queue of the spooling control unit 380. Next, referring to the queue of the spooling control unit 380, if another print data remains in the storage device 370 (S307), the process returns to S304, and when the transfer unit can be transferred again, the spooling control unit The next print data is fetched from the storage device 370 according to the queue control 380, and the next print data is printed in the same manner as described above.
[0082]
As described above, in this embodiment, when cost reduction printing is designated, a printer (including a paper supply tray) that can normally print and has the lowest printing cost is automatically selected. Cost-reducing printing is performed with the printing cost minimized. If necessary, the print language of the print data is converted to a print language that is optimal for cost-saving printing.
[0083]
This makes it possible to perform printing with the minimum amount of resources, eliminates wasteful consumption of consumables and printing costs, and eliminates printing errors such as users accidentally performing double-sided printing on the backing paper. , Work efficiency is also improved.
[0084]
In addition, when there is a workstation that does not have a means for assigning a cost reduction attribute, and print data generated by the workstation is printed, the default value of the cost reduction printing attribute preset in the server is used. (Yes / No) is added to the print data. As a result, for example, even when the workstation does not have a means for assigning a cost reduction attribute, setting the default value of the server cost reduction print designation to “Yes” maximizes the printing cost. Reduced cost-saving printing can be executed.
[0085]
The information in the printer information management table 290 (see FIG. 5) that is referred to when selecting the printer with the lowest printing cost can be set / changed by the user via the operation control unit 280.
[0086]
Thereby, for example, a printer (existing printer) that does not have a function of monitoring the owned function / environment setting state and device state of the own device and notifying the server of the change contents when there is a change is used. Even in this case, the user can set the printer information in the server in advance, and the printer with the lowest printing cost can be selected and the printing process can be executed in the same manner as described above.
[0087]
In the above-described embodiment, whether or not cost reduction printing is specified is set when an output format is specified and converted into print data, as is generally performed in printing of word processor document data or the like in a personal computer. Is not limited to this. Like the operation method on the mainframe, the presence or absence of cost reduction printing designation is described in JCL (job control language) that controls the start of the application program that generates the print data, and the cost reduction printing is performed when the application program is started. A designated setting may be performed.
[0088]
Further, although the default value of the cost reduction printing attribute preset in the server is set to one per server, the present invention is not limited to this. A network print interface such as the LPR protocol generally used as the network print method may be used to set a default value for the cost reduction print attribute for each virtual printer. At this time, the user can switch the cost-reduced printing attribute by selecting the default value of the cost-reducing printing attribute given for each virtual printer and executing the printing process.
[0089]
In addition, the present invention is applied to a general print system that makes a print processing request for print data by transmitting the print data generated at the workstation to the server, and a cost-reduced print attribute is assigned to the print data transmitted to the server. However, it is not limited to this.
[0090]
Reference information (print resource information indicating the location of print data, job attribute information specifying print service information, etc., and paper size of the print data, which is much less data than the print data generated by the workstation with the print data And the print attribute information indicating the paper orientation, etc.) to the print server, the print server issues a print request for the print data, and the print server receives the received reference information and the printer managed by the print server. And determining the printer that satisfies the printing attribute information based on the management information held by the print server including the workstation location information and performance information, and the transfer path of the print data from the workstation to the printer, Routes that do not go through two types of print servers (Routes 1, 2 , And the route through the four types of print servers (routes 3, 4, 5, 6) are determined as the transfer route with the smallest data transfer amount (communication traffic) on the network, and the determined transfer route is determined. Therefore, the present invention may be applied to a print system (see Japanese Patent Application No. 9-257132) that transfers print data to the determined printer and executes print processing.
[0091]
In this case, the cost reduction printing attribute is given to the reference information transmitted as a print request from the workstation, and the management function of each printer is added to the management information referred to when the print server determines the printer to execute the printing process. By adding environment setting state information and determining a printer including this information, a printer that can normally print the print data and has the lowest printing cost is selected.
[0092]
At this time, if a print language conversion function is provided on the workstation side, if the print server determines that conversion of the print language is necessary, the language conversion of the print data is performed at the workstation. Print data can be transferred to a printer.
[0093]
This eliminates the need for print language conversion at the print server, allows print data to be transferred to the printer without going through the print server, and provides a more efficient printing system. That is, it is possible to reduce the number of times print data flows on the network, prevent an increase in the amount of data transmission (communication traffic) on the network, and improve the throughput of the entire network system. .
[0094]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing system that can perform printing in an appropriate printing mode with the minimum necessary resources and can eliminate waste of consumables during printing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a workstation in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a server in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a printer information management table.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control routine executed in the workstation.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control routine executed in the server.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of print execution printer determination processing executed in the server.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine executed in the printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
12W1, 12W2, 12W3, 12W4 Workstation (terminal equipment)
14, 24 servers
16P1, 16P2, 16P3, 16P4 Printer
22W1, 22W2, 22W3, 22W4 workstation (terminal equipment)
26P1, 26P2, 26P3, 26P4 Printer
100 Network system (print system)
120 Transmission control unit
140 Printer driver (setting means)
220 Transmission control unit (control means)
230 Cost reduction control unit
240 Device state controller
250 Transfer destination control unit (selection means, conversion means)
290 Printer information management table (held function information, environment information)
330 Environment / Status Monitoring Department
340 Rasterizer
350 Transfer section
360 Print control unit

Claims (3)

A terminal device that generates print data; a printer that prints the print data; and a server that manages the printer. The server receives print instruction information from the terminal device, and the printer A printing system for printing,
Instead of the print instruction information, setting means for setting whether or not to change to proper print information for printing in an appropriate mode for printing with the minimum necessary resources;
Holding means for holding printer environmental information including at least one of holding function information of the printer including the degree of detail of printing by the printer, a charging method per unit printing process, and paper information set in a paper supply tray; ,
A printer that prints the print data with the minimum necessary resources based on the held function information and the environment information held in the holding means when it is set by the setting means to change to appropriate print information A selection means for selecting
The print detail level that allows the print data to be printed with the minimum required resources is selected from the print detail levels held in the holding unit as the held function information of the printer selected by the selection unit, and the selected print detail level Converting means for converting the print data in accordance with:
Control means for transferring the print data converted by the conversion means to the printer selected by the selection means;
A printing system comprising:   A terminal device that generates print data; a printer that prints the print data; and a server that manages the printer. The server receives print instruction information from the terminal device, and the printer A printing system for printing,
  Instead of the print instruction information, setting means for setting whether or not to change to proper print information for printing in an appropriate mode for printing with the minimum necessary resources;
  Holding function information of the printer including the print language that can be processed by the printer, and a printer environment information including at least one of a charging method per unit printing process and paper information set in the paper supply tray Means,
  A printer that prints the print data with the minimum necessary resources based on the held function information and the environment information held in the holding means when it is set by the setting means to change to appropriate print information A selection means for selecting
  Conversion means for converting the print data in accordance with a print language that can be processed by the printer selected by the selection means;
  Control means for transferring the print data converted by the conversion means to the printer selected by the selection means;
  A printing system comprising: The printer holds the individual environment information for each printer, and notifies the server of the environment information;
The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the printing system is a printing system.

Images