JP3834812B2 - Network printer, network printer system and client program thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a network printer, a network printer system, and a client program used in the system, and more particularly to printing on manual paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A multifunction peripheral having functions of a facsimile machine and a copying machine is connected to a network such as a LAN and is shared by clients such as personal computers. It is also used as a network printer according to instructions from the client. At this time, if you want to print on the manual paper instead of the paper pre-set on the paper tray of the network printer, the user once goes to the network printer installation location, sets the paper to be printed on the manual tray, and returns to the personal computer After giving a print instruction and finishing printing, it is necessary to go back to take this paper. In particular, when the installation location of the personal computer and the network printer is separated, it is inefficient to perform two reciprocations in this way.
[0003]
[Problems of the Invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to allow a user to print on manual paper only once by going to the network printer installation location when printing on manual paper with a network printer in accordance with an instruction from a client. Claims 1-4).
Furthermore, an additional object of the present invention is to enable a user to print his / her print data on a sheet he / she sets when there are a plurality of manual print jobs.
[0004]
[Structure of the invention]
The network printer according to the present invention includes a recording unit, a print data receiving unit, a manual paper feed unit, and a display unit, and further includes an input unit, in which manual paper is set in the paper feed unit, and When printing from the input unit to manual paper is instructed, the received print data is configured to be printed on the paper, and the print data is used as an instruction to print from the input unit to manual paper. It is characterized by receiving based on this.
[0005]
Preferably, in the network printer, the display unit is configured to display a list of jobs to be printed using manual paper, and configured to execute a job selected by the user from the display. (Claim 2).
[0006]
Furthermore, the network printer system of the present invention is a network printer system comprising a network printer capable of manual printing and a client connected to the network printer, and when the user instructs the client to print manually, a predetermined time elapses. Alternatively, when a print data request is received from the network printer side, the print data is sent manually (claim 3).
[0007]
Still further, the client program of the present invention is a client program connected to a network printer capable of manual printing, and when a user instructs manual printing, a command for delaying transmission of print data by manual feeding for a predetermined time, or When a request for print data from the network printer is received, a command for sending the print data is provided (claim 4).
[0008]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
In the present invention, when performing print on special paper such as a postcard, OHP sheet, after setting of the manual sheet in the network printer, the print data sent from the client based on the print instruction to the network printer, printing on the manual feed paper I do. Therefore, the user only needs to go to the network printer, set the correct paper and give a print instruction, and the user can print on the manual paper with only one round trip between the client and the network printer. 1 ). In particular, even when there is a distance between the client and the network printer, such as a shared printer in the office, it is only necessary to move once, so that work efficiency is improved.
[0009]
Further, according to the present invention, since a list of jobs using manual paper is displayed on the display unit provided in the network printer, the user can easily select a job to be printed on the printer side. For this reason, even when a plurality of users perform manual feed printing, the printer can select a job related to his / her printing, and can print the data of the job he / she wants to print on the paper he / she sets. 2).
[0010]
In the network printer system of the present invention, when the user instructs manual printing, print data is sent from the client to the network printer after a predetermined time has elapsed. Alternatively, the user makes a print data request to the client from the network printer side, and if there is this request, the client sends the print data to the network printer. Therefore, the print data is sent from the client by setting the paper within a predetermined time or by requesting the print data after setting the paper, so the user only has to go to the network printer side once. Manual feed printing can be performed (claim 3).
[0011]
Further, in the client program of the present invention, when the user instructs manual printing, transmission of the print data is delayed for a predetermined time or a request for print data from the network printer is waited, and then the print data is transmitted to the network. Send to printer. Therefore, the user can perform processing such as paper setting with a network printer. The user can perform manual feed printing without having to go back and forth between the client and the network printer many times.
[0012]
【Example】
1 to 5 show the configuration and operation of a system comprising the network printer 2 of the embodiment and a client connected thereto. 1 and 2, a network printer 2 is a multifunction machine that also functions as a facsimile server, a copying machine, and a network scanner. The network printer 2 is connected to a personal computer 6 of a client in the LAN 4 or a mail server (not shown) via the LAN 4 and connects the Internet 8 and the LAN 4 with a router (not shown) to function as an Internet facsimile machine. Further, it is connected to a facsimile machine such as G3 or G4 via a public line network (not shown). The personal computer 6 is an example of a client of the network printer 2, and the user prints with the network printer 2 via the personal computer 6. In FIG. 1, an example in which one network printer 2 is shared by a plurality of client personal computers 6 is shown as a manual feed output processing system 1.
[0013]
As described above, the network printer 2 is a network printer or a network scanner in the LAN 4 and functions as a network printer for a plurality of personal computers 6 and is a facsimile apparatus connected to the public network as such, and a mail (not shown). By going through the server, it also becomes an Internet facsimile terminal. The client personal computer 6 is connected to the network printer 2 via a network, but the type of network is not limited to the LAN 4.
[0014]
2 shows the configuration of the network printer 2. Reference numeral 10 denotes a main control unit (CPU), 12 denotes a RAM for storing received data, data read by a reading unit, data being processed, and the like. A ROM for storing programs and the like, 16 is a reading unit for image input, 18 is a printing unit for hard printing, and 20 is a paper feeding unit for supplying paper during hard printing. Reference numeral 22 denotes a network control unit (NCU) for connection to a public line network, reference numeral 24 denotes a modem, and reference numeral 26 denotes an operation / display unit having a display panel such as a keyboard and an LCD. The operation / display unit 26 displays, for example, a manual job list display and performs operations such as selection of a job to be printed using manual paper. A codec 28 performs data compression, encoding, and decoding necessary for communication. A LAN interface 30 is connected to the client personal computer 6 via the LAN 4. The user gives instructions regarding manual printing to the network printer 2 from the personal computer 6 connected to the LAN 4. Reference numeral 32 denotes a communication management unit for controlling communication provided in the personal computer 6, and reference numeral 34 denotes a keyboard used for instructions and operations for processing such as printing.
[0015]
A display screen 40 of the operation / display unit 26 in FIG. 3 shows a list of manually designated jobs for which printing by manual feeding is instructed among jobs received by the network printer 2 from the personal computer 6. The user uses the display screen 40 on the network printer 2 side to select a job to be manually printed. Explaining the job selection, the manually specified job list displays the name of the job accepted by the network printer 2 and the name of the personal computer of the transmission source, and the user can print from the job name and the name of the personal computer of the transmission source. The target job can be selected. For example, the user sets paper to be output on the manual feed tray, confirms that the transmission source of the job ABC data is the personal computer PC1 and this is the data to be printed, and then selects the job on the touch panel or the like. Then, for example, by clicking the START button 42, manual printing from the network printer 2 is performed. The display screen 40 in FIG. 3 is a list of manually designated jobs, but jobs that are not manually designated are added to the list, and a job to be manually printed on the network printer 2 side is selected and preferentially manually printed. It's also good. Further, a plurality of jobs to be manually printed may be selected from the display screen 40.
[0016]
The operation of the embodiment and its modifications will be described with reference to FIGS. The embodiment of FIG. 4 shows a case where a file such as a document created by a personal computer is manually printed on a predetermined network printer. In response to a print instruction from the personal computer to the network printer, the user selects a manual tray on the display screen of the personal computer (step 1). Then, the personal computer sends the job data to be printed to the network printer (step 2). The network printer receives this data (step 3) and stores it in a RAM or the like. The user moves to the network printer after instructing data transmission on the personal computer.
[0017]
The operation / display unit of the network printer displays a paper setting request for the manual feed tray (step 4), and the user sets the manual feed paper to be printed on the tray (step 5). Note that there is a paper sensor (not shown) in the manual feed tray, and if no paper is set, the process returns to step 4. Since the data received by the network printer is displayed on the operation / display unit as a list display of manually designated jobs (step 6), the user selects a job to be printed (step 7), and that job is acceptable. For example, the START button on the display screen is clicked, for example (step 8), and the network printer performs print processing (step 9).
[0018]
When selecting a job to be printed again, the process returns to step 4 and processing such as job selection is performed again. When the network printer has a plurality of manually designated jobs, after printing the data of the selected job, another job can be selected and printed. The network printer may send a list of manually designated jobs to the personal computer to notify the status such as the number of jobs waiting to be printed.
[0019]
FIG. 5 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. In the drawing, the user selects a job to be manually printed on the personal computer (step 10), selects a network printer to be printed (step 11), selects a manual tray (step 12), and then selects the selected network. A job notification is sent to the printer (step 13). By the job notification, the network printer is notified in advance of the name of the job to be manually printed, and the network printer receives the job notification (step 14), and adds the job to the manually specified job list display.
[0020]
Next, the user clicks the START button on the display screen of the personal computer, for example, to enter the standby mode (step 15), and moves to the network printer. Then, according to the paper setting request (step 16) displayed on the operation / display unit of the network printer, the user sets the manual paper to be printed on the tray (step 17). Next, a list display of manually specified jobs is displayed on the operation / display unit (step 18). The user selects a job to be printed (step 19). If the job is acceptable, the START button on the display screen is displayed. Is clicked, for example (step 20). When selecting a job to be printed again, the process returns to step 16 to perform processing such as job selection again.
[0021]
For example, when the START button on the display screen of the network printer is clicked, a print data receivable signal is transmitted to notify the personal computer that manual print preparation is ready (step 21). When the personal computer receives this signal (step 22), it sends the print data to the network printer (step 23). The network printer that has received the transmitted data prints from the manual feed tray (steps 24 and 25).
[0022]
4 and 5 and its modification, the user can perform manual feed only by going to the network printer once from the personal computer. Further, the job can be selected on the network printer side, and even when there are a plurality of manual print jobs, the user's job can be printed on the paper set by the user.
[0023]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows a main configuration of the personal computer 7 connected to the network printer. 50 is a main control unit (CPU), 52 is a manual print instructing unit for the network printer, and 54 is a timer provided in the manual print instructing unit, which sends print data to the network printer after a predetermined time. Reference numeral 56 denotes a communication management unit for controlling communication provided in the personal computer 6, and reference numeral 58 denotes a keyboard for performing operations such as designation of a job to be printed, designation of a network printer, and other processing. Reference numeral 60 denotes a memory such as a hard disk, and reference numeral 62 denotes an appropriate storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing a program relating to manual printing.
[0024]
FIG. 7 schematically shows a display screen 64 of the personal computer 7 and a screen 66 for instructing manual printing. The screen 66 displays a manual print target job name “ABC” selected by the user, a network printer name “PR1” to be printed, and a paper selection field. In this case, the job ABC is instructed to be printed by the network printer PR1 using manual paper. Then, when the START button 68 is clicked, a timer is activated, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, print data is sent to the network printer.
[0025]
FIG. 8 shows the operation of this embodiment. In the figure, after selecting a document (file) to be printed on the personal computer side (step 30), selecting a job to be printed, then selecting a network printer for manual printing (step 31), and selecting a manual tray (Step 32), the START button is clicked to set a timer (Step 33). The set time of the timer may be determined by the distance between the personal computer and the network printer, and is set to 1 minute, for example.
[0026]
After the timer is set, the user moves to the network printer and sets the manual feed paper on the tray within the predetermined time set in the timer (step 34). When the predetermined time has elapsed (step 35), the personal computer sends the data to be printed to the network printer (step 36), and the network printer that has received the data prints it on the set manual feed paper (steps 37 and 38). ).
[0027]
In these embodiments and modifications, the user can print on the manual feed sheet only by going to the network printer side once. Therefore, as in the past, print designation is made on the personal computer side, paper is set on the network printer side, data is returned to the personal computer side, and the printed paper is taken to the network printer side. Time and effort can be omitted, and work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, as in the first embodiment or modification, by specifying the job to be printed on the printer side, even when there are a plurality of manual print jobs, the data of the own job is set on the paper set by the user. Can print.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection between a network printer of an embodiment and a client personal computer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the network printer in the embodiment. FIG. Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a display screen of a network printer. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a case where a job is selected on the network printer side in the embodiment and manual printing is performed. Fig. 5 is a modified example, and data is received from the network printer. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a personal computer in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer in the second embodiment. Schematic illustration of the personal computer display screen when manually feeding FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a case where data is transmitted from a personal computer to a network printer after a predetermined time has elapsed in the embodiment.
1 Manual output processing system 2 Network printer 4 LAN
6,7 Personal computer 8 Internet 10 (Network printer) CPU
12 RAM
14 ROM
16 Reading unit 18 Printing unit 20 Paper feeding unit 22 NCU (network control unit)
24 Modem 26 Operation / Display Unit 28 Codec 30 LAN Interface 32, 56 Communication Management Unit 34, 58 (Personal Computer) Keyboard 40 Display Screen 42 (Network Printer Manual Designation Job List) START (Network Printer Display Screen) START Button 50 (personal computer) CPU
52 Manual print instruction unit 54 Timer 60 Memory 62 CD-ROM

Claims (4)

In a network printer having a recording unit, a print data receiving unit, a manual paper feeding unit, and a display unit,
An input unit is provided in the network printer so that when the manual paper is set in the paper feeding unit and printing on the manual paper is instructed from the input unit, the received print data is printed on the paper. To configure
The network printer is characterized in that the print data is received based on an instruction to print on manual paper from the input unit . 2. The network printer according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display a list of jobs to be printed using manual paper, and configured to execute a job selected by the user from the display. 1 network printer. A network printer system comprising a network printer capable of manual feeding and a client connected thereto,
The client is configured to send manual print data when a user instructs manual print, after a predetermined time has elapsed, or when a print data request is received from the network printer. A network printer system. A client program connected to a network printer capable of manual feed printing,
Provided with a command to delay sending manual print data for a predetermined time when the user instructs manual printing, or to send the print data when a request for print data is received from the network printer Client program.

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