JP3847959B2 - Host device, information processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a host device, a control method, and a storage medium that perform warning processing related to a print job.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a failure has occurred in a printer and printing is impossible, a warning of the occurrence of the failure is notified by the status display application.
[0003]
In addition, if a print job is stored in the printer designated for printing and it is not possible to execute the print job immediately, an application or system spooler that provides a method for confirming and canceling the job accumulation state for the printer can be used. Each time the user performs printing using the user interface, the user cannot know that the job has accumulated unless the print job accumulation is confirmed.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If a print job is accumulated in the printer and the user cannot immediately execute his / her print job, the user will not be aware of the situation and waited in vain unless the user confirms the job accumulation.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a host device, a control method, and a storage medium that can improve the convenience even if the labor for printing or the like is reduced.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a host device that can communicate with a printer and includes a print job generation unit, and a display control unit that displays a setting screen on which the number of print jobs can be input as a warning condition on a display unit of the host device, the number of print jobs that are input in response to a user instruction via the setting screen, a setting means for setting the advance warning condition, that put the printer, and obtaining means for obtaining a total number of print jobs that have already accumulated Determining means for determining whether the total number of the already accumulated print jobs acquired by the acquiring means satisfies a warning condition set by the setting means, and warning based on the determination result of the determining means Control means for performing output.
[0017]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
(Overview)
First, an outline of the present invention will be described.
[0019]
The present invention provides a means for automatically determining the status of the instructed printer when the user instructs printing, a means for notifying the user of a warning when immediate printing is impossible, and specifying printing. And a means for determining whether or not the printer is waiting based on a warning condition (total number of print jobs and total size) when a print job is accumulated in the printer.
[0020]
Further, when notifying the user of a warning, a means for displaying / providing a status list of another printer to the user can be provided.
[0021]
Furthermore, a means for setting use / non-use of the various means listed above and a means for setting the warning condition can be provided.
[0022]
(First example)
Hereinafter, a specific example will be described.
[0023]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0024]
First, a configuration example of this system will be described.
[0025]
FIG. 5 is a configuration example of a computer network system.
[0026]
Host machines 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the network 10. It is assumed that driver software for printers A, B, C, and D is installed in the host machine 1 as a premise. That is, a control program as shown in flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 7 described later is recorded in a storage medium such as a ROM in the host machine 1. This control program may be stored separately in a storage medium such as a floppy disk.
[0027]
The printer A is directly connected to the host machine 1 via a serial interface, a parallel interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 interface, or the like.
[0028]
The printer B is directly connected to the network 10 by a network interface card (hereinafter referred to as NIC).
[0029]
Assume that the printer C is connected via a printer server (not shown).
[0030]
The printer D is connected to the host machine 3 through one of the locally connected interfaces similar to the printer A. In this case, it is assumed that the printer D is connected to the network 10 via the host machine 3. The host machine 3 provides the printing function of the printer D to each machine on the network 10.
[0031]
Note that the target printer in this example is not limited to the printer connected to the network 10 shown in FIG.
[0032]
The operation of this system will be described below.
[0033]
FIG. 1 shows the operation of a control program installed in the host machine 1. Now, when the user executes printing on the target printer B from the application or the like on the host machine 1, the printer driver is activated by the drawing system on the host machine 1. When the printer driver is activated, execution of the algorithm of FIG. 1 is started.
[0034]
In step S101, setting information indicating whether to use the warning notification function is acquired from a setting file, a database, or the like.
[0035]
In step S102, the acquired information is confirmed.
[0036]
If the setting is not to use the warning notification function, control is returned to the printer driver as it is, this processing is terminated, and the normal printing processing is started. If it is set to use the warning notification function, the process proceeds to step S103.
[0037]
In step S103, as shown in FIG. 6, the failure status information of printer B that the user is trying to print is acquired.
[0038]
In step S104, the acquired information on the failure status is confirmed. If any failure has occurred, the process proceeds to step S201, where warning processing is started.
[0039]
If no failure has occurred, the process proceeds to step S105.
[0040]
In step S105, setting information related to warning notification / printer list display is acquired from a setting file, a database, or the like.
[0041]
In step S106, the acquired condition setting information is confirmed.
[0042]
If it is not set to use the total number of jobs waiting to be printed as a warning condition for notifying the warning, the process proceeds to step S109. If it is set to be used, the process proceeds to step S107.
[0043]
In step S107, the total number of jobs waiting for printing of the printer that the user intends to print is acquired.
[0044]
In step S108, the total number of acquired print waiting jobs is confirmed.
[0045]
If the total number of jobs waiting for printing is greater than or equal to the number of jobs waiting for printing in the warning condition of the warning notification set in the user setting information acquired in step S105, the process proceeds to step S201. The warning notification process is started.
[0046]
If the total number of jobs waiting for printing is smaller than the number of jobs waiting for printing under the warning condition, the process proceeds to step S109.
[0047]
In step S109, the user setting information acquired in step S105 is confirmed, and it is checked whether or not the total size of jobs waiting to be printed is used as a warning condition for warning notification.
[0048]
If it is not set to use the total size, control is returned to the printer driver, and the process ends.
[0049]
If it is set to use the total size, the process proceeds to step S110.
[0050]
In step S110, the total size of print waiting jobs of the printer that the user intends to print is acquired.
[0051]
In step S111, the total size of the acquired print waiting jobs is confirmed.
[0052]
If the total size of the jobs waiting for printing is greater than or equal to the number of jobs waiting for printing in the warning condition of the warning notification set in the user setting information acquired in step S105, the process proceeds to step S201. The warning notification process is started.
[0053]
If the total size of the jobs waiting for printing is smaller than the number of jobs waiting for printing in the warning condition, control is returned to the printer driver, and the process is terminated.
[0054]
2 to 4 show the setting contents of the warning condition on the setting screen 20.
[0055]
The warning conditions in the warning display can be set by the user calling the dialog box at any time by using the dialog box as a part of the printer driver setting screen or by pressing a button on the printer driver setting screen. It is.
[0056]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a dialog box 20 for setting warning conditions. The warning conditions are set according to the following procedure.
[0057]
When the “use warning / alternative printer list display function” button 21 is turned on in the dialog box 20 shown in FIG. 3, the warning / alternative printer list display function can be used, and warning conditions are set. be able to.
[0058]
In the dialog box 20 shown in FIG. 4, the warning condition setting includes a button 22 for “warning by the number of jobs waiting for printing” and a button 23 for “warning by the total size of jobs waiting for printing”.
[0059]
When these buttons 22 and 23 are turned on, specific numerical values for warning conditions can be input and selected. After inputting and selecting the warning condition, the warning condition setting becomes valid when the OK button 24 is pressed to end the condition setting dialog.
[0060]
(Second example)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the description about the same part as 1st Embodiment mentioned above is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches the same code | symbol.
[0061]
FIG. 8 shows an example of a warning notification dialog box 30. On this setting screen, a button 31 indicating that printing is to be continued, a button 32 indicating that printing is to be stopped, and a button 33 for displaying the printer list 40 are displayed.
[0062]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the printer list 40. The contents of the list include a printer name, connection destination, status, number of jobs, total job size, and the like.
[0063]
When the printer list display button 33 is pressed, the host machine 1 acquires / displays the failure status of all printers in which the printer driver is installed in the host machine 1, the number of print jobs, and the total size. A list of printer statuses on the network 10 as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed as a printer list 40 shown in FIG. 9 by using an API function of the machine 1 or by starting an application that provides the function. indicate.
[0064]
FIG. 7 shows an example of processing in the warning notification. This process corresponds to the warning notification process in step S201 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0065]
First, in step S201, a warning is given to the effect that a failure has occurred in the printer B or that there are more jobs waiting to be printed than the set value of the warning condition set by the user.
[0066]
In step S202, one of various buttons 31, 32, 33 as shown in FIG. 8 is selected.
[0067]
If the button 33 is pressed here, the process proceeds to step S203 to check whether the printer list 40 is displayed. If not, the process proceeds to step S204.
[0068]
In step S204, the printer list 40 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. As a result, the user can immediately know which printer can be used.
[0069]
In step S202, when the button 31 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S205 and the normal printing process is continued. When the button 32 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S206 and the printing process is terminated.
[0070]
Here, an application example will be described.
[0071]
In each of the above examples, the printers displayed in the printer list 40 provided to the user are not limited to printers installed in the host machine 1 but are all connected to the network 10 to which the host machine 1 is connected. It is possible to acquire / display the failure status, the total number of print jobs, and the total size of print jobs, or to start an application that provides the function. In this case, it is also possible to perform processing for displaying an item indicating whether or not the driver has been installed in the host machine 1.
[0072]
Further, in each of the above examples, it is also possible to perform processing for displaying only printers that do not meet the warning conditions of the warning display setting as printers displayed on the printer list 40 provided to the user. In other words, processing is performed in which only printers whose total number of accumulated print jobs and total size do not exceed the values specified by the user in the setting dialog are displayed in the printer list 40.
[0073]
The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.
As described above, according to the present invention, when the user instructs printing, the state of the designated printer is automatically determined, and if immediate printing is impossible, a warning is notified to the user. When a print job is accumulated for a printer that has specified printing, it is determined whether or not the job is waiting based on a warning condition (total number of print jobs and total size), and a warning is sent to the user. Since the status list of other printers is displayed and provided to the user, there is no need to check the status of the printer every time the user performs printing, and a warning is issued only when printing is impossible or when waiting for printing becomes long. And a list of alternative printers that can be printed can be displayed. This makes it possible to cancel the print job and execute the alternative printer when it is impossible to execute the print job immediately. Eliminating the search cumbersome procedures, thus achieving a reduction in load on the user of the printing operation, thereby improving the convenience.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a print job is accumulated in the printer and the user cannot immediately execute his / her print job, the user is not aware of the situation unless the user confirms the accumulation of the job. Can prevent the problem of waiting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing processing of a printer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a setting screen for setting a warning condition.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a setting screen for setting warning conditions following FIG. 2;
4 is an explanatory view schematically showing a setting screen for setting warning conditions following FIG. 3; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a processing flow when a failure occurs in the printer in the printer system.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printer system according to a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a setting screen for selecting various buttons.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a printer list.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a processing flow when a failure occurs in the printer in the printer system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Network 21-23 Button 20, 30 Dialog Box 31-33 Button 40 Printer List

Claims (11)

A host device that can communicate with a printer and includes a print job generation unit,
Display control means for displaying a setting screen capable of inputting the number of print jobs as a warning condition on the display unit of the host device;
Setting means for setting warning conditions in advance according to the number of print jobs input in accordance with a user instruction via the setting screen;
That put the printer, and obtaining means for obtaining a total number of print jobs that are already accumulated,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the total number of the already accumulated print jobs acquired by the acquisition unit satisfies a warning condition set by the setting unit;
And a control unit that outputs a warning based on a determination result of the determination unit. The setting screen is capable of inputting a total size of a plurality of print jobs as a warning condition, the setting means sets a warning condition according to the total size of the plurality of print jobs input via the setting screen, and A selection unit that selects one of the total number of the print jobs and the total size of the plurality of print jobs as a warning condition; and the determination unit determines based on any one of the warning conditions selected by the selection unit The host device according to claim 1, wherein: The setting screen can input a total size of a plurality of print jobs as a warning condition, and the determination unit performs determination based on both the total number of the print jobs and the total size of the plurality of print jobs. The host device according to claim 1 or 2 .   The control unit displays, as a warning output, an instruction unit for continuing job execution, an instruction unit for interrupting job execution, and an instruction unit for displaying an alternative printer list on the display unit. The host device according to claim 1. The control unit displays a list indicating a plurality of printers associated with the number of print jobs on a display unit when an instruction is input through an instruction unit that displays the alternative printer list. The host device according to claim 4. An information processing method in a host device that can communicate with a printer and includes a print job generation unit,
A display control step for displaying on the display unit of the host device a setting screen on which the number of print jobs can be input as a warning condition;
A setting step of setting warning conditions in advance according to the number of print jobs input in accordance with a user instruction via the setting screen;
An acquisition step of acquiring the total number of print jobs already accumulated in the printer;
A determination step of determining whether or not the total number of the already accumulated print jobs acquired by the acquisition step satisfies a warning condition according to the setting of the setting step;
And a control step of outputting a warning based on the determination result of the determination step. The setting screen can input a total size of a plurality of print jobs as a warning condition, and the setting step sets a warning condition according to a total size of the plurality of print jobs input via the setting screen, A selection step of selecting any one of the total number of the print jobs and the total size of the plurality of print jobs as a warning condition, and the determination step is a determination based on any one of the warning conditions selected in the selection step The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein: The setting screen can input a total size of a plurality of print jobs as a warning condition, and the determination step performs determination based on both the total number of the print jobs and the total size of the plurality of print jobs. The information processing method according to claim 6 .   In the control step, as a warning output, an instruction unit for continuing job execution, an instruction unit for interrupting job execution, and an instruction unit for displaying an alternative printer list are displayed on the display unit. The information processing method according to claim 6. The control step displays a list indicating a plurality of printers associated with the number of print jobs on a display unit when an instruction is input via an instruction unit that displays the alternative printer list. The information processing method according to claim 9.   A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 6 in a computer-readable form.

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