JP4019900B2 - Print server - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is connected to one or more printers over a network, receives print data, stores the received print data, converts the stored print data into a data format suitable for the instructed printer, and converts the print The present invention relates to improvement of a print server for outputting data to a designated printer and sharing the printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a printer (including a facsimile function having a printer function, a multi-function peripheral, etc.), for example, information created by a client device such as a personal computer in which an application program is installed is received and printed as print data. Along with this development, a system configuration in which a plurality of client devices are connected via a network such as a LAN, a plurality of printers are connected via a network, and a printer is shared via a print server has been adopted.
[0003]
In Patent Literature 1, data output from a client connected to a communication network and output from the client on the communication network is transmitted to the outside of the communication network, and data output from the client is being transmitted in response to a transmission instruction from the client. There is disclosed a communication terminal device configured to output the data by a printer other than at the time of transmission.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143454
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional print server, when the stored print data is converted into a data format suitable for the instructed printer, and the converted print data is output to the instructed printer, the print data is deleted and left in the print server. The print data cannot be reused.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a print server that can retain print data even after it is output to a printer and can be reused in various ways. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The print server according to the first invention is connected to one or more printers, receives print data, stores the received print data, and converts the stored print data into a data format suitable for the instructed printer. in the print server for outputting the converted print data to the printer, after the print data the conversion is outputted to the designated printer, the print data printed data or the received and the converted, a plurality of connected It is characterized by comprising means for converting to a data format that is compatible with the printer, and holding means for holding the print data converted by the means.
[0007]
This print server is connected to one or a plurality of printers, stores received print data, converts the stored print data into a data format suitable for the instructed printer, and outputs the converted print data to the printer. . After the converted print data is output to the designated printer, the converted print data or the received print data is converted into a data format that is compatible with a plurality of connected printers and stored. Means for holding the converted print data.
As a result, even after the print data is output to the printer, the print data can be retained and can be reused in various ways. There is no need to convert the data format at the time of reuse. It is possible to realize a print server that can output to a printer and can mix and edit a plurality of print data output to printers of different data formats.
[0010]
A print server according to a second aspect of the invention is a display means and an operation means for re-editing print data held by the holding means, and means for instructing an output destination printer of the print data or re-edited print data The print data or the re-edited print data is output to a printer designated by the means.
[0011]
In this print server, the print data held by the holding means can be re-edited by the display means and the operation means. The instructing unit instructs an output destination printer of the print data or the re-edited print data, and outputs the print data or the re-edited print data to the printer instructed by the instructing unit.
As a result, it is possible to realize a print server that can hold the print data even after it is output to the printer and can be reused in various ways.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an entire network system to which a print server according to the present invention is connected.
The print server 1 according to the present invention is provided with printers P11, P12, and P13 that receive print data from the print server 1 and print on paper, and a client that generates print data to be printed by these printers P11, P12, and P13. A device such as a personal computer 3 is network-connected by a communication line 4 such as a LAN. Although only one personal computer 3 is shown, it goes without saying that there are a plurality of personal computers 3.
[0013]
Note that the network connection of the print server 1, the printers P11, P12, P13, and the personal computer 3 may be either wired or wireless, and wired and wireless may be mixed. Furthermore, the printers P11, P12, and P13 may use not only a general printer but also a facsimile apparatus having a network printer function, or may be a so-called multifunction machine.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an embodiment of the print server 1 according to the present invention. The print server 1 is basically a general general-purpose computer.
The print server 1 includes a CPU 10 as a control center, a ROM 11 and a RAM 12 connected to the CPU 10 via a bus, a print data storage unit 13, a printer information storage unit 14, a LAN interface 15, a display unit 16, an operation unit 17, An image memory 18, an archive folder 19, a conversion unit 20, and the like are provided.
[0015]
The CPU 10 controls the entire print server 1 in accordance with a print server control program stored in the ROM 11 or a hard disk (not shown), temporarily stores data generated in association with the print server 1 in the RAM 12, and executes various processes. The display unit 16 (display unit) and the operation unit 17 (operation unit, instruction unit) are used when directly operating the print server 1 or for monitoring the operation state.
[0016]
The print data storage unit 13, the printer information storage unit 14, and the archive folder 19 use a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk. These may be shared by a single storage device (specifically, a hard disk or the like).
The print data storage unit 13 temporarily stores the received print data.
The printer information storage unit 14 stores information such as a suitable data format for each of the printers P11, P12, and P13 as shown in FIG.
[0017]
The image memory 18 is used for temporarily storing image data, which is print data, when the print data is output (transmitted) to a printer. Therefore, the image memory 18 may be a volatile DRAM, for example, or may be shared by the RAM 12.
The LAN interface 15 is connected to a communication line 4 that is also connected to the printers P11, P12, P13 and the personal computer (PC) 3. The communication line 4 may be a wireless LAN line as well as a normal wired LAN line, or may be a communication system other than a LAN.
[0018]
The archive folder 19 (holding unit) holds (archives) print data output to any of the printers P11, P12, and P13.
The conversion unit 20 converts the print data received from the personal computer 3 serving as the client device into a data format suitable for the printers P11, P12, and P13 to be output.
[0019]
The operation of the print server 1 having such a configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
When the CPU 10 receives print data in the GDI, EMF, RAW format or the like from the personal computer 3 (S2), the CPU 10 accumulates the received print data in the print data storage unit 13 (S4), and prints the accumulated print data. It is determined whether or not it is necessary to convert to a data format (format) compatible with the instructed printer (S6).
[0020]
If it is necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated print data (S6), the CPU 10 converts the accumulated print data into a suitable data format (S8) and temporarily stores it in the image memory 18. The data is output to the printer instructed to print (S10).
If it is not necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated print data (S6), the CPU 10 temporarily stores the accumulated print data in the image memory 18 and then outputs it to the printer instructed to print. (S10).
[0021]
Next, the CPU 10 converts the print data stored in the print data storage unit 13 into a data format that is compatible with the printers P11, P12, and P13 (S12), and holds (archives) the data in the archive folder 19 (S14).
The CPU 10 determines whether or not there is a processing instruction from the operation unit 17 (S16), and if there is a processing instruction, displays a list of print data held in the archive folder 19 (S18), and further processes the instruction. (S20), and if there is a processing instruction, the instructed process is executed (S22), and then it is determined whether or not print data is received (S2).
If there is no processing instruction from the operation unit 17 (S16, 20), the CPU 10 determines whether print data has been received (S2). If not, whether the processing instruction has been received from the operation unit 17 or not. Is determined (S16).
[0022]
When the CPU 10 executes the process instructed from the operation unit 17 (S22), the CPU 10 displays the designated page of the designated print data from the list of print data (S18). Are stored in the print data storage unit 13 (S24).
[0023]
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the accumulated page (S24) needs to be converted into a data format (format) suitable for the printer instructed to print (S26). As a result, if conversion is necessary, the stored page is converted into a suitable data format (S28), temporarily stored in the image memory 18, and then output to the printer instructed to print (S30). Return To do.
If it is not necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated page (S26), the CPU 10 temporarily stores the accumulated page in the image memory 18 and then outputs it to the printer instructed to print (S30). ) Return.
[0024]
Further, when executing another process instructed from the operation unit 17 (S22), the CPU 10 displays and displays the designated page of the designated print data from the displayed print data (S18). The designated part from the designated page is stored in the print data storage unit 13 in the designated arrangement (S32).
[0025]
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the accumulated print data (S32) needs to be converted into a data format (format) suitable for the printer instructed to print (S34). As a result, if it is necessary to convert, the stored print data is converted into a suitable data format (S36), a document file is created (S38), stored (archived) in the archive folder 19 (S40), and return. To do. If it is not necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated print data (S34), the CPU 10 creates a document file from the accumulated print data (S38) and holds (archives) it in the archive folder 19 (S40). ) Return.
[0026]
(Disclosure technology)
6 and 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print server is disclosed technique. Hereinafter, the operation of the print server will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIGS. Since the print server is the configuration, the same as those of the first embodiment described above (FIG. 2), the description thereof is omitted.
When receiving print data from the personal computer 3 (S42), the CPU 10 accumulates the received print data in the print data storage unit 13 and holds (archives) it in the archive folder 19 (S44).
[0027]
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not it is necessary to convert the print data (S44) accumulated in the print data storage unit 13 into a data format (format) suitable for the printer instructed to print (S46). ).
If it is necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated print data (S46), the CPU 10 converts the accumulated print data into a compatible data format (S48) and temporarily stores it in the image memory 18. The data is output to the printer instructed to print (S50).
If it is not necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated print data (S46), the CPU 10 temporarily stores the accumulated print data in the image memory 18 and then outputs it to the printer instructed to print. (S50).
[0028]
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not there is a processing instruction from the operation unit 17 (S52). If there is a processing instruction, the CPU 10 executes the instructed process (S54) and then receives print data. If it has not been received, it is determined whether or not there is a processing instruction from the operation unit 17 (S52).
If there is no processing instruction from the operation unit 17 (S52), the CPU 10 determines whether print data has been received (S42). If not, the CPU 10 determines whether there is a processing instruction from the operation unit 17. (S52).
[0029]
When executing the process instructed from the operation unit 17 (S54), the CPU 10 accumulates the instructed print data in the print data storage unit 13 (S56).
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the accumulated print data (S56) needs to be converted into a data format (format) suitable for the printer instructed to print (S58). As a result, if it is necessary to convert, the stored print data is converted into a suitable data format (S60), temporarily stored in the image memory 18, and then output to the printer instructed to print (S62). Return.
If it is not necessary to convert the data format (format) of the accumulated print data (S58), the CPU 10 temporarily stores the accumulated print data in the image memory 18 and then outputs it to the printer instructed to print. (S62) Return.
[0030]
Since this print server holds (archives) the print data in a received state, printing can be performed from a printer other than the previously printed printer, and the print data can be easily reused. Further, since the same job is held (archived) in the archive folder 19 when the job (print data) is spooled (accumulated in the print data storage unit 13), even if the job is canceled by mistake, the archive folder 19 Can be output to a printer using the print data held in the printer.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the print server of the first invention, the print data can be held even after the print data is output to the printer and can be reused in various ways. There is no need for conversion, and it is possible to realize a print server that can quickly output to a printer and can mix and edit a plurality of print data output to printers of different data formats .
[0033]
According to the print server according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a print server that can hold the print data even after it is output to the printer and can be reused in various ways.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an entire network system to which a print server according to the present invention is connected.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an embodiment of a print server according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the print server according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the print server according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the print server according to the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print server is disclosed technique.
7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print server is disclosed technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Print server 3 Personal computer 4 Communication line (network)
10 CPU
11 ROM
12 RAM
13 Print Data Storage Unit 14 Printer Information Storage Unit 15 LAN Interface 16 Display Unit (Display Unit)
17 Operation unit (operation means, instruction means)
18 Image memory 19 Archive folder (holding means)
20 Conversion unit P11, P12, P13 Printer

Claims (2)

Connected to one or more printers, receives print data, stores received print data, converts the stored print data into a data format suitable for the instructed printer, and converts the converted print data to the printer In the output print server,
After print data the conversion is output to the designated printer, means for converting the print data printed data or the received and the converted, the data format compatible to commonly connected plurality of printers, the A print server comprising: holding means for holding the print data converted by the means. A display unit and an operation unit for re-editing the print data held by the holding unit; and a unit for instructing an output destination printer of the print data or the re-edited print data. print server was to the printer, according to claim 1 Symbol placement are no order to output the print data to which the printed data or re-editing.

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