JP4042329B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present inventionclientThe present invention relates to a printing system that performs a printing process on print data input from a terminal via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  In a print network system, a network-connected clientTerminalA print service is provided for each of A print server provided in such a print network is a client.TerminalThe print request (job) transmitted from is subjected to print processing and output.
[0003]
  Meanwhile, clientTerminalOn the side, the requested job orUserIn order to be able to specify, an identification sheet called a system sheet, a banner sheet, a job finding sheet or the like (hereinafter referred to as “system sheet”) is output together. By attaching such a system sheet to the beginning or end of a printed job, for example, the user who requested the output job can be clarified. Can be prevented.
[0004]
  By the way, such a system seat is a clientTerminalOn the side to attach to the job. However, when such a system sheet is attached and a job is requested, the system sheet is attached to each job even though the same user's job is continuously output. As a result, as many system sheets as the number of jobs are output.
[0005]
  On the other hand, to request jobs continuously, the clientOn the terminal sideIf attachment of a system sheet is omitted for a job in the middle, the number of output system sheets can be reduced.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, in order to request multiple jobs in succession, a system sheet etc.UserIf the output of the identification sheet for identifyingUserIf a job enters,Identification paperAttachmentIt has not beenJob otherUserIf you get lost in the jobSayProblems arise.
[0007]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above facts,UserIdentifyIdentification formAn object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that enables efficient printing.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:User who made the print requestIdentification paper printed with information that can identifyThe userfromSaidIt is a printing system that is attached by overlapping the print output based on the print request,A print request reception unit that receives the input print request and extracts information that can identify the user from the print request; and a processing standby unit that stores the print request received by the print request reception unit; The print request stored in the processing standby unit is taken out andA print processing unit for printing out based on the print request;From the information that can identify the user extracted by the print request reception unit,Between the print processing unit and the processing standby unit,SameUserWhen there are consecutive print requests fromWhen judgedAt the momentThe first print request of the successive print requests, the last print request of the successive print requests, or the first print request and the last print request of the successive print requestsThe identification sheet isAs attachedOutput control means for setting.
[0008]
  According to this invention,sameOne youTheWhen these print requests are consecutive,First print request, last print request or first and last print requestSet to attach an identification sheet. This allows for example the sameUserWhen two or more print requests are continuously received, the output of the identification sheet can be omitted.
[0009]
  SameUserYou can attach an identification sheet to other print requests without fail.UserIt is possible to reliably prevent the print output from being confused.
[0010]
  Such identification formsUsually for each print requestIt may be attached at the beginning and end of the print output, or may be attached at the beginning or end of the print output.
[0011]
  When attaching an identification sheet at the beginning of the print output, the print processing sectionSaidPrint requestThe userAnd waiting in the processing standby unitNextSent to the print processing unitSaidPrint requestThe userComparing means for comparing, the comparing meansBetween the print requestsSaidUserIs differentWhenThe output control means is sent from the processing standby unit to the next printing processing unit.SaidPrint requestBeginning ofTo the identification paperIs attachedAnything can be set as long as it is set.
[0012]
  In addition, when an identification sheet is attached at the end of the print output, the print processing unitSaidSaid the print requestUserAnd waiting in the processing standby unitNextSent to the print processing departmentSaidRequested printingThe userComparing means for comparing, the comparing meansFrom the comparison result ofPrint requestBetweenSaidUserIs differentWhenAnd the output control means sends the print request being processed by the print processing unit.Followed by the print requestInAgainstThe identification sheetOutputAnything can be set as long as it is set.
[0013]
  ThisWhen print requests from the same user are consecutive,The identification sheet can be reliably attached to at least one of the first and last print requests of the continuous print requests.
[0014]
  Furthermore, the present invention providesIn the print request reception partThe acceptance standby unit that accepts and temporarily stores the print request stored at the end of the processing standby unit is the same as the processing standby unit for the print request of the acceptance standby unit.UserReplaced to be continuous with other print requestsStored in the processing standby unitReplacement control means.
[0015]
  According to this invention, when a new print request is received, the same processing standby unit is used.UserCheck if there is a print request fromFrom userWhen there is another print request, the newly received print request isApplicable userProcessing standby section to be continuous with print requestsInsideSort the print requests. That is, by making a new print request interrupt at a predetermined position of the processing standby unit, the sameUserContinue printing requests.
[0016]
  This ensures that the sameUserThe output of the identification sheet in response to the print request can be reliably suppressed.
[0017]
  In the present invention, the replacement control means is the same continuous in the processing standby unit.The userWhen the number of print requests exceeds a predetermined amount, it is preferable that the rearrangement of the print requests between the reception standby unit and the processing standby unit is stopped.
[0018]
  According to this invention, the same continuousUserWhen the print request reaches the predetermined amount, the rearrangement is stopped to store a new print request at the end of the print request of the processing standby unit. This makes the sameUserThe amount of print requests for theUserIt is possible to prevent the processing of the print request from the client from being delayed.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printing system network 10 using a network applied to the present embodiment. The printing system network 10 includes a print server 12 forming a printing system and a client.TerminalA plurality of user terminals 14 are network-connected by communication means such as a communication line 16 (in FIG. 1, user terminals 14A, 14B, and 14C are shown as an example). Each of the user terminals 14 prints by transmitting print data to the print server 12.request(Hereinafter referred to as “job”).
[0020]
  At this time,User terminal14 is a printed matter based on the print data (hereinafter referred to as “job output”) and the user who requested the job.TheAttaching the specified identification sheet (hereinafter referred to as “system sheet 20”) is requested.
[0021]
  As this identification paper,At least requested a jobEnable user identificationIf it is a thinggood.
[0022]
As such a system sheet 20, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, a start sheet 20A output at the beginning of the job 22 and an end sheet output at the end of the job 22 are provided. (End sheet) 20B may be used as long as at least one of them is attached, but in this embodiment, start sheet 20A and end sheet 20B are combined and attached to job 22 as system sheet 20 Will be described.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the print server 12 has a plurality of job receiving units 24A, 24B, and 24C (collectively referred to as “job receiving unit 24”), and is a multi-protocol system corresponding to a plurality of protocols. ing. As a result, the print server 12 can accept a job from the client 14 by any job accepting unit 24. Note that any conventionally known configuration can be applied to the basic configuration of the print server 12, and detailed description thereof is omitted in the present embodiment.
[0024]
The job accepting unit 14 provided in the print server 12 extracts user identification information for identifying the user who requested the job, such as the user name and the node address of the user terminal 14 or the user terminal 14.
[0025]
  The print server 12 has a print spooler 26.processingIt is provided as a standby unit. The jobs 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 are stored in the print spooler 24 in the order of reception. The print server 12 is provided with a job processing unit 28, and the printer 18 is connected to the job processing unit 28.
[0026]
The job processing unit 28 extracts the jobs 22 stored in the print spooler 26 in the order of storage and executes print processing. As a result, a printed matter for the job 22 requested from the printer 18 is output (hereinafter referred to as “job output 30”, see FIGS. 4A to 4C).
[0027]
Incidentally, the print server 12 is provided with a system sheet output control unit 32. The system sheet output control unit 32 controls printing of the system sheet 20 (start sheet 20A and end sheet 20B) based on the user identification information extracted by the job receiving unit 24, the job name, and the like.
[0028]
In the print server 12, the start sheet 20A is usually attached at the beginning of the job output 30, the end sheet 20B is attached at the end, the user or user terminal who requested the job output 30 (job 20), and the contents of the job output 30 ( For example, the job name is made clear.
[0029]
  On the other hand, the system sheet output control unit 32 compares the user identification information of the job 22 being printed with the user identification information of the job 22 in the print spooler 26 to be printed next, and the same user.TheThe output of the system sheet 20 is restricted when the job 22 is requested by the client. That is, the output of the end sheet 20B to the job 22 being printed and the output of the start sheet 20A of the job 22 to be printed next are omitted.
[0030]
In addition, when the user identification information of the job being printed is different from the user identification information of the job to be printed next, the system sheet output control unit 32 attaches the end sheet 20B to the job being printed. Next, it is set so that the start sheet 20A is attached to the job to be printed.
[0031]
Here, as an operation of the first embodiment, an outline of the system sheet output restriction will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0032]
In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the job reception unit 24 receives the job 22 transmitted from the user terminal 14, extracts and sets user identification information for each received job 22, and stores the job in the print spooler 26. Executed.
[0033]
In the first step 100, the job 22 stored in the print spooler 26 is read. In the next step 102, the user identification information of the job 22 is acquired, and in step 104, it is confirmed whether there is a job being printed.
[0034]
Here, if there is no job 22 being printed, a negative determination is made in step 104, the process proceeds to step 106, and the user identification information of the job 22 read from the print spooler 26 is set as the user identification information of the job being processed. To do. Next, the print of the start sheet 20A for the job 22 is set (step 108), and the print processing of the job 22 is started (step 110).
[0035]
Thus, by starting the print processing of the job 22, the first start sheet 20A is attached to the print output 30 for the job 22.
[0036]
In step 112, it is confirmed whether or not there is a job 22 waiting (print waiting) in the print spooler 26, and there is no request for a new job 22 until the print processing of the job 22 being printed is completed. In Step 112, a negative determination is made. Accordingly, in step 114, the end sheet 20B is set to be attached to the job 22 being printed.
[0037]
Thus, the start sheet 20A and the end sheet 20B are attached as the system sheet 20 to the job output 30 for the job 22, so that the user who requested the job 22 becomes clear.
[0038]
On the other hand, when the waiting job 22 is in the print spooler 26, an affirmative determination is made in step 112 and the process proceeds to step 116, and the next job 22 stored in the print spooler 26 is read. Thereafter, in step 118, the user identification information of the read job 22 is acquired, and this user identification information is compared with the user identification information of the job 22 being printed (step 120). Even when it is determined in step 104 that there is a job 22 being processed (affirmative determination), the process proceeds to step 120 and is compared with the user identification information of the job 22 being processed.
[0039]
If the user identification information is different, a negative determination is made at step 122 and the routine proceeds to step 124. In step 124, the end sheet 20B is set to be attached to the job 22 being printed. Thus, the end sheet 20B for identifying the user is attached to the job output 30 of the job 22 being printed.
[0040]
In step 126, it is confirmed whether or not the processing of the job 22 being processed has been completed. When the processing is completed (affirmative determination in step 126), the process proceeds to step 128 and the job to be processed next. The user identification information 22 is set to the user identification information of the job 22 being processed (the user identification information is updated), and at step 130, the start sheet 20A is set to be attached to the job 22.
[0041]
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 110, whereby the print processing of the job 22 is started.
[0042]
On the other hand, when the user of the job 22 being printed and the user of the next job 22 are the same, an affirmative determination is made at step 122 and the routine proceeds to step 132. In this step 132, it is confirmed whether or not the processing of the job 22 being printed is finished. When the processing is finished and an affirmative determination is made in step 132, the printing processing of the next job 22 is started as it is.
[0043]
That is, when the user of the job 22 during the printing process and the user 22 of the next printing process are the same, the print process is performed without outputting the start sheet 20A as well as the end sheet 20B.
[0044]
Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when jobs 22A, 22B, and 22C of different users are consecutive, the start sheet 20A and the end sheet are used as system sheets 20 for the job outputs 30A, 30B, and 30C, respectively. 20B is attached. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the job output 30 from being mixed with the job output 30 of different users.
[0045]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the jobs 22A and 22C of a user different from the user who requested the jobs 22A and 22C are consecutive between the jobs 22A and 22C of any user, the jobs 22A and 22C A start sheet 20A and an end sheet 20B are attached as system sheets 20 to the job outputs 30A and 30C, respectively.
[0046]
On the other hand, between the continuous jobs 22B and 22D of the same user, the start sheet 20A is attached to the job output 30B of the job 22B, and the end sheet 20B is attached to the job output 30D of the job 22D.
[0047]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, when a plurality of jobs 22B, 22D,..., 22E, 22F of the same user are consecutive between the jobs 22A, 22C, the job output 30B of the first job 22B is obtained. The start sheet 20A is attached to the job output 30F of the final job 22F, and the end sheet 20B is attached to the job output 30F of the last job 22F. The job outputs 30D to 30E for the intermediate jobs 22D to 22E include the start sheet 20A and the end sheet 20B. Attachment is also omitted.
[0048]
As described above, when jobs from the same user (user terminal 14) are continuous, the system sheet 20 is not attached to the intermediate job 22, so that the number of prints of the system sheet 20 becomes the requested amount of the job 22. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the increase.
[0049]
In the first embodiment described above, the start sheet 20A and the end sheet 20B are described as being attached as the system sheet 20, but only one of the start sheet 20A or the end sheet 20B is attached. There may be. At this time, when only the start sheet 20A is attached, the steps 114 and 124 of FIG. 3 may be omitted. When only the end sheet 20B is attached, the steps 108 and 130 of FIG. 3 are omitted. Just do it.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and in the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same components. The description is omitted.
[0050]
In the first embodiment described above, the output of the system sheet 20 is limited when jobs of the same user are consecutive in the order in which the jobs are received. In the second embodiment, the received job 22 is limited. The system sheet 20 can be further omitted by exchanging the above.
[0051]
  As shown in FIG. 5, a job replacement control unit 54 is formed in the print server 50 applied to the second embodiment. Job replacementcontrolThe unit 54 checks whether the job 22 of the same user (user terminal 14) as the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 is in the print spooler 26, and the job 22 of the same user is sent to the print spooler 26. When stored, the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 is interrupted in the middle of the job 22 in the print spooler 26 and the jobs 22 in the print spooler 26 are rearranged.
[0052]
That is, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, in the print server 50, when the job 22 is stored in the print spooler 26, the user identification information is displayed together with the bidirectional linked list 56. 58, the number of consecutive jobs n of the same user is set. The job replacement control unit 54 replaces the job 22 of the job reception unit 24 based on the user identification information 58 and the continuous number n of the jobs 22.
[0053]
As a result, the print server 50 is configured to omit the system sheet 20 by continuously processing the job 22 that seems to have been requested substantially continuously from the same user.
[0054]
Here, an example of rearrangement of the jobs 22 in the print server 50 will be described along the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0055]
This flowchart is executed when the job 22 transmitted from the user terminal 14 is received in the first step 150, and the user identification information of the received job 22 is acquired in the next step 152.
[0056]
Thereafter, in step 154, it is confirmed whether or not there is a job 22 waiting for print processing in the print spooler 26.
[0057]
If there is no job 22 waiting for print processing in the print spooler 26, the continuous number n of the job 22 is set to zero (step 156) and sent to the spooler spooler 26 (step 158).
[0058]
On the other hand, if there is a job 22 waiting for print processing in the print spooler 26, an affirmative determination is made in step 154 and the process proceeds to step 160, and among the jobs 22 in the print spooler 26, the last (last) job 22 is determined. Read user identification information.
[0059]
Thereafter, in step 162, the user identification information of the job 22 in the print spooler 26 is compared with the user identification information of the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24, and it is confirmed whether the job request is from the same user.
[0060]
At this time, if it is determined that the job 22 is from the same user and an affirmative determination is made in step 164, then in step 166, the continuous number n given to this job 22 (job 22 in the print spooler 26) is read out. Then, it is confirmed whether the continuous number n has reached a predetermined value N (step 168).
[0061]
Here, when the continuous number n is less than the predetermined value N (n <N), an affirmative determination is made in step 168, the process proceeds to step 170, and the continuous number of jobs 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 is determined. Then, it is set so as to be next to the job 22 in the print spooler 26 (n = n + 1). Thereafter, the print job is stored in the print spooler 26 so that the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 follows the compared job 22.
[0062]
On the other hand, when the continuous number n reaches the predetermined value N (n ≧ N), a negative determination is made in step 168. As a result, the process proceeds to step 156 where the continuous number n of the jobs 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 is set to zero (n = 0), and this job 22 is stored at the end of the print spooler 26.
[0063]
By setting the continuous number n in this way, it is possible to prevent the same user's job 22 from being continued and the print processing for the job 22 of another user from being delayed. In this embodiment, the number of jobs 22 is limited. However, the number of jobs 22 may be limited using another parameter such as a print processing time.
[0064]
By the way, if the user identification information of the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 and the job 22 read from the print spooler 26 are not the same, and the job 22 is a different user, a negative determination is made in step 164 and the process proceeds to step 174. . In this step 174, it is determined whether or not the job 22 having read the user identification information from the print spooler 26 is the foremost job 22, that is, whether or not the job 22 is to be sent next from the print spooler 26 to the job processing unit 28. To check.
[0065]
Here, if it is the foremost job 22 in the print spooler 26, it is determined that there is no job 22 of the same user in the print spooler 26, and an affirmative determination is made in step 174. As a result, the process proceeds to step 156, and after setting the continuous number n of the jobs 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 to zero, the job 22 is stored at the end of the print spooler 26.
[0066]
On the other hand, if the job in the print spooler 26 that has read the user identification information is not the forefront job, a negative determination is made in step 174, and the process proceeds to step 176. In step 176, the user identification information of the previous job 22 stored in the print spooler 26 is read. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 162, where the read user identification information and the user identification information of the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 are compared again.
[0067]
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the user of the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 is different from any job 22 in the print spooler 26, the job 22 of the job receiving unit 24 is changed to the print spooler. 26 is stored at the end of the file.
[0068]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, there is a job 22 of the same user as the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 in the print spooler 26, and the continuous number n is set to a predetermined value N. If not, the job 22 of the job receiving unit 24 is interrupted at the end of the continuous job 22 of the same user.
[0069]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, the continuous number n reaches a predetermined value N even though the print spooler 26 includes the job 22 of the same user as the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24. If so, the job 22 of the job receiving unit 24 is stored at the end of the print spooler 26.
[0070]
As described above, the job replacement unit 54 provided in the print server 50 checks whether or not the job 22 of the same user as the job 22 received by the job receiving unit 24 exists in the print spooler 26, and the same user When the job 22 is in the print spooler 26, the job 22 of the job receiving unit 24 is replaced with the job 22 of the same user.
[0071]
  Thereby, since the same user's job 22 can be continuously printed, the number of output system sheets 20 can be suppressed. Job replacementcontrolSince the part 54 prevents rearrangement so that the jobs 22 of the same user are long and continuous, it is possible to prevent the print processing for the jobs 22 of other users from being delayed later. Can do.
[0072]
In the above-described embodiment, the system sheet 20 (start sheet 20A to end sheet 20B) is used as the identification sheet. However, the identification sheet is not limited to this, and the user or user terminal can be used from job output. Anything can be used as long as it can be specified.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the present invention, it is easy to sort jobs using identification sheets, and jobs from the same user.(Print request) Is continuous, the printout of the identification sheet can be suppressed.NoAn excellent effect is obtained.
[0074]
Further, according to the present invention, the output of the identification sheet can be further suppressed by appropriately replacing the jobs waiting for the printing process.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print network applied to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of the print server applied to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an output setting of a system sheet in a print server.
FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic diagrams illustrating specific examples of job output and system sheet output for a job, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of a print server applied to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of job rearrangement for suppressing print output of a system sheet in the second embodiment.
FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic diagrams illustrating specific examples when a job is stored from a job reception unit to a print spool.
[Explanation of symbols]
        10 Printing system network
        12, 50 Print server (printing system)
        14 User terminal (clientTerminal)
        18 Printer (output device)
        20 (20A, 20B) System sheet (identification paper)
        20A Start sheet (identification form)
        20B End sheet (identification paper)
        22 jobs(Print request)
        24 (24A, 24B, 24C) Job acceptance unit (Print request reception department,Reception standby department)
        26 Print spooler (processing standby section)
        28 Job processing section(Print processing department)
        30 Job output(Print output)
        32 System sheet output control unit (output control means)
        54 Job replacement control unit (replacement control means)

Claims (5)

An identification sheet printed with information capable of specifying the user who print request, a is in the attached printing system by outputting superimposed on printed output based on the print request from the user,
A print request receiving unit that receives the input print request and extracts information that can identify the user from the print request;
A processing standby unit in which the print request received by the print request reception unit is stored;
A print processing unit that retrieves the print request stored in the processing standby unit and prints out the print request based on the print request;
From the print request information that can specify the user that has been extracted by the receiving unit, between said printing unit and the processing standby section, the can and the print request from the same user is determined to be continuous, the Output control for setting the identification sheet to be attached to the first print request of successive print requests, the last print request of successive print requests, or the first print request and the last print request of successive print requests Means,
A printing system comprising: Comprises comparing means for comparing said user of said print request being processed by the print processing unit, is waiting in the processing standby section and the user of the print request sent to the print processing unit to the next,
To come the user is that different between the comparison result of the comparing means of the print request, the output control means, the identification at the beginning of the print request to be subsequently sent to the print processing unit from the processing standby section The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is set to be attached . Comprises comparing means for comparing said user who has the print request being processed by the print processing unit, it is waiting in the processing standby section and the user who has the print request sent to the print processing unit to the next,
To come the user is that different between the comparison result of the comparing means of the print request, the identification sheet which the output control means, against to the print request following the print request being processed by the print processing unit The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is set so as to be output . An acceptance standby unit that is capable of temporarily waiting for the print request received by the print request reception unit and stored at the end of the processing standby unit;
Replacement control means for replacing the print request of the acceptance standby unit so as to be continuous with the print request of the same user of the process standby unit and storing in the process standby unit ;
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which comprises a. The replacement control unit rearranges the print requests between the reception standby unit and the process standby unit when the print requests of the same user consecutive in the process standby unit exceed a predetermined amount. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the printing system is stopped.

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