JP4054544B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, print control program, print processing apparatus, print processing method, and print processing program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a print control program, a storage medium, and a print control system, and particularly in a system including an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a printer (print processing apparatus). The present invention relates to a printing control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A banner functions as a so-called information partition, and generally refers to a banner created by the Network Server or a banner created by the Windows system. For example, taking the banner created by Network Sever as an example, when a job created by the driver on the client PC arrives at Network Server, Network Server creates a banner with the logged-in user name as text data, This was sent to the printer at the beginning of the sent job.
[0003]
The banner created by the Windows system is exactly the same.When a print command is executed, the banner created by the Windows system that describes the user name logged in to the client PC is added to the printer at the beginning of the job. I was sending.
[0004]
However, with the above method, banners created by Network Server and banners created by the Windows system are sent to the printer as separate jobs from PDL print jobs created by the printer driver, so printing from other users is possible. If the job is sent almost at the same time, there is a possibility that a third party's print job may interrupt between the banner and the print job.
[0005]
Considering that the purpose of a banner is to partition a print job that you have printed from a third-party print job, the fact that the banner does not pair with the print job has achieved the original purpose of the banner. There will be no. Moreover, recently, network-connected high-speed printers that share a single printer among a plurality of users have become widespread, and this problem has tended to become more prominent.
[0006]
In addition, if a stapling instruction is sent to a finisher with a stapling function, a PDL printing job created by the printer driver and a banner sent to the printer as a separate job are sent to the printer. Only a print job is output to a tray having a stapling function, and a banner without a stapling instruction is output to a standard tray, that is, a tray different from the print job.
[0007]
These problems occur because the banner is created as a separate job from the print job.
[0008]
According to the present invention, a printer driver creates a banner and the printer recognizes it as a banner. In other words, by adding a banner start command and end command to the banner created by the printer driver, the printer that receives it can recognize the sent banner as a banner, and between the banner and the print job. The purpose is not to interrupt the third party's print job, and to control the output destination of the banner and the print job (the same tray or a specified specific tray).
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing control system and method according to the present invention are mainly characterized by the following configurations.
[0010]
  That is, an information processing apparatus that generates a print job to be printed by a print processing apparatus
  Output a banner serving as a partition of the print job via a setting screen for setting processing contents executed in the print processing apparatus, and post-processing applied to the print paper printed by the print processing apparatus Setting means for setting information;
  Drawing command generating means for generating a drawing command based on a print command issued by the application;
  If it is set to output a banner by the setting means, SaidBanner information for printing the bannerRawBanner information generating means to be formed;
  Information indicating a range to which the post-processing information set by the setting unit is not appliedAdditional means to add;
  In accordance with the print execution command from the application, the post-processing information,Saiddrawingorder,SaidbannerinformationAnd saidInformation indicating the range to which post-processing information is not appliedBased onInterpretable by the print processing devicePrint job generation means for generating a print job;With,
  The print job generation means does not apply the post-processing information to the banner information, but applies the post-processing information to the drawing command, the post-processing information, the drawing command, the banner information, A print job is generated in which information indicating a range to which the post-processing information is not applied is sandwiched between a print job start command and an end command.It is characterized by that.
[0011]
  In the information processing apparatus,Information indicating the range to which post-processing information is not appliedSends a banner start command and a banner end command to identify the banner.fingerAnd
  The print job generation unit displays banner information specified by the command.Generate print job withIt is characterized by doing.
[0012]
  In the above information processing apparatus,The print job generation means includes a print job configured in the order of a print job start command, the banner start command, the banner information, the banner end command, the post-processing information, the drawing command, and a print job end command. Characterized by generating.
[0013]
  Alternatively, an information processing method in an information processing apparatus that generates a print job to be printed by the print processing apparatus is as follows:
  Output a banner serving as a partition of the print job via a setting screen for setting processing contents executed in the print processing device, and post-processing applied to the print paper printed by the print processing device A setting process for setting information;
  A drawing command generation step for generating a drawing command based on a print command issued by the application;
  If the setting process is set to output a banner, SaidBanner information for printing the bannerRawThe banner information generation process
  Information indicating a range to which the post-processing information set by the setting step is not appliedAn additional process to be added;
  In accordance with the print execution command from the application, the post-processing information,Saiddrawingorder,SaidbannerinformationAnd saidInformation indicating the range to which post-processing information is not appliedBased onInterpretable by the print processing deviceA print job generation process for generating a print job;With,
  In the print job generation step, in order to apply the post-processing information to the drawing command without applying the post-processing information to the banner information, the post-processing information, the drawing command, the banner information, A print job is generated in which information indicating a range to which the post-processing information is not applied is sandwiched between a print job start command and an end command.It is characterized by that.
[0014]
  In the above information processing method,Information indicating the range to which post-processing information is not appliedSends a banner start command and a banner end command to identify the banner.fingerAnd
  The print job generation stepsoThe banner information specified by the commandGenerate print job withIt is characterized by doing.
[0015]
  In the above information processing method,In the print job generation step, a print job configured in the order of a print job start instruction, the banner start instruction, the banner information, the banner end instruction, the post-processing information, the drawing instruction, and a print job end instruction Characterized by generating.
[0019]
  Alternatively, generate a print job to be printed by the print processing apparatusExecutable on information processing deviceA printing control program,Print controlProgramInformation processing apparatusThe
  Output a banner serving as a partition of the print job via a setting screen for setting processing contents executed in the print processing apparatus, and post-processing applied to the print paper printed by the print processing apparatus Setting means for setting information;
  Drawing command generating means for generating a drawing command based on a print command issued by the application;
  If it is set to output a banner by the setting means, SaidBanner information for printing the bannerRawBanner information generating means to be formed;
  Information indicating a range to which the post-processing information set by the setting unit is not appliedAdditional means to add;
  In accordance with the print execution command from the application, the post-processing information,Saiddrawingorder,SaidbannerinformationAnd saidInformation indicating the range to which post-processing information is not appliedBased onInterpretable by the print processing deviceFunction as a print job generation means for generating a print job,
  The function as the print job generation unit is configured to apply the post-processing information to the information processing apparatus in order to apply the post-processing information to the drawing command without applying the post-processing information to the banner information Generating a print job in which a drawing command, the banner information, and information indicating a range to which the post-processing information is not applied are sandwiched between a print job start command and an end commandIt is characterized by that.
[0020]
  In the above print control program,Information indicating the range to which post-processing information is not appliedSends a banner start command and a banner end command to identify the banner.fingerAnd
  The print job generation meansFunction asIsIn the information processing apparatus,Banner information specified by the commandGenerate a print job containingIt is characterized by that.
[0021]
  In the above print control program,The function as the print job generation means is the following: a print job start command, the banner start command, the banner information, the banner end command, the post-processing information, the drawing command, a print job end command Generating a print job composed of.
[0022]
  OrIn order to apply post-processing information applied to printed printing paper to body data without applying it to the banner data, the post-processing information, a drawing command for the body data, banner information, and post-processing information are included. Generate a print job with information indicating the non-applicable range sandwiched between the print job start command and end commandInformation processing deviceReceive the print job fromThe print processing device
  The post-processing information is not applied to the print result of the banner generated based on the print job, but is applied to the print result of the drawing command generated based on the print job. A print job control unit is provided.
[0023]
  Above printingProcessing equipmentInThe print job control means processes in parallel a first print job issued from the information processing apparatus and a second print job different from the first print job, and generates banner data of the first print job. If the development of the banner data of the second print job is completed between the development and the processing of the drawing command for the text of the first print job, the printing of the first print job is not completed. The output of the banner of the second print job is waited until the end.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<Embodiment 1>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0028]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices is connected and processed via a network such as a LAN or WAN. The present invention can be applied even to a system. In the figure, the host computer 3000 is a mixture of figures, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. based on the document processing program stored in the ROM (3b) for ROM3 or the external memory 11. A CPU 1 that executes document processing is provided, and the CPU 1 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 4.
[0029]
The ROM 3 program ROM or external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program of the CPU 1, and the ROM 3 font ROM or external memory 11 stores the above-mentioned document processing. Font data to be used is stored, and various data to be used when the document processing is performed is stored in the data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1.
[0030]
A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 is a hard disk (HD), floppy disk (FD), etc. for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), etc. The access to the external memory 11 is controlled. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500.
[0031]
The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user opens a window relating to print settings, and can set the print processing method for the printer driver including printer settings and print mode selection.
[0032]
The printer 1500 is controlled by the CPU 12. The printer CPU 12 outputs an image as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. Output a signal. Further, the control program of the CPU 12 and the like are stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data used when generating the output information. In the case of a printer that does not have the external memory 14 such as a hard disk in the data ROM of the ROM 13, the data is stored on the host computer. Information to be used is stored.
[0033]
The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. The RAM 19 functions as a main memory of the CPU 12, a work area, or the like, and is configured to be able to expand the memory capacity by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option, and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, etc., and is used for spooling expanded print data. Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation panel described above, on which switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged.
[0034]
The external memory 14 described above is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 14 are provided, and an option card to which a built-in font is added, a spool memory for expanded print data, and a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system are stored. A plurality of external memories may be connected. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of typical print processing in a host computer to which a printing apparatus such as a printer is directly connected or connected via a network. The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203, and the system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external memory 11, and when executed, are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS and modules using the modules. It is a program module.
[0036]
The application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the HD of the external disk 11 via the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or a network (not shown). The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, the graphic that is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and executable. Output (drawing) is performed using the engine 202.
[0037]
The graphic engine 202 similarly loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and sets the output of the application 201 in the printer driver 203. Then, the GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function received from the application 201 is converted into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function, and the DDI function is output to the printer driver 203. Based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS.
[0038]
In addition to the printing system comprising the printer and host computer shown in FIG. 2, the printing system of the present embodiment has a configuration in which print data from an application is temporarily spooled with intermediate code data as shown in FIG. Have.
[0039]
FIG. 3 is an extension of the system shown in FIG. 2, and takes a configuration in which a spool file 303 composed of an intermediate code is once generated when a print command is sent from the graphic engine 202 to the printer driver 203. In the system of FIG. 2, the application 201 is released from the printing process when the printer driver 203 has converted all the print commands from the graphic engine 202 into printer control commands.
[0040]
In contrast, in the system of FIG. 3, the application 201 is released from the printing process when the spooler 302 converts all print commands into intermediate code data and outputs the intermediate code data to the spool file 303. The latter usually requires less time.
[0041]
In the system shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the spool file 303 can be processed. This makes it possible to realize functions that the application does not have, such as enlargement / reduction of print data from the application or printing by reducing a plurality of pages to one page. For these purposes, the system of FIG. 2 has been expanded to spool with intermediate code data as shown in FIG. In order to process print data, settings are made from a window provided by the normal printer driver 203, and the printer driver 203 stores the setting contents in the RAM 2 or the external memory 11.
[0042]
The detailed configuration of FIG. 3 will be described below. As shown in the figure, in the configuration employing the extended processing method as shown in FIG. 3, the dispatcher 301 receives a print command from the graphic engine 202. When the dispatcher 301 determines that the print command received from the graphic engine 202 is a print command issued from the application 201 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 stores the spooler 302 stored in the external memory 11 in the RAM 2. The print command is transmitted to the spooler 302 instead of the printer driver 203.
[0043]
The spooler 302 converts the received print command into an intermediate code and outputs it to the spool file 303.
[0044]
Further, the spooler 302 acquires information related to the processing setting related to the set print command from the printer driver 203 and stores it in the spool file 303. The spool file 303 stores information on a print command created by the application 201 and information on processing settings for processing the print command. The spool file 303 is generated as a file on the external memory 11, but may be generated on the RAM 2.
[0045]
Furthermore, the spooler 302 loads the spool file manager 304 stored in the external memory 11 into the RAM 2 and notifies the spool file manager 304 of the generation status of the spool file 303. After that, the spool file manager 304 determines whether printing can be performed according to the contents of the processing settings related to the print command stored in the spool file 303.
[0046]
When the spool file manager 304 determines that printing can be performed using the graphic engine 202, it loads the despooler 305 stored in the external memory 11 into the RAM 2 and is described in the spool file 303 with respect to the despooler 305. The intermediate code is instructed to be printed.
[0047]
The despooler 305 processes the intermediate code included in the spool file 303 according to the contents of the processing setting included in the spool file 303 and outputs the processed code to the graphic engine 202 again.
[0048]
If the print command received from the graphic engine 202 is a print command issued from the despooler 305 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 sends the print command to the printer driver 203 instead of the spooler 302.
[0049]
The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command and outputs it to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204.
[0050]
<Print control using banner information>
The control of the print information with banner will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control method when a banner is created by a client, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing how a printer that receives a banner-added print job controls the banner.
[0051]
First, in step S401 in FIG. 4, when a print execution command is instructed from an application (201 in FIG. 3) on the host computer, the dispatcher 301 in FIG. 3 receives the print command from the graphic engine 202, and the printer driver (FIG. 3, the print command for 203) is once output to the spooler 302.
[0052]
The spool file 302 converts the print command received as described above into an intermediate code and stores it in the spool file 303. At this time, the spooler 302 obtains information regarding banner settings from the printer driver 203 as processing setting information for the print command, and stores the information in the spool file 303 together with the print command.
[0053]
In step S402, the spool file manager 304 analyzes the print command stored in the spool file 303. If banner printing is set (YES in step S402), the spooler manager 305 outputs a message to that effect to the despooler 305. Generates a banner in accordance with the reception of the banner print setting from the spool file manager 304 (step S403).
[0054]
At this time, the despooler 305 processes the intermediate code included in the spool file 303 in accordance with the content of the processing setting included in the spool file 303 together with the banner creation.
[0055]
If banner printing is not set (NO in step S402), the banner is not created and the processing of the print command stored in the spool file 303 is executed.
[0056]
When the despooler 305 finishes creating the banner in step S403, the despooler 305 sends this information to the graphic engine 202 again. The printer driver 203 adds a banner start command and an end command to the sent data, and PDL The print job is sent to the printer 1500 (step S404).
[0057]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control method on the printer side when the printer control command created by the printer driver 203 is sent to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204. First, in step S501 in FIG. 5, it is confirmed whether or not the “banner start command” is at the head of the PDL print job. If the “banner start command” is at the head of the PDL print job, The process proceeds to step S502, where data up to the banner end command is recognized as a banner, and the banner is developed as a bitmap on the printer memory.
[0058]
Next, in step S503, the finishing control command following the banner end command is confirmed, and the actual drawing data to be continuously developed is controlled. When drawing data is to be output to a specific tray (step S504-YES), the process proceeds to step S504, and the banner developed on the bitmap in step S503 is output to the same tray where the drawing data is output. . If it is not particularly necessary to output to a specific tray (step S503-NO), the process proceeds to step S505, and, for example, a banner is output to a default tray set on the printer panel.
[0059]
Here, “when drawing data must be output to a specific tray” corresponds to, for example, when finishing by stapling is selected and the printer has a tray that cannot be stapled. To do.
[0060]
When the output of the banner is completed, the actual drawing data is expanded on the memory and sequentially output to the printer (step S506).
[0061]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a banner-added PDL print job created by the client at the command level.
[0062]
First, a job start command is issued, and then the content of the banner surrounded by “banner start command” and “banner end command” continues. After that, a JL Command indicating setting contents such as finishing is issued as a PJL comment. The reason for controlling finishing such as using PJL comments is that it is added as a PJL comment even if a print job is accidentally sent from this driver to another printer that does not support this system. This is because the generated unique command does not cause malfunction.
[0063]
Next, PJL added as a unique command will be described. For example, when content such as “I want to strike the staples in the upper left” is set,
@PJL COMMENT CANPJL SET BANNER = GENERICON
@PJL COMMENT CANPJL SET STAPLE = GENERICON
@PJL COMMENT CANPJL SET LOCATION = UPPER_LEFT
PJL is issued.
[0064]
The printer checks CANPJL SET STAPLE on the second line. If this is GENERICON, it is determined that there is stapling. As described above, if necessary, the tray on which the banner is output is changed.
[0065]
The printer driver described in this embodiment sends a banner and drawing data to the printer as one job, but inside the printer, the banner and drawing data are processed as separate jobs. In other words, the printer that has received the print job closes the job once when it receives the banner end command and issues an output command to the engine. This is because, if drawing data including a banner is regarded as one job, for example, when a stapling command is given to the drawing data, the banner is stapled together with the text. In other words, the range affected by the JL Command indicating the setting such as finishing shown in FIG. 6 is only the body without the banner.
[0066]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how the controller and engine on the printer 1500 side process a PDL print job with a banner sent from a client in time series. As described above, the printer 1500 internally processes the banner and the drawing data as separate jobs, but even if the processing settings for the banner and the drawing data are different due to the separate jobs. The control can be performed independently. However, in this case, there is a possibility that a third party's print job interrupts between the banner and the drawing data. In order to prevent this, even if the printer 1500 performs parallel processing so that the third party banner image development ends earlier than the main body print job development, the banner 1500 does not finish printing the main text. Is controlled so as not to output a third party banner.
[0067]
For example, in FIG. 7, in the expansion of job A, after the expansion of banner A, the banner expansion of job B may be processed in parallel during the expansion of print job A. Is controlled so that printing of job B is started after completion of printing of job A (banner and print job). A waiting time is provided from the end of banner expansion of job B to the start of printing of job B, and job B is in a standby state until the end of processing of preceding job A.
[0068]
The banner and the print job are controlled as separate jobs, but the output is controlled in a synchronized manner as a pair.
[0069]
FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing print control setting screens regarding the contents of the banner. In FIG. 8, when “Add banner” (801) is set, the “Details ...” button (802) on the right side of this check box becomes valid. When this button (802) is selected, a setting screen related to the detailed contents of the banner as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In addition, it is possible to change the content described in the banner from this screen.
[0070]
By the above processing, the banner start command and end command issued by the printer driver are read by the printer, so that the banner can be easily identified, and a third party print job is interrupted between the banner and the text. It is possible to control the output destination of the banner and the print job (the same tray or a specified specific tray).
[0071]
<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment described above, the PDL print job with a banner is created by the printer driver on the client. However, the printer driver sends only information necessary for creating the banner to the printer at the command level, and the actual printer job is sent. The banner can be created on the printer side. In this way, the size of the print job created by the printer driver is reduced, so that it is generally possible to improve performance.
[0072]
Hereinafter, specific operation specifications will be described with reference to FIG.
[0073]
First, when a print execution command is instructed from the application 201 on the host computer 3000, the dispatcher 301 receives a print command from the graphic engine 202. This data is sent to the spooler 302, the spool file 303, the spool file manager 304, and the despooler 305. Then, processing settings are added to the intermediate code data.
[0074]
When banner printing is set, the despooler 305 sends information necessary for the printer driver (creator name, creation time, application name, etc.) to the PJL in accordance with reception of the banner print setting from the spool file manager 304. Create as a comment.
[0075]
The printer driver 203 adds this PJL comment to the head of the print job and sends it to the printer 1500.
[0076]
When the printer control command created by the printer driver 203 is sent to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204, it is first checked whether or not this job has a banner.
[0077]
In the case of a printer control command with a banner, the printer 1500 creates a banner based on the PJL comments necessary for the subsequent banner creation.
[0078]
Next, check the finishing control command, and if you have to output the drawing data to be sent to a specific tray, the previously created banner is placed in the same tray where the drawing data is output. Output.
[0079]
If there is no need to output to a specific tray, for example, a banner is output to the default tray set on the printer panel.
[0080]
When the output of the banner is finished, the actual drawing data is expanded on the memory and sequentially output to the printer.
[0081]
As described above, when a banner is created on the printer 1500 side, the print job size created by the printer driver is reduced, so that the output result is exactly the same as when the printer driver creates a banner and the performance is improved. Can be achieved.
[0082]
[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even when applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.
[0083]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.
[0084]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0085]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0086]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0087]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0088]
When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0089]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the printing control system and the printing control method according to the present invention, the banner is identified, the banner and the print job are controlled as separate jobs, and the output is synchronized with each other. Control becomes possible.
[0090]
It is possible to prevent an adverse effect such as a third party's print job interrupting between the banner and the print job, and to control the output destination (the same tray or a specified specific tray) of the banner and the print job.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating generation and processing of a print command in a host computer.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration for generating an intermediate code and processing a print command.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print control when a banner is created on the client side according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating print job control on the printer side that has received a banner-attached PDL print job according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a PDL print job with a banner created by a client in units of commands.
FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying how the printer-side controller and engine process a PDL print job with a banner sent from a client in time series.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for setting print control.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for setting banner details.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus
12 CPU
13 ROM
19 RAM
3000 Host computer
1500 printer

Claims (18)

An information processing apparatus that generates a print job to be printed by a print processing apparatus,
Output a banner serving as a partition of the print job via a setting screen for setting processing contents executed in the print processing device, and post-processing applied to the print paper printed by the print processing device Setting means for setting information;
Drawing command generating means for generating a drawing command based on a print command issued by the application;
If it is set to output a banner by the setting unit, the banner information generating unit that generates the banner information for printing the banner,
Adding means for adding information indicating a range to which the post-processing information set by the setting means is not applied ;
According to the print execution command from the application, the post-processing information, the drawing command, printing based on said banner information and information indicating the extent to which the post-processing information is not applied, to generate the print processing apparatus print job interpretable and a job generating unit,
The print job generation means does not apply the post-processing information to the banner information, but applies the post-processing information to the drawing command, the post-processing information, the drawing command, the banner information, An information processing apparatus that generates a print job in which information indicating a range to which the post-processing information is not applied is sandwiched between a print job start command and an end command . Information indicating a range in which the post-processing information is not applicable, the banner start instruction and the banner end command for identifying the banner to the finger,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job generation unit generates a print job including banner information specified by the command. The print job generation means includes a print job configured in the order of a print job start command, the banner start command, the banner information, the banner end command, the post-processing information, the drawing command, and a print job end command. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the information processing apparatus is generated . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing information is a stapling process applied to a printed printing sheet. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for generating a print job to be printed by a print processing apparatus,
Output a banner serving as a partition of the print job via a setting screen for setting processing contents executed in the print processing device, and post-processing applied to the print paper printed by the print processing device A setting process for setting information;
A drawing command generation step for generating a drawing command based on a print command issued by the application;
If it is set to output a banner in the setting step, the banner information generating step of the banner information for printing the banner to generate,
An additional step of adding information indicating a range to which the post-processing information set by the setting step is not applied ;
According to the print execution command from the application, the post-processing information, the drawing command, printing based on said banner information and information indicating the extent to which the post-processing information is not applied, to generate the print processing apparatus print job interpretable and a job generating step,
In the print job generation step, in order to apply the post-processing information to the drawing command without applying the post-processing information to the banner information, the post-processing information, the drawing command, the banner information, An information processing method, comprising: generating a print job in which information indicating a range to which the post-processing information is not applied is sandwiched between a print job start command and an end command . Information indicating a range in which the post-processing information is not applicable, the banner start instruction and the banner end command for identifying the banner to the finger,
6. The information processing method according to claim 5 , wherein in the print job generation step , a print job including banner information specified by the command is generated . In the print job generation step, a print job configured in the order of a print job start instruction, the banner start instruction, the banner information, the banner end instruction, the post-processing information, the drawing instruction, and a print job end instruction The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the information processing method is generated . The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the post-processing information is a stapling process applied to printed printing paper. A possible print control program executed by the information processing apparatus that generates a print job to be printed processed by the printing apparatus, the print control program of the information processing apparatus,
Output a banner serving as a partition of the print job via a setting screen for setting processing contents executed in the print processing apparatus, and post-processing applied to the print paper printed by the print processing apparatus Setting means for setting information;
Drawing command generating means for generating a drawing command based on a print command issued by the application;
If it is set to output a banner by the setting unit, the banner information generating unit that generates the banner information for printing the banner,
An adding unit for adding information indicating a range to which the post-processing information set by the setting unit is not applied ;
According to the print execution command from the application, the post-processing information, the drawing command, printing based on said banner information and information indicating the extent to which the post-processing information is not applied, to generate the print processing apparatus print job interpretable Function as job generation means,
The function as the print job generation unit is configured to apply the post-processing information to the information processing apparatus in order to apply the post-processing information to the drawing command without applying the post-processing information to the banner information. A print control program for generating a print job in which a drawing command, the banner information, and information indicating a range to which the post-processing information is not applied are sandwiched between a print job start command and an end command . Information indicating a range in which the post-processing information is not applicable, the banner start instruction and the banner end command for identifying the banner to the finger,
The print control program according to claim 9 , wherein the function as the print job generation unit causes the information processing apparatus to generate a print job including banner information specified by the command. The function as the print job generation means is the following: a print job start command, the banner start command, the banner information, the banner end command, the post-processing information, the drawing command, and a print job end command. The print control program according to claim 10 , wherein a print job configured in the order is generated . The print control program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the post-processing information is a stapling process applied to printed printing paper. In order to apply post-processing information applied to printed printing paper to the body data without applying it to the banner data, the post-processing information, a drawing command for the body data, banner information, and post-processing information are included. information indicating a not applicable range, a print processing device for receiving the print job from an information processing apparatus that generates print jobs sandwiching the start instruction and end instruction of the print job,
The post-processing information is not applied to the print result of the drawing command generated based on the print job, but the post-processing information is applied to the print result of the banner generated based on the print job. A print processing apparatus comprising a print job control unit. The print job control means processes in parallel a first print job issued from the information processing apparatus and a second print job different from the first print job, and generates banner data of the first print job. If the development of the banner data of the second print job is completed between the development and the processing of the drawing command for the text of the first print job, the first print job is printed. The print processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein output of the banner of the second print job is waited until the end. In order to apply post-processing information applied to printed printing paper to body data without applying it to the banner data, the post-processing information, a drawing command for the body data, banner information, and post-processing information are included. A print processing method in a print processing apparatus for receiving a print job from an information processing apparatus for generating a print job sandwiching information indicating a non-applicable range between a print job start instruction and an end instruction ,
The post-processing information is not applied to the print result of the drawing command generated based on the print job, but the post-processing information is applied to the print result of the banner generated based on the print job. A print processing method comprising a print job control step. In the print job control step, a first print job issued from the information processing apparatus and a second print job different from the first print job are processed in parallel, and banner data of the first print job is processed. If the development of the banner data of the second print job is completed between the development and the processing of the drawing command for the text of the first print job, the first print job is printed. The print processing method according to claim 15, wherein output of the banner of the second print job is waited until the end. In order to apply post-processing information applied to printed printing paper to body data without applying it to the banner data, the post-processing information, a drawing command for the body data, banner information, and post-processing information are included. A print processing program that can be executed by a print processing apparatus that receives the print job from an information processing apparatus that generates a print job that includes information indicating a non-applicable range between a print job start instruction and an end instruction. A program for the print processing device,
  The post-processing information is not applied to the print result of the banner generated based on the print job, but is applied to the print result of the drawing command generated based on the print job. A print processing program that functions as a print job control unit. The function as the print job control means is configured to process a first print job issued from the information processing apparatus and a second print job different from the first print job in parallel. If the development of the banner data of the second print job is completed between the development of the banner data and the completion of the drawing command processing of the body of the first print job, the first print job The print processing program according to claim 17, wherein output of the banner of the second print job is waited until printing of the second print job is completed.

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