JP4174523B2 - Information processing apparatus, printing system, load distribution printing method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print processing technique for efficiently using a plurality of printing apparatuses.

  Conventionally, in situations where it is necessary to print a large amount of documents, instead of using one high-speed mass printing device to perform mass printing, the printing load is distributed to a plurality of low-priced medium-speed printing devices in parallel. There is a load distribution printing system that realizes high-speed printing at low cost by operating in the same manner.

When a plurality of printing apparatuses are operated in parallel as described above, there is a problem that a load is biased to a specific printing apparatus. In order to solve this problem, there are various methods for efficiently using a plurality of printing apparatuses. A technique has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-259206

  However, in the conventional print system represented by Patent Document 1, the same print data is registered in duplicate for a plurality of print queues, and the print registered in the print queue corresponding to the printing apparatus that can print first is registered. The print data registered in the other print queue is deleted using the data. However, registering the same print data redundantly as described above has a problem that the resource load such as memory capacity and arithmetic processing is large. In addition, although temporarily, a plurality of the same print data occupies the print queue, there is a problem that the number of print jobs registered in the queue increases as a whole, and it is difficult to schedule print jobs. Furthermore, when presenting the status of the print queue to the user, the print queue appears to be very crowded more than the actual number of print jobs, causing the user to be confused.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a load distribution printing technique that allows a plurality of printing apparatuses to perform printing efficiently with less resources.

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention provides:
An information processing apparatus capable of transmitting a print job to a printing apparatus ,
Setting means for setting a basic print queue and a backup print queue for one printing device ;
Print job registration means for registering print job information in a basic print queue of the one printing apparatus based on a printing instruction for the one printing apparatus ;
Backup job information registration means for registering backup job information serving as a backup of print job information registered in the basic print queue of another printing apparatus in the backup print queue of the one printing apparatus ;
Print job information registered in the basic print queue when print job information is registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device Is preferentially output to the one printing device, print job information is not registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device, and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device. A job control unit that generates print job information based on the backup job information and outputs the print job information to the one printing apparatus ;
It is characterized by providing.

In order to achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention comprises:
An information processing method capable of transmitting a print job to a printing apparatus ,
A setting step for setting a basic print queue and a backup print queue for one printing device ;
A print job registration step of registering print job information in a basic print queue of the one printing apparatus based on a print instruction to the one printing apparatus ;
A backup job information registration step for registering backup job information as a backup of print job information registered in the basic print queue of another printing apparatus in the backup print queue of the one printing apparatus ;
Print job information registered in the basic print queue when print job information is registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device Is preferentially output to the one printing device, print job information is not registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device, and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device. A job control step for generating print job information based on the backup job information and outputting the print job information to the one printing device ;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a load distribution printing technique that efficiently uses a plurality of printing apparatuses with less resources.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

  In this specification, print data is image data described in PDL or the like, and print job information is information about a printer that wants to output print data, a storage location of print data, and a print method. Is a combination of print data and print job information.

<Overview>
Unlike the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-259206, the print system according to the present embodiment does not have an independent shared print queue, but includes only a print queue corresponding to the print device. One of the print queues corresponding to the plurality of print devices is set as a basic print queue, and the other print queues are set as backup print queues. In the present embodiment, the basic print queue is simply referred to as a print queue, and the print device corresponding to the basic print queue is referred to as a load distribution print device. A print device corresponding to the backup print queue is referred to as a backup print device.

  The print job information of the print job generated by the printer driver is preferentially registered in the basic print queue, and at the same time, job information as a backup of the print job information is generated in the backup print queue. The backup job information corresponding to the print job information is referred to as virtual job information in the present embodiment, and normal print job information that is not a backup is referred to as actual job information in the sense of comparison with this. The actual job information includes the storage location of the print data, but the virtual job has no direct relationship with the print data, and instead includes the identification information (actual job ID) of the actual job information. Thereby, real job information can be derived from virtual job information.

  All print queues including the backup print queue are conceptually divided into a queue for actual job information (actual job queue) and a queue for virtual job information (virtual job queue). When the user refers to the print queue by a general method for confirming the status of the print job, the virtual job queue is not displayed on the user interface, but only the actual job queue is displayed. Therefore, the user can usually recognize only the status of the actual job information.

  When there is an instruction for load distribution printing, the print job information included in the instruction is registered as actual job information in the actual job queue in the print queue, and the actual job is stored in the virtual job queues in all other backup print queues. Virtual job information corresponding to the information is generated. In the actual job queue in the print queue, if any real job queue in any backup print queue becomes empty before all the registered real job information is sent to the corresponding print device, the backup The virtual job information registered in the virtual job queue in the print queue takes over the corresponding real job information, switches to the real job information, and is registered in the real job queue. Immediately thereafter, it is transmitted to the print device together with the print data stored in the storage location included in the actual job information.

  That is, a print job corresponding to load distribution printing is once registered in the basic print queue, and then transmitted to one of the print devices capable of printing at the earliest timing. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently perform load distribution printing without redundant registration of a plurality of the same print data.

  In the user interface, when a load distribution print instruction is issued, an object indicating print job information first appears in the basic print queue of the load distribution print device, and then the backup print device that can be printed first. It appears that the print job information has moved to the print queue and printing has started. That is, since only one print job object corresponding to one print data is displayed, the user is not confused.

  Although this system can handle a plurality of types of print jobs, specific types of print jobs are not subject to load distribution printing. For example, a print job called a secure job is a print job that is not desired to be output by a printer that the user does not grasp for security reasons. Therefore, if secure printing is set in the printer driver settings, virtual job is not generated for the target print job, and real job information is registered only in the real job queue of the print queue of the specified print device. The Also, when outputting a secure job, a password must be input to the print device.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print system includes a print server 101 as an information processing apparatus, network printers 102 to 105 as printing apparatuses (print devices), and clients (computers) 107 and 108, which are connected to each other. The network is configured as a whole.

  The print server 101 stores a print control program so as to be executable. In addition to the function of managing the network printers 102 to 105 included in the print system, the print server 101 accumulates files used in the network and uses the network. It has a function to monitor the status. Specifically, the print server 101 generates a print job by itself, receives the print data generated by the client 107 and the function of transferring to the network printers 102 to 105, and generates a print job including the print data. And a function for transferring to the network printers 102 to 105 by the scheduling process, and a scheduling process for the print job created by the clients 107 and 108 and spooled there, and then sent from the clients 107 and 108 to the network printers 102 to 105. And a function for instructing to directly transfer a print job. The print server 101 is not necessarily a computer specialized for printer management, and may be a general-purpose computer having a print management function, and may function as a client in relation to other computers.

  The network printers 102 to 105 are print devices as physical devices that receive a print job including print data from the print server 101 and the client 107, analyze the received print job, and print. As the network printers 102 to 105, any type of printing apparatus such as a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic method, an ink jet printer using an ink jet method, or a printer using a thermal transfer method can be used.

  Clients 107 and 108 are computers that function as clients in relation to the print server 101.

  Note that communication between apparatuses included in the print system may be wired communication using an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable or the like, or wireless communication using radio waves or light.

<Configuration of print server and client>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the print server 101 and clients 107 and 108 shown in FIG. Since the print server 101 and the clients 107 and 108 do not have a particular difference in hardware configuration, the configuration of the print server 101 will be described as a representative here.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU 200 reads and executes an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a print control program, and the like stored in an HD (hard disk) 205, and temporarily stores information, files, and the like necessary for executing the program in a RAM 202. It is a control means for performing storage control automatically.

  The ROM 201 is a storage unit that stores programs such as a basic I / O program, various data such as font data and template data used for document processing. The RAM 202 is temporary storage means that functions as a main memory or work area of the CPU 200.

  The FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk) drive 203 is a storage medium reading means for loading a program or the like stored in the FD 204 as a storage medium into the computer system as shown in FIG. Note that the print server 101 and the clients 107 and 108 may include other storage medium reading means instead of the FD drive 203 or together with the FD drive 203. Examples of the other storage medium include any computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, PC card, DVD, IC memory card, MO, and memory stick.

  The HD 205 is an external storage unit that functions as a large-capacity memory, and stores an application program, a printer driver program, an OS, a print control program, a related program, and the like. Furthermore, a spooler as spool means is secured here. The print server 101 secures a server spooler as spool means, and the client secures a client spooler as spool means.

  The keyboard 206 is an instruction input unit for the user to instruct the print server 101 and the clients 107 and 108 to input device control command instructions and the like.

  A display 207 is a display unit that displays commands input from the keyboard 206, the states of the printers 102 to 105, and the like. Actually, a display instruction is given to the display means via an operating system running on the print server 101 and the clients 107 and 108, and a resource file display instruction is given to this operating system by the print processing program, which will be described later. Each display is realized. A system bus 208 controls the flow of data in the computer as the print server 101 or the clients 107 and 108.

  The interface 209 is an input / output unit, and the print server 101 or the clients 107 and 108 exchange data with other devices on the network via the interface 209.

<Explanation of memory map>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the RAM 202 illustrated in FIG. 2, and is a memory map in a state where the print control program is loaded into the RAM 202 and can be executed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship with the FD 204 inserted into the FD drive 203 shown in FIG. 2, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, the FD 204 stores a print control program and related data.

  The print control program and the related data may be installed in advance from the FD 204 to the HD 205 and loaded from the HD 205 to the RAM 202 or may be directly loaded from the FD 204 to the RAM 202 and executed. Furthermore, it is also possible to store the print control program in the ROM 201, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 200. In addition, software that realizes the same function as each of the above devices can be used as an alternative to a hardware device.

  The print control program controls the client to instruct to change the print destination of the print job or to change the print order. On the other hand, the print server controls the order of print jobs, and notifies the end of printing of a print job, a print destination change request, and the like. Further, the print control program may include a module installed in the client and a module installed in the print server separately, and one print control program functions for the client depending on the environment in which it is executed. Or may function as a print server. Alternatively, it is possible to install a module having a function for a client and a module functioning for a print server in one computer, and perform a pseudo parallel operation at the same time or in a time division manner.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes an area for storing a basic I / O program. The basic I / O program is an IPL (Initial Program Loading) function that starts the operation of the OS by reading the OS from the HD 205 into the RAM 202 when the apparatus (the print server 101 or the clients 107 and 108) is turned on. And so on.

  An area 302 stores an OS (operating system), and an area 303 stores a print control program. Reference numeral 304 denotes an area for storing related data. A work area 305 is an area for the CPU 200 to execute various programs.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the FD 204 illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 denotes data contents of the FD 204, which includes volume information 401 indicating data information, directory information 402, a print control program 403, and related data 404.

<Print system software configuration>
Next, the software configuration of the print system will be described. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration in the server 101 or the clients 107 and 108. The arrows between the components indicate how a print job including a drawing command issued from an application is processed. The software configuration shown in each block is executed by the CPU 200 in FIG. 2 to realize a desired function.

  In general, when a general application program 601 such as Microsoft Word (registered trademark) receives a printing instruction, it generates a series of drawing commands via the OS. The PDL driver 602 that has received a drawing command generated via the OS generates a print job including a PDL file that can be interpreted by the network printers 102 to 104 based on a series of drawing commands. In the following description, a PDL driver will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a BDL (Band description Language), a printer driver that creates a compression bitmap, or an application and OS Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a form in which print data is generated without using a printer driver.

  The PDL driver 602 passes the generated print job to the spooler 603 for transmission to the job control port monitor 604 instead of the job control port monitor 608 prepared by the OS for transmitting the print job to the print device. The job control port monitor 604 is a module necessary for the job control print service 605 to receive print data. The job control port monitor 608 is a module that transfers data to the print device without passing print data to the job control print service, and is incorporated in the OS. When a print job is input to the job control port monitor 608, the job is not transferred to the job control print service, but is directly transferred to the print device.

  Here, since the OS is assumed to be Windows (registered trademark), the spooler 603 is a Windows (registered trademark) spooler. However, the OS of the computer to which the present invention is applied is not limited to Windows (registered trademark), and it goes without saying that other OS can be applied as long as it has a drawing command.

  The spooler 603 takes a procedure of transferring a print job to the port monitors 604 and 608 designated and designated by the user via the user interface and transmitting the print job to a print device such as the network printers 102 to 104 (arrow a). Here, the description will proceed assuming that the user has designated the port monitor 604 for load distribution printing (hereinafter abbreviated as job control port monitor) and instructed printing.

  In addition, print setting information such as a paper size and a staple instruction set via the printer driver interface is also transmitted to the job control port monitor 604.

  The job control port monitor 604 does not directly transmit the print job to the print devices 102 to 104 but transmits it to the print service 605 for load distribution printing (hereinafter referred to as job control print service) (arrow b).

  The job control print service 605 has a function of managing the transferred print job and device status. Especially when the print device and the data transfer source are connected peer-to-peer and directly submit a print job to the print device, information such as the device status and job status notified from the print device is managed, and the print device It also has a function of giving a predetermined command to. This corresponds to a function for managing device information and job information of the plurality of network printers 102 to 104. Then, the print job whose order has arrived based on the print job order management function (load distribution print function) is transferred to the network printers 102 to 104 (arrows c and d).

  Here, a print job order management function realized by the job control print service 605 will be described in detail. This order management function includes the following functions.

-Print queue setting function for setting a print queue other than the print queue corresponding to the print device set for load balancing printing among the multiple print queues corresponding to multiple print devices-Job control port monitor Print job registration function for registering the print job information transferred from 604 in the load distribution print queue (basic print queue), and generation of backup job information corresponding to the print job information registered in the load distribution print queue Backup job registration function for registering in the backup print queue-Manages each of the load distribution print queue and backup print queue, and prints preferentially in the print queue where the print job information is registered. A print queue in which job information is scheduled up (print data corresponding to the print job information is sent to the print device corresponding to the print queue), print job information is not registered, and only backup job information is registered The job control function that changes the backup job information to print job information and sends the print data to the corresponding print device. The print job information registered in the print queue for load distribution and the backup print queue A deletion function for deleting print job information that was not a target of transmission or backup job information corresponding thereto from all print queues when any one of the corresponding backup job information is transmitted to the print device.

  The print manager 609 is a program that provides a user interface for the user to check the state of the print job in the job control print service 605 and to operate the print job. The print manager 609 exchanges information and instructions with the job control print service 605 via a software interface (API: Application Program Interface) of the job control print service 605.

  It mainly has a function of acquiring status information of the network printers 102 to 104 managed by the job control print service 605 as an event. Event notification types include warnings when the amount of toner is low, communication failure between the client and the device, memory shortage, full output tray, and other error / warning information notifications. Notification of normal information is assumed. Here, the job control print service 605 has a function of monitoring a status such as a power control state and failure information (paper jam) during execution of printing of each print device that can communicate via a network.

  More specifically, the print manager 609 issues an event specifying a device to the job control print service 605, and the job control print service 605 monitors the status of the device based on the issued event. Based on the result, the print manager 609 is notified.

  The management console 610 can monitor the entire server 101 or the clients 107 and 108 by exchanging information and instructions with the job control print service 605 via an API for software access.

  The job control print service 605 clearly indicates a function of communicating with each of the network printers 102 to 104 using the device information control module 606 to obtain information regarding a print job and an operation state in each printer. The job control print service 605 may be included.

  On the other hand, when the print function that is mounted as a standard in a general operating system is used without performing load distribution printing, the PDL file generated by the PDL printer driver 602 is transferred from the spooler 603 to the job control port monitor 608. (Arrow e), the data is transferred to the network printers 102 to 104 (arrow f).

  Next, a modification of the system described with reference to FIG. 6A will be described with reference to FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B shows a case where the functions required for load distribution printing are shared by the clients 107 and 108 and the server 101 and are realized in cooperation with each other. Specifically, the flow of data when the print server 101 performs scheduling for print job information created by the clients 107 and 108 and registered in the print queue on the server 101 side is shown. In addition, the same structure as FIG. 6A is represented with the same code | symbol.

  In the system of FIG. 6B, the clients 107 and 108 do not need to have the management console 610 and the device information control module 606, but the server 101 has them, and collectively manages the device information of the printing devices. The server 101 also has a job control server 612 and communicates with each of the print devices 102 to 104 using the device information control module 606 to obtain information on print jobs and operation states in each printer, Or do. The acquired information can be passed to the job control print service 605 and shared.

  The job control server 612 centrally controls (schedules) the timing at which the job control print service 605 on each of the clients 107 and 108 transmits a print job to the print devices 102 to 104. The job control server 612 basically has the same functions as the job control print service 605, and logically shares job information with the job control print service 605. Here, the job information is various attribute information of the print job such as the name of the document to be printed, the ID of the print job, and the name of the printer to which the print job is input.

  That is, the print job order management function (load distribution print control function) described with reference to FIG. 6A may be provided only in the server 101 in FIG. The job control server 612 notifies the job control print service 605 which print device should be input in what order. The job control print service 605 transfers the print job to the network printers 102 to 104 in accordance with an instruction from the job control server 612.

  6A, the job control port monitor 604, job control print service 605, print manager 609, and management console 610 are included in the print control program. 6B includes a job control port monitor 604, a job control print service 605, and a print manager 609. The print server 101 includes a device information control module 606, a management console 610, and a job. A control server 612 is included in the print control program.

  Note that the software configuration of the printing system is not limited to FIGS. 6A and 6B, and the present invention can be realized by various other configurations. For example, the client may include only the configuration from the application 601 to the job control support monitor 604, and the server 101 may include the job control print service 605, the print manager 609, the management console 610, and the device information control module 606.

<Print job flow>
Next, the flow of a print job from the application 601 to the print device will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same software configurations as those in FIG. 6A, and the functions thereof will not be described in detail.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, conceptually, a PDL driver 602, a spooler 603, and a job control port monitor 604 are prepared for each of the print devices 102 to 104. When the OS is Windows (registered trademark), these may be collectively referred to as a Windows (registered trademark) print system 700.

  The job control print service 605 includes a number of print queues 701, 701A, 701B and output ports 702, 702A, 702B corresponding to the print devices 102-104. The output port is associated with an IP address of the corresponding print device or a name (DNS: Domain Name System) used for name resolution. Then, based on the IP address or DNS, the job transmission destination is specified and the job is transmitted (output). The print queue is classified into one basic print queue 701 to which a predetermined job is input and a plurality of backup print queues 701A and 701B. In this embodiment, the print queue is set for each print device, which is a physical device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the print queue may be set for each logical printer. Good. That is, one logical printer may be set for a plurality of print devices, one print queue may be set for the logical printer, and a plurality of logical printers may be set for one print device. A print queue may be set for each of the plurality of logical printers.

  When performing load distribution printing, the application 601 issues a print instruction by designating a printer having load distribution printing settings. When a print job generated by the PDL driver 602 based on this print instruction is transferred from the job control port monitor 604 to the job control print service 605, the print job information is first held in the print queue 701, and at the same time, the print job is printed. Virtual job information corresponding to the job information is generated in the backup print queues 701A and 701B. Any one of these jobs is sent to the print devices 102 to 104. The print device corresponding to the backup print queue is called a backup printer, and indicates a preliminary print device used when the print device designated by the user is congested.

<Contents of various information>
I. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a real job queue 801 and a virtual job queue 802 in the print queue 701. The real job queue 801 and the virtual job queue 802 are queues for managing print job information used when performing load distribution printing processing. A print queue including a real job queue and a virtual job queue as shown in FIG. 8 is associated with each logical printer. If there is one logical printer for one print device, the print queue shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the print queue corresponding to the print device. When this print queue exists, it becomes a basic print queue, and when it exists, it functions as a backup print queue.

  As described above, actual job information does not include print data itself, but is print job information including a link to print data such as a spool file name, and is managed in the actual job queue. The virtual job information includes a link to actual job information (ID of the actual job information), and does not include a link to print data as well as print data. The virtual job information is managed by a virtual job queue.

II. Print Queue Information FIG. 9 is a diagram showing print queue information that determines the operation of a print job accepted by the print queue 701. Here, the printer name, printer driver name, print type, and backup printer name, which are the settings of the print queue information, will be described. 9 is held in the job control print service 605 in the system form as shown in FIG. 6A, and is shared and held in both the job control print service 605 and the job control server 612 in the system form as shown in FIG. 6B. Shall be.

  The printer name indicates the name of a Windows (registered trademark) printer object. The printer name is different for each printer object, and the printer object can be identified. The printer driver name is the name of the printer driver set in the printer object. The print type is a setting that determines the operation of the print job received in the print queue. The backup printer name is the name of a printer for load distribution printing that is used in the case of load distribution printing processing. When load distribution printing is set for the print type and a print job is received by the print queue 701, a print queue (referred to as a load distribution print queue) received by a method described later and a plurality of print queue information set. A print job is moved from the backup printer to a printer that can be transferred first, and processing for distributing the printing load among a plurality of printers is performed.

III. Real Job Information FIG. 10 is a diagram showing print job information registered in the real job queue of the print queue 701. The information in FIG. 10 is held in the job control print service 605 in the system form as shown in FIG. 6A as in FIG. Held.

  The actual job is a print job that includes print data spooled in a predetermined storage area, and is a print job that is sent to an output port, actually transferred, and output by a printer. The real job information is various setting information included in the real job and is registered in the print queue 701.

  The actual job information setting contents (document name, job ID, print type, execution type, virtual job ID, first job mark, transmitted printer list) and spool file name will be described below.

  The document name is the name of the job (print data file) that the application 701 prints.

  The job ID is an ID for identifying the job with an arbitrary ID assigned to the actual job information. When the print queue 701 receives a print job, a job ID is assigned to the job.

  The print type is the same as that in FIG. 9 and is information for determining the operation of the actual job. Information such as load distribution printing is set. When the print queue 701 receives real job information, the print queue 701 acquires information from the print type and sets it as the print type of the real job information.

  The execution type is information indicating the type of the print job. (1) Password input job that cannot be printed unless a password is input by the network printers 102 to 104, (2) Encrypted secure job, (3) Network printer 102 Are set to a type such as an offline job that goes offline immediately before output in (104) to (104), a saved job stored in the HD of the network printers 102 to 104, and the like. This item is set when a job type notification is received from the printer driver or a job type notification is received from the application. In some cases, the job type is determined and set.

  The virtual job ID sets the ID of virtual job information created when performing load distribution printing processing. When a plurality of virtual job information is generated, a plurality of virtual job IDs are set.

  The head job mark is a mark indicating the head of a print job managed by the network printers 102 to 104.

  The transmitted printer list is a list for setting the name of the printer that has transmitted the actual job.

  The spool file name is a name of a spool file composed of print data created based on application data, and is used to specify a spool file stored in a predetermined storage unit. A spool file ID may be adopted instead of the spool file name. An output port for outputting print data specified based on a spool file name associated with the actual job information to the print device when job output based on the actual job information is performed for the corresponding print device. It is written in.

IV. Virtual Job Information FIG. 11 is a diagram showing virtual job information registered in the virtual job queue of the print queue 701. The information in FIG. 11 is held in the job control print service 605 in the system form as shown in FIG. 6A as in FIGS. 9 and 10, and both the job control print service 605 and the job control server 612 in the system form as in FIG. 6B. Shared and held in

  The virtual job information is information related to actual job information for load distribution and is information necessary for schedule management in the load distribution printing process.

  Hereinafter, the document name, job ID, print type, and actual job ID of the setting contents of the virtual job information will be described.

  The document name is a print target document name of real job information corresponding to the virtual job information, and is copied from the real job information when the virtual job information is created.

  The job ID is an ID for identifying virtual job information, and is information set when virtual job information is created.

  The print type is a print type of the real job corresponding to the virtual job information, and is copied from the print type of the real job information when the virtual job is created.

  The real job ID is an ID of real job information related to virtual job information, and is information that is set when virtual job information is created.

  Note that FIG. 11 does not include the spool file name for specifying the print data described in FIG. 10. However, the virtual job information includes the spool file name in advance so that real job information, which will be described later, is included. The spool file name associated in advance may be used when the change is made.

<Load distribution processing>
In the load distribution printing process of the present embodiment, according to the load distribution print setting of the printer for which the application has issued a print instruction, actual job information is generated in the print queue of the load distribution printer, and a virtual job is generated in the backup print queue of the backup printer. Among them, a print job with a fast transfer start instruction (schedule up) is transferred to the print device.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing from job reception processing to virtual job creation in the load distribution printing processing according to this embodiment.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing of the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 13, the real job information with the job ID “1” is stored in the real job queue 801 of the print queue 701, the real job queue 801A is associated with another print device, and the real job queue 801A has a job ID “5”. It is assumed that there is information and that print data corresponding to each actual job information is being transferred to the print device. Note that the actual job information with the job ID “5” may be considered to be registered when a load distribution print instruction is issued from another client, for example, using the print device corresponding to the backup print queue 701A as a basic print device. it can. In this case, the print queues 701 and 701B are set as backup print queues, and virtual job information is registered in the virtual job queues in the respective backup print queues.

  When the application 601 starts printing, the print queue 701 receives a print job via the spooler 603 and the job control port monitor 604 in step S1201.

  In step S1213, the type of print job is determined. It is determined whether to create virtual job information according to the execution type of real job information. A password input job that cannot be printed unless a password is input by the network printers 102 to 104, a secure job that is encrypted and can be printed only by a specific printer among the network printers 102 to 104, immediately before output by the network printers 102 to 104 If the job can be accepted only by a specific network printer, such as an offline job that goes offline, a saved job saved in the HD of the network printers 102 to 104, the process proceeds to step S1211. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1202.

  In step S1202, the print type of the print queue information is referred to and it is confirmed whether the load distribution printing is performed. If it is load distribution printing, the process proceeds to step 1203. If it is not load distribution printing, the process advances to step S1211. In step S1203, the print queue corresponding to the print device that is the output target of the print job is set as the basic print queue among the plurality of print queues, and the received print job is included in the actual job queue included in the basic print queue. Register real job information for.

  As the document name, the one acquired when the job is received from the spooler 603 is set. The job ID is generated and set when job information is created. As the print type, information on the print type of the print queue information is set.

  In the case of the present embodiment, since the print type of the print queue information is load distribution printing, load distribution printing is set as the print type of the actual job information. The real job information created in step S1204 is registered in the real job queue 801 of the print queue 701 (the job with the job ID “7” in FIG. 13). In step S1205, the backup printer name of the print queue information is acquired. If a plurality of settings are set, a plurality of backup printer names are acquired. Then, the print queue corresponding to the backup printer is set as the backup print queue.

  Next, in step S1206, virtual job information is created in the order of the backup print queue specified from each of the acquired plurality of backup printer names, and each information is set.

  The document name is set by acquiring information from the document name of the actual job information. The job ID is generated and set when creating virtual job information. The print type is acquired and set from the print type information in the actual job information. The real job ID is acquired and set from the job ID of the real job information.

  In step S1207, the job ID of the virtual job information is set to the virtual job ID of the real job information. Since a plurality of virtual jobs may occur, virtual job ID 1, virtual job ID 2,... Are set in the order in which the virtual jobs are created.

  In step 1208, virtual job information is registered in the virtual job queue 802A (job with job ID “8” in FIG. 13).

  If the backup printer (backup print queue) acquired in step S1205 remains in step 1209, the process proceeds to step S1206.

  In FIG. 13, since it is assumed that there are two backup printers acquired in step S1205, two pieces of virtual job information are created, and job IDs “8” are created in the virtual job queues 802A and 802B, respectively. ”And“ 9 ”are created, and“ 8 ”and“ 9 ”job IDs are set in the virtual job information associated with the real job information of the real job (job ID is 7). Further, “7” is set as the real job ID in the virtual job information with the job IDs “8” and “9”.

  In step S1209, if the backup printer acquired in step S1205 does not remain, the process proceeds to step S1210, and a schedule request for the created real job and all virtual jobs is issued.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing schedule processing for actions issued in each of the print queues 701, 701A, and 701B. This corresponds to processing in the job control print service 605.

  In step S1401, the schedule of each print queue is managed, the schedule request from the module (for example, job control port monitor) that registered the print job in any print queue, the completion of transmission of the print job (from the output port to the print device). Information indicating that transmission of the print data has been completed), deletion of the print job, completion of the print job (final page discharge notification), device return notification (for example, when the power is turned off to turn on) Monitor actions such as events that indicate a transition from a possible state to an operational state. When the above action occurs for each print queue, the process proceeds to step S1402, and when no action occurs, standby processing is performed in step S1401. Here, the schedule request action is generated from the job control port monitor, for example. The print job is deleted from the print manager 609. Further, the completion of transmission of the print job and the completion of the print job occur in the printing device and are notified via the output port. However, the generation route of these actions is not limited to this.

  In step S1402, the print queues 701, 701A, 701B in which the above action has occurred are confirmed, and the real job queues 801, 801A, 801B, the virtual job queues 802, 802A, 802B are searched in this order, and any print queue is printed. If job information exists, the process proceeds to step S1403. If there is no print job information, the process proceeds to step S1401.

  In step S1403, among the network printers 102 to 104, the operation status of the network printer corresponding to the print queue in which the predetermined action has occurred in step S1401 is acquired. For example, the status is acquired in accordance with the print job completion action.

  In addition, when the device status is acquired in step S1403, polling via the device control module 606 is performed, and when this polling and acquisition of the device status due to the occurrence of a predetermined action are used in combination, the print device can be more quickly installed. It is possible to check whether or not the transferable operation status has been reached.

  In step S1404, based on the status acquired in the previous step, it is determined whether the print data can be transferred to the network printer corresponding to the currently targeted print queue. Here, for example, (1) a state where there is a shortage of consumables such as no paper or no toner, and (2) a failure such as a jam (paper jam) where image recording cannot be continued. (3) The state where the channel for transmitting print data is offline, (4) The printer side (including the network board) is busy with no more room in the reception buffer, etc. It is done. Further, the statuses (1) and (2) may be arbitrarily combined to be a status that determines that data transfer is not possible.

  If it is determined in step S1404 that the print data can be transferred to the network printer that is the target of the action, the process proceeds to step S1405. If the transfer cannot be performed, the process proceeds to step S1401.

  In step S1405, a schedule up request is issued for the job found in step S1402, and the process proceeds to step S1401. At this time, if a real job is found, a schedule up request is issued to the real job before the virtual job. In other words, regardless of the order of registration, the real job has priority over the virtual job.

  For example, if a previous print job (print job A) is being transferred when a print job B schedule request is generated in step S1401, the process proceeds to NO in S1404 and waits in step 1401. After that, in step S1401, when job transmission completion or job deletion of print job A is accepted, the process advances from step S1402 to step S1405, and transfer of job B is immediately started.

  Next, based on the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 14, the flow of processing from when a print request is received in the print queue 701 to when print data is transmitted to the network printers 102 to 104 will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating load distribution printing processing in the print queue 701. FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams showing processing related to the flowchart of FIG. 15.

  In load distribution printing, a real job is registered in a preset real job queue of a parent printer, and a virtual job is registered in a virtual job queue of a backup printer. In one print queue, a print job that has received a schedule up request early among these jobs is transferred to the network printers 102 to 104.

  In step S1501, it is determined whether a schedule request (schedule up) has been received. If a schedule up is accepted, the process proceeds to S1502, and if no schedule up comes, the process waits in step S1501.

  In step S1502, it is determined whether the print job that has received the schedule up is a load distribution job. If the print type information of the job information is acquired and the print type is load distribution printing, the process proceeds to step S1503. If it is not load distribution printing, the process proceeds to step S1511, and a print job based on real job information registered in the real job queue is transferred to the network printer.

  In step S1503, it is determined whether the schedule up job is a virtual job or an actual job. If it is a virtual job, the process proceeds to step 1504, and if it is a real job, the process proceeds to step S1513.

  Here, the user may be notified of the virtual job schedule up. In other words, if notification is made that printing is executed in the backup print device instead of the load distribution print device designated by the user, the user can specify the printer to which the print result is output, which is highly convenient.

  In step S1504, the real job ID in the virtual job information is acquired to refer to the real job information. In step S1505, the real job information is referenced using the real job ID acquired in step S1504, and the virtual job ID included in the real job information is acquired.

  In step S1506, from the virtual job ID acquired in step S1505, a virtual job having the same content other than the virtual job for which the schedule up request has occurred is recognized, and other virtual machines that have not been subject to transmission that have not received the schedule up request. Jobs are deleted in order (arrow g in FIG. 16).

  In step S1507, if the virtual job acquired in step S1505 includes a virtual job that has not been deleted in step S1506, the process proceeds to step S1506. If no virtual job remains, the process proceeds to step S1508. . As a result, all other virtual jobs having the same content as the virtual job for which the schedule up request has occurred are deleted.

  In steps S1508 and S1509, processing is performed to change a virtual job for which a schedule up request has occurred to a real job. As a result of this change processing, the virtual job information becomes real job information, and the print job corresponding to the real job information before the change is not transmitted.

  First, in step S1508, virtual job information is registered in the real job queue 801B (arrow h in FIG. 16). At this point, all virtual job information related to the print job to be operated is lost. In step S1509, the corresponding real job (here, the real job with the real job ID “7” registered in the print queue 701) is identified from the real job ID in the virtual job information, and the real job information is acquired. The information is copied to the virtual job information (here, ID “9”) in the real job queue 801B. At this time, the real job with the ID “9” is stored in the real job queue 801B.

  Further, in step S1510, the real job registered in the real job ID of the virtual job information for which the schedule up request has occurred (here, the real job information of the real job ID “7” registered in the print queue 701) is deleted (step S1510). Arrow i) in FIG. As a result of these processes, the situation shown in FIG. 17 is obtained. In step S1511, the print job that was originally an actual job or changed to an actual job is transferred to the corresponding network printer. More specifically, the spool file identified from the real job information (the real job information determined to be No in step S1503 or the real job information switched in step S1509) in FIG. The name print data is transferred based on the IP address associated with the output port of the logical printer corresponding to the real job queue in which the real job information is registered or the name used for name resolution.

  When the transfer of the print job is completed, notification of the completion of job transmission is given in step S1512. There are two actual jobs until the processing of the arrow i in FIG. 16 is completed, but the processing from the arrow g to the arrow i in FIG. 16 can be realized by a one-stroke program (which does not cause a context change). No problem will occur. Further, the processing order of the arrows i and h in FIG. 16 may be reversed. Further, in the above description, the virtual job information and the real job information that are no longer necessary have been described, but for example, a print job information that is no longer necessary is added with a flag indicating the job information after the addition. May be transmitted to the corresponding print device, and the received print job information may be discarded by referring to the flag on the printer side.

  When the actual job generated by the load balancing process and the job that received the schedule up among the plurality of virtual jobs are real jobs, the process proceeds from step S1503 to step S1513. In step 1513, all virtual job information is acquired from the real job information, all virtual jobs are deleted in step S1514, and the real job whose schedule is accepted is transferred to the corresponding network printer in step S1511. As described above, the actual job or virtual job is deleted in step S1506 or step S1514. However, it corresponds to another print job (real job or virtual job) that has not received a schedule up request. Only the print job information to be transferred may be transferred to the network printer and deleted at the network printer.

  on the other hand. If the print type of the print job that received the schedule up in step S1502 is not load distribution printing, the process proceeds to step S1511 and is transferred to the network printer as it is.

  In this embodiment, the spool job may be transferred to a transmission output port created independently, or the print job may be transferred to a transmission output port prepared in the operating system.

  Here, when a plurality of print queues as shown in FIG. 13 are displayed on the display using, for example, the print manager 609 in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the virtual job information registered in the virtual job queue is not displayed. Only the real job information registered in the real job queue is selectively displayed.

  When a print job execution status request is made from the print manager 609 to the job control print service 605 via the API, the job control print service 605 adds a virtual job queue to the real job information registered in the real job queue. The real job information registered in the real job queue is extracted from the virtual job information registered in. The extracted actual job information is notified to the print manager 609, and the execution status of the print job based on the notified actual job information is displayed. That is, since only the actual job information is notified to the user, user confusion can be prevented.

  Note that the job execution status may be displayed based on an active notification from the job control print service 605 to the print job manager 609. Further, both the real job information and the virtual job information may be notified from the job control print service 605 to the print job manager 609 so that the print manager 609 can extract the real job information.

  FIG. 18 shows a setting screen for associating a logical printer corresponding to the backup print queue with a logical printer corresponding to the basic print queue. Although FIG. 18 is displayed when a new logical printer is created or added, it may be displayed when changing the settings of a logical printer that has already been created.

  Reference numeral 1801 denotes an input field for inputting a logical printer name. A user can arbitrarily specify a name via a keyboard or the like. Reference numeral 1802 denotes a display field for displaying a printer driver name. By selecting the “Select Driver” button, a list of a plurality of printer drivers that can be selected by the user is displayed, and the name of the printer driver selected from the list is displayed in the display column 1802.

  Reference numeral 1806 denotes a “select port” button for displaying a selection screen for selecting a port associated with the printer driver. When the “select port” button 1806 is selected, a plurality of ports registered in the system are presented in a selectable form.

  Reference numeral 1803 denotes a selection field for selecting an output method of the logical printer. In this selection field, “load distribution printing” can be designated as the output method.

  A display field 1804 displays a list of backup printers (for example, corresponding to the backup print queues 701A and 701B in FIG. 13) for the predetermined logical printer set in 1801 and 1806. Reference numeral 1805 denotes a “backup printer setting” button for setting a backup printer. When a “backup printer setting” button 1805 is selected, a list of logical printers that can be set as backup printers is displayed. The logical printer selected from the list is set as a backup printer and displayed in the backup printer list display field 1804. When the “backup printer setting” button 1805 is selected, the user can efficiently select an appropriate backup printer by displaying only a list of printers compatible with the printer model and printer language specified by the designated printer driver. You can choose.

  As described above, the setting information set on the screen shown in FIG. 18 is reflected in each item of the information in FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. That is, the screen shown in FIG. 18 apparently is a setting screen for setting the relationship between logical printers, but the setting content for the setting screen results in setting the relationship between print queues. Accordingly, FIG. 18 can be paraphrased as a setting screen for associating the backup print queue with the basic print queue.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when an application prints to a load balancing printer, a real job is created in the print queue corresponding to the load balancing setting printer, and a virtual job is created in the print queue corresponding to the backup printer. Of these pieces of job information, the job whose schedule is accepted earliest is transferred to the network printer as an actual job. Therefore, a print job is transferred by efficiently selecting a network printer that can be transferred among a plurality of network printers. As a result, a large number of print jobs can be efficiently processed by a plurality of network printers, and a plurality of network printers can be fully operated while a print job exists.

  Further, the same print data is not registered in a plurality of queues, and the memory capacity and the memory processing load can be reduced. Further, since virtual job information is not displayed, a plurality of the same print data does not occupy the queue even temporarily, and the user is not confused. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to set a special queue called a shared print queue on the system, the user can perform load distribution printing by performing printing in the same manner as before. The user can efficiently use a plurality of printing devices without incorporating complicated functions into the printing application.

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by one device.

  In the present invention, a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and the program code supplied by the system or apparatus is read and executed. Including the case where it is also achieved. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, the form does not need to be a program.

  Therefore, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the claims of the present invention include the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer. In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Further, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in 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.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a print system as an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram explaining the hardware constitutions of a server or a client. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory map of RAM202 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the FD 204 illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the relationship with FD204 inserted with respect to FD drive 203 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a print system. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the software configuration of the print system. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a print job at the time of load distribution printing. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a print queue, a real job queue, and a virtual job queue. It is a figure which shows the content of print queue information. It is a figure which shows the content of real job information. It is a figure which shows the content of virtual job information. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing for creating a virtual job after receiving a print job. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a real job, a virtual job, a real job queue, a virtual job queue, a print queue, and a backup print queue. It is a flowchart which shows the process of schedule up. It is a flowchart which shows the process from schedule up to printing. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a real job, a virtual job, a real job queue, a virtual job queue, a print queue, and a backup print queue. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a real job, a real job queue, a virtual job queue, a print queue, and a backup print queue. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for setting the information regarding a logical printer.

Claims (16)

An information processing apparatus capable of transmitting a print job to a printing apparatus ,
Setting means for setting a basic print queue and a backup print queue for one printing device ;
Print job registration means for registering print job information in a basic print queue of the one printing apparatus based on a printing instruction for the one printing apparatus ;
Backup job information registration means for registering backup job information serving as a backup of print job information registered in the basic print queue of another printing apparatus in the backup print queue of the one printing apparatus ;
Print job information registered in the basic print queue when print job information is registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device Is preferentially output to the one printing device, print job information is not registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device, and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device. A job control unit that generates print job information based on the backup job information and outputs the print job information to the one printing apparatus ;
An information processing apparatus comprising: When the print job information registered in the print queue of the other printing apparatus is output to the other printing apparatus, the backup job information registered in the backup print queue of the one printing apparatus is deleted. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit. The print job information does not include print data, and is information including a print data storage destination, printing apparatus identification information, and a printing method,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the backup job information is information including a link to the print job information without including print data and a print data storage destination. An identification means for identifying the type of print job information registered in the print queue of the other printing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the backup job registration unit generates the backup job information based on an identification result of the identification unit.   Each of the basic print queue and the backup print queue includes a first print queue area for registering the print job information and a second print queue area for registering the backup job information. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display based on the print job information without displaying the backup job information. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by further comprising display control means for displaying a setting screen to associate a backup print queue to the fundamental print queue. An information processing method capable of transmitting a print job to a printing apparatus ,
A setting step for setting a basic print queue and a backup print queue for one printing device ;
A print job registration step of registering print job information in a basic print queue of the one printing apparatus based on a print instruction to the one printing apparatus ;
A backup job information registration step for registering backup job information as a backup of print job information registered in the basic print queue of another printing apparatus in the backup print queue of the one printing apparatus ;
Print job information registered in the basic print queue when print job information is registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device Is preferentially output to the one printing device, print job information is not registered in the basic print queue of the one printing device, and backup job information is registered in the backup print queue of the one printing device. A job control step for generating print job information based on the backup job information and outputting the print job information to the one printing device ;
An information processing method comprising: When the print job information registered in the print queue of the other printing apparatus is output to the other printing apparatus, the backup job information registered in the backup print queue of the one printing apparatus is deleted. The print control method according to claim 8, further comprising a deletion step. The print job information does not include print data, and is information including a print data storage destination, printing apparatus identification information, and a printing method,
10. The print control method according to claim 8, wherein the backup job information is information that does not include print data and a storage location of the print data but includes a link to the print job information. An identification step of identifying the type of print job information registered in the print queue of the other printing device;
The print control method according to claim 8, wherein the backup job registration step generates the backup job information based on an identification result of the identification step .   Each of the basic print queue and the backup print queue includes a first print queue area for registering the print job information and a second print queue area for registering the backup job information. The printing control method according to any one of claims 8 to 11.   The print control method according to claim 8, further comprising a display step of displaying based on the print job information without displaying the backup job information. The print control method according to any one of claims 8 13, characterized by further comprising a display control step for displaying a setting screen to associate a backup print queue to the fundamental print queue.   A program for causing a computer to execute each step included in the printing control method according to claim 8.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 15.

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