JPH03255559A - Information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply execute the output request to other station and to improve the work efficiency as the whole network of an information communication system by adding a remote printing processing part and a printing device information answer part to a file transfer function and a printing registration function. CONSTITUTION:In a certain station in the system, when a command of printing of a document, etc., is inputted from an input device 6, a remote printing processing part 8 in an information processor 4 in the station 4 detects that of the smallest load of printing devices in each station. Also, by a file transfer control part 7 in the information processor 4, its file to be printed is transferred to the station having the detected printing device of the smallest load, and by a printing device answer part 9 in the information processor 4 of its station, it is instructed to execute registration of a printing job to a printing job control part 10, and printing is executed by a printing device 11. In such a way, the printing device 11 in the system can be utilized effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to information communication such as a local area network (hereinafter abbreviated as LAN) to which seven stations consisting of information processing devices such as Japanese DTR, word processors, and workstations are connected. Regarding the system.

Conventional technology In recent years, interest in distributed processing has increased, and technology has been developed to distribute the load by connecting highly functional and inexpensive information processing devices to a network and using each other's resources. It is active. In particular, regarding printing devices, there are the following methods as conventional examples.

(1) A certain station is positioned as a printer server and all printing is requested to that station.

(2) If multiple printers exist, specify the stage 3 printer name and make a print request.

(s) After the user checks the level of print job congestion at each station in the LAN, files are transferred between the stations, and a print job registration command is input at the other station.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with these methods, even if the load on the station in question is heavy and there are other stations with less load, the user must either use a specific print server, or the user must consciously , it is necessary to find a printer with a low load and make a print request. However, the system has problems in terms of the time it takes to create a user interface, and the need to improve efficiency through effective use of the device. In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention aims to provide an information communication system that can effectively utilize printing devices within the system.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of stations each equipped with an information processing device, an input device, and a printing device, and a communication path connecting the plurality of stations. A file transfer control unit in which the processing device transfers document information to each station, a remote print processing unit that collects information on the status of the printing device at each station and specifies which printing device it is, and responds to inquiries from multiple stations. and a printing device information response section that issues printing instructions based on the response, and a print job control section that controls the printing device at each station. The processing section finds the one with the least load on the printing device from among the multiple stations, the file transfer section transfers the file to the station with the least loaded printing device, and the printing device information response section of that station prints the file. The station has means for printing with the printing device of the station via the job control section.

Operation In the information communication system of the present invention having the above configuration, when a command to print a document or the like is input from an input device at a certain station in the system, the remote printing processing unit in the information processing device in the station Find the printing device with the least load among the stations including the information processing device, and use the file transfer control unit in the information processing device to transfer the file to be printed to the station with the least loaded printing device. . The printing device response unit in the information processing device of the transferred station instructs the print job control unit to register the print job, and the printing device performs D printing.

As described above, the user can receive printed matter quickly in a system that is configured to automatically output to the station with the least print job load at the time of the print request.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a LAN system, which is an information communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, each station communicates through a communication path using a coaxial cable 1 via a connection section 2, usually called a transceiver. A resistor 3 is connected to the end of the coaxial cable 1. Each station has an information processing device 4 that can be used by users, and is equipped with a central processing unit, a storage device, and the like. In the auxiliary storage device 5, documents and the like that have been subjected to information processing are stored and pressed. The display/input device 6 allows editing of documents, input of commands, etc. The information processing device 4 includes a file transfer control unit 7 that has a program for transferring files such as documents through communication, a remote print processing unit 8 that has a program that collects print job status from other stations, and a system that responds to inquiries from other stations. a printing device information response section 9 having a program for responding to and requesting registration in response to a print job registration request; and a print job control section 10 having a program for controlling printing, which is a control program for the printing device, and for registering, deleting, and managing the status of printing. It is equipped with Nafu.11 is a printer of a printing device.

Next, the mutually related operations of these components will be explained. Input commands from the input device 6,
Enter information such as file name, number of copies to print, and format settings. The remote print processing unit 8 checks with the print job control unit 1o whether or not the printing device 11 of the own device can be used, and if there is no job being printed, requests the print job control unit 10 to start printing with the own device. . If there is a job being printed, the L
The printer information response unit 9 of each station in the AN is sequentially inquired about the print job status, and step 2
In step 3, the station with the least load is searched for, and then in step 3 the file is transferred to the station with the least load. After the file transfer is completed, a print job registration request is sent to the other party's printer information response section 9 in step 4, and the other party's station name is output to the display device 6 in step 5. As in the print registration request in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the printing device information response unit 9 of the other station that receives the request registers the print job with the print job control unit 10, thereby making it possible to print at another station. Become. Further, the printing device information inquiry line in FIG. 3 is for the case where the printing device 11 of the own station can be used. Furthermore, even if a station does not have a printing device, the present invention is effective because the printing device of some station can always be used.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention has a file transfer function, a print registration function, and a remote print processing unit.

By adding a printing device information response unit, you can easily request output to other stations and select a station with a low load for output, making it particularly effective for systems within short distances, and improving the network of information communication systems. It is expected that overall work efficiency will be improved by a distant degree, and that throughput will be improved.

It is easy to install a station that does not have a printing device, and the economical effects are also large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network system block diagram of an information communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing functions within an information processing apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functions within an information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing device response unit of FIG. 1...Coaxial cable, 2...Connection part,
4... Information processing device, 6... Display, input device, 7... File transfer control unit, 8...
...Remote printing processing unit, 9...Printing device information response unit, 10...Print job control unit, 11...
...Printer (printing device).

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of stations each including an information processing device, an input device, and a printing device, and a communication path connecting the plurality of stations, and the information processing device transfers document information to the plurality of stations. a file transfer control unit, a remote printing processing unit that collects the status of the printing device from the plurality of stations and specifies the printing device, and a printing device information response unit that responds to inquiries from the plurality of stations and issues print instructions. and a print job control unit that controls the printing device, and when a print request is received from the input device, the remote print processing unit searches the printing device of the plurality of stations with the least load; An information communication system comprising: a file transfer unit that transfers a file to a station where the load on the printing apparatus is least; and a means for printing on the printing apparatus via the print job control unit. (2) The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of stations include stations that do not have a printing device.