JPH0365721A - Print server - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discontinue output during execution when the request of the output by interruption is detected even in the course of the output, and to re-start the discontinued output after processing preferentially the output being inter rupted by providing a detecting means to detect the request of the output by the interruption. CONSTITUTION:When a command packet is inputted from a LAN I/O port, a CPU analyzes the contents of the packet, and decides whether it is a display output request command or another command. When a print server 3 to constitute a resource sharing system by a LAN 5 detects the request of interruption display output from another terminal B 2, it discontinues the display output during execution even if it is in the course of the display output of data from the terminal A 1 connected to the LAN 5, and after processing preferentially the interruption display output of another terminal 2, it can re-start the discontinued display output. Since it is restricted how frequently the interruption display output can be requested to the terminal to constitute the LAN 5, the excessive interruption to the display output during execution can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a print server, and more particularly, to a print server used as an output function of a resource sharing system such as a LAN.

[Prior Art] Conventional print servers only process and output data to be output to a printer, etc., in the order in which it is input to the print server, and the order of output is determined by issuing instructions from outside the print server. There was nothing I could change.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional example described above, input data is sequentially processed and output in the order in which it was input, so while data is being output, other urgent data may be output. Even if you try,
There is a drawback that the desired output cannot be performed until the output that is already being processed is completed or after the output is forcibly stopped by operating the print server.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and includes the following configuration as one means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

That is, a detection means for detecting an output request due to an interrupt;
A storage means for storing input data for output by an interrupt, and a storage means for storing input data for output by an interrupt, and if an output request by an interrupt is detected even during output, the output being executed is interrupted, and the output by the interrupt is processed with priority, and then the output is interrupted. and restart means for restarting the output.

[Operation] In the above configuration, even while outputting data,
When an output request due to an interrupt is detected, the output being executed is interrupted, and after processing the output due to the requested interrupt with priority, the interrupted output can be resumed.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a LAN-based resource sharing system including personal computers as terminals or servers, which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1, 2, 13, 14 are terminals, 3 is a print server, 4 is a printer connected to the print server,
5 is a LAN.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram showing the structure of the print server that constitutes the resource sharing system of this embodiment. This is the CPU that controls the 7 is a LAN l10 port that controls data input/output between the LAN and the print server; 8 is a printer I10 port that controls output data from the print server to the printer; 9 is a buffer a that temporarily stores normal display output data; A buffer b 10 temporarily stores interrupt display output data.

Figure 3 shows the IEEE standard as a communication control procedure in a LAN-based resource sharing system including personal computers.
802.2, IEEE802.3, and TCP/IP, the format of a command packet when issuing a display output request from a terminal to a print server is shown. In the figure, (a) shows a normal display output request command, and (b)
) is an interrupt display output request command.

Therefore, the control procedure of the print server constituting the resource sharing system of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

After launching the resource sharing system via LAN, step S2
The print server then waits for command packets from the terminal. When a command packet is input from the LAN I10 boat, the CPU analyzes the contents of the packet in step S2, and determines whether it is a display output request command or another command in step S3.

If the command is a normal display output request command, normal display output processing via buffer a is performed in step S8, but if it is an interrupt display output request command, the printer receives data from another terminal in step S5. Determine whether display output is in progress. At this time, if the printer is not in the process of display output, normal display output processing via buffer a is performed in step S8.

Here, the processing after step S6 will be described assuming that an interrupt display output request command is input from the terminal A1 while the printer 4 in FIG. 1 is displaying and outputting data from the terminal B2.

In step 6, interrupt conditions are determined.

That is, whether the amount of display output data requested by the terminal that issued the interrupt and the number of times that terminal executed the interrupt within a certain period of time in the past are within the limit set in advance in the storage unit 12. A determination is made in step 6.

The amount of display output data requested by the terminal that has issued the interrupt is input along with the interrupt display output request command shown in FIG. 3(b).

If the interrupt does not satisfy the conditions, the interrupt is not accepted, an error response is returned to terminal A in step S9, and the process returns to step S1. The print server then enters a state of waiting for a command packet from the terminal. On the other hand, if the interrupt condition is satisfied, in step S1O, the print server inputs the display output data from terminal A via the LAN port and stores it in buffer b. Then, in step S1l, the display output of the data from the terminal B in the buffer a is interrupted when the processing of the page currently being displayed is finished, and the number of pages to start displaying next is stored in the storage unit. . Next, in step S12, the interrupt display output data stored in buffer b is sent to printer I1.
Output to the printer via the 0 port.

When all the contents of buffer b have been output, in step S13, the previously interrupted display output of data from terminal B is resumed, and when all the display output is finished, the process returns to step S1, and the command packet is output again. It will be in a waiting state.

Furthermore, if an interrupt display output request command is input during the interrupt display output process, an error occurs in determining the interrupt condition in step S6, and an error response is returned to the terminal that issued the interrupt request.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, even when a print server that constitutes a LAN-based resource sharing system is in the middle of displaying and outputting data from a terminal connected to the LAN, an interrupt display from another terminal can occur. When an output request is detected, the display output that is being executed is interrupted, and after processing the interrupt display output of another terminal with priority, the interrupted display output can be resumed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the number of times that an interrupt display output can be requested to the terminals making up the LAN is limited, it is possible to prevent unnecessary interruptions to the display output that is being executed. be.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, an output request caused by an interrupt is detected, the data output being executed is interrupted, and the output caused by the interrupt is processed with priority, and then the interruption is performed. A print server can be provided that resumes output.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a resource sharing system using LAN which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a print server according to the above embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of such a print server. In the figure, L 2, 13. 14... terminal, 3... print server, 4... printer, 5... LAN, 6...
・CPU, 7...LAN10 boat, 8...Printer I10 boat, 9,10...Buffer, 11...
- ROM112... is a storage unit. (0) $3 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] a detection means for detecting a request for output due to an interrupt; a storage means for storing input data for output due to the interrupt;
The print server is characterized by having a restarting means for interrupting the output being executed when an output request due to an interrupt is detected even in the middle of output, and resuming the interrupted output after processing the output due to the interrupt with priority.