JPH0418631A - Protocol supporting printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the limit of a place for installing a printer by providing a network protocol supporting function so that the printer can be directly connected to a network without passing through a computer and an output can be directly required from the computer. CONSTITUTION:When data output requirements to a protocol supporting printer 101 are generated in computers 102 and 103 on a network 104, the computers 102 and 103 output the requirements to the printer 101 on the network 104. The printer 101 receiving the output requirements from the computers 102 and 103 outputs data according to the output requirements. This example explains about the printer 101 and a network protocol (OSI, TCP/IP, LANMANAGER and the others) and a network medium (LAN: local network, packet switching network, exclusive line, telephone circuit and the others) or the like, however, are also available. Thus, since the printer can be installed without limiting the place, cost for installing the printer can be sharply reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer device that outputs data in response to an output request from a computer on a network.

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a network system including a conventional printer device. In the figure, 301 is a computer to which a printer device 302 is connected, 302 is a printer device that performs print output, and 303 is a network 30
A computer 304 makes a print output request from above, and a network 304 connects the computer 301 and the computer 303.

In a network system including the conventional printer device as described above, when the computer 301 makes an output request to the printer device 302 connected to its main body, the computer 3
Output is performed using the device output function of 01 itself. In addition, when the computer 303 on the network 304 makes an output request to the printer device 302 having a printer server function, the computer 303 which is a printer server computer
The computer 301 requests data output and transfers the data to the computer 301 , and then outputs the data from the computer 301 to the printer device 302 .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation when making an output request to the printer device of FIG. 3. In the figure, 401
-406 are steps showing each operation process.

Next, the operation of the network system including the conventional printer shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

When making a data output request (print output request) to the printer device 302 (step 401), first check whether the printer device 302 is connected to its own computer or to a printer server computer on the network 304. (Step 402). If the printer device 302 is connected to the own computer, the print output function of the own computer is used (step 403), and the print device 302 connected to the own computer outputs data (step 406). Further, if the printer device 302 is connected to a printer server computer on the network 304, data for a data output request is sent to this printer server computer (step 404), and then the printer server computer sends the data to the printer server computer 302. An output request is output (step 405), and the printer device 302 outputs data (step 406).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the network system including the conventional printer device described above is configured and operates as described above, it has the following problems.

(1) The printer device 302 must be connected to the network 304
” Second calculation [It is necessary to install it near 301.

(2) There is a disadvantage that the load on the computer running the print server increases.

(3) If the computer running the printer server is down, data cannot be output from the printer device 302.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to directly connect a printer device to a network, and by supporting protocols on the network, it can be used with many types of computers. An object of the present invention is to obtain a protocol-supported printer device that can accept output requests based on many types of protocols.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A protocol-supported printer device according to the present invention has a network function that allows the printer device itself to directly connect to a network without going through a computer, and a network function.
It supports two protocols and has a network protocol support function that allows computers on this network to directly request output.

[Operation] The protocol support printer device according to the present invention has the following features:
When installing a printer, a computer that functions as a printer server is not required, so there are no restrictions on where the printer can be installed. Furthermore, since the printer device can support multiple protocols, the installation cost of the printer device can be significantly reduced.

Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a schematic configuration diagram showing a network system including a protocol-supported printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 101 is a protocol support printer, 102 and 103 are computers that issue print output requests, and 104 is a network that connects the protocol support printer 1 and the computers 102 and 103.

The protocol supporting printer device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention is directly connected to the network 104 and can accept print output requests from computers 102 and 103 on the same network 104-1. Note that the protocol is
A communication protocol that predetermines the connection method and data exchange method between computers to ensure smooth communication between computers.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation when making an output request to the protocol-supported printer device of FIG. 1.

In the figure, 201 to 203 are steps showing each operation process.

Next, the operation of the network system including the protocol-supported printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Network 104” second computer 1
Protocol support printer device 10 in 02,103
1, when a data output request (print output request) occurs (step 201), the computers 102 and 103 connect to the protocol support printer device 101 of the network 1041.
An output request is issued to (step 202). Calculator 102.
Upon receiving the output request from 103, the protocol support printer device 101 outputs data in accordance with the output request (step 203).

In the above embodiment, the protocol support printer device 101 is explained, but the network protocols (O5I, TCP/IP, LA, NMANAC;
The network medium (LAN: local network, packet-switched network, leased line, telephone line, etc.) may be such as.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the protocol-supported printer device of the present invention has a network function that allows the printer device itself to directly connect to a network without going through a computer, and supports the second protocol of “network”. Since the configuration is equipped with a network protocol support function that allows output requests to be made directly from the computer, the printer device can be installed without restrictions on its installation location, which can significantly reduce the installation cost of the printer device. Since the printer device supports multiple protocols on the network, excellent effects such as being able to construct a printer server system extremely efficiently can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a network system equipped with a protocol-supported printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the operation when an output request is made to the protocol-supported printer device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a network system including a conventional printer device, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation when requesting output to the printer device of FIG. 3. In the figure, 1 computer device, 1 computer, 104° printer device, . . . steps are shown in the figure. 101...Protocol Support Buri 02.103,301,303...Total 304...Network, 302...201~203,401~4
It is 06. Same symbols refer to the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printer device that outputs data in response to an output request from a computer on a network, the printer device itself has a function that allows it to directly connect to the network without going through a computer, and further supports the protocol on the network, A protocol-supported printer device characterized by having means having a function of directly accepting output requests from computers on this network.