JPH04257915A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arbitrarily set the priority of a print processing by a user at the information processor to parallelly execute plural processings including the print processing. CONSTITUTION:A priority setting means is provided to set the priority of the print processing by the user, and a priority control means 12 is provided to execute control for deciding the ratio of the occupation of the print processing to an execution processing part 13 and the other processing based on the priority set by the priority setting means 11 and for allocating the execution processing part 13 to a print processing 131a and another processing 132 excepting for the print processing according to the ratio of the occupation.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having an execution processing section that executes print output processing and other processing in parallel in a time-sharing manner.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information processing device having an execution processing unit (CPU) capable of executing multiple processes in parallel by time division, the execution processing unit for each process is assigned a priority level. Alternatively, whether the area is occupied by the ratio is controlled by the function of the operating system (OS). The priorities and ratios at that time were determined in advance and could not be set arbitrarily by the user. In an information processing device that has a printing function, such as a document creation device,
There are devices configured to process print processing and document editing processing in parallel (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-2081).
21, JP-A No. 63-296129),
The allocation of processes in the parallel processing of print processing and document editing processing is predetermined, and the user cannot arbitrarily set their priorities.

0003

For example, if there is no need to rush the print process while a document is being edited by the document creation device, the print process may be performed in between other document editing processes. In such a case, it is possible to shorten the overall processing time by giving priority to document editing processing over printing processing. However, even if it is necessary to prioritize processing other than printing processing over printing processing, the prior art does not have a setting means for giving priority to processing other than printing processing. Or conversely, it has not been possible to perform priority control that allows printing processing to be given top priority when necessary. In other words, in the past, there was no flexibility to execute specific processes preferentially depending on the situation, so certain processes (for example, document editing processes) that needed to be done quickly depending on the desired situation at that time were not performed in a certain way. (Print processing) could not be prioritized, which increased the processing time.

[0004] The present invention allows a user to set the priority of processing in parallel processing of a plurality of processes as necessary, thereby providing a degree of freedom regarding processing and preventing an increase in the time required for specific processing. This is an issue to be addressed.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, in addition to the conventional function of printing a created document, it also sets a priority for print processing and executes processing according to the set priority. This is achieved by controlling the occupancy rate of the That is, the information processing device of the present invention has the following features:
As shown in FIG. 1, an execution processing unit 1 executes print processing 131 and other processing 132 in parallel by time sharing.
3, the information processing apparatus includes a priority setting means 11 for the user to set the priority of print processing, and print processing for the execution processing unit 13 based on the priority set by the priority setting means 11. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a priority control means 12 that determines the occupation ratio between print processing and other processing, and controls the allocation of execution processing units 131 to print processing and other processing according to the occupation ratio.

[0006]

[Operation] The priority setting means 11 sets the priority of print processing according to a user's instruction. For example, the priority is
The setting is made by the user making a selection on a window having selection items such as "high", "low", and "lowest". The priority control means 12 determines the occupation ratio of the print processing 131 and other processing 132 to the execution processing means 13 based on the priority set by the priority setting means 11, and determines the occupation ratio. Execution processing means 1 according to
3 to print processing 131 and other processing 132. The occupation ratio of the execution processing unit 13 according to the priority is such that, for example, in the case of the above-mentioned "high" priority, only print processing is performed, and in the case of the "lowest" priority, other processing is Priority is given, and print processing is performed only when there is no other processing.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the priority of print processing is set high, the time for printing processing can be shortened, and when the priority of print processing is set low, the time of other processing can be shortened. Processing time can be shortened and print processing can be performed in parallel.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a document creation device having a print processing function will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of this embodiment. The apparatus of this embodiment calculates the occupancy ratio of each process of the print specification parameter setting section 21 for printing a document created and edited, and the execution processing section corresponding to the set priority, and calculates the occupancy ratio of each process. It has a priority control section 22 that controls execution of print processing and other processing according to the print instruction, and a print processing section 23 that performs print processing according to the settings of the print instruction parameter setting section 21. The print instruction parameter setting section 21 includes a print processing priority setting section 211 for setting the priority of print processing;
It also includes a print instruction parameter setting section 212 that sets normal print instruction parameters other than the priority. Specifically, the functions of the print instruction parameter setting section 21 are realized by extending the setting items of the window of the conventional print instruction parameter setting sheet and providing an item for specifying the priority of print processing. FIG. 3 shows an example of this. In this example, printer priority setting items are provided as the print processing priority setting section 211, and three settings are provided: "high", "low", and "lowest".
It is configured so that the priority of the stages can be selected.

The priority control unit 22 determines the CPU occupancy (or occupancy rate) of the hardware of the print processing execution processing unit based on the print processing priority set by the print processing priority setting unit 211. . Priority is N
If it is a type, when the highest priority is set for print processing, the priority control unit 22 sets the CPU occupancy for print processing to N-1. When the lowest priority is set for print processing, priority control unit 2
2 sets the CPU occupancy for print processing to 0, and when an intermediate priority is set, the CPU occupies the intermediate value.
Defined as occupancy. Note that the initial value is N-1. The priority control unit 22 determines the occupancy level N-1 when the priority is the highest.
In the case of , the print processing section 23 is controlled so that only print processing is performed, and when the occupancy is 0, which is the lowest priority, other processing has the highest priority and control is performed so that almost no print processing is performed. .

FIG. 4 shows an example of a schematic configuration of hardware for realizing the functions of the embodiment shown in FIG. Programs 421 to 421 stored in the main storage unit 42
424 execution processing and control of each part of the system
(Central processing unit) 41, programs 421 to 424 executed by the CPU 41, and data 425 necessary therefor
an external storage device 43 such as a disk device that externally stores programs and data to be loaded into the main storage portion 42; and an input device such as a keyboard and mouse for inputting commands and data. 44, and a display device 45 for performing display. When a print instruction is given, a program 422 for setting parameters for print instruction is loaded into the main storage device 42, and as this program is executed by the CPU 41, the parameter setting section 21 for print instruction shown in FIG. Function is realized. The function for controlling print processing priority is the OS (operating system) program 42.
4, and the functions of the priority control unit 22 are realized by calling the functions of this OS in response to a print request. The functions of the print processing section 23 are realized by executing the print processing program in the CPU 41 according to instructions from the priority control section 22 .

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as above will be explained. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for explaining the operation. During document creation and editing, when the user wishes to print out the contents of the document to the printer, the user instructs the printer to print the created document (step 51). The instructions are given by opening a window as shown in FIG. 3, displaying a parameter setting sheet for print instructions on the display device 45, and setting various parameters regarding the printer by giving instructions using the mouse of the input device 44. The print instruction parameter setting sheet of this embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a [Printer] priority item in addition to the conventional print instruction parameters, and sets the print processing priority to "highest,""lowest," or "lowest." The feature is that it is possible to select and specify from among them. Generally, N types of priorities can be set. The setting value is output as a numerical value. For example, the number N-1
has the highest priority, and as the priority decreases, the value decreases one by one, and 0 is the lowest priority.

[0012] Once the print processing priority is set as described above, information on the set priority is passed to the priority control unit 22 included in the functions of the OS. The priority control unit 22 determines the level of the set priority (step 52). When the priority is N-1, the priority control unit 22
The highest priority is given to CPU4 only for print processing.
1 is controlled to be occupied by the execution of the print processing program. When the priority is other than N-1, the priority control unit 2
2 determines the degree to which the CPU 41 occupies execution of the print processing program (referred to as occupancy rate) according to the priority value. Then, the print processing section 23 is operated according to the determined occupancy rate (step 53). That is, the CPU 41 is dividedly occupied by a print processing program and a program other than print processing according to their occupancy rates. The print processing unit 23 converts the print data into bitmap data (step 55), and the bitmap data obtained by the conversion is sent to the printer (step 56). This print processing is performed until all print data is processed (step 54).

As described above, in this embodiment, a print processing priority setting section 211 that can set the priority of print processing is provided.
By providing a priority control unit 22 that determines the occupancy rate (occupancy) of the CPU 41 of the print processing program according to the set priority and controls the print processing to be performed according to the occupancy rate, If necessary, lower the priority of print processing to give priority to other processing.
Print processing can be performed simultaneously. In other words, in the case of a high priority due to the above configuration, the print processing CPU
Although this increases the occupancy rate and increases the load on other processes, it makes it possible to shorten print processing time. When the priority is low, the CPU occupation rate of other processes becomes high and the load on the print process increases, but the processing time of other processes is shortened and the print process can be processed in parallel.

[0014]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, if the priority of print processing is lowered as necessary when processing in parallel with other processing,
The CPU occupation rate of print processing is lowered, and the processing time of other processes can be shorter than the normal parallel processing time. Conversely, if it is set high, the CPU occupation rate for print processing becomes high, and the print processing time can be reduced compared to normal parallel processing. In this way, the present invention allows the user to set the priority of print processing using the priority setting means, thereby providing flexibility regarding the CPU occupation rate of processing, and preventing an increase in the time required for specific processing. It is something that can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a parameter setting sheet for print instructions.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration for realizing the functions of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Priority setting means 12 Priority control means 13 Execution processing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an information processing apparatus having an execution processing unit that executes print output processing and other processing in parallel in a time-sharing manner, a priority setting means for a user to set a priority of print output processing; , based on the priority set by the priority setting means, determines the ratio of occupancy between print output processing and other processing for the execution processing section, and assigns the execution processing section to the print output processing according to the occupancy ratio. An information processing device characterized by comprising a control means for controlling allocation to output processing and other processing.