JPH06110627A - Printer server - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use the printer server with the high degree of freedom by providing plural filters to transform information data from a networkside data format to an output device side format and filtering the data while combining both of data formats. CONSTITUTION:Plural fixed filters 6a of a printer server 1 execute filtering processing composed of the data format of an information processor connected to a communication line 2 and the data format of an output device 8. On the other hand, a variable filter 6b executes filtering processing to transform the data from the network side data format stored in the storage part to the output device side data format. Then, a filter selection part 5 selects either the fixed filters 6a... or the variable filter 6b for executing the filtering processing corresponding to the network side data format and the output device 8 side data format by detecting filter selection data contained in the information data inputted through the communication line 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer server for connecting an output device such as a printer to a network to which an information processing device such as a host machine is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, information processing devices such as distributed host machines and terminal devices, output devices such as printers, and other peripheral devices have been constructed by mutually connecting these networks to construct a network. Although devices and information data are effectively used, various devices connected to this network are set to an optimal standard protocol according to their processing capabilities and applications. Therefore, in order to build a network, a server that manages the usage statuses of output devices and peripheral devices and matches different protocols to the network protocols by each device is used when the device is connected to the network. .

By the way, when an output device such as a printer or a plotter is connected to a network, a printer server having a server function for managing the output device is used. As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional printer server 52 has a network communication processing unit 53 connected to the communication line 51 of the network and an output device I / F processing unit 54 connected to the output device 55. The network communication processing unit 53 receives information data transmitted from a client, which is an information processing device (not shown).
The received information data is output from the output device I / F processing unit 54 to the output device 55 according to the protocol of the output device 55.

[0004]

However, in many cases, the information processing device and the output device not only have different protocols depending on their processing capabilities and uses, but also have different data formats such as character codes contained in the information data. In the above conventional printer server, since the information data received from the client is simply output to the output device 55,
The output device 55 may not be able to process the information data due to the difference in the data format. Therefore, when the data formats of the information data handled by the client and the output device 55 are different, it is necessary to convert the information data to a data format corresponding to the output device 55 in advance when the client transmits the information data. Therefore, the load on the client is to be increased.

Depending on the printer server 52, the data format of the information data input to the network communication processing unit 53 and the output device 55 connectable to the output device I / F processing unit 54 are specified, and the network communication processing is performed. There is a model having a filtering function for converting the data format of the information data input to the unit 53 into the data format of the output device 55. However, in this printer server 52, since the data format of the information data that can be input to the network communication processing unit 53 and the model of the output device 55 that can be connected to the output device I / F processing unit 54 are fixed to one model, There is a problem that the degree of freedom that can be used is low.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is not necessary for the client to convert the information data into the data format corresponding to the output device 55, and it is possible to connect to various models and to use it with a high degree of freedom. The purpose is to provide a printer server.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a printer server of the present invention can process information data output from an information processing apparatus according to a network and a model in which a plurality of data formats are transmitted. It relays connections with output devices having different data formats of information data, and has the following features.

That is, the printer server has a plurality of filter means for executing a filtering process for converting the information data from the data format on the network side to the data format on the output device side, and at the same time, using the information data, the printer side It is characterized in that it has a filter selecting means for selecting a filter means for executing a filtering process corresponding to the data format of (1) and the data format of the output device side.

[0009]

According to the above construction, since the plurality of filter means are provided, it is possible to execute a plurality of different filtering processes depending on the combination of the data format on the network side and the data format on the output device side. . Therefore, since the printer server has a plurality of data formats of the information data to be output to the output device, the number of connectable output device models increases, and thus the printer server can be used in the network with a high degree of freedom. become.

Further, according to the above configuration, since a plurality of different filtering processes can be selected by the information data, the process of previously converting all the information data in the information processing device into the data format corresponding to the output device becomes unnecessary. As a result, the load on the information processing apparatus can be reduced.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following will describe one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG.

The printer server according to the present embodiment is a Uni server.
TCP / IP (Transmis) that realizes a distributed processing environment such as x
It is now used in networks configured according to communication protocols such as sion control protocol / Internet protocol). As shown in FIG. 1, this network is designed to transmit information data via a communication line 2 such as an optical fiber, and the printer server 1 is connected to this communication line 2 so that a printer or a plotter is connected. The output devices 8 and so on are made to exist in the network.

The connection of the printer server 1 to the communication line 2 is performed by the network communication processing unit 3. The network communication processing unit 3 is adapted to convert an optical signal of information data into an electric signal and to transmit and receive information data according to a protocol of the network, and the information data input via the communication line 2 Is output to the filtering processing unit 4.

The filtering processing section 4 has a filter selecting section 5 (filter selecting means) connected to the network communication processing section 3 and a filter section 6 (filtering means) connected to the filter selecting section 5. is doing. The filter unit 6 is composed of a plurality of fixed filters 6a ... And a variable filter 6b for executing a filtering process for converting a data format such as a character code of the information data from a format on the network side to a format on the output device side. Each of these fixed filters 6a ... Executes a filtering process consisting of a combination of the data format of the information processing apparatus (not shown) connected to the communication line 2 and the data format of the output apparatus 8.

On the other hand, the variable filter 6b has a storage section which is a RAM for storing the data formats of the network side and the output device side. The storage of the data format in the storage unit is performed by an information processing device (not shown) connected via the communication line 2, and the variable filter 6b stores the data format of the network side stored in the storage unit. A filtering process for converting the data into the data format on the output device side is executed.

The filter selection unit 5 connected to the filter unit 6 has a designation switch (not shown), and the designation switch outputs designated data on the output device side that designates the data format of the output device 8. It is supposed to do.
Then, the filter unit 6 detects the fixed filter selection data included in the information data input through the communication line 2 to indicate the output device-side designation data and the data format on the network side included in the information data. A fixed filter 6a that executes a filtering process corresponding to both designated data based on the network designated data.
Is selected so that the selected fixed filters 6a ... Can be operated.

Further, the filter selection unit 5 selects the variable filter 6b by detecting the variable filter selection data included in the information data input via the communication line 2, and brings the variable filter 6b into the operating state. It has become. The filter unit 6 including the fixed filters 6a ... And the variable filter 6b is used in the output device I that transmits and receives information data according to the protocol of the output device 8.
The output device 8 is connected via the / F processing unit 7.

The operation of the printer server 1 having the above configuration will be described.

First, the output device I / F of the printer server 1
When the output device 8 is connected to the processing unit 7, the output device 8
The data format of the information data that can be processed is designated by the designation switch of the filter selection unit 5.

Next, when information data for operating the output device 8 according to the protocol corresponding to the network is output from the information processing device (not shown), this information data is
It is input to the network communication processing unit 3 of the printer server 1 in the form of an optical signal via the communication line 2. The network communication processing unit 3 takes in the information data, converts the optical signal into an electric signal, and then inputs the information data to the filter selecting unit 5 of the filtering processing unit 4.

Filter selection unit 5 to which information data is input
Will detect whether the information data includes fixed filter selection data or variable filter selection data. Then, when the fixed filter selection data is detected, the fixed filter selection data and the network side designation data indicating the network side data format included in the information data and the output device side designation data output by the designation switch are used as the basis. And a fixed filter 6a for executing filtering processing corresponding to both designated data
Is selected, and the selected fixed filter 6a is put into operation.

On the other hand, when variable filter selection data is detected by the filter selection unit 5, the variable filter 6
b will be activated. The activated variable filter 6b stores the variable filter selection data and the data formats of the network side and the output device side, which are included in the information data, in the storage unit to execute the filtering process of these data formats. Will be done.

Therefore, the filter section 6 including the fixed filters 6a ... And the variable filter 6b is the communication line 2
The output device 8 has a filtering function for converting the data format of the information data input via the output device 8, and the data is output via the filter unit 6 and the output device I / F processing unit 7. The information data to be processed is normally processed in the output device 8.

Thus, the printer server 1 of this embodiment
Is a plurality of fixed filters 6a ... And a variable filter 6 for executing a filtering process for converting the information data from the data format on the network side to the data format on the output device side.
.. or variable filter 6b, which has b and executes a filtering process corresponding to the data format on the network side and the data format on the output device side by using the information data.

As a result, the printer server 1 can execute a plurality of different filtering processes depending on the combination of the data format on the network side and the data format on the output device side.
The number of models has increased and can be used for networks with a high degree of freedom. Further, since the printer server 1 can select a plurality of different filtering processes according to the information data, the process of previously converting all the information data in the information processing device into a data format corresponding to the output device 8 becomes unnecessary, resulting in the information processing. It is possible to reduce the load on the processing device. In addition to the above-mentioned optical fiber, the same action can be obtained regardless of the communication line medium such as the coaxial cable.

[0026]

As described above, the printer server of the present invention outputs information data output from the information processing device in different data formats depending on the network and model in which the information data is transmitted in a plurality of data formats. It relays the connection with the device. Then, a plurality of filter means for performing a filtering process for converting the information data from the data format on the network side to the data format on the output device side, and a data format on the network side and a data format on the output device side using the information data. And a filter selecting unit that selects a filter unit that executes the filtering process corresponding to.

As a result, since a plurality of different filtering processes can be executed by a plurality of filter means, there are a plurality of data formats of the information data to be output to the output device. Therefore, since the number of connectable output devices increases, the output device can be used in a network with a high degree of freedom.

Further, since a plurality of different filtering processes can be selected according to the information data, the process of previously converting all the information data in the information processing device into a data format corresponding to the output device becomes unnecessary, and as a result, the information processing device This has the effect of reducing the load.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer server of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional example and is a block diagram of a printer server.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer Server 2 Communication Line 3 Network Communication Processing Section 4 Filtering Processing Section 5 Filter Selection Section (Filter Selection Section) 6 Filter Section (Filter Section) 6a Fixed Filter 6b Variable Filter 7 Output Device I / F Processing Section 8 Output Device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer server for relaying a connection between a network, in which information data output from an information processing device is transmitted in a plurality of data formats, and an output device, in which the data format of the information data processable by different models is different. A plurality of filter means for executing a filtering process for converting the information data from the data format on the network side to the data format on the output device side, and using the information data to convert the data format on the network side and the data format on the output device side. A printer server comprising: a filter selecting unit that selects a filter unit that executes a corresponding filtering process.