JPH07104949A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily select a printable device by a simple instructing operation by providing a means which selects the printable printing device by collating print resource information returned from each printing device with a printing condition, and displays the selected printing device at an outside device. CONSTITUTION:Whether data transmitted from outside devices 10a and 10b through a network 2, and received by an inputting and outputting part 3 are a status response command or print data is discriminated. Then, when the data are the status response command, the command is transferred to a status response command analyzing part 7, and the processing is ended. On the other hand, when the data are not the status response command, the received print data are transferred to a print data analyzing part 5, and the processing is ended. Next, the list of the printable printing devices is displayed on a display device such as a display. Thus, the user of the outside device side can specify the device which can output the print data even when the user doesn't know the print resource information of each device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external device communicable via a predetermined network and a printing device for receiving print information such as a control code and a character code from the external device for printing. The present invention relates to a printing system composed of and.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system of this type is usually connected to a plurality of printing devices on a network. Therefore, in order to print print data from a host, that is, an external device, It is necessary to select and specify any one of the printing devices connected to the network.

[0003]

Therefore, the user grasps various resource information (usable emulator, print resolution, currently set paper size, etc.) of each printing device connected to the network, You must select the printing device that will print.

In particular, when many printing devices are connected to the network, the operation of grasping and selecting the resource information is extremely difficult for a normal user, and an appropriate printing device can be selected. There was a problem that it was very difficult.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and analyzes print resource information returned from each printing device on a network according to a predetermined status transmitted from an external device, or By displaying the printing device that matches the print information of the print data to be printed based on the reply information from each printing device on the network according to the predetermined status sent from the external device, multiple printing on the network If the device is connected,
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that allows a user to easily select a printing device that can print print data by a simple instruction operation, even if the user does not know the printing resource information of each printing device.

[0006]

According to a first printing system of the present invention, each printing device has a reply means for analyzing a predetermined inquiry status transferred from an external device and returning printing resource information being set. A selection unit for selecting a printing device capable of printing by collating the printing resource information returned by the replying unit of each printing device with the printing conditions; and a display unit for displaying the printing device selected by the selection unit. This is the one provided on an external device.

A second printing system according to the present invention comprises a judgment means for judging whether or not printing is possible by analyzing a predetermined inquiry status including a printing condition from an external device,
A display unit is provided for each printing apparatus, which includes a reply unit for returning a predetermined response status including the result of the determination determined by the determination unit, and a printable printing apparatus is displayed based on each response status returned from each printing apparatus. The means is provided in an external device.

In a third printing system according to the present invention, print data is stored in a printing apparatus selected based on the arrangement information of each printing apparatus and the external apparatus stored in advance, to a printing apparatus close to the external apparatus. Is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting.

In a fourth printing system according to the present invention, when the selecting device cannot select a printing device, the changed printing conditions and the returned printing resource information are collated to search for a printing device candidate capable of printing. The collating means for displaying is provided in the external device.

[0010]

In the first aspect of the present invention, the reply means of the printing device analyzes the predetermined inquiry status transferred from the external device, returns the print resource information being set, and returns the returned print resource information. The printing means compares the printing conditions with the external device selection means to select a printing device that can print, and the display means displays the selected printing device. Therefore, the user on the external device side can print resources of each printing device on the network. Even without knowing the information, it becomes possible to specify the printing device on the network that can surely output the print data to be printed.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the determination means of the printing apparatus analyzes the predetermined inquiry status including the printing conditions from the external apparatus to determine whether or not printing is possible, and determines the determined result of the determination. When the response unit returns a predetermined response status including the response to the external device, the display unit of the external device displays a printable printing device based on each response status returned from each printing device. Even without knowing the print resource information of each printing device on the network, it is possible to specify the printing device on the network that can reliably output the print data to be printed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means prints on a printing apparatus in proximity to the external apparatus from the printing apparatuses selected based on the arrangement information of the printing apparatus and the external apparatus stored in advance. Since the data is transmitted, the print result can be acquired or collected at the shortest distance.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the collating means collates the changed printing conditions with the returned printing resource information to search for and display a printable printing device candidate, so that the selecting means selects the printing device. Even if cannot be selected, it becomes possible to select a printable printing device candidate.

[0014]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part for explaining the configuration of a printing apparatus applied to a printing system according to the invention. For example, a laser beam printer (LBP) is shown, and a data source (see FIG. A character pattern or a fixed form (form data) can be registered from any of the external devices shown in FIG. In addition, although the configuration of the engine unit will be described below by taking the LBP as an example, the present invention can be applied to a printing apparatus such as a thermal transfer recording system, an inkjet recording system, or a wire dot impact recording system as a printing method. The application of the invention is not impeded.

In the figure, 100 is the LBP body,
Inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from one or more host computers that are directly connected to the outside or via a network, and the corresponding characters according to that information. A pattern, a form pattern, etc. are created, and an image is formed on a recording paper, which is a recording medium.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, LEDs, character displays and the like are arranged, and 1 denotes an LB.
A control unit that controls the entire P body 100 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The control unit 1 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 102.

The laser driver 102 is the semiconductor laser 10.
3 is a circuit for driving the laser beam 3, and the laser beam 1 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 according to the input video signal.
004 is switched on and off. The laser beam 104 is swung in the left-right direction by a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) 105 and scans the electrostatic drum 106. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. The latent image is developed by the developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 108 mounted on the LBP main body 100, and is taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 109 and a conveying roller 110 and a conveying roller 111. It is supplied to the electrostatic drum 106.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the control unit 1 shown in FIG. 1. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a network composed of, for example, Ethernet or the like, which is connected to another printing apparatus including the main body 100 and a plurality of external apparatuses 10a and 10b so as to be communicable with a predetermined protocol. The external device 1
0a and 10b (see FIG. 3) may be configured to perform data processing by the same OS, or may be configured to perform data processing on different OSs.
Furthermore, the protocols of the print information may be the same or different.

Reference numeral 21 is an input / output interface for inputting / outputting various information between an external device connected to the network 2 and a printing device, 22 is a CPU for controlling the entire control unit 1, and 23 is a ROM. RO storing a control program of the CPU 22 and a character font pattern
M and 24 are RAMs, which are used as a receiving buffer for storing print data sent from the external devices 10a and 10b and a work area necessary for operating a program. An output interface 25 is an output interface for outputting to a printing mechanism unit (printer engine unit) 8 that actually performs printing. Each of these components is connected to the system bus 31.

The control configuration of the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numerals 10a and 10b denote external devices such as workstations and personal computers which output print data and status response commands to a printing device connected to the network 2 and which are capable of printing. It has a display function. The program for issuing the status response command may be stored in the ROM in advance, may be downloaded from the printing device by communication, or may be configured to be supplied and executed from an external storage device (not shown). May be

Reference numeral 3 denotes an input / output unit, which is an external device 10a, 10b.
Send and receive data to and from. Reference numeral 4 is a status response command detection unit that determines whether the input data is print data or status response. Reference numeral 5 is a print data analysis unit that generates an output image in an analysis paper bitmap format. 6 is a laser according to the generated output image. Beam ON / OF
An output unit for performing F control, 7 is a status response command analysis unit, which analyzes the status response command transmitted from the external devices 10a and 10b, and outputs the answer information to the external device 1
Return to 0a, 10b. Reference numeral 9 is a recording medium that is a sheet.

The operation of the status response command detector 4 will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the status response command detection processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (3) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the network 2
When it is determined that the data transmitted from the external devices 10a and 10b via the I / O unit 3 and received by the input / output unit 3 is a status response command or print data (1) and is a status response command. To the status response command analysis unit 7 (2),
The process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that it is not the status response command, the received print data is passed to the print data analysis section 5 (3), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of the status response command analysis processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) and (2) indicate each step.

When the status response command is passed from the status response command detection section 4, first, the status response command is analyzed (1) and each resource information of the printing apparatus requesting (for example, the currently set paper size). ，
A usable emulator or the like) is obtained, and the analysis result including the resource information is returned to the external device 10a, 10b that issued the status response command.

The resource information acquisition processing operation on the external device side in the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the print resource information acquisition processing procedure on the external device side in the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (3) indicate each step.

First, the external device 10a sends a status response command to the network 2 to inquire about resource information (for example, usable emulator, print resolution, currently set paper size, etc.) of the printing device connected to the network 2. Install on all connected printing devices. Then, the information that is the answer to each command is received (1). Here, the type of the status response command to be transmitted is not limited to the above example, and it is assumed that it is necessary for selecting a printable printing device. Next, it is judged from the information of each printing device obtained in step (1) whether or not the print data can be printed, and a printing device capable of printing is selected (2).

Then, a list of printable printing devices is displayed on a display device such as a display (3), and the process ends.

As a result, the input / output unit 3 of the printing apparatus analyzes the predetermined inquiry status transferred from the external apparatus 10a or the like and returns the print resource information being set, and the returned print resource information and the print CP of external device by checking the conditions
Since the U selects a printing device capable of printing and the display unit displays the selected printing device on the display unit of the external device, the user on the external device side print resource information (usable) of each printing device on the network 2. It is possible to specify a printing device on the network that can reliably output the print data to be printed without knowing the emulator, print resolution, currently set paper, etc.). Therefore, the user
It is possible to know the printing device on the network that can print the print data to be printed. [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, a status response command for inquiring each resource information (usable emulator, print resolution, currently set paper, etc.) of the printer is issued, and the result is issued. Although the external device determines which printing device is appropriate based on the basis, the printing device may be configured to determine whether printing is possible. In this case, any printing device that provides the following status response command may be used.

That is, the command sends (so-called polling) printing conditions (page description language (PDL) used, print resolution, paper size, black / white / color, etc.) of print data to all printing devices on the network. The printing apparatus which has received this status response command determines whether or not the print data can be printed based on the printing conditions.
As a result, printable or non-printable information is returned to the external device. The external device receives the information and displays a list of printable print devices on a display device such as a display, so that the user can know the print device on the network that can print the print data to be printed. Is possible.

As described above, in the second embodiment, whether the status response command detection unit 4 or the status response command analysis unit 7 of the printing device analyzes the predetermined inquiry status including the printing condition from the external device 10a and whether the printing is possible or not. When the reply means returns a predetermined response status including the judged result to the external device 10a, the display means of the external device 10a prints based on each response status returned from each printing device. Since the printers that can be used are displayed, the user of the external device can print resource information (printable emulators, print resolution,
Even if you do not know the paper size etc.
It is possible to specify the printing device on the network that can reliably output the print data to be printed.

As described above, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the user has various information (usable emulator, print resolution, paper size currently set, etc.) of each printing apparatus connected to the network. ), It is possible to recognize any printing device connected to the network 2 suitable for print data. [Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the user can know the printing device that can print, but the user must operate to actually send the print data to the printing device. The external device 1 has been described.
Allocation data of all printing devices on the network 2 is given to 0a, and when a printing device capable of printing is found, the printing data is automatically transmitted to the printing device closest to the external device, and the printing data is sent to the user. It may be configured to display the transmitted printing device.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the external device 10a is used.
Since the communication controller such as the above transmits print data to a printing apparatus close to the external apparatus from the printing apparatuses selected based on the arrangement information of each printing apparatus and the external apparatus stored in advance, the printing result can be minimized. It is possible to acquire or collect at a distance.

This makes it possible to reduce the print data transmission operation load on the user.

It should be noted that the method of selecting the printing device for transmitting the print data is not limited to the condition that the distance is the shortest as described above, and the condition that the printing speed is the fastest may be used as the selection condition. The optimum printing device may be selected from the AND condition of the distance condition and the print information. [Fourth Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the case where only the printable printing device is notified to the user has been described. However, in step (2) shown in FIG. By operating the printing device (such as replacing the paper with a different size), it is determined whether or not there is a printing device that can print, and if so, that information is also displayed on the display device to notify the user. Good.

Thus, in the fourth embodiment, the external device 10a is
Since the controller, etc., collates the changed printing conditions with the returned printing resource information and searches for printable printing device candidates and displays them, printing is possible even when the above-mentioned selecting means cannot select the printing device. It is possible to select a suitable printing device candidate.

As a result, even when there is no printable printing apparatus on the network 2 whose printing conditions completely match, or when there is no printable printing apparatus near the external device used by the user. It is possible to continue printing.

In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus as the printing system is constituted by the printer apparatus, but the present invention is also applied to the case of the scanner / printer type copying apparatus or the image forming apparatus. can do.

Further, in the case of searching for a printing device capable of printing the print data from the external device, the case where the status response command is individually transferred from the external device to all the printing devices via the network 2 has been described. The communication protocol to the printing device on the network is stored in the printing device side to which the secondary storage device can be connected, and the same status response command is transferred to the printing device registered according to the command from the external device. Alternatively, the reply information may be aggregated and relay processing may be performed such that the reply information is collectively returned to the external device.

Further, in the above embodiment, the network 2
Although the case where the printers are connected at the same hierarchical level has been described above, the present invention is also applied to a complex printing system in which the printers are directly connected to the lower level via the external interface of the printer. It goes without saying that you can do it.

[0047]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the present invention, the replying means of the printing device analyzes the predetermined inquiry status transferred from the external device, returns the print resource information being set, and returns the returned print resource information and the printing condition. Since the matching means selects a printing device that can be printed by the selecting means of the external device and the displaying means displays the selected printing device, the user on the external device side does not know the printing resource information of each printing device on the network. Even in this case, it is possible to specify the printing device on the network that can reliably output the print data to be printed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the determination unit of the printing apparatus analyzes the predetermined inquiry status including the printing condition from the external apparatus to determine whether the printing is possible or not, and the determination result of the determination. When the replying unit returns a predetermined response status including a response to the external device, the display unit of the external device displays a printable printing device based on each response status returned from each printing device. Can specify a printing device on the network that can reliably output the print data to be printed without knowing the printing resource information of each printing device on the network.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means selects a printing device close to the external device from the printing devices selected based on the arrangement information of the printing devices and the external device stored in advance. Since the print data is transmitted, the print result can be acquired or collected at the shortest distance.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the collating means collates the changed printing conditions with the returned printing resource information to search for and display a printable printing device candidate, so that the selecting means prints. Even if the device cannot be selected, it is possible to select a printable printing device candidate.

Therefore, when a plurality of printing devices are connected to the network, the printing device capable of printing the print data can be printed with a simple instruction operation even if the user does not know the printing resource information of each printing device. The effect is that it can be easily selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main-portion cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus applied to a printing system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a status response command detection processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a status response command analysis processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a print resource information acquisition processing procedure on the external device side in the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Section 2 Network 3 Input / Output Section 4 Status Response Command Detection Section 5 Print Data Analysis Section 6 Output Section 7 Status Response Command Analysis Section 8 Printing Mechanism Section 9 Recording Medium 10a External Device 10b External Device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing system in which at least one external device and a plurality of printing devices communicate with each other via a predetermined network to print the received print data, and a predetermined query transferred from the external device. Each printing apparatus is provided with a reply unit that analyzes the matching status and sends back the printing resource information being set, and the printing resource information returned by the reply unit of each printing apparatus and the printing conditions can be collated and printed. A printing system characterized in that an external device is provided with a selection device for selecting a printing device and a display device for displaying the printing device selected by the selection device. 2. A printing system in which at least one external device and a plurality of printing devices communicate with each other via a predetermined network to print received print data, and a predetermined printing condition is included from the external device. Each printing apparatus is provided with a determination unit that analyzes the inquiry status and determines whether or not printing is possible, and a reply unit that returns a predetermined response status including the result of the determination determined by this determination unit. A printing system characterized in that an external device is provided with a display means for displaying a printing device capable of printing based on each response status returned from the device. 3. A transmission means for transmitting print data to a printing apparatus adjacent to the external apparatus from the printing apparatuses selected based on the arrangement information of each printing apparatus and the external apparatus stored in advance. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. When the selecting means cannot select the printing device, the collating means for collating the changed printing condition with the returned printing resource information to search for a printable printing device candidate and displaying it is an external device. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: