JPH07129337A - Multiprinter managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently manage plural printers by managing plural printers by a printing control device, temporarily storing data outputted from a host computer, specifying a printer to be used for printing in accordance with the states of respective printers, and outputting the stored data as printing data. CONSTITUTION:Host computer 11, 12, printers 16, 17 and the printing control device 20 are mutually connected through a network 10. When printing data are outputted to the network 10 together with a printing request, the printing request and the printing data are received in accordance with the operation of the device 20 and temporarily stored in a data storage device 21. An optimum printer matched with a printing condition out of the printers 16, 17 connected to the network 10 is specified based upon management data in a printer managing table and printer managing queue stored in the device 20, the printing data are sent to the specified printer to print out the data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-printer management system for managing a plurality of printing apparatuses, and more particularly, in a printer system in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected via a network, a plurality of printing apparatuses can efficiently use a plurality of printing apparatuses. The present invention relates to a multi-printer management system that manages a single printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-108624.
As described in the publication, a printing method of an information processing system including a plurality of processors, a print processing device, a plurality of printing devices, and a data loop is known. Multiple processors here are processors that perform processing independently or in relation to each other,
The print processing device processes the outputs of the plurality of processors and distributes them to a plurality of internal printing devices and a plurality of external storage devices connected in parallel with each other. The plurality of printing devices operate as output devices of the plurality of processors, are connected in parallel to the print processing device, and execute printing by the output of the print processing device. In addition, the data loop connects multiple processors and print processing devices to each other in a ring shape, and multiple printers connected in parallel for each model from each of the multiple processors and multiple external storage devices. Is used to dynamically use.

In an information processing system having a plurality of processors and a print processing device connected by such a data loop and comprising a plurality of printing devices, a plurality of printing devices are provided from the side of the processor serving as the host computer. One of the intended printing devices is selected from among these, and the necessary print data is transferred and printing is performed.

[0004]

By the way, according to the printing method of the information processing system described in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the printing device is selected by the processor which is the host computer, so that any printing device can be designated. You can do or change it. However, in that case, in order to select the most suitable printing device at the time of outputting print data on the host computer side, the host computer must determine the performance of the printing output speed of the printing device, the characteristics such as the paper type of the printing device, and the operating status of the printing device. It is necessary to perform processing for recognizing the above, and searching for an optimum printing apparatus satisfying the requirements on the host computer side from a plurality of printing apparatuses.

When the network becomes large in scale and the number of host computers connected to the network increases as in the recent system configuration, the respective host computers send data to each other by sending data to each other. The previous printing device cannot be recognized. As a result, data from multiple different host computers may be sent centrally to a small number of printing devices.
In that case, print requests concentrate on the specific small number of printing devices, and the load increases. On the other hand, there is a problem in that the efficiency of the printer system as a whole is reduced due to a situation in which a printing apparatus with a low operating rate is generated even though the requirements of the print request are satisfied. In addition, if the above situation occurs, if the printing device that has completed sending the print data fails, or if you want to obtain the intended print results immediately, you can print from the host computer. In order to cancel the request, it is necessary to delete the sent print data, search for a printing device that is relatively free in operation, and then send the print data again on the host computer side. Due to such processing, there is a problem that the load on the host computer side increases. Further, in each printing apparatus, there is also a problem that internal data processing related to printing processing such as printing format processing lowers other processing capacity, and the original capacity cannot be exhibited.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently use a plurality of printers in a printer system in which a plurality of printers are connected via a network. An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-printer management system that manages one printing apparatus.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a multi-printer management system, which is the first feature of the present invention, has one or more host computers, a plurality of printing devices, and a printing device. A control device is connected to a network, the print control device manages a plurality of printing devices, receives data output from a host computer, specifies a printing device to execute printing, and prints the received data as print data. A multi-printer management system for outputting to a printing device as a printer, the printing control device is a correspondence table for designating a physical printing device name from a storage device for storing data transmitted from a host computer and logical printing device name designation information. And a printing device management table that includes an output queue that manages the status of print data sent to each of the printing devices. A control for outputting the print data to the specified print device according to the output queue by specifying the physical print device name from the management device and the print device management table from the logical print device name specification information of the data transmitted from the host computer. And an application control unit for performing the operation.

In the multi-printer management system having the second characteristic, the application control unit uses the printing device management table to specify a physical printing device from the logical printing device name designating information of the data transmitted from the host computer. If the name cannot be specified, specify the physical printer name that has less load according to the status of the output queue,
It is characterized in that control for outputting the print data to the designated printing device is performed.

Further, in a multi-printer management system as a third feature of the present invention, a print control device in which a plurality of printing devices are connected by a network and one or more host computers are connected, and the print control device is A multi-printer management system that manages a plurality of printing devices, specifies a printing device to execute printing for data output from a host computer, and outputs the received data as printing data to the printing device. The print control device includes a storage device that stores data output from a host computer, a printing device management table that includes a correspondence table that specifies a physical printing device name from logical printing device name specification information, and a plurality of printing devices. A print device management queue that holds an output queue that manages the status of print data sent to the host computer And an application control unit that controls the physical printing device name from the logical printing device name designation information of the transmitted data by the printing device management table and outputs the print data to the designated printing device according to the output queue. It is characterized by

As a fourth feature of the multi-printer management system of the present invention, each of the plurality of printing devices further comprises a queue management device for holding an output queue for managing the status of print data. When the specific physical printing device name cannot be designated by the printing device management table from the logical printing device name designating information of the data transmitted from the host computer, the application control unit outputs from the queue management device of each printing device. A feature is that a physical printing device name with a light load is designated according to the state of the queue, and control is performed to output print data to the designated printing device.

[0011]

In the multi-printer management system of the first aspect of the present invention, one or more host computers, a plurality of printing devices, and a print control device are connected to a network to form a system. The print control device manages multiple printing devices, receives the data output from the host computer, temporarily stores the data, and specifies the printing device to execute printing according to the status of each printing device. The accumulated data is output as print data to the designated printing device.

Therefore, the print control device includes a storage device, a printing device management table, a printing device management queue, and
And an application control unit. When the output data to be printed is transmitted from the host computer to the network, the print control device receives it and the storage device stores the data transmitted from the host computer. The printing device management table includes a correspondence table that specifies the physical printing device name from the logical printing device name specification information. The printing device management queue shows the status of the print data sent to each of the printing devices. Holds an output queue to manage. The application control unit grasps the status of each printing device according to this output queue, and specifies the physical printing device name from the printing device management table from the logical printing device name designation information of the data transmitted from the host computer. Control to output the print data to the designated printing device.

Further, in the second feature, the application control unit designates a specific physical printing device name by referring to the printing device management table from the logical printing device name designating information of the data transmitted from the host computer. If not possible, a physical printing device name with less load is designated according to the state of the output queue held in the printing device management queue, and control is performed to output print data to the designated printing device.

In this way, the application control unit
Depending on the contents of the output queue, specify the most suitable physical printing device according to the printing conditions from the current state of the printing device, for example, specify the printing device with the fewest output queues among the printing devices and send the print data. Therefore, the destinations of the respective print data sent to the respective printing devices are averaged, and the printing devices can be effectively used as a whole as a system.

The multi-printer management system for managing a plurality of printing devices can be applied even when the host computer is not network-connected in the overall system configuration. In this case, for the connection between the print control device and the plurality of printing devices, a network connection is preferable because the number of connectable printing devices is not limited by the number of connection ports (connection terminal ports). It will be composed. Therefore, in the multi-printer management system of the third aspect of the present invention, the print control device and a plurality of printing devices are connected by a network, and the print control device is directly connected to one or more host computers. The system configured as above is the applicable system.

Also in this case, the print control device stores the data output from the host computer, the printing device management table for designating the physical printing device name from the logical printing device name designating information, and each of the plurality of printing devices. Correspondence included in the printing device management table from the printing device management queue that holds the output queue that manages the state of the print data sent to the device and the logical printing device name designation information of the data sent from the host computer It is equipped with an application control unit that controls the physical printing device name specified by the table and outputs the print data to the specified printing device.
The print control device manages a plurality of printing devices connected to the network. Then, according to the status of each printing device, with respect to the data output from the host computer, the data is received, temporarily stored, the printing device that executes printing is designated, and the received data is set as print data. Output to the specified printer.

That is, the print control device receives and stores the data transmitted from the host computer, and at the same time, based on the logical printing device name designation information transmitted from the host computer and the output queue information of the printing device management queue, The application control unit determines the optimum physical printing device name according to the conditions, and outputs the stored output data to be printed to the determined printing device. In other words, when the logical printing device name is specified on the host computer side, the print control device refers to the printing device management table to specify the physical printing device name, and the physical printing specified by the output queue status of the printing device management queue. Determine the device.

Further, in the multi-printer management system having the fourth characteristic, each of the plurality of printing devices is provided with a queue management device for holding an output queue for managing the state of print data. The queue management device provided on the side of each printing device manages its state by the output queue at the same time as the processing of the print data in each printing device progresses. It is reflected. Therefore, the application control unit uses the output queue in the queue management device provided on each printing device side instead of the output queue in the printing device management queue in the print control device.
The state of each printing device is grasped in real time and its control is performed.

That is, when the specific physical printing device name cannot be designated by the printing device management table from the logical printing device name designating information of the data transmitted from each host computer, the application control unit of each printing device. According to the state of the output queue from the queue management device, a physical printing device name with a light load is specified, and print data is output to the specified printing device. In this case, in particular, the print control device need not be provided with the printing device management queue that holds the output queue that manages the state of the print data sent to each of the plurality of printing devices.

Thus, for example, on the host computer side, by simply adding the logical printing device name and sending the print data, the printing conditions of the printing devices connected to the network can be met. It is possible to specify the optimum printing device and perform printing. As a result, since the print data can be sent while grasping the operating status of each of the plurality of printing devices, the sending of the print data is averaged and the entire printing device system can be effectively used. In addition, even if a failure occurs in the printing device that has completed sending the print data, the print result is not yet obtained, and the user wants to obtain the print result immediately, the print data is stored in the storage device of the print control device. Since the print data is stored and managed by the print control device, the print control device can re-send the print data to another printing device in which no trouble has occurred. As a result, the printing result is obtained in another printing device. Since this process can be handled only by the print control device, it is not necessary to control the print data to be sent from the host computer, and the load on the host computer is reduced. Further, the print data accumulated in the print control device is printed by the print control device before the print data is sent to the print device, by performing a process such as a format process normally performed in the print device. The load on the device can be reduced and the original capabilities of the printing device can be exhibited.
Therefore, the processing capability of the entire printing apparatus system is improved.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a multi-printer management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a network, 11 is a first host computer, 12 is a second host computer, and 13 is a first host computer.
First storage device storing data output from the host computer, 14 is a second storage device storing data output from the second host computer, 16
Is a first printing device, 17 is a second printing device, and 18 is a first printing device.
Is a first print data storage device for storing print data of the second printing device, and 19 is a second print data storage device for storing print data of the second printing device. Further, 20 is a print control device, 21 is a third print data storage device that stores print data managed by the print control device, 22 is a first queue management device that manages the printing operation state of the first printing device, Two
A second queue management device 3 manages the printing operation state of the second printing device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-printer management system of this embodiment includes a first host computer 1
1, a second host computer 12, a first printing device 1
6, the second printing device 17, and the print control device 20,
The system is configured by being interconnected via a network 10. A first storage device 13 is connected to the first host computer 11, and data output from the first host computer 11 is stored in the first storage device 13. A second storage device 14 is connected to the second host computer 12, and the data output from the second host computer 12 is stored in the second storage device 14.

The first printing device 16 stores first print data for which the first printing device 16 has received a print request.
Is connected to the print data storage device 18, and a queue management device 22 that manages the print output state of the print data is connected. Similarly, a second print data storage device 19 for storing print data requested by the second print device is connected to the second print device 17, and the print output state of the print data is managed. The queue management device 23 is connected. The print control device 20 is connected to a third print data storage device 21 for temporarily storing print data to be sent to the printing device managed here.

In FIG. 1, in the block diagram of each storage device, in order to explain the operation of the multi-printer management system, each print data stored in each storage device is circled. Inside the symbols a, b, c, d,
e, A, B, C, D, E are shown.
That is, in the first storage device 13 that stores the data output from the first host computer 11, a,
Printing data A, B, C, D, and E is stored in the second storage device 14 that stores print data b, c, d, and e, and that stores data output from the second host computer 12. It illustrates that the data is stored.

A stored in the first storage device 13,
Since the print data b, c, d, and e and the print data A, B, C, D, and E stored in the second storage device 14 are printed out, the print request is sent to the network 10 together with the print request. When the data is output, in the multi-printer management system, the print request and print data are received by the operation of the print control device 20 and temporarily stored in the third print data storage device 21. Then, printing is performed in the first printing device 16 or the second printing device 17 connected to the network based on the printing device management table of the printing control device 20 and the management data of the printing device management queue (described later). Designate the optimum printing device that meets the conditions, and specify a, b, c, d for each designated printing device.
The print data of A and the print data of A, B, C, D, and E are sent, and printing is performed in each printing device.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, print data a, b, c and d are sent to the first printing device 16, and the sent print data is stored in the first print data storage device 18 and sequentially. Is printed out. In addition, the second printing device 17
A, B, C, and D print data are sent, and the sent print data is stored in the second print data storage device 19 and sequentially printed out.

For example, when the output data is sent by designating the logical printing device name (adding the logical printing device name designation information) in order to instruct the print request on the host computer side, the print processing control device 20 Then, the physical printing device name is obtained from the logical printing device name based on the management data such as the printing device management table and printing device management queue, which will be described later, and it is more suitable according to the status of the output queue held corresponding to each printing device. The physical printing device name to be used is determined, and each print data is sent to each printing device. Therefore, on the host computer side, by simply adding the logical printing device name and sending the print data, the optimum printing device that meets the printing processing conditions can be specified among the printing devices connected to the network. It becomes possible to print.

Next, in order to compare the effectiveness of the present invention, a case where the print control apparatus according to the present invention is not operating in the printer system connected to the network will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the print control device is not operating in the multi-printer management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the elements constituting the system are represented by the same reference numerals as in FIG.

In the printer system connected to the network, when the print control device is not operating, as shown in FIG. 2, one or more host computers (11, 12) connected to the network 10 and a plurality of host computers (11, 12) are connected. Printing devices (16, 17) are operating. Also in this case,
The first host computer 11 outputs a, b,
The print data of c, d, and e are stored in the first storage device 13, and the second host computer 12 also outputs the print data of A, B, C, D, and E to the second storage device 14.
Stored in. Here, the host computer side does not control the usage status of the plurality of printing devices and how another host computer uses or is going to use the plurality of printing devices.

Therefore, as also shown in FIG. 2, the first host computer 11 sends the print data a, b, and c to the first printer 16 and then to the second printer 17. On the other hand, the output data of d and e are transmitted. In this case, the second host computer 12 sends the print data of A and B to the second printing device 17, regardless of the print data output operation of the first computer 11, and then the first The C, D, and E print data are sent to the printing device 16.

As described above, on the side of each of the plurality of host computers, regardless of the usage status of each of the plurality of printing devices, each independently independently sends the data to be printed to each printing device. A situation occurs in which a large amount of print data is concentrated on one printing device. That is,
In this example, a large amount of data is sent to the first printing device 16, a large amount of print data is accumulated in the print data storage device 18 of the first printing device 16, and the load of the first printing device 16 is reduced. It's getting higher. On the other hand, in the print data storage device 19 of the second printing device 17, there is a situation where the print data becomes small, and the plurality of printing devices are not operating efficiently as a whole system.

If a failure occurs in the first printing device 16 at the time when the print data is sent to the first printing device 16, the first host computer 11
And the second host computer 12 are respectively a,
The print data of b, c and C, D, E must be sent again. Therefore, the load on each host computer increases. Furthermore, in each printing device, the process performed by the print control device must be performed along with the original printing process, for example, the process of converting the received print data into a content format. For this reason, the processing takes time, the overall processing capability is reduced, and the original processing capability of the printing function is not fully exerted.

On the other hand, when the print control device 20 as shown in FIG. 1 is operating, the print control device 20 receives print data from the host computer, temporarily stores it, and Since the operating states of the plurality of printing devices are managed, the printing device having a small load is designated, and the print data is transmitted, the plurality of printing devices can be efficiently operated as the entire system. Next, the operation of the print control device 20 will be described in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the components of the print control device 20. In FIG. 3, 20 is a print control device, 21 is a print data storage device for storing print data,
A queue management device 22 manages the operating state of the printing device. These are the same as those described in FIG. Further, 31 is a printing device management table, 32 is an application control unit, 33 is a printing device management queue, and 34 is a queue management table. The printing control device 20 includes a printing device management table 31 and an application control unit 3.
2, and a printer management queue 33 are provided,
The queue management device 22 includes a queue management table 34.

The application control section 32 here is
The printing device management table 31 is referenced from the logical printing device name designation information in the data transmitted from the host computer, the physical printing device name is determined from the correspondence table (not shown), and the printing device management queue 33 is referenced. Then, the operating state of each printing device at this time is determined, and the name of the physical printing device to which the print data is sent is designated. Then, the print data temporarily stored in the print data storage device 21 is sent to the designated printing device.

As described above, the print control device 20 receives the print data transmitted by designating the logical printing device name from the host computer, and the received print data is temporarily stored in the print data storage device 21. . At the same time, in the printing device management table 31, the print data ID for identifying each print data, the logical printing device name instructed corresponding thereto, and the physical printing device name corresponding to the logical printing device name from the correspondence table are displayed. Then, the information about the physical printing device name is managed. In addition, the printing device management queue 33
In, the information about the state of the print data after sending the print data is managed as an output queue corresponding to each physical printing device name. The output queue information in the printing device management queue 33 is transferred from the queue management table 34 in the queue management device 22 of each printing device through the network (communication service system).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the printing apparatus management table 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the printing device management table 31 includes a printing data field 41 for storing a printing data ID, a logical printing device name field 42, and a physical printing device name field 43. The print requests are registered and managed in the order in which the print data is received. In FIG. 4, a, A, b, in which the logical printing device names (A, B, C) are designated
Printing device management table in a state in which print data of B, c, C, d, D, E, and e are received in this order, and the logical printing device name and the corresponding physical printing device name are registered together with the print data ID. 31 is shown.

Here, when the logical printing device name A is designated, the printer 1 is designated as the corresponding physical printing device name, and when the logical printing device name B is designated, the corresponding physical printing device is designated. Specify printer 2 as the device name,
When the logical printing device name C is specified, the printer 1 or the printer 2 is set as the corresponding physical printing device name.
Either of the above shall be specified. These designated physical printing device names are stored in the physical printing device name field 43.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the printing apparatus management queue 33. The printing device management queue 33 holds an output queue for managing the state of the print data sent to each of the plurality of printing devices. As shown in FIG.
An output queue of the processing state of each print data in the printing device is managed corresponding to each physical printing device name. In the example of FIG. 5, the output queue of each print data ID causes the physical printing device name to be the printer 1.
In the printing apparatus, the print data of a is being printed, the print data of b is being formatted, the print data of c is in a pending state, and the print data of d is being received. Indicates that the state is. Further, in the printing device whose physical printing device name is printer 2, the print data of A is in a printing state, the print data of B is in a formatting state, and the print data of C is in a pending state. Yes, it indicates that the print data of D is being received. Both the print data of e and the print data of E are in a waiting state (in the print data storage device).

Further, such a printing device management queue 33
The status of the output queue is updated by the information from the queue management table in the queue management device provided in each printing device being transferred from each printing device through the network (communication service system).

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing the contents of the queue management table in the printing devices whose physical printing device names are printer 1 and printer 2, respectively. Each printing device is provided with a queue management device for managing the progress of the printing process, and each print data is queue-managed by the queue management table therein. The queue management table 34 shown in FIG. 6 indicates the processing status of print data to be printed by the printing apparatus (first printing apparatus 16) here, as the print data ID.
It is managed by the queue. In this example, the print data of a is in a printing state, the print data of b is in a formatting state, the print data of c is in a pending state, and the print data of d is in a receiving state. It indicates that there is.

The queue management table 35 shown in FIG.
Shows the processing status of the print data being printed in the printing device (second printing device 17) here, the print data of A is in the printing state, and the print data of B is in the format. It indicates that the print data of C is in a pending state and the print data of D is in a receiving state.

As described above, the application control unit in the print control apparatus refers to such a printing apparatus management table and printing apparatus management queue to grasp the operating state of each printing apparatus, and the host computer When the print data including the transmitted logical printing device name is received, the print data is temporarily stored, the printing device that sends the printing data is designated from the logical device name, and the process of sending the printing data is performed. . FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the print control processing performed by such an application control unit.

Next, the processing flow of the print control processing performed by the application control unit will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, first, in step 51, when print data is received, the print data is temporarily stored in the print data storage device, and then in step 52, the print request for the print data to be subjected to the print control process is retried due to an error. Or not. If it is a retry due to an error,
In step 53, the process of changing the logical printing device is performed, and then the process proceeds to step 54. If it is determined in step 52 that the retry is not due to an error, the process directly proceeds to step 54.

In the next step 54, the designation of the logical printing device name is determined, and the physical printing device name is determined from the correspondence table according to the designated logical printing device name. In this process, as described above, the printing device management table is referred to, and the corresponding physical printing device name is specified by the correspondence table that specifies the physical printing device name from the logical printing name specifying information. As a result, the designated physical printing device name is determined.

In the determination processing of step 54, if the physical printing device name is designated as the specific printer 1, the process proceeds to step 56, and if the physical printing device name is designated as the specific printer 2, the process proceeds to step 58. On the other hand, if the physical printing device name is not specified for the printer 1 or the printer 2 in the designation of the logical printing device name, the process proceeds to step 55, and in the printing device of the physical printing device name which is the designation target Select one with a low load from the print processing status.
In this processing, the physical printing device name in the low load state is determined from the state of the output queue of the printing device management queue. According to this determination, if the physical printing device name is designated as the printer 1, the process proceeds to step 56, and if the physical printing device name is designated as the specific printer 2, the process proceeds to step 58.

In this way, when the physical printing device name is designated as printer 1, the process proceeds to step 56,
In step 56, processing for sending print data to the first printing device is performed. Then, in the next step 57, if it can be determined that the sending of the print data to the first printing apparatus has been completed normally, the process here is ended. If it cannot be determined in step 57 that the print data has been sent normally, the process returns to step 52.
The processing from step 52 is repeated.

Similarly, in the process of designating the physical printing device name, if the physical printing device name is designated as the printer 2, the process proceeds to step 58. Therefore, in step 58, printing is performed on the second printing device. Performs data transmission processing. Then, in the next step 59, if it can be determined that the sending of the print data to the second printing device has been completed normally, the process here is ended. If it is not determined in step 59 that the print data transmission has ended normally, the process returns to step 52 and the processing from step 52 is repeated.

In this way, by the processing of the application control unit 32, the logical printing device name is designated for the print data sent from the host computer from the information of the printing device management table 31 and the printing device management queue 33. According to this, the optimum printing device at that time is designated, and the print data is sent to the designated printing device.

Therefore, according to the multi-printer management system of this embodiment, even when data is transmitted from a plurality of different host computers to a specific small number of printing devices, the print control device manages the data, so that the specific data is transmitted. The load is not concentrated on a small number of printing devices, and the operating rate of printing devices that satisfy other requirements is increased. In addition, the efficiency of the printer system as a whole is improved.

Further, in FIG. 1, even if a failure occurs in the first printing device 16 which has completed the transmission of the print data, the print data a, b, c, and d are stored in the print control device 20. The print data is stored in the print data storage device 21 and managed by the print control device 20 until the completion of print processing. Therefore, the print control device 20 notifies the second printing device 17, which is a printing device in which no failure has occurred, of the a,
The print data of b, c, d can be retransmitted. Therefore, there is no need to perform control for retransmitting print data from the host computer 11, and the host computer 11
The load on is reduced.

Also, in the case where the load is concentrated on a specific small number of printing devices, or when it is desired to obtain the intended print result immediately, the print control device 20 is similarly operated by the host. The sent print data is deleted, and the print data is sent again after searching for a printing device that is relatively free in operation. Therefore, there is no need to control the print data sent again from the host computer side. Load is reduced.

Further, in FIG. 1, the first printing device 1
6 or the second printing device 17, when the internal data processing lowers the other processing capability, the print control device 20 sends the print data to the first printing device 16 or the second printing device 17. First, a part of the print processing (print format processing, etc.) for the print data of e and E is executed in advance by the internal processing in the print control device. As a result, the load on the first printing device 16 and the second printing device 17 can be reduced, and the original capabilities of the printing device can be exhibited.

Further, the print control device 20 here is the same as that shown in FIG.
In the embodiment shown in (1), the intermediate position between the plurality of host computers and the plurality of printing devices connected to the network is shown independently, but it is also possible to function as a part of the host computer or the printing device. Also,
The data handled in this system is mainly print data for immediate print processing, but may be non-print data.

The multi-printer management system managed by a plurality of printing devices can be applied even when the host computer is not network-connected in the system configuration. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a multi-printer management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The multi-printer management system of another embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is an application example in which the host computer is not connected to the network. In this case, the multi-printer management system between the print control device and a plurality of printing devices is used. Regarding the connection, the network connection is preferable because the number of connectable printing devices is not limited by the number of connection ports (connection terminal ports). Therefore, in a multi-printer management system according to another embodiment, a print control device and a plurality of printing devices are connected by a network, and this print control device is directly connected to one or more host computers. It has been configured.

In FIG. 9, 61 is a first host computer and 62 is a second host computer. 63
Is a first data storage device connected to the first host computer 61, and the first data storage device 63 is the first data storage device.
Holds data to be output from the host computer 61, and 64 is a second data storage device connected to the second host computer 62. The second data storage device 64 is the second host computer. The data output from 62 is held. Reference numeral 65 is a print control device. A first host computer 61 and a second host computer 62 are directly connected to the print control device 65.

A print data storage device 66 for storing the data output from each host computer is connected to the print control device 65.
Is a printing device management table including a correspondence table for designating a physical printing device name from the logical printing device name designation information, and a logical printing device for data transmitted from the host computer, similar to the printing control device 20 of the above-described embodiment. An application control unit is provided which controls the physical printing device name from the name designation information by the correspondence table included in the printing device management table and outputs the print data to the designated printing device.

The first subject to be managed by this system
The printing device 71 and the second printing device 72 are connected to the print control device 65 via the network 60. First
The printing device 71 includes a print data storage device 73 that stores the print data, and the second printing device 72 includes a print data storage device 74 that stores the print data. In addition, the print controller 65 includes a network 60.
A queue management device 67 is provided in order to manage each of these plural printing devices connected by. The queue management device 67 corresponds to a plurality of printing devices,
A plurality of queue management tables that hold output queues that manage the state of print data sent to each printing apparatus are held. Therefore, in this embodiment, each printing apparatus is not provided with a queue management apparatus.

Also in the multi-printer management system of the other embodiment configured as described above, like the multi-printer management system of the above-described embodiment, the output is made from the host computer according to the state of each printing apparatus. With respect to the data, a control process is performed for receiving the data, temporarily storing the data, designating a printing device to execute printing, and outputting the received data as print data to the designated printing device.

That is, the print control device 65 receives the data transmitted from the host computer (61, 62), temporarily stores the data in the print data storage device 66, and at the same time, the logical printing device name transmitted from the host computer. Of the output queue of the queue management device 67, the application control unit determines the optimum physical printing device name according to the conditions, and the printing device having the determined physical printing device name is set as the destination of the print data. The print data stored in the storage device 66 is output.

In another embodiment, the print control device 65 is provided with a queue management device for managing the print processing status of each printing device. However, the multi-printer of the previous embodiment is used. Like the management system, a configuration may be used in which a plurality of printing devices each include a queue management device that holds an output queue that manages the state of print data. In either configuration, the queue management device on the side of the print control device, or the queue management device on the side of each printing device, changes its status to the output queue at the same time as the processing of the print data in each printing device progresses. The output queue reflects the state immediately. The application control unit grasps the state of each printing device in real time by an output queue in a queue management device provided on the side of the printing control device or on the side of each printing device, and controls it. In this case, as in the above-described embodiment, the print control device does not need to be provided with the printing device management queue that holds the output queue that manages the state of the print data sent to each of the plurality of printing devices. good.

As described above, in the control process performed by the print control device (application control unit), the physical print device name specified by the print device management table is determined from the logical print device name designation information of the data transmitted from each host computer. If you cannot specify the print data, specify the physical printer name that has less load according to the output queue status in the queue management device of each printing device (or the queue management device of the print control device), and specify the print data for printing. Performs processing to output to the device.

As a result, for example, on the host computer side, by simply adding the logical printing device name and sending the print data, the optimum printing conditions suitable for the printing conditions of the printing devices connected to the network can be obtained. It is possible to specify a different printing device and perform printing. Therefore, the transmission of print data is averaged, and the entire printing apparatus system can be effectively used.

[0065]

As described above, according to the multi-printer management system of the present invention, the processing function of the print control device allows the data sent from the host computer to meet a condition among a plurality of printing devices. It is possible to provide a multi-printer management system that can select a printing device, make effective use of the printing device, and reduce the load on the host computer side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a multi-printer management system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a print control device is not operating in the multi-printer management system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components of a print control device,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a printing device management table;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a printing device management queue;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a queue management table in a printing apparatus whose physical printing apparatus name is printer 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of a queue management table in a printing device whose physical printing device name is printer 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of print control processing performed by an application control unit,

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a multi-printer management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Network, 11 ... First host computer, 12 ... Second host computer, 13 ... First storage device, 14 ... Second storage device, 16 ... First printing device, 17 ... Second printing Device, 18 ... First print data storage device, 19 ... Second print data storage device, 20 ... Print control device, 21 ... Third print data storage device, 22 ... First queue management device, 23 ... 2 queue management devices, 3
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing device management table, 32 ... Application control part, 33 ... Printing device management queue, 34 ... Queue management table, 35 ... Queue management table, 41 ... Print data field, 42 ... Logical printer name field, 43 ...
Physical printer name field, 60 ... Network, 61
... first host computer, 62 ... second host computer, 63 ... first data storage device, 64 ... second data storage device, 65 ... print control device, 66 ... print data storage device, 67 ... queue management Device, 71 ... First printing device, 72 ... Second printing device, 73 ... Printing data storage device, 74 ... Print data storage device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. One or more host computers, a plurality of printing apparatuses, and a print control apparatus are connected to a network, and the print control apparatus manages the plurality of printing apparatuses and outputs from the host computer. A multi-printer management system for receiving data, designating a printing device to execute printing, and outputting the received data as printing data to the printing device, wherein the printing control device stores data sent from a host computer. Storage device, a printing device management table that includes a correspondence table that specifies the physical printing device name from the logical printing device name specification information, and an output queue that manages the status of the print data sent to each of the multiple printing devices. The printing device management is carried out from the printing device management queue held and the logical printing device name designation information of the data transmitted from the host computer. Specifies the physical printer name by Buru, multi printer management system, characterized in that it comprises an application control unit for controlling output to the specified printing apparatus print data according to the output queue. 2. The multi-printer management system according to claim 1, wherein the application control unit uses the printing device management table to specify a physical printing device name based on logical printing device name designation information of data transmitted from a host computer. A multi-printer management system, characterized in that, when the print queue cannot be specified, a physical printing device name with a light load is specified according to the state of the output queue, and the print data is output to the specified printing device. 3. A print control device in which a plurality of printing devices are connected by a network and one or more host computers are connected, and the print control device manages the plurality of printing devices and outputs from the host computer. A multi-printer management system that specifies a printing device to execute printing for data and outputs the received data as printing data to the printing device, wherein the printing control device stores the data output from the host computer. Holds a storage device, a printing device management table that contains a correspondence table that specifies physical printing device names from logical printing device name specification information, and an output queue that manages the status of print data sent to multiple printing devices. The printing device management queue to be executed and the logical printing device name designation information of the data transmitted from the host computer Multi printer management system, characterized in that it comprises specify the physical printer name by the management table, and an application control unit for controlling output to the specified printing apparatus print data according to the output queue. 4. The multi-printer management system according to claim 3, further comprising: a plurality of printing apparatuses,
A queue management device that holds an output queue that manages the state of print data is provided, and the application control unit uses the printing device management table to specify a specific physical printing device from the logical printing device name designation information of the data transmitted from the host computer. If the name cannot be specified, specify the physical printing device name that has the least load according to the status of the output queue from the queue management device of each printing device, and perform control to output the print data to the specified printing device. A characteristic multi-printer management system. 5. A storage device for storing print data, a printing device management table including a correspondence table for designating a physical printing device name from logical printing device name designation information added to the printing data, and a plurality of printing devices. The print device management queue that holds the output queue that manages the status of the print data sent to the printer and a plurality of printing devices are managed, and the physical printing device name is specified by the printing device management table from the logical printing device name designation information. A print control device for controlling a plurality of printing devices, comprising: an application control unit that performs control to output print data to a specified printing device according to an output queue of the printing device management queue.