JPH07200203A - Method and device for controlling printer output - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To average the printing loads on all printers under the control of a network and to appropriately match printing jobs with the respective characteristics with a printer device in a network system where a host computer is not intervened. CONSTITUTION:A printer device state inquiry means 50 requests the transmission of printer information. Obtained information is saved in a printer state/printing load state/printing characteristic information storage table 5 (called as table 54 in the following) and a printer device selection means 56 is started. The printer device selection means 56 reads information of the table 54, collates it with the printing characteristic of a printing file F and selects an optimum printer device 14 on LAN. The, a printing file transfer means 58 is started and a substitute print name notice means 60 is started in the printing file transfer means 58. A substitute printer device name is displayed on a display 12A in a work station 12A concerned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer output control method and apparatus in which a local area network system is constructed in which a plurality of workstations share a plurality of printer devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer output management system in which a plurality of workstations share a plurality of printer devices, a host computer is interposed, and this host computer controls the distribution of outputs to the plurality of printer devices. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1629/1991)
21).

That is, the host computer compares the output amounts of print jobs waiting to be output to each printer device,
A part of the output waiting print job of one printer device having a large output amount is replaced with the other printer device having a small output amount. As a result, the output of the printer device can be equalized.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the output amount of each printer is managed by the host computer, in the environment of a network system (for example, a local area network) where the host computer does not intervene. , The configuration is not applicable.

Further, there is shown only a configuration in which the printer device is changed to a printer device having a lighter load depending on the output amount of the printer device. There is no problem if the printer devices are the same model and the same specifications, but printers of different types and specifications are provided. In the case where the devices are networked, for example, in the device (method) described in the above-mentioned publication, there is no need to match the printing characteristics of the print job to be specified and the printing function of the printer device. It is not taken into consideration, and it is completely unknown whether the print job is printed correctly.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can equalize the print loads of all printer devices under network management in a network system without a host computer, and can also realize the respective characteristics of a print job and a printer device. An object of the present invention is to obtain a printer output control method and apparatus that can perform matching properly.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer output control method in a network system in which a plurality of workstations share a plurality of printer devices, and each printer device controls each printer device. Of the printer, and if the recognized load state exceeds the preset specified value, all printer devices on the network can transfer the print file to another printer device on the network. It is characterized in that information including load information and print characteristic information is obtained, a printer device most suitable for printing the print file is selected, and the printer device is transferred.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print request processing unit for requesting a designated printer device to print a designated print file and a printer name display unit for displaying a printer device name designated by the printer device. A plurality of workstations provided, and a plurality of printer devices provided with a print file receiving unit, a print file output unit, a print file transfer unit, and a printer information sending unit,
A printer output control device in which a network system in which a plurality of workstations share a plurality of printer devices is configured, and a load state of the printer device provided in a print file output unit exceeds a preset specified value. In this case, the printer device status inquiring means that acquires information including load information and print characteristic information of all the printer devices on the network that is activated, and prints the print file based on the information acquired by the printer device status inquiring means. The printer includes a printer device selection unit that selects an optimum transfer destination printer device, and a print file transfer unit that transfers the print file to the transfer destination printer device selected by the printer device selection unit.

[0009]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the plurality of printer devices individually recognize the respective load states. When it is determined that the recognized load condition exceeds the predetermined value, the print file is transferred to another printer device on the network.

At this time, by obtaining information including load information and print characteristic information of all printer devices on the network, a printer device most suitable for printing the print file to be transferred is selected and the print file is transferred. . That is, since there is a case where the print file and the printer device do not match with each other, the print file is prevented from being randomly transferred to the printer device having a light load.

Thus, by recognizing the load state of each printer device and selecting the optimum transfer destination printer device, the load on the printer device can be equalized and proper printing can be executed. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, for example, the printer device is divided into a print file receiving unit, a print file output unit, a print file transfer unit, and a printer information sending unit, and in the print file output unit, The load state of the printer device is recognized, the recognized load state is compared with a predetermined prescribed value, and if the prescribed value is exceeded, the print file transfer unit is activated.

When the print file transfer section is activated, the printer status inquiry means provided in the print file transfer section obtains information including load information and print characteristic information of all printer devices on the network. By obtaining this information, it is possible to search for a printer device whose characteristics match the print file to be transferred. That is, the printer device selecting means selects a transfer destination printer device most suitable for printing the print file to be transferred,
Then, the print file transfer means transfers the print file to the selected printer device.

In the printer device (printer device of the transfer destination) whose print file has been designated, the printer device name is displayed on the display by the printer name display unit. Therefore, the operator monitors the display to transfer the transfer device to the transfer destination. Can be easily grasped.

[0015]

1 shows a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN) 10 according to this embodiment. This LAN 10 includes a plurality of workstations 12.
And a plurality of printer devices 14 are connected to each other, and the plurality of workstations 12 share the plurality of printer devices 14.

The workstation 12 is a print request processing unit 1 which is activated when an instruction to print a print file is given.
6 and a printer display section 18 for displaying the designated printer device name.

On the other hand, the printer device 14 is activated when a printer file is transferred from the workstation 12 and the printer information transmission section 20 which is activated when the other printer device 14 requests the transmission of printer information. Print file reception unit 22 and print file output unit 24
And a print file transfer unit 26 that is activated when the load condition exceeds a preset specified value in the print file output unit 24.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, when an instruction to print the print file F is given on the workstation 12, the print request processing section 16 is activated, and the print file transfer means 16A of the print request processing section 16 is started. In this way, the designated print file F is read and the print data is transferred to the designated printer device 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the printer device name display means 18A of the printer device name display section 18 notifies the workstation 12 of the designated printer device name and displays it on the display 12A. However, for example, when the print load of the previously specified printer device 14 exceeds the preset specified value and the print file is transferred to the alternative printer device 14 as described later, this alternative printer device name Is displayed on the display 12A.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the printer information sending unit 20 on the printer device 14.

Printer information sending unit 2 of printer device 14
0 is activated when each printer device 14 on the LAN 10 requests the printer information to be transmitted. The printer status transmission means 20A outputs the print file reception unit 22 and the print file output shown in FIG. The printer status management table 32 (see FIG. 5) created by the printer status management means 28, 30 of the section 24 is transferred to the requested printer device 14.

Further, the print load information sending means 20B has a print load status management table 34 (FIG. 6) created by the printer status management means 28 and 30 of the print file receiving section 22 and the print file output section 24 shown in FIG. reference)
Is transferred to the requested printer device 14.

Further, the printing characteristic information sending means 20C is
A preset printing characteristic definition table 36 (see FIG. 7)
Is requested and transferred to the printer device 14.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the printer status management table 32, one field has a flag area 32A indicating whether the printer device 14 is in use, an area 32B indicating the name of a document being printed, and the number of pages of the document. Is divided into four areas, that is, an area 32C indicating the client name and an area 32D indicating the client name, so that the current state of the printer device 14 can be recognized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the print load state management table 34, one field is the printer device 1 concerned.
4 is divided into three areas, an area 34A indicating the number of documents waiting to be printed, an area 34B indicating the total number of pages, and an area 34C indicating the specified value of the printing load, so that the printing load state of each printer device can be recognized. Has become. In addition,
In order to obtain the above fields, the print load state management table 34 includes a table 34 showing the name of each document counted as the number of documents waiting to be printed, the page number of each document showing the breakdown of the total number of pages, and the requester name.
D is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the print characteristic definition table 36, one field indicates a region 36A indicating a paper size flag, a region 36B indicating a double-sided print flag, a region 36C indicating a color print flag, and an image print flag. The area 36D is divided into four areas so that the characteristics of each printer device 14 can be recognized.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the print file reception unit 22 and the print file output unit 24 on the printer device 14.

The print file acceptance unit 2 of the printer device 14
2 is activated when a print file is transferred from each workstation 12 on the LAN 10. That is,
The print file receiving unit 38 is the workstation 12
The print file transferred from is received, and the received print file is temporarily stored in the spool file 42 by the print file spool means 40.

The print file spool means 40 is also provided.
In the printer status management means 28 connected to the printer status management table 32, the printer status management table 32 is updated (a flag indicating that the printer is in use) is updated, and information on the print file requested to be printed is printed in the print load status management table 34 (document Name,
Register the number of pages, requester name). By this registration,
The number of documents waiting to be printed and the total number of pages in the print load state management table 34 are updated (added).

On the other hand, the print file output unit 24 sends the print file to the spool file 4 by the print file reception unit 22.
2 is started, and the starting means 44 judges the print load state of the printer device by comparing the print load state management table 34 with a preset specified value, and prints. When the load is heavy, the print file transfer unit 26 is activated. The configuration of the print file transfer unit 26 will be described later (FIG. 9). When the print load is small, the print file input means 46 is activated.

The print file input means 46 reads the first print file stored in the spool file 42 (FIFO), and outputs the read print file to the printer device 14 by the print file output means 48. There is.

When the print file transfer unit 26 is activated, or when the print file output means 48 is used, the printer device 1
After outputting to 4, the printer status management means 30
The corresponding information (the name of the document being printed, the number of pages, and the requester's name) in the printer status management table 32 is updated (deleted). By this deletion, the number of documents waiting to be printed and the total number of pages in the print load state management table 34 are updated (subtracted). When printing of all the documents is completed, the flag of the printer status management table 32 is set to indicate that it is unused.

FIG. 9 shows a detailed configuration of the print file transfer unit 26 on the printer device 14.

The print file transfer unit 26 is provided with printer device status inquiry means 50, and a preset printer device network address table 52 is provided.
The printer information is individually requested to be sent to all the printer devices 14 defined in the above.

As shown in FIG. 10, the printer device network address table 52 includes a printer device name, a network address, and an installation location as items, which are defined in detail for each printer device 14.

The information obtained by the above request is saved in the printer status / print load status / print characteristic information storage table 54. Further, the printer device status inquiry means 50 activates the printer device selection means 56 after the evacuation.

The printer device selecting means 56 reads out the information in the printer status / printing load status / printing characteristics information storage table 54 and compares it with the printing characteristics of the print file F to obtain LA.
It has a role of selecting the optimum printer device 14 on the N10. After the selection, the printer device selection means 56 activates the print file transfer means 58, and the print file transfer means 58 activates the alternative printer name notification means 60. As a result, the print data is transferred to the alternative printer device 14, and the alternative printer name notifying means 60 causes the printer device selecting means 56.
The printer device name selected by is transferred to the workstation 12 of the request source. As a result, in the workstation 12, the substitute printer device name is displayed on the display 12A.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given according to the flowchart of. This flowchart shows the printer device 1 in the printer device selection means 56.
4 shows the flow of selection. In step 100, the characteristics of the print file are read, and in step 102, the unused printer device 14 is extracted from the printer status management table 32. In step 104, it is determined whether or not there is an unused printer device 14, and if it is determined that there is an unused printer device 14, the process proceeds to step 106, the print characteristics of the selected printer device 14 are read from the print characteristic definition table 36, and a print file is created. Match the characteristics of.

At the next step 108, if it is determined that they match (OK) as a result of collation, the process proceeds to step 110. If it is determined that they do not match, step 1
Returning to step 02, the next unused printer device 14 is extracted and the above steps are repeated.

If it is determined in step 108 that they match and the process proceeds to step 110, the printer device name of the selected printer device 14 is notified to the print file transfer means 58. As a result, the print file transfer means 58 can display the printer device name on the display 12A of the workstation 12 via the alternative printer name notification means 60.

By the way, if a negative determination is made in step 104, that is, if there is no unused printer device 14, the process proceeds to step 112 in FIG.

In step 112, the maximum value of the number of pages to be stocked in the printer device 14 is set in advance in the variable PAGE1, and in the next step 114, the printing property matching the print file property is selected from the printer devices 14 in use. The defined printer device 14 is selected. This selection may be performed, for example, in advance by attaching a serial number to the printer device 14 in that order.

In the next step 116, step 114
Printer device 1 that matches the characteristics of the print file in
4 is selected, and if an affirmative decision is made, the routine proceeds to step 118, where the selected printer device 1
The current total number of pages in No. 4 is read from the print load status management table 34 and set in the variable PAGE2.

In the next step 120, the step 1
The PAGE1 set in step 12 is compared with the PAGE2 set in step 118.

In step 120, PAGE1 <PA
When it is determined to be GE2, the process proceeds to step 122, it is determined that printing can be performed by the selected printer device 14, and the printer device name of the selected printer device 14 is set in the character variable "PRINTER". At the same time, PAGE2 is substituted for PAGE1 and the process returns to step 114.

Here, PAGE2 is substituted for PAGE1 by searching for a printer device 14 in which the total number of pages of the printer device 14 to be selected next is smaller than the printer device 14 currently set in the character variable "PRINTER". This is because

In step 120, PAGE1
When it is determined that ≧ PAGE2, it is determined that the selected printer device 14 is overflowing, or it is larger than the total number of pages of the previously selected printer device 14, and this printer device 14 is not selected and the step is skipped. 114
Then, the process returns to and the printer device 14 having the next characteristic is selected. In this case, it is the previously selected printer device 14 (or unselected) that is set in the character variable "PRINTER".

By sequentially selecting the printer devices 14 having the same print file characteristics, and comparing the total number of pages of the printer device 14 selected this time with the total number of pages of the printer device 14 selected last time. Finally, the printer device 14 having the smallest total number of pages is the character variable "P".
It will be set to "RINTER".

When the negative determination is made in step 116, that is, when the selection of all the printer devices 14 that match the characteristics of the print file is completed, the process proceeds to step 124 and the character variable "
It is determined whether or not the selected printer device name is set in "PRINTER". That is, step 1
There is a case where all of the negative determinations are made in step 24 and there is no printable printer device 14, so it is determined in step 124 whether the selection has been completed.
The process proceeds to step 26 and the print request is rejected.

If an affirmative decision is made in step 124, the operation proceeds to step 128 and the character variable "PR" is entered.
The printer device name set to "INTER" is notified to the print file transfer means 58, and the print file transfer means 58 displays the printer device name on the display 12A of the workstation 12 via the alternative printer name notification means 60.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the printing load of the printer device 14 exceeds a preset specified value, the printer device status inquiry means 50 of the print file transfer unit 50 makes all printers on the LAN 10 available. Information (load information, print characteristic information, etc.) is obtained, the printer device selecting means 56 selects the alternative printer device 14 that is most suitable for printing the last print file stored in the spool file 42, and the print file transfer means By transferring the print file to the substitute printer device 14 having the smallest total number of pages waiting to be printed at 58, it is possible to equalize the print loads of all the printer devices 14 on the LAN 10 even in the LAN 10 where no host computer is present. , The time from requesting printing to obtaining print results can be shortened

Even when a printing failure occurs in the printer device 14, the print file transfer section 26 is started by the starting means 44 to transfer the print file that has not been output to another printer device 14 and print it. Can be possible.

[0053]

As described above, the printer output control method and apparatus according to the present invention requests printing by equalizing the printing loads of all printers under network management in a network system without a host computer. It is possible to shorten the time from obtaining the print result to obtaining the print result. Also, the print characteristics of the print job and the information such as the load information and print characteristic information of each printer are collated, and each characteristic is matched appropriately. It has an excellent effect that it can be carried out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a LAN according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print request processing unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer name display unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer information sending unit.

FIG. 5 is a format diagram of a printer status management table.

FIG. 6 is a format diagram of a print load status management table.

FIG. 7 is a format diagram of a print characteristic definition table.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing configurations of a print file reception unit and a print file output unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print file transfer unit.

FIG. 10 is a format diagram of a printer device network address table.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the printer device selection means.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the printer device selection means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 LAN (Local Area Network) 12 Workstation 14 Printer Device 50 Printer Device Status Inquiring Means 56 Printer Device Selecting Means 58 Print File Transfer Means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer output control method in a network system in which a plurality of workstations share a plurality of printer devices, wherein each printer device recognizes a load condition of each printer device, and the recognized load condition is If it exceeds the preset specified value, obtain information including load information and print characteristic information of all printer devices on the network in order to transfer the print file to another printer device on the network, A printer output control method comprising selecting and transferring a printer device most suitable for printing the print file. 2. A plurality of workstations provided with a print request processing unit for requesting a designated printer device to print a designated print file and a printer name display unit for displaying a printer device name designated by the printer device. And a plurality of printer devices provided with a print file reception unit, a print file output unit, a print file transfer unit, and a printer information transmission unit, and a network system in which a plurality of workstations share a plurality of printer devices is configured. The printer output control device is provided, and is started when the load status of the printer device provided in the print file output unit exceeds a preset specified value, load information of all printer devices on the network, printing Printer device status inquiry means for obtaining information including characteristic information; Printer device selecting means for selecting the transfer destination printer device most suitable for printing the print file based on the information obtained by the printer device status inquiring means, and the transfer destination printer device for selecting the print file by the printer device selecting means. And a print file transfer unit for transferring the print file to the printer output control device.