JPH07200208A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold only neceesary print data, to improve the use efficiency of a storage means add to output necessary data to an output destination. CONSTITUTION:When input data with distribution information is inputted from a host 14 in a state where an output destination registration table in which printers are previously made to correspond to distribution information, is registered in a distribution destination registration table storage part 22, an input data analysis/processing part 24 retrieves the storage part 22 based on distribution information obtained by analyzing input data, obtains the table corresponding to distribution information and outputs print data obtained by converting input data into a corresponding print data storage part (at least one of 18A-18C) for respective output destinations based on the table. An output control means (at least one of 20A, 20B and 20C) corresponding to the printer of the output destination transfers print data from the print data storage part to the corresponding printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and in particular, can print only necessary data simultaneously and separately to print output means such as a printer engine directly connected to a printer or a printer connected to a LAN or a line. Related to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, at the head office (or head office), a computer is used to collectively create reports such as monthly processing and annual processing results, which are then sent to a branch office (or branch office) at a remote location via a communication line.
Output to printers in and offices has become relatively common.

As a technique related to this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-25
Japanese Patent Publication No. 9823 discloses "a form output control device that outputs only necessary results to a plurality of output destinations in response to a request for monthly processing results that are collectively created." According to the description of this publication, an output destination management table is also created together with data when processing is performed by the host, and these are transferred to and retained in the form output control device, and then output processing is performed in response to an external request. When performing, the management table and the registered output table are used to output only the necessary data to the requested printer.

[0004]

However, in the method described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-259823, all the data including the unnecessary portion of the data is output until the data is output to all the required output destinations. There is an inconvenience that the buffer (or the memory) needs to be held and the efficiency of using the buffer is poor. In addition, since the form output control device holds data, if there is no print resource such as fonts or forms on the output side that has the output destination, the sender side (host) recognizes it. There was also the inconvenience of not being able to do it.

The present invention has been made in view of the inconveniences of the prior art. A first object of the present invention is to retain only necessary print data and improve the efficiency of use of the storage means to obtain the necessary data. It is to provide a printing device that can output to an output destination.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of promptly performing error processing on the host device side when unprintable data is input.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A printing apparatus having a plurality of print output means connected directly or via a connection line, the plurality of storage means being provided corresponding to each of the print output means and storing print data, and each of the storage means. A plurality of output control means for respectively transferring the print data from the means to the corresponding print output means, and an output destination registration means capable of registering a plurality of output destination attributes in which the plurality of print output means and the distribution information are associated with each other, Based on the distribution information obtained by analyzing the input data with distribution information from the host device, the output destination registration means is searched to obtain the output destination attribute information, and the input data is converted based on the output destination attribute information. Output destination selection means for outputting the print data in the printable format obtained by the above to the storage means corresponding to one or more print output means defined as the output destination for each output destination. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a print resource storage unit for storing print resources owned by the apparatus, wherein the output destination selecting means is provided from a higher-level device. When analyzing the input data of, the use resource information existing in the input data is also obtained, the print resource storage unit is searched based on the use resource information, and all necessary print resources are stored in the print resource storage unit. If it does not exist, the upper device is notified of an input error.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, print resource management information for managing information of print resources held by print output means connected through the connection line is stored. And a print resource storing unit that stores all the necessary print resources when the output destination selecting unit searches the print resource storing unit based on the used resource information. In this case, a print instruction is detected by the print output means defined as the output destination based on the print resource management information in the stored print resource storage section, and a transfer instruction for instructing the print output means to transfer the insufficient print resource. When the information is added to the head of the corresponding print data and is output, and when each of the output control means detects the transfer instruction information, the print information is printed. And wherein the transfer of print resources transferred instruction from the print resource storage unit in accordance with the transfer instruction information prior to the transfer of data to the corresponding print output unit.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the output destination attribute in which the print output means and the distribution information are associated with each other in advance is registered in the plurality of output destination registration means.

In this state, when the input data with distribution information is input from the host device, the output destination selecting means searches the output destination registering means based on the distribution information obtained by analyzing the input data with distribution information. The output destination attribute information corresponding to the distribution information is obtained, and the print data in the printable format obtained by converting the input data based on the output destination attribute information is set as the output destination for each output destination 1 or It outputs to the storage means corresponding to two or more print output means.

Next, the output control means corresponding to the print output means defined as the output destination transfers the print data from the storage means to the corresponding print output means. As a result, the print data is printed out by the print output means defined as the output destination.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the output destination selecting means analyzes the input data from the host device, it also obtains the used resource information existing in the input data, and the used resource information is obtained. Based on the above, the print resource storage unit is searched, and if all the necessary print resources are not present in the print resource storage unit, an input error is notified to the host device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when all the necessary print resources are present in the print resource storage unit when the output destination selecting unit searches the print resource storage unit based on the used resource information. Corresponds to transfer instruction information for detecting a shortage of print resources by the print output means defined as an output destination based on the print resource management information in the possessed print resource storage area and for instructing the print output means to transfer the shortage of print resources. Add to the beginning of the print data to be output.

The print data to which the transfer instruction information is added at the head and the print data to which the transfer instruction information is not added are stored in the storage means corresponding to each print output means defined as the output destination.

In the output control means corresponding to each print output means defined as the output destination, when the transfer instruction information is detected, it is transferred from the print resource storage section in accordance with the transfer instruction information prior to the transfer of the print data. When the designated print resource is transferred to the corresponding print output unit, the print data is transferred thereafter, and when the transfer instruction information is not detected,
Transfer print data. As a result, it becomes possible to print out the print data by all the print output means defined as the output destination.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a printing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment. The printing apparatus 10 includes a controller 12, a LAN (local area network) 50 as a connection line to the controller 12, and a LAN-connected printer (hereinafter referred to as “a printer”) as a print output unit connected via a communication line 60. 16A, a printer connected to a communication line (hereinafter abbreviated as "b printer") 16B, and a printer engine (hereinafter referred to as "c printer") as print output means directly connected to the controller 12. 16C).

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the a printer is installed in Osaka, the b printer is installed in Sapporo, and the c printer is installed in Tokyo.

The controller 12 includes a printer 16A,
First to third print data storage units 18A, 18B as a plurality of (here, three) storage units provided corresponding to the b printer 16B and the c printer 16C, respectively.
18C and these print data storage units 18A, 18B,
18C and a printer 16A, b printer 16B, c
A LAN output control unit 20A, a communication line output control unit 20B, a direct connection output control unit 20C as output control means provided between the printer 16C and a distribution destination registration table storage unit 22 as output destination registration means, An input data analysis / processing unit 24 as an output destination selecting unit, a print resource storage unit 26, a possessed print resource storage unit 28, a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as “host”) 14 as a host device, and the controller 12. And an interface unit 30 that performs the connection processing of.

More specifically, the print data storage units 18A, 18B and 18C are the input data analysis / processing unit 2.
A printer 16A, b printer 16 output from No. 4
This is a buffer in which print data (print format data) in a format printable by the B and c printers 16C is temporarily stored.

The LAN output control unit 20A transfers the print data existing in the first print data storage unit 18A to the LAN 50.
The communication line output control unit 20B transfers the print data existing in the second print data storage unit 18B to the b printer 16B via the communication line 60, and the direct connection output control unit 20C. Transfers the print data existing in the third print data storage unit 18C to the c printer 16C and controls the c printer 16C. LAN output control unit 20A, communication line output control unit 20
B, the direct-coupling output control unit 20C can process at the same time. Therefore, a printer 16A, b printer 16B,
Parallel printing is possible with the c printer 16C.
It should be noted that each of the output control units gives an instruction to start printing prior to transfer of print data.

Further, in the LAN output control unit 20A and the communication line output control unit 20B, when the transfer instruction information, which will be described later, is detected during the above processing, the designated print resource is read from the print resource storage unit 26 and the a printer 16A respectively. , B, the printer 16B is instructed to start printing, and the print data is transferred.

In the distribution destination registration table storage unit 22, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of output destination registration tables 40 as output destination attribute information can be registered by the external input device 32. This output destination registration table 40 corresponds to distribution destinations Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo and a printer 16A, b printer 16B, c printer 16C and distribution information (here, purchase slip distribution 1), as shown in FIG. It is an attached table.

The print resource storage unit 26 is a buffer in which print resources such as fonts and forms possessed by the printing apparatus 10 are stored in advance.

The owned print resource storage unit 28 is a LAN 5
0, a print resource management table (to be described later) for managing print resource information such as fonts and forms held in the a printer 16A and the b printer 16B connected by the communication line 60 is input via the LAN 50 and the communication line 60. Is a buffer that is stored.

The input data analysis / processing unit 24 uses the host 1
When the distribution information added data from 4 is input through the interface unit 30, the distribution information added input data is analyzed to obtain the distribution information, and the distribution destination registration table storage unit 22 is based on the obtained distribution information. To obtain the output destination registration table 40, convert the input data into print data in a printable format based on the output destination registration table 40, and determine the print data as an output destination for each output destination. Storage means (print data storage units 18A, 18B, 18) corresponding to print output means (any one or more of a printer, b printer, c printer)
Any one of C or two or more).

Further, in the present embodiment, the input data analysis / processing section 24 also obtains the used resource information existing in the input data at the time of analysis, if necessary, and based on the used resource information, the print resource storage section 26. Is checked to see if all the print resources necessary for printing the input data exist, and if they do not exist, the host 14 is notified of an input error. On the other hand, if the necessary print resource exists, the possessed print resource storage unit 28 is searched to check whether the required print resource exists in the printer which is the output destination based on the possessed print resource information table. If there is a shortage of print resources, the transfer instruction information for instructing the transfer of the shortage of print resources from the print resource storage unit 26 to the printer having the shortage of print resources is added to the beginning of the print data.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 10 composed of the above-mentioned units will be described in time series. First, the data z shown in FIG.
A case where (data to which only distribution information is added) is transferred will be described.

As a premise, the input device 32 shown in FIG.
Keyboard (not shown) is operated to input distribution information (purchase slip distribution 1), output destination (Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo) and printer name (a printer, b printer, c printer), and the input device. At 32, the output destination registration table 40 shown in FIG. 2 is processed and stored in the distribution destination registration table storage unit 22 in the controller 12. By the same procedure, in the distribution destination registration table storage unit 22,
An output destination registration table (purchase slip distribution 2, purchase slip distribution 3) is also stored.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, when the data z is input from the host 14 through the interface section 30, the input data analysis / processing section 24 distributes the data (data z). Information (purchase slip distribution 1) is extracted, and the distribution destination registration table storage unit 22 is used with the information as a key.
To obtain an output destination registration table (purchase slip distribution 1) 40 as output destination attribute information.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the input data analysis / processing section 24 converts the input data into print data in a printable format based on the obtained output destination registration table 40, and prints these. Print data storage units 18A and 18 dedicated to the output destination for each data of the output destination
It outputs to each of B and 18C. As a result, each print data is written in each print data storage unit.
For example, in the case of FIG. 4, Tokyo data 1 and Tokyo data 2 in the input data z are converted into print data and written in the third print data storage unit 18C dedicated to Tokyo, and Sapporo data 1 is converted into print data. The data is converted and written in the second print data storage unit 18B dedicated to Sapporo, the Osaka data 1 is converted to print data, and is written in the first print data storage unit 18A dedicated to Osaka, thus distributing the data. Processing is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG.
In the LUN output control unit 20A that controls the printer (a printer) connected to the output destination in Osaka, if the print data exists in the dedicated first print data storage unit 18A, the first print data storage unit The print data is transferred to the a printer 16A via the LAN 50 until there is no print data in 18A. As a result, the print data of the Osaka data 1 is printed out on the recording paper by the a printer 16A.

Similarly, the communication line output control unit 20B for controlling the printer (b printer) in the output destination Sapporo connected by the communication line 60 is the second print data storage unit 18B for exclusive use.
If the print data exists in the second print data storage unit 18B, the print data is transferred to the b printer 16B via the communication line 60 until there is no print data in the second print data storage unit 18B. As a result, the print data of Sapporo data 1 is printed out on the recording paper by the b printer 16B.

Further, the direct-coupling output control unit 20C for controlling the direct-coupling printer engine (c printer) at the output destination Tokyo, if the printing data exists in the dedicated third printing data storage unit 18C, performs the third printing. The print data is stored in the c printer 16 until there is no print data in the data storage unit 18C.
The printer 16C is transferred to C and the printer 16C is controlled to perform print processing.

In this way, the controller 12
By converting the input data into print data and distributing only the necessary data to the print data storage unit for each output destination based on the distribution information, the use efficiency of the print data storage unit is improved and output processing is performed.

Next, the case where the data z1 (data including distribution information and used resource information) shown in FIG. 6 is transferred from the host 14 to the controller 12 will be described. In addition, here, in order to avoid duplication of description, the processing based on the distribution information described above will be omitted as much as possible.

In this case, in addition to the registration of the output destination registration table in the distribution destination registration table storage unit 22 described above, the LAN output control unit 20A and the communication line output control unit 20 are premised.
7, the print resource information such as fonts and forms held in the connected printer is read from the printer resource buffers 34 and 36 via the LAN 50 and the communication line 60, respectively, as shown in FIG. , Is written in the print resource management table 42 as print resource management information for managing the information of the print resource. That is, for example, the printer 16A in the output destination Osaka has the fonts 1 and 3 and the form 2, but the information is written in the print resource management table 42 in the retained print resource storage unit 28, and the printer b in the output destination Sapporo. Printer 1
6B has fonts 2 and 3 and form 1, but the information is written in the print resource management table 42 in the retained print resource storage unit 28. In addition,
In FIG. 7, the printer resource buffers 34 and 36 are shown separately from the a printer 16A and the b printer 16B, but this is done in order to make the explanation easier to understand by improving the visibility. Exists inside the printer (the same in FIG. 10).

In this state, as shown in FIG. 6, when the data z1 is input from the host 14 via the interface section 30, the input data analysis / processing section 24 distributes the data (data z1). In addition to the information (purchase slip distribution 1), used resource information is also extracted, the print resource storage unit 26 is searched based on this used resource information, and the used resource information and the print stored in the print resource storage unit 26 are retrieved. It is checked whether all the print resources necessary for printing the data z1 exist in the print resource storage unit 26 by comparing with the resources. In this case, as is clear from FIG. 6, all print resources (font 1, font 2,
Since all the fonts 3, forms 1, and forms 2) exist in the print resource storage unit 26, the input data analysis / processing unit 24 manages the print resources in the retained print resource storage unit 28 as shown in FIG. The table 42 is read, the print resource information of the printers a and b existing in the print resource management table 42 is compared with the print resources required for printing the input data z1, and the printers (a printer, b printer) are insufficient. Check if there are print resources. In this case, it can be seen that font a and form 1 are lacking in printer a and font 1 and form 2 are lacking in printer b.

Therefore, the input data analysis / processing section 24 converts the data z into print data in the same manner as described above, and then outputs the print data to each print data storage section for each output destination of the data z1. , Print resource transfer instruction information is added to the beginning of the converted print data. In the case of FIG. 8, for example, a font 2 transfer instruction and a form 1 transfer instruction are added to the head of the print data output to the print data storage unit 18A dedicated to printer a, and the print data storage unit 18B dedicated to printer b is added. A font 1 transfer instruction and a form 2 transfer instruction are added to the head of the output print data, and the print data to which these transfer instructions are added is stored in the print data storage units 18A and 18B as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, in the LAN output control unit 20A and the communication line output control unit 20B, when the print data is transferred from the print data storage units 18A and 18B to the a printer 16A and the b printer 16B, respectively. When the transfer instruction is detected, the print resource storage unit 26 in the controller 12 reads the print resource for which the transfer instruction is given and transfers the read print resource.

For example, in the case of FIG. 9, the LAN output control unit 2
In 0A, the transfer instruction of the font 2 and the form 1 in the print data storage unit 18A is detected, the font 2 and the form 1 are transferred from the print resource storage unit 26 to the a printer 16A, and all the print resources necessary for the a printer 16A are transferred. After securing, print instruction is given and print data is transferred.
As a result, the a printer 16A executes printing.

Similarly, in the communication line output control unit 20B,
After the font 1 and form 2 transfer instruction in the print data storage unit 18B is detected, the font 1 and form 2 are transferred from the print resource storage unit 26 to the b printer 16B, and all the print resources necessary for the b printer 16B are secured. A print instruction is issued and print data is transferred. This allows
Printing is performed by the printer 16B.

In this way, the controller 12
Check the print resources required for data input, and centrally manage the print resources of printers connected to remote locations.

On the other hand, from the host 14 to the controller 1
2 is transferred to the input data analysis / processing unit 24 via the interface unit 30 when the data z2 (data including distribution information and used resource information) shown in FIG. The input data analysis / processing unit 24 analyzes the used resource information existing in the input data z2, extracts all the print resources used in the data, and the designated print resource (font 5) is stored in the print resource storage unit 26. Input error (ERROR) to the host 14 side via the interface unit 30 because it does not exist
To notify.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, solid arrows indicate data flows, dotted arrows indicate information flows, and alternate long and short dash arrows indicate resources (information) flows.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the controller 12 determines whether or not printing is possible at the time of data input, so that an input error notification can be sent to the host 14 with good response, and the host 14 side. Error handling can be done smoothly. Further, since the dedicated print data storage unit holds only the necessary print data for each output destination, the use efficiency of the print data storage unit is also improved. Furthermore, if the controller 12 has print resources such as fonts necessary for printing the input data, and the output destination printer does not,
Since the data is transferred from the controller 12 to the output destination printer, there is also an advantage that even if the output destination printer is changed, the controller 12 itself does not need to be changed.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the output selecting means converts each data related to the output destination into print data, and each print data corresponds to the output destination. Since it is held by the storage unit, there is an effect that the use efficiency of the print data storage unit is improved as compared with the case where all the data is held.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, based on the used resource information obtained when the output destination selecting means analyzes the input data from the host device. The print resource storage unit is searched, and when all the necessary print resources are not present in the print resource storage unit, the host device is notified of the input error, so that there is an effect that error processing can be smoothly performed on the host side.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, when the print resource lacking at the output destination exists in the print resource storage unit, the output control means causes this shortage. After the print resource to be output is transferred to the print output means of the output destination, printing of the print output means is performed. Therefore, even when the print output means of the output destination is changed, the change of the printing device is performed. There is an effect that the above is unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration related to registration of an output destination registration table in a distribution destination registration table storage unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 when data to which only distribution information is added is transferred from a higher-level device, and is a diagram showing a configuration relating to a data input portion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus in FIG. 1 when data to which only distribution information is added is transferred from a higher-level device, and is a diagram showing a configuration relating to data conversion and distribution processing. is there.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 when data to which only distribution information is added is transferred from a higher-level device, and is a diagram showing a configuration relating to a data output portion.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 when data including distribution information and used resource information is transferred from a higher-level device, and is a diagram showing a configuration relating to a data input part.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration relating to storage of a print resource storage table in a possessed print resource storage unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 when data including distribution information and used resource information is transferred from a higher-level device, and relates to storage of print resources in a print data storage unit. It is a figure which shows a structure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus in FIG. 1 when data including distribution information and used resource information is transferred from a higher-level device, and transfers print resource information to a remote printer. It is a figure which shows the structure regarding a system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 when data including distribution information and used resource information is transferred from a higher-level device, and shows a configuration related to an input error detection method at the time of data input. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing device 16A LAN connection printer (print output means) 16B Communication line connection printer (print output means) 16C Printer engine (print output means) 18A 1st print data storage part (storage means) 18B 2nd print data storage part (Storage unit) 18C Third print data storage unit (storage unit) 20A LAN output control unit (output control unit) 20B Communication line output control unit (output control unit) 20C Direct connection output control unit (output control unit) 22 Distribution destination Registration table storage unit (output destination registration unit) 24 Input data analysis / processing unit (output destination selection unit) 26 Print resource storage unit 28 Owned print resource storage unit 50 LAN (connection line) 60 Communication line (connection line)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a plurality of print output means connected directly or via a connection line, the plurality of storage means being provided corresponding to each of the print output means and storing print data respectively. A plurality of output control means for respectively transferring print data from the respective storage means to a corresponding print output means, and an output capable of registering a plurality of output destination attributes in which the plurality of print output means and distribution information are associated with each other. A destination registration means, and the output destination registration means is searched based on the distribution information obtained by analyzing the input data with the distribution information from the higher-level device to obtain the output destination attribute information, and based on the output destination attribute information, Print data in a printable format obtained by converting the input data is output to the storage unit corresponding to one or more print output units defined as output destinations for each output destination. Printing device having an output destination selecting unit that, the. 2. A print resource storage unit for storing print resources possessed by the device is further provided, and the output destination selecting means uses the data existing in the input data when analyzing the input data from the host device. Resource information is also obtained, the print resource storage unit is searched based on the used resource information, and if all necessary print resources are not present in the print resource storage unit, an input error is notified to the host device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus. 3. A possessed print resource storage unit for storing print resource management information for managing information on print resources possessed by print output means connected through the connection line is further provided, and the output destination When all the necessary print resources are present in the print resource storage unit when the selecting unit searches the print resource storage unit based on the used resource information, the print resource management information in the retained print resource storage unit The shortage of print resources is detected by the printout means defined as the output destination on the basis of the output destination, and the transfer instruction information for instructing the shortage of print resources to the printout means is added to the head of the corresponding print data and output. When each of the output control means detects the transfer instruction information, the process is executed according to the transfer instruction information before transfer of print data. Cement resource storage unit printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wherein the forwarding to the corresponding printout means a transfer instruction has been printed resources from.