JPH07225658A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform printing-out in a short time after a user issues a request by performing the printing-out of a second printing job even when a first printing job is present when the execution of the printing-out of the second printing job is judged. CONSTITUTION:When it is judged that a printing request is present, the printing job is set in a normal queue 103. Then, when a priority request is present in the printing job, the printing job is set in a priority queue 104. In the meantime, a printing job controller 102 inspects the priority queue 104 and when it is judged that the printing job is present in the priority queue, checks whether or not the job is present in the queue for the fixed period of time without printing out the job. Then, when the job is not present, the presence/absence of the elimination request of the printing job are judged, the job is eliminated when the request is present and a printer function processing is executed when the elimination request is not present.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system in a computer system or the like for simultaneously accepting a plurality of print jobs and controlling a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a queuing mechanism has been used for controlling print jobs in a multitasking system such as a computer or a system connected by a network work. This is because the print command queues the print job once in the system,
The print manager program inspects the queue, and if there is a print job in the queue, the print is sequentially performed.

Further, even if print commands are issued simultaneously in excess of the print output capability of the system, print jobs are only accumulated in the queue, and printing is performed in the order in which commands are issued, so that fair use of printer resources is achieved. Is possible.

[0004]

However, when the printer has multiple functions and it is desired to interactively control the functions to print the same data, specifically, the adjustment and the margin setting in the color printer are performed. When making adjustments, the user exclusively uses the printer.

When there is such a request, if the above-mentioned conventional print job queuing mechanism is used,
Even if the function setting is performed again and a print request is issued, if another job remains in the queue, the target job is not easily output.

Further, when a printer is exclusively used by using a dedicated printer dialogue control program without using the queue, it is desired to use the printer and other print jobs cannot be output. There is a problem of doing.

Further, when it is desired to manually feed the sheet, if the above-mentioned conventional print job queuing mechanism is used, even if a print request is issued, the target job will not be output when another job remains in the queue. There is a problem that the output is not made and the user has to wait for a long time. Then, the user may not know the print timing of the print job for which the manual feed request has been issued, and may fail to manually feed the print job that he / she does not want to manually feed or vice versa. There is also the problem of easy occurrence.

In other words, there is a problem that it takes time from when the user issues a print request until the print job is actually submitted from the queue, and the user cannot know the timing.

On the other hand, when it is desired to detect the print status and reflect it in the next print execution, in the above-described conventional print job queuing mechanism, the job once queued is accessed by the process instructing the print execution. Can not. Therefore, when it is desired to reflect the print result in the next execution, it is necessary to change the print data, issue the print command again, and wait for the job to be queued and output.

Further, even if the actual printing is performed with a setting different from the printer setting requested by the print job, there is no means for reporting the content to the process instructing the print execution. In other words, the printer side There is a problem that the setting value on the operation panel cannot be used in the process instructing the print execution.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a printing system which prints out in a short time after a user makes a request.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of changing the printer setting function without changing the print data.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a printing system which sequentially executes printout according to a print job stored in a queue. A first queuing means for queuing the print job; a priority condition determining means for setting the print job as a second print job when the print job satisfies a predetermined priority condition; A second queuing of the second print job to be preferentially processed
Queuing means and print condition determining means for determining whether or not to print out the second print job when the second print job satisfies the predetermined priority condition. When the determination unit determines that the printout of the second print job is performed, the printout of the second print job is performed even if the first print job exists.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, in a printing system for sequentially executing printout by a printer in accordance with print jobs stored in a queue, print data and job information corresponding to the print data are displayed. It comprises a queuing means, a means for editing the printer function setting information included in the job information, and a means for preferentially setting the edited printer function setting information in the printer.

[0015]

In the above structure, the function of performing print output in a short time after the user makes a request without impairing the function of the normal print queuing mechanism.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 101 is an application program for issuing a print job, and 102 is a print job controller for controlling the print job. Further, 103 is a normal queue for queuing a normal print job, and 104 is a priority queue for queuing a priority print job.

Reference numeral 105 indicates a printer driver 106 and an application 1 which will be described later with respect to the printer function.
A printer function controller 106 that communicates with 01 and holds actual printer function settings is a printer driver that transfers print data and function setting commands to the printer 107.

Next, the operation of the printing system according to this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the algorithm of the print job controller according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, if it is determined in step S1 that there is a print request, the application 101
In step S8, a print job is set in the normal queue 103 via a print command (not shown). Here, if there is no print job in the priority queue 104, NO is determined in step S2, so the print job controller 102 inspects the normal queue 103, and if the print job is in it, That is, if the determination in step S3 is YES,
The printer driver 106 is instructed to print out the job (step S4).

In a succeeding step S5, it is determined whether or not the print job has a priority request. Then, if there is a priority request for the print job, step S7.
Then, the printout job is set in the priority queue 104. However, if there is no priority request, the print job is deleted from the queue (step S6).

The priority request is added to the print job by the application 101, and the normal queue 103 is added.
Put in.

On the other hand, in step S2, if the print job controller 102 inspects the priority queue 104 and determines that there is a print job in the priority queue,
Without printing the job, in step S9,
Check if the job has been in the queue for a certain amount of time. If the job exists, the job is deleted from the priority queue 104. The time check is performed via the wait timer 108.

If there is no job in the priority queue that has passed a certain time, it is determined in step S10 whether or not there is a print job deletion request. If there is such a request, the job is deleted in step S13. However, if there is no job deletion request, step S11
Then, the printer function processing described below is executed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printer function processing procedure in the printer function controller according to this embodiment.

In this printer function processing, the printer function controller 105 interactively communicates with the application 101 in order to print out or delete the job or determine the function to be set in the printer. . That is, the function setting of the printer 107 or the function currently set in the printer is checked via the printer function controller 105.

If there is a printer function setting request in step S21 in FIG. 3, in step S22,
The setting request is sent to the printer function controller 105.
Set to. Then, in step S23, it is determined whether or not there is a printer function check request, and if there is the request, the printer driver 106 is instructed to upload the printer function setting (step S24). In a succeeding step S25, the contents of the printer function controller 105 are changed to the application 1
Transfer to 01.

When the function setting is performed via the printer function controller 105, even if the setting contents overlap with the print data contents, the contents on the printer function controller 105 side are given priority in printing.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
After normal printing out at the request of the application,
Print jobs in the priority queue can be operated interactively with the application, and interactive control of the printer functions and the provision of errors for timing detection can be performed, enabling priority setting of functions and printout. Become.

When the job in the priority queue is not printed out, the job in the normal queue is processed so that the target job can be immediately executed.

Further, it is possible to prevent unnecessary files from occupying the queue by deleting jobs that are not printed out for a certain period of time and are present in the priority queue as unnecessary jobs. [Second Embodiment] The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a print job processing procedure according to the present embodiment.

The operation of the printing system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

If there is a print request (step S in FIG. 5)
31 is YES), the application 205 of FIG. 4 sends a print request to which the print condition is added to the print job determination unit 201 via a command. The print job determination unit 201 checks the print condition (manual paper feed mode) (step S39), and puts the one that matches this priority condition in the priority queue 204 (step S41).
Those that do not match are put in the normal queue 203 (step S40).

The print job controller 202 prints out the jobs in the normal queue 203 as they are (step S37), but the priority queue 2
If there is a print job in 04 (step S32)
Then, it is checked whether the function setting state of the printer 207 meets the print condition via the printer driver 206 (step S33).

If the check condition of the manual paper feed mode is satisfied, the printout is executed in step S37. If the check condition is not satisfied, the wait state is entered and the printer is monitored to see if it meets the print condition (step S37). S
34). If the print condition is not met even after waiting for a certain period of time (YES in step S34), the print job controller 202 determines in step S35.
The alarm 209 is activated and alarm processing is performed to inform the user that the printout could not be executed normally, and in the subsequent step S36, the priority queue 20
Delete the job from 4.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S34 is NO, that is, if the result of waiting for a certain period of time is that the print conditions are met, the process proceeds to the printout process in step S37.

The wait for the fixed time is performed here by the wait timer 208, but this may be on the host side, or mounted on the printer 207 side so that the print job controller 202 causes the printer 20 to operate.
7 may be contacted to implement the timeout function. Further, the alarm function may be implemented on the printer side, the host side, or both of them.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
When the print condition for setting a job in the priority queue is manual feed, and the print job controller processes the job in the priority queue, the printer waits for the paper to be fed to the bypass tray of the printer for a certain period of time before feeding. By specifying the manual paper feed by executing printout at
There is an effect that the user can easily recognize the timing of manual sheet feeding after a print request is issued from the application. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing system according to this embodiment. A printing system 301 shown in the figure functions as a host and is an application program 30 for instructing print execution.
2. A print queue 303 for queuing print data, a print control system 305, and a printer driver 309.

The print queue 303 has queued data 304. This data includes job information 304-1 including printer function settings and host / process information that issued a print job, and print data 304.
-2. In addition, the print control system 305
A function editor 306 for editing printer function settings in the job information 304-1 and a print job controller 30.
7. The status editor 308 communicates with the application program 302 by comparing the output result of the function editor 306 with the function settings of the printer at the time of printing to create a status.

The operation of the printing system shown in FIG. 6 will be described below.

The application program 302 sets a print job in the print queue 303 via a print command. At this time, the print queue 30
In No. 3, not only the job data 304-2 but also the job information 304-1 corresponding to the job can be set.

The function editor 306 is used by the application.
By communicating with the application program 302, the printer function setting in the job information corresponding to the designated print job is edited and changed in accordance with the instruction of the application program 302. The output of the function editor 306 is passed to the print job controller 307 when the job is executed, and the print job controller 307 passes it to the printer driver 309 together with the job data.

The printer driver 309 sets the printer function according to the printer function setting information. That is,
Even if the setting contents of the printer function are described at the job data level, the output contents of the function editor 306 have priority over the actual settings. The printer driver 309 also transfers job data to the printer 310 and executes printing.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 310 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the printer 310 includes an interface 401, a function buffer 402 that holds printer function settings transferred from a printing system 301 that is a host, a data buffer 403 that holds job data, an operation panel 404, and a changeover switch 405. , Printer engine 406.

If the data transferred from the host is a function setting command, the interface 401 stores it in the function buffer 402, and if it is print data, stores it in the data buffer 403. The changeover switch 405 is used for setting the function used at the time of actual printing on the host side, or for the operation panel 4
Select whether to perform on the 04 side. Note that this selection is made on the operation panel 404 side.

The printer engine 406 prints out the contents of the data buffer 403 according to the function setting selected by the changeover switch 405 in accordance with the print execution command. The setting content of the actual printer function selected by the changeover switch 405 is the interface 40
Return to host via 1.

On the host side, the setting contents of this printer function are once input to the status editor 308 via the printer driver 309. Status editor 30
Reference numeral 8 compares the function setting contents returned from the printer 310 with the contents of the function editor 306 to create a job status for the print job at that time,
It is transmitted to the application program 302. The application program 302 notifies the user of this status information and holds the content so that it can be used for the next print.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Job information including printer function setting information corresponding to a print job is held in the print queue, and by editing and changing this via communication with the application, the printer function setting can be performed without changing the print data itself. Can be changed.

Also, the printer settings actually used for printout are uploaded to the host, and
By comparing the printer function setting information sent to the printer earlier and creating status information and communicating with the application, the user can easily know the print status and setting information, and then print it out. Can be used for

In the third embodiment, the job information 3
Although the case where 04-1 is added to the job data 304-2 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, only the job data 304-2 may be set in the queue 303. In this case, the print job controller 307
Only job data is passed to the printer driver 309, and the function editor does not operate for this job.

The application 302 is not limited to processes on the same host, but may be, for example, a remote host connected by a network. Even in this case, since the job information 304-1 has host / process information, it is possible to communicate with the application that has instructed the print execution.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, with respect to the printing system according to the third embodiment shown in FIG.
By providing the status logo 501 in the status editor 308, the print status can be retrieved retroactively, and even if the status editor 308 cannot communicate with the application 302 at the time of printing,
No status is lost.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing a priority queue in the print queue mechanism, printer functions can be interactively controlled, and a good man-machine interface environment can be provided in the printing system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an algorithm of a print job controller according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printer function processing procedure in the printer function controller according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print job processing procedure according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a third embodiment.

7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the printer 310 shown in FIG.

8 is a system block diagram according to a modification of the printing system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Application Program 102 Print Job Controller 103 Normal Queue 104 Priority Queue 105 Printer Function Controller 106 Printer Driver 107 Printer 108 Wait Timer 201 Print Job Judgment Section 202 Wait Timer 203 Alarm 305 Print Control System 310 Printer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. In a printing system for sequentially executing printouts according to print jobs stored in a queue, a first queuing means for queuing the first print job, and the print job having a predetermined priority condition. Priority condition determining means for setting the print job as a second print job when the above conditions are satisfied, and second queuing for queuing the second print job that is processed with priority over the first print job. And a print condition determining unit that determines whether or not to print out the second print job when the second print job satisfies the predetermined priority condition. If it is determined that the printout of the second print job is executed,
The printing system prints out the second print job even if the second print job exists. 2. A means for adding priority request information to a print job when printout is preferentially executed, and the print job to which the priority request information is added is queued by the first queuing means. After being printed out, the priority request is detected by the priority condition determining means, and the print job for which the detection is performed is queued by the second queuing means. The printing system according to claim 1. 3. A time detecting means for detecting a time during which a print job exists in the second queuing means, and the second queue without the print job being printed out by the time detecting means. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that deletes the print job from the second queuing unit when it is determined that the print unit has been present for a predetermined time or more. 4. A means for passing a print job, to which a predetermined priority request is added at the time of a printout request, to the priority condition judging means, and if the priority request is not detected by the priority condition judging means, the print job is printed. The job is queued by the first queuing unit, and the print job is queued by the second queuing unit when the priority requirement is detected. The printing system according to item 1. 5. The apparatus further comprises alarm means for generating a predetermined alarm when the print job is not printed out and remains in the second queuing means for a predetermined time or longer. The printing system according to item 3. 6. A printing system for sequentially executing printout by a printer according to a print job stored in a queue, a unit for queuing print data and job information corresponding to the print data, and the job information. And a unit for editing the printer function setting information included in the printer and a unit for preferentially setting the edited printer function setting information in the printer. 7. Further, means for detecting a function setting state after execution of printout of the printer, means for comparing the edited printer function setting information with the function setting state after execution of the printout, The printing system according to claim 6, further comprising: a unit that creates a predetermined status based on the comparison result; and a unit that notifies the status based on information included in the job information.