JPH07319649A - Printing processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printing processing method which enables a smooth printing processing in m a network system. CONSTITUTION:A print server reads in and temporarily stores a file transferred from a processor and reads out the amount of data of the file and whether or not a printer is specified (steps 110-114). The print server calculates the remaining capacities of the respective printers and selects a printer to which the file to be printed newly is transferred, according to whether or not the printer is specified, whether specification alterations of the specified printer are proper or not, and the remaining capacities of the respective printers (steps 116-130), and transfers the temporarily stored file according to the selection result (steps 132). The printer to which the file is transferred, performs a printing process. Consequently, the file can smoothly be transferred between the processor and print server, and the print server and respective printers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print processing method for printing data transferred from an information processing apparatus using a plurality of printing apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a print processing method of performing printing by selecting an appropriate printing device from a plurality of printing devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A network system has been generalized in which a plurality of information processing devices such as personal computers and workstations are connected by a network so that the information processing devices can smoothly process data. In such a network system, a plurality of printing devices are connected to the same network, and a plurality of information processing devices can simultaneously perform print processing.

In a printing apparatus, print processing data transferred from an information processing apparatus via a network is temporarily recorded in a print buffer such as a memory disk, and the print processing is performed while reading the data recorded in the print buffer. I have to. As a result, the connection time between the printing device and the information processing device is shortened, and each information processing device and the network are effectively used.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-61621, the print data created by the print data creating device, which is an information processing device, is temporarily read into the print data input section, and the print data is input. A method has also been proposed in which the printing time is shortened by transferring the data from each unit to each printing device in a time-sharing manner, distributing the data to a plurality of printing devices, and simultaneously performing printing processing.

By the way, in each printing apparatus, the capacity of the memory disk for recording the data for printing processing is limited, so that the printing processing is concentrated on one printing apparatus and the capacity of the memory disk becomes full. If this happens, even if new data is transferred, this data cannot be recorded and the data transfer is interrupted. In the information processing apparatus, if the data transfer is interrupted, the data transfer and the interruption are repeated until the data transfer is completed, so that some new processing cannot be performed. Further, in some network systems, if the data transfer is interrupted by the information processing device, the operator needs to perform post-processing, which makes it impossible for the network system to operate smoothly and for smooth printing processing. Will be.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print processing method which enables smooth data transfer to a printing apparatus and smooth print processing. And

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print processing method, wherein print processing is performed by using a plurality of printing devices each having a recording unit for recording data to be printed transferred from an information processing device. A method for performing print processing, which detects a remaining capacity of the recording means of each of the printing devices capable of recording newly printed data, reads the data to be printed transferred from the information processing device, and temporarily stores the data. Then, the data amount of the data to be printed is compared with the remaining capacity of each of the printing devices to select a printing device capable of transferring the data to be printed, and the printing data temporarily stored in the selected printing device. Is transmitted and printed.

A print processing method according to a second aspect is the first aspect.
In the print processing method of, when a printing device that processes data to be printed by the information processing device is designated, the remaining capacity of the designated printing device is compared with the data amount of the printing data, From this comparison result, when the data to be printed can be transferred to the designated printing device, the data to be printed is transferred to the designated printing device.

A print processing method according to a third aspect is the first aspect.
The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein another print device that can be designated and changed when a process is designated by the information processing device is set in advance for each of the plurality of printing devices. When the remaining capacity of the designated printing device is insufficient with respect to the data amount of the data to be printed when the printing device is designated, the remaining capacity of the definable printing device and the data to be printed The data amounts to be compared are compared, and the data to be printed is transferred to the redesignable printing device if the redesignable printing device can transfer the data.

[0010]

According to the print processing method of the first aspect, the data transferred from the information processing apparatus is stored in the temporary storage means and the amount of this data is calculated. Further, the amount of data that can be newly recorded in the recording means of each printing device is detected as the remaining capacity, and the remaining capacity of each printing device and the amount of data are compared, and the data can be transferred to the recording means. A printing device is selected, and the printing process is performed by the selected printing device.

In this print processing method, the amount of data recorded in the recording means of each printing device is managed, the data transferred from the information processing device is recorded in the temporary storage device, and the data is transferred from the information processing device. The data transfer is not interrupted. Further, the amount of data recorded in the recording means of the printing device is managed, and when the remaining capacity of the recording device becomes large, new data is transferred to the printing device so that the plurality of printing devices can operate efficiently. In addition, the data can be transferred smoothly between the temporary storage means and the individual printing devices.

In the print processing method according to the second aspect, the data transferred from the information processing device includes the printing device designation information, and the desired printing device can be designated by the printing device designation information. At the same time, the transfer of data between the desired printing device and the temporary storage means can be performed smoothly.

In the print processing method according to the third aspect, when each printing device is designated, the printing device whose designation can be changed is set in advance. As a result, when the remaining capacity of the printing device specified by the printing device specification information is low, it is necessary to wait until the printing process progresses and the remaining capacity becomes large. When the remaining capacity of the changeable printing device is high,
Data is transferred to this printing device to perform printing processing. As a result, the waiting time until the printing process is completed can be shortened.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a network system 10 to which the present invention is applied. In this network system 10, a personal computer 14, 16, a workstation 18, a
A large number of information processing devices such as 20 (hereinafter referred to as “processing device 22” unless otherwise specified) are connected to a host computer 24 that manages the network system 10. The processing devices 22 each process data, and the data is processed between the processing devices 22 and the host computer 24.
Data can be transferred to and from the network 12 via the network 12.

In addition, a plurality of printing devices (in this embodiment, the high-speed printer 2 is used as an example) are connected to the network 12.
6. The low-speed printers 28 and 30 are shown as three units and are referred to as “printer 32” unless otherwise specified) and the print server 34 are connected, and the printer 32 and the print server 34 constitute a printing system 36.

In the network system 10, when performing a print process, the print server 3 of the print system 36 from the processing device 22 or the host computer 24.
The file to be print-processed is transferred to No. 4. In the printing system 36, the print server 34
The file transferred to the printer 32 is transferred to one of the printers 32 to perform print processing. The high-speed printer 26 and the low-speed printers 28 and 30 each have a built-in memory disk of a predetermined capacity, and the print server 3
The file transferred from No. 4 is recorded on the memory disk, and the printing process is performed while reading the data from the memory disk.

By the way, the print server 34 of the printing system 36 applied to the present embodiment receives the capacity A, B and C of the memory disks of the high speed printer 26 and the low speed printers 28 and 30, respectively. Further, the print server 34 manages the operation status of each printer 32, records the files transferred to the high-speed printer 26 and the low-speed printers 28, 30 as the processing history of each printer, and processes the printer 32. The situation is grasped by reading out the capacities a, b and c of the data recorded in the respective memory disks and calculating the remaining capacities Ax, Bx and Cx of the memory disks of the respective printers 32.

On the other hand, in the print server 34, when a file to be printed is transferred from each processing device 22,
This file is read and temporarily stored, the data amount X of the file is calculated, and the remaining capacity Ax, Bx, Cx in the memory disk of each printer 32 is compared with this data capacity X to determine which printer 32. The printer 32 from which the file for this print processing can be transferred
Is selected, the file is transferred to the selected printer 32, and print processing is performed.

It should be noted that the file transferred from the processing device 22 can include printing device designation information.
The print server 34 can detect the presence / absence of printing device designation information in the transferred file. Further, in this print server 34, assuming that the file cannot be transferred to the designated printer 32 because the remaining capacity in the memory disk is insufficient, A printer that can be changed is set. Therefore, in the print server 34, when the file transfer to the specified printer 32 is impossible even though the printer 32 to perform the print processing is specified, the file transfer is performed to the changeable printer. Print processing is executed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. In addition, prior to the description of this operation, in the present embodiment, the high speed printer 2
6. The total capacity A, B and C of the memory disks of the low speed printers 28 and 30 are 70 megabytes and 8 respectively.
Low speed printer 28 with 0 megabyte and 90 megabyte
Alternatively, when the low speed printer 30 is designated and the file transfer to the low speed printers 28 and 30 is impossible, the high speed printer 26 is selected and the print processing is performed.

In FIG. 2, in the print server 34,
Remaining capacity Ax, B in the memory disk of each printer 32
An example of the flowchart for calculating x and Cx is shown. This flow chart is repeated in the print server 34 at regular time intervals regardless of other processing, and the progress status of the processing in each printer 32 can be grasped at any time.

First Step 10 of this Flowchart
At 0, the data amount a, b, c in the memory disk is read from each printer 32. Instead of the amount of data recorded in the memory disk from each printer 32, the amount of data a in the memory disk is calculated from the processing history of each printer 32 and the processing performance (processing speed, etc.) of each printer 32. b and c may be calculated.

In the next step 102, each printer 32
The remaining capacity Ax, Bx, Cx of the memory disk of each printer 32 is calculated from the data amounts a, b, c read from When calculating the remaining capacity of each printer 32, the total amount A, B, C of the memory disks of each printer 32 that has been input in advance is used to calculate the amount of data a, b, recorded on each memory disk.
It can be easily obtained from the difference of c.

Instead of calculating the remaining capacity of the memory disk of each printer 32, the remaining capacity may be estimated from the processing history and processing performance of each printer 32, and the method is limited to these methods. Not a thing.

The print server 34 always keeps track of the remaining capacity of the memory disk of each printer 32 as described above.

The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the transfer processing of the print file in the print server 34. In this flowchart, it is determined whether the file to be printed is transferred through the network 12 in the first step 110, and when it is confirmed that the file to be printed is transferred, the execution is started. Move to 112. In this file, if necessary, the high speed printer 26 and the low speed printer 2
It includes information designating either 8 or 30.

In step 112, the network 1
The file transferred via 2 is read and recorded, and when the reading of this file is completed, the process proceeds to step 114 and the data amount X of the file is calculated. This data amount X may be obtained as a memory capacity necessary for recording a file to be printed.

At the next step 116, the high speed printer 26, the low speed printers 28, 3 are included in the transferred file.
It is determined whether or not information for selecting any one of 0 is included. Here, first, a case where a file that does not specify the printer 32 is transferred, that is, a case where a negative determination is made in step 116 will be described.

When a negative determination is made in step 116, the process proceeds to step 118 and it is determined whether or not there is a printer capable of transferring the file to be printed. In this judgment, the remaining capacity Ax, Bx, Cx of the memory disk of each printer 32 is compared with the data capacity X of the file, and the remaining capacity Ax, Bx, Cx of any printer is larger than the data capacity X, and the read file is read. To determine if it can be transferred.

This determination is made, for example, when the high-speed printer 26 and the low-speed printers 28 and 30 respectively have the data capacities a, b and c in the memory disk of 50 megabytes respectively, and the remaining capacities Ax, Bx and Cx are determined. 2 each
It becomes 0 megabytes, 30 megabytes, and 40 megabytes. Here, the data amount X of the file to be printed is 35
When it is megabyte, only Cx ≧ X is established,
It turns out that only the low-speed printer 30 can record all the files to be printed.
The low speed printer 30 is selected as the printer 32 to which the file to be printed is transferred from the print server 34.

Further, when the data amount X of the file to be printed is, for example, 45 megabytes, this file cannot be completely read by any printer 32, so a negative determination is made in step 118, Return to step 116. In addition, step 1
When the process returns from step 18 to step 116, for example, a preset predetermined time elapses, the print processing of the file already recorded by each printer 32 progresses, and the capacities a, b, c in the memory disk decrease, Step 116 may be executed in anticipation of an increase in the remaining capacity. The timing at this time may be set in advance, and in step 118, each printer 32
Difference when comparing the remaining capacity and the amount of data of each printer 3
It may be calculated from the processing performance of 2.

When it is possible to transfer the file to the plurality of printers 32 in step 118, for example, after transferring the file to the high speed printer 26, the next file is transferred to the low speed printer 28, and File may be transferred to the low speed printer 30 in advance, or the transfer order may be set in advance, and the file may be transferred from the transferable printers 32 to the printer 32 having a high priority. You may make it select.

On the other hand, when the information for designating the printer is recorded in the file for print processing transferred to the print server 34, an affirmative decision is made in step 116 and the process proceeds to step 122.

In step 122, the remaining capacity in the memory disk of the designated printer 32 is compared with the data amount X of the file, and it is determined whether or not the file can be transferred to the designated printer 32. Here, when the remaining capacity of the memory disk is large with respect to the data amount X, the process proceeds to step 124 and the designated printer 32 is selected.

On the other hand, when the remaining capacity in the memory disk of the designated printer 32 is smaller than the amount of data X, the file cannot be completely transferred to the designated printer 32, so the process proceeds to step 126. Then, it is determined whether the changeable printer 32 is set for the designated printer 32. If the changeable printer 32 is set, an affirmative decision is made in step 126, In step 128, the remaining capacity of the memory disk of the printer 32 whose settings can be changed is compared with the data amount X of the file, and it is determined whether the file can be transferred to the printer 32 whose settings can be changed.

Here, for example, when the information for designating the low speed printer 28 is recorded in the file to be printed, the remaining capacity Bx in the memory disk of the low speed printer 28 is compared with the data quantity X to find the remaining capacity Bx. When the amount of data is smaller than the data amount X, the printer 32 and the high-speed printer 26, which can be overridden, are set for this low-speed printer 28, so an affirmative decision is made in step 126, and the routine proceeds to step 128. In this step 128, the remaining capacity Ax in the memory disk of the high-speed printer 26 that can be designated is compared with the data amount X of the file, and when the remaining capacity Ax is large, the routine proceeds to step 130,
Instead of the low speed printer 28, the high speed printer 26 is set as the transfer destination of this file.

On the other hand, if the printer 32 whose setting can be changed is not set (NO at step 126), the memory of the printer 32 whose setting can be changed even though the printer 32 whose setting can be changed is set. When the remaining capacity in the disk is less than the data amount X of the file (negative determination in step 128), the process proceeds to step 116 and the determination of which printer 32 to select again is started. It should be noted that the timing of returning to step 116 and starting execution of step 116 is the same as the timing of returning from step 118 to step 116 and starting execution even after a preset time has elapsed. Well, step 122 or step 1
You may match with the elapsed time estimated from the comparison result of 28.

When the selection of the printer 32 for print processing is completed, the process proceeds to step 132 and the file is transferred to the selected printer 32. The printer 32 to which this file has been transferred has a large remaining capacity in the memory disk relative to the data amount X of the file, so data transfer is not interrupted halfway, and reading, recording, and print processing are executed without fail. To do.

In this way, the personal computer 1
In order to temporarily store print processing data transferred from the workstations 4, 16 and the workstations 18, 20 in the print server 34, the personal computers 14, 1
6. The data transfer from the workstations 18 and 20 is not interrupted on the way. In addition, the print server 3
In 4, the remaining capacity in the memory disk of each printer 32 such as the high speed printer 26 and the low speed printers 28, 30 is managed, and the temporarily accumulated data is transferred to the printer 32 having the remaining capacity that can be transferred. Therefore, the data transfer is not interrupted between the print server 34 and the individual printers 32.

As a result, the network system 10
It is possible to compensate for the smooth operation of the network system 10 without causing a burden or the like due to interruption of data transfer to the network 12. In addition, since the remaining capacity in the memory disk of each printer 32 is managed and the data to be printed is transferred, it is possible to prevent the processing from being concentrated on a part of the printers 32, and it is smooth and efficient. The printing process can be executed.

In this embodiment, the file transferred from each processing terminal 22 is temporarily stored by the print server 34 of the network system 10, and the printer 32 capable of transferring this file is selected from the plurality of printers 32. Therefore, the file can be smoothly transferred from the processing device 22 to the printer 32. As a result, the operation of the processing device 22 is interrupted, or the network 12 that transfers the file to be printed from the processing device 22 to the printer 32 is dedicated to the transfer processing of this file, and the processing in other processing devices 22 is delayed. The network system 10 can be operated smoothly without causing the problem of being lost.

Further, the print server 34 selects a printer for printing data from the remaining storage capacity of each printer and transfers the temporarily stored data to the selected printer, but this printer is selected. Of course, the host computer 24 may have a function of temporarily storing data as well as a function of performing the above.

Further, the network system to which the present invention can be applied may be any system as long as it is equipped with a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printers connected by a network so that the respective printers can perform print processing in parallel. The present invention can be applied to so-called local area networks configured by a relatively small number of information processing devices to large-scale network systems in which a large number of terminal devices are connected by optical fiber cables or communication lines.

[0044]

As described above, since the printing system of the present invention grasps the storable capacity of each of a plurality of printers and transfers the data to be printed, the remaining storage capacity of the selected printer may be small. As a result, the data transfer from the terminal device cannot be performed, or the data transfer is interrupted in the middle, which interrupts the processing of the terminal device and the network, thus effectively operating the network system. An excellent effect that does not interfere is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system applied to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for calculating the remaining capacity in the memory disk of each printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of reading and transferring data.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 network system 12 network 14, 16 personal computer (information processing device) 18, 20 workstation (information processing device) 34 print server 26 high speed printer (printing device) 28, 30 low speed printer (printing device)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A print processing method for performing print processing using a plurality of printing devices, each of which has a recording device for recording data to be printed transferred from an information processing device, the recording device of each of the printing devices. In addition to detecting the remaining capacity for newly recording the data to be printed, the data to be printed transferred from the information processing device is read and temporarily stored, and the data amount of the data to be printed and the remaining amount of each of the printing devices are read. A print processing method, comprising selecting a printing device capable of transferring data to be printed by comparing capacities, transferring the temporarily stored printing data to the selected printing device, and performing print processing. 2. When the printing device which processes the data to be printed by the information processing device is designated, the remaining capacity of the designated printing device is compared with the data amount of the printing data, and the comparison result 2. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer of the data to be printed to the specified printing device is performed when the transfer of the data to be printed to the specified printing device becomes possible. 3. Another printing device, which can be designated and changed when a process is designated by the information processing device, is preset for each of the plurality of printing devices, and the printing device is set by the information processing device. When the remaining capacity of the designated printing device is insufficient with respect to the data amount of the data to be printed when the designation is made, the remaining capacity of the redesignable printing device and the data amount of the data to be printed 2. The print processing method according to claim 1, further comprising: comparing the data to be printed, and transferring the data to be printed to the printable device which can be changed if the printable device can transfer the data.