JPH08142451A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To immediately initialize the print control setting so as to let the intention of a user quickly reflect on print result and immediately deter unavailing printout, when print language is instructed to be initialized during the processing of print job in a printer which prints and outputs image in accordance with the print job received through a network. CONSTITUTION: When print language is instructed to be initialized from an operating panel 17, the print control setting interpreted by the print language through setting storing means 14a-14c is initialized at a print processing part 13 and, at the same time, when the print language, instructed to be initialized, is the one, by which print job under processing at present is interpreted, the processing of the print job to print interpreting means 13a-13c or to a print outputting part 12 is instructed to be stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network printer which receives a print job from a plurality of data processing devices such as a host computer and a workstation, and prints and outputs an image in accordance with the print job.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a network printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) shared by a plurality of users who join a network has been known. In this type of printer, a print job randomly sent from multiple data processing devices such as a host computer or workstation connected to a network is temporarily stored in a spool and printed on a recording sheet in the order of reception. It is carried out.

Therefore, this type of printer is provided with a print language interpreting means for interpreting print data and print control data of a received print job for each print language and interpreting by each print language interpreting means. A print control setting storage unit is provided for storing the content of the print control data (format information such as print position and character width) as the print control setting.

According to this, the printer which has received the print job from the data processing device interprets the print control data by the print language interpreting means corresponding to the print language describing the print job and stores it in the print control setting storing means. Set its contents. Then, based on the print control setting, the print data is written in the bitmap, and the print data expanded on the bitmap is sequentially transferred to the print output unit to execute the print processing.

[0005]

Since the print result of the print job depends on the content of the print control setting, if the initial setting is incorrect or other user's setting is used as it is, An unintended print result will be output. Therefore, when changing the print control setting of a print job in order to obtain a desired print result, it is necessary to temporarily initialize the print control setting of the print control setting storage unit corresponding to the print job. However, if the print control settings are initialized while the print job is being processed,
Control inconsistency occurs in the same print job, and print results with different settings are output midway. Therefore, since the initialization instruction can be issued only after the processing of the print job currently being processed is completed, there is a problem that a wasteful print result which is not intended by the user is output during this period.

According to the present invention, when initialization of the print control setting is instructed during the processing of a print job, the intention of the user is quickly reflected in the print result, and the output of the print result not intended by the user is immediately suppressed. It is an object to provide a printer that can.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a printer according to the present invention has a plurality of inputs for inputting print jobs from a plurality of data processing devices such as a host computer and a workstation connected to a network. A printer having at least an interface, a print job storage unit for storing a print job input through the input interface, and a print output unit for outputting the image of the print job stored in the print job storage unit onto a sheet of paper. A plurality of print language interpreting means corresponding to different print languages and capable of interpreting a print job described in the print languages, and a print job provided for each of the print language interpreting means and interpreted by the print language interpreting means. Store print control settings Setting storage means, initialization means for initializing print control settings of the setting storage means, instruction means for instructing initialization of the print language, and initialization instruction for a predetermined print language from the instruction means. In this case, the initialization of the print control setting interpreted in the print language is instructed to the initialization unit, and the print language instructed to initialize is the print language in which the print job currently being processed is interpreted. In this case, an initialization control means for stopping the processing of the print job is provided.

[0008]

When the user changes the print control setting of the print job, the user inputs the initialization of the print language for interpreting the print job from the instruction means. When an instruction to initialize the print language is input from the instruction means, the initialization control means instructs the initialization means to initialize the print control settings interpreted in the print language that is the initialization target. To do. The initialization means examines the setting storage means to initialize the print control settings interpreted in the designated print language.
Further, when the print language instructed to initialize is the print language that is interpreting the print job currently being processed, the initialization control means or the print language interpreting means or the print language interpreting means stops the processing of the print job. Notify the output unit.

According to this, when the initialization of the print language is instructed, the print control setting interpreted in the instructed print language is immediately initialized and the print language currently instructed is initialized. When the job is being interpreted, the processing of the print job is immediately stopped. Therefore, when the initialization is instructed, the condition intended by the user can be promptly input again, and the output of the print result not intended by the user is immediately suppressed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer 11 according to this embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of FIG. The printer 11 is composed of the following parts.

The print output section 12 is a section that functions as an image recording section for recording an image on a predetermined recording sheet, and is equipped with a plurality of sheet storage trays (not shown) for storing the sheets for printing. There is.

The print processing unit 13 interprets the print job according to the print language describing the input print job, expands the print data in a bitmap (not shown), and sequentially prints the print data. 12 is a part to be transferred.

The print processing unit 13 has a plurality of print language information 1 to 3 described in different print languages, and print jobs corresponding to the print language information 1 to 3 and described in the print language. Print language interpreting means 13a, 13 capable of interpreting
b, 13c are provided.

In the print processing unit 13, when a print job is input, the print language describing the print job is extracted from the print language information 1 to 3, and the print language interpreting means 13a corresponding to the print language information is extracted. , 13b, 13c are used to interpret the print control data included in the print job and set the contents in the setting storage means 14a to 14c of the setting storage unit 14 described later. Then, based on this print control setting, the print data included in the print job is written in a bitmap (not shown), and the print data developed on this bitmap is sequentially transferred to the print output unit 12.

When the print processing unit 13 is instructed by the input processing unit 19 described later to initialize the print language, the print control setting interpreted in the print language is stored in the setting storage unit 14 described later. When the print language instructed to be initialized is the print language that is interpreting the print job currently being processed, the print language interpreting means 13a, 13b, 13c is executed.
Alternatively, the print output unit 12 is subjected to processing for stopping the processing of the print job.

The print language that interprets the print job currently being processed is recognized when the processing of the print job is started. When the initialization is instructed, the print processing unit 13 interprets the print job in the print language instructed by the initialization, and the print interpreting means 13a, 13b, and 13c output the print data to bits not shown. When the map is being written, that is, before the print data is transferred from the bitmap to the print output unit 12, the print interpreting means 13a and 13 are provided.
Instructs b and 13c to stop processing. In other cases, the print interpreting means 13a, 13b, 13c and the print output unit 12 are both instructed to stop the processing.

The setting storage unit 14 is a storage unit that stores the print control settings of the print job interpreted by the print language interpreting units 13a, 13b, 13c, and is interpreted by the print language interpreting units 13a, 13b, 13c. The setting storage means 1 is provided with setting storage means 14a to 14c for storing the print control settings of the print job.
4a to 14c are the print language interpreting means 13a and 13
It is provided corresponding to each of b and 13c.

The job receiving unit 15 is an input interface for receiving a print job from a data processing device connected to a network (not shown), and can input print data to be recorded in a plurality of systems. The job receiving unit 15 is composed of a plurality of input interfaces, and FIG. 1 shows a case where print data can be input by three systems of a serial I / F 15a, a parallel I / F 15b, and an lpd 15c. The job receiving unit 15 allows the printer 11 to receive print jobs from various data processing devices such as a host computer and a workstation connected to a network (not shown). The print jobs accepted by the job acceptance unit 15 are temporarily stored in the spool 16 in the order in which they are input.

The operation panel 17 is a user interface for inputting various instructions from the user and providing necessary information to the user, and is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body (not shown). The operation panel 17 is composed of input keys 17a such as letters and numbers, and a display section 17b as a display means for transmitting information to the user by letters. The display unit 17b is composed of a display panel such as an LCD or LED.

When the user wants to initialize a specific print language, he or she inputs the print language name to be targeted with the initialization instruction from the input power key 17a of the operation panel 17 or the display unit 17b. Perform operations such as selecting the print language icon displayed above.

The management table 18 includes a print output unit 12
Of the print job stored in the spool 16 is stored. The information regarding the current state of the print output unit 12 includes:
For example, during printer processing, waiting for data input, or canceling printing. The information about the print job includes the input interface name of the print job currently being processed, the print language name of the print job, and the number of the paper storage tray in which the paper to be output is stored. .

The input processing section 19 is a section for receiving and processing various instructions and data input from the operation panel 17, and the user inputs an initialization instruction for a predetermined print language through the operation panel 17 described above. If so, the print processing unit 13 is notified of this.

By the way, there are many types of data processing devices connected to the printer 11 as described above, and the print control data sent by them are not necessarily unified. For example, even if the print control data sent from one device specifies the size of the paper and the size of the characters to be printed in detail, the print control data of another device cannot specify such specifications. There are cases. Therefore, in the printer 11, the input key 17a on the operation panel 17 is used.
Can input necessary instruction information regarding printing. This instruction information is sent from the operation panel 17 to the print processing unit 13, and the print processing unit 13 sends back response information to the operation panel 17 in response thereto. This response information is displayed on the display unit 17b of the operation panel 17.

The printer 11 has an operation panel 1
7 is provided, the input key 17 of the operation panel 17 can be used even when the size of the paper to be printed or the size of the character is designated as the print control data from the data processing device side.
The instruction information can be input by operating the key at a. In this case, the instruction on the data processing device side can always be prioritized, or the input on the operation panel 17 side can be prioritized. It is also possible to give priority to those who give instructions later in time.

Further, in the printer 11 shown in FIG. 1, the print output unit 12 is composed of a basic portion as a laser printer, for example, and exchanges various signals with the print processing unit 13 to execute print processing. Eject the recording paper printed on one side or both sides. That is,
The print output unit 12 sends various status signals such as what kind of recording paper is stored in a cassette tray (not shown) provided therein or whether a fixing unit (not shown) has reached the fixing temperature. It is sent to the print processing unit 13. Similarly, for image transfer, the print output unit 12
A synchronization pulse for synchronizing with is also sent to the print processing unit 13. In response to these signals, the print output unit 12 supplies various operation command signals and image signals as print contents to the print output unit 12.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration for realizing the printer 11 shown in FIG.

The printer 11 has a CPU (central processing unit) 21 which performs various controls according to a program. The CPU 21 is connected to each unit described later through a CPU bus 22. Among them, the panel I / F (interface) circuit 23 is the operation panel 1 shown in FIG.
This is a circuit for interfacing with 7. For example, when the user operates a key of the input key 17a of the operation panel 17, an instruction signal corresponding to this is output from the panel I / F circuit 23 and transferred on the CPU bus 22. Further, in order to display an LCD, an LED or the like that constitutes the display unit 17b of the operation panel 17, instruction information for display is transferred from the CPU 21 to the panel I / F circuit 23 through the CPU bus 22.

The host I / F circuit 24 is a circuit for interfacing with a host such as a host computer (not shown). For example, a print job such as print data or print control data input from the host is sent to RS232.
The circuit configuration is such that the signal is received based on the C standard and the Centronics standard.

The non-volatile memory (NVM) 25 is a memory backed up by a battery (not shown) and can retain necessary data even when the power source of the printer 11 itself is turned off.

The RAM 26 is a working memory, and temporarily holds data necessary for performing various controls of the printer 11 and print data input from the host I / F circuit 24. A bitmap memory 29, which will be described later, is also included in this. The program memory 27 is a memory that stores a program for controlling the printer 11, and for example, the print processing unit 13 shown in FIG.
Stores programs for implementing the functions of.

A job control structure as shown in FIG. 3 and a resource control structure as shown in FIG. 4 are created in the RAM 26 as data tables corresponding to the management table 18 shown in FIG. .

The job control structure shown in FIG. 3 is a data table created for each print job, and stores information about the print job. This job control structure is created in the RAM 26 when the print job is started, and is erased when the print job is completed. FIG. 3 shows that job control structures corresponding to two print jobs, print job 1 and print job 2, are created.

In each job control structure, "jobI
D "is a job ID that is the job identification number of the print job," jobType "is the type (language name) of the coded print language in which this print job is processed, and" jobOption "is the request information structure. The pointers pointing to the body are stored respectively.
in the request structure pointed to by obOption "
In the “ifName”, the input interface name to which this print job is input is stored as a character string.

On the other hand, the resource control structure shown in FIG.
It is a data table that stores information about the current state of the printer 11 and part of information about print jobs, and is always present in the RAM 26. In FIG. 4, the current status of the printer 11 is coded in “status”, and the job ID number of the job currently being fed in “feedjobid” is “feedtra”.
The number of the paper storage tray for feeding is stored in y ″.

That is, the job control structure shown in FIG. 3 stores an input interface name and a print language name as information about an input print job.
In the resource control structure shown in (1), in addition to the information about the current state of the printer 11, the number of the paper storage tray is stored as the information about the input print job.

The character pattern memory 28 is a so-called font memory, and stores character patterns for printing. Bitmap memory 2
9 is the print data of the input print job,
It is a memory area for pasting character patterns, images, etc. generated according to the print data in correspondence with one page of a recording sheet and performing electronic editing work.

The output unit I / F 30 supplies the print data expanded in the bitmap memory 29 to the print output unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 as an image signal as raster data, and various other signals described above ( For example, an interface circuit for transmitting / receiving a status signal, a sync pulse, etc.) to / from the print output unit 12 of FIG. The bitmap controller 31 includes a bitmap memory 29 and an output unit /
Control related to such data transfer is performed with the F30.

Since the printer 11 can be connected to various hosts as described above, a program or character pattern corresponding to print data or print control data sent from these devices may be required. is there. The program memory 32 and the character pattern memory 33 are both memory composed of a detachable ROM of an IC card type or a SIMM type, in order to correspond to various hosts or to realize a special function required by a user. It is selectively connected to this printer 11.

Further, the printer 11 can have a plurality of host interface terminals. Host I /
The F circuit 34 is added in accordance with the host interface required by the user, such as a Centronics interface or Ethernet. This allows print data to be input from a plurality of host interfaces.

The hard disk 35 is a storage device used for adding character patterns, storing form data, holding input data from the host computer, etc., and can be connected by the user as necessary.

Next, in the printer 11 shown in FIG. 1, the processing procedure when the user instructs the initialization of the print language will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The input processing unit 19 interprets various instructions input from the operation panel 17 and determines whether the instruction is a print language initialization instruction (step 101). If the input instruction is an initialization instruction, the print processing unit 13 is notified of this (step 10).
2). When the print processing unit 13 is notified of the initialization instruction, the print processing unit 13 determines whether the print language instructed is the print language interpreting the print job currently being processed (step 103). Then, when the print job currently being processed is interpreted by the print language instructed to be initialized, the print control setting interpreted in the print language is initialized in the setting storage means 14, and the print interpreting means 13a to 13a ... 13c or the print output unit 12 is instructed to stop the processing of the target print job (step 104). If the print job currently being processed in step 103 is not interpreted in the print language instructed to initialize,
The print control settings interpreted in the print language are initialized in the setting storage means 14 (step 105).

As described above, according to the printer 11 described above, by inputting the initialization instruction from the operation panel 17, the print control setting of the print job currently being processed is immediately initialized and the print job is processed. Can be stopped. Therefore, when instructing the initialization, it is not necessary to wait until the processing of the target print job is completed unlike the conventional case, and the user can quickly reset his or her desired conditions. It is possible to reflect the intention in the print result quickly. Moreover, since it is possible to immediately suppress the output of useless print results which the user does not intend, it is possible to effectively use the processing time and to minimize the waste of the recording paper.

[0045]

As described above, in the printer according to the present invention, when the user instructs the initialization of the print language, the print control setting interpreted in the print language is initialized and If the print language instructed to print is a print language that is interpreting the print job currently being processed, the processing of the print job is stopped, so initialization is performed immediately even while the print job is being processed. Since the above process is performed, the user can quickly set his or her desired conditions, so that the user's intention can be quickly reflected in the print result. Moreover, since it is possible to immediately suppress the output of useless print results that the user does not intend, it is possible to minimize waste of processing time and recording paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration for realizing the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a job control structure.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a resource control structure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a print language initialization is instructed by a user.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 3 ... Print language information, 11 ... Printer, 12
... print output unit, 13 ... print processing unit, 13a, 1
3b, 13c ... Print interpreting means, 15 ... Job receiving section, 16 ... Spool, 17 ... Operation panel, 17a ... Input keys, 17b ... Display section, 18 ... Management table, 19 ... Input processing section, 14 ... Setting storage section, 14a, 14b, 14c
... Print control settings

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of input interfaces for inputting print jobs from a data processing device connected to a network, a print job storage unit for storing print jobs input through the input interfaces, and a storage unit for storing the print jobs in the print job storage unit. A printer having at least a print output unit for outputting the image of the specified print job on a sheet, and a plurality of print language interpreting means corresponding to different print languages and capable of interpreting the print jobs described in the print languages, Setting storage means provided for each of the print language interpreting means, storing print control settings of the print job interpreted by the print language interpreting means, and initializing means for initializing the print control settings of the setting storage means; Instructing means for instructing initialization of the print language When the instructing means instructs initialization of a predetermined print language, the instructing means is instructed to initialize the print control settings interpreted in the print language, and the print language instructed to initialize is set. A printer comprising: initialization control means for stopping the processing of the print job when is the print language interpreting the print job currently being processed.