JPH08278865A - Print instruction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To set the batch print instruction for plural document files by one printing instruction by selecting one of plural print output devices connected to a communication network. CONSTITUTION: One of the printing output devices on a communication network is selected as a printing output destination by an output destination selection means 102. One or plural document files as to printing objects of a selected printing output device is selected by a document file selection means 109. A printing instruction screen is provided with the display column of the selected document file and the display column of plural printing instruction setting items including the presence or absence of the delimiter paper used when the plural document files are printed and printing forms. Through the printing instruction image, the setting of the printing instruction setting items for printing request is performed. When plural document files are selected, a job issue means 112 issues the printing request to print the plural selected document files altogether to the selected printing output device, based on the printing instruction information including the presence or absence of the delimiter paper and the printing forms set by the printing instruction setting means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to, for example, a plurality of print output devices (in this specification, printing includes copying, and print output devices include printers and copying machines) connected to a communication network. In a distributed network printing system, the present invention relates to a print instruction device used when switching and using the plurality of print output devices, and particularly to a print instruction when collectively printing a plurality of document files.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art LAN (Local Area Network)
There is known a distributed network printing system in which a plurality of print output devices are distributedly arranged on a communication network, and one of the print output devices can be switched and used by a user.

In this type of distributed network printing system, when a user selects a print output device, for example, a printer, sets print instructions, and performs a print request operation, the print instruction device operates as a print instruction device. , A print job consisting of print instruction information (for example, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, single-sided / double-sided designation, number of prints, use / non-use of optional function, etc.) and print data for the selected printer (hereinafter Simply called a job).

The issued job is sent to the selected printer via a print server which is connected to the printer or is built in the printer and is composed of a personal computer, and the printer executes printing.

When creating a document, one document may be divided into a plurality of document files for the convenience of creating and managing the document. In this case, when printing a document, it is necessary to collect a plurality of document files and print them collectively to obtain one print document. Further, there are many cases where it is desired to collectively print a plurality of unrelated document files collectively and continuously.

On the other hand, due to the improvement of the function of the print output device,
Function to print multiple pages simultaneously on one sheet (Nin
1 function or Nup function), or a function to print multiple copies of each document file in sequence when printing multiple copies of each document file (collation) Is called) is possible.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-44245 discloses that
There is provided a document processing system capable of continuously printing a plurality of document files, allocating separate pages to the left and right or top and bottom of one sheet to print two pages, double-sided printing and binding margin. .

[0008]

In order to effectively utilize the Nup function and the collating function of the print output device described above, when printing a plurality of document files, printing for executing the function is performed. It is important that the instructions can be given easily.

However, in a distributed network printing system that uses a plurality of print output devices while switching them as described above, when printing a plurality of different types of document files as a batch, one printing instruction may It was not possible to set print instructions including settings such as collation and Nup settings in a unit.

Further, conventionally, when the Nup function or the collating function described above is executed for a plurality of files, what kind of discharge result is obtained as a whole is determined by actually executing printing and discharging. Without knowing it, there was no way to know what the discharge result would look like before issuing the print job (print request including print data and print instruction information).

In particular, in the distributed network printing system as described above, it is difficult to obtain the above-mentioned discharge result without paying attention to each print output device having a different setting function on the network. For example, the display of the discharge format such as collation found on the copy instruction setting screen of the copying machine is displayed for each function option, and if the settings of each function are integrated and print instructions can be given,
I didn't know what kind of emission type it would have.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides a print instruction operation for printing a plurality of document files as a batch when switching and using a plurality of print output devices connected to a communication network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print instruction device that can perform a complicated print instruction easily by performing the operation once.

Further, according to the present invention, a user can know a complicated print output result before actual printing without paying attention to a plurality of print output devices connected to a network, and a print instruction operation can be performed. It also aims to enable simplification.

Further, according to the present invention, the setting result by the complicated print instruction can be reused without being aware of a plurality of print output devices connected to the network, and the print instruction operation by the user can be further simplified. It also aims to be measured.

[0015]

The print instruction apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is connected to a communication network (10) when the reference numerals of the functional block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. A print instruction device for giving a print instruction to a print output device selected from a plurality of print output devices (301 to 303) on a network through a display screen, from among the print output devices on the communication network. Output destination selection means (102) for selecting a print output device as a print output destination; document file selection means (109) for selecting one or a plurality of document files to be printed by the selected print output device; A display field of the selected document file and a plurality of print instruction setting items including the presence or absence of a sorting sheet and a print format when printing a plurality of document files. As a print instruction screen and a 示欄, display control means for displaying the one corresponding to the print output device selected by the output destination selecting unit (103),
Print instruction setting means (105) for setting the print instruction setting items for a print request through the print instruction screen, and when there are a plurality of selected document files, the print instruction setting means sets them. A print request is issued to the selected print output device to print the selected plurality of document files as a batch based on the print instruction information including the presence or absence of the sorting paper and the print format. Job issuing means (112)
And characterized in that:

A print instruction apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the print instruction apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising the plurality of documents when the plurality of document files are printed based on the print instruction information. Ejection format control means for displaying the ejection format of the print output of the file as a schematic diagram (1
13) is provided.

A print instruction apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the print instruction apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, in which the print instruction information set through the print instruction screen is provided with an identifier. Based on the setting information storage means (108) for storing as the saved print instruction information and the saved print instruction information selected from the plurality of saved print instruction information saved in the setting information storage means. The present invention is characterized by including print instruction setting means (print instruction setting means 105 and function setting means 106 in FIG. 1) for setting items.

Further, the print instruction apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the print instruction apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, which is an apparatus information management unit for managing the apparatus information of each of the plurality of print output apparatuses on the communication network. 101) and the device information of the selected print output device of the device information management means, and when the selected saved print instruction information has a function that the selected print output device does not have, And a function setting unit (106) for setting only setting items related to the function of the selected print output device based on the stored print instruction information.

[0019]

According to the print instruction apparatus of the present invention, when the output destination selecting means selects the output destination print output apparatus, the print instruction screen corresponding to the selected print output apparatus is displayed on the display screen. It The print instruction setting means sets each setting item, and the document file selection means selects one to a plurality of document files to be printed. The one or more document files selected by the document file selection means are displayed in the document file display field. The print instruction setting items include, for example, Nup designation, collation presence / absence setting, and sorting paper settings, which are setting items when a plurality of document files are collectively printed.

Then, for example, when the user gives an instruction to start printing, the job issuing means issues a print instruction information set by the print instruction setting means and a print job using the selected document file as print data. However, when the number of document files displayed in the document file display field is plural, that is, when the number of documents to be printed is plural, the presence or absence of the sorting sheet set by the print instruction setting unit and the printing Based on the print instruction information including the format, a print request for printing the plurality of document files as a group is issued from the job issuing unit. That is, it is possible to instruct to print a plurality of document files collectively by one print instruction.

In the print instruction apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the discharge format control means displays a schematic view of the discharge format before the print job is issued. Therefore, the user can know the complicated discharge result as an image before printing.

In the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention, when the user selects desired one of the stored print instruction information stored in the setting information storage means, printing is performed according to the stored print instruction information. The instruction information is automatically set. Therefore, the print instruction setting operation becomes easy.

In the print instruction apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when setting the print instruction information using the saved print instruction information, only the setting items regarding the function of the print output apparatus are automatically set. It Therefore, erroneous setting is prevented.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a general outline of an information processing system to which an embodiment of a print instruction device according to the present invention is applied will be described together with an outline of a print instruction device of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system of this example, in which LA as a communication network is used.
A plurality of print output devices are distributed and connected on the N10. As described above, the print output device can be configured not only by the printer but also by a copying machine or a facsimile machine with a copying function.

In the example of FIG. 2, on the LAN 10,
A plurality of end systems A to D are distributed and arranged.
The end system A includes a computer 11A and two printers 12a and 12b as print output devices. The end system A includes a display 16 and a mouse 17 as an example of a pointing device that gives an input instruction through the display screen. The end system A also has a function as a print processing execution unit and a function as a print instruction device.

The end system B is the computer 1
1B and a copying machine 1 that constitutes a print output device, respectively.
3 or a copying machine 14. This end system B also has a display 16 and a mouse 1.
7, and the computer 11B also has a function as a print instruction device. Also, this end system B is
It also has a function as a print processing execution unit, and a function as an input unit for a paper original as print processing data and an input unit for an electronic original.

The end system C is composed of a computer 11C, has a display 16 and a mouse 17, and has a function as a print instruction device and a function as an input section for an electronic manuscript.

The end system D comprises a computer 11D and a scanner 15, and has a display 16 and a mouse 17. The end system D has a function as a print instruction device and also functions as an input unit for a paper document by the scanner 15.

Note that in FIG. 2, in any of the end systems, the computer is the printer 12a, 12a.
b, the copying machines 13 and 14, and the scanner 15 are separated from each other, but it is also possible to form each of these devices 12 to 15 into a computer.

In the case of this example, the computer 11A of the end system A, in particular, has all the print output devices (computer 11A) distributed and arranged on the LAN 10.
(Including printers 12a and 12b connected to the network LAN 10 via the), a function as a print management device (hereinafter, referred to as a print management device function unit) that comprehensively manages the identifier, equipment function, device status, and the like. In addition, it acquires identifier information from all print output devices, device information such as equipment functions and device status, and provides the acquired information to all print instruction devices on the network. It is configured to be able to.

Further, the end system having the print output device has a function of notifying the print management device function section of the identifier of the print output device and the device information.

In this case, the two printers 12a,
Since 12b is connected to the computer 11A, the above various information can be easily obtained from the printers 12a and 12b. However, the copiers 13 and 14 that are other print output devices that are not directly connected to the computer 11A can handle only the information determined by the communication protocol corresponding to these devices. The end system A is provided with a communication interface for communicating with these devices as required.

All print requests accompanied by print data from the print instructing device are once received by the print managing device function unit to absorb the difference in communication protocol between the print instructing device and the print output device. . In other words, from the print instruction device to the print management device function unit, communication is performed using the same communication protocol, and print requests to other print output devices with different communication protocols are judged by the print management device function unit and are matched. It is converted into a communication protocol for use and passed to the target print output device. Therefore, the user can perform print instruction setting and print request without being aware of the difference in communication protocol.

The print output device identifier information is an identifier for identifying each print output device from the others. The print management device function unit corresponds to this identifier and is the LA of each print output device.
It knows the network address and location on N10. The identifier of the print output device may be a model name of the print output device or a specific name given by the user. Further, a number or the like given to the print output device may be used as long as it can identify a plurality of print output devices distributed on the LAN 10.

The information of the identifier of the print output device is notified to the computer 11A of the end system A when it is connected to the LAN 10 and registered in the print management device function section. Alternatively, the print management apparatus function unit of the computer 11A of the end system A may inquire of the end system including each print output apparatus to obtain the identifier of each print output apparatus.

The device function information of the device information of the print output device is, for example, information about a single-sided / double-sided printing surface designation function, enlargement / reduction function, paper size selection function, sorter, stack, etc. that can be optionally installed. Is.

Regarding the information on the equipment functions of the print output device, initially, like the identifier information of each print output device, when each print output device is connected to the LAN 10, the information from each print output device is transferred to the computer. The print management apparatus function unit of 11A is notified. Further, as described above, the print output device has an optional function that can be added later,
When the optional function is added, when the optional function is added, the additional function is notified to the print management apparatus function section of the computer 11A.

Of course, the computer 11A appropriately inquires of the end system including each print output device,
Although it is possible to acquire the equipment function information including these additional functions, in order to enable the added functions to be used immediately and effectively, the notification is sent from each print output device as in this example. In this case, the function of the print management apparatus can be notified more reliably without timing deviation.

In the device information, the status information of each print output device is not only the status related to the equipment function such as paper jam, paper out, paper out warning, door open, toner out, toner out warning, hardware failure, etc. It also includes the usage status of the print output device, that is, during printing, waiting, printing completion, and the like. This print output device status information is sent to the print management device function section whenever the above print output device experiences a paper jam condition or changes in the usage status. Let me know.

It should be noted that the print management apparatus function unit may acquire the status information by making an inquiry to each print output apparatus through the LAN 10 at regular intervals, but it is possible to promptly issue a warning or status. In order to notify the print instructing device of the change notification, it is better to do as described above.

Then, the print management apparatus functional section of the computer 11A also provides the acquired identifier information, apparatus information, and status information of each print output apparatus to the functional section of the print instruction apparatus of the end system.

That is, each print instructing device issues an acquisition request for the above-mentioned identifier information, device information, and status information to the print management device function section at regular intervals or at an appropriate timing. In response to this request, the print management device function unit sends the identifier information, device information, and status information of all print output devices to the requested print instruction device through the LAN 10. The print management device function unit acquires the latest state information from each print output device when the state such as the paper jam or the change in the use state is notified. At the same time, the state information is transferred and notified to all print instruction devices.

Therefore, the print instruction device of each end system itself has the same management information as the print management device function section, that is, the identifier information and devices of all print output devices distributed on the communication network LAN 10. Hold and manage information.

Then, in each print instruction device, the user selects a print output device to be used from a plurality of print output devices distributed on the LAN 10, and selects the selected print output device. The various print instruction setting items are set to issue the print instruction.

At the time of this print instruction, in order to easily switch the print output device and set the print instruction setting item, the print instruction device sets the print instruction setting for the selected print output device. An operation instruction panel for setting the items is created and displayed from the print management information of the print instruction device itself, accepts the user's setting instruction, and automatically activates the printer driver corresponding to the selected print output device. To selectively switch.

The printer driver (software) installed in the print instruction apparatus of this embodiment is a conventional printer driver such as Windows (Microsoft Windows ver.3.1 Operating System).
stem function guide (see Chapter 5), it does not require display processing to set print instruction setting items, and has a print data processing function that converts print data to that for the selected print output device. Just enough. That is, the printer driver of each print instruction device has a plurality of print data processing functions in order to convert print data suitable for all print output devices existing on the LAN 10.
This print data processing function is automatically switched according to the user's selection of the print output device.

However, if the print data of a plurality of print output devices on the network may be of the same data format, the print data processing function (software)
Since it can be used in common, the software that must be prepared as a print data processing function may be less than the number of print output devices existing on the network.

The user may select the print output device he / she wants to use, set the instruction setting items for the print request, and issue the print job by issuing the print job. It is not necessary for the user to identify a suitable printer driver and switch between the print instruction operation panel and the print data processing unit.

Next, one embodiment of the print instruction device according to the present invention will be described in more detail. As will be described later, in the print instruction apparatus according to this embodiment, a print request is made such that one print instruction causes a plurality of documents to be collected as a group and is printed by one print output apparatus on the network according to predetermined print instruction setting information. I am able to do it.

Further, when a plurality of documents are collectively requested to be printed, it is possible to visually confirm the discharge state of the print result prior to issuing the print request.

Further, when the print instruction is set, the past print instruction setting information is effectively used so that the user's setting operation can be simplified as much as possible.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the above-mentioned information processing system components, centering on the print instruction apparatus of this embodiment. An embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a print instruction device, 2
Reference numeral 00 denotes a print management apparatus, which are connected to the LAN 10 of the communication network as described above. In this example, the print output devices 301 and 302 are connected to the print management device 200, and the print output device 303 is directly connected to the LAN 10. Here, being directly connected includes the case where the print output device is connected via a computer.

The print instruction apparatus 100 corresponds to the functional section of the print instruction apparatus of each end system of FIG. 2, and the print management apparatus 200 corresponds to the print management apparatus functional section of the computer 11A of the end system A of FIG. To do. The print output devices 301 and 302 correspond to the two printers 12a and 12b in FIG. 2, and the print output device 303 corresponds to the end system including the copying machine 13 or 14.

The print management apparatus 200 comprises a network information providing means 201, a device information providing means 202, and a print processing means 203. As described above, the print management apparatus 200 receives the respective identifier information, apparatus information, and latest information from the print output apparatuses 301 and 302 directly connected to the print management apparatus 200 and the print output apparatus 303 connected to the LAN 10. The print instruction device 10 collects status information.
The information is provided to the print instruction apparatus 100 in response to the request from 0.

Further, regarding urgent information such as trouble information such as toner out, paper out, and failure occurrence,
The print management apparatus 200 has a configuration that can directly notify the print instruction apparatus. Further, the print management apparatus 200 is
It also has a role of receiving a print job from the print instruction device 100 and delivering it to the print output device.

The network information providing means 201 and the device information providing means 202 are the print output devices 301 to 301 described above.
Information is collected from 303 and information is provided to the print instruction device 100. That is, the network information providing unit 201 collects and holds information on identifiers such as names of devices connected to the LAN 10 and model names. In the case of the example in FIG. 1, the print management apparatus 200 and the print output apparatus 3
The information about 01, 302 and 303 is registered in the network information providing means 201, and upon request from the print instruction device 100, the network information providing means 201 causes the network information providing means 201 to identify the identifier information of these devices and the print output devices. The address on the network and the like are provided to the requesting print instruction apparatus 100. In the case of this example, the device name (model name) is used as the identifier.

The device information providing means 202 specifies option information (sorter, HCS (high capacity stack = large capacity stack)), offset stack (printed sheets to be ejected) from the print output devices 301, 302 and 303. Optional information and paper size information (for example, A3, A4, B) including a unit for shifting a fixed amount in a predetermined direction (front and rear or left and right) and discharging the paper.
4, B5, Letter, Legal, MSI (Multi-Sheet Inserter)) and the like, and the above-mentioned status information such as paper jam, paper run-out, paper run-out warning, toner run-out, malfunction, etc., and the print instruction device 100 Provide this information to it upon request from.

The print processing means 203 is the print instruction device 10.
Receives a print request (print job) that includes print data from 0 and print instruction information that includes setting information such as print format and function to be used, and outputs it after converting it to a format compatible with the print method of the print output device at the output destination. Have the function to The print processing unit 203 also has a role of transferring the received print job to a print output device having a different communication protocol.
Will do.

Next, the configuration of the print instruction device 100 will be described.

The print instruction device 100 includes a printer information management means 101. This printer information management means 101
As described above, the above-described identifier information and device information of each print output device are acquired and managed from the network information providing unit 201 and the device information providing unit 202 of the print management apparatus 200 through the communication unit 130, and upon request, Provide this information. Therefore, the printer information management unit 101 holds substantially the same information as the network information providing unit 201 and the device information providing unit 202 of the print management apparatus 200.

In order to acquire the above-mentioned information, the trigger for issuing a request from the print instruction device 100 to the print management device 200 is at the start of execution of the print instruction device 100, at the time when the user gives an instruction, or at fixed time intervals. Is. The trigger for sending this request can be set according to the usage status of the system.

The output destination selecting means 102 operates when the user designates or changes the print output destination. That is,
When the user makes a request for designating / changing the print output destination, the output destination selecting means 102 causes the printer information managing means 10 to operate.
1 to a list list of identifiers of all print output devices on the LAN 10, or a list list of identifiers of print output devices selected in advance from a plurality of print output devices on the LAN 10, the device name in this example. The list list is acquired, the display data of the list list is created, the display data is passed to the display control means 103 described later, and the display control means 103 displays the device name list list on the screen of the display 104. To

By deleting or adding the print output device in the device name list window, the user can select in advance a desired one of the plurality of print output devices on the LAN 10.

Then, in the list list of this window,
When the user gives an instruction to select one print output device, the output destination selecting means 102 notifies the print instruction setting means 105 of the information of the selected device name and the switching instruction. Further, the output destination selecting unit 102 is the printer driver 110.
Is instructed to switch the print output device.

In the output destination selecting means 102, the user does not select the print output device from the list as described above, but also by a method of directly instructing and selecting the specific print output device. , You can select the print output device you want to use.

In response to the switching instruction from the output destination selecting means 102, the print instruction setting means 105 uses the selected print output apparatus name as the identifier of the acquired information from the printer information management means 101 to obtain the apparatus of the print output apparatus name. Get information. At this time, the equipment function information of the print output device acquired by the print instruction setting unit 105 is, for example, as shown below.

Output resolution (eg 400 dpi) Model name of print output device Type of paper size currently set (eg tray 1 = A3, tray 2 = A4, tray 3 = B4, tray 4 =
B5) -Enlargement / reduction ratio range (for example, 25% to 40000%)-Duplex printing availability-Number of Nup functions that can be set (for example, None / 2up / 4up) -Type of output tray (for example, copy receiver / stack)- Whether or not collation is possible-The types of sorting paper that can be set (for example, start sheet, end sheet, and separate sheet). The Nup function is a function of displaying and printing a plurality of (N) pages on one sheet. Further, the collation is a function of sequentially printing a plurality of document files, one copy for each document file. Sorting paper type: "Starting sheet" is the sorting paper inserted at the start of printing, "Ending sheet" is the sorting paper inserted at the end of printing,
The "separate sheet" means a sorting sheet inserted in each printing unit of one segment in the middle of printing.

The print instruction setting unit 105 analyzes the information about the equipment function and performance of the selected print output device from the information passed from the output destination selection unit 102, and the function (for example, double-sided printing / copyable, usable) Paper size,
Decrease / enlargement, use of sorter, etc.) and performances related thereto (for example, reduction / enlargement of numerical input or paper designation) are determined. Further, the status information of the selected printout device is analyzed to determine the device status. Then, based on the determination result, the print instruction operation panel for the print output device newly selected is reconfigured, and the display control unit 103.
Through the display. An example of this print instruction operation panel is shown in FIG.

In the print instruction operation panel 30 of FIG. 3, the display column 31 is a display section for calling various menus, and the display column 32 is a display section of the device status of the selected print output device. . The display column 33 is a setting display unit for various functions, and the display column 34 is a job list display unit.

The print instruction setting means 105 is a print instruction operation panel in which the user can set all the functions prepared for all the print output apparatuses in advance for the selected print output apparatus. Instead of reconfiguring the 30,
The function provided in the selected print output device is determined, and the function not provided is disabled and the display information of the print instruction operation panel 30 is reconfigured in a state where the user cannot input the setting. To do.

For example, as means for displaying the setting not possible because it is not an equipment function, a method of not displaying the print instruction setting items relating to the equipment function which cannot be used on the print instruction operation panel, or a mark of being unavailable is added. To display or disabling the setting input, shade display (displayed with a lower density than the display of other print instruction setting items), and setting of this shade display to the print instruction setting items There is a method of disabling or invalidating.

Note that, in FIG. 3, a circle mark indicates a setting button of each print instruction setting item, and when the setting button is designated by the mouse and the print instruction setting item is set, this setting button is displayed. Changes to the display of a thick circle as shown in the figure, and the user is informed that it has been set.

Further, the print instruction setting means 105 receives the instruction setting operation of the user, creates the print instruction information, and passes the created print instruction information to the job issuing means 112 when the job is issued. Then, the print instruction setting unit 105 orders the created print instruction information as save print instruction information (hereinafter, this save print instruction information is referred to as an order file) by giving a file name as its identifier, for example. The file saving control means 107 is operated to save the order file saving means 108.

The order file saved in the order file saving means 108 is used as a file for initial setting of various setting items such as function options of the selected print output device, and the print instruction setting means 105.
Performs a process of reflecting the contents of the order file obtained from the function setting means 106 on the print instruction operation panel 30.

The order file is stored as a common format regardless of a plurality of print output devices on the LAN 10. Details of the print instruction information setting and order file saving processing using the order file will be described later.

Further, the print instruction setting means 105 causes the document file selected by the user to be displayed in the display field 34, and when there are a plurality of document files in the display field 34, one print instruction allows the plurality of document files to be displayed. It also has a function of generating a print request for collectively printing all the document files according to a user's instruction. The process of issuing a print job so as to print a plurality of document files collectively will also be described later.

The function setting means 106 reads the order file from the order file storage means 108, informs the print instruction setting means 105 of its contents, and sets and displays it. In this case, the print instruction setting unit 105 converts the information of the order file into the setting information of the format according to the print output device as necessary, and uses it as the necessary print instruction information.

The function setting means 106 will be described in detail later, but when displaying a diagram of a discharge format suitable for an order file (hereinafter, this discharge format diagram is referred to as a view),
The contents of the order file are transmitted to the discharge format control means 113.

The print instruction information set by the user in the print instruction setting means 105 is converted by the order file storage control means 107 into an order file in the above-mentioned common format, and the order file storage means 108.
Stored in. Then, as described above, the order file stored in the order file storage means 108 is
The function setting unit 106 reuses the print instruction setting unit 105 to create print instruction information.

The document file selecting means 109 is means for selecting one to a plurality of document files that the user wants to print, as will be described later, and passes the selection instruction to the application program 120.

The printer driver 110 operates the application program 1 in response to the switching instruction accompanied by the selected print output device name from the output destination selecting means 102.
20 to issue a print output device switching notification message. Further, the printer driver 110 receives print processing data from the application program 120 based on an instruction from the application program 120,
Print data (for example, a page description language such as Postscript) is generated corresponding to the selected print output device and is passed to the print data storage unit 111.

The application program 120 is composed of one or a plurality of application programs for issuing a print instruction to the print instruction apparatus 100.

The print data storage means 111 receives the print data from the printer driver 110 and stores it, and also passes the print data to the job issuing means 112. The print data is stored in the print data storage unit 111 until the print request transmission from the job issuing unit 112 is completed.

The job issuing unit 112 acquires the print instruction setting information from the print instruction setting unit 105 based on the print job issue request instruction from the print instruction setting unit 105,
In addition, the print data is acquired from the print data storage unit 122, the print output device name of the output destination, the print instruction setting information and the print data are included in the print request, and the print output device designated as the output destination is output. It transmits through the communication means 130.

The discharge format storage means 114 stores information on all schematic diagrams of the discharge formats of the print document according to the combination of the function settings. The discharge format control means 113 displays the view corresponding to the order file specified by the user.
The contents of the order file are obtained from the function setting means 106, taken out from the discharge form storage means 114, and displayed by the display control means 103.

The display control means 103 is the output destination selecting means 1
02 display screen, print instruction setting unit 105 display screen,
The display screen of the function setting unit 106, the display screen of the order file saving control unit 107, the display screen of the order file saving unit 108, and the view are displayed on the display 104.

In FIG. 1, the print management apparatus 200 is
The network information providing unit 201, the device information providing unit 202, and the print processing unit 203 are all provided, but the network information providing unit 201 and the print processing unit 203 are incorporated in another device connected to the LAN 10. It may be incorporated in the print instruction apparatus 100. In addition, the end system A in FIG.
In this case, the computer 11A includes both functions of the print management apparatus 200 and the print instruction apparatus 100.

Next, the operation of the print instruction apparatus 100 having the above-described structure will be described with reference to a concrete example.

[Display of print instruction operation panel 30] The user must first activate the print instruction operation panel 30. The user activates the print instruction operation panel 30 by an operation instruction on the screen of the display 104 of the print instruction apparatus 100. At that time, a file in which the print output apparatus name set at the time of the previous end is recorded. Is accessed and the print output device name at the end of the previous time is acquired from the file, and then the print output device is started up as the first selection.

During this activation, the print instruction setting means 105
Acquires the status information of the print output device selected from the printer information management means 101 and analyzes it. If the print output device is activated and can be used, this state information is temporarily stored for later use for display, and further, the device such as the equipment function of the print output device is stored. Information is acquired from the printer information management unit 101. Then, the acquired device information is analyzed, and based on the device information and the stored state information, the display control unit 103 reconfigures the same print instruction operation panel 30 as at the time of the previous end, and displays it on the display 104. Is displayed.

According to the state analysis at the time of activation of the print instruction operation panel 30 described above, if the first selected print output device is not activated and cannot be used, L
A list of print output device names on the AN10 is displayed,
The user can select the print output device, and the print instruction operation panel 30 is displayed on the display 104 as described above, in the same manner as the above procedure.

When the user changes the print output destination to another print output device from the state where the print instruction operation panel 30 for a certain print output device is activated, first, on the screen of the display 104. , Instruct to change the print output destination. Then, the output destination selecting means 102
A list of all or a plurality of preselected print output device names on the network is acquired from the printer information management unit 101, and output from the print output device name list is displayed on the screen of the display 104 via the display control unit 103. A window display of a destination selection / switching panel (not shown) is performed.

On the output destination selection / switching panel, the user specifies the name of the print output device to be selected. Then, similarly to the above, the print instruction operation panel for the selected print output device is displayed on the display 104.

[Selection of Order File and Setting of Setting Items] Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 4, setting of various setting items of the print instruction operation panel 30 is performed using the order file stored in the order file storing means 108. The operation for performing will be described below.

Display column 3 of the print instruction operation panel 30 of FIG.
When the file (F) menu No. 1 is selected, the window display 41 of the file menu as shown in FIG. 5 appears (step S1). When the user selects "Open order" in the file menu window display 41, this is confirmed (step S2), and the instruction file view panel 42 as shown in FIG. Is displayed (step S
3).

This instruction file view panel 42 is
It is a display showing the function setting means 106, that is, an order file list display column 42a, an order file name display column 42b selected by the user, and its directory name display column 42.
c, display of command buttons 42d, 42e, 42f.

The instruction file view panel 42 accepts the user's selection of the order file (step S4). When the user presses the "select" command button 42d, that is confirmed (step S5), and the function setting means 106 retrieves the contents of the order file selected in step S4 from the order file saving means 108. (Step S6).

A conceptual diagram of the contents of the order file is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram, and is actually coded so that each means of the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 can be handled.

Then, in consideration of the case where the file selected in the file menu is not the order file, it is determined whether or not the selected file is the order file (step S7). And if it's not an order file,
A message "The selected file is not an order file" is displayed on the display screen (step S8), and the process returns to step S1.

When it is determined that the file selected in step S7 is an order file, step S
Proceed to 9. In step S9, the function setting means 106 considers that the function not provided in the print output device may be written in the order file because the installed function differs depending on the print output device. The setting items on the operation panel are compared and it is determined whether or not the attributes (setting items) of both are matched.

If the two attributes do not match, the process proceeds from step S9 to step S10, and a message for prompting the user to confirm whether or not to set the order file is displayed on the display screen. Then, the instruction from the user is confirmed (step S11), and if the instruction from the user is “not set”, the process returns to step S1. If the user's instruction is “setting as it is”, step S
Proceed to 12. Also, when it is determined in step S9 that the two attributes match, the process immediately proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the window of the instruction file / view panel 42 is closed. Then, the process proceeds to step S13, and the content of the selected order file is reflected as the content of each setting item (Nup, discharge, surface designation ...) Of the print instruction operation panel 30 (step S13). At this time, in step S13, when the function of the print output device and the contents of the order file do not match, only the setting items of the print instruction operation panel 30 for the function of the print output device and the function of the order file. Is set by the selected order file and displayed on the print instruction operation panel 30.

Further, the setting items for the functions which are present in the print output device and which are not in the selected order file are set by the default values prepared in advance by the print instruction setting means 105. , Is displayed on the print instruction operation panel 30. This completes the routine for setting print instruction setting items using the order file.

[Saving of Order File] Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the print instruction setting unit 105 converts the print instruction information set on the print instruction operation panel 30 into an order file and the order file saving control unit 107 is operated. A processing routine for storing the order file in the order file storage means 108 will be described.

Display column 3 of the print instruction operation panel 30 of FIG.
When the file (F) menu No. 1 is selected, the window display 41 of the file menu as shown in FIG. 5 appears (step S21). When the user selects "Save order" in the file menu window display 41, this is confirmed (step S22), and the instruction file storage panel 43 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the screen of the display 104 as a window. (Step S2
3).

The instruction file storage panel 43 is a display showing the order file storage control means 107, and includes an order file list display column 43a, an order file name display column 43b entered by the user, and its directory name display column. 43c and command buttons 43d and 43e. The order file name is an order file identifier.

When the user gives an appropriate file name to the order file on the instruction file storage panel 43, the file is displayed in the display field 43b and the file name is accepted (step S24). In this embodiment, "TIC" is added to the end of the file name of the order file to indicate that it is an order file and is distinguished from other files that are not order files.

Then, when the user presses the "save" command button 43d, it is confirmed (step S
25). Then, it is determined whether the selected file to be saved is an order file (step S26). As described above, in this embodiment, since the order file has "TIC" added to the end of the file name, the order file can be judged. If it is not an order file, a message "The file to be saved is not an order file" is displayed on the display screen (step S2).
7) and returns to step S21.

When it is determined in step S26 that the file to be saved is the order file, the process proceeds to step S28. In this step S28, processing for saving the order file to be saved in the order file saving means 108 is performed. Next, in step S29, the window of the instruction file storage panel 43 is closed, and this processing routine ends.

[Setting of batch printing of a plurality of document files] When the user prints the application data file, the corresponding file is designated. In the functional block diagram of FIG.
It is shown as 9. A job that prints multiple types of documents at once with a single print instruction (referred to as a One Job Multi Document job)
The setting of the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30 shown in FIG.
By importing. By this import processing, the print data of the target document file is stored in the print data storage unit 111.

For the method of importing the file to be printed, 2
There is a street. One of them is a method of directly dragging and dropping files from the file management manager managing all files to the print instruction operation panel 30, as shown in FIG. Here, the drag-and-drop means, in FIG. 10, place the cursor on the file name to be printed in the file list display 51 of the file management manager, press the left mouse button to select the file, and click the left mouse button. While holding down, move the cursor to the print instruction operation panel 30, and then release the left button of the mouse.

This file acquisition operation means that the printer driver is activated and the conversion is requested in order to convert the print data of the acquired file into the printer format corresponding to the selected print output device. .
The print data of the selected file is converted into print data suitable for the print output device by the printer driver 110 and stored in the print data storage unit 111. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the printer driver 110 has the file name of the print instruction setting unit 1 after conversion of print data.
Notify 05. The print instruction setting unit 105 displays the file name in the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30 to notify the user that the format conversion of the print data is completed.

FIG. 11 shows the file import procedure at this time. That is, in step T1, the cursor is aligned with the mouse and the file to be printed is selected from the file management manager. In step T2, the cursor is moved to the print instruction operation panel 30 while holding down the left mouse button. Release the left mouse button in step T3. In step T4, it is determined whether the selected file is a printable file. This is because the file management manager does not manage only printable files.

If the file cannot be printed, a message "File cannot be printed" is displayed on the display screen in step T5. When the file is a printable file, the selected file is converted into print data suitable for the print output device and stored in the print data storage unit 111. In the next procedure T7, the file name to be printed is added to the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30. This is the end.

Another example of the file import method is a method of selecting "Open File" from the file (F) menu of the print instruction operation panel 30 shown in FIG. 5 and selecting the document file to be printed. .

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the file import processing routine in this example.

Display column 3 of the print instruction operation panel 30 of FIG.
When the file (F) menu No. 1 is selected, the window display 41 of the file menu as shown in FIG. 5 appears (step S31). When the user selects "Open File" in the file menu window display 41, this is confirmed (step S32), and the "Open File" panel 44 as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the screen of the display 104. A window is displayed (step S33).

In the case of this example, the "open file" panel 44 is a display showing the file selection means 109, and the file list display column 44a, the file name display column 44b selected by the user, and its directory name display. Column 4
4c and command buttons 44d and 44e.

In the panel 44 for opening this file,
The user's file selection is accepted (step S3).
4). Then, the user selects the "select" command button 44.
When d is pressed, it is confirmed (step S3
5).

Then, in consideration of the case where the file selected in the file menu is not a document file and cannot be printed, it is determined whether or not the selected file is a printable file (step S36). If the file cannot be printed, a message "The selected file cannot be printed" is displayed on the display screen (step S37), and this processing routine ends.

When it is determined that the file selected in step S36 is the order file, the process proceeds to step S38. In step S38, the print data is instructed to the application program from the file selection means 109, and the print data is sent to the printer driver 1.
In step 10, the data is converted into data compatible with the print output device and stored in the print data storage unit 111.

Next, in step S39, when the data conversion is completed, the file name is added to the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30. This completes the file import processing routine.

[Issue of Print Job] When the print start button 35 (see FIG. 3) of the print instruction operation panel 30 is pressed after the selection and import of the file to be printed is completed, the print start instruction is sent to the job issuing means 112. Sent.
As described above, the job issuing unit 112 includes the print data of the print data storage unit 111 and the print instruction setting unit 10.
The print job is generated from the print instruction information including the print output device name of the output destination from 5, and the print job is issued to the print output device via the communication unit 130.

At this time, if there is only one file to be printed that is taken into the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30 (see FIG. 14), only that file will be the job to be printed. . Hereinafter, this is referred to as a job of OneJobOneDocument.

On the other hand, when there are a plurality of files to be printed that are fetched in the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30 (see FIG. 15), the plurality of files are printed as a batch. Job This is a multi-document job. Then, in this one-job multi-document job, batch printing is performed by the print output device selected by the user according to settings such as collation, Nup, and sorting paper. That is, a single print instruction can give an instruction for a batch print process for a plurality of documents.

[Display of View] Next, the process of displaying a view for confirming the state of the discharge format of the print result prior to issuing the print job will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Display column 3 of the print instruction operation panel 30 of FIG.
When the file (F) menu No. 1 is selected, the window display 41 of the file menu as shown in FIG. 5 appears (step S41). When the user selects "Open order" in the file menu window display 41, this is confirmed (step S42), and the instruction file view panel 42 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen of the display 104. A window is displayed (step S43).

This instruction file view panel 42
As described above, this is a display showing the function setting means 106. The instruction file / view panel 42 accepts the user's selection of the order file (step S44). When the user presses the "view" command button 42e, that is confirmed (step S4).
5) The function setting unit 106 retrieves the contents of the selected order file from the order file storage unit 108 (step S46).

Then, in consideration of the case where the selected file is not the order file, it is judged whether or not the selected file is the order file (step S47). If it is not an order file, a message "The selected file is not an order file" is displayed on the display screen (step S48), and the process returns to step S1.

If it is determined in step S47 that the selected file is an order file, then step S47
Proceeding to 49, the function setting means 106 activates the discharge format control means 113. The discharge type control means 113 is
A view corresponding to the contents of the selected order file is taken out from the discharge format storage means 114, and the view is displayed on the screen. At this time, the display differs depending on whether there is one file or a plurality of files in the job list display field 34 of the print instruction operation panel 30.

That is, in the case of the one-job-one-document job shown in FIG. 14, the view shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. The display contents of the example of FIG. 17 will be described. The number of print copies is always assumed to be n.
In this case, the function setting means 106 does not specify Nup as the contents of the order file read from the order file storage means 108, only the start sheet and end sheet are specified as the sorting paper, and collation is specified. Then, the start sheet 61 is attached to the beginning of the discharged document, the document name is Doc1, Copy1 indicating the number of copies, and Page1 indicating the page are displayed. Next, the document name is Doc1,
Copy1 indicating the number of copies and Page2 indicating the page are displayed. The same is displayed below. Finally, the end sheet 62 is attached.

In this way, an image diagram of the discharge result of the job of one job / one document is displayed by the discharge format control means 113 through the display control means 103 for each setting condition of each function.

Next, in the case of the one-job multi-document job shown in FIG. 15, basically, the same display is performed. 18 and 19 show display examples in the case of this one-job multi-document job. In this case, since there are a plurality of different documents, the document names are Doc1 to DocN. That is, it is N documents. The difference between the display examples of FIGS. 18 and 19 is whether Nup is designated or collation is designated.

The difference in the designation of Nup is that FIG. 18 and FIG.
It can be seen from the display 60 for one page at the upper left of the. The difference in collation designation is shown in FIG. 18 (Doc1, Doc2, ..., DocN).
As can be seen from the above, when specified, documents are collated in document units. In addition, 63 is a separate sheet.

Nu among the attributes in the order file
The view to be read by the discharge format control unit 113 from the discharge format storage unit 114 is determined by p, assortment paper, and collation. At that time, depending on the print output device, there is a case where each function does not exist, such as a case where there is no Nup function or there is no function for specifying the sorting paper. In that case, the discharge format control means 113 And the view is displayed only by the features available.

Then, for example, when a predetermined time elapses after the above-mentioned view is displayed, the view window is closed and the screen of the print instruction operation panel 30 is returned to (step S50).

According to the print instruction apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the user can switch the print output apparatus to be used by simply selecting the print output apparatus name, designate it as the print output destination, and give the print instruction. it can. Then, the print instruction can be given after surely grasping the equipment function of the printer to be used at that time.

Even when a plurality of documents are printed as a batch, the print job can be issued with a single print instruction. Further, when printing is performed by combining a plurality of documents, the discharge result can be confirmed as an image before issuing the print job.

The order file, which is the print instruction information set previously, can be used as the print instruction information for the newly selected print output device, and the print instruction setting can be easily performed. Then, when the print instruction is set by using the order file, the function of the selected print output device is compared with the function of the order file to refer to only the function of the selected print output device. , I set it by order file, so
It is possible to prevent erroneous setting of print instruction settings.

In the above-described embodiment, the discharge format view is displayed for the order file stored in the order file storage means 108, but the print instruction setting means 105 sets the print set at that time. As for the instruction information, the view of the discharge format may be displayed. In that case, the print instruction information is converted into information in the same format as the order file and supplied to the discharge format control means 113.

[0143]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of printers arranged on a network,
It is possible to issue a print instruction as a group to a printout device such as a copier by using a single print start operation for multiple different types of documents. In addition, sorting paper can be set for each document. It is also possible to set a print format such as collation or Nup and to visually obtain the print result as an image.

Further, the user can easily obtain the print result image when setting the print instruction without paying attention to a plurality of different print output devices.

Further, the user can easily set complicated print output instructions without being aware of a plurality of print output devices having different functions, and save the set print instruction information for reuse. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall functional block diagram of an information processing system including an embodiment of a print instruction device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an overall configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print instruction operation panel of an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a print instruction setting processing routine using a past order file in an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a file menu of an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an instruction file view panel of an embodiment of a print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conceptual diagram of the contents of the format of an order file in one embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a print data saving processing routine of one embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an instruction file storage panel of an embodiment of a print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the loading of a document file to be printed in an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a print data fetching procedure in an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a print data fetching processing routine in an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the loading of a document file to be printed in an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a print instruction operation panel in one embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a print instruction operation panel in an embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a discharge result image display processing routine in one embodiment of the print instruction apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an image of a discharge result in the embodiment of the print instruction device according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an image of a discharge result in an embodiment of the print instruction device according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of an image of a discharge result in an embodiment of the print instruction device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 print instruction device 101 printer information management means 102 output destination selection means 103 display control means 104 display 105 print instruction setting means 106 function setting means 107 order file saving control means 108 order file saving means 109 document file selecting means 110 printer driver 111 printing Data storage means 112 Job issuing means 113 Discharge format control means 114 Discharge format storage means 120 Application program

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print instructing device connected to a communication network, which gives a print instruction to a print output device selected from a plurality of print output devices on the communication network through a display screen. Output destination selection means for selecting a print output device as a print output destination from the above print output devices, and document file selection means for selecting one or a plurality of document files to be printed by the selected print output device And a display control unit that displays a print instruction screen including a display field of a plurality of print instruction setting items including the presence or absence of a sorting sheet when printing a plurality of document files, and a print request screen through the print instruction screen. Print instruction setting means for setting the print instruction setting items, and when there are a plurality of selected document files, the print instruction setting means A print request for collectively printing the selected plurality of document files is issued to the selected print output device based on the print instruction information including the presence or absence of the sorting sheet set by the instruction setting unit. A print instruction apparatus comprising: a job issuing unit for issuing the print instruction to the print instruction apparatus. 2. A discharge format control means for displaying, as a schematic diagram, discharge formats of print outputs of the plurality of document files when the plurality of document files are printed based on the print instruction information. The print instruction apparatus according to Item 1. 3. A setting information storage unit for assigning an identifier to the print instruction information set through the print instruction screen and storing the print instruction information as storage print instruction information, and a plurality of storage prints stored in the setting information storage unit. The print instruction setting device according to claim 1, further comprising a print instruction setting unit that sets the print instruction setting item based on the saved print instruction information selected from the instruction information. 4. A device information management unit for managing device information of each of a plurality of print output devices on the communication network, and device information of the selected print output device of the device information management unit, When the selected save print instruction information has a function that the selected print output device does not have, only the setting item related to the function of the selected print output device is set based on the save print instruction information. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: