JPH08290638A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To shorten time required for processing by a method wherein a plurality of jobs are processed simultaneously in parallel with one another. CONSTITUTION: The present status of a printer main body 10 is judged with a printer controller 12 at the time when printing data are inputted, and status signals indicating the status of the printer main body are sent in return to host computers 1-n, and changeover is made among processing methods for processing the inputted printing data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device capable of simultaneously processing a plurality of print data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various printing methods have been proposed and put into practical use as printer devices for printing print data output from a computer or the like.

[0003]

However, when each conventional printer receives one print command, it processes the next job until it finishes processing the job even if it receives the next print command. I can't.

For this reason, even a printer equipped with an arithmetic unit capable of high-speed processing has a problem that it requires a lot of time for printing and the work efficiency is poor.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a printer device which improves working efficiency.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer device according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a plurality of print data which are connected to a plurality of host computers via a network and received from each host computer. In a printer having a function of processing by the processing method described above, status processing means for determining the current status of the printer main body as well as inputting print data and returning a status signal indicating the status to the host computer that transmitted the print data. And a processing method switching means for switching the processing method for processing the print data.

In order to achieve the above object, the printer device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the printer device according to the first aspect, wherein the received print data includes data for changing the processing method of the print data. If the print data determination means determines that the print data includes data for changing the processing method of the print data, the processing described above is performed. The method is characterized in that the processing method of print data is temporarily changed regardless of the setting of the method switching means.

In order to achieve the above object, the printer device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the printer device according to claim 1, wherein the number of print data transmitted from the host computer to the printer device main body is counted. When the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the processing method switching means is provided according to the number of print data counted by the print data counter means. It is characterized in that the switching is performed.

In order to achieve the above object, the printer device according to claim 4 of the present invention is the printer device according to claim 1, wherein the number of host computers transmitting the print data to the printer device main body When the print data processing method has a mode for processing a plurality of print data, it has a host counter means for counting, and according to the number of host computers counted by the host counter means, The feature is that switching is performed.

In order to achieve the above object, the printer device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the printer device according to the first aspect, wherein size counter means for counting the size of the print data received by the printer device main body. When the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the processing method switching means is switched in accordance with the total size of the print data counted by the size counter means. It is characterized by having done.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a printer device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the printer device according to the first aspect, wherein processing time determination means for determining an actual print processing time required for the received print data. And a processing time management unit that manages the time until the processing of the print data currently being performed by the printer apparatus main body is completed, and the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data. In this case, when the time until the processing of the print data managed by the processing time managing means is completed is shorter than the time required for the print processing determined by the processing time determining means, the print data processing method Even if is a mode in which a plurality of print data are processed, the print processing is not performed temporarily until the processing of the print data managed by the processing time management means ends. Time is characterized in that it has to wait for greater than the time it takes the determined print processing of the processing time decision means.

[0012]

In the printer apparatus according to the first aspect, the status processing means determines the current status of the printer apparatus main body together with the input of the print data, and the status signal indicating the status is returned to the host computer which transmitted the print data. The processing method switching means switches the processing method for processing the print data.

In addition to the operation of the printer device of claim 1, the printer device of claim 2 includes data for changing the processing method of the print data in the received print data by the print data determination means. If it is determined that the print data processing method is temporarily changed regardless of the setting of the processing method switching unit.

According to the printer device of claim 3, in addition to the operation of the printer device of claim 1, the number of print data transmitted from the host computer to the printer device main body is counted by the print data counter means, When the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the switching operation of the processing method switching means is performed according to the number of print data counted by the print data counter means.

In the printer device of claim 4, in addition to the operation of the printer device of claim 1, the host counter means counts the number of host computers transmitting the print data to the printer device main body, When the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the switching operation of the processing method switching means is performed according to the number of host computers counted by the host counter means.

According to the printer device of claim 5, in addition to the operation of the printer device of claim 1, the size counter means counts the size of the print data received by the printer device main body, and the print data processing method. Is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the switching operation of the processing method switching means is performed according to the total size of the print data counted by the size counter means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the printer device, a processing time determination means is provided.
The actual print processing time required for the received print data is determined, and the processing time management means manages the time until the processing of the print data currently performed by the printer apparatus main body is managed. Is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the time until the processing of the print data managed by the processing time management means is more than the time required for the print processing determined by the processing time determination means. When it is small, even if the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data,
The time until the processing of the print data managed by the processing time management means is temporarily ended without performing the printing processing,
The process waits until it becomes longer than the time required for the printing process judged by the processing time judging means.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is connected to a plurality of host computers. In FIG. 1, 1 to n are a plurality of hosts connected via a network. The computer 10 is a printer main body connected to the terminal.

A printer controller 12 and an image printing unit (printer engine) 11 are provided in the printer body 10.
Is provided, the print data output from the host computers 1 to n is received by the printer controller 12 in the printer apparatus main body 10 and subjected to predetermined data processing, and then output to the image printing unit 11. The image printing section 11 prints out on a recording sheet or the like.

The gist of the present invention resides in the printer controller 12 and its configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer controller 12, which is the host computer 1 of FIG.
The print data input from .about.n is received by the reception buffer 13 in the printer controller 12, and then output to the job processing mode determination unit 14.

The job processing mode discriminating section 14 discriminates the current job processing method of the printer body 10, and is connected to the image forming section 15 and the status processing section 16. The status processing unit 16 includes the printer main body 1
A status signal indicating the current processing status of the printer body 10 is output to the host computers 1 to n that output the print data to 0. Image forming unit 15
Prints the image data into bitmap image data and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 11.

Next, the operation of the printer controller 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S301, the printer controller 12 receives the print data transmitted from the host computers 1 to n in the reception buffer 13. Next, in step S302, it is checked whether the printer apparatus body 10 is already executing another job process. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is in a ready state, that is, if no job processing is being executed, the print data is processed into bitmap data to be transmitted to the image print section 11 by the image forming section 15 in the step S303 (hereinafter, referred to as “print data”). Print data processing).

If the printer body 10 is already executing some other job process, step S30.
At 4, the job processing mode determination unit 14 determines the current job processing mode. This determination is performed by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the job processing mode information. If the job processing mode is "parallel processing mode"
If so, the print data is processed in step S305. Further, the job processing mode is “single processing mode”
If so, the process waits without processing the print data until the job process already executed in step S306 ends. Finally, when the printer device body 10 receives the print data in step S307, the process of the printer device body 10 is performed by the host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the print data regardless of the state of the printer device body 10 at that time. After returning the status signal indicating the situation, this processing operation is ended.

To the host computers 1 to n, [Printer A: job processing mode = parallel printing: job is being executed] or [Printer A: job processing mode = single printing:
Waiting for job completion], a status signal indicating the printer name, the current job processing mode, and the status of the printer body 10 is transmitted.

Further, the job processing mode is changed by switching with a dip switch or the like when the power is turned on.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a printer controller 1 in the printer device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
2a is a block diagram showing the configuration of 2a, in which the same portions as those in FIG. 2 of the above-described first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. 4 is different from FIG. 2 in that NVRAM 17 is added to the configuration of FIG. As a result, in this embodiment, the information of the job processing mode is stored in the NVRAM.
The information may be stored in the memory 17 and the information may be referred to from here. Also, by reflecting the panel setting in the NVRAM 17, it is not necessary to change the job processing mode each time after the power is turned on.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The configurations of the host computer and the printer main body according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the printer controller 22 in the printer apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The print data input from the host computers 1 to n is received by the printer controller 22. After being received by the buffer 23, it is output to the job processing mode determination unit 24.

The job processing mode discriminating unit 24 discriminates the current job processing method of the printer body 10, and is connected to the image forming unit 25 and the status processing unit 26. The status processing unit 26 includes the printer apparatus main body 1
A status signal indicating the current processing status of the printer body 10 is output to the host computers 1 to n that output the print data to 0. Image forming unit 25
Prints the image data into bitmap image data and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 11. Further, the print data discriminating unit 28 connected to the reception buffer 23 discriminates whether or not the received print data includes a command for temporarily changing the job processing mode.

Next, the operation of the printer controller 22 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S601, the printer controller 22 receives the print data transmitted from the host computers 1 to n in the reception buffer 23. Next, in step S602, the print data determination unit 28 determines whether or not the received data includes a command that temporarily specifies the job processing mode as the "parallel processing mode". If it is included, the setting of the job processing mode of the printer apparatus main body 10 is changed to "parallel processing mode" until the job processing is completed in step S603. Also,
If you temporarily change the job processing mode to "parallel processing mode"
If the command specified in No. is not included, the setting of the printer apparatus main body 10 at that time is followed.

Next, in step S604, it is checked whether the printer apparatus body 10 is already executing another job process.
If the printer apparatus main body 10 is in the ready state, that is, if no job processing is being executed, step S605.
Then, the image forming unit 25 processes the print data to be transmitted to the image printing unit 11. If the printer apparatus body 10 is already executing some other job process, the job process mode determination unit 24 determines the current job process mode in step S606. This determination is made by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the information of the job processing mode, and it is also checked in step S603 if the job processing mode is temporarily changed to the parallel processing mode. . If the job processing mode is the "parallel processing mode", parallel processing of print data is performed in step S607.

Then, in step S608, the job processing mode is "independent processing mode" and in step S603.
When the processing of (1) has not been performed, the processing of print data is not performed and waits until the job processing that is already being executed is completed. Finally, in step S609, the printer apparatus main body 10
When the print data is received by the printer, the status signal indicating the processing status of the printer main body 10 is returned to the host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the print data at any time, regardless of the state of the printer main body 10. This processing operation ends.

That is, in the third embodiment, even if the printer apparatus main body 10 side is in the "single processing mode", by including a command for designating the "parallel processing mode" in the print data, another job can be executed. It is designed to be processed in parallel.

To the host computers 1 to n, [Printer A: job processing mode = parallel printing: job is being executed] or [Printer A: job processing mode = single printing:
Waiting for job completion], a status signal indicating the printer name, the current job processing mode, and the status of the printer body 10 is transmitted.

Further, the job processing mode is changed by switching with a dip switch or the like when the power is turned on.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows the printer controller 2 in the printer device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 2a, In this figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as FIG. 5 of 3rd Example mentioned above. 7 is different from FIG. 5 in that NVRAM 27 is added to the configuration of FIG. As a result, in this embodiment, the information of the job processing mode is stored in the NVRAM.
27, and the information may be referred to from here. Further, by reflecting the panel setting in the NVRAM 27, it is not necessary to change the job processing mode each time after the power is turned on.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the configurations of the host computer and the printer apparatus main body according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the printer controller 32 in the printer apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The print data input from the host computers 1 to n is received by the printer controller 32. After being received by the buffer 33, it is output to the job processing mode determination unit 34.

The job processing mode discriminating unit 34 discriminates the current job processing method of the printer main body 10, and is connected to the image forming unit 35 and the status processing unit 36. The status processing unit 36 includes the printer main body 1
A status signal indicating the current processing status of the printer body 10 is output to the host computers 1 to n that output the print data to 0. Image forming unit 35
Prints the image data into bitmap image data and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 11. The job counter 39 counts the number of jobs being processed in the “parallel processing mode”.

Next, the operation of the printer controller 32 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S901, the printer controller 32 receives the print data transmitted from the host computers 1 to n in the reception buffer 33. Next, in step S902, it is checked whether the printer apparatus body 10 is already executing another job process. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is in the ready state, that is, if no job processing is being executed, the image forming unit 35 processes print data to be transmitted to the image printing unit 11 in step S903. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is already executing some other job processing, the job processing mode determination unit 34 determines the current job processing mode in step S904. This determination is performed by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the job processing mode information.

If the job processing mode is the "parallel processing mode", it is checked in step S905 if the number of jobs currently being processed is within the limit range. This determination may be performed by referring to a switch or the like that determines the limit value of the number of parallel processing jobs. If the number of jobs currently being processed is within the limit, step S9
In step 07, the number of jobs being processed in parallel is incremented by 1, and in step S908, parallel processing of print data is performed.

On the other hand, if the job processing mode is the "single processing mode" in step S904, or if the number of jobs currently being processed in step S905 is equal to the limit range, the processing in step S906 is being executed. Wait until one of the jobs is finished. Finally, when the printer apparatus body 10 receives the print data in step S909, the printer apparatus body 1 is sent at that time.
In any state of 0, after returning a status signal indicating the processing status of the printer to the host computers 1 to n which have transmitted the print data, this processing operation is ended.

To the host computer, [Printer A: job processing mode = parallel printing: job is being executed],
A status indicating the printer name, the current job processing mode, and the status of the printer, such as [Printer A: Job processing mode = Parallel printing: Waiting for job end] and [Printer A: Job processing mode = Single print: Waiting for job end]. I am trying to send a signal.

Further, the job processing mode can be changed by using a dip switch or the like at the time of turning on the power source.
The limit value of the number of parallel processing jobs may be set using a panel or the like.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller 32a in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment, in which the same parts as those in FIG. 8 of the fifth embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. 10 is different from FIG. 8 in that
The NVRAM 37 is added to the configuration of FIG. As a result, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the information on the job processing mode is NV.
The information may be stored in the RAM 37 so that the information can be referred to from here. Further, by reflecting the panel setting in the NVRAM 37, it is not necessary to change the job processing mode each time after the power is turned on.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the configurations of the host computer and the printer apparatus main body according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the printer controller 42 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
The print data input from the host computers 1 to n is received by the reception buffer 43 in the printer controller 42 and then output to the job processing mode determination unit 44.

The job processing mode discriminating unit 44 discriminates the current job processing method of the printer body 10, and is connected to the image forming unit 45 and the status processing unit 46. The status processing unit 46 is provided in the printer body 1
A status signal indicating the current processing status of the printer body 10 is output to the host computers 1 to n that output the print data to 0. Image forming unit 45
Prints the image data into bitmap image data and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 11. The host counter 48 counts the number of the host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the job being processed in the “parallel processing mode”.

Next, the operation of the printer controller 42 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1201, the printer controller 42 receives the print data transmitted from the host computers 1 to n in the reception buffer 43. Next, step S120.
In step 2, it is checked whether the printer device body 10 is already executing another job process. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is in the ready state, that is, if no job processing is being executed, the image forming unit 45 processes print data to be transmitted to the image printing unit 11 in step S1203.

If the printer body 10 is already executing some other job process, step S12 is performed.
At 04, the job processing mode determination unit 44 determines the current job processing mode. This determination is performed by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the job processing mode information. If the job processing mode is "parallel processing mode"
If it is, then in step S1205, it is checked whether or not the number of host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the job currently being processed is within the limit range. This determination may be performed by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the limit value of the number of host computers 1 to n that has transmitted a job that can perform parallel processing. If the current number of job transmission hosts is within the limit value, one is added to the number of the host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the job being processed in parallel in step S1207, and the parallel processing of print data is performed in step S1208.

On the other hand, the job processing mode is the "single processing mode" in step S1204, or the number of the host computers 1 to n which has transmitted the job currently being processed in step S1205 is equivalent to the limit range. If so, the process waits until one of the jobs being processed is completed in step S1206. Finally, in step S1209, when the printer device body 10 receives the print data, the process of the printer device body 10 is processed by the host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the print data regardless of the state of the printer device body 10 at that time. After returning the status signal indicating the situation, this processing operation is ended.

[Printer A: job processing mode = parallel printing: job is being executed]
A status indicating the printer name, the current job processing mode, and the status of the printer, such as [Printer A: Job processing mode = Parallel printing: Waiting for job end] and [Printer A: Job processing mode = Single print: Waiting for job end]. I am trying to send a signal.

Further, the job processing mode can be changed by using a dip switch or the like when the power is turned on.
The limit value of the number of parallel processing jobs may be set using a panel or the like.

(Eighth Embodiment) Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 shows the eighth aspect of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printer controller 42a in the printer apparatus which concerns on an Example, In this figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as FIG. 11 of 7th Example mentioned above. 13 is different from FIG. 11 in that NVRAM 47 is added to the configuration of FIG. As a result, in the present embodiment, the information of the job processing mode may be stored in the NVRAM 47 and the information may be referred to from here, and by reflecting the panel setting in the NVRAM 47, the power is turned on after the power is turned on. It is not necessary to change the job processing mode each time.

(Ninth Embodiment) Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. Since the configurations of the host computer and the printer apparatus main body according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the printer controller 52 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.
The print data input from the host computers 1 to n is received by the reception buffer 53 in the printer controller 52 and then output to the job processing mode determination unit 54.

The job processing mode discriminating section 54 discriminates the current job processing method of the printer main body 10, and is connected to the image forming section 55 and the status processing section 56. The status processing unit 56 includes the printer apparatus main body 1
A status signal indicating the current processing status of the printer body 10 is output to the host computers 1 to n that output the print data to 0. Image forming unit 55
Prints the image data into bitmap image data and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 11. Further, the job size counter 58 counts a unit (for example, kilobytes) which is the total size of the job being processed in the “parallel mode processing mode”.

Next, the operation of the printer controller 52 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1501, the printer controller 52
Receives the print data transmitted from the host computers 1 to n in the reception buffer 53. Next, step S1
At 502, it is checked whether the printer body 10 is already executing another job process. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is in the ready state, that is, if no job processing is being executed, the image forming unit 55 processes print data to be transmitted to the image printing unit 11 in step S1503. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is already executing some other job processing, the job processing mode determination unit 54 determines the current job processing mode in step S1504. This determination is performed by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the job processing mode information.

If the job processing mode is the "parallel processing mode", next step S1505.
Then, the size of this job is added to the total size of the jobs currently being processed. Then, in step S1506, it is checked whether the total value of the added job size is within the limit range. This determination may be performed by referring to a switch or the like that determines the limit value of the total size of jobs that can perform parallel processing. If the total size of the current job is within the limit, step S1508
Print data is processed in parallel with.

On the other hand, if the job processing mode is the "single processing mode" in step S1504, or if the current job size is added in step S1506, the total job size that can be processed in parallel is exceeded. In step S1507, the process waits until one of the jobs being processed is completed. Finally, in step S1509, the printer apparatus main body 1
When 0 receives the print data, a status signal indicating the processing status of the printer is returned to the host computer which transmitted the print data in any state of the printer at that time, and then this processing operation is ended.

[Printer A: job processing mode = parallel printing: job is being executed] to the host computer,
A status indicating the printer name, the current job processing mode, and the status of the printer, such as [Printer A: Job processing mode = Parallel printing: Waiting for job end] and [Printer A: Job processing mode = Single print: Waiting for job end]. I am trying to send a signal.

Further, the job processing mode can be changed by using a dip switch or the like when the power is turned on.
The limit value of the number of parallel processing jobs may be set using a panel or the like.

(Tenth Embodiment) Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer controller 52a in the printer device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 16, the same parts as those of FIG. 14 of the ninth embodiment described above are
The same reference numerals are attached. 16 is different from FIG. 14 in that NVRAM 57 is added to the configuration of FIG. Note that, as shown in FIG. 16, the NVRAM 5 having the job processing mode information and the limit value of the total job size capable of performing parallel processing built in the printer controller 52a.
7 may be stored and the information may be referred to from here.
Further, if the panel settings are reflected in the NVRAM 57, it is not necessary to change the job processing mode each time the power is turned on.

(Eleventh Embodiment) Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic configuration of the printer device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the printer controller 62 in the printer apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. The print data input from the host computers 1 to n shown in FIG.
After being received by the internal reception buffer 63, it is output to the job processing mode determination unit 64.

The job processing mode discriminating unit 64 is the one shown in FIG.
Is used to determine the job processing method of the printer apparatus main body 10, and is connected to the image forming unit 65 and the status processing unit 66. The status processing unit 66 outputs the print data to the printer apparatus main body 10 by the host computer 1 ~
A status signal indicating the current processing status of the printer main body 10 is output to n, and the image forming unit 65 converts the print data into bitmap image data and outputs it to the image printing unit 11 in FIG. It is supposed to do. The print data determination unit 68 is a means for calculating the time required for processing the received print data, and the remaining time counter 69 manages the time required until the end of the job currently being processed.

Next, the operation of the printer controller 62 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1801, the printer controller 62 receives the print data transmitted from the host computers 1 to n in the reception buffer 63. Next, step S1802.
Then, it is checked whether the printer apparatus main body 10 is already executing another job process. If the printer apparatus main body 10 is in the ready state, that is, if no job processing is being executed, the image forming unit 65 processes print data to be transmitted to the image printing unit 11 in step S1803. If the printer body 10 is already executing some other job process, the job process mode determination unit 64 determines the current job process mode in step S1804. The determination at this time is performed by referring to a switch or the like (not shown) that determines the information on the job processing mode. If the job processing mode is the “parallel processing mode”, next, in step S1805, the time taken to process the current job is added to the total remaining time until the job currently being processed is completed. Then, in step S1806, it is checked whether the total value of the added job processing times is within the limit range. The determination at this time may be performed by referring to a switch or the like that determines the total limit value of the time required to complete the job processing. If the total time taken to process the current job is within the limit value, parallel processing of print data is performed in step S1808. The job processing mode is the "single processing mode" (step S1804), or the time taken to process the current job is added at step S1806, so that the total time taken to process the job is exceeded. If so, the process waits until the remaining time of the job being processed falls below the limit value in step S1807. Finally step S180
When the printer receives the print data in 9, the printer returns a status signal indicating the processing status of the printer main body 10 to the host computers 1 to n that have transmitted the print data regardless of the state of the printer main body 10 at that time. To do.

Actually, to the host computer, [Printer A: job processing mode = parallel printing: job is being executed]
Or [Printer A: Job processing mode = Parallel printing: Waiting for job end: xx seconds left], [Printer A: Job processing mode = Single printing: Waiting for job end: xx seconds left] and the printer name and the current job. A status signal indicating the processing mode, the status of the printer, and the waiting time before entering the job processing is transmitted.

Further, the job processing mode can be changed by using a dip switch or the like at the time of turning on the power source.
The limit value of the total processing time of the job may be set on the panel or the like.

(Twelfth Embodiment) Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer controller 62a in the printer apparatus according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 19, the same parts as those of FIG. 17 of the eleventh embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals. It is attached. 19 is different from FIG. 17 in that NVRAM 67 is added to the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the information of the job processing mode and the limit value of the total processing time of the job may be stored in the NVRAM 67 built in the printer controller 62 and the information may be referred to from here. Further, if the panel settings are reflected in the NVRAM 67, it is not necessary to change the job processing mode each time the power is turned on.

[0072]

As described in detail above, according to the printer of the present invention, it is possible to process a plurality of jobs in parallel. Therefore, even when print data is input from a plurality of host computers at the same time, high speed printing is possible. Since the printing process can be performed and the waiting time can be shortened, the working efficiency can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of operation of a printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of operations of a printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of operation of a printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of operation of a printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the operation of the printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printer controller in a printer device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the operation of the printer controller in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller in a printer device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 to n Host computer 10 Printer device main body 11 Image printing unit (printer engine) 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62 Printer controller (processing method switching unit) 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63 Receive buffer 14 , 24, 34, 44, 54, 64 Job processing mode determination unit 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 Image forming unit 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66 Status processing unit (status processing unit) 17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 67 NVRAM 28 Print data judgment unit (print data judgment means) 39 Job counter (print data counter means) 48 Host counter (host counter means) 58 Job size counter (size counter means) 68 Print data Judgment unit (processing time judgment means) 69 Remaining time counter Processing time management means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printer apparatus, which is connected to a plurality of host computers via a network and has a function of processing print data received from each host computer by a plurality of processing methods, at the same time as inputting print data and presenting the main body of the printer apparatus. And a processing method switching means for switching the processing method for processing the print data, the status processing means for determining the status of the print data and returning a status signal indicating the status to the host computer that transmitted the print data. Printer device. 2. A print data judging means for judging whether or not the received print data includes data for changing a processing method of the print data, and the print data judging means includes the print data judging means. When it is determined that the data for changing the print data processing method is included, the print data processing method is temporarily changed regardless of the setting of the processing method switching means. The printer device according to claim 1. 3. A print data counter means for counting the number of print data transmitted from the host computer to the printer main body, wherein the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data. 2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing method switching means is switched according to the number of print data counted by the print data counter means. 4. When the printer apparatus main body has host counter means for counting the number of host computers transmitting the print data, and the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the processing method switching means is switched according to the number of host computers counted by the host counter means. 5. The size counter has size counter means for counting the size of the print data received by the printer main body, and the size counter is used when the method for processing the print data is a mode for processing a plurality of print data. 2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing method switching means is switched according to the total size of the print data counted by the means. 6. A processing time determination means for determining an actual print processing time required for the received print data, and a processing time management for managing a time until the processing of the print data currently being performed by the printer apparatus main body is finished. Means for processing the print data is a mode for processing a plurality of print data, the time until the processing of the print data managed by the processing time management means is completed is If the print processing time determined by the time determination means is shorter than the time required for the print processing, the print data is not temporarily processed even if the print data processing method is a mode for processing a plurality of print data. Waiting until the time until the processing of the print data managed by the means becomes longer than the time required for the printing processing judged by the processing time judgment means The printer device according to claim 1, wherein: