JPH08320772A - Information processor and its printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To decentralize the load of print processing over the entire system and speedily obtain a print result by transferring at least one of plural generated print queues to another information processor by a transfer means. CONSTITUTION: When-plural spoolers 205-208 are present and command data are outputted to a printer at the same time, correct printing can not be performed, so a drawing control program 202 performs exclusive control. A communication means 209 communicates with other host computers. When the load of the spooler 205 on a host computer 1 exceeds a predetermined value, the drawing control program 202 communicates with other host computers through a communication means 209 and sends a newly generated print job to a host computer which has a margin of load. The print job which is thus transmitted is properly allocated to the spooler on the receiving host computer by the drawing control program of the host computer and printing operation is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device and a printing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the user interface of a computer has been improved, and a plurality of applications can be simultaneously opened and operated on one screen such as Microsoft Windows. In order to maintain the consistency of such a plurality of application programs or to release the CPU from a print job quickly, a print queue called a spooler or a queue is known.

In so-called laptop computers with built-in printers, cards that can use networks such as Ethernet and Token Ring (registered trademark) are known.

[0004]

However, the conventional printer incorporated in the laptop computer has a problem that the printing speed is slow due to the miniaturization. Therefore, it takes a long time to print a large amount of text.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus which can reduce the load in the printing process.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an information processing apparatus for printing print data by a printing means. A data generating unit, a print queue generating unit that divides the generated print data and generates a plurality of print queues, a communication unit that communicates with another information processing apparatus, and the above-mentioned communication unit through the communication unit. And a transfer unit that transfers at least one of the generated plurality of print queues to the other information processing apparatus.

An information processing device according to claim 2 is the information processing device according to claim 1.
In the information processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned item, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the number of the generated print queues exceeds a predetermined value, and the transfer means stores the print queues according to the discrimination result. It is characterized by transferring.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the print queue generating means generates the print queue on a page-by-page basis.

An information processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
In the information processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the input means for instructing the transfer to the transfer means is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the printing means is integrally formed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method of an information processing apparatus, wherein the printing data is printed by a printing means, the print data is generated, and the generated print data is divided into a plurality of pieces. Of the generated print queues and transfers at least one of the generated print queues to the other information processing apparatus via a communication unit that communicates with the other information processing apparatus. .

[0012]

In the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the print data is printed by the printing unit, the print data is generated by the print data generating unit, and the generated print is generated by the print queue generating unit. At least one of the plurality of print queues generated by the transfer means is divided by dividing the data, generating a plurality of print queues by the communication means, and communicating with another information processing apparatus. To the information processing device.

[0013]

EXAMPLE An example of the information processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. The information processing apparatus of the present embodiment is applied to a personal computer integrated with a printer. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a personal computer.

The personal computer is the main body 10 of the apparatus.
1, a keyboard 102, an upper cover 104 having a display unit 103, a paper feed key 105, a print stop key 106, a printer unit 2, and the like. The upper cover 104 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 101 via hinges 104a provided at both ends of the rear portion. When using this device, rotate the upper cover 104 to open the display unit 103 to a position where it is easy to see,
When not in use, close to cover.

A liquid crystal display element is used as a display element in the display section 103. The printer unit 2 employs an inkjet recording head, and the display unit 103
It is stored in the apparatus main body 101 in front of. The printer unit 2 has an opening (not shown) that can be opened and closed by the operator.
The recording head can be replaced.

The recording paper 3 is inserted from a paper feed port 101a provided in the lower portion of the keyboard 102, is transported in a transport path penetrating the inside of the apparatus main body 101, and is ejected from a paper ejection port (not shown) at the rear of the device. To be done. The keyboard 102 is rotatably attached via hinges 102a provided on both sides of the apparatus main body 101. Thus, when a relatively short length of recording paper such as an envelope or a postcard is used, the keyboard 102 can be opened upward and the recording paper 3 can be inserted deep inside the transport path.

As described above, since the conveyance path for the recording paper 3 is provided below the keyboard 102, various operations using the keyboard 102 and the display unit 103 are possible even when the recording paper is set. In the present embodiment, a portion other than the printer unit 2, a so-called computer portion, will be referred to as a host computer 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host computer 1. In the host computer 1, a central processing unit (CPU) controls the main control, and the basic control is performed by a BIOS ROM (Basic Input Output System RO).
M). From floppy disk (FDD) or hard disk (HDD) to floppy disk controller (FDC) or hard disk controller (H
The application program is read via the DC) and the program is executed using the system memory (RAM).

In this case, the screen display method is VGA
Characters and the like are displayed on a liquid crystal (LCD) using a (Video Graphic Array) controller (VGAC), and key input from the keyboard (KB) is performed via the keyboard controller (KBC). Here, the numerical arithmetic processor (FPU) supports arithmetic processing for the CPU.

The real-time clock (RTC) indicates the elapsed time at the present time, and operates with a dedicated battery even when the power of the entire system is turned off. The DMA controller (DMAC) transfers data at high speed between memory, between memory, between memory and I / O, and between I / O and I / O without CPU intervention.

The interrupt controller (IRQC) is provided for each I
Accepts interrupts from / O and performs processing according to priority.

The timer (TIMER) has a free-running timer of several channels and performs various time management.
In addition, a serial interface that connects to the outside (SI
O), an expansion port (PORT), and an LED for notifying the user of the operation status. The printer unit 2 is connected to the host computer 1 by a general-purpose parallel interface. Data is transmitted / received at the register level of the I / O port, and the image of the connection is the same as when an external printer is exchanged. is there.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the printer unit 2 using the ink jet recording system. In the figure, 5001 is an ink tank, and 5012 is a recording head coupled thereto. Ink tank 500
1 and the recording head 5012 form an integral replaceable cartridge. Reference numeral 5014 is a carriage for mounting the cartridge on the printer body.
Reference numeral 03 is a guide for scanning the carriage 5014 in the sub-scanning direction.

Reference numeral 5000 denotes a platen roller for scanning the recording paper 3 in the main scanning direction. Reference numeral 5024 is a paper feed motor for rotating the platen roller.

The carriage 5014 has a recording head 5
A printed circuit board for printer control is provided to which a flexible cable (not shown) for supplying a signal pulse for driving 012 and a current for head temperature adjustment is connected.

The mechanical operation of the printer unit 2 will be described. The carriage 5014 that engages with the spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown), It reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage 5014.

Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage 5014 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013.

Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head 5012 through the cap closing port 5023.

5017 is a cleaning blade,
A member 5019 is a member that allows the cleaning blade 5017 to move in the front-rear direction, and is supported by a support plate 5018.

It is needless to say that the cleaning blade 5017 may be a known one other than this type. Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage 5014, and is controlled by a driving force from a driving motor 5013 via a known transmission means such as clutch switching. To be done. That is, the drive motor 5013 is connected to the carriage 501.
By reversely rotating from the home position of No. 4, the power transmission gear 5011 is switched to the power transmission gear 5010. The driving force from the driving motor 5013 is the cam 5020.
By being transmitted to the lever 5021 via the recording head 5012, suction recovery such as capping and cleaning of the recording head 5012 can be performed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the printer. The printer has a printer control CPU 21, a ROM 22 in which a printer control program, printer emulation and print fonts are stored, a non-volatile RAM 23 for storing development data for printing and received data from the host computer 1, and printing by the printer unit 2. A printer driver 25 that drives a head and a motor,
The controller 24 controls access to the memory, exchanges data with the host computer 1, and sends control signals to the printer driver 25.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer driver 25. The discharge unit has 64 discharge ports. In the figure, # 1 to # 64 are numbers corresponding to the positions of the ejection ports provided in the ejection unit. R1 to R64 are heating resistors as ejection energy generating elements provided corresponding to the ejection ports # 1 to # 64.

The heating resistors R1 to R64 are divided into blocks in units of eight, and the switching transistors Q1 to Q8 of the common side driver circuit C are shared by each block.
Is connected. The transistors Q1 to Q8 turn on / off the energization path in response to turning on / off of the control signals COM1 to COM8, respectively. In addition, D1 to D64 arranged in the energization paths to the heating resistors R1 to R64 are diodes for backflow prevention.

For the heating resistors located at corresponding positions between the blocks, the segment side driver circuit S is turned on / off.
The off transistors Q9 to Q16 are connected. Transistors Q9-Q16 have control signals SEG1-S, respectively.
The energization path for the heating resistor is turned on / off according to turning on / off of the EG8.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing signals for driving the head. At a certain position in the head scanning direction, the common side control signals COM8 to COM1 are sequentially turned on. When turned on, one block is selected to be able to be energized. Therefore, the segment-side control signals SEG8 to SEG8 ...
By turning SEG1 on or off respectively,
The heating resistor is selectively energized, ink is ejected according to the heat generation, and dot recording is performed.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the configurations of the carriage motor 5013 and the motor driver. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing drive signals for the carriage motor 5013. Coil φ1 as carriage motor 5013
Drive signal C using a stepping motor having
By appropriately turning on / off the switch transistors Tr1 to Tr4 connected to the coils by M1 to CM4, the two-phase excitation method is used. Feed motor 5024
Is driven by the drive signals FM1 to FM4 with the same configuration.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the controller 24 of the printer. The controller 24 is an I / O data register for exchanging data at the command level with the host computer 1, a reception buffer controller for directly writing the reception data from the register to the RAM 23, reading the recording data from the recording data buffer of the RAM 23, and a head driver. For COM1 to COM
8 / SEG1 to SEG8, and a print buffer controller for sending control signals, and a memory controller for controlling memory access to the RAM 23 from three directions (CPU 21, reception buffer controller and print buffer controller). ing.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a map of the printer I / O register. In the figure, the motor control port controls the port by directly rewriting the value of the register to drive each motor (CM1 to CM4,
FM1 to FM4).

The print buffer area is used to set a data area required for printing. The start address (PB STAR
T) and the end address (PB END) are set, the print buffer controller sequentially reads the print data from the start address within the range, and the print data is read from the RAM 23 until the end address.
Sends a control signal to the head driver. At this time, the print data address pointer (PB POINT) indicates the data address of the data currently being sent.

Similarly, the reception data buffer area sets a data area required for reception, and has a start address (IB START) and an end address (IB END).
By setting, the reception buffer controller writes the reception data in order from the start address within the range, and the reception data is written to the RAM 23 up to the end address. At this time, the reception data address pointer (IB POINT) indicates the data address that has already received the data.

FIG. 11 shows the print buffer (P
It is explanatory drawing which shows the address area of B) and a receiving buffer (IB), respectively. Each address is designated in the printer I / O register as shown in FIG. The interface area is an area for exchanging data with the host computer 1, and corresponds to a parallel interface board in the host computer 1.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the interface area between the host computer and the printer. I / O data on the host computer 1 side, I / O status, and I / O register are
The address (n, n + 1, n + 2) viewed from the host computer 1 side indicates the same address as the O data, I / O status, and I / O control registers, and the address (m, m + 1, m + 2) viewed from the printer side. ) Has been set up so that the address map can be taken. That is, the address of this portion is a register that can read and write in both directions.

The host computer side is also equipped with an I / O register for controlling peripheral devices.
The register is used for I / O control in the host computer 1. That is, the I / O area of each block shown in FIG. 2 is provided, and only the interface control area therein is common with the interface area of the I / O register on the printer side.

Next, the processing after the power of the host computer 1 is turned on will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the power is turned on. This processing is executed at the time of soft reset by the keyboard or when the power is turned on.

First, a POST (Power On Self-Test) process is executed (step S10). The POST process is a test and initialization of each hardware. Continuing,
The boot program is loaded to activate the system program (step S11). The boot program is stored in a floppy disk (FD) or hard disk (HD), for example, track 0,
It is arranged in the selector 1. The boot program is loaded by reading track 0 and selector 1 in the memory. Steps S10 and S11 are ROM B
It is executed by a program in IOS.

The loaded boot program is executed (step S12). The boot program loads the OS load program for loading the OS program from the FD or HD (step S13).

The loaded OS load program is executed (step S14). OS load program is OS
This is a program for loading the program into the memory, and first loads the I / O driver (step S1.
5). The I / O driver is a program for controlling I / O and exchanges data with various I / O.

I / O testing and initialization is performed (step S16). The OS program is loaded into the memory (step S17). With the steps so far, the OS program is ready to be executed, and the OS program is executed. OS
The program processes input from the keyboard 102, displays various messages on the display 103, and interacts with the operator. The OS program executes various command processes according to the input of various commands by the operator.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the procedure of POST processing. First, the CPU and FPU (numerical operation processor, coprocessor) are tested (step S2).
0). Next, the ROM test is performed (step S2
1) Check the battery (step S2)
2). Further, the LCD and the LCD abapter are tested and initialized (step S23). RA for LCD adapter
M and ROM are included and they are checked.

The interrupt controller is tested and initialized (step S24). The timer is tested (step S25). The DMA controller is tested (step S26). The keyboard and keyboard controller are tested (step S27). The serial parallel port is tested and initialized (step S28). It is checked whether it is a soft reset (step S
29). When it is a soft reset, the RAM is not tested and the initialization process is not performed. R when not soft reset
The AM is tested and initialized (step S30).

The FD test is performed (step S31).
Further, the HD test is performed (step S32). The real time clock is tested (step S33).
The printer is tested (step S34). The printer test checks various printer ports and printer connections. Finally, the LED test is performed (step S35), and the process ends.

When the POST processing is performed and there is an error in each device, they are notified.

Next, the keyboard interrupt processing and the key code acquisition processing will be described. In the keyboard interrupt process, an interrupt is generated from the keyboard controller according to the key press of the keyboard 102, is processed by the interrupt controller, and the keyboard interrupt process is executed.

In the key code acquisition process, the key code saved by the keyboard interrupt is taken out from the key buffer, and the key code is returned to the required process.

The key buffer is provided in the BIOS common area on the RAM. The keyboard interrupt process is assigned to a hardware interrupt entry on an interrupt map (not shown) of each I / O, and the key code acquisition process is assigned to a software interrupt entry. Interrupt from the keyboard,
Moved to execution by calling software interrupt.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure when a keyboard interrupt occurs. First, when a keyboard interrupt occurs, the key scan code is read from the I / O port assigned to the keyboard 102 (step S40).

It is judged whether or not the read code is a code corresponding to soft reset (step S4).
1). When the code is equivalent to the soft reset, the print buffer clear command is transmitted (step S
42) Then, after execution, the actual soft reset operation is started.

If the read code is not a soft reset, it is confirmed whether the keyboard buffer is full (step S43). When the keyboard buffer is full, a beep sound is generated for warning (step S44), and the process ends. When the keyboard buffer is not full, the key scan code is converted into a key code corresponding to the character code (step S45), the converted key code is set in the key buffer (step S46), and the process is ended.

As described above, when the soft reset is executed in the keyboard interrupt process, the buffer clear command is transmitted to the printer and the buffer clear process of the printer is performed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the key code acquisition process. When the key code is acquired, it is first checked whether or not there is a key code in the keyboard buffer (step S50), and when there is no key code, the process waits for entry into the key code buffer. When the key code exists, it is checked whether or not the key code needs to be converted (step S51), and if necessary, the key code is converted (step S52). Key code conversion mainly occurs when the keyboard is different for each country.

On the other hand, if the key code conversion is not necessary, or after the key code conversion is performed in step S52, the key code is set in the register (step S53) and the process ends.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the print processing procedure. When performing printing, the application program 201 passes a print command to the drawing control program 202. The drawing control program 202 converts the print command from the application program 201 into a printer driver command and passes it to the printer driver 203 corresponding to the printer to be printed.

The printer driver 203 creates command data for the printer 204 according to the printer driver command. The printer driver 203 passes the created command data for the printer to the drawing control program 202. The spooler 205 temporarily puts the data passed from the drawing control program 202 into the print queue 206 without immediately outputting it to the printer 204.

The data is stored in the print queue 206 in units of a set of print data called a print job 207. For example, print data such as an entire document of a word processor or a specific page that the operator has instructed to print at once becomes one print job 207.

The spooler 205 is currently in print queue 2
The drawing control program 202 can be notified of the number of print jobs included in 06. Since the notification method is a well-known technique, its explanation is omitted. The drawing control program 202 appropriately allocates the print job in the host computer 1 in consideration of the load of the spooler.

When a plurality of spoolers are present, if the command data is output to the printer at the same time, printing cannot be performed correctly, so the drawing control program 202 performs exclusive control. The communication unit 209 communicates with another host computer.

The spooler 205 in the host computer 1
If the load exceeds a predetermined value, the drawing control program 202 communicates with another host computer by the communication unit 209 and sends the newly generated print job to the host computer 1 having a sufficient load. The transmitted print job is appropriately allocated to the spooler in the host computer by the drawing control program of the received host computer and printed.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing how print jobs are distributed and printed among host computers. The printers 204 and 2041 are respectively connected to a plurality of host computers 1 and 11, but the printer 204
N is connected to the host computer 1N on a one-to-one basis.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure in which a print job is sent to another host computer and printed. When the print job is generated in the host computer 1 of the drawing control program 202 (step S
301), it is checked whether the load of the spooler 205 (here, the total number of print jobs in the host computer 1) exceeds a predetermined limit value MAXJOB (step S302).

If it exceeds, the drawing control program 20
The communication unit 209 communicates with another host computer by the communication unit 209 to search for a host computer having a sufficient load (step S303). When there is a corresponding host computer (step S304), the newly generated print job is transmitted to the host computer (step S304).
305). When there is no corresponding host computer, the spooler 205 in its own host computer is unavoidable.
The print job is passed to (step S306). Also,
If the limit value MAXJOB is not exceeded in step S302, the print job is passed to the spooler 205 in the host computer.

The print job transmitted in step S305 is appropriately allocated to the spooler of the received host computer. After this, the drawing control program 202 enters a waiting state (step S307).

In consideration of convenience, the limit value MAXJOB is a value of 2 when 1 page is allocated to 1 spooler.
~ 3 is suitable.

[0073]

According to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when the print data is printed by the printing means, the print data is generated by the print data generating means, and the print queue generating means generates the print data. At least one of the plurality of print queues generated by the transfer means is divided by dividing the generated print data, generating a plurality of print queues by the communication means, and communicating with another information processing apparatus.
Since one is transferred to the other information processing apparatus, the print processing load can be distributed throughout the system, and the print result can be promptly obtained. The convenience of printing can be improved for the operator.

According to the second aspect of the information processing apparatus, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the number of the generated print queues exceeds a predetermined value, and according to the discrimination result, Since the transfer unit transfers the print queue, it is possible to clarify the criteria for transmitting the print queue to another information processing apparatus.

According to the information processing apparatus of the third aspect, the print queue generating means generates the print queue on a page-by-page basis, so that each page can be transferred to another information processing apparatus.

According to the information processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the input means for instructing the transfer to the transfer means is provided, the operator can arbitrarily set whether or not to transfer.

According to the information processing apparatus of the fifth aspect, since the printing means is integrally formed, it is possible to reduce the load of the printing process even if the integrally formed one is formed.

According to the printing method of the information processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, in the printing method of the information processing apparatus for printing the print data by the printing means, the print data is generated and the generated print data is divided. At least one of the plurality of print queues thus generated via a communication means for generating a plurality of print queues and communicating with another information processing apparatus.
Since one is transferred to the other information processing apparatus, the print processing load can be distributed throughout the system, and the print result can be promptly obtained. The convenience of printing can be improved for the operator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a personal computer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host computer 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a printer unit 2 using an inkjet recording method.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printer driver 25.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing signals for driving a head.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing configurations of a carriage motor 5013 and a motor driver.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing drive signals for a carriage motor 5013.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller 24 of the printer.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a map of a printer I / O register.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing address areas of a print buffer (PB) and a receive buffer (IB) of the RAM 23, respectively.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an interface area between a host computer and a printer.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the power is turned on.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure of POST processing.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a keyboard interrupt occurs.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a key code acquisition process.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a print processing procedure.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing how print jobs are distributed and printed among host computers.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in which a print job is sent to another host computer and printed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer 2 Printer Unit 202 Drawing Control Program 204 Printer 205 Spooler 206 Print Queue 207 Print Job 209 Communication Unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for printing print data by a printing means, a print data generating means for generating the print data, and a print queue for dividing the generated print data to generate a plurality of print queues. Queue generating means, communication means for communicating with another information processing apparatus, and transfer means for transferring at least one of the plurality of generated print queues to the other information processing apparatus via the communication means. An information processing apparatus comprising: 2. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the number of the generated print queues exceeds a predetermined value, and the transfer means transfers the print queues according to the discrimination result. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print queue generation means generates the print queue in page units. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit for instructing the transfer unit to transfer. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is integrally formed. 6. A printing method of an information processing apparatus for printing print data by a printing means, wherein the print data is generated, the generated print data is divided to generate a plurality of print queues, and other information is generated. A printing method for an information processing apparatus, comprising transferring at least one of the plurality of generated print queues to the other information processing apparatus via a communication unit that communicates with a processing apparatus.