JPH0876948A - Output circuit for print-out data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quickly print out much data. CONSTITUTION: At the time of recognizing that print-out devices to 5 are unusable by print-out device state signals 111 to 113, a control part 11 returns a busy signal 101 to an information processor 2. At the time of recognizing that the devices 3 to 5 are usable by the signals 111 to 113, the control part 11 switches a selector 10 and distributes print-out data from the processor 2 to the usable devices 3 to 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printout data output circuit, and more particularly to a buffer control system for sending data such as texts created in an information processing device to a printout device for printing out.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of buffer control system, when printout data sent from an information processing apparatus is received, the data is sent to one unused printout apparatus. Has become.

In this case, the printout data sent from the information processing device is stored in the buffer and is printed out by the printout device every time the buffer is full.

In the above method, since the data storage and printout processes are performed independently and continuously, it takes a total amount of processing time for each data storage and printout.

In order to shorten the processing time, there has been proposed a method of dividing the spool-out processing so that the spool-out processing and the print-out can be processed in parallel most efficiently. Regarding this technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-80
This is described in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 055.

[0006]

In the conventional buffer control method described above, once the information processing apparatus and one unused printout apparatus are connected, all printout processing in the information processing apparatus is performed. Since it is performed by the printout device, it may lack promptness when printing out a large amount of data.

Also, in the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-80055, once the information processing device and one printout device are connected, data is exchanged only between those devices. As a result, when printing out a large amount of data, it may not be quick enough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a printout data output circuit capable of quickly printing out a large amount of data.

[0009]

A printout data output circuit according to the present invention comprises a data distribution means for distributing printout data from a host device to a plurality of printout devices, and a usable state of each of the plurality of printout devices. And a control means for controlling the data distribution means so as to distribute the printout data to each of the plurality of printout devices according to the detection result of the detection means.

Another printout data output circuit according to the present invention comprises, in addition to the above configuration, a detection means for detecting a page break code of the printout data, and the detection means detects the page break code. Further, when the detection means detects the usable state of the printout device, the control means controls the data distribution means so as to distribute the printout data following the page feed code to the printout device. .

Another printout data output circuit according to the present invention comprises, in addition to the above configuration, means for recognizing the number of pages of the printout data output from the host device.

[0012]

When the data output start signal is received from the information processing apparatus, if the printout apparatus status signal recognizes that the printout apparatus cannot be used, a busy signal is returned to the information processing apparatus.

When the control unit recognizes from the printout device status signal that the printout device is available, the selector is switched and the printout data from the information processing device is distributed to the available printout devices.

As a result, the printout processing time can be shortened as compared with the conventional case, and a large amount of data can be printed out quickly.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a printout data output circuit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a selector 10 and a control unit 11.

Under the control of the control unit 11, the selector 10 distributes the printout data sent from the information processing device 2 to the printout devices 3-5.

The control unit 11 receives the data output start signal 102 from the information processing apparatus 2 and printout apparatus status signals 111 to 111 from the printout apparatuses 3 to 5, respectively.
It is supposed to receive 113.

When the control unit 11 recognizes that the printout devices 3 to 5 are unusable by the printout device status signals 111 to 113, it returns a busy signal 101 to the information processing device 2.

Further, the control section 11 receives the printout device status signals 111 to 113, and outputs the printout devices 3 to 3.
When it is recognized that the printout data from the information processing device 5 is available, the selector 10 is switched to control to transfer the printout data from the information processing device 2 to the available printout devices 3 to 5.

The control unit 1 recognizes the information of the total number of pages included in the data output start signal 102 from the information processing apparatus 2 and performs the above-described processing operation based on the information of the total number of pages.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, when the control section 11 receives a data output start signal 102 from the information processing apparatus 2 to start the output of printout data (step S1 in FIG. 2), the printout apparatuses 3 to 5 input at any time to print. By checking the output device status signals 111 to 113, it is determined whether or not at least one printout device 3 to 5 is ready for printing (step S2 in FIG. 2).

The control unit 1 has a device capable of printing out.
If there is no stand, the busy signal 101 is output to the information processing device 2 (step S3 in FIG. 2), and the process returns to step S1 to wait for the input of the data output start signal 102 from the information processing device 2.

If there is at least one device capable of printing out, the control unit 1 controls the selector 10 to transfer the printout data from the information processing device 2 to any one of the devices capable of printing out. Distribution is performed (step S4 in FIG. 2).

For example, when all the printout devices 3 to 5 are printable, the control unit 1 controls the selector 10 to transfer the printout data to the printout device 3.

If the printout data is not completed (step S5 in FIG. 2), the control section 11 judges whether or not a page break code is detected in the printout data based on the detection signal from the selector 10 ( 2 step S6).

Here, a detection circuit (not shown) for detecting the page break code in the printout data is provided in the selector 11, and when the detection circuit detects the page break code, the control unit 11 is provided. The detection signal is output to.

When the control unit 11 knows that the page break code is found in the printout data by the detection signal from the selector 10, it determines whether or not there is at least one printout device capable of printing (FIG. 2). Step S7).

If there is at least one printout device capable of printing out, the control unit 11 changes the printout device 3 which is currently printing out to another device (step S8 in FIG. 2) and prints on that device. Out data is transmitted (step S4 in FIG. 2).

If there is no page break code in the printout data, or if there is no other device that can print out, the control unit 11 continues to send the printout data to the printout device 3 that is currently printing. (FIG. 2 step S4).

By repeating the above-mentioned processing operation, the work of transferring the printout data to the printout devices 3 to 5 is repeated, and the processing is ended when the end of the printout data is detected.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a difference in processing time between the embodiment of the present invention and the conventional example. FIG. 3A shows the processing time when one buffer for accumulating data for one page is provided in the printout apparatus in the conventional example, and FIG. 3B shows the processing time in the printout apparatus in the conventional example. Shows the processing time when a plurality of buffers for accumulating data for one page are provided, and FIG. 3 (c) shows the processing time according to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, if there is one buffer for accumulating data for one page of printout data, the buffer is full until the printout of the transferred printout data is completed, so the next printout data is printed out. It cannot be transferred to the device.

In this case, the transfer times of the printout data are d1 and d2, and the printout times are P1 and P2.
Then, the processing time T1 is "d1 + P1 + d2 + P"
2 ".

When there are a plurality of buffers for accumulating data for one page of printout data, the next printout data is transferred while the printout data transferred to the buffer is being printed out. Therefore, after printing one page, the next page can be printed continuously.

Therefore, the transfer times of the printout data are d1 and d2, and the printout times are P3 and P2.
If the processing time is 4, the processing time T2 is "d1 + P3 + P4".
Becomes

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the number of pages of printout data is within one page, or when there is only one device capable of printout, the processing time is the same as the conventional method.

However, when the number of pages of printout data is two or more and there are two or more devices that can print out, as shown in FIG. 3C, the processing time can be shortened as compared with the conventional method. it can.

That is, if the transfer time of the printout data is d1, d2, the distribution time of the printout data by the selector 10 is s, and the printout time is P5, P6, the processing time T3 is "d1 + s +".
d2 + P6 ".

Here, the difference between the above processing times T1 to T3 is shown by a calculation formula. When the data transfer time of one page from the information processing device 2 is a, the printout time of one page of data is b, the data distribution processing time by the selector 10 is c, and the total number of pages of printout data is x, T1 = Ax + bx (1) T2 = a + bx (2)

On the other hand, the processing time T3 according to the embodiment of the present invention is 3 when the number of usable printout devices is three.
Assuming that the printout data of the 4th page is transferred to the 1st printout device that has finished the printout of the 1st page, x = 1: T1 = a + b x = 2: T1 = 2a + b + c When x = 3: T1 = 3a + b + 2c When x = 4: T1 = 4a + b + 3c

Therefore, the equation T1 = ax + b + c (x-1) (3) holds.

The data transfer time of one page from the information processing device 2 is about 1 second, the printout time of one page of data is about 3 seconds, the data distribution processing time by the selector 10 is about 0.5 second, and the printing is performed. Total number of out data pages is 5
Assuming 000 pages, from the equation (1), T1 = 1 × 5000 + 3 × 5000 = 20000 (seconds).

From the equation (2), T2 = 1 + 3 × 5000 = 15001 (seconds).

Further, from the equation (3), T3 = 1 × 5000 + 3 + 0.5 × (5000-1) =
It becomes 7502.5 (seconds).

Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the larger the number of pages, the print processing time T3.
Can be shortened more reliably than before. Further, when the number of copies to be printed is the same as the number of printable devices, by sending the printout data of the same page to each device, it is possible to print one copy to each device. Sorting enables automatic sorting.

As described above, the selector 10 sends the printout data from the information processing apparatus 2 to the printout apparatus 3 according to the available states of the printout apparatuses 3 to 5.
By allocating to ~ 5, the printout processing time can be shortened as compared with the conventional case, and a large amount of data can be printed out quickly.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large amount of printout data from a higher-level device is distributed to each of the plurality of printout devices according to the availability of each of the plurality of printout devices. The effect is that data can be printed out quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a processing time when one buffer for accumulating data for one page is provided in the printout device in the conventional example, and FIG. 3B is a printout device in the conventional example. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing time when a plurality of buffers are provided inside, and FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a processing time according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printout Data Output Circuit 2 Information Processing Device 3-5 Printout Device 10 Selector 11 Control Unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data distribution unit that distributes printout data from a higher-level device to a plurality of printout devices, a detection unit that detects a usable state of each of the plurality of printout devices, and a detection result of the detection unit. And a control means for controlling the data distribution means so as to distribute the printout data to each of the plurality of printout devices according to the printout data output circuit. 2. A detecting means for detecting a page break code of the printout data, wherein the detecting means detects the page break code and the detecting means detects a usable state of the printout device. 2. The printout data output circuit according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the data distribution means to distribute the printout data following the page feed code to the printout device. 3. The printout data output circuit according to claim 1, further comprising means for recognizing the number of pages of the printout data output from the host device.