JPH1027079A - Print server and its print job control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer print data between print servers and shorten the time needed for print output by printing print data in order from print data having sent a print data process request among client computers. SOLUTION: A print server once receiving a print job from a client computer informs other print servers of that from its information transmission part 331 and a print server which is actuated first among the print server on the LAN receives information sent from each print server by its information reception part and stores it in a receive data storage part 321. Information of all received print jobs is stored in the receive data storage part 321 of the print server which has been actuated first in the order of the reception time of the print jobs. On the basis of the data, the respective print servers performs print data output processing from the oldest print job among the print jobs on all the print servers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a print job control method for a print server connected to a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A print server is a control device for causing a printer device to print information to be printed sent from a computer processing device. Also, the print server
In the case of controlling a plurality of printers, if there are a plurality of print requests from the computer processing device, a print output queue is created for each printer to be output, and the print requests to the printers are in a waiting state. When two or more print servers are connected to the processing device, a queue occurs in one of the print servers under the print server, and the printer under the other print server is unused. I do.

In response to such a case, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-262717 discloses a plurality of display devices for requesting printing, a plurality of printer devices for executing printing,
In a system having a plurality of groups each including a single print server that controls a plurality of print executions based on a plurality of print requests, each group of print servers includes usage status of a printing apparatus in the own group. Print server status monitoring means, and print server wait state information stored in each group of print servers, comprising print server interface processing means for processing a transmission / reception interface between other groups of print servers. And print requests from other groups of printer servers are processed by using unused printer devices. With this configuration, the print server can use its own device by the printing device status monitoring means. When the busy of the subordinate printer is recognized, the interface processing between print servers is performed by the print server interface processing means. Performs communication with other print server, the printer under other print server is available, it is possible to request the print process to this. The reverse is also possible, and the barrier between the use of the printing apparatus for each print server is removed and the printer apparatuses in the system are used in a balanced manner. As a result, the time required for print output can be reduced.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-189174 discloses that data is output from a plurality of print queues to a printer in the order of input, and for data requiring urgency, printing is performed prior to other data. For one printer having a plurality of print modes, a plurality of print queues assigned for each print mode of the printer, an input control unit and an output control unit are provided. When data is input to one of a plurality of print queues, a common input order attribute is added, and then the data is input to a specified print queue. When outputting data from the printer to the printer, the data having the earliest input order attribute is selected, and a predetermined print mode corresponding to the data is set to the printer. After setting, and outputs the data,
On the other hand, it is disclosed that, when there is data to which an attribute of preferential printing is added, the data is output first.

Further, as a conventional example, a client computer and a print server connected to a printing apparatus are designated by L.
An internal configuration diagram of the print server incorporated in an AN network will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, an information transmitting / receiving unit 33 including an information transmitting unit 331 is connected to a LAN to which a client computer, another print server, and the like are connected. The print server 3 in the conventional example includes:
Enter the print data from the client computer,
An information transmission unit 331 for outputting information of print completion, an output end message transmission unit 335 for transmitting a message of print end to the client computer, and a print request unit 4 for inputting information of a print request from the client computer.
A print request receiving unit 311 that receives a request for a print request through the print request unit 4 when the instruction is received, and a storage unit that receives an output of the print request receiving unit 311 and data from the information transmitting unit 331 and has a print queue. A print data output processing unit 314 for storing a print job of a predetermined item for each print request, a print data storage unit 322 for storing print data from the print data output processing unit 314, and printing from the print data output processing unit 314. And a print data output device 5 for printing data.

Here, the function of the print server 3 for inputting print data and the like from the information transmitting unit 331 is to change the print job registered in the print queue to the print queue of the print server having no other print job queue. When the print destination is changed to another print server that does not have a print waiting job, it is necessary to change the designation of the print destination again and print again because the print data is not transferred through the LAN. . In this case, the client computer requests deletion of the print job registered in the queue of the print server previously designated as the print destination, changes the print destination to a print server that does not wait for a print waiting job, and sends the print server to the print server. Outputs a print request and its print data.

[0007]

In the function of a conventional print server, a large number of print queues are registered in one print server, and when a print queue is not registered at all in a certain print server, different functions are used. Since print data is not exchanged between the print servers, the load of the print processing becomes unbalanced, and there is a problem that it takes time for the print processing by the printer busy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention provides a system in which a plurality of print servers are provided on a LAN, whereby a load is not applied to a specific print server, and the load is evenly applied to the plurality of print servers. An object is to improve printing efficiency.

Further, in a system having a plurality of client computers and a plurality of print servers on a LAN, it is another object of the present invention to transfer print data between the respective print servers and to reduce the time required for print output by a printer busy or the like. I do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of client computers on a LAN (Local Area Network) and a plurality of client computers for processing print data output requests from the plurality of client computers. In the print job control method of the system including the print server, the first print server among the plurality of print servers on the LAN is the print server output to the other print server and the own print server. A received data storage unit (32 in FIG. 3) for managing request information
1) the print data output request from the client computer is transmitted to the print server anywhere on the LAN, and the print data processing request issued earlier in the client computer Are sequentially printed.

In a print job control system for a system comprising a plurality of client computers on a LAN (Local Area Network) and a plurality of print servers for processing print data output requests from the plurality of client computers, An area for storing information of print jobs stored in other print servers in the print server; an information transmitting / receiving unit for mutually referencing the area; and a print server on the LAN. A print processing data determining unit for instructing print processing in order from the oldest stored print job. Further, in a print server connected to the LAN and outputting the print data to the print data output device, the print server receives the print control data and the print data through the LAN and stores the print control data. A print data storage unit for storing, the print data corresponding to the oldest print request time in the print control data according to an instruction of a print processing data determination unit that monitors the received data storage unit, to the print data output device. Outputting the print control data and the corresponding print data on the LAN in accordance with the instruction of the print processing data determination unit, and outputting the output completion data of the print data output device in accordance with the instruction of the print processing data determination unit. Is output on the LAN. Further, in this print server, when the print control data and the corresponding print data are output on the LAN in accordance with an instruction from the print processing data determination unit, the print control data connected to another print server on the LAN is output. It is characterized in that it is determined that there is no job of the data output device.

More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a principle block diagram of the print server control system of the present invention. The print server (3 in FIG. 3) of the present invention includes a print data processing unit (312 in FIG. 3) in addition to the functions of the conventional print server.
Print processing determination unit (313 in FIG. 3), received data storage unit (321 in FIG. 3), information transmission unit (331 in FIG. 3), information reception unit (332 in FIG. 3), print data transfer request from another print server (333 in FIG. 3) and a print data receiving unit (334 in FIG. 3).

In such a configuration, among the plurality of print servers on the LAN, the print server that is activated first is the information of the print request issued to the other print server and the print request issued to its own print server. A reception data storage unit (321 in FIG. 3) for managing request information is provided.

When the print server receives the print job from the client computer, the print server (3 in FIG. 3)
31), the other print server is notified that the print job has been received, and the print server that has started first among the print servers on the LAN receives the information notified from each print server as an information receiving unit (FIG. 3 of 332)
In the received data storage unit (321 in FIG. 3). The information of all print jobs received by the print server on the LAN stores the received data storage unit (321 in FIG. 3) of the print server activated first on the LAN.
Are stored in the order in which the print jobs are received. Based on the data in the received data storage unit (321 in FIG. 3),
Each print server executes print data output processing from the oldest print job among print jobs in all print servers.

[Operation] The print server (3 in FIG. 3) of the present invention includes a print processing data determination unit (313 in FIG. 3) and a print data processing unit (FIG. 3) in each print server.
312), a reception data storage unit (321 in FIG. 3), an information transmission unit (331 in FIG. 3), and an information reception unit (33 in FIG. 3).
2), a print data transfer unit of another print server (3 in FIG. 3)
33) communicates with another print server on the LAN, and if there is no print job to be processed in the own print server, prints the oldest print job among print jobs stored in a plurality of print servers on the LAN. It can be processed. This allows a print server with no print jobs to print a print job from a print server with many print jobs, such as when only one print server has many print jobs and another print server has no print jobs. Processing can be performed, the load is not biased only to a certain print server, and the print output efficiency is improved.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a network system diagram showing a relationship between a client computer and a print server. In the figure, LAN (Lo
cal Area Network) 1 includes client computers 11, 12, 1n and print servers 111, 112,
11n is connected, for example, Ethernet (Ethernet)
In a format, the print data is transmitted in baseband from the client computers 11, 12, 1n to the print servers 111, 112, 11n. In addition, data is exchanged mutually in response to the response, and information is mutually transmitted by, for example, CSMA / CD or the like according to the access control protocol of Ethernet. Printers 121, 122, and 12n are connected to the print servers 111, 112, and 11n, respectively, and print and output the print data stored in the print servers 111, 112, and 11n by the printers 121, 122, and 12n.

FIG. 2 shows a print job control processing screen of the print server according to the present embodiment. According to FIG. 2, the print job control processing screen is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the print server or a display unit attached to one client computer in the system, so that the printing-related status of the system can be seen at a glance. It is shown to be understood by. In FIG. 2, the print server 1 receives print jobs 1 to 4 based on the status of the print queue (24) (21).
The print server 2 has received print jobs 1 and 2 (22), and the print server 3 has not received any print jobs (23). Under such circumstances, it is better to transfer the print job 2 of the print server 1 to the print server 3 in order to prevent the print data output device connected to the print server 3 from being idle and to obtain a quick print output. It is reasonable. The operation for this will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print server according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print server 3 according to the present embodiment includes a print request receiving unit 311, a print data processing unit 312, a print processing data determination unit 313, a print data output processing unit 314, a reception data storage unit 321, a print data storage unit 322, and an information transmission / reception unit. 33 are provided. The information transmitting / receiving unit 33 includes an information transmitting unit 33 for transmitting / receiving data to / from a LAN to which a plurality of client computers 11 to 1n and a plurality of other print servers are connected.
1, an information receiving unit 332, a print data transfer requesting unit 333 of another print server, a print data receiving unit 334, and an output end message transmitting unit 335.
Further, the reception data storage unit 321 and the print data storage unit 32
2 may be a separate storage device or the same storage device, and any device may be used as long as storage contents can be input and output.

The first print server among a plurality of print servers on the LAN 1 includes:
A reception data storage unit 321 activated during the above configuration is provided.

When there is a print data output request from the client computers 11 to 1n, the print request receiving unit 3
11 accepts. As shown in FIG. 4, the print data processing unit 312 sends the print data 47 received by the print request reception unit 311 to the print data 47, the print server 47, the print data reception time 42, and a print data output request. Client computer name 43, total size 44 of print data, format 4 of print data
5 and the information of the print processing identification flag 46 is added as print control data, only the added print control data is transferred to the information transmitting unit 331, and the print data processing unit 312 performs processing for extracting only the print data portion. The data 47 is stored in the print data storage unit 322 in the data storage unit 32.
Is stored in The information transmitting unit 331 transmits print control data other than the print data 47 received from the print data processing unit 312 to the LAN. FIG. 5 shows a data format from which the print control data is extracted. LAN
The print server that is activated first among the plurality of print servers above receives print control data transmitted by the information transmission unit 331 of a print server (including its own print server) at the information reception unit 332 and receives the print control data. The print control data is stored in the storage area of the reception data storage unit 321. FIG. 6 shows a state diagram of the storage area of the reception data storage unit 321. In the figure, the received data storage unit 3
21 is the received data 1 (321) of the print control data other than the print data from the print server started first.
5) The received data 2 (3214) of the print control data from the next activated print server, the received data 3 (3213) from the next activated print server, and the like are stored. 3211 stores the next received data.

Hereinafter, the print processing data determination unit 313 shown in FIG.
The operation of the print server will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In S1 of FIG. 7, the print processing data determination unit 313 determines the most out of the storage area (FIG. 6) of the reception data storage unit 321 of the print server that is activated first among the plurality of print servers on the LAN. The old data at the print data reception time 42 is extracted, and the print processing identification flag 46 (FIG. 5) in the print control data is turned on.
In the case of (2), since the other print server on the LAN is processing the print data, the print data reception time 42 retrieves the second oldest data. Next, the in-printing process identification flag 46 (FIG. 5) is also selected from the extracted data.
Is turned on, and if it is turned on, data with the third oldest print data reception time 42 is taken out. According to the same procedure, the print processing identification flag 46 (FIG. 5) is sequentially searched for the one that is OFF. When a print processing identification flag 46 (1 in FIG. 5) is found to be OFF, the print processing identification flag 46 indicating that the print processing is being executed is turned ON so that the other print servers do not execute the print processing at the same time. (S2 in FIG. 7).

Next, in S3 of FIG. 7, the print processing data determination unit 313 determines whether the print server identifier 41 (FIG. 5) in the print control data is that of the own print server. If the print server identifier 41 (FIG. 5) is that of the own print server, the process proceeds to S4 in FIG. 7, where data to be processed is acquired from the print data storage unit 322 in the own print server, and print data output processing is performed. Part 31
The print data 47 is transferred to the print data output device 5 and the print data 47 is output from the print data output device 5. If the print server identifier 41 (FIG. 5) is not that of the own print server, the flow shifts to S5 in FIG. 7, where the print data is stored in another print server on the LAN. The data transfer request unit 333 issues a transfer request of the print data 47 to the print server holding the print data of the information of the print server identifier 41 (FIG. 5), and print data together with the transferred print control data. 4
7 is transferred to the print data output processing unit 314, and the print data 47 is output from the print data output device 5.

When the output of the print data 47 is completed, a print processing end notification message (FIG. 8) such as a print end date and time, a print end destination ( The sender of the print request), the title of the print, the output destination that is the local station that notifies the end of the print, the print job that has been processed, the size of the print data amount, and the output time from the start to the end of the print. The client computer is notified of the print server from which the print data was output.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the load on a plurality of printers is not biased and the delay in print output due to the busyness of the printer is reduced, the effect of contributing to the efficiency of print output processing of the entire system is extremely large. Since the plurality of print servers connected to the system have a reception data storage unit for storing print control data, the mutual operation with other print servers enables the operation status of each printing apparatus to be grasped, and The printing device of the present invention can perform a rational and fastest print output process mainly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a LAN of a client computer and a print server according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a print job control screen of the print server according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a processing block diagram of a print server that is started first among print servers on a LAN according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing data format of a print data processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a transmission data format of an information transmission unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a reception data storage unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of a print processing data determination unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a message format of a print processing end notification according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a processing block diagram in a conventional print server.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 LAN cable 2 Print job control processing screen of print server 21 Status window of print job queue of print server 1 22 Status window of print job queue of print server 2 23 Status window of print job queue of print server 3 24 Print Queue of print jobs in the queue 3 Processing block diagram in print server started first 31 Print processing control unit 311 Print request receiving unit 312 Print data processing unit 313 Print processing data determination unit 314 Print data output processing unit 32 storage unit 321 reception data storage unit 3211 next data received by the print server 3212 reception data 4 3213 reception data 3 3214 reception data 2 3215 reception data 1 322 print data storage unit 33 data communication unit 331 information transmission Unit 332 information receiving unit 333 print data transfer requesting unit of another print server 335 output message transmitting unit 4 print request from client computer 5 print data output device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A print job control method for a system comprising: a plurality of client computers on a LAN (Local Area Network); and a plurality of print servers that process print data output requests from the plurality of client computers. A print server that is activated first among the plurality of print servers on the LAN includes a reception data storage unit that manages information of print requests output to other print servers and the own print server, A print data output request from the client computer is sent to the LA
A print job control method in which, when the print data is transmitted to any one of the print servers on N, the print data is sequentially printed in the client computer from the print data to which the print data processing request was issued first. 2. A print job control method for a system comprising: a plurality of client computers on a LAN (Local Area Network); and a plurality of print servers that process print data output requests from the plurality of client computers. An area for storing information of print jobs stored in other print servers in the print server; an information transmitting / receiving unit for mutually referencing the area; and a print server on the LAN. A print job control method, comprising: a print processing data determination unit that instructs print processing in order from the oldest stored print job. 3. A print server connected to a LAN and outputting print data to a print data output device, comprising: a reception data storage unit that receives print control data and print data through the LAN and stores the print control data; A print data storage unit that stores print data, and print data corresponding to the oldest print request time in the print control data according to an instruction of a print processing data determination unit that monitors the received data storage unit. Output to the output device, output the print control data and the corresponding print data on the LAN according to the instruction of the print processing data determination unit, and output the print data output device according to the instruction of the print processing data determination unit. The end data is stored in the LAN
A print server characterized by outputting to the top. 4. The print server according to claim 3, wherein said print processing data determination unit issues an instruction to said LAN.
When outputting the print control data and the print data paired therewith, it is determined that there is no job of a print data output device connected to another print server on the LAN. 5. The print server according to claim 3, wherein the received data storage unit also stores print control data indicating that a print request has been made to another print server on the LAN. Print server featured.