JPH10315590A - Printing control device, printing control method, and storage medium storing computer readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set a best output schedule for waiting output data, by controlling, changing the output schedule for output data of an output information of each output job information stored in a memory means when it is judged that a consumable material becomes short during printing. SOLUTION: A host computer 2000 is connected to a printer control unit 1001 via an interface to carry out a control process for communication with a laser printer main body 1000. In the printer control unit 1001, a CPU 1-1 integrally controls according to a control program stored in a program ROM of a ROM 1-2 an access to each device connected to a system device 1-4, and outputs an image signal as an output information to a printing part 1-9 connected thereto via a printing part interface 1-8. A remaining amount calculation part 1-10 obtains information on the amount of the remaining paper, the amount of the remaining toner, etc., detected by a consumable remaining amount detection sensor provided in the printing part 1-9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control method for processing print information generated by communication between an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and a computer readable program. The present invention relates to a storage medium storing various programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computers have been interconnected by a LAN (local area network), and LAN connections have been made possible also in various peripheral devices such as page printers.

[0003] The LAN enables the shared use and transfer of data of computers and peripheral devices as one user group. The LAN is composed of a group of computers including a file server and a print server, and functions as a network operating system mounted on each computer. It supports various protocols for transferring and sharing data and files, and sharing printers.

There are various user applications running on each computer, such as document creation software and spreadsheet software. The data created using these applications is transmitted by the printer driver software as a function of the operating system.
PDL (Printer Description) which is a printer control language
Language) data, and then temporarily stored in a print spooler as a print job, and sent to a printer in many cases.

Further, depending on the operating system, after a print file converted into a specific data format is transferred to a print spooler, a print job is generated by printer driver software in the print spooler and stored again in the print spooler. Sometimes.

[0006] In addition, a print job is not only composed of PDL data, but depending on the operating system, it may be possible to generate print data in a raster bitmap format.

Further, there is a case where a print job generated by printer driver software is transferred to a printer spooler in a print server connected to a network, and then transmitted to a printer.

[0008] The print job generated in this way is
When transferred from the print spooler to the printer, the printer sequentially analyzes the received print data by a PDL analysis unit or the like, generates a raster bitmap image to be printed, and performs printing processing.

At this time, a print job is generated from one or a plurality of document files, and is a unit constituting one print document, and is usually separated by a job start command and a job end command. Although information for generating a page in a job is used only in the job, an image may be generated using stored data such as external characters or form overlays registered and stored in the printing apparatus in advance.

In this case, prior to transfer of the print job,
Using the download utility software as application software on the computer, external characters, form overlays, etc. are stored in the printing device, and the PDL data is used so that the printer driver software that generates the print job can use the registered data. Generate

For example, in the form overlay function, form data (PD) transferred from the host computer
L)) to generate a raster bitmap image from
The raster bitmap image generated from the post-print data and the raster bitmap form overlay image stored in advance are read out and stored in the storage area in the printer, and post-installed with the form data in the bitmap memory. In some cases, an output image is generated by synthesizing data.

At this time, a large capacity (A3 paper,
A storage area of 8 MB at a resolution of 600 DPI) is required, and a hard disk device or the like may be provided.

Communication protocols for remotely managing various devices for constructing a printer network connected to the network and devices including computers connected to the network have also been standardized.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP: SimpleNe
twork Management Protocol). In the case of a network device that implements these protocols, various devices can be managed from a remote location on the network by network management software. For example, in the case of a printer, the current printer information (paper, toner, etc.) , Acquisition of remaining consumables information, status monitoring (processing, error status, etc.), initialization control, and the like.

Further, a parallel interface capable of bidirectional transmission / reception may be configured so that current printer information and status information can be exchanged between a computer and a printer using a dedicated protocol.

[0015]

However, the above printing system is configured to acquire printer information, status information, and the like on a computer. In order to obtain the status after the execution, when the output process of the print data to be output stored in the reception buffer or the print spooler of the printer is executed, there is a problem that the status of the obtained printer information changes.

For this reason, even though the user transfers the print job after confirming the consumables information such as the printing paper and the toner for printing with the network management software, an error occurs in the print job shortage of consumables. It can be difficult to use.

Furthermore, it has not been possible to determine whether or not a print job to be transferred to a printing apparatus can be printed normally before transferring the print job.

Further, in the above printing system, since it is desired to sequentially process the print jobs transmitted from the print spooler, data (registered in a storage having a low read speed such as a hard disk in the printing apparatus). For example, when an image is generated using an external character or a form overlay image, the print processing is disadvantageously reduced.

For this reason, a large-capacity secondary storage device with a slow read time is often configured to reuse data by using a cache memory or the like with a fast read time. The time cannot be shortened, and in the case of data that cannot be stored in the cache memory, it is necessary to access the secondary storage device, in which case the processing speed is reduced as a result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print job which has already been stored in a printer and which has been developed based on a print job waiting for output processing, and which has been output. Calculates the consumption information of the consumables consumed by the output data, predicts the shortage of the consumables of the print job waiting for output, changes the schedule of the print job, and warns of the occurrence of the shortage of the consumables. This makes it possible to automatically set the best output schedule for output data that is waiting for output while predicting that a printing failure may occur due to a shortage of consumables. Alternatively, it is possible to clearly indicate to the user at an optimum timing a suggestion to replenish consumables while waiting for output data. When using data (for example, external characters and form overlay images) registered in a storage device having a low reading speed such as a print job, the registered images are read and stored in a cache memory prior to transfer of a print job. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a print control device and a print control method capable of reducing a print processing time using registration data, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus which communicates with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium to control printing of a printing unit. A storage unit capable of storing a plurality of output data, which are developed based on output job information received from the apparatus and are in an output standby state, for each job, a detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material, and the storage unit. Predicting means for predicting the amount of consumption of the consumable consumed by printing of the output data in the output standby state, and the detecting means detects the consumption of the consumable used by the predicting means. A determination unit that determines whether a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data from the remaining amount of the consumables, and when the determination unit determines that the consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data. , Said memory hand In which a control means for changing the output schedule of output data for the output job information stored in the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data, the control means gives an advance warning of a consumable shortage state. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. Storage means for storing output job information to be waited for and output data which is developed based on the output job information and which is waiting for output, detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material, and the output which is waiting for output First predicting means for predicting an amount of consumption of a predetermined consumable material consumed in printing of data; and the consumption amount predicted by the first predicting means and the predetermined consumption detected by the detecting means. Calculating means for calculating a predetermined remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount of materials; and consumption of predetermined consumables consumed by the printing unit based on the output job information stored in the storage unit. Predict the quantity And shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output job information based on the remaining amount of the predetermined consumables calculated by the calculating unit and the consumption amount predicted by the second predicting unit. Determining means for determining whether or not a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the job; andcontrolling means for changing an output schedule of each output job information stored in the storage means. It has.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the control means determines that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the job, the control means gives an advance warning of the consumable shortage state. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control apparatus for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the first and second printing apparatuses have different access speeds. 2 storage means, control means for registering predetermined registration data used for print information received from the information processing apparatus in the first storage means, and analysis of the print information to the first storage means. Detecting means for detecting whether designation to use any of the stored registration data has been made, and wherein the control means detects that the use of registration data has been designated. In addition, the registration data designated from the first storage means is read out prior to the analysis of the print information and registered in the second storage means having an access speed higher than that of the first storage means. It is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first storage means stores the predetermined registration data in a nonvolatile manner.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, the control means reads the registered data designated from the first storage means prior to the analysis of the print information and caches the data in the second storage means. It is registered as data.

In an eighth aspect according to the present invention, the first storage means comprises an expandable random access memory.

A ninth invention according to the present invention is a print control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material. And estimating a consumption amount of the consumable material consumed in printing of output data which is developed based on output job information received from the information processing apparatus and stored while waiting for output. A step of determining whether a shortage of consumables occurs during the printing of the output data from the predicted consumption amount of the consumables and the remaining amount of the consumables detected by the detection step. And a warning step of giving an advance warning of a consumable shortage state when it is determined in the determining step that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data.

[0030] A tenth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A detecting step of detecting the remaining amount of the consumables, and the consumable consumed by printing the output data stored based on the output job information received from the information processing apparatus and stored in an output standby state. A consumable supply shortage during the printing of the output data from a prediction step of estimating a consumption amount of the consumable part, and the predicted consumption amount of the consumable part and the remaining amount of the consumable part detected by the detection step. A computer which includes a determining step of determining whether or not the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the output data in the determining step. The possible programs out those stored in the storage medium.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is a printing control method for controlling printing of a printing section by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material. And the consumption of a predetermined consumable material which is consumed according to printing of output job information received from the information processing apparatus and waiting for analysis and output data which is developed based on the output job information and is waiting for output. A first estimating step of estimating the amount, and a remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material based on the consumption amount predicted by the first predicting step and the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material detected by the detecting step. A calculating step of calculating an amount, a second predicting step of predicting an amount of consumption of a predetermined consumable material to be consumed in printing by the printing unit based on the stored output job information, and a calculating step of calculating the amount. Remaining specified consumables A determining step of determining whether a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the output job information based on the consumption amount predicted by the second predicting step and the consumption amount predicted by the second predicting step; And a warning step for giving advance notice of a consumable shortage state when it is determined that a consumable shortage occurs.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. Detecting the remaining amount of consumables, and output job information received from the information processing apparatus and waiting for analysis, and output job information which is developed based on the output job information and consumed according to printing of output data waiting for output. A first prediction step of predicting the consumption of the predetermined consumable to be performed, and a predetermined prediction based on the consumption predicted by the first prediction step and the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable detected. A calculating step of calculating the remaining amount of consumables, a second predicting step of predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed by the printing unit based on the stored output job information, and the calculating step By A determining step of determining whether or not a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the output job information based on the issued remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material and the consumption amount predicted by the second prediction step; A computer-readable program including a warning step of giving an advance warning of a consumable shortage state when the determining step determines that a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the job is stored in a storage medium.

A thirteenth invention according to the present invention relates to a print control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium.
A detection step of detecting whether designation is made to use any of the registration data stored in the storage means,
When it is detected in the detection step that the use of the registration data is specified, the registration data specified from the first storage unit is read out prior to the analysis of the print information, and the first data is read out. And a registration step of registering in the second storage means which can be accessed faster than the storage means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A detection step of analyzing information to detect whether or not designation is made to use any of the registration data stored in the first storage means; and a designation to use the registration data is made by the detection step. When it is detected, the registration data designated from the first storage means is read out prior to the analysis of the print information and registered in the second storage means which can be accessed faster than the first storage means. And a computer-readable program including a registration step of storing the program in a storage medium.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control apparatus for controlling transfer of output job information by communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, comprising a plurality of output apparatuses to be transferred to the printing apparatus. Storage means for storing a job, acquisition means for acquiring predetermined consumable remaining amount information which is predicted and calculated by the printing apparatus after transferring any output job stored in the storage means, and the acquisition means And control means for analyzing the predetermined consumables remaining amount information acquired and changing the transfer schedule of each output job stored in the storage means.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the configuration of this embodiment, a configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows a case of a laser beam printer (LBP), for example.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), external characters, form data, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer;
A corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as a recording sheet. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. 1001
Is a printer control unit, which controls the entire LBP main body 1000 and performs processing such as analysis of character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer driver mainly converts the character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern,
Perform processing to output to.

The laser driver 1002 is the semiconductor laser 1
003 is a circuit for driving a laser beam 1004 that is emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 in accordance with an input video signal. Laser light 10
Reference numeral 04 denotes a rotary polygon mirror 1005 which is swung right and left to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1006.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet.
The developing unit 1007 is provided with a toner remaining amount detecting mechanism for forming an image on recording paper, and the printer control unit 1001 can detect the remaining toner amount.

A cassette sheet is used as the recording paper to be transferred, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP main body 1000.
9 and transport rollers 1010 and 1011, are taken into the apparatus and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006. The paper cassette 1008 is provided with a paper remaining amount detection mechanism, and the printer control unit 1001 can detect the remaining paper amount.

The LBP main body 1000 includes a card slot (not shown), an optional font card, a control card (emulation card) having a different language (PDL), a memory capable of writing and holding form data and font data in addition to the built-in font. It is configured so that a card can be connected.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system to which a print control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. here,
This will be described by taking a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) as an example. In addition, if the function of the present invention is executed, even if it is a single device or a system including a plurality of devices,
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus functions in a specific mode.

In the figure, a host computer 2000 is a printer control unit 1001 via a predetermined interface 1-10 (for example, a bidirectional interface).
To perform communication control processing with the LBP main body 1000.

In the printer control unit 1001,
A printer CPU 1-1 controls access to various devices connected to a system bus 1-4 based on a control program stored in a program ROM of a ROM 1-2. An image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 1-9 connected via -8. In addition, the remaining amount calculation unit 1
Reference numeral -10 allows various kinds of mounting information (paper remaining amount, toner remaining amount, etc.) detected by a consumables remaining amount detection sensor provided in the printing unit 1-9 to be read via the printing unit I / F 1-8. It has become.

The program R of the ROM 1-2 is
The OM stores a control program for the CPU 1-1 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 6, an image generation program for generating a bitmap image transferred to the printing unit 1-9, and the like.

The font ROM of the ROM 1-2 stores font data (outline font data or dot font data) used when generating the output image. The CPU 1-1 has an input / output unit 1-5.
The communication processing with the host computer can be performed via the. Reference numeral 1-6 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 1-1, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

The RAM 1-6 includes a page buffer memory for storing data to be printed as an intermediate code or an intermediate bitmap image, a band memory for generating a bitmap image, an external character stored in the external memory 1-3, It is also used as a cache memory for temporarily storing registration data such as form images.

The external memory 1-3 can be connected to a secondary storage device such as a hard disk whose access is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 1-7. This external memory 1-3 is connected to the host computer 2
000 is used as a registration memory for storing registration data transferred from an external character file, a form file, or the like.

It is also used as a page buffer memory for storing data to be printed or form data in the form of an intermediate code or an intermediate bitmap image.

The emulation program is not limited to one, but includes one or more external memories. The emulation program interprets printer control languages of different font fonts and language systems (PDL) in addition to built-in fonts. May be configured so as to be able to connect a plurality of external memories storing the same. Further, the external memory is not limited to a hard disk, but may be a flash memory card. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012.

On the other hand, an application program (application) 2001 operating on the host computer 2000 stores spool data in the print spooler 2003 in accordance with a format determined by the operating system for data to be printed. When the print data is stored in the print spooler 2003, the printer driver program (printer driver) 200
2 is started, the print data is read from the print spooler 2003, and a print job to be transmitted to the printer control unit 1001 is generated.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

A printing control device which communicates with the information processing device via the predetermined communication medium configured as described above and controls printing of the printing section, based on output job information received from the information processing device. Storage means (RAM 1-6) for storing output data which is expanded and waiting for output, and detection means (remaining amount detecting unit 1-
9-A) and a predicting unit (CPU1-1 stores the control program stored in the ROM1-2) for predicting the consumption amount of the consumable material consumed in printing the output data which is waiting to be output in the storage unit. And performing a prediction process), and a shortage of consumables during printing of the output data from the consumption of the consumables predicted by the prediction unit and the remaining amount of the consumables detected by the detection unit. (A CPU 1-1 executes a control program stored in a ROM 1-2 to perform a determination process) to determine whether or not consumables shortage occurs during printing of the output data. Control means for changing the output schedule of the output data of each output job information stored in the storage means when the determination is made (the CPU 1-1 executes the control program stored in the ROM 1-2, Because it has a control to), output when the consumable shortage during printing of data is determined to occur, replacement schedule (for example, the output data to the output data of the output job information stored in the storage means,
(Including canceling the transfer of output job information)
It is possible to automatically set the best output schedule for output data waiting for output while predicting that a printing failure may occur.

Further, the control means (the CPU 1-1 is provided with the RO
The warning process (including a warning notification to the host computer 2000 or a warning notification to the operation panel 1012, etc.) by executing the control program stored in M1-2 is
When the determination unit determines that the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the output data, a warning of the consumables shortage state is issued.
The user can be warned in advance that a shortage of consumables will occur with the printing of the output data.

Further, the present invention relates to a printing control apparatus for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the output job information is received from the information processing apparatus and is waiting for analysis. A storage unit (RAM1-6) for storing output data that is developed based on the output job information and is in an output standby state; a detection unit (remaining amount detection unit 1-9) for detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable; A first predicting unit (CPU1-1 reads out the ROM1-2 from the ROM1-2) for predicting the consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed in printing the output data during the output standby.
Executes the control program stored in the memory and performs prediction processing)
Calculating means for calculating a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable based on the consumption amount predicted by the first predicting unit and a remaining amount of the predetermined consumable detected by the detecting unit; A calculating unit 1-10), and a second predicting unit (CPU1-1) for predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed by the printing unit based on the output job information stored in the storage unit. The control program stored in the ROM 1-2 is executed to perform a prediction process), and based on the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material calculated by the calculation unit and the consumption amount predicted by the second prediction unit. (A CPU 1-1 executes a control program stored in a ROM 1-2 to determine whether consumables shortage occurs during printing of the output job information). Job sign When it is determined that insufficient consumables occurs during a control means for changing the output schedule of each output job information stored in the storage means (CPU 1-1
Executes the control program stored in the ROM 1-2), and when it is determined that the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the job, each output job stored in the storage unit is determined. Change the schedule for output data of information (including, for example, replacement of output data, cancellation of transfer of output job information, etc.), and output job information waiting for output while predicting that a printing failure may occur. Automatically set the best output schedule.

The control means, when the determination means determines that the consumables shortage occurs during printing of the job,
Warning means (CPU1-1) for giving advance notice of a consumable shortage state
Executes a control program stored in the ROM 1-2 to perform a warning process (including a warning notification to the host computer 2000 or a warning notification to the operation panel 1012), so that the output job information waiting for output is output. Prior to the start of the execution of the analysis, the user can be warned in advance that a shortage of consumables will occur due to the printing of the output job information.

Further, the present invention is a printing control apparatus for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the first and second printing apparatuses have different access speeds.
Storage means (external memory 1-3, RAM 1-6), and control means (CPU1-1 for storing the predetermined registration data used for the print information received from the information processing apparatus) in the first storage means. -2 executes the control program stored in the first storage unit) and analyzes whether the print information is analyzed to determine whether any of the registered data stored in the first storage unit is used. Detecting means (the CPU 1-1 executes a control program stored in the ROM 1-2 to perform calculation processing), and the control means specifies that the detecting means uses registered data. Is detected, the registered data designated from the first storage means is read out prior to the analysis of the print information, and the access speed is higher than that of the first storage means. Since registered in the storage means, even if the access speed of the storage medium for storing registration data are different, it is possible to shorten the processing time of the print information using the registration data.

Since the external memory 1-3 stores the predetermined registration data in a non-volatile manner, it is possible to use the registration data only by downloading the frequently-printed fixed data, font data, etc. from an information processing apparatus or the like. The amount of print information data to be printed can be significantly reduced.

Further, the CPU 1-1 has the external memory 1-
3 is read out before the print information is analyzed and registered in the RAM 1-6 as cache data, so that printing using the registered data can be performed efficiently.

Further, since the RAM 1-6 is constituted by an expandable random access memory, it is possible to freely cope with an increase in the number of registered data according to the use environment. Also, the printing apparatus (the LBP main body 10
00), which controls the transfer of output job information (including hardware and / or software provided on the host computer 2000) and stores a plurality of output jobs to be transferred to the printing apparatus. Storage means (print spooler 2003), and acquisition means (printer driver) for acquiring predetermined consumable remaining amount information predicted and calculated by the printing apparatus after transfer of any output job stored in the storage means 2002) and control means for analyzing the predetermined consumable amount information acquired by the acquisition means and changing the transfer schedule of each output job stored in the storage means (function of the printer driver 2002). According to)
The remaining amount of consumables on the printing device side is captured, and the output job information spooled at the data transfer source that may result in printing failure is transferred to another printing device capable of printing or output capable of printing. It is possible to optimize a print schedule that has been set, for example, by transferring job information in advance.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the flow of print resource information of the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 2004 denotes a CRT, which displays inputted data or printer information in real time by writing data in a VRAM or the like by a CPU 2005 of a host computer 2000. Note that arrows shown by solid lines in the figure correspond to data and information actually measured, and arrows shown by broken lines correspond to the flow of predicted value information.

Hereinafter, a case where job information 1 to 5 are processed will be described as an example.

In the printer control unit 1001, the job information 1 to 3 already correspond to the processing or waiting state, and the job information 1 is being output while being held in the page buffer memory of the RAM 1-6. The number of output pages is 25, and the job information 2 is stored in the RAM 1-6 in the same manner.
In the output buffer waiting state. In this state, the engine control unit PEC decrements one page each time the engine (printing unit 1-9) outputs, updates the detected number of remaining sheets, and stores the value in the memory. Therefore, job information 1 being output
Is stored in the memory as “75” sheets, and assuming that the actually measured page information of the job information 2 waiting for output is “25” pages, the current remaining consumption prediction value after PDL analysis is “ The number of "50" images is stored in the memory.

If it is assumed that the job information 3 is spooled with the predicted page information added to the reception buffer constituted by a hard disk or the like, the printer driver 2002 of the host computer 2000 or a print utility (not shown) , The remaining information on the recording medium when it is assumed that the job information 3 has been output is “25”. In addition,
This notification may be transferred in response to a request to obtain the remaining number of recording media from the printer driver 2002.

At this time, if the job information 4 being transferred and the job information 5 waiting to be transferred are spooled in the print spooler 2003, the printer driver 2002 predicts that the latest recording medium remaining number acquired is “25”. If the predicted number of pages that the consumed job information 3 will consume is “20”,
At this point, that is, it can be recognized that the remaining number is “5”. Furthermore, if the number of remaining pages recognized is “5” and the predicted number of pages waiting for transfer is “25”, the shortage of the recording medium serving as the consumable material is “20” at this point. It is expected that there is. Here, the CPU should display and notify the CRT 2004 of the paper shortage, determine the operation status of other printer resources via the network, cancel the job information 5, and transfer the job information to a new printer. It is also possible to control so that the transfer destination of the spooled job information is distributed to another printer instead of the designated printer candidate, such as creating and spooling the job information. At the time of the distribution, a message inquiring the user may be displayed on the CRT 2004, and the job information 5 may be transferred to another printer candidate at the instruction of the user. It is also possible to prepare a printer candidate switching mode when such a situation occurs, and to switch automatically or by user designation.

FIG. 4 shows a first example of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a flowchart showing an example of the data processing procedure,
This corresponds to the paper remaining amount warning processing procedure of the printing system. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

When the application program 2001 of the host computer 2000 is instructed to print by the user, the generated document file is transferred to the host computer 2.
The data is stored in the print spooler 2003 in a format determined by the operating system on the print spooler 000 (1).

Next, the data investigation unit 2002A of the printer driver 2002 reads the spool data stored in the print spooler 2003, counts the number of pages of the print data, and calculates the estimated value of the recording paper to be consumed ( 2). At this time, not the logical page information of the print data, but the recording paper information actually consumed by the recording by the LBP main body 1000 is examined.

For example, when a plurality of pages are laid out on one sheet and output, or when a double-sided printing instruction is given, even if there are a plurality of pages, it is calculated that one recording sheet is consumed.

Conversely, it is calculated that even if it is one page, if the copy print instruction is given, the recording paper of the number of copies is consumed.

The thus calculated consumption information of the recording paper is stored in the data conversion section 20 in the printer driver 2002.
02B is notified (3). Data conversion unit 2002B
Converts the notified consumption information into PDL data and transmits the PDL data to the printer control unit 1001 via the input / output unit 1-5, and further reads the spool data in the print spooler 2003 to print the print job (PDL format). Is generated and transmitted similarly (4).

Next, the printer control unit 1001
The consumption information data transferred from the printer driver 2002 is received via the input / output unit 1-5 (5), and the consumption information of the subsequently input print job is read onto the work of the RAM 1-6.

Next, the remaining amount calculation unit 1-10 outputs
/ F1-8 to obtain the remaining amount of currently loaded paper from a paper remaining amount detection unit (not shown sensor) in the printing unit 1-9, and wait for output of a print job that has already been received. By reading out and subtracting the output waiting page information (described later), the remaining amount prediction value at the output time point to be recorded on the recording paper in the printing unit 1-9 for the newly input print job is calculated ( 6).

Then, by comparing the consumption information of the new print job held in the RAM 1-6 with the estimated remaining amount, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of recording paper is insufficient (7). If it is determined not to proceed, the process proceeds to step (9) and thereafter, and if it is determined that it is insufficient, a warning of insufficient paper amount is transmitted to the host computer 2000 via the input / output unit 1-5 (8). ).

Next, the print data (a control code or a character code indicating the print position, etc.) is read, the corresponding PDL analysis process is executed, and the data is classified into band units corresponding to the print position specified by the control code, and the RAM 1 The intermediate data is generated and stored in the page buffer in -6 (9). In addition,
In the storing process, the print data is stored as intermediate data of the same page until a page end control code such as a page break command in the print data is detected.

Next, if the intermediate data for one page can be stored, the intermediate codes stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 are sequentially bit-mapped to the bit map memory in the RAM 1-6 in band units. An output bitmap image generation process is performed (10). The bitmap image generated in this way is transmitted via the printing unit I / F 1-8,
The process transferred to the printing unit 1-9 is repeated until the bitmap image for one page is transferred to the printing unit (11). When printing of one page is completed, the page buffer memory storing the intermediate code is released.

Although not described in detail, the processes of steps (9) to (11) are repeatedly executed until all the transferred pages are printed.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where a remaining amount prediction value is calculated for a newly input print job and a warning process is transmitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the remaining amount predicting value calculating step of 6), the remaining amount calculating unit 1-10 outputs the intermediate data output waiting page information stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 and the paper remaining amount acquired from the printing unit 1-9. The shortage of consumables may be predicted by comparing the amounts.

When it is determined that the consumables shortage occurs, a warning transmission step may be executed in step (8).

Further, in the step (8) of transmitting the remaining amount of paper warning, a warning is transmitted to the host computer when the remaining amount of paper is insufficient.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, a warning display may be executed on the operation panel 1012.

The printer driver 2002 is configured to be able to read out the warning information, to stop the transfer of a subsequent print job, or to request the transfer to another printing device in a network environment having a plurality of printing devices. Or you may.

Hereinafter, the data processing of the remaining amount calculation unit 1-10 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the remaining amount calculating section 1-10 shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first page count processing procedure according to the first embodiment, and corresponds to a count-up process associated with intermediate page generation for generating an intermediate page by analyzing a print job. Note that (1) to (4) show each step.

In the intermediate page generation processing, first, print data (a control code or a character code indicating the print position) is read via the input / output unit 1-5 (1), and the corresponding PDL is read.
An analysis process is executed, the data is classified into band units corresponding to the print position specified by the control code, and stored as intermediate data in a page buffer in the RAM 1-6 (2). On this occasion,
The print data is stored as intermediate data of the same page until a page end control code such as a page break command in the print data is detected.

Next, if the intermediate data for one page can be stored, the output waiting page information is counted up by one page (3), and it is determined whether the input print job is completed (4), and NO That is, when there is subsequent print data, the processing of steps (1) to (3) is repeated.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the remaining amount calculating section 1-10 shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing an example of a second page count processing procedure according to the first embodiment, and corresponds to a countdown processing accompanying the generation of a bitmap. In addition, (1) to (5) indicate each step.

In the output control process, first, the intermediate code stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 is read (1), and the bit map is sequentially developed into the bit map memory in the RAM 1-6 in band units (2). The bitmap image to be output generated in this way is printed by the printing unit I /
The data is transferred to the printing unit 1-9 via F1-8 (3). When the output of one page is completed, the output waiting page information is decremented by one page (4).

Next, it is determined whether or not all the intermediate pages stored in the page buffer have been printed (5). If YES, the process is terminated. If NO, steps (1) to (4). repeat.

In the above embodiment, the remaining amount prediction and the warning operation are described with respect to the recording paper information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 5 is configured to acquire information from
Of the toner consumption of the intermediate data stored in the page buffer in the step (2) (ON / O of the bitmap image)
(Calculated based on the FF image ratio or the like) so that output standby toner consumption information can be calculated.

The counting processes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are configured so that they can be performed independently and in parallel.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

A printing control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium configured as described above, or a method for controlling communication with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for communicating and controlling printing of a printing unit, wherein a detecting step (step (6) in FIG. 4) for detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material; A prediction step of predicting a consumption amount of the consumable used in printing of output data which is developed based on output job information received from the processing device and is stored in an output standby state (step (FIG. 4) 6)) and determining whether there is a shortage of consumables during the printing of the output data based on the predicted consumption amount of the consumables and the remaining amount of the consumables detected by the detection unit. Process chart (7)) and a warning step (step (8) in FIG. 4) for giving advance notice of a consumable shortage state when it is determined that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data. Prior to the start of printing of the output data in the output standby state, the user can be warned in advance that a shortage of consumables will occur due to the printing of the output data.

The printing unit 1 communicates with an information processing apparatus (host computer 2000) via a predetermined communication medium.
-9, a print control method for controlling printing, or a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A detecting step (step (6) in FIG. 4) for detecting the remaining amount of the predetermined consumables; and developing based on the output job information received from the information processing apparatus and waiting for analysis and the output job information. A first prediction step (step (6) in FIG. 3) for estimating a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable material consumed in printing of the output data during the output standby; A calculating step (step (6) in FIG. 3) for calculating the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable based on the consumed amount and the detected remaining amount of the predetermined consumable, and based on the stored output job information. Mark of the printing section Second prediction step of predicting the consumption of a given consumable material with consumed (Step of Fig. 3 (6))
And a determining step of determining whether a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the output job information based on the calculated remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material and the consumption amount predicted by the second prediction step ( (Step (7) in FIG. 4) and a warning step (Step (8) in FIG. 4) for giving advance notice of a consumable shortage state when the determining step determines that a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the job. Therefore, before starting the execution of the analysis of the output job information in the output standby state, the user can be warned in advance that the shortage of consumables will occur due to the printing of the output job information.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure of a print control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The registration data caching process in the printing system shown in FIG. Corresponds to the procedure. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step. Prior to the processing, the external memory 1 in the LBP main body 1000 is
The external character information and form information stored in the printer control unit 200A in the printer driver 2002 are input to the printer control unit 100 via the input / output unit 1-5.
It is assumed that the storage information can be read from the storage device 1. Steps (1) to (5) correspond to the processing on the printer driver 2002 side, and steps (6) to (11) correspond to the processing on the printer control unit 1001 side.

When the application program 2001 of the host computer 2000 is instructed to print by the user, the generated document file is transferred to the host computer 2.
The data is stored in the print spooler 2003 in a format determined by the operating system on the print spooler 000 (1). The data checking unit 2002A of the printer driver 2002 reads the spool data stored in the print spooler 2003, and uses the external character data, form data, and the like stored in the external memory 1-3 in the printer control unit 1001. Investigation is performed to determine whether or not the detection has been performed (2), and the detection information is notified to the data conversion unit 2002B (3).

The data conversion unit 2002B converts the notified information on the use of the data in the external memory 1-3 into PDL data (preceding cache instruction command) and sends it to the printer control unit 1001 via the input / output unit 1-5. Transmit (4). Further, the spool data in the print spooler 2003 is read out, a print job (PDL format) is generated, and the print job is transmitted similarly (5).

Thereafter, the processing is performed on the printer control unit 1001 side, and the transferred consumption information data is input to the input / output unit 1- 1.
5 (6), and determines whether or not there is a preceding cache instruction instruction (7). If NO, the process proceeds to step (9) and later. If YES, the instruction is stored in the external memory 1-3. From the registered data, only the designated data is read out to the cache memory 1-6-C in the RAM 1-6 (8).

Next, the subsequent print data (such as a control code or a character code indicating the print position) is read, and the corresponding P
By executing the DL analysis process, the intermediate data is classified into band units corresponding to the print position specified by the control code, and
The generated intermediate data is stored in the page buffer 1-6-B in M1-6 (9).

At this time, when the PDL analysis processing unit detects a form overlay execution instruction or a character code printing instruction in the print job, the PDL analysis processing unit reads the cache memory 1-in the RAM 1-6.
The external character data and form data read into 6-C are read out and stored as intermediate data in the intermediate page buffer (page buffer) memory 1-6-B in the RAM 1-6. In this process, the print data is stored as intermediate data of the same page until a page end control code such as a page break instruction in the print data is detected.

If the intermediate data for one page can be stored, the page buffer 1-6 in the RAM 1-6 is stored.
The intermediate code stored in B is sequentially bit-mapped to the bit map memory in the RAM 1-6 in band units (10). The bitmap image generated in this way is transferred to the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8 and is subjected to printing processing (11).

The registration data stored in the external memory 1-3 is stored in the cache memory 1-6-C in the RAM 1-6.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration may be used as long as data is stored from a storage memory with a slow read time to a cache memory with a fast read time.

The data to be read into the cache memory 1-6-C is not limited to external characters and form registration data, but may be font data or the like built into the apparatus.

Further, the data check unit 2002A of the printer driver 2002 is provided with a print spooler 2003.
In the case of investigating the print data stored in the storage system, information provided by the spool system, for example,
A configuration may be such that a command to instruct pre-reading of stored data specified by a job name, a user name, a host name, or the like can be transmitted.

Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

A printing control method for controlling printing by the printing unit 1-9 by communicating with the information processing apparatus (host computer 2000) via the predetermined communication medium configured as described above, or A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that controls printing by the printing unit by communicating with the information processing apparatus via the medium, and analyzes print information to store the first storage unit (the external memory 1-3). )
A detection step (step (7) in FIG. 7) for detecting whether or not designation is made to use any of the registration data stored in the storage section, and that the designation to use the registration data has been made in the detection step Is detected before the analysis of the print information, and the registration data is read from the external memory 1-3 and registered in the RAM 1-6 which can be accessed faster than the first storage means ( Since step (8) in FIG. 7 is included, even when the access speeds of the storage media storing the registration data are different, the processing time of the print information using the registration data can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the print control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0118]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, a print control device that communicates with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium to control printing of a printing unit, is developed based on output job information received from the information processing device. A storage unit capable of storing a plurality of output data in the output standby state for each job, a detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material, and a storage unit that consumes the output data in the output standby state in accordance with printing of the output data Prediction means for predicting the consumption amount of the consumable material to be used, and printing of the output data from the consumption amount of the consumable material predicted by the prediction means and the remaining amount of the consumable material detected by the detection means. Determining means for determining whether or not a shortage of consumables occurs during printing; and when the determining means determines that a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output data, the output job information stored in the storage means. Output data Control means for changing the output schedule of the output job information, when it is determined that the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the output data, the schedule for the output data of each output job information stored in the storage means is changed. It is possible to automatically set the best output schedule for the output data waiting for output while predicting that a printing failure may occur.

According to the second aspect, when the determining means determines that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data, the control means gives an advance warning of a consumable shortage state. Prior to the start of printing of the middle output data, the user can be warned in advance that a shortage of consumables will occur due to the printing of the output data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium to control printing of a printing unit. Storage means for storing the output job information and the output data that is developed based on the output job information and waiting for output, a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material, and the output data of the output data waiting for output. First predicting means for predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed in printing;
Calculating means for calculating a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable based on the consumption amount predicted by the first predicting means and a remaining amount of the predetermined consumable detected by the detecting means; and the storage means A second predicting unit for predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed by the printing unit based on the output job information stored in the storage unit, and a remaining amount of the predetermined consumable calculated by the calculating unit Determining means for determining whether a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output job information, based on the consumption amount predicted by the second predicting means; and And control means for changing the output schedule of each output job information stored in the storage means when it is determined that the consumables shortage occurs. Therefore, it is determined that the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the job. In this case, the schedule for the output data of each output job information stored in the storage unit is changed, and the best output is output to the output job information waiting for output while predicting that a printing failure may occur. Schedules can be set automatically.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the determining means determines that the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the job, the control means gives an advance warning of the consumables shortage state. Before starting the analysis execution of the output job information of
The user can be warned in advance that a shortage of consumables will occur due to the printing of the output job information.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control apparatus for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the first and second printing apparatuses have different access speeds. Storage means, control means for registering predetermined registration data used for print information received from the information processing apparatus in the first storage means, analysis of the print information stored in the first storage means Detecting means for detecting whether designation to use any of the registered data has been made, and the control means, when the detecting means detects that designation to use the registered data has been made, The registration data specified from the first storage unit is read out before the analysis of the print information and registered in the second storage unit having an access speed higher than that of the first storage unit. Even if the access speed of the storage medium for storing the data are different, it is possible to shorten the processing time of the print information using the registration data.

According to the sixth aspect, the first storage means stores the predetermined registration data in a non-volatile manner, so that the first storage means only downloads, from an information processing apparatus or the like, fixed data, font data, etc., which are frequently printed. Thus, the data amount of print information using the registration data can be significantly reduced.

According to the seventh aspect, the control means reads the registration data designated from the first storage means prior to the analysis of the print information, and stores the data as cache data in the second storage means. Since registration is performed, printing using the registered data can be performed efficiently.

According to the eighth aspect, since the first storage means is constituted by an expandable random access memory, it is possible to freely cope with an increase in registered data according to a use environment.

According to the ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a print control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, or via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a computer-readable program that communicates with an information processing apparatus and controls printing of a printing unit, and includes a detection step of detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material, and receiving from the information processing apparatus A prediction step of predicting a consumption amount of the consumable material consumed in printing the output data which is developed based on the output job information and stored in an output standby state, and the predicted consumption of the consumable material; A determination step of determining whether or not a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data by the determination step from the amount and the remaining amount of the consumable material detected by the detection step; and When it is determined that there is a shortage of consumables, a warning process for giving advance notice of the consumables shortage state is provided. The user can be warned in advance of what will happen.

According to the eleventh and twelfth inventions, there is provided a print control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, or via a predetermined communication medium. A detection step of detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material in a storage medium storing a computer-readable program that communicates with an information processing apparatus and controls printing of a printing unit; A first prediction step of predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable material which is developed based on the output job information waiting for analysis and the output data which is developed based on the output job information and which is waiting for output;
A calculating step of calculating a predetermined remaining amount of consumables based on the consumption amount predicted in the first prediction step and the detected remaining amount of predetermined consumables, and the output job information stored A second prediction step of predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable material to be consumed in printing by the printing unit based on the second prediction, and a second prediction of a remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material calculated in the calculation step and a prediction. A determination step of determining whether a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output job information based on the consumption amount of the process, and a step of determining that a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the job. Before the start of analysis of the output job information waiting to be output, the user is informed that a shortage of consumables will occur due to the printing of the output job information. Warning It can be.

According to the thirteenth and fourteenth aspects, there is provided a print control method for controlling printing of the printing unit 1-9 by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, or A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-readable program that communicates with an information processing apparatus and controls printing of a printing unit, and analyzes print information and stores any of the registrations stored in a first storage unit. A detecting step of detecting whether or not the use of the data is specified; and detecting, when the detecting step detects that the specification of using the registered data is specified, from the external memory 1-3. A registration step of reading data prior to analyzing the print information and registering the data in the RAM 1-6 which can be accessed faster than the first storage means.
Even when the access speed of the storage medium storing the registration data is different, the processing time of the print information using the registration data can be reduced.

According to the fifteenth aspect, there is provided a print control device for communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium and controlling transfer of output job information, wherein a plurality of output jobs to be transferred to the printing device are transmitted. Storage means for storing, acquisition means for acquiring predetermined consumables remaining amount information predicted and calculated by the printing apparatus after transfer of any output job stored in the storage means, and acquisition means for acquiring Control means for analyzing the predetermined consumable material remaining amount information and changing the transfer schedule of each output job stored in the storage means. The output job information spooled at the data transfer source that may cause printing failure is set to be transferred to another print device capable of printing, or the print job output job information is transferred first. It is possible to optimize the printing schedule had.

Accordingly, it is possible to clearly indicate to the user at an optimal timing a suggestion to replenish consumables at the time of execution of a new print job or while waiting for output data, and to greatly reduce the processing time of print information using registered data. There is an effect that a print processing environment that can be shortened can be freely constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system to which the print control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing a flow of print resource information of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first page counting process performed by a remaining amount calculating unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second page count processing procedure by a remaining amount calculation unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the print control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 CPU 1-2 ROM 1-9 Printing unit 1-9-A Remaining amount detecting unit 1-10 Remaining amount calculating unit 1000 LBP main body 2000 Host computer 2002 Printer driver 2002A Data checking unit 2002B Data converting unit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A print control device for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the print control device is developed and output based on output job information received from the information processing device. A storage unit capable of storing a plurality of output data in a standby state for each job; a detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable; and a storage unit that consumes output data that is in an output standby state when the output data is in a standby state. Predicting means for predicting the consumption of the consumable material, and printing the output data from the consumption amount of the consumable material predicted by the prediction means and the remaining amount of the consumable material detected by the detecting means. A determination unit that determines whether a shortage of consumables occurs in the output unit; outputting the output job information stored in the storage unit when the determination unit determines that a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output data. Day Print control apparatus characterized by and a control means for changing the output schedule. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data, the control unit issues an advance warning of a consumable shortage state. Print control device. 3. A print control device which communicates with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium to control printing of a printing unit, comprising: output job information received from the information processing device and waiting for analysis; A storage unit that stores output data that is developed based on the output job information and that is waiting for output, a detection unit that detects the remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material, and that is consumed when printing the output data that is waiting for output. First predicting means for predicting the consumption of a predetermined consumable, based on the consumption predicted by the first predicting means and the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable detected by the detecting means; Calculating means for calculating the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable; and second prediction for predicting the consumption of the predetermined consumable consumed by the printing unit based on the output job information stored in the storage means. Means and said calculation Determining whether a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output job information based on the remaining amount of the predetermined consumables calculated by the output unit and the consumption amount predicted by the second prediction unit. A control unit that changes an output schedule of each output job information stored in the storage unit when the determination unit determines that a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the job;
A print control device comprising: 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit gives an advance warning of a consumable shortage state when the determining unit determines that a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data. Print control device. 5. A print control device for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the first and second storage units have different access speeds, respectively, Control means for registering predetermined registration data used for print information received from a processing device in the first storage means; and analysis of the print information and any registration data stored in the first storage means Detecting means for detecting whether or not use of registered data has been designated; and wherein the control means, when the detecting means detects that designation to use registered data has been made, stores the first storage Printing means for reading registration data designated by a means prior to the analysis of the print information and registering the data in the second storage means having an access speed higher than that of the first storage means. Control device. 6. The printing control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first storage unit stores the predetermined registration data in a nonvolatile manner. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit reads registration data designated from the first storage unit prior to the analysis of the print information and registers the registration data as cache data in the second storage unit. The print control device according to claim 3, wherein: 8. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first storage means comprises an expandable random access memory. 9. A printing control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a detecting step of detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material; A prediction step of predicting a consumption amount of the consumable material consumed in accordance with printing of output data which is developed based on output job information received from the apparatus and is stored in an output standby state; and A determining step of determining whether a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the output data based on a consumption amount of the consumable material and the remaining amount of the consumable material detected by the detecting step; and And a warning step of, when it is determined that a shortage of consumables occurs during the printing of the print job, giving an advance warning of a consumable shortage state. 10. A storage medium storing a program readable by a computer for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material. And estimating the consumption amount of the consumable consumed by printing of output data that is developed based on the output job information received from the information processing apparatus and stored while waiting for output. A determination step of determining whether a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output data from the predicted consumption amount of the consumables and the remaining amount of the consumables detected by the detection step. And a warning step for giving an advance warning of a consumable shortage condition when the determining means determines that a consumable shortage occurs during printing of the output data. Storage medium storing the possible program. 11. A printing control method for communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium to control printing of a printing unit, comprising: a detecting step of detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material; A first prediction for predicting a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed in printing of output job information which is received from the apparatus and is to be analyzed and which is developed based on the output job information and output data which is waiting for output. A calculating step of calculating a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable based on the consumed amount predicted by the first predicting step and the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable detected by the detecting step; A second method of estimating a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable material to be consumed in printing by the printing unit based on the stored output job information;
And a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output job information based on the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material calculated in the calculation step and the consumption amount predicted in the second prediction step. A printing step for determining whether or not a consumable shortage occurs during the printing of the job. Control method. 12. A storage medium storing a program readable by a computer for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and detecting a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable material. And the consumption of a predetermined consumable material which is consumed based on the output job information received from the information processing apparatus and waiting for analysis and the output data which is developed based on the output job information and which is consumed during output standby. A first predicting step of predicting an amount, and calculating a remaining amount of a predetermined consumable based on the consumed amount predicted in the first predicting step and the detected remaining amount of the predetermined consumable. A second calculating step of estimating a consumption amount of a predetermined consumable consumed in printing by the printing unit based on the stored output job information;
And a shortage of consumables occurs during printing of the output job information based on the remaining amount of the predetermined consumable material calculated in the calculation step and the consumption amount predicted in the second prediction step. A computer for determining whether or not the consumables shortage occurs during the printing of the job. A storage medium storing a program which can be read by the user. 13. A printing control method for controlling printing of a printing unit by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the printing information is analyzed and stored in a first storage unit. A detecting step of detecting whether or not the designation of using the registered data is made; and detecting that the designation of using the registered data is made by the detecting step, A registration step of reading the registered data prior to analysis of the print information and registering the read data in a second storage unit that can be accessed faster than the first storage unit. 14. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium and controlling printing of a printing unit, wherein the first information is obtained by analyzing print information. A detecting step of detecting whether designation to use any of the registered data stored in the storage unit is performed; and detecting the first storage when detecting that designation to use the registered data is performed. A step of reading registration data specified by a unit prior to the analysis of the print information and registering the registration data in a second storage unit that can be accessed faster than the first storage unit. A storage medium that stores a computer-readable program. 15. A printing control device for communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium to transfer and control output job information, wherein: a storage unit for storing a plurality of output jobs to be transferred to the printing device; Acquiring means for acquiring predetermined consumables remaining amount information predicted and calculated by the printing apparatus after transferring any output job stored in the storage means; and the predetermined consumables acquired by the acquiring means A control unit that analyzes remaining amount information and changes a transfer schedule of each output job stored in the storage unit.