JPH10329392A - System and method for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve efficient working, by displaying a print result of each page at the side of a host, grasping for every page whether or not the page is printed good and quality of the printing, and printing again only unsuccessfully printed pages. SOLUTION: A print result of a print job composed of print data of a plurality of pages sent from a host computer 100 is preserved at a printer 1500. At the completion of the print job, the print result is sent back from the printer 1500 to the host computer 100 via a two-way interface 13, and the print result of each page is displayed on the host computer 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing system and method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing device such as a printer that changes print data created on a host computer into a print format of a printing device using a driver, and prints the changed print data via an interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer connected to a host computer via an interface (for example, a Centronics interface or the like) analyzes data input from the host computer and converts bitmap data as output data of, for example, a laser beam printer. The laser beam is developed, and a laser beam modulated based on the developed data is scanned and exposed on a photosensitive drum to output image data.

When the printer has an emulation function, the printer is configured to process a plurality of printer control language systems (command systems), and switches between an emulation mode and a native mode according to an application program executed by a user. The printer is provided with a switch for switching a program for interpreting the printer control language and a card slot for giving a switching instruction in advance.

In the printer, a technique for saving memory is mainly used to reduce costs. For example, the banding technique allows free drawing even in a frame memory of less than one sheet of paper in a printer, but when very complicated data is sent from the host computer to the printer, the processing of the printer is stopped. However, there is a phenomenon called overrun in which the picture is cut off in the middle of the page, regardless of the question.

Further, since the memory in the printer is finite regardless of banding or unbanding, when a very large print data or download data is sent to the printer, the printer causes a memory overflow.

[0006] In addition, various errors such as running out of toner occur during printing in the printer.

[0007]

By the way, conventionally, if an error occurs during printing, it is often necessary to stop the printing operation. In particular, printing overruns and memory overflows result in incorrect printing results, so printing has always been interrupted to ask the operator for a response at that time. For this reason, depending on the data, printing is interrupted at a considerable frequency, and the operator has to deal with the interruption every time, resulting in extremely low work efficiency.

A warning error such as toner low is displayed on the panel of the printer, but is usually automatically continued in many cases, and it is not known from which point the print result indicates that the toner is low. In addition, even if a lossy output is made by Rossy's companding technology, which is often used in recent years with image data, the operator does not know at which page the lossy output was made. One page and one page had to be confirmed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to display the printing result of each page on the host computer connected to the printing apparatus so that the success or failure of printing for each page and the quality of printing can be understood, An object of the present invention is to improve work efficiency by reprinting only unsuccessful pages.

It is still another object of the present invention to enable automatic continuation of an error that is not appropriate to be automatically continued when an error occurs but has no defect in the printing apparatus itself.

[0011]

According to the present invention, print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing apparatus using a driver, and the changed print data is converted to a print format using a bidirectional interface. An information processing system for performing printing by transferring to a printing apparatus, wherein the information is provided in the printing apparatus and saves the status and success / failure of a result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page. Table creation means for creating a print result table to be executed, table transfer means for transferring the created print result table to the host computer when a print job is completed, and the transfer result provided in the host computer. An information processing system comprising a print result display means for displaying the contents of the table That.

Further, according to the present invention, print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface. An information processing system for performing printing, provided in the printing device,
Table creation means for creating a print result table for storing the status and success / failure of the result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page; and A table transfer unit that transfers a result table to the host computer, a unit that checks a specific page in the print result table retransmitted from the host computer, and reprints only the specific page, provided in the host computer; An information processing system is configured by including resending means for transferring the print job and the print result table together to the printing apparatus again.

According to the present invention, print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface. An information processing system for performing printing, provided in the printing device,
Table creation means for creating a print result table for storing the status and success / failure of the result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page; and A table transfer unit for transferring a result table to the host computer; and selecting a page that has failed in the print job from the print result table retransmitted from the host computer, and selecting the page to avoid the unsuccessful condition. A setting condition changing unit for changing an environment setting condition in the printing device, and after changing the environment setting condition in the printing device by the setting condition changing unit, checking a specific page in the retransmitted print result table; Means for reprinting only the specific page, the print job provided in the host computer, By comprising a retransmission means for re-transferred to the printing apparatus together with the print result table, constituting the information processing system.

Further, according to the present invention, print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface. An information processing system for performing printing, provided in the printing device,
Table creation means for creating a print result table for storing the status and success / failure of the result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page; and A table transfer unit that transfers a result table to the host computer, a unit that checks a specific page in the print result table retransmitted from the host computer, and reprints only the specific page, provided in the host computer; A setting condition change for selecting an unsuccessful page in the print job from the print result table transferred from the printing device and changing an environment setting condition in the printing device so as to avoid the unsuccessful condition. Means,
An information processing system comprising: resending means for changing the environment setting condition in the printing apparatus by the setting condition changing means and transferring the print job and the print result table together to the printing apparatus again. Is configured.

The present invention also relates to an information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the print data created on the host computer is stored in a driver. The print format is changed to the print format of the printing device, the changed print data is transferred to the printing device, printing is performed, and the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data are stored for each page. A result table can be created, and at the end of the print job, the created print result table can be transferred to the host computer, and the contents of the transferred print result table can be displayed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface. The print format is changed to the print format of the printing device, the changed print data is transferred to the printing device, printing is performed, and the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data are stored for each page. Creating a result table, transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of the print job, transferring the print job and the print result table together to the printing apparatus again, and It is possible to check a specific page in the printed result table and reprint only the specific page.

The present invention also relates to an information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the print data created on the host computer is stored in a driver. The print format is changed to the print format of the printing device, the changed print data is transferred to the printing device, printing is performed, and the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data are stored for each page. Creating a result table, transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of the print job, transferring the print job and the print result table together to the printing apparatus again, and Page that failed in the print job from the print result table, and selected the printing device so as to avoid the unsuccessful condition. Change the configuration conditions of the inner, after changing the configuration condition, check the specific page in the retransmission print result table, it is possible to re-print only the specific page.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface. The print format is changed to the print format of the printing device, the changed print data is transferred to the printing device, printing is performed, and the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data are stored for each page. Create a result table, at the end of the print job, transfer the created print result table to the host computer, select a page that failed in the print job from the transferred print result table, Changing the environment setting condition in the printing apparatus so as to avoid the unsuccessful condition, and changing the environment setting condition; The printing result again transferred to the printing apparatus together with the table to check the specific page in the retransmitted print result table, it is possible to re-print only the specific page.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
7 will be described with reference to FIG.

According to the present invention, a print result of a print job composed of a plurality of pages of print data sent from a host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, the print result is printed from the printer to the host computer through a bidirectional interface. The result is returned, and the print result of each page is displayed and confirmed on the host computer side.

Before describing the configuration according to the present invention, the configurations of a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to the laser beam printer and the ink jet printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of a first recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. Here, a laser beam printer (LBP) is taken as an example.

Reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes and the like), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and responds according to the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet P as a recording medium. l501 is
This is an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. 1000 is the LBP body 150
0 is a printer control unit that controls the entire system and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer 100. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502. Laser driver 150
Reference numeral 2 denotes a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, and the semiconductor laser 150 according to an input video signal.
The on / off state of the laser beam l504 emitted from No. 3 is switched.

The laser beam 1504 is swung right and left by the rotary polygon mirror l505 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum l506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum l506. This latent image is
Developing unit 1 disposed around electrostatic drum l506
After being developed by 507, it is transferred to recording paper P. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet P, and the recording sheet P of the cut sheet is stored in a sheet cassette l508 mounted on the LBP main body l500, and is fed into the apparatus main body by a sheet feeding roller 1509 and conveying rollers 1510 and 1511. And supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506. The LBP body 1500 has at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an option card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing the structure of a second recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. Here, an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA) is taken as an example.

The carriage HC which engages with the helical structure 5004 of the lead screw 5005 which rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has pins (not shown). Are reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage moving direction.

Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which function as home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. 50
Reference numeral 16 denotes a member indicating a cap member 5022 for capping the entire surface of the recording head IJH (1708). 5
015 is suction means for sucking the inside of the cap,
The suction recovery of the recording head IJH is performed through the opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade, which can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. 5
Reference numeral 08 denotes a main body support plate, which supports the above 5017 and 5019. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 which engages with the carriage, and whose driving force from the driving motor is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. You.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured such that when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side, desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005. What is necessary is just to be configured to perform the desired operation at the timing.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of the second printing apparatus shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 1700 denotes an interface for inputting a recording signal, 170l denotes an MPU, and 1702 denotes the MPU 170
1 is a ROM for storing control programs to be executed and the like. Reference numeral 703 denotes a DRAM, which stores various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array which controls supply of print data to the print head l708 (IJH), and includes an interface 1700, an MPU 1701, and a DRAM 17
It also controls the transfer of data during 03. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head l708. Reference numeral l709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head 1708. l706 is the transfer motor 17
09 is a motor driver for driving the motor driver 09. Reference numeral 1707 denotes a motor driver for driving the carrier motor 1710.

In the recording apparatus configured as described above,
When a recording signal is input from a host computer 100 described later via the interface l700, the recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the gate array l704 and the MPU 170l. Then, the motor drivers l706 and l707 are driven, and the recording head 1708 is driven in accordance with the recording data sent to the head driver l705 to execute printing.

The MPU 1701 can communicate with a host computer 100 described later via an interface 1700, and can notify the host computer 100 of memory information and resource data related to the DRAM 1703, which will be described later. I have. Further, the MPU 1701 is connected to the host computer 100
Is configured to automatically determine the printer environment setting state by communicating with the connected printer 1500 and automatically set mutually compatible printer environments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer control system according to the present invention. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 4) will be described as an example. In addition,
As long as the function of the present invention is executed, LA or a single device or a system including a plurality of devices may be used.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as N.

Reference numeral 100 is a host computer. The host computer 100 includes a CPU 1 that executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in a ROM 2. The CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system device 4.

The ROM 2 stores a control program for the CPU 1 and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC), which controls a key input from the keyboard 9. 6 is a CRT controller (CRT
C) to control the display on the CRT display (CRT) 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a disk controller (DKC) which controls access to a hard disk (HD) 11 for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like, and a floppy disk (FD) 12.

The HD11 includes FIGS. 3 and 12 described later.
A control program (mainly, processing on the host side) of a flowchart as shown by is stored.

That is, FIG. 3 shows a print result display means for displaying the contents of the print result table, and FIG. 12 shows a setting condition change means for changing the environment setting conditions in the printer 1500, a print job and the print result table. And a re-sending means for re-transferring to the printing apparatus. In addition, about each of these means,
This will be described in detail in a flowchart described later.

8 is a printer controller (PR)
TC), and is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 13;
A communication control process with the printer 1500 is executed. 8a,
Reference numeral 18a denotes an interface circuit.
3 and a host computer 10
It controls various command communication processing with 0 and recording information processing.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font in the display information RAM set on the RAM 3, and outputs the W on the CRT 10.
YSIWYG (for example, a graphic is created by an application on the CRT 10 on the host computer 100 side,
The function of printing the figure on the printer 1500 side)
Is possible. Further, the CPU 1 opens various registered windows based on commands specified by a mouse cursor or the like on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

In the printer 1500, reference numeral 14 denotes a printer CPU, which comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 17 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 15 and performs printing interface (I). / F) Outputs an image signal as print data to a printing unit (printer engine) 20 connected via 19.

The ROM 15 also includes a CPU 15 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 9 and 10 described later.
4 (mainly processing on the printer 1500 side) and the like.

That is, in FIG. 3, a table creating means for creating a print result table for saving the state and success or failure of a printed result for each page, and a print result table created at the end of a print job are stored in the host computer 100.
Table transfer means and the like for transferring the data to the server are described. FIG. 9 shows a means for checking a specific page in the print result table retransmitted from the host computer 100 and reprinting only the specific page. In FIG. The printer 1 selects a page that has failed in the print job and avoids the unsuccessful condition.
A setting condition changing means for changing the environment setting conditions in the section 500 is described. In addition, each of these means will be described in detail in a flowchart described later.

The CPU 14 can perform communication processing with the host computer 100 via the input unit 18.
It is configured to be able to notify the host computer 100 of memory information and resource data related to AM16. l
Reference numeral 6 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 14, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 16 is used as a print data development area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. Access to the hard disk (HD) 22 is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 21. The hard disk 22 is connected as an option and stores downloaded fonts and the like.

Also, at least one or more card slots (not shown) are provided so that an optional font card and a card (emulation card) storing a program for interpreting a printer control language of a different language system can be connected in addition to the built-in fonts. Have been. Further, it has an NVRAM (not shown) and stores printer mode setting information from the operation panel 150l.

Next, the structure of the main part according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between print jobs exchanged between the host computer 100 and the printer 1500.

The host computer 100 includes application software (not shown) used by the user, and data created by the application software is printed through a printer driver 1101 on the host computer 100. Normally, the application data is composed of a plurality of pages, and the printer driver 1101 converts the application software data into one page according to the request of the application software.
The page is translated into a form that can be understood by one page and the printer control program 1103. The translated data is sent to the printer 1500 through the bidirectional interface 13.
The printer control program 1103 is software on the printer control unit 1000. The data sent here is interpreted by the printer control program 1103, and the printing unit 2 on the printer 1500 shown in FIG.
1 page and 1 page are formed as print image at 0,
Printed.

Here, in actual printing, printing that is satisfactory to the operator is not always performed. For example, if the data generated by the application software is very complicated, a print overrun or a memory overflow may occur. Also,
When the remaining amount of toner in the printer is low, a part of the paper may be thinned due to a shortage of toner.

The printer control program 1103 stores the RA
A print result table 1104 is created in M16, and the print result is recorded for each job. When the print job is completed, the host computer 100
Then, the print result table 1104 is sent through the bidirectional interface 13. The print result display program 1102 in the host computer 100 displays the state of the print result, its success or failure, and the quality in units of one page based on the sent print result table 1104. In this case, the printing operation is not related to the failure of the printer 1500.
Basically, the printing operation is not stopped. That is, a page with abnormal printing is left as it is, and the operation automatically proceeds to the printing operation of the next page.

FIG. 2 is a table showing the configuration of the print result table 1104. The print result table 1104 is
This is a fixed-length table in l-page units. This table has a size large enough to withstand a sufficiently large page, but has a ring structure so that more pages than the page N assumed in the print result table 1104 may come. Is done. Therefore, when many pages come from the print result table 1104, the contents of the latest N pages are saved. Further, there are a print start page pointer 1110 indicating a start point of the print result table 1104 and a print end page pointer 1111 indicating an end point. The start page counter 1109 is
The start page pointer indicates how many pages are being pointed to.

The components of the print result table 1104 include a field indicating success or failure of printing, a field indicating whether there is a problem with the quality when printing is successful, and a field indicating whether there is a problem with printing. Divided into fields. When there is a problem with printing, the field is limited to quality such as toner low or lossy,
Or, there is a problem depending on whether the printing itself has a problem.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing (host computer 100 and printer 1500) according to the present invention.

First, in step S701, the operator creates a document on the host computer 100. next,
In step S702, the host computer 100 sends the printer driver 110l on the host computer 100
, The document created in step S701 is sent to the printer 1500. Next, in step S703, the printing operation of the printer 1500 is performed for one page and one page.

Here, in step S704, if an error occurs, the process proceeds to step S705, and if no error occurs, the process proceeds to step S710. Next, step S7
At step 05, it is checked whether or not the continuation of the printer 1500 has become impossible due to the error that has occurred. If continuation is possible, the process proceeds to step S706.
Proceed to 711. Next, in step S706, it is checked whether or not the content of the error is a print quality problem. If the error is a print quality problem, an error is registered in the print result table 1104 as a print quality problem in step S707. If the printing is unsuccessful, the print result table 1104 is displayed.
Register with. Next, in step S709, the start page pointer 1110, the end page pointer 1111 and the start page counter 1109 are updated.

In step S710, it is determined whether printing has been completed. If printing has not been completed, the flow returns to step S703. In step S711, the print result table 1104, the start page pointer 1110, and the end page pointer 1
11l is sent to the host computer 100. Then, in step S712, the sent print result table 1104, start page pointer 1110 and end page pointer 111 are sent on the host computer 100.
1, the print result of the print job performed by the operator is displayed.

As described above, the print result of the print job is displayed on the host computer 100 side, and the printer 150
It can be controlled so as to confirm the print result of 0.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given with reference to FIG. The description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

According to the present invention, a print result of a print job consisting of a plurality of pages of print data sent from a host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, the print result is printed from the printer to the host computer through the bidirectional interface. The result is returned, the print result and the print job are sent again from the host computer to the printer, and only the pages for which the printing was unsuccessful are printed again.

Hereinafter, a specific example will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation when job data is resent from the host computer 100 to the printer 1500. In this example, the operation is performed from the host computer 100 to the printer 1500 using a job language for the printer. If a job language for a printer is used, normal data and the print result table 1104 can be sent together. The job language for the printer includes commands for setting the printer driver 1101 and NVRAM which is a default value of the printer 1500.
Also includes a command to set the set value of.

The operator operates the host computer 100
Is set according to the contents of the print result table 1104 displayed in the table. For example, if the print image becomes thin due to toner low, the toner cartridge is replaced. If a print overrun occurs, the mode is switched from the banding mode to the unbanding mode. Lower resolution (for example, 60
(0 DPI to 300 DPI). In this way, the operator can easily respond to the error. After taking such a measure, the print job 1115 is executed using the job language for the printer.
And start page counter 1109, start page pointer 1
By sending 110, the end page pointer 1111 and the print result table 1104 to the printer 1500, only the printing of the page in error 1116 is performed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing reprinting in the printer 1500.

In step S901, one page of the print job sent from the host computer 100 is read. Next, in step S902, it is determined whether the read page has reached the reprint start page.
If not reached, the page is skipped and the process returns to step S901. Next, in step S903, the corresponding page of the print result table 1104 is checked, and
At 904, it is determined whether the page is an error page. If it is not an error page, the process returns to step S901. If an error has occurred here, the printing operation of the page is started in step S905. Next, the start page pointer 111
0 and the end page pointer 1111 are checked, and if they match, it is determined that the processing of the corresponding page has been completed, and the processing ends. If they do not match, in step S907,
The start page pointer 1110 is advanced by one.

As described above, based on the print result of the print job, it is possible to control to reprint only the unsuccessfully printed pages.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Description will be made based on 0. The description of the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

According to the present invention, a print result of a print job composed of a plurality of pages of print data sent from a host computer is stored on the printer side, and returned from the printer to the host computer via the bidirectional interface when the print job is completed. Then, the print result and print job are sent again from the host computer to the printer, and the printer automatically sets the printer environment setting conditions based on the print result so that the settings of the page that cannot be successfully printed can be printed. change,
Only the pages for which printing has failed are printed again.

Hereinafter, a specific example will be described.

In general, there are two types of errors: one involving an operator and one involving a printer serviceman. In this example, the error is automatically continued without the intervention of the operator. However, in this case, the error originally involving the operator is divided into an error that cannot be dealt with without the intervention of the operator and an error that cannot be handled. For example, replacing the toner is an error that always requires operator intervention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example in which the printer 1500 automatically changes the environment setting conditions based on the print job 1115 and the print result table 1104 sent from the host computer 100 to the printer 1500.

In step S1001, the print result table 1104, start page pointer 1110, end page pointer 1111 and start page counter 1109 are read. Next, in step S1002, the read print result table 1104 is searched. Next, it is checked whether an error has been encountered as a search result. If an error has been encountered, step S1005
To see if the error is a memory overflow,
If it is an overflow, in step S1004, the environment setting condition of the print resolution of the printer setting is changed to a lower setting, and the process returns to step S1002 to proceed to the next search.

Next, in step S1006, it is checked whether or not the print is overrun. If the print is overrun, the printer setting is changed to the unbanding mode in step S1007, and the process returns to step S1002 to proceed to the next search. Next, in step S1008, it is checked whether or not a change in the other environment setting conditions can be taken. If not, the process returns to step S1002 to proceed to the next search. If a response can be taken, in step S1009, the environment setting conditions of the printer are changed to appropriate ones, and the process returns to step S1002 in order to proceed to the next search.

As described above, based on the printing result of the print job, the printer 150
It is possible to perform control so that 0 is reset (environment setting conditions are changed) and only the pages for which printing has failed are reprinted.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the above-mentioned first to first
A description of the same parts as in the third embodiment will be omitted.

According to the present invention, the print result of a print job including a plurality of pages of print data sent from the host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, the print result is returned from the printer to the host computer through the bidirectional interface. The printer driver, based on the print result,
Automatically change the printer environment setting conditions so that the settings of pages for which printing is unsuccessful can be printed, send the changed printer driver settings, print results and print jobs from the host computer to the printer, Only the pages for which printing has failed are printed again.

Hereinafter, a specific example will be described.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a setting screen of the printer driver 1101. Here, the contents displayed on the setting screen will be described. Paper size (Paper
(Size) setting 112 sets a paper size for printing. A3, A4, B
4, B5, Letter, Legal, envelope size, etc. can be set. Paper Source (Paper Source)
e) The setting 1121 is for selecting a paper feed port of the printer 1500. For example, Upper Casett
e, Lower Casette, Multi Pur
poseTray and the like. Orientation (Orientation) setting 1122 sets whether the direction of the data to be printed is such that the short side is down (Portrait) or the long side is down (Landscape). The copy (Copies) setting 113 specifies how many copies of each page are to be copied. Memory (Memo
ry) The setting 124 is a method of using the memory as B
graphics mode (Graphics M)
mode) 125 is a vector graphic (Ve
ctor Graphics to Raster
r) or a vector (Vector). In the case of Raster, the resolution of Raster can be specified. Resolution setting 11
Reference numeral 26 designates a resolution for printing by the printer 1500.

Paper Size setting 1120, Me
The memory setting 1124, the graphics mode setting 112 and the resolution setting 126 are closely related to each other, and the memory required by the printer 1500 and the amount of data sent to the printer 1500 are related to these set values. For the Paper Size setting 112, the larger the paper, the larger the memory required by the printer 1500 and the larger the amount of data to be sent. When the Banding is specified in the Memory setting 1124, usually,
Band Buf assumed in the printer 1500 in advance
Only the size of fer and other work areas are the printer 1
500, but Unbanding
Is specified, the printer 1500 needs at least the memory of the image area corresponding to the paper size and the required work memory. Graphics M
mode setting 1125 is usually a Vector Group
ics setting is small as the amount of data generated by the printer driver 1101, and the Raster Graphi
When cs is specified, the smaller the resolution is, the smaller the amount of generated data is. Resolution setting 1
Reference numeral 126 denotes a resolution at the time of printing by the printer 1500, and the larger the value, the larger the printer driver 110
1, the amount of data generated is large, and the mounting memory required for the printer 1500 also increases.

The OK button 1127 validates the contents set by the printer driver 1101 and ends the process. The cancel (Cancel) button 1128 invalidates the contents set by the printer driver 1101 and ends.
An Options button 1129 is a button for setting necessary settings other than the screen of the printer driver 1101. Load
The button 110 is a button for reading the print result table 1104 and changing the print setting to the content of the problem. When a change is actually made using this button, the changed portion and the corresponding error are displayed.

The settings of the printer driver 1101 can be sent as a part of the print job data 1115, or can be sent as a job language for a printer. The distribution is determined inside the printer driver 1101.

FIG. 12 shows the printer driver 11 of FIG.
01 on the setting screen 01, when the Load button 110 is specified, the printer driver 1500 is sent according to the print result table 1104 sent from the printer 1500.
7 is a flowchart of an example in which the environment setting condition is automatically changed.

In step S120l, the print result table 1104, start page pointer 110, end page pointer 1111 and start page counter 1109 are read. Next, in step S1202, the read print result table 1104 is searched. Next, step S120
At 3, it is checked whether an error has been encountered as a search result. If an error has been encountered, step S1205
To see if the error is a memory overflow,
If it is an overflow, in step S1204, the setting is changed to a setting in which the printing resolution, which is an environment setting condition of the printer driver 1101, is lowered, and the next search is performed in step S120.
Return to 2. Next, in step Sl206, it is checked whether or not the print is overrun.
In step Sl207, the environment setting condition of the printer driver 110 is changed to the unbanding mode, and the process returns to step S1202 to proceed to the next search. Next, in step Sl208, it is checked whether or not a change in the other environment setting conditions can be taken. If no change can be taken, the process returns to step S1202 to proceed to the next search. The environment setting conditions of the appropriate printer driver 1101 are changed, and the process returns to step S1202 to proceed to the next search. In step 1203, if the error disappears, if there is the environment setting condition changed in step S1210, the contents of the changed setting and the error for which the setting was changed are displayed.

As described above, based on the print result of the print job, the printer driver 1101 is reset (change of the environment setting condition) for the page of the printing failure, and only the page of the printing failure is displayed. Reprinting can be controlled.

In the above example, the print result table 1104 is sent to the host computer 100 each time or sent from the host computer 100 to the printer 1500.
4, a command requesting that the host computer 100 refer to the print result table 1104 in the printer 1500 may be sent.

If it is not necessary to display the error on the host computer 100, only the fact that an error has occurred is transmitted to the host computer 100, and the host computer 100 also sends a reference command for the print result table 1104. Good.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, a print result of a print job composed of a plurality of pages of print data sent from a host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, a bidirectional print result is obtained. The print result is returned from the printer to the host computer through the interface, and the print result of each page is displayed on the host computer side.
It is possible to understand the quality of the printing and the like, thereby obtaining the effect that the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, a print result of a print job including a plurality of pages of print data sent from the host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, the printer transmits the print job to the host computer via the bidirectional interface. And the print result and the print job are sent again from the host computer to the printer, so that only the pages for which printing failed can be printed again, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, a print result of a print job including a plurality of pages of print data sent from the host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, the print result is transmitted from the printer to the host computer via the bidirectional interface. The print result and print job are sent from the host computer to the printer again, and the printer automatically sets the unsuccessfully printed page settings based on the print result to the environment setting conditions that enable printing. change,
Only the page for which printing has not succeeded can be printed again, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, a print result of a print job including a plurality of pages of print data sent from the host computer is stored on the printer side, and when the print job is completed, the printer transmits the print result via the bidirectional interface to the host computer. The printer driver automatically changes the settings of the unsuccessfully printed pages to the environment setting conditions that enable printing based on the print result, and sets the changed driver settings and the print result. The print job and the print job can be sent from the host computer to the printer, and only the pages for which printing has not been successful can be printed again.

According to the present invention, when an error occurs, it is not appropriate to continue automatically. However, in the case of an error in which the printing apparatus itself has no defect, the operation can be automatically continued. Can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a print job relationship between a host computer and a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a print result table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a first recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 5 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a second recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a second printing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer control system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when resending job data from a host computer to a printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for reprinting by the printer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the printer automatically changes environment settings based on a print job and a print result table sent from the host computer to the printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting screen of a printer driver according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when load is designated on a setting screen of a printer driver.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Hard disk 13 Bidirectional interface 15 ROM 100 Host computer 1101 Driver 1102 Print result display means 1103 Printer control program 1104 Print result table 1500 Printing device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface to perform printing. An information processing system for performing a print result table provided in the printing apparatus, the print data table being created for storing the status and success / failure of a result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page. Creating means; table transfer means for transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of a print job; and a print result provided in the host computer and displaying the contents of the transferred print result table. An information processing system comprising a display unit. 2. A print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface to perform printing. An information processing system for performing a print result table provided in the printing apparatus, the print result table storing a state and success or failure of a result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page Creating means; table transfer means for transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of the print job; checking a specific page in the print result table retransmitted from the host computer; Means for reprinting only the print job provided in the host computer, The information processing system being characterized in that comprises a retransmission means for re-transferred to the printing result the printing apparatus together with the table. 3. A print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface to perform printing. An information processing system for performing a print result table provided in the printing apparatus, the print data table being created for storing the status and success / failure of a result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page. Creating means; table transfer means for transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of a print job; and pages which have failed in the print job from the print result table resent from the host computer. And set the environment setting conditions in the printing apparatus so as to avoid the unsuccessful condition. After changing the environment setting conditions in the printing apparatus by the setting condition changing unit to be changed, the specific page in the retransmitted print result table is checked, and only the specific page is reprinted. An information processing system provided in the host computer, and retransmitting means for retransmitting the print job and the print result table to the printing apparatus together with the print result table. 4. A print data created on a host computer is changed to a print format of a printing device using a driver, and the changed print data is transferred to the printing device using a bidirectional interface to perform printing. An information processing system for performing a print result table provided in the printing apparatus, the print data table being created for storing the status and success / failure of a result of printing the print data transferred from the host computer by the printing apparatus for each page. Creating means; table transfer means for transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of the print job; checking a specific page in the print result table retransmitted from the host computer; A means for reprinting only the print data, A setting condition changing unit that selects a page that has failed in the print job from the print result table transferred from the printer and changes an environment setting condition in the printing apparatus so as to avoid the unsuccessful condition; Resending means for re-transmitting the print job and the print result table to the printing apparatus together with the print job after changing the environment setting conditions in the printing apparatus by the setting condition changing means. Processing system. 5. An information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the print data created on the host computer is written using a driver. Change the print format of the printing device, transfer the changed print data to the printing device, perform printing, and create a print result table that saves the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data for each page An information processing method for transferring the created print result table to the host computer when the print job is completed, and displaying the content of the transferred print result table. 6. An information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the print data created on the host computer is written using a driver. Change the print format of the printing device, transfer the changed print data to the printing device, perform printing, and create a print result table that saves the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data for each page And transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of the print job, transferring the print job table and the print result table together to the printing apparatus again, and retransmitting the print result table. An information processing method for checking a specific page in the list and reprinting only the specific page. 7. An information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the print data created on the host computer is written using a driver. Change the print format of the printing device, transfer the changed print data to the printing device, perform printing, and create a print result table that saves the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data for each page And transferring the created print result table to the host computer at the end of the print job, transferring the print job table and the print result table together to the printing apparatus again, and retransmitting the print result table. From the print job, select an unsuccessfully completed page in the print job, and set an environment An information processing method comprising: changing a fixed condition, changing the environment setting condition, checking a specific page in the retransmitted print result table, and reprinting only the specific page. 8. An information processing method for exchanging print data on a host computer with a printing apparatus via a bidirectional interface, wherein the print data created on the host computer is written using a driver. Change the print format of the printing device, transfer the changed print data to the printing device, perform printing, and create a print result table that saves the status and success / failure of the print result of the print data for each page When the print job is completed, the created print result table is transferred to the host computer, and a page that has failed in the print job is selected from the transferred print result table. Changing environment setting conditions in the printing apparatus so as to avoid the conditions; and changing the environment setting conditions. An information processing method for re-transmitting the print result table together with the result table to the printing apparatus, checking a specific page in the retransmitted print result table, and reprinting only the specific page.