JPH11143665A - System for controlling printing and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit canceling a received printing job at the time of interrupting reception and to prevent an operator from uselessly canceling a job by comparing the processing waiting time of the printing job which is transferred by means of a printer server with a reference delay time to judge the continuation or stop of the printing job. SOLUTION: The printing job is generated in PC 2000, the print server 2001 adds transfer start time information obtained from a time supply server 2002 as a printing job attribute and, after that, the printing job is transferred with LAN 2003. A printer 1000 stores a time when the reception of the printing job is started, calculates the delay time based on a transfer start time and a reception start time and stores it so as to calculate the reference delay time. Then, presence or absence of the interruption of the printing job which is received by the printer 1000 is judged by the waiting time and the continuation or the stop of the printing job is judged based on the comparison of the reference delay time with the waiting time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system and method connected to a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computers have been interconnected by a LAN (local area network).
Connection is possible.

[0003] A LAN as a premises connection such as a floor is
Although it is possible to share and use connected devices and transfer data as one user group, connect several LANs that are geographically separated by high-speed integrated digital network (ISDN) lines, public telephone lines, etc. May form a WAN (Wide Area Network). Normally, each LAN is composed of a group of computers including a file server and a print server. As a function of a network operating system installed in each computer, various types of functions such as transfer and sharing of data and files, and sharing of printers are performed. It supports the protocol. In general, a print job transferred from an application running on each computer may form a network (WAN in some cases) via a print server. In addition, a plurality of file transfers may be performed as represented by the Internet as a type of WAN. The print job can be transferred to a printer connected to the printer (which may be transferred via a server).

Various devices for constructing a network,
Communication protocols for remote management of devices including computers connected to a network are also standardized, and include, for example, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). 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, acquisition of printer information, status monitoring, Initialization control and the like can be performed.

[0005] Usually, each computer connected on the network is configured to hold its own absolute time. However, in the case of sharing a file on a network or the like, it is difficult to perform management such as updating of a file if time information independently held is added between accessible computer devices. As a function of the file server on the network, a time supply server that supports NTP (Network Time Protocol) is arranged, and each client device equipped with the network time protocol obtains time information from the NTP server and adjusts the stored time To synchronize the time of the devices on the network in some cases.

[0006]

In the above conventional example, a print job generated by a user using application software is transferred from a print server or the like to a printer on a network. Is configured to wait until all data of the print job has been received. For this reason, if a print job cannot be completely received due to a network communication failure, a failure of various devices for building the network, or a failure of the print server, if a print server on a normal other network cannot complete the reception of the print job. The print job could not be received.

A page printer often has an interface for LAN connection, a parallel port and a serial port for one-to-one connection with a host computer, and completes a print job received from the LAN interface. Therefore, printing cannot be performed by receiving from another interface port. Alternatively, the user has to execute a reset operation of a received job by a panel operation or the like.

In a printer having a plurality of receiving interfaces such as a LAN interface port and a parallel port, when a print job is received, analysis processing and image generation processing are started, and subsequent same job data is not received for a certain period of time. May be configured to automatically cancel the job at that time. In the conventional printer configured as described above, it is not possible to determine whether or not the transfer of the print job is interrupted due to a decrease in the transfer rate due to congestion of the network communication line, a decrease in the transfer rate due to waiting for processing of the print server, and the like. Therefore, there is a problem that unnecessary job cancellation occurs during normal transfer of a print job, and normal printing cannot be performed.

In particular, Internet, which is a kind of WAN,
In the case of via t, the print job is transferred to the print server via a plurality of file transfer servers in each LAN, so that the transfer speed may increase due to the congestion of the transfer server that transfers the print job file. is there.

[0010] Further, in order to maintain time in the apparatus, it is necessary to mount a backup battery or the like in the page printer, so that there is a problem that the cost increases.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a print job transferred from a print server may have a problem such as a network communication failure or a print server down. In addition, when it is determined that the reception has been interrupted, an object of the present invention is to execute a process of canceling the received print job.

That is, the transfer start time of the print job from the print server and the delay time of the reception start time of the printer are detected, and the transfer rate is reduced due to the congestion of the network communication line, and the transfer rate is reduced due to the print server waiting. When it is determined that the transfer of the print job is interrupted, the first object is to continue the reception standby state and prevent unnecessary job cancellation processing.

A second object of the present invention is to interrupt printing of a print job input from another input interface when a reception waiting time occurs in an input interface that is currently receiving.

It is a third object of the present invention to execute device management and control of a printer based on time information by obtaining an absolute time without mounting a time holding function such as a backup power supply.

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following constitution.

That is, the print control system comprises: a transfer time storage unit for storing a time at which the print server starts transferring the print job; a reception time storage unit for storing a time at which the printer starts receiving the print job; Delay calculating means for calculating a delay time based on a start time and the reception start time; delay time storing means for storing the delay time; and a reference delay time based on the delay time stored in the delay time storing means. Reference delay calculating means for calculating, whether or not the print job received by the printer is interrupted, waiting time detecting means for determining with a waiting time, the reference delay time,
Determining means for determining whether to continue or cancel the print job based on a comparison with the waiting time.

Further, the print control system includes a transfer time storage unit for storing a time at which the printer server starts transferring the first print job, and a reception time storage for storing a time at which the printer receives the first print job. Means, a delay calculating means for calculating a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time, a delay time storage means for storing delay time information, and a delay time stored in the delay time storage means. A reference delay calculating means for calculating a reference delay time; a waiting time detecting means for determining whether or not the first print job received by the printer is interrupted by a waiting time; Interrupt print control means for controlling an interrupt of another print job based on the comparison.

The interruption control means continues the reception waiting state when the waiting time is within the reference delay time, and executes the interruption processing of the first print job when the waiting time exceeds the reference delay time. .

In addition, the system further comprises time management means for acquiring a synchronization time of the time in the network from a time supply server on the network, and the time information stored in the reception time storage means is based on the synchronization time information in the network. .

Further, a print control system having time management means for acquiring time information from a time supply server on a network and performing synchronized time management is characterized in that the time information acquired by the time management means is acquired at regular time intervals. A time information storage unit that is stored in a non-volatile memory; a time information that is stored in the non-volatile memory at the time of previous use; And self-diagnosis control means for performing self-diagnosis control of the apparatus based on the unused time information calculated by the elapsed time calculation means.

Alternatively, the print control method includes a transfer time storing step of storing a time at which the printer server starts transferring the print job, a receiving time storing step of storing a time at which the printer starts receiving the print job, A delay calculation step of calculating a delay time based on a start time and the reception start time; a delay time storage step of storing the delay time; and a reference delay time based on the delay time stored in the delay time storage step. Calculating a reference delay, calculating whether or not the print job received by the printer is interrupted, and determining a waiting time based on a waiting time; and comparing the reference delay time with the waiting time. A determining step of determining whether to continue or stop.

The print control method includes a transfer time storing step of storing a time at which the printer server starts transferring the first print job, and a receiving time storing of a time at which the printer receives the first print job. A delay calculating step of calculating a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time; a delay time storing step of storing delay time information; and a delay time storing step of storing the delay time information. A reference delay calculating step of calculating a reference delay time; a waiting time detecting step of determining whether or not the first print job received by the printer is interrupted by a waiting time; And an interrupt print control step of controlling an interrupt of another print job based on the comparison.

In the interrupt control step, when the waiting time is within the reference delay time, the reception waiting state is continued, and when the waiting time exceeds the reference delay time, the interruption processing of the first print job is performed. .

[0024] The present invention further comprises a time management step for acquiring a synchronization time of the time in the network from a time supply server on the network, wherein the time information stored in the receiving time storage step is based on the synchronization time information in the network. .

Alternatively, a print control method having a time management step for acquiring time information from a time supply server on a network and performing synchronized time management is characterized in that the time information acquired by the time management step is obtained at regular time intervals. A time information storing step of storing the time information in the nonvolatile memory, the time information obtained in the previous use stored in the nonvolatile memory, and the time information obtained in the current use from the time supply server. And a self-diagnosis control step for executing self-diagnosis control of the apparatus based on the unused time information calculated in the elapsed time calculation step.

[0026]

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 the structure of a first output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows a case of a laser beam printer (LBP), for example.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), form data, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and stores the information. , A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral 1001 denotes a printer control unit that controls the entire LBP main body 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from a host computer. The printer control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1002. Laser driver 100
Reference numeral 2 denotes a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and the semiconductor laser 1003 is driven in accordance with an input video signal.
3 is turned on / off. The laser beam 1004 is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1005 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 stored in a developing unit 100 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006.
After being developed by 7, the image is transferred to recording paper. This recording paper uses a cut sheet, and the cut sheet recording paper is LB
The sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 1008 mounted on the P1000, is taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 1009, a conveying roller 1010 and a conveying roller 1011, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006. Also, the LBP body 100
0 has a card slot (not shown), an optional font card, a language system (PD
L) different control cards (emulation cards),
It is configured so that a memory card capable of writing and maintaining form data and font data can be connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition,
As long as the function of the present invention is executed, LA birch, a system including a plurality of devices, LA
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as N / WAN. 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 to a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus functions in a specific mode.

In the figure, a print job is generated as a control language for a printer control unit by an application program running on a personal computer 1 (PC) 2000 and stored in a print spooler in a print server 2001. The PC 2000 and the print server 2001 include a time supply server 200 as a function provided by the network operating system.
From 3, the standard time in the network can be obtained.
The print server 2001 is connected to the LAN interface card 1013 constituting the printer 1000 and the LAN 200
3 to execute a communication control process and transfer the print job to the printer control unit 1001 (network connection type printing system).

The personal computer 2 2004 includes:
Although a network connection is established via the LAN 2003, the transfer of a print job is conventionally performed by executing a communication control process via a parallel port or the like, and is configured to be directly transferred to a printer control unit (a direct connection type printing system). ).

Here, a print job is input in data units separated by a job start instruction and a job end instruction that define a group of input pages, and indicates the group.

In the printer control unit 1001,
Reference numeral 1-1 denotes a printer CPU, which comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 1-4 based on a control program stored in a control program or the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 1-2. And outputs an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 1-9 connected via a printing unit interface 1-8.

The program in the ROM 1-2 includes a control program for the CPU 1-1 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 7, 8, and 9, and a printing unit 1-9.
And an image generation program for generating a bitmap image to be transferred to the storage unit. ROM1-2 font ROM
Stores font data (outline font data or dot font data) used for generating the output image. The ROM 1-2 or the external memory 1-3 stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 7, 8, and 9 described above. FIG. 13 shows a memory map of a program stored in FIG. Flow charts corresponding to the flow charts of FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 10, and FIG. In this case, the printer control unit 1001 and L
The AN interface card 1013 is a printer communication unit 2
Communication related to the execution of the program is performed via -5.

The CPU 1-1 is configured to be able to communicate with the print server 2001 via the input unit 1 (1-10) via a LAN interface card 1013, which will be described later. Further, an input unit 2 (1-11) capable of performing communication processing via a parallel port of a personal computer is also provided. RAM1-6 is C
The RAM functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the PU 1-1, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an extension port (not shown). The RAM 1-6 includes a reception buffer for receiving a print job, a page buffer memory for storing the print job as an intermediate code, and print job information such as transfer start time information, reception start time information, and job name of the print job. And a job management area memory including page link information for associating each page stored in the page buffer memory with a print job.

The NVRAM 1-5 stores the standard time in the LAN obtained from the time supply server 2002 via the LAN interface card 1013. The standard time is updated at regular intervals while the printer 1000 is operating,
Even if the printer is turned off, a nonvolatile memory such as NVRAM is used so that the last stored standard time is retained.

The access to the external memory 1-3 is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 1-7. The external memory 1-3 stores form data, font data, an emulation program, and the like. Reference numeral 1012 denotes a switch and a LE for operation on the operation panel described above.
A D display and the like are provided.

Further, a hard disk is mounted on the external memory 1-3, and is also used as the above-described page buffer and a storage area for a job management area. It is also possible to store program modules shown in the memory map shown in FIG.

In the printer control system configured as described above, a print job input via the LAN interface card 1013 or the like includes print data such as character codes and graphic data according to the designated print position. The data is classified for each corresponding band position and stored in a page buffer in the RAM 1-6. After storing print data for one page in the intermediate page buffer, a bitmap image is generated in the band memory one band at a time to generate an output image, and bit information for forming an image by the printing unit I / F 1-8 Is converted to a video signal, output to the printing unit 1-9, and recorded on recording paper or the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a LAN interface card necessary for connecting the printer control system to a LAN.

In the LAN interface card 1013, 2-1 is a LAN card control CPU,
h The access to the devices connected to the system bus 2-7 is comprehensively controlled based on the control program as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4, 6, 10, and 11 stored in the program ROM of the ROM 2-2. To control.

The program ROM of the flash ROM 2-2 has a LAN communication section 2-3 for analyzing a communication control protocol with another LAN-connected device connected via the LAN 2003 and performing data communication, and a LAN communication section. A time acquisition unit 2-4 for acquiring the standard time in the network from the time supply server 2002 according to a higher protocol of the communication protocol analyzed by the 2-3, a print job is transferred to the printer control unit 1001, a processing state of the printer and error information Printer communication unit 2 for reading information
It has -5.

The RAM 2-6 functions as a main memory of the CPU 2-1 and is also used as a reception buffer for storing communication packets transferred from the print server 2001. [First Embodiment] FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing a job control procedure of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 4, the LAN interface card 1
13 shows a control flow of the printer communication unit 2-5 in the printer.
FIG. 5 shows a processing flow of print data in the printer control unit 1001.

The print job processed by this control is P
Print server 200 generated in C2000
Transferred to 1. After adding the transfer start time information acquired from the time supply server 2002 as a print job attribute, the print server 2001 performs communication control with the LAN interface card 1013 via the LAN 2003 to transfer the print job.

Also, in the printer 1000, it is assumed that the time acquisition unit 2-4 in the LAN interface card 1013 acquires and holds the synchronization time on the network from the time supply server 2002 as described later.

The print job transferred by the packet from the print server 2001 is transmitted to the LAN interface card 1
At 013, when a data packet transfer request for a print job is input to the LAN communication unit 2-3 and it is determined that there is a data packet to be received (S401), the RAM2-
6 stores the data packet in the reception buffer (S40).
2) After the previous data packet is stored in the reception buffer, the reception waiting time information that has started counting is reset (S403).

If the input data packet is a packet of print job attribute information (S404), the time acquisition unit 2
-4, the network synchronization time acquired and held is read out (S405), the transfer start time information in the packet added by the print server 2001 is compared, and the reference delay time for job transfer is calculated (S40).
6).

On the other hand, if it is a data packet to be printed in S404, the input unit 1 of the printer control unit 1001
Only the print data part is transferred to (1-11) (S40)
7).

After the transfer of the print data, if there is a subsequent received data packet (S401), similarly, only the print data portion is transferred.

On the other hand, in S401, there is no subsequent received data packet (S401-No), and the print server 2001 is not transferring a print job (S4).
08-No), an infinite loop in the reception waiting state occurs, but if the print job is being transferred from the print server 2001 (S408-Yes), the reception waiting time information and the reference delay generated in the reference delay calculation step S406. The time is compared with the time (S409). When it is determined that the time is within the reference delay time (S409-No), the reception waiting time information is counted up and updated (S411), and the reception waiting state is continued.

The reception waiting state is continued, the reception waiting time information is counted up, and if it is determined that the reception delay time is equal to or longer than the reference delay time (S409-Yes), the job processing unit issues a job end request for the print job currently being transferred. It transmits to 1-12 (S410).

The job processing unit 1-12 of the printer control unit 1001 reads the data to be printed (print position, character code, etc.) input in this manner (S
412: FIG. 5), classify the data into band units corresponding to the designated print position, and store the data in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 (S413).

The data is stored as data of the same page until the end of the page such as a page break command in the print data is detected. When one page of data to be printed is stored, the data stored in the page buffer is read out in band units to form a bitmap image, and the image is transferred to the printing unit 1-9 in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet. . Repeat the same process for all bands stored in the page buffer,
One page of image data is transferred (S415).

When the printing of one page is completed, processing is performed as page data in the same job until the end of the job such as a job end command or a reset command in the print data is detected.

When the end of the job is detected in the print data (S416-YES), the process ends.

On the other hand, when a job end interrupt request is transferred from the printer communication unit 2-5 (S418-YES),
The subsequent print data stored in the reception buffer in the RAM 1-6 is cleared (S419), the print data is canceled (S417), the job end process is executed, and the process ends.

Although the print server 2001 adds the transfer start time of the print job based on the time acquired from the time supply server 2002, the present invention is not limited to this. If the information acquired from the time supply server that supplies the time synchronization information on the network is added, the information may be added when the personal computer 2000 generates a job.

The calculation of the reference delay time in S406 may be configured so that it can be updated periodically during the transfer of the print job.

Although the determination is made in the allowable delay time determination step S409 using only the calculated reference delay time, the invention is not limited to this. The allowable delay time may be instructed from the operation panel 1012. Also, the reference delay time calculated in the reference delay calculation step S406 and the operation panel 1012
The allowable delay may be determined by combining with an allowable delay time that is set. Further, the reference delay time of each print server that has transferred the print job may be stored in the NVRAM 1-5, and the determination may be made based on the average time of the reference delay time information at each printing. good.

In addition, the WWW (w
inter, typified by old wide web)
In a network connected to the Internet, when a print job is routed through a plurality of file transfer servers and print servers, the print server does not add the transfer start time, but an application or printer driver software that generates a print job uses a print job. You may comprise so that generation time information etc. may be added. [Second Embodiment] FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing a job control procedure of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

In FIG. 6, the LAN interface card 1
13 shows a control flow of the printer communication unit 2-5 in the printer.
7 and 8, the RO of the printer control unit 1001 is
4 shows a processing flow of print data in a program stored in M1-2. Note that the same numbers are assigned to processes common to the first embodiment.

The print job processed by this control is P
Print server 2001 generated in C2000
Transferred to After adding the transfer start time information acquired from the time supply server 2002 as a print job attribute, the print server 2001 performs communication control with the LAN interface card 1013 via the LAN 2003 to transfer the print job.

Also, in the printer 1000, it is assumed that the time acquisition unit 2-4 in the LAN interface card 1013 acquires and holds the synchronization time on the network from the time supply server 2002 as described later.

The print job transferred from the print server 2001 by the packet is transmitted to the LAN interface card 1
In step S13, when a data packet transfer request for a print job is input to the LAN communication unit 2-3 and it is determined that there is a data packet to be received (S401-YES: FIG. 6), the data is transferred to the reception buffer in the RAM 2-6. The data packet is stored (S402), and after the previous data packet is stored in the reception buffer, the reception waiting time information that has started counting is reset (S403).

If the input data packet is a packet of print job attribute information (S404-YES), the network synchronization time acquired and held by the time acquisition unit 2-4 is read (S405), and the print server 20 is read.
The reference delay time of the job transfer is calculated by comparing the transfer start time information in the packet added by 01 (S406).

On the other hand, if it is a data packet to be printed (S404-No), only the print data part is transferred to the input unit 1 (1-11) of the printer control unit 1001 (S407).

After the transfer of the print data, if there is a subsequent received data packet, only the print data portion is transferred as in step S401.

On the other hand, in S401, if there is no subsequent received data packet (S401-No) and the print job is not being transferred from the print server 2001 (S4).
08-No), an infinite loop in a reception waiting state is made.

If a print job is being transferred from the print server 2001 (S408-YES), reception waiting time information and reference delay calculation step (S406)
Is compared with the reference delay time generated in step S409, and if it is determined that the time is within the reference delay time (S409-N).
o), the reception waiting time information is counted up and updated (S4).
11) Continue the reception waiting state. The reception waiting state is continued, the reception waiting time information is counted up, and when it is determined that the reception delay time is longer than the reference delay time (S409-YE).
S), a job interruption request for the print job currently being transferred is transmitted to the job analysis unit 1-13 and the job output unit 1-14 (S601).

The job analysis section 1-13 of the printer control unit 1001 reads the data to be printed (print position, character code, etc.) input in this manner (S
412: FIG. 7), the data is classified into band units corresponding to the designated print position, and the data is stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 (S413). The data is stored as the same page data until the end of the page such as a page break command in the print data is detected. After storing one page of data to be printed, the page information and the head pointer of the page buffer are registered in the job management area (S701).

When the page storage processing for one page is completed, registration processing is performed as page data in the same job until the end of the job such as a job end command or a reset command in the print data is detected.

When the end of the job is detected in the print data (S416-YES), the job analysis process ends.

On the other hand, when a job interruption interrupt request is transferred from the printer communication unit 2-5 (S704-YES),
The job analysis waiting print data stored in the reception buffer in the RAM 1-6 is saved in a work area in the RAM 1-6 (S702).

The job information in the job management area currently being analyzed and the page buffer generated in S413 are stored in the work area in the RAM 1-6 (S70).
3).

As described above, if the job information and the page information currently being analyzed are saved, the completion of the job analysis interruption is notified to the interrupt control unit 1-14.

When receiving the analysis restart request from the interrupt control unit 1-14, the receiving buffer saving step (S70)
2) In the job information storage step (S703), the information stored in the work area is restored and the processing is restarted.

The job output unit 1-14 in the printer control unit 1001 executes output processing according to the job information and the page information in the job management area generated by the job analysis unit 1-13.

If there is no print interruption request from the printer communication unit 2-5 (S801: No), the leading pointer to the page buffer in the job management area is read, and the data stored in the page buffer is read in band units. Then, a bitmap image is formed (S414), and the image is transferred to the printing unit 1-9 in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet. The same process is repeated for all bands stored in the page buffer to transfer image data of one page (S41).
5).

When the output of one page is completed, the next page information in the job management area is read and processed as page data in the same job.

In this way, the processing is repeated until the page buffers of all the jobs stored in the job management area are output (S802).

On the other hand, when an output interruption request is detected while a job in the job management area is being output (S801 YES), completion of output of the page being output is waited for (S803), and another page generated and transmitted by the personal computer 2004 is transmitted. The print job 2 starts to be received via the parallel port of the input unit 2 (1-11), and is stored in the reception buffer in the RAM 1-6 (S804).

The print job 2 is read from the reception buffer, the print data (print position, character code information, etc., like the interrupted job) is analyzed, and an output page is generated.
The data is stored in the page buffer in the AM 1-6 (S80).
5).

The page information of the generated print job 2 is
Read in band units to form a bitmap image (S
414), the image is transferred to the printing unit 1-9 in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet. The same process is repeated for all the bands stored in the page buffer to transfer one page of image data (S415).

When the page output process for one page is completed, the same job data is output until the next job end such as a job end command or a reset command in the print data is detected (S806-No).

When the end of the job is detected in the print data (S806-YES), the processing of print job 2 ends.

When the interrupt printing of the print job 2 is completed in this way, a request to resume the processing of the interrupted print job is transmitted (S807).

In the print job 2 receiving step of the interrupt control unit, the data of the print job 2 is received from the input unit 2 (1-11), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer communication unit 2-5 may be configured to receive another print job from another print server (not shown) by interruption.

Further, in the job interruption request permission step S601 of the printer communication unit, the transmission of the interruption request is determined only by the permissible delay time information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the print job 2 is received by the input unit 2 (1-11), the interruption permission may be transmitted with priority even in the allowable delay time so that the interruption processing can be executed. .

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an interrupt control procedure of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. The printer communication unit shows a control flow of the printer communication unit 2-5 in the LAN interface card 1013.

The job analysis unit, the job output unit, and the interrupt control unit are main processing units for print data stored in the program ROM 1-2 in the printer control unit 1001.

In the allowable delay time determination step (S409) of the printer control unit 2-5, when it is determined that the reception waiting has occurred, the interruption request permission is transmitted (A
01).

When receiving the interruption permission, the interruption control unit detects a transfer request for the print job 2 in the input unit 2 (1-11), and if there is a print job 2, transmits a job interruption request to each unit (D02). ). Upon receiving the interruption request, the printer control unit transmits a reception interruption to the printer server 2001 (A02).

Upon receiving the interruption request (B01), the job analysis unit 1-13 stores the reception buffer, and stores the job information currently being analyzed and the page buffer (B0).
2), the interruption processing completion is transmitted to the interrupt control unit (B0)
3).

Upon receiving the interruption request (C01), the job output section 1-14 interrupts the page output processing (C0).
2) Send the processing interruption (C03).

After transmitting the interruption request, the interruption control unit waits until the interruption processing of the job processing unit 1-12 is completed (D
03).

The job analysis unit 1-13 and the job output unit 1-
14 (D04), the input unit 2
The reception of the print job 2 is started from (1-11) (D0
5).

When the print job 2 is received, the job analysis unit 1-13 reads out the print job from the reception buffer in the RAM 1-6, executes an analysis process (B04), and outputs it to the page buffer in the RAM 1-6. Store the generated page (S8
05), the job output unit 1-14 outputs and executes the stored generated page to the printing unit 1-9 (C04).

When the completion of the output of the print job 2 is transmitted to the interrupt control unit (C05), the interrupt control unit receives the end of the interrupt printing of the print job 2 and transmits a request to restart the interruption processing to each unit (D06). .

The printer communication unit includes the print server 20
01 is transmitted (A03).

The job analysis unit 1-13 includes a reception buffer storage step S702 and a job information storage step S703.
(B05), and waits for the subsequent received data (B06).

The job output unit 1-14 includes the job analysis unit 1
When the page information is restored in the page buffer by -13, the output of the interrupted page is resumed (C0
6).

FIG. 10 shows the LAN interface card 10.
13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a time acquisition unit 2-4 in FIG.

The time acquisition unit 2-4 acquires synchronization time information on the network from the time supply server 2002 via the LAN communication unit 2-3 (S1001).

The acquired time information is stored in the internal time holding area in the RAM 2-6 (S1013).

The acquired synchronization time information is also stored in the NVRAM 1-5, which is a nonvolatile memory in the printer control unit 1001, via the printer communication unit 2-5 (S1003).

The counting of the internal time in the RAM 2-6 is started (S1004), and the LAN interface card 10 starts counting.
13 is used as time information. The internal time is counted using, for example, the operating frequency of the CPU 2-1.

Until the difference between the time at the acquisition time stored in the NVRAM 1-5 and the time obtained by counting the internal time exceeds a predetermined time (S1005-N
o) Perform internal time counting.

On the other hand, if a certain time has elapsed (S100
5-YES), the time information is acquired again from the time supply server 2002, and the internal time is corrected.

According to the above embodiment, the delay time is calculated based on the transfer start time of the print job and the reception start time of the printer. The delay time is stored and managed, and a reference delay is calculated based on processing such as averaging. By comparing the processing waiting time of the print job transferred by the printer server with the reference delay time, it is possible to determine whether to continue or cancel the print job.

Further, based on a comparison between the processing waiting time of a print job and the reference delay time, it is possible to control interruption of another print job. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a self-diagnosis control procedure of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

When the power of the printing apparatus 1000 is turned on (S
1101), the LAN communication unit 2 by the time acquisition unit 2-4.
-3, the synchronization time information (date and time information) on the network is acquired from the time supply server 2002 (S10).
01).

NVR in printer control unit 1001
The device reads out the date and time information acquired during the previous power-on, which is stored in AM1-5 (S1103).
The unused time of the FF is calculated (S1104), and if it is determined from the unused period information that the device needs to be maintained, device maintenance is instructed (S1106).
The date and time information acquired this time is updated and stored in the NVRAM 1-5 (S1107).

Based on the obtained time information, maintenance of the printer device, sensor output control in which the density of the sensor output is corrected in consideration of aging, and the like can be controlled.

[0115]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and CD.
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or 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. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown will be stored in a storage medium. That is, at least “printer communication module 1201”, “job analysis module 1202”, and “job output module 1”
203, an interrupt control module 1204, a transfer time storage module 1205, a reception time storage module 1206, a delay calculation module 120
7, "delay time storage module 1208", "reference delay calculation module 1209", "wait time detection module 1210", "judgment module 1211",
“Time management module 1212”, “Time information storage module 1213”, “Elapsed date and time calculation module 121”
4), the “self-diagnosis control module 1215”, and the “job processing module 1216” may be stored in the storage medium.

In this embodiment, the interrupt control module 1204 functions as an interrupt control unit together with the interrupt control unit 1-14. Further, the transfer time storage module 1205 functions as a transfer time storage unit that stores the time at which the print server started transferring the print job, and the reception time storage module 1206 stores the time at which the printer started receiving the print job. Functions as time storage means.

The delay calculation module 1207
Functions as a delay calculating unit that calculates a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time, and the delay time storage module 1208 functions as a delay time storage unit that stores the delay time. The reference delay calculation module 1209 functions as a reference delay calculation unit that calculates a reference delay time based on the delay time stored in the delay time storage unit.

The waiting time detecting module 1210 functions as a waiting time detecting means for judging, based on the waiting time, whether or not the print job received by the printer is interrupted. And a function of determining whether to continue or cancel the print job based on the comparison.

Further, the time management module 1212
The time information storage means 1213 functions as time management means for acquiring a synchronization time of the time in the network from the time supply server on the network, and the time information storage means 1213 stores the time information acquired by the time management means in a non-volatile memory at regular intervals. It functions as time information storage means for holding. The elapsed date / time calculation module 1214 calculates an unused date / time based on the time information acquired in the previous use stored in the nonvolatile memory and the time information acquired from the time supply server in the current use. The self-diagnosis control module 1215 functions as a self-diagnosis control unit for performing self-diagnosis control of the apparatus based on the unused time information calculated by the elapsed date and time calculation unit.

Modules 1201 to 120 shown in FIG.
The processing of No. 4 is performed by the printer communication unit 2-5 and the job analysis unit 1 respectively.
-13, job output unit 1-9, interrupt control unit 1-14
(FIG. 9). Modules 1205-
1215 has the interrelation shown in FIGS.

[0127]

According to the present invention, the delay time is calculated based on the transfer start time of the print job and the reception start time of the printer. The delay time is stored and managed, and a reference delay is calculated based on processing such as averaging. By comparing the processing waiting time of the print job transferred by the printer server with the reference delay time, it is possible to determine whether to continue or cancel the print job.

Further, based on a comparison between the processing waiting time of a print job and the reference delay time, it is possible to control interruption of another print job.

According to the present invention, when it is determined that reception of a transferred print job has been interrupted due to a network communication failure or a failure of the print server, the received print job is canceled. Can be executed.

The detection of the delay time reflects uncertain factors such as a decrease in the transfer rate due to the congestion of the network communication line and a decrease in the transfer rate due to waiting for the processing of the print server in the calculation of the reference delay as a criterion for determination. Therefore, unnecessary job cancellation by the operator can be prevented.

Further, it is possible to acquire the unused time from the stored time information of the previous use and the time information of the current use without installing a time keeping function such as a backup power supply in the printer. became.

Based on this time information, maintenance and management of the printer device, sensor output control in which the density of the sensor output is corrected in consideration of aging, and the like can be performed.

[0133]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an LB which is a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
It is sectional drawing of P.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a LAN interface card of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating communication control processing in the LAN interface card according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a job processing unit in the printer control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating communication control processing in a LAN interface card according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a job analysis unit in a printer control unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a job output unit and an interrupt control unit in a printer control unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of each unit of the interrupt printing process according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a date and time holding process of the printing apparatus according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a self-diagnosis process of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a recording medium according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between modules according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between modules according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 laser beam printer 1001 printer control unit 1002 laser driver 1003 semiconductor laser 1004 laser beam 1005 rotating polygon mirror 1006 electrostatic drum 1007 developing unit 1008 paper cassette 1009 paper feed roller 1010 paper feed roller 1011 paper feed roller 1012 operation panel 1013 LAN interface card 2000 Personal computer 1 2001 Print server 2002 Time supply server 2003 LAN 2004 Personal computer 2 1-1 CPU 1-2 ROM 1-3 External memory 1-4 System bus 1-5 NVRAM 1-6 RAM 1-9 Printing unit 1 10 Input Unit 1 1-11 Input Unit 2 2-1 CPU 2-2 Flash ROM 2-3 LAN Communication Unit 2-4 Time Acquisition Unit 2 5 printer communication unit 2-6 RAM 2-7 system bus

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A print control system, comprising: a transfer time storage unit for storing a time at which a print server starts transferring a print job; a reception time storage unit for storing a time at which a printer starts receiving the print job; Delay calculation means for calculating a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time; delay time storage means for storing the delay time; reference delay based on the delay time stored in the delay time storage means Reference delay calculating means for calculating time; waiting time detecting means for judging whether or not the print job received by the printer is interrupted by a waiting time; and performing the printing based on a comparison between the reference delay time and the waiting time. Determining means for determining whether to continue or cancel the job. Printing control system. 2. A print control system, comprising: transfer time storing means for storing a time at which a print server starts transferring a first print job; and storing a time at which a printer starts receiving the first print job. Reception time storage means; delay calculation means for calculating a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time; delay time storage means for storing delay time information; delay time stored in the delay time storage means Reference delay calculating means for calculating a reference delay time based on: a waiting time detecting means for determining whether or not the first print job received by the printer is interrupted by a waiting time; Interrupt print control means for controlling an interrupt of another print job based on a comparison with time. Characterized print control system. 3. The interrupt control means continues the reception waiting state when the waiting time is within the reference delay time, and when the waiting time is less than the reference delay time, the interruption control means controls the first reception time.
3. The print control system according to claim 2, wherein the print job is interrupted. 4. A network according to claim 1, further comprising a time management unit configured to acquire a synchronization time of the time in the network from a time supply server on the network, wherein the time information stored in the reception time storage unit is based on the synchronization time information in the network. 3. The print control system according to claim 1, wherein 5. A print control system having time management means for acquiring time information from a time supply server on a network and performing synchronized time management, wherein the time acquired by the time management means at regular time intervals. A time information storage unit for storing information in a nonvolatile memory; a time information stored in the nonvolatile memory obtained at the time of previous use; and a time information obtained from a time supply server at the time of current use. Print control, comprising: elapsed time calculation means for calculating usage time; and self-diagnosis control means for executing self-diagnosis control of the apparatus based on unused time information calculated by the elapsed time calculation means. system. 6. A print control method, comprising: a transfer time storing step of storing a time at which a print server starts transferring a print job; and a receiving time storing step of storing a time at which a printer starts receiving the print job. A delay calculation step of calculating a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time; a delay time storage step of storing the delay time; a reference delay based on the delay time stored in the delay time storage step A reference delay calculating step of calculating a time; a waiting time detecting step of determining whether or not the print job received by the printer is interrupted by a waiting time; and performing the printing based on a comparison between the reference delay time and the waiting time. A determining step of determining whether to continue or cancel the job. Your way. 7. A print control method, comprising: a transfer time storing step of storing a time at which a printer server starts transferring a first print job; and storing a time at which a printer starts receiving the first print job. A reception time storage step; a delay calculation step of calculating a delay time based on the transfer start time and the reception start time; a delay time storage step of storing delay time information; and a delay time stored in the delay time storage step A reference delay calculating step of calculating a reference delay time based on the following: a waiting time detecting step of determining whether or not the first print job received by the printer is interrupted by a waiting time; Interrupt print control step of controlling the interrupt of another print job based on a comparison with time. Printing control method. 8. The interrupt control step includes: when the waiting time is within the reference delay time, continuing the reception waiting state;
7. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein the print job is interrupted. 9. A time management step for acquiring a synchronization time of a time in the network from a time supply server on the network, wherein the time information stored in the receiving time storage step is based on the synchronization time information in the network. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein the print control method comprises: 10. A print control method having a time management step for acquiring time information from a time supply server on a network and performing synchronized time management, wherein the time acquired by the time management step at regular time intervals. A time information storing step of storing information in a non-volatile memory; a time information stored in the non-volatile memory, the time information obtained at the time of previous use; and a time information obtained from the time supply server at the time of current use. Print control, comprising: an elapsed date / time calculating step of calculating a usage time; and a self-diagnosis control step of executing a self-diagnosis control of the apparatus based on the unused time information calculated by the elapsed date / time calculating step. Method.