JPH11191044A - Data processor, data processing method therefor, printing control, data processing method therefor, and storage medium stored with computer-readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clearly show the output state of respective pieces of printing job information transferred from a data processor to a printer and whether or not they are outputted automatically during a printing process and at a user's request after the printing process. SOLUTION: When printing job information received from a host computer 100 is spooled on a hard disk 22, a CPU 14 acquires its start or end time to display spool time information and job identification information on an LCD l501a and also writes it in a RAM 16 for management so that it can be read at any time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus capable of spooling a print job by communicating between a printing apparatus and a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, a data processing method of the data processing apparatus, and a print control apparatus. The present invention relates to a data processing method of a print control device and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus having a display unit such as an LCD displays print job information, a printing environment and its setting items, an error message, and the like on the LCD. In many cases, when a print job is transmitted from the host computer, the LCD displays the name of the job currently being printed, and the name of the user in the case of printing via a network. Other print job information, for example, spool start time, print job information other than the job being printed, etc.
It is obtained from a job list or the like from the host computer.

[0003]

However, at present, with the spread of networks, printing apparatuses are often used via the network. There is no means to efficiently search for the printed matter, and it has been necessary to patiently search for the desired printed matter from a large amount of printed matter. This not only complicates the user's work but also causes a waste of time.

Further, since these are output from a large number of network users, a desired printed matter is unintentionally passed to another person or a print job is deleted without knowing it from the printing apparatus. If it has disappeared, there is a problem that it cannot be determined whether the print job has been output correctly.

In a conventional printing apparatus, when a large number of print jobs are accumulated, it is impossible to determine whether a target job has already been printed or not yet printed without searching for a printed material. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to store and manage spool time information and job identification information obtained based on the spool status of print job information. By controlling the display of the spool information of the print job information, the output status and presence / absence of each print job information transferred from the data processing device to the printing device are automatically determined during the printing process, and are requested by the user after the printing is completed. , A data processing method of the data processing device, a data processing method of the data processing device, a data processing method of the printing control device, and a computer that allow the user to confirm the processing progress and the history of the print job information of the user. Is to provide a storage medium storing a readable program.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a clock means for generating time information; A spool unit for spooling a print job to be transferred; and acquiring the time information from the clock unit at the start of spooling and the end of spooling of the print job by the spooling unit. Adding means for adding a command for issuing spool end time information, and transferring the print job information to which the command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time information has been added by the adding means to the printing apparatus. Means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus including a printing unit and a display unit, and capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A data storage unit for storing a job, and during a printing process based on the print job stored by the data storage unit, a specific command added to the print job is analyzed to accompany the display unit with job identification information. Control means for displaying spool end time information with spool start time information and job identification information; and storing spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit. Spool information storage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control device including a printing unit and a display unit, and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a clock unit for generating time information is provided. A spool unit for spooling a print job received from the data processing device, and acquiring time information from the timing unit at the time of spool start or end of spooling of the print job by the spool unit. Control means for displaying spool start time information with identification information and spool end time information with job identification information, and spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time with job identification information displayed on the display unit Spool information storage means for storing information.

A fourth invention according to the present invention has a judging means for judging whether or not a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanying job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job. The control means ignores the specific command when the determination means determines that the specific command is added.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the print unit is not performing any print job printing processing, the job identification information is output based on an output instruction for spool information stored in the spool information storage means. And a spool information output means for outputting spool start time information accompanying the job identification information and spool end time information accompanying the job identification information to the display unit or the printing unit.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, when the display unit has a display area of a plurality of lines, the control means may include a spool start time information with the job identification information and a spool with the job identification information. When the end time information is simultaneously displayed on the display unit, and the display unit has a single-line display area, spool start time information with the job identification information and spool end time information with the job identification information Are alternately switched and displayed on the display unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a data processing method of a data processing device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, a print job to be transferred to the printing device is spooled in a memory resource. At the spooling step, at the time of spool start and end of spooling of the print job with respect to the memory resource by the spooling step, time information is acquired from the clock unit and spool start time information and spool end time information are obtained for the print job. An adding step of adding a command to be issued, and a transfer step of transferring, to the printing apparatus, print job information to which a command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time information is added by the adding step. is there.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is directed to a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a data processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein said program is transferred to said printing apparatus. A spooling step of spooling a print job to be spooled in a memory resource, and acquiring time information from a clock unit at the time of starting and ending the spooling of the print job with respect to the memory resource by the spooling step. An adding step of adding a command for issuing spool start time information and spool end time information; and printing the print job information to which the command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time information has been added by the adding step. And a transfer step of transferring the data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method of a print control device including a printing unit and a display unit and capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium.
A data storing step of storing a print job received from the data processing device in a memory resource; and a specific command added to the print job during a print process based on the print job stored in the memory resource by the data storing step. Displaying a spool start time information with job identification information and a spool end time information with job identification information on the display unit, and a spool start with job identification information displayed on the display unit A storage step of storing spool end time information accompanied by time information and job identification information in the memory resource.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a printing unit includes:
A storage unit storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing device capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, the printing job received from the data processing device being stored in a memory resource. Analyzing a specific command added to the print job during print processing based on the print job stored in the memory resource by the data storage step, and identifying the job to the display unit. A display step of displaying spool start time information with information and spool end time information with job identification information, and spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit Is stored in the memory resource.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clock section,
In a data processing method of a print control device including a printing unit and a display unit and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, a spooling step of spooling a print job received from the data processing device to a memory resource At the time of starting or ending the spooling of the print job with respect to the memory resource by the spooling step, acquiring time information from the timer unit, and displaying spool start time information and job identification information with job identification information on the display unit. Display step means for displaying spool end time information accompanied by information; storage step of storing spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and spool end time information accompanied by job identification information displayed on the display unit in the memory resource And

A twelfth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that a judging step of judging whether or not a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job; Ignoring the specific command when it is determined in the determining step that the specific command is added.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clock section,
A printing unit that includes a printing unit and a display unit, and controls a printing device that can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A spooling step of spooling a job to a memory resource, and acquiring time information from the clock unit at the time of starting or ending the spooling of the print job for the memory resource by the spooling step; Display means for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and spool end time information accompanied by job identification information, and spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and spool end time information accompanied by job identification information displayed on the display unit In the memory resource.

A fourteenth invention according to the present invention is a method for determining whether a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job; Ignoring the specific command when it is determined in the determining step that the specific command is added.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer suitable for applying the present embodiment.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The printer to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a printing apparatus 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 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), form information, microinstructions, and the like supplied from a host computer connected to the outside; , 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 1501 denotes an operation panel on which switches for scanning, an LED display, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral 1000 denotes a printer control unit, which controls the entire LBP main body 1500 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from a host computer. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 is the semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving the laser beam 503 switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal. Laser light 15
Numeral 04 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 1505 to scan and expose an electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506,
Transferred to recording paper.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the LBP main body 1500, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1509 and transport 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 optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language system can be connected in addition to the built-in fonts.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. . Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. Note that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention is applicable to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a host computer having a CPU 1 for executing 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 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 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 for the CPU 1. Reference numeral 23 denotes a real-time clock (RTC), which makes it possible to read out a time at an appropriate time. 5
Is a keyboard controller (KBC), and the keyboard 9
Controls key input from.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC).
The display of the CRT display (CRT) 10 is controlled.
A disk controller (DKC) 7 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 11 and a floppy disk (FD) 12 for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like.

Reference numeral 11a denotes a printer driver which converts drawing information into a print command or print data which can be printed by the printer 1500 in response to a print instruction from the host computer 100, and sends the data to the printer 1500 via the bidirectional interface 13. Software (control module).

8 is a printer controller (PRTC)
A predetermined bidirectional interface (interface)
13 and is connected to the printer 1500 to execute communication control processing with the printer 1500. Reference numerals 8a and 18a denote interface circuits for controlling various command communication processing and recording information processing between the printer 1500 and the host computer 100 via the interface 13.

In the printer 1500, reference numeral 14 denotes a printer CPU (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; An image signal as print data is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 20 connected via the interface 19.

The ROM 15 stores a control program for the CPU 14 and the like. The ROM 15 can hold host print information used on the host computer in the case of a printer without the bird disk (HD) 22. The CPU 14 can perform communication processing with the host computer via the input unit 18.
The configuration is such that memory information and resource data relating to the AM 16 can be notified to the host computer 100.

A RAM 16 is a main memory of the CPU 14,
It functions as a work area and the like, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown). Note that RAM1
Reference numeral 6 is used for a recording data development area (including a band memory), an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. The hard disk (HD) 22 includes a disk controller (DK)
C) Access is controlled by 21. The hard disk 22 is connected as an option and stores downloaded fonts, host print information of a printer, and the like.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) 150
1a is installed on the operation panel 1501, and displays the status of the printer (including error information), job information, and menus.

Further, 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 1501.

Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

Clock means (RT) for generating time information in a data processing device (host computer 100) capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium (including an interface and a network) configured as described above.
C23), a spool unit (secured in the hard disk 11) for spooling a print job to be transferred to the printing apparatus, and the clock unit sends the print job to the spool unit when the spool starts and ends. Additional means for acquiring time information and adding a command to issue spool start time information and spool end time information to the print job (printer driver 11a)
Transfer means for transferring, to the printer 1500, print job information to which the command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time has been added by the adding means (the CPU 1 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2 or the hard disk 11). Transfer processing), even if the printer 1500 does not have clock means for processing time information, the host computer 10
Based on the spool start time or the spool end time on the 0 side, print job information capable of displaying the spool start time or the spool end time with the job identification information of the print job on the printer 1500 side can be generated.

A printing unit 20 and a display unit (LCD 15)
01a), and a predetermined communication medium (interface,
A print control device (printer control unit 1000) capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network (including a network); and a data storage means (secured on the hard disk 22) for storing a print job received from the data processing device. Analyzing a specific command added to the print job during print processing based on the print job stored by the data storage unit, and displaying spool start time information and job identification information with job identification information on the display unit. Control means for displaying spool end time information accompanied by a
Executing the control program stored in the display unit 2 and controlling the display), and spool information storage means for storing spool start time information accompanying job identification information and spool end time information accompanying job identification information displayed on the display unit. (In the present embodiment, it is secured on the RAM 16, but may be the hard disk 22 or a non-volatile memory (not shown).)
Therefore, even if the printer 1500 is not provided with clock means for processing time information, the printer 1500 can determine the job identification information of the print job based on the spool start time or spool end time on the host computer 100 side. The associated spool start time or spool end time can be displayed, and a function for clearly indicating to the user the job being printed and the spool time can be externally added.

Further, a printing unit 22 and a display unit (LCD 1
Clock means (RTC on a printer (not shown)) for generating time information in a print control device comprising a communication device 501a) and a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium.
A spool unit (secured on the hard disk 22) for spooling a print job received from the data processing device; and obtaining time information from the timing unit when the spool job is started or ended by the spool unit. Control means (CP) for displaying spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information on the display unit.
U1 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2 or the hard disk 11 to perform transfer processing), and stores spool start time information accompanying job identification information and spool end time information accompanying job identification information displayed on the display unit. Spool information storage means (in this embodiment, RA information
M16, but may be a hard disk 22 or a non-volatile memory (not shown)).
In parallel with the spool processing of the print job information received from the host computer 100, the spool start time information and the job identification information accompanied with the job identification information can be displayed, and the history information of the spool processing of the print processed print job information can be reliably displayed. Can be managed.

The determining means CPU 14 for determining whether a specific command for displaying the spool start time information accompanied with the job identification information and the job identification information is added to the print job is controlled by the control means stored in the ROM 15 or the hard disk 21. When the CPU 14 determines that the specific command has been added, the CPU 14 ignores the specific command. If both units are provided with clock means, the specific command on the data processing device side is ignored, and spool start time information and job identification information with job identification information based on the spool time information based on the clock device on the printing device side. Information can be displayed, and the print job information It is possible to reliably manage the history information Le process.

Further, at times other than the time of any print job printing process by the printing unit 20, the spool start time information and the job identification information accompanying the job identification information are transmitted based on the output instruction for the spool information stored in the RAM 16. The accompanying spool end time information is displayed on the LCD 1501a.
Or a spool information output unit for outputting to the printing unit 20 (the CPU 14 executes a control program stored in the ROM 15 or the hard disk 21 to perform an output process). Specifically, it is possible to present information that allows the user to easily confirm the location from the output history of the print job information.

Further, the CPU 14 determines that the LCD 1501a has a display area of a plurality of rows (see (a) shown in FIG. 7 described later).
In the case where the information is provided, spool start time information with the job identification information and spool end time information with the job identification information are simultaneously displayed on the LCD 1501a,
The LCD 1501a has a single-row display area (see FIG.
(See (b) shown in FIG. 7), the spool start time information with the job identification information and the spool end time information with the job identification information are alternately displayed on the LCD 1501a.
The spool start time information accompanied by the job identification information and the spool end time information accompanied by the job identification information can be displayed without being affected by the display specification 01a.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. The print information spooled by the host computer is transferred to the printer 1500 and spooled by the host computer. In this case, how the spool start time and the spool end time correspond to the processing procedure displayed on the LCD 1501a. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), when a print instruction is issued from the host computer 100, the printer driver 11a reads the current time from the RTC 23. here,
The current time to be read is the spool start time.

Next, in step (2), the spool start time acquired in step (1)
01a to the hard disk 1
The spool is started at 1 (3).

Next, when the spooling is completed, the printer driver 11a reads the current time from the RTC 23 (4). Here, the current time to be read is the spool end time.

Next, in step (5), the spool end time obtained in step (4) is
A command to be displayed on the D1
The data is transmitted to 500 (6). FIG. 4 shows an example of the data at this time.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data transferred from the host computer 100 shown in FIG. 2 to the printer 1500. FIG. 4 (a) shows a data body to be transferred, which is print job information JOB and print data DATA. It is composed of

(B) corresponds to the detailed structure of the print job information JOB shown in (a) of FIG. 4, and includes, for example, a job name, a host name, a user name, and a spool start time.
Command CM1 to be displayed in a, spool end time
D1501a includes a command CM2 to be displayed.

On the other hand, when the printer 1500 receives the data transmitted in step (6), printing of the received data is started in step (7).

Next, in step (8), the job information JO
The command CM1 in B is analyzed, and the job name and spool start time (spool start time for the hard disk 11 of the host computer 11) in the job information JOB are displayed on the LCD 1501a.

Next, in step (9), the job name and the spool start time are stored in a storage medium (eg, RAM 16).
To memorize.

When the printing started in step (7) is completed, the command CM2 in the job information JOB is completed.
And displays the job name and the spool end time (spool end time on the hard disk 11 of the host computer 11) on the LCD 1501a (1).
0).

Next, in step (11), the spool end time is stored in the storage medium used in step (9), and the process ends.

According to the above steps (9) and (11), according to a command (not shown) or an instruction on the operation panel 1501, after the printing process is completed, the stored information (job name and spool end time, job name and spool The end time is output to the recording medium or the LCD 1501a by the printing unit 20 based on a key instruction or the like on the operation panel 1501, and can be displayed again.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
A case has been described in which the printer driver 11a acquires the spool start time and the spool end time from the RTC 23 and transfers the print job to be transmitted with a command for displaying the spool start time and the spool end time added to the print job to be transmitted. 11a does not have a current time acquisition function, and when spooling data transmitted to the printer 1500 to a storage medium, acquires the spool start time and the spool end time by the clocking function of the printer 1500 and controls the display. You may. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. When print information transmitted from the host computer is spooled by the printer 1500, a spool start time and a spool end time are set. How is the time set on the LCD 1501
This corresponds to the processing procedure displayed in a. Note that (1) to (1)
0) indicates each step.

First, in step (1), when a print instruction is issued from the host computer 100, data is transmitted to the printer 1500 without spooling. Printer 1500
When the data is received, the current time is obtained from a not-shown clock means (2). This is set as the spool start time.

Next, in step (3), the acquired spool start time is stored in a storage medium (for example, RAM 16). Then, the spooling of the received print job to the hard disk 22 is started (4), and when the spooling is completed, the current time is obtained from the timing means in the printer 1500 (5). This is set as the spool end time.

Next, in step (6), step (5)
Is stored in the storage medium (RAM 16) used in step (3). Next, the printing unit 2
0 starts printing processing (7), and at the same time, RA
The job name and spool start time are displayed on the LCD 1501a with reference to the job information stored in M16 (8).

Next, in step (9), the LCD 1501a
Is stored in the storage medium (RAM 16) used in step (3). At this time, the spool start time is overwritten.

When the printing process by the printing unit 20 is completed, the job name and the spool end time are stored in the RAM 1.
6 is displayed on the LCD 1501a (10), and the process ends.

In step (3) and step (6), after the printing process is completed, the stored information (job name and spool end time, and job name and spool end time) is determined based on key instructions on operation panel 1501 and the like. Then, the data can be output to a recording medium or output to the LCD 1501a by the printing unit 20 to be displayed again.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
The case has been described where the printer driver 11a acquires the spool start time and the spool end time from the RTC 23 and adds the spool start time and the spool end time to the print job to be transmitted and transfers the print job.
When the printer 1500 also includes a clock unit, when spooling the data transmitted to the printer 1500 to the storage medium, the spooling start time and the spool end time are acquired by the clocking function of the printer 1500 to perform display control (host computer). Display control that ignores commands from the 100 side)
May be configured. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. In the case where the printer driver has a current time acquisition function and the printer performs spooling, the spool start time , Spool end time corresponds to the processing procedure to be displayed on LCD 1501a. In addition, (1) to (15) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), if there is a print instruction from the host computer 100, it is determined whether or not the printer driver 11a has a current time acquisition function. Then, the data is transmitted to the printer 1500.

On the other hand, in step (1), the printer driver 11a reads the current time from the RTC 23 (2).
This is set as the spool start time. Next, step (3)
Then, a command CM1 for displaying the spool start time acquired in step (2) on the LCD 1501a is added to the job information, and the print job (see FIG. 6) is transmitted to the printer 1500 (4).

On the other hand, when the printer 1500 receives the print job transmitted with the data in step (5), in step (6), the printer 1500 obtains the current time upon receiving the data (5). This is set as the spool start time.

Next, in step (6), step (5)
The spool start time acquired in the step S1 is stored in a storage medium (for example, RA
M16). Then, spooling is started on the RAM 16 (7), and when the spooling is completed, the current time is acquired (8). This is set as the spool end time.

Next, in step (9), step (8)
Is stored in the storage medium used in step (6). Next, the printing process by the printing unit 20 is started (10), and at the same time, the job name and the spool start time stored in step (6) are displayed on the LCD1.
It is displayed on the screen 501a (11).

Next, in step (12), it is determined whether a spool start time display command exists in the data. If it is determined that there is no spool start time display command, the process proceeds to step (14).
Continue printing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (12) that a spool start time display command exists in the data, the command is ignored (13) and printing is continued.

Next, at step (14), the LCD 150
The job name and spool start time displayed in 1a are stored in the storage medium used in step (6). At this time, the spool start time is overwritten.

When the printing process by the printing unit 20 is completed, the job name and the spool end time are displayed on the LCD 1.
The message is displayed on the screen 501a (15), and the process ends.

In step (6) and step (9), after the printing process is completed, the stored information (job name and spool end time, and job name and spool end time) is determined based on key instructions on operation panel 1501 and the like. Then, the print unit 20 can output to a recording medium or output to the LCD 1501a and display it again.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a spool start / end time display mode on the LCD 1501a shown in FIG. 2, wherein (a) corresponds to a case where the LCD 1501a can display two lines, and (b) is an LCD 1501a. Corresponds to the case where one line can be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the LCD 150
1a can be displayed on two lines, the display screen 1501a-
For 1, the current job name, the spool start time, the immediately preceding job name, and the spool end time are displayed oppositely on the upper display cell and the lower display cell.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
If one line 1501a can be displayed, the display screen 1501a is displayed.
For 0a-21 and 1500a-22, the current job name and spool start time, the immediately preceding job name and spool end time are displayed alternately.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In the data processing method of the data processing device capable of communicating with the printing device via the predetermined communication medium (network, interface) configured as described above,
Alternatively, a spooling step of spooling a print job to be transferred to the printing device to a memory resource in a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a data processing device capable of communicating with the printing device via a predetermined communication medium (Step (3) in FIG. 3), and at the time of spool start and end of spooling of the print job with respect to the memory resource by the spooling process, time information is acquired from the clock unit to determine the spool start time for the print job. Adding an information and a command for issuing spool end time information (step (2) in FIG. 3,
(5)) and a transfer step (step (6) in FIG. 3) of transferring the print job information to which the command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time by the addition step is added. Therefore, even if the printing apparatus does not have a clock unit for processing the time information, the printing apparatus side includes the job identification information of the print job based on the spool start time or the spool end time on the data processing apparatus side. It is possible to generate print job information capable of displaying a spool start time or a spool end time.

The printing unit 20 and the display unit (LCD 15
01a) and a data processing method of a printing control device (printer control unit 1000) capable of communicating with a data processing device (host computer 100) via a predetermined communication medium, or a printing unit 20 and a display unit (LCD).
1501a), a storage medium storing a computer readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with the data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and storing a print job received from the data processing apparatus in a memory resource. And analyzing a specific command added to the print job during a printing process based on the print job stored in the memory resource by the data storing step (step (9) in FIG. 3). Displaying the spool start time information with the job identification information and the spool end time information with the job identification information on the display unit (steps (8) and (1) in FIG. 3).
0)) and a storage step (step (11) in FIG. 3) of storing the spool start time information with the job identification information and the spool end time information with the job identification information displayed on the display unit in the memory resource. Therefore, even if the printing apparatus does not have a clock unit for processing the time information, the printing apparatus side includes the job identification information of the print job based on the spool start time or the spool end time on the data processing apparatus side. The spool start time or the spool end time can be displayed, and a function for clearly indicating to the user the job being printed and the spool time can be externally added.

Further, a printing control device (printer control unit 1000) including a clock unit (not shown), a printing unit 20, and a display unit (LCD 1501a) and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. In the data processing method of the present invention, or a storage that includes a clock unit, a printing unit, and a display unit, and stores a computer-readable program that controls a printing device that can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A spooling step (step (4) in FIG. 5, step (7) in FIG. 5) of spooling a print job received from the data processing device to a memory resource on the medium; At the time of spool start or end of spool, time information is acquired from the clock unit, and Display step means for displaying the spool end time information with the spool start time information and job identification information involves blanking identification information (step of FIG. 5 (8),
(10), steps (11) and (15) in FIG. 6, and spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit are stored in the memory resource. 5 (step (10) in FIG. 5 and step (14) in FIG. 6), the spool start time with the job identification information is performed in parallel with the spool processing of the print job information received from the data processing apparatus. The information and the job identification information can be displayed, and the spool processing history information of the print job information subjected to the print processing can be reliably managed.

A judging step (step (12) in FIG. 6) for judging whether a specific command for displaying spool start time information and job identification information accompanied by job identification information is added to the print job; A step of ignoring the specific command when it is determined in the determining step that the specific command is added (FIG. 6)
(13)), if both the printing device and the data processing device are provided with clock means, the specific command on the data processing device is ignored and the clock on the printing device is ignored. The spool start time information and the job identification information accompanying the job identification information can be displayed based on the spool time information based on the means, and the spool processing history information of the print job information subjected to the print processing can be reliably managed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0095]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, in a data processing device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, a clock unit for generating time information, a spool unit for spooling a print job to be transferred to the printing device, Addition of a command for acquiring time information from the clock means and issuing spool start time information and spool end time information to the print job when the spool is started and when the spool is finished. Means, and transfer means for transferring, to the printing apparatus, print job information to which a command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time information has been added by the adding means. Even if there is no clock means for processing, the spooling start time or It is possible to generate a spool start time or the print job information can be displayed spool end time with the job identification information of the print job by the printing apparatus based on Lumpur end time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a print control device including a printing unit and a display unit and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, a print job received from the data processing device is transmitted. A data storage unit to be stored, and a spool command accompanied by job identification information on the display unit by analyzing a specific command added to the print job during a printing process based on the print job stored by the data storage unit. Control means for displaying spool end time information with time information and job identification information, and spool information for storing spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit Storage means, the data processing apparatus can be used even if the printing apparatus does not have clock means for processing time information. The spooling start time or the spool end time with the job identification information of the print job can be displayed on the printing device side based on the spool start time or the spool end time in the above, and the user can clearly indicate the job being printed and the spool time. Can be added externally.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus including a printing unit and a display unit, and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A spool unit for spooling a print job received from a data processing device, and acquiring time information from the timing unit at the time of starting or ending spooling of the print job by the spool unit, and displaying job identification information on the display unit. Control means for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and spool end time information accompanied by job identification information; and spool start time information accompanying job identification information and spool end time information accompanying job identification information displayed on the display unit. And a spool information storage means for storing print job information received from the data processing apparatus. In parallel to the Le treatment can together can display spool start time information and job identification information accompanying the job identification information, securely managing history information of the spool processing of the print processing and the print job information.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the determination means for determining whether or not a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job. The control means
When it is determined that the specific command is added by the determination unit, the specific command is ignored, so if both the printing device side and the data processing device side have a clock unit, Spool start time information and job identification information accompanied by job identification information can be displayed based on spool time information based on clock means on the printing device side, ignoring specific commands on the data processing device side, and print job information on print processing History information of the spool processing can be surely managed.

According to the fifth aspect, the job identification information accompanies the job identification information based on an output instruction for the spool information stored in the spool information storage means at a time other than the time of any print job printing processing by the printing unit. Spool start time information and spool end time information accompanying the job identification information are provided to the display unit or the printing unit, so that the spool information output unit outputs the spool information of the print job information that has already been processed. The user can present information for easily confirming the location from the output history of the print job information.

According to the sixth aspect, when the display unit has a display area of a plurality of lines, the control means may include a spool start time information with the job identification information and a spool end time with the job identification information. Information is simultaneously displayed on the display unit, and when the display unit has a single-line display area, the spool start time information with the job identification information and the spool end time information with the job identification information are Since the display unit is alternately displayed, the spool start time information with the job identification information and the spool end time information with the job identification information are displayed without being influenced by the display specifications of the display unit of the printing apparatus. Can be.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects, a data processing method of a data processing device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium or a communication device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium is provided. A spooling step of spooling a print job to be transferred to the printing apparatus to a memory resource in a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls the data processing apparatus; and At the start of spooling and at the end of spooling, an additional step of acquiring time information from the clock section and adding a command to issue spool start time information and spool end time information to the print job; and A command for issuing start time information and spool end time information is attached. Transfer step of transferring the print job information to the printing apparatus, so that the spooling start time or the spool end time on the data processing apparatus side can be set even if the printing apparatus does not have clock means for processing the time information. On the basis of the print job information, the print apparatus can generate print job information capable of displaying a spool start time or a spool end time accompanied by job identification information of the print job.

According to the ninth and tenth aspects, the printing unit includes:
In a data processing method of a print control device including a display unit and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or a data processing device including a printing unit and a display unit and via a predetermined communication medium A data storage step of storing a print job received from the data processing device in a memory resource in a storage medium storing a computer readable program that controls a printing device capable of communicating with the printer;
During a printing process based on the print job stored in the memory resource by the data storage step, a specific command added to the print job is analyzed and spool start time information accompanying job identification information is displayed on the display unit; A display step of displaying spool end time information accompanied by job identification information; and storage of spool start time information accompanying job identification information and spool end time information accompanying job identification information displayed on the display unit in the memory resource. Therefore, even if the printing apparatus is not provided with clock means for processing the time information, the job identification information of the print job is based on the spool start time or the spool end time on the data processing apparatus side. Display of spool start time or spool end time with It is possible to add a function to express the job and spool timing to the user externally.

According to the eleventh and thirteenth inventions, there is provided a data processing method of a print control device including a clock unit, a printing unit, and a display unit and capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. Or a storage medium that includes a clock unit, a printing unit, and a display unit, and stores a computer-readable program that controls a printing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A spooling step of spooling a print job received from a processing device to a memory resource, and acquiring time information from the timing unit at the time of starting or ending the spooling of the print job for the memory resource by the spooling step, and Display spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information Receiving from the data processing device since the display step means and a storage step of storing spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit in the memory resource. In parallel with the spool processing of the print job information to be executed, the spool start time information and the job identification information accompanied with the job identification information can be displayed, and the spool processing history information of the print job information subjected to the print processing can be reliably managed. .

According to the twelfth and fourteenth aspects, a judging step of judging whether or not a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied with job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job; A step of ignoring the specific command when it is determined in the determining step that the specific command is added, so that both the printing apparatus and the data processing apparatus are provided with clock means. In this case, it is possible to display the spool start time information and the job identification information together with the job identification information on the basis of the spool time information based on the clock means of the printing apparatus, ignoring the specific command on the data processing apparatus side, It is possible to reliably manage the history information of the spool processing of the generated print job information.

Therefore, the output status and presence / absence of each print job information transferred from the data processing device to the printing device can be automatically specified during the printing process and upon completion of the printing based on a request from the user. This has the effect of enabling the user to freely prepare a print processing environment in which the user can check the processing progress and the history of the print job information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data transferred from the host computer shown in FIG. 2 to a printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a spool start / end time display mode on the LCD shown in FIG. 2;

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 11 Hard Disk 11a Printer Driver 14 CPU 15 ROM 16 RAM 20 Printing Unit 23 RTC 1501a Liquid Crystal Display

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A data processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, a clock means for generating time information, a spool means for spooling a print job to be transferred to the printing apparatus, and the spool Means for acquiring a time information from the clock means and issuing a spool start time information and a spool end time information to the print job at the start of spooling and at the end of spooling of the print job. And a transfer unit for transferring, to the printing apparatus, print job information to which a command for issuing the spool start time information and the spool end time information has been added by the adding unit. 2. A print control device comprising a printing unit and a display unit and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein: a data storage unit for storing a print job received from the data processing device; During printing processing based on the print job stored by the data storage means, a specific command added to the print job is analyzed, and spool start time information and job identification information accompanying job identification information are displayed on the display unit. And spool information storage means for storing spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit. A print control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. A printing control device comprising a printing unit and a display unit, and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, a clock unit for generating time information, and receiving from the data processing device. Spooling means for spooling a print job; spooling time information obtained from the timing means when the spooling is started or ended by the spooling means; and spool start time information accompanied by job identification information on the display unit. Control means for displaying spool end time information together with job identification information, and spool information storage means for storing spool start time information accompanying job identification information and spool end time information accompanying job identification information displayed on the display unit And a print control device. 4. A determination unit for determining whether a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job, wherein the control unit determines the print job. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the specific command is determined to be added, the specific command is ignored. 5. A spool start time information accompanying the job identification information based on an output instruction for spool information stored in the spool information storage unit, except when the print unit is performing any print job printing processing, and A spool information output unit that outputs spool end time information accompanied by job identification information to the display unit or the printing unit;
The printing control device according to claim 2, wherein the printing control device comprises: 6. When the display unit has a display area of a plurality of lines, the control unit displays spool start time information with the job identification information and spool end time information with the job identification information on the display unit. When the display unit has a single-line display area, spool start time information with the job identification information and spool end time information with the job identification information are alternately displayed on the display unit. The print control device according to claim 2, wherein the display is switched and displayed. 7. A data processing method for a data processing device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a spooling process for spooling a print job to be transferred to the printing device on a memory resource; At the start of spooling and the end of spooling for the memory resource of the print job,
An adding step of acquiring time information from a clock section and adding a command to issue spool start time information and spool end time information to the print job; and the spool start time information and the spool end time information by the adding step. Transferring the print job information to which the command to issue the print job is added to the printing apparatus. 8. A storage medium storing a computer readable program for controlling a data processing device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a print job to be transferred to the printing device is stored in a memory resource. A spooling step for spooling, at the time of spool start and end of spooling of the print job for the memory resource by the spooling step,
An adding step of acquiring time information from a clock section and adding a command to issue spool start time information and spool end time information to the print job; and the spool start time information and the spool end time information by the adding step. Transferring the print job information to which the command to issue the print job information is added to the printing apparatus. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program. 9. A data processing method for a print control device comprising a printing unit and a display unit and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a print job received from the data processing device is stored in a memory resource. During a print process based on the print job stored in the memory resource by the data storage step, analyzing a specific command added to the print job and identifying the job to the display unit A display step of displaying spool start time information with information and spool end time information with job identification information; spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit Storing the data in the memory resource, and a data processing method of the print control apparatus. . 10. A storage medium comprising a printing unit and a display unit and storing a computer readable program for controlling a printing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, A data storing step of storing a print job received from the device in a memory resource; and analyzing a specific command added to the print job during a printing process based on the print job stored in the memory resource by the data storing step. A display step of displaying spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information on the display unit, and spool start time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit; A storage step of storing spool end time information accompanied by job identification information in the memory resource. A storage medium storing a computer readable program. 11. A data processing method for a print control device comprising a clock unit, a printing unit, and a display unit and capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A spooling step of spooling a job to a memory resource, and acquiring time information from the timing unit at the time of starting or ending the spooling of the print job for the memory resource by the spooling step; Display means for displaying spool start time information accompanied by job identification information and spool end time information accompanied by job identification information; spool start time information accompanied by job identification information displayed on the display unit; and spool end time information accompanied by job identification information Storing the data in the memory resource. Data processing method. 12. A determining step of determining whether a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied with job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job; 12. The data processing method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of ignoring the specific command when it is determined that the command is added. 13. A storage medium comprising a clock unit, a printing unit, and a display unit, wherein the storage medium stores a computer-readable program for controlling a printing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A spooling step of spooling a print job received from the data processing device to a memory resource; and acquiring time information from the timing unit at the time of starting or ending spooling of the print job for the memory resource by the spooling step. Display step means for displaying spool start time information with job identification information and spool end time information with job identification information on the display unit; spool start time information with job identification information displayed on the display unit; Storage for storing spool end time information with job identification information in the memory resource And a storage medium storing a computer-readable program. 14. A determining step of determining whether a specific command for displaying spool start time information accompanied with job identification information and job identification information is added to the print job; and determining the specific command by the determining step 14. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 13, further comprising: a step of ignoring the specific command when it is determined that the command is added.