JPH11242572A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically and properly set and manage the print priority for a printer which successively executes plural print jobs based on the priority that is previously set. SOLUTION: Plural pairs of job user names added to the print jobs and the receiving frequency of the print jobs are stored with correspondence secured between them as the management information on the print priority. When a print job is received from an external device, the job user name is acquired (S1) and retrieved from the said management information (S2). The receiving frequency corresponding to the retrieved job user name is incremented (S4), and plural pairs of job user names of the management information and receiving frequency are rearranged in the order of receiving frequency levels and the management information is updated (S5). Then the print priority is managed in the order of receiving frequency levels with plural pairs of job user names of the management information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that receives and executes a print job transmitted from an external device, and can execute a plurality of print jobs sequentially according to a preset priority. And a printing apparatus configured as described above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of a network environment, a printing apparatus is connected to an external device such as a plurality of personal computers and is used by a plurality of users in common. Such a printing apparatus is configured so that a plurality of print jobs can be simultaneously received and the plurality of print jobs can be sequentially executed in accordance with a preset priority. The administrator of the printing apparatus, for example, fixedly assigns a priority to each user, sets and manages the priority of print job execution.

[0003]

However, the setting and management of the priority of print job execution is necessary to share the printing apparatus in a network environment.
In many cases, advanced knowledge of a network and a printing apparatus is required for setting and management. Further, even if the print priority is set once, the preconditions for the setting may change for some reason, such as a change in the organization of the user or a change in the staff. In such a printing apparatus, setting the priority of printing, changing the setting as necessary, and continuously managing the priority requires a great deal of labor and skill from the administrator of the printing apparatus. Was.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and sets a print job execution priority order necessary for sharing a printing apparatus in a network environment or the like.
It is an object to provide a printing apparatus capable of automatically and appropriately performing management.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for receiving and executing a print job transmitted from an external device, wherein a plurality of print jobs are set in advance. In a printing apparatus that is configured to be able to execute sequentially according to the priority order, specific search key information attached to the print job and management information of the print job to which the search key information belongs A storage unit that stores a plurality of sets in association with the number of receptions, an acquisition unit that acquires the search key information when a print job is received from an external device, and a storage unit that is associated with the search key information acquired by the acquisition unit. Searching means for searching the received information for the number of receptions from the management information, and incrementing the number of receptions searched by the searching means, and ranking the magnitude of the number of receptions. Therefore, a management information updating unit for rearranging a plurality of sets of the search key information and the number of reception times of the management information is provided. A configuration was adopted in which the priorities related to the execution of tasks were managed.

According to such a configuration, when a print job is received from an external device, search key information attached to the print job is acquired, and the number of receptions associated with the search key information is searched from the management information. The number of times of retrieval is incremented, the management information is updated by reordering a plurality of sets of the search key information of the management information and the number of times of reception according to the order of the number of times of reception, and the search key information of the management information and the number of times of reception are updated According to the order of the number of times of reception in a plurality of sets, it is possible to manage the priority order regarding the execution of the print job. That is, the setting and management of the priority order relating to the execution of the print job can be automatically performed.

The search key information is, for example, user information attached to a print job.

Further, the management information may be divided into groups, and the rearrangement by the management information updating means may be performed within the group.

Further, the management information may be transmitted to the external device.

The storage means is a main memory of a printing apparatus or a secondary storage device attached to the printing apparatus.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter, referred to as LBP) to which the present invention is applied. The printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is an LBP
It is needless to say that the printing apparatus is not limited to this, but may be a printing apparatus of another printing method.

The configuration shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described later is common to the first embodiment and the second and third embodiments described later.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP which receives and stores print information of a print job transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer of an externally connected host, and stores the information. And a corresponding pattern is formed in accordance with the above, and an image is formed on a recording paper as a recording medium.

Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral 1000 denotes a printer control unit that controls the entire LBP 1500 and analyzes character information supplied from an external device. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 is a 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 such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506.

This latent image is developed as a toner image by a developing unit 1507 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506, and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used for this recording paper. Cut sheet recording paper is LBP1
The paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the printer 500, taken in the LBP main body by a paper feed roller 1509, a transport roller 1510 and a transport roller 1511, and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the printer control system of the LBP 1500. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire printer. The CPU 1 accesses various devices connected to the system bus 5 based on a control program or the like (including the control procedure shown in FIG. 4) stored in the ROM 2. And outputs an image signal as print data to a printing unit (printer engine) 12 connected via a printing unit interface 11.

The CPU 1 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2 and performs communication processing with an external device 13 such as a personal computer by an interface cable 6 via an input unit 7 configured as a bidirectional interface. It is possible.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). Note that the RAM 3
In addition to being used for a print data development area, an environment data storage area, and the like, it is used for storing management information of a priority order related to execution of a print job described later.

The NVRAM 10 stores printer mode setting information from an operation panel 1501 connected via the operation panel interface 4.

Access to the hard disk (HD) 9 is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 8. The hard disk 9 is connected as an option, and stores downloaded fonts, printer device information, and the like.

The main body of the LBP 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown). In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card, a card storing a program for interpreting a printer control language of a different language (emulation card) ) Can be connected.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of management information stored in the RAM 3 for managing the priorities related to the execution of a print job.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management information includes specific search key information A, U, F... Attached to a print job for specifying the priority order in the printing apparatus, and the search key information. The number of times the print job has been received and the last date and time of reception have been stored in a one-to-one correspondence and a plurality of sets have been stored, and the plurality of sets have been stored in the order of the number of times of reception.

Here, the search key information is user information such as a job user name assigned to each print job, a user name of an external device registered on the network, or a node address of the external device on the network. In such a case, the number of receptions of the print job is the number of receptions of the print job for each user, that is, the frequency of use of the printing apparatus for each user.

The apparatus according to the present embodiment manages the priorities related to the execution of print jobs in accordance with the order of the management information, that is, the order of the number of times a print job has been received (use frequency) for each user. In other words, a print job of a user who is frequently used is executed with priority. Further, as a premise, every time a print job is received, user information attached to the print job is acquired, and the management information is updated. The operation is performed as follows in accordance with the control procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In the process of FIG. 4, the user information of the search key is a job user name.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 4, the external device 13 connected via the bidirectional interface
When a print job is received from the external device, information on the job user name attached to the print job is acquired from the information received from the external device.

Next, in step S2, the management information of the priority shown in FIG. 3 stored in the RAM 3 is searched based on the acquired job user name. Step S if the search is successful
The process proceeds to step S4. If the search fails, the process proceeds to step S3, where the job user name acquired as new search key information is added to the management information, and then the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the value of the number of receptions corresponding to the searched or added job user name is incremented.

Then, the process proceeds to step S5, where a plurality of sets of data of the job user name and the number of times of reception are rearranged in the descending order of the value of the number of times of reception, the management information is updated, and the process ends.

As described above, in the apparatus of this embodiment, every time a print job is received, the job user name attached to the print job is acquired, the management information of the priority order is updated, and the execution of the print job is performed according to the management information. Manage priorities. That is, the priority management information can be automatically updated according to the frequency of use of the printing apparatus for each user, the priority can be automatically set, and the priority can be automatically managed.

In the above description, the management information of FIG. 3 is stored in the RAM 3, which is the main memory, but may be stored in the hard disk 9 or another secondary storage device.

[Second Embodiment] Next, as a second embodiment, with respect to the configuration of the above-described first embodiment, individual users indicated by user information as search keys are grouped according to their levels. The management information shown in FIG. 3 may be created for each group, and the management information may be updated and rearranged for each reception of a print job so as to be performed within the group. The process of updating the management information in that case is performed as follows according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the user information of the search key is a user name, and the information of the print job transmitted from the external device is accompanied by the information of the user level together with the user name.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 5, the external device 13 connected via the bidirectional interface
When a print job is received from the external device, a user name attached to the print job and information on the level of the user are acquired from communication information with the external device.

Next, in step S2, based on the acquired user level information, the management information of the group corresponding to the level is searched from the priority management information stored in the RAM 3.

If the search fails, the process ends.
If the search is successful, the process proceeds to step S3, and a corresponding user name is searched from the management information of the searched group based on the obtained user name.

If the search for the user name is successful, the process proceeds to step S5. If the search fails, the process proceeds to step S4, where the user name is newly added to the group management information, and then the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the value of the number of receptions stored corresponding to the searched or added user name is incremented.

Then, the process proceeds to step S6, where a plurality of sets of data of the user name and the number of times of reception are rearranged in descending order of the value of the number of times of reception in the management information of the group to update the management information, and the process is terminated.

[Third Embodiment] Next, as a third embodiment, with respect to the configuration of the first embodiment, after rearranging and updating management information, the management information is transmitted to an external device. It may be changed to transmit. The process related to the update of the management information in that case is performed as follows according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the user information of the search key is the node address of the external device.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 6, the external device 13 connected via the bidirectional interface
When a print job is received from the external device, the information of the node address of the external device attached to the print job is acquired from the information received from the external device.

Next, in step S2, the management information of the priority shown in FIG. 3 stored in the RAM 3 is searched based on the obtained node address. Step S if the search is successful
The process proceeds to step S4. If the search fails, the process proceeds to step S3, where the node address acquired as new search key information is added to the management information, and then the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the value of the number of times of reception corresponding to the searched or added node address is incremented.

Next, the process proceeds to step S5, and the management information is updated by rearranging a plurality of sets of data of the node address and the number of times of reception in descending order of the value of the number of times of reception.

Then, the process proceeds to step S6, where the updated management information is transmitted to the external device, and the process is terminated.

According to this embodiment, after the management information of the priority order is rearranged and updated, the management information is transmitted to the external device, so that the management information of the priority order can be acquired on the external device side. For example, it is possible to notify the user of priority management information.

In the above embodiments, the search key information of the management information of the priority order is user information. However, other information may be used.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, when a print job is received from an external device, specific search key information attached to the print job is acquired and the search is performed. According to the number of receptions of the print job to which the key information is attached, the setting and management of the priority regarding the execution of the print job can be automatically performed. For example, if the search key information is user information, the priority order can be set and managed automatically according to the number of times a print job has been received for each user, that is, the frequency of use of the printing apparatus. In addition, since the setting and management of the priorities related to the execution of the print job necessary for handling the printing device in the network environment can be automatically and appropriately performed, the excellent effect that the handling of the printing device can be easily performed is achieved. can get.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus common to first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating an example of priority management information related to execution of a print job stored in a RAM of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to updating management information of a priority order regarding execution of a print job according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to updating of priority management information according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure related to updating priority management information in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 7 Input part 9 Hard disk 10 NVRAM 12 Printing part 13 External device 1500 Laser beam printer 1501 Operation panel

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for receiving and executing a print job transmitted from an external device, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to sequentially execute a plurality of print jobs in accordance with a preset priority. As priority management information for execution of
Storage means for storing a plurality of sets in association with specific search key information attached to a print job and the number of times a print job attached to the search key information is received; and the search key information when a print job is received from an external device. Acquisition means for acquiring the number of receptions associated with the search key information acquired by the acquisition means from the management information; incrementing the number of receptions retrieved by the retrieval means; Management information updating means for rearranging a plurality of sets of the search key information and the number of reception times of the management information in accordance with the order of the number of times, and a magnitude of the number of reception times in the plurality of sets of the search key information and the number of reception times of the management information A printing apparatus that manages priorities related to execution of a print job in accordance with the order of print jobs. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search key information is user information attached to a print job. 3. The management information comprising a plurality of sets of the search key information and the number of times of reception is divided into groups, and the reordering by the management information updating means is performed within the group. A printing device according to claim 1. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the management information to the external device. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a main memory of the printing apparatus. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a secondary storage device attached to the printing apparatus.