JPH1124857A - Printing data distribution system, printing data file managing method of server and storage medium in which printing data file managing program of server is stored - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a processing to be executed at a side of a file server when printing data are distributed from a file server to be an origin of data distribution for many printers. SOLUTION: The file server is provided with plural original files OF1 to OFn to store the printing data, printing data files (PDL files PF1, PF2,...) after conversion corresponding to the originals to convert the original files into forms (PDL) capable of being interpreted by each printer and in which the printing data after conversion are stored, and an index file IF in which relation between the original files and the PDL files is described. And when printing request from a certain printer to a certain original file is made to the side of the file server, presence/absense of the PDL files corresponding to the original files is judged by referring to the index file IF and when the PDL files exist, contents of the PDL files are transmitted to the printer at the origin of the printing request.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print data distribution system for receiving data distributed from a server which is a source of print data via a communication line such as a network and printing the data, and a print data file management method for the server. And a storage medium storing a print data file management program of the server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a print data distribution system that distributes print data from a server (referred to as a file server) connected to a network to a number of printers connected to the network and prints out from each printer. For example, an electronic newspaper system is considered as an example.

In this electronic newspaper system, news and other data stored in a file server from which print data is distributed are output to a network, and a number of printers connected to the network receive the print data.
The print data is printed on a predetermined sheet.

[0004] Assuming such an electronic newspaper system, the number of printers connected to the network may be enormous, such as several hundreds or more. And
Each printer usually has various functions and settings.

The file server stores a file storing print data (this file is called an original file).
This original file is created by various applications. Then, for example, when a certain printer issues a print request for a predetermined original file to the file server, the file server receives the print request signal, and is designated by software called a printer driver operating on the file server. The print data in the original file is converted into a format (hereinafter, referred to as PDL) that can be interpreted by the printer that has issued the print request, and the converted print data is sent to the printer.

[0006]

As described above, the file server loads the printer driver every time a print request is received from the printer and converts the PDL into a PDL suitable for the printer for which the print request has been issued. After the print data has been created, a process of transmitting the converted print data to the printer that has issued the print request must be performed.

When the number of printers connected on the network is small, the load on the file server is not so large. However, in a system in which a large number of printers are connected, the file server is not connected to the printer. Every time a print request is received, the above-described processing is performed, that is, a printer driver is loaded, print data in a format compatible with the printer for which the print request is issued is created, and the print data is transmitted to the printer. Therefore, there is a problem that the load on the file server becomes extremely large.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a print data distribution system, a server print data file management method, and a server print data file management program that can significantly reduce the processing load on a server that distributes print data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium in which is stored.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data distribution system which outputs stored print data to a communication line. In a print data distribution system connected to the communication line and having a plurality of printers that receive and print the print data distributed from the server, the server includes a plurality of original files storing print data, If necessary, convert the print data in each original file into a format that can be interpreted by each printer, create converted print data for the original file, and store the converted print data for the original file. Describe the converted print data file and the relationship between the original file and the converted print data file. At least and a index file, a print request for the original file that is from a certain printer is issued to the server side, the server side,
Referring to the index file, it is determined whether or not there is a converted print data file corresponding to the original file.If the converted print data file exists, the contents of the converted print data file are transmitted to the printer that has issued the print request. It is characterized by transmission.

According to this, each time the server receives a print request from the printer, the server loads the printer driver, converts the print request into a format (PDL) that can be interpreted by the printer to which the print request has been issued, and responds. This eliminates the need to perform complicated processing of transmitting data to a printer, which can reduce the load on the server. Therefore, when the print data distribution system of the present invention is applied to an electronic newspaper system or the like in which a number of printers are connected, a PDL file is created in advance as a converted print data file from the original file, and the original file and By having an index file describing the relationship between PDL files, processing on the server side is greatly reduced, and a particularly great effect can be expected in such a system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each of the servers includes, in addition to the original file, the converted print data file, and the index file,
A print request receiving unit that receives a print request signal output from a printer, and, when the print request receiving unit receives a print request, refers to the index file and converts the converted print data corresponding to the original file specified by the printer. An index file management unit that determines the presence or absence of a file; and, if it is determined that a converted print data file corresponding to the original file exists, a converted file that transmits the contents of the converted print data file to the transmission requesting printer. And a print data transmission unit.

As described above, the server which distributes print data includes an index file, a converted print data file (PDL file) created as needed, an index management unit for managing the same, and a PDL file. With such a simple configuration, a printer driver is loaded every time a print request is received from a printer, and a format compatible with the printer for which the print request has been issued is provided by such a simple configuration. There is no need to perform complicated processing of creating print data and transmitting it to the printer, and the load on the server can be greatly reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data file management method, comprising a plurality of original files for storing print data, wherein a plurality of original files are stored in a plurality of printers connected via a communication line. When a print request for an original file is received, a print data file management method of a server that transmits data in the original file to a printer that has issued a print request, based on the plurality of original files, Is converted into a format that can be interpreted by each printer, converted print data corresponding to the original file is created in advance, and the converted print data is stored in the converted print data file corresponding to the original file. With the original file and the converted print data file. When a print request for a certain original file is received from a certain printer, the index file is referred to, the presence or absence of a converted print data file corresponding to the original file is determined, and the When print data exists, the converted print data is transmitted to the printer that has issued the print request.

According to this, each time the server receives a print request from the printer, the server loads the printer driver, converts the print request into a format that can be interpreted by the printer that has issued the print request, and sends the format to the corresponding printer. It is no longer necessary to perform complicated processing, and the processing burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, date and time information when a print request from the printer is received is recorded in association with a converted print data file corresponding to the print request, It monitors whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the date and time information, and if the predetermined period of time has elapsed, deletes the converted print data file.

According to this, the converted print data file (PDL file) that does not require printing for a long time is regarded as unnecessary and is deleted, so that the PD that is unlikely to be used is used.
The L file does not occupy the memory area on the server forever, and the effective use of the memory capacity can be achieved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a print data file management program, comprising a plurality of original files for storing print data, and a plurality of printers connected via a communication line. When a print request for a certain original file is received from a certain printer, in the storage medium storing a print data file management program of a server for transmitting data in the original file to the printer which has issued the print request, the print file management program includes: Based on the plurality of original files, if necessary, convert the print data in the original file into a format that can be interpreted by each printer,
Create converted print data for original files,
The converted print data is stored in a converted print data file corresponding to the original file, and the relationship between the original file and the converted print data file is described in an index file. When a print request is received for the original file, the presence / absence of the converted print data file corresponding to the original file is determined with reference to the index file. Is transmitted to the printer.

By using a storage medium storing such a print data file management program for a server that can handle the print data file management program, the print data file can be managed as described above. Therefore, the storage medium can be adapted, which is extremely effective in configuring the system.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a print data distribution system according to the present invention, which comprises a network 1, a file server 2 connected to the network 1, and a number of printers 31, 32,. Have been.

The file server 2 has a file configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the file server 2 includes n original files OF1, OF2,..., OFn that store actual print data;
This original file OF1, OF2, ..., OF
PDL files PF1 and P
F2,... And an index file IF. The PDL file is not always generated corresponding to all the original files OF1, OF2,..., OFn, but is generated corresponding to a predetermined original file as needed. Here, it is assumed that PDL files PF1 and PF2 have been generated corresponding to the original files OF1 and OF2.

The index file IF is composed of the original files OF1, OF2,.
This file stores the correspondence between the L files PF1 and PF2, date and time information described later, and the like. In other words, in this case, the index file IF describes that the PDL file PF1 has been created for the original file OF1, and also describes that the PDL file PF2 has been created for the original file OF2. ing. In addition, date and time information is described, which will be described later.

By the way, the above-mentioned PDL file is created in advance. This PDL file also differs depending on the specifications of the printer. In this case, it is necessary to create the PDL file for each printer having different specifications. For the sake of simplicity, let's assume a system with many printers of similar specifications connected,
It is assumed that one type of PDL file is created for one original file. That is, here, one type of PDL file is created for one original file, such that a PDL file PF1 is created for the original file OF1, and a PDL file PF2 is created for the original file OF2. Is created.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the file server 2. The print request receiving unit 21, the index file management unit 2
2, the PDL file transmission unit 23, the timer unit 24, and the original files OF1, OF2,.
n, PDL files PF1 and PF2, and an index file IF.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the print request receiving unit 21 of the file server 2 receives a print request for the original file OF1 from a certain printer (referred to as a printer 31) (step s).
1) The index file management unit 22 searches the contents of the index file IF (step s2), and checks whether there is a PDL file PF1 corresponding to the original file OF1 (step s3).

In step s3, if the PDL file PF1 exists, the index file management unit 2
2 is the original file OF1 to the PDL file P
Original file OF1 when F1 was created
Then, it is determined whether or not the update date and time of the data match the current update date and time (step s4).

That is, the original files OF1, OF
2,... Can be sufficiently updated (for example, a correction such as partially adding or partially deleting a sentence), and when the content is updated, the update date and time are recorded. Thus, for example, the original file O
Taking F1 as an example, the original file OF1 is converted to PD
When the L file PF1 is created, the update date and time already recorded in the original file OF1 is, for example, “13:00 on April 1, 1997 (97.4.1.13:0).
0)) ". Then, if the content of the original file OF1 is not updated thereafter, the update date and time “97.4.1.133:00” is left as the current update date and time.

On the other hand, if the content of the original file OF1 is updated, for example, at 10:00 on May 1, 1997, the updated date and time "97.5.1.10.00" is recorded as the current updated date and time. Will be.

Therefore, in the determination in step s4, for example, the original file OF1
The update date and time of the original null file OF1 when the PDL file PF1 was created from “97.4.1.1”
3:00 "and the current update date and time are the same dates, it is determined that they match. That is,
It means that the content of the original file OF1 has not been updated since "97.4.1.13: 00" to the present, and the PDL file created after "97.4.1.13: 00" This means that PF1 can be used as it is even now.

As a result, the contents of the PDL file PF1 are transmitted to the printer 31 as print data (step s5), and the print request reception date is updated (step s).
6). The update of the print request reception date and time in step s6 means that each time there is a print request for a certain original file from each printer, the corresponding PDL is updated.
Updates the print request reception date and time for the file.
The interval between the print request reception dates and times can be used as an index indicating the frequency of use of the PDL file.

That is, if the interval between the reception of the previous print request and the reception of the next print request is short, the frequency of use of the PDL file is high, and if the interval is long, the frequency of use is low. Then, a predetermined period of time (for example, a period such as one month) from the previous print request reception date and time
Is determined, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, there is no print request for the PDL file for a long time.
The PDL file is considered to be unlikely to be used in the future, and the PDL file is deleted. This is a measure to prevent useless use of the memory area on the file server side.
The process of determining whether or not the certain time has elapsed and deleting the PDL file if the certain time has elapsed will be described later.

If there is no PDL file for the original file (original file OF1 in this example) for which a print request has been made in step s3 in the flowchart of FIG. 4, a process of creating a PDL file PF1 from the original file OF1 (Step 7). Then, after updating the contents of the index file IF (step s8), the process proceeds to step s5.

In step s8, the contents of the index file IF are updated in this case.
In this process, the presence / absence of a PDL file for “1” is set to “Yes”, and the update date and time of the original file when the PDL file was created is entered.

Also, in step s4, it is determined whether or not the update date and time of the content of the original file match the current update date and time. The update date and time of the content of OF1 is “97.4.
1.13: 00 ”and the current update date and time is“ 97.
5.1.1: 00 ”, it means that the contents of the original file OF1 have been updated since the PDL file PF1 was created. Therefore, in this case, the processing shifts to step s7, and the current (updated)
Create a new PDL file from the original file. Then, after updating the contents of the index file IF, the process proceeds to step s5. In this case, the update content of the index file IF rewrites the update date and time of the original file when the PDL file was created in this case. In this example, “97.
5.1.10: 00 ”is written.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of the index file IF. Original files OF1, original files OF2,..., Original files OFn are written as original file names, and these original files OF1 and OF2 are written. , ..., OFn
, OFn are written for each of the original files OF1, OF2,..., OFn, and the update date and time of the original file when the PDL file was created, the current update date and time, and the print request reception date and time are respectively Original files OF1, OF2
..., written for each OFn.

The contents of the index file IF are referred to by the index file management unit 22, and the processing is performed according to the above-described procedure. Then, when a new PDL file is created from a certain original file, or when the contents of the original file are updated, or when a print request is received, the contents of the index file are updated.

For example, if there is no PDL file for a certain original file and a PDL file for the original file is created after receiving a print request, the content indicating the presence or absence of the PDL file is changed from "none" to "present". In addition to updating, the latest update date and time of the original file at the time when the PDL file was created is written. Also, if the current update date and time of the original file has been updated, update the current update date and time,
Each time a print request is received, the update date and time are updated to a new update date and time.

In this manner, the index file IF
Is always written with the latest data.

As described above, in this embodiment, as the predetermined original file, for example, the PDL file PF1
When the print request receiving unit 21 receives a print reception request for the original file OF1 from the printer 31, for example, the index file management unit 2
2 refers to the index file IF, determines whether or not there is a PDL file PF1 for the original file OF1, and performs processing such as sending the PDL file PF1 to the requesting printer, if any. As a result, on the file server 2 side, the printers 31, 32,
Each time a print request is received from the printer 33, a printer driver is loaded, a PDL file converted to a PDL of a format compatible with the printer for which the print request is issued is created, and the PDL file in the PDL file is read. There is no need to perform complicated processing of transmitting data to the printer that has requested printing, and the load on the file server 2 can be greatly reduced.

By the way, it is determined whether or not the print request date and time has passed a predetermined time.
Although the process of deleting the L file has been described above, the process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The index file management unit 22 receives the time information from the timer unit 24 and determines whether it is the PDL file check time (step s11). This PDL
The file check time is, for example, once a day or 1
The check timing is determined in advance, such as once every two hours.

When the check time comes, the index management unit 22 refers to the index file IF to determine whether a PDL file for a certain original file is registered. For example, it is determined whether a PDL file for the original file OF1 has been registered (step s12). As a result of this determination, if a PDL file exists, it is determined whether or not a predetermined period of time has passed since the last print request reception date for the PDL file (step s).
13).

If it is determined in step s13 that a predetermined period of time (for example, a period such as one month or one week is set) or more has elapsed, the PDL file is stored for a while. Since there is no print request, the PDL file is regarded as unnecessary and the entry of the index file IF is updated (step s14).

For example, in the case of the PDL file PF1,
The reception of the print request for the PDL file PF1 is, as can be seen from the contents of the index file in FIG.
7.5.9.16:00 ", and if a predetermined time has elapsed from this date and time, the PD
Since there is no print request for the L file PF1 for a long period of time, it is considered that the PDL file PF1 is unlikely to be used in the future. And the index file IF
In the content indicating the presence or absence of the PDL file, the portion indicating the presence or absence of the PDL file PF1 with respect to the original file OF1 is set to "none", and the PDL file PF1 is deleted (step s15).

The above processing is performed on all the original files OF1, OF2,..., OFn.

As described above, the index file management unit 2
2 is that, for a PDL file for which a print request has not been received for a certain time or more, the PDL file is regarded as unnecessary, and
Delete the PDL file. As a result, the PDL file, which is hardly used, does not wastefully occupy the storage area of the memory such as the hard disk device of the file server 2, and the memory capacity can be used effectively.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The processing program for managing the print file of the present invention described above can be stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk, an optical disk, or a hard disk. The present invention also includes the storage medium. Further, the processing program may be obtained from a network.

[0049]

As described above, in the print data distribution system according to the present invention, a plurality of original files for storing print data and respective printers created based on the original files can be interpreted on the server side. A converted print data file (PDL file) that stores converted print data in a specific format (for example, PDL), and an index file that describes the relationship between the original file and the converted print data file. When a print request for a certain original file is issued from a certain printer to the server side, the presence / absence of a converted print data file corresponding to the original file is determined by referring to the index file. Prints the converted print data Each time a print request is received from the printer, the server loads the printer driver, converts it to a format that can be interpreted by the printer that has issued the print request, and sends it to the corresponding printer. There is no need to perform complicated processing such as transmission, and the load on the server can be greatly reduced. Therefore, when the print data distribution system of the present invention is applied to an electronic newspaper system or the like in which a large number of printers are connected, a particularly great effect can be expected.

Further, according to the print data file management method of the present invention, based on an original file, a converted print data file is converted for each original file into a format that can be interpreted by each printer.
The relationship between the original file and the converted print data file is described in an index file, and when a print request for a certain original file is received from a certain printer, the printer refers to the index file and performs the converted print corresponding to the original file. The server determines whether or not the data file exists and, if the converted print data exists, performs a process of transmitting the converted print data to the printer that issued the print request. This eliminates the need to load the printer driver, convert it to a format that can be interpreted by the printer that has issued the print request, and send it to the corresponding printer, thus greatly reducing the load on the server. .

In addition, the date and time information when the print request from the printer is received is recorded in association with the converted print data file corresponding to the print request, and whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the date and time information is determined. When a certain period of time has elapsed, by performing processing to delete the converted print data file, the converted print data that has not been requested to be printed for a long time is deemed unnecessary and is deleted. The converted print data file that is unlikely to be used will not occupy the storage area of the memory forever, and the memory capacity of the server can be effectively used.

Further, according to the invention of the storage medium storing the print data file management program of the present invention, it is possible to manage the print data file as described above by using the storage medium for a server corresponding to the storage medium. Any system that performs such processing can be applied to other systems, and is very convenient when configuring a print data distribution system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print data distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a file configuration in a file server used in the print data distribution system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the file server shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print data file management process according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of an index file according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating unnecessary PDL file deletion processing in the print data file management processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Network 2 File Server 21 Print Request Receiving Unit 22 Index File Management Unit 23 PDL File Transmission Unit 24 Timer Unit 31, 32, 33 Printer OF1, OF2,..., OFn Original File PF1, PF2 PDL File IF Index File

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus includes: a server serving as a data delivery source for outputting stored print data on a communication line; and a plurality of printers connected to the communication line for receiving and printing the print data delivered from the server. In the print data distribution system, the server converts a plurality of original files storing print data and, if necessary, print data in each original file into a format that can be interpreted by each printer, and A converted print data file corresponding to an original file storing the converted print data, and an index file describing a relationship between the original file and the converted print data file. A print request for a certain original file from a certain printer is not supported. When the file is sent to the server, the server refers to the index file, determines whether there is a converted print data file corresponding to the original file, and if the converted print data file exists, prints the converted print data file. A print data distribution system for transmitting the contents of a data file to a printer that has issued a print request. 2. The server according to claim 1, further comprising: a print request receiving unit that receives a print request signal output from a printer in addition to the original file, the converted print data file, and the index file; Upon receiving the request, an index file management unit that refers to the index file and determines whether there is a converted print data file corresponding to the original file specified by the printer, and a converted print data file corresponding to the original file 2. The print data distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a converted print data transmitting unit configured to transmit the contents of the converted print data file to the transmission requesting printer when it is determined that the file exists. 3. A printer having a plurality of original files for storing print data and receiving a print request for a certain original file from a certain printer among a plurality of printers connected via a communication line. In a print data file management method for a server that transmits data to a printer that has issued a print request, based on the plurality of original files,
Converts the print data in the original file into a format that can be interpreted by each printer, creates converted print data for the original file in advance, and stores the converted print data in the converted print data file for the original file In addition, the relationship between the original file and the converted print data file is described in an index file, and when a print request for a certain original file is received from a certain printer, the index file is referred to.
Determining whether there is a converted print data file corresponding to the original file, and if the converted print data exists, transmitting the converted print data to a printer that has issued the print request; File management method. 4. Date and time information when a print request from the printer is received is recorded in association with a converted print data file corresponding to the print request, and whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the date and time information is determined. 4. The print data file management method for a server according to claim 3, wherein the print data file after conversion is deleted when a predetermined time has elapsed. 5. A printer having a plurality of original files for storing print data and receiving a print request for a certain original file from a certain printer among a plurality of printers connected via a communication line. In a storage medium storing a print data file management program of a server that transmits data to a printer that has requested printing, the print file management program may execute printing of the original file based on the plurality of original files as necessary. Converting the data into a format that can be interpreted by each printer, creating converted print data corresponding to the original file, storing the converted print data in the converted print data file corresponding to the original file, Between the original file and the converted print data file Leave describe the engagement index file, it receives a print request for a original file from one printer, by referring to the index file,
Determining whether there is a converted print data file corresponding to the original file, and if the converted print data exists, transmitting the converted print data to a printer that has issued the print request; A storage medium storing a file management program.