JPS62298864A - Input/output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output urgent data preferentially by providing an input/output controller which receives priority and output data from each terminal, storing the output data temporarily, and sends out data to an output data according to priority when plural terminals use output devices which are less than them. CONSTITUTION:The respective terminals 11-1n send out priority flags indicating whether or not print data need to be printed urgently to the input/output controller together with output data when making requests to print. The input/output controller receive and store output data in a storage part 2 in order. A priority flag is detected by a detection part 4 and when the flag indicates priority, output data given the priority is written in a buffer 6 and printed out on a printer 5 immediately after current printing operation. If the flag indicates no priority, the data are written in the output buffer 6 and outputted on the printer 5 in the acceptance order.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Summary] In an input/output control device provided for controlling a plurality of user terminals such as word processors and output devices such as printers, the It is configured so that the requested output data can be output by the output device according to the priority indicated by each user terminal.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an improvement in an input/output control device used to control a plurality of user terminals and output devices such as printers.

There are two user terminals, generally referred to as workstations, and usually multiple devices connected to a time sharing system (TSS).
The host duo is connected so that they can share a computer.

Generally, each of these user terminals has a keyboard type input device and a CR7 display device.

If the installation location is relatively close, one input/output control device (
61! It is connected to an I-terminal controller (also referred to as an I-terminal controller) and operates under its control.

The input/output control device usually has the function of connecting and controlling a large number of input/output devices (for example, 30f1.) such as a printer in addition to a user terminal.

However, since printers are generally used relatively infrequently, the number of printers connected is often reduced so that several user terminals share the printer.

At this time, when print requests from a large number of user terminals are temporarily concentrated, it is desirable to be able to process particularly urgent requests with priority.

[Conventional technology]

In the conventional input/output control bag W (see Fig. 4), for example, 3
User terminals ([IT) from 11, 12, and 13.

As shown in the figure, if a print (output) request occurs in the order of (lal, ft+1, IC), each requested print data (output data) is received and stored in the -tan storage unit 2 in the order in which the print data (output data) is received. Then, it is taken out from the storage section 2, written on the output sofa, and printed by the printer 5.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The conventional example is not concerned with the content of print data.

It will be output on a first-come, first-served basis.

For this reason, even if an urgent output request is issued, there is a problem in that the output request that was received earlier has to wait until the output is completed.

That is, one object of the present invention is to enable urgent output requests received from the user terminals to be output preferentially when a plurality of user terminals share an output device such as a printer.

[Means for solving problems]

The input/output control device according to the present invention is as shown in the principle diagram of FIG.

A storage unit 2 that stores output data requested to be output from a plurality of user terminals (IJTs) 11 to 1n.

It is provided with an output control section 3 that reads and outputs the output data stored in the storage section 2 according to the priority specified by the user terminals 11 to 1n together with the output data.

[Effect]

When a user terminal makes an output request, if the request is urgent, this fact is indicated by a priority flag or the like attached to the output data.

The output control section determines the next output data to be output based on the contents of the priority flag, and as soon as the output data being performed during IJA is finished outputting, the output control section reads it from the storage section and outputs it to the output device.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the format of print data sent from a user terminal.

When requesting printing, the user terminal indicates whether the print data is urgent or not using a priority flag.
' The print data sent from the user terminals 11 to 1n of each spear 11 are stored in the storage unit 2 in the order of reception.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a detection unit that detects whether or not there is something urgent based on the contents of a priority flag attached to the print data that is sent. If not, the print data stored in the storage unit 2 is sequentially taken out, written in the output buffer 6, and printed by the printer 5, as in the conventional example.

If the detection unit 4 detects that urgent print data has been received, the output control unit 3 reads the corresponding print data from the storage unit 2 and buffers it in the output buffer as soon as the printing currently being performed is completed. Write in 6,
Printing is performed by the printer 5.

In another embodiment χ, levels of printing priority are provided.

It can also be configured to print according to that order.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the input/output control device of the present invention, when mark-1 (output) requests from a large number of user terminals are accumulated, urgent requests can be output preferentially.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example. In the figure. 11 to 1n are user terminals, and 2 is a storage unit. 3 is an output control section, and 4 is a detection section. Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A storage unit (2) that stores output data requested by a plurality of user terminals (11 to 1n); An input/output control device comprising: an output control section (3) that reads and outputs output data stored in a storage section (2).