JP2001249781A - PRINT CONTROL DEVICE AND PROGRAM RECORDING MEDIUM THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Even in an environment where new and old models are mixed or an environment where the same model is prepared, the user does not have to be aware of the function, performance, and state of each printing device However, it is possible to select a printing device that conforms to the content requested for printing as its output destination, and to effectively utilize each printing device as a whole so that the usage status of a plurality of printing devices is not biased. In addition to this, it is not necessary to specify a printing apparatus to be used each time a print request is made, and the burden on the user is greatly reduced. SOLUTION: Client computers CL1, CL2 are provided.
When a print request is issued from the server computer, the server computer SVR examines the contents of the request and the printing capability information in the print condition information table for each printer device, and selects a printer device that matches the content of the print request from a plurality of printer devices. As an output destination, and instructs the selected printer device to print the request.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing control device for selecting a printing device that meets a printing request requested this time as an output destination from a plurality of printing devices, and a program recording medium therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a company organization, a plurality of printer apparatuses are shared by a plurality of client computers connected to a network for the purpose of suppressing excessive capital investment and effectively using space. And use it. In recent years, printer apparatuses have evolved more and more, and in addition to double-sided printing, high-quality full-color printing, such as developing a silver halide film and printing it on photographic paper, has become possible. In this case, every time a manufacturer provides the latest model as a plurality of printers to be shared and used, all printers are replaced with that, so that each printer on the network can be made up to the same latest model. Although it is possible to introduce new models each time, the capital investment increases each time.In general, new and old models from various manufacturers are operated in a mixed state. A desired type of printer is selected and designated.

[0003]

However, in an environment where new and old models are mixed as described above, there is a great difference in printing performance such as printing speed and resolution depending on the manufacturer and model. Compared to the latest models that have various functions such as full-color printing and double-sided printing, there are many functions that are not installed in older models, so if they are assumed to be unified operation, the operation will be lower I had to keep it on my old model. If unified operation is not attempted, only the latest model will be used intensively, and the use of the old model will change drastically, and its usage will be biased. It becomes impossible to effectively utilize a plurality of shared printer devices. On the other hand, in an environment in which old and new models are mixed, the user can specify which type of printer device from among a large number of shared printer devices each time a print request is made, to meet the content of the request. It is necessary to know in advance whether or not printing is possible, which places a heavy burden on the user and increases the risk of making a mistake in the designation. This is not limited to the environment where old and new models are mixed, but even in the environment where all printers are the same model, the condition of the consumables, for example, the durability life is limited. Since the print quality greatly differs depending on the frequency of use of a certain drum, a deteriorated drum is unsuitable for image printing requiring high-quality printing. In some cases, the user has to select a printer device for performing high-quality printing and mass printing according to the current state of each printer device. The problem of the present invention is that even in an environment where new and old models are mixed or in an environment where the same model is prepared, the user does not need to be aware of the function, performance, and state of each printing apparatus. It is possible to select a printing device that conforms to the content requested for printing as its output destination, so that each printing device can be effectively utilized as a whole so that the usage status of a plurality of printing devices does not become uneven. Also, there is no need to specify the printing device to be used each time a print request is made,
The purpose is to significantly reduce the burden on the user.

[0004] The means of the present invention are as follows. According to the first aspect of the present invention, a printing device that matches the content of a printing request requested this time is selected as an output destination from a plurality of printing devices, and the selected printing device performs printing according to the request. A printing control device for instructing execution, a printing capability storage unit for storing printing capability information for a plurality of items indicating the printing capability for each printing device, and, when a printing request is made, the contents of the request and the printing A printing device selection unit that examines printing capability information in the capability storage unit for each printing device and selects a printing device that matches the content of the print request as an output destination, and a printing device selected by the printing device selection unit. Print control means for instructing the apparatus to print the request.

[0005] The present invention may be as follows. (1) The printing capability storage unit stores, for each printing device having a different model, function-specific function information indicating which of the various special functions is installed as printing capability information for a plurality of items. When a printing request is made, the printing device selecting unit examines the contents of the request and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit for each printing device, and checks all the special functions required for the printing request. The user selects his / her printing device as the output destination. (2) The printing capability storage unit stores, for each printing device of a different model, performance information indicating a printing performance unique to the model as printing capability information for a plurality of items.
When a printing request is made, the contents of the request and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit are examined for each printing device, and the printing device having the optimum printing performance for the content of the printing request is set as the output destination. select. (3) Acquisition means for acquiring, from each printing apparatus, the current consumption status detected for each of the consumables consumed by the operation of the printing apparatus when a printing request is made, and the printing capability storage means The current consumption status of each consumable item obtained from the obtaining unit for each printing device is stored for a plurality of items as current printing capability information in the printing device, and the printing device selection unit, when a printing request is issued, The request contents and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit are examined for each printing device, and the printing device whose current consumption state is optimal for the content of the printing request is selected as the output destination. (4) a request condition storage unit for fixedly storing in advance a print request condition required for the printing in association with each item of the print capability information for each type of application or document; An acquisition unit for acquiring the print request conditions for a plurality of items corresponding to the type of the requested application or document by searching the request condition storage unit. The printing request conditions for a plurality of items obtained by the means and the printing capability information for the plurality of items in the printing capability storage unit are examined for each printing device, and printing having conditions suitable for the content of the printing request is performed. Select the device as its output destination. (5) When making a print request, if the user specifies the printing device capability conditions required for the printing as a print request condition for the printing, a plurality of items are individually specified. When a print request is made, the printing request conditions for a plurality of items individually specified by the user and the printing capability information for the plurality of items in the printing capability storage unit are examined for each printing device, and the user is individually designated. A printing device that meets the conditions is selected as its output destination. (6) The print request condition for a plurality of items stored in the request condition storage means in association with each item of the print capability information is, for each capability condition of the printing apparatus required for the printing, Condition information weighted in consideration of the importance, and when a print request is made, the printing device selecting unit compares the printing request condition requested for printing and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit for each printing device. And calculates a value in which the importance defined in the printing requirement is added to the printing capability information of each item for each printing device, and compares the values for all items calculated for each printing device. Thereby, the printing apparatus having the highest value is selected as the output destination. (7) Connected to the server / client system for communication,
The server computer has a plurality of shared printing devices shared and used by each client, and the server computer manages the plurality of shared printing devices and, for each printing device, print capability information for a plurality of items indicating its printing capability. When a print request is received from a client computer, the print capability information of each printing device is referred to based on the content of the request, and a printing device that meets the print request is selected as an output destination. The requested printing device is instructed to print the request. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even in an environment where new and old models are mixed or an environment where the same model is prepared, the user is conscious of the function, performance, and state of each printing apparatus. Without having to do this, it is possible to select a printing device that conforms to the content requested for printing as its output destination, and enable each printing device as a whole so that the usage status of multiple printing devices will not be biased. It can be utilized, and it is not necessary to specify a printing device to be used each time a print request is made, and the burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication network system built in a company. This communication network system includes a server computer SVR and a plurality of client computers CL1 and C connected to the server computer SVR via a private line dedicated to the premises.
L2} and a plurality of printers P1, P2, P3,
P4. The network system is a local network system (LAN)
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be a wide area communication system connected to another LAN via a public telephone network or the like. Each printer device P1, which is communicatively connected to this server / client system,
P2, P3, and P4 are shared printers that can be shared and used by each client, and include new and old models of various manufacturers.

The server computer SVR functions as a printer server for managing the printer devices P1, P2 #, and also has client computers CL1, CL2 #.
When the client computers CL1 and CL2 # make a print request to the server computer SVR, the server computer SVR sends a print request from the plurality of printers this time. A printer device that meets the request is selected as the output destination, and an instruction to execute printing in accordance with the content of the request is issued. That is, the server computer SVR refers to a later-described printing condition information table in accordance with the type of application for which printing has been requested and the specified content individually specified by the user at the time of printing request, and has the optimum printing capability for the requested content. The printer is selected as the output destination.

In this embodiment, the printer P
1, P2, P3, P4 models are not unified, but an example of an environment in which new and old models from various manufacturers are mixed,
For example, the printer device P1 is configured by a monochrome impact type printer, and the printer device P2 is configured by a color inkjet type printer. Further, the printer P3 is constituted by a color / thermal sublimation type printer, and the printer P4 is constituted by a color page type electrophotographic printer. Each of the printers P1, P2, P3, and P4 has a different printing performance depending on its model, and also has different special functions mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 shows the contents of the printing condition information table PT managed on the server computer SVR side, except for a part of the contents, which are set and registered in advance when a new printer is installed. When the printer is replaced, a change registration of the setting contents is performed. The entire print condition information table PT is arranged in a matrix, and “print condition items”, “application type items”, and “printer type items” are assigned in the column direction. Here, the “print condition item” is a condition item for each capability indicating various print capabilities of the printer device.
The “application type item” is a type item indicating the type of application for which printing is requested for each application, and the “printer type item” is a type item indicating the type of printer.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 2, in the "print condition item", the printing capability of the printer is classified into "function", "performance", and "state" in the line direction. The “function” indicates a special function installed according to the type of the printer device.
It is subdivided into a plurality of detailed items in association with various special functions. That is, “color printing”, “copier paper (impact type)”, “double-sided printing”, “manual feed”,
It is subdivided into detailed items of "cassette feed", "sort (stacker)", and "staple (finisher)". “Performance” indicates a printing performance that differs depending on the model of the printer device.
It is subdivided into a plurality of detailed items in association with various printing performances. That is, “resolution (DPI / 100
0), "print speed (PPM) / 10", and "print cost (number of printable pages) / 10 yen".

The "state" is the current state detected for each of the paper, ink, and toner consumables consumed by the operation of the printer device, or the durable consumables of the drum, print head, and ink jet nozzle as regular replacement parts. The “state” classification is subdivided into a plurality of detailed items associated with each consumable. That is, “A4 paper remaining amount (sheets) / 100”, “B4 paper remaining amount (sheets) / 100”, “A3 paper remaining amount (sheets) / 100”,
It is subdivided into detailed items of “remaining amount of ink or toner (sheets) / 100” and “durability of drums and headers (remaining%) / 100”. The consumption status indicating each “state” is calculated according to a detection value detected for each item by each printer device. The remaining amount of paper, ink, and toner is the number of remaining printable sheets with respect to the standard data, and the durability of periodic replacement parts such as drums and headers is based on the current remaining usable life with respect to the life of a new article. The percentage is shown.

In this example, "copy slip issuing business", "desktop publishing", "presentation", and "photo printing" are set as "application type items" defined in the printing condition information table PT. I have. Then, in the row direction of the printing condition information table PT, the intersection of each "printing condition item" classified by "function", "performance", and "state" and each "application type item" in the column direction. , An application request condition that defines a printing capability condition required for printing the application is set. That is, for each “application type item”, an application request condition value indicating which condition item is required is set in association with each “print condition item” of “function”, “performance”, and “status”. This condition value is 10
It is represented by the importance for 0%.

As the "printer type items", "monochrome impact type", "color ink jet type", "color / sublimation type", and "color page type" are set. Then, for each “printer type item”, printer capability information is set in association with each “print condition item” of “function”, “performance”, and “status”.
The printer capability information associated with “function” is information indicating whether or not a special function is installed. If the value is “1”, the function is provided. If the value is “0”, the function is not provided. Represents. Further, the printer capability information associated with “performance” is represented by a ratio to the standard capability. The printer capability information associated with the “state” is expressed as a percentage of 100% calculated according to a detection value detected for each item by each printer device.

On the other hand, in the printing condition information table PT,
“Selection limit reference value (MIN)” and “selection limit reference value (MAX)” are set in association with the “application type item”. This "selection limit reference value" is used when selecting a printer device having the optimum printing capability as an output destination based on the type of application requested to be printed and the contents specified individually by the user at the time of printing request. , A determination reference value that is compared with an appropriate value calculated for each printer device and for each request content based on the setting content of the printing condition information table PT.

FIG. 3 exemplifies the contents of a comparison list in which matching values calculated for each printer device and each request content are set according to the setting contents of the printing condition information table PT in FIG. Although the details will be described later, if the adaptation value calculated for each printer device and each request content is equal to or more than the corresponding “selection limit reference value”, the printer is determined as a selection candidate matching the request content. You. In this case, the final choice
One printer is narrowed down as an output destination, and the final decision is made by comparing and examining the “overall suitability” shown in FIG. In addition, in addition to the application request conditions set for each of the “application type items” described above, in the present embodiment, at the time of a print request, the user is provided with a plurality of “user-specific items” as shown in FIG. "Specifying condition 1" and "user individual specifying condition 2" can be arbitrarily input and specified.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the server computer SVR. The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the server computer SVR according to the operating system and various application software in the storage device 2. The storage device 2 stores a database, character fonts, and the like, in addition to an operating system and various application software, and has a recording medium 3 composed of a magnetic, optical, semiconductor memory, and the like, and a drive system therefor. The recording medium 3 is a fixed medium such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM, a floppy disk,
It is a portable medium such as an AM card or a magnetic card. The programs and data in the recording medium 3 are loaded into a RAM (for example, a static RAM) 4 under the control of the CPU 1 as needed, or the data in the RAM 4 is saved in the recording medium 3. Further, the recording medium may be a medium provided on an external device such as a server.
PU1 can also directly access and use the program / data in the recording medium via the transmission medium.

The CPU 1 can also take in some or all of the data stored in the recording medium 3 from another device via a transmission medium, and newly or additionally register the data in the recording medium 3. That is, the transmission control unit 5 receives a program / data transmitted from another device constituting the computer communication system via a wired transmission line such as a communication line or a cable or a wireless transmission line such as radio waves, microwaves or infrared rays. And can be installed in the recording medium 3. Further, the program / data may be stored and managed on the external device side such as a server, and the CPU 1 can directly access and use the program / data on the external device side via a transmission medium. On the other hand, a transmission control unit 5, an input unit 6, and a display unit 7, which are input / output peripheral devices, are connected to the CPU 1 via a bus line.
U1 controls their operation. The transmission control unit 5 is, for example, a communication interface including a communication modem, an infrared module, an antenna, and the like.

Next, the operation of the server computer SVR in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, the programs for realizing the functions described in these flowcharts are stored in the form of readable program codes on the recording medium 3, and the CPU 1 executes the operations according to the program codes sequentially. I do. CPU1
Can sequentially execute operations according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium. That is, an operation unique to this embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a recording medium.

FIG. 5 shows a server computer S which is started to execute each time a print request is issued from a client computer.
5 is a flowchart showing an operation of VR. First, the server computer SVR acquires the application type information from the print request job requested by the client (step A1), and searches the print condition information table PT based on the application type information,
The corresponding "application type item" is specified, and the "application requirement condition" associated with it is acquired (step A2). Then, 1 or 2 arbitrarily specified by the user from the print request job.
Acquire the above “user individual designation condition” (step A
3).

Further, "function" and "performance" of each printer
It is determined whether or not the information has been acquired (step A4). If the information has not been acquired, it is acquired from each printer device, and a condition value corresponding to the information is set in the printing condition information table PT (step A5). The current state (consumption state) detected for each of the consumables of paper, ink / toner, drum / print head / ink jet nozzle is acquired from the apparatus, and a condition value corresponding thereto is set in the printing condition information table PT ( Step A6). Next, while sequentially selecting one of the various printer devices defined in the print condition information table PT, the compatibility determination process is performed for all the printers for the selected printer device (step A7). ~ A9).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of determining the degree of conformity to the selected printer. Now, the suitability determination processing will be described with reference to the specific example shown in FIG. In this case, as an example of a print request job, “a case where 14 copies of A4 size pamphlet data created by a desktop publishing application and composed of 6 pages are printed as cheaply as possible” is shown. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, assuming that two “user individual designation conditions 1” and “user individual designation conditions 2” are designated by the user, the request conditions of the current print request job are as follows: "Application conditions" corresponding to "Desktop publishing" in the printing condition information table PT
And "user individual designation condition 1" and "user individual designation condition 2". First, of the request conditions of the print request job, the first one is selected as a processing target (step B1).

Now, since "application requirements" corresponding to "desktop publishing" are selected as processing targets, "print condition items" classified by "function", "performance", and "state" associated with this application. ", One of the detailed conditions is selected (step B2). First, the detailed condition “color printing”, which is the first item of “function”, is selected. Then, the importance of the detailed condition is read, the importance is multiplied by the capability value corresponding to the selected printer, and the value of the multiplication result is written to the corresponding position in the comparison list of FIG. 3 (step B3). In this case, at first, “Monochrome Impact” is selected as the selected printer, and “Color Printing” is selected as the detailed condition which is the first item of “Function”. The multiplication result “0” of “5” and the printer capability value “0” is set in the comparison list (see FIG. 3).

Then, it is checked whether there are other detailed conditions (step B4), and the above operation is repeated until all the detailed conditions are selected. As a result, the calculated values of the application corresponding to “desktop publishing” and the “monochrome impact type” printer device for each detailed condition are the function items “0” to “0”, the performance item “0”,
“20 * 0.4 = 8”, “25 * 5.7 = 143”, and the status items “0” to “0”. Then, the process proceeds to step B5, where the total value obtained by accumulating the respective calculated values obtained for the detailed conditions as described above, in this case, “151” is the “monochrome impact type” printer device for the “desktop publishing” application. Is written in the comparison list as a conforming value of (see FIG. 3). Then, the degree of conformity is compared with the corresponding “selection limit reference value” to check whether the degree of conformity is within the reference range (step B).
6) In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, "selection limit reference value"
Is “60”, and the matching degree “151” satisfies the reference value. Therefore, it is determined that the printer is a candidate printer meeting the condition.

When it is determined that the printer is a candidate printer as described above, it is determined whether or not other request conditions are specified (step B7). In this case, "user individual specification condition 1" Exists, the process returns to step B1, and the above operation is repeated. In this case, the conformity of the “user individual designation condition 1” is “243”, which satisfies the reference value “90”. Therefore, it is determined that the printer device also complies with the condition. Further, since the “user individual designation condition 2” exists, the process returns to step B1 and the above operation is repeated. As a result, the relevance of “20” is obtained, but is less than the reference value “84” ( Step B
6), the selected printer is determined to be a nonconforming printer that does not conform to the conditions (step B9). Like this one
If it is determined that the two printers are not conforming even under the two conditions, the conformity determination processing for the selected printer is ended at that point, and the conformity determination processing is started after selecting the next printer (step A7 in FIG. 5). I do.

In this case, the "color ink jet type"
Is selected, the conformity calculated for each of the “desktop publishing” application requirement conditions, “user individual designation condition 1”, and “user individual designation condition 2” is as shown in FIG. "61", "10
7 "and" 210 ", and all the corresponding" selection limit reference values "are satisfied, so that the printer device is determined as a compatible printer meeting the respective conditions. Then, FIG.
The process proceeds to step B8 of the fitness degree “6” calculated for each condition.
1 ”,“ 107 ”, and“ 210 ”, and the total value“ 37 ”
8 ", and set it in the comparison list as an overall matching value. Next, a “color / thermal sublimation type” printer device is selected. In this case, since the first requirement, that is, the application requirement of “desktop publishing” is determined to be non-conforming, at that time, the next The process proceeds to the determination process of the printer device. Here, "color
A “page type” printer device is selected, and “190”, “187”, and “530” are calculated as the conformance values of the respective requirement conditions, and “907” is computed as the overall conformity thereof (FIG. 6). Step B8).

When the matching degree determination processing for all printer apparatuses is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step A11 in FIG. 5, and it is checked whether at least one printer apparatus determined as a matching candidate exists. As a result, if none of the printers match, the requesting client is notified that there is no corresponding printer (step A14). If there is a printer device that has been determined as a matching candidate, the “overall matching degree” of each printer is determined. Are read and compared with each other, and the printer device having the largest value of “total suitability” is selected as the output destination of the current print request job from those candidates (step A).
11). Then, the print request job is transferred to the selected printer device to instruct the printing (step A12), and after the completion of the printing, the print result such as the selected printer name is notified to the request source (step A13). .

As described above, in this embodiment,
When a print request is made, the contents of the request and the print condition information table P
The printing capability information in T is examined for each printer device, and a printer device that matches the content of the print request is selected from a plurality of printer devices as an output destination. Because the request is instructed to be printed, even in an environment where old and new models are mixed or an environment where the same model is prepared, the user can check the functions, performance, and status of each printer. You can select a printer device that matches the contents requested for printing as its output destination without being aware of it, and enable each printer device as a whole so that the usage status of multiple printer devices does not become uneven. In addition to this, it is not necessary to specify a printer device to be used each time a print request is made, and the burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

In this case, the printing condition information table PT includes “function”, “performance”,
Since print capability information for each "state" is stored,
Depending on the conditions under which the print request is requested, only a printer device having a print capability matching all of “function”, “performance”, and “status” can be selected. It is also possible to select a printer device that satisfies one condition or a printer device that satisfies only one condition.
Further, in the print condition information table PT, the print request conditions required for printing for each type of application are fixedly stored in advance, so that only by designating the type of application, the printer corresponding to the type is designated. Since the device is automatically selected, it is not necessary to specify a print request condition each time a print request is made, and the burden on the user can be further reduced.

In addition to the printing requirements fixedly prepared for each type of application, the printing requirements desired by the user can be arbitrarily specified as needed. It is possible to select a printer device as desired, and it becomes flexible. Furthermore, the print request conditions set for each type of application and the print request conditions individually specified by the user are weighted by taking into account their importance for each capability condition of the printer device required for the printing. Since the printer device can be selected in accordance with the importance, it is possible to select a printer device most suitable for the content of the request for each print request, and to set the importance to 100%. Thus, when the user specifies the request condition, the specification becomes easy to understand, and a detailed specification can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, the request condition is stored in the print condition information table PT in accordance with the type of the application. However, the request condition is stored in accordance with the data type in accordance with the document content. The condition may be stored. For example, high-quality printing is required for a document, an official document, or the like in which an image is pasted in a document, and a printing request condition corresponding to the printing may be stored.
In addition, the requirements corresponding to the type of application and the requirements individually specified by the user are not handled at the same level.
The user individual designation condition may be prioritized. In this case, a weight may be set according to the priority, and the weight may be added to each requirement. Furthermore,
It is needless to say that the present invention is applicable not only to a printer device but also to a facsimile device and a copying machine.

In the server / client system, the printing condition information table PT is managed on the server computer SVR side, but may be managed on each client side. In this case, the client computer refers to its own printing condition information table PT and selects the optimum printer device to be used for the printing every time a print request is made from the user, and then specifies the printer to be used to the server computer. A designated print request may be made. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the printer device is shared and used as in the case of the server / client system, but is applicable to a stand-alone type data processing device to which a plurality of printer devices are connected. is there.

[0032]

According to the present invention, even in an environment where new and old models are mixed or an environment where the same model is prepared, the user is aware of the function, performance, and state of each printing apparatus. Without having to do this, it is possible to select a printing device that conforms to the content requested for printing as its output destination, and enable each printing device as a whole so that the usage status of multiple printing devices will not be biased. It can be utilized, and it is not necessary to specify a printing device to be used each time a print request is made, and the burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication network system built in a company.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the contents of a printing condition information table PT managed on the server computer SVR side.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying the contents of a comparison list in which matching values calculated for each printer device and for each request content are set according to the setting contents of a printing condition information table PT.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a server computer SVR.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the server computer SVR which is started to be executed each time a print request is issued from a client computer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a degree of conformity determination process for the selected printer device shown in FIG. 5 in detail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 SVR server computer P1, P2, P3, P4 Printer device CL1, CL2 Client computer PT Printing condition information table 1 CPU 2 Storage device 3 Recording medium 5 Transmission control unit 6 Input unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takayasu Watanabe 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Tsuneji Tamura 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Naoki Fukumoto 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Makoto Tsurumi 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Address Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Yoichi Kobayashi 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Yogo Ando 2-chome Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo 229 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Masanobu Sugimoto Higashiyamato, Tokyo 2-229 Sakuragaoka-shi, Japan Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office (72) Inventor Takashi Maruyama 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo Office F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ01 AQ04 AQ05 AQ06 AR01 AR03 HK11 HQ14 HR07 5B021 AA01 BB01 EE02 KK00

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus that matches the content of a printing request requested this time is selected as an output destination from a plurality of printing apparatuses, and the selected printing apparatus is instructed to execute printing in accordance with the request. A printing control device, wherein for each printing device, a printing capability storage unit for storing printing capability information for a plurality of items indicating the printing capability; Printing capability information for each printing device, and a printing device selecting means for selecting a printing device suitable for the content of the printing request as an output destination; and a printing device selected by the printing device selecting means. A print control unit for instructing printing of the request. 2. The printing capability storage means stores, as printing capability information, model-specific function information indicating which function among various special functions is installed for each printing device having a different model as printing capability information. When printing is requested, the printing device selecting unit examines the contents of the request and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit for each printing device, and determines a special function required for the printing request. 2. The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein a printing device having all of the above is selected as its output destination. 3. The printing capability storage unit stores, for each printing device of a different model, performance information indicating a printing performance unique to the model as printing capability information for a plurality of items. When examining the contents of the request and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage means for each printing device,
3. The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein a printing device having a printing performance optimum for the content of the printing request is selected as an output destination. 4. An acquisition means for acquiring, from each printing apparatus, a current consumption status detected for each of the consumables consumed by the operation of the printing apparatus when a printing request is issued, wherein the printing capability storage means is provided. Storing the current consumption status of each consumable item obtained from the obtaining unit for each printing device for a plurality of items as current printing capability information of the printing device, and the printing device selection unit, when a printing request is issued, The request contents and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit are examined for each printing device, and a printing device whose current consumption state is optimal for the content of the printing request is selected as an output destination. 4. The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein 5. A request condition storing means for fixedly storing in advance a print request condition required for printing in association with each item of said print capability information for each type of application or document, When the request is made, the request condition storage means is searched, and an acquisition means for acquiring print request conditions for a plurality of items corresponding to the type of the requested application or document is provided. The printing request conditions for a plurality of items obtained by the obtaining unit and the printing capability information for a plurality of items in the printing capability storage unit are examined for each printing device, and a condition matching the content of the printing request is determined. 5. The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is selected as an output destination. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein, when a print request is issued, when a user specifies individually a plurality of items of capability requirements of the printing device required for the printing, the printing device selection is performed. The means examines, for each printing device, print request conditions for a plurality of items individually specified by the user and print capability information for a plurality of items in the print capability storage unit when a print request is made, and 6. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing apparatus that meets the individual designation condition is selected as an output destination. 7. A printing method according to claim 1, wherein each item of said printing capability information is associated with:
The print request condition for a plurality of items stored in the request condition storage means is condition information weighted in consideration of its importance for each printing device capability condition required for the printing. Then, the printing device selecting unit examines the printing request condition requested for printing and the printing capability information in the printing capability storage unit for each printing device, and sets the printing capability information of each item for each printing device. By calculating a value taking into account the importance defined in the print request condition, and comparing the values of all items calculated for each printing device,
7. The printing control device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device having the highest value is selected as the output destination. 8. A plurality of shared printing devices which are communicatively connected to a server / client system and are shared and used by each client, wherein the server computer manages the plurality of shared printing devices, and controls each printing device. , Storing and managing printing capability information for a plurality of items indicating the printing capability,
When a printing request is issued from a client computer, the printing capability information for each printing device is referred to based on the content of the request, a printing device conforming to the printing request is selected as an output destination, and the selected printing device is selected. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an instruction is issued to print the request. 9. A recording medium having a program code readable by a computer, wherein when a printing request is made, the contents of the request and the printing capability stored in the printing capability storage means for each printing device are stored. The print capability information for a plurality of items shown in the table is examined, and a computer-readable program code for selecting a printing device that matches the content of the print request as an output destination, and a request code for the selected printing device, A recording medium having a computer-readable program code for instructing printing.