JPH08335149A - Information processor, printer, printing system and printing data transfer method for printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically decide a printer and to enable printing by deciding a printer matched with a stored printing mode as a device for printing data to be printed, transmitting the data to be printed and displaying information specifying the printer. CONSTITUTION: This system is provided with a central processing unit (CPU) 203 for deciding the printer to perform printing by judging whether a printing mode registered from the printer in a communication fixed state and acquired by an acquiring means is matched with the printing mode stored in a storage means (memory) 206 or not, transmitting means for transmitting the data to be printed to the decided printer, and display device 201 for displaying the information specifying the decided printer. Then, the printer, in which the acquired printing mode registered on the side of the printer is matched with the printing mode stored in the memory 206, is decided as the printer for printing the data to be printed by the CPU 203, the transmitting means transmits the data to be printed to the decided printer, and the display device 201 displays the information (a printer name) specifying the decided printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for processing a print request from a personal computer (PC) / workstation (WS) connected to a network, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and print data of the printing system. It relates to a transfer method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of printing system has been constructed by connecting a plurality of personal computers (PC) / workstations (WS) and a plurality of printer devices via a network. From the printers that are in operation on the network, I decided the printer that suits my printing purpose and then specified the printer to print.

[0003]

At this time, if there is a special reason, such as when printing is particularly urgent or when printing a large amount of data slowly so as not to disturb other members, connection to the network is made. The operability was very poor because it was necessary to select the printer and then print after understanding the status of the specified printer.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the first to fourth inventions of the present invention is to send print data from an information processing device on a network. When printing with the printing device of, by determining whether the printing mode registered on the printing device side and the information processing device side match or not by communication, by sending the print data to the printing device having the matching printing mode, There is a situation in which the optimum printing device for the print mode of the print data to be printed is automatically determined, and print data output requests concentrate on one of the printing devices, making it impossible to satisfy the print request of the user on the network. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a print data transfer method of the printing system, which are excellent in avoidability.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a predetermined network, input means for inputting different print modes, and the input. Storage means for storing the print mode input to the means, acquisition means for acquiring the print mode registered from the printing device in the communication confirmed state, print mode acquired by the acquisition means and the storage means A determination unit that determines whether or not the printing modes match and determines a printing device to print, a transmission unit that transmits print data to the printing device determined by the determination unit, and a determination unit determined by the determination unit Display means for displaying information for specifying the printing device is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined network, input means for inputting different printing modes,
A storage unit that stores the print mode input to the input unit; an acquisition unit that acquires the print mode stored from the storage unit in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state; A reply means for returning the print mode acquired by the means to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined network, first input means for inputting different printing modes, and A first storage unit that stores the print mode input to the first input unit, and a first storage unit that acquires the registered print mode from the printing apparatus in the communication-established state.
And an deciding means for deciding a printing device to print by judging whether or not the print mode obtained by the first obtaining means and the print mode stored in the first storing means match. An information processing apparatus including a transmission unit that transmits print data to the printing device determined by the determination unit and a display unit that displays information that identifies the printing device determined by the determination unit, and a different printing mode In response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, the second input means for inputting the print mode, the second storage means for storing the print mode input in the second input means, Second acquisition means for acquiring the print mode stored from the second storage means, and reply means for returning the print mode acquired by the second acquisition means to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state. Those having a printing device comprising a.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a display means,
In a printing system in which an information processing device including an input unit for inputting different print modes and a storage unit for storing the print mode input to the input unit can communicate with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined network, A receiving step of receiving the registered print mode from the printing apparatus in the confirmed state, a determining step of determining whether the received print mode and the print mode stored in the storage unit match, and a print mode based on the determination And a display step of displaying on the display means information specifying the printing device that prints the transmitted print data.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the printing device is such that the determining device prints the print data that matches the printing mode registered in the printing device acquired by the acquisition device and stored in the storage device. And the display unit displays information for specifying the determined printing apparatus, and the transmission unit transmits the print data to the determined printing apparatus, and the information changes depending on the print mode input from the user. Any printing device for which the print mode is set is automatically determined as a print candidate, the determined print data is transmitted and printed, and a printing device that can obtain the output result is provided to the user. It is possible to specify.

In the second aspect of the invention, the acquisition unit acquires the print mode stored from the storage unit in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state,
It is possible for the replying unit to send back the acquired print mode to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, and to reliably notify the print mode set and registered in each printing apparatus.

In the third invention, the second acquisition means acquires the print mode stored from the second storage means in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, The return unit returns the acquired print mode to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, and the print mode registered by the printing apparatus side acquired by the first acquisition unit and the print mode stored in the storage unit The matching printing device is determined as the printing device by which the determining means prints the print data, the transmitting means transmits the print data to the determined printing device, and the information for identifying the determined printing device is displayed on the display means. Is displayed, any printing device for which a different print mode is set according to the print mode input from the user is automatically determined as a print candidate, and the determined print data is displayed. Shin and causes printed, making it possible to clearly to the user a print apparatus which can obtain the output result.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the registered print mode is received from the printing device in the communication confirmed state, and it is determined whether the received print mode and the print mode stored in the storage means match. According to the determination, the print data is transmitted to the printing device having the same print mode, the information for identifying the printing device that prints the transmitted print data is displayed on the display unit, and the print mode is input by the user. A printing device that automatically determines any printing device for which a different printing mode is set as a print candidate, transmits the determined print data to print, and obtains the output result. It is possible to program-control the process of explicitly indicating to the user.

[0013]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system to which a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

This information system comprises a PC / WS side and a printing device (printer) side, and the PC / WS side includes a display device 201, an input device 202, and a central processing unit 203.
From the network means 204, the external storage device 205, and the memory 206, the main part from the memory 207 on the printer side, the network means 208, the central processing unit 209, the printing device 210 as an engine, and the input device 211. It is configured. Further, the PC / WS side and the printer side are connected via respective network means.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a message performed between the PC / WS and the printer shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, the format 31 of the message requested from the PC / WS to the printer comprises the type of request, the printer number, and the request data. The types of requests include “print” and “print mode acquisition of printer”. The printer number is a number that uniquely identifies the printer on the network. The request data is the type of request
This has meaning only in the case of "print" and indicates "print data".

On the other hand, the format 32 of the message returned from the printer to the PC / WS includes the type of response, the printer number, and response data. The type of response includes “print mode response”. The printer number is the same as above,
This is a number that uniquely identifies the printer on the network. The response data indicates the “print mode”.

The print mode in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a print mode in the print system according to the present invention.

As shown in this figure, in this embodiment, the following 3
Has two print modes.

"Urgent printing" is a printing mode used when printing data that is desired to be printed urgently or a small amount of data, and "large amount printing" is printing of data that is desired to be printed in large amounts or data that may be printed slowly. The "normal print" is a print mode used when printing data in the normal mode that does not match the above two.

Since the user makes these designations, agreement is required within the group that uses the network printer.

Correspondence between this embodiment and each means of the first to third inventions and their operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

A first invention is an information processing apparatus (WS / P) capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a predetermined network.
In C), an input unit (input device 202) for inputting a different print mode, a storage unit (memory 206) for storing the print mode input to the input unit, and a print registered from the printing device in the communication confirmed state. Acquisition means for acquiring the mode (the central processing unit 203 is the network means 20)
4) to determine a printing device to be printed by determining whether the print mode acquired by the acquisition device and the print mode stored in the storage device match (central processing unit). 203) and a sending unit (the central processing unit 203 is the network unit 20 for sending print data to the printing device determined by the determining unit).
4) and display means (display device 201) for displaying the information for identifying the printing device determined by the determining device, and the acquired printing mode and memory registered on the printing device side. The central processing unit 203 determines the printing apparatus that matches the printing mode stored in 206 as the printing apparatus that causes the printing data to be printed, and the transmitting unit sends the printing data to the determined printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus is determined. Since the display device 201 displays the information (printing device name) for specifying the printing device, any printing device having a different printing mode set according to the printing mode input from the user is automatically selected as a printing candidate. It is possible to determine and send the determined print data to be printed, and to clearly indicate to the user the printing device that can obtain the output result.

A second invention is a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined network,
Input means for inputting different print modes and storage means (memory 2 for storing the print modes input to the input means)
07), an acquisition unit (central processing unit 209) for acquiring the print mode stored in the storage unit in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, and the print mode acquired by the acquisition unit. Means for returning the information to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state (central processing unit 20
9 is a response via the network means 208), and the central processing unit 209 stores the print mode stored in the memory 207 in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus (WS / PC) in the communication confirmed state. Is acquired and the acquired print mode is returned to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, so that the print mode set and registered in each printing apparatus can be reliably notified.

A third aspect of the present invention is, in a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined network, first input means (input device 202) for inputting different print modes, A first storage unit (memory 206) that stores the print mode input to the first input unit, and a first acquisition unit (central processing unit) that acquires the registered print mode from the printing device in the communication confirmed state. 20
3), and determining means (central processing for determining a printing device to print by determining whether or not the print mode acquired by the first acquisition means and the print mode stored in the first storage means match). The device 203 makes a decision based on a control program stored in the external storage device 205 or the like) and a sending means for sending the print data to the printing device decided by the deciding means (the central processing unit 203 makes the network means 204 And a display unit for displaying information for identifying the printing device determined by the determining unit, and a second input unit (input device 211) for inputting a different print mode. And the second
Second storage means (memory 207) for storing the print mode input to the input means of the second storage means, and printing stored from the second storage means in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state. Second acquisition means for acquiring the mode (the central processing unit 209 acquires it based on a control program based on the procedure shown in FIG. 5), and the print mode acquired by the second acquisition means for information processing in a communication confirmed state. A printing device having a replying unit for replying to the device (the central processing unit 209 sends back via the network unit 208), and responds to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing device in the communication confirmed state. The central processing unit 209 is the memory 2
07, the stored print mode is acquired, and the acquired print mode is returned to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state via the network unit 208, and the central processing unit 2
03 is determined to be the printing device that prints the print data that matches the printing mode registered on the printing device side and the printing mode stored in the memory 206, and printing is performed on the determined printing device. While the data is transmitted, the display device 201 displays information for specifying the determined printing device, for example, the printing device name, and any printing mode in which different printing modes are set according to the printing mode input from the user The device is automatically selected as a print candidate,
While transmitting and printing the determined print data,
The printing device that can obtain the output result can be specified to the user.

The data processing operation on the printer side in the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the data processing procedure on the printer side in the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

PC / WS on the printer side in this embodiment
When the request from the PC is received (1), the content of the request is determined (2). If the request is a print request, the print data is received and the memory 20
Store in 7 (3).

Then, the print data is output to the printer 210 for printing (4), the data in the memory 207 is erased (5), and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (2) that the current print mode acquisition request of the printer 210 is received,
The current print mode of the printer 210 is acquired (6), and P
The print mode is returned to C (7), and the process ends.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the fourth invention and its action will be described below with reference to FIG.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined information processing apparatus (PC / WS) includes a display unit, an input unit for inputting a different print mode, and a storage unit for storing the print mode input to the input unit. In a printing system capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via the network of the above, a receiving step (step (3) in FIG. 4) of receiving the registered printing mode from the printing device in the communication confirmed state, and the received printing mode. Judgment step for judging whether or not the print mode stored in the storage means matches (step (4) in FIG. 4)
And a sending step (steps (8) and (9) in FIG. 4) for sending print data to a printing device having the same print mode based on the determination, and specifying a printing device for printing the sent print data. The central processing unit 203 includes a display step (step (10) in FIG. 4) for displaying the information to be displayed on the display means.
Is executed on the basis of the control program stored in the memory 206, so that any printing device to which a different printing mode is set according to the printing mode input from the user is automatically determined as a printing candidate, The determined print data can be transmitted and printed, and at the same time, program control of a process for clearly indicating to the user the printing device that can obtain the output result can be performed.

The WS / PC in the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
A print mode setting process operation from the printer side, that is, a process on the printer side in response to a request from the PC / WS performed by the central processing unit 209 on the printer side will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of the print mode setting processing procedure from the WS / PC side in the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) and (2) indicate each step.

The print mode is input through the input device 211 on the printer side (1), the input print mode is stored in a storage location (not shown) in the memory 207 (2), and the process is terminated.

Hereinafter, referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, the printing process (PC
The print processing operation performed by the central processing unit 203 on the WS side will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the print processing procedure on the PC / WS side in the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (10) indicate each step.

First, a print mode for printing this data is input using the input device 202 (1). Then, the network means 204 is used to send a message asking the printer about the print mode (2), and the network means 2 is sent.
04 is used to receive a message notifying the print mode from the printer (3).

Next, it is judged whether or not the print mode input in step (1) and the print mode acquired in step (3) match (4), and if they do not match, further on the network. It is determined whether the print modes of all the printers have been acquired (5). If it is determined that the print modes of all the printers have not been acquired, the process returns to step (2) and the same process is performed for other printers. Repeat the process.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (5) that the print modes of all the printers have been acquired, it is input using the input device 202 whether to try printing in another print mode (6). . Next, it is determined whether to print in another mode (7). If printing in another mode, return to step (1), repeat the processing so far, and determine not to print in another print mode. Ends the process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the print modes match, the print printer is determined (8), and print data is transmitted to the printer determined in step (8) (9), The printer name used for printing is displayed on the screen of the display device 201 (10), and the process ends. [Other Embodiments] In this embodiment, if a printable printer having the specified print mode is not found on the network, the user is prompted to print in another print mode. Alternatively, it may be printed on a printer having another printing mode.

In the above embodiment, the print mode setting registration process on the printer side is described as being performed by the input device 211 on the printer side. However, the print setting or the set print is set by a command from the WS / PC side. The mode may be rewritable and the print environment may be freely changed.

[0044]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, the deciding unit decides a printing device that matches the printing mode registered on the printing device side acquired by the obtaining unit and the printing mode stored in the storage unit as the printing device for printing the print data, Since the transmission unit transmits the print data to the determined printing device and the display unit displays the information for specifying the determined printing device,
Automatically determine any print device that has a different print mode set according to the print mode input from the user as a print candidate, send the determined print data to print, and output the print result. It is possible to clearly indicate to the user the printing device that can obtain the.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in response to the print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, the acquisition means acquires the print mode stored from the storage means, and acquires the acquired print mode. Since the replying unit replies to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, it is possible to reliably notify the printing mode set and registered in each printing apparatus.

According to the third invention, in response to the print mode acquisition request from the information processing device in the communication confirmed state, the second acquisition means acquires the print mode stored from the second storage means, The return mode returns the acquired print mode to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, and the print mode registered in the printing apparatus side acquired by the first acquisition section and the print mode stored in the storage section. The printing device that coincides with the printing device is determined by the determining unit to print the print data,
The transmission unit transmits the print data to the determined printing device, and the display unit displays the information for specifying the determined printing device, and the different printing mode is set according to the printing mode input from the user. Automatically determine any of the specified printing devices as a print candidate, transmit the determined print data to print, and specify to the user the printing device that can obtain the output result. it can.

According to the fourth aspect, the registered print mode is received from the printing device in the communication confirmed state, and it is determined whether the received print mode and the print mode stored in the storage means match. Then, the print data is transmitted to the printing device having the same print mode based on the determination, the information specifying the printing device that prints the transmitted print data is displayed on the display unit, and the print mode is input from the user. A printing device that automatically determines any printing device for which a different printing mode is set as a print candidate, sends the determined print data to print, and obtains the output result. The process of explicitly indicating the device to the user can be program-controlled.

Therefore, the optimum printing device for the print mode of the print data to be printed is automatically determined, and the print data output requests are concentrated on one of the printing devices.
It is possible to avoid such a situation that the print request of the user on the network cannot be satisfied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system to which a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a message performed between the PC / WS shown in FIG. 1 and a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printing mode in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure on the printer side in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5: WS / PC in the printing system according to the present invention
7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print mode setting process procedure from the side.

FIG. 6 is a PC / WS in the printing system according to the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing procedure on the side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 display device 202 input device 203 central processing unit 204 network means 205 external storage device 206 memory 207 memory 208 network means 209 central processing unit 210 printing device 211 input device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a predetermined network, input means for inputting different print modes, and storage means for storing the print modes input to the input means. An acquisition unit for acquiring the registered print mode from the printing apparatus in the communication confirmed state,
For the printing unit determined by the determining unit and the determining unit for determining the printing device to print by determining whether the print mode acquired by the acquiring unit and the print mode stored in the storage unit match. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits print data by using the display unit; and a display unit that displays information that identifies the printing device determined by the determining unit. 2. A printing device capable of communicating with a plurality of information processing devices via a predetermined network, input means for inputting different print modes, and storage means for storing the print modes input to the input means. An acquisition unit that acquires the print mode stored in the storage unit in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, and the print mode acquired by the acquisition unit to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state. A printing device, comprising: a replying unit for replying with a reply. 3. In a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined network, first input means for inputting different print modes and the first input means are input. A first storage means for storing the print mode, a first acquisition means for acquiring the registered print mode from the printing apparatus in the communication confirmed state, a print mode acquired by the first acquisition means, and the first print means. Determination means for determining whether or not the printing modes stored in the first storage means match and determining a printing device to print, and transmission means for transmitting print data to the printing device determined by the determination means. An information processing apparatus including a display unit that displays information that identifies the printing device determined by the determination unit; a second input unit that inputs a different print mode; and a second input unit. A second storage unit that stores the print mode input to the input unit, and a second storage unit that acquires the print mode stored from the second storage unit in response to a print mode acquisition request from the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state. A printing system comprising: a second acquisition unit; and a reply unit that returns the print mode acquired by the second acquisition unit to the information processing apparatus in the communication confirmed state. 4. An information processing apparatus comprising display means, input means for inputting different print modes, and storage means for storing the print mode input to the input means, wherein the information processing apparatus has a plurality of printing apparatuses via a predetermined network. In a printing system capable of communicating with the printer, it is determined whether the receiving step of receiving the print mode registered from the printing device in the communication confirmed state and the received print mode and the print mode stored in the storage unit match. A determination step, a transmission step of transmitting print data to a printing device having a print mode that matches the determination, and a display step of displaying on the display means information identifying the printing device that prints the transmitted print data. A method for transferring print data in a printing system, comprising: