JPH09190391A - Information processing apparatus and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: Even when a print result as intended for one print job is not obtained and further processing cannot be performed, printing can be performed in the state of the printing apparatus at that time. With regard to the print job, the print processing is actively performed. SOLUTION: When a print job is received from a network, the job data is stored in the order of reception,
Output to the printer in the order received. When outputting one job to the printer, or while outputting the data of the print job to the printer, a printer error is checked (S105, 110). When it is determined by this error check that the corresponding job cannot be printed or cannot be printed (S106, S110), the error is notified to the sender of the print job, and another job that can be printed in the printer status is displayed. It is searched whether there is any (S108, S104), and if found, the print job is performed (S109).

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 and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus and a control method thereof for sequentially storing print jobs and sequentially outputting the stored print jobs to the printing apparatus. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general form of connection is to connect computers by a network and share various peripheral devices for use. In particular, there are many connection modes in which a printer is shared by a plurality of users.

Further, in the case of sharing a printer, a system has been proposed in which data to be printed is temporarily stored in a storage device called a printer server and the printer server sequentially prints.

The operation of the print system including the printer server will be outlined below.

FIG. 4 shows a system connected by a network including a general printer server and a printer.

Host computer (client) 20
Reference numerals 1, 202, and 203 each have a function of creating / editing and saving print document data such as a document and a figure, and print data information such as a user name and print document name via the network 250 according to a user's designation. Along with this, it can be transferred to the printer server 210.

The printer server 210 is, like the host computers 201 to 203, a general personal computer or the like, and always runs two programs called a print reception task and a print control task. These two programs are started at the same time when the printer server 210 is started.

The print reception task receives the document data (print data) transmitted from the computer on the client side, and the reception time, the document name of the document data, the user name of the user who transmitted the document data, etc., and the document data storage area on the hard disk. Save as a document data file in.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the print reception task. The flow of operation of the print reception task will be described below with reference to FIG.

When the print reception task is activated (step S320), the print reception task determines whether there is a document data transmission request from the host. If there is no transmission request, the print reception task continues to wait until there is a document data transmission request. (Step S321). If there is a document data transmission request, proceed to the next step.

If the document data cannot be received (step S322), the host is notified that the document data cannot be received (step S325).

If the document data can be received, the host is notified that the document data can be received (step S323), and the document data transmitted from the host is received. The received document data is stored in the document data storage area of the hard disk 212 together with the document name of the document data and the reception time when the document data was received (step S324). Then, when the storage of the document data is completed, the process returns to the first step. The above is the operation of the print reception task.

Next, the print control task will be described. The print control task detects the state of the printer 212, and if it is in a printable state, selects the document data file with the earliest reception time among the document data files waiting to be printed stored in the document data (print data) storage area. , To the printer 212. When the transmission of all the document data is completed, the document data file is deleted. This print control task will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the print control task is activated (step S300), the print control task constantly checks whether or not a print waiting document data file is stored in the document data (print data) storage area. When the print document data is received by the print reception task and the print-waiting document data file is stored in the document data storage area, the process proceeds to the next step (step S301).

Among the document data files stored in the document data storage area, the document data file having the earliest reception time is selected and the document data is transmitted to the printer 212 (step S302).

During the transmission of the document data to the printer 212, the print control task constantly checks whether an error has occurred in the printer 212 (step S303). If an error has occurred, the error status is notified to the document data sender (host). (Step S306) and waits until the error is cleared. If no error has occurred, wait until the end of data transmission of the document data being transmitted (step S3).
04).

When the data transmission of the document data being transmitted is completed, the document data file for which the data transmission is completed is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S301.

[0018]

In the current printer server as described above, since the printer server sequentially transmits the document data to the printer in the order of the reception time when the printer server receives the document data, there are the following problems. .

I. If printing cannot be performed due to an error that occurred in the printer (for example, if a control code that cannot be analyzed is included), printing of the document data in which an error occurred even if there is other printable document data Other document data cannot be printed until is completed.

Ii. For this reason, all document data cannot be printed until the error is canceled, and one user error prevents all users from printing.

[0021]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is a case in which a print result as intended for one print job cannot be obtained and further processing cannot be performed. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and a control method thereof that can positively perform print processing for other print jobs that can be printed in the state of the printing apparatus at that time.

To solve this problem, for example, the information processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an information processing apparatus that sequentially stores print information on a job-by-job basis and sequentially outputs the stored print jobs to a predetermined printing apparatus, and a selection unit that selects one of the stored print jobs; Detecting means for detecting the state of the apparatus, and judging whether or not the print output result intended by the print job selected by the selecting means can be obtained based on the state of the printing apparatus detected by the detecting means. Determination means to
When it is determined by the determination means that the intended print result cannot be obtained with the selected print job, and another print job is stored, the other print job is selected. And a control means for controlling the selection by means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
It is preferable that the information processing apparatus is connected to a network and the print information is received from a client apparatus on the network. This makes it possible to provide a good printing environment to many users.

Further, when it is judged by the judgment means that the intended result cannot be obtained, it is preferable that the judgment means further comprises notifying means for notifying the client, which has sent the print job, of information indicating that printing is not possible. .

Further, it is preferable that the detecting means operates even while outputting the content of the print job selected by the selecting means to the printing apparatus.

Further, while the selected print job is being output to the printing apparatus, if the judgment means judges that further printing cannot obtain the intended result, the selected print job is processed. It is desirable to further include means for holding the output and selecting another print job.

Further, when the judging means judges that the status information of the printing device detected by the detecting means is in a state satisfying the pending print job,
It is desirable to further include means for resuming the pending print job.

The printing device is a network 1
It may be connected as a node or may be directly connected to a predetermined interface of the information processing device.

Further, it is desirable to further comprise a deleting means for deleting the stored output completed job when the output for one print job is completed.

Further, it is preferable that the print jobs are stored in the order in which they are received, and that the selecting means selects in the order in which they are received.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A system in which a plurality of devices including a printer server are connected by a network is the same as in FIG. 4, and the operation is almost the same. In other words, when printing in a system that includes a printer server, the document created by the host computer is sent to the printer server via the network and temporarily saved on the printer server.
The print document data received by the printer server is transmitted to the printer in order from the earliest received time. The printer receives it and prints.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 201, 202 and 203 respectively execute applications for creating / saving / editing documents, and send document data to the printer server 211. Reference numeral 211 denotes host computers 210/202. , A printer server that receives and stores the document data received by the printer 203, and transmits the document data to the printer 212. The printer server 212 receives the document data transmitted from the printer server 211, converts the document data into digital data capable of forming an image, and outputs the image data. Printer for forming, 250
Is a network that is a communication path that connects the host computers 201, 202, 203, the printer server 211, and the printer 212 to each other and communicates the document data and the operating status of each device.

The inside of the printer server 211 in the embodiment is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG. In the figure, 120 is a CPU that operates a program to control the entire printer server 211, 121 is a ROM that stores a boot program, and 122 is a work area of the CPU or a RAM that expands a program that functions as a printer server. is there. Reference numeral 123 is an input device including a keyboard and pointing device, and 124 is a network interface for communicating with a host computer or a printer. Reference numeral 125 denotes a display device,
A hard disk device 26 is a large-capacity storage device. In the hard disk device 126, a program for becoming a print server including an OS (a print receiving program that operates at the same time as the start-up according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2 and a program that operates according to the flow chart shown in FIG. A transmission program) is stored and is also used as a storage destination of data in the print queue.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the internal structure of the printer 212 in the embodiment, which is 150 in FIG.
154 is a cassette for storing a bundle of sheets, 151 and 155 are size sensors for detecting the sheet size of the sheets in the cassettes 150 and 154, respectively, by the position of the sheet guide, 1
52 and 156 are paper out sensors that detect whether or not there are papers in the cassettes 150 and 154. 153 and 157 are papers and 15
Reference numeral 8 denotes an original image drum 159 that forms an image and transfers it to a sheet. A toner cartridge that holds toner for forming an image, 160 a stapler unit for stapling a plurality of sheets as one sheet bundle, and 161 a stapler unit. A stapler-free sensor for detecting whether the stapler of the unit 160 has staples, 162 is a discharge tray for stacking discharged discharged non-sorted papers, and 163 is a sort for discharging the papers by each copy or page. Saw turbine for stacking discharged sheets in mode 1
80 is a paper path of the paper fed from the cassette 150,
Reference numeral 181 is a paper path for paper fed from the cassette 154, 182 is a paper path for paper on which an image is formed by the developing drum 158, 183 is a paper path for ejecting paper when sorting is not performed, and 184 is a sort It is a paper path through which the paper is ejected in the case of performing.

In a normal printer, there are sensors for detecting various errors. However, for simplification of the description, in the present embodiment, only three kinds of errors are detected: paper size, paper out, and stapler out of staple. 212 can be detected.

Now, in the above system configuration, from the host computers 201 to 203 of the embodiment to the printer 2
Printer server 211 when printing to 12
The operation will be described again with reference to FIG.

A user who uses the host computer 201 gives an instruction to print the document data stored in the host computer 201 or the created document data.
Upon receiving the print instruction from the user, the host computer 201 issues a print document data transmission request to the printer server 211 via the network 250.

The printer server 211 repeats the waiting state until a print document data transmission request is issued from any of the host computers 201 to 203 (step S321).

Upon receipt of the print document data transmission request from the host computer 201, the printer server 211 confirms that the hard disk 126 has sufficient free space (step S322). 201 is notified that the print document data can be received (step S32
3), step S324 is executed.

If the hard disk 126 does not have sufficient free space, the host computer 201 is notified that print document data cannot be received (step S325).

When the host computer 201 is notified by the printer server 211 that the print document data can be received, the printer server 2 together with the document data to be printed, the document name of the document data, and the user name.
11 is sent.

The printer server 211 stores the document data, the document name, and the user name from the host computer 201, together with the reception time when the document data is received, in the hard disk 126.
Save as a document data file in the document data saving area of.

The print reception task always operates regardless of the operating states of the print transmission task and the printer, and is in a state in which the print document data transmission request is issued from any of the host computers 201, 202 and 203 and the print document data can be received. Similarly, if there is a hard disk 126
Save in the document data save area of.

Therefore, a plurality of unprinted document data files can be stored in the document data storage area of the hard disk 126.

The document data storage area and the document data file can be handled as directories and files managed by the operating system of the computer used as the printer server, respectively.

Next, the print transmission (print transmission task) processing by the printer server in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, it is assumed that the document data file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area by the print reception task, and the print priority will be described as the reception time when the document file is received. It is also assumed that the users Iwata, Yamada, and Tomita are using the host computers 201, 202, and 203, respectively.

After the print transmission task operating on the printer server 211 is activated, it is detected whether a document data file exists in the document data storage area of the hard disk 126, and if it exists, step S1 is executed.
The process proceeds to 03, and if it does not exist, this processing is repeated until it exists (step S102).

When the presence of the document data file is detected, the priority variable N secured in the RAM 122 is set to "1" (step S103). Priority N
If the document data file that has not been output exists, the process proceeds to step S105, and if it does not exist, step S1.
It returns to 02 (step S104).

If there is a document data file of priority N that has not been output, the printer 212 is inquired about the error status (step S105). Based on this result, it is determined whether the document data file indicated by the priority N can be sent to the printer 212 (step S1).
06).

If an error occurs and it is determined that the document data file of priority N cannot be printed based on the content of the error that has occurred, step S10 is performed.
7, the host computer that has transmitted the document file is notified of the error status and the fact that printing is being held due to the error, and prompts the user to remove the cause of the error, and proceeds to the next step S108. .
In step S108, 1 is added to the priority variable N,
It returns to step S104.

If it is determined that image formation is possible for the document data file indicated by the priority variable N, the process proceeds to step S109, a predetermined amount of data is read from the document data file, and the printer 212 To send to. The printer 212 analyzes the received data and expands it into bitmap data. However, if a command that cannot be interpreted or a command that cannot be used in the environment is received during the process, an error has occurred. To the printer server 211.

In step S110, it is determined whether or not this error notification has been received. When the error notification is received, the processes of steps S107 and S108 described above are performed, and the process returns to step S104.

When the error notification is not received, the sending of the document data to the printer 212 is repeated until the sending of the document data file of interest is completed.

In this way, when the sending of the document data which is one job to the printer 212 is completed (step S1
12), the process returns to step S102 to prepare for the printing process for the next document data.

As described above, the specific operation contents will be described below. First, a case where no error has occurred and all document files can be printed will be described.

Here, the cassette 1 in the printer 212
It is assumed that the paper size sensor 151 provided in 50 detects that the guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and that the paper out sensor 152 detects that the paper is stacked. Further, in the cassette 154, the paper size sensor 155 detects that the guide for A4 size paper is adjusted, and the paper out sensor 156 detects that paper is stacked. Furthermore,
It is assumed that the stapler needle-less sensor detects that the stapler unit 160 is not in the stapler-free state. That is, the printer 212 will be described assuming that the printing conditions are satisfied.

First, in step S102, since it is determined that four document files exist in the document data storage area, the process proceeds to step S103, and the priority variable N is set to 1.

In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received. Therefore, the priority is the document name Document.
1, check sheet, Mail, fileli
The order is st. Therefore, since the document file of the document name Document1 having the priority 1 (N = 1) exists, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the printer 212
Inquire about error conditions. This allows the printer 2
From 12, the A150 size sheets are loaded in the cassette 150, the A4 size sheets are loaded in the cassette 154, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that there are staples.

That is, since the notification of no error is received,
In step S106, the document name indicated by the variable N (at this stage, since the priority N = “1”, the document name Docum
It is possible to print the document file with the document name Document1 in the error condition from the printer 212 by recognizing the paper size A3 required for printing the document file of ent1) and the print without stapling. It is determined that there is, and the process proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the document name Document
The document file of nt1 is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, an inquiry is made to the printer 212 as to whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the printer 212 is inquired of whether the printing is completed or not.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A3 size is selected, the cassette 150 is
1 sheet of paper 153 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 180, the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159, passes through the sheet paths 182 and 183, and is discharged. It is discharged to the tray 162. Hereinafter, this process will be repeated.

When the printing of the document with the document name Document1 is completed, the document file with the document name Document1 is deleted from the document data storage area (step S
112) and the process returns to step S102.

At the time of returning to step S102, the document names check sheet, Mail, filelis
Since three files of t remain, the process proceeds to step S103, and 1 is set to the priority variable N.

In step S104, the priority is the document name c.
The order of check sheet, Mail, and filelist is as follows. Therefore, the priority 1 document name check sh
Since the eet document file exists, step S105
Proceed to.

In step S105, the printer 212
Is inquired about the error status, and the error status is received from the printer 212.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file of the priority 1 document name check sheet and the print with stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the printer 212. It is determined that it is possible to print the document file with the name check sheet.
Therefore, the process proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the document name check is checked.
The sheet document file is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, the printer 212 is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
The sending of the document data and the error check are repeated until it is determined that the printing is completed in.

The operation inside the printer 212 will now be described. Since the A4 size is selected, one sheet 157 is fed from the cassette 154 and the sheet path 18
The image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159 after passing through No. 1 and passes through the sheet paths 182 and 184.
It is discharged to 63. When in the sort mode, each page of the saw turbine 163 is moved to the position of the paper path 184 to print all pages so that each page is discharged to the saw turbine 163, and when the printing is completed, the staple unit The sheets stacked in each bin by 160 are stapled for each bin.

Thus, when printing is completed, the document name c
The check file document file is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

The above is the document name Mail, filelist
Is also executed, and the printing of the four document files ends.

Next, in the printer 212, the cassette 1
When the sheet guide 50 is set to A3 size but there is no such sheet, the cassette 154 has the sheet guide set to A4 size, there are sufficient sheets, and the stapling unit 160 is in a state without staples. Will be described.

In step S102, it is determined that four document files exist in the document data storage area,
In step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1.

In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received, so the priority is the document name Document.
1, check sheet, Mail, fileli
The order is st. Therefore, the document name Docum with priority 1
Since the document file of ent1 exists, step S10
Go to 5.

In step S105, the printer 212
Inquire about error conditions. The error status is reported from the printer 212. The paper size sensor 151 of the cassette 150 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper out sensor 152 detects that no paper is stacked. Also, the paper size sensor 155 of the cassette 154 is
It is detected that the paper guide is adjusted for the size of paper, and the paper empty sensor 156 detects that paper is loaded. Then, the staple unit 16
In the inside of 0, the stapler-free sensor detects that there is no staple. Therefore, there is no A3 paper from the printer 212 in the printer server 211,
It is detected that there is A4 size paper and that the staple unit 160 does not have staples.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required to print the document file of the document name Document1 of priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document name is recognized in the error condition from the printer 212. It is determined that it is impossible to print the document file of Document1. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the document name Document
For example, the following message is transmitted to the host computer 201 used by the user Idata who has transmitted the document file nt1.

"Printing of the document" Document1 "is suspended because there is no A3 size paper in the printer. Please put A3 size paper in the cassette. In step S108, 1 is added to the priority variable N and N
= 2, and the process returns to step S104.

In step S104, since there is a document file with the document name check sheet of priority 2, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the printer 212 is inquired about the error status, and the printer 212 sends A3.
The A4 size sheet is present, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that there is no staple.

In step S160, the priority order N (= 2)
It is determined that it is impossible to print the document file with the document name check sheet in the situation required to print the document file with the document name check sheet as indicated by.

In step S107, the document name check
User Yama who sent the document file of sheet
The following message is transmitted to the host computer 202 used by da.

"Printing of the document" check sheet "is suspended because the printer has no staples. Please replenish the staples of the staple unit. In step S108, 1 is added to the priority variable N and N
= 3, and the process returns to step S104.

In step S104, since there is a document file with the document name Mail of priority 3, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the printer 212 is inquired about the error status, and the printer 212 sends A3.
The A4 size sheet is present, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that there is no staple.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file of the document name Mail with the priority 3 and the fact that it is not the staple sort printing are recognized, and in the error condition from the printer 212, the document name Mail is detected. It is determined that the document file can be printed. Therefore, the process is step S
Go to 109.

In step S109, the document file with the document name Mail is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S109, the document file with the document name Mail is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, the printer 212 is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the printer 212 is inquired of whether the printing is completed or not.

In the printer 212, one sheet 157 is fed from the cassette 154, passes through the sheet path 181, and the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159. The paper passes through 182 and 183 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 162. When printing is completed, the document file with the document name Mail is deleted from the document data storage area, and step S10
Return to 2.

At this time, the unprinted document data is
Document name Document1, check sheet,
There are three types of filelists. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S103, and the priority variable N is set to 1.

In step S104, the priority is document name D.
document1, check sheet, file
The order is list. Therefore, the document name Doc with priority 1
Since the document file of document1 exists, step S
Proceed to 105.

In step S105, the printer 212
Inquire about error conditions. The error status is reported from the printer 212. In the cassette 150, the paper size sensor 151 adjusts the paper guide for A3 size paper, and the paper empty sensor 152 detects that the paper is stacked. In the cassette 154, the paper size sensor 155 detects the A4 size paper. The paper guide is adjusted for paper, and the paper empty sensor 156 detects that paper is stacked, and the staple unit 1
A stapler-free sensor inside 60 detects that there is no staple. Therefore, the printer 212 notifies the printer server 211 that there are sheets of A3 and A4 and that there are no staples.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required for printing the document file of the document name Document1 of priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document name is recognized in the error condition from the printer 212. It is determined that the document file of Document 1 can be printed, and the step S
Go to 109.

In step S109, the document name Document
The document file of nt1 is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, the printer 212 is inquired of whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the printer 212 is inquired of whether the printing is completed or not.

Since the A3 size is selected inside the printer 212, one sheet 153 is fed from the cassette 150, passes through the sheet path 180, and is formed on the developing drum 158 by the toner in the toner cartridge 159. The image is transferred onto the paper, passes through the paper paths 182 and 183, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 162. When printing is completed, the document file with the document name Document1 is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

The above is also executed for the document name filelist. The document file with the document name check sheet is not printed until the staple unit 160 is supplemented with staples.

Next, the stapling unit 160 has sufficient stapling needles, and the document file with the document name Document1 is a document that consumes a plurality of sheets. First, there are sheets in the cassette 150, and the document name Document.
A case will be described in which the paper in the cassette 150 runs out of paper during the printing of the first document file and the paper is then replenished in the cassette 150.

In step S102, since four document files exist in the document data storage area, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the priority variable N
Is set to 1. In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received, so the priority is the document name Docum.
ent1, checksheet, Mail, file
The order is list. Therefore, the document name Doc with priority 1
Since the document file of document1 exists, step S
Proceed to 105.

In step S105, the printer 212
Inquire about error conditions. As a result, the printer 21
Error status is reported from 2. The paper size sensor 151 of the cassette 150 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper out sensor 152
It is detected that the sheets are stacked by. Also, the paper size sensor 155 of the cassette 154 is
It is detected that the paper guide is adjusted for the size of paper, and the paper empty sensor 156 detects that the paper is stacked. And staple unit 1
In the inside of 60, it is detected by the stapler needle-free sensor that the staple-free state is not present. Therefore, the printer server 211 notifies the printer 212 that the sheets A3 and A4 are present and the staple unit 160 has the stapler staple.

In step S106, it is determined that it is possible to print the document file of document name Document1 in the situation required to print the document file of document name Document1 of priority 1, and the process proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the document name Document
The document file of nt1 is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, the printer 212 is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
Inquiries are made to the printer 212 as to whether or not printing is completed. When the paper 153 in the cassette 150 is used up and the paper runs out, the paper out sensor 152 detects the paper out, the printer 212 stops the printing operation, and the printer server 211 responds to the inquiry in step S110. Notify you of a paper out error.

When the print transmission task of the printer server 211 is notified of the paper-out error, the process proceeds from step S110 to step S107.

In step S107, the document name Document
The following message is transmitted to the host computer 201 used by the user Idata who has transmitted the document file of nt1.

"Printing of the document" Document1 "is suspended because there is no A3 size paper in the printer. Please put A3 size paper in the cassette. At this time, in order to restart from the unprinted data, the address position is separately stored and held.

In step S108, 1 is added to the priority order N to set N = 2, and the process returns to step S104.

At step S104, since there is a document file with the document name check sheet having the priority 2 the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the printer 212 is inquired about the error status, and the printer 212 sends A3
The A4 size sheet is present, and the stapling unit 160 is informed that the stapling needle is present.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file with the document name check sheet of the priority 1 and the print with stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the printer 212. It is determined that the document file with the name check sheet can be printed, and the process proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the document name check is checked.
The sheet document file is read from the document data storage area and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, the printer 212 is inquired whether an error has occurred, and when printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S112.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A4 size is selected, the cassette 154 is selected.
One sheet of paper 157 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 181, and the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159, passes through the sheet paths 182 and 184, and is transferred to the saw turbine. 163 are discharged. When the page is in the sort mode, each page of the saw turbine 163 is moved to the position of the paper path 184 so that each page is ejected to the saw turbine 163, and all the pages are printed. che
The ck sheet document file is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

When the cassette 150 is replenished with paper of the paper size A3 during printing of the document file with the document name check sheet, three document files exist in the document data storage area in step S102, and therefore the process proceeds to step S103. .

In step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1
Is set.

In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received. Therefore, the priority is the document name Document.
The order is 1, Mail, and filelist. Therefore, since the document file of the document name Document1 having the priority 1 exists, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the printer 212
Inquire about error conditions. The error status is reported from the printer 212. The paper size sensor 151 of the cassette 150 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper out sensor 152 detects that paper is stacked. Also, cassette 1
In 54, the paper size sensor 155 adjusts the paper guide for A4 size paper, and
It is detected by 6 that the sheets are stacked.
Then, inside the staple unit 160, the stapler-free sensor detects that the staple-free state is not present. Therefore, the printer 212 notifies the printer server 211 that there are sheets of A3 and A4 and that the staple unit 160 has staples.

In step S106, the document name D of the priority order is set.
Recognizing that the paper size A3 required to print the document file of document1 and the printing without stapling are recognized, the printer 212 outputs the document file of document name Document1 in the document data storage area in the error condition. It is read from the position and transmitted to the printer 212.

In step S110, the printer 212 is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the printer 212 is inquired of whether the printing is completed or not.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A3 size is selected, the cassette 150 is
1 sheet of paper 153 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 180, the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159, passes through the sheet paths 182 and 183, and is discharged. It is discharged to the tray 162. Document name Document after printing
The first document file is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

The above is the document name Mail, filelist
Also run.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
As a general rule, the printer server prints in the order received from the host computer on the network. However, if one job in which an error has occurred cannot be printed or cannot continue, the next higher priority print job. Print processing can be attempted.

<Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment, a print system in which a printer server 211 having a printer control function and a printer 212 are directly connected (an example in which the printer 212 is connected to the printer interface of the printer server 211) ), And the printer server 21
Reference numeral 1 denotes image data capable of forming an image by storing a plurality of document file data, which are page description language data transmitted from the host computers 201, 202, 203, and interpreting the page description language in order from the document file data having the earliest reception time. To print the image data via an interface that directly connects the printer server 211 and the printer 212, and to monitor the print status by the host computers 201, 202, 203.

That is, the printer server has a printer server function of storing a plurality of document files, an image data generation function of interpreting a page description language to generate image data, and a printer control function of controlling a printer.

The overall configuration of the system is shown in FIG. In the figure, 201, 202, and 203 are host computers that execute applications for creating, saving, and editing documents, respectively, and send document data to the printer server 211, and 211 is the host computer 2.
A printer server that receives and saves the document data transmitted by 01, 202, and 203, converts the document data into image data capable of forming an image, and controls the printer 212. The printer server 211 controls the printer server 211. A printer that receives the image data transmitted from the printer server 211 and forms an image, 250 is the host computers 201, 202, 203, the printer server 2
11 is a network which is a communication path for connecting 11 to each other and communicating document data and operating conditions of each device.

The inside of the printer server 211 is shown in FIG.
The block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, components having the same functions as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The difference from FIG. 5 is that the printer 212 is connected via a printer interface.

At the same time as in the first embodiment, the printer server 211 is activated at the same time as a print receiving task which is a program that operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and a program that operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. A certain print transmission task is started, and each task is always operating. The print reception task starts operation from step S320, and the print transmission task starts at step S30.
The operation starts from 0.

Further, in the printer server 211, as shown in the figure, the document data is interpreted and the printer 212
An image forming task (image forming program) that generates image data capable of forming an image by the above and transmits the image data to the printer 212 via the video interface 126 and the video interface cable 127 is operating. The image forming task generates the image data and periodically inquires of the printer 212 about the error status, and the current printer 2
It also manages 12 error situations and the progress of document data printing.

The printer 21 is also used in the second embodiment.
The internal structure of No. 2 is as shown in FIG. 6 as in the first embodiment. From the normal host computer 201 to the printer 21
The operation of printing the document data on the second document is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

Therefore, the outline of the operation of the image forming task will be described below. The image forming task operates according to the flowchart of FIG. 9, and first starts from step S150 when the printer server 211 is activated.

In step S150, the image forming task periodically confirms whether the image forming command is issued from the print transmitting task, and waits until the image forming command is issued. The image formation command is issued with the designation information indicating whether the document is to be image-formed each time it is stored in the document data storage area.

When the image formation command is issued, step S
In step 152, the designated document data is read from the document data storage area. Then, the process proceeds to step S153,
The total number of pages P and the number of copies C from the contents of the read document data
And detect.

In step S154, 1 is set to the page variable X secured in the RAM in advance, and in step S155, the image data of page X (initially page 1) is generated in the RAM 121 by interpreting the document data. To do. Then, in step S156, the copy number variable Y is set to 1
Set.

In step S157, an inquiry is made as to whether or not an error has occurred in the printer 212. If it has occurred, step S161 is performed. If not, step S1 is performed.
Proceed to 58.

In step S158, the print command is issued to the printer 212. Image data is RAM12
2 to the printer 212 via the interface 127.
Sent to.

In step S159, the printer 212 is queried as to whether the image formation is completed. If completed, the process proceeds to step S162, and if not completed, the process proceeds to step S160.

In step S160, an inquiry is made as to whether or not an error has occurred in the printer 212. If it has occurred, step S161 is performed. If not, step S1 is performed.
Return to 59.

When it is notified in step S159 that the image formation is completed, the copy number variable Y is compared with the copy number C, and if they are the same value, the process proceeds to step S164, otherwise the process proceeds to step S163. In step S163, 1 is added to the copy number variable Y, and the process returns to step S155.

In step S164, the page variable X and the total number of pages P are compared, and if they are the same, step S16.
Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S165. Step S1
In 65, 1 is added to the page variable X, and step S151
Return to In step S166, the print transmission task is notified of the completion of printing, and in step S15
Return to 1.

In step S161, the print transmission task is notified of the occurrence of the error, and the step S1
Return to 51.

By the above operation, the image forming task executes the printer 21 with the document data designated by the print transmitting task.
2, an image can be formed.

The image forming task periodically inquires of the printer 212 about the error status, and the printer 212 responds to the error status inquiry from the print transmitting task.
Notify the error status of.

Now, the transmission of the document data from the printer server 211 to the printer 212 is performed by the print transmission task.

Here again, it is assumed that the document data file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area by the print reception task, and the print priority will be described as the reception time when the document file is received.

Since the basic operation has been described in the first embodiment (FIG. 1), the specific operation procedure will be described here.

First, the case where no error has occurred and all document files can be printed will be described.

The printer 212 includes cassettes 150 and 15
It is assumed that sheets of A3 size and A4 size are stacked on the sheet No. 4 and the stapler unit 160 has a sufficient amount of staples. As in the first embodiment, these are provided by the respective sensors.

In step S102, since four document files exist in the document data storage area, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the priority variable N
Is set to 1.

In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received. Therefore, the priority is the document name Document.
1, check sheet, Mail, and file list in this order. Therefore, the document name Doc with priority 1
Since the document file of nt1 exists, step S105
Proceed to.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status of the printer 212. The imaging task reports an error condition. Cassette 1
The paper size sensor 151 of 50 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper empty sensor 152 detects that paper is stacked. In addition, the paper size sensor 155 of the cassette 154
Detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A4 size paper, and the paper-out sensor 156 detects that paper is stacked. Then, inside the staple unit 160, the stapler-free sensor detects that the staple-free state is not present. Therefore, the printer server 211 is notified from the image forming task that there are sheets of A3 and A4 and that the staple unit 160 has staples.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required for printing the document file of the document name Document1 having the priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the image forming task. It is determined that the document file with the name Document1 can be printed, and the step S
Go to 109.

In step S109, the document name Document
The image forming task is notified to form an image of the document file of nt1 and send it to the printer 212.

In step S110, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the image forming task is inquired about whether the printing is completed, and when the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S112.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A3 size is selected, the cassette 150 is
1 sheet of paper 153 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 180, the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159, passes through the sheet paths 182 and 183, and is discharged. It is discharged to the tray 162.

Thus, when printing is completed, the document name D
The document file of document1 is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

In step S102, the document name check
Since there are three files, sheet, Mail, and filelist, the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1
Is set.

In step S104, the priority is the document name c.
The order of check sheet, Mail, and filelist is as follows. Therefore, the priority 1 document name check sh
Since the eet document file exists, step S105
Proceed to.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status. The imaging task will now report the error condition. The paper size sensor 151 of the cassette 150 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper out sensor 152
Detects that the sheets are stacked. Further, the paper size sensor 155 of the cassette 154 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A4 size paper, and the paper out sensor 156 detects that paper is stacked. Then, inside the staple unit 160, the stapler-free sensor detects that the staple-free state is not present. Therefore, the printer server 211 is notified from the image forming task that there are sheets of A3 and A4 and that the staple unit 160 has staples.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file of the document name check sheet having the priority 1 and the print with stapling are recognized, and in the error situation from the image forming task. It is determined that the document file with the document name check sheet can be printed, and the process proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the document name check
The printer 212 forms an image of the document file of the sheet
Notify the imaging task to send to. Step S
At 110, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred. At step S111, the image forming task is inquired whether the printing is completed. When the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S112.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A4 size is selected, the cassette 154 is selected.
One sheet of paper 157 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 181, and the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159, passes through the sheet paths 182 and 184, and is transferred to the saw turbine. It is discharged to 163. When in sort mode, saw turbine 163 for each page. Saw turbine 1 to be discharged to
Each of the bins 63 moves to the position of the paper path 184 to print all pages, and when printing is completed, the sheets stacked in each bin are stapled by the stapling unit 160 for each bin.

Thus, when printing is completed, the document name c
The check file document file is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

The above is the document name Mail, filelist
Is also executed, and the printing of the four document files ends.

Next, in the printer 212, the cassette 1
In the case 50, the paper guide is set to the A3 size but there is no paper, the cassette 154 has the paper guide set to the A4 size and there is sufficient paper, and the stapling unit 160 is in the stapleless state. To do.

In step S102, since four document files exist in the document data storage area, the process proceeds to step S103.

At step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1
Is set, and in step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received. Therefore, the priority is the document name Document.
1, check sheet, Mail, fileli
The order is st. Therefore, the document name Docum with priority 1
Since the document file of ent1 exists, step S10
Go to 5.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status. The imaging task reports an error condition. The paper size sensor 151 of the cassette 150 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper out sensor 152 detects that no paper is stacked. Also, cassette 1
The paper size sensor 155 of 54 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A4 size paper, and the paper out sensor 156 detects that paper is stacked.
Then, the stapler-free sensor inside the staple unit 160 detects that the staple-free state is present. Therefore, the printer server 211 is notified that there are no staples.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required for printing the document file of the document name Document1 of the priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the image forming task. It is determined that the document file with the name Document1 cannot be printed, and the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the document name Document
The following message is transmitted to the host computer 201 used by the user Idata who has transmitted the document file of nt1.

"Printing of the document" Document1 "is suspended because there is no A3 size paper in the printer. Please put A3 size paper in the cassette. In step S108, 1 is added to the priority variable N and N
= 2, and the process returns to step S104.

In step S104, since there is a document file with the document name check sheet of priority 2, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status, and the image forming task sends A3.
The A4 size sheet is present, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that there is no staple.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file of the document name check sheet having the priority 2 and the staple sort printing are recognized, and the error condition from the image forming task is detected. It is determined that the document file with the document name check sheet cannot be printed, and the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the document name check
User Yama who sent the document file of sheet
The following message is transmitted to the host computer 202 used by da.

"Printing of the document" check sheet "is suspended because the printer has no staples. Please replenish the staples of the staple unit. In step S108, 1 is added to the priority variable N and N
= 3, and the process returns to step S104.

In step S104, since there is a document file with the document name Mail of priority 3, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status, the image forming task is inquired, and there is no A3 sheet from the image forming task.
4 is present, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that there is no staple.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file of the document name Mail having the priority 3 and the fact that it is not the staple sort printing are recognized, and the document name is detected in the error situation from the image forming task. It is determined that the Mail document file can be printed, and the process proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the image forming task is notified to form an image of the document file having the document name Mail and send it to the printer 212.

In step S110, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the image forming task is inquired about whether the printing is completed, and when the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S112.

In the printer 212, one sheet 157 is fed from the cassette 154, passes through the sheet path 181, and the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159. The paper passes through 182 and 183 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 162. When printing is completed, the document file with the document name Mail is deleted from the document data storage area, and step S10
Return to 2.

If it is assumed that A3 size paper is supplied to the cassette 150 during the printing of the document file with the document name Mail, the document name Documen is obtained in step S102.
Since there are three files of t1, check sheet, and filelist, the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1
Is set.

In step S104, the priority is the document name D.
document1, check sheet, file list. Therefore, the document name Docu with priority 1
Since the document file of “ment1” exists, step S1
Go to 05.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status. As a result, the error status is reported from the image forming task, but here, the paper size sensor 151 of the cassette 150 detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A3 size paper, and the paper out sensor 152 detects it. It is detected that paper is loaded. Paper size sensor 155 of cassette 154
Detects that the paper guide is adjusted for A4 size paper, and the paper out sensor 156 detects that paper is stacked. And staple unit 1
The stapler-free sensor inside 60 detects that there is no staple. Therefore, the printer server 211 is notified by the image forming task that the sheets A3 and A4 are present and the stapling unit 160 has no staples.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required for printing the document file of the document name Document1 of priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the image forming task. It is determined that the document file with the name Document1 can be printed, and the step S
Go to 109.

In step S109, the document name Document
The image forming task is notified to form an image of the document file of nt1 and send it to the printer 212. Step S11
In 0, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred. In step S111, the image forming task is inquired whether printing is completed. When the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S112.

Since the A3 size is selected inside the printer 212, one sheet 153 is fed from the cassette 150, passes through the sheet path 180, and is formed on the developing drum 158 by the toner in the toner cartridge 159. The image is transferred onto the paper, passes through the paper paths 182 and 183, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 162.

In this way, when printing is completed, the document name D
The document file of document1 is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

The above is also executed for the document name filelist. The document file with the document name check sheet is not printed until the staple unit 160 is supplemented with staples.

Next, the stapling unit 160 has a sufficient number of staples, and the document file with the document name Document1 is a document that consumes a plurality of sheets. First, there are sheets in the cassette 150, and the document name Document.
A case will be described in which the paper in the cassette 150 runs out of paper during the printing of the first document file and the paper is then replenished in the cassette 150.

In step S102, since four document files exist in the document data storage area, the process proceeds to step S103.

At step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1
Is set.

In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received. Therefore, the priority is the document name Document.
1, check sheet, Mail, fileli
The order is st. Therefore, the document name Docum with priority 1
Since the document file of ent1 exists, step S10
Go to 5.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status. The imaging task reports an error condition. At this point, the sheets A3 and A4 are present, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that the staples are present.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required for printing the document file of the document name Document1 of priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the image forming task. It is determined that the document file with the name Document1 can be printed, and the step S
Go to 109.

In step S109, the image forming task is notified to form an image of the document file having the document name 1 and send it to the printer 212.

In step S110, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
Inquires to the image forming task whether printing is completed. When the paper 153 in the cassette 150 is used up and the paper runs out, the paper sensor 152 detects that the paper is empty, the printer 212 stops the printing operation, and the image forming task is executed from the printer server 211 in step S110. Notify the inquiry of a paper-out error.

When the print server task of the printer server 211 is notified of the paper-out error, the process proceeds from step S110 to step S107.

In step S107, the document name Document
The following message is transmitted to the host computer 201 used by the user Idata who has transmitted the document file of nt1.

[Printing of document "Document1" is suspended because the printer does not have A3 size paper. Please put A3 size paper in the cassette. In step S108, 1 is added to the priority variable N and N
= 2, and the process returns to step S104.

In step S104, since there is a document file with the document name check sheet of priority 2, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired of the error status, and the printer 212 sends A3.
The A4 size sheet is present, and the stapling unit 160 is notified that the stapling needle is present.

In step S106, the paper size A4 required for printing the document file with the document name check sheet having the priority 1 and the print with stapling are recognized, and in the error condition from the image forming task, It is determined that the document file with the document name check sheet can be printed, and the process proceeds to step S109.

At step S109, the document name check is checked.
The printer 212 forms an image of the document file of the sheet
Notify the imaging task to send to.

In step S110, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the image forming task is inquired about whether the printing is completed, and when the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S112.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A4 size is selected, the cassette 154 is selected.
1 sheet of paper 157 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 181, and the image formed on the developing drum by the toner in the toner cartridge 159 is transferred onto the sheet, and the sheet path 1
After passing through 82 and 184, it is discharged to the saw turbine 163. When in the sort mode, the pages of each page are ejected to the saw turbine 163 so that the pages are discharged to the saw turbine 163.
Each bin moves to the position of the paper path 184 to print all pages, and when printing is completed, the sheets stacked in each bin are stapled by the stapling unit 160 for each bin.

In this way, when printing is completed, the document name c
The check file document file is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

If a sheet of paper size A3 is replenished in the cassette 150 during printing of the document file having the document name check sheet, three document files exist in the document data storage area in step S102, and therefore step S103 is performed. Proceed to.

In step S103, the priority variable N is set to 1
Is set.

In step S104, when the document file shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the document data storage area, the print priority is the reception time when the document file is received. Therefore, the priority is the document name Document.
The order is 1, Mail, and filelist. Therefore, since the document file of the document name Document1 with the priority 1 exists, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the image forming task is inquired about the error status. The imaging task reports an error condition. That is, the image forming task notifies that there are A3 and A4 sheets and that the staple unit 160 has staples.

In step S106, the paper size A3 required to print the document file of the document name Document1 of priority 1 and the print without stapling are recognized, and the document is detected in the error condition from the image forming task. It is determined that the document file with the name Document1 can be printed, and the step S
Go to 109.

In step S109, the document name Document
The image forming task is instructed to form an image from the reserved position of the document file of nt1 and to send it to the printer 212.

In step S110, the image forming task is inquired whether an error has occurred, and in step S111
In step S112, the image forming task is inquired about whether the printing is completed.

The operation inside the printer 212 will be described. Since the A3 size is selected, the cassette 150 is
1 sheet of paper 153 is fed from the sheet, passes through the sheet path 180, the image formed on the developing drum 158 is transferred onto the sheet by the toner in the toner cartridge 159, passes through the sheet paths 182 and 183, and is discharged. It is discharged to the tray 162. Document name Document after printing
The first document file is deleted from the document data storage area, and the process returns to step S102.

The document names Mail and filelist are described below.
The same process will be performed for.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment.

In the embodiment, an example in which the invention is applied to a print server on a network has been described, but it is also possible to apply it to one device, for example. In other words, if a single device is used by a plurality of users to perform printing alternately, until now, if an error occurs in the printing process by the previous user, printing by the subsequent users will not be performed. By applying, it becomes possible to sequentially print the printable ones in order from the earliest printable one.

Further, even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (eg, copier, facsimile, etc.) May be applied to.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU or M) of the system or apparatus.
It goes without saying that it is also achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

A storage medium for supplying the program code is, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD.
-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Moreover, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS or the like running on the computer actually operates based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where a part or all of the processing of (1) is performed and the function of the embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the extended function board inserted into the computer or the extended function unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned storage medium, the storage medium will store the program code corresponding to the above-mentioned flowchart. Briefly, the memory map example of FIG. Each module shown will be stored in the storage medium. That is, at least a selection module that selects one of the stored print jobs, and a detection module that detects the state of the printing device,
A determination module that determines whether the print output result intended by the print job selected in the selection step can be obtained based on the detected state of the printing device;
If it is determined that the print result intended by the selected print job cannot be obtained, and another print job is stored, the other print job is selected in the selection step. And a control module for controlling.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the following characteristic actions and effects can be obtained.

Since one computer serves as a printer server, when there are a plurality of printers on the network, an independent print reception task and print transmission task are assigned to each printer, and one printer server is used as a plurality of printer servers. It can be used for printers. For example, when there are printers A and B on the network, the print reception task A and the print transmission task A are assigned to the printer A, and the print reception task B and the print transmission task B are assigned to the printer B to operate independently. As a result, the printer server is reduced to one, the cost for the printer server is halved, and the installation location of the printer server is sufficient for one printer server.

The printer server function can be used even in a printer that does not have the printer server function. If a computer capable of replacing a high-performance unit for each functional block is adopted as the printer server, the performance of the printer server can be easily increased at low cost.

Since the video interface cable independent of the network is used as the data transfer path from the printer server to the printer, the document data need only be transferred once from the host computer to the printer server, so that the amount of information flowing through the network is normal. It is half of the server configuration.

In a printer server shared by a plurality of printers, is it necessary to prepare a high-performance printer server in order to manage a large amount of document data with one printer server?
In this embodiment, the capability of the printer server is dedicated to the printer to which the printer server is connected, and therefore it does not need to be a high performance printer server.

When the printer server is shared, if the printer server fails, printing from all printers becomes impossible, but in the configuration of this embodiment, another printer server fails. Even if you do, you can print without problems.

As described above, if the present invention is applied to a system including a printer server, even if the document data having a high priority cannot be printed due to some printer error, another printable document data is given first. It is possible to print.

In the embodiment, the error of no paper and no staple is described, but the present invention is not limited to these errors, and various error situations such as the following may be applicable. It is possible.

If there is no paper of the specified size, printing of document data that can be printed on paper of another existing paper size is given priority.

When the color printer runs out of color ink or toner and if there is other black and white document data, that document data is given priority and printed.

When a paper jam occurs on a specific paper path, priority is given to printing document data that can be printed on the paper path where the paper jam does not occur.

Document data that uses a sorter is given priority, and when a sorter is not connected, printing of document data that does not use another sorter is given priority.

[0245]

As described above, according to the present invention, 1
Even if the intended print result for one print job is not obtained and further processing cannot be performed,
With respect to other print jobs that can be printed in the state of the printing apparatus at that time, the printing process can be positively performed.

Therefore, even if a print job is generated by a plurality of operators or a plurality of processes, even if normal print processing cannot be performed on one print job or if it cannot be performed, another If there is something in the job that can be printed under that condition, printing the job will prevent one error from affecting all users.

[0247]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a print transmission task according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a print reception task.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a print control task of a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is an overall view of a network system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the inside of the printer server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a printer structure diagram of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an overall diagram of a network system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the inside of a printer server according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of an image forming task of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of document data stored in the printer server according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a program storage state in a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

201, 202, 202 Host computer of image forming job transmission source 212 Printer as image forming apparatus 152, 156, 161 Sensor as error detecting means 211 Printer server apparatus

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for sequentially storing print information on a job-by-job basis and sequentially outputting the stored print jobs to a predetermined printing apparatus, and selecting means for selecting one of the stored print jobs. A detection unit that detects the state of the printing apparatus, and whether the print output result intended by the print job selected by the selection unit can be obtained based on the state of the printing apparatus detected by the detection unit. And a case where it is determined by the determining means that the print result intended by the selected print job cannot be obtained, and another print job is stored, An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the selection unit to select the other print job. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is connected to a network and the print information is received from a client apparatus on the network. 3. When the judgment unit judges that the intended result cannot be obtained, the judgment unit further comprises a notification unit for notifying the client that has sent the print job of information indicating that printing is not possible. The second claim
The information processing device according to item. 4. The information according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit operates even while the content of the print job selected by the selecting unit is being output to the printing apparatus. Processing equipment. 5. When outputting the selected print job to the printing device and the judgment means judges that further printing cannot obtain the intended result, the selected print job is processed. 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising means for suspending output and selecting another print job.
The information processing device according to item. 6. The holding print job is restarted when the judging means judges that the status information of the printing apparatus detected by the detecting means is in a state satisfying the holding print job. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is connected as one node of a network. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is directly connected to a predetermined interface of the information processing apparatus. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes the stored job whose output is completed when the output of one print job is completed. 10. The print jobs are stored in the order received,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects in order of reception. 11. Printing information is sequentially stored for each job,
A method of controlling an information processing device for sequentially outputting stored print jobs to a predetermined printing device, comprising a selecting step of selecting one of the stored print jobs, and a detecting step of detecting a state of the printing device. A determination step of determining whether or not a print output result intended by the print job selected in the selection step can be obtained based on the state of the printing apparatus detected in the detection step; When it is determined that the print result intended by the selected print job cannot be obtained, and another print job is stored, the other print job is selected in the selection step. A control method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: 12. The information processing apparatus is connected to a network, and the print information is received from a client apparatus on the network.
A method of controlling an information processing device according to item. 13. The method further comprises a notifying step of notifying the client, which has sent the print job, of information indicating that printing is impossible when the judgment step determines that the intended result cannot be obtained. The method for controlling the information processing device according to claim 12. 14. The detection step is operable even while the contents of the print job selected in the selection step are being output to the printing apparatus.
A method of controlling an information processing device according to item. 15. When outputting the selected print job to the printing device, when the determination step determines that further printing cannot obtain an intended result, the selected print job is processed. The method of controlling the information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a step of suspending output and selecting another print job. 16. The pending print job is restarted when the determining step determines that the status information of the printing apparatus detected by the detecting step is in a state satisfying the pending print job. The method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: 17. The printing device is connected as one node of a network.
The method for controlling the information processing device according to item 1. 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the printing device is directly connected to a predetermined interface of the information processing device. 19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion step of deleting the stored output job when the output for one print job is completed.
The method for controlling the information processing device according to item 1. 20. The print jobs are stored in the order received,
The control method of the information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the selecting step selects in the order of reception. 21. A storage medium that causes an information processing apparatus to read the information into a memory and execute the processing to sequentially store print information in units of jobs and to sequentially output the stored print jobs to a predetermined printing apparatus. , Based on the procedure code of the selection step of selecting one of the stored print jobs, the procedure code of the detection step of detecting the state of the printing apparatus, and the state of the printing apparatus detected in the detection step, The procedure code of the judgment step for judging whether or not the print output result intended by the print job selected in the selection step can be obtained, and the print result intended by the selected print job is obtained by the judgment step. If it is determined that the other print job is not stored and the other print job is stored, the control is performed so that the other print job is selected in the selection step. Storage medium characterized by comprising a procedure code step.