JPH1131051A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printing system capable of realizing a sorting function by outputting print data to one or a plurality of printers. A printing system includes a plurality of computers connected to a network, a print server, and a plurality of printers. The computer includes a network connection unit, a network communication unit, and a network communication unit.
And a printing state grasping means 20 for grasping an output printer state.
5 and print information acquisition means 206 for acquiring printer information
Print data acquisition means 207, print data storage means 208, and input means 21 for setting a user request
1, display means 210 for displaying on a display device,
The printer includes an arithmetic unit 109, a storage unit 212 for storing data in the RAM 106, a print designation unit 204 for designating an output option, and a print data transfer unit 209 for transferring print data to a print server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system capable of realizing a sorting function by outputting print data to one or a plurality of printers at the time of printout.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of printing systems in which a plurality of printers are connected on a network have been used for printing.

In a conventional printing system, a GUI
(Graphical User Interface) to set the number of output copies and output printer. At this time, only one output printer can be set, and when printing a plurality of copies, the first page is output for the designated number of copies and then the second page is output for the designated number of copies. Printing is completed by repeating this for the number of output pages.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printing system, when it is desired to sort printed materials,
The printed matter output in the stack format must be manually sorted, which requires time for sorting, and has a problem that an error may occur due to the manual work.

In this printing system, it is required that a sort function be realized by outputting print data to one or more printers at the time of printout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system capable of realizing a sorting function by outputting print data to one or more printers at the time of printout.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, a printing system according to the present invention is a printing system having a plurality of computers connected to a network, a print server, and a plurality of printers managed by a print server. The computer grasps the status of a network connection unit for connecting to each device on the network, a network communication unit for communicating with the device connected by the network connection unit, and a status of a printer for performing printing in the print server. A print state grasping unit, a print information acquiring unit for acquiring printer information such as a name of a printer in the print server, a print data acquiring unit for receiving print data such as print setting data and image data, and printing for storing print data. Data storage means for setting a user request via an input device Input means, display means for displaying the contents of settings on the input means on a display device, an arithmetic device for performing calculations, etc., storage means for storing data in a storage buffer, and output such as the name of a printer to be printed out There is provided a configuration having print designation means for designating options and print data transfer means for transferring print data to a print server.

Thus, a printing system which can realize a sorting function by outputting print data to one or a plurality of printers at the time of printing out is obtained.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a printing system having a plurality of computers connected to a network, a print server, and a plurality of printers managed by a print server. Network connection means for connecting to each device on the network, network communication means for communicating with the devices connected by the network connection means, and print state grasping means for grasping the state of the printer which performs printing in the print server Print information acquisition means for acquiring printer information such as the name of a printer in the print server; print setting data;
Print data acquisition means for receiving print data such as image data, print data storage means for storing print data,
Input means for setting a user's request via the input device, display means for displaying the setting contents of the input means on a display device, an arithmetic device for performing calculations, and storing data in a storage buffer Storage means, print designation means for designating an output option such as the name of a printer to be printed out, and print data transfer means for transferring print data to a print server, wherein the output printer is designated; It has an effect that print data is transferred to the designated printer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the data stored in the storage buffer is stored in the storage buffer by one.
Print loop means for repeatedly transferring the data to one printer is provided, and has the effect that printed materials are sorted and output by one printer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the print state grasping means retrieves a printer capable of printing, the print information acquiring means acquires the retrieved printer name, and the print designation means. Selects a printer for data output, the print data transfer means transfers the print data to the selected printer via the print server, and the storage means stores the name of the printer to which the print data was transferred by the print data transfer means in a storage buffer. The display means displays the print name stored in the storage buffer on the display device, and has an effect of displaying on the display device which printer on the network has output the printed matter.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the printer status grasping means automatically searches for a printable printer, and the print data transfer means transmits the print data to the printable printer. The print data is automatically transferred to a printer capable of printing.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an apparatus block diagram showing a computer of a printing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 100 is a bus line, 101 is SC
SI (compact computer system interface,
Peripheral device connection device for connecting to peripheral devices such as a Small Computer System Interface); 102, a hard disk storing programs and data; 103, a network control device for freely switching over a network and taking in information; Input device such as keyboard, 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a display device such as an LCD for displaying, reference numeral 106 denotes a RAM for storing setting items and the like, reference numeral 107 denotes a ROM for storing read-only data such as a program, and reference numeral 108 controls the whole based on all information. The CPU 109 is an arithmetic unit for calculating data and the like, and 110 is a network connection device such as a network board.

The connection, function, operation, and the like of the computer of the printing system configured as described above will be described.

First, when a print command is input from the input device 104, a print setting screen is displayed on the display device 105. Next, data related to output such as an output printer name, the number of output copies, and a page number is set from the input device 104.

Next, the CPU 108 reads the data written in the RAM 106, and the arithmetic unit 109 performs an arithmetic operation to check whether the value set by the input unit 104 is correct.

Next, the CPU 108 transmits a command for accessing the printer designated by the network control device 103 to the designated printer via the network connection device 110, and then sends the command to each printer via the network connection device 110. Transfer the output data.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a computer of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the arithmetic unit 109 and the RAM 106 are the same as those in FIG. 2
00 is print data (print data) on the network
, A print server 201, network connection means for connecting to a network, 202, a network communication means for communicating with the connected network,
Numeral 03 denotes a printing means for giving an instruction to start printing, etc., 204 denotes a printing designation means for designating which printer to output, 205
Is a print state grasping means for grasping the state of the designated printer, 206 is print information acquiring means for acquiring printer information such as the name of the printer to be printed, 207 is a print data acquiring means for acquiring data to be printed, 208
Denotes print data storage means for storing data to be printed;
9 is a print data transfer unit for transferring print data to a printer or the like, 210 is a display unit for displaying a setting screen or a printer name, 211 is an input unit for designating a printer or inputting the number of output copies, 212 is a print unit. This is storage means for storing print data, printer settings, printer status, and the like in the RAM 106 as a storage buffer. Means 20
1 to 212 constitute the CPU 108.

The connection, function, operation, and the like of the computer of the printing system configured as described above will be described.

First, the input unit 211 inputs a command for starting the print setting screen, and the print setting screen is displayed on the display unit 21.
0 is displayed on the screen.

Next, the input means 211 inputs the set number of copies, paper size, and the like via the input device 104, and the arithmetic unit 109 performs an operation to check whether the set value is correct.

Next, the print data obtaining means 207 calls the print data from the RAM 106 and writes the print data in the RAM 106 together with the values set for printing.

Next, the printing means 201 starts printing,
The print designation unit 204 designates a plurality of printers for printing.

Next, the network connection means 201 connects the computer to the network, and the network communication means 202 starts communication with the print server 200 on the connected network.

Next, the print state grasping means 205 checks whether or not the designated printer is in a printable state, and when printing is possible, the print information acquiring means 206 acquires the name of the designated printer.

Next, the print data acquisition means 207 calls print data (print data) to be printed from the RAM 106, and the print data storage means 208 stores the print data called from the RAM 106 in a memory (not shown).

Next, the print data transfer means 209 transfers the print data and its setting contents (print table contents described later) to the print server 200 via the network communication means 202, and the print server 200 Transfer data to

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to the first embodiment, and shows a network connection system showing a print server, a printer, and the like connected to a network line. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a network line, 301 and 302 denote printers, 303 denotes a print server, and 304 denotes a client computer whose configuration is shown in FIGS. Although FIG. 3 shows only one client computer, a plurality of client computers may be connected to the network line 300.

The connection, function, operation, and the like of the printing system configured as described above will be described.

First, when a client issues a print setting and a print command, print data is transferred from the client computer 304 to the print server 303 via the network line 300. The print server 303 sends print data to the designated printer.

The operation of the printing system configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
4 is a flowchart showing processing in the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the print setting processing of FIG. 4 in detail, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the print destination designation processing of FIG. 5 in detail, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing in detail the data transfer to the print server in FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the print processing in FIG. 4 in detail.

In FIG. 4, first, the client executes a print setting and a print command in the client computer 304 (S401).

Next, in FIG. 5, the print data acquisition means 207 selects print data (print data) to be printed and calls it from the RAM 106 (S501). next,
The input unit 211 inputs the setting of the number of copies through the input device 104 (S502), and the print data storage unit 209 stores this in the RAM 106 via the storage unit 212. Next, the print designation unit 204 designates a plurality of printers for printing (S503).

Next, in FIG. 6, the display means 210
Display name of printer connected to network 1
05 (S601), the print designation unit 204
Selects an output printer (S602), registers it in the output table of the RAM 106 (S603), decrements the number of output copies (S604), and determines whether the number of output copies is greater than 1 (S605). When it is determined that the number is greater than 1, the process returns to step 602, and when it is determined that the number is 1 or less, the printing destination designation process is terminated.

Next, in FIG. 5, the input means 211 inputs option settings such as black-and-white / color output, magnification, and paper selection via the input device 104 (S504).
106. The printing unit 203 includes the input device 10
4. Printing is started based on a printing start command via the input unit 211 (S505).

Next, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the print data transfer means 209
The print table (output table) in which the printer name is registered and the print data are transferred to the print server 200 (S402, S701, S702).

Next, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, the print server 200 acquires the setting contents and the output printer name from the print table (S403, S801). Next, the print server 200 transfers data to each designated printer. Next, the printing state grasping means 205 checks the state of the output printer (S802) and determines whether or not output is possible (S803). If output is not possible, the setting contents and the printer name are registered in a waiting table (queue) (S80).
4). If output is possible, the printing unit 203 sends a print command to the printer via the print server 200 (S80).
5) Subsequently, the print data transfer unit 209 sends out the print data (S806). Next, the print data transfer unit 20
9 advances the print table by one (S807), and determines whether or not the print data is the last print data in the table (S808). If it is determined that the print data is the last print data, it is next determined whether there is no print data in the queue (S8).
09). Next, when the print data transfer unit 209 determines that there is print data in the queue, it acquires the setting contents and the printer name from the queue and transfers them (S810), and when it determines that there is no print data, ends the process. Step 808
If it is determined that the print data is not the last print data in the print table, the process returns to step 802.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of sets of print data are sent to separate printers and printed out by each printer. For example, each set prints out each printer. And a sorting function can be realized.

(Second Embodiment) A printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment is the same as in FIGS. 1 to 3, and some functions are different from those of the first embodiment.

First, the input means 211 inputs print settings and a print command via the input device 104, and displays a print setting screen on the display device 105 by the display means 210.

Next, the input means 211 inputs the number of copies, paper size, and the like set by the client computer 304 via the input device 104, and the calculation device 109 performs calculation to see whether the set values are correct. .

Next, the print data acquiring means 207 calls the print data from the RAM 106 and writes the print data into the RAM 106 together with the values set for printing.

Next, the print designation means 204 operates as the input device 1
, One printer to be printed is designated. This is an operation different from that of the first embodiment.

Next, the network connection means 201 connects the computer to the network, and the network communication means 202 starts communication with the print server 200 on the connected network.

Next, the print state grasping means 205 checks whether or not the designated printer is in a printable state, and if printing is possible, the print information acquiring means 206 acquires the name of the designated printer.

Next, the print data acquisition means 207 calls print data (print data) to be printed from the RAM 106, and the print data storage means 208 stores the print data called from the RAM 106 in a memory (not shown).

Next, the print data transfer means 209 transmits the print data and its setting contents (print table contents) to the print server 2 via the network communication means 202.
00, and the print server 200 repeats the data transfer to the designated printer by the designated number of copies by the print loop means (not shown).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the data transfer to the designated printer is repeated by the designated number of copies by the print loop means, so that the printed matter is sorted and output by one printer. Can be.

(Embodiment 3) A printing system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment is the same as in FIGS. 1 to 3, and some functions are different from those of the first embodiment.

First, the input unit 211 inputs a print setting and a print command via the input device 104, and displays a print setting screen on the display device 105 by the display unit 210.

Next, the input means 211 inputs the set number of copies, the paper size, and the like via the input device 104, and the arithmetic unit 109 performs an arithmetic operation to check whether the set values are correct.

Next, the network server 202 accesses the print server 200.

Next, the print state grasping means 205 searches for a printable printer, and the print information acquiring means 206 acquires the name of the printable printer.

The display means 210 receives the printer name and causes the display device 105 to display a list of printable printer names. This is different from the first embodiment.

Next, the network connection means 201 connects the computer to the network, and the network communication means 202 starts communication with the print server 200 on the connected network.

Next, the print information obtaining means 206 obtains the name of the printer to be printed, and stores the printer name in the RAM 1.
06 is stored in the storage unit 212.

Next, the print data storage means 208 is a RAM
The print data called from 106 is stored in a memory (not shown).

Next, the print data transfer means 209 transmits the print data and the setting contents (print table contents) to the print server 2 via the network communication means 202.
00, and the print server 200 causes the print data transfer unit 203 to transfer data to the designated printer.

Next, the print state grasping means 205 determines whether or not the designated printer has completed the output, and if it determines that the output has been completed, the display means 210 and the display device 1
At 05, the client is notified of the end and the output printer name.

That is, the display means 210 is connected to the display device 105.
Then, a list of output end and output printer names is displayed. This is also a different operation from the first embodiment.

As described above, according to this embodiment, which printer on the network has output a printed matter is displayed on the display device 105, so that the output printer can be easily known.

(Embodiment 4) A printing system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment is the same as in FIGS. 1 to 3, and some functions are different from those of the first embodiment.

First, the input unit 211 inputs a command for starting the print setting screen, and the print setting screen is displayed on the display unit 21.
0 is displayed on the screen.

Next, the input means 211 inputs the set number of copies, paper size, and the like via the input device 104, and the arithmetic unit 109 performs an operation to see whether the set values are correct.

Next, the network server 202 accesses the print server 200.

Next, the network connection means 201 connects the computer to the network, and the network communication means 202 starts communication with the print server 200 on the connected network.

Next, the print state grasping means 205 searches for a printer capable of printing. This is an operation different from that of the first embodiment. The print information acquisition unit 206 acquires the name of a printer (output printer) to print from among the searched printers.

Next, the print data acquisition means 207 calls the print data (print data) to be printed from the RAM 106, and the print data storage means 208 stores the print data in the storage buffer 1.
The print data called from step 06 is stored in the memory.

Next, the print data transfer means 209 transmits the print data and the setting contents (print table contents) to the print server 2 via the network communication means 202.
00, and the print server 200 transfers data to each designated printer.

Next, the print state grasping means 205 determines whether or not the designated printer has completed the output, and if it determines that the output has been completed, the display means 210 and the display device 1
At 05, the client is notified of the end and the output printer name.

That is, the display means 210 is connected to the display device 105.
Then, a list of output end and output printer names is displayed. This is also a different operation from the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, print data is automatically transferred to a printer capable of printing, so that print data can be sorted and output without selecting a printer. Can be.

[0073]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system including a plurality of computers connected to a network, a print server, and a plurality of printers managed by a print server. The computer grasps the status of a network connection unit for connecting to each device on the network, a network communication unit for communicating with the device connected by the network connection unit, and a status of a printer for performing printing in the print server. A print state grasping unit, a print information acquiring unit for acquiring printer information such as a name of a printer in the print server, a print data acquiring unit for receiving print data such as print setting data and image data, and printing for storing print data. Data storage means, input means for setting a user request via an input device, Display means for displaying the setting contents of the input means on the display device, an arithmetic device for performing calculations, etc., storage means for storing data in a storage buffer, and output options such as the name of a printer to be printed out. By including a print designation unit and a print data transfer unit that transfers print data to a print server, a plurality of copies of print data can be sent to separate printers and printed out by each printer. It is possible to print out one copy at a time by a printer, and an advantageous effect that a sorting function can be realized is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In the invention described in the above, by providing a print loop means for repeatedly transferring the data stored in the storage buffer to one printer, by the print loop means,
Since the data transfer to the designated one printer can be repeated by the designated number of copies, the advantageous effect that the printed matter can be sorted and output by one printer can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a first aspect is provided.
In the invention described in (1), the print state grasping means searches for a printer capable of printing, the print information obtaining means obtains the searched printer name, the print designation means selects a printer for data output, and the print data transfer means. Transfers the print data to the selected printer via the print server, the storage means stores the name of the printer to which the print data was transferred by the print data transfer means in the storage buffer, and the display means displays the print name stored in the storage buffer. By displaying on the device, which printer on the network outputs the printed matter on the display device, it is possible to easily know the output printer. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain the sorted printed matter. The advantageous effect that it can be obtained is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In the invention described in 1 above, the printer status grasping means automatically searches for a printable printer, and the print data transfer means automatically transfers the print data to a printable printer by transferring the print data to the printable printer. , The client can sort and output the print data without having to select a printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an apparatus block diagram showing a computer of a printing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a computer of the printing system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a printing system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the print setting process of FIG. 4 in detail;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of a print destination designation process in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of data transfer to the print server of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the print processing of FIG. 4 in detail;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 Bus line 101 Peripheral device connection device 102 Hard disk 103 Network control device 104 Input device 105 Display device 106 RAM 107 ROM 108 CPU 109 Computing device 110 Network connection device 200 Print server 201 Network connection means 202 Network communication means 203 Printing means 204 Print designation Means 205 Print state grasping means 206 Print information acquisition means 207 Print data acquisition means 208 Print data storage means 209 Print data transfer means 210 Display means 211 Input means 212 Storage means 300 Network lines 301, 302 Printer 303 Print server 304 Client computer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing system comprising a plurality of computers connected to a network, a print server, and a plurality of printers managed by the print server, wherein the computer has a network connection for connecting each device on the network. Means, network communication means for communicating with a device connected by the network connection means, print state grasping means for grasping the state of a printer which performs printing in the print server, and name of the printer in the print server Print information acquisition means for acquiring printer information such as print setting data, print data acquisition means for receiving print data such as image data, print data storage means for storing the print data, and a user request input device. Input means for setting via the interface, and setting contents of the input means. Display means for displaying on a device, an arithmetic device for performing calculations, etc., storage means for storing data in a storage buffer, print designation means for designating an output option such as a printer name to be printed out, and the print data Print data transfer means for transferring the print data to the print server. 2. The data stored in the storage buffer is 1
2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a print loop means for repeatedly transferring the data to one printer. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said print state obtaining means searches for a printer capable of printing, said print information obtaining means obtains said searched printer name, said print designation means selects a printer for data output, and A print data transfer unit for transferring print data to the selected printer via the print server; a storage unit for storing, in the storage buffer, a printer name to which the print data is transferred by the print data transfer unit; 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the display causes the display device to display the print name stored in the storage buffer. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said printer status grasping means automatically searches for a printable printer, and said print data transfer means transfers print data to said printable printer. Printing system.