JP3337871B2 - Information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, printing system, information processing method, and printing control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, and
The present invention relates to a printing system, an information processing method, and a printing control method .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of printing system is configured by connecting a plurality of personal computers (PCs) / workstations (WS) and a plurality of printers via a network. A printer is selected from among printers operating on a network and suited for the purpose of printing, and then the printer is designated and printing is performed.

[0003]

At this time, when there is a special reason, such as when printing in a hurry or when printing a large amount of data slowly so as not to inconvenience other members, connection to the network is made. After grasping the status of the printer, the printer must be selected and then printed, and the operability is very poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print mode in which print data is input from an information processing apparatus via a network. At the time of printing, each print device on the network determines whether the print mode notified from each print device matches the input print mode and determines a print device to which print data is to be transmitted. Even if the user is not familiar with the print mode that can be set, the user can determine the print device that can execute the print process in the print mode that matches the input print mode while eliminating the burden of the user's complicated operation. An information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing system, an information processing method, and a printing control method capable of displaying a printed printing apparatus and clearly displaying it to a user. It is to be.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, which is used when data to be printed urgently is printed. An input unit capable of inputting an emergency print mode, an obtaining unit that obtains a registered print mode from the printing device, a print mode input by the input unit, and a print mode obtained by the obtainment unit. And a determining unit that determines a printing apparatus to which the print data is to be transmitted, according to a result of the determination by the determining unit.

A second invention according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, and inputs a large-volume printing mode used when printing a large amount of data to be printed. Input means capable of
From the printing apparatus, an obtaining unit that obtains a registered print mode, and a determining unit that determines whether the print mode input by the input unit matches the print mode obtained by the obtaining unit, Determining means for determining a printing apparatus to which the print data is to be transmitted, according to a result of the determination by the determining means.

[0007] A third invention according to the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a display means for displaying information for specifying the printing apparatus determined by the determination means.

A fourth invention according to the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network,
Registration means for registering an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently, storage means for storing the print mode registered by the registration means, and a print mode request from the information processing apparatus In response to the,
Notification means for notifying the information processing apparatus of the print mode stored in the storage means. A fifth invention according to the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network, and a registration unit capable of registering a large-volume printing mode used when printing a large amount of data to be printed. Storage means for storing a print mode registered by the registration means; and a notification for notifying the information processing apparatus of a print mode stored in the storage means in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. Means. A sixth invention according to the present invention is a printing system in which an information processing device and a plurality of printing devices can communicate with each other via a network, wherein the information processing device prints data to be printed urgently. An input unit capable of inputting an emergency print mode to be used or a large-volume print mode to be used when printing a large amount of data to be printed; an obtaining unit configured to obtain a registered print mode from the printing apparatus; Determining means for determining whether the print mode input by the means matches the print mode obtained by the obtaining means, and according to the determination result by the determining means,
Determining means for determining a printing device to which print data is transmitted, wherein the printing device is used in an emergency print mode used when printing data to be urgently printed or used when printing a large amount of data. A registration unit capable of registering a large number of print modes, a storage unit for storing the print mode registered by the registration unit, and a storage unit that stores the print mode in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. And notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus of a print mode. A seventh invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the information processing apparatus has a display unit for displaying information for specifying the printing device determined by the determination unit. An eighth invention according to the present invention is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, and inputs an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently. Input step, an obtaining step of obtaining a registered print mode from the printing apparatus, and determining whether the print mode input by the input step matches the print mode obtained by the obtaining step. And a determining step of determining a printing apparatus to which the print data is to be transmitted in accordance with a result of the determination by the determining means. A ninth invention according to the present invention is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, and inputs a large-volume print mode used when printing a large amount of data to be printed. Input step, an obtaining step of obtaining a registered print mode from the printing apparatus, and determining whether the print mode input by the input step matches the print mode obtained by the obtaining step. And a determining step of determining a printing apparatus to which the print data is to be transmitted in accordance with a result of the determination by the determining means. A tenth invention according to the present invention has a display step of displaying, on a display means, information for specifying the printing apparatus determined in the determining step. An eleventh invention according to the present invention relates to a print control method in a printing device capable of communicating with an information processing device via a network, and a registration method for registering an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently. And a storage step of storing the print mode registered by the registration step in a storage unit; and a print mode stored in the storage unit in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. And a notifying step for notifying the user. A twelfth invention according to the present invention relates to a print control method for a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network, the method comprising: registering a large print mode used when printing a large amount of data to be printed. And a storage step of storing the print mode registered by the registration step in a storage unit; and a print mode stored in the storage unit in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. And a notifying step for notifying the user.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 1, a message format 31 requested from the PC / WS to the printer includes a type of request, a printer number, and request data. The request types include “print” and “obtain printer print mode”. The printer number is a number that uniquely identifies the printer on the network. The request data indicates that the request type is
It has meaning only in the case of “print” and indicates “print data”.

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

Hereinafter, the print mode in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

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

As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, the following 3
It has two print modes.

"Emergency printing" is a print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently or a small amount of data. "Large volume printing" is used to print data to be printed in large quantities or data that can be printed late. "Normal printing" is a print mode used when printing data in a normal mode that does not match the above two.

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

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

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

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

PC / WS on the printer side in this embodiment
In response to the request from the PC, when a request from the PC is received (1), the content of the request is determined (2).
7 (3).

Next, the print data is output to the printing device 210 and printed (4), the data in the memory 207 is deleted (5), and the process is terminated.

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

[0032]

[0033]

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

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

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

Hereinafter, the printing process (PC / PC) in the printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The printing process performed by the central processing unit 203 on the WS side will be described.

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

First, a print mode for printing the data is input using the input device 202 (1). Next, a message asking the printer about the print mode is transmitted to the printer using the network means 204 (2).
04, a message notifying the print mode is received from the printer (3).

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

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that the print modes of all the printers have been acquired, the user is asked to input a print mode in another print mode using the input device 202 (6). . Next, it is determined whether or not to print in another mode (7). If printing in another mode, the process returns to step (1), and the processing up to this point is repeated, and it is determined that printing is not to be performed in another print mode. Ends the processing.

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

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the print mode setting registration processing on the printer side is performed by the input device 211 on the printer side has been described. However, the print mode set or set by a command from the WS / PC side is described. The mode may be rewritten so that the print environment can be freely changed.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically determine the optimum printing apparatus for the print mode of the print data to be printed, and to concentrate print data output requests. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation where a print request from a user on a network cannot be satisfied.

[0045]

[0046]

[0047]

[0048]

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Explanation of symbols]

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

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, the input means being capable of inputting an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently , and An acquisition unit that acquires a registered print mode from a printing apparatus; a determination unit that determines whether a print mode input by the input unit matches a print mode acquired by the acquisition unit; An information processing apparatus, comprising: a determination unit that determines a printing device to which print data is transmitted according to a determination result by the determination unit. A plurality of printing apparatuses connected via a network;
A large amount of information that can be communicated with and used to print large amounts of data
An input unit capable of inputting a print mode, and an input unit for acquiring a registered print mode from the printing apparatus.
Obtaining means, a print mode input by the input means , and the obtaining method.
Determine whether the print mode obtained by the column matches.
The print data is transmitted in accordance with the determination result determined by the determination unit.
An information processing apparatus , comprising: a determination unit that determines a printing apparatus to be communicated with . 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying information for specifying the printing apparatus determined by said determination means. 4. A printing device capable of communicating with an information processing device via a network, wherein the registration device is capable of registering an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently, and the registration device. Storage means for storing the print mode registered by the information processing apparatus, and notification means for notifying the information processing apparatus of the print mode stored in the storage means in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. Communication with an information processing device via a network.
Reliable printing device that can be used when printing large amounts of data
A registration unit capable of registering a print mode, and a storage unit for storing the print mode registered by the registration unit.
Storage means, and in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus,
The print mode stored in the storage means is stored in the information processing apparatus.
And a notifying means for notifying the device.
Printing equipment. 6. A printing system in which an information processing apparatus and a plurality of printing apparatuses can communicate with each other via a network, wherein the information processing apparatus is an emergency system used when printing data to be printed urgently.
Print mode or when printing large amounts of data
An input unit capable of inputting a large-volume print mode to be used in the case where the print mode is input from the printing apparatus; an acquisition unit configured to obtain a registered print mode; and a print mode input by the input unit and obtained by the obtainment unit. determining means for determining whether the printing mode is coincident with, according to the determination result by the determining means, and a determining means for determining a printing apparatus which transmits print data, the printing apparatus, emergency Emergency used when printing data you want to print on
Print mode or when printing large amounts of data
Registering means for registering a large-volume print mode used in the case where the information is stored in the storage means, and storing the print mode registered by the registration means in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. A notification unit for notifying the information processing apparatus of the stored print mode. 7. The printing system according to claim 6 , wherein the information processing apparatus includes a display unit that displays information for specifying the printing device determined by the determining unit. 8. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses via a network, comprising: an input step of inputting an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently ; From the printing apparatus, an acquisition step of acquiring a registered print mode, and a determination step of determining whether or not the print mode input by the input step matches the print mode acquired by the acquisition step, A determining step of determining a printing apparatus to which print data is transmitted, according to a result of the determination by the determining unit. 9. A plurality of printing apparatuses via a network.
An information processing method for an information processing device capable of communication.
Te, a large amount to be used when you want to print the data that you want a large amount of printing
An input step of inputting a print mode, and an operation of acquiring a registered print mode from the printing apparatus.
Obtaining step, the print mode input in the input step, and the print mode.
Whether the print mode acquired by the acquisition step matches
Determining whether or not the print data is to be transmitted according to the determination result by the determining means.
Determining a printing device to be communicated with
An information processing method characterized by the following. 10. The information processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a display step of displaying, on a display unit, information for specifying the printing apparatus determined in said determining step. 11. A print control method for a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network, comprising: a registration step of registering an emergency print mode used when printing data to be printed urgently; A storage step of storing the print mode registered in the step in the storage means, and a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus of the print mode stored in the storage means in response to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus. A print control method comprising: 12. An information processing apparatus via a network.
A printing control method for a communication-capable printing apparatus, wherein a large amount of data is used when printing a large amount of data to be printed.
A registration step for registering a print mode, and a storage mode for storing the print mode registered in the registration step.
Storing the data in a column, and responding to a print mode request from the information processing apparatus,
The print mode stored in the storage means is stored in the information processing apparatus.
Notification step for notifying the device.
Print control method.