JP3724959B2 - Network printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network print system, and more particularly to a network print system for reducing a data transfer amount when transferring a print data file via a network to a print execution control apparatus for outputting a form to a printer and improving a throughput of the entire system. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional network print system, and a case where this network print system is applied to an invoice issuing system will be described as an example. This system corresponds to a host computer of an invoice issuing system, and a client 101 that distributes generated invoice data to each office and an invoice installed at each office and transferred via the wide area network 102. And a print server 104 that outputs data from the connected printer 103. Here, a process until the invoice is printed will be described.
[0003]
The client 101 generates data to be transferred to each print server 104 based on the bill data. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format of conventional transfer data transferred over the wide area network 102. Basically, print data that can be interpreted as it is in the print server 104 becomes transfer data as it is. When the invoice is composed of n sheets, the print data includes n page data corresponding to each page of the invoice to be printed and header information of the invoice. The header information includes paper size information, form layout information, overlay information, single-sided / double-sided printing information, enlarged / reduced printing information, and the like. Note that print information for print control for each page is also added to each page data. When the print data is generated, the client 101 transmits the print data as it is to the corresponding office as transfer data. When a plurality of types of invoices are transmitted to one office, transfer data is generated for each invoice and is sequentially transmitted.
[0004]
In the print server 104, when transfer data is sent from the client 101, the header information included in the print data which is the transfer data is analyzed and converted into a format corresponding to the printer, and each page data is printed. After the printing is completed, the print data is usually deleted in order to secure the disk capacity in the print server 104. The print server 104 sequentially prints and deletes each time transfer data is sent.
[0005]
As described above, in the conventional network print system, data to be printed (n invoices) is edited on the print data (transfer data) on the client 101 side, and between the client 101 and the print server 104. Processing is performed serially in the order of data transfer, form analysis on the print server 104 side, and printing.
[0006]
By the way, as a method for reducing the data transfer amount and the consumed disk capacity on the print server side, there is a method in which transfer data is compressed on a form basis, a page basis, or a repeated portion of the same data.
[0007]
There is also a method for taking a difference from the reference data. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-11552, image data of the previous page is held in a cache, a difference between the page and the previous page is obtained, and the difference data is used as data of the page. A page printer is disclosed in which image data of the previous page and difference data are combined to restore the page data. That is, if this prior art is used, when transferring a plurality of print data, for example, an invoice consisting of a plurality of pages, the previous page is regarded as a reference page and the difference from the previous page is determined as the transfer data of the page And Then, on the print server side, the page data is restored by the previous page data and the difference data, and printing is performed. In this way, the data amount of a page similar to the immediately preceding page can be greatly reduced, so that both the data transfer amount and the consumed disk capacity can be reduced.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, although transferring the print data as it is as transfer data is certainly easy on the print server side, if the amount of data to be printed becomes enormous, the amount of data transfer becomes enormous. Also, a sufficient disk capacity must be secured on the print server side. Furthermore, since the time required for data transfer is a bottleneck in the printing process, it is difficult to say that the data transfer is efficient from the viewpoint of processing time. An example in which such a problem appears remarkably is shown below.
[0009]
Invoices generally consist of three parts: “original”, “copy” and “record”. “Copy” and “Record” have the same actual data such as the billing amount and print layout as “Original”, and only differ by printing the “Copy” and “Record” marks on part of the invoice. is there. This difference is set in the overlay information in the header information. However, conventionally, print data including the same actual data must be transferred three times because there are three types of invoices, although only the overlay information is different. Some printers have a copy function. However, this copy function is effective only when printing exactly the same contents, and cannot cope with a partial change of data. That is, the conventional duplicate transfer of the same data is useless, which causes an increase in network load and communication cost due to a large amount of data transfer.
[0010]
Also, if the print data of the page image is stored in the same format without compression on the print server side, the disk capacity will be consumed unnecessarily, so normally the print data is deleted after printing is completed. ing. However, if it is deleted every time printing is completed, for example, even if it is desired to print the print data by simply changing the form, such as layout, single-sided / double-sided, and reduced, it is necessary to retransmit the data from the client side End up. Further, even when the printing process itself is normally completed, even when the print density is low and the printed matter cannot be used and printing is to be performed immediately, it is necessary to retransmit the data from the client side. For this reason, data retransmission processing occurs on the client side, and further increases in network load and communication cost due to retransmission.
[0011]
In addition, when compression technology is simply used, for example, when compression is performed in units of pages, the same amount of data as the first page is generated for the second and subsequent pages that have a lot of content in common with the first page. It is difficult to say that the compression is efficient.
[0012]
Further, in the method using the difference from the reference data, even when it is desired to print only a specific page again, it is necessary to always restore in order from the first page, and a large processing load is required for the printing. It will take. In addition, there is a question as to whether it is optimal to always use the immediately preceding page as a reference page from the viewpoint of reducing transfer data.
[0013]
Further, conventionally, since the print data is serially processed in accordance with the procedures of transfer data editing, data transfer, form analysis and printing on the client side, the processing time required for completing the printing of all the printed matter becomes great. End up. Also, even when dividing and transferring in units of pages to avoid serial processing, printing order (page misplacement) or missing pages may occur due to path delays or errors during transfer, etc., simply by dividing. Sex occurs.
[0014]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a first object is to provide an effective data compression method to print a form composed of a plurality of text pages. An object of the present invention is to provide a network print system that reduces the amount of data transfer.
[0015]
A second object is to provide a network print system capable of improving the throughput of the system by reducing the total time required for printing out a form composed of a plurality of text pages.
[0016]
A third object is to provide a network print system that enables efficient form output even when a form is re-output or a form is changed.
[0017]
A fourth object is to provide a network print system that guarantees printing order, data delivery, and form output execution when divided and transferred through a network path.
[0018]
A fifth object is to provide a network print system that improves the reliability of the contents of transferred form output text data.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the network print system according to the present invention is a printable form output text composed of a set of form header information and a plurality of text-format page data to be printed. Print request issuing device for generating a print data file from data, and print execution for generating form output text data based on the print data file transferred from the print request issuing device via the network and outputting the form The print request issuing device includes any page data included in the form output text data as reference page data, and a page other than the reference page data is obtained by taking a difference from the reference page data. Form output data conversion processing means for compressing data and generating differentially compressed data; and Print data transmission means for transmitting the page data and the differentially compressed data as a print data file to the print execution control device, and the form output data conversion processing means takes a difference from the reference page data If the specified compression effect is not obtained as a result of comparing the differential compression data obtained by compression with the page data before differential compression, the page data is set as the reference page data of the page data on and after the next page. To change.
[0020]
In addition, when the form output data conversion processing unit obtains a predetermined compression effect as a result of comparing the difference compressed data obtained by compressing by taking the difference from the reference page data with the page data before the difference. Generates a transmission block file as a transmission unit to the print execution control device based on the set of the reference page data and the differentially compressed data, and the print data transmission means includes the form output data conversion processing means. The transmission block file generated by the above is transmitted as a print data file.
[0021]
Furthermore, the print request issuing device sequentially starts subsequent processing for each page block each time the form output data conversion processing unit generates a page block based on a set of reference page data and differentially compressed data. By doing so, a plurality of processes are executed in parallel.
[0022]
Further, the form output data conversion processing means uses any page data included in the form output text data as reference page data, and takes page data other than the reference page data by taking a difference from the reference page data. To generate differential compressed data, and for all page data included in the text data for form output, a set of reference page data and differential compressed data obtained by taking the difference between the reference page data A page data differential compression processing unit that executes page data differential compression processing to be divided into page blocks, and transmission block generation processing that generates a transmission block file corresponding to each page block and serving as a transmission unit to the print execution control device A transmission block generation processing unit for executing the page data differential compression processing Each time a page block is divided and generated, a transmission block generation process for the page block is started, and each time a transmission block file is generated, the transmission block generation processing unit passes each page to the print data transmission unit. Processing for blocks is executed in parallel.
[0023]
Further, the form output data conversion processing means executes a data file analysis process for analyzing a form output text data file including a plurality of form output text data and dividing the form output text data unit into a form output text data unit. Each time it is divided into output text data, it has a data file analysis processing unit that starts page data differential compression processing for the form output text data, and executes processing for each form output text data in parallel. is there.
[0024]
The form output data conversion processing means is included in the form output text data and the page block generated by dividing the form output text data and the page block in the process of generating the transmission block file. The print request issuing apparatus side form output management database in which the information relating the page information and the identification information of the transmission block file generated based on the page block is registered is generated.
[0025]
The print request issuing device includes a print data information storage processing unit that temporarily stores a transmission block file that has been transmitted to the print execution control device in a transmission block file storage database.
[0026]
A print request issuing device that generates a print data file from printable form output text data composed of a set of form header information and a plurality of text-format page data to be printed; A print execution control device for generating a form output text data based on a print data file transferred from the print request issuing device and outputting the form, the print request issuing device having a form output text Data conversion processing means for form output for dividing page data included in data into a plurality of page blocks and generating a transmission block file as a transmission unit to the print execution control device including each page block; and for the form output The transmission block file generated by the data conversion processing means is transmitted as a print data file. And a printing data transmission means, and executes concurrently a plurality of processing by sequentially starting the subsequent processing to be performed on pages block whenever dividing generate pages block.
[0027]
The print execution control device includes: a print data receiving unit that receives a print data file transferred from the print request issuing device as a transmission block file; and a transmission block file received by the print data reception unit. Form output data analysis / assembly processing means for executing form output data analysis / assembly processing for generating form output text data by expanding the differentially compressed data included therein, and the form output data analysis / assembly processing means Print execution means for outputting the generated form output text data to form, and decompressing the differentially compressed page data to restore the form output text data and output the form.
[0028]
Further, the form output data analysis / assembly processing means reads the page block included in the transmission block file, stores it in the page block storage area, and if the transmission block file includes the form header information. A transmission block analysis processing unit that stores the form header information in the form header information storage area, and a standard that includes the differential compressed data included in the page block stored in the page block storage area in the same page block A differential compression data decompression processing unit that decompresses the page data based on the page data and stores the decompressed page data and the decompressed page data in the form page data storage area, and the page data and form header saved in the form page data storage area Form text is combined with the form header information saved in the information storage area. And it has a text data assembly processing unit for generating a Todeta.
[0029]
The print data receiving means activates a form output data analysis / assembly process for the page block every time a transmission block file is generated.
[0030]
In addition, the form output data analysis / assembly processing means, in the process of generating the form text data, identifies the transmission block file, the page block included in the transmission block file, and the page included in the page block. A print execution control apparatus-side form output management database in which information in which information is associated with form output text data generated by assembling the page block is registered is generated.
[0031]
The print execution control device further includes a print data storage processing means for temporarily storing the form text data generated by the text data assembly processing unit in the form text data storage database.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0033]
FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a network print system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a print request issuing device 2 and a print execution control device 4 connected to the wide area network 1. The print request issuing device 2 and the print execution control device 4 can be connected to a plurality of wide area networks 1, respectively, but each device is shown in the drawing because it operates in the same manner.
[0034]
The print request issuing device 2 is generally realized by a host computer or the like, and issues a form output request such as an invoice to the print execution control device 4 by transmitting a print data file. The print request issuing device 2 includes an application execution unit 21, a form output data analysis / conversion processing unit 22, and a print data transmission unit 23. The application execution unit 21 executes an application such as an invoice issuing program and stores the result in a form output text data file 24. The form output data analysis conversion processing unit 22 is a means for generating a transmission block file 25 based on the form output text data file 24. The data file analysis processing unit 26, text data decomposition processing unit 27, page data difference A compression processing unit 28, a transmission block generation processing unit 29, and a printing data information storage processing unit 30 are included. The print data transmission unit 23 sequentially transmits the transmission block file 25 generated as a print data file by the form output data analysis conversion processing unit 22 to the print execution control device 4.
[0035]
The print execution control device 4 is generally realized by a computer such as a workstation, and based on the print data file sent from the print request issuing device 2, it can be invoiced from any printer 5 connected directly or via a network. And so on. The print execution control device 4 includes a print data reception unit 41, a form output data analysis / assembly processing unit 42, and a print execution unit 43. The print data receiving unit 41 receives the print data sent from the print request issuing device 2 and stores it as a transmission block file 44. The form output data analysis / assembly processing unit 42 is a means for generating the form output text data by decompressing the differentially compressed data included in the transmission block file 44. In this embodiment, the form output data block is a transmission block. It comprises an analysis processing unit 46, a differential compression information decompression processing unit 47, a text data assembly processing unit 48, and a print data storage processing unit 49. The print execution unit 43 reads the form output text data file 45 assembled by the form output data analysis / assembly processing unit 42 and outputs it from the printer 5.
[0036]
With the above configuration, the page data transferred from the print request issuing apparatus 2 is reduced in data transfer by taking the difference from the set reference page data and compressing the data. The point is that the setting of the reference page data is changed according to the similarity of each page based on the compression ratio without fixing the reference page data. Thereby, since the efficiency of data compression can be increased, the amount of data transfer can be further reduced, and the throughput of network communication can be improved.
[0037]
Further, the present embodiment is further characterized in that the form output text data to be printed is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the processing for each block can be executed in parallel. Shortening can be achieved.
[0038]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic process flow of the print request issuing apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment and files and the like input / output in each process. The processing executed in the print request issuing device 2 includes data file analysis processing, text data decomposition processing, page data differential compression processing and transmission block generation processing executed in the form output data analysis / conversion processing unit 22, printing data It is roughly divided into data transmission processing executed in the transmission unit 23. In the data file analysis process, the form output text data file 24 is analyzed to divide the form output text data unit. In the text data decomposition process, the divided form output text data is divided into the form header information and the page data and stored separately. In the page data differential compression process, any page data included in the text data for form output is used as the reference page data, and the difference between the page data and the reference page data is taken to compress the page data other than the reference page data and perform differential compression. Along with generating the data and compressing all the page data included in the text data for form output by taking the difference between the reference page data and the reference page data, the difference compressed data that has reached a predetermined compression ratio Divide the block into sets. In the transmission block generation process, a transmission block file 25 that is a unit of transmission to the print execution control device 4 is generated in association with the divided blocks.
[0039]
Next, details of each process shown in FIG. 2 will be described using a detailed flowchart. First, data file analysis processing executed by the data file analysis processing unit 26 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0040]
In the data file analysis process, the form output text data file 24 is analyzed to be divided into form output text data which is a form output unit. The form output text data file 24 stores a plurality of form output text data generated by each application executed by the application execution unit 21. For example, “original” of one invoice consisting of several pages is generated as one form output text data, and “copy” of the invoice is generated as another form output text data. The same form output text data file 24 is saved. As shown in FIG. 4A, the form output text data is composed of a set of form header information and a plurality of text format page data to be printed. In the form header information, information necessary for actually printing page data such as paper size, form layout information, and overlay information is set. One page data corresponds to one page data to be output as a form. The form header information and one page data correspond to one record of the form output text data. For example, “page data P1” shown in FIG. 4A means page data of the first page in the form output text data, and does not mean the same contents. “D-Pn” indicates page data of the nth page in the d-th form output text data.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, the data file analysis processing unit 26 opens the form output text data file 24 (step 101), and sequentially reads records from the top (step 102). If there is a record to be read and it is form header information (steps 103 and 104), a unique text data id (Tid) is assigned to the form header information, and the form header information and Tid are added. Are registered in the form output management database 31 (step 105). Then, a form data storage area for generating form output text data corresponding to the form header information is secured (step 106), and the record (form header information) is written (step 107). Subsequently, when the next record is read, since it is usually a page data record, the record (page data) is written in the secured form data storage area following the form header information (step 107). In this embodiment, each storage area is a disk device, that is, a file.
[0042]
By repeatedly performing the above processing, each form output text data stored in the form output text data file 24 without distinction is divided into a set of form header information and page data. When writing to all the form data storage areas is completed for all records and there are no more records to be read, the form output text data file 24 is closed (steps 103 and 108). Then, the next processing, that is, text data decomposition processing is started (step 109). FIG. 4B shows an example of the form output text data generated as a result of the data file analysis process.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, when the data file analysis processing for one form output text data file 24 is completed as described above, the next text data decomposition processing to be executed is started immediately. That is, when a separate form output text data file 24 is newly generated during the data file analysis process, the data file analysis processing unit 26 performs printing based on the form output text data file 24 just processed. Regardless of whether or not the data file has been transferred to the print execution control device 4, a newly generated form output text data file 24 is opened and the processing can be started. That is, in the present embodiment, since the processing mechanism that can be executed independently and in parallel for each form output text data file 24, the overall time required for printing in the entire system can be shortened.
[0044]
Next, the operation of the text data decomposition processing unit 27 that executes the text data decomposition process activated by the data file analysis process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0045]
In this case, the form output text data stored in the form data storage area is simply stored separately for the form header information and the page data group. That is, the text data decomposition processing unit 27 opens one form data storage area (file) secured by the data file analysis processing (step 201), and reads records sequentially from the top (step 202). Note that the text data decomposition processing unit 27 can know which file is opened by a method such as parameter specification at the time of activation. If there is a record to be read and it is form header information (steps 203 and 204), the form header information is stored in a separately secured form header information storage area (step 205). If the read record is page data, the record is stored in a separately secured page data storage area (steps 204 and 206). In this embodiment, each storage area is a file. When this process is repeated and there are no more records to be read, the form data storage area is closed (steps 203 and 207). Then, the next process, that is, the page data differential compression process is started (step 208).
[0046]
The present embodiment is characterized in that when the text data decomposition process for one form data storage area is completed as described above, the page data differential compression process for the decomposed form output text data is started. After this activation, the text data decomposition processing unit 27 executes the text data decomposition processing on the remaining form data storage area, so this processing is performed in parallel with the activated page data differential compression processing. Will be executed. As a result, each process to be performed on one form output text data file 24 for form output can be performed in parallel, so that the total time required for form output can be reduced.
[0047]
Next, the operation of the page data difference compression processing unit 28 that executes the page data difference compression process activated by the text data decomposition process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0048]
The page data difference compression processing unit 28 opens the form page data storage area processed in the preceding text data decomposition process (step 301). Then, after initializing the record buffer areas B1 and B2 having a page data length prepared in advance for use in the work (step 302), one page of data is read from the form page data storage area and stored in the record buffer area B2 (step 302). Step 303). Here, the page data read first is the first page data in the form output text data. Accordingly, at this time, a unique page block id (Pid) is assigned to the page block that includes the first page data, and the page block id is stored in the form output management database 31 in association with the text data id (Tid) (step 304). , 305). Then, a new page block storage area is secured, and the contents of the record buffer area B2 are written into the area (step 306). In the present embodiment, the page block storage area is a file. This file becomes the original form of the transmission block file 25 generated in the next processing. Further, after copying the contents of the record buffer area B2 to the record buffer area B1 (step 307), the record buffer area B2 is initialized (step 308). The page data stored in the record buffer area B1 becomes reference page data of the page data stored in the open page block storage area.
[0049]
Subsequently, the next page data is read from the form page data storage area and stored in the record buffer area B2 (step 303). Here, it is assumed that the read page data exists and is not the first page data. Note that the top page data is specifically page data of the first page in the text data for form output. At this time, the reference page data stored in the record buffer area B1 and the page data to be processed read in the record buffer area B2 are compared in byte units, a difference is obtained, and the difference is written in the temporarily prepared buffer B3 ( Step 309). For taking the difference, a conventional method may be used. As a result of comparison, if the matched bytes are expressed in Null, the difference information written in the buffer B3 is expressed in a compressed form in which the consecutive number of Nulls is encoded, and is written in the buffer B4 (step 310). ).
[0050]
Here, in the present embodiment, the ratio (compression ratio) of the data amount of the differentially compressed data written in the buffer B4 after differential / compressing the page data with respect to the data amount of the page data stored in the record buffer area B2. ) Is calculated. A high compression rate (small calculated value) means that the page data to be compared are similar. The page data differential compression processing unit 28 compares the obtained compression rate with a preset threshold value, and if the compression rate is equal to or less than the threshold value, data compression is efficiently performed and the differential compression data amount is small. I can say that. That is, it can be determined that it is effective to reduce the data transfer amount by performing the data transfer by differentially compressing the page data. Therefore, in this case, the differentially compressed data is written in the page block storage area reserved as the page data for transferring the page data (steps 311 and 312). Thereafter, the record buffer area B2 is initialized (step 307). The reference page data stored in the record buffer area B1 is maintained as it is.
[0051]
On the other hand, if the compression rate is larger than the threshold value in step 311, it can be determined that the page data to be compared are not similar to each other. Therefore, the data transfer amount can be reduced even if the differentially compressed data is transferred. It can be said that it cannot be expected so much. In this case, a series of page data is divided into blocks. That is, the currently opened page block storage area is closed, and the absolute page number of the page data stored in the record buffer area B1 is stored in the form output management database 31 in association with the page block id (Pid) ( Step 314). The absolute page number corresponds to a serial page number in the form output text data stored in the form data storage area. Then, the next process, that is, the transmission block generation process is started (step 315).
[0052]
The present embodiment is characterized in that when a page block storage area is closed and one page block is generated, a transmission block generation process for the page block is started. After this activation, the page data differential compression processing unit 28 repeatedly executes the processing from step 303 onward as long as unprocessed page data remains in the form data storage area. The page data differential compression processing after step 303 executed on the data is executed in parallel with the transmission block generation processing activated at step 315. As a result, it is possible to reduce the total time required for the form output.
[0053]
When the page data difference compression processing unit 28 starts the transmission block generation process for the generated one page block storage area, the page data difference compression processing unit 28 checks the state of the end flag (step 316). At this time, since it has not been set yet, a unique page block id (Pid) is assigned to the page block that will contain the page data remaining in the record buffer area B2, and associated with the text data id (Tid). And stored in the form output management database 31 (steps 304 and 305). Then, a new page block storage area is secured and the contents of the record buffer area B2 are stored (step 306). What is left in the record buffer area B2 is the page data that was not similar to the reference page data although the differentially compressed data was obtained in the previous processing. Further, after copying the contents of the record buffer area B2 to the record buffer area B1, the record buffer area B2 is initialized (steps 307 and 308). That is, in the subsequent processing, page data that is not similar to the reference page data is used as new reference page data, and a page block starting from this reference page data is newly generated.
[0054]
Subsequently, the next page data is further read from the form data storage area, the above-described processing is repeated, and each page data is divided into blocks for each page block. When there is no page data finally read, an end flag is set (step 313), and the absolute page number of the page data stored in the record buffer area B1 is set to the page block id (Pid) as described above. After correspondingly storing in the form output management database 31, the transmission block generation process is started (steps 314 and 315). When the state of the end flag is checked, since it is set in step 313, the form page data storage area opened in the first step 301 is closed (step 317). FIG. 4C shows an example of the contents of the page block obtained as a result of the above processing. According to FIG. 4C, the page data not subjected to differential compression is stored as it is as transfer page data at the head of each page block. The subsequent page data for transfer in the page block is differentially compressed data when the first page data of each page block is used as reference page data. In FIG. 4C, page data that is not differentially compressed is represented without a dash as “(d−P1)”, and transfer page data based on the differentially compressed data is “(d−P2) ′”. It is shown with a dash. The form header information d is not included in the page block, but is shown for convenience in FIG. This corresponds to the form header information storage area described above.
[0055]
In the page data differential compression processing in this embodiment, as a result of taking the difference between the page data as described above, when the compression rate is high, the differential compression data is used as page data for transfer of the page, and the compression rate is low. A plurality of print data files are generated from one form output text data so as to be divided into blocks. Thus, since the setting change of the reference page data is performed in consideration of the compression rate, the data transfer amount can be more efficiently reduced. Further, since the process can be executed in parallel with the process for other page blocks by dividing the block, the total time required for printing can be shortened.
[0056]
By the way, in the present embodiment, page data is compressed and divided between pages that are not similar, that is, divided at a page where the compression effect is not obtained when the amount of differentially compressed data is compared with the amount of original page data. The page data is blocked between pages. Such processing is extremely effective in the following cases.
[0057]
For example, when sending an invoice as a form, the header of each page of the invoice (printed material) describes the destination, company, department, person in charge, etc. The description on each successive page is the same. In addition, the invoice forms used for the same destination are usually formatted with different titles (type names) even if the types are different. There are many matching printed parts on the page.
[0058]
In other words, for example, if a threshold is set based on the sum of the data amount of parts common to each page such as the header part and fixed form part of each page of the invoice, it can be applied to a multi-page invoice or the same destination One page block is generated from the invoice, and the compression ratio of the page block in this case is considered to be extremely good. The difference between the “original” and “copy” of the invoice described above is set in the overlay information in the form header information, so the content of the differentially compressed data of the page data in this case is empty. Thereby, the data transfer amount can be significantly reduced. In addition, even if the form output text data is divided at different destinations, there is no unnaturalness. In fact, it is preferable for processing such as retransmission, and is extremely advantageous for maintenance.
[0059]
In this embodiment, page data is compressed and divided into blocks depending on whether or not they are similar. Thereby, reduction of the data transfer amount and parallel processing are realized. Even if the text data for form output is divided into blocks with a fixed length, parallel processing can be realized, but a reduction in data transfer amount is not always possible due to the compression ratio. On the other hand, if the page data is compressed, the data transfer amount can be reduced without dividing the block, but parallel processing cannot be realized. In addition, although the reference page data for obtaining the differentially compressed data may be fixed or the transfer data amount may be reduced to some extent even if it is simply determined as the immediately preceding page data, in this embodiment, the compression rate is Since the setting of the reference page data is changed along with the block division when it becomes worse, the data transfer amount of each page block can be reliably reduced. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the difference / compression of the page data is performed, and the block is divided at a place where the compression is not efficient, so that the processing can be parallelized. Both effects of reduction can be achieved reliably.
[0060]
In the present embodiment, a fixed threshold is set in advance to determine whether or not a predetermined compression effect has been obtained, and the calculated compression rate and the threshold are simply compared. It may be determined whether or not a predetermined compression effect is obtained based on the width, rate, etc. of the fluctuation amount. Further, the threshold may be changed by providing a learning function. The conditions for determining whether or not a predetermined compression effect has been obtained may be set according to the type of form to be handled, the target destination, the system configuration, and the like.
[0061]
In this embodiment, the reference page data is set for each page block. However, depending on the type of form to be handled, the transfer data amount can be reduced even if the reference page data is the previous page data.
[0062]
Next, the operation of the transmission block generation processing unit 29 that executes the transmission block generation processing activated by the page data differential compression processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The data structure of the output management database 31 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0063]
The form output management database 31 includes a table of text data header information and page block header information. The text data header information is set for each form output text data, and the text data id (Tid) assigned to each form output text data included in the form output text data file 24 in the data file analysis process. , Tid and form header information stored together with Tid, and transmitted information set by the print data transmission unit 23 in processing to be described later. The page block header information table is provided corresponding to each form output text data. The page block header information includes a page block id (Pid) assigned to each page block in the page data differential compression process, an absolute page number written when the page block storage area is closed, and a transmission block generated based on the page block. It consists of the name of the file and the name of the output destination printer (print execution control device 4 and printer 5) that outputs the form based on the page block.
[0064]
First, the transmission block generation processing unit 29 newly opens the transmission block file 25 (step 401), and sets the file name in the page block header information (step 402). Further, the page block storage area is opened (step 403). Then, the corresponding text data header information and page block header information are read from the form output management database 31 to generate transmission block header information and store it in the transmission block file 25 (step 404). If the opened page block is the head, the form header information stored in the form header information storage area in the text data decomposition process is read and stored in the transmission block file 25 (steps 405 and 406). Further, after storing the page block (step 407), the transmission block file 25 is closed (step 408). When the transmission block file 25 is generated in this way, the transmission block file 25 is input to the printing data transmission unit 23 that performs the next processing (step 409).
[0065]
Also in this transmission block generation process, when one transmission block file 25 is generated, the transmission block file 25 is immediately input to the print data transmission unit 23. As a result, the transmission process in the print data transmission unit 23 and the transmission block generation process based on the subsequent data block can be executed in parallel, so that the overall time required for the form output can be reduced. .
[0066]
As described above, the transmission block generation processing unit 29 generates the transmission block file 25 by executing the transmission block generation process every time a page block is generated by the previous page data differential compression process. An example of the contents of the generated transmission block file 25 is shown in FIG. As is clear from this example, since the same text data header information is set in the transmission block file 25 generated from the same form output text data, the print execution control device 4 performs the transmission block in any order. Even if the file 25 arrives, the set can be easily recognized. Further, since page block header information is set, each page block can be easily identified.
[0067]
Although not described in the transmission block generation process, the transmission block header information includes the number of transmission block files 25 generated from the same form output text data and the arrangement order of the own transmission block files 25. The page data included in the transmission block file 25 includes information on how many pages from what page in the text data for form output is included. This facilitates the assembling process of the form output text data.
[0068]
When the transmission block file 25 is input from the transmission block generation processing unit 29 as described above, the print data transmission unit 23 refers to the output destination printer name set in the page block header information. The data is sequentially transmitted to the execution control device 4. Upon receiving a notification from the print execution control device 4 that all the print data files constituting the same form output text data have been normally received, the transmission time and end status code are stored in the form output management database 31. Set as sent information. In this embodiment, the transmitted information is provided corresponding to Tid as text data header information. However, it is provided corresponding to Pid as page block header information, and transmission confirmation is performed for each transmission block file. May be. As described above, since the transmitted information is set in the form output management database 31, it is possible to easily identify the location of the failure when the form output is not normally executed.
[0069]
When the print data information storage processing unit 30 detects that the transmission time has been written in the transmitted information of the form output management database 31, it moves the corresponding transmission block file 25 to the transmission block file storage database 32 and stores it. To do. At this time, the storage period of the specified value or default value is also set in correspondence with the transmission block file 25. The print data information storage processing unit 30 operates periodically to delete the transmission block file 25 that has reached the storage limit. As described above, the transmission block file 25 that has been successfully transmitted is stored for a specified period without being immediately deleted, so that the transmission block file 25 can be stored even when a retransmission request is sent from the print execution control device 4. Since it is not necessary to execute the process of generating again, it is possible to respond quickly to the retransmission request. It should be noted that for the period during which the transmission block file 25 is stored, a default value stored as appropriate may be set depending on the system to be applied and the form to be handled.
[0070]
Next, processing in the print execution control device 4 that outputs a form based on the print data file sent from the print request issuing device 2 will be described.
[0071]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic processing flow of the print execution control apparatus 4 in the present embodiment and files and the like input / output in each processing. The print execution control apparatus 4 basically generates the form output text data file 45 by executing the processes executed in the print request issuing apparatus 2 in the reverse order, and outputs the form. That is, data reception processing executed in the print data receiving unit 41, transmission block analysis processing executed in the form output data analysis / assembly processing unit 42, differential compression data decompression processing, text data assembly processing, and finally A print output process executed in the print execution unit 43 is executed. Furthermore, in the course of executing the above processing, the form output management database 50 and the differentially compressed data having the same contents as the form output management database 31 in the print request issuing apparatus 2 can be expanded and printed in consideration of processing such as retransmission. A form output text data storage database 51 that temporarily stores the form output text data converted into a proper format is generated.
[0072]
Next, the details of each process shown in FIG. 9 will be described. First, the print data receiving unit 41 is always waiting to receive a print data file, and a print data file addressed to itself is sent. Is received and stored as a transmission block file 44 in a disk device (not shown). Each time the data is stored, the transmission block analysis process is started, and when all of the print data files constituting the same form output text data have been normally received, this is notified to the print request issuing device 2 as the transmission source. .
[0073]
Next, the transmission block analysis processing executed by the transmission block analysis processing unit 46 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0074]
In the transmission block analysis process, a process of expanding the transmission block file 44 having the data structure shown in FIG. 4D into a page block having the data structure shown in FIG. 4C is performed. That is, the transmission block analysis processing unit 46 opens the received transmission block file 44 (step 501), and searches the form output management database 50 based on the contents of the transmission block header information set in the file (step 501). 502). That is, if text data header information of the same Tid as the received transmission block file 44 is not registered in the form output management database 50, another transmission block file 44 for configuring the same form output text data. Is not processed yet, and the text data header information and page block header information constituting the transmission block header information of the transmission block file 44 are registered in the form output management database 50 (steps 503 to 505). Subsequently, the page block included in the transmission block file 44 is stored in a page block storage area prepared in advance (step 506). On the other hand, as a result of the inquiry in step 502, if the text data header information of the same Tid as the received transmission block file 44 is registered in the form output management database 50, the same form output text data is constituted. Therefore, the page block header information contained in the transmission block file 44 is registered in the form output management database 50, and the page block is stored in the page block storage area. Save (steps 503, 505, 506). If the transmission block file 44 is the first one in the same form output text data, the transmission block file 44 includes the form header information, so that the form header information storage area prepared in advance is included. (Steps 507 and 508). Thereafter, the differential compression data decompression process of the next process is started (step 509).
[0075]
Based on the transmission block file 44 received as described above, a page block storage area having the data structure shown in FIG. 4C is generated and a form output management database 50 is constructed.
[0076]
Next, the differential compressed data decompression process executed by the differential compressed data decompression processing unit 47 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0077]
In the differential compression data decompression process, a process of decompressing the differential compression data included in the page block having the data structure shown in FIG. 4C and expanding it in the form page data storage area is performed.
[0078]
The differential compressed data decompression processing unit 47 first opens the page block storage area (step 601), reads the first page data, and stores it in the record buffer area B1 and the prepared page data storage area for the form (step 602). 603). The data read here is reference page data that is not compressed. Subsequently, the next record (page data) is read and written to the record buffer area B2 (step 604). The page data written in this record buffer area B2 is differentially compressed data. Here, contrary to the differential compression in the page data differential compression processing unit 28, the differential compression data decompression processing unit 47 decompresses the encoded null number of the differential compression data in the record buffer area B2 and stores it in the record buffer area B3. The page data stored in the record buffer areas B1 and B3 are compared in byte units, and the sum is temporarily held in the record buffer area B4 (step 606). The page data held in the record buffer area B4 by this decompression processing is stored in the form page data storage area (step 607). Thereafter, the record buffer areas B2 to B4 are initialized, and the process returns to step 604 to repeat the above processing. If there is no page data to be read, the process is terminated (step 605). At the end, the page block storage area is closed. In the present embodiment, the form page data storage area is formed by a file, and the file is closed.
[0079]
When the decompression of the differentially compressed data is completed as described above, the text data assembly processing unit 48 performs a process of generating a form data storage area having the data structure shown in FIG. The text data assembly processing performed by the text data assembly processing unit 48 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0080]
The text data assembly processing unit 48 newly generates a form data storage area (step 701), and stores the form header information read from the form header information storage area (step 702). Subsequently, the page data read from the form page data storage area is stored in the form data storage area (step 703). The page data header information associated with the text data id (Tid) of the text data header information of the form output management database 50 indicates from which of the plurality of generated form page data storage areas the page data is read in order. Can be managed by referring to.
[0081]
In this way, the divided and transferred page data can be linked in the form data storage area, but by inputting the form data storage area into the print execution unit 43 as the form output text data file 45. The form output text data can be printed out (step 704). If the input to the print execution unit 43 is successful, the print data storage process is started (steps 705 and 706), and a flag to that effect is set in the printed information in the form output management database 50 (step 707). The form output management database 50 has the same data structure as the form output management database 31, but a field corresponding to the transmitted information in the form output management database 31 is assigned to the printed information. On the other hand, if the input to the print execution unit 43 cannot be performed normally, the operator is notified by outputting a message to that effect or the like so that some recovery processing is performed (step 708).
[0082]
In the print request issuing device 2 of the present embodiment, a form output text data file 24 including a plurality of form output text data is generated as a print request. In the print execution control apparatus 4, as described above. A form output text data file 45 corresponding to each form output text data is generated. If it is desired to print out the form output text data file 45 in the order in which the original form output text data file 24 is arranged, the form output text data file 45 is associated with Tid for form output management. It is registered in the database 31 and the print execution control device 4 may take measures such as setting the priority of the print output order based on the arrangement order. Further, even if a print data file is sent simultaneously from another print request issuing device 2, it is related by Tid, so that it is possible to control and manage so that the forms are not mixed when printing out.
[0083]
The print data storage processing unit 49 temporarily stores the form output text data file 45, that is, the contents of the form data storage area in the form output text data storage database 51. At this time, the form output text data to be stored in the form output text data storage database 51 by updating the setting of the transmission block file name field in the form output management database 50 or providing another field, etc. The form output management database 50 and Tid are associated with each other. The following effects can be achieved by temporarily storing the text data for form output.
[0084]
For example, if the processing as the print execution control device 4 has been completed normally but the remaining amount of toner in the printer 5 is small, the print character is thin and it is desired to print again after replacing the toner cartridge. Since the form output text data file 45 has been deleted by the normal end of the process, the print execution control device 4 alone cannot output the print again.
[0085]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the form output text data file 45 is stored for a certain period, so that the form that has been normally printed out on the print execution control device 4 side can be printed again. In addition, it is possible to quickly and easily respond to a page-designated reprint request.
[0086]
In addition, when it is desired to change only the information that the print request issuing device 2 sets in the form header information, such as changing the paper size, changing only the form, etc., the print request issuing device 2 can transfer the page data again. Instead, only the form header information needs to be transferred. Even when only the form header information is transferred, the page block header information is obtained by searching the form header information stored in the form output text data storage database 51 based on the identification information included in the form header information. Since it can be specified, the form header information can be associated with the corresponding page data. Furthermore, it is possible to easily cope with page designation printing.
[0087]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the page data to be printed included in the form output text data is transferred from the print request issuing device 2 to the print execution control device 4 by taking a difference from the reference page data. Since the size of the print data file to be printed is compressed, the data transfer amount can be reduced. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the predetermined compression effect is not obtained as a result of the differential compression processing to the page data, the reference page data is changed. -Since compression can be performed, the amount of data transfer can be reduced more reliably.
[0088]
Further, in the present embodiment, each form output text data file 24 is blocked by dividing the form output text data into individual form output text data, or by further dividing the form output text data. Since the subsequent processes to be performed on the blocks are sequentially started, a plurality of processes can be executed in parallel. As a result, the network printing system can be speeded up. In this way, the block division can not only increase the speed by parallel processing but also reduce the retransmission unit, so that the data transfer amount at the time of retransmission can also be reduced. Since each block includes reference page data, the differentially compressed data can be easily expanded by simple processing.
[0089]
By the way, in the present embodiment, the data transfer amount can be reduced and the form output process can be speeded up as a system. However, the system configuration can cope with a detailed process such as a retransmission process.
[0090]
For example, the form output text data storage database 50 outputs the form output in the print request issuing apparatus 2 except for the relationship between the printed information and the transmitted information as a result of the normal completion of the independent form output processing in the print execution control apparatus 4. It is generated with the same data structure as the text data storage database 31 for use. That is, by using the database replica function to associate the form output text data storage databases 31 and 50 with each other, an abnormality occurring in the print execution control device 4 can be easily detected. If an abnormal page block is detected, a retransmission request for the page block may be sent to the print request issuing device 2. Since the print request issuing device 2 temporarily stores the transmission block file 25 in the transmission block file storage database 32 as described above, the transmission block file 25 including the page block requested to be retransmitted is stored in the transmission block file. By reading from the database 32 and transmitting it to the print execution control device 4, it is possible to respond to the retransmission request quickly and easily. In addition, the reliability of the data contents of the form to be output can be improved.
[0091]
The present embodiment is characterized in that the amount of data transfer is reduced by taking the difference between the page data and obtaining the differential compressed data, so that it is effective when each form is composed of a plurality of pages. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied when outputting a form of only one page.
[0092]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a predetermined compression effect cannot be obtained in comparison with the page data before the difference compressed data obtained as a result of compressing the transferred page data by taking the difference from the reference page data. In this case, the setting of the page data is changed to the reference page data for subsequent page data, so that the page data can be efficiently compressed, so that the data transfer amount can be reduced more reliably. Can do. For this reason, the throughput of network communication can be improved.
[0093]
In addition, since the page data to be transferred is divided into blocks and the subsequent processing for each page block is started sequentially each time a page block is generated, the processing for each page block can be executed in parallel. Can do. As a result, the network printing system can be speeded up.
[0094]
In addition, since the print request issuance apparatus side form output management database is generated in the process of generating the transmission block file, the association between the form output text data, the page block, and the transmission block file can be easily recognized. In addition, printing order, data delivery, and printing execution can be guaranteed.
[0095]
In addition, by providing a print data information storage processing means and storing the transmitted transmission block file for a certain period, it is possible to respond quickly when a retransmission request is sent from the print execution control apparatus.
[0096]
In addition, since the print execution control apparatus has the above-described configuration, even when a print data file including differential compressed data is transferred from the print request issuing apparatus, the differential compressed data is decompressed to restore the form text data. Can be output.
[0097]
In addition, since the subsequent form output data analysis / assembly process is activated every time a transmission block file is generated, generation of page blocks based on each transmission block file can be executed in parallel. As a result, the network printing system can be speeded up.
[0098]
In addition, since the print execution control apparatus side form output management database is generated in the process of generating the form output text data, the association between the transmission block file, the page block, and the form output text data can be easily recognized. be able to. Further, it is possible to easily identify a failure or the like that has occurred when a form is output by comparing the contents of each form output management database on the print execution control apparatus side and the print request issuing apparatus side.
[0099]
In addition, by storing the text data for forms that have been printed out normally for a certain period of time, the print execution controller side can print out all or part of the form again without requiring the print request issuing apparatus to retransmit. Can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a network print system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic processing flow of a print request issuing device 2 according to the present embodiment and files input / output in each processing;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing data file analysis processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data structure transition until the contents of a form output text data file are transferred in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing text data decomposition processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing page data difference compression processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing transmission block generation processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of a form output management database in the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic processing flow of the print execution control apparatus according to the present embodiment and files and the like input / output in each processing.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing transmission block analysis processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing differential compressed data decompression processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing text data assembling processing in the present embodiment.
FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional network print system.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format of conventional transfer data.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wide area network, 2 Print request issuing apparatus, 4 Print execution control apparatus, 21 Application execution part, 22 Form output data analysis conversion process part, 23 Print data transmission part, 24, 45 Form output text data file, 25, 44 transmission block file, 26 data file analysis processing section, 27 text data decomposition processing section, 28 page data differential compression processing section, 29 transmission block generation processing section, 30 print data information storage processing section, 31, 50 for document output management Database, 32 Transmission block file storage database, 41 Print data reception unit, 42 Form output data analysis / assembly processing unit, 43 Print execution unit, 46 Transmission block analysis processing unit, 47 Differential compression data decompression processing unit, 48 Text data Assembly processing section, 49 Data storage processing section for printing, 51 Form output Use text data storage for the database.

Claims (13)

A print request issuing device for generating a print data file from printable form output text data composed of a set of form header information and a plurality of text-format page data to be printed;
A print execution control device for generating form output text data based on a print data file transferred from the print request issuing device via the network and outputting the form;
Have
The print request issuing device includes:
For form output that generates any compressed data by compressing page data other than the reference page data by taking any difference from the reference page data as any page data included in the text data for form output Data conversion processing means;
Print data transmission means for transmitting the reference page data and the differentially compressed data as a print data file to the print execution control device;
Have
When the form output data conversion processing means does not obtain a predetermined compression effect as a result of comparing the difference compressed data obtained by compressing by taking the difference from the reference page data with the page data before the difference compression. The network print system is characterized in that the setting of the page data is changed to the reference page data of the page data on and after the next page. The form output data conversion processing means, when a predetermined compression effect is obtained as a result of comparing the difference compressed data obtained by compressing by taking the difference with the reference page data before the page data difference, Based on the set of the reference page data and the differentially compressed data, a transmission block file that is a transmission unit to the print execution control device is generated,
2. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing data transmission unit transmits the transmission block file generated by the form output data conversion processing unit as a printing data file. The print request issuance apparatus sequentially starts subsequent processing for each page block each time the form output data conversion processing unit generates a page block based on a set of reference page data and differentially compressed data. 3. The network printing system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of processes are executed simultaneously in parallel. The form output data conversion processing means includes:
One of the page data included in the text data for form output is used as the reference page data. By taking the difference from the reference page data, the page data other than the reference page data is compressed to generate differentially compressed data. Executes page data differential compression processing that divides all page data included in output text data into page blocks that include pairs of reference page data and differentially compressed data obtained by taking the difference between the reference page data. A page data differential compression processing unit,
A transmission block generation processing unit that executes a transmission block generation process for generating a transmission block file that is a transmission unit to the print execution control device in correspondence with each page block;
Have
The page data differential compression processing unit starts a transmission block generation process for the page block every time a page block is divided and generated,
4. The network print according to claim 3, wherein the transmission block generation processing unit simultaneously executes the processing for each page block by passing the transmission block file to the print data transmission unit every time a transmission block file is generated. system. The form output data conversion processing means executes a data file analysis process for analyzing a form output text data file including a plurality of form output text data and dividing the form output text data unit, and forms output text It has a data file analysis processing unit that activates page data differential compression processing for the form output text data every time it is divided into data, and performs processing for each form output text data in parallel. The network print system according to claim 4. The form output data conversion processing means includes a form output text data, a page block generated by dividing the form output text data in the process of generating a transmission block file, and page information included in the page block. 3. A network print according to claim 2, further comprising: generating a print output management database on the print request issuing device side in which information relating the identification information of the transmission block file generated based on the page block is registered. system. 7. The print request issuing device includes a print data information storage processing unit that temporarily stores a transmission block file that has been transmitted to the print execution control device in a transmission block file storage database. The network print system according to the above. A print request issuing device for generating a print data file from printable form output text data composed of a set of form header information and a plurality of text-format page data to be printed;
A print execution control device for generating form output text data based on a print data file transferred from the print request issuing device via the network and outputting the form;
Have
The print request issuing device includes:
Form output data conversion processing means for dividing page data included in the form output text data into a plurality of page blocks and generating a transmission block file that is a transmission unit to the print execution control device including each page block;
Print data transmission means for transmitting the transmission block file generated by the form output data conversion processing means as a print data file;
A network print system, wherein a plurality of processes are executed in parallel by sequentially starting subsequent processes performed on the page block each time the page block is divided and generated. The print execution control device includes:
Print data receiving means for receiving a print data file transferred from the print request issuing device as a transmission block file;
Form output data analysis / assembly processing for executing form output data analysis / assembly processing for generating form output text data by decompressing the differentially compressed data included in the transmission block file received by the print data receiving means Means,
Print execution means for outputting the form output text data generated by the form output data analysis / assembly processing means;
2. The network print system according to claim 1, wherein the network print system outputs the form data by restoring the form output text data by decompressing the differentially compressed page data. The form output data analysis / assembly processing means includes:
The page block included in the transmission block file is read and stored in the page block storage area. If the transmission block file contains form header information, the form header information is stored in the form header information storage area. A transmission block analysis processing unit to be stored;
The differential compressed data included in the page block stored in the page block storage area is expanded based on the reference page data included in the same page block, and the reference page data and the expanded page data are stored as form page data. A differential compression data decompression processing unit to be stored in the area;
A text data assembly processing unit that generates text data for a form by combining the page data stored in the form page data storage area and the form header information stored in the form header information storage area;
10. The network print system according to claim 9, further comprising: 10. The network printing system according to claim 9, wherein the print data receiving unit starts up a form output data analysis / assembly process for the page block every time a transmission block file is generated. The form output data analyzing / assembling processing means includes identification information of a transmission block file, a page block included in the transmission block file, and page information included in the page block in a process of generating the form text data. 10. The print execution control device side form output management database in which information associated with the form output text data generated by assembling the page block is registered is generated. The network print system described. 10. The print execution control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a print data storage processing unit that temporarily stores the form text data generated by the text data assembly processing unit in a form text data storage database. Network print system.

Images