JP2000062292A - PRINTING SYSTEM, PRINTING SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] When an error relating to paper occurs in a printing apparatus, another print job not affected by the error is searched for (or generated), and the job is executed with priority, thereby improving printing efficiency. Improve. When a paper-out error occurs during execution of a spooled print job (S23), and paper is not supplied to a paper feed port for a predetermined time (S24, S25), the print apparatus is set in another paper feed port. All the paper sizes set are checked (S26), and a search is made as to whether there is a job to be printed with a paper size set in another paper feed port among the waiting print jobs (S27). If there is a job, the print status of the stopped print job is saved (S28), a print job cancel command is transmitted (S29), and the retrieved print job is deleted from the job interrupted by the paper out error. Also with priority and transmitted to the printing apparatus 1000.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system including an external device such as a host computer and a printing device that receives a print control code or image data generated by the external device and performs a printing operation. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the networking of office environments, a configuration in which a printing device (printer) is shared by a plurality of host devices such as computers is becoming common. In such a configuration, in many cases, a predetermined print (printer) server is connected as a peripheral device of the host device, and the print service of the printer is provided through this server host (however, because the printer is shared. Depending on the protocol, the server host and printer may be integrated and implemented as a single device).

As described above, when the printing apparatus is connected to the network and is shared by a plurality of users, many print jobs are transferred one after another to a print buffer (also called a queue) of a computer which is a server host. The spooled print job is in a print waiting state, and the spooled print jobs are processed by the printer on a first-come-first-served basis under the control of the server host.

In such a conventional configuration, when the size of the paper currently being printed is exhausted (paper out error), or the size of the paper in the paper supply port specified in a certain print job is different from the specified size. (Paper exchange request error), that is, when an error related to the paper used for printing occurs in the printing device, the printing device displays the error and performs a printing operation until some user action (error cancellation) is performed. Had been stopped.

[0005]

With the above configuration, when an error occurs in the print processing, the error that is currently occurring is canceled in the other print jobs spooled in the print buffer, and the print job is canceled. It will wait without being executed until is completed. Immediately after the user notices an abnormality and performs some operation (for example, paper supply when there is no paper) to cancel the error, if the user is left without knowing the error, it will be kept waiting forever. . In particular, when the printing device is connected to the network, the user who is trying to print is often not near the printing device, which is a big problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when a specific error related to a paper occurs in the printing apparatus (paper out error, paper exchange request error, paper size mismatch error, etc.), it is affected by the error. It is to improve the printing efficiency by searching (or generating) a print job that does not exist and executing the print job with priority.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a host device and a printing device, and print data is transmitted from the host device to the printing device in units of print jobs. In the printing system for performing printing, if a predetermined error related to the paper used for printing occurs in the printing device during execution of the first print job, it is detected whether the user cancels the error within a fixed time. When the detection unit determines that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, a control for executing a second print job different from the first print job or a first print job in which a condition regarding a sheet used for printing is changed A structure for carrying out is adopted (claims 1, 6, 11).

In particular, the host device, means for recognizing the paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and means for generating a paper out error when the paper in the paper feed port runs out during printing. In a printing system including a printing device having the printing device and transmitting print data from the host device to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing, a paper out error occurs in the printing device during execution of the first print job. If it occurs, it is detected whether or not the user has cleared the error within a fixed time, and if it is determined by the detection that the error has not been cleared within the fixed time, the paper size in another paper feed port is designated. If the second print job is searched for and the corresponding second print job is found by the search, the first print job is canceled and the second print job is set as the first print job. Employing the configuration for performing control to execute with priority over the print job (claims 2,7,12).

Further, the host device, a means for recognizing the paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and a paper of the correct size is not set in the designated paper feed port during execution of a print job. In this case, in the printing system configured to include a printing device having a unit for generating a paper exchange request error, the host device sends print data to the printing device in units of print jobs to print the first print job. If a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing device during execution of the above, it is detected whether the user has cleared the error within a fixed time, and if it is determined by the detection that the error has not been cleared for a fixed time, 1
If another paper feed port in which the paper of the size specified in the print job exists is searched and the corresponding paper feed port is searched by the first searching means, the first paper feed port is used to search for the first paper feed port. The configuration for controlling the execution of the print job is adopted (claims 3, 8, and 12).

Further, it is determined by the above detection that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, and the first search results in the first
If it is not possible to search for another paper feed port in which the paper of the specified size exists in this print job, a second print job that specifies the paper size in the other paper feed port is searched.
When the corresponding print job is found by the second search, the first print job is canceled and the second print job is executed with priority over the first print job. The configuration is adopted (claim 4,
9, 13).

Further, the host device, means for recognizing the paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, means for measuring the paper size of the page by executing printing of one page, and When the paper size measured by the measuring means is different from the size specified in the print job, the print device is configured to have a means for generating a paper size mismatch error, and the print job is sent from the host device to the print device. In a printing system in which print data is transmitted and printed in units of, if a paper mismatch error occurs in the printing device during execution of the first print job, whether the user has cleared the error within a fixed time Is detected and it is determined by the detection that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, the paper feed port specified in the first print job is detected. The second you have specified a certain paper size
Of the print jobs, and when the corresponding second print job is found by the search, the first print job is canceled, and the second print job is executed with priority over the first print job. A configuration for controlling is adopted (claims 5, 10, 15).

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a laser beam printer will be exemplified as the hardware of the printing apparatus.

[First Embodiment] <Description of Laser Beam Printer (FIG. 1)> FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 1 shows a laser beam printer (LB) of this embodiment.
P) shows the internal structure, and in FIG.
Reference numeral 00 denotes an LBP main body as a printing device, which inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from an externally connected host computer (3000 in FIG. 2). A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording paper, which is a recording medium.

Reference numeral 1012 designates an operation panel on which switches for operation, LEDs, a display and the like are arranged.
A control unit 01 controls the entire LBP 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from an external device. The control unit 1001 mainly performs a process of converting character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputting the video signal to the laser driver 1002.

The laser driver 1002 is a semiconductor laser 1
This is a circuit for driving 003, and switches on / off the laser light 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to the input video signal. The emitted laser beam 1004 is scanned in the left-right direction by the rotating polygon mirror 1005, and scanning exposure is performed on the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern or a figure is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006.

This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording paper. Further, the toner is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing device 1013, and the recording paper is ejected to the paper ejection port 1015 by the ejection roller 1014.

A cut sheet is used as this recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 1008, taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 1009 and conveying rollers 1010 and 1011, and the electrostatic drum 1006 is used.
Is supplied to.

Although only one sheet cassette 1008 is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplification, in the present invention, the LBP 1000 is actually provided with a plurality of sheet feeding ports (paper is not necessarily formed from a member having a cassette form). Need not be supplied, and may be a paper feed port to which paper is supplied by manual feeding or the like).
Usually, such a plurality of paper feed ports can be used for feeding papers of different sizes.

The size of the paper fed from each paper feed port is automatically detected by a sensor for detecting the shape of the paper cassette 1008 or the operation panel 101.
It can be set by a predetermined operation from 2. As a result, when a print command for a sheet of a predetermined size is received, the sheet of that size is fed from the corresponding paper feed port and used for printing.

The remaining amount of paper supplied from each paper feed port can be detected by a sensor (not shown).
When the paper runs out, a paper out error is generated as described below based on the detection result of this sensor, and it is possible to notify the host device side.

<Description of Printer Control System> FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a printer control system in which the present invention can be implemented. The configuration of FIG. 2 can be used together with the hardware configuration of FIG. 1. Here, the laser beam printer (LBP) of FIG. 1 will be described as an example, and the printing apparatus (printer) of FIG. Is the same reference numeral 1000 as the LBP in FIG.
Is used. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a printing system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. Absent.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which is based on a document processing program or the like stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3 to draw graphics, images, characters,
A CPU 1 that executes document processing in which tables (including spreadsheets and the like) are mixed is provided, and the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system device 4. Also, this RO
The program ROM of the M3 stores the control program of the CPU 1 and the like, the font ROM of the ROM 3 stores the font data used in the above document processing, and R
The data ROM of the OM3 stores various data used when performing the above document processing and the like.

Reference numeral 2 is a RAM, which is a main memory of the CPU 1,
Functions as a work area, etc. Reference numeral 5 is a keyboard controller (KBC), which controls input from the keyboard 9 and a pointing device (not shown).

Reference numeral 6 is a CRT controller (CRTC)
Controls the display of the CRT display (CRT) 10. Reference numeral 7 is a memory controller (MC), which includes a boot program, various applications, font data,
It controls access to the external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy disk (FD) that stores user files and edit files.

Reference numeral 8 is a printer controller (PRT
C), a predetermined bidirectional interface (IEEE12
84 interface, etc.) 21 through printer 150
0, and performs communication control processing with the printing apparatus 1000.

The CPU 1 executes the rasterizing process of the outline font in the display information RAM set in the RAM 2, and the W on the CRT 10 is executed.
YSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) processing is possible. Further, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on a command designated by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. Such processing by so-called GUI is an ordinary function in recent operating systems, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Further, the CPU 1 controls the entire spool processing (from FIG. 5 onward) as described later regarding printing. Program for this, or CP for other processing
The program of U1 is stored in the ROM 3 or the external memory (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.) 11, and these storage media correspond to the storage media of the present invention.

On the other hand, in the printer 1000, reference numeral 1
2 is a printer CPU, which is a program ROM of the ROM 13
Access to various devices connected to the system bus 15 is comprehensively controlled based on a control program or the like stored in the area or a control program or the like stored in the external memory 14, and via the printing unit interface 16. An image signal as output information is output to the connected printing mechanism unit (printer engine) 17. That is, in the configuration of FIG. 2, the image to be printed by the printing apparatus 1000 is generated by the host computer 3000. In addition, this ROM13
In the program ROM area of, the control program of the CPU 12 (FIG. 4 described later) and the like are stored.

The font ROM of the ROM 13 of the printing apparatus 1000 stores font data or the like used when generating the above output information, and the data ROM of the ROM 13 is a printer without an external memory 14 such as a hard disk. Stores information used on the host computer (for example, model information and various control information such as printable paper size).

The CPU 12 is capable of communicating with a host computer via the input unit 18, and stores information in the printer (control information in the data ROM described above, as well as various information such as device status) in the host. The computer 3000 can be notified.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 12, and is constructed so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). RAM1
Reference numeral 9 is used as a drawing memory for expanding and storing print data in a bitmap, an environment data storage area, other work areas, and the like. The hard disk (H
The external memory 14 such as D) and the IC card is subjected to access control by the memory controller (MC) 20.

The external memory 14 is connected as an option (for example, in the form of a removable memory card or HDD card), and stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like.

Reference numeral 18 indicates the above-mentioned operation panel 10.
An input / output control unit for 12 controls input / output with respect to the switches of the operation panel 1012, LED display and the like.

The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, but at least one external memory is provided, and in addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are connected. It may be configured to be capable. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012.

An embodiment of print control in the printer system configured as above will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the LBP 100 of this embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 described above are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 18 denotes an input / output unit between the external device and the printing device, which receives print data (comprising print control commands, image data, etc.) from the external device 3000, the job execution status and the paper. Information such as an error is output to the external device 3000.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an engine control unit, which analyzes a control command of the printer engine input from the external device 3000 and issues an engine control command for controlling an actual printing operation. Reference numeral 16 denotes an input / output unit between the control unit 1001 and the printing mechanism unit 17, which receives information such as presence / absence of paper in a paper feed port, an engine control command issued from the engine control unit 101, or an image memory control unit 102. The image data of is output to the printing mechanism unit 17 as a video signal. The image memory control unit 102 includes an input / output unit 1
The image data input from 8 is stored in the image memory 103, or the image data stored in the image memory 103 is read and output to the input / output unit 16.

FIG. 4 shows the engine control unit 4 of this embodiment.
This program is stored in the ROM 13 and is executed under the control of the CPU 12.

First, in step S11, execution of the print job sent from the input / output unit 3 is started. During printing, as shown in step S13, it is constantly checked whether or not paper is set in the paper feed port. If the print job is completed normally, the printing is ended in step S12. Proceed to S14, operation panel 1012
To display "Paper out error". The method of displaying the error is not limited to the above, and the information may be transmitted to the host computer and displayed on the CRT 10 or the like.

Next, in step S15, it is monitored whether or not the user has replenished the paper feed port with paper. If the paper is replenished, printing will resume immediately. However, when the job cancel command is received from the input / output unit 18 in step S16 without the paper being replenished, the paper out error is canceled and the stopped job is canceled in step S17. The printing device is then returned to waiting for a new print job.

<Operation of Host Computer> Next, the host computer of the printing system (the external device 3 shown in FIGS.
000) side processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows the print control performed on the host computer 3000 side, and FIG. 6 shows the RAM of the host computer 3000 transmitting print data to the printing apparatus 1000.
2 shows the structures of the print job queue 21 and the print data spool memory 22 that are allocated in the area 2.

As shown on the left side of FIG. 6, in the print job queue 21, the names and print orders of print jobs executed by the user are queued. Each print job is not limited to a print job created by an application on the host computer 3000, but is sent from another host computer existing on the network to which this host computer is connected based on a predetermined protocol. I don't care.

The actual print data of each print job queued in the print job queue 21 is stored in the print spool memory 22. The print data is roughly classified into a print control command section (221a, 221b ...) And an image data section (222a, 222b ...).

Print control command sections (221a, 221b)
...) consists of commands relating to print control, such as paper size designation and toner density designation. On the other hand, the image data section (222
a, 222b ...) Consists of image data such as text data and image data to be actually printed.

The job entry in the print job queue 21 and the actual print data in the print spool memory 22 are associated with each other by pointer (address) data stored in the print job queue 21.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure on the host computer side. This program is stored in the ROM 3 and is executed under the control of the CPU 1.

In step S21 of FIG. 5, if there is a print job queued in the print job queue 21, the print job is taken out from the print job queue 21 and the print data stored in the spool memory is retrieved. It is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1000. The printing order, that is, the order of taking out from the print job queue 21 is normally the order in which the jobs are registered in the print job queue 21, but a control mechanism for separately changing or optimizing this order is provided. May be. If such a mechanism exists, the order of taking out from the print job queue 21 follows the control result.

Thereafter, in step S23, it is monitored whether or not a paper out error has occurred. This monitoring sends a command for acquiring various information to the printing apparatus 1000,
This is performed by receiving the status from the printing apparatus 1000. If the paper out error does not occur in step S23 and the print job ends normally, step S22.
Although the printing ends in step S <b> 24, if a paper out error occurs, the process proceeds to step S <b> 24.

A paper out error is displayed in the printing apparatus 100.
0 is detected by a sensor provided at a predetermined position of the sheet conveyance path, and in response to the reception of the above command from the host side, a predetermined signal line is used to the host side via the input / output unit 18 (a predetermined data format). (According to the following), the status is sent in response to the command. Any method may be used as a method of transmitting and receiving information relating to a printing error (or a printing state) such as a paper out error, for example, a signal, a data format, a protocol and the like.

If a paper out error occurs, it is monitored in step S24 whether or not the user has replenished the paper into the paper feed port. If replenished, the process returns to step S22 to restart the stopped print job. Whether or not the paper is replenished is determined by giving and receiving the same commands and statuses as described above.

If the paper is not replenished, step S2
At 5, it is determined whether a predetermined time has expired. That is, if a time-out occurs in step S25 without paper supply, the process proceeds to step S26.

Steps S26 and thereafter are processing peculiar to the present invention. First, in step S26, all the sheet sizes set in other sheet feed ports of the printing apparatus are checked. This paper size can also be acquired by exchanging commands and statuses similar to the above with the printing apparatus.

In step S27, it is checked whether or not there is a print job in the print queue which is waiting and which is to be printed with the paper size set in another paper feed port. This can be done by searching for a command that specifies the paper size in the print data command section of the print data stored in the print data spool memory.

If the corresponding print job does not exist in the search of step S27, the user is continuously awaited for paper supply (the paper out error condition continues), but the corresponding print job is When it exists, it transfers to step S28.

In step S28 and subsequent steps, if there is a print job using a paper different from the paper out error, that processing is executed.

That is, in step S28, the print status of the print job stopped due to the paper out error (type of error, how many pages have been printed, etc.) is saved. By using the data relating to the print status of the print job saved in this way, it becomes possible to restart printing without re-inputting the print data after the paper out error is recovered.

In step S29, a print job cancel command is sent to the printing apparatus 1000. This cancel command is for canceling all the processing on the side of the printing apparatus 1000 regarding the job stopped due to the paper out error, and this cancel command causes the print data stored in the RAM 19 or the like of the printing apparatus 1000 to be canceled. Is cleared, or if there is a sheet that has not been completely discharged, a process for discharging the sheet is performed.

Subsequently, in step S210, step S27.
The print job corresponding to the search for is retrieved with priority over the job interrupted by the out-of-paper error, and the printing apparatus 100
Send to 0. It suffices to retrieve and execute the corresponding print job in the search of step S27 regardless of the predetermined print order. However, if there are a plurality of corresponding jobs, the job is queued in the job again. The order of input may be used.

The printing process by the above control will be described with reference to the example of FIG. Here, it is assumed that the print job 1 (print control command section 221a, image data section 222a) is currently being printed, and the paper size used by this printing job 1 is A4 size. When the paper of the paper feed port in which the A4 paper is set runs out, a paper out error immediately occurs.

If the user times out without replenishing the paper, the size of the paper set in the other paper feed port is checked, and the B5 paper different from the A4 which has run out of paper is set. Suppose there is a paper feed port. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, when a print job in the print job queue is searched, it is found that job 3 (print control command section 221c, image data section 222c) corresponds to a print job using B5 paper.

Therefore, after saving the print status data of the currently stopped print job 1, a print job cancel command is transmitted. Then, the print job 3 can be executed by taking out the print job 3 from the spool and transmitting it to the printing apparatus 1000.

It should be noted that the above description focuses on canceling the corresponding print job when a paper out error occurs, and prioritizing and executing another print job using another paper. However, various modes are conceivable for the subsequent processing.

For example, for a print job canceled because the no-paper error is not canceled for a certain period of time under the above control, the presence of the canceled print job is displayed on the screen of the host computer (for example, that of the print management application). It is possible to notify the user and have the user perform reprinting according to a predetermined operation performed by the user thereafter.

The print status is saved (step S28).
At the same time, if the print data is not erased from the spool, it is also possible to perform control to automatically restart the print job that was stopped when the paper was replenished (for example, from the page that was not printed).

Further, in the present embodiment, the host computer 3000 side measures the time whether the (paper out) error occurs and the error is canceled by the user for a certain period of time. This timer may be measured by starting a timer at 1000. In that case,
It is transmitted to the host computer 3000 side that the timeout has occurred without error cancellation by some signal or command / response exchanged between the host computer 3000 and the printing apparatus side 1000.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, there is no paper in the paper feed port during printing, and a paper out error occurs,
If the user does not supply paper, the printer searches for print jobs that specify paper sizes that exist in other paper feed ports, and prints those jobs preferentially, so that the error status of It is possible to efficiently execute a spooled print job without being left as it is.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the processing when the paper out error occurs during printing has been described.
If an error occurs for a print job, not limited to a paper out error, the same process as above, that is, the process of canceling the print job in which the error occurred and executing another print job that can be executed first, Depending on the type, it may be possible to continue without canceling the print job in which the error occurred. In the present embodiment, control considering such a case will be described.

In the second embodiment, a case where a paper exchange request error occurs will be considered. This paper replacement request error occurs when paper of a size suitable for the paper feed port specified in the print job is not loaded, and when this paper replacement request error occurs, the user You must replace the paper in the specified paper source with the correct size.

FIG. 7 shows processing on the host computer side when a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing apparatus 1000. The format of FIG. 7 (or the same applies to FIGS. 8 and 9 according to the subsequent embodiments) conforms to that of FIG. 5 of the above embodiment, and different step numbers in the 10 and 100 series are used. 1 except for those that are different from those in FIG.
Since the step numbers of the series are the same, detailed description of the steps will be omitted. The hardware configuration is the first
It is assumed to be the same as the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, when a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing device (step S33), the host computer (external device) 3000 sets the correct paper by the user within a fixed time after the error occurs. If so, the print job is restarted (steps S34 to S32).

However, if the user does not cancel the error for a certain period of time (step S35), it is checked whether or not the correct paper designated by the print job is set in another paper feed port (steps S36 and S37). ). If there is a paper feed port in which the correct paper is set (step S37), the paper in the paper feed port is used and the print job in which the paper replacement request error has occurred is restarted (step S37).
38).

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the correct paper is not set in the paper feed port designated by the print job, a paper replacement request error occurs, and the user does not replace the correct paper. , It is checked whether the correct paper size is set in another paper feed port, and the print job is executed by switching to the paper feed port in which the correct paper size is set. That is, even if a paper replacement request error occurs, if the correct paper specified in the print job is set in another paper feed port, the print job can be continued using that paper feed port. Therefore, it is possible to perform printing efficiently without being left in an error state as in the conventional case.

[Third Embodiment] In the present embodiment, the control will be described in consideration of the case where there is no paper feed port in which the correct paper size is set (step S37 in FIG. 7) in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a modification of the control of FIG. 7, and is exactly the same as FIG. 7 up to step S38, but additionally, steps S311, S39, and S310 are added to the route when step S37 is denied. It was done.

As shown in FIG. 8, when a paper exchange request error occurs (step S33) and this error is not released (step S35), the paper is set in each paper feed port as in the second embodiment. The paper size is checked to see if the correct paper specified in the print job is set in another paper feed port (steps S36 and S3).
7).

If the correct paper is set in the other paper feed port, the paper in the paper feed port is used in step S38 as in the above embodiment, and the print job in which the paper exchange request error occurs is detected. If it is restarted, but the correct paper is not loaded in the other paper feed slot, the print job queue is searched, and it is different from the print job in which another paper size is specified, that is, a paper replacement request error has occurred. It is searched whether or not there is a print job that specifies the paper feed port (step S311).

If there is a corresponding print job in step S311, the print job currently to be executed is canceled (step S39), and step S311 is executed.
The print job retrieved in step 1 is preferentially taken out regardless of the printing order, transmitted to the printing apparatus 1000, and printed.
That is, here, similarly to the first embodiment, the restart of the print job in which the paper exchange request error has occurred is given up, and the printable job is preferentially executed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the correct paper is not set in the paper feed port specified by the print job, a paper replacement request error occurs, and the correct paper is fed to the other paper feed ports. If there is no size set, cancel the restart of the job finally, search other print jobs that specify the paper size existing in each paper feed port, and print with priority. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform printing without being left in an error state as in the conventional case.

[Fourth Embodiment] This embodiment is an example of executing another print job according to a print error as in the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, a paper out error is not generated during printing. Consider a case where a paper size mismatch error occurs.

In the above embodiment (for example, the first embodiment), it is premised that the size of the paper set in the paper feed port can be discriminated. However, in the printing apparatus, it is set in the paper feed port. Some have no function to detect the size of paper that is stuck.

In such a printing apparatus (printer), after printing the first page of the print job (for example, from the paper length detected by the paper sensor provided in the paper transport path).
It turns out that the loaded paper is incorrect, but a paper size mismatch error occurs.

In such a case, as shown in FIG. 9, the host computer (external device) restarts the print job if the user sets the correct paper within a fixed time after the paper size mismatch error occurs ( Step S43
-S44-S42).

When the user does not cancel the error for a certain period of time (step S45), the size of the paper set in the other paper feed port is checked, and the paper for which the paper size mismatch error occurs in the print job queue. It is searched whether or not there is a print job of which size is specified (step S4).
6, S47).

If there is a corresponding print job, the print status of the job in which an error has occurred is saved (step S48), the print job currently being executed is canceled (step S49), and the print job is printed in the print order. Irrespective of the above, it is preferentially taken out and transmitted to the printing apparatus 1000 (step S410). That is, in the present embodiment, other jobs that can be printed using the paper in which the paper mismatch error has occurred are preferentially executed.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when a paper size mismatch error occurs and the user does not replace the paper with the correct paper, another print job that specifies the paper size set in the paper feed port is executed. Can be searched and printed with priority. That is, even if a print job is determined to be “incorrect or inconsistent,” if another print job can use it, that print job can be processed without delay. It is possible to execute the printing, and it is possible to efficiently execute the printing without being left in the error state.

Although the four embodiments have been described above, the present invention detects whether or not the user cancels the error within a predetermined time when a predetermined error occurs in the printing apparatus regarding the paper used for printing. If the detection unit determines that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, the second print job different from the first print job (first and fourth embodiments), or the first condition in which the condition regarding the paper used for printing is changed It is characterized in that control is executed to execute the print job (2nd and 3rd embodiments). The latter first print job, which is performed after an error related to the paper in the first print job, is different from the original first print job because the condition related to the paper is changed (second print job). ) It can also be considered as a job, and in the end, the feature of the present invention is that when a print job causes a paper error, another print job that is not affected by the print job is searched (or generated), and that job is given priority. There is a point to do. By such control, there is an excellent effect that the print processing can be efficiently performed without stagnation of the print processing as in the past and even if the user does not actively perform the error releasing operation.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a printing system including a host device and a printing device, wherein the host device sends print data to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing. During execution of the first print job, if a predetermined error relating to a sheet used for printing is generated in the printing device, it is detected whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, and the detection unit cancels the error. When it is determined that the print job has not been performed for a certain period of time, control is performed to execute a second print job different from the first print job or a first print job in which conditions regarding sheets used for printing are changed (claim 1). , 6 and 11) are adopted, printing can be performed without delaying the printing process when a predetermined error related to the paper used for printing occurs. It is possible to execute the first print job in which the conditions related to the paper used are changed, and the printing apparatus is not left in an error state, and printing is performed efficiently even if the user does not actively perform an error releasing operation. There is an excellent effect that processing can be performed.

Further, the host device, means for recognizing the paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and means for generating a paper out error when the paper in the paper feed port runs out during printing. In a printing system configured to include a printing device having the printing device and transmitting print data from the host device to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing, a paper out error occurs in the printing device during execution of the first print job. In this case, it is detected whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, and if it is determined by the detection that the error has not been cleared within the fixed time, the paper size in another paper feed port is designated. When the corresponding second print job is found by the search, the first print job is canceled, and the second print job is replaced by the first print job. Since the printing job is executed with priority over the printing job (claims 2, 7, and 12), if a paper-out error occurs and it is not canceled, the paper is in another paper feed port. It is possible to search for a second print job that specifies a paper size, cancel the first print job, and execute the second print job with priority over the first print job. Is not left in an error state, and print processing can be performed efficiently even if there is no user's active error release operation.
There is an excellent effect.

Further, the host device and the means for recognizing the paper sizes set in the plurality of paper feed ports, and the paper of the correct size is not set in the designated paper feed port during the execution of the print job. In this case, in a printing system configured to include a printing device having a unit for generating a paper replacement request error, the host device sends print data to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing.
When a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing apparatus during execution of the first print job, it is detected whether the user has cleared the error within a fixed time, and it is determined that the error has not been cleared for the fixed time by the detection. If any of the paper feed ports is selected, another paper feed port in which the paper of the size specified in the first print job exists is searched, and if the corresponding paper feed port is searched by the first searching means, the paper feed port is searched. A configuration for controlling the execution of the first print job by using a printer (claims 3, 8, 1)
Since 2) is adopted, if a paper exchange request error occurs and it is not canceled, search for another paper feed port that has paper of the size specified in the first print job. The first print job can be executed using the searched paper feed port, the printing apparatus is not left in an error state, and even if the user does not actively perform the error releasing operation. Print processing can be performed efficiently,
There is an excellent effect.

Further, it is determined by the above detection that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, and the first search results in the first
If it is not possible to search for another paper feed port in which the paper of the specified size exists in this print job, a second print job that specifies the paper size in the other paper feed port is searched.
When the corresponding print job is found by the second search, the first print job is canceled and the second print job is executed with priority over the first print job. According to the configuration (claims 4, 9, and 13), even if the other paper feed port in which the paper of the size specified in the first print job exists is searched, the paper of the specified size exists. If not, search for the second print job that specifies the paper size in the other paper feed port,
It is possible to cancel the first print job and execute the second print job with priority over the first print job,
When the paper of the specified size cannot be found in the first print job, other second print jobs can be executed, which reduces the possibility of stagnating print processing, and more efficient even if the user actively There is an excellent effect that print processing can be performed even if there is no error release operation.

Further, the host device, means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, means for measuring the paper size of a page by executing printing of one page, When the paper size measured by the measuring means is different from the size specified in the print job, the print device is configured to have a means for generating a paper size mismatch error, and the print job is sent from the host device to the print device. In a printing system that transmits and prints print data in units of, if a paper mismatch error occurs in the printing device during execution of the first print job, it is determined whether the user has canceled the error within a certain period of time. If it is determined that the error has not been cleared for a certain period of time by the detection, the paper feed port specified in the first print job is detected. The second print job that specifies the paper size to be specified, and if the corresponding second print job is found by the search, the first print job is canceled and the second print job is set to the first print job. To execute the print job prior to the above print job (claims 5, 10, and 1).
Since 5) is adopted, if the paper size mismatch error occurs and is not canceled, the second paper size specified in the paper feed port specified in the first print job is specified. Other print jobs, cancel the first print job, execute the second print job with priority over the first print job, and leave the printing device in an error state. In addition, there is an excellent effect that the printing process can be efficiently performed even if the user does not actively perform the error releasing operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a laser beam printer (LBP) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system including the LBP of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the printer control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process in the LBP according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print control processing on the host computer side according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing configurations of a print job queue and a print job spool memory in the host computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing print control processing on the host computer side according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing print control processing on the host computer side according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing print control processing on the host computer side according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 system bus 12 CPU 13 ROM 14 External memory 16, 18 Input / output section 17 Printing (mechanism) section 19 RAM 20 memory controller 102 image control unit 103 image memory 1000 printers 1001 printer control unit 1002 laser driver 1003 Semiconductor laser 1004 laser light 1005 rotating polygon mirror 1006 electrostatic drum 1008 paper cassette 1009 paper feed roller 1012 Operation panel 1013 Fixing device 1014 discharge roller 1015 paper exit 3000 host computer

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A printing system comprising a host device and a printing device, wherein the host device sends print data to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing, and the host device comprises a first print job. When a predetermined error relating to the paper used for printing occurs in the printing device during execution of the above, the detection unit that determines whether or not the user has cleared the error within a fixed time, and the error cancellation by the detection unit does not occur within the fixed time. If it is determined that the second print job is different from the first print job, or the first print job in which the condition regarding the paper used for printing is changed, the control means for executing the print job is provided. system. 2. A host device, a means for recognizing the size of paper set in a plurality of paper feed openings, and a means for generating a paper out error when the paper in the paper feed opening runs out during printing. A printing system comprising: a printing device having the printing device, wherein the host device transmits print data to the printing device in units of print jobs and prints the print data. When a paper out error occurs, a detection unit that determines whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, and if the detection unit determines that the error has not been cleared within a fixed time, it is in another paper feed port. A search unit that searches for a second print job that specifies a paper size, and a first stamp when the corresponding second print job is searched by the search unit. Printing system to cancel the job, characterized in that the second print job is provided and control means for executing in priority to the first print job. 3. A host device, a means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and a paper of the correct size is not set in the designated paper feed port during execution of a print job. In this case, in a printing system configured to include a printing device having a unit for generating a paper replacement request error, the host device sending print data to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing, When a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing apparatus during the execution of the print job of No. 1, a detection unit that determines whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, and the detection unit does not cancel the error for a fixed time. If it is determined that the first print job is present, a first search unit that searches for another paper feed port in which the paper of the size specified in the first print job exists; Printing system, characterized in that the appropriate paper feed port if retrieved, provided with a control means for executing the first print job by using the sheet feeding port by the search means. 4. The host apparatus determines that the detection unit determines that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, and the first search unit determines that another size of paper is present in the first print job. When the paper opening cannot be found, the printer has a second searching unit that searches for a second print job that specifies the paper size in another paper feeding port, and the corresponding printing is performed by the second searching unit. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein when the job is searched, the first print job is canceled and the second print job is executed with priority over the first print job. 5. A host device, means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, means for measuring the paper size of a page by executing printing of one page, and When the paper size measured by the measuring means is different from the size specified in the print job, the print device is configured to have a means for generating a paper size mismatch error, and the print job is sent from the host device to the print device. In a printing system in which print data is transmitted and printed in units of a unit, if a paper mismatch error occurs in the printing apparatus while the first printing job is being executed in the host apparatus, the user may output the error within a certain period of time. Detecting means for judging whether or not the error has been released; and if the detecting means determines that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, the first mark Means for searching for a second print job that specifies the paper size in the paper feed port specified in the print job; and if the corresponding second print job is found by the searching means, the first print job A printing system, comprising: a control unit that cancels the job and executes the second print job with priority over the first print job. 6. A method of controlling a printing system, comprising a host device and a printing device, wherein the host device sends print data to the printing device in units of print jobs for printing, wherein the host device comprises: When a predetermined error related to the paper used for printing occurs in the printing apparatus during the execution of the print job of step 1, a detection step of determining whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, and the error cancellation is performed by the detection step. When it is determined that the predetermined time has not passed, a control step of executing a second print job different from the first print job or a first print job in which conditions regarding sheets used for printing are changed is performed. Printing system control method. 7. A host device, means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and means for generating a paper out error when the paper in the paper feed port runs out during printing. A method of controlling a printing system, comprising: a printing device having the printing device, wherein the host device transmits print data to the printing device in units of print jobs and prints the print data; When a paper out error occurs in the printing device, a detection step of determining whether or not the user has canceled the error within a fixed time period, and when it is determined by the detection step that the error has not been released within a fixed time period, another paper feed A search step of searching for a second print job that specifies the paper size of the mouth, and the corresponding second print job is searched by the search step. If, to cancel the first print job, the control method for the printing system characterized by performing the control process for executing the second print job also supersedes the first print job. 8. A host device, a means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and a paper of the correct size is not set in the designated paper feed port during execution of a print job. In this case, in the control method of the printing system, the method includes a printing device having a unit for generating a paper exchange request error, and the printing data is transmitted from the host device to the printing device in units of print jobs and printed. In the case where a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing apparatus during execution of the first print job, a detection step of determining whether or not the error is canceled by the user within a fixed time; If it is determined that there is no fixed time, the first search that searches for another paper feed port in which the paper of the size specified in the first print job exists And a control process for executing the first print job using the sheet feeding port when the corresponding sheet feeding port is searched by the first searching unit. Method. 9. In the host apparatus, it is determined by the detection step that an error has not been released for a certain period of time, and the first search step determines that there is a sheet of a size specified in the first print job. When the paper mouth cannot be searched, a second search step of searching for a second print job that specifies the paper size in another paper feed slot, and a print job corresponding to the second search step are performed. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, further comprising a control step of canceling the first print job and executing the second print job with priority over the first print job when the search is found. Control method. 10. A host device, means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, means for measuring the paper size of one page by executing printing of one page, and When the paper size measured by the measuring means is different from the size specified in the print job, the print device is configured to have a means for generating a paper size mismatch error, and the print job is sent from the host device to the print device. In a method for controlling a printing system in which print data is transmitted in units of, and printing is performed, if a paper mismatch error occurs in the printing device while the first print job is being executed in the host device, A detection step of determining whether or not the error is canceled, and it is determined by the detection step that the error has not been released for a certain period of time. In this case, the step of searching for a second print job that specifies the paper size in the paper feed port specified in the first print job; and the corresponding second print job is searched for in the search step. In this case, the control method of the printing system is characterized by performing the control step of canceling the first print job and executing the second print job with priority over the first print job. 11. A computer readable medium comprising a host device and a printing device, which stores a control program of a host device of a printing system for transmitting and printing print data from the host device to the printing device in units of print jobs. In a storage medium, when a predetermined error related to a sheet used for printing is generated in the printing device during execution of the first print job, a detection step of determining whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, When it is determined by the detection step that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, a control step of executing a second print job different from the first print job, or a first print job in which conditions regarding sheets used for printing are changed A computer-readable storage medium characterized by storing. 12. A host device, means for recognizing the size of paper set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and means for generating a paper out error when the paper in the paper feed port runs out during printing. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a control program of a host device of a printing system configured to include a printing device having the printing device, the print data being transmitted from the host device to the printing device in units of print jobs and printed. If a paper out error occurs in the printing device during execution of a print job, a detection step of determining whether the user has cleared the error within a fixed time, and the detection step determines that the error has not been fixed for a fixed time. In the case of the above, the search step of searching for the second print job that specifies the paper size in the other paper feed port, and the search step When the corresponding second print job is searched, the control process of canceling the first print job and executing the second print job with priority over the first print job is stored. Computer-readable storage medium. 13. A host device, a means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, and a paper of the correct size is not set in a designated paper feed port while executing a print job. In this case, the control program for the host device of the printing system, which comprises a printing device having a means for generating a paper exchange request error, stores print data from the host device to the printing device and prints the print data in units of print jobs. In the computer-readable storage medium, when a paper exchange request error occurs in the printing device during execution of the first print job, a detection step of determining whether or not the user cancels the error within a fixed time, If it is determined by the detection step that the error has not been released within a certain period of time, there is paper of the size specified in the first print job. A first search step of searching for another sheet feed port to be executed, and if the corresponding sheet feed port is searched by the first searching means, the first print job is executed using the sheet feed port. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control process. 14. The detection step determines that the error has not been released for a certain period of time, and the first search step can search for another sheet feed port in which a sheet of the size specified in the first print job exists. If not, a second search step of searching for a second print job that specifies the paper size in the other paper feed port, and if a corresponding print job is searched by this second search step, 14. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising a control step of canceling the first print job and executing the second print job with priority over the first print job. 15. A host device, means for recognizing paper sizes set in a plurality of paper feed ports, means for measuring the paper size of a page by executing printing of one page, and When the paper size measured by the measuring means is different from the size specified in the print job, the print device is configured to have a means for generating a paper size mismatch error, and the print job is sent from the host device to the print device. In a computer-readable storage medium that stores a control program of a host device of a printing system that transmits and prints print data in units of units, when a paper mismatch error occurs in the printing device during execution of a first print job , A detection step of determining whether or not the user has cleared the error within a certain period of time, and an error caused by the detection step. If it is determined that the removal has not been performed for a certain period of time, a step of searching for a second print job that specifies the paper size in the paper feed port specified in the first print job; A computer read characterized by storing a control process for canceling the first print job and executing the second print job with priority over the first print job when the second print job is retrieved. Possible storage medium.