JP2000322220A - Network printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a network printer system which is improved in the print efficiency and is easy to use for a user by fixing form sizes and form directions of network printers and performing the distribution processing of network printers. SOLUTION: Terminal equipments 1, 2, and 3 are personal computers or the like. A network printer 4 is set for the exclusive use of forms of vertically long B5 size, and a network printer 5 is set for the exclusive use of forms of horizontally long B5 size, and a network printer 6 is set for the exclusive use of forms of vertically long A5 size, and a network printer 7 is set for the exclusive use of forms of horizontally long A4 size. Drivers required for interface to network printers 4, 5, 6, and 7 are set on each of terminal equipments 1, 2, and 3. A printer automatic distribution device 8 changes network printers as print destinations of terminal equipments 1, 2, and 3 respectively in accordance with form classifications of print forms included in print instructions outputted from terminal equipments 1, 2, and 3 at the time of print.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network printer system in which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printers are connected to a network and can print out print data from the printer from any terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of network printers exist on the same LAN (local area network) and printing is performed from a terminal device such as a personal computer, printing is performed in order to distribute the addition of these network printers. Regardless of the paper size and paper direction, printing of a plurality of paper sizes is performed from one network printer compatible with a personal computer.

[0003]

However, since the above-described network printer system controls the printer to change the paper size according to a request from a personal computer, the setting is changed and the printing efficiency is poor. Further, even if the paper size and paper direction are fixed in each printer, there is a problem that the user does not know which printer to print from and it is difficult to use.

The present invention has been made under such a background. The paper size and the paper direction of the network printer are fixed, and the distribution processing of the network printer is performed, so that the printing efficiency is improved and the user's printing is improved. It is to provide an easy-to-use network printer system.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a network printer system in which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printers are connected to a network, a relationship between a paper type indicating a paper size and a paper direction when printing print data, and the printer set for each paper type And a storage unit that stores a table indicating whether the correspondence between the paper type and the printer of the printing destination in the print command output from the terminal device exists in the table, and determines the determination result. It is characterized by comprising information reading means for outputting, and setting changing means for outputting printer information corresponding to the paper type to the terminal device based on the determination result.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network printer system of the first aspect, the information reading means detects information of a paper type and a printer of a printing destination from the print command.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network printer system according to the first or second aspect,
The information reading means may be configured such that the correspondence between the paper type detected from the print command and the printer at the printing destination detected from the print instruction is set for each of the paper type described in the table and the paper type. Determines whether or not it matches any of the relationships with the printer, and if so, outputs a print command to the corresponding printer; if not, the printer information corresponding to the paper type of the print command Is output to the terminal device by the setting change means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network printer system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the terminal device prints the print command based on the information of the printer corresponding to the paper type. The printer is characterized by comprising a printer changing means for changing the preceding printer to a printer corresponding to the paper type.

A plurality of printers on the same LAN / NT have their paper sizes printed by property setting for each paper size fixed, so that one printer can print only fixed-size paper. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, in a network printer system provided with an automatic paper sorting device, a print printer name for each paper size is obtained from an information providing work table, and the obtained name of the information providing file [ Rewrite the [Device] section. Here, the relationship between the paper type and the printer description corresponding to the paper type is stored in the information providing work table stored in the storage unit 9. Then, by rewriting the information providing file, the setting of the [normally used printer] of the terminal device is changed, and printing can be performed from the printer of the designated paper type.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network printer system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 1, 2 and 3 are terminal devices such as personal computers. Reference numeral 4 denotes a network printer, which is set exclusively for B5 portrait paper, and has a printer setting [Dev] for identifying a printer to be used.
The description of the [ice] section is “NPDL2_B5T”.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a network printer, which is set exclusively for paper on the side of B5. The description in the [Device] section of the printer setting for identifying the printer to be used is "NPDL2_B5Y". Reference numeral 6 denotes a network printer, which is set only for A4 vertical paper, and has a printer setting [Device] for identifying a printer to be used.
The description of the section is “NPDL2_A4T”.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a network printer, which is set exclusively for A4-size paper. The description in the [Device] section of the printer setting for identifying the printer to be used is "NPDL2_A4Y". Drivers required for interfaces with the network printer 4, the network printer 5, the network printer 6, and the network printer 7 are set in the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3, respectively.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an automatic printer sorting device which sets a network printer as a printing destination in accordance with the type of printing paper included in a print command output at the time of printing from each of the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3. Is changed to each of the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3. That is, the automatic printer sorting device 8 includes a storage unit 9, an information providing work file information reading device 10, and an information file setting change device 11.

Here, the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, the terminal device 3, and the automatic printer sorting device 8 are connected to a network, for example, a LAN (local area network)
Connected by T. The network printer 4, the network printer 5, the network printer 6, and the network printer 7 are connected to the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, and the terminal device 3 via the automatic printer sorting device 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 9 writes a paper type in printing and a [Device] section corresponding to one of the network printers 4, 5, 6, and 7. An information providing work table indicating the relationship with the description of the printer setting is stored.

The information providing work file information reading apparatus 10 is configured to execute a paper type included in a print command from the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3 and a type of a network printer designated for output (network printer 4, network printer 4).
Network printer 5, one of network printers 6, and network printer 7), and writes them in the paper type and the [Device] section corresponding to the paper type in the information provision work table stored in the storage unit 9. Then, it is determined whether or not it matches any of the correspondences with the description of the printer setting.

In the information providing work file information reading apparatus 10, the relationship between the extracted paper type and the network printer designated for output corresponds to the paper type described in the information providing work table and the paper type [ D
In the case where the description of the printer setting written in the [evice] section does not match, the network printer (the network printer 4, the network printer 5, the network printer 6, and the network printer 4) corresponding to the paper type searched by the information providing work file information reader 10 is used. The printer setting information indicating any one of the network printers 7) is output to the information file setting change device 11.

On the other hand, in the information providing work file information reading apparatus 10, the relationship between the extracted paper type and the network printer designated for output corresponds to the paper type described in the information providing work table and the paper type [ D
evice] section, the corresponding network printer (network printer 4, network printer 5, network printer 5) is printed so that print data sent from the terminal device from the set network printer is printed. , The network printer 6, or any of the network printers 7) to output print data from the terminal device (any of the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, and the terminal device 3).

The information file setting change device 11 is a network printer (any one of the network printer 4, the network printer 5, the network printer 6, and the network printer 7) corresponding to the paper type searched by the information providing work file information reading device 10. Is written to the [Device] section of the information providing file, and is output to the terminal device (one of the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, and the terminal device 3) that has output the print command.

The terminal device 1, the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3 are provided with a network printer changing means (comprising hardware or software), and the information providing file input from the information file setting changing device 11 is provided. Based on the [Device] section, the description of the network printer setting of [normally used printer] is changed, and a print command is output to the automatic printer sorting device 8 again.

As a result, the print data output from each of the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, and the terminal device 3 is output from the [normally used printer] set in each of the terminal device 1, the terminal device 2, and the terminal device 3. Since the settings of the network printer are automatically changed, it is possible to print from the printer of the paper type specified in the print command.

Next, an example of the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. (1). The user can connect the terminal devices 1, 2 and 3 connected on the same LAN NT.
In addition, all the network printers (network printers 4,
The driver of the network printer 5, the network printer 6, and the network printer 7) is installed and the printer is set.

(2). Then, the user sets the network printer (network printer 4, network printer 4) set in the above (1).
The correspondence between the network printer description in the [Device] section of the network printer 5, the network printer 6, and the network printer 7) and the paper type at the time of printing is stored in the information provision work table of the storage unit 9.

(3). For example, it is assumed that a print command for printing print data in “A4 landscape” is output from the terminal device 1. At this time, the setting of [Printer to be used normally] of the terminal device 1 is the network printer 4, that is, the paper type is “B5 portrait”, and the printer setting is “DEVI”.
It is assumed that CE1 = NPDL2_B5T ”.

Then, the information providing work file information reading apparatus 10 detects from the print command that the paper type is "A4 landscape" and the output destination network printer is the network printer 4. Next, the information providing work file information reading device 10 determines whether or not the relationship between the detected paper type and the network printer matches the correspondence in the information providing work table set in the storage unit 9 in (2). Make a decision.

As a result, in the information providing work file information reading apparatus 10, the relationship between the detected paper type and the network printer does not match the correspondence in the information providing work table set in the storage unit 9 in (2). Detect that. As a result, the information providing work file information reading device 10 transmits the [D] of the network printer 7 corresponding to the paper type “A4 landscape” of the print command from the terminal device 1.
evice] section network printer description "DEVI
“CE = NPDL2_A4Y” is read from the information provision work table set in the storage unit 9.

(4). Next, the information providing work file information reading device 10 outputs the [Device] section network printer description read from the information providing work table set in the storage unit 9 in (3) to the information file setting changing device 11. . Then, the information file setting change apparatus 11 outputs the network printer description “DEVICE = NPDL2_A4” in the [Device] section to be input.
Write “Y” to the [Device] section of the information providing file.

Next, the information file setting change device 11
The information providing file is output to the terminal device 1. Then, the network printer changing unit of the terminal device 1 executes the network printer description “DEVICE = NPDL2_A” in the [Device] section of the input information providing file.
4D ”and [D
evice] section to the network printer “DEVICE = NPDL2_B5
T "to the network printer" DEVICE = NPDL "
2_A4Y ".

(5). Next, in response to the print command output request from the network printer changing unit again, the terminal device 1 outputs a print command for causing the automatic printer sorting device 8 to perform printing with the print type “A4 landscape” of the print data. .
As a result, the information providing work file information reading apparatus 10 determines that the paper type is “A4 landscape” from the print command and the output destination network printer is the network printer 4.
Is detected.

Next, the information providing work file information reading apparatus 10 determines whether the relationship between the detected paper type and the network printer matches the corresponding relationship in the information providing work table set in the storage unit 9 in (2). It determines whether or not. As a result, the information providing work file information reading device 10 detects that the relationship between the detected paper type and the network printer matches the corresponding relationship in the information providing work table set in the storage unit 9 in (2). I do.

As a result, the information providing work file information reading device 10 transmits the print data to the network device description “DEVICE” in the [Device] section of the network printer 7 corresponding to the paper type “A4 landscape” of the print command from the terminal device 1. = NPDL2_A4Y ". As a result, the print data from the terminal device 1 contains the network printer description “DEVICE = NPDL2_A4” described in the print command and changed by the information providing file.
Y "is printed from the network printer 7.

By performing the above-described processes (1) to (5), the network printers 4, 5, 6, and 7 can be changed for each print type (paper size, paper direction). Since the printing operation can be fixed and the operation of changing the paper type in each network printer can be omitted, the printing efficiency can be improved, and the printed paper can be printed on any network printer (network printer 4,
Network printer 5, network printer 6, or network printer 7).

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and a design change or the like may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The present invention is also included in the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the network printer changing unit of the terminal device 1 changes the description of the network printer of [normally used printer] to the description of the network printer in the [Device] section indicated by the information providing file (4).
Before the processing of (1), the description “DEVICE = NPDL2_B5T” of the network printer set first is stored.

Then, the terminal device 1 transmits the network printer description “DEVICE = NPDL2_” indicated by the description of the network printer after the change of “normal printer”.
After the print command is output as the network printer 7 of “A4Y”, that is, after the processing of (5) in one embodiment, the network printer changing unit changes the description of the network printer of “normally used printer” to the description of the network printer “DEVICE”. = NPDL2_B5T "
Change back to

As described above, after the output of the print instruction to the network printer in the description of the network printer in the [Device] section corresponding to the paper type at the time of printing, the network printer changing means stores the first setting. [Default Printer]
If the description is returned to the description of the network printer, it is possible to sort the print printer without changing the setting of the [normal printer] of the terminal device.

[0036]

According to the present invention, a network printer can be fixed for each print type (paper size, paper direction),
Since the operation of changing the paper type in each network printer can be omitted, the printing efficiency can be improved, and it is possible to specify from which network printer of the network the printed paper is printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an information provision work table stored in a storage unit 9 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3 Terminal device 4, 5, 6, 7 Network printer 8 Printer automatic sorting device 9 Storage unit 10 Information providing work file information reading device 11 Information file setting change device

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a network printer system in which a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of printers are connected to a network, a paper type indicating a paper size and a paper direction when printing print data and a paper type set for each paper type are set. A storage unit that stores a table indicating a relationship with the printer; and a print command output from the terminal device, which determines whether the correspondence between the paper type and the printer at the printing destination exists in the table. A network printer system, comprising: an information reading unit that performs the determination and outputs a determination result; and a setting change unit that outputs printer information corresponding to a paper type to the terminal device based on the determination result. 2. The network printer system according to claim 1, wherein said information reading means detects information of a paper type and a printer of a printing destination from said print command. 3. The information reading means according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence between the paper type detected from the print command and the printer of the printing destination detected from the print command is a paper type described in the table, It is determined whether or not it matches any of the relations with the printer set in the above.If they match, a print command is output to the corresponding printer. 3. The network printer system according to claim 1, wherein information of a corresponding printer is output to the terminal device by a setting change unit. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes a printer change unit that changes a printer to which the print command is printed to a printer corresponding to the paper type based on the information of the printer corresponding to the paper type. The network printer system according to claim 1.