JP2001188662A - Printing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] By storing print data to be spooled in a print history list, in response to a print request from the same print executor of the same print data, the print executor is confirmed to continue processing, An object is to reduce unnecessary processing of print data due to an erroneous operation. A print request received via a communication network or the like is determined by a determination processing unit and stored in a print history list. When a print request is received, a search is made as to whether a print request for the same print data from the same print executor exists in the print history list 107. If present, print executor
Confirm whether to continue the printing process for 111. [Effect] By retaining print data once printed as a print history, when a print request for the same print data is received from the same print executor, an erroneous operation is performed to confirm to the print executor that printing processing is to be continued. Thus, it is possible to reduce unnecessary print processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a client for issuing a print request via a communication network or the like, and a print data processing technique of a print control device capable of communicating with a printing device capable of processing the request from the client. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as for a print control device having a spool unit capable of temporarily storing print data, a print control device capable of holding the print data even after print processing has been proposed. For example, JP-A-11-129556, JP-A-191041, JP-A-11-129556
In Japanese Patent No. 203093, when a print request of the same print data as the print data stored in the spool is received, the output process is performed using the saved information without performing the re-spooling, and the reprint process of the same print data is performed. A print control device that improves time has been proposed. Also, in JP-A-11-95942,
There has been proposed a print control apparatus that enables a print format or the like to be changed for print data in a spool.

[0003]

In the above prior art, the print processing capability is improved by using the print data once spooled, and the operability for the print request is improved by permitting the change of the print format. Although improvements have been made, no consideration has been given to the processing of unnecessary print data due to erroneous operations. For this reason, even when the user makes a print request again for data that has already been printed due to misunderstanding or the like, there is a problem in that all print requests are sequentially received and useless print processing is performed.

There is a print control apparatus having means for issuing a delete request to print data in a spool and forcibly interrupting printing, but the operation can be controlled only by the print data in the spool. In addition, for data that has already been printed and has been deleted from the spool, if there is a print request for the same print data from the same print executor due to an erroneous operation (for example, misunderstanding, etc.), the data is all output. That is, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with outputting the same print data a plurality of times from the same print executor due to erroneous operation.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to store print data to be spooled in a print history list so as to confirm to the print executor that processing is to be continued in response to a print request from the same print executor of the same print data. It is to reduce unnecessary processing of print data due to an erroneous operation.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for spooling print data in accordance with a print request issued by a client, and transmitting the spooled print data to a printing apparatus for printing. In the device, based on a print request issued by the client,
Means for registering information for specifying print data and information for specifying a print executor in a print history list, and means for acquiring a print state from the printing apparatus and registering the information in the print history list. I do.

In response to a print request issued by the client, a discriminating processing means for discriminating whether or not a print history of the same print data by the same print executor has already been registered in the print history list; If the print history of the same print data by the same print executor has already been registered in the print history list, the print history list may further include means for confirming whether to continue the printing process.

According to the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for spooling print data in accordance with a print request issued by a client and transmitting the spooled print data to a printing apparatus for printing based on the print request issued by the client. Means for registering information specifying print data relating to the print request and information specifying a print executor of the print request as a print history record in a print history list, and printing the same print request newly issued by the client. Means for determining whether a print history of the same print data by the executor has already been registered in the print history list, and a print history of the same print data by the same print executor has already been registered in the print history list. Output a message to the print executor asking whether to continue the printing process, Means for receiving an instruction from the executor as to whether or not to continue the print processing, and when the continuation of the print processing is instructed, the processing relating to the new print request is continued, and when the stop of the print processing is instructed, Means for discarding the new print request.

Further, the present invention further comprises means for storing a maximum time for holding a print history record in the print history list and / or a maximum value of the number of print history records to be held in the print history list. The print history record registered in the history list includes time information indicating the time at which the print request was made, and the time from the time indicated by the time information of the print history record in the print history list to the current time exceeded the maximum time. When and / or when the number of print history records exceeds the maximum value, a predetermined print history record is deleted.

The apparatus may further comprise means for setting the maximum time and / or the maximum value from the client.

The spool device for spooling print data may be arranged inside or outside the print control device according to the present invention.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a print control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a print request from a print executor 111 is issued from a client 101 via a communication network 110. This print request
The client request processing unit 105 of the print control device 104
The analysis is performed, and the determination processing unit 106 determines, using the print history list 107, whether or not the same print data has been printed by the same print executor in the past. Judgment result, print history list 1
If there is no print history of the same print data by the same print executor during 07, the print request is registered in the print history list 107, and the print data is temporarily stored in the spool unit 109.

As a result of the above determination, if there is a print history of the same print data by the same print executor in the print history list 107, that is, if the request is a reprint processing request, the print information display unit 102 on the client 101 A message confirming whether to continue the print request is displayed. In response to the confirmation message, the print executor 111 can instruct continuation or cancellation of the print request. The display of the confirmation message and the processing of the instruction to continue or stop printing in response to the confirmation message will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

Further, the print executor 111 has the client 101
By performing a predetermined operation on the above, it is possible to explicitly cancel the print request including the status during spooling. When canceling a print request, the client request processing unit 105 and the discrimination processing unit 106 evaluate the current state, and if the target print data is being spooled, discard the print data in the spool unit 109 and print. The history list 107 is reevaluated. If the target print data is being printed, the printing device request processing unit 108 issues a print processing stop command to the printing device 103. The process of canceling such a print request will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When the printing apparatus 103 is ready for printing, the printing apparatus 103 issues a request to the spool unit 109 to retrieve print data being spooled. At this time, the printing device request processing unit 10
8 updates the print history list 107 and the contents of the spool unit 109. The processing of the printing apparatus 103 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The number of print history records that can be stored in the print history list 107 and the setting of the retention period can be changed. These setting value change requests are issued from the client 101, received by the client request processing unit 105, and the changed holding conditions are reflected in the print history list 107. The processing for changing the setting of the number of print history records and the retention period will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the print history list 107 shown in FIG. The print history list 107 is a table generated based on a print request, and one record exists for each print data. When a new print request is received, the print data extracted from the print request, the print executor, and the elements of the print request reception time are registered as print history records (for example, as indicated by 206 in FIG. 2). The print history is managed by assigning a history ID (identifier) 201 to each record. When the print data 202 is the same, the print history record 206 can hold a plurality of pieces of information in the fields of a print executor 203, a print processing state 204, and a print request reception time 205. For example, in the record whose history ID 201 is 0002 in FIG. 2, two pieces of information are set in the print executor 203, the print processing status 204, and the print request reception time 205 for the same print data print02.dat. I have.
The print processing state 204 is provided with a print completed state or a print wait state. Only when a new print request is accepted, the print history record 206 is added in a print waiting state, and when the print processing is completed, the state is updated to a print completed state. Print request reception time 20
5 is updated each time a print request for the same print data is received. Although the print request reception time is stored here, the print request transmission time may be used instead of the reception time.

FIG. 3 shows the print control device 10 at the time of print request processing.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of No. 4 in detail. The client request processing unit 105 analyzes the received print request (S101) and extracts each element such as print data and a print executor.
The determination processing unit 106 determines whether or not there is a history of the same print data issued by the same print executor in relation to this print request, with reference to the print history list 107 (S102). If there is no corresponding print history record in the print history list 107, the print history record of the print request is added to the print history list 107, and the print data is spooled to the spool unit 109 (S108).

If there is a corresponding history record in the print history list 107 in S102, it means that the same executor has made another print request for the print data for which print request has already been issued. It is automatically confirmed to the user whether to continue the printing process (S103). In response to the instruction from the print control device 104, a confirmation message (FIG. 7 described later) as to whether or not to continue the print processing is displayed on the print information display unit 102 of the client 101, and
This is a process of receiving an instruction by (1). When the print executor 111 specifies to continue the print processing, the print request reception time 205 in the print history list 107 is updated to the current time (S106),
The print data is spooled on the spool unit 109 (S108). If the print executor 111 specifies that the print processing is stopped, the print request itself is discarded (S105).

The fact that a print history record exists in the print history list 107 in step S102 means that a print request for the print data has already been issued from the print executor (therefore, the status is "Waiting"). "" Means that printing ends after an appropriate time. If the status is "Complete", printing has already been completed.) For the print request issued this time, confirm with the print executor whether to continue or cancel. In addition, useless printing can be stopped. In the process of step S106 when the continuation is specified, only the print request reception time 205 is updated for the print history record of the print executor of the print data in the print history list 107, The print processing state is not changed. Also,
In the process of step S105 when cancellation is specified, the print history record is left as it is, and the print request received this time is discarded. Regarding a print request in which the print data and the print executor are the same, the print processing state is set to “completed” when the printing is completed even once, and does not return to “wait” from “completed” thereafter. Of course, when "Continue" is specified, the print data is spooled in step S107,
The printing of the print data is executed.

FIG. 4 shows a case in which a print request is canceled from the client 101 (in the case where the print request is explicitly canceled by performing a predetermined operation instead of designating print stop in response to the above-described confirmation message). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment in detail. When the client request processing unit 105 receives a print request cancellation request from the client 101,
The determination processing unit 106 determines whether the print data in the spool unit 109 is undergoing a print process (S201). Only when the print data being spooled is undergoing a printing process, the printing device request processing unit 108 transmits a print stop request to the printing device 103 (S205).

Next, the processing status 204 of the record in the print history list 107 is evaluated (S202), and if the printing is completed, the spooled print data (if the corresponding print data is spooled) is deleted. Yes (S204). On the other hand, if the status is other than the print completed state, the corresponding print history record is deleted from the print history list 107 (S203), and the print data being spooled is deleted (S204). The print record deletion process described above
In (S203), if there is a plurality of print executor information for one history ID, only the information corresponding to the corresponding print executor is to be deleted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing in detail the operation in the case where a process of extracting the print data in the spool unit 109 from the printing apparatus 103 occurs. When the print device request processing unit 108 receives a print data extraction request from the print device 103, it acquires the next print data from the spool unit 109 and sends it to the print device 103 (S301). Next, the print data (printed) is deleted from the spool unit 109 (S302), and the processing state 204 in the print history list 107 is updated to a completed state (S303).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing in detail the operation when the setting of the record holding condition of the print history list 107 is changed from the client 101. Print history list 10 shown in FIG.
The record 7 satisfies the record holding conditions (specifically, the record holding period and the maximum number of held records) that are separately held, and the other records are deleted. For example, when the elapsed time from the print request reception time to the current time has exceeded the record retention period, the record is deleted. Further, when the number of records in the print history list 107 exceeds the maximum number of held records, some records are deleted on a predetermined basis. For example, the print request reception times may be deleted in ascending order.

In FIG. 6, the client request processing unit 10
5, when a request to change the record retention period of the print history list 107 is received (S401), the retention period of the print history record is changed (S402), and when a request to change the maximum number of retained records is received (S403), printing is performed. Change the maximum number of history records
(S404).

FIG. 7 shows a process for confirming the continuation of the printing process to the print executor when the same print data by the same print executor is present in the print history list 107 when the print request is received (FIG. 3). In S103), an example of an operation screen displayed on the print information display unit 102 on the client 101 is shown. On this operation screen, a print executor 203 and a print request reception time 205 are displayed in addition to a message confirming continuation of the print processing. If the user selects “continue” on this operation screen diagram, the processing of the issued print request is continued (S106), and if the user selects “cancel”, the print processing request is discarded (S105).

FIG. 8 shows the client 101 when the setting of the record holding condition of the print history list 107 is changed (FIG. 6).
An example of the operation screen displayed above is shown. With this operation screen, change of the maximum retention period of the print history record (S402),
The maximum number of retained records can be changed (S404).

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of an embodiment in which the print control apparatus of the present invention is applied to a large-scale network printing environment having a load distribution function and a failure avoidance function.

In the present embodiment, the load distribution function determines conditions such as the type of print data and the ratio of the amount of print data in the sorting processing unit 312 in accordance with the instruction of the print executor 318, and prints the print data as the print processing destination. This is realized by separating and recognizing the device and the spool device attached thereto. For example, when the sorting device 312 selects the printing device 303 as a printing destination, the spool device request processing portion 311 transmits print data to the spool device 313 attached to the printing device 303. The sorting device 312 prints the printing device 303 and the alternative printing device 30 as printing destinations.
If both 4 are selected, the spool device request processing unit 311
Are the spool device 313 and the spool device 305 for the alternative printing device.
The print data is transmitted to. With the obstacle avoidance function,
When the printing device 303 cannot perform the printing process due to a failure, a print disabled state is reported to the print control device 306 via the spool device 313. At this time, the print control device 306
The configuration management processing unit 310 selects another alternative printing device 304 that can perform print processing, and transmits print data to the associated alternative printing device spool device 305.

When a print request is issued from the print executor 318, the print request is received and analyzed by the client request processing unit 307, and the same print data is printed by the same print executor in the past by the discrimination processing unit 308. Whether or not the printing has been performed is determined using the print history list 309. If the print history list 309 has a history of print processing of the same print data from the same print executor, a message is output to the print executor to confirm whether or not to continue the print processing. After the print request to be printed is stored in the print history list 309, the print data is transferred to the print destination spool device via the spool device request processing unit 311. The procedure of such processing is the same as in the above-described first embodiment.

As described above, by separating the function of performing the print control process and the function of performing the spool process, it is possible to manage the print history in a unified manner. Even in a network printing environment, it is possible to determine whether the received print request has already been subjected to print processing.

[0033]

According to the present invention, print data that has been printed once is retained as a print history, and when a print request for the same print data is received from the same print executor, the print executor is notified to the print executor. Since the continuation is confirmed, unnecessary print processing due to an erroneous operation can be reduced. In addition, as for the number of print history records to be retained, the maximum retention time and the maximum number of retained records can be changed by a user operation, so that there is an effect that the operation can be performed according to the usage environment including hardware performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a print control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating contents stored in a print history list.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation during a print request process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a print request is canceled from a client.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a process of extracting print data from a spool occurs.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a case where a setting of a record holding condition of a print history list is changed.

FIG. 7 is an operation screen diagram displayed on the client when confirming continuation of the printing process with the print executor.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen displayed on the client when the setting of the record holding condition of the print history list is changed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment in which the print control apparatus of the present invention is applied to a large-scale network printing environment having a load distribution function and a failure avoidance function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 client 102 print information display unit 103 printing device 104 print control device 105 client request processing unit 106 discrimination processing unit 107 print history list 108 printing device request processing unit 109 spool unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] According to a printing request issued by a client,
In a print control apparatus for spooling print data and transmitting the spooled print data to a printing apparatus for printing, based on a print request issued by the client, information for specifying print data and information for specifying a print executor are provided. A print control apparatus, comprising: means for registering in a print history list; and means for acquiring a print state from the printing device and registering the print state in the print history list. 2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein a print history of the same print data by the same print executor is already registered in the print history list in response to the print request issued by the client. And a means for confirming whether or not to continue the printing process if the print history of the same print data by the same print executor has already been registered in the print history list in the determination processing means. A print control device, comprising: 3. According to a print request issued by a client,
In a print control apparatus for spooling print data and transmitting the spooled print data to a printing apparatus for printing, based on a print request issued by the client, information identifying print data related to the print request and information of the print request Means for registering information specifying a print executor in a print history list as a print history record; and for a print request newly issued by the client,
Means for determining whether a print history of the same print data by the same print executor has already been registered in the print history list, and a print history of the same print data by the same print executor has already been registered in the print history list. Output a message to the print executor to confirm whether or not to continue the print processing, and receive means from the print executor as to whether or not to continue the print processing. And a means for continuing the process relating to the new print request when the instruction is issued, and for discarding the new print request when the instruction to stop the print process is issued. 4. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein a maximum time for holding a print history record in the print history list and / or a print history record for holding in the print history list. The print history record registered in the print history list includes time information indicating the time at which the print request was made, and the time information of the print history record in the print history list is further provided. When the time from the time indicated by to the present time exceeds the maximum time and / or when the number of print history records exceeds the maximum value, a predetermined print history record is deleted. Control device. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: means for setting the maximum time and / or the maximum value from the client.