JP2004310488A - Printing system, server, printing device, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a printing system that reduces the amount of data flowing on a network while installing a single driver for the same type of printing apparatuses connected to a network.
The printing system includes one or more terminals, a plurality of printing devices each assigned a network ID, and a server that distributes printing requested by the terminals to one of the printing devices. 10 is connected via a network 40. At this time, prior to printing, the terminal 20 transmits a connection request to the printing device 30 corresponding to the identifier to the server 10 and transmits print data to the responding connectable printing device to perform printing. did. In the server 10, the same identifier is given to the same type of printing apparatus, and a table for managing the status of the printing apparatus is held. Refer to and assign a connectable printing device.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system, a server, a printing device, a program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, to a technique for distributing print data to the same type of printing device connected to a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a plurality of printers of the same type and a computer are connected on a network, a case where printing is performed from this computer to any one of the printers will be considered.
(1) When printing directly from a computer to a printer:
Even for similar printers, printing cannot be performed until the drivers for all the printers to be used have been installed in the computer.
[0003]
(2) When using a printer server that manages printers on the network:
The print job is sent from the computer to the printer server, and the printer server analyzes the contents of the print job, selects an optimum printer, and prints the selected printer.
For example, in “Print control method, print control system, program and storage medium” in Patent Document 1, a print server determines a target output device list in response to a print request of a plurality of copies from a client, and outputs the list. The print capability of the device described in the destination device list is determined, the number of print copies corresponding to the print capability of the device is calculated, and a print request for the number of print copies corresponding to the print capability of the device is transmitted to a plurality of print devices. , The time required for the printing process is reduced.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-342055
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of the above (1), the drivers must be individually managed on the computer, so when the drivers are revised, they must be individually reinstalled.
In the case of (2), the problem as in (1) is eliminated, but all print jobs to the printers managed by the print server are concentrated on the print server, and the printer server and the network The load will increase.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a plurality of the same type of printing apparatuses are connected to a network. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system, a server, a printing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium that reduce the amount of flowing data.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, claim 1 of the present invention relates to one or more terminals, a plurality of printing devices each assigned a network-specific ID, and the printing requested by the terminals. In a printing system comprising a server connected to one of the printing devices connected via a network, the terminal transmits a connection request to the printing device corresponding to an identifier to the server before printing, and The server sends print data to the connected connectable printing device, the server gives the same identifier to the same type of printing device, and has a table for managing the status of the printing device. Receiving a connection request to the printing device corresponding to the network device, and returning a network-specific ID of the connectable printing device assigned with reference to the table, Characterized by being adapted to print the print data transmitted from the terminal.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, when the printing apparatus is connected to the network, the printing apparatus sends a registration request for an identifier of the printing apparatus, a network-specific ID, and a status. The information is transmitted to the server, and the server registers the registration in the table when a registration request is received from the printing apparatus.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the second aspect, the printing apparatus detects that the printing apparatus has become incapable of printing, and issues a request to the server to delete the printing apparatus. The server transmits, and receives the deletion request from the printing apparatus, and deletes the entry of the printing apparatus from the table.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, one or more terminals are connected via a network to a plurality of printing apparatuses each assigned an ID unique to the network. In the server to be assigned to any of the printing devices, the same type of printing device is given the same identifier, and has a table for managing the status of the printing device. The terminal requests the connection of the printing device corresponding to the identifier from the terminal. And assigns a connectable printing device with reference to the table, returns a network-specific ID of the printing device to the terminal, and, when there is a registration request from the printing device, an identifier of the printing device. , The network-specific ID and status are registered in the table, and when there is a deletion request from the printing device, the entry of the printing device is stored in the table. Characterized in that it removed from the table.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: one or more terminals connected via a network to a server that distributes a print requested by the terminal to one of a plurality of printing apparatuses. The same identifiers are assigned to the same type of printing devices, and network-specific IDs are assigned to the printing devices. When the printing device is connected to the network, a request for registering the identifier of the printing device, the network-specific ID, and the status is made. To the server, and when detecting a state in which the printing device cannot print, sends a request to delete the printing device to the server, and when print data is sent from the terminal, prints the print data. It is characterized by doing so.
[0011]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer having the function of the printing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the function of the server according to the fourth aspect, or the function of the printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect. Is a program for executing.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to the sixth aspect.
[0012]
With the above configuration, the printing device having one identifier is shown as a printing device managed by a plurality of network IDs, so that the terminal does not need to install a plurality of drivers.
Further, since the print data is not concentrated on the server, the processing of the server is improved, and the data transfer load on the network is reduced.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the printing system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
(1) Overview of printing system
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment according to the printing system of the present invention. In the figure, the printing system has a server 10, one or more terminals 20, and one or more printing apparatuses 30 of the same type or different types connected via a network 40.
[0015]
The network 40 is a transmission path for coupling the server 10, the terminal 20, and the printing device 30, and is generally realized by a cable, and TCP / IP is used as a communication protocol. However, the transmission path is not limited to the cable, and may be any of wireless and wired as long as the communication protocol between them is the same. For example, LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network) and WAN The Internet or the like can be used.
[0016]
The server 10 assigns the same type of printing device to one identifier, and identifies a plurality of individual printing devices by a network ID for this identifier.
As a result, a single driver for the same type of printing apparatus 30 can be provided, so that the terminal 20 does not need to install a plurality of drivers.
In addition, the server 10 allocates an appropriate printing device 30 to the printing device 30 to be managed via the network 40 in accordance with a request from the terminal 20 and manages only the status of the printing device 30. An exchange is performed between the terminal 20 and the assigned printing device 30.
[0017]
Prior to printing, the terminal 20 installs a different driver for each type of printing device. When a print request is received from an application or the like, the driver first inquires of the server 10 about a network ID of a printing apparatus that actually performs printing.
The terminal 20 transmits the print data to the printing device 30 having the network ID to which the reply has been sent. When the print data is completed, an end signal is transmitted to the printing device 30, and printing is completed.
[0018]
When the printing apparatus 30 is turned on, the printing apparatus 30 searches for the server 10 that manages the printing apparatus 30 via the network 40. If the server 10 is activated, the printing apparatus 30 stores its own network ID, identifier, status, capability, and the like. And the server 10 manages it.
Further, the printing device 30 receives the print data from the terminal 20, performs an actual printing operation, and transmits a print end signal to the server 10 when the print end is detected.
Further, the printing apparatus 30 monitors an error situation in which the printing apparatus 30 cannot print, and transmits a deletion request to the server 10 so as to disable the printing apparatus 30 itself.
[0019]
(2) Details of the printing system
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a server, a terminal, and a printing apparatus that configure the printing system according to the present embodiment.
(A) Terminal side:
2, the terminal 20 includes an application 21, a print control unit 22, a print destination request unit 23, and a print unit 24.
The application 21 is, for example, application software such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, image processing software, or the like, and instructs the print control unit 22 to print a created document or image.
The print control unit 22 first causes the user to specify an identifier of the printing device (for example, a model name given to the same type of printing device), calls the print destination requesting unit 23, and matches the specified identifier. Send a connection request to the printing device.
Next, if the response from the server 10 is a network ID of a suitable printing device, the print control unit 22 calls the printing unit 24 and sends print data to the printing device of this network ID, and the print data is exhausted. And a series of print processing ends.
When the response from the server 10 is “No corresponding printing device”, the print control unit 22 allows the user to specify an identifier for another type of printing device, and issues a connection request to a matching printing device again. Repeat sending.
[0020]
The print destination request unit 23 transmits a request to connect to a printing device matching the specified identifier to the server 10 and receives a network ID of a connectable printing device from the server 10. If there is no connectable printing device on the network or printing is not possible, “No corresponding printing device” is returned.
The printing unit 24 sends the print data to the network ID of the printing device allocated by the server 10.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when printing is performed on the printing device 30 by the terminal 20.
First, for example, a command is issued to print a document or image created from application software such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, image processing software, and the like (step S11).
The type of the identifier of the printing device (for example, the model name given to the same type of printing device) is designated by the user (step S12).
The server 10 is queried for the network ID of the printing apparatus that matches the specified identifier (step S13).
If the response from the server 10 is not the “network ID” (NO in step S14), the user is required to specify an identifier for another type of printing device, and the process returns to step S12 in order to transmit a connection request to a matching printing device again. Return to
[0022]
On the other hand, when the response from the server 10 is "network ID" (YES in step S14), the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus having this network ID (step S15).
When the transmission of the print data is completed, a print completion signal is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and the process is terminated (step S16).
[0023]
Since the print data is transmitted directly from the terminal 20 to the printing device 30 in this manner, the print jobs concentrated on the server 10 are only connection requests to the printing device, and the load due to the concentration of print job processing in the server 10 is reduced. And the load on the network in data transfer is distributed.
[0024]
(B) Server side:
2, the server 10 includes at least a monitoring unit 11, a distribution determining unit 12, a printing status table 13, and a status updating unit 14.
The printing status table 13 includes at least an identifier, a network ID of the printing device, and a status (status) of the printing device, and is a table for managing the distribution of each printing device based on these information (see FIG. 4).
[0025]
Identifier: An identifier (a group ID such as a model name) for the same type of printing apparatus. Therefore, one or more network IDs correspond to one identifier.
Network ID: A network ID for identifying each printing device.
Status (status): Holds the current status of the printing device indicated by the network ID. The status includes “printing” or “printable”.
[0026]
The monitoring unit 11 monitors communication from the terminal 20 and the printing device 30, monitors each event of the time interruption, and calls a processing function corresponding to each event.
Since the time interruption event is one in which the state of the printing apparatus changes every moment, an interruption is made at regular time intervals to confirm this state, and the status of all the printing apparatuses registered in the printing state table 13 is changed. Contact and update.
The setting of the time interval of the time interruption is set when the server 10 is started or by the server administrator.
[0027]
The distribution determining unit 12 is called from the monitoring unit 11 when there is a connection request event of the printing device with respect to the identifier from the terminal 20, and searches the printing status table 13 for a printing device having the same identifier. If the corresponding identifier does not exist in the print status table 13, "No corresponding printing device" is returned.
If there is one printing device with the specified identifier, the printing device is selected and a network ID is returned. If there are a plurality of printers, a printer whose status is “printable” is selected at random, and the network ID of the printer is returned.
[0028]
The status updating unit 14 is called from the monitoring unit 11 when there is a search request, a registration request, a status update request, and a deletion request from the printing apparatus, and processes the following events.
(B) If there is a search request event, a signal indicating that the server 10 is being activated is returned.
(B) If there is a registration request event, it receives the identifier, network ID, status, and the like sent from the printing apparatus, and registers them in the print state table 13. If the network ID is duplicated, it is overwritten and updated.
(C) If there is a status update request event, the print status table 13 is updated by overwriting the status of the received network ID. The status at this time is either “printing” or “printable”.
(D) When there is a deletion request event, the entry corresponding to the received network ID is deleted from the print status table 13.
As a result, it is possible to simplify the search of the print state table in response to the connection request from the terminal, and to improve the maintainability of the printing system.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an event requested by the terminal 20 or the printing device 30 in the server 10.
The monitoring unit 11 monitors each event occurring in the server 10, and processes the generated event as follows.
When a connection request event of the printing device for the identifier is generated from the terminal 20 (YES in step S51), the printing device having the same identifier as the specified identifier is searched from the printing state table 13 (step S52).
If there is one or more printing devices with the specified identifier (YES in step S53), if one printing device is selected, the printing device is selected. Is randomly selected, the network ID of the selected printing device is returned (step S54), and the process returns to the event wait state.
[0030]
If a time interrupt event has occurred (YES in step S56), a status report request is transmitted to all the printing devices registered in the print state table 13 (step S57), and the process returns to the event wait state.
[0031]
If a registration request event has occurred (YES in step S58), the printer receives the identifier, network ID, status, and the like sent from the printing apparatus, registers them in the print status table 13 (step S59), and waits for an event. Return. If the network ID is duplicated, it is overwritten and updated.
[0032]
If a deletion request event has occurred (YES in step S60), the entry corresponding to the received network ID is deleted from the print status table 13 (step S61), and the process returns to the event wait state.
[0033]
If a status update request event has occurred (YES in step S62), the print status table 13 is updated by overwriting the status of the received network ID (step S63), and the process returns to the event wait state.
[0034]
If a search request event has occurred from the printing apparatus (YES in step S64), a signal indicating that the server 10 is being activated is returned (step S65), and the process returns to the event wait state.
[0035]
(C) Printing device side:
In FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 30 includes at least a monitoring unit 31, a print execution unit 32, and a print engine 33.
[0036]
The monitoring unit 31 monitors various requests from the server 10 and the terminal 20 and the internal state of the printing apparatus itself, and performs a process according to the state.
Events related to the internal state include, when the printing apparatus is turned on, a state in which printing cannot be performed (for example, out of paper, jam, running out of toner, a failure, etc.), a state in which printing can be performed again, and a time interruption. There are events that occur.
[0037]
(A) When the power of the printing apparatus is turned on, it is confirmed that the printing apparatus has been connected to the network, and an inquiry is made to the server 10 on the network as to whether activation is being performed.
For example, the network ID of the server 10 that manages the printing apparatus is set in the printing apparatus in advance, and an inquiry request is sent to the network ID.
When a response is received from the server 10, the network ID, identifier, and status (state) of the printing apparatus are transmitted to the server 10, and the printing apparatus is registered in the print state table 13 of the server 10.
If there is no response from the server 10, an interrupt after a fixed time is set. If there is an interrupt for that time, the time interrupt is released and an inquiry is made again as to whether the server 10 is being activated.
[0038]
(B) When the printer becomes incapable of printing, for example, when the printer detects out of paper, jam, running out of toner, failure, or the like, it sends the network ID of the printer and a deletion request to the server 10 and prints the printer. Is deleted from the print state table 13.
[0039]
(C) When the printing can be performed again, a registration request is issued to the server 10 that manages the printing device to register the printing device, as in (a).
In this way, by participating again, it is possible to allocate a printing device that can always be connected to the terminal.
[0040]
(D) When a report request is received from the server 10, the status of the printing apparatus is acquired, and the network ID and the status are returned.
[0041]
(E) When a print request is received from the terminal 20, the print data is received and temporarily stored in a memory in the printing apparatus.
[0042]
As described above, when a printing apparatus is connected to a network, a server that distributes connectable printing apparatuses is automatically detected, and the printing apparatus identifier, network ID, and status are automatically registered in the server. Therefore, the registration work of the printing apparatus can be reduced.
[0043]
The print execution unit 32 processes the print data stored in the memory in parallel with the event processing by the monitoring unit 31 when the print data is stored in the memory, and prints the print data stored in the memory when the printing apparatus is in a printable state. The print data is sent to the engine 33 to perform the actual print output, and the network ID and the status of “printing” are transmitted to the server 10.
However, when the print engine 33 is printing, the print execution unit 32 waits until the print data currently being printed ends.
When the print data in the memory becomes empty, the print status table 13 is updated by transmitting the network ID and the status of “printable” to the server 10.
[0044]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an event requested from the terminal 20 or the server 10 in the printing apparatus 30.
The following process is performed on an event that has occurred in the printing device 30.
When the power of the printing apparatus is turned on (YES in step S81), the server 10 inquires of the server 10 on the network set in advance whether the printing apparatus is being activated (step S82).
If there is a response from the server 10 (YES in step S83), the network ID, identifier, and status (state) of the printing apparatus are transmitted to the server 10 (step S84), and the process returns to the event wait state.
On the other hand, when there is no response from the server 10 (NO in step S83), an interrupt after a predetermined time is set (step S85), and the process returns to the event wait.
[0045]
If the printing can be performed again (YES in step S86), the process proceeds to step S82 in order to register the printing apparatus in the server 10.
If there is a time interrupt (YES in step S87), the process goes to step S82 to release the time interrupt and to inquire again whether the server 10 is being activated.
[0046]
If the printing apparatus detects that it is out of paper, jams, runs out of toner, or is out of order (step S88: YES), it sends a network ID of the printing apparatus and a deletion request to the server 10 (step S89). Return to event waiting.
[0047]
If there is a report request from the server 10 (YES in step S90), the status of the printing apparatus is obtained, the network ID and this status are returned (step S91), and the process returns to the event wait state.
[0048]
When there is a print request from the terminal 20 (YES in step S92), the print data is received, temporarily stored in a memory in the printing apparatus (step S93), and the process returns to the event wait state.
The print data stored in the memory is printed in parallel with the event processing.
In this case, if the print engine 33 is in a printable state, the print data stored in the memory is sent to the print engine 33 to perform the actual print output, and the network ID and the status of “printing” are sent to the server 10. Send.
However, if the print engine 33 is printing, the process waits until the print data being printed is completed.
When the print data in the memory becomes empty, the network ID and the status of “printable” are transmitted to the server 10.
[0049]
The printing device in the above-described embodiment is a printer device, a facsimile device, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral: a copier equipped with a scanner, a facsimile, etc.), and any device that can be used as a network printer. It may be a device.
[0050]
According to the present invention, each function of the printing system, the terminal, the server, or the printing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment is programmed and written in a recording medium such as a ROM in advance to correspond to the terminal, the server, or the printing apparatus. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can be achieved by installing a ROM in which programs are stored and executing these programs by a microprocessor.
In this case, the state read and executed from the recording medium implements the function of the above-described embodiment, and the program and the recording medium on which the program is recorded also constitute the present invention.
[0051]
Note that programs for realizing such functions include semiconductor media (for example, ROM, non-volatile memory, etc.), optical media (for example, DVD, MO, MD, CD, etc.), magnetic media (for example, magnetic tape, flexible disk, etc.). , Etc.).
Alternatively, a program stored in a storage device may be directly supplied from a server computer via a communication network such as a network. In this case, the storage device of the server computer is also included in the recording medium of the present invention.
[0052]
When the program is recorded on the recording medium as described above, the recording medium is mounted on a medium drive device, the recorded program is installed in a storage device, and the installed program is executed by a microprocessor.
Thus, the program itself read from the recording medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program and the recording medium storing the program also constitute the present invention.
[0053]
Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by executing the program, but also the processing of the above-described embodiment is performed in cooperation with an operating system or another application program based on an instruction of the program. The case where the function is realized is also included.
[0054]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a printing device having one identifier is made to appear as a printing device managed by a plurality of network IDs, so that the terminal does not need to install a plurality of drivers.
Further, since the print data is not concentrated on the server, the processing of the server is improved, and the data transfer load on the network is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a server, a terminal, and a printing apparatus that configure the printing system according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when printing is performed on a printing device in a terminal.
FIG. 4 is an example of a data structure of a print state table.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an event requested by a terminal or a printing apparatus in a server.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an event requested from a terminal or a server in the printing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Server, 11 ... Monitoring part, 12 ... Distribution determination part, 13 ... Print state table, 14 ... Status update part, 20 ... Terminal, 21 ... Application, 22 ... Print control part, 23 ... Print destination request part, 24 ... printing unit, 30 ... printing device, 31 ... monitoring unit, 32 ... printing execution unit, 33 ... printing engine, 40 ... network.

Claims (7)

One or more terminals, a plurality of printing devices each assigned a network-specific ID, and a server that distributes a print request from the terminal to one of the printing devices is connected via a network. Printing system
Prior to printing, the terminal transmits a connection request to the printing device corresponding to an identifier to the server, and transmits print data to a respondable connectable printing device,
The server gives the same identifier to the same type of printing device, has a table for managing the status of the printing device, receives a connection request from the terminal to the printing device corresponding to the identifier, Return the network-specific ID of the connectable printing device assigned by referring to the table,
The printing system, wherein the printing device prints print data sent from the terminal. The printing system according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus, when connected to the network, transmits an identifier of the printing apparatus, a network-specific ID and a registration request for status to the server,
The printing system, wherein the server registers the registration in the table when receiving a registration request from the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 2,
The printing apparatus detects that the printing apparatus has become incapable of printing, transmits a request to delete the printing apparatus to the server,
The printing system, wherein the server receives a deletion request from the printing device and deletes an entry of the printing device from the table. A server that connects, via a network, one or more terminals and a plurality of printing devices each assigned a network-specific ID, and distributes a print requested from the terminal to any of the printing devices.
The same type of printing device is given the same identifier, and has a table for managing the status of the printing device,
Receiving a connection request of the printing device corresponding to the identifier from the terminal, assigning a connectable printing device with reference to the table, returning a network-specific ID of the printing device to the terminal,
When there is a registration request from the printing device, register the identifier of the printing device, an ID unique to the network and status in the table,
When there is a deletion request from the printing device, an entry of the printing device is deleted from the table. In a printing apparatus, which is connected to one or more terminals via a network and a server that distributes a print requested from the terminal to one of a plurality of printing apparatuses, the printing apparatuses may be the same as the same type of printing apparatuses. And a network-specific ID is assigned to each of the identifiers. When connected to the network, a registration request for the identifier of the printing device, the network-specific ID and status is transmitted to the server, and Transmitting a request to delete the printing device to the server when detecting a state in which printing cannot be performed, and printing the print data when print data is transmitted from the terminal. . A program for causing a computer to execute the function of the printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the function of the server according to claim 4, or the function of the printing apparatus according to claim 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 6 is recorded.

Images