JP2005094519A - Print data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable high-speed print data communication without a user selecting an interface in a print data processing system having a plurality of communication interfaces.
When a print request is issued from a host computer, the throughput of all lines is measured, an interface capable of performing high-speed data communication is selected from the interfaces, and print data is transmitted to a printing apparatus using the selected interface. Send. If there is a line whose throughput measurement is delayed due to disconnection or other reasons in the line throughput measurement, it is not used even if the line is capable of high-speed data communication. Only about the fastest line to choose. When the printing apparatus can receive data from a plurality of interfaces, the print data is divided and the print data is transmitted through the plurality of interfaces in consideration of the bandwidth covered by each line based on the throughput measurement result.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a print data processing system having a plurality of interfaces for data transmission / reception and having a data transfer mechanism capable of data transmission / reception.

In a printing apparatus (or an image forming apparatus) such as a printer, reproducibility and printing speed on printing paper are important factors that determine the performance of the printing apparatus.
In order to improve the reproducibility on the printing paper, it is possible to improve the reproducibility by adding a lot of information (such as gradation information) to the image data of the read original. That is, by minimizing the pixel that is the minimum element of the image data, adding RGB information or YCMK information to the pixel for color printing, and further defining a large gradation level for each color, In monochrome printing, reproducibility is improved by adding binary information or gray gradation information and further defining a large gradation level.
However, increasing the image reproducibility increases the number of processes to be performed inside the apparatus, leading to a decrease in printing speed.

  In addition, with the development of IT technology, in particular, corporate IT networks have become sophisticated and large-scale, and network lines are often congested due to data transmission / reception between devices. For this reason, it takes a long time from when a print request is made until it is actually printed out on paper.

  In order to solve these problems, as a conventional technique, for example, by using a circuit switching connection of an N-ISDN network using a terminal server device, a large number of terminal devices such as telephones, facsimiles, data terminals, etc. There is an invention relating to a data transmission method and a terminal server device that can perform information transfer simultaneously and at any time (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, there is an invention relating to a facsimile apparatus provided with a network selection means capable of performing communication at the lowest cost even for networks having different charge systems when performing facsimile communication (see Patent Document 2). .
JP-A-6-268675 JP-A-7-95312

However, there are some problems that have not been solved in the prior art described above.
For example, the invention shown in Patent Document 1 performs information transmission between terminal devices limited to N-ISDN lines simultaneously and at any time, and selects a line to be used from a plurality of lines or some lines. Is not considered to be used simultaneously.

  The invention shown in Patent Document 2 is an invention having a selection unit that selects a network with the lowest transmission fee at the time of document transmission. However, the network transmission unit does not include the fastest document transmission.

In addition, a technology related to a telephone that can select a line with the lowest call charge for calling is well known, but in the past, a user manually selects a line with the lowest call charge. There is a problem that the user cannot grasp the line charge or cannot select the line with the lowest call charge due to an erroneous operation.
However, recently, the telephone has a means to automatically select the line with the lowest call charge, and the user can use it without being aware of the low call charge, which is convenient for the user. We are trying to improve. Such user convenience is an important point in today's development and manufacture of various complex devices and systems.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a print data communication system having a plurality of data communication interfaces, the system user performs higher-speed print data communication without considering the troublesome point of selecting an interface. An object of the present invention is to provide a print data communication system.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to print data in which a host computer and a printing apparatus have a plurality of data communication interfaces and communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of data communication interfaces. A processing system according to a processing request related to data communication from a host computer to a printing apparatus, before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus, the bandwidth of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface, First line selection means for measuring network traffic, and first interface selection for selecting an interface capable of performing data communication at the fastest speed based on a measurement result by the first line state measurement means. The fastest possible data communication with the means And having a first optimal data communication means for performing data communication using an interface.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a second method of measuring bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus within a certain period of time. The interface that can perform the data communication at the highest speed is selected from the lines that have been measured based on the measurement results of the line condition measuring means and the second line condition measuring means. And an interface selection means.

  The invention according to claim 3 is a print data processing system in which a host computer and a printing apparatus have a plurality of data communication interfaces and communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of interfaces. Sending data from the host computer to the printing device according to a first simultaneous receiving means for simultaneously receiving data sent to the printing device via the interface and a processing request relating to data communication from the host computer to the printing device Before performing, a third line status measuring means for measuring bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface, and a plurality of interfaces based on a measurement result by the third line status measuring means For each of the transmission data A first transmission data dividing unit that appropriately divides and allocates; and a second optimum data communication unit that performs parallel data communication on the divided and allocated data simultaneously through a plurality of interfaces. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface are measured before data is transmitted from the host computer to the printing apparatus within a certain period of time. The transmission data is appropriately divided and allocated for each predetermined unit to each of the one or more interfaces for which measurement has been completed based on the measurement results of the line status measuring means and the fourth line status measuring means. And a second transmission data dividing unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when data necessary for the printing apparatus to perform processing exists in a plurality of host computers and data is transmitted from each of the host computers, each of the host computers The present invention is characterized in that it has first band dividing means for dividing the line band according to the ratio of data to be transmitted and allocating the divided band to each of the host computers.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when data necessary for the printing apparatus to perform processing exists in a plurality of host computers and data is transmitted from each of the host computers, each of the host computers A second simultaneous receiving means for simultaneously receiving data transmitted to the printing apparatus via a plurality of data communication interfaces and a data communication interface for each host computer according to the ratio of transmission data existing in the plurality of host computers I / F assigning means for assigning data and third optimum data communication means for performing data transmission in parallel using the data communication interface assigned by the I / F assigning means.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the bandwidth of the line used by the data communication interface is divided according to the ratio of transmission data existing in the plurality of host computers, and the bandwidth of the line that can be used for each host computer is assigned. It is characterized by having the following band dividing means.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a print data processing system in which a host computer and a printing apparatus have a plurality of data communication interfaces and communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of data communication interfaces. A first line situation in which the bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface are measured before data is transmitted from the host computer to the printing apparatus in accordance with a processing request related to data communication to the apparatus. Based on the measurement result of the measurement means and the first line status measurement means, the first interface selection means for selecting the interface that can perform the fastest data communication and the fastest data communication. Using an interface that is capable of By having the first optimum data communication means for performing data communication, the user can perform the fastest data communication from a plurality of data communication interfaces without considering the troublesome point of selecting an interface. Data transmission can be performed using a line.

In general, since data transmission is performed in parallel using a plurality of lines because data transmission can be performed in the shortest time, the print data processing system according to the present invention has as many data communication interfaces as possible. It is preferable to have it.
However, if there are many interfaces, a printing apparatus that simultaneously receives data from a plurality of interfaces or a host computer having means for simultaneously transmitting data using a plurality of interfaces is required, resulting in a huge system cost. It becomes.
Therefore, in the following examples, many embodiments of the print data processing system according to the present invention are shown. A user who wants to use this system may select an optimum system from among these in consideration of the TPO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the user.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a print data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The host computer 1 has data communication interfaces 11 to 14, and the printing apparatus 4 has data communication interfaces 41 to 44. Each of the host side I / Fs 11 to 14 corresponds to each of the printing apparatus side I / Fs 41 to 44, and is mutually connected by a network line (LAN, WAN, wireless LAN, etc.) or a dedicated line (IEEE1284, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, etc.). It is connected.
For example, a set of the host-side I / F 11 and the printing apparatus-side I / F 41 is a broadband network line and a line capable of high-speed data communication.
A set of the host-side I / F 12 and the printing apparatus-side I / F 42 is a narrow-band network line, and the line speed is slower than the line capable of high-speed data communication.
A set of the host side I / F 13 and the printing apparatus side I / F 43 is a dedicated line.
The group of the host side I / F 14 and the printing apparatus side I / F 44 has no line.

  When data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 4 in response to a processing request from the host computer 1, the network traffic throughput of the lines used by a plurality of interfaces is measured before transmitting the data, and information on the network bandwidth, etc. And calculate the network load. As a result, an optimum interface capable of performing data transmission at the highest speed is selected from a plurality of interfaces, and is used for print data transmission to the printing apparatus 3. This is shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of interface selection processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The host computer 1 and the printing apparatus 4 have a plurality of data communication interfaces as shown in FIG. The host computer 1 generates a processing request related to data transmission such as a print command (step S1). When a processing request occurs, the network traffic throughput of a plurality of network lines is measured (step S2), and when the measurement is completed for all network lines (step S3 / Yes), an optimum data communication interface is determined based on the measurement result. Selection is made (step S4), and print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 4 using the selected interface (step S5).

  In this way, the throughput of the network line is measured, and from the result, the interface capable of performing the highest speed data communication, for example, a set of the host computer 1 side interface 11 and the printing apparatus 4 side interface 41 (broadband network line) is used. It is possible to transmit data.

However, depending on the state of the line, it may take more time than expected to measure the throughput, and as a result, data transmission (print processing) may be delayed.
Although it is an extreme example, physical factors such as line disconnection and temporary large quantities are measured in the throughput measurement of a pair (narrow band network line) of the host side I / F 12 and the printer side I / F 42, for example. If it takes nearly 30 minutes to measure throughput due to an increase in traffic due to print requests, no matter how fast the data is transmitted on the line, the total time from when a print request is generated until paper is output Time takes a lot of time.
Therefore, there is a method in which the throughput is measured within a predetermined time and the fastest network line is selected from the lines measured within the time. This is shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of interface selection processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When a processing request relating to data communication such as a print command is generated in the host computer 1 (step S11), the network traffic throughput of a plurality of network lines is measured (step S12). If all the throughput measurements have not been completed (step S13 / No), it is confirmed whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S14). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S14 / No), the throughput measurement is continued (step S12).
Even if there is an interface for which the measurement of the throughput is not finished, for example, even when the set of the host side I / F 12 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 (network line) is not finished with the throughput measurement due to traffic congestion or the like, If the predetermined time has elapsed (step S14 / Yes), only the interface for which the measurement of the throughput has been completed is selected based on the measurement result (step S15), and the data communication interface is used. The print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 4 (step S16).

  In this way, the throughput is measured within a predetermined time, and the interface for which the measurement has been completed, for example, a set of host 1 side I / F 11 and printing apparatus side I / F 41 (network line), host 1 side I / F 13 And the printer interface I / F 43 (dedicated line), the fastest interface from the interface where the two measurements have been completed, for example, the host interface I / F 11 and the printer interface I / F 41 (broadband network line). By selecting and performing data communication, it is possible to prevent data transmission (print processing) from being delayed more than necessary.

  By the way, if a certain amount of data is transmitted, for example, there are two network lines of the same speed, and if data is transmitted in parallel, the time required for data transmission is transmitted by one network line. Compared to the case, the data can be transmitted in approximately half the time. Therefore, a specific state of the data parallel transmission according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of parallel data transmission processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The host computer 1 and the printing apparatus 4 have a plurality of data communication interfaces as shown in FIG.
When a processing request relating to data communication such as a print command is generated in the host computer 1 (step S21), the network traffic throughput of a plurality of network lines is measured (step S22), and the measurement is completed for all network lines. (Step S23 / Yes), calculation is performed to allocate data for each line based on the measurement result (Step S24), and print data is transmitted through each line (Step S25).

  In this way, the throughput of the lines used by multiple interfaces is measured, and the data to be transmitted to each of the multiple interfaces, together with information on the network bandwidth, etc., based on the measurement results, for each band and each page. The data to be transmitted for each interface is allocated in units of data divided into predetermined units. For example, 50% of the total data is set for the host side I / F 11 and the printer side I / F 41 (broadband network line), and the data is set for the I / F 12 and I / F 42 set (narrow band network line). 20% of the total, 30% of the total data for the I / F13 and I / F43 pair (dedicated line), etc. Data transmission is distributed to multiple interfaces and performed simultaneously in parallel to achieve faster printing Processing can be performed.

  However, depending on the state of the line, it may take more time than expected to measure the throughput, and as a result, data transmission (print processing) may be delayed. Accordingly, there is a method in which the throughput is measured within a predetermined time, and the communication line is selected so that the fastest parallel processing can be performed among the lines measured within that time. This is shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of data parallel transmission processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The host computer 1 and the printing apparatus 4 have a plurality of data communication interfaces as shown in FIG.
When a processing request relating to data communication such as a print command is generated in the host computer 1 (step S31), the throughput of network traffic on a plurality of network lines is measured (step S32). When measurement is completed for all network lines (step S33 / Yes), calculation is performed to allocate data for each line based on the measurement result (step S35), and print data is transmitted through each line (step S36).

If measurement has not been completed for all interfaces (lines) (step S33 / No), it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S34).
If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S34 / No), the throughput of the network line is continuously measured (step S32).
When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S34 / Yes), for example, the measurement has not been completed for the set of the host side I / F 12 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 (narrow band network line), and the predetermined time has elapsed. In this case, only for the line for which the measurement has been completed, a calculation for allocating data for each line is performed (step S35), and print data is transmitted through each line (step S36).

  In this way, the throughput is measured within a predetermined time, and the interface for which the measurement is completed, for example, a set of the host 1 side I / F 11 and the printing apparatus side I / F 41 (broadband network line), host 1 side I / F13 and printing device side I / F43 pair (dedicated line) for data transmission (printing) by allocating data and sending print data in parallel on each line for the interface where two measurements have been completed It is possible to prevent the processing) from being delayed more than necessary.

Currently, with the advancement of IT technology, we are trying to speed up the processing of the entire system in such a way that data etc. are managed in a distributed manner, and processing that was performed on one device is distributed on other devices. Often form a network. The print data processing system according to the present invention can also be applied to such a network system.
The embodiment is shown below.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The print data processing system includes a host computer 1, a host computer 2, and a printing device 4.
The host computer 1 has data communication interfaces 11 to 14, the host computer 2 has data communication interfaces 21 to 24, and the printing apparatus 4 has data communication interfaces 41 to 44.
Each of the interfaces 11 to 14 corresponds to each of the interfaces 21 to 24 and further to each of the interfaces 41 to 44, and is mutually connected to a network line (LAN, WAN, wireless LAN, etc.) or a dedicated line (IEEE1284, IEEE1394, Bluetooth). Etc.).

As an example of the network, for example, a set of the host computer 1 side I / F 11 and the printing apparatus side I / F 41 is a broadband network line.
A set of the host 1 side I / F 12 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 is a narrow band network line.
A set of the host 1 side I / F 13 and the printing apparatus side I / F 43 is a dedicated line.
The set of the host 1 side I / F 14 and the printing apparatus side I / F 44 has no line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 21 and the printing apparatus side I / F 41 is a broadband network line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 22 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 is a narrow-band network line.
The group of the host 2 side I / F 23 and the printing apparatus side I / F 43 has no line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 24 and the printing apparatus side I / F 44 is a dedicated line.

  When data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 4 in response to a processing request from the host computer 1, there is a possibility that data to be transmitted is mixed in both the host computer 1 and the host computer 2 for the purpose of data distribution. is there. In such a case, when a print request occurs, data must be transmitted separately from the host computers 1 and 2 to the printing apparatus 4, but a method for optimally (fastest) transmitting data is as follows. Some are possible. This is shown below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of data transmission processing by band division of print data in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When a processing request related to data communication such as a print command is generated in the host computer 1 (step S41), the network traffic throughput of a plurality of network lines is measured (step S42), and measurement is completed for all network lines. (Step S43 / Yes), the fastest line is selected based on the measurement result (Step S44), and the bandwidth division and allocation are calculated from the ratio of print data in the host 1 and host 2 (Step S45). The print data is transmitted by each host computer in the band thus obtained (step S46).

In this way, when data to be transmitted is mixed in a plurality of hosts, the bandwidth of one selected fastest line can be divided according to the data amount of each host and the data can be transmitted. Is possible.
For example, when transmission data exists at a ratio of host 1: host 2 = 7: 3, 70% of the network line bandwidth is allocated to host 1, and 30% is allocated to host 2, so that the transmission end time of all data Therefore, the printing apparatus 4 can smoothly print without waiting for data from the host.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of parallel transmission processing of print data using a plurality of interfaces in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The host computers 1 and 2 and the printing apparatus 4 constitute a network as shown in FIG.
When a processing request related to data communication such as a print command is generated in the host computer 1 (step S51), the network traffic throughput of a plurality of network lines is measured (step S52), and measurement is completed for all network lines. (Step S53 / Yes) Based on the total amount of data transmitted by each host computer based on the measurement result, the network line used by each host computer is determined along with information on the measurement result and network bandwidth, etc. In step S54, the interface is allocated (step S55), and the print data is transmitted in parallel by each host computer (step S56).

  In this way, when data to be transmitted is mixed in a plurality of hosts and the printing apparatus can receive data simultaneously through a plurality of interfaces, for example, data communication between the host 1 and the printing apparatus 4 is Data communication between the host 2 and the printing apparatus 4 is performed simultaneously using a pair (dedicated line) of the I / F 23 and the I / F 43 using a pair (broadband network line) of the I / F 11 and I / F 41. By performing data communication in parallel, high-speed print data communication processing becomes possible.

Furthermore, there is also a method that uses both bandwidth division of a network line and parallel data communication using a plurality of lines. Examples thereof are shown in FIGS.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a print data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention which is an embodiment of the present invention.
The print data processing system includes a host computer 1, a host computer 2, a host computer 3, and a printing device 4.
The host computer 1 has data communication interfaces 11 to 15, the host computer 2 has data communication interfaces 21 to 25, the host computer 3 has data communication interfaces 31 to 35, and the printing apparatus 4 has data communication interfaces 41 to 45. .
Each of the interfaces 11 to 15 corresponds to each of the interfaces 21 to 25, each of the interfaces 31 to 35, and further to each of the interfaces 41 to 45, and a network line (LAN, WAN, wireless LAN, etc.), Alternatively, they are connected by a dedicated line (IEEE1284, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, etc.).

As an example of the network, for example, a set of the host computer 1 side I / F 11 and the printing apparatus side I / F 41 is a broadband network line.
A set of the host 1 side I / F 12 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 is a narrow band network line.
A set of the host 1 side I / F 13 and the printing apparatus side I / F 43 is a dedicated line.
The set of the host 1 side I / F 14 and the printing apparatus side I / F 44 has no line.
A set of the host 1 side I / F 15 and the printing apparatus side I / F 45 does not have a line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 21 and the printing apparatus side I / F 41 is a broadband network line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 22 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 is a narrow-band network line.
The group of the host 2 side I / F 23 and the printing apparatus side I / F 43 has no line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 24 and the printing apparatus side I / F 44 is a dedicated line.
A set of the host 2 side I / F 25 and the printing apparatus side I / F 45 does not have a line.
A set of the host 3 side I / F 31 and the printing apparatus side I / F 41 is a broadband network line.
A set of the host 3 side I / F 32 and the printing apparatus side I / F 42 is a narrow-band network line.
The group of the host 3 side I / F 33 and the printing apparatus side I / F 43 has no line.
The group of the host 3 side I / F 34 and the printing apparatus side I / F 44 has no line.
A set of the host 3 side I / F 35 and the printing apparatus side I / F 45 is a dedicated line.
Although the system configuration of FIG. 9 includes the host computers 1 to 3, for convenience of the description of FIG. 10, three host computers are included. However, the host computer can be realized with only two host computers.

  When data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 4 in response to a processing request from the host computer 1, data to be transmitted may be mixed in the host computers 1 to 3 for the purpose of data distribution. In such a case, when a print request occurs, data must be transmitted separately from the host computers 1 to 3 to the printing apparatus 4, but as a method of optimally (fastest) transmitting data, In addition to the methods shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, there is a method in which data communication using band division and parallel data communication using a plurality of lines are used in combination. This is shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of data communication processing using both data communication by band division and parallel data communication using a plurality of lines in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When a processing request relating to data communication such as a print command is generated in the host computer 1 (step S61), the throughput of network traffic on a plurality of network lines is measured (step S62). When the measurement is completed for all the network lines (step S63 / Yes), each host computer along with the information on the measurement result and the network bandwidth according to the total amount of data transmitted by each host computer based on the measurement result. Is used (step S64) and interfaces are allocated (step S65). Further, when data communication is performed using the same interface, the bandwidth is divided and the allocation is calculated (step S66). Thereafter, the print data is transmitted in parallel by the respective host computers (step S56).

In this way, in addition to assigning multiple interfaces to each host computer, when multiple host computers share and use the same interface, the bandwidth of the line used by the interface is set to the total amount of data to be transmitted. By appropriately dividing based on this, higher-speed print data communication processing becomes possible.
For example, the data communication between the host 1 and the printing device 4 and the data communication between the host 2 and the printing device 4 are respectively a set of I / F 11 and I / F 41, a set of I / F 21 and I / F 41 ( Data communication between the host 2 and the printing apparatus 4 is performed in parallel using a set (dedicated line) of the I / F 23 and the I / F 43 for data communication between the host 2 and the printing apparatus 4. Furthermore, a broadband network line can perform higher-speed print data communication processing by performing band communication by performing band communication based on the ratio of transmission data on the host 1 and transmission data on the host 2 and performing data communication.

  As is apparent from the above description, the host computer and the printing apparatus are a print data processing system having a plurality of data communication interfaces and communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of data communication interfaces. First, according to a processing request related to data communication from a computer to a printing apparatus, before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus, the bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface are measured. Line status measuring means, a first interface selecting means for selecting an interface capable of performing data communication at the fastest speed based on a measurement result by the first line status measuring means, and data at the fastest speed. Interfaces that can communicate By having the first optimum data communication means for performing data communication using a network, the user can perform the fastest data communication from a plurality of data communication interfaces without considering the troublesome point of selecting an interface. It is possible to perform data transmission using a line that is capable of transmitting data.

  Further, the print data processing system measures a bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus within a certain period of time. And selecting the interface capable of performing data communication at the highest speed from among the lines that have been measured based on the measurement results of the second line state measuring unit and the second line state measuring unit. Since the interface is selected in consideration of the time required for measuring the line traffic, the start of data transmission processing is not delayed more than necessary, and more optimal data transmission is performed. It becomes possible.

  A print data processing system having a host computer and a printing apparatus having a plurality of data communication interfaces and communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of interfaces, wherein the printing apparatus is connected to the host computer via the plurality of interfaces. In accordance with a first simultaneous receiving means for simultaneously receiving data transmitted to the printing apparatus and a processing request relating to data communication from the host computer to the printing apparatus, the data is transmitted before the data is transmitted from the host computer to the printing apparatus. Based on the measurement results of the third line status measuring means for measuring the bandwidth and network traffic of the plurality of lines using the communication interface, the transmission data is sent to each of the plurality of interfaces. Appropriately divided into predetermined units, A plurality of data communication interfaces by including first transmission data dividing means for distributing data and second optimum data communication means for performing parallel data communication on the divided and allocated data simultaneously via the plurality of interfaces. Since transmission data is allocated and data transmission is performed in parallel, high-speed data transmission can be performed.

  Further, the print data processing system measures a bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus within a certain period of time. The transmission data is appropriately divided into predetermined units for each of the one or more interfaces for which measurement has been completed based on the measurement results of the four line status measurement means and the fourth line status measurement means, By having the second transmission data dividing means to be allocated, the interface is selected in consideration of the time taken to measure the line traffic, so that the start of the data transmission process is not delayed more than necessary, and more optimal. Data transmission can be performed.

  Further, the print data processing system includes a plurality of host computers in which data necessary for processing by the printing apparatus exists in a plurality of host computers and data is transmitted from each of the host computers. The bandwidth of the line used by the data communication interface is made effective by having a first bandwidth dividing unit that divides the bandwidth of the line in accordance with the ratio of data transmitted by each of the host computers and assigns the divided bandwidth to each of the host computers. Therefore, it is possible to perform higher-speed data communication.

  Further, the print data processing system includes a plurality of host computers in which data necessary for processing by the printing apparatus exists in a plurality of host computers and data is transmitted from each of the host computers. A second simultaneous receiving means for simultaneously receiving data transmitted to the printing apparatus via a plurality of data communication interfaces, and data communication with each host computer according to the ratio of transmission data existing in the plurality of host computers By including an I / F assigning means for assigning an interface and a third optimum data communication means for performing data transmission in parallel using the data communication interface assigned by the I / F assigning means. Multiple data communication in With over face and transmitted from a plurality of host computers, since that can be received by the printing apparatus, it becomes possible to perform faster data communication.

  The print data processing system divides the bandwidth of the line used by the data communication interface according to the ratio of transmission data existing in a plurality of host computers, and assigns the bandwidth of the line that can be used to each host computer. By having two bandwidth dividing means, a plurality of data communication interfaces are allocated to the host computer, and the bandwidth of the line used by the data communication interface is divided and allocated to the plurality of host computers. Can be done.

  A print data processing system that has multiple interfaces for data transmission / reception in a print processing apparatus such as a copier or printer has been described. However, it has multiple data transmission / reception interfaces to enable data transmission / reception. The present invention can also be applied to various devices.

1 is a configuration diagram of a print data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of interface selection processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of interface selection processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of parallel data transmission processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of parallel data transmission processing in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a print data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of data transmission processing by band division of print data in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of parallel transmission processing of print data using a plurality of interfaces in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a print data processing system that is an embodiment of the present invention that is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of data communication processing using both data communication by band division and parallel data communication using a plurality of lines in the print data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-3 Host computer 4 Printing device 11-15 Data communication interface (host computer 1 side I / F)
21-25 Data communication interface (Host computer 2 side I / F)
31-35 Data communication interface (host computer 3 side I / F)
41 to 45 Data communication interface (printer 4 side I / F)

Claims (7)

A host computer and a printing device each having a plurality of data communication interfaces;
A print data processing system having communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of data communication interfaces,
According to a processing request relating to data communication from the host computer to the printing apparatus, before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus, the bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface are measured. 1 line status measuring means;
First interface selection means for selecting an interface capable of performing data communication at the fastest speed based on a measurement result by the first line status measurement means;
A print data processing system comprising: a first optimum data communication means for performing data communication using an interface capable of performing data communication at the fastest speed. Second line condition measuring means for measuring bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing device within a certain period of time;
Second interface selection means for selecting an interface capable of performing data communication at the highest speed from the lines for which measurement has been completed based on the measurement result by the second line status measurement means. The print data processing system according to claim 1. A host computer and a printing device having a plurality of data communication interfaces;
A print data processing system having communication means capable of communicating with each other via the plurality of interfaces,
First simultaneous receiving means for simultaneously receiving data transmitted from the host computer to the printing apparatus via a plurality of interfaces;
In accordance with a processing request related to data communication from the host computer to the printing apparatus, before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing apparatus, the bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface are measured. A third line status measuring means;
First transmission data dividing means for appropriately dividing and allocating transmission data for each of a plurality of interfaces based on a measurement result by the third line status measuring means;
A print data processing system, comprising: a second optimum data communication unit that performs parallel data communication of divided and allocated data simultaneously via a plurality of interfaces. A fourth line status measuring means for measuring bandwidth and network traffic of a plurality of lines using the data communication interface before transmitting data from the host computer to the printing device within a certain period of time;
Second transmission data dividing means for appropriately dividing and allocating transmission data in predetermined units to each of one or more interfaces for which measurement has been completed based on the measurement result by the fourth line status measuring means The print data processing system according to claim 3, further comprising:   When data necessary for processing by the printing apparatus exists in a plurality of host computers and data is transmitted from each of the host computers, the ratio of the data transmitted by each of the host computers is determined. 3. The print data processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a first band dividing unit that divides a line band and assigns the divided band to each of the host computers. When data necessary for processing by the printing apparatus exists in a plurality of host computers and data is transmitted from each of the host computers to each of the host computers, a plurality of data communication interfaces are used from each of the host computers. Second simultaneous receiving means for simultaneously receiving data transmitted to the printing apparatus;
I / F assigning means for assigning a data communication interface to each host computer according to the ratio of transmission data existing in a plurality of host computers;
3. The print data processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a third optimum data communication unit configured to transmit data in parallel using the data communication interface allocated by the I / F allocation unit. .   A second bandwidth dividing unit that divides a bandwidth of a line used by the data communication interface in accordance with a ratio of transmission data existing in a plurality of host computers and assigns a bandwidth of the line that can be used to each host computer; The print data processing system according to claim 6, wherein:

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