JP2005254513A - Printing apparatus, printing control apparatus, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable printing without saving all print data in a temporary storage device of a print control apparatus when printing is performed by a user.
SOLUTION: A setting unit (502) for setting a job start timeout period for the printing apparatus to wait for print data reception start, a print request transmission unit for transmitting a print request including the job start timeout period, and printing There is provided a print control apparatus having print data transmission means for transmitting print data after request transmission.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to timeout processing for waiting for print data.

  The printer performs printing according to commands sent from a client personal computer (PC). When outputting a plurality of documents from a client PC, it is realized by outputting a plurality of jobs to a printer in order. The printer sequentially processes and prints in units of jobs. Also, when a plurality of client PCs output documents, the printer processes and prints a plurality of jobs in order. However, if the job data is interrupted, the printer waits for subsequent data to be sent, so that the subsequent job is also waited.

  In Patent Document 1 below, the printer monitors the reception status of data in units of jobs from the client PC, measures the elapsed time after data reception is interrupted, and terminates the job when the measured time reaches a predetermined time. Then, information indicating that the job is completed is returned to the client PC. Thereafter, the subsequent job can be executed.

JP-A-8-263393

  However, a plurality of client PCs may have different CPU processing capacities, and a client PC with inferior processing capacities may take a long time to resume data transmission and time out.

  In addition, with the spread of networks in recent years, many services using the WEB have been built on the network. For example, it is becoming possible for users to obtain such information using the WEB, such as train time guidance, transfer guidance, homepage search, and breaking news. In addition, WEB can be used by accessing a network from various devices such as a personal computer, a PDA terminal, and a mobile phone terminal.

  A technology that makes it easier to use such services on the Web is SOAP / XML technology. WEB services using SOAP / XML technology are provided on the network, and users can use the various WEB services on this network to perform targeted processing.

  The WEB service using SOAP / XML is provided in various fields in addition to the services (train time guidance, transfer guidance, breaking news, etc.) that have been performed on the conventional website as described above. ing.

  In recent years, a WEB printing service has been provided as one of the WEB services using SOAP / XML. If the device has a web printing service, the client can search for and use the device that provides the service from the network, regardless of the manufacturer's device, without using the manufacturer's original driver. It is possible.

  In such a background, the BMLinkS protocol is an example of a protocol for using the web printing service. In this protocol, after a client transmits a job generation request to a device, a URL specified from the device is received, and data is transmitted to the URL. However, there are cases where data cannot be transferred immediately to the URL specified by the device after the client makes a job generation request. For example, for data that includes hundreds of pages or data that contains many bitmaps, depending on the CPU capability of the client PC, a job generation request is made and print data based on these data is sent immediately. I can't.

  Therefore, the BMLinkS protocol stipulates that the device is in a state of waiting to receive data for one minute after returning a response to the job generation request. However, even if the client starts to send data within that time, the client with poor processing capability cannot create print data sequentially, and the printer device may time out data reception. .

  On the other hand, if the client generates all the print data and then issues a job generation request, the above problem is likely to be solved. In this case, a large-capacity temporary storage device is required on the client side. In addition, since all the data is converted to print data and a job generation request is made to the printer, it takes time until the final printed matter is discharged from the printer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a time-out error as much as possible when a print request is made from a print control apparatus to a printing apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to enable printing without saving all print data in a temporary storage device of a print control device (client) when printing is performed by a user.

The printing apparatus of the present invention receives a print request including a job start timeout time, and performs print processing if print data is received within the job start timeout time, and print data is received within the job start timeout time. And a printing unit that terminates as a timeout error if not received.
The printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives a print request including a job reception time-out time, and the job receiving time-out time after receiving the print data when the print data of the same print job is divided and received. Printing means that performs a printing process if the next print data is received, and terminates as a time-out error if the next print data is not received within the job reception time-out time.
Also, the print control apparatus of the present invention includes a setting unit for setting a job start timeout period for the printing apparatus to wait for print data reception start, and a print request transmission for transmitting a print request including the job start timeout period. And print data transmission means for transmitting print data after transmitting the print request.
Further, the print control apparatus of the present invention includes a setting unit for setting a job reception time-out time that is a waiting time of a print data interval when the printing apparatus divides and receives print data of the same print job, The printer includes: a print request transmission unit that transmits a print request including a job reception timeout period; and a print data transmission unit that transmits print data after the print request is transmitted.
The printing system of the present invention is a printing system including a printing control device and a printing device, and the printing control device sets a job start timeout time for the printing device to wait for print data reception start. Setting means, a print request transmission means for transmitting a print request including the job start time-out time, and a print data transmission means for transmitting print data after the print request is transmitted. A receiving unit that receives a print request including a time-out time; and if the print data is received within the job start time-out time, print processing is performed. And a printing unit.
The printing system of the present invention is a printing system including a printing control device and a printing device, and the printing control device receives printing data when the printing device divides and receives print data of the same print job. Setting means for setting a job reception time-out time that is an interval waiting time, a print request transmission means for transmitting a print request including the job reception time-out time, and print data transmission for transmitting print data after the print request is transmitted And receiving the job after receiving the print data when receiving the print data of the same print job in a divided manner when receiving the print request including the job reception timeout period. If the next print data is received within the timeout time, the printing process is performed, and the next print data is received within the job reception time-out time. And having a printing unit to exit as a time-out error if the received.
Also, the printing method of the present invention includes a receiving step for receiving a print request including a job start timeout time, print processing if print data is received within the job start timeout time, and printing within the job start timeout time. And a printing step that ends as a time-out error if no data is received.
Further, the printing method of the present invention includes a receiving step for receiving a print request including a job reception timeout time, and the job reception timeout time after receiving the print data when the print data of the same print job is divided and received. A printing step that performs a printing process if the next print data is received, and terminates as a timeout error if the next print data is not received within the job reception timeout period.
The printing control method of the present invention includes a setting step for setting a job start timeout period for the printing apparatus to wait for print data reception start, and a print request transmission for transmitting a print request including the job start timeout period. And a print data transmission step of transmitting print data after transmitting the print request.
Further, the printing control method of the present invention includes a setting step for setting a job reception time-out time that is a waiting time of a print data interval when the printing apparatus receives print data of the same print job in a divided manner, A print request transmission step for transmitting a print request including a job reception time-out time, and a print data transmission step for transmitting print data after the print request is transmitted.
Moreover, the program of this invention is a program for making a computer perform each step of said method.

  By making it possible to change the job start timeout value or job reception timeout value to any value when a print request is sent from the print control device to the printing device, even if the print control device has a low processing capacity, a timeout error is prevented as much as possible be able to. Further, printing can be performed without storing all the print data in the temporary storage device of the print control apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system in which a multifunction device having a network connection function is connected to a LAN as a network device apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 101 denotes a multifunction device device (printing device) that can be connected to a LAN, and provides a web printing service to a local area network (LAN) 100. A personal computer (PC) 103 is connected to the same network, and this PC 103 operates as a client (printing control apparatus). The LAN 100 is connected to a WAN (Wide Area Network) 102, and another client PC 104 is connected to the WAN 102. In this embodiment, a print request is made from the client PC 103 to the multi-function device 101 via the LAN 100, and printing is executed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the multifunction device 101 in the present embodiment. 201 is a scanner engine control unit for controlling the scanner engine 213, 202 is a CPU, 203 is a boot ROM storing a program, 204 is a RAM, 205 is a non-volatile RAM for holding values set from the panel (NVRAM), 206 is an engine control unit that controls the printer engine 212, 207 is a hard disk drive (HDD), 208 is a timer, 209 is an I / O control unit that controls a user interface part 214 such as a speaker, touch panel, button, or lamp. 210 are network control units that can be connected to a network such as the LAN 100 of FIG. Each of the above is connected to the bus 211. The multi-function device 101 has a print function, a copy function, and the like. The CPU 202 performs a process described later by executing a computer program in the ROM 203 or the RAM 204.

  The client PC 103 has the same configuration as that in FIG. However, the scanner engine 213, the scanner control unit 201, the printer engine 212, and the engine control unit 206 are not necessary. The user interface unit 214 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and a display. The CPU 202 performs a process described later by executing a computer program in the ROM 203 or the RAM 204.

  FIG. 3 shows a user interface portion 214 owned by the multifunction device 101. 301 is a large touch panel, and the user can perform various settings by operating the touch panel. The screen shown in the figure is a copy standby screen. 302 is a numeric keypad and is used to enter numbers from 0 to 9. The “S” button is a service button. By pressing this button, various service screens appear on the touch panel, and services other than copying can be performed. Reference numeral 303 denotes a speaker which outputs voice, buzzer, and the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes a lamp that blinks when printing or copying is jammed.

  FIG. 4 is a print setting screen of the client PC 103. FIG. 5 is a port setting screen when the user selects the port setting tab in the print setting screen of FIG. Reference numeral 501 denotes a radio button that can select whether data is spooled and then printed. 502 is a job start timeout setting. In this case, 2 minutes is set. The device according to the present embodiment waits for job input until this time after receiving the job generation request. Reference numeral 503 denotes a job reception timeout setting. In this case, 10 minutes is set. When the received print data of the same print job is divided into a plurality of packets, the device of the present embodiment continues to wait for reception of the next data until this time. The client PC 103 displays a screen on the display in the user interface unit 214, and the setting of the timeout value and the like can be changed with a keyboard and a mouse.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of job start timeout setting 502 and job reception timeout setting 503. create_job is a job generation request transmitted from the client PC 103 to the device 101. create_jobResponse is a job generation response that is returned from the device 101 to the client PC 103. In the WEB print service, this response includes a data reception URL and sends it back to the client PC 103. The client PC 103 transfers print data to be printed to the URL. The period from when the device 101 returns a job generation response until the first print data of the job is received is defined as a job start timeout, and here, wait-job-time.

  Usually, the print data reaches the device 101 in a plurality of packets. Therefore, the device 101 receives a packet from the network many times until it has received all the print data. A timeout (packet interval timeout) when receiving a print data packet is a job reception timeout, and here, wait-data-time is used.

  FIG. 7 is a format example of a BMLinkS job generation request described in the SOAP / XML format. Reference numerals 701 and 702 denote expanded TAGs according to this embodiment. The time set from the job start timeout setting 502 is stored in 701 in seconds. In the case of the present embodiment, since it is 2 minutes in FIG. In 702, the time set from the job reception timeout setting 503 is stored in seconds. In the case of this embodiment, since it is 10 minutes in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a format example of a job generation response of BMLinkS described in the SOAP / XML format. URL for receiving print data is included in <data-sink_uri> of 801 in this format.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the request reception module of the web printing service of the device 101. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the data reception module of the device 101. Hereinafter, the flow of processing of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Processing of the client 103 will be described. In the client 103, when the job start timeout setting 502 and the job reception timeout setting 503 are set on the print setting screen as shown in FIG. 5, the values are set in the job generation request format (shown in FIG. 7). Is set in seconds (701, 702) and transmitted to the device 101. The device 101 receives this job generation packet and starts processing.

  The flow of processing of the request receiving module that processes a job generation request from the client 103 will be described with reference to FIG. The acceptance request module is waiting for a request from the network 100 (step 901). For example, when there is a SOAP / XML job generation request (shown in FIG. 7) from the client PC 103 via the network 100, the request is interpreted (step 902). The parameters in the XML document shown in FIG. 7 are interpreted, and tags starting with x-canon are extracted therefrom (step 903). Therefore, wait-job-time and wait-data-time are extracted (step 904), a URL for receiving data is created, and the receiving socket and the values of wait-job-time and wait-data-time are received. The routine is notified (step 905). Then, a response packet as shown in FIG. 8 is generated with <data-sink-uri> as the URL for data reception, and is returned to the client PC 103 (step 906). Thereafter, the process returns to step 901 and the above processing is repeated.

  The processing flow of the data receiving module will be described with reference to FIG. The data receiving module waits for a socket notified from the request receiving module (step 1001). When notified of this, the timer value of wait-job-time notified in step 905 (in this embodiment, 2 minutes) is set, and the socket of the job is monitored (step 1002). It continues to wait until a reception timeout or data is received (steps 1003 and 1004). If a reception timeout occurs in step 1003, that is, in the case of this embodiment, if print data is not sent within 2 minutes after the job generation response, the process ends as a timeout error ( Step 1006). If the data is received within 2 minutes, the data is transferred (printing process) to the printer (step 1005). Set the wait-data-time timer value (10 minutes in this embodiment) to wait for the next packet again, monitor the job socket (step 1007), and wait until the reception timeout or data is received Continue (steps 1008, 1009). If the reception time-out occurs in step 1008, that is, if the next data to be sent is not sent even after 10 minutes, the process ends as a time-out error (step 1007). If the data is received within 10 minutes, the data is transferred to the printer (step 1010). In step 1011, the steps after step 1007 are repeated until all data are received.

  In this embodiment, the job start timeout is set to 2 minutes and the job reception timeout is set to 10 minutes. Of course, this time can be set to infinite (no timeout). It is also possible to eliminate the need for the user to set both 502 and 503 as wait-job-time = wait-data-time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the WEB print service, all the print data can be temporarily stored in the client by allowing the client to arbitrarily set and change the job start timeout and job reception timeout values from the client. Printing can be performed without saving in the apparatus, and even a client with inferior processing capability can send print data to the device without receiving a timeout.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described processing can be realized by a computer such as the multifunction device 101 and the client PC 103 executing a program. Also, means for supplying a program to a computer, for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM recording such a program, or a transmission medium such as the Internet for transmitting such a program is also applied as an embodiment of the present invention. Can do. A computer program product such as a computer-readable recording medium in which the above program is recorded can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. The above program, recording medium, transmission medium, and computer program product are included in the scope of the present invention. As the recording medium, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

It is the schematic which the multifunction device with a network connection function has connected to LAN as a network device apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the outline of the multifunction device in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the user interface which the device of this embodiment has. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print setting screen of a client PC 103. FIG. It is a figure which shows the port setting screen when a user selects the port setting tab. It is a conceptual diagram of job start timeout setting and job reception timeout setting. It is a figure which shows the example of a format of the job production | generation request | requirement of a SOAP / XML format. It is a figure which shows the example of a format of the job production | generation response of a SOAP / XML format. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process of the request reception module of the WEB print service of a device. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process of the data reception module of a device.

Explanation of symbols

100 LAN
101 Multi-function device device 102 WAN
103, 104 Personal computer 201 Scanner control unit 202 CPU
203 ROM
204 RAM
205 Nonvolatile RAM
206 Engine control unit 207 Hard disk drive 208 Timer 209 I / O control unit 210 Network control unit 211 Bus 212 Printer engine 213 Scanner engine 214 User interface unit 301 Touch panel 302 Numeric keypad 303 Speaker 304 Lamp

Claims (19)

A receiving means for receiving a print request including a job start timeout period;
A printing unit configured to perform a printing process if print data is received within the job start timeout period and to end as a timeout error if no print data is received within the job start timeout period; The print request further includes a job reception timeout time,
The print unit performs print processing when receiving the next print data within the job reception timeout period after receiving the print data when dividing the print data of the same print job and receiving the job data. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the next print data is not received, the process ends as a time-out error.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reply unit that returns a print request response including a print data transmission destination when the print request is received.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job start timeout period is a period from when the print request response is returned until print data is received. A receiving means for receiving a print request including a job reception timeout period;
When receiving the divided print data of the same print job, if the next print data is received within the job reception timeout period after receiving the print data, the printing process is performed, and the next printing is performed within the job reception timeout period. And a printing unit that terminates as a time-out error if no data is received.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising reply means for returning a print request response including a print data transmission destination when the print request is received. A setting means for setting a job start timeout time for the printing apparatus to wait for print data reception start;
Print request transmission means for transmitting a print request including the job start timeout time;
A print control apparatus comprising: print data transmission means for transmitting print data after transmitting the print request. The setting unit sets a job reception timeout time which is a waiting time of a print data interval when the printing apparatus divides and receives print data of the same print job,
The print control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the print request transmission unit transmits a print request including the job start timeout time and the job reception timeout time. And a receiving means for receiving a print request response including a transmission destination of the print data after transmitting the print request,
The print control apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the print data transmission unit transmits print data to the transmission destination.   The print control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the job start timeout period is a period from when the printing apparatus transmits the print request response to when print data is received. A setting unit for setting a job reception timeout period, which is a waiting period of a print data interval, when the printing apparatus divides and receives print data of the same print job;
Print request transmission means for transmitting a print request including the job reception timeout period;
A print control apparatus comprising: print data transmission means for transmitting print data after transmitting the print request. And a receiving means for receiving a print request response including a transmission destination of the print data after transmitting the print request,
The print control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the print data transmission unit transmits print data to the transmission destination. A printing system including a printing control device and a printing device,
The print control device includes:
A setting means for setting a job start timeout time for the printing apparatus to wait for print data reception start;
Print request transmission means for transmitting a print request including the job start timeout time;
Print data transmission means for transmitting print data after transmitting the print request;
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a print request including the job start timeout period;
A printing system comprising: a printing unit that performs a printing process if print data is received within the job start timeout period, and terminates as a timeout error if no print data is received within the job start timeout period. A printing system including a printing control device and a printing device,
The print control device includes:
A setting means for setting a job reception timeout time which is a waiting time of a print data interval when the printing apparatus divides and receives print data of the same print job;
Print request transmission means for transmitting a print request including the job reception timeout period;
Print data transmission means for transmitting print data after transmitting the print request;
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a print request including the job reception timeout period;
When receiving the divided print data of the same print job, if the next print data is received within the job reception timeout period after receiving the print data, the printing process is performed, and the next printing is performed within the job reception timeout period. And a printing unit that terminates as a time-out error if no data is received. A receiving step for receiving a print request including a job start timeout period;
And a printing step of performing a printing process if print data is received within the job start timeout period and ending as a timeout error if no print data is received within the job start timeout period. A receiving step for receiving a print request including a job reception timeout period;
When receiving the divided print data of the same print job, if the next print data is received within the job reception timeout period after receiving the print data, the printing process is performed, and the next printing is performed within the job reception timeout period. And a printing step that terminates as a time-out error if no data is received. A setting step for setting a job start timeout period for the printing apparatus to wait for print data reception start;
A print request transmission step of transmitting a print request including the job start timeout period;
And a print data transmission step of transmitting print data after transmitting the print request. A setting step for setting a job reception time-out time that is a waiting time of a print data interval when the printing apparatus divides and receives print data of the same print job;
A print request transmission step of transmitting a print request including the job reception timeout time;
And a print data transmission step of transmitting print data after transmitting the print request.   The program for making a computer perform each step of the method of any one of Claims 15 thru | or 18.

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