JPH08123642A - Plotter control system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a plotter control system with high utilization efficiency and reliability. [Structure] A plotter server 401 that confirms queuing of control data from clients 201 and 211, converts format conversion data into a predetermined format, and queues the converted data in a plotter queue 405.
And 411 and the data reception from the clients 201 and 211 are confirmed, the processable queue status entry of the execution queue information is searched, and the plotter servers 401 and 411 are searched.
And a network queue server 101 that queues control data to the execution queues 402 and 412 and that receives plot output requests from the clients 201 and 211 and distributes plot data format conversion processing to the plotter servers 401 and 411. .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for using a plotter in a network environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-274099 discloses a plotter server in which a client and a plotter device are connected on the same network. The configuration of this plotter control system is shown in FIG. In FIG. 24,
Clients 1901, 1911, plotter server 2
101 are respectively connected to the network 2301,
The secondary storage devices 2001 and 2011 are the clients 19
01 and 1911 respectively connected to the secondary storage device 20.
21 is connected to the plotter server 2101, the plotter device 2201 is connected to the plotter server 2101, and the plotter server 2101 includes an input data spooling unit 2102, a format conversion unit 2103, and a plotter output interface 2104. It is provided.

The plotter server 2101 temporarily stores output data of the clients 1901 and 1911 to the plotter device 2201 in the secondary storage device 2021 by the input data spooling unit 2102, and by the format conversion unit 2103. Data is extracted from 2021 in the order of input, format conversion processing is performed,
The data is transferred from the plotter output interface 2104 to the plotter device 2201.

Here, spooling means temporarily storing output data to the plotter device, and format conversion converts the data format held by the client into a data format that can be interpreted by the plotter. Means that.

Since the spooling process and the format conversion process are executed as independent processes, it is possible to perform the format conversion while performing the spooling process.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional plotter control device, (a) the user requests the processing to the plotter server by the user specifying the plotter server. If you have an existing system configuration,
Processing requests from clients are evenly distributed to the server,
It is difficult to prevent processing requests from clients from concentrating on a specific plotter server. (B) Format conversion in the plotter server and output to the plotter device are performed only in the input order, so format conversion It is not output to the plotter device being processed, or the format conversion process is not performed during output to the plotter device, so to speak, inefficient time occurs. (C) Once a processing request is made to a plotter server , Data is always output to the plotter device connected to the plotter server that received the processing request, so if the plotter device is stopped for any reason, the data will be stored in the plotter server until the plotter device is restarted. Waiting for output, (d) Once you request a plotter server to process data, To be output to the plotter device connected to a plotter server that has received the management request,
In a system configuration having a plurality of plotter devices, there is a problem that even if there are many data waiting to be output to the plotter device, the data cannot be distributed to other plotter devices in an empty state.

A first object of the present invention is to solve the above problems (a) and (b) of the conventional technique and to improve the utilization efficiency of the plotter server and the plotter device. A second object of the present invention is the problem (a) of the above-mentioned conventional technique,
It is to solve the problems (c) and (d) in addition to the condition (b) and further improve the utilization efficiency of the plotter server and the plotter device. A third object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to improve the reliability of the entire system by adopting a configuration in which a plurality of plotter devices are directly connected to a network.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to:
A first plotter server to which a plotter device is connected,
In a network environment in which a plurality of second plotter servers to which no plotter device is connected and a plurality of clients are connected, processing requests from the clients are evenly distributed to the plurality of second plotter servers. The plotter control system according to claim 1, further comprising a server device having a control function for controlling the plotter.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of first plotter servers to which a plotter device is connected, a plurality of second plotter servers to which a plotter device is not connected, and a plurality of clients. In the connected network environment, a control function for evenly allocating the processing request from the client to the plurality of second plotter servers and the plurality of plotter devices for processing requests from the second plotter server. The plotter control system according to claim 2, further comprising a server device having a control function for evenly allocating the plotters.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of plotters.
In a network environment in which a server, a plurality of plotter devices, and a plurality of clients are connected, a control function for evenly allocating a processing request from the client to the plurality of plotter servers and the plotter server The plotter control system according to claim 3, further comprising a server device having a control function for evenly allocating a processing request to the plurality of plotter devices.

[0011]

In the plotter control system according to claim 1,
The request receiving unit of the network queue server queues requests from clients in the general-purpose queue in the order of reception. The general-purpose queue control unit selects the optimum execution queue of the plotter server from the execution queue information, and queues the processing queue entry of the general-purpose queue in the execution queue of the selected plotter server. As described above, by providing the network queue server, the load can be evenly distributed among the plurality of plotter servers, and the utilization efficiency of the plotter servers can be improved.

By providing a plurality of plotter servers, when a large number of format conversion processes occur at the same time, the format conversion processes can be performed in parallel at the same time, and the idle time during which the plotter device is not performing the output process is reduced. Therefore, the utilization rate of the plotter device is higher than that when only one plotter server is used.

Since the format conversion control unit and the plotter output control unit of the plotter server are executed as independent processes from each other, while performing the format conversion processing,
Output to the plotter device can be performed.

From the above, in a system configuration in which a plurality of clients, a plurality of plotter servers and one plotter device exist in the network environment, the utilization efficiency of the plotter server and the plotter device is improved.

In the plotter control system according to the second aspect, the request receiving unit of the network queue server queues the requests from the clients in the general-purpose queue for format conversion in the order of reception. The format conversion general-purpose queue control unit selects the optimum format conversion execution queue of the plotter server from the format conversion execution queue information, and selects the pending entry of the format conversion general-purpose queue as the format conversion of the selected plotter server. Queuing in the execution queue. The format conversion control unit of the plotter server does not immediately output the data after format conversion to the plotter device connected to its own plotter server, but once it requests the network queue server for output processing to the plotter. Request to the receiver. The request receiving unit of the network queue server queues requests from the format conversion control unit of the plotter server in the order of reception in the general-purpose queue for plotter output, and the general-purpose queue control unit for plotter output uses the execution queue information for plotter output. Select the more appropriate plotter server execution queue for plotter output, and select the pending queue entry for the plotter output general-purpose queue.
Queue in the plotter output execution queue of the server. As described above, by providing the network queue server, it is possible to evenly distribute the load among the plurality of plotter servers and the plurality of plotter devices, and improve the utilization efficiency of the plotter servers and plotter devices.

Since the format conversion control unit and the plotter output control unit of the plotter server are executed as independent processes, while performing the format conversion processing,
Output to the plotter device can be performed.

From the above, in a system configuration in which a plurality of clients, a plurality of plotter servers and a plurality of plotter devices exist in the network environment, the utilization efficiency of the plotter servers and plotter devices is improved. Further, by providing a plurality of plotter servers to which the plotter device is connected, when the plotter device is stopped, it is possible to output to another operating plotter device, so that the reliability of the entire plotter system is improved.

In the plotter control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the request receiving unit of the network queue server queues the trust from the clients in the general-purpose queue for format conversion in the order of reception. The format conversion general-purpose queue control unit selects the optimum format conversion execution queue of the plotter server from the format conversion execution queue information, and selects the pending entry of the format conversion general-purpose queue as the format conversion of the selected plotter server. Queuing in the execution queue. The format conversion control unit of the plotter server does not immediately output the data after format conversion to the plotter device connected to its own plotter server, but once it requests the network queue server for output processing to the plotter. Request to the receiver. The request receiving unit of the network queue server queues requests from the format conversion control unit of the plotter server in the order of reception in the plotter output general-purpose queue, and the plotter output general-purpose queue control unit uses the plotter output execution queue information based on the information. The optimum plotter output execution queue of the plotter device is selected, and the pending queue entry of the plotter output general-purpose queue is queued to the plotter output execution queue of the selected plotter device. As mentioned above,
By having a network queue server,
The load can be evenly distributed to the plurality of plotter servers and the plurality of plotter devices, and the utilization efficiency of the plotter servers and the plotter devices can be improved.

From the above, in a system configuration in which a plurality of clients, a plurality of plotter servers and a plurality of plotter devices exist in the network environment, the utilization efficiency of the plotter servers and plotter devices is improved. Furthermore, by connecting multiple plotter devices directly to the network rather than to the plotter server, output to the plotter device is performed independently of the plotter server, and if the plotter device is stopped, other plotter devices that are running are output. Since the data can be output to the device, the reliability of the entire plotter system is higher than that of the second aspect of the invention.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the invention described in claim 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, a network queue server 101, clients 201, 211, plotter servers 401, 411
Are connected to the network 601, the secondary storage devices 301 and 311 are connected to clients 201 and 211, respectively, and the secondary storage device 321 is a plotter.
The plotter device 501 is connected to the servers 401 and 411.
Is connected to the plotter server 401. The network queue server 101 has a general-purpose queue 102, a general-purpose queue control unit 103, execution queue information 104, and a request reception unit 105. The client 201 has an output request transmission unit 202. The plotter server 401 has It has an execution queue 402, an execution queue control unit 403, a format conversion control unit 404, a plotter queue 405, a plotter output control unit 406, and a plotter output interface 407.

Output request transmitter 20 of client 201
The process of No. 2 will be described according to the process flow of FIG. The output request transmission unit 202 always waits for a transmission request to the network queue server 101, and when the transmission request is confirmed (STEP 3-1), holds the data necessary for format conversion and is connected to the client 201. 2
The control data clearly indicating the next storage device 301 is created (STEP3-2), and the created control data is transmitted to the request receiving unit 105 (STEP4-1) of the network queue server 101 (STEP3-).
3). Next, waiting for a request reception completion notification from the request receiving unit 105 (STEP4-3) of the network queue server 101, and when the notification is confirmed, the first network
Return to waiting for a transmission request to the queue server 101 (STE
P3-4).

The processing in the request receiving unit 105 of the network queue server 101 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The request receiving unit 105 always waits for the control data from the output request transmitting unit 202 (STEP3-3) of the client 201, and when the reception of the control data is confirmed (STEP4-1), the general-purpose queue 10
2 (STEP 5-1), the control data is queued (STEP 4-2), the request reception completion is notified to the output transmission unit 202 (STEP 3-4) of the client 201, and the process returns to the first control data reception waiting state. (STEP 4-3).

The processing in the general-purpose queue control unit 103 of the network queue server 101 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The general-purpose queue control unit 103 queues entries to the general-purpose queue 102 (STEP4-
2) is always waited, and when the queuing of the entry is confirmed (STEP 5-1), the first queue status entry of the execution queue information 104 is searched (STEP 5-2). As shown in FIG. 2, the contents of the execution queue information 104 have fields of the names of the execution queues 402 and 412 and the queue status entry, respectively. The entry order of the execution queue name is
Plotter servers 401 and 411 that have execution queues
It is determined according to the conversion processing capacity of, and is registered in order from the highest conversion processing capacity. The queue status entry is represented by a numerical value, and is 1 when the execution queue can be processed and 0 when the execution queue cannot be processed. If the search result of the first queue status entry of the execution queue information 104 is processable, the first queue status entry of the execution queue information is changed to not processable (STEP 5-4) and the execution queue information 104 of the execution queue information 104 is changed. If the search result of the first queue status entry is unprocessable, the second queue status entry of the execution queue information 104 is searched (STEP 5-3). Run queue information 104
If the search result of the second queue status entry of No. 2 is processable, the second queue status entry of the execution queue information is changed to not processable (STEP 5-4), and the second queue of the execution queue information 104 is processed. When the search result of the status entry is unprocessable, the process returns to the step of searching the first queue status entry of the execution queue information 104 (STEP).
5-3). Change queue status entry to unprocessable (ST
After performing EP5-4), the entry of the general-purpose queue 102 corresponds to the execution queue 402 (S of the plotter server 401).
First general-purpose queue 1
Return to waiting for queuing of entry to 02 (STEP
5-5).

The processing in the execution queue control unit 403 of the plotter server 401 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The execution queue control unit 403 always waits for the entry queuing to the execution queue 402 (STEP 5-5), and when the entry queuing is confirmed (STEP 5-5).
6-1), format conversion control unit 404 (STEP7
The control data which is the entry of the execution queue 402 is passed to (-1) (STEP 6-2). Next, wait for the conversion end notification from the format conversion control unit 404 (STEP 7-8), and if the conversion end notification is confirmed (STEP 6
-3), the field of the corresponding queue status entry of the execution queue information 104 of the network queue server 101 is changed to processable, and the process returns to the waiting for queuing of the entry to the first execution queue 402 (STEP 6-4).

The processing in the format conversion control unit 404 of the plotter server 401 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The format conversion control unit 404 uses the execution queue control unit 403 (STEP6) of the plotter server 401.
-2) always wait for control data input from
When the input of control data is confirmed (STEP
7-1), copying the data used for format conversion from the secondary storage device 301 connected to the client 201 described in the control data to the secondary storage device 321 connected to the plotter server 401 ( (STEP7-2), the copied data is converted into a format to be output to the plotter device 501 (STEP7).
-3). The converted data is sequentially written into the secondary storage device 321 connected to the plotter server 401 (STEP7-4), and when the conversion is completed (STEP7).
-5), The converted data is queued in the plotter queue 405 (STEP 8-1) of the plotter server 401 (STEP 7-6). Next, the data before conversion copied from the secondary storage device 301 connected to the client 201 is deleted from the secondary storage device 321 connected to the plotter server 401 (STEP 7-7).
The execution queue control unit 403 (STEP 6-3) is notified of the end of conversion, and the process returns to the first waiting for input of control data from the execution queue control unit 403 (STEP 7-8).

The processing in the plotter output control unit 406 of the plotter server 401 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The plotter output control unit 406 queues entries in the plotter queue 405 (STEP7-6).
When the entry queuing is confirmed (STEP 8-1), the format-converted plotter output data held in the secondary storage device 321 connected to the plotter server 401 is transferred to the processor server 401. To the plotter output interface 407 (STEP 8-2). When it is confirmed that the output to the plotter device 501 is completed (STEP8-3), the plotter output data held in the secondary storage device 321 connected to the plotter server 401 is deleted, and the first plotter queue 405 is entered. Return to waiting for entry (STEP8-
4).

In the above embodiment, the network queue
Although the server, the client, and the plotter server are explained as separate computers, the computers need not be physically different. In FIG. 1, there is one plotter server 411 to which no plotter device is connected.
The configuration may be such that there are a plurality of plotter servers to which this plotter device is not connected. Also, in FIG. 1, the secondary storage device 321 is illustrated as connected to both plotter servers 401 and 411, which means that the plotter servers 401 and 411 logically connect the secondary storage device 321. Indicates that it is shared with.

The respective secondary storage devices connected to the client and plotter server are set to be logically shared when viewed from the network queue server, client and plotter server, respectively. There must be.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 9 to 18. In FIG. 9, the network queue server 70
1, client 801, 811, plotter server 1
001, 1011, 1021 are network 1201
Connected to the secondary storage devices 901 and 911,
The secondary storage devices 921, 931 and 941 are connected to clients 801 and 811, respectively. The secondary storage devices 921, 931 and 941 are connected to plotter servers 1001, 1011 and 1021, respectively, and the plotter devices 1101 and 1111 are plotter servers 10.
01 and 1011, respectively. The network queue server 701 includes a general-purpose queue 702 for format conversion and a general-purpose queue control unit 7 for format conversion.
03, format conversion execution queue information 704, plotter output general-purpose queue 705, plotter output general-purpose queue control unit 706, plotter output execution queue information 70
7, the request receiving unit 708, the client 801
The plotter server 100 has an output request transmission unit 802.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a format conversion execution queue 1002, a format conversion execution queue control unit 1003, a format conversion control unit 1004, and a plotter output execution queue 100.
5, a plotter output execution queue control unit 1006, a plotter output control unit 1007, and a plotter output interface 1008.

Output request transmission unit 80 of client 801
The process of No. 2 will be described according to the process flow of FIG. The output request transmission unit 802 always waits for a transmission request to the network queue server 701, and when the transmission request is confirmed (STEP 3-1), holds the data necessary for format conversion and is connected to the client 801. 2
The control data clearly indicating the next storage device 901 is created (STEP3-2), and the created control data is transmitted to the request receiving unit 708 (STEP12-1) of the network queue server 701 (STEP3-).
3). Next, the system waits for a request reception completion notification from the request receiving unit 708 (STEP 12-4) of the network queue server 701. When the notification is confirmed, the process returns to the first waiting for a transmission request to the network queue server 701 (ST.
EP3-4).

The processing in the request receiving unit 708 of the network queue server 701 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. In the request receiving unit 708, the client 801
Output request transmission unit 802 (STEP 3-3) or the format conversion control unit 1 of the plotter server 1021
The control data from 024 (STEP17-7) is always waited, and when the reception of the control data is confirmed (STEP12-1), the processing content described in the control data is interpreted (STEP12-2),
If the processing content is format conversion, control data is queued in the general-purpose format conversion queue 702 (STEP 12-3), and the output request transmission unit 802 (S of the client 801 which has made a request reception completion request).
TEP3-4) is notified, and the process returns to the waiting for the first control data reception (STEP 12-4). If the processing content is plotter output, the plotter output general-purpose queue 705
The control data is queued to (STEP 14-1) (STEP 12-5), the completion of the request reception is notified to the format conversion control unit 1024 (STEP 17-8) of the plotter server 1021 which has made the request, and the first control Return to waiting for data reception (STEP12-
6).

The processing in the format conversion general-purpose queue control unit 703 of the network queue server 701 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The format conversion general-purpose queue control unit 703 queues entries to the format conversion general-purpose queue 702 (STEP).
12-3) is always waited, and when the entry queuing is confirmed (STEP 13-1), the first queue status entry of the format conversion execution queue information 704 is searched (STEP 13-2). As shown in FIG. 10, the contents of the format conversion execution queue information 704 have fields of the names of the format conversion execution queues 1002, 1012, and 1022 and the queue status entry, respectively. The entry order of the format conversion execution queue name is determined by the conversion processing capabilities of the plotter servers 1001, 1011, 1021 in which the format conversion execution queue exists, and is registered in order from the top with the highest conversion processing capability. The queue status entry is represented by a numerical value, and is 1 when the execution queue can be processed and 0 when the execution queue cannot be processed.
If the search result of the queue status entry is unprocessable (STEP 13-3), it is confirmed whether the next queue status entry exists in the format conversion execution queue information 704. If the next queue status entry exists, the next Is searched (STEP 13-5), and if there is no next queue status entry, the process returns to the step of searching the first queue status entry of the format conversion execution queue information 704 (STEP 13-4). If the search result of the queue status entry is processable (STE
P13-3), format conversion execution queue information 70
The field of the corresponding queue status entry 4 is changed to unprocessable (STEP 13-6). Next, the entry of the format conversion general-purpose queue 702 is queued to the format conversion execution queue 1022 (STEP 15-1) of the plotter server 1021 whose queue status entry has been changed, and the first format conversion general-purpose queue 70 is queued.
Return to queuing for entry to 2 (STEP1
3-7).

FIG. 14 shows the processing in the plotter output general-purpose queue control unit 706 of the network queue server 701.
The process flow will be described. In the plotter output general-purpose queue control unit 706, the plotter output general-purpose queue 70
5 is always waited for entry queuing (STEP12-5), and when entry queuing is confirmed (S
TEP 14-1), plotter output execution queue information 70
Search for the first queue status entry of 7 (STEP1
4-2). The contents of the plotter output execution queue information 707 are as shown in FIG.
It has fields of names 05 and 1015 and a queue status entry, respectively. The entry order of the plotter output execution queue name is determined by the drawing processing capability of the plotter devices 1101 and 1111 corresponding to the plotter output execution queue, and registered from the top in the descending order of drawing processing capability. The queue status entry is represented by a numerical value, and is 1 when the execution queue can be processed and 0 when the execution queue cannot be processed. If the search result of the queue status entry cannot be processed (STEP
14-3), and it is confirmed whether or not the next queue status entry exists in the plotter output execution queue information 707 (STEP 1
4-4), if there is a queue status entry next, search for the next queue status entry (STEP 14-5),
If the next queue status entry does not exist, the process returns to the step of searching the first queue status entry of the plotter output execution queue information 707 (STEP 14-4). If the search result of the queue status entry is processable (ST
EP14-3), plotter output execution queue information 707
The field of the corresponding queue status entry of is changed to unprocessable (STEP 14-6). Next, to the plotter output execution queue 1015 of the plotter server 1011 whose queue state entry has been changed, the plotter output general-purpose queue 7
The entry of 05 is queued (STEP16-
1) Then, the process returns to the queuing waiting for the first entry to the plotter output general-purpose queue 705 (STEP 14-7).

The processing in the format conversion execution queue control unit 1023 of the plotter server 1021 will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. The format conversion execution queue control unit 1023 queues entries in the format conversion execution queue 1022 (STEP 13
-7) is always waited, and when the queuing of the entry is confirmed (STEP 15-1), the format conversion control unit 1
The control data, which is the entry of the format conversion execution queue 1022, is passed to 024 (STEP 17-1) (STEP 15-2). Next, the system waits for a conversion end notification from the format conversion control unit 1024 (STEP17-10), and when the conversion end notification is confirmed (STEP15
-3), change the field of the corresponding queue status entry of the format conversion execution queue information 704 of the network queue server 701 to processable, and return to the queuing waiting state of the entry to the first format conversion execution queue 1022. (STEP 15-4).

The processing in the plotter output execution queue control unit 1016 of the plotter server 1011 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The plotter output execution queue control unit 1016 always waits for the entry queuing (STEP 14-7) in the plotter output execution queue 1015, and when the entry queuing is confirmed (STE).
P16-1), plotter output control unit 1017 (STEP
18-1) The control data, which is the entry of the plotter output execution queue 1015, is passed to (Step 16).
-2). Next, the plotter output control unit 1017 (STEP1
8-5) Waiting for the output end notification from the output end notification (STEP 16-3), the plotter output execution queue information 70 of the network queue server 701
The field of the corresponding queue status entry 7 is changed to processable, and the process returns to the queue waiting for the entry to the first plotter output execution queue 1015 (STEP 16-
4).

The processing in the format conversion control unit 1024 of the plotter server 1021 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. In the format conversion control unit 1024,
Format conversion execution queue control unit 1023 (STE
Always wait for the input of control data from P15-2), and if the input of control data is confirmed (S
(TEP17-1), and copy the data used for format conversion from the secondary storage device 901 connected to the client 801 described in the control data to the secondary storage device 941 connected to the plotter server 1021 ( In STEP 17-2), the copied data is converted into a format to be output to the plotter device 1111 (STEP 17-3). The converted data is the secondary storage device 941 connected to the plotter server 1021.
To the secondary storage device 941 connected to the plotter server 1021 for holding the converted data, the control data is created. (STEP 17-6), the created control data is sent to the request receiving unit 7 of the network queue server 701.
08 (STEP 12-1) (STEP 17-
7). Next, the request reception unit 708 (STEP 12-6) of the network queue server 701 waits for a request reception completion notification, and when the notification is confirmed (STEP 17-
8), the data before conversion copied from the secondary storage device 901 connected to the client 801 is deleted from the secondary storage device 941 connected to the plotter server 1021 (STEP 17-9). The conversion end notification is sent to the format conversion execution queue control unit 1023 (STEP 15-3), and the process returns to the first wait for input of control data from the format conversion execution queue control unit 1023 (STEP 17-10).

The processing in the plotter output control unit 1017 of the plotter server 1011 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. In the plotter output control unit 1017, the plotter output execution queue control unit 1016 (STEP 16-2).
Always waits for control data input from, and when the control data input is confirmed (STEP18-
1), the secondary storage device 941 connected to the plotter server 1021 described in the control data
To the plotter output interface 1018 to the plotter device 1111 connected to the plotter server 1011 (ST
EP18-2). When the end of output to the plotter device 1111 is confirmed (STEP 18-3), the plotter output data held in the secondary storage device 941 connected to the plotter server 1021 described in the control data is deleted. (STEP 18-4). Next, the plotter output execution queue control unit 1016 (STEP16
-3) is notified of the end of output, and the process returns to the waiting for input of control data from the first plotter output execution queue control unit 1016 (STEP 18-5).

In the above embodiment, the network queue server, the client and the plotter server are explained as separate computers, but the computers need not be physically different. Also, the plotter server 1 of FIG.
As shown by 021, there may be a plotter server dedicated to format conversion to which no plotter device is connected. There may be a plurality of plotter servers to which the plotter device is not connected.

The respective secondary storage devices connected to the client and plotter server are set so as to be logically shared when viewed from the network queue server, client and plotter server, respectively. There must be.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3, 12, 13 and 15 to 17 and 19 to 23. In FIG. 19, a network queue server 1301, clients 1401 and 1411, a plotter server 160
1, 1611 and plotter devices 1701 and 1711 are connected to a network 1801, respectively, and secondary storage devices 1501 and 1511 are clients 1401 and 1411.
11 are respectively connected to the secondary storage devices 1521, 15
Reference numeral 31 is connected to the plotter servers 1601 and 1611, respectively. Network queue server 13
01 is a general-purpose queue 1302 for format conversion, a general-purpose queue control unit 1303 for format conversion, execution queue information 1304 for format conversion, a general-purpose queue 1305 for plotter output, a general-purpose queue control unit 13 for plotter output.
06, the plotter output execution queue information 1307, and a request reception unit 1308. The client 1401 includes an output request transmission unit 1402 and a plotter server 1601.
Includes a format conversion execution queue 1602, a format conversion execution queue control unit 1603, and a format conversion control unit 1604. The plotter device 1701 includes a plotter output execution queue 1702, a plotter output execution queue control unit 1703, and a plotter output. The control unit 1704 is included.

Output request transmission unit 1 of client 1401
The processing in 402 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG.
In the output request transmission unit 1402, the network queue
When the transmission request to the server 1301 is always waited and the transmission request is confirmed (STEP 3-1), the control that holds the data necessary for the format conversion and clearly indicates the secondary storage device 1501 connected to the client 1401. Data is created (STEP 3-2) and the created control data is sent to the network queue server 130.
No. 1 request receiving unit 1308 (STEP 12-1) (STEP 3-3). Next, the request receiving unit 1308 (STEP12-) of the network queue server 1301.
4) The request reception completion notification from 4) is waited, and when the notification is confirmed, the process returns to the first waiting for a transmission request to the network queue server 1301 (STEP 3-4).

The processing in the request receiving unit 1308 of the network queue server 1301 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. In the request receiving unit 1308, the output request transmitting unit 1402 (STEP3-
3), or always waiting for control data from the format conversion control unit 1614 (STEP 17-7) of the plotter server 1611, and when reception of the control data is confirmed (STEP 12-1), it is described in the control data. Interpret the contents of processing (STE
P12-2), if the processing content is format conversion,
The control data is queued in the format conversion general-purpose queue 1302 (STEP 12-3), the request reception completion is notified to the output transmission unit 1402 (STEP 3-4) of the client 1401, and the first control data of the first control data Return to reception (STEP12-
4). If the processing content is plotter output, control data is queued to the plotter output general-purpose queue 1305 (STEP 22-1) (STEP 12-5),
Plotter server 1611 that requested completion of request reception
Format conversion control unit 1614 (STEP 17-
8), and returns to the waiting for receiving the first control data (STEP 12-6).

The processing in the format conversion general-purpose queue control unit 1303 of the network queue server 1301 will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. The format conversion general-purpose queue control unit 1303 always waits for the entry queuing to the format conversion general-purpose queue 1302 (STEP 12-3), and when the entry queuing is confirmed (STEP 13-1), the format conversion execution queue is executed. The first queue status entry of the information 1304 is searched (STEP 13-2). The contents of the format conversion execution queue information 1304 are, as shown in FIG. 20, format conversion execution queues 1602 and 161.
It has two fields of name and entry of queue status. The entry order of the format conversion execution queue name is determined by the conversion processing capacities of the plotter servers 1601 and 1611 in which the format conversion execution queue exists, and is registered in order from the top with the highest conversion processing capacity. The queue status entry is represented by a numerical value, and is 1 when the execution queue can be processed and 0 when the execution queue cannot be processed. If the search result of the queue status entry cannot be processed (STE
P13-3), format conversion execution queue information 13
If the next queue status entry exists in 04, if the next queue status entry exists, the next queue status entry is searched (STEP 13-5). If the next queue status entry does not exist, the format conversion is performed. The process returns to the step of searching the first queue status entry of the execution queue information 1304 for use (STEP 13-4). When the search result of the queue status entry is processable (STEP1
3-3), format conversion execution queue information 1304
The field of the corresponding queue status entry is changed to unprocessable (STEP 13-6). Next, the entry of the format conversion general-purpose queue 1302 is queued in the format conversion execution queue 1612 (STEP 15-1) of the plotter server 1611 whose queue status entry has been changed, and the first format conversion general-purpose queue 13 is queued.
Return to waiting for queuing of entry to 02 (STEP
13-7).

The processing in the plotter output general-purpose queue control unit 1306 of the network queue server 1301 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The plotter output general-purpose queue control unit 1306 queues entries to the plotter output general-purpose queue 1305 (STEP 12
-5) is always waited, and when the queuing of the entry is confirmed (STEP 22-1), the first queue status entry of the plotter output execution queue information 1307 is searched (STEP 22-2). As shown in FIG. 21, the contents of the plotter output execution queue information 1307 have fields of the names of the plotter output execution queues 1702 and 1712 and the queue status entry, respectively. The entry order of the plotter output execution queue name is determined by the drawing processing capabilities of the plotter devices 1701 and 1711 corresponding to the plotter output execution queue, and registered from the top in the descending order of drawing processing capabilities. The queue status entry is represented by a numerical value, and is 1 when the execution queue can be processed and 0 when the execution queue cannot be processed. When the search result of the queue status entry is unprocessable (STEP 22-3), it is confirmed whether or not the next queue status entry exists in the plotter output execution queue information 1307 (STEP 22-4). If it exists, the next queue status entry is searched (ST
EP22-5), if the next queue status entry does not exist, return to the step of searching the first queue status entry of the plotter output execution queue information 1307 (STE).
P14-4), if the search result of the queue status entry is processable (STEP22-3), the field of the corresponding queue status entry of the plotter output execution queue information 1307 is changed to not processable (STEP22-).
6). Next, the entry of the plotter output general-purpose queue 1305 is queued in the plotter output execution queue 1712 of the plotter device 1711 whose queue state entry has been changed (STEP 16-1), and the entry queue to the first plotter output general-purpose queue 1305 is queued. Return to waiting for ing (STEP22-7).

The processing in the format conversion execution queue control unit 1613 of the plotter server 1611 will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. The format conversion execution queue control unit 1613 queues entries in the format conversion execution queue 1612 (STEP 13
-7) is always waited, and when the queuing of the entry is confirmed (STEP 15-1), the format conversion control unit 1
The control data, which is the entry of the format conversion execution queue 1612, is passed to 614 (STEP 17-1) (STEP 15-2). Next, it waits for a conversion end notification from the format conversion control unit 1614 (STEP 17-10), and when the conversion end notification is confirmed (STEP 15
-3), change the field of the corresponding queue status entry of the format conversion execution queue information 1304 of the network queue server 1301 to processable, and return to the queuing waiting for the entry to the first format conversion execution queue 1612. (STEP 15-4).

The processing in the plotter output execution queue controller 1713 of the plotter device 1711 will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. Plotter output run queue controller 1
In 713, the entry queuing to the plotter output execution queue 1712 (STEP 22-7) is always waited, and if the entry queuing is confirmed (STEP 22-7).
16-1), the plotter output control unit 1714 (STEP2
The control data which is the entry of the plotter output execution queue 1712 is passed to 3-1) (STEP 16-
2). Next, the plotter output control unit 1714 (STEP23
If the output end notification is confirmed (STEP 16-3), the plotter output execution queue information 13 of the network queue server 1301 is waited for.
The field of the corresponding queue status entry of 07 is changed to processable, and the first plotter output execution queue 1712
To wait for queuing of entries to (STEP16
-4).

The processing in the format conversion control unit 1614 of the plotter server 1611 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. In the format conversion control unit 1614,
Format conversion execution queue control unit 1613 (STE
Always wait for the input of control data from P15-2), and if the input of control data is confirmed (S
(TEP 17-1), and copy the data used for format conversion from the secondary storage device 1501 connected to the client 1401 described in the control data to the secondary storage device 1531 connected to the plotter server 1611 ( In STEP 17-2), the copied data is converted into a format to be output to the plotter device 1711 (STEP 17-3). The converted data is sequentially written to the secondary storage device 1531 connected to the plotter server 1611 (STEP 17-4),
When the conversion is completed (STEP 17-5), the control data that specifies the secondary storage device 1531 connected to the plotter server 1611 that holds the converted data is created (STEP 17-6), and the created control The data is transmitted to the request receiving unit 1308 (STEP 12-1) of the network queue server 1301 (STEP 17-7). Next, the request receiving unit 1308 (STEP12-) of the network queue server 1301.
6) Waiting for the request reception completion notification from 6), and when the notification is confirmed (STEP 17-8), the pre-conversion data copied from the secondary storage device 1501 connected to the client 1401 is connected to the plotter server 1611. Existing secondary storage device 1531 is deleted (STEP 17-
9). Format conversion execution queue control unit 1613
The end of conversion is notified to (STEP15-3), and the process returns to the waiting for input of control data from the first format conversion execution queue control unit 1613 (STEP17-1).
0).

The processing in the plotter output control section 1714 of the plotter device 1711 will be described according to the processing flow of FIG. The plotter output control unit 1714 always waits for the input of control data from the plotter output execution queue control unit 1713 (STEP 16-2), and when the input of control data is confirmed (STEP 23-
1), the secondary storage device 153 connected to the plotter server 1611 described in the control data
The plotter output data held in 1 is output to the plotter device 1711 (STEP 23-2). When it is confirmed that the output to the plotter device 1711 is completed (STEP23
-3), the secondary storage device 15 connected to the plotter server 1611 described in the control data
The plotter output data held in 31 is deleted (STEP 23-4). Next, the output end notification is sent to the plotter output execution queue control unit 1713 (STEP 16-3), and the process returns to the first waiting for control data input from the plotter output execution queue control unit 1713 (STEP 16-3).
23-5).

In the above embodiment, the network queue
Although the server, the client, and the plotter server are explained as separate computers, the computers need not be physically different.

The respective secondary storage devices connected to the client and plotter server are logically shared as seen from the network queue server, client, plotter server and plotter device, respectively. Must be set.

[0051]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by adopting the system configuration including a plurality of plotter servers, the format conversion processing, which requires a longer processing time than the output processing to the plotter device, is performed in parallel. Therefore, when many format conversion processes occur simultaneously, the time during which the plotter device is not performing the output process can be reduced. Therefore, the utilization rate of the plotter device, which is generally much higher in device cost than the plotter server, can be increased more than when one plotter server is used. Further, by adopting the system configuration including the network queue server, it is possible to evenly distribute the load of the plotter server and improve the utilization efficiency of the plotter server. As described above, the utilization efficiency and investment efficiency of the entire plotter system can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above effects, a system configuration having a plurality of plotter servers to which a plotter device is connected is provided, and output processing to the plotter device is also performed by the network queue server. By requesting, not only can the load of the plotter device be distributed evenly and the utilization efficiency of the plotter device can be improved, but if the plotter device stops due to a failure or maintenance inspection,
Since the other plotter device in operation can be used, the reliability of the entire plotter system can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, the output processing to the plotter device is not connected to the plotter server by directly connecting the network to the plotter server. Since it is performed regardless of whether the plotter server is stopped due to a failure or maintenance inspection, output processing is not interrupted.
Furthermore, the reliability of the entire plotter system can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plotter control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of contents of execution queue information of the network queue server of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a processing flow of an output request transmission unit of the client of FIGS. 1, 9 and 19.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow of a request receiving unit of the network queue server of FIG.

5 is a processing flow of a general-purpose queue control unit of the network queue server of FIG.

6 is a processing flow of an execution queue control unit of the plotter server of FIG.

7 is a processing flow of a format conversion control unit of the plotter server of FIG.

8 is a processing flow of a plotter output control unit of the plotter server of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plotter control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram showing an example of contents of format conversion execution queue information of the network queue server of FIG. 9;

11 is a diagram showing a content example of plotter output execution queue information of the network queue server of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a process flow of a request receiving unit of the network queue server of FIGS. 9 and 19.

13 is a processing flow of a general-purpose queue control unit for format conversion of the network queue server of FIG. 9 and FIG.

14 is a processing flow of a plotter output general-purpose queue control unit of the network queue server of FIG. 9;

15 is a processing flow of a format conversion execution queue control unit of the plotter server of FIGS. 9 and 19;

16 is a processing flow of a plotter output execution queue control unit of the plotter server of FIGS. 9 and 19;

FIG. 17 is a processing flow of a format conversion control unit of the plotter server of FIGS. 9 and 19;

18 is a processing flow of a plotter output control unit of the plotter server of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plotter control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

20 is a diagram showing an example of contents of format conversion execution queue information of the network queue server of FIG. 19;

21 is a diagram showing a content example of plotter output execution queue information of the network queue server of FIG. 19;

22 is a process flow of the plotter output general-purpose queue control unit of the network queue server of FIG.

23 is a process flow of the plotter output control unit of the plotter server of FIG.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional plotter control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

101,701,1301 Network queue server 201,211, 801,811 Client 1401,1411,1901,1911 Client 301,311,321 Secondary storage device 901,911,921,931,941 Secondary storage device 1501, 1511, 1521, 1531 Secondary storage device 2001, 2011, 2021 Secondary storage device 401, 411, 1001, 1011, 1021 Plotter server 1601, 1611, 2101 Plotter server 501, 1101, 1111 Plotter device 1701, 1711, 1201 Plotter device 601,1201,1801,301 Network

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a network environment in which a first plotter server to which a plotter device is connected, a plurality of second plotter servers to which a plotter device is not connected, and a plurality of clients are connected, the client A plotter control system comprising a server device having a control function for evenly allocating processing requests from the plurality of second plotter servers. 2. A network environment in which a plurality of first plotter servers to which a plotter device is connected, a plurality of second plotter servers to which a plotter device is not connected, and a plurality of clients are connected, The processing request from the client is sent to the plurality of second plotters.
Plotter control comprising a server device having a control function for evenly allocating to the server and a control function for evenly allocating processing requests from the second plotter server to the plurality of plotter devices. system. 3. In a network environment in which a plurality of plotter servers, a plurality of plotter devices, and a plurality of clients are connected, a processing request from the clients is evenly allocated to the plurality of plotter servers. A plotter control system comprising a server device having a control function and a control function for evenly allocating a processing request from the plotter server to the plurality of plotter devices.