JPH10278386A - Printer device, client computer, printer server, and printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printer system that allows a user to issue a print request without being conscious of which type of PDL the printer device can process. A printer system for outputting a print request from an application program to a printer device connected to a network via a printer server,
When a user sets new PDL information, a printer device that notifies the printer server that the PDL information has been changed, and a newly set PD from the printer device
A printer server that receives the L information and manages each printer is provided, and the output data having the PDL information requested to be printed by the client computer is distributed to an appropriate printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer system for allocating an output destination to a printer when a print request is made from a client computer such as a personal computer or a workstation through a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a user performs printing through an application program or the like, the user himself or herself grasps which printer can print the print data created by the user. For example, the user grasps what PDL (printer description language) the print data is created by himself, finds out a printer that can process the PDL, or finds a printer that can change the PDL mode and Printing has been performed after the PDL mode is changed on the front panel of the printer device or the emulation card is changed.

[0003]

However, especially for a plurality of printers connected to a network and shared by a plurality of users, it is necessary to know which printer can process the PDL requested by itself. I had to know what to do and, if necessary, how to change the PDL mode. Further, in order to change the PDL mode, it is necessary to disconnect the printer from the network and operate the printer. However, it is very difficult to determine when to disconnect the printer. Further, since there is no way for the print server to know to which printer device the print data requested to be printed is to be output, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform the above-described change operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer system which allows a user to issue a print request without being conscious of which type of PDL the printer device can process. I do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a printer system that connects a client computer, a print server, and a printer to a network, and outputs a print request from an application program unit of the client computer to the printer through the printer server. provide. In the printer system, the printer device manages the PDL information that can be operated by the printer device and the currently set PDL information in the second PDL management unit. Further, when the user newly sets PDL information from the panel operation unit of the printer device, the information of the second PDL management unit is reset again. Further, the printer server is notified that the PDL information has been changed.

After the client computer in the printer system sends a print request to the print server, the print status management unit receives the name of the printer to be printed from the print server and displays it on the display device. In such a printer system, when there are a plurality of printer devices, it is possible to know which printer outputs the data.

[0007] The printer server of the printer system includes:
A print request receiving unit for receiving a print request from a client computer, and a PD newly set in the printer device
A first PDL management unit that receives the L information and manages the printer device in association with the printer device; and a PDL information of each printer device that manages the print request received by the print request reception unit by the first PDL management unit. A print request management unit for selecting a print destination, wherein output data requested to be printed by a client computer is distributed to an appropriate printer device.

[0008] The print request management unit is characterized in that a printer device name obtained by allocating a print request from a client computer based on PDL information is notified to the requesting client computer.

The first PDL management unit holds information on a printer device capable of changing PDL information, and the print request management unit sets the first PDL when a print request is not satisfied.
A print destination is selected from printer devices that can change PDL information managed by the DL management unit, and the PDL of the printer device is selected.
The information is changed, and the output data requested to be printed by the client computer is distributed to the printer device.

[0010] In the printer system, a user newly adds P
When the DL information is set, there is a printer that notifies the printer server that the PDL information has been changed, and a printer server that receives the newly set PDL information from the printer and manages each printer. Then, output data having PDL information requested to be printed from the client computer is distributed to an appropriate printer. In such a printer system, the user can specify the PDL of the print data and perform printing without considering the PDL mode of the printer device, so that the load on the user can be reduced.

[0011] A printer device that receives a change in PDL information from a printer server and changes PDL information of the printer device, and a printer server that manages information about the printer device that can change the PDL information. A print destination is selected from printer devices that can change PDL information when the condition is not satisfied, and the PDL information of the printer device is changed so that output data requested to be printed by a client computer is distributed to the printer device. It is characterized by. Such a printer system can provide a PDL even if there is no printer capable of printing at present.
If the printer device whose mode can be changed is not used, it is possible to output to the printer device, and the printer device can be operated efficiently.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a printer system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the printer system of the present invention. The client computer 1 sends a print request to the printer server 2. The printer server 2 receives the output status and the printer 3 to which the output has been distributed.

The printer server 2 manages the PDL mode of each managed printer 3, receives a print request from the client computer 1, selects an appropriate printer 3, and sends print data to the printer 3. Send If necessary, it requests the printer device 3 to change the PDL mode, and issues a print request to the printer device 3.

The printer device 3 expands print data from the printer server 2 and performs print output. When the PDL mode of the printer 3 is changed by a user through a panel operation, the change is notified to the printer server 2. Also, it receives a PDL change request from the printer server 2 and automatically changes the PDL mode.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a plurality of client computers 1, a plurality of printer devices 3, and a printer server 2 are connected via a network 4. The printer server 2 of FIG. 1B may connect a plurality of printer devices 3 as shown in (5) surrounded by a dotted line,
Each printer device 3 is exclusively managed and controlled by one of the printer servers 2. Which printer server 2 to use is instructed from the client computer 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, the printer system is not limited to one network, but may extend to another network. For example, the case where the client computer 1 and the printer server 2 belong to different networks 4 and these networks are connected can be considered as in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer system for reading out and executing the program code from a recording medium storing the program code by using the method of the present invention. And the printer server 2. Here, the hardware configurations of the client computer 1 and the printer server 2 are the same, but they may be different. Here, only the minimum hardware configuration of the client computer 1 and the printer server 2 is described. Reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU that executes a program. Reference numeral 12 denotes a memory for storing an execution program, data used for execution, and the like. 13 is
A secondary storage device (such as a hard disk) for storing an execution program, information used in the printer system, intermediate data generated during execution, and the like. Reference numeral 14 denotes a display for displaying an execution command, input data, a result, and the like. Reference numeral 15 denotes a keyboard for inputting various data and execution commands. 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording medium reading device for reading a recording medium storing software for operating the present system, various data, and the like. This may be an information reading device such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a hard disk, a floppy disk, and an optical medium. Reference numeral 17 denotes a network interface for connecting the client computer 1, the printer server 2, and the printer device 3 via the network 4.

The program code that implements the present invention is read from the information reading device 16 of each storage medium of the client computer 1 and the printer server 2, and
This is executed by the PU 11. Memory 12 and secondary storage device 13
, Programs and data used at the time of execution are arranged, and the entire system is executed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the client computer 1 which is a component of the present invention. The user issues a print instruction from the application program unit 33 to the printer device 3 to the control unit 32 (when there are a plurality of printer servers 2 on the network, which printer server 2 to use is specified in advance or each time. ), The control unit 32 is connected to the input / output unit 31 and the network 4
A four-piece set (user ID, PDL change request, PDL type, print data) is transmitted as output data from the application program unit 33 to the specified printer server 2 through the. From the printer server 2, a print status (printer device name, etc.) indicating which printer device 3 prints the data instructed to print and what the print status is is sent to the network 4 toward the client computer 1. . The control unit 32 includes an input / output unit 31
The printer server 2 analyzes information from the printer server 2 through the server, and passes the print status to the print status management unit 34. The printing status management unit 34 informs the user which printer device can obtain the output result requested for printing.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer server 2 which is a component of the present invention. The input / output unit 41 is an interface unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from the client computer 1, the printer server 2, and the printer device 3 via the network 4. The control unit 42 analyzes the information received by the input / output unit 41, and executes an appropriate processing unit (first
The PDL management unit 43, the print request reception unit 44, and the print request management unit 45 perform the processing. Further, in response to an output request from these processing units, the data is sent to the client computer 1 and the printer device 3 through the input / output unit 41. First
The PDL management unit 43 analyzes and processes the transmission from the printer device 3.・ Reception of print start Print request source (user ID of client computer)
Is notified that printing has started. -Receiving the print end The print job of the printer in the first PDL management table is deleted, and the printer is placed in an unused state. -Reception of PDL information PDL information transmitted by PDL mode inquiry and PDL change request (current PDL mode, configurable PD
L mode) is set for the corresponding printer in the first PDL management table. In order to manage the printers connected to the printer server 2, the following information is stored in the first PDL management table (see FIG. 6) for each printer. -Printer name-Network address of the printer-Is the printer connected to the network and online?・ Whether the printer is currently in use or unused. • Current PDL mode • Configurable PDL mode • Link to job being printed, etc. Among these, the printer device name and network address are set in advance. The other items are inquired for each printer when the print server is started, or are set by transmission from the printer when the printer is started. The print request receiving unit 44 manages a print request (one print request is hereinafter referred to as a job) received from the client computer 1 by a spooler (this can be realized by, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-152514). The print request management unit 45 selects a printable job from among the spooled jobs, assigns the printer device to the job, and transmits print request data to the printer device. When there is a printer that can print if the printer is changed to the PDL mode of the job among the unused printers, a PDL mode change request and print data are transmitted to the printer. The print-enabled job is separated from the print queue and registered as a printing job in the first PDL management table.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing of the control unit of the printer server according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the steps will be described in order. Step 101: At the time of starting the print server, it is checked whether or not there is no PDL information for the printer device managed by the printer server.
What. Otherwise, go to step 103. Step 102: Request that PDL information be returned to each printer device on the network managed by this print server, and go to step 103. Step 103: If the input / output unit 41 receives from the client computer 1, step 104
What. Otherwise, go to step 105. Step 104: Register the print request in the spooler and go to step 103. Step 105: If the reception of the input / output unit 41 is the reception from the printer device 3, go to step 106. Otherwise, go to step 107. Step 106: Reception status of the input / output unit 41 (print status,
The first PDL management unit 4
Process in 3 and go to step 103. Step 107: The print request management unit 45 causes the job in the print queue to process, and then proceeds to step 103.

FIG. 7 shows a first embodiment of the printer server of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing of a PDL management unit. Hereinafter, the steps will be described in order. Step 201: When “print end” is transmitted from the printer device, go to step 202. Otherwise, go to step 204. Step 202: The used / unused flag in the first PDL management table for the completed printer is set to an unused state, and the name of the job being printed is deleted. Step 203: Notify the print request source of the client computer of the status of the target printer device, and terminate the process. Step 204: When transmitting “PDL information” from the printer device, go to step 205. Otherwise, end. Step 205: Register the received PDL information in the first PDL management table of the corresponding printer, and end the process. The information to be received includes the P in which the printer device is set.
There are a DL mode, a PDL mode in which settings can be changed, and the like.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing flow of the print request management unit of the printer server according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the steps will be described in order. Step 301: of the printer devices registered in the first PDL management table that are connected to the network,
If there is an unused printer, go to step 302. If not, end. Step 302: Current P of unused printer device
If there is a job that matches the DL mode and the PDL mode of the print waiting job, go to step 303. If not, go to step 304. Step 303: Add information "print without changing PDL mode" to the print data, and go to step 306. Step 304: If there is a PDL mode that can be set for the unused printer device and a PDL mode for the print waiting job, go to step 305. If not, end. Step 305: Add information “print with PDL mode change” and “PDL mode to be changed” to the print data, and go to step 306. Step 306: Detach the found print waiting job from the print queue. This job is linked to the “printing job name” in the first PDL management table. Put this printer device in use. Step 307: As transmission data to the printer device,
The user ID, whether or not the PDL mode has been changed (when there is a change, the PDL mode to be changed is transmitted together), and print data is transmitted through the input / output unit 41.

FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of the printer 3 which is a component of the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU that executes a control program of the printer device. 22
Is a read-only memory for storing an execution program, fixed data, and the like. 23 is a memory for storing data and the like used during execution. An operation panel 24 allows a user to directly set the PDL mode. 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a secondary storage device (such as a hard disk) for storing intermediate data and the like generated during execution. 26 is a CPU 21
Is an interface for transmitting the developed image created in the above to the engine 27. An engine 27 prints out the developed image. Reference numeral 28 denotes a network interface for connecting to the printer server 2 via the network 4.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 3 which is a component of the present invention. The input / output unit 51 receives a command from the printer server 2 via the network 4 and transmits the status of the PDL mode of the printer to the printer server 2. The control unit 52 receives the printer server 2 received through the network 4 and the input / output unit 51.
Analyze the request from. If the analysis result is a print output request and does not involve a change in the PDL mode, the current PDL
The received print data is delivered to the developing unit 55 so that the print data is developed into an output image according to the mode.
When a mode change request is accompanied, the current PDL mode is set again by the second PDL management unit 53, and then
The received print data is delivered to the developing unit 55 so that the print data is developed into an output image according to the changed PDL mode. When the result of the analysis is received from the printer server 2 as an inquiry request for the current PDL mode of the printer device, the current PDL mode stored in the second PDL management unit 53 is input / output to the requesting printer server 2 by the input / output unit. 51 and transmitted via the network 4. In addition, the engine unit 56 notifies the printer server 2 of the situation such as start, error, and end of the print output. Second PDL
The management unit 53 includes a settable and currently set PD.
The L mode is stored and managed as a second PDL management table. The information stored in the second PDL management table is as follows. The name of the printer device The network address of the printer server to which this printer device is connected The current PDL mode The PDL mode that can be set with this printer device The default PDL mode etc. The setting of the PDL mode or the like is received, and stored in the second PDL management unit 53 as the current PDL mode of the printer device. When the PDL mode is changed from the panel operation unit 54, the printer server 2 is notified of the change. The developing unit 55
From the printer server 2 to the network 4 and the input / output unit 51
Of the print data received through the PDL mode in the current PDL mode. The engine unit 56 prints out the bitmap developed image.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation of the control unit 52 of the printer of the present invention. Hereinafter, the steps will be described in order.

Step 401: Check whether a PDL information request has been received from the printer server 2, and if there is an information request, go to Step 402. Otherwise, step 403
What. Step 402: Send the current PDL mode to the printer server and end. If it is the first PDL information request from the printer server 2, the printer server address is stored in the second PDL management unit 53, and when the PDL mode is changed by the panel operation, the PDL mode changed to this printer server address Notify.
Also, when the first PDL information request is made from the printer server 2, the PDL that can be set by the printer device 3 is set.
The mode is also transmitted. Step 403: If a notification from the engine unit is received, go to step 404. Otherwise, step 40
Go to 5. Step 404: The status from the engine unit 56 (for example, the status of a print error or the end of printing) is transmitted to the printer server, and the process ends. Step 405: If a notification from the panel operation unit 54 has been received, go to step 406. Otherwise, go to step 407. Step 406: The second PDL management unit 53 sends the second PDL
The current PDL mode in the DL management table is changed, the changed PDL mode is transmitted to the printer server 2, and the process ends. Step 407: If a print request is received from the printer server 2, go to step 408. Otherwise, end. Step 408: If there is a request to change the PDL mode,
Go to step 409. Otherwise, step 411
What. Step 409: Change the PDL mode sent from the printer server to the engine unit 56 of the printer device, and also change the current PDL mode in the second PDL management table. Step 410: Send the completion of the change to the printer server 2. Step 411: Send print start to the printer server 2. Step 412: The print data is transferred to the developing unit 55, developed into an image according to the current PDL mode, and then printed out by the engine unit 56. Step 413: After printing is completed, a print completion is transmitted to the printer server 2.

[0028]

As described above, according to the printer system of the present invention, the user can perform printing without considering the PDL mode of the printer by simply designating the PDL of the print data. The load on the user can be reduced. Further, when there are a plurality of printers, it is possible to know which printer is used to output, so that it is not necessary to search for which printer is used, which leads to a reduction in the load on the user. Also, even if there is no printer device capable of printing at present, PD
If a printer device that can change the L mode is not used,
Output can be made to the printer device, and the printer device can be operated efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of a client computer and a printer server.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client computer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer server.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of a control unit of the printer server.

FIG. 6 shows print job management information of a print request receiving unit of the printer server.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of a first PDL management unit of the printer server.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process performed by a print request management unit of the printer server.

FIG. 9 is an internal block diagram of the printer device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of a control unit of the printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Client computer, 2 ... Printer server, 3 ... Printer device, 4 ... Network, 5 ... Printer device managed by print server, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Memory, 13 ... Secondary Storage device, 14 Display, 15 Keyboard, 16 Information reading device, 17 Network I / F (network interface), 31 Input / output unit, 32 Control unit, 33 Application program ,..., Print status management unit, 41, input / output unit,,, control unit, 43, first PDL management unit, 44, print request reception unit, 45, print request management unit, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... operation panel, 25 ... secondary storage , 26 printer I / F (printer interface), 27 printer engine, 28 network I / F (network interface), 51 input / output unit, 52 control unit, 53 second PDL management unit, 54: Panel operation unit, 55: Deployment unit, 56: Engine unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] A second PDL management unit for managing PDL information in a printer system for connecting a client computer, a print server, and a printer to a network and outputting a print request from the client computer to the printer through the print server; A PDL information that can be set by a user, and when the user newly sets PDL information from the panel operation unit, the information of the second PDL management unit is reset to the input PDL information. And a notification that the PDL information of the printer has been changed to the printer server. 2. A printer system for connecting a client computer, a print server, and a printer device over a network and outputting a print request from the client computer to the printer device via the print server, wherein a print request from the client computer is sent to the printer server. A client computer, comprising: a print status management unit that receives a name of a printer that performs printing from the printer server after transmitting the name, and displays the name on a display device. 3. A print system for receiving a print request from a client computer in a printer system for connecting a client computer, a print server, and a printer device over a network and outputting a print request from the client computer to the printer device via the print server. A receiving unit; a first PDL management unit that receives PDL information newly set in the printer device and manages the PDL information in association with the printer device; And a print request management unit for selecting a print destination from PDL information of each printer device managed by the PDL management unit, and the output data requested to be printed by the client computer is distributed to an appropriate printer device. A printer server. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the print request management unit notifies the requesting client computer of a printer device name in which a print request from the client computer is sorted by PDL information. server. 5. The first PDL management unit holds information on a printer device capable of changing PDL information, and the print request management unit manages the information by the first PDL management unit when a print request is not satisfied. A printer is selected from among printer devices that can change the PDL information to be printed, and the PDL information of the printer device is changed, so that output data requested to be printed by the client computer is distributed to the printer device. 4. The printer server according to claim 3, wherein: 6. In a printer system in which a client computer, a print server, and a printer device are connected to a network and a print request from the client computer is output to the printer device via the print server, when a user newly sets PDL information, The client computer, comprising: a printer device for notifying the printer server that the PDL information has been changed; and a printer server for receiving PDL information newly set from the printer device and managing each printer. A printer system wherein output data having PDL information requested to be printed from a printer is distributed to an appropriate printer device. 7. A printer device that receives a change in PDL information from the printer server and changes PDL information of the printer device, and a printer server that manages information about the printer device that can change the PDL information, When a print request is not satisfied, a print destination is selected from printer devices capable of changing PDL information, and the P
7. The printer system according to claim 6, wherein the DL information is changed so that output data requested to be printed by the client computer is distributed to the printer.