JP2000284933A - Printing controller, state-displaying method for the controller and storing medium storing computer- readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To successively monitor the state of plural printers in a respectively varying state by setting the state display time of each printer in accordance with the displaying priority order of each printer and successively switch- displaying the state information of each printer based on the passing state of the set state displaying time. SOLUTION: The newest states of printers 1014 and 2014 are obtained from a port stored as printer information and the states of the printers are analyzed to recognize contents. When the states of the printers 1014 and the 2014 vary, error information, warning information and operating state information in the printer information are updated to the obtained newest states of the printers. By retrieving a state-displaying database next, priority order information corresponding to the states of the printers is searched to update a displaying priority order in the printer information. Then, the variation of the states is detected while investigating the states of the printers and based on a displaying time fixed to displaying priority order information, a printer for displaying the state is decided to switch display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of printers and a plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the printers via a predetermined communication medium, a status display method of the print control apparatus, and a computer. The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer which is connected to a host computer as a print control device, receives image recording data transferred from the host computer, and prints an image in accordance with the image recording data has a printer main body. Some printers have a function of returning printer error information such as generated error and warning information and printer operation status to a host computer through an interface capable of bidirectional communication.

For example, when an out-of-paper error occurs at the time of printing on the printer body, the state of the out-of-paper error is indicated. When the main body is performing a preparatory operation for printing, it operates to return a state indicating that preparation for printing is in progress using predetermined format data.

A program for detecting the status of the printer on the host computer and displaying a message indicating the status of the printer for the printer described above is a part of the function of the printer driver operating on the host computer. Alternatively, some printers are provided as a utility program independent of the printer driver so that an error state of the printer or the like can be checked on the screen of the host computer without checking the printer main body.

[0005]

However, acquisition of the printer status and display of the printer status on the screen of the host computer by the printer status display program as described above are performed independently for each printer. I have.

Therefore, when monitoring and displaying the status of a plurality of printers in a situation where a plurality of printers are connected to the host computer, it is necessary to execute and display a printer status display program for each individual printer. . In this case, as the number of programs to be executed at the same time increases, there is a problem that the load on the host computer increases in terms of both memory capacity and CPU processing.

[0007] In addition, a status display window is displayed for each printer on a screen of a limited size, which causes a problem that the screen is cumbersome.

Further, the status of a plurality of connected printers is monitored, and only the status of one printer is displayed on one screen. However, there are some printers that can select a printer to be displayed by a user operation.

However, in this case, even if a trouble such as an error has occurred in the printer, if the printer is not designated as a display target at that time, the error occurrence is not displayed unless the user instructs the status display of the printer. There is a problem.

In order to solve this problem, there is a printer in which the priority of display is set according to the status of each printer, and the printer having a higher priority is automatically displayed.

However, even in this case, in order to check the status of the printer that is not displayed, there is a problem that the status cannot be known unless the user designates a printer to be displayed and switches the display. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to simultaneously manage the states of a plurality of printers, set a state display time in accordance with the states of the printers, By switching and displaying the printer to be displayed at that time, the status of the plurality of printers is automatically displayed sequentially without the user's instruction, and the status of the plurality of printers whose status changes respectively is sequentially monitored, A print control device, a status display method of a print control device, and a computer capable of sequentially switching and displaying the status display of another printer while setting a long display time of a printer in a high priority state to be displayed Is to provide a storage medium storing a readable program.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printers (printer 3001 shown in FIG. 1) and printers (printer 1014 shown in FIG. 1) are connected via a predetermined communication medium (network). 2014) is a print control device capable of communicating with a plurality of connected data processing devices (each of the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIGS. 1 and 9), and a printer connected via a predetermined interface; Setting means for setting the status display time of each printer according to the display priority of the printer (FIG. 1,
The CPUs of the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIG. 9 perform setting processing based on the printer status display program), and sequentially switch the status information of each printer based on the elapsed status of the status display time set by the setting unit. Display control means (CPUs of the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 perform switching display processing based on a printer status display program).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided status acquisition means for acquiring printer status information from each printer (via a network controller and a data input / output controller of each of the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIGS. 1 and 9). The display control means sequentially switches and displays the status information of each printer obtained by the status obtaining means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is determined in advance in accordance with the display priority.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is determined in advance corresponding to each possible status of the printer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is calculated by using a ratio of the display time determined corresponding to each possible status of the printer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is defined as the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of each printer and the display time corresponding to the status of all the printers whose status can be displayed. It is calculated from the total value of the ratios.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, the ratio of the display time is ranked according to a preset priority for a state to be displayed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary ratio can be specified as the ratio of the display time.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the status obtaining means obtains printer status information notified from each printer.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the status acquisition means acquires printer status information returned from each printer in response to an inquiry about status information requested from each printer.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is a method for displaying a status of a print control device capable of communicating with a plurality of printers and a plurality of data processing devices connected to the printers via a predetermined communication medium. A setting step (Step S2005 shown in FIG. 8) for setting the status display time of each printer in accordance with the display priority order of the printers, and status information of each printer based on the elapsed time of the status display time set in the setting step. And a display switching step (Step S1003 to Step S1009 in FIG. 5) of sequentially switching and displaying.

A twelfth invention according to the present invention includes a status acquisition step (steps S1010 and S1011 shown in FIG. 5) for acquiring printer status information from each printer. The acquired status information of each printer is sequentially switched and displayed.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is determined in advance in accordance with the display priority.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is determined in advance corresponding to each possible status of the printer.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is calculated using the ratio of the display time determined corresponding to each possible status of the printer.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is defined by the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of each printer and the display time corresponding to the status of all the printers whose status can be displayed. This is calculated from the total value of the ratios (steps S3001 to S3003 shown in FIG. 11).

[0029] In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the display time ratio is rated according to a preset priority for a state to be displayed.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary ratio can be specified for the ratio of the display time.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the status obtaining step, the printer status information notified from each printer is obtained.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the status acquisition step, printer status information returned from each printer in response to an inquiry about status information requested of each printer is obtained.

A twenty-first invention according to the present invention is directed to a computer-readable program for controlling a printing control device capable of communicating with a plurality of printers and a plurality of data processing devices connected to the printers via a predetermined communication medium. Setting step of setting the status display time of each printer in accordance with the display priority order of each printer (step S2005 shown in FIG. 8), and lapse of the status display time set by the setting step A computer-readable program having a display switching step (steps S1003 to S1009 in FIG. 5) for sequentially switching and displaying the status information of each printer based on the status is stored in a storage medium.

A twenty-second invention according to the present invention has a status acquisition step (steps S1010 and S1011 shown in FIG. 5) for acquiring printer status information from each printer. A computer readable program for sequentially switching and displaying the acquired status information of each printer is stored in a storage medium.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is stored in a storage medium with a computer-readable program which is determined in advance in accordance with the display priority.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is such that a computer readable program, which is previously defined for each possible status of the printer, is stored in a storage medium. It is.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the state display time of each printer can be read by a computer, which is calculated using a ratio of the display time determined corresponding to each possible state of the printer. The program is stored in a storage medium.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the status display time of each printer is defined by the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of each printer and the display time corresponding to the status of all the printers whose status can be displayed. It is calculated from the total value of the ratios.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the ratio of the display time is stored in a storage medium by a computer-readable program which is ranked according to a preset priority for a state to be displayed. Things.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable program that allows an arbitrary ratio to be specified for the display time ratio is stored in a storage medium.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the status obtaining step, a computer readable program for obtaining printer status information notified from each printer is stored in a storage medium.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the status acquisition step, a computer readable program for acquiring printer status information returned from each printer in response to an inquiry about status information requested from each printer is provided. It is stored in a storage medium.

[0043]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, the configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, and then the processing operation of the printer status display program in this embodiment will be described.

[Explanation of Configuration] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a printing system to which a printing control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied, and each printer is connected via an interface. Host computer 1
001 and 2001 correspond to a printing system capable of communicating via a network.

In the host computer 1001, 1
002 is the main body of the host computer 1001;
It is controlled by the PU 1003.

Reference numeral 1004 denotes a ROM which stores a program for controlling each controller described later in the host computer main body 1002 and data used in the program. The program is executed by the CPU 1003 of each of the host computers 1001 and 2001.

An HDD controller 1005 controls data access to the hard disk 1006. The hard disk 1006 stores an OS running on the host computer 1001, application programs, a printer driver for generating image recording data to be transferred to a printer described later, a printer status display program, and a status display database.

Reference numeral 1007 denotes a RAM in which an OS, an application, a printer driver, an output control program, and the like stored in the hard disk 1006 are loaded via the hard disk drive controller 1005, respectively. These software are executed by the CPU 1003.

A work area for executing each software is also secured in the RAM 1007. A status display database used by the printer status display program is also loaded into the work area. Further, areas for printer management information, a display time correspondence table, and the like are secured.

The capacity of the RAM 1007 can be expanded by an expansion RAM.

A display controller 1008 displays characters and images on the display device 1009 under the control of the CPU 1003. A keyboard controller 1010 receives an input from a user of the host computer 1001 via the keyboard 1011 under the control of the CPU 1003. Using the display device 1009 and the keyboard 1011, the user of the host computer 1001 performs interactive operations such as print data creation and print instructions.

A data input / output controller 1012 performs bidirectional communication with a connected printer 1014 under the control of the CPU 1003. 1013
Is a network controller which can communicate with the host computer 2001 via the network. The printer 2014 connected to the host computer 2001 can print the print data on the host computer 1001 via a network.

Reference numeral 2001 denotes a host computer, which has the same configuration as the host computer 1001 and which has a host computer 10 via a network.
01 and can communicate with it.

In the host computer 2001, 2
Reference numeral 002 denotes the main body of the host computer 2001, which is controlled by the CPU 2003.

Reference numeral 2004 denotes a ROM which stores a program for controlling each controller described later in the host computer main body 2002 and data used in the program. The program is executed by the CPU 2003 of the host computer 2001.

An HDD controller 2005 controls data access to the hard disk 2006. The hard disk 2006 stores an OS running on the host computer 2001, an application program, a printer driver for generating image recording data to be transferred to a printer described later, a printer status display program, and a status display database.

Reference numeral 2007 denotes a RAM in which an OS, an application, a printer driver, an output control program, and the like stored in the hard disk 2006 are loaded via the hard disk drive controller 2005, respectively. These pieces of software are executed by the CPU 2003.

A work area for executing each software is also secured in the RAM 2007. A status display database used by the printer status display program is also loaded into the work area. Further, areas for printer management information, a display time correspondence table, and the like are secured.

The RAM 2007 is configured so that its capacity can be expanded by an expansion RAM.

A display controller 2008 displays characters and images on the display device 2009 under the control of the CPU 2003. A keyboard controller 2010 receives an input from a user of the host computer 2001 via the keyboard 2011 under the control of the CPU 2003. Using the display device 2009 and the keyboard 2011, the user of the host computer 2001 performs interactive operations such as print data creation and print instructions.

A data input / output controller 2012 performs bidirectional communication with the connected printer 2014 under the control of the CPU 2003. 2013
Is a network controller which can communicate with the host computer 1001 via the network. Further, it is possible to print out print data on the host computer 200l via a network by a printer 1014 connected to the host computer 1001.

FIG. 2 shows the printer 1014 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2014 illustrates the contents of information returned to the host computers 1001 and 2001 as information indicating the status of each printer.

As shown in the figure, the printer status information includes error information I indicating the type of error occurring in the printer.
F1, information I indicating the type of warning occurring in the printer
F2 and information IF3 indicating the operation state of the printer.
Note that there are two types of errors that occur in the printer according to the present embodiment: a paper out error and a paper jam error.

There are two types of warning information, a warning indicating that the remaining amount of black ink is low and a warning indicating that the remaining amount of color ink is low.

Further, the printer operating state includes a printing state, an idle state in which processing such as printing is not performed,
It is assumed that one of the print preparation states in which the processing corresponding to the preparation for printing is being performed is returned.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the printer management information according to the printer status display program executed by the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIG.

In the figure, printer management information PMI is data for managing information on a printer connected to a host computer, and includes host computer name, port name, printer name, printer error information, printer warning information, and printer operation. Information and display priority information are held. PO1 to PO3 are pointers, which are appropriately set according to the number of printers on the network. The display priority information is data used when the printer status display program determines which printer status is displayed with priority.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the status display database secured on the RAMs 1007 and 2007 of the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the status display database, a printer status display program corresponding to the printer status information received from the printer is displayed on the display devices 1009, 20 of the respective host computers 1001, 2001.
The display contents to be displayed on the screen 09 and the display priority are stored in correspondence with each state of the printer.

Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, information of high importance to be notified to the user, for example, out of paper or paper jam is set to “1”, which has the highest priority, and then black A low level of ink, a low level of color ink, and the like are set to the medium level “2”, and a low level of “3” is set for printing possible, during printing, during printing preparation, and the like.

Then, the display time is assigned to each priority so that the display time is shortened, that is, the information having a high priority is assigned so as to increase the display time, and the contents of the information are given to the user on the host computer side in accordance with the importance. It is configured to evoke.

[Description of Processing Operation] The processing operation of the printer status display program on the host computers 1001 and 2001 in the present embodiment will be described below.
The printer status display program is started when each host computer is started, and thereafter displays the status of the connected printer. Note that only one printer status display program operates on one host, and a plurality of printer status display programs do not operate on the same host computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing operation of the printer status display program in the host computer 1001 or 2001. In addition, S1001 to S1011 indicate each step.

First, in step S1001, a process of loading the status display database stored in the hard disk into a work area on the RAM and an initialization process including initialization of printer management information are performed.

Next, in step S1002, a pointer PO1 (see FIG. 3) to the first printer information registered as printer management information is obtained. In step S1003, it is determined whether there is printer information from the pointer acquired in step S1002. If the determination is NO, for example, in the initialized state immediately after startup, there is no registered printer information. Therefore, since there is no printer information indicated by this pointer, it is determined NO, and the process advances to step S1010 to check the printers connected to all the ports of the host computer, and if the target printer is connected, ,
When the process is registered in the printer management information on the RAM 1007 and processing for all ports is completed, the process proceeds to step S1011
To the printer status display program running on another host computer 2001 on the network to request information on the printer connected to the host, and obtain printer information managed by the host. I do. Further, the acquired printer information is registered in the printer management information on the RAM 1007 together with the host name.
That is, in this step, the printer status display program running on the host computer 1001 acquires the printer information including the printer status of the printer connected to another host computer on the network.

When the processing has been completed for all target printers in this way, the process returns to step S1002, and the processing is started again from the printer registered at the top of the printer management information.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1003 that there is printer information, the flow advances to step S1004 to execute the processing for the printer. Is acquired, the printer state is analyzed, and the contents are recognized.
Then, in step S1005, it is checked whether or not the acquired state of the printer is different from the state held as the printer information. If it is determined that there is no change in the state of the printer, the process proceeds to step S1008.
If there is a change in the state of the printer, step S1
Proceeding to 006, the error information, warning information, and operation status information in the printer information are updated to the latest printer status acquired in step S1004. Next, step S
Proceed to 1007.

In step S1007, the state display database is searched for priority information corresponding to the printer state, and the display priority in the printer information is updated. Next, in step S1008, a status display update process (details will be described later) is performed. Then, step S1
In step 009, a pointer to the next printer information registered in the printer management information is obtained, and the flow returns to step S1003. Thereafter, when all the printers registered in the printer management information, that is, all the connected printers have been processed, the process proceeds to step S1003.
Then, the process proceeds to steps S1010 and S1011 to repeat a series of processes from checking the newly connected printer.

Hereinafter, the status display updating process will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display time correspondence table managed by the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIG. 1, and corresponds to a case where data is managed in a pair of the priority order and the display time. I do. Here,
The priority is the priority of the printer.

In this embodiment, as shown in the display time correspondence table shown in FIG. 6, 5 seconds, 3 seconds, and 1 second are assigned to the priorities 1, 2, and 3, respectively, as the display time. .

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a printer status display dialog displayed on the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIG.
001, 2001, each display device 1009, 20
09 is displayed.

As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, the status display of the printer includes the printer name, host PC
The name, connection port name, and printer status are displayed as display items.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the display update processing shown in FIG. In addition, S2001 to S2005 indicate each step.

First, in step S2001, the priority of the printer being displayed is acquired. Next, step S20
At 02, it is checked whether or not the currently displayed printer has been displayed for the display time determined in accordance with the priority. Here, if it is determined that the current display status of the display printer has not elapsed for the display time, the display update process is terminated without updating the display.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2002 that the display time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S20.
In step 03, a printer having the next priority is searched for from printers registered as printer management information in order to change the display printer.

Next, in step S2004, the contents of each display item on the display screen shown in FIG. 7 are changed in order to display the status of the printer determined in step S2003. Then, the time at which the display was switched in step S2005 is stored in the work area as the display start time. The display start time stored here is used when determining the elapse of the display time in step S2002. This completes the display update processing, and one cycle of processing for the printer is completed in conjunction with FIG.

As described above, the state change is detected while checking the state of the connected printer, the display priority information is updated, and the state display is performed based on the display time determined for the display priority information. By selecting the printer to be used and switching the display, a longer time is displayed for the printer that needs to be notified of the most status, such as the printer that has an error among multiple connected printers, and an error occurs. The display time can be shortened for a printer such as a printer that does not need to be notified of the status, such as a printer that does not have the status. Thus, when the status of each printer is sequentially displayed, it is possible to sequentially know which printer has a problem and which printer has a problem without selecting and checking the printer to be displayed. .

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
The case where the time value of the display time is held as the display time correspondence table in the work area in association with the priority has been described. However, the correspondence table does not exist. Instead, as shown in FIG. The status display database may be configured to hold a numerical value indicating the ratio of the display time corresponding to each status of the printer. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described. Note that the system of the present embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG. 9 and has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which a printing control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention can be applied. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The description of the details is omitted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of the status display database secured on the RAMs 1007 and 2007 of the host computers 1001 and 2001 shown in FIG.

In the figure, the difference from FIG. 4 is that the priority time and the display time are managed as a pair. Hereinafter, the display update processing of the processing of the printer status display program in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the display update processing shown in FIG. In addition, S3001 to S3007 indicate each step.

First, in step S3001, the status display database shown in FIG. 10 is searched to obtain the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of the printer being displayed. Next, in step S3002, the total value is calculated for all the target printers while obtaining the ratio of the display time corresponding to the state.

Next, in step S3003, the display time of the currently displayed printer is calculated from the ratio of the display time of the currently displayed printer and the total value obtained in step S3002. This calculation calculates the display time of the printer being displayed as Tc,
Assuming that the value of the ratio of the display time of the printer being displayed is Rc, R is the total value obtained in step S3002, and T is a predetermined time value, it is calculated by the following equation (1).

Tc = T × (Rc ÷ R) (1) For example, T = 10 seconds, and there are three target printers (tentatively P1 to P3), of which printer 1 has no paper error and printer Assuming that 2 is a color ink warning and the printer 3 is printing, the ratio of the display time of the printer P1 is (R1) = 300, and the ratio of the display time of the printer P2 is (R2) = 150. , Printer P3
Is (R3) = 50.

Therefore, the total value (R) of the ratio of the display time =
From (300 + 150 + 50), the display time of the printer P1 is the display time (Tl) of the printer P1 = 10 × (30)
(0 ÷ 500) = 6 seconds, and the status display of the printer P1 is performed for 6 seconds.

Next, the flow advances to step S3004 to check whether or not the currently displayed printer has been displayed for the display time determined in accordance with the priority order. If it is determined that the printer has been changed, in step S3005, a printer having the next priority is searched from printers registered as printer management information in order to change the display printer. Next, in step S3006, the contents of each display item on the display screen shown in FIG. 7 are changed in order to display the status of the printer determined in step S3005. Then, the time at which the display was switched in step S3007 is stored in the work area as the display start time. The display start time stored here is used when determining the elapse of the display time in step S3004. This completes the display update processing.

As described above, the states of all target printers can be displayed in a predetermined time, and among them, the states of the printers having a higher display priority can be displayed longer.

[Other Embodiments] In the second embodiment,
Although the time required to display the status of all printers is set to a predetermined value, it is also possible for the value to be specified by the user. Further, the time can be determined according to the number of target printers.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, a program for installing various programs on a computer, and a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed, may be stored in some cases.

The functions shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 in this embodiment may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0112]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the thirtieth aspect, of a plurality of connected printers, the status of a high-priority printer that displays a status is displayed for a long time, and the status of a low-priority printer that displays a status is a time. It is possible to sequentially switch and display the status of each printer while displaying the information in a short time.

Thus, even when an error occurs simultaneously in a plurality of printers, the user can automatically know which printer and which printer is causing the error without switching the display object. This makes it possible to obviate the need for a troublesome operation of intentionally selecting and displaying a printer whose status is to be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a print control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of information returned by a printer shown in FIG. 1 to a host computer as information indicating the status of each printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of printer management information according to a printer status display program executed by the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents of a status display database secured on a RAM of the host computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a display time correspondence table managed by the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a printer status display dialog displayed on the host computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a print control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing contents of a status display database secured on a RAM of the host computer shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1001, 2001 Host computer 1002, 2002 Host computer main body 1003, 2003 CPU 1004, 2004 ROM 1005, 2005 HDD controller 1006, 2006 Hard disk 1007, 2007 RAM 1008, 2008 Display controller 1009, 2009 Display device 1010, 2010 Keyboard controller 1011, 2010 Keyboard 1012, 2012 Data input / output controller 1013, 2013 Network controller 1014, 2014 Printer

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A print control device capable of communicating with a plurality of printers via a predetermined communication medium and a plurality of data processing devices connected to the printer, comprising: a printer connected via a predetermined interface; Setting means for setting the status display time of each printer in accordance with the display priority of the printer; display control means for sequentially switching and displaying the status information of each printer based on the elapsed state of the status display time set by the setting means; , A print control device. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: status acquisition means for acquiring printer status information from each printer, wherein said display control means sequentially switches and displays the status information of each printer acquired by said status acquisition means. The print control device according to claim 1. 3. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status display time of each printer is determined in advance in accordance with the display priority. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status display time of each printer is determined in advance corresponding to each possible status of the printer. 5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the status display time of each printer is calculated by using a ratio of the display time determined corresponding to each possible status of the printer.
The printing control device according to the above. 6. The status display time of each printer is calculated from the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of each printer and the total value of the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of all the printers whose status can be displayed. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display time ratio is rated according to a preset priority order for a state to be displayed. 8. The print control device according to claim 5, wherein an arbitrary ratio can be designated as the ratio of the display time. 9. The printing control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the status obtaining unit obtains printer status information notified from each printer. 10. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the status acquisition unit acquires status information of the printer returned from each printer in response to an inquiry about status information requested from each printer. 11. A method for displaying a status of a print control device capable of communicating with a plurality of printers and a plurality of data processing devices to which the printers are connected via a predetermined communication medium. A setting step of setting a status display time of the printer; and a display switching step of sequentially switching and displaying status information of each printer based on an elapsed state of the status display time set in the setting step. A method for displaying the status of the print control device. 12. A printer according to claim 1, further comprising a status obtaining step of obtaining printer status information from each printer, wherein said display switching step sequentially switches and displays the status information of each printer obtained in said status obtaining step. The status display method for a print control device according to claim 11. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the status display time of each printer is determined in advance corresponding to the display priority. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the status display time of each printer is determined in advance corresponding to each possible status of the printer. 15. The printing control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the status display time of each printer is calculated using a ratio of the display time determined corresponding to each possible status of the printer. Status display method. 16. The status display time of each printer is calculated from the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of each printer and the total value of the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of all printers whose status can be displayed. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
2. The method for displaying a status of a print control device according to claim 1. 17. The status display method according to claim 15, wherein the display time ratio is ranked according to a preset priority order with respect to a status to be displayed. 18. The display time ratio according to claim 15, wherein an arbitrary ratio can be specified.
The status display method of the print control device described in the above. 19. The status display method according to claim 12, wherein the status obtaining step obtains printer status information notified from each printer. 20. The status of the print control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said status obtaining step obtains printer status information returned from each printer in response to an inquiry about status information requested from each printer. Display method. 21. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a print control device capable of communicating with a plurality of printers and a plurality of data processing devices connected to the printer via a predetermined communication medium. A setting step of setting the status display time of each printer in accordance with the display priority order of each printer; and a display switching for sequentially switching and displaying the status information of each printer based on the elapsed state of the status display time set in the setting step. A storage medium storing a computer readable program, comprising: 22. A status acquiring step for acquiring printer status information from each printer, wherein the display switching step sequentially switches and displays the status information of each printer acquired in the status acquiring step. A storage medium storing the computer-readable program according to claim 21. 23. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the status display time of each printer is determined in advance in accordance with the display priority. 24. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the status display time of each printer is determined in advance corresponding to each possible status of the printer. . 25. The computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the status display time of each printer is calculated using a ratio of the display time determined corresponding to each possible status of the printer. A storage medium that stores possible programs. 26. The status display time of each printer is calculated from the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of each printer and the total value of the ratio of the display time corresponding to the status of all the printers whose status can be displayed. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein
A storage medium storing the computer-readable program according to claim 1. 27. The computer-readable program according to claim 25, wherein the display time ratio is rated according to a preset priority for a state to be displayed. Storage media. 28. The display time ratio according to claim 25, wherein an arbitrary ratio can be specified.
A storage medium storing the computer-readable program according to the above. 29. The storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the status obtaining step obtains printer status information notified from each printer. 30. The computer-readable computer according to claim 22, wherein said status obtaining step obtains printer status information returned from each printer in response to an inquiry about status information requested from each printer. A storage medium that stores programs.