JP2004126943A - Printing processor, printing processing method, and printing processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the parallel input of a plurality of printing job data from a network and their parallel recognition as printing jobs. <P>SOLUTION: This processor has a plurality of receiving means capable of receiving, by use of any one of a plurality of protocols, printing job data in parallel to the other printing job data by a different protocol, and a plurality of recognition means for analyzing the printing job data received through the corresponding receiving means and recognizing them as a printing job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print processing apparatus that receives print job data transmitted from an external device such as a host computer or the like, and performs printing on paper based on print data in the print job data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional printing apparatus has a physical interface for receiving print data, and performs printing based on print data received from an external device, particularly, PDL data described in Page Description Language. Here, the physical interface indicates a local interface such as RS-232C or IEEE 1284. In these local interfaces, the external device and the printing device have a peer-to-peer (one-to-one) relationship.
[0003]
Since then, printing devices have provided multiple physical interfaces. These physical interfaces include IEEE1284, USB, IEEE1394, 10 / 100base-T (Ethernet (R)), 802.11b wireless LAN, and the like.
[0004]
In addition, in order to mount an interface for connecting to a LAN on a printing apparatus, a logical interface based on a communication protocol is also required. Logical interfaces include lpr, Port9100, SMB, IPP, AppleTalk, and Network.
[0005]
In particular, since the printing apparatus can be connected to the network, the printing apparatus has come to receive print jobs from a plurality of users (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional printing apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a printing apparatus, 110 denotes a network communication unit (for example, a network board), and 120 denotes a print control unit. The network communication unit 110 and the print control unit 120 are physically different devices, each having a CPU and a memory, and are connected to each other via a physical interface for communication.
[0007]
Reference numeral 151 denotes a host computer connected to the printing apparatus 100 via a local interface. The local interface here is, for example, IEEE 1284 (so-called Centro interface), USB, IEEE 1394, or the like, and connects the host computer and the printing apparatus in a peer-to-peer manner. 162 is a cable connected to the local interface.
[0008]
Reference numerals 152 and 153 denote host computers connected to the printing apparatus 100 via a network. 161 is a physical cable of a network such as, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) or Token-ring. In a wireless network such as IEEE802.11b (Wi-Fi) or Bluetooth, there is no physical cable, but the network may be constructed by either wired or wireless.
[0009]
The network communication unit 110 receives a print request from the network and responds to a management information transfer request. Reference numeral 111 denotes an Ethernet (R) controller that converts an electrical exchange from the network into information. Reference numeral 112 denotes a dispatcher that determines a network type, a protocol type, and a port number for an arbitrary packet transmitted from the network, and transfers information to a corresponding module. For example, if the packet is TCP / IP and the port number specified by the packet is 515, the information of the packet is transferred to the lpr server 113.
[0010]
113 is an lpr server, 114 is a Port 9100 server, 115 is a Network server, and 116 is an AppleTalk server, each of which communicates with an external device using a corresponding protocol. Here, four typical protocols are illustrated, but a server using other protocols may exist. These servers process an application layer protocol for receiving print job data sent from the network, and extract print data from the transferred information.
[0011]
A print data communication unit 117 transfers print job data extracted from various servers to the print control unit 120. The print data communication unit 117 receives only one print job data at a time, and sets a wait state for other requests.
[0012]
Reference numeral 118 denotes a printer I / O interface having a physical port connected to the print control unit 120. 119 manages management information from the print control unit, returns management information in response to a status acquisition request from the network, or controls the print control unit 120 in response to a control request from the network. At the printer I / O interface 118, only one print job passes at a time.
[0013]
The following are present in the print control unit 120. Reference numeral 121 denotes a local interface for making a peer-to-peer connection with an external device. Reference numeral 122 denotes an extended I / O interface for physically connecting to the network communication unit 110. A print buffer 123 recognizes print job data received via the local interface as a print job, registers information on the recognized print job in the job attribute DB 126, and stores print data (PDL data) included in the print job data in a reception buffer. The job recognition unit 125 stores the job recognition unit. A job recognition unit 124 recognizes print job data received via the network interface as a print job, registers information on the recognized print job in the job attribute DB 126, and stores PDL data in the print job data in the reception buffer 125. It is.
[0014]
Reference numeral 125 denotes a reception buffer for temporarily storing PDL data. Reference numeral 126 denotes a job attribute database (DB) that stores information about a print job.
[0015]
Reference numeral 127 denotes a job interpretation unit that acquires information about a print job from the job attribute DB 126, interprets PDL data, and generates image data. An image data storage unit 128 temporarily stores the image data generated by the job interpretation unit 127. Reference numeral 129 denotes an engine control unit that acquires the generated image data, converts the image data into raster data, outputs the raster data to the printer engine 130, and controls printing in the printer engine 130.
[0016]
Reference numeral 130 denotes a printer engine that prints on paper based on raster data received from the engine control unit 129 using a known printing technique.
[0017]
Reference numeral 131 denotes a status management unit that monitors or controls information on a print job stored in the job attribute DB 126 and status information of the engine control unit 129 or the printer engine unit 130 according to a request from the host computer. In addition, control is performed to output monitored information to an external device as needed.
[0018]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 05-28644 A
[0019]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the configuration of FIG. 1 has a problem that the print control unit 120 can receive only one print job transmitted over the network at the same time. The reason is that the network communication unit 110 and the printing unit 120 are connected via the printer I / O interface 118 and the extension interface 122, and there is a restriction that a plurality of print jobs are not transferred at the same time in communication therebetween. is there.
[0020]
Then, when a plurality of users simultaneously submit print jobs to the printing apparatus 100 via the network, for example, the host computer 152 submits a print job using lpr, and the host computer 153 submits a print job using the Port 9100. In this case, the first-arrived print job occupies the print data communication unit 117, and the second-arrived print job is excluded. The transmission of the exclusive print job is stopped by the flow control. Then, the host computer continues to consume resources (CPU power, memory capacity, disk capacity) even though the processing is not progressing.
[0021]
A second problem is that it is slow to recognize a print job transmitted via a network. In the printing apparatus 100, it is the job recognition unit 124 that recognizes this print job as a management target. Specifically, in the job recognizing unit 124, information on the print job transmitted via the network is registered in the job attribute DB 126. However, when a plurality of host computers try to submit a print job to the printing apparatus 100 at the same time, the late print job remains in any of the servers 113 to 116, and the job recognizing unit 124 executes the late print job. I can't recognize.
[0022]
FIG. 2 shows one method for solving the first problem. In FIG. 2, the print control unit and the network communication unit are integrated. Here, the reception buffer 208 is accessed by the servers 204 to 207, and print data can be stored in parallel as a simple file system. The job recognizing unit 209 recognizes the print job stored and received in the reception buffer 208 and registers information on the print job in the job attribute DB 210.
[0023]
With the configuration of FIG. 2, the print job can be stored in the reception buffer 208 in parallel. Thereby, the problem that only one print job transmitted via the network can be received can be solved.
[0024]
However, since the job identification unit 209 can only recognize the print job stored in the reception buffer 208, the recognition of the print job is slow.
[0025]
Further, the job interpretation unit 211 cannot start the PDL data interpretation process until the PDL data is stored in the reception buffer 208. Therefore, there is a new problem that the time until the first page is output is delayed.
[0026]
Therefore, the present invention provides a print control unit that can receive only one print job transmitted over a network at the same time, that the print job is slow to be recognized, and that the time until the first page of the print job is output. It is intended to solve the problem of slowing down.
[0027]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to solve the above problem, a print processing apparatus according to the present invention is a print processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices using a plurality of protocols, and includes any one of the plurality of protocols. A plurality of receiving means capable of receiving print job data in parallel with the reception of other print job data using different protocols, and a corresponding receiving means corresponding to one of the plurality of receiving means. A plurality of recognizing means for analyzing print job data received via the printer and recognizing the print job as a print job, and a print data storing means for storing print data included in the print job data recognized as a print job by the recognizing means And analysis means for analyzing the print data stored in the print data storage means to generate image data.
[0028]
Further, the plurality of receiving units include a receiving unit that receives print job data from an external device via a network, and a receiving unit that receives print job data from an external device via a local interface. .
[0029]
An attribute storing unit configured to store information relating to an attribute of the print job, wherein the recognizing unit registers the print data included in the print job data in the print data storing unit, and The registered attribute value is registered in the attribute storage means.
[0030]
The print job data includes data indicating the start of the print job, attribute values of the attributes of the print job, print data, and data indicating the end of the print job. In response to obtaining the indicated data, the print job is recognized, and in response to obtaining the attribute value, the attribute value is registered in the attribute storage unit, and in response to obtaining the print data, The print data is registered in the print data storage means.
[0031]
Further, the print job data includes a packet indicating the start of the print job, a packet storing the attribute value of the attribute of the print job, a packet storing the print data, and a packet indicating the end of the print job. Features.
[0032]
Further, the recognizing unit analyzes a predetermined portion of the data received via the corresponding receiving unit, and determines whether the packet is the packet.
[0033]
(2) A print processing method for performing print processing by communicating with a plurality of external devices using a plurality of protocols in order to solve the above-described problem. In parallel with the reception of other print job data by the protocol, a start step of starting a plurality of servers capable of receiving the print job data, and the reception step corresponding to any of the plurality of servers and receiving via the corresponding server Activating a plurality of recognition processes for analyzing the selected print job data and recognizing the print job as a print job, and storing print data included in the print job data recognized as a print job by the recognition process in a storage unit Print data storing step, and analyzing print data stored in the print data storage unit to generate image data. And having an analysis step that.
[0034]
An attribute storing step of storing information relating to an attribute of the print job in an attribute storage unit, wherein the recognition process registers print data included in the print job data in the print data storage unit; Is registered in the attribute storage unit.
[0035]
The print job data is composed of data indicating the start of the print job, attribute values of the attributes of the print job, print data, and data indicating the end of the print job. In response to acquiring the indicated data, the print job is recognized, and in response to acquiring the attribute value, the attribute value is registered in the attribute storage unit, and in response to acquiring the print data, Print data is registered in the print data storage unit.
[0036]
Further, the print job data includes a packet indicating the start of the print job, a packet storing the attribute value of the attribute of the print job, a packet storing the print data, and a packet indicating the end of the print job. Features.
[0037]
Further, the recognition process analyzes a predetermined portion of data received via a corresponding server to determine whether the packet is the packet.
[0038]
(3) A print processing program for communicating with a plurality of external devices using a plurality of protocols to perform a printing process in order to solve the above problem. In parallel with the reception of other print job data by the protocol, a start step of starting a plurality of servers capable of receiving the print job data, and the reception step corresponding to any of the plurality of servers and receiving via the corresponding server Activating a plurality of recognition processes for analyzing the selected print job data and recognizing the print job as a print job, and storing print data included in the print job data recognized as a print job by the recognition process in a storage unit Analyzing the print data stored in the print data storage unit to obtain image data. Characterized in that to execute an analysis step to be generated in the computer.
[0039]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. In the printing apparatus 300, the print control unit and the network communication unit are integrated. Reference numeral 351 denotes a host computer connected to the printing apparatus 300 via a local interface. 352 and 353 are host computers connected to the printing apparatus 300 via a network, for example, a LAN or the Internet. Note that the printing device is a printing processing device such as a laser beam printer, an ink jet printer, a copying machine, and a multifunction peripheral.
[0040]
The inside of the printing apparatus 300 is composed of the following. Reference numeral 302 denotes an Ethernet (R) controller that converts an electrical exchange from a network into information. Reference numeral 303 denotes a dispatcher that transfers information included in an arbitrary packet from the network to a corresponding module according to a network type, a protocol type, a port number, and the like. For example, if the packet received by the network communication is based on TCP / IP, and the part number specified in the packet is 515, the information contained in the packet is transferred to the lpr server. 304 is an lpr server, 305 is a Port 9100 server, 306 is a Network server, and 307 is an AppleTalk server. Each of these servers is a module of an application layer that receives print job data from a network using a corresponding protocol, and cuts out print job data from a packet and passes it to a subsequent process. A print job data 308 recognizes print job data transferred via the servers 304 to 307 or print job data transferred via the local interface 301 as a print job, and registers information on the print job in the job attribute DB 310. Job recognition unit. Further, the job recognition unit 308 sends the PDL data included in the print job to the reception buffer 309. In the figure, a plurality of job recognition units 308 are described as being present, but this is a module in which the job recognition unit 308 can process requests from the servers 304 to 307 independently and in parallel. Is expressed.
[0041]
A reception buffer 309 temporarily stores PDL data. The reception buffer 309 is composed of a secondary storage device such as an HDD, operates as a file system for the servers 304 to 307, and can store data from these servers in parallel.
[0042]
Reference numeral 310 denotes a job attribute DB for registering and storing information on a print job included in the print job data. A job interpretation unit 311 acquires PDL data from the reception buffer 309 and information about a print job from the job attribute DB 310, and interprets the PDL data to generate image data.
[0043]
An image data storage unit 312 temporarily stores the image data generated by the job interpretation unit 311. An engine control unit 313 acquires the generated image data, converts the image data into raster data, transmits the raster data to a print engine, and controls printing. Reference numeral 314 denotes a printer engine that prints on paper based on raster data transmitted from the engine control unit 313 using a known printing technique. The printer engine includes an inkjet system, an electrophotographic system, and the like.
[0044]
A state management unit 315 monitors or changes information on a print job in the job attribute DB 310 and information on the state of the engine control unit 313 or the printer engine 314 in response to a request from the host computer. The status management unit also performs processing for transferring such information to the host computer as necessary.
[0045]
Next, the operation of the job recognition unit 308 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the job recognition unit 308. A plurality of job recognizing units 308 in FIG. 3 each have a state, and each executes a print job recognition process according to a flowchart. Note that the plurality of job recognition units 308 may be realized by a plurality of processes based on one program shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0046]
First, the connection from any of the servers 304 to 307 is confirmed (step S401). Next, it is determined whether or not the connection has been confirmed (step S402). If the connection has not been confirmed, the process returns to step S401.
[0047]
If it is determined that there is a connection, data is obtained from the server (step S403), and the data type is determined (step S404). Further, data processing specific to each data type is performed based on the determination result of the data type (step S405). If the data is a job packet, the process of step S405 ends when the recognition of one print job is completed. Next, it is determined whether or not the connection has been completed (step S406). If the connection has been completed, the process returns to step S401. If not, the subsequent data is processed.
[0048]
Hereinafter, the unique processing based on the data type will be described.
[0049]
A print job is configured by a packet called a job packet in the application layer. This is a contrivance for making it easy for the job recognizing unit 308 to recognize the print job.
[0050]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a packet concept of a job packet. The vertical axis indicates bytes, and the horizontal axis indicates bits for each byte. In the figure, the 0th to 1st bytes are packet identifiers for identifying a job packet, and store a specific value, for example, 0xcd, 0xca.
[0051]
The second and third bytes are an operation code, which is an ID indicating the function of the packet. The following values are prepared in the job packet.
0x0201: Operation indicating job start
0x0202: Operation indicating job attribute setting
0x0204: Operation indicating transmission of PDL data
0x0205: Operation indicating job end
[0052]
The fourth and fifth bytes are block numbers. Usually, a plurality of job packets are transmitted for one print job. Therefore, when the side that has transmitted the job packet (the transmitting side) requests a response from the side that has received the job packet (the receiving side), it is determined which response request is based on the response from the receiving side. A number used to identify. For example, when the transmitting side transmits the job packets having the block numbers of 1, 2, and 3 and receives the error packet indicating the block number = 2, the transmitting side transmits the job packet having the block number of 2 to the job packet having the block number of 2. You can know that an error has occurred.
[0053]
The sixth and seventh bytes are an area indicating the byte length (data size) of the data part. 0 to 64 Kbytes can be indicated.
[0054]
The 8th to 9th bytes are areas indicating various flags of the job packet, and the following flags can be set.
[0055]
Error flag: When the value of this flag is 1, it indicates that an error has occurred in the printing apparatus. This flag is used in a reply packet transmitted from the printing device to the host computer.
[0056]
Notification flag: When the value of this flag is 1, it indicates to the host computer that the printing apparatus has some notification matter, not a response to a request from the host computer.
[0057]
Continuation flag: When the value of this flag is 1, it indicates that the data to be transmitted cannot be contained in the data portion of one job packet, and thus the remaining data is also transmitted by a subsequent job packet. Therefore, the operation code of the next job packet must be the same as the operation code of the previous packet.
[0058]
Reply request: 1 is set when the host computer requests a reply packet from the printing apparatus. If it is 0, no reply is made as the packet is processed normally. However, when an error occurs in the printing apparatus, a reply packet whose error flag is 1 is transmitted regardless of whether the reply request is 0 or 1.
[0059]
The 10th to 11th bytes are for storing the user ID, and the 12th to 13th bytes are for storing the password. It is used for authentication processing for improving security by restricting operations by packets.
[0060]
After the 14th byte, additional data corresponding to the operation code is stored. In the case of a job start operation, the job execution mode is stored as additional data. The execution modes that can be specified are as follows.
0x01: Normal execution of a print job. The print job is treated as a normal job and added to the end of the queue of the printing device. The queue is for scheduling the printing order, and the print job whose order has been turned is printed.
0x04: Interruption of print job. The print job is treated as an interrupt job, and the printing apparatus stops processing of all print jobs, and preferentially performs printing based on the print job.
[0061]
In the case of a job attribute operation code, a job attribute ID and a job attribute value are stored as additional data. The job attribute ID is an identifier corresponding to each item of the job attribute or each item of the environment setting information. The following are representative job attributes. In addition, there are job attributes such as the number of copies, designation of monochrome or color, and the like corresponding to the function of the printing apparatus, and an ID corresponding to each is assigned.
0x0101: Job name
0x0103: Job owner name
0x016a: Job size
0x0002: Job end notification destination address
[0062]
In the case of a PDL data transmission operation, PDL data is stored as additional data. In one job packet, data of up to 64 Kbytes can be stored in the data section, but data larger than that is divided into a plurality of job packets and transmitted. In this case, the continuation flag is set to 1.
[0063]
In the case of a job end operation, no additional data exists.
[0064]
The job recognizing unit 308 determines the operation code of the job packet, and skips the data part and the like of the job packet unnecessary for job recognition, thereby efficiently and quickly recognizing the start and end of the print job. Can be. The skipped portion is used for registering information about the job in the job attribute DB 310 and storing PDL data in the reception buffer 309.
[0065]
Hereinafter, how a job packet is processed by the job recognition unit 308 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a job packet determination process for determining whether the job packet is a job packet. This is a process corresponding to the determination of the data type (step S404).
[0066]
The determination as to whether the packet is a job packet is performed using the packet identifier. Therefore, it is desirable that the packet identifier is data that is not confused with other data types. In this case, the 0th byte of the job packet is 0xcd, and the first byte is 0xca.
[0067]
First, it is determined whether the first 0 byte of the data is 0xcd (step S601). Next, it is determined whether the first byte of the data is 0xca (step S602). If both determinations are Yes, a determination that the packet is a job packet is returned, and if either determination is No, a determination that the packet is not a job packet is returned.
[0068]
Next, the unique processing of a job packet when the received data is determined to be a job packet will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the job packet-specific processing. The process in FIG. 7 is executed by the job recognition unit 308, and corresponds to a process unique to the data type (step S405).
[0069]
First, data is obtained from the server (step S701). Next, it is determined whether or not the acquired data exists, that is, whether or not the connection with the server has been completed (step S702). If there is no data, the process is completed.
[0070]
If there is data, the operation code of the job packet is read from the data (step S703).
[0071]
If the operation code is 0x0201 (corresponding to a job start operation), the job attribute DB 310 is instructed to generate a print job, and a record for the print job is prepared (step S705). Then, the process returns to step S701 to process the next job packet.
[0072]
If the operation code is 0x0202 (corresponding to a job attribute setting operation), the attribute value is registered in the job attribute DB 310 (step S707). Then, the process returns to step S701 to process the next job packet.
[0073]
If the operation code is 0x0204 (corresponding to a PDL data transmission operation), the PDL data is stored in the reception buffer 309 (step S709). Then, the process returns to step S701 to process the next job packet.
[0074]
Otherwise, it is determined that the operation code is 0x0205 (corresponding to the job end operation), and the job packet specific processing ends.
[0075]
Next, the operation of the reception buffer 309 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of the reception buffer 309. Reference numeral 801 denotes a reception buffer 309, which is connected to the lpr server 802, the Port 9100 server 803, and the Network server 804 via a job recognition unit. Further, it is also connected to the job interpreting unit 808.
[0076]
Now, the PDL data of the print job “Job 1” is read by the job interpreting unit 808 while the print job is input in parallel from the lpr server 802, the Port 9100 server, and the Network server 804. Since the PDL data from the three parties is individually managed by a file, it can be stored in parallel.
[0077]
Regarding the PDL data of job 1, a Read position and a Write position are managed in the reception buffer 801. The PDL data from the server is added to the Write position, and the Write position is incremented by the added data size. In response to a read request from the job interpreting unit 808, PDL data is read from the Read position and passed to the job interpreting unit 808. The Read position is incremented by the size of the read data. Note that the Read position is adjusted so as not to pass the Write position.
[0078]
According to the above description, the following effects can be obtained.
[0079]
Regarding the point that only one print job from the network can be received at the same time, the job recognition unit individually handles each of the local interface and the plurality of servers. , A plurality of print jobs can be submitted in parallel.
[0080]
In addition, regarding the point at which the print job is late to be recognized, the job recognizing unit is arranged in the preceding stage of the receiving buffer, so that the received print job is recognized by the job recognizing unit before being stored in the receiving buffer. Become like
[0081]
Regarding the point that the time until the first page of the print job is output is late, the PDL data is stored in the reception buffer as soon as the job recognition unit recognizes the print job, and the PDL in the reception buffer is also stored. Since the data is managed by the Read position and the Write position, the job interpreting unit can sequentially read the PDL data from the reception buffer and start interpreting the data.
[0082]
Next, the parallelism in the logical interface will be described. In the above embodiment, the parallelism between the physical interface of the local interface and the network interface and the parallelism between the servers in the network interface have been described. However, even when a plurality of host computers on the network, for example, the host computers 152 and 153 submit a print job using the lpr protocol, the parallelism can be further secured by arranging a plurality of lpr servers.
[0083]
However, there is a limit to the parallelism due to the resources of the printing device. Therefore, when the job recognition unit 308 has a print job of a certain upper limit or more, the connection between the server and the job recognition unit can be temporarily put into a waiting state.
[0084]
The program and the related data according to the present invention can be stored in a floppy (R) disk (FD) or a CD-ROM, and supplied to the computer therefrom. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software (for example, a control program for controlling the operations of FIGS. 4, 6, and 7) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment in an apparatus. This is achieved by the computer of the apparatus supplying the program code (in particular, the CPU in the apparatus) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0085]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, besides a floppy (R) disk or a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, DVD or the like can be used.
[0086]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. 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, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0087]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a plurality of print job data from the network can be input in parallel and recognized as a print job in parallel.
[0088]
Further, the received print data is recognized as a print job before being stored in the storage unit.
[0089]
In addition, as soon as the print data is recognized as a print job, the print data is stored in the storage means, so that the print data can be immediately read from the storage means and interpreted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional printing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an alternative printing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a job recognition unit 308.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a packet concept of a job packet.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a job packet determination process.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a process unique to a job packet.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a reception buffer 309.
[Explanation of symbols]
300 printing device
301 Local Interface
302 Ethernet (R) Controller
303 dispatcher
304 lpr server
305 Port9100 server
306 Network Server
307 AppleTalk Server
308 Job Recognition Unit
309 Receive buffer
310 Job attribute DB
311 Job interpreter
312 Image data storage
313 Engine control unit
314 Printer Engine
315 Status management unit
316 Operation panel
351 Host computer
352 Host computer
353 Host computer

Claims (13)

A print processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices using a plurality of protocols,
Using any of the plurality of protocols, in parallel with the reception of other print job data by a different protocol, a plurality of receiving means that can receive print job data,
A plurality of recognition units corresponding to any of the plurality of reception units, analyzing print job data received via the corresponding reception unit and recognizing the print job data as a print job,
Print data storage means for storing print data included in print job data recognized as a print job by the recognition means,
A print processing apparatus configured to analyze print data stored in the print data storage unit and generate image data. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receiving units include a receiving unit that receives print job data from an external device via a network, and a receiving unit that receives print job data from an external device via a local interface. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1. An attribute storage unit that stores information on an attribute of the print job;
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing unit registers print data included in print job data in the print data storage unit, and registers an attribute value included in print job data in the attribute storage unit. 3. The print processing device according to 1 or 2. The print job data includes data indicating the start of the print job, attribute values of the attributes of the print job, print data, and data indicating the end of the print job.
The recognizing unit recognizes the print job in response to acquiring data indicating the start of the print job, registers the attribute value in the attribute storage unit in response to acquiring the attribute value, and performs printing. 4. The print processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print data is registered in the print data storage unit in response to acquiring the data. The print job data includes a packet indicating the start of a print job, a packet storing attribute values of attributes of the print job, a packet storing print data, and a packet indicating the end of the print job. The print processing apparatus according to claim 4. 6. The print processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recognizing unit analyzes a predetermined portion of the data received via the corresponding receiving unit to determine whether the packet is the packet. A print processing method for performing print processing by communicating with a plurality of external devices using a plurality of protocols,
An activation step of activating a plurality of servers capable of receiving print job data, in parallel with reception of other print job data according to a different protocol, using any one of the plurality of protocols;
A start step of starting a plurality of recognition processes corresponding to one of the plurality of servers and analyzing print job data received via the corresponding server to recognize the print job data as a print job;
A print data storage step of storing print data included in print job data recognized as a print job by the recognition process in a storage unit;
An analysis step of analyzing print data stored in the print data storage unit to generate image data. An attribute storing step of storing information relating to an attribute of the print job in an attribute storing unit;
The method according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing process registers print data included in print job data in the print data storage unit, and registers an attribute value included in print job data in the attribute storage unit. 8. The print processing method according to 7. The print job data includes data indicating the start of the print job, attribute values of the attributes of the print job, print data, and data indicating the end of the print job.
The recognition process recognizes the print job in response to acquiring data indicating the start of the print job, registers the attribute value in the attribute storage unit in response to acquiring the attribute value, and performs printing. 9. The print processing method according to claim 8, wherein the print data is registered in the print data storage unit as the data is obtained. The print job data includes a packet indicating the start of a print job, a packet storing attribute values of attributes of the print job, a packet storing print data, and a packet indicating the end of the print job. The print processing method according to claim 9. 11. The print processing method according to claim 10, wherein the recognition process analyzes a predetermined portion of the data received via the corresponding server to determine whether the packet is the packet. 12. The print processing method according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of the same servers are started, and a plurality of print job data can be received in parallel using the same protocol. A print processing program for performing print processing by communicating with a plurality of external devices using a plurality of protocols,
An activation step of activating a plurality of servers capable of receiving print job data, in parallel with reception of other print job data according to a different protocol, using any one of the plurality of protocols;
A start step of starting a plurality of recognition processes corresponding to one of the plurality of servers and analyzing print job data received via the corresponding server to recognize the print job data as a print job;
A print data storage step of storing print data included in print job data recognized as a print job by the recognition process in a storage unit;
A print processing program for causing a computer to execute print data stored in the print data storage unit and to perform an analysis step of generating image data.

Images