JPH0659833A - Printer in network environment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the print efficiency in the network environment in which plural printers are connected by transferring data received from a host computer to other printer connected on the network. CONSTITUTION:A controller 2 converts print data from a host computer 5 into video data and outputs the data to a printer engine 3 based on the control mode set for the time and a control bode from the host computer 5. Data sent from the host computer 5 through a host interface I/F 7 are divided into print data, print control data and other data by a CPU 8 and the print data and the print control data are stored in a buffer. When a printer instruction from the host computer 5 or the data received from the host computer 5 exceed one page, the controller 2 outputs a print start instruction to the printer engine 3 through an engine I/F 13 and the engine 3 prints out the data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer in a network environment in which a plurality of printers are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been a conventional practice to output data from a host computer to a printer that can be used by a printer buffer. It is also well known that the operating system of the host computer selects an available printer among the printers on the network and sends data to the available printer.

For example, if two types of printers are connected to a host computer, one of which has a printing capacity of 8 ppm (8 sheets per minute) and the other printer has a capacity of 12 ppm, then generally , Printing efficiency is better when using a printer with a capacity of 12 ppm. However, when multiple people try to use a printer with an ability of 12 ppm for printing efficiency, and when one person is already printing,
Meanwhile, the other person waits for the output to end. As a result, there are cases in which printing efficiency is better when printing is performed using a printer with an ability of 8 ppm.

Further, in a printer capable of designating a time, when a plurality of persons designate the same time, there is a disadvantage that only one person can output.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience in a network environment in which a plurality of printers are connected.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a printer connected to a network transfers data received from a host computer to another printer connected to the network. It is solved by having means.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides another printer on the network when data is transmitted from the host computer in a state where the printer cannot print. It is proposed to have a means to check if there is something printable.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention allows the printer to store data received from the host computer in an external storage device such as a hard disk, in addition to the confirmation function described above. Propose to have means.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a printer on a network when the printer receives data from a host computer, in addition to the above-mentioned confirmation means and storage means. If all the data cannot be used, save the data in the external storage device, wait until the printer on the network becomes available, and transfer the data stored in the external storage device to the available printer when it becomes available. It is proposed to have a means to do.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a printer on a network when the printer receives data from a host computer in addition to the above-mentioned confirmation means and storage means. When all the data cannot be used, it is proposed to have a means for storing data in an external storage device, waiting until it becomes available, and starting printing when it becomes available.

[0011]

[Operation and effect] When a printer on the network environment to which multiple printers are connected receives data from the host computer and it is already outputting,
By transferring the data to another printer on the network, it is possible to prevent the printing effect from deteriorating due to concentration on one printer.

In the above case, by checking whether or not another printer on the network is available, it is possible to prevent data transfer to the unavailable printer.

By storing the data received from the host computer in the external storage device, it is not necessary to store the data in the memory and the memory can be used effectively.

Further, as described above, the data received from the host computer is stored in the external storage device, and the transfer of the data is started when another printer on the network becomes available. The printing efficiency in the network can be increased.

Further, by saving the data received from the host computer in an external storage device and starting the output when the printer which receives the data becomes available, it is possible to avoid using the network. Therefore, network traffic can be kept low.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a laser printer according to the present invention connected to a network environment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The laser printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a controller 2, a printer engine 3 and an operation panel 4, and is connected to a host computer 5 and a font cartridge 6.

The controller 2 converts the print data from the host computer 5 into video data and outputs it to the printer engine 3 according to the control mode set at that time and the control code from the host computer 5. It is a generic term for the control mechanism, and is composed of the modules described below.

The host I / F 7 is a host computer 5
Signal and data from printer to printer 1, printer 1
From the host computer 5 to the status signal interface.

The CPU 8 is a central processing unit that processes data (print data, control data) from the host computer 5 according to a program stored in the ROM.

The RAM 9 and the optional RAM 10 are
A work memory when the CPU 8 processes, a buffer that manages and temporarily stores data from the host computer 5 in page units, converts the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern, and stores video data. Used for bitmap memory etc.

The program ROM 11 stores programs for controlling data processing in the controller 2 and peripheral modules.

The font ROM 12 and the font cartridge 6 have various kinds of fonts used for printing.

The engine I / F 13 is an interface for control signals from the controller 2 to the printer engine 3 and status signals from the printer engine 3 to the controller 2.

The printer engine 3 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by the video signal and the control signal from the controller 2, develops the electrostatic latent image, and feeds the transfer paper from the paper feeding unit.
Transfer and fix to form an image.

The panel I / F 14 is an interface for signals for switching the printer status, mode, font and the like.

The operation panel 4 is a display section showing the status of the printer, and a switch section for switching the printer mode, font, and the like.

The data sent from the host computer 5 through the host I / F 7 are print data and print control data (SP, CR, LF, HT, VT, ...) By the CPU 8.
Etc.) and others, and the print data and print control data are stored in the buffer. When the printer command from the host computer 5 or the data received from the host computer 5 exceeds one page, the controller 2 issues a print start command to the printer engine 3 through the engine I / F 13.

The print data from the host computer 5 is printed through the printer engine 3 through the series of steps described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 5
A plurality of printers A, B, C and D are connected to. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the printer A has other printers B, C, which are connected to the memory on the network.
The printer has a priority (priority) of data transfer to D as a table, and recognizes the printer indicated by the pointer, printer B in FIG. 3, as the destination of data.

Further, the printer A has, in its memory, a transfer route to the other printers B, C and D on the network as a table, and information on this transfer route is added and transmitted to the network. Then, the data is transferred via the network to another printer recognized as the destination, for example, printer B.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the printers A, B, C, and D are connected to the host computer 5, and data is sent from the host computer 5 to the printer A and the printer A If is already in use, the data shall be transferred to another printer.

First, the printer A is the host computer 5
When the data is received from the printer (step 1), the printer shown in FIG. 3 is referred to and the printer indicated by the pointer (here, the printer B is to be transferred) is recognized as the transfer destination (step 2). Next, referring to the transfer path table, the transfer path to the transfer destination printer B (printer A →
The host computer 5 → printer B) is obtained (step 3). The printer and the host computer in the network have an address uniquely determined in the network, and the transfer route information is created from this address. When the transfer path information is obtained, the transfer path information is added as header information to the received data to be transferred data to the printer B (step 4). Put the created e-transfer data in the send buffer, and the host computer 5
To (step 5).

Upon receiving the data, the host computer 5 looks at the header information and sends the data to the printer B (step 6). Thus, the data transfer from printer A to printer B is performed.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

For example, when the printer A receives data from the host computer 5 (step 11), it refers to the pointer shown in FIG. 3 to recognize the corresponding printer, in this case printer B (step 12). Then, printer B
To the network via the network (step 13),
Wait for a response. When a response indicating that the printer is usable is returned within a certain period of time (step 14), it is recognized that the printer B is usable (step 15).

If the response is not returned within a fixed time, or if the signal indicating that printing is impossible is returned, it is determined that printer B cannot be used, and the pointer in FIG. 3 is advanced by 1 (step 16), and then The presence or absence of the printer is checked (step 17). If there is a next printer, for example printer C, return to step 12 and repeat the above steps.

The above operation is repeated until a printer that can be used is found or it is determined that all the printers in the table cannot be used.

The operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the printer A receives the data from the host computer 5 (step 21), it is checked whether or not the data can be output (step 22). If you can output,
It is output as it is (step 23). If the data cannot be output, write the data to the external storage device (step 2).
4).

The operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the printer A receives the data from the host computer 5 (step 31), it is checked whether any printer on the network can be used (step 32). If there is a usable printer, the data is transferred to that printer (step 33). If no printer is available, the data received from the host computer 5 is saved in the external storage device (step 3).
4). After that, at regular intervals, it is checked whether the printer on the network can be used (step 35),
When a usable printer is found (Step 3
2) Transfer the data to the printer (step 3)
3).

The operation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the printer A receives the data from the host computer 5 (step 41), it is checked whether any printer on the network can be used (step 42). If there is a usable printer, the data is transferred to that printer (step 43). If no printer is available, the data received from the host computer 5 is saved in the external storage device (step 4).
4). After that, the printer A waits until it becomes available (step 45), and when it becomes available, it reads the data from the external storage device and outputs it (step 4).
6).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laser printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a plurality of printers connected to a host computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a priority table for data transfer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 printer 2 controller 5 host computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printer in a network environment, to which a plurality of printers are connected, having means for transferring data received from a host computer to another printer connected to the network. . 2. A means for confirming whether or not another printer on the network is capable of printing when data is transmitted from the host computer when the printer is in a non-printable state. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The printer according to claim 2, further comprising means for storing data received from the host computer in an external storage device such as a hard disk. 4. When data is received from the host computer, if all the printers on the network cannot be used, the data can be stored in an external storage device and wait until the printers on the network can use it. 4. The printer according to claim 3, further comprising means for transferring the data stored in the external storage device to the usable printer when it becomes. 5. When data is received from a host computer, if all printers on the network are unavailable, the data is saved in an external storage device and waits until it becomes available for use. 4. The printer according to claim 3, further comprising means for starting printing when the printer has run out.