JPH07319650A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select an optimum printer from plural printers as a user desires without any extra burden on the user. CONSTITUTION:A work station 41 as a processor is connected to the printers 42 through a 1st subordinate network 13. Each printer 42 consists of a server 43 and a printer 44. In the work station 41, a printer link table 49 is provided and when print data stored on a magnetic disk 46 are sent out for printing, the respective printers 42 are selected in order from higher hierarchies on the basis of the printers 42 and their hierarchical information on condition that print data are empty. When all the printers 42 receive the print data, the print data are sent out to printers which are small in remaining capacity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print system in which a plurality of processing devices such as workstations, a print server, and a printer device such as a printer are connected via a network such as a local area network, and more particularly to a print system. The present invention relates to a print system effective when a processing device selects one of these printer devices in which print processing is performed early.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the office, many processing devices such as workstations and personal computers are in active use. These are traditionally purchased for each purpose,
If necessary, a communication device for connecting to a printer device or an external line has been connected to each of them. However, as the number of these processing devices used in the office increases, adding a printer device or a communication device to them increases the installation space unnecessarily, and purchase and maintenance of these devices. Or there was a problem that the cost for replacement was expensive. Therefore, downsizing of offices has been recently promoted, and it has become widespread to connect devices such as workstations, personal computers, and printers by a local area network (LAN).

FIG. 45 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional print system using a LAN. In this printing system, for example, a first subnet 13 ₁ arranged on the south side floor of the first floor via routers 12 ₁ and 12 ₂ on a backbone net 11 that passes through the upper and lower floors of a building.
And the second subnet 13 _{2, which} is also located on the south side floor of the second floor, is connected. Further, the first subnet 13 ₁ has a third subnet 13 ₃ arranged on the north side floor of the first floor, and the second subnet 13 ₂ has a third subnet 13 ₃ arranged on the north side floor of the second floor. 4 subnet 13 ₄
Are connected respectively.

In the first subnet 13 ₁ , the first workstations 14 ₁₁ and 14 ₁₂ and the first printer device 1 are provided.
5 ₁₁ and 15 ₁₂ are connected. Similarly, for the _{second to} fourth subnets 13 _{2 to} 13 ₄ as well, the second to fourth workstations 14 ₂₁ , 14 _{22 to} 14 ₄₁ , 14 ₄₂ and 2
The fourth printer devices 15 ₂₁ , 15 ₂₂ to 15 ₄₁ , 15 ₄₂ are connected.

For the sake of explanation, each subnet 13
_{1-13 4} is a workstation 14 and the printer device 15 is assumed to be connected by two, but not limited thereto. The printer device 15 described here includes a server (print server) directly connected to the subnets 13 _{1 to} 13 ₄ and a printer as an original printer. These structures are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-29021. Incidentally, JP-A-3-29
No. 021 discloses that one or a plurality of printers are connected to the server, but this specification also applies to this point. However, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that one server is connected to one printer.

By the way, the user of the workstation uses the respective printer devices 15 ₁₁ and 1 ₁₁ shown in FIG.
Of 5 ₁₂ to 15 ₄₁ and 15 ₄₂ , printer devices that may be used (here, printer devices 15 ₁₁ and 15 ₁₂ ) are registered in advance as printer icons on the desktop of their workstation. . Then, the printer device 15 displays the icon of the document to be printed.
By transferring to the icon used this time among the icons of ₁₁ and 15 ₁₂ , the print data of the document is transferred and printing is started. For more information, see FUFIXEROX Gloval Vie
w VP Basic Software Operation Manual ”, Part 1 <Introduction> Chapter 8 Page 190-233 for detailed description.

46-48 show a printer for printing.
9 illustrates an operation for designating a device. Of these, the figure
Reference numeral 46 denotes the workstation 14 before instructing printing._X
Is a display screen of. Predetermined work stay
Option 14_XDisplay screen 21 _XAbove is the registered pre
Input device 15₁₁, 15₁₂Printer icon 22₁₁Two
Two₁₂And the document icon 2 of the document A to be printed
Three_AIs displayed.

FIG. 47 shows a state in which the user has designated a printer on the display screen. The user selects the document icon 23 _A to be printed on the display screen 21 _X.
Is selected with a mouse as a pointing device (not shown), moved to the location of the first printer icon 22 ₁₂ to be printed and clicked, and transcription 24 is performed.

FIG. 48 shows a display image in a state where transcription is performed.
It is a representation of a surface. Display screen 21_XOn top
Printer options for formatting when running
The option window 25 is displayed. Here is the initial
The default value is the content that is highly likely to be specified by the user.
Is set. The user determines the number of copies and the target of printing
The page to be printed, the paper size, and the paper to print
Change the setting contents such as whether it is single-sided or double-sided.
You can First printer icon 22 ₁₂Is the sign
Display to show this at the specified time for printing
The color is changed. The document A itself is
Option 14_XIs not erased by transfer from
Therefore, the document icon 23_AIs in the original position
It exists by changing its state. When the posting is complete, the document eye
Con 23_AReturns to its original form of expression.

FIG. 49 shows a route through which print data is sent from a workstation to a printer device in this conventional print system. Workstation 1
Document A created by using a keyboard or mouse (not shown) on 4 _X is stored in the magnetic disk 31 as print data. When the operation shown in FIG. 47 is performed on the workstation 14 _X , the print control unit 32, which controls printing, acquires the designated document A stored in the magnetic disk 31. This document A is sent to the subnet 13 by the transfer data control unit 33 and, if necessary, the first printer icon 2 via the backbone network 11.
2 ₁₂ to the first printer device 15 ₁₂ .

In the first printer device 15 ₁₂ , the server 3
The transfer data control unit 36 in 5 receives the print data and sequentially stores it in the buffer 37 in the server 35.
The print processing unit 38 in the server 35 constantly monitors the buffer 37. Then, when the print data is stored in the buffer 37, the print data is read out and transferred to the printer 39 connected to the server 35. The buffer 37 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk, and input / output of print data is controlled by a FIFO (first in first out) method.
As a result, the print data is sent to the printer 39 in order from the first page, and printing is performed.

As described above, in this conventional print system, the server is provided with the buffer 37, and the print data is once stored in the buffer 37 before the printing process is performed.
This allows workstation 1 with printer 39
Even when the print data of No. 4 is processed, the print data itself can be received from another workstation 14. In other words, it is not necessary for each workstation 14 to transmit print data for the period when the destination printer 39 is not used, and the burden on these transmissions can be reduced.

[0013]

However, in such a conventional printing system, there is a problem that an excessive burden is imposed on the user when processing print data having a high degree of urgency. That is, (a) In this system, as described above, the buffer 3 in the server 35
Input / output of print data to / from 7 is processed by the FIFO method. Therefore, print data with high urgency should be
Printer device 15 be transmitted to _12, if it exists the printer apparatus 15 ₁₂ to other workstations 14 already print data sent from the like, as long as the processing of the print data is not completed, this Unable to process received print data with high urgency.

Therefore, when the print data having a high degree of urgency is to be printed quickly, each printer device 15 is used.
It was necessary to check the print data reception status and select the one that can be processed in the shortest time. However, conventionally, in order to check the print data storage state of the buffer 37 in the server of each printer device 15 as described above, the user directly goes to the location of the printer device 15 and operates it, and print data is displayed on the monitor (display screen). It was necessary to display the storage status of. Therefore, the user goes to the desired location of the printer device 15 to perform the operation, and as a result,
If you determine that the time to start printing is too long,
Further, it is necessary to go to the place of the printer device 15 that has not been discriminated one after another and repeat the same discrimination work until a satisfactory result is obtained.

Such a work is not only very complicated for the user, but also there is a problem that it is necessary to perform the work promptly due to an urgent request, which temporarily requires a lot of labor. .

In addition, after the print data having a high degree of urgency is transmitted to the server which constitutes one printer device 15, it may be found that a large amount of print data is already stored in the buffer of this server. is there. In such a case, when the user confirms the storage state of the buffer of another server and finds the printer device 15 having a valid server, the print data is sent to the printer device 15 from the corresponding workstation 14 again. I needed to send. Re-transmitting the print data to the other printer device 15 in this way causes trouble for a person who is involved in the printing work, and greatly impedes the efficiency of the operation of the printing system.

The selection of the printer device in the case of performing printing with a high degree of urgency has been described above. However, the user wants to obtain a printed matter at a position as close as possible, or wants to use a printer device with a high resolution as much as possible. For example, the position in selecting the printer device differs depending on the situation in which it is placed, such as the demand in terms of characteristics and the economic demand that it is better to be cheaper even if it takes time. come. Similar problems existed in the operation of the printing system for these as well.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printing system capable of selecting an optimum device from a plurality of printer devices according to the user's request without imposing a special burden on the user.

Another object of the present invention is to select an unused printer device when it is present and to select the printer device so that the printed matter can be obtained earliest in other cases. To provide a printing system.

Still another object of the present invention is to change the selection method of the printer device according to the user's request regarding printing,
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of selecting a printer device that best meets each request.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided: (a) a plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line for receiving print data and performing printing; and (b) a printer device described above. It is determined that printing is possible immediately from the printer link table in which any of these multiple devices are registered together with the hierarchical information indicating the order of selection and the topmost layer of the printer devices registered in this printer link table. The printability determining means for sequentially performing the determination, the printer device selecting means for selecting the printer device of the hierarchy that the printability determining means determines that printing is possible immediately, and the printer device selecting means. And a processing device having print data sending means for sending print data to a printer device via a transmission line, in a print system. To Bei.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary plurality of printers among a plurality of printers connected to a local area network or the like are assigned to a plurality of hierarchies in accordance with the order of selection regarding printing. Register the relationship in the printer link table. When there is a print request from the processing device such as a workstation, it is checked whether or not they can print immediately in order from the printer device with a higher hierarchy, and the most printing can be performed immediately. I decided to send the print data to the higher-level printer. Here, regarding the hierarchy of each printer device registered in the printer link table, the printer device that is closest to the printer device should be selected in consideration of the speed at which the processing device starts or completes printing, or taking a printed matter to the printer device. It goes without saying that it may be different depending on the conditions expected for printing, such as selection or printing characteristics such as color and paper size required for printing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a printer device in such a manner that the conditions expected of the printer device and the basic condition that printing can be obtained quickly are met.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, (a) a plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line to receive print data and perform printing; and (b) a plurality of arbitrary printer devices of the above-mentioned printer devices. The printer link table in which the devices are registered together with the hierarchical information indicating the order of these selections, and the determination is sequentially made from the uppermost layer of the printer devices registered in this printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible immediately. The printability determination means to perform and the remaining print data of each printer device registered in the printer link table when the printability determination means cannot determine that printing is immediately possible from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer. If there is a print data remaining amount determination unit that determines and a layer that the printability determination unit determines that printing is immediately possible, When there is no layer that determines that printing is possible immediately after selecting the linter device, the remaining print data is determined based on the relationship between the remaining amount determined by the print data remaining amount determination means and the printing speed of each printer device. A printer device selecting means for selecting a printer device that finishes printing earliest and a print data sending device for sending print data to the printer device selected by the printer device selecting means via a transmission path are provided. The processing system and the printing system are provided.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary plurality of printers among a plurality of printers connected to a local area network or the like are assigned to a plurality of hierarchies in accordance with the order of selection regarding printing. Register the relationship in the printer link table. When there is a print request from the processing device such as a workstation, it is checked whether or not they can print immediately in order from the printer device with a higher hierarchy, and the most printing can be performed immediately. I decided to send the print data to the higher-level printer. Further, in the case where the print data cannot be immediately subjected to the print processing due to the fact that the printer device of any hierarchy is in use, the remaining amount of the print data of these printer devices is discriminated by the print data residual amount discriminating means, From the relationship between the remaining amount determined by the print data remaining amount determination means and the printing speed of each printer device, the printer device that finishes printing earliest with respect to the remaining print data is selected, and the print data is stored in that device. I tried to send it out.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the printer device that can immediately start printing is selected with the highest priority, and when there is no printer device that can immediately start printing, the print data of each printer device remains. It is decided to select the printer device that can start printing earliest based on the amount of printing, so make sure to select the printer device that can start printing earliest among the printer devices selected in advance on the processing device side. can do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, (a) a plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line for receiving print data and performing printing; and (b) a plurality of arbitrary printer devices of the above-mentioned printer devices. The printer link table in which the devices are registered together with the hierarchical information indicating the order of these selections, and the determination is sequentially made from the uppermost layer of the printer devices registered in this printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible immediately. If the printability determination means to perform and the printability determination means cannot determine that printing from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer is possible immediately, the earliest printed matter from the data indicating the respective installation locations of the printer devices registered in the printer link table The shortest position discriminating means for discriminating the printer device that can pick up the printer and the printability discriminating means discriminate that the printing is possible immediately. When there is a hierarchy, the printer apparatus of the hierarchy is selected, and when there is no hierarchy for which it is determined that printing is possible immediately, the printer apparatus selecting means for selecting the printer apparatus determined by the shortest position determining means, and this printer apparatus selecting means The printing system is provided with a processing device having print data sending means for sending print data to the printer device selected by the above-mentioned method through a transmission path.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary plurality of printers among a plurality of printers connected to a local area network or the like are assigned to a plurality of hierarchies in accordance with the order of selection regarding printing. Register the relationship in the printer link table. When there is a print request from the processing device such as a workstation, it is checked whether or not they can print immediately in order from the printer device with a higher hierarchy, and the most printing can be performed immediately. I decided to send the print data to the higher-level printer. Further, when the print data cannot be immediately printed due to the fact that the printer device of any hierarchy is in use, etc., the printer device which can get the printed matter earliest by the shortest position discriminating means is selected and the device is selected. Print data is sent to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a printer device that can immediately start printing under predetermined conditions such as print quality is selected, and a printer device that can immediately start printing under this condition is provided. When it does not exist, it is decided to select the printer device that can get the printed matter earliest from the data indicating the installation location of each printer device, and to select this printer device. It is possible to improve the efficiency of the entire printing operation in consideration of the time until the start of work and the time until the printed matter is acquired.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, (a) a plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line for receiving print data and performing printing; and (b) a plurality of arbitrary printer devices among the printer devices described above. The printer link table in which the devices are registered together with the hierarchical information indicating the order of these selections, and the determination is sequentially made from the uppermost layer of the printer devices registered in this printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible immediately. The printability determining means to perform and the data showing the print characteristics of each printer device registered in the printer link table when the printability determining means cannot determine that printing is immediately possible from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer The print characteristic determination means for determining the printer device capable of producing the printed matter having the print characteristic and the printability determination means can immediately perform printing. If there is a hierarchy that is determined to be present, the printer apparatus of that hierarchy is selected, and if there is no hierarchy that it is determined that printing is possible immediately, then the printer apparatus selecting means that selects the printer apparatus determined by the printing characteristic determination means, A printing system is provided with a processing device including print data sending means for sending print data to a printer device selected by the printer device selecting means via a transmission path.

That is, according to the invention described in claim 4, arbitrary plural devices among plural printer devices connected to the local area network or the like are assigned to plural hierarchies in accordance with the order at the time of selection regarding printing. , This relationship is registered in the printer link table. And
When there is a print request from a processing device such as a workstation, it is checked in order from the printer device with the highest hierarchy whether or not they can print immediately, and the highest hierarchy that can immediately print. Decided to send the print data to the printer. Further, when the print data cannot be immediately subjected to the print processing due to the fact that the printer device of any hierarchy is in use, etc., the printer device capable of producing the printed matter having the most suitable print characteristic by the print characteristic determination means is selected. , The print data is sent to the device.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, a printer device which can immediately start printing under a predetermined condition such as a printing speed is selected, and a printer device which can immediately start printing under this condition is provided. When it does not exist, it is decided to select the printer device that can create the printed matter with the most suitable print characteristic from the data showing the print characteristic of each printer device, and to select this. Thus, it is possible to execute the printing work in consideration of the time until the start of printing, the quality of the printed matter, and the suitability for the user's request.

[0033]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

System overview

FIG. 1 is a functional representation of the essential parts of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It corresponds to. In this embodiment, a workstation 41 is used as a processing device, and a printer device 42 is provided with a server 43 and a printer 44. In addition,
The overall structure of the system is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, when referring to the entire printing system, the workstation 14 in FIG. 45 is replaced with the workstation 41, and the printer device 15 is replaced with the printer device 42.

The work station 41, like the conventional work station 14 shown in FIG. 49, has a magnetic disk 46 for storing print data, a print control unit 47 for acquiring the print data stored therein, and an acquisition. A transfer data control unit 48 that transfers the generated print data to the printer device 42 is provided. Further, a printer link table 49, a table registration / update unit 51 for registering and updating the printer link table 49, and a display control unit 5 for visually displaying registration / update and other necessary information.
2 is provided.

Here, the printer link table 49 hierarchically defines each printer device used in the workstation 41. In the printer link table 49, for example, as shown in Table 1 below, the printer name, the network address of these printers, and the printer name of the next layer are defined for each entry.

[0038]

[Table 1]

Printer link table 49 shown in Table 1
The example of is a table when the place where the printed matter is obtained is prioritized, and this will be described in detail later. In the example shown in Table 1, the layer immediately below the printer "PRT ₀₁ " is the printer "PRT ₀₃ ", and the layer immediately below it is the printer "PRT ₀₂ ". Printer "PRT ₀₂ "
Since the lower layer is not specified, this is the lowest layer printer.

By the way, in this embodiment, the printers 44 are connected to the server 43 one by one, and these printers are one-to-one.
There is a connection relationship. Therefore, the “printer name” shown in Table 1 means the server 4 to which the printer 44 is connected.
It matches the name of 3. Similarly, the network address (printer address) of the printer 44 is the same as the network address of the server 43. Registration and updating of the printer link table 49 are performed by the table registration / update unit 51, and the contents of the defined printer link table 49 are referred to by the print control unit 47.

The table registering / updating unit 51 sends the contents of the printer link table 49 to the display control unit 52 for display when a predetermined operation is performed with a keyboard or the like on the workstation 41. Then, the contents of the printer link table 49 are updated, deleted, or registered by an input operation with a keyboard or the like.

The print control unit 47 searches the printer link table 49 when the start of printing is instructed by the mouse on the screen displayed by the display control unit 52. When the printer 44 to be printed is designated,
A print request command is added to the printer address of the printer 44, and this is sent to the transfer data control unit 48.
The transfer data control unit 48 will send this to the instructed printer 44.

The print control unit 47 also determines whether the command returned from the server 43 is a printable command or a printable command indicating that printing is possible or impossible. If it is a printable command, the instructed print data is acquired from the magnetic disk 46 and transmitted to the transfer data control unit 48. If it is a non-printable command, the total number of pages of print data sent in addition to this command is stored, and the printer name of the next layer is acquired from the printer link table 49. Then, a print request command is added to the printer address of the printer 44 and the result is transmitted to the transfer data control unit 48. In this way, when the printers 44 at the upper level of the hierarchy are not suitable for printing, the printers 4 at the lower level of the hierarchy are successively selected.
4 will be selected.

On the other hand, when the server 43 that has transmitted the unprintable command is connected to the printer 44 in the lowest layer, the printer 44 that is not printing exists in the printer group selected by itself. Will not do. That is, for example, when the location printer link table as shown in Table 1 is selected, the priority is lowered in order from the printer apparatus 44 of the highest priority location because the corresponding printer apparatus is used. If all the printer devices 44 are used as a result of checking whether or not the lowest level printer device is used, the printer 44 with the smallest remaining number of printed sheets is detected in this embodiment.
The print data is sent to this.

Of course, the print data is sent to the printer device 44 at the highest priority location if all the target printer devices 44 are used without considering the remaining number of printer devices 44 and the required processing time. It is also possible to take such logic. In addition to this, the print control unit 47 notifies the display control unit 52 of the information about the print request command, the printable command, the non-printable command, and the print end command sent from the server 43, and causes the display control unit 52 to display the information. It is like this.

The display control unit 52 is the workstation 4
1 is a part that controls various displays. When the print start is requested by the workstation 41, the print control unit 47 is activated, and the print request command, the print enable command, the print disable command, or the print end command notified via this is displayed on the display screen. To be done. Further, the table registration / update unit 51 notifies the display control unit 52 of the contents of the printer link table 49, and this is displayed on the display screen.

The transfer data control unit 48 has a print control unit 47.
The print request command and print data sent from the printer are sent to the printer 44 based on the added printer address.

Next, the configuration of the server 43 in the printer device 42 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the server 43, a transfer data control unit 61 connected to the subnet 13, an analysis unit 62 for analyzing the transferred data, and a print data storage unit 64 for storing print data as an analysis result in the buffer 63. And a print status detection unit 65 that searches the buffer 63 to detect the print status, and a print processing unit 66 that is connected to the printer 44 and performs print processing. The printer 44 is connected to the server 43 via an interface such as a SCSI interface. When a print request command is sent from the workstation 41 to the printer device 42, the server 43 detects the processing status of the printer 44 and sends the current printing status to the workstation 41. When the print data is sent, it is stored in the buffer 63 and the print data is sequentially transferred to the printer 44.

In the server 43 having such a configuration, the transfer data control unit 61 sends the print request command and print data sent from the workstation 41 to the analysis unit 62. Further, the printable command and the unprintable command created by the print status detecting unit 65, and the print processing unit 6
The print end command created in 6 is sent to each of the workstations 41 that sent the print end commands.

The analysis unit 62 also includes a transfer data control unit 61.
It is determined whether the data transferred from is a print request command or print data, and if it is a print request command, the print status detection unit 65 is requested to acquire the print status. If it is print data, it requests the print data storage unit 64 to store it in the buffer 63.

The print data storage unit 64 stores the print data transferred at the request of the analysis unit 62 in the buffer 63. When the storage of all print data is completed, the print processing unit 66 is instructed to start printing.

The print status detecting unit 65 checks whether or not print data is stored in the buffer 63 according to the request of the analyzing unit 62. As a result, if the print data is not stored, the print enable command is transmitted to the transfer data control unit 61.
Send to. Further, if print data is stored, the total number of pages is calculated, and a non-printable command added with the calculated total number of pages is transmitted to the transfer data control unit 61.

The buffer 63 stores print data in the print data storage section 64. The print data stored in the buffer 63 is acquired by the print processing unit 66 using the FIFO method. The print processing unit 66 includes a print data storage unit 64.
When the print start instruction is issued, the print data stored in the buffer 63 is acquired by the FIFO method, and the print data is sequentially transferred to the printer 44. When all the print data has been transferred to the printer 44, the print processing unit 66 sends a print end command to the transfer data control unit 61.

The printer 44 prints on a print sheet (not shown) based on the print data transferred from the print processing section 66. In this embodiment, a laser printer is used as the printer 44, but it goes without saying that a printer using another printing principle may be used.

Circuit configuration of devices constituting the system

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the circuit configuration of the workstation and the printer of this embodiment. The workstation 41 is a CPU (central processing unit)
It is equipped with 71. The CPU 71 is connected to each unit in the device by a bus 72 such as a system bus. Of these, the ROM 73 is a read-only memory that stores a program for starting up the workstation 71. The RAM 74 is a random access memory for temporarily holding a program for controlling the device and data necessary for various controls. Disk controller 7
Reference numeral 5 is a device for controlling data input / output to / from the magnetic disk 46. In addition to the print data being stored as described above, the magnetic disk 46 also stores a program for performing various controls of the workstation 41 and a printer link table 49 (FIG. 1).

The display controller 76 is a C equipped with a display screen.
This is a device for controlling the display of the RT77. Input circuit 78
Is connected to a keyboard 79 and a mouse 80 as a pointing device, and data is input from these. The communication control device 81 is connected to the subnet 13 and exchanges data with the printer device 42. Of course, the communication control device 81 does not need to be connected to the subnet 13 and may be connected to another communication cable. The workstation 41 is free to send and receive data to and from other devices such as a mail server (not shown) via the subnet 13 and the backbone network 11 shown in FIG.

Next, an outline of the circuit configuration of the printer device 42 will be described. The printer device 42 also includes a CPU 84. The CPU 84 is connected to each unit in the device via a bus 85 such as a data bus. Of these, the ROM 86 is a read-only memory that stores a program for starting up the printer device 42. The RAM 87 is a random access memory for temporarily holding a program for controlling the device and data necessary for various controls. The disk control device 88 is a device for inputting / outputting print data to / from the buffer 63 formed of a magnetic disk in this embodiment. The buffer 63 stores the print data transferred from the workstation 41 as described above, and also stores programs for performing various controls of the workstation 41.

The print control device 89 controls the printing of the printer 44. Further, the communication control device 90 is connected to the subnet 13 and transmits / receives data to / from the workstation 41. Of course, the communication control device 90 does not need to be connected to the subnet 13, and may be connected to another communication cable.

Description of automatic selection operation of printer device

FIGS. 3 to 7 are for explaining the operation on the workstation side when the printer device is selected. Of these, FIG. 3 is for explaining the procedure for setting the printer link table.
On the display screen 101 of the workstation 41 (FIG. 1), a menu bar 102 for displaying a menu is displayed in addition to the document icon 23 _A and the printer icons 22 _{11 to} 22 ₁₃ as described in FIG. There is. When the user clicks on the menu bar 102 using the mouse 80 shown in FIG. 2, the menu table 103 is displayed. Several menus are displayed on the menu table 103. When setting the printer table 49 (FIG. 1), the user clicks with the mouse 80 on a portion where "printer table setting" is displayed.

Then, the printer link table setting screen 104 is displayed on the display screen 101. In this printer link table setting screen 104, two selections of "automatic" and "arbitrary" are performed in order to select whether the printer link table 49 (FIG. 1) is set in the automatic mode or the arbitrary mode. Buttons 105 and 106 are displayed. The user will use the mouse 80 to select either mode.

FIG. 4 shows a display screen when the user selects the automatic mode for creating the printer link table. When the automatic selection button 105 is selected, its display color is reversed. Along with this, the printer link table automatic setting screen 108 is displayed in the empty space of the display screen 101. On the printer link table automatic setting screen 108, selection buttons 111 to 113 indicating the type of layer to be created are displayed. In this example, a speed selection button 111, a location selection button 112, and a resolution selection button 113 are displayed on the printer link table automatic setting screen 108.

When the resolution selection button 113 for "speed" is selected, a plurality of printer icons 2 are selected.
Between the two, a hierarchy is defined on the basis of speed. On the other hand, when the location selection button 111 for “location” is selected, the hierarchy is defined so that the location closer to the location is higher. When the “resolution selection button” for “resolution” is selected, the hierarchy is defined such that the higher the resolution at the time of printing, the higher the rank.

FIG. 5 shows how the print request command is issued by using the link table setting screen as shown in FIG. Here, the case where the speed selection button 111 is selected by clicking the automatic selection button 105 is shown. When the speed selection button 111 is selected, a link table screen 115 considering the speed until the end of printing is displayed on the display screen 101. A speed printer link table 116 is displayed on the link table screen 115. At this time, each printer name PR registered by this workstation 41 (FIG. 1)
The printing speeds of the printer devices 42 of T ₀₁ , PRT ₀₂ , and PRT ₀₃ are compared, the layers are determined in the order of increasing speed, and a table is created. For devices having the same printing speed, the layers are sorted according to the priority determined by the user in advance. For example, when the printing speeds are the same, those that are closer to the user in location or those that have a higher resolution are set in a higher hierarchy with a higher priority.

When the speed printer link table 116 is displayed, the user confirms it and clicks the end button 117 in the link table screen 115 with a mouse (not shown). As a result, the printer link table setting screen 104 and the printer link table automatic setting screen 10 are displayed.
8 and the display of the link table screen 115 are canceled. If the automatic setting result of the speed printer link table 116 is not satisfactory, the user selects the arbitrary selection button 106 of the printer link table setting screen 104 without selecting the end button 117. , You will have to set the table manually. This will be described later.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5 and shows a display screen when the place selection button and the automatic selection button are selected. By the user's selection, the location printer link table 119 is displayed in the link table screen 115.
Is displayed. In this case, this workstation 4
The printer names PRT ₀₁ , PRT ₀₂ , and PRT registered by No. 1
For each of the printer devices 42 of ₀₃ , the distance from the user's workstation 41 is compared, the hierarchy is determined in the ascending order, and a table is created. If the floors are different or the printer device 42 is located in a separate building, a predetermined value is added to the simple distance to correct the sense of distance when going to the printer device 42 to get the printed matter. Be seen. For devices having the same calculated distance, the layers are sorted according to the priority determined in advance by the user. For example, a higher printing speed or a higher resolution is set in a higher hierarchy with a higher priority.

FIG. 7 also corresponds to FIG. 5 and shows a display screen when the resolution selection button and the automatic selection button are selected. By this selection by the user, the resolution printer link table 121 is displayed in the link table screen 115. At this time, the printer names PRT ₀₁ and PRT registered by the workstation 41 are registered.
The resolutions at the time of printing are compared with respect to each of the printer devices 42 of ₀₂ and PRT ₀₃ , the layers are determined in the descending order, and a table is created. When comparing the resolutions, the values in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction are used. For devices with the same resolution, the priority is determined in consideration of the substantial difference in resolution due to the difference in printing mechanism such as forming an image with a laser beam or ejecting ink to form an image. . Other factors are considered for the allocation of layers between devices having the same resolution condition, such as when there are a plurality of printer devices 42 of the same model. For example, a higher print speed or a closer print location is set to a higher hierarchy.

Description of Arbitrary Selection Operation of Printer Device

FIG. 8 shows a display screen when the printer link table is arbitrarily set by the user. The user sets the printer link table setting screen 104.
When the arbitrary selection button 106 is selected, the link table arbitrary setting screen 123 is displayed instead of the printer link table automatic setting screen 108 (FIG. 7). At this stage, all the printer devices 42 registered in this workstation 41 are targeted for layering. The printer names of the registered printer devices are displayed on the link table arbitrary setting screen 123, and the user can set the hierarchical order for these using the keyboard 79 or the mouse 80 (FIG. 2). When the hierarchical order is determined, the execute button 124 is clicked by the mouse 80.

As a result, the link table screen 115 is displayed on the display screen 101, and the printer link table 1 is displayed.
26 is displayed. When the user clicks the end button 117 with the mouse 80, the display of the printer link table setting screen 104, the printer link table arbitrary setting screen 123 and the link table screen 115 is canceled.

Workstation for print designation work
Side display

Next, the flow of processing on the workstation side as a processing device for making a print request will be described. In this embodiment, three printer devices 42 having printer names PRT ₀₁ , PRT ₀₂ , and PRT ₀₃ are designated workstations 41 _X.
Is registered for use by.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 46 of the prior art,
This is a display screen of the workstation before instructing printing. Printer names PRT ₀₁ and PRT are displayed on the display screen 101 _{X of a} predetermined workstation 14 _X.
02 , PRT ₀₃ printer icons 131 ₀₁ , 131 ₀₂ ,
₁₃₁₀₃ and the document icon 23 _{A of the} document A to be printed are displayed.

FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 47 of the related art, and shows an operation of transcribing print data by designating a document A to be printed in order to print the document. The user selects the printer icons 131 ₀₁ , 131 ₀₂ ,
The document icon 23 _A is overlaid on any one of 131 ₀₃ .

FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 48 of the related art and shows a display screen in a state where transcription has been performed. On the display screen 101 _X , a printer option window 133 for setting a format for executing printing is displayed. Here, contents that are highly likely to be initially designated by the user are set as default values. The user can set the number of copies, the page to be printed, the paper size, whether the paper to be printed is single-sided or double-sided, and whether or not to specify a link. it can. When the link is designated as shown in the figure, the printer device 42 having the hierarchical structure as described above is selected. In contrast, when set to the side and not link designation would transfer the print data is unconditionally performed on the printer 44 is represented by the printer icon 131 ₀₁ by the currently selected.

After designating various attributes in the printer option window 133, the user selects the start button 134 of this window with the mouse 80 (FIG. 2).
As a result, the print control is started with the set contents.

FIG. 12 shows a state of the display screen when a link is designated in the printer option window. A link information display screen 135 is displayed on the display screen 101 _X. Here, the printer name of the first layer initially set by the link designation (here, P
RT ₀₁ ) is displayed, indicating that the print request command has been sent. Workstation 4 in this state
1 _X waits for the command from the corresponding printer device 42 sent back.

FIG. 13 shows the display state of the display screen when a response to the print request command is returned from the printer having the printer name PRT ₀₁ . Here, it is displayed that the printer device 42 cannot print. At this time, the buffer 63 of the printing device
The remaining number of print data stored in (FIG. 1) is simultaneously displayed in the link information display screen 135. In addition,
In this state in which processing is being performed for the printer device 44 having the printer name PRT ₀₁ , the display color of the corresponding printer icon 131 ₀₁ is reversed.

FIG. 14 shows the state of the display screen when the workstation makes a print request by designating the next layer when the designated printer device cannot print. In the link information display screen 135, a display indicating that the print request command is transmitted is added to the printer name PTR ₀₃ of the printer device 42 in the next layer. As a result, the display color of the printer icon 131 ₀₁ becomes unspecified, and the display color of the printer icon 131 ₀₃ of the printer name PTR ₀₃ is inverted instead.

FIG. 15 shows the display contents of the display screen when a response is returned to the second print request command. Also in this case, a response indicating that printing is impossible is returned as in the case described with reference to FIG. 13, and the remaining number of print data stored in the buffer 63 (FIG. 1) of the printing device also indicates the link information display screen. It is displayed in 135 at the same time.

FIG. 16 shows the state of the display screen when the workstation makes a print request by further designating the next layer when the designated printer device cannot print. In the link information display screen 135,
Further, the printer name PTR ₀₂ of the printer device 42 in the next layer
A display indicating that the print request command has been sent is added to. Thus, the display color of the printer icon 131 ₀₂ returns to its original state unspecified, the display color of the printer icon 131 ₀₂ Printer name PTR ₀₂ is inverted in place.

FIG. 17 shows the display contents of the display screen when a response is returned to the third print request command. In this case, a printable response is returned.

FIG. 18 shows the next display operation when a printable response is returned. Printer name P
Since the printer device 42 of TR ₀₂ can print, print data is transmitted to the printer device 42 and the link information display screen 1 is displayed.
A message to that effect is displayed in 35. In this state, the workstation 41 _X side waits for a print end command indicating the end of printing.

FIG. 19 shows the state of the display screen when the print end command is sent. It is displayed on the link information display screen 135 that the response that the printing is completed is sent. Upon completion of printing, the display color of the printer icon 131 ₀₂ with the printer name PTR ₀₂ is restored.

FIG. 20 shows the contents of the display screen when a reply that printing is impossible is returned in the response waiting state shown in FIG. In this case, it is displayed on the link information display screen 135 that the printer device 42 having the printer name PTR ₀₂ cannot print and that the remaining number of print data stored in the buffer 63 (FIG. 1) of the device is displayed. Will be done.

FIG. 21 shows the display contents of the display screen when all the registered printer devices are in the process of printing and cannot immediately print. In this example, the location printer link table 11 shown in FIG.
9 is used. In this embodiment, that is, when the printer device 42 at any location is used, the number of unprocessed pages in each buffer 63 is simply compared, and the smallest one is printed first. Is completed, the print data is transmitted to it. Therefore, in this state, the link information display screen 135 displays that the printer device 42 having the minimum number of print pages is being acquired.

FIG. 22 shows the contents of the display screen when the printer device having the minimum print page number is selected. In this example, the link information display screen 135 displays that the printer device 42 having the printer name PRT ₀₁ is selected and print data is sent to the selected printer device 42. At this time, the display color of the corresponding printer icon 131 ₀₁ is inverted.

FIG. 23 shows the contents of the display screen at the stage when the transmission of the print data is started in the display state of FIG. 22 and the transmission is completed. Link information display screen 13
At 5, an indication of the end of printing is displayed. With the end of printing,
The display color of the printer icon 131 _{01 with} the printer name PTR ₀₁ is restored.

Control flow on the workstation side

FIG. 24 shows the first stage of the control flow on the workstation side described above. When the document icon 23 _A is overlaid on any of the printer icons 131 as shown in FIG. 9, the print control unit 47 shown in FIG. 1 displays the printer name indicated by the printer icon 131 in the RAM 74 (FIG. 2). Not storage area PR
(Step S101). Next, the numerical value "n" as the entry pointer of the printer link table 49 (FIG. 1) is initialized (steps S102 and S103),
The printer link table 49 is searched (step S
104).

From this search result, the printer link table
The printer name of the “n” th entry of the file 49 in the storage area PR
_nIn the storage area for the printer name of the next layer of the “n” th entry
NP _nAnd store in each (step S105). That
The current entry pointer “n” indicates the last entry.
It is determined whether or not (step S106).

If it is not the final entry (N), the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" to retrieve the next entry in the printer link table 49 (step S103). Then, similarly, the control from step S104 is performed to store the printer name and the like in the corresponding storage area. In this way, the same operation is repeated until the entry pointer "n" indicates the final entry in step S106.

When it is determined in step S106 that it is the final entry (Y), it is identified in which entry of the printer link table 49 the printer name stored in the storage area PR is registered in step S101. Therefore, the entry pointer "n" is initialized again (steps S107 and S108). Then, the storage area P
The contents of R and the contents of the memory area PR _n in which the printer name of the “n” th entry is stored are compared (step S1).
09). If the comparison result does not match, the entry pointer "n" is counted by "1" in order to compare with the content of the storage area PR _n in which the printer name of the next entry of the printer link table 49 is stored. The process goes up and the process returns to step S108. The same applies hereinafter.

FIG. 25 shows the flow after step S110 as the second stage of the control flow on the workstation side. Step S109 in FIG.
If the comparison results in (Y), the entry number of the printer link table 49 in which the designated printer name is stored is identified. Therefore, when the link is not designated, the print request command is transmitted to the printer address PA _{n of the} entry. Therefore, prior to the transmission of the print request command, it is judged whether or not the link is designated in the printer option window 133 shown in FIG. 11 (step S110).

If the link designation is made (Y), FIG.
The print control unit 47 shown in FIG. 6 adds the printer address PA _n of the “n” entry to the print request command, sends this to the transfer data control unit 48, and causes the display control unit 52 to display the printer name of the “n” entry. That the print request command has been transferred to this printer device (step S11)
1).

In the display control unit 52 which has received the notification,
The link information display screen 135 as shown in FIG.
1 is displayed, and a message indicating that the print request command has been transmitted to the printer device 42 having the printer name PR _n of the “n” th entry is displayed and a response waiting state is set (step S112).

FIG. 26 shows a format of a typical command transmitted / received between the workstation and the printer in the print system of this embodiment.
FIG. 3A shows a format of a print request command transmitted from the workstation 41 to the server 43 (FIG. 1) of the printer device 42. The print request command has a destination address and a source address (workstation address and server address) and printing. It consists of a request command and.

FIG. 10B shows the format of the printable command sent from the server 43 to the workstation 41 side. Similarly, the addresses of the transmission destination and the transmission source (server address and workstation address) and the printable command are shown. It is composed of. The print enable command is issued when the server 43 that receives the print request command detects the print status and print data is not stored in the buffer 63, that is, when the printer 44 (FIG. 1) is unused. Sent.

FIG. 10C shows the format of the non-printable command similarly sent from the server 43 to the workstation 41, showing the addresses of the destination and the source, the non-printable command, and the total number of printed pages. It consists of data and. Contrary to the printable command, the unprintable command is when the print data is stored in the buffer 63 at the time when the server 43 detects the print status, that is, when the printer 44 is in use. Sent to. The total number of pages to be printed is the total number of pages that the printer 44 has not processed. However, depending on the printer device 42, the total number of pages of print data that are currently processed and unprocessed may be notified.

FIG. 10D shows the format of print data transmitted from the workstation 41 to the server 43 of the printer device 42. The print data is transmitted when the workstation 41 receives a print enable command from the printing device 42. Addresses of a transmission destination and a transmission source are also added to this print data.

FIG. 10E shows the format of the print end command sent from the server 43 to the workstation 41. The print data sent from the workstation 41 is sent when the server 43 finishes transferring the print data to the printer 44. The destination and source addresses are also added to the print end command.

FIG. 11F shows the format of an error command sent from the server 43 to the workstation 41 side as well. If the command received by the server 43 is neither the print request command nor the print data and is unclear, the error command is transmitted as an error. The destination address and source address are also added to the error command.

Returning to FIG. 25, the description will be continued. The transfer data control unit 48 sends the print request command sent from the print control unit 47 to the printer device 42 having the printer name PR _n of the “n” th entry (step S113). Then, it waits until a command is received from the printer device 42 (step S114). Transfer data control unit 4
Upon receiving the command (Y), the printer 8 notifies the print controller 47 of this (step S115).

FIG. 27 shows the flow after step S116 as the third stage of the control flow on the workstation side. The print control unit 47 analyzes the command sent from the transfer data control unit 48 (step S116). As a result, if this is a non-printable command (step S117; Y), the total number of unprinted pages PG _n of the printer device 42 attached to this command is stored in the storage area (step S117). S118). Then, the print control unit 47 notifies the display control unit 52 of the total number of pages PG _n (step S119).

When the display control unit 52 receives the notification of the total number of unprinted pages PG _n of the corresponding printer device 42,
This is displayed on the link information display screen 135 as shown in FIG. 13 (step S120).

When the print control unit 47 receives the unprintable command, it cannot send the print data to the printing device 42 that sent the print request command. Therefore, the print request command is sent to the printer device 42 having the printer name ranked in the next layer of the printer device 42 in the printer link table 49. At this time, control is performed to obtain the printer name NP _n of the next layer of the printer link table 49 (step S121).

FIG. 28 shows the flow after step S122 as the fourth stage of the control flow on the workstation side. If the printer device 42 (FIG. 1) that has transmitted the unprintable command is located in the lowermost layer, the printer name NP in step S121 of FIG.
_Can not get _n . Therefore, it is determined whether or not the printer name NP _n could be acquired (step S122). If the printer name NP _n has been acquired (Y), a print request command will be sent to the printer device 42. At this time, the printer address (server address) PA of the printer device 42 in this layer
_It is necessary to acquire _n from the printer link table 49.

For this purpose, first, the printer name NP of the next layer is set.
It is necessary to identify which entry in the printer link table 49 _n is defined. However, if the entry pointer “n” is initialized, the next-level printer name NP _n cannot be held. Therefore, in this case, the entry pointer "n" is temporarily saved in the storage area "m" (step S123). Then, after this, the entry pointer "n" is initialized (steps S124 and S125), and the next-level printer name NP _n
And the printer name PR _n of the “n” th entry are compared (step S126).

If the comparison result does not match (N), the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" to obtain the printer name of the next entry (step S125). Then, the determination in step S126 is performed again.

On the other hand, if the two match in step S126 (Y), it means that the number of entries in the printer link table 49 in which the printer name of the next layer is defined is known. Therefore, in this case, the steps after step S111 will be executed.

On the other hand, in step S122, the printer name NP
_{If n} is not acquired (N), any registered printer device 42 is processing the print data.
Therefore, in this case, the minimum value of the total number of remaining pages PG _n of the print data of these printer devices 42 is calculated (step S127). Then, the printer address PA _n of the printer device 42 having the same value as “n” is acquired (step S128). The print control unit 47 adds the printer address PA _n to the print data and transfers the print data to the transfer data control unit 48. The display control unit 52 is also notified of this (step S129).

In the display control section 52 that has received the notification,
As shown in step S13, it is displayed that the print data is transmitted to the printer 44 having the printer name PR _n (step S13).
0). On the other hand, the transfer data control unit 48 that has received the print data transmits the print data to the printer device 42 indicated by the printer address PA _{n in the} format shown in FIG. 26D (step S131). And
Both the display control unit 52 and the transfer data control unit 48 are in a state of waiting for a response of the reply command from the printer device 44 (server 43) (step S114 in FIG. 25).

Next, a case where a command other than the unprintable command is determined as a result of the analysis of the command received in step S116 of FIG. 27 will be described. When the printable command is determined (step S1)
32; Y), the print control unit 47 notifies the display control unit 52 that the print enable command has been received (step S133). Upon receiving this notification, the display control unit 52 displays the printable state as shown in FIG. 17 (step S
134). After that, the control from step S129 onward is performed. That is, the print control unit 47 sends the print data to the printer device 42 enabled to print.

On the other hand, the result of command analysis is shown in FIG.
When it is determined that the command is the print end command shown in (e) (step S135; Y), the print control unit 4
7 notifies the display control unit 52 that the print end command has been received (step S136). Based on this, the display control unit 52 displays the print end state on the display screen 101 as shown in FIG. 23 (step S13).
7). In this case, all the processing related to printing is completed (END).

On the other hand, when the command is analyzed but neither the non-printable command, the printable command, nor the print end command is detected (step S135; N), the printer device 42 Other than this, the only commands sent are the error commands shown in FIG. Therefore, the print control unit 47 notifies the display control unit 52 that the error command has been received (step S138). Based on this, the display control unit 52 displays the error state in the printer device 42 (step S139). As a result, a series of control for printing ends.

However, depending on the print system, when there is another registered printer device 42, print data can be sent to this. Therefore, when the error command is returned at the stage of sending the print data, it is determined whether or not there is another registered printer device 42, and if there is, the total number of pages is determined. The print data may be retransmitted to the least number of printer devices 42.

Control of server side of printer device

FIG. 29 shows the control on the server side of the printer device. In the server 43 in FIG. 1,
Waiting for command reception (step S201).
When the command is received (Y), the transfer data control unit 61 notifies the analysis unit 62 of this (step S2).
02). The analysis unit 62 analyzes the notified command (step S203). As a result, if this command is the print request command (step S204; Y), the analysis unit 62 requests the print status detection unit 65 to detect the print data in the buffer 63 (step S205). This is to determine whether or not the printer 44 is printing the print data in the buffer 63.

Upon receipt of this request, the print status detecting unit 65 searches the buffer 63 and determines whether or not print data is present therein (step S206). As a result, when there is no print data in the buffer 63 (step S207; N), the print status detection unit 65
Transfers the print enable command to the transfer data control unit 61 (step S208). Based on this, the transfer data control unit 61 transmits the print enable command (FIG. 26b) to the corresponding workstation 41 (step S209).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S207 that the print data exists in the buffer 63 (Y), the print status detecting section 65 immediately prints by the printer 44 connected to this server 43. Determine that it is impossible. Therefore, in order to transmit the unprintable command of FIG. 26C to the workstation 41 which has transmitted the print request command, the total page number PG of the unprocessed print data stored in the buffer is acquired ( Step S210). Then, the unprintable command added with the total page number PG is transferred to the transfer data control unit 61 (step S211).

The transfer data control unit 61 transmits the transferred unprintable command to the corresponding workstation 41 (step S212). by this,
The control on the server 43 side shown in FIG. 29 ends (end).

FIG. 30 shows the flow of processing when the command is analyzed in step S203 of FIG. 29 and it is determined that the command is other than the print request command. If the print data is analyzed (step S213; Y), the analysis unit 62 requests the print data storage unit 64 to store the received print data in the buffer 63 (step S214).

The print data storage unit 64 sequentially stores the print data in the buffer 63 based on this request (step S215). When this storage process ends (step S
216; Y), the print data storage unit 64 is the print processing unit 66.
Is instructed to start printing (step S21)
7). The print processing unit 66 receives the instruction from the buffer 6 based on this instruction.
The print data in 3 is sequentially transferred to the printer 44 (step S218). This transfer operation is continued until the final record of the print data (step S219).

Thus, when all the print data is sent to the printer 44 as the printing progresses (step S2
19; Y), the print processing unit 66 transfers the print end command to the transfer data control unit 61 (step S220). Based on this, the transfer data control unit 61 sends the data shown in FIG.
The print end command is transferred to the workstation 41 which is the source of the print data in the format shown in (step S221). As a result, the process on the printer device 42 side when the print data is sent is completed (END).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S213 that the analysis result is not print data (N), it means that the workstation 41 has sent an unreadable command. Therefore, the analysis unit 62 transfers the error command to the transfer data control unit 61 (step S22).
2). The transfer data control unit 61 converts this into the format shown in FIG.
1 (step S223), and a series of processing is ended (end).

Update / delete / register printer link table
Recording

Next, a case where the printer link table 49 arranged on the workstation 41 side in FIG. 1 is updated, deleted, or registered will be described. These operations are necessary when there is a change in the configuration of the printer device 42 that is the target for sending print data from the user's workstation 41.

FIG. 31 shows a display screen on the workstation side when updating, deleting or registering the printer link table. On the display screen 101 of the workstation 41 (FIG. 1), as described in FIG. 46, the document icon 23 _A and the printer icon 22 ₁₁ ...
In addition to 22 ₁₃ , a menu bar 102 for displaying a menu is displayed. When the user clicks on the menu bar 102 using the mouse 80 shown in FIG. 2, the menu table 103 is displayed. Several menus are displayed on the menu table 103. When updating, deleting, or registering the printer link table 49, the user clicks with the mouse 80 on the portion displayed as "update printer table".

FIG. 32 shows a printer link table update screen which is displayed when "update printer table" is instructed in the menu table. At the top of the printer link table update screen 141, an update button 142 and a delete button 1 for setting work contents
Three buttons, 43 and a registration button 144, are arranged. The user designates the work by pressing any button with the mouse 80 shown in FIG. By pressing the update button 142, the delete button 143 or the registration button 144 in the remaining display area 145 of the printer link table update screen 141,
The screen according to the work content is displayed.

FIG. 33 shows an example of the printer link table update screen when the update button is selected. On the printer link change screen 145A as the remaining display area, the names of the printers currently registered for changing the hierarchical order, the hierarchical order before the change and the hierarchical order after the change are displayed respectively. It has become. When the start button 146 is pressed, the hierarchical rank is changed.

FIG. 34 shows an example of the printer link table update screen when the delete button is selected. The printer link deletion screen 145B serving as the remaining display area described above displays the names of the currently registered printers and their hierarchical order. In this state, the user inputs the printer name for which registration is to be deleted. When the start button 146 is pressed, the registration of the printer device 42 having the printer name of the deletion target is deleted from the printer link table 49.

FIG. 35 shows an example of the printer link table update screen when the registration button is selected. On the printer link registration screen 145C serving as the remaining display area described above, the names of the currently registered printers and their hierarchical order are displayed. In this state, the user inputs the name of a new printer connected on the network and the desired hierarchical order at the time of registration. When the start button 146 is pressed, registration of the printer device 42 having the entered printer name is executed in the printer link table 49 in a desired hierarchical order. At this time, the hierarchical order of the printer device 42 having another printer name is changed accordingly.

Here, the reason for setting the hierarchical order of the printer devices 42 registered in each of the workstations 41 will be described. For example, in many offices of companies, a plurality of printers are installed, and printing work using various kinds of print data is performed. Such offices may create and print very sensitive documents. As in the present embodiment, three printer devices PRT ₀₁ and PR are provided in a predetermined workstation 41.
It is assumed that T ₀₂ and PRT ₀₃ are registered. Of these, the printer device PRT ₀₁ is installed in a place that is easily visible to the human eye, the other printer device PRT ₀₂ is installed in a place that is hard to see, and the remaining printer device PRT ₀₃ is It is assumed that it is installed in an intermediate location. When the workstation 41 gives an instruction to print a highly confidential document, the hierarchical order of these printers PRT ₀₁ , PRT ₀₂ , and PRT ₀₃ is changed to a higher order as the confidentiality can be maintained. The printer device PRT ₀₂ is on the first layer, the printer device PRT ₀₃ is on the second layer, and the printer device PR is
By setting T ₀₁ in the third layer, confidentiality and speed of printing can be harmonized.

Another example is shown. It is assumed that the printer device PRT ₀₁ is installed at a position considerably distant from the user and the printer device PRT ₀₃ is installed at an extremely close place. The printer device PRT ₀₂ is installed in the middle of these positions. When the user urgently needs the documents, the printer device PRT ₀₃ located near the user should be used first.
The printer device PRT ₀₂ is set to the second layer, and the printer device PRT ₀₁ is set to the third layer, so that it is possible to save time for picking up the printed matter and the time until the end of printing. The printer can be selected in consideration.

In such a case, for example, when the work station 41 and the three printer devices PRT ₀₁ , PRT ₀₂ , and PRT ₀₃ are changed due to the rearrangement in the living room, the printer link is changed. The printer device 42 can be automatically selected in accordance with the user's request only by changing the hierarchical order of the table 49 accordingly. Also, when a new printer device 42 is installed in the living room, the work station
It is also possible to change the configuration and order of the printer device 42 that discharges one printed matter. In this way, by making it possible to register and delete the printer device and change the hierarchical order, it is possible to improve the operability of the user when printing the document.

FIG. 36 shows a portion of the processing common to these as the first stage of the processing flow of updating, deleting and registering the printer table. Figure 1
The table registering / updating unit 51 shown in FIG.
Entry pointer "n" to obtain the printer name stored in each entry of the printer link table 49 and the next-level printer name
Is initialized to "0" (steps S301 and S30).
2). The table registration / updating unit 51 displays “n” at this time.
The printer link table 49 is searched with the value of (step S303).

Then, the printer name of the "n" th entry in the printer link table 49 is stored in the memory area PR _n .
The printer name of the next layer is stored in the memory area NP _n (step S304), and it is confirmed whether or not the currently searched entry is the last entry of the printer link table 49 (step S305). If it is not the final entry (N), the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" to search the next entry in the printer link table 49 (step S302), and the control after step S303 is performed. In the case of the final entry (step S305; Y), the table registration / update unit 51
Stores the current entry pointer "n" in the memory area of the numerical value "N" representing the total number of entries in the printer link table 49 (step S306).

FIG. 37 shows the first half of the contents of the processing when the user gives an instruction to update the printer link table. When the table registration / update unit 51 is instructed to update (step S307;
Y), and notifies the display control unit 52 to display the printer link change screen 145A as shown in FIG. 33 (step S308). Based on this notification, the display control unit 52 displays the contents of the printer link table 49 and waits for input of the changed rank order (step S309).

In this state, when the user inputs the changed hierarchy order and presses the start button 146 in FIG. 33 (step S310; Y), the new hierarchy order input at this time is displayed from the display control section 52. The table registration / update unit 51 is notified (step S311). Upon receiving this notification, the table registration / updating unit 51 stores the printer name in the changed hierarchical order in the memory area JPR _m , so that the numerical value “m” indicating the hierarchical order of the printer device 42.
Is initialized (steps S312 and S313), and the input printer name of the new hierarchical order is stored in the memory area JPR _m (step S314).

The hierarchical rank of the printer device 42 does not always exceed the total number of entries in the printer link table 49. Therefore, the table registration / update unit 51 next compares the hierarchical rank "m" of the printer device 42 with the total number of entries "N" of the printer link table 49 (step S3).
15) If they do not match (N), the hierarchical rank of the printer device 42 is incremented by "1" (step S31).
3), control after step S314 is performed. The hierarchical rank “m” of the printer device 42 and the printer link table 4
If the total number of entries "N" in 9 matches (step S3)
15; Y), and then proceeds to the control of step S316 in FIG.

FIG. 38 shows the latter half of the contents of the processing when the user gives an instruction to update the printer link table. If it is determined in step S315 of FIG. 36 that the hierarchical rank "m" of the printer device 42 and the total number of entries "N" of the printer link table 49 match, the printer names of all the hierarchical ranks are stored in the memory area. It is determined that it is stored in JPR _m . The printer name of the hierarchical rank "m" is the printer link table 4
A search is made for which entry 9 is defined. For this purpose, the hierarchy rank "m" of the printer device 42 and the entry pointer "n" of the printer link table 49 are initialized (steps S316 to S318), and the hierarchy rank "m".
Comparing the printer name JPR _m of and a printer name PR _n "n" entries th printer link table 49 (step S320).

If they do not match by this comparison (N), the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" for comparison with the printer name PR _n of the next entry (step S319), and the same comparison is made. The operation is performed (step S320). Hereinafter, the same processing is repeated until the comparison results match.

If the comparison results in step S320 match (Y), it can be determined that the printer name of the hierarchical rank "m" exists in the "n" entry of the printer link table 49. Therefore, in order to link the printer name of the hierarchical rank “m” and the printer name of the hierarchical rank “m + 1” on the printer link table 49, the “m + 1” th printer is added to the next hierarchical printer name NP _n of the “n” entry. The name PR _{m + 1} is stored (step S321; Y, S32).
2). Then, in order to search in which entry of the printer link table 49 the printer name of the next hierarchical order "m + 1" is registered, the hierarchical order of the printer device 42 is incremented by "1" (step S31).
7), the processing from step S318 is executed.

By the way, since there is no printer name to be defined in the printer name of the layer next to the entry of the lowest layer, it is necessary to set blank (blank). Therefore, after the processing of step S320, the next hierarchical rank "m + 1"
It is checked whether the value of exceeds the total number of entries "N" in the printer link table 49 (step S321). If it has not exceeded (N), the process proceeds to step S322 as described above, but if it has exceeded (Y), a blank is stored in the next hierarchical printer name NP _n of the “n” entry ((N)). In step S323), the control for updating the printer link table 49 is terminated (END).

FIG. 39 shows the first half of the processing contents when the user has instructed to delete the printer link table. When the table registration / updating unit 51 is not instructed to update in step S307 of FIG. 37 (N) and is instructed to be deleted instead (step S40).
1; Y), and notifies the display control unit 52 to display the printer link deletion screen 145B as shown in FIG. 34 (step S402). Based on this notification, the display control unit 52 displays the contents of the printer link table 49 and waits for the input of the printer name to be deleted (step S403).

When the user inputs the printer name to be deleted in this state and presses the start button 146 in FIG. 34 (step S404; Y), the printer name input at this time is registered in the table from the display control unit 52. Update unit 51
Is notified (step S405). Upon receiving this notification, the table registration / updating unit 51 stores the name of the printer to be deleted in the memory area SPR (step S406).

Then, the entry in the printer link table 49 in which the name of the printer to be deleted is registered is searched. For this purpose, the printer link table 49
The entry pointer "n" of the
7, S408), and the printer name SPR to be deleted is compared with the printer name PR _n of the “n” th entry (step S408).
409). As a result, if they do not match (N), step S4 is performed to compare with the printer name of the next entry.
Returning to 08, the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" and the two are compared again. Step S40
The same operation is repeated until the comparison results of 9 match.

FIG. 40 shows the latter half of the contents of the processing when the user gives an instruction to delete the printer link table. _If the comparison result of the printer name SPR to be deleted in step S409 of FIG. 39 and the printer name PR _n of the “n” th entry matches, it can be determined that the printer name to be deleted is in the “n” th entry of the printer link table 49. Therefore, the entry number "n" is
The name of the printer to be deleted is stored in the entry pointer "k" indicating the entry (step S41).
0).

By the way, if the printer name to be deleted is stored as the printer name of the next layer of the printer link table 49, the hierarchical structure of the printer link table 49 is destroyed when the entry of this printer link table 49 is deleted. I will end up. Therefore, it is necessary to search whether or not the printer name to be deleted is stored as the next-level printer name in the printer link table 49.
Therefore, the entry pointer "n" in the printer link table 49 is initialized (step S411), and compares the next hierarchical printer name NP _n printer name SPR and "n" entries eyes to remove (step S412).

As a result, if they match (Y), it means that the entry number of the next-level printer name in which the printer name to be deleted is stored is found. Therefore, the next hierarchy printer name NP _k of the entry “k” to be deleted is stored in the next hierarchy printer name NP _n of the found entry (step S413). And after this, the printer link table 4
The 9th "k" entry is deleted (step S41).
4) The control for deleting the printer link table 49 is terminated (END).

On the other hand, if the printer name SPR to be deleted in step S412 and the next-layer printer name NP _n of the "n" entry do not match (N), the printer is deleted as the next-layer printer name of that entry. It can be determined that the printer name is not stored. Therefore, the entry pointer "n" of the printer link table 49 is incremented by "1" in order to compare the printer name as the next-layer printer name of the next entry (step S416). Before this, it is confirmed whether or not the current entry pointer "n" points to the last entry of the printer link table 49 (step S41).
5). This confirmation is performed by comparing the entry pointer “n” with the total number of entries “N” in the printer link table 49.

That is, in the comparison processing of step S415, if the entry pointer "n" has not reached the total number of entries "N" of the printer link table 49 (Y), the entry pointer "n" is set as shown in step S416. Increment by "1", step S4
Returning to 12, the comparison process is performed. In other cases (step S415; N), it is determined that the printer name to be deleted is not stored in any entry of the printer link table 49. This is a case where the printer device 42 at the first rank in the hierarchy is deleted. After this, the process proceeds to step S414, and the "k" th entry of the printer link table 49 is deleted.

FIG. 41 shows an example of deleting the printer link table. Printer link table 49
An example is shown in which the printer device 42 with the printer name PRT ₀₃ of is deleted, and the next layer printer name PRT ₀₂ of the entry 151 to be deleted is stored as the next layer printer name of the entry 152 in which the printer name PRT ₀₁ is defined. It is supposed to do.

FIG. 42 shows the first half of the contents of the processing when the user gives an instruction to register the printer link table. When the table registration / update unit 51 is not instructed to delete in step S401 of FIG. 39 (step S401; N), the display control unit 52 receives the printer link registration screen 145C as shown in FIG.
To be displayed (step S501). Based on this notification, the display control unit 52 displays the contents of the printer link table 49 and waits for the input of the printer name to be registered and its desired hierarchical rank (step S502).

When the user inputs the printer name to be registered and the desired hierarchical order in this state and presses the start button 146 in FIG. 35 (step S503; Y), the printer name and hierarchical order entered at this time are The display control unit 52 notifies the table registration / updating unit 51 (step S504). Upon receiving this notification, the table registration / update unit 51 stores the name of the printer to be registered in the entry next to the last entry of the printer link table 49, in order to store the value of "n + 1" (currently "n" is the printer link table). 49 pointing to the final entry),
It is stored in the entry pointer "u" indicating the new entry in the printer link table 49 (step S505).

When the value "u" is determined, the input printer name to be registered is stored in the memory area as the variable symbol PR _u , and the desired hierarchical rank of the printer device 42 to be registered is stored in the memory area as the variable symbol "t" ( Step S50
6).

Next, the printer name is searched in the reverse order of the hierarchical order registered in the printer link table 49. First, in order to retrieve the printer name of the lowest layer of the printer link table 49, the total number of entries "N" of the printer link table 49 is stored as the hierarchical rank "m" of the printer device 42 (step S507). with this,
The lowest rank of the printer link table 49 is stored in the hierarchy rank “m” of the printer device 42.

Nothing is described in the printer name of the next layer of the entry of the lowest layer. Therefore, the entry pointer "n" of the printer link table 49 is initialized to retrieve this (steps S508 and S509).
Then, it is checked whether or not the next-level printer name NP _n of the “n” th entry is blank (step S
510).

If the printer name NP _n is not blank (N), the process returns to step S509 and the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" in order to check the next-level printer name of the next entry. Then, similarly, it is checked whether it is blank. This process
This process is repeated until the next-level printer name NP _n of the “n” th entry becomes blank.

If it is determined in step S510 that the printer name NP _n of the next layer of the "n" th entry is blank (Y), the printer name registered in that entry is the printer device 42 of the lowest layer. It can be judged that there is. Therefore, the printer name PR of the "n" th entry
_{The n} is stored as the printer name JPR _m of the hierarchical rank “m” (step S511).

FIG. 43 shows the latter half of the processing contents when the user has instructed registration of the printer link table. When the printer name of the lowest layer is stored as the printer name JPR _m in step S511 of FIG. 42, the printer name of the immediately preceding position is obtained by the same method. For this reason, the hierarchical rank "m" of the printer device 42 is decremented by "1" (step S).
512).

When the hierarchical rank "m" of the printer device 42 becomes "0", the printer names of all the hierarchical ranks are stored as the printer name JPR _m . Therefore, in this state, it is checked whether the numerical value "m" is "0" (step S513), and if it is not "0" (N),
In order to obtain the printer name of the hierarchical rank "m" from the printer link table 49, this printer link table 4
The entry pointer "n" of 9 is initialized (step S
514, S515).

The entry next to the printer name of the entry in which the printer name of the hierarchical rank "m" is registered is the hierarchical rank "m +
The printer name "1" is registered. Therefore, the next-layer printer name NP _n of the "n" entry in the printer link table 49 is the printer name JP of the hierarchy order "m + 1".
It is checked whether it is equal to R _{m + 1} (step S516). If they are not equal (N), the process returns to step S515, the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" in order to retrieve the next hierarchical printer name of the next entry, and this increment and comparison processing is performed until the position is reached. Repeated (steps S515, S51
6).

The next-level printer name NP _n of the “n” entry of the printer link table 49 is the hierarchical order “m + 1”.
If the second printer name is equal to JPR _{m + 1} (step S
516; Y), it becomes clear which entry in the printer link table 49 the printer name of the hierarchical rank “m” is registered. Therefore, the table registration / update unit 51 stores the printer name PR _n of this entry “n” in the printer name JPR _m of the hierarchical rank “m” (step S
517), in order to obtain the printer name of the immediately preceding printer, the process returns to step S512 and similar processing is executed.

On the other hand, in step S513, the hierarchical rank "m"
When it is determined that the value is "0" (Y), it means that the printer names of all hierarchical levels are stored in the printer name JPR _m . Therefore, in order to register the printer name PR _u to be registered in the printer link table 49 at the desired rank “t”, the entry pointer “n” of the printer link table 49 is initialized (steps S518 and S519).
Then, in order to search which entry in the printer link table 49 the current printer name of the hierarchical order indicated by the desired order "t" is registered in the next order printer name, the desired order "t" of the desired order "t" is searched. Current printer name J
PT _t is compared with the next-layer printer name NP _n of the “n” th entry (step S520).

If they do not match (N), in order to compare with the next-level printer name of the next entry, the process returns to step S519 again and the entry pointer "n" is incremented by "1" and the comparison processing is performed. (Step S52
0). This process is repeated until the two match as a comparison result.

If they match in step S520 (Y), it means that the entry number "n" in which the current printer name of the desired rank "t" is registered is found.
Therefore, the next-layer printer name N of the entry number "n"
P _n is stored as the name of the next-layer printer of the newly added entry number “u” (step S521). Further, the next-layer printer name NP _{n of the} entry number “n”
The printer name PR _u of the newly added entry number “u” is stored in. As a result, a new printer link table 49 incorporating the printer device 42 to be registered is installed.
Has been created (end).

FIG. 44 shows an example of registration in the printer link table. In this example, the printer name to be additionally registered is PRT ₀₄ , and its desired hierarchical rank is the second rank. Before additional registration, the printer name of the printer device 42 in the second hierarchical order is PRT ₀₃ . Therefore, this printer name PRT ₀₃ is stored as the next-level printer name of the newly added entry 154, and the newly added printer name PRT ₀₄ is stored in the area where the printer name PRT ₀₃ was stored. There is.

Although the workstation is used as the processing device in the embodiments, it is needless to say that other processing devices such as a word processor and a personal computer may be used, or these may be mixed and used. Further, in the embodiment, the network having the backbone net and the subnet is shown, but the form of the network is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the transmission path may be wired or wireless.

Further, in the embodiment, the printer device is composed of the server and one printer corresponding thereto, but a plurality of printers may be connected. If the printer has a communication function, the server can be omitted.

[0172]

As described above, the first to fourth aspects of the invention are described.
According to the invention described above, is it possible to immediately start printing in order from a higher order of these layers by classifying a plurality of printer devices, which are scheduled to be printed by a processing device such as a workstation, in advance from a predetermined viewpoint? I decided to make a decision. Therefore, there is an effect that not only a basic request such as completion of printing at an early stage can be met, but also printing processing can be performed according to characteristics of individual users and individual print data.

Moreover, since the relationship between each printer device and the hierarchy is registered in the printer link table, it is possible to know the characteristics of each printer device in detail once the table is created by analyzing various situations. Even a non-person can operate the print system efficiently and smoothly. Moreover, if the contents of the printer link table can be changed, the system can be sufficiently adapted to changes such as new installation or replacement of the printer device.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the printer device that can immediately start printing is selected with the highest priority, and when there is no printer device that can immediately start printing, the print data of each printer device is After deciding the remaining amount, we decided to select the printer device that can start printing earliest based on this. Therefore, it is possible to surely select the printer device that can start printing the earliest among the preselected printer devices, and it is possible to efficiently use the printing system without waste. Also, when checking the printer devices that can be started immediately from the top of the hierarchy, if the hierarchy is set based on the speed of printing, the shortest time until the end of printing of the printed matter is guaranteed. Can be selected. In addition, if you set the hierarchy according to other criteria such as print quality and the installation location of the printer device, you can select the printer device from the viewpoint of not only shortening the printing process, but also match the actual requirements. The selected printer device can be selected.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, a printer device which can immediately start printing under a predetermined condition such as print quality is selected, and a printer device which can immediately start printing under this condition is provided. When it does not exist, it is decided to select the printer device that can get the printed matter earliest from the data indicating the installation location of each printer device, and to select this printer device. It is possible to improve the efficiency of the entire printing operation in consideration of the time until the start of work and the time until the printed matter is acquired.

According to the invention of claim 4, a printer device that can immediately start printing under a predetermined condition such as a printing speed is selected, and a printer device that can immediately start printing under this condition is provided. When it does not exist, it is decided to select the printer device that can create the printed matter with the most suitable print characteristic from the data showing the print characteristic of each printer device, and to select this. Thus, it is possible to execute the printing work in consideration of the time until the start of printing, the quality of the printed matter, and the suitability for the user's request.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram functionally showing a main part of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of a workstation and a printer device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a display screen when setting a printer link table in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display screen when a user selects an automatic mode for creating a printer link table in the present embodiment.

5 is a plan view showing a state until a print request command is issued using the link table setting screen as shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a display screen when a place selection button and an automatic selection button are selected in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a display screen when a resolution selection button and an automatic selection button are selected in this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a display screen when a printer link table is arbitrarily set by a user in this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a display screen of the workstation before instructing printing in this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the work of transcribing print data by designating the document A to be printed in order to print the document in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a display screen in a state where transcription is performed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state of a display screen when a link is designated in the printer option window in this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a display state of a display screen when a response to a print request command is returned from the printer device having the printer name PRT ₀₁ in this embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state of a display screen when a workstation makes a print request by designating a next layer when the printer device designated in this embodiment cannot print.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the display contents of the display screen when a response is returned to the second print request command in this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a state of the display screen when the workstation further designates the next layer and issues a print request when the printer device designated in this embodiment cannot print. .

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the display contents of the display screen when a response is returned to the third print request command in this embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the next display operation when a printable response is returned in this embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a state of a display screen when a print end command is sent in this embodiment.

20 is a plan view showing the contents of the display screen when a reply that printing is impossible is returned in the state of waiting for a response shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the display contents of the display screen when all the printer devices registered in the present embodiment are printing and are in a state where printing cannot be performed immediately.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing the contents of the display screen when the printer device having the minimum number of printed pages is selected in this embodiment.

23 is a plan view showing the contents of the display screen at the stage when transmission of print data is started in the display state of FIG. 22 and is ended.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the first stage of the control flow on the workstation side in the present embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a second stage of the control flow on the workstation side in the present embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a format configuration diagram showing a format of a typical command transmitted / received between a workstation and a printer in the print system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the third stage of the control flow on the workstation side in the present embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a fourth stage of the control flow on the workstation side in the present embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing control on the server side of the printer device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the command is analyzed and it is determined that the command is a command other than the print request command in step S203 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing a display screen on the workstation side when updating, deleting or registering the printer link table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing a printer link table update screen displayed when “update printer table” is instructed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing an example of a printer link table update screen when an update button is selected in this embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a plan view showing an example of a printer link table update screen when a delete button is selected in this embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a plan view showing an example of a printer link table update screen when a registration button is selected in this embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the first stage of the process flow of updating, deleting and registering the printer table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the first half of the processing when an instruction to update the printer link table is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the processing when an instruction to update the printer link table is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the first half of the process when an instruction to delete the printer link table is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the processing when an instruction to delete the printer link table is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of deleting a printer link table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the first half of the process when an instruction to register the printer link table is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the process when an instruction to register the printer link table is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram showing a registration example of a printer link table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of a conventional print system using a LAN.

FIG. 46 is a plan view showing a conventional display screen of the workstation before instructing printing.

FIG. 47 is a plan view showing a state in which a user specifies a printer on a display screen in a conventional system.

FIG. 48 is a plan view of a display screen showing a state in which transcription is performed in the conventional system.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram showing a route through which print data is sent from a workstation to a printer device in a conventional print system.

[Explanation of symbols]

13 ... Subnet (communication cable), 22, 131 ... Printer icon, 23 ... Document icon, 41 ... Workstation, 42 ... Printer device, 43 ... Server, 44
... printer, 46 ... magnetic disk, 47 ... print control unit,
48, 61 ... Transfer data control unit, 49, 126 ... Printer link table, 51 ... Table registration / update unit, 52
... Display control unit, 62 ... Analysis unit, 63 ... Buffer, 64 ...
Print data storage unit, 65 ... Print status detection unit, 66 ... Print processing unit, 71, 84 ... CPU, 77 ... CRT, 79 ... Keyboard, 80 ... Mouse, 101 ... Display screen, 103 ...
Menu table, 104 ... Printer link table setting screen, 105 ... "Automatic" selection button, 106 ... "Arbitrary" selection button, 108 ... Printer link table automatic setting screen, 111 ... Speed selection button, 112 ... Location selection button, 113 ... Resolution selection button, 115 ... Link table screen, 116 ... Speed printer link table,
119 ... Location printer link table, 121 ... Resolution printer link table, 123 ... Link table arbitrary setting screen, 133 ... Printer option window, 141 ... Printer link table update screen, 142
… Update button, 143… Delete button, 144… Register button

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line for receiving print data and performing printing, and a plurality of arbitrary printer devices among the printer devices are registered together with hierarchical information indicating the order of selection thereof. The printer link table, the printability determining means for performing the determination in sequence from the topmost layer of the printer devices registered in the printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible, and the printability determining means. Printer device selecting means for selecting a printer device of the hierarchy which is determined to be ready for printing, and printing for sending print data to the printer device selected by the printer device selecting means via the transmission path. A printing system, comprising: a processing device including a data transmission unit. 2. A plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line to receive print data and print, and a plurality of arbitrary printer devices among the printer devices are registered together with hierarchical information indicating the order of selection thereof. The printer link table, the printability determining means for performing the determination in sequence from the topmost layer of the printer devices registered in the printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible, and the printability determining means. When it is not possible to immediately determine that printing from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer is possible, a remaining amount of print data for determining the remaining amount of print data for each printer device registered in the printer link table; If there is a layer that the possibility determination means has determined that printing is possible immediately, select the printer device of that layer and print directly. When there is no hierarchy that is determined to be possible, the printer device that finishes printing earliest for the remaining print data based on the relationship between the remaining amount determined by the print data remaining amount determination means and the printing speed of each printer device A processing device having a printer device selecting means for selecting the print device and a print data sending device for sending print data to the printer device selected by the printer device selecting means via the transmission path. A printing system characterized by. 3. A plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line to receive print data and print, and a plurality of arbitrary printer devices among the printer devices are registered together with hierarchical information indicating the order of selection thereof. The printer link table, the printability determining means for performing the determination in sequence from the topmost layer of the printer devices registered in the printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible, and the printability determining means. When it cannot be determined that printing from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer is possible immediately, the shortest position determination that determines the printer device that can get the printed matter earliest from the data indicating the respective installation locations of the printer devices registered in the printer link table Means, and if there is a hierarchy that the printability judging means judges that printing is possible immediately, Select the printer apparatus,
When there is no hierarchy in which it is determined that printing is possible immediately, a printer device selecting means for selecting the printer device determined by the shortest position determining means, and the transmission path for the printer device selected by this printer device selecting means. And a processing device having a print data sending unit for sending print data via the print device. 4. A plurality of printer devices connected to the same transmission line to receive print data and perform printing, and a plurality of arbitrary printer devices among the printer devices are registered together with hierarchical information indicating the order of selection thereof. The printer link table, the printability determining means for performing the determination in sequence from the topmost layer of the printer devices registered in the printer link table until it is determined that printing is possible, and the printability determining means. When it is not possible to immediately determine that printing from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer is possible, a printer device capable of producing a printed matter having the most suitable print characteristic is determined from the data indicating the print characteristic of each printer device registered in the printer link table. When there is a print characteristic determination unit and a layer that the printability determination unit determines that printing is possible immediately A printer device selecting means for selecting a printer device of the hierarchy and a printer device selecting means for selecting the printer device judged by the print characteristic judging means when there is no hierarchy for judging that printing is possible immediately, and this printer device selecting means A printing system, comprising: a processing device including print data sending means for sending print data to a printer device via the transmission path.