JPH0844516A - Print system and host device and printing device constructing the same system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a print system which can select a printing device of a shorter waiting time to improve the printing efficiency by enabling the printing device to display the waiting time for reception of data. CONSTITUTION:A print time calculation part 40 analyzes the data (print contents data) to be printed and calculates the time required for print of the print contents data based on the capability data on a connected printer 1500. Then the capability data on the printer 1500 are stored in a RAM 2. When the necessary print time is calculated on the side of the printer 1500, a print time calculation part 30 calculates the time required for print of the supplied print data. In this instance, the print data include the information showing the data capacity for each attribute (characters, images, etc.) of the print contents data. Thus the part 30 works based on the preceding information included in the print data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system, and a host device and a printing device which constitute the printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer sharing system in which a plurality of hosts use the same printer, when another host device is using the printer first, the display of the host device indicates "standby" or "preparing". Message such as "is displayed. By displaying this message, the user can
You can know whether the data you sent is being printed or is waiting to be printed. Such a display is
The same is done in a printing system in which a printer and a host device are connected one-to-one.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned display merely displays whether the print data of oneself is being printed or is in the standby state. For this reason, even when the print data sent by the user becomes printing, it is not possible to grasp the time required to print the print data. Therefore, when the next print data is to be transmitted, the time until the print job can be accepted cannot be grasped, and the job currently being printed has to be waited for completion.

Further, when the print data sent by the printer itself is waiting for printing, it is impossible to know the "wait time" until the printer accepts the print data and starts printing. In this way, the time until the printer accepts data is not displayed, so if, for example, multiple printers are "in use", determine which printer has the least waiting time. Can not. Therefore, even if the selected printer happens to be printing a large amount of data, the user has to wait until the printer finishes printing the large amount of data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of displaying the required printing time of transmitted print data, and a host device and a printing device in the system. And

Another object of the present invention is to enable the printing device to display the waiting time until data is received, so that a printing device with a shorter waiting time can be selected for efficient printing. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of performing the above, a host device and a printing device in the system.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

The printing system of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, in a printing system including a host device and a printing device, a sending unit that sends print data from the host device to the printing device, and a printing time required for the printing device to print the printing data are obtained. And a display unit for displaying the required printing time.

With the above arrangement, for the print data sent from the host device to the printing device, the required printing time required for the printing device to print the printing data is calculated and displayed. Therefore, the user can grasp the time required for printing the print data, and preferably, the host device holds the processing capability information indicating the processing capability of the printing device, and the acquisition unit is the host device. Based on the print data and the processing capacity information, the print data obtains a print required time required to print the print data, and the display unit displays the print required time by the host device. This is because the printing time required is calculated by the host device, so that a general printing device can be used.

Further, preferably, the printing device holds processing capability information indicating a processing capability of the printing device, and the acquisition means is configured to acquire the print data and the processing capability received by the printing device from the host device. Based on the information, the print data obtains a print required time required to print the print data, and the display means displays the print required time which the host device receives from the print device. To do. This is because the printing time is calculated on the printing device side, and it is not necessary for the host device side to know the capability of each printing device.

Further, preferably, the print data includes additional information for use in calculation of a required printing time. This is because the process for calculating the required printing time on the printing device side is simplified. In particular, there is an advantage that the required printing time can be calculated without storing all the print data.

[0011] Further, preferably, there is further provided remaining time display means for acquiring the remaining printing time by reducing the required printing time based on the progress of the printing process by the printing device, and displaying the remaining printing time. This is because it is possible to more accurately grasp the time until the start of receiving print data.

Further, preferably, in the remaining time display means, the remaining printing time is obtained by subtracting the required printing time based on the elapsed time from the start of the printing process.

Further, preferably, in the remaining time display means, the remaining printing time is obtained by subtracting the required printing time based on the amount of processed print data. This is because the remaining print time is calculated using the amount of processed print data, so that a more accurate remaining time can be obtained.

Further, the present invention also includes the above-mentioned printing device and the host device connected to each other via a network, and each of the printing device and the host device constituting the printing system defined by the present invention.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> First, the configurations of a laser beam printer and an inkjet printer suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Needless to say, the printer to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to the laser beam printer and the inkjet printer described below, and may be a printer of another printing method.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a printing apparatus applicable to this embodiment, for example, the case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character code, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from an externally connected host computer. A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created in accordance with the information, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.
Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 1000 denotes an LBP main body 150.
This is a printer control unit that controls the entire 0 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 is the semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving 503, which switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from a semiconductor laser 1503 in accordance with an input video signal. Laser light 15
A rotary polygon mirror 1505 deflects 04 in the left-right direction to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. The latent image is developed by the developing unit 1507 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1506 and then transferred to the recording paper.

A cut sheet is used as this recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 1508 mounted on the LBP 1500, and is taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 1509 and conveying rollers 1510 and 1511 to be electrostatically charged. It is supplied to the drum 1506. Further, the LBP main body 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown), and is configured so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language system can be connected in addition to the built-in font. .

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the construction of another printing apparatus to which this embodiment can be applied, for example, the case of an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA).

In the figure, a spiral groove 5005 of a lead screw 5004 that rotates via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with forward and reverse rotations of a drive motor 5013.
The carriage HC that engages with is a pin (not shown)
And is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC.

A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which function as home position detection means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that indicates a cap member 5022 that caps the entire surface of the recording head, and 5015 is a suction unit that sucks the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 5017 is a cleaning blade, which is a member 5
019 enables movement in the front-back direction. Reference numeral 5018 denotes a main body support plate that supports the above 5017 and 5019. Fifty
Reference numeral 22 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side area. It suffices if it is configured so as to perform the desired operation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the IJRA shown in FIG.

In the figure, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701 and host print information, and 1703 is a DRAM for storing various data (the above-mentioned recording signal). And the recording data supplied to the head). 1704 is a recording head 1708
A gate array that controls the supply of output data to
Interface 1700, MPU1701, DRAM
It also controls the transfer of data between 1703. 1710 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 1708,
Reference numeral 1709 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying recording paper, and 1705.
Is a head driver for driving the recording head, 1706
Is a motor driver for driving the carry motor 1709,
A motor driver 1707 drives the carrier motor 1710.

In the recording device thus constructed, when the input information is input from the host device via the interface 1700, the gate array 1704 and the MP are input.
Input information is converted into output information for printing with U1701. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 170
7 is driven, the print head is driven according to the output information sent to the head driver 1705, and printing is executed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of the printer control system in this embodiment. Here, the laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example, but it is clear that the present embodiment can be applied to the inkjet printer as described above. Further, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention can be applied to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. Needless to say, can be applied.

In FIG. 4, a host computer 3000 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 3. To do C
It comprises PU1. The CPU 1 collectively controls each device connected to the system bus 4.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work memory, etc. of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key inputs from the keyboard 9 and a pointing device (not shown). 6 is a CRT controller (CRTC), which is a CRT display (CR
T) Control the display of 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) and a floppy disk (FD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files and the like. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and is connected to the printer 150.
Communication control processing with 0 is executed.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterizing process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, and the WY on the CRT 10 is executed.
SIWYG is possible. In addition, the CPU1 is CR
Various registered windows are opened based on commands designated by a mouse cursor (not shown) on T10, and various data processes are executed.

A printing time calculation unit 40 analyzes data to be printed (print content data) and determines the time required for printing the data (printing required time) based on the capability data of the connected printer. calculate. Here, the capability data of the printer is stored in the RAM 2. Further, the printing time calculation unit manages the elapsed time from the start of printing and calculates the remaining required printing time for the data currently being printed. still,
The operation of the print time calculation unit 40 will be further described later.

In the printer 1500, 12 is a printer CPU, and a system bus based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14 (hard disk, IC card, etc.). Access to various devices connected to 15 is generally controlled. Then, the image signal as output information is output to the printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via the printing unit interface 16. Here, for the printing unit 17, the laser beam type printer as described in FIG. 1 is used.

The CPU 12 is capable of performing communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18.
The host computer 3000 can be notified of information in the printer and the like. 19 is a RAM, a CPU
It functions as 12 main memories, a work area, and the like. still,
The RAM 19 is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). Further, the RAM 19 is also used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. The external memory 14 such as the hard disk (HD) or IC card described above is a disk controller (DC
K) 20 controls access. External memory 14
Is optionally connected to store font data, emulation programs, form data, etc. Reference numeral 1501 denotes the above-described operation panel, on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged.

Further, the above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, but a plurality of external memories may be connectable. In this case, for example,
In addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing emulation programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages may be connected.

The print time calculation unit 30 calculates the required print time of the input print data. Also, the print time calculation unit 3
0 manages the amount of data that has been printed, and calculates the remaining printing time of the data that is currently being printed. The print time calculation unit 30 will be described in detail later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the printer system of the first embodiment. The figure shows a state in which the host computer and the printer are connected one-to-one. Example 1
Then, from the host computer 3000 to the printer 150
0 when outputting a print command to the host computer 30
The printing time calculating circuit 40 included in 00 calculates the time required for printing (printing required time) and displays it on the display 10 of the host computer 3000. In this case, the interface between the PRTC 8 and the input unit 18 does not have to be bidirectional. Also, the printer 15
The print time calculation unit 30 of 00 is also unnecessary.

FIG. 6 shows the host computer 3 of the first embodiment.
5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of print instruction processing in 000. A program for realizing the control shown in this flowchart is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3 and executed by the CPU 1.

First, when a printing instruction is given in step S11, it is checked in step S12 whether the printer 1500 is printing. If the printer 1500 is not printing, the process proceeds to step S13 to analyze the print data to be printed. Then, in step S14, the printing time calculating unit 40 calculates the required printing time. Then, the required printing time calculated in step S15 is displayed on the CRT 10. Then, step S
In 16, the print data is output to the printer 1500 via the PRTC 8.

On the other hand, if the printer 1500 is printing another print data, the process proceeds to step S17, and the print time calculation unit 40 calculates the remaining print time for the print data being printed. Then, the process proceeds to step S18,
The CRT 10 uses the remaining printing time as the printing waiting time.
Display on top.

As described above, when sending the print data, if the printer is ready, the time required for printing the print data is displayed on the CRT 10 and the print data is sent to the printer 1500. On the other hand, if the printer is busy, the print waiting time is calculated and displayed on the CRT 10.

Next, the procedure for calculating the required printing time by the printing time calculating section 40 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a capability table representing the processing capability of the connected printer. As shown in the figure, the capability table includes "character", "image", and "character" included in the print data.
For each of the data attributes "table" and "graphic", the processing capability of the currently connected printer is shown. Here, the processing capacity is a time required for processing per 1 Kbyte of print data, and the printer 1500
Represents the time required to develop 1 Kbyte of print data into an image and finish printing the developed image.

The print time calculation unit 40 analyzes the print data, obtains the respective data capacities of "character", "image", "table", and "graphic", and refers to the above capacity table. The required printing time is calculated.

As for the print waiting time, for example, a counter for measuring the time is provided so that the elapsed time from the start of the transmission of the print data can be acquired.
It is obtained by subtracting from the required printing time calculated in.

The required printing time for each data attribute in the above-mentioned capability table is input from an input device such as a keyboard and stored in the RAM 2. Furthermore, it is desirable to save this capability table in a non-volatile memory when the host computer 3000 is shut down.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
Since the time required for printing the print data is displayed when the print data is sent, the user can clearly understand the time required for printing, and does not need to wait for the end of printing. Further, by displaying the print waiting time, the user can grasp how long it takes for the current printing when sending new print data, and there is no need to simply wait for the end of the current printing. Improves efficiency.

Further, it is not necessary to connect the host computer and the printer with a bidirectional interface in order to calculate the required printing time and the waiting time for printing, and the printer itself may be a printer having a conventional configuration. it can.

<Embodiment 2> In the above-described Embodiment 1, the configuration on the printer side is simplified by calculating the required printing time and the printing waiting time on the host computer 3000 side. In the second embodiment, a configuration in which the printer side calculates the required printing time and the printing waiting time will be described.

The configurations of the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 4), and the description thereof is omitted here. However, in the second embodiment, the printing time calculation unit 40 on the host computer 3000 side is unnecessary. The configuration of the printer system in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIG. 5). The printer 150
The interface connecting 0 and the host computer 3000 is a bidirectional interface.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the host computer in the second embodiment. A control program for realizing the control shown in this flowchart is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3 and executed by the CPU 1.

When printing is instructed in step S21, it is checked in step S22 whether the printer 1500 is printing. If the printer 1500 is not printing, the process proceeds to step S23 to generate print data. Here, the print data has a structure as shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the data structure of print data according to the second embodiment. In the figure, "Print content data"
Is data representing the content to be printed such as a character code and a control command. “Total data capacity” represents the total data capacity of print content data. The “character data ratio” indicates what percentage of the character data is the total print content data. Similarly, the “ratio of image data” represents the image data, the “ratio of table data” represents the table data, and the “ratio of graphic data” represents the percentage of the whole graphic data. From such data, the data capacity for each data attribute can be easily obtained.

In a succeeding step S24, the above print data is sent to the printer 1500. Printer 15
At 00, the required print time is calculated based on this print data, and this is sent (described later with reference to FIG. 9). In step S25, the required printing time sent from the printer 1500 is received from the printer 1500. Then, in step S26, the required printing time is displayed on the CRT 10.

On the other hand, in step S22, the printer 1500
If it is in use, the process proceeds to step S27, and the printer 1500 is requested to send the remaining printing time required for the data currently being printed. When the remaining printing time is received from the printer 1500 in step S28, it is displayed on the CRT 10 as the printing waiting time in step S29.

Next, the printer 1500 according to the second embodiment.
The operation of will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the printer of the second embodiment. A control program for realizing the control shown in this flowchart is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 and executed by the CPU 12.

First, when data is received from the host computer 3000 in step S31, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, it is determined whether the received data is print data, and if it is print data, step S3
Go to 3.

In step S33, the required printing time is calculated based on the data attributes (total data capacity, ratio of character data to ratio of graphic data) included in the print data. Here, the printer 1500 has its own capability data table (see FIG. 7) in the RAM 19 or the ROM 13, and the printing time calculation unit 30 uses this to calculate the required printing time of the print data. Then, in step S34, the required printing time is sent to the host computer 3000. Then, in step S35, printing is executed based on the print content data of the print data.

On the other hand, if the received data is not print data in step S32, the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the host computer 3000
Further, it is determined whether or not the received data is a request for the remaining printing time, and if it is a request for the remaining printing time, the process proceeds to step S37. In step S37, the remaining print time required for the print data currently being printed is calculated, and this is sent to the host computer 3000 in step S38.

Next, the calculation of the remaining printing time required in the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the print waiting time is calculated on the printer side. Therefore, the print device counts the amount of data that has been processed so far, calculates the ratio of the total data amount to the unprocessed data amount, and multiplies this by the required print time to obtain the print wait time. be able to. Since the print waiting time is calculated based on the actually processed data volume, the accuracy is improved as compared with the method of calculating the print waiting time according to the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to easily grasp the required printing time and the printing waiting time.
The same effect can be obtained. Further, it becomes unnecessary for the host computer side to hold the printer capability data according to the connected printer. Further, since the print waiting time is calculated according to the actual processing amount, the accuracy is improved.

<Embodiment 3> In the above Embodiments 1 and 2, the state where one printer is connected to one host computer has been described. In the third embodiment, an application example of the present invention to an environment in which a printer is shared by a plurality of host computers will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the printer system in the third embodiment. In the figure, two host computers (3000, 30
01) and one printer 1500 are connected. Needless to say, the number of host computers and printers is not limited to this example. Here, the configurations of the host computers 3000 and 3001 and the printer 1500 are the same as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 4).
The description is omitted here. However, the PRTC in FIG.
8 and the input unit 18 serve as a network interface, respectively.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the host computer 3000 in the third embodiment.
A control program for realizing the control shown in this flowchart is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3
It is executed by PU1.

First, in step S41, a PRINT command indicating a print operation request and the data attribute portion of the print data are transmitted to the printer 1500. In step S42, the response from the printer 1500
It is determined whether the printer is in use. If the printer is not in use here, the printer 1500
The "printing required time" is transmitted together with the "ready signal". When the printer 1500 is in use, the printer 1500 outputs a “busy signal”, a “print waiting time” indicating the remaining printing time of the data currently being printed, and a “printing time” of print data to be printed. Time required "is transmitted.

If the printer is not in use, step S4
The process proceeds from step 2 to step S43, and the required printing time for the print data is displayed on the CRT 10. Then, in step S44, the print content data is transferred to the printer 15
To 00. The printer 1500 starts printing according to the print content data.

On the other hand, in step S42, the printer 1
If 500 is in use, the process proceeds to step S45, and the "print waiting time" received from the printer 1500 is displayed on the CRT 10. In step S46, the user is inquired as to whether or not to print using the printer 1500 in this state. Depending on the user, the printer 150
If execution of printing by 0 is specified, the process proceeds to step S.
In step 47, the "printing required time" indicating the time until the printing of the print data is finished is displayed together with the print waiting time displayed in step S45. Then, in step S48, the printer 1500 waits for the printer 1500 to be in the ready state, and the print content data is transmitted.

On the other hand, in step S46, the printer 1
If printing by 500 is canceled, step S
Proceed to 49. In step S49, it is inquired whether or not the print data is switched to another printer and printed. When printing is instructed by another printer, the process returns to step S41 and the above-described processing is repeated for the selected other printer. On the other hand, if another printer is not selected, the process proceeds from step S49 to step S50, and printing of the print data is stopped.

Next, the processing procedure on the printer 1500 side will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the printer in the third embodiment. The control program for realizing the control shown in this flowchart is the ROM 13
Is stored in the program ROM of and is executed by the CPU 12.

When the PRINT command / attribute data is received from the host computer in step S61, the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, it is checked whether or not the printer is printing other data. If not, the process proceeds to step S63. In step S63, the required printing time is calculated from the received data attribute with reference to the printer capability table. In step S64, the calculated "printing required time" is sent to the host computer together with the "ready" signal. After that, step S65
When the print content data is received at, it is printed at step S66.

On the other hand, if another data is being printed in step S62, the process proceeds to step S67. Step S6
In step 7, the remaining required printing time is calculated for the data being printed, and this is set as the "print waiting time". Further, the required printing time is calculated based on the received attribute data as in step S63. Then, in step S68, the "print waiting time" and the "printing required time" are sent to the host computer together with the "busy" signal.

After that, if the printing by the print data is stopped by the operation on the side of the host computer, the process is terminated by the determination in step S69. on the other hand,
When it is instructed to print the print data, the process proceeds from step S69 to step S70. In step S70, waiting for the currently executed printing to end,
When completed, the process proceeds to step S65. Then, the print content of the print data is received, and is printed in step S66.

According to the above operation procedure, when a printer is shared by a plurality of host computers, for example, in FIG.
When the PRINT command is issued to the 500, the printer 150
If 0 is not in use, the printer 1500 calculates the required printing time by the printing time calculation circuit 30. This required printing time is sent to the host computer 3000 and displayed on the display (CRT 10).

If the host computer 3001 outputs a print command to the printer 1500 while the printer 1500 is executing a print job from the host computer 3000, the printer 1500 outputs the print command to the host computer 300.
The print waiting time (that is, the time until the end of the print job by the host computer 3000) indicating the time from the start of execution of the print command from No. 1 is calculated by the print time calculation circuit 30, and the display (C
It is displayed on RT10).

Here, the host computer 3001 can newly select another printer. When printing is performed as it is, the printer 1500 displays the waiting time on the display of the host computer 3000, and at the same time, the printing time calculation circuit 30 causes the host computer 3
The time (printing required time) until 001 finishes printing is displayed on the display of the host computer 3001. The same applies when there are three or more hosts.

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
When a plurality of host computers share a printer connected to the network, the required printing time and the waiting time for printing can be grasped, so that the usage efficiency of the printer can be improved. Further, when a plurality of printers are connected to the network, the print waiting time of each printer can be grasped, so that the printer having the shortest print waiting time can be selected and the work efficiency is improved.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the third embodiment, the printer 1500 has the network interface. In the fourth embodiment, a case where a printer is connected via a network server will be described.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the printer system of the fourth embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 3010 denotes a server, which spools print jobs from the host computers 3000 and 3001 (which function as client side devices) and executes the print jobs using the printers 1500 and 1501. Here, the configurations of the server 3010 and each printer are the same as in the first embodiment (FIG. 4),
The description is omitted here. The spool of the print job is performed using the RAM 2. Also, the server 3010 stores print data from the client side device in the print spooler, and the connected printers 1500, 1
Printing is sequentially executed by 501. Here, the processing of the print data stored in the spooler is managed by the print job list.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the print job list of the fourth embodiment. The required printing time is stored for each print data ID. In addition, a print remaining time is stored for a job that is being printed, and a print waiting time that indicates the time until the job starts printing is stored for a job in a waiting state. Server 301
0 has such a print job list for each printer.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the procedure for updating the job list in the server 3010 of the fourth embodiment. The control program for realizing the control shown in this flowchart is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3 in the server 3010 and executed by the CPU 1.

When print data is received in step S71, the process proceeds to step S72. In step S72, the print content data of the received print data is stored in the spooler. In step S73, the data attribute included in the print data is analyzed. In step S74, the print time calculation unit 40 calculates the required print time of the print data based on the data attribute and the capability table of the printer that executes printing. Then, in step S75, the print time is stored together with the print data ID in the print shop block, and the print job list is updated.

At this time, the print waiting time of the print data is calculated from the print remaining time of the print job that is already in the print waiting state or the print job that is being printed, and this is stored. For example, when the job 3 is newly added, the print waiting time is the sum of the print waiting time of the print job (here, job 2) executed immediately before and the required printing time. It goes without saying that when the immediately preceding print job is being printed, the remaining print time becomes the print waiting time.

The server 3010 instructs the printers 1500 and 1501 to print according to such a print job list, and sequentially executes printing. Further, the printing waiting time and the remaining printing time may be calculated by counting the elapsed time from the start of printing and subtracting it from the required printing time, as described in the first embodiment. Further, if the amount of processed data is received from the printer, it is possible to obtain the remaining print time from the ratio to the total print data capacity, as described in the second embodiment. .

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, a printing system in which it is possible to easily grasp the required printing time and the printing waiting time as in the above-described embodiments is provided. Also, host computers 3000 and 300 that are devices on the client side
By receiving the print job list as shown in FIG. 15 and displaying it on the CRT 10, the user can easily grasp the print jobs stored in the print spooler and the required printing time and waiting time of each. become able to.

In the fourth embodiment, if the server device analyzes the print content data and detects the data capacity for each data attribute such as character data or image data, the device on the client side normally operates. It is sufficient to send the print data of (the print data of FIG. 10 from which the data attribute is removed), and a general information processing apparatus can be applied, and the applicable range of the present invention is expanded.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, when printing is executed, the waiting time until printing and the time until the end of printing can be known, so that it takes less time to print. You can select a printer.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a case where it is achieved by supplying a program that causes a system or an apparatus to execute the processing defined by the present invention.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to display the required printing time of the transmitted print data, and the user can easily grasp the required printing time.

Further, according to another configuration of the present invention, it becomes possible to display the waiting time until the printing device receives the data, and the printing is efficiently performed by selecting the printing device having a shorter waiting time. It becomes possible.

[0091]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a printing apparatus applicable to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the configuration of another printing apparatus to which this embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of IJRA shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print instruction processing in the host computer 3000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a capability table representing the processing capability of a connected printer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a host computer according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the printer according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of print data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a host computer 300 according to the third embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of 0.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the printer according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a configuration example of a printer system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of a print job list according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a job list update procedure in the server 3010 according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,12 CPU 2,19 RAM 3,13 ROM 4 System Bus 30,40 Printing Time Calculation Unit 1500 Printer 3000 Host Computer

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A printing system composed of a host device and a printing device, comprising: sending means for sending print data from the host device to the printing device; and printing requirements required for the printing device to print the print data. A printing system comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires time, and a display unit that displays the required printing time. 2. The host device holds processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity of the printing device, and the acquisition unit is configured to allow the host device to print the print data based on the print data and the processing capacity information. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit acquires the required printing time required to print the print data, and the display unit displays the required printing time by the host device. 3. The printing apparatus holds processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity of the printing apparatus, and the acquisition unit stores the print data and the processing capacity information received by the printing apparatus from the host apparatus. On the basis of the print data, the print data obtains a print required time required to print the print data, and the display unit displays that the host device receives the print required time from the printing device. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is a printing system. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the print data includes additional information used for calculation of a required printing time. 5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the additional information represents a data amount for each attribute of each print data. 6. The remaining time display means for acquiring the remaining printing time by reducing the required printing time based on the progress of the printing process by the printing device, and displaying the remaining printing time. Printing system described in. 7. The printing according to claim 6, wherein the remaining time display means obtains the remaining printing time by subtracting the required printing time based on the elapsed time from the start of the printing process. system. 8. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein in the remaining time display means, the remaining printing time is obtained by subtracting the required printing time based on the amount of processed print data. . 9. A printing system in which a host device and a printing device are connected via a network, and first sending means for sending print data from the host device to the printing device via the network, and the printing device. An acquisition unit for acquiring a required printing time required to print the print data; a second transmission unit for transmitting the required printing time acquired by the obtaining unit to the host device via a network; and the host device. A printing system comprising: a display unit that displays the time required for printing. 10. A printing system in which a host device and a printing device on a network are connected via a server device, and first sending means for sending print data from the host device to the server device via the network, A holding unit that holds the print data in the server device; an obtaining unit that obtains a print time required for the printing device connected to the server device to print the print data in the server device; Second sending means for sending the print required time acquired in step 2 to the host device via a network, display means for displaying the print required time in the host device, and printing of the print data held in the server device. A printing system comprising: a printing unit that is sequentially executed by the printing apparatus. 11. A host device used by connecting to a printing device, comprising: sending means for sending print data to the printing device; and holding means for holding capability information indicating a processing capability of the printing device. A host device comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a required printing time required to print the print data based on the capability information; and a display unit that displays the required printing time. 12. A host device used in connection with a printing device, wherein print data is created by adding data used to calculate a required printing time of the print content data to print content data indicating the content to be printed. Generating means, a sending means for sending the print data to the printing device, a receiving means for receiving the print required time of the print data from the printing device, and a display for displaying the print required time received by the receiving means. And a display means for performing the operation. 13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising remaining time display means for acquiring the remaining printing time by subtracting the required time based on the progress of the printing process and displaying the remaining printing time. Host device. 14. The host device according to claim 13, wherein the remaining printing time in the remaining time display means is obtained by subtracting the elapsed time of the printing process from the required time. 15. A printing device for performing printing based on print data received from a host device, the receiving device receiving print data from the host device, and the printing data received by the receiving device. A printing unit that calculates a printing time required to represent the time, a sending unit that sends the printing time calculated by the computing unit to the host device, and a printing unit that performs printing based on the print data. Characteristic printing device. 16. A remaining time transmitting means for acquiring the remaining printing time by reducing the required time based on the amount of data that has been printed and transmitting the remaining printing time to the host device. The printing device according to claim 15.