JP2000118095A - Printing control apparatus, printing system using the same, printing control method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing control apparatus capable of reducing the working load of a worker and capable of suppressing cost required in printing, a printing system using the same, a printing control method and a recording medium. SOLUTION: A plurality of hot holders are preliminarily formed to a server and a sub-monitor program is started with respect to the hot holders to monitor the hot holders at every predetermined time (step S12). When document data is inputted to the hot holders, the rules preset to the hot holders are checked (step S14) and the data of them are automatically subjected to job registration (step S15). By this constitution, the monitor and job registering work of a worker is reduced and the labor cost of the worker is suppressed and, as a result, cost required in printing can be suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control device for controlling the output of a printed material, a print system using the same, a print control method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a printing system for printing a printed matter, a system including a plurality of clients, a server connected to them, a printing machine, a bookbinding machine, and the like is generally used. Then, each client submits digital data, which is the basis of the obtained printed matter, to the server. Then, when the worker knows that the data has been submitted, it registers the job as a print job in the system, and the server executes such a print job and prints out the data on a printing press. Bookbinding is done by a machine.

[0003]

By the way, in such a system as described above, an operator must constantly monitor the submission of print data to a server, and an operator who knows the submission receives the data. In the case where the type of printer is identified, or when a plurality of types of printing machines are provided, the type of printing machine that can be output has to be identified by the operator and job registration must be performed. .

[0004] The present invention is intended to overcome the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and it is intended to reduce a work load on an operator and suppress a printing cost, a printing system using the same, and a printing system using the same. It is an object to provide a print control method and a recording medium.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for controlling a print output of a printed material, comprising: Data storage means for storing print data in a hot holder, which is a storage area for storing print data, monitoring means for monitoring storage of print data in the hot holder at predetermined time intervals, and print data stored in the hot holder by the monitoring means. And a job registration unit for registering the print data as a print output job when the storage is detected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print control apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the data storage means collectively stores a plurality of print data to be printed as a group of prints. A sub-folder creating unit for creating a sub-folder to be stored in the hot holder, and the job registering unit registers the print data in the sub-holder as one job when the sub-holder exists in the hot holder. It is characterized by doing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print control apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein a holder attribute which is an attribute of print data to be registered in a job by being stored in a hot holder. The job registration unit compares the attribute of the print data stored in the hot holder with the holder attribute, and registers the job of the print data only when both attributes are common to each other. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising: a print control unit comprising the print control device according to any one of the first to third aspects; a printing unit for printing out print data; The print control unit further includes a job execution unit that executes the registered job by controlling the printing unit to print out print data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method for controlling the output of a printed material, the method comprising: printing on a hot holder which is a storage area for storing print data which is a basis of printing; A data storage step of storing data, a monitoring step of monitoring the storage of the print data in the hot holder at predetermined time intervals, and, when the monitoring means detects that the print data is stored in the hot holder,
A job registration step of registering the print data as a print output job, wherein the data storage step is provided in the hot holder when a plurality of print data to be printed as a group of prints is stored in the hot holder. And storing the print data in the sub-holder as one job when the sub-holder exists in the hot holder. And

Further, a recording medium according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for controlling output of a printed material by a computer, and stores print data which is a basis of printing. A data storage function for storing print data in a hot holder, which is a storage area for the printer, a monitoring function for monitoring the storage of print data in the hot holder at predetermined time intervals, and print data stored in the hot holder by monitoring means In this case, a program for realizing a job registration function for registering the print data as a print output job in a case is recorded.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration of a printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the system configuration of the printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 has a function as a print control device for automatically registering, as a job, document data which is print data such as a document or an image created by each client described later. This is a device for automatically executing a job to perform printing and bookbinding. The printing system 1 includes editing clients 10 and 10 and a scanner input client 2.
0, scanner 25, server 30, printing and binding machine 40,5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a computer system electrically connected to each other via a bus line BL via an interface (not shown).

The editing client 10 is a computer having an internal configuration such as a CPU, a memory, and a hard disk (not shown), a display 10a as display means, and a peripheral device such as a mouse 10b and keyboard 10c as input means. Create a
The user can edit and save it on a hard disk 36 described later in the server 30 or perform operations such as designation of a hot holder in a monitoring program described later.

The scanner input client 20 is a computer having a peripheral device such as a display 20a, a mouse 20b, and a keyboard 20c and an internal structure similar to the editing client 10, and further has a scanner image client 20 having an image of a document. A scanner 25 capable of taking in is electrically connected. Therefore, the scanner input client 20 is
The editing client 10 can perform operations such as processing of the captured image, and otherwise has the same functions as the editing client 10.

The server 30 includes an editing client 10,
It is a computer that can communicate with the scanner input client 20 and the printing machines 41 and 51 described below. And
The server 30 has the following internal configuration and various functions.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the server 30 and its connection to the outside. However, CPU
The function is schematically shown in 31, and the storage of the program is schematically shown in the RAM 33. In FIG. 2, the editing client 10 or the scanner input client 20 is generally referred to as clients 10 and 20, and will be similarly described in the following text.

As shown in FIG. 2, the server 30 has a CPU
31, ROM 32 in which basic programs are stored,
A print control program and a monitoring program described in detail below,
A RAM 33 for temporarily storing various data such as document data and rules, and a program file and various data for installing an image display program first on a recording medium RM such as a magnetic disk or CD-ROM.
A read unit 34, an input unit 35 for receiving input from an operator through an input device such as a mouse 30b or a keyboard 30c, a hard disk 36 for storing an installed print control program, a monitoring program, and document data as a base, which will be described later. A display 30a for displaying various setting screens and the like are appropriately connected by an internal bus line IB via an interface (not shown).

The internal bus line IB of the server 30
Are the clients 10 and 20 and the bookbinding machine 40 described above.
Are connected to an external bus line BL to which the is connected, thereby functioning as a set of computer systems. The server 30 functions as a print control apparatus, and the editing client 10, the scanner input client 20, and the print bookbinding machine 40 are added to the printing system 1 to form the printing system 1. Then, as described later, the CPU 31 in the server 30 executes a print control program and a monitoring program to have a function as a monitoring unit 31a that monitors each hot holder in the hard disk 36, and stores the data in each hot holder. It also has a function as a job registration unit 31b for automatically registering a job for print output with respect to data of a predetermined attribute specified in a rule described later among the document data thus created. It also has a function as a job execution unit 31c that controls the machines 41 and 51 to print out print data and execute a job.

The computer system can communicate with other devices (not shown) through a bus line BL to exchange an image display program, various data, and the like. In that case, bus line B
An online system formed by L and another device functions as a recording medium. The print control program and the monitoring program may be stored in the ROM 32 or the hard disk 36 in advance, and read out and stored in the RAM 33 for use.
Alternatively, the hard disk 36 functions as a recording medium.

The printing bookbinding machines 40 and 50 perform printing of document data which is digital data to be printed under the control of the server 30, respectively.
A bookbinding machine 42, 52 for binding a printed matter output by the printing machines 41, 51 to generate a booklet as a booklet. Note that bookbinding by the bookbinding machines 42 and 52 is not automatically performed under the control of the server 30, but is performed automatically.
The operator executes the manual operation using the bookbinding machines 42 and 52. Further, the printing machine 41 and the printing machine 51 have different characteristics, and the printing machine 41 can print at a high resolution, but has a low printing speed, and the printing machine 51 has a low resolution but can print at a high speed. It is.

With the above configuration, the printing system 1 performs printing and bookbinding under the following printing control.

<2. Processing Procedure> In the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when an operator saves document data in a holder called a hot holder, the document data is automatically converted to a job by a monitoring program that monitors the hot holder at predetermined time intervals. This is a system that performs registration and performs printing and bookbinding automatically by executing the job. Here, the holder is a storage area of data created on the hard disk in the server 30, and means the same as that generally called a directory.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a print output processing procedure in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the print output process in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, each operation is performed by the CPU 31 as software unless otherwise specified.

First, the server administrator activates the print control program in the server 30 (FIG. 3: step S).
1). Here, the print output program is a control program for automatically registering the document data created by the client as a job, and for automatically performing printing and bookbinding.

The printout program activates the main monitoring program upon activation. Here, the monitoring program is a program for monitoring the hot holder at predetermined time intervals, and the hot holder is a storage area for the document data created by the client, and the document data is stored in the hot holder. Then, it is also a command information holding area for the monitoring program, which is automatically registered as a print output job by the monitoring program. The monitoring program also checks which file can be registered and printed as a job according to the rules described later in each hot holder. As will be described later, the main monitoring program can generate a plurality of sub-monitoring programs corresponding to each hot holder on a one-to-one basis. to manage.

Next, the server administrator creates a hot holder in the hard disk in the server 30 (FIG. 3: step S2).

FIG. 4 is a view showing a hot holder operation screen. In the figure, a hot holder information box HB and various buttons are provided. In FIG. 4, three different hot holders are displayed in the hot holder information box HB. Various information shown below is displayed on each hot holder.

The "connection state" at the left end of the hot holder information box indicates a distinction between an online state indicating that the hot holder is operating and an offline state indicating that the hot holder is not operating. To the right is the "rule name" (rule R1) of the rule set for each hot holder.
To R3) are displayed. Here, the rule is a set of information on the print output of the document data such as the attribute of the data format of the document data stored in the hot holder and the designation of the printing machine to which the print is output in each hot holder. When a rule (especially, data format) is checked by a monitoring program performed later, document data that does not satisfy the data format (holder attribute) set in the rule and that does not satisfy the rule is not registered. It is. The setting of the rule will be described later in detail. Also, to the right is the "hot holder name". In addition,
As the hot holder name, a path name that hierarchically indicates the upper folder in which the hot holder is created from the root holder so that the location in the hard disk is clear. "Priority" is shown on the right. This corresponds to the fact that a plurality of rules can be set in one hot holder, and which rule has a higher priority in the hot holder, and more specifically, which document data format is Indicates the priority of printing. This is specified by the server administrator. Thus, for example, the server administrator can change which rule has priority according to the amount of a waiting job of each printing press, that is, the degree of congestion of the printing press. In the hot holder operation screen, a priority is displayed for a connection state of each hot holder in an online state.

Also, in FIG. 4, hot holder "\ PDF-DIR"
Is displayed in reverse video. This indicates a selection state in which the rule of the hot holder is selected, and this means that any rule of any hot holder can be arbitrarily selected by a click of an operator or the like. Then, the operator selects any one of the hot holder and the rule to be activated from the offline hot holder and the rule, and clicks the activation button SB to activate the rule of the hot holder (online). State). Conversely, any one of the hot holder rules in the off-line state can be set to the selected state and stopped (off-line state) by clicking the stop button EB.

Further, a new hot holder can be created by clicking the new creation button NB. The method of new creation will be described later.

By selecting one of the hot holders and clicking the delete button DB, the hot holder can be deleted, and the end button QB
By clicking, the monitoring program can be terminated.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a holder creation screen.
On this screen you can create a hot holder and set the rules described above.

In the holder name input box HX on this screen, the holder name of the hot holder to be created is input. Also, check boxes OX1 and O
By clicking any of X2, it is possible to set whether or not to leave the original document data after registering the job. In the extension display box DX in the holder, a data format set on the detailed rule setting screen described below can be set. In the figure, "*" indicating an arbitrary data format is displayed. Further, the information setting button I
B clicks this to activate a detailed rule setting screen, and can set more detailed rules as described below.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed rule setting screen. In the holder extension designation box IX, when document data is submitted to the hot holder, the data format of the document data to be automatically registered in the job can be designated by the extension of the file. The extension designated for each hot holder is hereinafter referred to as a designated extension. In the figure, the format of the PS data is specified, and in addition, the format of TXT data, TIFF data, and the like can be specified. Conversely, document data other than the data format specified here is not subject to automatic job registration in the hot folder. In the printing machine designation box PX, the printing machine to which the document data in the hot holder is to be output can be designated.
In the printing system 1 of this embodiment, the printing presses 41 and 51 are designated as “A” and “B”, respectively. Also,
As described above, the printing machine of “A”, that is, the printing machine 41 has a high resolution but a low speed. Such a printing machine is suitable for printing document data having a high-definition image. Further, as described above, the printing machine of "B", that is, the printing machine 51 has a low resolution but a high speed. Such a printing machine is suitable for printing text format document data and the like. Therefore, in FIG. 6 in which the printing machine “A” is designated, a high resolution is often required.
An extension representing the data format of data, ".PS", is designated as a designated extension. Conversely, although not shown, in the rule designating the printing machine “B”, the designated extension is “.TXT” or the like. In this way, by specifying a different printing destination as the printing machine according to the specified extension, efficient job management can be performed.

The print status check boxes CX1,
By clicking any one of CX2, it is possible to designate either "immediate printing" for immediately printing out or "registration only" for printing only the job and not printing immediately. When the user clicks an OK button OB after inputting all necessary items, the rule is set.

After setting one rule in this way, to set another rule, the user clicks the “Next” button XB. Then, a detailed rule setting screen similar to that of FIG. 6 is activated, and another rule setting can be performed for the same hot holder. That is,
A plurality of different rules can be set for one hot holder.

Returning to the description of the holder creation screen of FIG. The printing system 1 can adopt a multi-holder format in which a sub-holder, which is a lower-level holder, can be created in a hot holder.
A plurality of document data in a group can be stored collectively and registered as one job. In the case where the target printed matter is a booklet having a plurality of pages, it is better to register the document data for each book as one job than to register the document data for each page as one job. This is because it is convenient when the printed matter output later is sorted and bound. Specifically, multi-holder check box MX
By clicking one of MX1 and MX2, it is possible to set whether the multi-holder format is possible or not. In addition, when the multi-holder format is set to be possible, the setting of “multiple page handling” determines in which order the file names of a plurality of document data files stored in one sub-folder should be printed. Multiple page box P
The order in which a plurality of document data is printed out in the LX can be designated by selecting one of the ascending order and descending order of the file name and the ascending order and descending order of the time stamp of the file.

If the multi-holder is set to be possible in this setting, the worker can use the client 10 or 20.
The user can arbitrarily create a sub-holder in the hot holder, and save a plurality of document data created in the sub-holder. At that time, in order to print the document data in the page order, the file name of each document data is changed or the time stamp is changed in accordance with the rules set in the multi-page box PLX.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which file names are given according to the setting of the multi-page box PLX. This example shows a case where “name ascending order” is set in the multi-page box PLX. A sub-holder with the holder name “Scan” is created in the hot holder, and the first and second pages are placed in the holder. The file names of the document data DD of the third page are "1.TIFF", "3.TIF"
As a result, the file "1.TIFF" is page 1 (first), the file "3.TIFF" is page 2 (second), and the file "5.TIFF""To three pages (3
2) indicates that the job is registered with the job name “Scan”.

With respect to the hot holder created or set in this way, the server administrator selects an online hot holder on the hot holder operation screen (selects the hot holder), and clicks the start button SB. The sub-monitoring program corresponding to the holder one-to-one starts and executes processing (FIG. 3: step S).
3). Hereinafter, processing by the sub monitoring program will be described in detail.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the monitoring program, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the processing by the monitoring program. As described above, when the start button is clicked on the hot holder operation screen, the main monitoring program reads the hot holder information and rules for the started hot holder (FIG. 8: step S11), and also reads the hot holder information and rules. Start the sub-monitoring program corresponding to.
As a result, the same number of sub-monitoring programs as the number of activated hot holders are activated, and are subjected to parallel processing (multitask).

Hereinafter, one sub monitoring program will be described. First, when the sub-monitoring program starts, the document data DD is sent to the corresponding hot folder.
(Step S12 in FIG. 8), and if there is no submission, it waits while monitoring the target hot holder until there is submission of document data DD. When the submission is completed, the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, the priority is determined (FIG. 8: step S13) and a rule check is performed (FIG. 8: step S1).
4) A search is made for a file or a sub-folder of the document data DD that conforms to the rule of the target hot holder, and if none of them is found, step S1
Return to 2. Conversely, if there is a file or sub-holder that matches the rule, go to the next step.

Next, a file that conforms to the rule in step S14 or a file in the sub-holder is registered as a job (FIG. 8: step S15).

The monitoring program always performs such processing in parallel by the number of hot holders.

Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the print control program automatically executes the jobs registered by the monitoring program as described above in the order of registration (FIG. 3: step S).
4). The execution of this job is also processed in parallel with the monitoring program. This causes the printing machine 41 or 51 to print the document data according to the information of the designated rule. Thereby, a desired printed matter is obtained. Further, if necessary, the obtained printed matter is compiled into a booklet or the like by using a bookbinding device or the like. Then, such processing is always continued.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the CPU 31 of the server 30 monitors the storage of the document data in the hot holder at predetermined time intervals, and confirms that the document data has been stored in the hot holder. When the document data is detected, the document data is registered as a job, so that the job can be automatically registered. Therefore, the work load on the operator can be reduced, thereby reducing the labor cost and the printing cost.

Further, a plurality of document data to be printed as a group of prints are stored in a sub-holder provided in the hot holder, and the document data in the sub-holder is registered as one job. Can be easily sorted.

The extension indicating the data format of the document data stored in the hot folder is compared with the designated extension which is the data format of the document data to be registered as a job by storing the document data in the hot holder. Since the job registration of the document data is performed only when the extension is common to each other, the data format of the document data can be checked for each hot holder, and accordingly, the output destination at the time of the job registration for each hot holder can be checked. Since the printing machines can be sorted, printing can be performed by the printing machines according to the data format, and efficient job management can be performed.

Since the CPU 31 of the server 30 controls the printing machines 41 and 51 to print out the document data, the printing can be automatically performed.

<3. Modifications> In the above-described embodiment, an example of the printing system 1 and printing control by the printing system 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the bookbinding machine 42, 52 is also connected to the bus line BL, and the bookbinding rules (for example, paper Bookbinding may be automatically performed by setting the size and the like.

[0054]

As described above, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the monitoring means monitors the storage of the print data in the hot holder at predetermined time intervals, and the job registration means stores the print data in the hot holder. When it is detected that the print data has been saved, the print data is registered as a job, so that the job can be automatically registered, so that the work load on the operator can be reduced, thereby reducing labor costs. Printing costs can be reduced. Also, according to the invention of claim 5, the above functions can be realized by a computer, so that the same effect is obtained.

According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of print data to be printed as a group of prints are stored in the sub-holder provided in the hot holder, and the print data in the sub-holder is stored. Since the print data is registered as one job, it is possible to easily sort the printed matter after the printout.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the attribute of the print data stored in the hot holder is compared with the holder attribute which is the attribute of the print data to be registered in the job by storing in the hot holder. However, since the job registration of the print data is performed only when both attributes are common to each other, the attributes of the print data can be checked for each hot holder, and the output printing press can be sorted for each hot holder. Therefore, the output can be performed by a printing machine corresponding to the attribute, and efficient job management can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a print control unit comprising the print control device according to any one of the first to third aspects controls the print unit to print out print data. Therefore, printing can be performed automatically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a print bookbinding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a server and a connection with the outside.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print output processing procedure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a hot holder operation screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a holder creation screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed rule setting screen.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which file names are given according to the setting of “handling of a plurality of pages”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a monitoring program.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of processing by a monitoring program.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 printing system 30 server 30a display 30b mouse 30c keyboard 31 CPU 31a monitoring unit 31b job registration unit 31c job execution unit 34 reading unit 35 input unit (attribute setting unit) 36 hard disk (data storage unit, recording medium) 41, 51 printing machine DD document data R1 to R3 Rule RM Recording medium 32 ROM (Recording medium)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A print control device for controlling a print output of a printed matter, comprising: a data storage unit for storing print data in a hot holder, which is a storage area for storing print data to be printed; Monitoring means for monitoring the storage of print data in the hot folder at predetermined time intervals; and job registration for registering the print data as a print output job when the monitoring means detects that print data has been stored in the hot holder. And a printing control device. 2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the data storage unit creates a sub-holder in the hot holder for collectively storing a plurality of print data to be printed as a group of prints. A print control apparatus, comprising: a sub-holder creating unit, wherein the job registering unit, when a sub-holder exists in the hot holder, registers print data in the sub-holder as one job. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an attribute setting unit configured to set a holder attribute which is an attribute of print data to be registered in the job by storing the job in a hot holder. A print control apparatus, wherein a registration unit compares an attribute of print data stored in a hot holder with the holder attribute, and registers a job of the print data only when both attributes are common to each other. 4. A print control unit comprising the print control device according to claim 1, and a print unit for printing out print data, wherein the print control unit controls the print unit. A printing system, further comprising: a job execution unit that executes a registered job by controlling printing of print data. 5. A print control method for controlling the output of a printed material, comprising: a data storage step of storing print data in a hot holder, which is a storage area for storing print data to be printed; A monitoring step of monitoring storage of the print data at predetermined time intervals; and a job registration step of registering the print data as a print output job when the monitoring unit detects that the print data is stored in the hot holder. Wherein the data saving step saves a plurality of print data to be printed as a group of prints in a sub-holder provided in the hot holder when storing the plurality of print data in a hot holder. In the job registration process, if a sub-holder exists in the hot holder, the print data in the Print control method which is characterized in that for registering as a drive. 6. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for controlling output of a printed material is recorded by a computer, wherein the print data is stored in a hot holder, which is a storage area for storing print data to be a basis of printing. A monitoring function for monitoring the storage of print data in the hot holder at predetermined time intervals; and registering the print data as a print output job when the monitoring means stores the print data in the hot holder. A recording medium characterized by recording a program for realizing a job registration function.