JP3779833B2 - Printer system, printer method, and terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network printer system in which a terminal device and a printer are connected via a network such as a local area network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional network printer system, for example, there is JP-A-7-64740. In this printing method in the network printer system, common format data such as document creation and spreadsheet is registered in advance in the printer, and only additional information from the user is transmitted and received, thereby reducing the network load and printing time. Is to shorten.
[0003]
However, in the conventional network printer system, print data is transmitted from the terminal device to the printer every time a print request occurs. For this reason, when a large number of print requests are generated, the amount of print data sent and received increases accordingly, increasing the traffic of the entire network, which reduces the operating efficiency of the entire devices connected to the network. It was.
[0004]
Also, in the conventional network printer system, when the print data storage area is insufficient, the old print data is deleted in order. In this case, even if the data is old data but frequently reprinted, it is deleted when other print data is stored, and transmission and reception must be performed again.
[0005]
Further, in the conventional network printer system, there is a drawback that the print data must be transmitted and received again in the case of print data in which a part of the stored print data is corrected.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and by suppressing the children that transmit and receive data during printing, the traffic amount of the entire network can be reduced, and the operating efficiency of the entire device can be improved. It is an object to provide a printer system , a printer method, and a terminal device .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, the printer system according to claim 1 is a printer system in which a terminal device and a printer are connected via a network, and the terminal device print data that divides print data into predetermined blocks. A dividing unit; an identifier providing unit that assigns an identifier to at least one of the print data before being divided by the print data dividing unit; and the print data after being divided by the print data dividing unit; A divided print data storage selection unit that selects storage of at least one of the print data and the divided print data; and an identifier transmission unit that transmits the identifier to the printer. A print data storage means for storing print data received from the terminal device, and the terminal device When the print data selected to be stored by the divided print data storage selection unit corresponding to the received identifier is not stored in the print data storage unit, the print data corresponding to the identifier is transmitted to the terminal device The print data storage means stores print data corresponding to the identifier transmitted from the terminal device based on a transmission request from the print data control means. To do.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer method in a printer system in which a terminal device and a printer are connected via a network, wherein the terminal device divides print data into predetermined blocks. An identifier assigning step for assigning an identifier to at least one of the print data before being divided by the print data dividing step and the print data after being divided by the print data dividing step, and the printing before the division A divided print data storage selection step for selecting storage of at least one of data and the divided print data in a storage medium; and an identifier transmission step for transmitting the identifier to the printer. The print data received from the terminal device is stored in a storage medium. And when the print data selected by the divided print data selection step corresponding to the identifier received from the terminal device is not stored in the storage medium, the terminal device corresponds to the identifier. A print data control step for requesting transmission of print data to be printed, and print data corresponding to the identifier transmitted from the terminal device based on the transmission request for the print data control step is transmitted in the print data storage step. The information is stored in the storage medium .
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal device comprising: a print data dividing means for dividing print data into predetermined blocks; print data before being divided by the print data dividing means; and the print data dividing means. At least one of an identifier assigning unit that assigns an identifier to at least one of the print data after the print data, print data before being divided by the print data dividing unit, and print data after being divided by the print data dividing unit And divided print data storage selection means for selecting to store the print data .
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network printer system showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a network printer 1, a terminal device 3 and a terminal device 4 are connected via a network 5. The network printer 1 is equipped with a LAN I / F unit 1a that is an interface with the local area network LAN, and is connected to the network 5 via the LAN I / F unit 1a. Similarly, the terminal device 3 is equipped with a LAN I / F unit 3a, and is connected to the network 5 via the LAN I / F unit 3a. The terminal device 4 is equipped with a LAN I / F unit 4a, and is connected to the network 5 via the LAN I / F unit 4a.
[0014]
In this embodiment, two terminal devices are described. However, the number of terminal devices is not limited to two, and a necessary number is connected to the network printer 1 via the network 5 as necessary. And
[0015]
A hard disk device 2 is connected to the network printer 1, and print data and the like are stored in the hard disk device 2 and transferred to the network printer 1 and printed as necessary.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network printer 1 and the terminal device 3 showing the first embodiment of the network printer system of the present invention. In this embodiment, a single terminal device will be described, but it is possible to add terminal devices as necessary. The first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, a print data generation unit 201 generates print data, and is software such as word processing software and spreadsheet software that operates on a terminal. An identifier assigning unit 202 receives print data from the print data generation unit 201 and generates a unique identifier for the print data. If the data is the same as that received so far, the same identifier is output.
[0017]
The print data transmission unit 203 receives print data from the print data generation unit 201, and performs output via the network 5 in accordance with an instruction from the print data transmission control unit 210. The identifier transmission unit 204 receives the identifier from the identifier assigning unit 202 and performs output via the network 5. The print data reception unit 205 receives print data from the print data generation unit 201 via the network 5 via the print data transmission unit 203.
[0018]
The identifier receiving unit 206 receives the identifier assigned by the identifier assigning unit 202 from the identifier transmitting unit 204 via the network 5. The print data storage unit 207 receives the identifier from the identifier reception unit 206. Thereafter, in accordance with a command from the print data control unit 208, the print data is received from the print data receiving unit 205 and output from the print data output unit 209.
[0019]
If the print data has already been stored in the print data storage unit 207, the print data stored in the print data storage unit 207 itself is output from the print data output unit 209. The received print data is stored together with a storage number that is a value indicating the order of reception, and when the total amount of stored print data exceeds the allowable storage capacity, the oldest print data is deleted in order. . The print data storage unit 207 is a hard disk, a memory, or the like that is connected to or mounted on the network printer.
[0020]
The print data control unit 208 receives the identifier from the identifier reception unit 206, checks whether data corresponding to the identifier is stored in the print data storage unit 207, and if not, stores the data in the network. 5, a print data transmission request signal is transmitted to the print data transmission control unit 210. A print data output unit 209 receives print data from the print data storage unit 207 and executes printing. The print data output unit 209 is a print engine on a printer.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of identifiers and storage numbers, showing an example of assigning print data identifiers and storage numbers. Since print data may be issued by a plurality of users, a method of combining a value indicating the user with a date and time may be considered as the identifier. It is also conceivable to add the name of the print data to this identifier. Further, a method of combining the storage number with a date and time combined with a value indicating the order stored in the print data storage unit 207 is conceivable.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the print data control unit 208 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The operation flow of the print data control unit 208 will be described with reference to FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, first, it is checked whether there is an identifier notification from the identifier receiving unit 206 (S301). When there is an identifier reception notification from the identifier receiving unit 206 (Yes in S301), it is confirmed whether or not the existing print data of the received identifier exists in the print data storage unit 207 (S302).
[0023]
If the existing print data with the received identifier exists in the print data storage unit 207 (Yes in S302), the print data storage unit 207 is instructed to output the existing print data corresponding to the identifier (S303). If there is no print data corresponding to the identifier (no in S302), the print data transmission control unit 210 is instructed to transmit print data via the network 5 (S304). In either case, after completion, the process returns to S301 to perform the next printing. If there is no identifier reception notification from the identifier receiving unit 206 (no in S301), the process returns to S301 in the reception waiting state in order to perform the next printing. The process ends when all print jobs are completed.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network printer 1 and the terminal device 3 showing the second embodiment of the network printer system of the present invention. In this embodiment, a single terminal device will be described, but it is possible to add terminal devices as necessary. The second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The difference between the second embodiment in FIG. 5 and the first embodiment in FIG. 2 is that the print data control unit 208 in FIG. 2 is replaced with a print data control unit 408 in FIG. The unit 408 is the same as the configuration in FIG. 2 except that the arrangement of the print data stored in the print data storage unit 207 is changed.
[0025]
The print data control unit 408 receives the identifier from the identifier receiving unit 206, checks whether the print data corresponding to the identifier is stored in the print data storage unit 207, and the data corresponding to the identifier is stored in the print data storage unit 207. If not stored, a print data transmission request signal is transmitted to the print data transmission control unit 210 via the network 5. When data corresponding to the identifier is stored in the print data storage unit 207, an existing print data request signal is transmitted to the print data storage unit 207. When the existing print data request signal is transmitted, the storage number of the print data corresponding to the identifier is then rewritten to the storage number indicating the newest.
[0026]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the print data control unit 408 according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The operation flow of the print data control unit 408 will be described with reference to FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, it is checked whether there is an identifier notification from the identifier receiving unit 206 (S501). When there is an identifier reception notification from the identifier receiving unit 206 (Yes in S501), it is confirmed whether the print data of the received identifier exists in the print data storage unit 207 (S502).
[0027]
If the received print data of the identifier exists in the print data storage unit 207 (Yes in S502), the print data storage unit 207 is instructed to output the existing print data corresponding to the identifier (S503). After the command to output the existing print data, the print data storage number corresponding to the received identifier stored in the print data storage unit 207 is rewritten so as to be the newest (S505). If there is no print data with the identifier (no in S502), the print data transmission control unit 210 is instructed to transmit print data via the network 5 (S504).
[0028]
The print data that has received the transmission command is sent from the print data transmission unit 203 to the print data storage unit 207 via the print data reception unit 205, is given a storage number, is stored, and is output from the print data output unit 209. Is done. In either case, after completion, the process returns to S501 to perform the next printing. If there is no identifier reception notification from the identifier receiving unit 206 (no in S501), the process returns to S502 in a print-waiting state in order to perform the next printing. The process ends when all print jobs are completed.
[0029]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network printer 1 and the terminal device 3 showing the third embodiment of the network printer system of the present invention. In this embodiment, a single terminal device will be described, but it is possible to add terminal devices as necessary. The third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The difference between the third embodiment in FIG. 7 and the second embodiment in FIG. 5 is that the identifier assigning unit 202 in FIG. 5 is replaced with the identifier assigning unit 602 in FIG. 7, and the print data transmitting unit 203 in FIG. In FIG. 7, the print data transmission unit 603 is replaced, and a print data division unit 610 is newly added. The print data division unit 610 receives print data from the print data generation unit 201, divides the print data into pieces of a certain size, and sends the divided print data to the identifier assigning unit 602 and the print data transmission unit 603. Other than that, the configuration is the same as in FIG.
[0030]
The identifier assigning unit 602 receives print data from the print data dividing unit 610 and generates a unique identifier. If the data is the same as that received so far, the same identifier is output. When the print data is divided, a unique identifier is generated for each divided data. When the print data before being divided is also left as it is, the identifier of the print data before being divided can be left together with the print data.
[0031]
The print data transmission unit 603 receives print data from the print data division unit 610 and performs output via the network 5 in accordance with a command from the print data transmission control unit 210. A print data division unit 610 receives print data from the print data generation unit 201 and divides the print data into pieces of data having a certain size. This operation is the same as that shown in the second embodiment except that the print data divided by the print data dividing unit 610 is used instead of the data generated by the print data generating unit 201. It is the same.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when reprinting print data that has been printed in the past, only the identifier is transmitted / received, and the print data stored in the network printer is not transmitted / received. Since the data is printed as it is, the traffic of the entire network can be reduced.
[0033]
Further, according to the present invention, when the data existing in the print data storage means is reprinted, the storage number to be stored is changed to the latest position, so that frequently used print data is stored in the storage area for a longer time. As a result, opportunities for transmission and reception can be suppressed.
[0034]
In addition, according to the present invention, print data that exceeds the allowable limit of storage capacity is deleted in order from the oldest print data used, so that it is unlikely that frequently used print data will be deleted, and traffic The burden can be reduced.
[0035]
Further, according to the present invention, since the print data can be divided, only the block of the divided print data in which the corrected portion exists is transmitted / received even when the print data partially corrected is printed again. As a result, opportunities for transmission and reception can be suppressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a network printer system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network printer and a terminal device according to a first embodiment of the network printer system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of identifiers and storage numbers, showing an example of assigning print data identifiers and storage numbers in the network printer system of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a print data control unit of the network printer system shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network printer and a terminal device according to a second embodiment of the network printer system of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a print data control unit of the network printer system shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network printer and a terminal device according to a third embodiment of the network printer system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network printer 2 Hard disk device 3 Terminal device 4 Terminal device 5 Network 201 Print data generation part 202 Identifier assignment part 203 Print data transmission part 204 Identifier transmission part 205 Print data reception part 206 Identifier reception part 207 Print data storage part 208 Print data control Unit 209 print data output unit 210 print data transmission control unit

Claims (3)

In a printer system in which a terminal device and a printer are connected via a network,
The terminal device
Print data dividing means for dividing the print data into predetermined blocks;
An identifier assigning means for assigning an identifier to at least one of the print data before being divided by the print data dividing means and the print data after being divided by the print data dividing means;
Divided print data storage selection means for selecting to store at least one of the print data before the division and the print data after the division;
Identifier transmitting means for transmitting the identifier to the printer;
The printer is
Print data storage means for storing print data received from the terminal device;
When the print data selected to be stored by the divided print data storage selection unit corresponding to the identifier received from the terminal device is not stored in the print data storage unit, the terminal device corresponds to the identifier. Print data control means for requesting transmission of print data;
Purine Tashisutemu, characterized in that the print data corresponding to the identifier transmitted from the terminal device based on the transmission request of the print data control unit, the print data storage means stores. In a printer method in a printer system in which a terminal device and a printer are connected via a network,
In the terminal device,
A print data dividing step for dividing the print data into predetermined blocks;
An identifier providing step for assigning an identifier to at least one of the print data before being divided by the print data dividing step and the print data after being divided by the print data dividing step;
A divided print data storage selection step for selecting to store at least one of the print data before the division and the print data after the division;
An identifier transmission step of transmitting the identifier to the printer;
In the printer,
A print data storage step of storing print data received from the terminal device in a storage medium;
When the print data selected to be stored in the divided print data selection step corresponding to the identifier received from the terminal device is not stored in the storage medium, the print data corresponding to the identifier is transmitted to the terminal device A print data control process that requires
A printer method, wherein print data corresponding to the identifier transmitted from the terminal device based on a transmission request in the print data control step is stored in the storage medium in the print data storage step. Print data dividing means for dividing the print data into predetermined blocks;
An identifier assigning means for assigning an identifier to at least one of the print data before being divided by the print data dividing means and the print data after being divided by the print data dividing means;
Divided print data storage selection means for selecting to store at least one of the print data before being divided by the print data dividing means and the print data after being divided by the print data dividing means;
The terminal device characterized by having.

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