Network printer system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a network printer system in which a workstation and a network printer are connected by a network, and print data output by the workstation is received and printed by the network printer.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in a network printer system, when a workstation uses a printer font additionally registered in the storage device of a network printer, a screen font for the font to be used is installed, and the font is specified in a document for print output. I was letting you.

【0003】

In addition, when a workstation outputs a document file to a network printer, a network printer system (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-) is designed to perform Japanese code conversion corresponding to the Japanese code system of the network printer and output the document file. There was (see 302816).

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the conventional network printer system described above, for example, when a workstation prints a document using font A using a network printer in the network, the document is output to printer A that owns the font A. If you output to printer B that does not own font A, you may not be able to print it, it may be printed by replacing it with an alternative font, or it may be printed as the screen font of font A. There was a problem that the expected print result could not be obtained when printing a document.

【0005】

Also, when printing a document on a workstation, it is necessary to check the font installed in the network printer and output the document to the network printer that owns the font A used in the document. There was also a problem that it became complicated.

【0006】

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable a network printer to print a document created by a workstation in a font as expected.

【0007】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a network printer system in which a workstation and a network printer are connected by a network, and print data output by the workstation is received and printed by the network printer. , The registration means for registering all the printer font information used by the above workstation, and the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired by the above network printer from each printer font information registered in the means. When a font server having a transmission means for transmitting to the network printer is connected and a printer font that does not exist in the network printer is specified by the print data received from the workstation to the network printer, the specified printer is used. The print data based on the inquiry means for inquiring the font to the font server, the receiving means for receiving the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired by the means from the font server, and the printer font information received by the means. Is provided with a control means for printing the printer.

【0008】

Further, in the network printer system as described above, the registration means for registering all the printer font information used by the workstation in the network and the network printer from the printer font information registered in the means. An expansion means for expanding the image of the printer font in the memory based on the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired by, and a transmission means for transmitting the image information of the printer font image expanded by the means to the above network printer. When a printer font that does not exist in the network printer is specified to the network printer by the print data received from the workstation, the specified printer font is inquired to the font server. It is preferable to provide means, a receiving means for receiving image information corresponding to the printer font inquired by the means from the font server, and a control means for printing the print data based on the image information received by the means. ..

【0009】

Further, when the printer font information or the image information is transmitted to the network printer, the font server is provided with a compression means for compressing the information, and the network printer is decompressed to decompress the information received from the font server. It is even better to provide means.

【0010】

[Action]

The network printer system according to the present invention uses the specified printer font by the workstation when the network printer specifies a printer font that does not exist in the network printer by the print data received from the workstation via the network. All the printer font information is inquired to the registered font server, the printer font information corresponding to the inquired printer font is received from the font server, and the print data is printed based on the received printer font information. Even a document with a printer font that you do not own in the network printer can be printed with the font requested by the workstation, and the workstation side checks whether the printer font you want to use for the network printer exists. You can print a document without any problems.

【0011】

In addition, when a printer font that does not exist in the network printer is specified by the print data received from the workstation via the network by the network printer, all the printer font information used by the workstation for the specified printer font. The font server inquires about the registered font server, and the font server expands the image of the printer font in the memory based on the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired by the network printer, and the image information of the expanded printer font. Is sent to the network printer, and the network printer prints the print data based on the image information received from the font server. Therefore, a printer font that is not owned in the network printer is specified and the outline font is supported. Documents in a page description language that has not been printed can be printed in the font requested by the workstation. Therefore, the workstation side can print the document without checking whether the printer font to be used for the network printer exists, and the document using the page description language that does not support the outline font. But you can print in the font you requested from your workstation.

【0012】

Further, in the font server, when the printer font information or the image information is transmitted to the network printer, the information is compressed, and in the network printer, the information received from the font server is decompressed, so that the font server can be used for the network printer. The transfer speed of printer font information or image information can be increased, and the print processing time can be shortened.

【0013】

[Example]

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this network printer system, workstation (WS1) 1, workstation (WS2) 2, network printer 3, network printer 4, font server 5, file server 6, and print server 7 communicate with each other via a network such as LAN. It is connected as possible.

【0014】

The WS1 includes a control unit 11 and a local area network interface (LANI / F) unit 12 realized by a microcomputer consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., as well as an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, a CRT, and a CRT, which are not shown. It is equipped with a display unit such as an LCD. Like WS1, WS2 also has a control unit 21 and a LANI / F unit 22, as well as an input unit and a display unit (not shown).

【0015】

The network printer 3 is an operation panel for inputting various operation instructions (not shown) together with a control unit 31 and a local area network interface (LANI / F) unit 32 realized by a microcomputer composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. A page printer such as an inkjet printer or a laser printer, which is provided with a unit, a display unit for various messages, and a mechanism unit for printing print data on paper such as paper.

【0016】

Like the network printer 3, the network printer 4 is a page printer such as an inkjet printer or a laser printer equipped with an operation panel unit, a display unit, a printing mechanism unit, etc., which are not shown, together with the control unit 41 and the LANI / F unit 42. is there.

【0017】

The font server 5 includes all printer font information used in WS1 and WS2 together with a control unit 51 and a local area network interface (LANI / F) unit 52 realized by a microcomputer consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. It is equipped with a hard disk device for registering fonts and a storage device 53 such as an optical disk device.

【0018】

The file server 6 can read data such as documents by WS1, WS2, etc. together with a control unit 61 and a local area network interface (LANI / F) unit 62 realized by a microcomputer consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. It is equipped with a hard disk device to be registered in the above and a storage device 63 such as an optical disk device.

【0019】

The print server 7 is output from WS1 and WS2 to printers 3 and 4 together with a control unit 71 and a local area network interface (LANI / F) unit 72 realized by a microcomputer consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. A hard disk device for temporarily storing print data and a storage device 73 such as an optical disk device are provided.

【0020】

The control units 11 and 21 control the entire WS1 and WS2, respectively, and also create a document and print a document using the network printers 3 and 4, respectively. LAN I / F units 12 and 22 control the transmission and reception of data via network 8 in WS1 and WS2, respectively.

【0021】

The control units 31 and 41 control the entire network printers 3 and 4, respectively, and execute a process of printing the print data received from WS1 and WS2 in a desired printer font by the print mechanism unit (not shown). LAN I / F units 32 and 42 control the transmission and reception of data via network 8 in network printers 3 and 4, respectively, and receive print data from WS1 and WS2, and based on the instructions of control units 31 and 41. Communicates to the font server 5 such as font inquiries.

【0022】

That is, when the LANI / F units 32 and 42 specify a printer font that does not exist in the network printer by the print data received from WS1 and WS2, the inquiry inquires the font server 5 for the specified printer font. It functions as a means and a receiving means for receiving printer font information corresponding to the inquired printer font from the font server 5. Further, the control units 31 and 41 function as control means for causing the print mechanism unit (not shown) to print the print data based on the printer font information received from the font server 5.

【0023】

The control unit 51 controls the entire font server 5, and performs processing such as providing printer font information of the printer font requested by the network printers 3 and 4. The LAN I / F unit 52 controls communication such as transmission of printer font information to network printers 3 and 4. The storage device 53 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device that readablely stores all printer font information used in WS1 and WS2.

【0024】

That is, the storage device 53 corresponds to a registration means for registering all printer font information used by the workstation. Further, the control unit 51 and the LANI / F unit 52 transmit the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired by the network printer from the printer font information registered in the storage device 53 to the network printer. Serve as a means.

【0025】

The control unit 61 controls the entire file server 6 and performs processing for providing the document data requested by WS1 and WS2. The LAN I / F unit 62 controls communication such as transmission of document data to WS1 and WS2. The storage device 63 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device that readablely stores the document data used in WS1 and WS2.

【0026】

The control unit 71 controls the entire print server 7, temporarily stores the print data transmitted from the WS1 and WS2, and stores the stored data in the network printer 3 or 4 designated by the WS1 and WS2. Performs control processing to output all at once or sequentially and print.

【0027】

The LAN I / F unit 72 controls communication such as receiving print data from WS1 and WS2 and transmitting print data to network printers 3 and 4. The storage device 73 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device that temporarily stores the print data received from WS1 and WS2 until it is output to the designated network printer 3 or 4.

【0028】

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the types of printer fonts that can be used in the workstations 1 and 2 and the types of printer fonts owned by the network printers 3 and 4.

【0029】

As shown in (a) of FIG. 2, screen fonts of four different fonts A, B, C, and D are installed in the control unit 11 of WS1. Further, as shown in (b) of the figure, screen fonts of four different fonts A, B, C, and D are similarly installed in the control unit 21 of WS2.

【0030】

On the other hand, as shown in (c) of FIG. 2, the control unit 31 of the network printer 3 owns the printer fonts of the above three types of fonts A, B, and C, and the print data can be printed by them. It is possible. Further, as shown in (d) of the figure, the control unit 41 of the network printer 4 owns the printer fonts of the above two types of fonts C and D, and can print the print data by them. is there.

【0031】

Then, all the printer font information of the above four types of fonts A, B, C, and D is installed in the storage device 53 of the font server 5, and they are recorded readable.

【0032】

Next, the print process in the network printer system of this embodiment will be described. Here, WS1 transmits the print data directly to the network printer 4 or via the print server 7 to print. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of WS1, the network printer 4, and the font server 5.

【0033】

First, a virtual circuit is established between WS1 and network printer 4, and between network printer 4 and font server 5. WS1 prints print data using fonts B and D in step 1 (indicated by "S" in the figure) 1, and outputs the print data to the network printer 4 directly or via the print server 7.

【0034】

When the network printer 4 receives print data from WS1 or the print server 7, it determines in step 2 whether or not a printer font that it does not own is specified in the print data, and if it is not specified, step. Proceed to step 4 to expand the received print data to the page memory and execute the print process.

【0035】

If a printer font that you do not own is specified in the print data received in step 2, proceed to step 3 and inquire the font server 5 for the font information of that printer font. When the font server 5 receives an inquiry about the printer font from the network printer 4, the font server 5 reads the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired from the storage device 53 in step 5 and transmits the printer font information to the network printer 4.

【0036】

When the network printer 4 receives the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired from the font server 5, the network printer 4 expands the print data received from WS1 based on the printer font information in step 4 to the page memory and performs the print process. Execute.

【0037】

This process will be further described. When WS1 outputs the print data of a document created using fonts B and D to the network printer 4, it is transmitted from WS1 directly to the network printer 4 or via the print server 7.

【0038】

When the network printer 4 receives the print data, it starts expanding to the page memory of the network printer 4 using the page description language specified in the print data or using the current page description language, but the font in the print data. Since B does not exist in the network printer 4, a packet inquiring about the printer font information of font B is sent to the font server 5.

【0039】

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the font inquiry packet when the printer font information is inquired from the network printer to the font server. This packet stores the character code specified in the print data and the name of the printer font (in this case, the name of "font B") in the header.

【0040】

When the font server 5 receives the packet, it reads the printer font information of the character code specified by the font B from the storage device 53 and sends it to the network printer 4. When the network printer 4 receives the printer font information from the font server 5, it expands to the address specified in the print data of the page memory of the network printer 4.

【0041】

Then, by repeating the above processing, even if a printer font that is not owned by the network printer 4 is specified in the print data requested to be printed by WS1, print output can be performed with the specified printer font. ..

【0042】

In this way, when a printer font that does not exist in its own device is specified in the print data requested to be printed by the workstation, the network printer acquires the printer font information of the specified printer font from the font server. The printer can print with the font expected on the workstation side.

【0043】

Also, on the workstation side, you can easily output the print data with the expected font just by outputting the print data to any network printer in the network without checking which network printer has the printer font you want to use. Obtainable.

【0044】

Next, another embodiment will be described. The configuration of the network printer system in this embodiment is the same as the system configuration shown in FIG. 1, but the functions of the font server and the network printer are slightly different from those in the above embodiment.

【0045】

The font server 5 of this embodiment does not transmit the inquired printer font information to the network printers 3 and 4 as it is, but transmits the image information created based on the printer font information. Further, the network printers 3 and 4 print the print data based on the image information received from the font server 5.

【0046】

That is, in this embodiment, the control unit 51 printers the printer in the memory based on the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired by the network printer 3 or 4 from the printer font information registered in the storage device 53. It functions as an expansion means for expanding fonts. Further, the LANI / F unit 52 functions as a transmission means for transmitting the image information of the image-expanded printer font to the network printer 3 or 4.

【0047】

Further, the LANI / F units 32 and 42 function as a receiving means for receiving the image information corresponding to the printer font inquired from the font server 5, and the control units 31 and 41 are based on the received image information. It functions as a control means for printing print data.

【0048】

Next, the print process in the network printer system of this embodiment will be described. Here, WS2 transmits the print data directly to the network printer 3 or via the print server 7 to perform printing. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of WS2, the network printer 3, and the font server 5.

【0049】

First, a virtual circuit is established between WS2 and network printer 3 and between network printer 3 and font server 5. WS2 prints print data using fonts C and D in step 11 (indicated by "S" in the figure) 11, and outputs the print data directly to the network printer 3 or via the print server 7.

【0050】

When the network printer 3 receives print data from WS2 or the print server 7, it determines in step 12 whether or not a printer font that it does not own is specified in the print data, and if it is not specified, step. Proceed to step 15, expand the received print data to the page memory, and execute the print process.

【0051】

If a printer font that you do not own is specified in the print data received in step 12, proceed to step 13 and inquire the font server 5 for the font information of that printer font.

【0052】

When the font server 5 receives an inquiry about the printer font from the network printer 3, the font server 5 reads the printer font information corresponding to the printer font inquired from the storage device 53 in step 16, and the printer font is stored in the memory based on the printer font information. To create a font image by expanding the image, proceed to step 14 and send the font image as image information to the network printer 3.

【0053】

When the network printer 3 receives the image information corresponding to the printer font inquired from the font server 5, the network printer 3 copies the font image to the address of the print data received from WS2 in the page memory in step 14, and executes the print process. ..

【0054】

This process will be further described. When WS2 outputs the print data of a document created using fonts C and D to the network printer 3, it is transmitted from WS2 directly to the network printer 3 or via the print server 7.

【0055】

When the network printer 3 receives the print data, it starts expanding to the page memory of the network printer 3 using the specified or current print emulation in the print data, but the font D in the print data. Does not exist in the network printer 3, so it sends a packet inquiring about the printer font of font D to the font server 5.

【0056】

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the font inquiry packet when inquiring the printer font information from the network printer to the font server in the case of this embodiment. In this packet, the character code specified in the print data, its font size, the name of the printer font (in this case, the name of "font D"), the printer resolution information, and the like are stored in the header.

【0057】

When the font server 5 receives the packet, it reads the printer font information of the specified character code of the font D from the storage device 53, and images the font image in the memory in the font server based on the font size and the printer resolution. Expand and send the image information of the expanded font image to the network printer 3. When the network printer 3 receives the image information from the font server 5, it copies the image information to the address specified by the received print data in the page memory of the network printer 3.

【0058】

Then, by repeating the above processing, even in the case of the page description language in which the printer font not owned by the network printer 3 is specified in the print data requested to be printed by WS2 and the outline font is not supported. , You can print out with the specified printer font.

【0059】

In this way, when a printer font that does not exist in the own device is specified in the print data requested to be printed by the workstation, the network printer is based on the printer font information of the specified printer font from the font server. Since the image information of the created font is acquired and printing is performed based on the image information, the printing process can be performed with the font expected on the workstation side.

【0060】

Also, on the workstation side, you can easily output the print data with the expected font just by outputting the print data to any network printer in the network without checking which network printer has the printer font you want to use. Obtainable. Furthermore, even in the case of a page description language that does not support outline fonts, it is possible to print out with the printer font specified on the workstation side.

【0061】

Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable to send and receive printer font information or image information as compressed data between the font server and the network printer. In this case, when the printer font information or image information is transmitted to the network printer 3 or 4, the control unit 51 is newly provided with a function of a compression control unit that compresses the information. In addition, the control units 31 and 41 are newly provided with a function of an expansion control unit that extends printer font information or image information received from the font server 5, respectively.

【0062】

Next, the process of transmitting the printer font information from the font server 5 to the network printer during the printer process will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process, and the description of the process common to FIG. 3 will be omitted.

【0063】

In the process shown in FIG. 7, when the network printer 4 inquires about the printer font, the font server 5 reads out the printer font information corresponding to the inquired printer font from the storage device 53, and steps (S in the figure). Compress it in 26) and send it to network printer 4 in step 27.

【0064】

On the other hand, when the network printer 4 receives the printer font information from the font server 5, the data-compressed printer font information is expanded in step 24, and the printer font information is expanded in the page memory in step 25 to obtain the print data. Execute printing.

【0065】

That is, in the font server 5, the compression control unit of the control unit 51 compresses the printer font information read from the storage device 53, and the LANI / F unit 52 transmits it to the network printer 4. Then, the network printer 4 decompresses the printer font information received by the decompression control unit of the control unit 41, expands the print data to the page memory based on the decompression, and executes the print process.

【0066】

Next, the process of transmitting the image information of the printer font from the font server 5 to the network printer during the print process will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process, and the description of the process common to FIG. 5 will be omitted.

【0067】

In the process shown in FIG. 8, when the network printer 3 inquires about the printer font, the font server 5 reads out the printer font information corresponding to the inquired printer font from the storage device 53, and steps (S in the figure). The font image is expanded based on it in 37, the font image is compressed in step 38, and the font image is sent to the network printer 3 in step 39.

【0068】

On the other hand, when the network printer 3 receives the font image from the font server 5, the data-compressed font image is decompressed in step 34, the font image is copied to the page memory in step 35, and the print data is printed. To do.

【0069】

That is, in the font server 5, the compression control unit of the control unit 51 compresses the font image expanded in the memory, and the LANI / F unit 52 transmits it to the network printer 3. Then, the network printer 3 decompresses the font image received by the decompression control unit of the control unit 31, copies it to the address specified in the print data of the page memory of the network printer 3, and executes the print process.

【0070】

In this way, when the printer font information or font image data is transmitted from the font server to the network printer, the data is compressed and transmitted, so that the data transfer speed can be increased and the print process can be performed in a short time. Can be executed.

【0071】

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the network printer and the font server are separated has been described. However, the function performed by the above-mentioned font server is inserted in the network printer so that the network printer also functions as the font server. If this is done, the device configuration in the network can be simplified, and communication processing can be performed efficiently.

【0072】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the network printer system according to the present invention, the document created by the workstation can be printed by the network printer in the expected font.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network printer system which is one Example of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure which shows the type of the printer font which can be used in workstations 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 1, and the type of the printer font which a network printer owns.

[Fig. 3]

It is a flowchart which shows the process of WS1, the network printer 4, and the font server 5 shown in FIG.

[Fig. 4]

It is a figure which shows an example of the packet format at the time of inquiring printer font information from the network printer shown in FIG. 1 to a font server.

[Fig. 5]

It is a flowchart which shows the process of WS2, a network printer 3, and a font server 5 shown in FIG.

[Fig. 6]

It is a figure which shows an example of the format of another packet when the printer font information is queried from the network printer shown in FIG. 1 to a font server.

[Fig. 7]

It is a flowchart which shows the process when the printer font information is transmitted from the font server to the network printer at the time of the printer process in the network printer system shown in FIG.

[Fig. 8]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing when the image information of a printer font is transmitted from a font server to a network printer at the time of printer processing in the network printer system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Workstation (WS1) 2: Workstation (WS2) 3,4: Network printer 5: Font server 6: File server 7: Print server 8: Network 11,21,31,41,51,61,71: Control unit 12,22,32,42,52,62,72: LANI / F section 53,63,73: Accumulation device