Data processor, printing processor, data processing method for data processor, data processing method for printing processor, and medium for storing computer readable program
Abstract
[Task] Even if the number of printing devices on the network increases, individual printing jobs and job control that simultaneously utilize the printing device resources on the network can be efficiently performed without reducing traffic.
Solution.In a printing system environment where multiple printers 102 to 107 and PC 101 can communicate with each other via network 108, multiple individual print job data or job control commands for each printer 102 to 107 are used using the multicasting protocol. It is characterized in that a set is transmitted and individual print job data or a job control command is executed for each of the transmitted printers 102 to 107.
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Projected expiry passed 20 April 2018, 8.4 years ago.
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36 claims: 24 independent, 12 dependent
- 1【特許請求の範囲】 【請求項1】 所定の通信媒体を介して複数の印刷装置と通信可能なデータ処理装置であって、 所定の印刷ジョブデータを生成するジョブ生成手段と、 前記ジョブ生成手段により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報およびそれぞれの印刷装置に対する印刷指示を組み込む組込み手段と、 前記組込み手段により前記識別情報が組み込まれた前記印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより前記通信媒体上に送信する送信手段と、を有することを特徴とするデータ処理装置。
- 2【請求項2】 前記組込み手段は、前記ジョブ生成手段により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示との組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項1記載のデータ処理装置。
- 3【請求項3】 前記組込み手段は、前記ジョブ生成手段により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して全ての印刷装置に対する印刷指示および処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示との組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項1記載のデータ処理装置。
- 4【請求項4】 所定の通信媒体を介して複数の印刷装置と通信可能なデータ処理装置であって、 所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータを生成するデータ生成手段と、 前記データ生成手段により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータを受信すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報を前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータ中に組み込む組込み手段と、 前記組込み手段により前記識別情報が組み込まれた前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより前記通信媒体上に送信する送信手段と、を有することを特徴とするデータ処理装置。
- 5【請求項5】 前記組込み手段は、前記データ生成手段により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとの組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項1記載のデータ処理装置。
- 6【請求項6】 前記組込み手段は、前記データ生成手段により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータに対して全ての印刷装置に対する前記ジョブ制御コマンドおよび処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとの組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項1記載のデータ処理装置。
- 7【請求項7】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置であって、 前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置を識別するために設定された固有の識別情報を記憶する記憶手段と、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報といずれかの印刷装置に対する印刷指示とが含まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信手段と、 前記受信手段により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と設定されている識別情報とを認証して印刷指示を取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段により取得した前記印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理手段と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置。
- 8【請求項8】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置であって、 前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置を識別するために設定された固有の識別情報を記憶する記憶手段と、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示とが複数組分組み込まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信手段と、 前記受信手段により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と設定されている識別情報とを認証して個別の印刷指示を取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段により取得した前記個別の印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理手段と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置。
- 9【請求項9】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置であって、 前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置を識別するために設定された固有の識別情報を記憶する記憶手段と、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、全ての印刷装置に対する第1の印刷指示および特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の第2の印刷指示とが複数組分組み込まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信手段と、 前記受信手段により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と設定されている識別情報とを認証して第1,第2の印刷指示を取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段により取得した前記第1,第2の印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理手段と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置。
- 10【請求項10】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信手段と、 前記受信手段により受信した所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータ中に組み込まれる個別の識別情報を照合してジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行手段と、 を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置。
- 11【請求項11】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置であって、 前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置を識別するために設定された固有の識別情報を記憶する記憶手段と、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとが複数組分組み込まれるジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信手段と、 前記受信手段により受信したジョブ制御コマンドデータ中の識別情報と設定されている識別情報とを認証して個別のジョブ制御コマンドを取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段により取得した前記個別のジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行手段と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置。
- 12【請求項12】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置であって、 前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置を識別するために設定された固有の識別情報を記憶する記憶手段と、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、全ての印刷装置に対する第1のジョブ制御コマンドおよび特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の第2のジョブ制御コマンドとが複数組分組み込まれるジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信手段と、 前記受信手段により受信したジョブ制御コマンドデータ中の識別情報と設定されている識別情報とを認証して第1,第2のジョブ制御コマンドを取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段により取得した第1,第2のジョブ制御コマンドから実行する個別のジョブ制御コマンドを生成するコマンド生成手段と、 前記コマンド生成手段により生成された個別のジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行手段と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置。
- 13【請求項13】 所定の通信媒体を介して複数の印刷装置と通信可能なデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 所定の印刷ジョブデータを生成するジョブ生成工程と、 前記ジョブ生成工程により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報およびそれぞれの印刷装置に対する印刷指示を組み込む組込み工程と、 前記組込み工程により前記識別情報が組み込まれた前記印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより前記通信媒体上に送信する送信工程と、を有することを特徴とするデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 14【請求項14】 前記組込み工程は、前記ジョブ生成工程により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示との組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項13記載のデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 15【請求項15】 前記組込み工程は、前記ジョブ生成工程により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して全ての印刷装置に対する印刷指示および処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示との組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項13記載のデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 16【請求項16】 所定の通信媒体を介して複数の印刷装置と通信可能なデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータを生成するデータ生成工程と、 前記データ生成工程により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータを受信すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報を前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータ中に組み込む組込み工程と、 前記組込み工程により前記識別情報が組み込まれた前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより前記通信媒体上に送信する送信工程と、を有することを特徴とするデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 17【請求項17】 前記組込み工程は、前記データ生成工程により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとの組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項16記載のデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 18【請求項18】 前記組込み工程は、前記データ生成工程により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータに対して全ての印刷装置に対する前記ジョブ制御コマンドおよび処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとの組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項16記載のデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 19【請求項19】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報といずれかの印刷装置に対する印刷指示とが含まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して印刷指示を取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理工程と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 20【請求項20】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示とが複数組分組み込まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して個別の印刷指示を取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記個別の印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理工程と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 21【請求項21】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、全ての印刷装置に対する第1の印刷指示および特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の第2の印刷指示とが複数組分組み込まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して第1,第2の印刷指示を取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記第1,第2の印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理工程と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 22【請求項22】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータ中に組み込まれる個別の識別情報を照合してジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行工程と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 23【請求項23】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとが複数組分組み込まれるジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信したジョブ制御コマンドデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して個別のジョブ制御コマンドを取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記個別のジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行工程と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 24【請求項24】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、全ての印刷装置に対する第1のジョブ制御コマンドおよび特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の第2のジョブ制御コマンドとが複数組分組み込まれるジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信したジョブ制御コマンドデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して第1,第2のジョブ制御コマンドを取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した第1,第2のジョブ制御コマンドから実行する個別のジョブ制御コマンドを生成するコマンド生成工程と、 前記コマンド生成工程により生成された個別のジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行工程と、を有することを特徴とする印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法。
- 25【請求項25】 所定の通信媒体を介して複数の印刷装置と通信可能なデータ処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 所定の印刷ジョブデータを生成するジョブ生成工程と、 前記ジョブ生成工程により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報およびそれぞれの印刷装置に対する印刷指示を組み込む組込み工程と、 前記組込み工程により前記識別情報が組み込まれた前記印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより前記通信媒体上に送信する送信工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 26【請求項26】 前記組込み工程は、前記ジョブ生成工程により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示との組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項24記載のコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 27【請求項27】 前記組込み工程は、前記ジョブ生成工程により生成された前記印刷ジョブデータに対して全ての印刷装置に対する印刷指示および処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示との組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項24記載のコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 28【請求項28】 所定の通信媒体を介して複数の印刷装置と通信可能なデータ処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータを生成するデータ生成工程と、 前記データ生成工程により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータを受信すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報を前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータ中に組み込む組込み工程と、 前記組込み工程により前記識別情報が組み込まれた前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより前記通信媒体上に送信する送信工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 29【請求項29】 前記組込み工程は、前記データ生成工程により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータに対して処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとの組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項27記載のコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 30【請求項30】 前記組込み工程は、前記データ生成工程により生成された前記ジョブ制御コマンドデータに対して全ての印刷装置に対する前記ジョブ制御コマンドおよび処理すべき特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとの組を複数組み込むことを特徴とする請求項27記載のコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 31【請求項31】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報といずれかの印刷装置に対する印刷指示とが含まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して印刷指示を取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 32【請求項32】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の印刷指示とが複数組分組み込まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して個別の印刷指示を取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記個別の印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 33【請求項33】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、全ての印刷装置に対する第1の印刷指示および特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の第2の印刷指示とが複数組分組み込まれる印刷ジョブデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して第1,第2の印刷指示を取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記第1,第2の印刷指示に基づいて前記受信した印刷ジョブデータ中の印刷ジョブに固有の印刷処理を行う印刷処理工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 34【請求項34】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信した所定のジョブ制御コマンドデータ中に組み込まれる個別の識別情報を照合してジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 35【請求項35】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別のジョブ制御コマンドとが複数組分組み込まれるジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信したジョブ制御コマンドデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して個別のジョブ制御コマンドを取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した前記個別のジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
- 36【請求項36】 所定の通信媒体を介してデータ処理装置と通信可能な印刷処理装置を制御するコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、 前記データ処理装置から前記所定の通信媒体に送信される、全ての印刷装置に対する第1のジョブ制御コマンドおよび特定の印刷装置を識別するための識別情報と各印刷装置に対する個別の第2のジョブ制御コマンドとが複数組分組み込まれるジョブ制御コマンドデータをマルチキャスティングプロトコルにより受信する受信工程と、 前記受信工程により受信したジョブ制御コマンドデータ中の識別情報と前記通信媒体上に接続される複数の印刷装置とを識別するために設定された固有の識別情報とを認証して第1,第2のジョブ制御コマンドを取得する取得工程と、 前記取得工程により取得した第1,第2のジョブ制御コマンドから実行する個別のジョブ制御コマンドを生成するコマンド生成工程と、 前記コマンド生成工程により生成された個別のジョブ制御コマンドを実行するコマンド実行工程と、を有することを特徴とするコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体。
Independent claims36
433 paragraphs in 1 section, as filed
Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]
【0001】
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a data processing device and a data processing method of the data processing device and a data processing device and data of the print processing device capable of configuring a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and the data processing device communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium. It relates to a processing method and a storage medium containing a computer-readable program.
【0002】
[Conventional technology]
Conventionally, there is a system that improves the printing speed of the entire system by connecting a device such as a personal computer or a scanner that issues a print job to a plurality of printing devices and simultaneously processing the print job on each printing device.
【0003】
In this case, when a network is used as a connection method between a device that issues a print job and a plurality of printing devices, a means for transmitting the same print job data to each printing device as many as the number of printing devices is used. There is.
【0004】
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
However, in the conventional technology, the same print job data is transmitted as many as the number of printing devices. Therefore, when the network traffic increases and the traffic exceeds the limit of the network transmission performance, the entire system is transmitted. There is a problem that speed improvement cannot be expected.
【0005】
Therefore, we are trying to solve the above problem by using a multicast protocol that can transmit data from one sender to a plurality of recipients by one transmission.
【0006】
However, if a print job is sent to multiple printing devices using the multicasting protocol, the same print job will be transferred to all the printing devices, and different number of copies will be specified and different finishing will be performed for each printing device. There is a problem that the process cannot be instructed.
【0007】
Similarly, job control commands such as deleting, suspending, or resuming a print job sent to each printing device also send the same job control command as many as the number of printing devices, so network traffic. There is a problem that the speed of the entire system cannot be improved when the traffic exceeds the limit of the transmission performance of the network.
【0008】
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention is a multi-purpose in a printing system environment in which a plurality of printing devices and a data processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium. By transmitting a plurality of sets of individual print job data or job control commands for each printing device using the casting protocol and executing individual print job data or job control commands for each transmitted printing device, on the network. In multiple printing devices, individual print job data or job control command data can be sent to a specific printing device using the multicasting protocol, and printing on the network can be performed even if the number of printing devices on the network increases. Data processing equipment, print processing equipment, data processing equipment data processing method, print processing equipment data processing method, and data processing equipment that can efficiently perform individual print jobs and job control that utilize equipment resources at the same time without reducing traffic. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium in which a computer-readable program is stored.
【0009】
[Means for solving problems]
The first invention according to the present invention is a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, and is provided by a job generating means for generating predetermined print job data and the job generating means. The built-in means for incorporating the identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the generated print job data and the printing instruction for each printing device, and the built-in means in which the identification information is incorporated by the built-in means. It has a transmission means for transmitting print job data on the communication medium by a multicasting protocol.
【0010】
In the second invention according to the present invention, the built-in means has identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generating means, and individual information for each printing device. It incorporates a plurality of sets with the print instruction of.
【0011】
A third invention according to the present invention is for the built-in means to identify a printing instruction for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the print job data generated by the job generating means. A plurality of sets of identification information and individual printing instructions for each printing device are incorporated.
【0012】
A fourth invention according to the present invention is a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, and is a data generation means for generating predetermined job control command data and the data generation means. Incorporating means for incorporating identification information for identifying a specific printing device to receive the job control command data generated by the job control command data into the job control command data, and the job in which the identification information is incorporated by the incorporating means. It has a transmission means for transmitting control command data on the communication medium by a multicasting protocol.
【0013】
In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the built-in means provides identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generating means, and identification information for each printing device. It incorporates multiple pairs of individual job control commands.
【0014】
In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the built-in means identifies the job control command for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generating means. A plurality of sets of identification information for printing and individual job control commands for each printing device are incorporated.
【0015】
The seventh invention according to the present invention is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing unique identification information, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and a printing instruction for any printing device are included. A receiving means for receiving the print job data to be printed by the multicasting protocol, an acquisition means for authenticating the identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means and the set identification information, and the acquisition means for acquiring the print instruction. It has a print processing means that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the print instruction acquired by the acquisition means.
【0016】
The eighth invention according to the present invention is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A plurality of sets of a storage means for storing unique identification information, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and individual printing instructions for each printing device. Acquisition to acquire individual print instructions by authenticating the receiving means that receives the print job data to be incorporated by the multicasting protocol and the identification information and the set identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means. It has means and a print processing means that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the individual print instruction acquired by the acquisition means.
【0017】
The ninth invention according to the present invention is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing unique identification information, a first printing instruction for all printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and identification information for identifying a specific printing device. It is set as a receiving means for receiving the print job data in which a plurality of sets of individual second print instructions for each printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means. An acquisition means that authenticates the identification information to acquire the first and second print instructions, and a print job in the received print job data based on the first and second print instructions acquired by the acquisition means. It has a printing processing means for performing a printing processing peculiar to the above.
【0018】
A tenth invention according to the present invention is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is a predetermined job control transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. It has a receiving means for receiving command data by a multicasting protocol and a command executing means for executing a job control command by collating individual identification information incorporated in predetermined job control command data received by the receiving means. Is.
【0019】
The eleventh invention according to the present invention is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing unique identification information, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and individual job control commands for each printing device. Individual job control by authenticating the receiving means that receives the job control command data incorporated in multiple sets by the multicasting protocol, and the identification information and the set identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving means. It has an acquisition means for acquiring a command and a command execution means for executing the individual job control command acquired by the acquisition means.
【0020】
A twelfth invention according to the present invention is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing unique identification information, a first job control command for all printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and identification information for identifying a specific printing device. The receiving means for receiving the job control command data in which a plurality of sets of the individual second job control command for each printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and the identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving means. An acquisition means that authenticates the set identification information and acquires the first and second job control commands, and an individual job control command that is executed from the first and second job control commands acquired by the acquisition means. It has a command generating means for generating the above and a command executing means for executing the individual job control commands generated by the command generating means.
【0021】
A thirteenth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, the job generation step of generating predetermined print job data, and the above-mentioned. An embedding step for incorporating identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation step and a printing instruction for each printing device, and the embedding step for incorporating the identification information. It has a transmission step of transmitting the incorporated print job data onto the communication medium by a multicasting protocol.
【0022】
In the fourteenth invention according to the present invention, in the built-in process, identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation step and individuality for each printing device are provided. It incorporates a plurality of sets with the print instruction of.
【0023】
A fifteenth invention according to the present invention is for the built-in process to identify printing instructions for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the print job data generated by the job generation step. A plurality of sets of identification information and individual printing instructions for each printing device are incorporated.
【0024】
The sixteenth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, and comprises a data generation step of generating predetermined job control command data. An embedding step in which identification information for identifying a specific printing device to receive the job control command data generated by the data generation step is incorporated into the job control command data, and the identification information is incorporated by the embedding process. It has a transmission step of transmitting the above-mentioned job control command data on the communication medium by a multi-casting protocol.
【0025】
In the seventeenth invention according to the present invention, in the built-in process, identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation step and identification information for each printing device are provided. It incorporates multiple pairs of individual job control commands.
【0026】
In the eighteenth invention according to the present invention, the built-in process identifies the job control command for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation step. A plurality of sets of identification information for printing and individual job control commands for each printing device are incorporated.
【0027】
A nineteenth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a print processing apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, which is transmitted from the data processing apparatus to the predetermined communication medium. A receiving process for receiving print job data including identification information for identifying a specific printing device and a printing instruction for any printing device by a multicasting protocol, and identification in the print job data received by the receiving process. An acquisition step of authenticating information and unique identification information set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium to acquire a print instruction, and the print instruction acquired by the acquisition step. It has a print processing step of performing a print process peculiar to the print job in the received print job data based on the above.
【0028】
A twentieth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a print processing apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, which is transmitted from the data processing apparatus to the predetermined communication medium. A reception process in which a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying a specific printing device and individual printing instructions for each printing device are incorporated are received by a multicasting protocol, and print job data received by the receiving process. By the acquisition step of authenticating the identification information inside and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium and acquiring individual printing instructions, and the acquisition step. It has a print processing step of performing a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the acquired individual print instruction.
【0029】
A twenty-first invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a print processing apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, which is transmitted from the data processing apparatus to the predetermined communication medium. The multicasting protocol receives print job data in which multiple sets of a first print instruction for all printing devices, identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and an individual second print instruction for each printing device are incorporated. Authenticate the receiving process to be performed, the identification information in the print job data received by the receiving process, and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. 1. Printing that performs a printing process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the acquisition step of acquiring the second print instruction and the first and second print instructions acquired by the acquisition step. It has a processing step.
【0030】
The 22nd invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a printing processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, which is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A command execution process that executes a job control command by collating the receiving process that receives the predetermined job control command data by the multicasting protocol with the individual identification information incorporated in the predetermined job control command data received by the receiving process. It has and.
【0031】
The 23rd invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a printing processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, which is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A receiving process for receiving job control command data in which multiple sets of identification information for identifying a specific printing device and individual job control commands for each printing device are incorporated by a multicasting protocol, and a job received by the receiving process. An acquisition process for acquiring individual job control commands by authenticating the identification information in the control command data and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. It has a command execution step of executing the individual job control command acquired by the acquisition step.
【0032】
A twelfth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a printing processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, which is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. Multicasting job control command data that incorporates multiple sets of first job control commands for all printing devices, identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and individual second job control commands for each printing device. The receiving process received by the protocol, the identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving process, and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. An acquisition process that authenticates and acquires the first and second job control commands, and a command generation process that generates individual job control commands to be executed from the first and second job control commands acquired by the acquisition process. It has a command execution process for executing individual job control commands generated by the command generation process.
【0033】
The 25th invention according to the present invention is a storage medium in which a computer-readable program that controls a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium is stored, and is a predetermined printing job. A job generation process for generating data, an embedding process for incorporating identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation process, and printing instructions for each printing device. A computer-readable program having a transmission step of transmitting the print job data in which the identification information is incorporated by the incorporation process onto the communication medium by a multicasting protocol is stored in the storage medium.
【0034】
In the 26th invention according to the present invention, in the built-in process, identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation step and individuality for each printing device are provided. A computer-readable program that incorporates multiple sets of print instructions is stored in a storage medium.
【0035】
In the 27th invention according to the present invention, the built-in process is for identifying a printing instruction for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the print job data generated by the job generation step. A computer-readable program that incorporates a plurality of sets of identification information and individual print instructions for each printing device is stored in a storage medium.
【0036】
The 28th invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, and controls a predetermined job. A data generation step of generating command data, and an embedding step of incorporating identification information for identifying a specific printing device to receive the job control command data generated by the data generation step into the job control command data. A computer-readable program having a transmission step of transmitting the job control command data in which the identification information is incorporated by the incorporation process onto the communication medium by a multicasting protocol is stored in the storage medium.
【0037】
In the 29th invention according to the present invention, in the built-in process, identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation step and identification information for each printing device are provided. A computer-readable program that incorporates multiple sets of individual job control commands is stored in a storage medium.
【0038】
In a thirtieth invention according to the present invention, the built-in process identifies the job control command for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation step. A computer-readable program that incorporates a plurality of sets of identification information for printing and individual job control commands for each printing device is stored in a storage medium.
【0039】
A thirty-first invention according to the present invention is a storage medium in which a computer-readable program that controls a print processing device that can communicate with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium is stored, and is from the data processing device. A receiving step of receiving print job data transmitted to the predetermined communication medium including identification information for identifying a specific printing device and a printing instruction to any printing device by a multicasting protocol, and the reception. An acquisition step of acquiring a print instruction by authenticating the identification information in the print job data received by the process and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A computer-readable program having a print processing step that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the print instruction acquired in the acquisition step is stored in the storage medium. is there.
【0040】
The 32nd invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is from the data processing device. A receiving step of receiving print job data transmitted to the predetermined communication medium by a multicasting protocol, which incorporates a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying a specific printing device and individual printing instructions for each printing device. , Authenticate the identification information in the print job data received by the reception process and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium, and issue individual print instructions. A computer-readable program having an acquisition process to be acquired and a print processing process that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the individual print instructions acquired by the acquisition process. It is stored in a storage medium.
【0041】
The 33rd invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is from the data processing device. A plurality of sets of a first printing instruction for all printing devices, identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and an individual second printing instruction for each printing device, which are transmitted to the predetermined communication medium, are incorporated. It is set to distinguish between the receiving process of receiving the print job data to be printed by the multicasting protocol, the identification information in the print job data received by the receiving process, and a plurality of printing devices connected to the communication medium. In the acquisition step of authenticating the unique identification information to acquire the first and second print instructions, and in the received print job data based on the first and second print instructions acquired in the acquisition step. A computer-readable program having a print processing step that performs a print process peculiar to a print job is stored in a storage medium.
【0042】
The 34th invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is from the data processing device. The receiving process of receiving the predetermined job control command data transmitted to the predetermined communication medium by the multicasting protocol is collated with the individual identification information incorporated in the predetermined job control command data received by the receiving process. A computer-readable program having a command execution process for executing a job control command is stored in a storage medium.
【0043】
The 35th invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is from the data processing device. Receiving the job control command data transmitted to the predetermined communication medium by the multicasting protocol, which incorporates a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying a specific printing device and individual job control commands for each printing device. The process, the identification information in the job control command data received by the reception process, and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium are authenticated and individually. A computer-readable program having an acquisition process for acquiring a job control command and a command execution process for executing the individual job control command acquired by the acquisition process is stored in a storage medium.
【0044】
A thirty-sixth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, from the data processing device. A plurality of sets of a first job control command for all printing devices, identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and an individual second job control command for each printing device, which are transmitted to the predetermined communication medium. To identify the receiving process that receives the job control command data to be incorporated separately by the multicasting protocol, the identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving process, and a plurality of printing devices connected to the communication medium. An acquisition process that authenticates the unique identification information set in and acquires the first and second job control commands, and an individual job executed from the first and second job control commands acquired by the acquisition process. A computer-readable program having a command generation process for generating control commands and a command execution process for executing individual job control commands generated by the command generation process is stored in a storage medium.
【0045】
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a data processing system including a data processing device and a print processing device showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and data processing is performed via a predetermined network 108. This corresponds to the case where the device (PC) 101 is configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of printers 102 to 107. The data processing device and the printing processing device may be configured as a data processing system, or each of them may be configured as a single unit.
【0046】
In FIG. 1, 101 is a data processing device (PC) that issues a print job such as a personal computer, and a printer driver (memory resource such as a hard disk) in which an application program running on the data processing device (PC) constitutes a part of the printing system of the present invention. The print job is sent by the multi-casting printing col by starting (it is stored in the memory, loaded on the RAM and functions). The plurality of printers 102 to 107 interpret the print job sent from the PC 101 through the network 108 by the multicasting protocol and execute the job.
【0047】
The plurality of printers 102 to 107 are assigned group addresses "100" and "200" for recognizing a group of printing devices by a multicast plotting col.
【0048】
In the example shown in Fig. L, the printers 102 to 104 have the same group address "100", and the printers 105 to 107 have the same group address "200", which form a group of printing devices. doing.
【0049】
In addition, each printing device is assigned an identifier (ID) for uniquely distinguishing the printing devices within the same group.
【0050】
Normally, in a multicast protocol such as IP (Internet Protocol) Multicast, it is not guaranteed that a packet sent from a sender always reaches a receiver. Since this is inconvenient when configuring a printing system, in this embodiment, a so-called reliable multicasting plotting col (for example, TA Joseph and) is used for the purpose of providing reliability on a protocol such as IP Multicast. KPBirman (1989).'Reliable Broadcast Protocols'.Distributed Systems: 293 ~ 317. Protocols described in ACM Press, 1989) are used.
【0051】
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the data processing device 101 shown in FIG.
【0052】
In FIG. 2, 201 is a CPU, which controls the entire device, performs arithmetic processing, and the like. 202 is a ROM, which is a storage area for a system boot program, immutable information, and the like. Reference numeral 203 denotes a RAM, which is a data storage area having no usage restrictions, and is an area in which each program and data represented by the flowchart described later are loaded for each of various processes. The CPU 201 comprehensively controls various data processing, print request processing, etc. based on the system startup program loaded on the RAM 203, various control programs, data, and the like.
【0053】
Reference numeral 208 denotes a network interface, which is connected to network 108 via the interface. 204 is an external storage device (FD drive), which stores programs and data on a floppy disk 211, and references or loads them on RAM 203 as needed at the time of execution.
【0054】
Reference numeral 205 denotes an external storage device (HD drive), in which a system program or application program is loaded and started on the RAM 203, and the started system or program is stored in the external storage device 205 as necessary. Is loaded onto RAM203.
【0055】
Reference numeral 206 denotes a keyboard, which transmits the information of the pressed key to the CPU 201. The 207 is a display device such as a CRT. Reference numeral 209 is a system bus, which should be a data passage between the above-mentioned components.
【0056】
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of printers 102 to 107 shown in FIG.
【0057】
In FIG. 3, 301 is a CPU, which controls the entire device, performs arithmetic processing, and the like. 302 is a ROM, which stores a system boot program, immutable information, and the like. 303 is RAM, which is an area (work area) in which each program and data represented by a flowchart described later are loaded for each of various processes as a data storage area without usage restrictions.
【0058】
The 304 is an external storage device that functions as a floppy disk drive, stores programs and data in the floppy disk 309 as a storage medium, and is referenced or loaded into the RAM 303 as needed at the time of execution.
【0059】
The 305 is an external storage device that functions as a hard disk drive, from which the system or program to be processed is loaded onto the RAM 303 and started up, and the started system or program can be used as the storage medium of the external storage device 305 as needed. Loads the data and information stored on the hard disk of the RAM 303.
【0060】
The 306 is a printer engine, and the CPU 301 has a function of printing on paper by writing document data and print instructions in a buffer area existing in the printer engine 306 and performing a finishing process. The document data is data described by PDL (page description language) or compressed or uncompressed image data.
【0061】
Further, the printer engine 306 writes data indicating the state of the printer engine on the internal register, and the CPU 301 can acquire the state of the printer engine 306 by reading the data of the register.
【0062】
Reference numeral 307 denotes a network interface, which is connected to the network 108 shown in FIG. 1 via the network interface 307. Reference numeral 308 is a system bus, which should be a data passage between the above-mentioned components.
【0063】
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a module that issues a print job by the data processing device 101 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration and the printing job issuing operation will be described.
【0064】
In FIG. 4, 401 is an application program such as a word processor or spreadsheet, and an appropriate display is performed on the display device 207. When the user instructs printing with the keyboard 206 or the like, the application program 401 activates the printer triber 402 and gives the data to be printed to the printer driver 402, so that it is expressed in PDL (page description language) or an image. Instructs the generation of document data.
【0065】
Then, the printer driver 402 activates the user interface 403. The user interface 403 displays a dialog window on the display device 207 prompting the user to enter the group address and printing conditions of the printing device. Then, when the user inputs the group address and printing conditions of the printing device through the user interface 403, the user Interface 403 sends the input group address of the printing device and printing conditions to the printer driver 402.
【0066】
The printing conditions include printing instructions common to each printing device (finishing process, presence / absence of color printing, double-sided printing, etc.), and printing instructions for each printing device.
【0067】
Then, the printer triber 402 sends the generated document data to the packet generator 404 together with the group address of the printing device and the printing conditions. In response to this, the packet generation unit 404 generates a print job data packet to be transmitted to the printing device from the document data and the printing conditions input from the printer driver 402, and sends the packet transmission unit 405 together with the group address of the printing device. send.
【0068】
The print job data packet is sequentially sent to the packet transmission unit 405 from the data generated by the packet generation unit 404, but it may be collectively sent to the packet transmission unit 405 after all the data packets have been generated. good.
【0069】
The packet transmission unit 405 transmits the print job data packet input from the packet generation unit 404 to the group address of the printing device by the reliable multicast protocol.
【0070】
Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and the like.
【0071】
A data processing device (PC101) capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices (printers 102 to 107) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108) configured as described above, and generating predetermined print job data. It should process the job generation means (generated by executing the control program stored by the CPU 201 downloaded on the hard disk, ROM 202, RAM 203, etc.) and the print job data generated by the job generation means. It is generated by executing a control program stored by an embedded means (CPU 201 is downloaded onto a hard disk or ROM 202 or RAM 203, etc.) that incorporates identification information for identifying a specific printing device and printing instructions for each printing device (generated). The function of the packet generation unit 404 in FIG. 4)) and the transmission means (network interface 307 (FIG. 4)) for transmitting the print job data in which the identification information is incorporated by the built-in means onto the communication medium by the multicasting protocol. Since it has the function of the packet transmission unit 405)), it is possible to transmit print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device on the communication medium, and even if the number of printing devices increases, the printing device can be used. It is possible to reduce the traffic required for transmitting print job data having different print instructions, avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and significantly increase the data transfer rate.
【0072】
Further, the built-in means has identification information (printing device identifier) for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generating means, and individual printing instructions for each printing device. Since multiple sets of (see print instruction 606 in FIG. 6) are incorporated, different print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user. It is possible to individually specify different printing processes, for example, different number of copies, different sheet post-processing (finishing processing), etc., according to the functional processing capacity of the printing device.
【0073】
Further, the built-in means identifies a printing instruction for all printing devices (see common printing instruction 602 in FIG. 6) and a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generating means. Since multiple sets of identification information for printing and individual printing instructions for each printing device (see printing instruction 606 in FIG. 6) are incorporated, common print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device and print job data that are different from each other are incorporated. Both of these can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and different printing processes, such as different numbers of copies and different sheet post-processing (finishing processing), are individually performed according to the functional processing capacity of each printing device. It is possible to efficiently perform a large amount of printing processing intended by the user who uses the printing device resources on the network at the same time as much as possible in a short time.
【0074】
Further, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), and is a unique identification set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. One of a storage means for storing information (a non-volatile memory (for example, NVRAM area) (not shown)) and identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. The receiving means (network interface 307 (see packet receiving unit 701 shown in FIG. 7)) that receives the print job data including the print instruction to the printing device by the multicasting protocol, and the print job data received by the receiving means. Acquisition means for acquiring print instructions by authenticating the identification information and the set identification information (CPU301 executes a control program stored in an external storage device such as ROM302, hard disk, floppy disk, etc. to perform acquisition processing (Fig.). 7) and the print processing means (CPU 301 is ROM 302, hard disk) that performs print processing specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the print instruction acquired by the acquisition means. , A print job that can be individually acquired by each printing device because it has the ability to execute a control program stored in an external storage device such as a floppy disk and perform acquisition processing (see the print instruction synthesizer 703 shown in FIG. 7). In a network environment where data is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions for each printing device is reduced, and the transfer performance of the communication medium is reduced. It is possible to reliably acquire the individual print job data specified for each printing device and efficiently perform the unique printing process in parallel with the printing process of the other printing devices. it can.
【0075】
Further, a unique identification set for identifying a plurality of printing devices that are capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108) and are connected to the communication medium. A storage means for storing information (a non-volatile memory (for example, NVRAM area) (not shown)), identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and each printing device. A receiving means (network interface 307 (see packet receiving unit 701 shown in FIG. 7)) for receiving print job data in which a plurality of sets of individual print instructions are incorporated for the data are received by the multicasting protocol, and a print job received by the receiving means. An acquisition means (CPU 301 executes a control program stored in an external storage device such as ROM 302, hard disk, floppy disk, etc.) to authenticate the identification information in the data and the set identification information to acquire individual print instructions. When the acquisition process is performed (see the packet analysis unit 702 shown in FIG. 7), a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data is performed based on the individual print instruction acquired by the acquisition means. Since the CPU 301 has means (the CPU 301 executes a control program stored in an external storage device such as a ROM 302, a hard disk, or a floppy disk to acquire and process the data (see the print instruction synthesizer 703 shown in FIG. 7)), each printing device has a means. In a network environment where individually acquireable print job data is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions for each printing device is reduced. Therefore, avoiding a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, individual print job data can be reliably acquired from a plurality of sets of print job data specified for a plurality of printing devices, and printing by another printing device can be performed. The unique print process can be efficiently performed in parallel with the process.
【0076】
Further, a unique identification set to identify a plurality of printing devices that are capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108) and are connected to the communication medium. A storage means for storing information, a first printing instruction for all printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and each printing device. The receiving means for receiving the print job data in which a plurality of sets of individual second print instructions are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and the identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means and the set identification information Printing specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the acquisition means for authenticating and acquiring the first and second print instructions and the first and second print instructions acquired by the acquisition means. Since it has a print processing means for performing processing (CPU 301 executes a control program stored in an external storage device such as a ROM 302, a hard disk, or a floppy disk to perform acquisition processing (see the print instruction synthesizer 703 shown in FIG. 7)). , In a network environment where print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, printing job data with different printing instructions for each printing device can be transmitted. The print job data common to each printing device and each printing device from among the multiple sets of print job data specified for multiple printing devices are reduced by reducing the required traffic and avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium is deteriorated. It is possible to reliably acquire individual print job data and efficiently perform common print processing and unique print processing in a printing device having different printing resources in parallel with the printing process of another printing device. ..
【0077】
In the present embodiment, as a system resource, a case where a plurality of printers are connected on the network is taken as an example, but even when a scanner is connected on the network as described later, that is, the scanner is used. It can also be applied to scan jobs and copying jobs by scanners and printers.
【0078】
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the data processing device side and the printer side are individually configured has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a printing system including the data processing device and the printer as described later. In some cases, the configuration includes both the configuration of the data processing device and the configuration of the printer.
【0079】
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the data processing system according to the present invention, and is a procedure for generating a print job data packet in the packet generation unit 404 shown in FIG. 4 (CPU 201 is ROM 202). , The procedure of loading the control program stored in the external memory such as a hard disk onto RAM203 and executing it). Note that (1) to (10) indicate each step.
【0080】
First, in step (1), a data packet having a length of "0" is generated. Next, in step (2), when data of the length of the print instruction data common to the printing devices in the group is added (inserted) to the data packet, in step (3), it is common to the printing devices in the group. The print instruction data is added to the data packet.
【0081】
Then, in step (4), the number of one or more printing device identifiers is added to the data packet. Next, in step (5), one or more printer identifiers are added to the data packet. Then, in step (6), the length of the print instruction data for the printing device identified by the printing device identifier added in step (5) is added to the data packet.
【0082】
Next, in step (7), the print instruction data for the printing device identified by the printing device identifier added in step (5) is added to the data packet.
【0083】
All the printing devices having the printing device identifier added in step (5) are used to generate the printing instruction to actually use the printing instruction data added in step (7).
【0084】
Then, in step (8), the steps from step (4) to step (7) are repeated for the number of print instructions. Then, in step (9), a delimiter (0) is added to the data packet to indicate that the document data is started. Then, in step (10), the document data is added to the data packet, and the data packet generation process is completed.
【0085】
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print job data packet generated by the packet generation unit 404 shown in FIG.
【0086】
In the figure, 601 is the common print instruction data length, which corresponds to the length of the print instruction data common to the printing devices in the group. Reference numeral 602 is print instruction data common to the printing devices in the group. 603 is the number of printing device identifiers, for example, when the number is 2.
【0087】
604 is the printer identifier. 605 is the length of the print instruction data for the printing device woven by the printing device identifier. Reference numeral 606 is print instruction data for the printing device identified by the printing device identifier 604. 607 is a delimiter (for example, indicated by "0") to indicate that the document data is started. 608 is the document data.
【0088】
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the correspondence between the print processing module and the printer engine in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. The configuration and operation will be described below. In FIG. 7, the packet receiver 701 receives the reliable multicasting protocol transmitted from the data processing device 101 that issues a print job. The packet receiving unit 701 receives the reliable multicasting protocol addressed to the group address of the own machine, and sends the print job data packet received by the reliable multicasting protocol to the packet analysis unit 702.
【0089】
The packet analysis unit 702 analyzes the print job data packet sent from the packet reception unit 701, extracts the print instruction common to each printing device, extracts the print instruction including the identifier of the own machine, and extracts the print instruction synthesizer unit 703. Send to.
【0090】
Further, the packet analysis unit 702 further analyzes the print job data packet to take out the document data and sends it to the print instruction synthesis unit 703. Then, the print instruction compositing unit 703 synthesizes the print instruction common to each printing device and a plurality of print instructions to the own machine, which are input from the packet analysis unit 702, and generates a print instruction to be actually used.
【0091】
The composition is performed by overwriting the printing instructions common to each printing device in the order in which a plurality of printing instructions for the own machine are received.
【0092】
Further, the print instruction synthesis unit 703 sends the generated print instruction to the printer engine 306 together with the document data sent from the packet analysis unit 702. The printer engine 306 prints the document data according to the input print instruction.
【0093】
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the data processing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing procedure for analyzing the print job data packet in the packet analysis unit 702 shown in FIG. 7. .. Note that (1) to (12) indicate each step.
【0094】
First, in step (1), it is checked whether the data length of the common print instruction is "0", and if it is determined that the data length is "0", the process proceeds to step (3) or later, and if the data length is set. If it is determined that it is not "0", a common print instruction is acquired in step (2).
【0095】
Next, in step (3), it is checked whether or not the number of printing device identifiers is "0", and when it is determined that the number of printing device identifiers is "0", that is, this data starts the document data. If it is determined that the delimiter is indicated, the document data is acquired in step (12), and the packet analysis process is terminated.
【0096】
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the number of printing device identifiers is not "0", the print instruction acquisition flag is set to "FALSE" in step (4).
【0097】
The print instruction acquisition flag is information for storing whether or not to acquire the print instruction that follows.
【0098】
Next, in step (5), the first printing device identifier is acquired, and in step (6), whether or not the acquired printing device identifier is equal to the printing device identifier of the own machine, that is, the printing instruction following the following is self-determined. If it is determined whether the printer is for the machine and the acquired printer identifier is equal to the printer identifier of the own machine, the print instruction acquisition flag is set to "TRUE" in step (8). Set and proceed to step (9) and subsequent steps.
【0099】
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that the acquired printing device identifier is not equal to the printing device identifier of the own machine, the process is repeated for the number of printing device identifiers in step (7), and printing is performed in step (9). If it is determined whether the instruction acquisition flag is "TRUE" and the print instruction acquisition flag is determined to be "true", in step (10), the data of the length of the print instruction that follows is followed. Acquire the print instruction data for the minute and return to step (3).
【0100】
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (9) that the print instruction acquisition flag is false, in step (11), only the data of the length of the subsequent print instruction is skipped and the process proceeds to step (3). Return.
【0101】
[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, a case has been described in which an information processing system for printing a print request from an application program running on a personal computer to one or more printing devices is used as an example. However, it is also possible to configure a copying system by transmitting document data read from a scanner connectable to the data processing device side to one or more printing devices by a multicasting protocol. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the configuration on the printing apparatus side is the same as that in the first embodiment, so only the difference from the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
【0102】
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing system showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to a configuration on the data processing apparatus side.
【0103】
In FIG. 9, 901 is a CPU, which controls the entire device and performs arithmetic processing. 902 is a ROM, which stores a system movement program, immutable information, and the like. Reference numeral 903 is RAM, which is a data storage area having no usage restrictions, and is an area in which each program and data represented by the flowchart described later are loaded and executed for each of various processes.
【0104】
The 904 is an external storage device that functions as a floppy disk drive, stores programs and data on the floppy disk 911, and is referenced or loaded into the RAM 903 as needed when the program is executed. Reference numeral 905 is an external storage device that functions as a hard disk drive, from which the system (OS) or program that performs processing is loaded onto the RAM 903 and started, and the started system or program is used as the external storage device 905 as needed. Load the data and information stored in the RAM903.
【0105】
The 906 is a keyboard and transmits the information of the pressed key to the CPU 901. The 907 is a display device composed of a CRT or the like. Reference numeral 908 is a network interface, which is connected to the network 108 shown in FIG. 1 via the interface 908.
【0106】
The 909 is a scanner that scans a document, reads the document information as image data, and saves it on the hard disk of the RAM 903 or the external storage device 905. Reference numeral 910 is a system bus, which should be a data passage between the above-mentioned components.
【0107】
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a correspondence between a module that issues a print job for copying in the data processing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 and a scanner resource. The configuration and operation will be described below.
【0108】
In FIG. 10, 1001 is a document input unit. The 1002 is a user interface that displays a dialog window on the display device 907 to prompt the user to enter the document scanning conditions, the printing device group address, and the printing conditions.
【0109】
When the user presses the key of the keyboard 906 after inputting these setting values by the user interface 1002, the user interface 1002 sends these stage values to the document input unit 1001.
【0110】
The document input unit 1001 including the scanner 909 shown in FIG. 9 scans the document according to the input scan conditions, inputs the scanned document data, and the packet generator 1003 together with the input printing device group address and print conditions. Send to.
【0111】
The printing conditions include printing instructions common to each printing device (finishing process, presence / absence of color printing, double-sided printing, etc.), and printing instructions for each printing device.
【0112】
Then, the packet generation unit 1003 generates a print job data packet to be transmitted to the printing device from the document data input from the document input unit 1001 and the print conditions, and sends the print job data packet to the packet transmission unit 1004 together with the group address of the printing device. The print job data packets are sequentially sent to the packet transmission unit 1004 from the data generated by the packet generation unit 1003, but may be collectively sent to the packet transmission unit 1004 after all the data packets have been generated.
【0113】
Note that the packet generation unit 1003 and the packet transmission unit 1004 in FIG. 10 perform the same operations as the packet generation unit 404 and the packet transmission unit 405 in FIG.
【0114】
[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the case where the print job and the copy job are issued by using the multicasting plotting col has been described, but similarly, the multicasting protocol is used. It may be configured to collectively manage jobs (delete / interrupt / restart, etc.) and devices (power on / shut off, etc.) performed on a plurality of printing devices. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described. Since the third embodiment has the same device configuration and the like as the first embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15.
【0115】
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing system showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to a configuration on the data processing apparatus side. The data processing device in the present embodiment is connected to the network 108 shown by the data processing device 101 shown in FIG. 1, and its system configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. The configuration and operation will be described below.
【0116】
In FIG. 11, 1101 is a control command generator, has a user interface function, and displays a dialog window on the display device 207 for prompting the user to input a group address of the printing device and a job or device management command.
【0117】
When the user inputs the group address of the printing device and the job / device management command from the dialog window, the control command generation unit 1101 sends the input group address of the printing device and the job / device management command to the packet generation unit 1102. Job / device management commands include job / device management commands (job deletion / power off, etc.) common to each printing device, and job / device management commands (job interruption / restart, etc.) for each printing device. Is done.
【0118】
The packet generation unit 1102 generates a control command data packet to be transmitted to the printing device from the control command input from the control command generation unit 1101, and sends the control command data packet to the packet transmission unit 1102 together with the group address of the printing device. The control command data packets are sequentially sent to the packet transmission unit 1103 from the data generated by the packet generation unit 1102, but may be collectively sent to the packet transmission unit 1103 after all the data buckets have been generated.
【0119】
The packet transmission unit 1103 transmits the control command data packet input from the packet generation unit 1102 to the group address of the printing device by the reliable multicasting protocol.
【0120】
Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11 and the like.
【0121】
A data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium (network 108) configured as described above, and a data generation means (CPU 201 is a hard disk or a hard disk or a hard disk) for generating predetermined job control command data. When the control program stored by being downloaded on ROM 202 or RAM 203 is executed and generated (function of the control command generation unit 1101 in FIG. 11), the job control command data generated by the data generation means is generated. Embedded means for incorporating identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be received into the job control command data (embedding by executing a control program stored by CPU 201 downloaded to the hard disk or ROM 202 or RAM 203, etc.) When processed (function of the packet generation unit 1102 in FIG. 11), the transmission means (network interface 208) that transmits the job control command data in which the identification information is incorporated by the built-in means onto the communication medium by the multicasting protocol. (Function of packet transmission unit 1103 in FIG. 11)), so even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send job control command data with different printing instructions to each printing device can be reduced for communication. While avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the medium deteriorates and significantly increasing the data transfer rate, job control of the entire system (for example, job control for deleting, suspending, resuming jobs, etc.) and centralized management of devices (for example, each printing) Power on / off of the device, etc.) can be turned on and off in a detailed and efficient manner.
【0122】
Further, the built-in means is a set of identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the job control command data generated by the data generating means and an individual job control command for each printing device. Is incorporated, so that different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and individually for the plurality of printing devices intended by the user. Job control and batch management of equipment can be performed in parallel.
【0123】
Further, the built-in means includes identification information for identifying the job control command for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generating means, and each printing. Since a plurality of sets of individual job control commands for the devices are incorporated, different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user. Common or individual job control for multiple intended printing devices and batch management of devices can be performed more efficiently and in parallel.
【0124】
Further, a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), and a plurality of predetermined job control command data transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A job is performed by collating the receiving means (network interface 307 (see packet receiving unit 701 shown in FIG. 7)) received by the casting protocol with the individual identification information incorporated in the predetermined job control command data received by the receiving means. A command execution means for executing a control command (CPU 201 executes a control program stored in an external storage device such as a ROM 202 or a hard disk (see packet analysis unit 702 and print instruction composition unit 703 shown in FIG. 7)). Therefore, in a network environment in which job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the printing instructions for each printing device are different. By reducing the traffic required to send command data, avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and while significantly increasing the data transfer rate, based on the job control command of the entire system, for example, job deletion, interruption Job control such as restarting, and for example, turning on and off the power of each printing device can be executed by each printing device in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0125】
Further, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), and is uniquely set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A plurality of sets of storage means for storing identification information, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and individual job control commands for each printing device. It is set as the receiving means (network interface 307 (see packet receiving unit 701 shown in FIG. 7)) that receives the embedded job control command data by the multicasting protocol, and the identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving means. An acquisition means that authenticates the identification information and acquires an individual job control command, and a command execution means that executes the individual job control command acquired by the acquisition means (packet analysis unit 702 shown in FIG. 7, printing). Since it has the instruction synthesizer 703), even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment where job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium, each printing device By reducing the traffic required to send job control command data with different print instructions to, avoiding a situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, each printing device communicates different job control command data that can be acquired individually. Even if the number of sets intended by the user is transmitted on the medium, each printing device can execute the data in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0126】
Further, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), and is a unique identification set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing information, a first job control command for all printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and each printing device. A receiving means (network interface 307 (see packet receiving unit 701 shown in FIG. 7)) for receiving job control command data in which a plurality of sets of individual second job control commands for are incorporated by a multicasting protocol, and the receiving means. The acquisition means for acquiring the first and second job control commands by authenticating the identification information in the job control command data received by the above and the set identification information, and the first and second acquisition means acquired by the acquisition means. Command generation means (see Packet analysis unit 702 and print instruction synthesis unit 703 shown in Fig. 7) that generate individual job control commands to be executed from the job control command of, and individual job control commands generated by the command generation means. Since it has a command execution means (see packet analysis unit 702 and print instruction synthesis unit 703 shown in Fig. 7), job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium. Even if the number of printing devices increases in the environment, the traffic required to send job control command data with different printing instructions to each printing device is reduced to avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates. Even if different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, the job control command common to each printing device in parallel with other printing devices. Can be executed based on and individual job control commands.
【0127】
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the data processing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the process of generating the control command data packet in the packet generation unit 1102 shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.
【0128】
First, in step (1), first, a data packet having a length of "0" is generated. Next, in step (2), data of the data length of the control command common to the printing devices in the group is added to the data packet. Next, in step (3), the control command data common to the printing devices in the group is added to the data packet. Then, in step (4), the number of one or more printing device identifiers is added to the data packet.
【0129】
Next, in step (5), one or more printer identifiers are added to the data packet. Then, in step (6), the length of the control command data for the printing device identified by the printing device identifier added in step (5) is added to the data packet.
【0130】
Subsequently, in step (7), the control command data for the printing device identified by the printing device identifier added in step (5) is added to the data packet.
【0131】
All the printing devices having the printing device identifier added in step (5) are used to generate the control command that actually uses the printing instruction data added in step (7).
【0132】
Next, in step (8), the steps from step (4) to step (7) are repeated for the number of control commands. Finally, in step (9), a delimiter "0" for indicating the end of the control command data packet is added to the data packet to end the process.
【0133】
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a control command data bucket generated by the packet generation unit 1102 shown in FIG.
【0134】
In the figure, 1301 is the data length of the control command common to the printing devices in the loop. 1302 is the data of the control command common to the printing devices in the group. 1303 is the number of printer identifiers.
【0135】
1304 is the printer identifier. 1305 is the length of control command data for the printer identified by the printer identifier. 1306 is control command data for the printer identified by the printer identifier. 1307 is a delimiter "0" to indicate the end of the control command data packet.
【0136】
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of job control and device control in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. The configuration and operation will be described below.
【0137】
In FIG. 14, 1401 is a packet receiver that receives the reliable multicasting protocol transmitted from the data processing device 101 that issues the control command. The packet receiving unit 1401 receives the reliable multicasting protocol addressed to the group address of the own machine, and sends the control command data packet received by the reliable multicasting protocol to the packet analysis unit 1402.
【0138】
Then, the packet analysis unit 1402 analyzes the control command data packet sent from the packet reception unit 1401, extracts the control command common to each printing device, extracts the control command containing the identifier of the own machine, and synthesizes the control command. Send to department 1403. Further, the packet analysis unit 1402 extracts the redocument data by analyzing the print job data and sends it to the control command synthesis unit 1403.
【0139】
In response to this, the control command synthesis unit 1403 synthesizes the control command common to each printing device and a plurality of controls for the own machine input from the packet analysis unit 1402, and generates a control command to be actually used.
【0140】
The composition is performed by overwriting the control commands common to each printing device in the order in which a plurality of control commands for the own machine are received.
【0141】
Then, the control command synthesizer 1403 sends the generated control command to the printer engine 306. In response to this, the printer engine 306 controls jobs and devices according to the input control commands.
【0142】
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the fourth data processing procedure in the data processing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the analysis processing procedure of the control command data packet in the packet analysis unit 1402 shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.
【0143】
First, in step (1), it is checked whether the data length of the common control command is "0", and if it is determined to be "0", the process proceeds to step (3), and if it is not "0". If it is determined, the common control command is acquired in step (2). Next, in step (3), it is checked whether or not the number of printing device identifiers is "0", and if it is determined that the number of printing device identifiers is "0", that is, this data is a control command. If it is determined that the delimiter indicates the end of the data packet, the packet analysis process is terminated.
【0144】
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the number of printer identifiers is not "0", the control command acquisition flag is set to "FALSE" in step (4). The control command acquisition flag is set. Is information for remembering whether to acquire the control command that follows.
【0145】
Next, in step (5), the first printer identifier is acquired, and in step (6), whether or not the acquired printer identifier is equal to the printer identifier of the own machine, that is, the control command following the following is determined. If it is determined whether or not it is for the own machine and it is determined that the acquired printing device identifier is equal to the printing device identifier of the own machine, the control command acquisition flag is set to "TRUE". In step (3), steps (5) to (7) are repeated for the number of printing device weaving elements.
【0146】
Next, in step (9), it is determined whether or not the control command acquisition flag is "TRUE", and if it is determined that the control command acquisition flag is "true", in step (10). , Acquire the control command data for the length of the control command that follows, and return to step (3).
【0147】
On the other hand, if it is determined in step (9) that the control command acquisition flag is "false", in step (11), only the data of the length of the following control command is skipped, and step (3) Return to.
【0148】
Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5, 8, 12, 15, 15 and the like as appropriate.
【0149】
A data processing method of a data processing device (PC101) capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices (printers 102 to 107) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108) configured as described above, or a predetermined communication. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a data processing device that can communicate with a plurality of printing devices via a medium, and a job generation step (not shown) that generates predetermined print job data. An embedded process that incorporates identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation step and printing instructions for each printing device (steps (2) to FIG. 5). (9)) and a transmission step (not shown) of transmitting the print job data in which the identification information is incorporated by the incorporation process onto the communication medium by a multicasting protocol, so that each printing apparatus individually has. Acquirable print job data can be transmitted on the communication medium, and even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions to each printing device is reduced, and the communication medium. It is possible to significantly increase the data transfer rate by avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the printer is degraded.
【0150】
Further, in the built-in process, a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation process and individual printing instructions for each printing device are provided. Since it is incorporated, different print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and different printing processes according to the functional processing capacity of each printing device, for example, Different numbers of copies, different sheet post-processing (finishing processing), etc. can be specified individually.
【0151】
Further, the built-in process includes printing instructions for all printing devices for the print job data generated by the job generation step, identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed, and individual printing for each printing device. Since multiple sets of print instructions are incorporated, it is possible to transmit both the common print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device and the different print job data on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user. A user who can use the printing device resources on the network at the same time by individually designating different printing processes, such as different number of copies and different sheet post-processing (finishing process), according to the functional processing capacity of each printing device. It is possible to efficiently perform a large amount of intended printing processing in a short time.
【0152】
Further, it is a data processing method of a data processing device (PC101) capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices (printers 102 to 107) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), or a plurality of data processing methods via a predetermined communication medium. A data generation step (not shown) that is a storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a data processing device that can communicate with the printing device, and generates predetermined job control command data, and the data generation step. Incorporating the identification information for identifying a specific printing device to receive the job control command data generated by the above into the job control command data (steps (1) to (9) in FIG. 12), and Since it has a transmission step (not shown) of transmitting the job control command data in which the identification information is incorporated by the incorporation step onto the communication medium by a multicasting protocol, even if the number of printing devices increases, Job control with different print instructions for each printing device Job control for the entire system while reducing the traffic required to send data, avoiding a situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and significantly increasing the data transfer rate. (For example, job control such as job deletion, interruption, and resumption) and batch management of devices (for example, turning on and off the power of each printing device) can be performed finely and efficiently.
【0153】
Further, the built-in process is a set of identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the job control command data generated by the data generation process and individual job control commands for each printing device. Is incorporated, so that different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and individually for the plurality of printing devices intended by the user. Job control and batch management of equipment can be performed in parallel.
【0154】
Further, in the built-in process, the job control command for all printing devices and identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed and each printing are performed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation process. Since a plurality of sets of individual job control commands for the devices are incorporated, different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user. Common or individual job control for multiple intended printing devices and batch management of devices can be performed more efficiently and in parallel.
【0155】
Further, it is a data processing method of a print processing device (controller unit of printers 102 to 107) capable of communicating with a data processing device (PC101) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), or via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a print processing device that can communicate with the data processing device, and identifies a specific printing device that is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A receiving process (not shown) for receiving print job data including identification information for printing and a printing instruction for any printing device by a multicasting protocol, and identification information in the print job data received by the receiving process. Acquisition step of acquiring printing instructions by authenticating with unique identification information set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium (steps (1) to (12) in FIG. 8). And, since it has a print processing step (not shown) that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the print instruction acquired by the acquisition step, each printing apparatus individually acquires the print process. In a network environment in which possible print job data is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions for each printing device is reduced for communication. Avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the medium deteriorates, the individual print job data specified for each printing device is surely acquired, and the unique printing process is streamlined in parallel with the printing process of other printing devices. Can be done well.
【0156】
Further, it is a data processing method of a print processing device (each controller unit of printers 102 to 107) capable of communicating with a data processing device (PC101) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), or a predetermined communication medium can be used. A storage medium in which a computer-readable program that controls a print processing device that can communicate with the data processing device via the data processing device is stored, and is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. In the receiving process (not shown) for receiving the print job data in which a plurality of sets of identification information for identification and individual printing instructions for each printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and the print job data received by the receiving process. The acquisition step (step (1) in FIG. 15) of authenticating the identification information of the above and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium to acquire individual printing instructions. ) ~ (11)) and a print processing step (not shown) that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the individual print instruction acquired in the acquisition step. , In a network environment where print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, printing job data with different printing instructions for each printing device can be transmitted. By reducing the traffic required, avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and reliably acquiring individual print job data from multiple sets of print job data specified for multiple printing devices, etc. It is possible to efficiently perform a unique printing process in parallel with the printing process of the printing device.
【0157】
Further, printing that is a data processing method of a print processing device that can communicate with the data processing device (PC101) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), or that can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a processing device, and is a first printing instruction for all printing devices and a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A reception step (not shown) for receiving a print job data in which a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying the print device and an individual second print instruction for each printing device are incorporated by a multicasting protocol, and a reception step (not shown) received by the reception step. Acquisition of the first and second print instructions by authenticating the identification information in the print job data and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. Based on the steps (steps (1) to (11) of FIG. 15) and the first and second print instructions acquired in the acquisition step, the print process specific to the print job in the received print job data is performed. Since it has a printing processing step (not shown) to be performed, each printing is performed even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment in which print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium. By reducing the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions to the device, avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, each of the multiple sets of print job data specified for multiple print devices can be selected. The print job data common to the printing devices and the individual print job data to each printing device are surely acquired, and the printing process common to the printing devices having different printing resources in parallel with the printing process of the other printing devices. Unique printing processing can be performed efficiently.
【0158】
Further, a print processing device that is a data processing method of a print processing device that can communicate with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium (network 108) or that can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A receiving step of receiving predetermined job control command data transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium by a multicasting protocol, which is a storage medium in which a program that can be read by a controlling computer is stored (FIG. 15). Steps (1) to (11)) and a command execution step (not shown) that executes a job control command by collating the individual identification information incorporated in the predetermined job control command data received by the receiving step. Therefore, in a network environment in which job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the printing instructions for each printing device are different. While reducing the traffic required to send command data, avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and significantly increasing the data transfer rate, based on the job control commands of the entire system, for example, job deletion and interruption Job control such as restarting, and for example, turning on and off the power of each printing device can be executed by each printing device in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0159】
Further, it is a data processing method of a print processing device (printer controller unit of printers 102 to 107) capable of communicating with a data processing device (PC101) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), or a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium in which a computer-readable program that controls a print processing device that can communicate with the data processing device via the data processing device is stored, and is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A receiving process (steps (1) to (11) in FIG. 15) of receiving job control command data in which multiple sets of identification information for identification and individual job control commands for each printing device are incorporated by a multicasting protocol. , Individual job control by authenticating the identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving process and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. Since it has an acquisition process (steps (1) to (11) in FIG. 15) for acquiring a command and a command execution process (not shown) for executing the individual job control command acquired in the acquisition process, each printing is performed. In a network environment where job control command data that can be individually acquired by each device is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, it is necessary to send job control command data with different printing instructions to each printing device. By reducing the traffic and avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium is deteriorated, different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user. However, each printing device can be executed in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0160】
Further, it is a data processing method of a print processing device (printer controller unit of printers 102 to 107) capable of communicating with a data processing device (PC101) via a predetermined communication medium (network 108), or a predetermined communication medium can be used. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a print processing device that can communicate with the data processing device via the data processing device, and is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium for all printing devices. Receiving the job control command data in which multiple sets of the first job control command and the identification information for identifying a specific printing device and the individual second job control command for each printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol. Set to identify the steps (steps (1) to (11) in FIG. 15), the identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving step, and a plurality of printing devices connected to the communication medium. The acquisition steps (steps (1) to (11) in FIG. 15) of acquiring the first and second job control commands by authenticating the unique identification information obtained, and the first and first acquisition steps acquired by the acquisition process. The command generation process (steps (1) to (11) in FIG. 15) for generating individual job control commands to be executed from the job control command 2 and the individual job control commands generated by the command generation process are executed. Since it has a command execution process (not shown), each print is performed even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment in which job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium. Job control command data with different print instructions to the device By reducing the traffic required to send data and avoiding a situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, different job control command data that can be acquired individually by each print device can be obtained. Even if the number of sets intended by the user is transmitted on the communication medium, it can be executed in parallel with other printing devices based on a job control command common to each printing device and an individual job control command.
【0161】
Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the data processing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.
【0162】
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the data processing system according to the present invention.
【0163】
Although not particularly shown, information that manages a group of programs stored in a storage medium, such as version information, creators, etc., is also stored, and information that depends on the OS, etc. on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons and the like may also be stored.
【0164】
Furthermore, data dependent on various programs are also managed in the above directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer, a program for decompressing the program when the program to be installed is compressed, and the like may be stored.
【0165】
The functions shown in FIGS. 5, 8, 12, and 15 in the present embodiment may be performed by the host computer by an externally installed program. In that case, the present invention is applied even when the information group including the program is supplied to the output device by a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. It is a thing.
【0166】
As described above, the storage medium in which the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is recorded is supplied to the system or device, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device stores the storage medium in the storage medium. Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code.
【0167】
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
【0168】
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, or the like can be used. it can.
【0169】
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer is set based on the instructions of the program code. Needless to say, there are cases where a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment.
【0170】
Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then the function is expanded based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU provided in the board or the function expansion unit may perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiment.
【0171】
In the above embodiment, the print processing device and the data processing device have been described as individual configurations, but it goes without saying that the print processing device and the data processing device may be combined so as to be communicable via a predetermined communication medium to form a data processing system. ..
【0172】
[Effect of the invention]
As described above, according to the first invention according to the present invention, a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, and job generation for generating predetermined print job data. By means, built-in means for incorporating identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generating means, and printing instructions for each printing device, and the built-in means. Since it has a transmission means for transmitting the print job data in which the identification information is incorporated on the communication medium by the multicasting protocol, the print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium. Even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different printing instructions to each printing device can be reduced to avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and data transfer can be performed. The rate can be significantly increased.
【0173】
According to the second invention, the built-in means includes identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generating means, and individual printing on each printing device. Since multiple sets of instructions are incorporated, different print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, depending on the functional processing capacity of each printing device. Different printing processes, such as different number of copies, different sheet post-processing (finishing processing), etc. can be individually specified.
【0174】
According to the third invention, the built-in means has printing instructions for all printing devices and identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the print job data generated by the job generating means. And multiple sets of individual print instructions for each printing device are incorporated, so that the set intended by the user on the communication medium is both the common print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device and the different print job data. can be sent a few minutes, a different printing process according to the function processing capability of the printing devices, for example different parts, different sheet post-processing (Finisher specify separately the ring processing) or the like, a printing device resource on the network It is possible to efficiently perform a wide variety of printing processes intended by the user who use them at the same time as much as possible in a short time.
【0175】
According to the fourth invention, it is a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, and is generated by a data generation means for generating predetermined job control command data and the data generation means. An embedded means for incorporating the identification information for identifying a specific printing device to receive the job control command data into the job control command data, and the job control command in which the identification information is incorporated by the embedded means. Since it has a transmission means for transmitting data on the communication medium by the multicasting protocol, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required for transmitting job control command data with different printing instructions for each printing device can be reduced. Therefore, while avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates and significantly increasing the data transfer rate, job control of the entire system (for example, job control such as job deletion, interruption, resumption, etc.) and centralized management of devices ( For example, turning on and off the power of each printing device) can be performed finely and efficiently.
【0176】
According to the fifth invention, the built-in means has identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the job control command data generated by the data generating means, and individual information for each printing device. Since multiple sets of job control commands are incorporated, different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and a plurality of sets intended by the user can be transmitted. Individual job control and batch management of equipment can be performed in parallel for the printing device.
【0177】
According to a sixth invention, the built-in means identifies the job control command for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generating means. Since multiple sets of identification information and individual job control commands for each printing device are incorporated, different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device are transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user. It is possible to perform common or individual job control and batch management of devices for a plurality of printing devices intended by the user in parallel more efficiently.
【0178】
According to the seventh invention, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is uniquely set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. Printing including a storage means for storing the identification information of the above, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and a printing instruction to any of the printing devices. A receiving means for receiving job data by a multicasting protocol, an acquisition means for authenticating the identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means and the set identification information to acquire a print instruction, and the acquisition means. Since it has a print processing means that performs a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the print instruction acquired by the above, the print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is on the communication medium. Even if the number of printing devices increases under the network environment transmitted to, the traffic required to send print job data with different printing instructions to each printing device is reduced, and the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates. By avoiding this, it is possible to reliably acquire the individual print job data specified for each printing device and efficiently perform the unique printing process in parallel with the printing process of the other printing devices.
【0179】
According to the eighth invention, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is uniquely set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A plurality of sets of storage means for storing the identification information of the above, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and individual printing instructions for each printing device. An acquisition means that authenticates a receiving means that receives the embedded print job data by the multicasting protocol, an identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means, and the set identification information, and acquires an individual print instruction. And, since it has a print processing means that performs a print process peculiar to the print job in the received print job data based on the individual print instruction acquired by the acquisition means, each printing apparatus can acquire it individually. In a network environment where print job data is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions to each printing device is reduced, and the communication medium Avoiding the situation where the transfer performance deteriorates, the individual print job data can be reliably acquired from the multiple sets of print job data specified for multiple printing devices, and in parallel with the printing process of other printing devices. The unique printing process can be performed efficiently.
【0180】
According to the ninth invention, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is uniquely set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing the identification information of the above, a first printing instruction for all the printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and identification information for identifying a specific printing device, and each printing. A receiving means for receiving print job data in which a plurality of sets of individual second print instructions for the device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and identification information in the print job data received by the receiving means and set identification information. Unique to the acquisition means for acquiring the first and second print instructions by authenticating and the print job in the received print job data based on the first and second print instructions acquired by the acquisition means. Since it has a printing processing means for performing printing processing, even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment in which print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, each printing is performed. By reducing the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions to the device, avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, each of the multiple sets of print job data specified for multiple print devices can be selected. The print job data common to the printing devices and the individual print job data to each printing device are surely acquired, and the printing process common to the printing devices having different printing resources in parallel with the printing process of the other printing devices. Unique printing processing can be performed efficiently.
【0181】
According to a tenth invention, a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and predetermined job control command data transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. Each has a receiving means for receiving the data by the multicasting protocol and a command executing means for executing the job control command by collating the individual identification information incorporated in the predetermined job control command data received by the receiving means. In a network environment where job control command data that can be individually acquired by printing devices is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, job control command data with different printing instructions for each printing device can be sent. Jobs based on job control commands for the entire system, such as deleting, suspending, and resuming jobs, while reducing the required traffic, avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and significantly increasing the data transfer rate. Control and, for example, turning on and off the power of each printing device can be executed by each printing device in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0182】
According to the eleventh invention, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is uniquely set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A plurality of sets of storage means for storing the identification information of the data, identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and individual job control commands for each printing device. Individual job control commands are issued by authenticating the receiving means that receives the job control command data to be incorporated separately by the multicasting protocol and the identification information and the set identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving means. Since it has an acquisition means to be acquired and a command execution means to execute the individual job control command acquired by the acquisition means, job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium. Even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment, the traffic required to send job control command data with different print instructions for each printing device is reduced to avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates. , Even if different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, each printing device controls individual jobs in parallel with other printing devices. It can be executed based on a command.
【0183】
According to the twelfth invention, it is a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and is uniquely set to identify a plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. A storage means for storing the identification information of the data, a first job control command for all the printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and identification information for identifying a specific printing device, respectively. It is set as a receiving means for receiving job control command data in which a plurality of sets of individual second job control commands for the printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and identification information in the job control command data received by the receiving means. Generates an acquisition means that authenticates the identification information and acquires the first and second job control commands, and an individual job control command to be executed from the first and second job control commands acquired by the acquisition means. Since it has a command generation means for executing a command and a command execution means for executing individual job control commands generated by the command generation means, job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium. Even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment, the traffic required to send job control command data with different printing instructions to each printing device is reduced to avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates. Therefore, even if different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, a job common to each printing device in parallel with other printing devices. It can be executed based on control commands and individual job control commands.
【0184】
According to the thirteenth and twenty-fifth inventions, it is a data processing method of a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, or with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a communicable data processing device, and includes a job generation process that generates predetermined print job data and the print job data generated by the job generation process. An embedding process that incorporates identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed and a printing instruction for each printing device, and the print job data in which the identification information is incorporated by the embedding process are incorporated by a multicasting protocol. Since it has a transmission step of transmitting on the communication medium, print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium, and even if the number of printing devices increases, each printing device can be transmitted. It is possible to reduce the traffic required for transmitting print job data having different print instructions for the data, avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and significantly increase the data transfer rate.
【0185】
According to the 14th and 26th inventions, in the built-in process, identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed for the print job data generated by the job generation step and identification information for each printing device are provided. Since multiple sets of individual print instructions are incorporated, different print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and functional processing of each printing device can be performed. Different printing processes, such as different number of copies and different sheet post-processing (finishing processing), can be individually specified according to the ability.
【0186】
According to the fifteenth and twenty-seventh inventions, in order to identify a printing instruction for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the print job data generated by the job generation step. Since multiple sets of identification information and individual print instructions for each printing device are incorporated, the user can transfer both common print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device and different print job data on the communication medium. It is possible to transmit as many sets as the intended number of sets, and different printing processes, such as different numbers of copies and different sheet post-processing (finishing processing), can be individually specified according to the functional processing capacity of each printing device, and the printing devices on the network. It is possible to efficiently perform a large amount of printing processing intended by a user who uses resources at the same time as much as possible in a short time.
【0187】
According to the 16th and 28th inventions, it is a data processing method of a data processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, or with a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a communicable data processing device, and is a data generation step that generates predetermined job control command data, and the job control command that is generated by the data generation step. An embedding process in which identification information for identifying a specific printing device to receive data is incorporated into the job control command data, and the job control command data in which the identification information is incorporated by the embedding process are incorporated by a multicasting protocol. Since it has a transmission step of transmitting on the communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required for transmitting job control command data having different print instructions to each printing device is reduced, and the communication medium is transferred. Job control for the entire system (for example, job control for deleting, suspending, resuming, etc.) and centralized management of equipment (for example, power supply for each printing device) while avoiding a situation where performance is degraded and significantly increasing the data transfer rate. (Injection, shutoff, etc.) can be performed finely and efficiently.
【0188】
According to the 17th and 29th inventions, the built-in process includes identification information for identifying a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation step, and each printing device. Since a plurality of sets with individual job control commands for are incorporated, different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device can be transmitted on the communication medium for the number of sets intended by the user, and the user intends to use the data. It is possible to perform individual job control and batch management of devices in parallel for multiple printing devices.
【0189】
According to the eighteenth and thirtieth inventions, the built-in process provides the job control command for all printing devices and a specific printing device to be processed with respect to the job control command data generated by the data generation step. Since multiple sets of identification information for identification and individual job control commands for each printing device are incorporated, the number of sets intended by the user on the communication medium is different job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device. Minutes can be transmitted, and common or individual job control and batch management of devices can be performed in parallel for a plurality of printing devices intended by the user.
【0190】
According to the 19th and 31st inventions, it is a data processing method of a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a printing processing device, and is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium to identify a specific printing device. A receiving process for receiving print job data including a print instruction for the printing device by a multicasting protocol, identification information in the print job data received by the receiving process, and a plurality of prints connected on the communication medium. An acquisition step of acquiring a print instruction by authenticating the unique identification information set to identify the device, and a print job in the received print job data based on the print instruction acquired by the acquisition step. Since it has a printing processing process that performs printing processing unique to each printing device, even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment in which print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, It reduces the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions to each printing device, avoids the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, and ensures the individual print job data specified for each printing device. It is possible to efficiently perform a unique printing process in parallel with the printing process of another printing device.
【0191】
According to the 20th and 32nd inventions, it is a data processing method of a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. Identification information for identifying a specific printing device, which is a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls a printing processing device, and is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. The reception process of receiving the print job data in which a plurality of sets of individual print instructions to the printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and the identification information in the print job data received by the reception process are connected on the communication medium. The acquisition step of authenticating the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices and acquiring individual printing instructions, and the reception based on the individual printing instructions acquired by the acquisition step. Since it has a print processing process that performs print processing unique to the print job in the print job data, the printing device can be used in a network environment in which print job data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on the communication medium. Designated for multiple printing devices by reducing the traffic required to send print job data with different printing instructions to each printing device even if the number increases, avoiding a situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates. It is possible to reliably acquire individual print job data from a plurality of sets of print job data, and efficiently perform a unique print process in parallel with the print process of another printing device.
【0192】
According to the 21st and 33rd inventions, it is a data processing method of a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a printing processing device, and is a first printing instruction and a specific printing instruction for all printing devices transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. A receiving process for receiving print job data by a multicasting protocol in which a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying a printing device and an individual second printing instruction for each printing device are incorporated, and a printing job received by the receiving process. An acquisition step of authenticating the identification information in the data and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium to acquire the first and second printing instructions. Since each printing device has a print processing step of performing a print process specific to the print job in the received print job data based on the first and second print instructions acquired in the acquisition step, each printing device is individually provided. In a network environment where acquireable print job data is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send print job data with different print instructions for each printing device can be reduced. To avoid a situation in which the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, print job data common to each printing device and individual print job data to each printing device can be selected from a plurality of sets of print job data specified for multiple printing devices. It is possible to efficiently perform the common printing process and the unique printing process in the printing device having different printing resources in parallel with the printing process of the other printing device by surely acquiring each of them.
【0193】
According to the 22nd and 34th inventions, it is a data processing method of a printing processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a printing processing device, and receives predetermined job control command data transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium by a multicasting protocol. Since it has a receiving process and a command execution process of collating individual identification information incorporated in the predetermined job control command data received by the receiving process and executing the job control command, each printing device can acquire the data individually. In a network environment where various job control command data is transmitted on a communication medium, even if the number of printing devices increases, the traffic required to send job control command data with different print instructions for each printing device can be reduced. While avoiding the situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates and significantly increasing the data transfer rate, job control such as deleting, suspending, and resuming jobs based on the job control commands of the entire system and, for example, for each printing device Each printing device can execute power on / off, etc. in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0194】
According to the 23rd and 35th inventions, it is a data processing method of a print processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium that stores a program that can be read by a computer that controls a printing processing device, and identification information for identifying a specific printing device transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium, and each of them. A reception process for receiving job control command data in which a plurality of sets of individual job control commands for a printing device are incorporated by a multicasting protocol, identification information in the job control command data received by the reception process, and the communication medium. An acquisition process for acquiring individual job control commands by authenticating unique identification information set to identify a plurality of connected printing devices, and the individual job control commands acquired by the acquisition process. Since it has a command execution process to be executed, even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment in which job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, the job control command data can be applied to each printing device. By reducing the traffic required to send job control command data with different print instructions and avoiding a situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, each printing device can individually acquire different job control command data as the communication medium. Even if the number of sets intended by the user is transmitted above, each printing device can be executed in parallel with other printing devices based on individual job control commands.
【0195】
According to the 24th and 36th inventions, it is a data processing method of a printing processing device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, or can communicate with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A first job control command and identification for all printing devices, which is a storage medium containing a program readable by a computer that controls a printing processing device, and is transmitted from the data processing device to the predetermined communication medium. The reception process of receiving the job control command data in which a plurality of sets of identification information for identifying the printing device and the individual second job control command for each printing device are incorporated by the multicasting protocol, and the reception process of receiving the data. Job control command command The first and second job control commands are issued by authenticating the identification information in the data and the unique identification information set to identify the plurality of printing devices connected on the communication medium. The acquisition process to be acquired, the command generation process to generate individual job control commands to be executed from the first and second job control commands acquired by the acquisition process, and the individual job control commands generated by the command generation process. Since it has a command execution process for executing, even if the number of printing devices increases in a network environment in which job control command data that can be individually acquired by each printing device is transmitted on a communication medium, each printing device By reducing the traffic required to send job control command data with different print instructions to, avoiding a situation where the transfer performance of the communication medium deteriorates, each printing device communicates different job control command data that can be acquired individually. Even if the number of sets intended by the user is transmitted on the medium, it can be executed in parallel with other printing devices based on a job control command common to each printing device and an individual job control command.
【0196】
Therefore, individual print job data or job control command data can be transmitted to a specific printing device by the multicast protocol among a plurality of printing devices on the network, and even if the number of printing devices on the network increases, the network It has the effect of being able to efficiently perform individual print jobs and job control using the above printing device resources at the same time without reducing traffic.
[Simple explanation of drawings]
[Figure 1]
It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the data processing system which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention.
[Figure 2]
It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the data processing apparatus shown in FIG.
[Fig. 3]
It is a block diagram which shows an example of the printer shown in FIG.
[Fig. 4]
It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the module which issues a print job by the data processing apparatus shown in FIG.
[Fig. 5]
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 1st data processing procedure in the data processing system which concerns on this invention.
[Fig. 6]
It is a figure which shows an example of the print job data packet generated by the packet generation part shown in FIG.
[Fig. 7]
It is a figure which shows an example of the print job data packet generated by the packet generation part shown in FIG.
[Fig. 8]
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 2nd data processing procedure in the data processing system which concerns on this invention.
[Fig. 9]
It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information processing system which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.
[Fig. 10]
It is a block diagram explaining the correspondence between the module which issues a print job for copying in the data processing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 and a scanner resource.
[Fig. 11]
It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information processing system which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.
[Fig. 12]
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 3rd data processing procedure in the data processing system which concerns on this invention.
[Fig. 13]
It is a figure which shows the example of the control command data bucket generated by the packet generation part shown in FIG.
[Fig. 14]
It is a block diagram explaining the structure of job control and device control in the printing apparatus shown in FIG.
[Fig. 15]
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 4th data processing procedure in the data processing system which concerns on this invention.
[Fig. 16]
It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores various data processing programs which can be read by the data processing system which concerns on this invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Data processing device 102 ~ 107 Printer 108 network
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Cited during |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2009037647A | Cited by | Japan | Examiner |
| KR20060029388A | Cited by | Republic of Korea | Search report |
| US7664837B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| US9569158B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| US8682967B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| US8150907B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| US8194268B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| JP2007133719A | Cited by | Japan | Examiner |
| US8682966B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| US7492475B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
8 members in 4 offices
Priority claims2
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10964498 | Japan | A | |
| JP19980109644 | – | – | – |
Members8
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP0952514A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| JPH11305966AThis record | Japan | A | |
| EP0952514A3 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| US6707566B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| JP3745116B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| EP0952514B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| DE69933809D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| DE69933809T2 | Germany | T2 |
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| Notification of reasons for refusalJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131A131 | A131 | |
| Written amendmentJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523A521 | A521 | |
| Notification of reasons for refusalJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131A131 | A131 | |
| Report on retrievalJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A971007A977 | A977 |
Numbers
- Publication
- 11-305966
- Publication, DOCDB
- H11305966
- Publication, EPODOC
- JPH11305966
- Application
- 10109644
- Application, DOCDB
- 10964498
- Application, EPODOC
- JP19980109644
Titles2
- Japanese
- 【発明の名称】データ処理装置および印刷処理装置およびデータ処理装置のデータ処理方法および印刷処理装置のデータ処理方法およびコンピュータが読み出し可能なプログラムを格納した記憶媒体
- English
- PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store a data processing apparatus, a printing processing apparatus, a data processing method of the data processing apparatus, a data processing method of the print processing apparatus, and a computer-readable program.
Classification
- CPC, 7
- H04L67/125
- G06F3/1204
- G06F3/1212
- G06F3/1231
- G06F3/124
- G06F3/1285
- H04L12/18
- IPC, 2
- B41J29 38
- G06F3 12