JP2002062995A - Network print system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] Even when a plurality of client terminal devices output a print instruction to a network printer, print results are not mixed. SOLUTION: In a client PC2, when a first print instruction is received from an application, the print data a is stored in a spool area 4, and thereafter, when a first print instruction is received from the application, the print data b,
.. are stored in the spool area 4 and the second
The print data a, b, and d that have been stored and stored in the spool area 4 up to that time are output to the printer 1 and printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network print system including a network printer and a client terminal device that issues a print instruction to the network printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a network print system in which a plurality of client terminal devices (personal computers) are connected to one network printer via a network. In this type of network print system, when printing is performed from a different application, that is, each client device, a print instruction and print data are output to the network printer each time a print operation is started in each client terminal device.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional network print system, each time a print instruction is issued from the client terminal device, the print instruction is output to the network printer and printed. As shown in FIG. 4, when a print instruction of one client terminal device and another client terminal device are output before and after in time, the network printer prints the print sheets of different client terminal devices in time sequence. It will be put out again. Therefore, when taking out the print result from the printer, it is necessary to check all the pages and bring them back. At this time, there is a problem that if the confirmation is neglected, the output result of another person is erroneously brought back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network print system in which print results are not mixed even when a plurality of client terminals output a print instruction to a network printer. The purpose is.

[0005]

A network print system according to the present invention is a system comprising a network printer and a client terminal device for issuing a print instruction to the network printer, wherein the client terminal device comprises a first print instruction. And means for transmitting spool data to a network printer in response to a second print instruction.

In the client terminal device of the network print system, even if a print instruction is issued, if the print instruction is the first print instruction, it is stored as spool data.
Each time the first print instruction is issued, it is sequentially stored as spool data. When the second print instruction is issued, the stored spool data is output to the network printer. In a network printer, a series of data is printed, so that output results from other apparatuses are not mixed.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of a network print system in which the present invention is implemented. This network print system is configured by connecting one network printer 1 and a plurality of client PCs 2 _-1 , 2 _-2 , and 2-3 via a LAN ₃ .

[0008] Each client PC 2 _-1 , 2 _-2 , 2 _-3
Each has a print folder, a function of storing print data in a print folder each time a first print instruction is issued from each application software, and storing the print data in a print folder when a second print instruction is issued. It has a function of outputting print data to the network printer 1. Here, one storage medium independent of hardware can be used as the print folder.

An outline of a printing process in the network print system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to an explanatory diagram shown in FIG. First, when the first print instruction from the application of the client PC2 _-1 is performed, the print data a at that time is stored in the spool area 4 is a printing folder. Here, the first print instruction is an instruction for printing data, but is not an instruction for immediately outputting to a network printer to print out,
This is an instruction to store print data in the spool area 4.

[0010] at a time, the same first printing instruction from the application of the client PC2 _-1 is performed, the print data b at that time continues to print data a to spool 4, is stored in the next area. Next, when the print data c is output from another client PC to the network printer 1 at this timing, the print data c
Is printed by the network printer 1 first.

Further, after a while, the client PC 2
_When the first print instruction is issued again from the _-1 application, the print data d at that time is stored in the spool area 4 in the area next to the print data b. When the print data e is output from another client PC to the network printer 1 at the next timing, the print data e is printed by the network printer 1.

For example, after the print data e is printed from another client PC, when a second print instruction is issued from the client PC _2-1 , the print data a, b, d stored in the spool area 4 until then is received. Are sequentially output, and are sequentially and continuously printed by the network printer 1. Thus, the print result of the client PC2 _-1 without mixed with printouts of other client PC, can be collectively.

[0013] Next, the print processing operation in the client PC2 _-1 in this embodiment the network print system, together with the flowchart shown in FIG. In the client PC2 _-1, it determines upon entry into routine of printing process, first, in step ST1, whether or not a print instruction is issued. If the print instruction has not been issued, nothing is performed and this processing routine ends. On the other hand, if a print instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to step ST2. Step S
At T2, it is determined whether the print instruction is the first (type) print instruction. In the case of the first print instruction, the process proceeds to step ST3. On the other hand, if it is not the first print instruction, the process proceeds to step ST4.

In step ST3, since the issued print instruction is the first print instruction, the print data is stored in the spool area 4 as the print data a and b in FIG. Next, the process proceeds to step ST5. Step ST
In 5, it is determined whether or not the processing is completed. If the processing has been completed, this print processing routine ends. If not, the process returns to step ST1.

In step ST4, it is determined whether the print instruction is the second (type) print instruction. In the case of the second print instruction, the process proceeds to step ST6. If it is not the second print instruction, the process returns to step ST1. Step ST
In step 6, since the issued print instruction is the second print instruction, the print data stored in the spool area 4 is output to the network printer, and this processing routine ends. The processing in step ST6 corresponds to the print data a, b, d output from the spool area 4 in FIG.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the client terminal device has means for creating spool data in the terminal according to a first print instruction, and means for outputting spool data to a network printer according to a second print instruction. Therefore, the print data is stored as spool data, and the print data is sequentially printed at a required timing at a time, so that the print result can be obtained without being mixed with other client terminal devices and others.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network print system in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a printing process of the network print system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of a client PC of the network print system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a printing process of a conventional network print system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Network printer _{2-1 2-2 2-2} Client PC 3 LAN 4 Spool area

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network print system comprising a network printer and a client terminal device that issues a print instruction to the network printer, wherein the client terminal device creates spool data in the terminal according to a first print instruction. And a means for transmitting the spool data to a network printer in response to a second print instruction. 2. A client terminal device comprising: means for creating spool data according to a first print instruction; and means for transmitting the spool data to a network printer according to a second print instruction. 3. A print data storage medium wherein print data is stored every time a first print instruction is received, and the stored print data is output in response to a second print instruction. .