JPH06348435A - Network printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] The present invention relates to a network printer which is connected to a plurality of computers and sequentially prints data transmitted from the plurality of computers, and moves by transmitting completion or abnormality occurrence to the computer. It is intended to improve the printing work efficiency by making it possible to recognize the completion and the occurrence of an abnormality without any trouble. A network controller 14 that receives a print request from a host computer 13h, a printer controller 15 that converts the data into printable information and controls printing, and a printer engine 16 that is drive-controlled and prints are provided. The controller 14 includes a first memory for storing an address transmitted from the host computer 13h, and a printer controller.
A control means 17 having a completion notification means for receiving the completion signal of 15 and transmitting the completion of printing to the host computer 13h is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network printer, and more particularly to a network printer which is connected to a plurality of computers and sequentially prints data transmitted from the plurality of computers without confusion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a network printer provided with a controller which is connected to a plurality of computers and sequentially controls the data transmitted from the plurality of computers so as to print the data without confusion. An example of this type of network printer is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-7.
No. 8019, the network printer receives a data print request from another second host computer while printing data of one first host computer of a plurality of computers. , The second host computer that stores the address of the second host computer and notifies that the request cannot be accepted because the second host computer is busy, and stores the address of the second host computer when the data printing of the first host computer is completed The controller is provided with a notifying means for notifying that the controller is ready.

Also, in this network printer, when the paper feed tray becomes empty or the paper discharge tray becomes full, the controller notifies the host computer that has transmitted the print request of the occurrence of an abnormality. There is.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional network printer, although it has been realized that the busy computer and the ready computer are notified to the host computer which issued the print request, the printing of the data is not possible. Since it is unknown to the user of the host computer whether or not the printing has been completed, he or she repeatedly checks whether the printing is completed or waits in front of the printer. Therefore, the workability is poor, and there is a problem that the printed output original is lost because the user forgets to take it.

Although notification of a tray abnormality to a user has been realized, other abnormality notifications and methods for coping with the abnormality are not notified. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs, the operation panel of the printer is checked to confirm the abnormality. You must check the handling method in the instruction manual. Therefore, there is a problem that the response to the abnormality is delayed. Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 transmits the print completion to the host computer that has transmitted the print request so that the user can recognize it without moving, and prevent the work efficiency from decreasing. With the goal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the printer abnormality is transmitted to the host computer that has transmitted the print request so that the user can recognize the abnormality occurrence.
The purpose is to improve the printing work efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to improve the print work efficiency by sending a printer error to the administrator computer so that the administrator can respond promptly.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the printing work efficiency by transmitting a coping method for coping with a printer abnormality so that the coping method can be promptly dealt with.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a plurality of computers,
A network printer that sequentially prints data transmitted from the plurality of computers without confusion, and a user storage unit that stores user information of a host computer that outputs a data print request, and a user storage unit that is stored in the user storage unit. And a completion notifying means for transmitting data print completion information to the host computer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality occurrence, and when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, the abnormality occurrence information is transmitted to the host computer stored in the user storage means. A first abnormality notifying means is provided, and the invention according to claim 3 is provided with an abnormality detecting means for detecting the occurrence of an abnormality, and is used by an administrator for maintenance and management. Administrator storage means for storing the user information, and second abnormality notification means for transmitting the abnormality occurrence information to the administrator computer stored in the administrator storage means when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality, Is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a coping storage means for storing a coping method according to the type of abnormality, and a coping method according to the type of abnormality from the coping storage means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality. And a coping method transmitting means for transmitting a coping method for the abnormality to at least one of the host computer stored in the user storage means and the administrator computer stored in the administrator storage means. It is characterized by that.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the user storing means for storing the user information of the host computer and the completion notifying means for transmitting the print completion information of the data to the host computer. Therefore, when the user information such as the address of the host computer is stored in the user storage means and the printing of the data is completed, the completion notification means sends the print completion information of the data to the host computer at the address stored in the user storage means. Sent.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality is provided, and the first abnormality notifying means for transmitting the abnormality occurrence information to the host computer when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality. . Therefore,
When an abnormality occurs, the first abnormality notifying unit transmits the abnormality occurrence information to the host computer at the address stored in the user storage unit, and notifies the user of the abnormality occurrence.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality is provided, and an administrator storing means for storing user information of the administrator computer and an administrator when the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means. Second abnormality notifying means for transmitting the abnormality occurrence information to the computer. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs, the second abnormality notifying means transmits the abnormality occurrence information to the administrator computer at the address stored in the administrator storage means, and the administrator is notified of the abnormality occurrence.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a countermeasure storage means for storing a countermeasure method according to the type of abnormality, and a countermeasure method according to the type of abnormality from the countermeasure storage means when the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means. A coping method transmission means is provided for transmitting the coping method for the abnormality to the host computer or / and the administrator computer. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs, the coping method transmitting unit reads out the coping method corresponding to the type of the abnormality from the coping storage unit, the coping method for the abnormality is transmitted to the host computer or / and the administrator computer, and the coping method is transmitted to the user. Or / and the administrator is notified of the abnormality occurrence.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment of a network printer according to the present invention. First, the configuration will be described. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 11 is a network printer, and the network printer (hereinafter also simply referred to as printer) 11 is connected to a plurality of computers 13a by a network cable 12.
~ 13e are connected. The printer 11 is composed of a network controller 14, a printer controller 15, and a printer engine 16. The network controller 14 receives a print request output from, for example, the computers 13i to 13j, and the computer 13 receives the print request.
The data transmitted from i to 13j (host computer) are sequentially transmitted to the printer controller 15, and the printer controller 15 converts the data into printable information of the printer engine 16 and controls the print drive of the printer engine 16. Host computer 13i
The data transmitted from 13j to 13j are sequentially printed without confusion.

The printer 11 detects that the transfer paper in the paper feed tray is exhausted, toner is exhausted, paper jam occurs, and it becomes impossible to continue printing, and the abnormality is detected. Error No. corresponding to An abnormality detecting means (not shown) for outputting is provided. Also, this printer 11 network controller
14 is the host computer 13 that issued the print request.
and the user information of the user name that uses the address and the host computer 13h sent from h, and the address and the user information of the administrator computer 13k that is used by the administrator who manages the printer 11. And a rewritable first memory, a completion notifying means for receiving a print completion signal output from the printer controller 15 and transmitting the print completion information to the host computer 13h, and an abnormality detected by the abnormality detecting means. The second memory, in which a coping method according to the type (error No.) is pre-written and set, and when the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality during printing, the error number is changed from the second memory. Read (search) the corrective action according to
First notification means for creating an electronic mail of a notification message for notifying abnormality occurrence information and a countermeasure for the abnormality and transmitting the electronic mail to the host computer 13h; and when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, Second
Error No. from memory And a second notifying means for creating an electronic mail of a notification message for notifying the abnormality occurrence information and the countermeasure for the abnormality, and transmitting the electronic mail to the administrator computer 13k. The control means 17 is provided.

That is, the control means 17 includes a user storage means and an administrator storage means by the first memory, a coping storage means by the second memory, and a first abnormality notification means and a coping method transmitting means by the first notifying means. The second abnormality notifying means and the coping method transmitting means constitute the second notifying means. It goes without saying that the administrator computer 13k may become the host computer 13h.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. First, when the printing of data is completed and the completion information is output and notified by the printer controller 15,
The print request output from the host computer 13h is accepted by the network controller 14 (step P1), and the address and user name which are the user information transmitted from the host computer 13h are stored in the first memory of the control means 17. (Step P
2). Next, the transmitted data is sent from the network controller 14 to the printer controller 15, the printer controller 15 converts the data into printable information, and the printer engine 16 is controlled to start printing.

Then, it is confirmed whether or not the abnormality (error) has occurred (step P3). When the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means, the process proceeds to step P4. If not confirmed, it is confirmed whether or not the printing is completed. (Step P
5) If the completion signal from the printer controller 15 is not confirmed, the process returns to step P3. When the output of the completion signal is confirmed, the print completion signal is received by the completion notifying means and stored in the first memory. The print completion information is transmitted to the host computer 13h at the specified address, and the user is notified of the print completion.

On the other hand, when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means and an error is confirmed in step P3, as shown in FIG. The coping method set in the second memory according to the above is searched by the first and second notifying means, and an electronic mail of a notification message for notifying the abnormality occurrence information and the coping method for the abnormality is created (step). P
7). Then, it is confirmed whether or not printing is in progress (step P8). If printing is in progress, the process proceeds to step P10. If printing is in progress, the host of the address of the user information stored in the first memory is sent. Computer
The electronic mail is transmitted to 13h to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality and the coping method thereof (step P9), and the electronic mail is transmitted to the administrator computer 13k to notify the administrator of the occurrence of the abnormality and the coping method thereof (step P9). Step P
Ten).

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the printing is completed, the print completion information is transmitted to the host computer 13h, so that the user who is using the host computer is notified of the completion of the printing and the printing is completed. You don't have to go to see if it's done or wait in front of the printer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in work efficiency due to printing.

When an abnormality is detected during standby, abnormality information is sent to the administrator computer 13k to notify the administrator of the abnormality, and when an abnormality is detected during printing, the host computer 13h and the administrator Abnormality occurrence information is sent to the computer 13k and the abnormality is notified to the user and the administrator. Therefore, when the user goes to pick up the print document, it is not printed because of the printer abnormality and the abnormality occurs. When it does, the administrator can respond promptly and the printer can be promptly restored. Therefore, the printing work efficiency is improved.

Furthermore, when an abnormality is detected, a coping method corresponding to the type of the abnormality is transmitted to the host computer and / or the administrator computer, so that the coping method can be promptly dealt with without checking the instruction manual. It can be promptly restored even by an unfamiliar user. Therefore, the printing work efficiency is further improved.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the user storage means stores the address information of the host computer that has output the print request, and when the data printing is completed, the user storage means stores the information. Completion notifying means sends data print completion information to the host computer at the address. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user who issued the print request from the host computer to check to see if the printing has been completed or to wait in front of the printer. As a result, the user can recognize it without moving, and it is possible to prevent the work efficiency from being lowered by printing.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, the first abnormality notifying means transmits the printer abnormality occurrence information to the host computer at the address stored in the user storage means. Therefore, when the user takes out the print original, it is possible that the printer is not printing because of an abnormality and the abnormality can be promptly dealt with. As a result, the print work efficiency can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, the second abnormality notifying means sends the abnormality occurrence information of the printer to the administrator computer at the address stored in the administrator storing means. Send. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs, the administrator of the printer can promptly respond and the printer can be promptly restored. As a result, the printing work efficiency can be further improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality, the countermeasure method according to the type of abnormality is read from the countermeasure storing means, and the countermeasure transmitting means is stored in the user storing means. The coping method is transmitted to the host computer of the address and / or the administrator computer of the address stored in the administrator storage means. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to promptly deal with it without checking the instruction manual from the error message or the like, and the restoration can be promptly performed.
As a result, the printing work efficiency can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a network to which an embodiment of a network printer according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example thereof.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is another flowchart illustrating the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 network printer 12 network cables 13a to 13e computer 14 network controller 15 printer controller 16 printer engine 17 control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A network printer which is connected to a plurality of computers and sequentially prints data transmitted from the plurality of computers without confusion, and stores user information of a host computer which outputs a data print request. A network printer comprising: a user storage means; and a completion notification means for transmitting data print completion information to a host computer stored in the user storage means. 2. A first abnormality notifying means for transmitting an abnormality occurrence information to a host computer stored in the user storage means when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality. The network printer according to claim 1, wherein the network printer is provided. 3. An administrator storage unit for storing user information of an administrator computer used by an administrator who maintains and manages an abnormality, and an abnormality detection unit for detecting an abnormality. 2. The network printer according to claim 1, further comprising: second abnormality notifying means for transmitting abnormality occurrence information to the administrator computer stored in the administrator storage means. 4. A coping storage means for storing a coping method corresponding to the type of the abnormality, and a coping method for reading the coping method according to the type of the anomaly from the coping storage means when the abnormality detecting means detects the coping And a coping method transmitting means for transmitting the method to at least one of the host computer stored in the user storage means and the administrator computer stored in the administrator storage means. The network printer according to claim 2 or 3.