JPH1069451A - Network server system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network server system which can omit such jobs as selection of a peripheral equipment, etc., at a client terminal. SOLUTION: A server 1007 of a network 1 automatically selects the digital copying machines 1001 to 1003 which are used in response to the jobs of the clients PC 1008 to 1010, respectively. The server 1007 also detects the downs of the machines 1001 to 1003 due to their jams, failures, etc., and automatically selects usable one of machines 1001 to 1003. Thus, the clients PC 1008 to 1010 are not required to select nor set the machines 1001 to 1003. In such a constitution, the operability of a network server system can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to control and management of various devices connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, networking of offices has been progressing, and an environment has been established in which a plurality of digital copying machines can be connected to one network and used.

For example, a document created by a computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) which is a client terminal on a network can be output to a digital copying machine via the network.

[0004]

However, the environment is such that a plurality of digital copiers can be connected to one network and used. However, when printing a small number of copies, the client can use the nearest digital copier. If you print on a machine and have a large number of prints, or if you want to print multiple copies,
Printing is performed by a high-performance digital copier with these functions.

[0005] Then, a high-performance digital copying machine should always be used, but such a digital copying machine is placed in a place such as a copy room, and in order to frequently go for a print, It is often inconvenient far away.

As described above, conventionally, it is necessary to set a digital copier used by a client on a client PC in accordance with a job to be printed, and the operation is complicated.

Further, unless the user knows where in the network what type of digital copier has a function, the most appropriate digital copier cannot be selected, and the efficiency of office work cannot be improved.

Further, even if the most suitable digital copier is selected, if it is down due to a jam or a failure,
It is necessary to reset each time on the client PC, and the operation is complicated.

[0009] Such a problem occurs not only in the digital copying machine but also when other network peripheral devices are used.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a network server system which can omit operations such as selection of peripheral equipment at a client terminal.

[0011]

According to the system of the present invention,
Since the server on the network automatically selects the peripheral device to be used according to the job from the client terminal, there is no need to set each time at the client terminal, and the operation is simple.

Further, there is no need to know where and what function peripheral devices are located on the network, and it is possible to always select the optimal peripheral device, thereby improving office work efficiency.

Further, since the server on the network detects a down due to a jam or a failure of the peripheral device and automatically selects a usable peripheral device, it is not necessary to set each time at the client terminal. Is easy.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a network server system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The network 1 includes a first client PC 1008, a second client PC 1009, a third
Client PC 1010, server 1007, first digital copier 1001, second digital copier 100
2. Network interface controller 1 for connecting digital copier 1003 to a network
004, network interface controller 1
005, network interface controller 1
006 is connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first digital copying machine 1001 as an example of a configuration of first to third digital copying machines having a scanner and a printer function.

In the scanner section 100, the scanner controller 101 is at the center of control and performs the following control.

First, the exposure system controller 103 scans the original on the original platen by controlling the contact type CCD licensor and converts it into an analog signal corresponding to the brightness of each pixel. This analog image signal is converted into an 8-bit digital signal by an A / D converter. This digital signal is converted by the image processing unit 102 into a density signal for printing.

In the printer section 300, first, the digital image processing signal sent from the scanner section 100 is converted into a semiconductor laser lighting signal, and the laser drive section 310
Is laser controlled. At that time, the laser lighting level is 256 levels.

Next, the image is sequentially exposed to the photosensitive drum 315 in a digital dot format by the laser, developed 314, copied and transferred 316 to paper, fixed 322, and discharged onto a tray 324.

When functioning as a digital copier, an original is set on the original platen of the scanner section 100, and when a copy start key is pressed, an image is read from the scanner section by the scanner controller 101, image processing is performed, and the printer section 300 is operated.
An image is formed through a process of exposure, transfer and fixing in the above, and a copy is output.

FIG. 3 shows a digital copying machine connected to a network 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network interface controller 1004 that connects a first digital copying machine 1001 to a network 1 as a configuration example of a network interface controller that connects to the network.

The network interface controller 1004 is a main controller 41 for controlling the whole.
0, a network controller 420 for controlling the processing of the protocol of the network 1, a hard disk controller 430 for controlling the hard disk 431, and a raster image storage unit 48 for storing and managing an image obtained by scanning a document from the first digital copier 1001 from the network 1.
0, a main memory 460 and the like.

As an interface, a mouse 471, a keyboard 472, a keyboard 472, and the like are used as means for exchanging image data, control information, commands, etc. with the first digital copying machine 1001, and inputting instructions from an administrator. Keyboard and mouse controller 47 for controlling them
0, a display 441 for layout, editing, and menu display, a display memory 441, and a display controller 440.

FIG. 4 shows a first client PC 1 as an example of first to third client PCs on the network.
FIG. 008 is a block diagram showing the configuration of 008.

The first client PC 1008 includes network interface controllers 1004, 10
A network controller 880 for controlling a protocol on a network between the client PC 1005 and the server 1007, a CPU 840 for controlling the entire client PC 1008, a hard disk 871 for temporarily registering image data and storing various data, and controls the same. Hard disk controller 870, main memory 860, mouse 811 for inputting instructions from operator, keyboard 8
12, a keyboard / mouse controller 810 for controlling them, a display 822 for layout, editing, and menu display, a display memory 821, and a display controller 820.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 1007.

A main controller 710 for controlling the entire server 1007, a network 72 for controlling a protocol on the network between the network interface controllers 1004, 1005, 1006 and the first to third client PCs 1008, 1009, 1010.
0, a queue management controller 750 for managing and controlling queuing file data registered on the hard disk 871, and queue table data 75 of the management information
1. A network server controller 760 that performs control as a server, such as analysis of packet contents extracted from a network protocol and separation of image data, and a display 74 for layout, editing, and menu display.
2, display memory 741, display controller 740, mouse 771, keyboard 772 as means for inputting instructions from a server administrator, keyboard mouse controller 770 for controlling them, temporary registration of image data,
A hard disk 781 for storing various data, a hard disk controller 780 for controlling them, and a main memory 590 are provided.

The first to third client PCs 1008,
1009, 1010 and the network interface controllers 1004, 1005, 1006 and the server 10
07 performs communication using a group of data strings called packets as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as one block in order to perform mutual communication.

The structure of the packet is such that the destination network address is set at the beginning, the destination network address is set next, the actual data follows the frame size information of the packet, and finally the reliability of the data transfer is confirmed. In order to raise the error, an error check such as a CRC called a tailor is attached. Regarding this packet part 10002,
Although arbitrary data can be inserted, in the present embodiment, the header 10003 and the data 1
0100.

Header part 1 of packet data part 10002
0003, as shown in FIG. 6, first, a header code 10019 indicating header information is inserted at the beginning, then a function code portion 10020 indicating what function the packet has, and a plurality of packets form one data. In the case of configuring the continuous No. Continuous packet ID indicating
10030, a total packet ID 10031 indicating the total number of packets, and a data length 10032 of the data block unit 10100 in which data is input.

The function code portion 10020 includes a function ID 10021 indicating the type of the server, and a job type ID 1 indicating the type of the job for the server.
0023, Job ID 10 for identifying a job to be executed
023.

As shown in FIG. 7, the data block section 10100 determines the content of the job type ID 10022
Command block 10005, status block 10
006, an image data block 10007, and an image information block 10008.

Next, first to third digital copying machines 1001 and 100 connected to the network system shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 (Table 1) shows the functions, environment, and the like of 2,1003.

The first digital copying machine 1001 has a print speed of 10 ppm, a double-sided printing function pear, a pamphlet printing function pear, a sorter pear, and a distance from the first client PC to the first to third digital copiers 1.
It is the closest among 001, 1002, and 1003.

The second digital copying machine 1002 has a printing speed of 30 ppm, a double-sided printing ant, a brochure function pear, a 10-bin sorter ant, and a distance from the first client PC to the first to third digital copying machines. It is the second closest among 1001, 1002, and 1003.

The third digital copying machine 1003 has a print speed of 60 ppm, a duplex printing function ant, a pamphlet function ant, a 20-bin sorter ant, and a distance from the first client PC of the first to third digital copying machines. Farthest among the machines 1001, 1002, and 1003.

FIG. 8 is a general flowchart showing an operation outline in the network server system of the present embodiment.

The first to third client PCs 1008,
A document is created in one of 1009 and 1010 (S
1) The print job such as the number of copies, double-sided print, pamphlet, etc. is set, and the print job is registered in the server 1007 (S2).

The server 1007 interprets the contents of the print job, and converts the contents into digital copiers 1001, 1002, and 100.
03, a digital copying machine suitable for the job is selected (S3), and the server 1007 requests the selected digital copying machine to execute a printer job (S4). The selected digital copier executes the job (S
5).

The server 1007 confirms the execution status and execution completion of the print job, and notifies the client PC requesting the job (S6).

With the above, the general flowchart of the network server system in the present embodiment ends.

This means that from the first to third digital copying machines shown in Table 1, a digital copying machine suitable for a print job is
The server automatically selects and notifies the end of the job.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server 1007 for selecting a digital copier suitable for the job in S3 of FIG. Here, a case where a printer job is issued from the first client PC 1008 will be described.

When the job is registered in the server 1007,
The server 1007 interprets the contents of the job, and executes the first to third digital copying machines 1001 and 100 suitable for the job.
2, Selection of 1003 is started.

First, a normal system is started.

This is started by determining whether the job is a pamphlet print (S101). If it is a pamphlet print (S101), the process proceeds to a determination as to whether the third digital copying machine 1003 is operating normally (S102).

This is because the server 1007 makes an inquiry to the third digital copier 1003 via the network 1 via the network interface controller 1006, and there is no error such as paper jam, paper pear, power off, etc. It is checked whether or not it can be performed, and if it is operating normally (S10
2) Select a third digital copier 1003 suitable for printing a pamphlet.

If the job is not a pamphlet print (S103), the flow shifts to double-sided print determination (S103).
103). If the job is duplex printing (S
103), and proceeds to the determination of the number of copies of the job (S104). If the number of copies of the job is greater than 10 (S104), the process proceeds to the determination whether the third digital copying machine 1003 is operating normally (S102).

If the number of copies of the job is equal to or less than 10 (S104), the process proceeds to the determination of the number of pages of the job (S10).
5). If the number of pages of the job is larger than 30 (S105), the process proceeds to the determination whether the third digital copying machine 1003 is operating normally (S102).

If the number of pages of the job is equal to or less than 30 (S105), the process shifts to a determination as to whether the second digital copying machine 1002 is operating normally (S106). If it is operating normally (S
106), the second digital copier 1002 capable of printing on both sides is selected.

If the job is not double-sided printing (S10
3), the process proceeds to the determination of the number of copies of the job (S107). If the number of copies of the job is greater than 1 (S107), the process proceeds to the determination of the number of copies of the job (S104).

If the number of copies of the job is 1, (S10
7), the process proceeds to the determination of the number of pages of the job (S108). If the number of pages of the job is more than 10 pages (S105),
The process proceeds to the determination of the number of pages of the job (S105).

If the number of pages of the job is 10 or less (S108), the first digital copying machine 1001
The process proceeds to a determination as to whether the device is operating normally (S10).
9) If the first digital copier 1001 is operating normally (S109), the first client PC 1008
Is selected first digital copying machine 1001 closest to.

Next, an abnormal system will be described.

If the third digital copying machine 1003 is not operating normally (S102), the process proceeds to a determination as to whether the second digital copying machine 1002 is operating normally (S110). Digital copier 1002
If it is operating normally (S110), it is determined whether or not it is a pamphlet print (S111). If it is a pamphlet print (S111), the job is changed to a double-sided print job (S112) and a job to be printed on the upper tray is performed. (S113), and the second digital copying machine 100
Select 2. If it is not a pamphlet print (S111), the process directly proceeds to S113.

If the second digital copying machine 1002 is not operating normally (S110), the process proceeds to a determination as to whether the first digital copying machine 1001 is operating normally (S114), and the first digital copying machine 1001 is operated. If the digital copier 1001 is operating normally (S114), it is determined whether the job is a pamphlet print (S115). If the job is not a pamphlet print (S115), the process proceeds to a judgment as to whether the job is duplex printing. (S116) If the job is not a duplex printing job (S116), the job is changed to a job for printing on a tray (S118), and the first digital copier 1 is changed.
Select 001.

If it is a pamphlet print (S115), the job is changed to a simplex print job (S11).
7) The process moves to S118. If the job is a double-sided print job (S116), the process proceeds to S117.

If the first digital copying machine 1001 is not operating normally (S114), the first to third client PCs 100 that have issued a job from the server 1007
8, 1009 or 1010 (S11
9), end.

This is the first client PC 1008
However, the server 1007 determines the issued print job, and prints the pamphlet on the third digital copier 1.
If the number of copies is 30 or less and the number of pages is 30 or less, the second digital copying machine 10
02, and when the number of copies is 1 and the number of pages is 10 or less, the print job is to the first digital copying machine 1001 closest to the first client PC 1008.

Even after a digital copier suitable for a print job is selected, the state of the selected digital copier is monitored, and if the job cannot be processed, a digital copier capable of processing is automatically determined and selected. Then, the digital copier that has processed the job is notified to the client that issued the job.

In this embodiment, the conditions for selecting a digital copying machine are set for the first client PC 1008, but it is also possible to set the conditions for each client PC.

In this embodiment, the printing function is limited to the printing function. However, some digital copying machines have a fax function from a network. When a fax job is performed, the digital copying machine having the fax function is used. Can be automatically selected by the server.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the server of the network system can determine a job from the client and automatically select a peripheral device suitable for the job on the network, it is not necessary to set each device on the client PC, and operability can be improved.

Further, there is no need to know where and what function peripheral devices are located on the network, and it is possible to always select the most appropriate digital copying machine, thereby improving office work efficiency.

Further, since the server on the network detects a down due to a jam or a failure of the peripheral device and automatically selects a usable peripheral device, it is not necessary to reset each time at the client terminal. Performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a network server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital copying machine in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network interface controller in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client PC in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a packet used in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a packet used in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a general flowchart showing an operation outline of the system in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a digital copying machine selecting operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a table showing functions and environments of each digital copying machine in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network, 1001-1003 ... Digital copying machine, 1004-1006 ... Network interface controller, 1007 ... Server, 1008-1010 ... Client PC.

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a network server system to which a plurality of client terminals, a plurality of network peripheral devices, and a server are connected, when a client terminal issues a job to a server, the server transmits the job from a plurality of network peripheral devices to the server. A network server system for selecting a network peripheral device suitable for a network and issuing a job to the network peripheral device. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein when the server selects a network peripheral device suitable for the job, the server confirms that the operation of the network peripheral device is normal and issues the job. A network server system which, if not normal, selects another network peripheral device suitable for the job and issues the job. 3. A server connected to a network server system to which a plurality of client terminals and a plurality of network peripheral devices are connected, when a job issued from the client terminal is received, the server is suitable for the job from the plurality of network peripheral devices. A server which selects a network peripheral device and issues a job to the network peripheral device. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when a network peripheral device suitable for the job is selected, a job is issued after confirming that the operation of the network peripheral device is normal. Is a server for selecting another network peripheral device suitable for a job and issuing the job.