Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1995-05-19
2004-08-10
Garcia, Gabriel I. (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06775019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer such as a remote printer that is connected to a network such as a LAN (local area network) and prints in response to a print request from a terminal via the network.
2) Description of the Related Art
Generally, as shown in
FIG. 22
, plural personal computers (five computers in
FIG. 22
)
31
A to
31
E acting as terminals are arranged in a network such as LAN (local area network). A print server
32
receives print requests from the personal computers
31
A to
31
E and operates a remote printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer)
33
to execute print requests from the personal computers
31
A to
31
E. Namely, a sole printer
33
is shared by the personal computers
31
A to
31
E, using the print server
32
.
When being accepted by the print server
32
, data regarding print requests from the personal computers
31
A to
31
E are spooled into the queue
34
to the printer
33
included in the print server
32
. When the print requests are spooled into the queue
34
, the personal computers
31
A to
31
E which have requested printing are released from the print server
32
.
At this time, since the print server
32
hands the sole printer
33
data in job unit, the printer
33
in the network shown in
FIG. 22
receives the next job's print request after the completion of a job's print request.
As shown in FIG.
23
(
a
), where the print server
32
receives print requests from plural personal computers
31
A,
31
C,
31
E, and
31
B and then stores data regarding the print requests into the queue
34
, the printer
33
performs a printing operation in accepting order of print requests, as shown in FIGS.
23
(
a
),
23
(
b
), and
23
(
c
).
In such a printing method, for example, the personal computer
31
A first issues ten print requests and then the personal computer
31
C issues one print request. The printer
33
cannot print only one hard copy in response to the next request from the personal computer
31
C before it has printed ten hard copies in response to a request from the personal computer
31
A. If the printer
33
stops its printing operation due to any troubles relating to applications, all jobs in waiting state become a print waiting state.
For example, the network shown in
FIG. 24
has been proposed. Referring to
FIG. 24
, the network includes plural printers
33
A to
33
D (four printers in Figures) and the print server
32
includes queues
34
A to
34
D connected respectively to printers
33
A to
33
D.
In the network, in order to set printers
33
A to
33
D to personal computers
31
A to
31
E, respectively, the personal computers
31
A to
31
E determines previously printers to be subjected to print requests or designate a specific printer to be requested when personal computers
31
A to
31
E issue print requests to the print server
32
.
As shown in FIGS.
25
(
a
) to
25
(
d
), print request data from the personal computers
31
A to
31
E are spooled to the queues
34
A to
34
D to printers
33
A to
33
D set. Then the printers
33
A to
33
D perform printing without waiting the print end of the other personal computers
31
A to
31
E.
However, the network shown in
FIG. 24
needs to arrange printers in number corresponding to the queues to the printers set in the print server
32
, whereby the network construction cost is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made to overcome the above mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can effectively handle print requests from plural terminals without increasing running costs so that a single printer can functions as if plural printers operate.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the printer is characterized by a print execution unit for printing on predetermined paper and a control unit for controlling the operation of the print execution unit, the control unit controlling the operation of the print execution unit in response to an external print request to perform a printing operation, the control unit including plural logical printers each which performs a virtual printing process corresponding to plural jobs; whereby the control unit controls the operation of the print execution unit when each of the logical printers has completed a virtual printing operation for one page, thus printing actually data for the page.
As described above, according to the present invention, the printer performs an actual printing for a page when each logical printer has completed a virtual printing process for the page, thus performing an actual printing process in the order of completed pages. Therefore, other jobs can be printed out without waiting for the completion of a printing process corresponding to one job. A user can use physically a single printer as if his personal printer is operated. There is an advantage in that print requests from plural terminals can be effectively processed without the increasing running cost.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4965771 (1990-10-01), Morikawa et al.
patent: 5075874 (1991-12-01), Steeves
patent: 5274461 (1993-12-01), Mitsuhashi
patent: 5299296 (1994-03-01), Padalino et al.
patent: 5303336 (1994-04-01), Kageyama et al.
patent: 5371837 (1994-12-01), Kimber et al.
patent: 5467434 (1995-11-01), Hower, Jr. et al.
patent: 5511149 (1996-04-01), Hayano
patent: 5559933 (1996-09-01), Boswell
patent: 6047111 (2000-04-01), Sugiura et al.
patent: 03-149617 (1991-06-01), None
patent: 04-190442 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 05-155110 (1993-06-01), None
patent: 06-004234 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 06-161684 (1994-06-01), None
patent: WO 94/153300 (1994-07-01), None
Complete English language Translation of Office Action from the Japanese Patent Office in the counterpart Japanese Patent Application (JP Application No. HEI 6-225335) mailed Apr. 17, 2001.
Sakurai Kazuhiko
Yokoyama Kazuo
Fuji 'Xerox Co., Ltd.
Garcia Gabriel I.
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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