Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery – Data processing system error or fault handling – Reliability and availability
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-04
2001-07-03
Trammell, James P. (Department: 2161)
Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery
Data processing system error or fault handling
Reliability and availability
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256750
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which a printer connected to a network is connected to a plurality of networks, a network printing system using such an information processing apparatus, its control method, and a storage medium in which its control program has been stored.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, personal computers in an office are remarkably spread and a network technique for connecting them is also developed. As a using method of a printer as well, hitherto, although one printer has been connected to one personal computer and used, in recent years, in many cases, printers are connected to a network and are commonly used by the personal computers connected to the network.
As an environment using a network printer, there are many cases where a network OS such as netware, Windows NT (registered trademark), or the like is used and a print server is set and used. In order to share the printer, however, a server has to be installed. Hitherto, even when there is a server, if a function of a print server is added, there is a problem such that the function of the conventional server is deteriorated.
To solve those problems, a virtual server system is considered. In the virtual server system, since the server does not receive print data from a client but executes only a control of a printing order of print jobs, a load as a print server is reduced and the deterioration of the function of the conventional server can be prevented.
In the above conventional apparatus, however, since a scheduling of jobs can be performed on a virtual print server in spite of a fact that a client has print data, there is a problem such that when the virtual print server fails, a print-out from the client cannot be performed. To solve it, a method of directly transmitting data to the printer from the client when a fault occurs in the server is considered. According to this method, however, the scheduling of the jobs is not performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a virtual print server system, it is the first object of the invention to perform a network printing such that a scheduling of jobs can be performed even when a fault occurs in a server.
In a virtual print server system, it is the second object of the invention that even when a fault occurs in a server, a schedule of jobs before the occurrence of the fault can be used as it is in a network printing such that a scheduling of jobs can be performed.
In a virtual print server system, it is the third object of the invention that when a reserve server is prepared, even if a specific client is not operating, the reserve server is automatically designated.
In a virtual print server system, it is the fourth object of the invention that even when a power source of a client designated as a reserve server is turned off, another client can be designated as a reserve server.
In a virtual print server system, it is the fifth object of the invention that even when a server is restarted, print data which a client has is not abandoned but a network printing is executed by using it.
In a virtual print server system, it is the sixth object of the invention that even when a server is restarted, information to control a printing order before the restart is reconstructed and a network printing is performed by using it.
To accomplish the above objects, according to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a virtual print server system in which one of clients is preset as a reserve server. When a fault occurs in the virtual print server, the client set as a reserve server plays a role of the server. When a fault occurs in the virtual print server, since the client set as a reserve server plays a role of the server, the client of the virtual print server system can print out from the network printer by using the reserve server.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the reserve server in the first aspect always gets print job information which the virtual print server has. When the reserve server is started, the job information managed by the previous server can be used as it is.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the setting of the reserve server in the first aspect is performed to all of the clients and the server detects the client whose power source is turned on for the first time and designates it as a reserve server. The reserve server can always exist in the virtual print server system.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when a fault occurs in the client designated as a reserve server in the third aspect, the server detects it and designates another client as a reserve server. Even if a fault occurs in the reserve server, an alternating reserve server can be set.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in a virtual print server system, when a fault occurs in a server, a client enters a stand-by mode for waiting for a restart of the server and, after the server was restarted, it collects print information from the client and reconstructs print management information. Even after the server was restarted, the client operates so that it can network print the print data as it is.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in a virtual print server system, a server always records print management information to a recording medium such as a hard disk or the like and, when a fault occurs in the server, a client enters a stand-by mode for waiting for a restart of the server, and after the server was restarted, it reads out the print management information from the recording medium and reconstructs print management information on the basis of it. Even after the server was restarted, the client operates in a manner such that printing order information before the fault occurs in the server is held and a network printing can be performed in accordance with the previous order.
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Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Elisca Pierre Eddy
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Trammell James P.
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