Network printer apparatus and LAN network system

• Main Authors: MORI; YOSHIO, UEYAMA; SATORU, ITO; MARI, SATO; TOSHIMI, KIDA; YASUNARI, SAITOH; YASUSHI, ABE; FUMITAKE, ISHIGURO; KEIJI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 09.11.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS; PHYSICS; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECOGNITION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS

A high-speed network printer apparatus which can be used in common by clients having different communication protocols and which can sort out printing jobs into the order of clients. Printing information is supplied from a client which may be a personal computer or a work station through a connector of the printer apparatus. A LAN interface driver receives the printing information and identifies a communication protocol by which the printing information is transferred. A communication protocol controller receives printing information in accordance with a predetermined protocol. A spooling controller, which is coupled to a storage unit which stores the received printing information, creates a queue for printing jobs. A printer controller reads out from the storage unit the printing information corresponding to a printing job of the highest priority which is designated by the queue, and forms a dot image on the basis of the printing information. A printing mechanism prints the image on paper. A mailbox stores printed paper into a designated bin. A printing job table is provided in the printer apparatus, in which each row is allotted to one printing job which includes a field for storing an emulation program name. A registering unit judges whether or not there is a another printing job having the same emulation program name to expedite the printing process.