Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and storage medium

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to
• allocate a plurality of print data sets to a plurality of sheet ejection openings, respectively, the plurality of print data sets being obtained by dividing one print data set, and
• generate, for each of the plurality of sheet ejection openings, print data for a separator, the print data for the separator including
• management information including information regarding a particular print data set among the plurality of print data sets,
• information regarding a particular sheet ejection opening among the plurality of sheet ejection openings to which the particular print data set is allocated, and
• information regarding which of the plurality of sheet print data set openings has been allocated a previous print data set compared to the particular print data set and a subsequent data set compared to the particular print data set;
• detect, for each of the plurality of print data sets, interruption of printing of the print data set in the sheet ejection openings;
• calculate a number of unprinted pages of print data not printed yet of the print data set in the interrupted sheet ejection opening;
• allocate, in response to detection of the interruption of printing of the print data set, the print data not printed yet of the print data set to another one of the plurality of sheet ejection openings, the another one of the plurality of sheet ejection openings being different from the sheet ejection opening to which the print data set in which the interruption is detected is allocated;
• generate print data for a first alternative separator including alternative information regarding the print data which is not printed yet and the number of unprinted pages;
• generate print data for a second alternative separator including alternative notification information, including the number of unprinted pages, to notify that the print data not printed yet has been printed by the another one of the plurality of sheet ejection openings;
• and
• delete, in the interrupted sheet ejection opening, the print data corresponding to the print data not printed yet of the print data set, and output circuitry configured to
• output, for each of the plurality of sheet ejection openings, the particular print data set and the print data for the separator to the particular sheet ejection opening to which the particular print data set is allocated;
• output the print data not printed yet and the print data for the first alternative separator including the alternative information, to the another one of the plurality of sheet ejection openings;
• and
• output the print data only for the second alternative separator including the alternative notification information, in response to detection of restoration of the sheet ejection opening to which the print data set in which the interruption is detected is allocated, to the sheet ejection opening of which the restoration is detected,
• wherein the print data generated for the second alternative separator includes alternative notification information regarding the print data not printed by the sheet ejection opening, but by printed by the another one of the plurality of the sheet ejection openings.

An information processing system comprising:

• a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• and
• an information processing apparatus, wherein
• the information processing apparatus includes,
• allocate a plurality of print data sets to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, respectively, the plurality of print data sets being obtained by dividing one print data set;
• generate, for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, print data for a separator, the print data for the separator including
• management information including information regarding a particular print data set among the plurality of print data sets,
• information regarding a particular image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses to which the particular print data set is allocated, and
• information regarding which of the plurality of image forming apparatuses has been allocated a previous print data set compared to the particular print data set and a subsequent data set compared to the particular print data set;
• detect, for each of the plurality of print data sets, interruption of printing of the print data set in the image forming apparatus;
• calculate a number of unprinted pages of print data not printed yet of the print data set in the interrupted image forming apparatus;
• allocate, in response to detection of the interruption of printing of the print data set, print data not printed yet of the print data set to another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses being different from the image forming apparatus to which the print data set in which the interruption is detected is allocated;
• generate print data for a first alternative separator including alternative information regarding the print data which is not printed yet and the number of unprinted pages;
• generate print data for a second alternative separator including alternative notification information, including the number of unprinted pages, to notify that the print data not printed yet has been printed by the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• and
• delete, in the interrupted image forming apparatus, the print data corresponding to the print data not printed yet of the print data set, and output circuitry configured to
• output, for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the particular print data set and the print data for the separator to the particular image forming apparatus to which the particular print data set is allocated;
• output the print data not printed yet and the print data for the first alternative separator including the alternative-information, to the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• and
• output the print data only for the second alternative separator including the alternative notification information, in response to detection of restoration of the image forming apparatus to which the print data set in which the interruption is detected is allocated, to the image forming apparatus of which the restoration is detected,
• wherein the print data generated for the second alternative separator includes alternative notification information regarding the print data not printed by the image forming apparatus, but by printed by the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

An information processing method performed by a computer, the method comprising:

• allocating a plurality of print data sets to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the plurality of print data sets being obtained by dividing one print data set;
• generating, for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, print data for a separator, the print data for the separator including management information including information regarding a particular print data set among the plurality of print data sets, information regarding a particular image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses to which the particular print data set is allocated, and information regarding which of the plurality of image forming apparatuses has been allocated a previous print data set compared to the particular print data set and a subsequent data set compared to the particular print data set;
• outputting, for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the particular print data set and the print data for the separator to the particular image forming apparatus to which the particular print data set is allocated;
• detecting, for each of the plurality of print data sets, interruption of printing of the print data set in the image forming apparatus;
• calculating, for the interrupted image forming apparatus, a number of unprinted pages of print data not printed yet of the print data set in the interrupted image forming apparatus;
• allocating, in response to detection of the interruption of printing of the print data set, the print data not printed yet of the print data set to another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses being different from the image forming apparatus to which the print data set in which the interruption is detected is allocated, the print data generated for the separator includes alternative information regarding the print data not printed yet;
• outputting the print data not printed yet and the print data for the separator including the alternative information, to the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• generating print data for a first alternative separator including alternative information regarding the print data which is not printed yet and the number of unprinted pages;
• generating print data for a second alternative separator including alternative notification information, including the number of unprinted pages, to notify that the print data not printed yet has been printed by the another one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• deleting, in the interrupted image forming apparatus, the print data corresponding to the print data not printed yet of the print data set;
• and
• outputting, in response to detection of restoration of the image forming apparatus to which the print data set in which the interruption is detected is allocated, the print data only for the second alternative separator including the alternative notification information to the image forming apparatus of which the restoration is detected.