Printing control system

A printing control system, comprising:

• parent units comprising a first plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• and child units comprising a second plurality of image forming apparatuses, the first and the second pluralities of image forming apparatuses are connected to each other through a network,
• each of the parent units including:
• a first memory that stores at least one print data items;
• and
• a parent unit controller that causes the parent unit:
• transmit a job list information item to another parent unit included in the parent units, the job list information item including job names of the at least one print data items stored on the first memory;
• obtain the job list information item transmitted from the other parent unit, and store the job list information item on the first memory;
• obtain a job list request transmitted from a first child unit included in the child units, and transmit the job list information item to the child unit, the job list information item including the job names of the at least one print data items;
• and
• transmit a job list response to the first child unit as a response to the obtained job list request, the job list response including the job list information item requested from the first child unit, and
• each of the child units including:
• a second memory that stores a parent unit connection information item that identifies a connectable parent unit included in the parent units;
• and
• a child unit controller that causes the child unit:
• transmit the job list request to the connectable parent unit, the connectable parent unit identified by a parent unit connection information item stored in the connectable parent unit;
• and
• obtain the job list response to be sent back from the parent unit to which the job list request has been transmitted, wherein
• the first child unit obtains the job list response from a parent unit of the parent units either storing the at least one print data items to be identified with the job name of the at least one print data items included in the job list information item requested by the job list request, or not storing the at least one print data items.

A method for controlling printing performed by a printing control system including a first plurality of image forming apparatuses set as parent units and a second plurality of image forming apparatuses set as child units, the first and the second plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to each other through a network, the method comprising:

• saving at least one print data items on at least one parent unit of the parent units;
• creating a job list information item including a job name of the at least one print data items, the job list information item being created by a corresponding parent unit of the parent units that saves the one or more print data items;
• distributing the job list information item to other parent unit of the parent units, the other parent unit being identified by an parent information item stored on the corresponding parent unit;
• receiving the job list information item by, and storing the job list information item on, the other parent unit identified by the parent unit information item;
• requesting for transmission of a job list request from a child unit of the child units to a parent unit of the parent units, wherein the job list request comprises a request for transmission of the job list information item and the job name of the at least one print data items, to the child unit, and to a corresponding parent unit identified by a parent unit connection information item stored on the first child unit;
• obtaining the job list request by the corresponding parent unit identified by the parent unit connection information item;
• transmitting a job list response, by the corresponding parent unit that obtains the job list request, to the first child unit as a reply to the obtained job list request, wherein the job list response comprises the job list information item stored on the corresponding parent unit and the job name of the at least one print data item requested by the job list request from the child unit;
• and
• obtaining, by the child unit, the job list response from the corresponding parent unit that transmits the job list request.

A method for controlling printing performed by a printing control system including a first plurality of image forming apparatuses set as parent units and a second plurality of image forming apparatuses set as child units, the first and the second plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to each other through a network, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a parent unit of the parent units, a job list information item from another parent unit of the parent units, and storing the job list information item on the parent unit, the job list information item including a job name of a print data item stored on the other parent unit;
• requesting, by a child unit of the child units, for transmission of a job list request to a connectable parent unit of the parent units, the connectable parent unit being identified by a parent unit connection information item stored in the child unit, the job list request requesting for transmission of the job list information item;
• obtaining, by the connectable parent unit, the job list request transmitted from the child unit and transmitting, by the connectable parent unit, a job list response to the child unit;
• obtaining, by the child unit, the job list response from either one of:
• the other parent unit storing the print data item identified by the job name of the print data item included in the job list information item requested by the job list request, or a parent unit included in the parent units and not storing the print data item;
• saving at least one of the print data items in a first memory of each of the parent units;
• transmitting a job list information item to the other parent unit, the job list information item including the job name of the at least one print data items saved on the first memory;
• obtaining the job list request transmitted from the child unit and requesting for transmission of the job list information item to the child unit, the job list information item including the job name of the at least one print data items;
• storing, on the first memory of the parent unit, the job list information item transmitted from the other parent unit;
• and
• storing the parent unit connection information item that identifies the connectable parent unit, in a second memory of each of the child units.