Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and medium and printing system thereof

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• at least one memory that stores at least one program;
• and
• at least one processor, the at least one program causing the at least one processor to perform:
• configuring a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• storing and managing capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• transmitting, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, the print job to one image forming apparatus among the one or the plurality of the image forming apparatuses, wherein
• the configuring associates a first image forming apparatus having a first capability, utilized by the first image forming apparatus when the first image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that satisfies a condition set in the virtual printer with the virtual printer and does not associate a second image forming apparatus having a second capability, utilized by the second image forming apparatus when the second image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that does not satisfy the condition set in the virtual printer with the virtual printer.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a program which, when loaded into a computer and executed, causes the computer to execute a process, the process comprising:

• configuring a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• storing and managing capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• determining, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, whether or not the print job is a conditional print job to be executed by an image forming apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition;
• in a case where the print job is determined to be the conditional print job, referencing the capability information and specifying an image forming apparatus that satisfies the predetermined condition from among the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• and
• transmitting the conditional print job to the image forming apparatus that satisfies the predetermined condition.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a program which, when loaded into a computer and executed, causes the computer to execute a process, the process comprising:

• configuring a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• storing and managing capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• transmitting, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, the print job to one image forming apparatus among the one or the plurality of the image forming apparatuses;
• associating a first image forming apparatus having a first capability, utilized by the first image forming apparatus when the first image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that satisfies a condition set in the virtual printer with the virtual printer and not associating a second image forming apparatus having a second capability, utilized by the second image forming apparatus when the second image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that does not satisfy the condition set in the virtual printer with the virtual printer.

A printing system, comprising:

• an information processing apparatus;
• one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the information processing apparatus;
• and
• a client terminal connected to the information processing apparatus through or not through a cloud printing service,
• wherein the information processing apparatus comprises
• at least one memory that stores at least one program;
• and
• at least one processor, the at least one program causing the at least one processor to perform:
• configure a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• store and manage capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• determine, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, whether or not the print job is a conditional print job to be executed by an image forming apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition;
• in a case where the print job is determined to be the conditional print job, reference the capability information and specify an image forming apparatus that satisfies the predetermined condition from among the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• and
• transmit the conditional print job to the image forming apparatus that satisfies the predetermined condition.

A printing system, comprising:

• an information processing apparatus;
• one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the information processing apparatus;
• and
• a client terminal connected to the information processing apparatus through or not through a cloud printing service,
• wherein the information processing apparatus comprises
• at least one memory that stores at least one program;
• and
• at least one processor, the at least one program causing the at least one processor to perform:
• configure a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• store and manage capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• and
• transmit, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, the print job to one image forming apparatus among the one or a plurality of the image forming apparatuses, wherein
• a first image forming apparatus having a first capability, utilized by the first image forming apparatus when the first image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that satisfies a condition set in the virtual printer is associated with the virtual printer and a second image forming apparatus having a second capability, utilized by the second image forming apparatus when the second image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that does not satisfy the condition set in the virtual printer is not associated with the virtual printer.

A print control method executed by an information processing apparatus, comprising:

• configuring a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• storing and managing capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• determining, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, whether or not the print job is a conditional print job to be executed by an image forming apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition;
• in a case where the print job is determined to be the conditional print job, referencing the capability information and specifying an image forming apparatus that satisfies the predetermined condition from among the one or the plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• and
• transmitting the conditional print job to the image forming apparatus that satisfies the predetermined condition.

A print control method executed by an information processing apparatus, comprising:

• configuring a virtual printer associated with one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• storing and managing capability information indicating a capability of each of the one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses associated with the virtual printer;
• transmitting, when a print job for the virtual printer is received, the print job to one image forming apparatus among the one or a plurality of the image forming apparatuses;
• associating a first image forming apparatus having a first capability, utilized by the first image forming apparatus when the first image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that satisfies a condition set in the virtual printer with the virtual printer and not associating a second image forming apparatus having a second capability, utilized by the second image forming apparatus when the second image forming apparatus performs a printing operation, that does not satisfy the condition set in the virtual printer with the virtual printer.