Distribution processing method, distribution processing device, print data processing method, print data processing device, and recording medium

A distribution processing device that is a computer that operates according to an operating system on the operating system kernel layer, executes a specific process according to an application on an application layer, has two or more communication ports, and applies a distribution process to device-specific data output from the application, the distribution processing device comprising:

• a data acquisition unit that acquires device-specific data output to one specific communication port at the operating system kernel layer before the device-specific data is received at the communication port;
• and
• a data processing unit that analyzes the device-specific data acquired by the data acquisition unit at the application layer, determines an output device to which the device-specific data is output based on the data analysis, and outputs the device-specific data to a communication port to which the output device is connected.

A print data processing method that runs on a computer, said computer operates according to an operating system on an operating system kernel layer, executes a specific process according to an application on an application layer, has two or more communication ports, and processes print data output from the application, the print data processing method comprising:

• a data acquisition step in which the computer acquires the print data output to a specific communication port at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the communication port as acquired print data;
• and
• a print data processing step in which the computer analyzes the print data acquired in the data acquisition step at the application layer, determines one or more communication ports to which the print data is output based on the data analysis, converts the print data to data suitable for the device connected to the identified communication port, and outputs the converted print data to an identified communication port.

A print data processing device that is a computer that operates according to an operating system on an operating system kernel layer, executes a specific process according to an application on an application layer, has two or more communication ports, and processes print data output from the application, the print data processing device comprising:

• a data acquisition unit that acquires print data output to a specific communication port at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at one of the communication ports;
• and
• a print data processing unit that analyzes the print data acquired by the data acquisition unit at the application layer, determines one or more communication ports to which the print data is output based on analysis of the print data processing unit, converts the print data to data suitable for a device connected to an identified communication port, and outputs the converted print data to the identified communication port.