Network print system for allowing a printer or printers to select a host

A network print system wherein a host that has function to generate print data and plural printers that carries out print processing on the basis of specified print data are connected with one another via a communication network, and the plural printers and the host communicate with one another, and thereby printing processing is executed by the printers on the basis of print data generated at the host, the network print system comprising:

• each of the plural printers including:
• means for inputting identification data to specify the print data being held by the host;
• means for requesting to the host to be transmitted the print data specified by the inputting means from the host to the printer;
• means for printing a document based on the received print data corresponding to the transmitted print data;
• the host including:
• means for storing the print data generated at the host;
• first setting means for setting identification data corresponding to each of users to the print data stored in the storing means;
• means for determining whether the identification input by the inputting means is the identification data set by the first setting means or not;
• second setting means for setting a reproduction right to obtain plural copies of printed matter on the basis of print data stored in the storing means when the identification data input by the inputting means is the identification data set by the first setting means;
• and
• means for transmitting the print data stored in the storing means to each of the printers that have requested to the host to transmit a desired print data from the host to the printer, in correspondence to the number of plural copies of printed matter set by the second setting means.

A method for printing in a network print system having plural hosts that have a function to generate print data, plural printers that carry out printing on the basis of specified print data, and a communication network that connects the plural printers and the plural hosts so that the printers and the hosts communicate with one another, wherein the printing is executed by a single or plural users using optional printers on the basis of print data generated at the hosts, the method comprising the steps of:

• in each of the plural printers;
• selecting one of the plural hosts in which print data is generated;
• requesting to the selected host, via the communication network, to transmit the print data from the selected host to the printer;
• and
• printing a document based on the print data transmitted from the selected host;
• in each of the plural hosts:
• storing plural print data generated by the users;
• setting respective owners of the plural print data stored in the storing step on the basis of an identification data allotted per each of the plural users;
• determining whether or not a person who has requested the print data to be transmitted is the owner of the print data set in the setting step;
• and
• transmitting the print data stored in the storing step to the printer on the basis of the determination that the person requesting the transmission of the print data is the owner of the print data.

A method for printing in a network print system wherein a host that has a function to generate print data and plural printers that carry out print processing on the basis of specified print data are connected with one another via a communication network, and the plural printers and the host communicate with one another, and thereby printing processing is executed by the printers on the basis of print data generated at the host, the method comprising the steps of:

• in each of the plural printers;
• inputting identification data to specify the print data being held by the host;
• requesting to the host to transmit the print data specified in the inputting step from the host to the printer;
• and
• printing a document based on the received print data corresponding to the request;
• in the host:
• storing the print data generated at the host;
• setting identification data corresponding to each of a number of users to the print data stored in the storing step;
• determining whether or not the identification input in the inputting step is the identification data set in the setting identification data step;
• setting a reproduction right to obtain plural copies of printed matter on the basis of print data stored in the storing step when the identification data input in the inputting step is the identification data set in the setting identification data step;
• and
• transmitting the print data stored in the storing step to each of the printers that have requested to the host to transmit a desired print data from the host to the printer, in correspondence to the number of plural copies of printed matter set in the setting a reproduction right step.