US 6,474,881 B1 · Information processing apparatus, information processing system, print control method, and storage medium storing computer readable program

Abstract

The object is to print continuously in the specified order by one operation a series of print jobs printed in any timing by a plurality of host computers for the same printer even if a usual print job is spooled together in a print server. In a method for solving the problem, a print server identifies ordered print jobs for which print order is to be specified and non-ordered print jobs out of a plurality of print jobs transmitted in any timing from a client, the print order for each print job identified as such is rearranged and aligned in specified order, and the output order for each print job aligned for a printer based on the state of alignment.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A print controlling method, comprising:

an identifying step of identifying a first print job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession and a second print job as a job to be printed as a single print job, based on print requests received from clients;
a determining step of determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job corresponding to a print job are ready, if a print request from a client is a request for printing a print job identified in said identifying step as a first print job;
a controlling step of controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are ready, while controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are not yet ready to be held;
a recognizing step of recognizing an end-of-print condition of a print job in a printer;
and
an informing step of informing a client making a request for printing of a second print job that printing has ended, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in said recognizing step is a second print job, while determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job are in end-of-print conditions and informing a plurality of clients making print requests that printing has ended in a case where all the print jobs are in end-of-print conditions, and performing control so as not to inform that printing has ended for print jobs in the grouping print job for which printing has ended in a case where at least one print job has not yet printed, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in said recognizing step is a first print job.

3 more elements

A storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a print controlling method, wherein the program comprises:

code for an identifying step of identifying a first print job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession and a second print job as a job to be printed as a single print job, based on print requests received from clients;
code for a determining step of determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job corresponding to a print job are ready, if a print request from a client is a request for printing a print job identified in the identifying step as a first print job;
code for a controlling step of controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in the determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are ready, while controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in the determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are not yet ready to be held;
code for a recognizing step of recognizing an end-of-print condition of a print job in a printer;
and
code for an informing step of informing a client making a request for printing of a second print job that printing has ended, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is a second print job, while determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job are in end-of-print conditions and informing a plurality of clients making print requests that printing has ended in a case where all the print jobs are in end-of-print conditions, and performing control so as not to inform that printing has ended for print jobs in the grouping print job for which printing has ended in a case where at least one print job has not yet printed, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is a first print job.

3 more elements

A storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a printing controlling method, wherein the program comprises:

code for a job managing step of managing a grouping job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession, based on print requests received from a plurality of clients;
code for a determining step of determining a spooling matter spooling a plurality of print jobs included in the grouping job, when the grouping job is printed;
and
code for a transmission controlling step of controlling transmission so that a print job determined in the determining step as being spooled in a client transmits transmission permission information for permitting transmission of the plurality of print jobs to the client, and print jobs determined in the determining step as being spooled in their own spooler transmits a print job spooled therein to a printer, wherein
the transmission controlling step determines whether a printer for outputting is a face-up or face-down printer;
transmission control is started in descending order with a leading print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-down printer;
and
transmission control is started in ascending order with a rearmost print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-up printer.

5 more elements

A print controlling method, comprising:

an acquiring step of acquiring information of a grouping job being managed at a management server from the management server managing an order of printing grouping jobs each with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession;
a first user interface providing step of providing a first user interface for specifying a grouping job into which print jobs for which a print request has been made are grouped based on the information of the grouping job acquired in said acquiring step;
a print request making step of making a print request including indicative information for grouping print jobs into a grouping job specified via the first user interface provided in said first user interface providing step;
a print setting step of specifying a print setting of a print job and the print job as a job to be grouped;
a second user interface providing step of providing a second user interface, including a region to designate a name of a new grouping job and a region to designate a name of an existing grouping job, for designating a name of a grouping job into which the print job is grouped if the job is designated to be grouped in said print setting step;
and
a user interface controlling step of controlling provision of a user interface so that said first user interface providing step is started and a first user interface is provided if the region to designate the name of an existing grouping job is designated in the second user interface, which is provided in said second user interface proving step.

4 more elements

A storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a print controlling method, wherein the program comprises:

code for an acquiring step of acquiring information of grouping jobs being managed at a management server from the management server managing an order of printing grouping jobs each with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession;
code for a first user interface providing step of providing a first user interface for specifying a grouping job into which print jobs for which a print request has been made are grouped based on the information of the grouping job acquired in the acquiring step;
code for a print request making step of making a print request including indicative information for grouping print jobs into a grouping job specified via the first user interface provided in the first user interface providing step;
code for a print setting step of specifying a print setting of a print job and the print job as a job to be grouped;
code for a second user interface providing step of providing a second user interface, including a region to designate a name of a new grouping job and a region to designate a name of an existing grouping job, for designating a name of a grouping job into which the print job is grouped if the job is designated to be grouped in the print setting step;
and
code for a user interface controlling step of controlling provision of a user interface so that the first user interface providing step is started and a first user interface is provided if the region to designate the name of an existing grouping job is designated in the second user interface, which is provided in the second user interface proving step.

4 more elements

A computer program product embodying a program for controlling printing, the program comprising:

program code for an identifying step of identifying a first print job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession and a second print job as a job to be printed as a single print job, based on print requests received from clients;
program code for a determining step of determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job corresponding to a print job are ready, if a print request from a client is a request for printing a print job identified in the identifying step as a first print job;
program code for a controlling step of controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are ready, while controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are not yet ready to be held;
program code for a recognizing step of recognizing an end-of-print condition of a print job in a printer;
and
program code for an informing step of informing the client making a request for printing of the second print job that print has ended, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is the second print job, while determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job are in end-of-print conditions and informing a plurality of clients making print requests that print has ended in a case where all the print jobs are in end-of-print conditions, and performing control so as not to inform that printing has ended for print jobs in the grouping print job for which print has ended in a case where at least one print job has not yet printed, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is a first print job.

3 more elements

A computer program product embodying a program for controlling printing, the program comprising:

program code for a job managing step of managing a grouping job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession, based on print requests received from a plurality of clients;
program code for a determining step of determining a spooling matter spooling a plurality of print jobs included in the grouping job, when the grouping job is printed;
and
program code for a transmission controlling step of controlling transmission so that a print job determined in the determining step as being spooled in a client transmits transmission permission information for permitting transmission of the plurality of print jobs to the client, and print jobs determined in the determining step as being spooled in their own spooler transmits a print job spooled therein to a printer, wherein
the transmission controlling step determines whether a printer for outputting is a face-up or face-down printer,
transmission control is started in descending order with a leading print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-down printer, and
transmission control is started in ascending order with a rearmost print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-up printer.

4 more elements

A computer program product embodying a program for information processing, the program comprising:

program code for an acquiring step of acquiring information of a grouping job being managed at a management server from the management server managing an order of printing grouping jobs each with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession;
program code for a first user interface providing step of providing a first user interface for specifying a grouping job into which print jobs for which a print request has been made are grouped based on the information of the grouping job acquired in the acquiring step;
program code for a print request making step of making a print request including indicative information for grouping print jobs into a grouping job specified via the first user interface provided in the first user interface providing step;
program code for a print setting step of specifying a print setting of a print job and the print job as a job to be grouped;
program code for a second user interface providing step of providing a second user interface including a region to designate a name of a new grouping job and a region to designate a name of an existing grouping job, for designating a name of a grouping job into which the print job is grouped if the job is designated to be grouped in the print setting step;
and
program code for a user interface controlling step of controlling provision of a user interface so that the first user interface providing step is started and a first user interface is provided if a region to designate the name of an existing grouping job is designated in the second user interface, which is provided in the second user interface proving step.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/605,681Filed 28 Jun 2000

Priority

JP 11-18577530 Jun 1999

Granted

5 Nov 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 3/1288
Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server: in client-server-printer device configuration
G06F 3/1207
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
G06F 3/121
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
G06F 3/1259
Print job management: print job monitoring, e.g. job status

Abstract

Claims48

Dependent claims

A print controlling method, comprising:

an identifying step of identifying a first print job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession and a second print job as a job to be printed as a single print job, based on print requests received from clients;
a determining step of determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job corresponding to a print job are ready, if a print request from a client is a request for printing a print job identified in said identifying step as a first print job;
a controlling step of controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are ready, while controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are not yet ready to be held;
a recognizing step of recognizing an end-of-print condition of a print job in a printer;
and
an informing step of informing a client making a request for printing of a second print job that printing has ended, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in said recognizing step is a second print job, while determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job are in end-of-print conditions and informing a plurality of clients making print requests that printing has ended in a case where all the print jobs are in end-of-print conditions, and performing control so as not to inform that printing has ended for print jobs in the grouping print job for which printing has ended in a case where at least one print job has not yet printed, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in said recognizing step is a first print job.

3 more elements

A storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a print controlling method, wherein the program comprises:

code for an identifying step of identifying a first print job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession and a second print job as a job to be printed as a single print job, based on print requests received from clients;
code for a determining step of determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job corresponding to a print job are ready, if a print request from a client is a request for printing a print job identified in the identifying step as a first print job;
code for a controlling step of controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in the determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are ready, while controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in the determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are not yet ready to be held;
code for a recognizing step of recognizing an end-of-print condition of a print job in a printer;
and
code for an informing step of informing a client making a request for printing of a second print job that printing has ended, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is a second print job, while determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job are in end-of-print conditions and informing a plurality of clients making print requests that printing has ended in a case where all the print jobs are in end-of-print conditions, and performing control so as not to inform that printing has ended for print jobs in the grouping print job for which printing has ended in a case where at least one print job has not yet printed, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is a first print job.

3 more elements

A storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a printing controlling method, wherein the program comprises:

code for a job managing step of managing a grouping job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession, based on print requests received from a plurality of clients;
code for a determining step of determining a spooling matter spooling a plurality of print jobs included in the grouping job, when the grouping job is printed;
and
code for a transmission controlling step of controlling transmission so that a print job determined in the determining step as being spooled in a client transmits transmission permission information for permitting transmission of the plurality of print jobs to the client, and print jobs determined in the determining step as being spooled in their own spooler transmits a print job spooled therein to a printer, wherein
the transmission controlling step determines whether a printer for outputting is a face-up or face-down printer;
transmission control is started in descending order with a leading print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-down printer;
and
transmission control is started in ascending order with a rearmost print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-up printer.

5 more elements

A print controlling method, comprising:

an acquiring step of acquiring information of a grouping job being managed at a management server from the management server managing an order of printing grouping jobs each with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession;
a first user interface providing step of providing a first user interface for specifying a grouping job into which print jobs for which a print request has been made are grouped based on the information of the grouping job acquired in said acquiring step;
a print request making step of making a print request including indicative information for grouping print jobs into a grouping job specified via the first user interface provided in said first user interface providing step;
a print setting step of specifying a print setting of a print job and the print job as a job to be grouped;
a second user interface providing step of providing a second user interface, including a region to designate a name of a new grouping job and a region to designate a name of an existing grouping job, for designating a name of a grouping job into which the print job is grouped if the job is designated to be grouped in said print setting step;
and
a user interface controlling step of controlling provision of a user interface so that said first user interface providing step is started and a first user interface is provided if the region to designate the name of an existing grouping job is designated in the second user interface, which is provided in said second user interface proving step.

4 more elements

A storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a print controlling method, wherein the program comprises:

code for an acquiring step of acquiring information of grouping jobs being managed at a management server from the management server managing an order of printing grouping jobs each with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession;
code for a first user interface providing step of providing a first user interface for specifying a grouping job into which print jobs for which a print request has been made are grouped based on the information of the grouping job acquired in the acquiring step;
code for a print request making step of making a print request including indicative information for grouping print jobs into a grouping job specified via the first user interface provided in the first user interface providing step;
code for a print setting step of specifying a print setting of a print job and the print job as a job to be grouped;
code for a second user interface providing step of providing a second user interface, including a region to designate a name of a new grouping job and a region to designate a name of an existing grouping job, for designating a name of a grouping job into which the print job is grouped if the job is designated to be grouped in the print setting step;
and
code for a user interface controlling step of controlling provision of a user interface so that the first user interface providing step is started and a first user interface is provided if the region to designate the name of an existing grouping job is designated in the second user interface, which is provided in the second user interface proving step.

4 more elements

A computer program product embodying a program for controlling printing, the program comprising:

program code for an identifying step of identifying a first print job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession and a second print job as a job to be printed as a single print job, based on print requests received from clients;
program code for a determining step of determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job corresponding to a print job are ready, if a print request from a client is a request for printing a print job identified in the identifying step as a first print job;
program code for a controlling step of controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are ready, while controlling printing of a grouping print job for which it is determined in said determining step that all print jobs in the grouping print job are not yet ready to be held;
program code for a recognizing step of recognizing an end-of-print condition of a print job in a printer;
and
program code for an informing step of informing the client making a request for printing of the second print job that print has ended, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is the second print job, while determining whether all print jobs in a grouping print job are in end-of-print conditions and informing a plurality of clients making print requests that print has ended in a case where all the print jobs are in end-of-print conditions, and performing control so as not to inform that printing has ended for print jobs in the grouping print job for which print has ended in a case where at least one print job has not yet printed, if the print job with the end-of-print condition recognized in the recognizing step is a first print job.

3 more elements

A computer program product embodying a program for controlling printing, the program comprising:

program code for a job managing step of managing a grouping job with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession, based on print requests received from a plurality of clients;
program code for a determining step of determining a spooling matter spooling a plurality of print jobs included in the grouping job, when the grouping job is printed;
and
program code for a transmission controlling step of controlling transmission so that a print job determined in the determining step as being spooled in a client transmits transmission permission information for permitting transmission of the plurality of print jobs to the client, and print jobs determined in the determining step as being spooled in their own spooler transmits a print job spooled therein to a printer, wherein
the transmission controlling step determines whether a printer for outputting is a face-up or face-down printer,
transmission control is started in descending order with a leading print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-down printer, and
transmission control is started in ascending order with a rearmost print job being first, if the printer is determined to be a face-up printer.

4 more elements

A computer program product embodying a program for information processing, the program comprising:

program code for an acquiring step of acquiring information of a grouping job being managed at a management server from the management server managing an order of printing grouping jobs each with a plurality of print jobs to be grouped and printed in succession;
program code for a first user interface providing step of providing a first user interface for specifying a grouping job into which print jobs for which a print request has been made are grouped based on the information of the grouping job acquired in the acquiring step;
program code for a print request making step of making a print request including indicative information for grouping print jobs into a grouping job specified via the first user interface provided in the first user interface providing step;
program code for a print setting step of specifying a print setting of a print job and the print job as a job to be grouped;
program code for a second user interface providing step of providing a second user interface including a region to designate a name of a new grouping job and a region to designate a name of an existing grouping job, for designating a name of a grouping job into which the print job is grouped if the job is designated to be grouped in the print setting step;
and
program code for a user interface controlling step of controlling provision of a user interface so that the first user interface providing step is started and a first user interface is provided if a region to designate the name of an existing grouping job is designated in the second user interface, which is provided in the second user interface proving step.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, print control method, and storage medium storing computer readable program

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, print control method, and storage medium storing computer readable program

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48