Information processing system and method therefor

An information processing method for an information processing system that includes a print device and an optional device connected to the print device, comprising:

• a reception step of receiving print job information, including a print command and print data, at the print device;
• an analysis step of analyzing the print job information to understand a goal of a print job requested in the print job information and identifying a print process constituting the requested print job and an additional process not constituting a print job, but to be performed to achieve the goal of the print job;
• a print step of performing the print process in which the print data is printed at the print device;
• an instruction step of transmitting from the print device an instruction to perform the additional process to the optional device;
• and
• an additional process step of performing at the optional device the additional process upon receipt of the instruction from the print device.

A print apparatus, connected to an information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a reception unit adapted to receive print job information, including an print command and print data;
• an analysis unit adapted to analyze the print job information to understand a goal of a print job requested in the print job information, and to identify a print process constituting the requested print job and an additional process not constituting a print job, but to be performed to achieve the goal of the print job;
• a print unit adapted to perform the print process in which the print data is printed;
• and
• an instruction unit adapted to send an instruction to the information processing apparatus to perform the additional process.

An information processing method for a print apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a reception step of receiving print job information including a print command and print data;
• an analysis step of analyzing the print job information to understand a goal of a print job requested in the print job information and identifying a print process constituting the requested print job and an additional process not constituting a print job, but to be performed to achieve the goal of the print job;
• a print step of performing the print process in which the print data is printed;
• and
• an instruction step of sending an instruction to the information processing apparatus to perform the additional process.

A computer-readable storage medium storing an information processing program for controlling a computer to process information, the program comprising codes for causing the computer to perform:

• a reception step of receiving print job information, including a print command and print data;
• an analysis step of analyzing the print job information to understand a goal of a print job requested in the print job information and identifying a print process constituting the requested print job and an additional process not constituting a print job, but to be performed to achieve the goal of the print job;
• a print step of performing the print process in which the print data is printed;
• and
• an instruction step of sending an instruction to an optional information processing apparatus to perform the additional process.