Image processing apparatus and system and control method therefor, image data processing method, image forming apparatus and control method therefor, controller therefor, and storage medium storing the control method for processing image data having different printing attributes

An image processing apparatus which selects at least one image forming apparatus from a plurality of image forming apparatuses including at least two types of image forming apparatuses having different printing attributes, said at least one image forming apparatus having predetermined printing attributes, and outputs image data to the selected at least one image forming apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• input means for inputting a group of image data;
• distributing means for distributing the input group of image data depending on printing attributes of the group of image data;
• a plurality of image processing means for executing image processes corresponding respective to printing attributes of the distributed image data, the group of image data;
• selecting means for selecting at least two image forming apparatuses from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, which have printing attributes compatible with results of the image processes executed by said image processing means;
• and
• output means for outputting the image data on which said image processes have been executed to the selected at least two image forming apparatuses,
• wherein said printing attributes comprise at least a first printing attribute, and a second printing attribute, and said image processing means comprises first image processing means, and second and third image processing means for executing image processes depending on said first printing attribute and said second printing attribute, respectively,
• wherein said image processing apparatus further comprises judging means for judging whether or not each of the image data of said group belongs to said first printing attribute after said first image processing means have executed the image process on all the image data of said group, first image process re-executing means for determining that each of the image data belongs to said first printing attribute and causing said second image processing means to again execute the image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging means is affirmative, and second image process re-executing means for determining that each of the image data belongs to said second printing attribute and causing said third image processing means to again execute the image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging means is negative, and
• wherein said output means outputs the image data on which said image processes have been executed by said second image processing means and said third image processing means, to said selected at least two image forming apparatuses, respectively.

An image processing system comprising an information processing apparatus directly operated by a user, a plurality of image forming apparatuses including at least two types of image forming apparatuses having different printing attributes, and an image processing apparatus for controlling said plurality of image forming apparatuses in response to a request from said information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus, said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and said image processing apparatus being connected to each other, said image processing apparatus selecting at least one image forming apparatus from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and outputting image data to the selected at least one image forming apparatus,

• wherein said image processing apparatus comprises input means for inputting a group of image data, distributing means for distributing the input group of image data depending on printing attributes of the group of image data, a plurality of image processing means for executing image processes corresponding respectively to printing attributes of the distributed image data, on the group of image data, selecting means for selecting at least two image forming apparatuses from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, which have printing attributes compatible with results of the execution of the image processes executed by said image processing means, and output means for outputting the image data on which said image processes have been executed, to the selected at least two image forming apparatuses,
• wherein said printing attributes comprise at least a first printing attribute, and a second printing attribute, and said image processing means comprises first and second image processing means for executing image processes depending said first printing attribute and said second printing attribute, respectively,
• wherein said image processing apparatus further comprises judging means for judging whether or not each of the image data of said group belongs to said first printing attribute after said first image processing means have executed the image process on all the image data of said group, and image process re-executing means for determining that each of the image data belongs to said second printing attribute and causing said second image processing means to again execute the image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging means is negative, and
• wherein said output means outputs the image data on which said image processes have been executed by said first image processing means and said second image processing means, to said selected at least two image forming apparatuses, respectively.

An image processing system comprising an information processing apparatus directly operated by a user, a plurality of image forming apparatuses including at least two types of image forming apparatuses having different printing attributes, and an image processing apparatus for controlling said plurality of image forming apparatuses in response to a request from said information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus, said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and said image processing apparatus being connected to each other, said image processing apparatus selecting at least one image forming apparatus from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and outputting image data to the selected at least one image forming apparatus,

• wherein said image processing apparatus comprises input means for inputting a group of image data, distributing means for distributing the input group of image data depending printing attributes of the group of image data, a plurality of image processing means for executing image processes corresponding respectively to printing attributes of the distributed image data, on the group of image data, selecting means for selecting at least two image forming apparatuses from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, which have printing attributes compatible with results of the execution of the image processes executed by said image processing means, and output means for outputting the image data on which said image processes have been executed, to the selected at least two image forming apparatuses,
• wherein said printing attributes comprise at least a first printing attribute, and a second printing attribute, and said image processing means comprises first image processing means, and second and third image processing means for executing image processes depending on said first printing attribute and said second printing attribute, respectively,
• wherein said image processing apparatus further comprises judging means for judging whether or not each of the image data of said group belongs to said first printing attribute after said first image processing means have executed the image process on all the image data of said group, first image process re-executing means for determining that each of the image data belongs to said first printing attribute and causing said second image processing means to again execute the image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging means is affirmative, and second image process re-executing means for determining that each of the image data belongs to said second printing attribute and causing said third image processing means to again execute the image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging means is negative, and
• wherein said output means outputs the image data on which said image processes have been executed by said second image processing means and said third image processing means, to said selected at least two image forming apparatuses, respectively.

An image data processing method of processing image data using an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses including at least two types of image forming apparatuses having different printing attributes, for controlling said plurality of image forming apparatuses, said image processing apparatus selecting at least one image forming apparatus having predetermined printing attributes from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and outputting image data to the selected at least one image forming apparatus, the image data processing method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a group of image data;
• executing a distribution process of distributing the input group of image data depending on printing attributes of the group of image data;
• executing a plurality of image processes corresponding respectively to printing attributes of the distributed image data, on the group of image data;
• selecting at least two image forming apparatuses from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, which have printing attributes compatible with results of the execution of the image processes;
• and
• executing an output process of outputting the image data on which said image processes have been executed, to the selected at least two image forming apparatuses,
• wherein said printing attribute comprise at least a first printing attribute, and a second printing attribute, and said image processes comprise first and second image processes for executing image processes depending on said first printing attribute and said second printing attribute, respectively,
• wherein said image data processing method further comprises judging whether or not each of the image data of said group belongs to said first printing attribute after said first image process has been executed on all the image data of said group, determining that each of the image data belongs to said second printing attribute and again executing said second image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging step is negative, and
• wherein said output process comprises outputting the image data on which said first and second image processes have been executed, to said selected at least two image forming apparatuses, respectively.

An image data processing method processing image data using an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses including at least two types of image forming apparatuses having different printing attributes, for controlling said plurality of image forming apparatuses, said image processing apparatus selecting at least one image forming apparatus having predetermined printing attributes from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and outputting image data to the selected at least one image forming apparatus, the image data processing method comprising the steps of;

• inputting a group of image data;
• executing a distribution process of distributing the input group of image data depending on printing attributes of the group of image data;
• executing a plurality of image processes corresponding respectively to printing attributes of the distributed image data, on the group of image data;
• selecting at least two image forming apparatuses from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, which have printing attributes compatible with results of the execution of the image processes;
• and
• executing an output process of outputting the image data on which said image processes have been executed, to the selected at least two image forming apparatuses,
• wherein said printing attributes comprise at least a first printing attribute, and a second printing attribute, and said image processes comprise a first image process, and second and third image processes which are executed depending on said first printing attribute and said second printing attribute, respectively,
• wherein said image data processing method further comprises judging whether or not each of the image data of said group belongs to said first printing attribute after said first image process has been executed on all the image data of said group, determining that each of the image data belongs to said first printing attribute and again executing said second image process on the each of the image data when a result of the judgment by said judging step is affirmative, and determining that each of the image data belongs to said second printing attribute and again executing said third image process on the each of the image data, and
• wherein said output process comprises outputting the image data on which said second and third image processes have been executed, to said selected at least two image forming apparatuses, respectively.