JP2013131109A - Printing management device, printing management method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To complete printing of data that should be printed by a predetermined time, before the predetermined time, by setting an arbitrary priority to a large amount of print unit data included in print instruction data from a host computer to print the data in order according to the priority.SOLUTION: Information used for determining the priority of each print unit data included in print instruction data is preset and the priority of printing of the print data is determined. According to the priority set for the print unit data, print data based on the print unit data is prepared to be transmitted to a printer. As a result, it becomes possible to output print data to be printed under the priority.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing print output of print data created in accordance with print instruction data output from a host computer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in many companies, a printer (printing apparatus) that obtains a large amount of print instruction data output from a mainframe or an open machine as a host computer by a print server and outputs it according to the attributes of the print instruction data. Printing is performed to print a large amount of forms and the like used for business with a plurality of printers.

  In this case, the print server analyzes the print instruction data sent from the host, converts it into print data that can be understood by the printer, and outputs it. The print server is desired not only to perform print processing but also to manage jobs and the status of printers that output them.

  Therefore, the print server acquires information such as the print status of the output print data on the printer from the printer and displays it on the client terminal. For example, the print server converts print instruction data sent from the host into data that can be understood by the printer and passes the data to the printer. When the printer completes output, the printer sends a notification that output is complete to the print server. The print server receives this notification, determines that the output of the print instruction data has been completed, and displays it on the client terminal.

  However, the network communication load increases due to the output of a large amount of data to the printer, and a situation in which a notification of output completion cannot be obtained from the printer occurs. Whether or not the print data processing status is displayed on the client terminal and the user outputs it because the print server cannot grasp the output on the printer even though the print data is output on the print server. There are things that cannot be judged. It is necessary to grasp the degree of congestion of print data processing and perform some control.

  In order to avoid this situation, a technique is disclosed in which, in a situation where the network load between the printer and the print server is high, it is possible to control the print input interval from the print data information and obtain a notification of output completion (for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, although there is a high possibility that the completion of printing can be acquired by the above-described realization method, the printing time becomes long. For this reason, there is a possibility that even if a holiday or night when processing is concentrated, such as the end of the month, the printed matter may be output, but it may not be printed. Therefore, the data to be printed with priority needs to be processed with some processing and preferentially printed. In order to avoid this situation, a technique is disclosed in which priority is set for each request source of print data and the priority is controlled (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2010-97486 A JP 2005-102043 A

  However, in the above-described realization method, the priority fixed at the request source cannot appropriately process the print data that the user wants to print. This means that the print data, which should have been printed, has not been printed at the end of the day, such as at the end of the month, when holidays are concentrated or at night.

  The cause of the fact that the print data that should have been printed by the due date has not been printed is also due to the printer running out of toner or paper jam. There is a need to deal with any situation.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to ending printing of print data by a predetermined date and time by setting priorities before generating print data so that print data intended by the user can be printed with priority. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the print management apparatus of the present invention receives print instruction data from a first storage unit that stores first information used to determine the priority of print data and a host apparatus. Receiving means, setting means for setting priority for each of a plurality of print unit data included in the print instruction data using the first information, and classifying the print unit data for each priority And storing means for storing, and generating means for generating print data based on the print unit data in order of priority of the print unit data stored in the storing means.

  In order to achieve the above object, a print management method according to the present invention is a print management method performed by a print management apparatus including a storage device that stores first information used for determining the priority of print data. A receiving step of receiving print instruction data from the host device, a setting step of setting a priority using the first information for each of a plurality of print unit data included in the print instruction data, Print data is generated based on the print unit data in the order of the priority of the print unit data stored in the storage device and the storage step of classifying the print unit data into the priority and storing the print unit data. And a generating step.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a computer program according to the present invention provides a print management apparatus including a storage device that stores first information used for determining the priority of print data, and print instruction data from an upper apparatus. Receiving means for receiving, setting means for setting priority for each of a plurality of print unit data included in the print instruction data using the first information, and the print unit data for each priority Classifying and storing in a storage device, and functioning as a generation unit that generates print data based on the print unit data in order of priority of the print unit data stored in the storage device To do.

  According to the present invention, priority can be set before print data generation so that print data intended by the user can be preferentially printed, and print processing of print data set with high priority is prioritized. Will be done. This makes it possible to finish printing the print data by a predetermined date and time.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a print management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the print management server 102 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of each device provided in the print management system of FIG. 1. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of print instruction data transmitted from a host computer 101. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of distribution destination printer group determination information 500 stored in an external memory 211 of the print management apparatus 102. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of priority determination information 600 stored in an external memory 211 of the print management apparatus 102. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image of print unit data created by processing by a print instruction data analysis unit 303. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of print data creation / transmission processing performed by a CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of print instruction data analysis processing in step S402 of FIG. 8; FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating details of print data creation processing in step S403 of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of a print data transmission process in step S404 of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a print management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the print management system of the present invention includes a host computer 101, a print management apparatus 102, a plurality of printers 103, a client PC 104, and a network 105 such as a LAN that connects these apparatuses so as to communicate with each other. It is configured.

  The host computer 101 transmits print instruction data used to generate print data to be printed out from the printer 103 to the print management apparatus 102 via the network 105.

  The print management apparatus 102 receives the print instruction data transmitted from the host computer 101 and creates print data in a format that can be printed out from the printer 103 based on the received print instruction data. Further, by transmitting the created print data to the printer 103, the printer 103 is caused to perform print processing of the print data.

  The print management apparatus 102 further transmits the device status of the printer 103 (toner out, no paper, paper jam) and print data print status (pre-printing, printing in progress, printing end) transmitted from the printer 103. ). The print management apparatus 102 performs management by receiving device status information and print status information transmitted from the printer 103. Also, device status information and print status information are transmitted to the client PC 104 used by the administrator.

  The printer 103 performs print processing for print data received from the print management apparatus 102 via the network 105. Examples of the printing method of the printer 103 include an ink jet method, a laser beam method, and a thermal transfer method. In addition, device status information indicating the status of the device and print status information indicating the print status of the print data are transmitted to the print management apparatus 102.

  The client PC 104 is a terminal device used by an administrator of the print management system and the like, and based on the device status information and the print status information received from the print management device 102, the print status of each print data and the printer status of each printer. The status is displayed on the display device. The administrator can check the print status of each print data and the status of each printer by checking the information displayed on the display device.

  The above is an example of the system configuration of the print management system of the present invention shown in FIG.

  Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus applicable to the print management apparatus 102 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU that comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. Further, the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 is necessary for realizing a function executed by the BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS), and the print management server 102, which are control programs of the CPU 201. Various programs to be described later are stored.

  A RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 202 and executing the loaded program.

  An input controller 205 controls input from an input device 209 such as a keyboard and a pointing device. A video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as the display device 210. These are used by the operator as needed.

  A memory controller 207 is connected to the hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or PCMCIA card slot for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, etc. via an adapter. The access to the external memory 211 such as a compact flash (registered trademark) memory is controlled.

  A communication I / F (interface) controller 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network (for example, the LAN 105 shown in FIG. 1), and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the display device 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 202, for example. Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display device 210.

  The processing of each step shown in the flowchart to be described later for realizing the present invention is executed by a program that can be read and executed by a computer, and the program is recorded in the external memory 211. Then, it is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 202 as necessary. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used when executing the program are also stored in the external memory 211, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  Note that the host computer 101 and the client PC 104 in FIG. 1 also have substantially the same hardware configuration, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a functional configuration of each apparatus included in the print management system will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the functions of the print management server 102 and the client PC 104 will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the print management server 102 includes a print instruction data reception unit 301, a print instruction data analysis unit 302, a print data generation unit 303, a print data transmission unit 304, a printer information acquisition unit 305, a printer information transmission unit 306, and the like. The functional part is configured.

  The print instruction data receiving unit 301 is a functional unit that receives print instruction data transmitted from the host computer 101 (higher-order apparatus).

  The print instruction data analysis unit 302 acquires the print unit data included in the print instruction data by analyzing the print instruction data received by the print instruction data receiving unit. The function unit determines the print priority of each print unit data, the output destination print, and the like.

  The print data generation unit 303 is a functional unit that generates print data for printing out the print unit data acquired by the print instruction data analysis unit 302 from a printer determined to print the print unit data.

  The printer information acquisition unit 305 is a functional unit that receives device status information, printing status information, and the like transmitted from the printer 103.

  The printer information transmission unit 306 is a functional unit that transmits device status information, printing status information, and the like received by the printer information acquisition unit 305 to the client PC 104. The functional configuration of the print management server 102 has been described above.

  The client PC 104 includes functional units such as a printer information receiving unit 307 and a display control unit 308 as shown in FIG.

  The printer information receiving unit 307 is a functional unit that receives device status information, print status information, and the like transmitted from the print management apparatus 102.

  The display control unit 308 displays the status of each printer 103 and the print status of print data printed by each printer 103 based on the device status information and the print status information received by the printer information receiving unit 307. To display.

  The functional configuration of the client PC 104 has been described above.

  Next, an outline of the print unit data combination process performed by the print instruction data analysis unit 303 of the print management apparatus 102 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of print instruction data transmitted from the host computer.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the print instruction data 400 includes a plurality of print unit data (401 to 406). The print configuration data is composed of data from the next data of the page break command (the first print unit data is the head data) to the next page break data as one unit.

  After acquiring each print unit data 401 from the print instruction data 400, the print data analysis unit 303 combines the print unit data based on the distribution destination printer group determination information 500 and the priority information 600 shown in FIG. I do. The print data analysis unit 303 performs processing for collecting print unit data having the same distribution destination printer group and priority into one print unit data.

  Here, the configuration of the destination printer group determination information 500 will be described with reference to FIG. The distribution destination printer group determination information 500 is information used to determine a printer group that prints out print data created using print unit data.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the distribution destination printer group determination information 500 includes data items such as a distribution destination printer group 501 and a distribution destination determination keyword 502.

  The distribution destination printer group 501 is a data item in which information for specifying a printer group that outputs print data is registered. Each printer group is usually composed of a plurality of printers 103, and print data is printed out by any one of the printers.

  The delivery destination determination keyword 502 is a data item in which keyword information for determining a delivery destination printer group is registered. It is determined that the print unit data including the keyword stored in the distribution destination determination keyword 502 is printed by the printer group registered in the distribution destination printer group 501 of the record.

  The above is the description of the data configuration of the printer group determination information 500 in FIG. The printer group determination information 500 can be created for each type of print instruction data transmitted from the host computer 101.

  Next, the data configuration of the priority determination information 600 stored in the external memory 211 of the print management apparatus 102 will be described with reference to FIG. The priority determination information 600 is information used to determine the print priority of print data created using print unit data.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the priority determination information 600 includes a print priority 601 and a print priority determination keyword 602.

  The print priority 601 is a data item in which information indicating the print priority is registered. The print priority determination keyword 602 is a data item in which keyword information for determining the print priority is registered. The print data created based on the print unit data including the keyword stored in the print priority determination keyword 602 is set to the print priority registered in the print priority 601 of the record.

  The above is the description of the data configuration of the priority determination information 600 in FIG. The priority determination information 600 can be created for each type of print instruction data transmitted from the host computer 101.

  The higher the print priority is, the more print data is printed first. Further, the print priority of the print data created based on the print unit data not including the priority determination keyword registered in the priority determination information 600 is determined to be “medium”. In this embodiment, the print priority is described as having three stages. However, any number of stages may be used as long as it has two or more stages.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the print unit data created by the processing by the print instruction data analysis unit 303 using the various types of information shown in FIGS. The print instruction data analysis unit 303 performs a process of combining continuous print unit data having the same (1) distribution destination printer group and (2) print priority into one print unit data.

  The print instruction data analysis unit 303 first acquires print unit data 401 from the print instruction data shown in FIG. Then, the distribution destination of the print data created from the print unit data 401 is determined using the distribution destination printer group determination information 500. Since the print unit data 401 includes a character string “Tokyo”, the distribution destination is determined to be “Tokyo printer group”.

  Also, the print instruction data analysis unit 303 uses the priority determination information 600 to determine the print priority of print data created from the print unit data 401. Since the print unit data 401 includes a character string “G Corporation”, the print priority is determined to be “high”.

  Thereafter, the print instruction data analysis unit 303 similarly determines that the distribution destination of the print unit data 402 is “Tokyo printer group” and the print priority is “high”. Since this is the same setting as the print unit data 401, print unit data obtained by combining these is created.

  Then, the print instruction data analysis unit 303 determines the next delivery destination of the print unit data 403 and the print priority. Since they are “Osaka Printer Group” and “Low”, respectively, the combination of the print unit data 401 and 402 is not performed. As a result, the combination of the print unit data 401 and 402 is confirmed, and a print unit data end command is added (701 in FIG. 7).

  Thereafter, the print unit data 404, 405, and 406 are processed to generate print unit data as shown in FIG. The details of the print unit data combination process performed by the print instruction data analysis unit 303 have been described above. The created print unit data is stored in the external memory 211 or the like for each priority and printer group.

  Next, an overview of print data creation / transmission processing performed by the CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102 will be described with reference to FIG. In order for the CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102 to execute the processing shown in this figure, a program that causes the CPU 201 to function as each functional unit shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the external memory 211 or the like, and executes the processing shown in this figure. At this time, the CPU 201 loads the program into the RAM 202, and executes the processing shown in the drawing according to the control by the loaded program.

  First, the CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102 functions as the print instruction data acquisition unit 301 according to control by a program, and acquires print instruction data transmitted from the host computer 101 (step S801).

  Thereafter, the CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102 functions as the print instruction data analysis unit 302 according to the control by the program, and analyzes the print instruction data acquired in step S801 (step S802). Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  After the print instruction data analysis processing in step S802 is completed, the CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102 functions as the print data creation unit 303 and performs print data creation processing according to control by the program (step S803). Details of this processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  After completing the print data creation process in step S803, the CPU 201 functions as the print data transmission unit 304 according to control by the program, and performs a print data transmission process for transmitting the print data created in step S803 to the printer 103 (step S804). ). Details of this processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  The outline of the print data creation / transmission process performed by the CPU 201 of the print management apparatus 102 has been described above. It should be noted that a plurality of processes are started up, and the functions of the print instruction data acquisition unit 301, the print instruction data analysis unit 302, the print data creation unit 303, and the print data transmission unit 304 are performed in each process, for example, step S801 to step S804. Of course, the above processing may be performed simultaneously.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the details of the print instruction data analysis processing in step S802 of FIG. 8 will be described.

  First, the CPU 201 acquires print unit data from the print instruction data acquired from the host computer in step S801 in FIG. 8 (step S901). Then, the print priority of the print data created from the acquired print unit data is determined using the priority determination information 600 (step S902). Also, a delivery destination printer group is determined using the delivery destination printer group determination information 500 (step S903).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not to add the print unit data newly acquired in step S901 to the unconfirmed print unit data (step S904). In this determination process, the CPU 201 print priority of print data created from unconfirmed print unit data, the destination printer group, and the print priority of print data created from the print unit data acquired in step S901. If the destination printer group matches, it is determined that the print unit data newly acquired in step S901 is added to the unconfirmed print unit data.

  If it is determined YES in step S904, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S907, and adds the print unit data newly acquired in step S901 to the unconfirmed print unit data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined NO in step S904, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S905, and confirms the undecided print unit data by adding the print unit data end information to the undecided print unit data. The print unit data is classified and stored in a storage area determined according to the print priority of the print data created from the print unit data and the delivery destination printer group. The determined print unit data is classified and stored in a directory created for each print priority and each destination printer group.

  Thereafter, the print unit data acquired in step S901 is set as unconfirmed print unit data (step S906).

  After the process of step S906 or step S907 is completed, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S908, and determines whether there is unacquired print unit data in the print instruction data. If it is determined YES in this determination process, the process proceeds to step S901, unacquired print unit data is acquired from the print instruction data, and the processes in and after step S902 are performed.

  If it is determined NO in step S908, the CPU 201 advances the processing to step S909, confirms the unconfirmed print unit data by adding print unit data end information to the unconfirmed print unit data, and determines the print unit. The data is stored in a storage area determined according to the print priority of the print data created from the print unit data and the destination printer group.

  The above is the details of the print instruction data analysis processing in step S802 in FIG.

  Next, details of the print data creation processing in step S803 in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the CPU 201 acquires unprocessed print unit data according to the priority (step S1001). Then, in consideration of the print availability information and load information of the printer 103, a printer that outputs print data created from the print unit data is determined.

  Then, a print priority is set (step S1003), and print data is created by a printer driver corresponding to the printer 103 determined in step S1002 (step S1004). The above is the detailed description of the print data creation processing in step S803 in FIG.

  Next, details of the print data transmission processing in step S804 in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the CPU 201 acquires the print data created by the print data creation process in order of priority (step S1101). Then, the information of the printer 103 that performs print output of the print data set in the print data is acquired (step S1102).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1103, and it is determined whether the printer 103 indicated by the printer information acquired in step S1102 is in a printable state (step S1103). In this determination process, the CPU 201 determines that the printer is not in a printable state when the printer is jammed, out of toner, out of paper, or the like.

  If it is determined in step S1103 that the printer is in a printable state, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S1104 and transmits the print data to the printer set in the print data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1103 that the printer is not in a printable state, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S1105, and performs alternative printing in consideration of the load information of the printer, printability information, and the like. A printer to be executed is determined, and print data is transmitted to the determined printer (step S1106).

  The above is the detailed description of the print data transmission process in step S804 in FIG.

  By configuring as described above, in the present invention, priority is set when print unit data is acquired from print instruction data. Then, print data generation processing based on the print unit data and transmission processing of the print data to the printer are performed according to the priority set in the print unit data. Thereby, it is possible to preferentially perform print processing of print data to be printed with priority.

  In addition, since the priority information used for setting the priority can be set for each type of print instruction data transmitted from the host computer, the priority is set according to the contents of each print instruction data. It becomes possible to do.

The present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. You may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  Note that the present invention includes a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely from a system or apparatus. The present invention also includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. In addition, there are magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the downloaded key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. In addition, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

101 Host computer 102 Print management server 103 Printer 104 Client PC
105 Network 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 System Bus 205 Input Controller 206 Video Controller 207 Memory Controller 208 Communication Interface (I / F) Controller 209 Input Device 210 Display Device 211 External Memory

Claims (6)

First storage means for storing first information used for determining the priority of print data;
Receiving means for receiving print instruction data from the host device;
Setting means for setting a priority using the first information for each of a plurality of print unit data included in the print instruction data;
A storage unit that classifies and stores the print unit data for each priority;
Generating means for generating print data based on the print unit data in order of priority of the print unit data stored in the storage means;
A print management apparatus comprising: Second storage means for storing second information used for determining a print output destination of the print data;
And a determining unit that determines an output destination of print data created by the generating unit based on the print unit data, using the second information. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a combining unit that combines a plurality of continuous print unit data in which the priority set by the setting unit and the output destination determined by the determining unit are the same. Print management device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a changing unit that changes a printer that prints out the print data when the printer that is the output destination of the print data determined by the determining unit is in a print-disabled state. The print management apparatus described in 1. A print management method performed by a print management apparatus including a storage device that stores first information used to determine the priority of print data,
A receiving step of receiving print instruction data from the host device;
A setting step of setting a priority using the first information for each of a plurality of print unit data included in the print instruction data;
A storage step of classifying the print unit data for each priority and storing it in a storage device;
A generating step of generating print data based on the print unit data in order of priority of the print unit data stored in the storage device;
A print management method comprising: A print management device comprising a storage device for storing first information used for determining the priority of print data;
Receiving means for receiving print instruction data from the host device;
Setting means for setting a priority using the first information for each of a plurality of print unit data included in the print instruction data;
A storage unit that classifies the print unit data for each priority and stores the data in a storage device;
A computer program for causing a print unit to generate print data based on the print unit data in order of priority of the print unit data stored in the storage device.

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