JPH08305512A - Printer, print system and print method using the print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To directly print out returned output data analyzed by other printer capable of analyzing received data by indirectly expanding the language analysis processing capability of the printer even when the printer cannot directly analyze the data received, from the user. CONSTITUTION: When received data decision section 202 discriminating a type of data received from any information processor via a network 102 decides it that the received data are data based on a prescribed printer description language whose analysis is unable, the received data are transferred to other printer capable of analyzing the data on the network. Upon the receipt of output data analyzed and generated by the other printer by the reception data decision section 202 via the network, an engine 205 conducts print processing on the received output data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing print data described in a printer description language, a printing system, and a printing method of the printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printing device has a printer description language that can be processed is determined for each printing device, and when data described in a printer description language that cannot be processed is received, it is against the user's will. The processing is performed. For this reason, when a user forms a network and prints, the user sends the print data to a printing device that can process the print data, and the print result is taken to a place attached to the printing device. It was common.

[0003]

As described above, in the printing apparatus used on the network, the user must always keep track of the location of the printing apparatus on the network and the type of printer description language that can be processed. However, there is a problem in that the user has to go to a place where a printing device is attached to obtain a print result.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to fourth inventions of the present invention is to determine the data type received via a network, Transferring received data to another parsing device that can be analyzed, indirectly analyzing the transferred received data using the printer language analysis processing function of the other printing device, and printing output data that is returned. This enables each printing device to function as a printing device with all the different printer language analysis capabilities that can be analyzed on the network, even if you are not familiar with the printer language analysis capabilities of each printing device on the network. , For a nearby printing device that simply wants to obtain output without being aware of the printer language that can be analyzed by the printing device that instructs printing and the printing device on the network Simply printing instruction is to provide a printing method for the printing apparatus and printing system and a printing system can be obtained from the printing apparatus indicating a desired output result.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a network, any one of the information processing apparatuses can communicate with the information processing apparatus via the network. Received data determining means for determining the type of received data received by the received data, and the received data determining means determines that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed,
A transfer unit that transfers the received data to another printing device on the network that can analyze the data, a receiving unit that receives the output data that is analyzed and generated by the other printing device via the network, and the receiving unit. And a printing unit that performs a printing process based on the output data received by.

A second invention according to the present invention is a printing system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a plurality of printing apparatuses are communicable via a network, and any one of the information processing apparatuses via the network. The received data determination means for determining the type of received data received by the received data and the received data determination means can analyze the received data when the received data determination means determines that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed. Transfer means for transferring to another printing device on a different network, receiving means for receiving output data analyzed and generated by the other printing device via the network, and the output data received by the receiving means A printing unit that performs a printing process based on the above is provided in each printing apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices are communicable via a network, output information based on a predetermined printer description language is analyzed. Printer description language analysis means, reception data determination means for determining whether the reception data received via the network can be processed, and the reception data determination means for receiving the reception data when the reception data determination means determines that the reception data cannot be processed. A first data transfer unit that transfers the predetermined inquiry information to another printing device that has received the data, and the first data transfer unit.
Second data transfer means for transferring the received data by adding predetermined identification information to the other printing device that has responded to the predetermined inquiry information from the data transfer means, and the predetermined identification Storage means for storing information; data return means for returning output data obtained by analyzing the received data by the printer description language analysis means to a printing device according to the identification information stored in the storage means; Each printing device is provided with a reply data printing means for performing a printing process based on the output data returned from the printing device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a printing method of a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices are provided on a network, a received data determination step of determining whether or not received data received via the network can be processed. A data transfer step of transferring the received data with the predetermined identification information added to another printing device that responds to the predetermined inquiry information when it is determined that the received data cannot be processed; An analyzing step of analyzing the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred from the printing apparatus, a data returning step of returning output data obtained by the analysis to another printing apparatus according to the identification information, And a reply data printing step of performing a printing process on the basis of the returned output data.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed by the reception data judging means for judging the type of the reception data received from any of the information processing devices via the network. If it is determined that the received data is transferred to another printing device on the network that can analyze the received data, the receiving device analyzes the output data generated by the other printing device and generates the output data. When it is received via, the printing means performs a printing process based on the received output data, and indirectly expands the language analysis processing capability of the printing device.
Even when the received data received from the user cannot be directly analyzed, it is possible to directly print the output data that is analyzed and returned by another analysis device that can be analyzed.

In the second invention, data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed by the reception data judging means for judging the type of the reception data received from any of the information processing devices via the network. If it is determined that, the transfer means transfers the received data to another printing device on the network that can analyze the received data,
When the receiving unit receives the output data analyzed and generated by the other printing device via the network, the printing unit performs the printing process based on the received output data, and the language analysis processing capability of the printing device. Even if the received data received from the user cannot be directly analyzed, the output data that is analyzed and returned by another printer that can be analyzed can be printed directly from the printer specified by the user. It is possible.

In the third aspect of the invention, when the received data judging means judges that the received data received via the network cannot be processed, the data transferring means responds to the predetermined inquiry information by another printing apparatus. The data return means stores the output data obtained by transferring the received data to which predetermined identification information is added, and analyzing the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred from another printing device. The reply data printing means performs a printing process based on the returned output data, and the data received by the printing device instructed by the user cannot be processed. Even in this case, the user does not need to be fully aware of the print resource processing capability on the network and issue a transfer instruction to another printing device.
By using the printer description language analysis resource of another printing device on the network, it is possible to obtain the output result from the printing device designated by the user for the output data that is analyzed and returned.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when it is determined that the received data received via the network cannot be processed, the predetermined identification information is added to the other printing device that responds to the predetermined inquiry information. The received data is transferred, the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred from the other printing device is analyzed, and the output data obtained by the analysis is returned to another printing device according to the identification information. However, even if the user performs print processing based on the returned output data and cannot process the data received by the printing device for which the user has instructed to print, the user is fully aware of the print resource processing capability on the network Output data that is analyzed and returned using the printer description language analysis resources of other printing devices on the network without giving a transfer instruction to the printing device. It makes it possible to automate the process of obtaining an output result from the printing device over THE instructs.

[0013]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the present embodiment has a plurality of information processing devices and a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined network. Corresponds to the case where the device is configured.

In FIG. 1, 101 is an office building. Reference numeral 102 denotes a network built in the office building 101, for example, Ethernet (product name). Reference numerals 103 and 109 denote host computers as information processing devices, which process data according to various operating systems and output output information to each printer as an output device.

Printing devices 104 and 107 analyze output information based on the printer description language A and print. 10
A printing device 5 analyzes output information based on the linter description language C and prints. A printing device 106 analyzes the output information based on the printer description language B and prints. 10
A printing device 8 analyzes the output information based on the printer description language D and prints.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of the printing apparatus in the printing system showing the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 201 is a printing apparatus.
A reception data determination unit 202 determines whether or not the reception data can be processed. A printer description language analysis unit (emulator) 203 analyzes the printer description language.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a data reply unit, which determines whether or not the processing result analyzed by the printer description language analysis means is to be returned to the printer as the transmission source. 205 is an engine. A storage area 206 holds the printer identifier of the printing apparatus 201. Reference numeral 207 is a storage area for holding the identifier of the printing apparatus that is the transmission source when the received data determination unit 202 receives print data from another printing apparatus.

Correspondence between this embodiment and each means of the first to third inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIGS.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a printing device in a printing system is a printing device configured to communicate with a plurality of information processing devices (host computers 103 and 109) via a network 102. Reception data determining means (reception data determination unit 2) for determining the type of the reception data received from the network via the network.
02), and when the received data determination means determines that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed, the received data is transferred to another printing device on the network that can analyze the received data. Means (reception data determination unit 202), reception unit (reception data determination unit 202) for receiving output data analyzed and generated by the other printing device via the network, and the reception unit received by the reception unit. The reception data determination unit 202 that has a printing unit (engine 205) that performs a printing process based on output data and determines the type of reception data received from any of the information processing devices via the network 102 Received data can be analyzed when it is determined that the data is based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed. When the reception data determination unit 202 of the output data transferred to another printing device on the network and analyzed and generated by the other printing device is received via the network, the engine 205 based on the received output data. Print processing, and indirectly extend the language analysis processing capability of the printing device to directly analyze the received data received from the user. Even if the received data cannot be directly analyzed, the output data that is analyzed and returned by another printing device that can be analyzed. It is possible to print directly.

A second aspect of the invention is to provide a plurality of information processing devices (host computers 103, 1) via a network 102.
08) and a plurality of printing apparatuses 104 to 108 are communicable with each other, a reception data determination unit (reception data determination section) for determining the type of reception data received from any information processing apparatus via the network. When the determination unit 202) and the reception data determination unit determine that the reception data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed, the reception data is transferred to another printing device on the network that can analyze the reception data. Transfer means (reception data judgment part 202) and reception means (reception data judgment part 202) for receiving output data analyzed and generated by the other printing device via the network.
And a printing unit (engine 205) that performs a printing process based on the output data received by the receiving unit in each printing apparatus, and the type of received data received from any of the host computers via the network 102. If the received data determination unit 202 determines that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed, the transfer unit transfers the received data to another printing device on the network 102 that can analyze the received data. Transfer,
When the receiving unit receives the output data analyzed and generated by the other printing apparatus via the network 102, the printing apparatus performs the printing processing based on the received output data, and the language analysis processing of the printing apparatus. Even if the received data received from the user cannot be directly analyzed by expanding the capability indirectly, the output data that is analyzed and returned by another analysis-enabled printing device can be printed directly from the printing device specified by the user. Is possible.

A third aspect of the invention is to provide a plurality of printing devices 104-1.
08 and a plurality of information processing devices (host computer 10
A printer description language analyzing means (emulator 203) for analyzing output information based on a predetermined printer description language, and a reception received via the network. A reception data determination unit 202 that determines whether data can be processed, and a reception data determination unit that determines that the reception data determination unit cannot process the reception data with respect to another printing device that has received the reception data. And a first data transfer unit (reception data determination unit 202) that transfers predetermined inquiry information, and the other printing device that responds to the predetermined inquiry information from the first data transfer unit. Second data transfer means (received data determination unit 202) for transferring the received data by adding predetermined identification information to the received data A storage unit (storage area 207) for storing the predetermined identification information, and a printing device according to the identification information stored in the storage unit for output data obtained by analyzing the received data by the printer description language analysis unit. Data reply means for replying to (data reply section 204)
And a reply data printing unit (engine 205) for performing a printing process based on the output data returned from the other printing device, are provided in each printing device, and the received data received via the network 102 is received data. When the determination unit 202 determines that the received data cannot be processed, the received data determination unit 202 sends the received data obtained by adding the predetermined identification information (printer identifier) to another printing device that responds to the predetermined inquiry information. The output data obtained by analyzing the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred and transmitted from another printing device is returned by the data returning device to another printing device according to the identification information stored in the storage device. If the printing process is performed based on the returned output data and the data received by the printing device that the user has instructed to print cannot be processed Even if the user is not fully aware of the print resource processing capability on the network and does not give a transfer instruction to another printing device, the user can analyze it using the printer description language analysis resource of another printing device on the network. It is possible to obtain the output result from the printing device designated by the user for the output data to be returned.

Hereinafter, the host computer 1 shown in FIG.
An example of printing the print data described in the printer description language D from 03 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the print processing method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. In addition,
(1)-(13) show each step.

The user transmits print data from the host computer 103 to the printing device 104 existing closest to the host computer 103. The printing device 104 includes the received data determination unit 2
The data is received at 02 (1).

In the printing apparatus of this embodiment, there can be five types of received data. One is print data sent from the host computer by the user, one is print data sent from another printing device, and data is inquiry data about the possibility of analysis;
One is print data analysis request data, and one is print data analysis request result data sent to another printing apparatus. The details of these data will be described later.

Next, it is judged whether the inquiry is whether the data received by the printing device 104 can be analyzed (2),
If NO, it is further judged whether or not the result is an interpretation result from another printing device (4), and since the data is the data transmitted from the user through the host computer, the steps are passed through steps (2) and (4). Come to (6).

In step (6), it is determined whether the received data is a printer description language that can be processed by the printing device 104. Since the print data is described in the printer description language D, a result that processing cannot be performed is obtained, and the process proceeds to step (10), where the printer stored in the storage area 206 in several hundred bytes from the beginning of the received data. An identifier is added, inquiry data as to whether or not this print data can be analyzed is transmitted to another printing device on the network 102 (10), and a reply is waited for a fixed time (12). Then, after a lapse of a certain period of time, it is determined that an error has occurred and the process is terminated (13).

On the other hand, the printer 1 on the network 102
When the received data determination unit 202 receives the inquiry data from the printing device 104 (1), the printing device 1 recognizes that the received data is the inquiry data (2).
The processing is returned to the printing apparatus 104 in 08 (3).

In response to the inquiry in step (10) above, the printing apparatus 104, which has received a response from the printing apparatus 108 that data analysis is possible, receives the printer identifier stored in the storage area 206 (printing apparatus 104 A printer identifier) is added and the received data is transferred to the printing device 108 (11).

Next, the printing apparatus 10 which has received the analysis request data from the printing apparatus 104 by the received data judging section 202
8 stores the printer identifier of the printing device 104 added to the received data in the storage area 207 (1). Since the received data is analysis request data, step (2),
After going through (4), proceed to step (6). Here, since the print data is described in the printer description language D,
When the result that processing is possible is obtained in step (6), the process proceeds to step (7).

In step (7), the emulator 203
Analyzes the received data, converts it into a description such as a bitmap image that can be interpreted by the engine 205 (7), checks in the data reply unit 204 whether or not the printer identifier is stored in the storage area 207, and stores it. If so, it is determined that the request is an analysis request from another printer (8), the printer identifier is added to the processing result (bitmap image data), and the result is returned to the printing device 104 (9).

In this way, as the analysis result from the printing device 108, the data analyzed by the printing device 108 is received again by the reception data judgment unit 202 of the printing device 104 via the network 102, and step (2) And proceed to step (4).

In step (4), the received data judgment unit 202
Indicates that the received data is transmitted to another printing device (in this embodiment, the printing device 1
08), it is judged from the printer identifier added by the printing device 108 that the analysis result has been obtained (4), and the engine 2
The received data is sent to 05 for printing (5).

Through the above process, the user installs the result of the print data described in the printer description language which is not installed in the printing apparatus 104 so as to be connected to the network 102 on the first floor of the office building 101. It can be obtained from the closest printing device 104.

When the user describes the print data in the printer description language A installed in the printing apparatus 104 and sends the print data to the printing apparatus 104, the printing apparatus 104 receives the data by the received data judging unit 202 ( 1), judge received data (2), (4), (6), emulator 20
The received data is analyzed at 3 (7), and the data reply unit 204 determines that the printer identifier is not stored in the storage area 207 (8). Printing is performed (5).

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the fourth invention and its action will be described below with reference to FIG.

The fourth aspect of the invention is to provide a plurality of printing devices 104-1.
08 and a plurality of host computers 103 and 109 are configured to be communicable via a network 102, in a printing method of a printing system, a received data determination step of determining whether received data received via the network can be processed ( Step (6) in FIG. 3 and, when it is determined that the received data cannot be processed, the received data obtained by adding the predetermined identification information to the other printing device that responded to the predetermined inquiry information. A data transfer step of transferring (steps (10) and (11) of FIG. 3) and an analysis step of analyzing the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred from the other printing device (step of FIG. 3 ( 7)), and a data returning step of returning the output data obtained by the analysis to another printing device according to the identification information (step (8) in FIG. 3). (9)) and a reply data printing step (step (5) in FIG. 3) of performing print processing based on the returned output data, and the data received by the printing device instructed by the user. Even if the user cannot process the print resource, the user can use the printer description language analysis resource of the other printing device on the network without knowing the print resource processing capability on the network and giving a transfer instruction to the other printing device. It is possible to automate the process of obtaining the output result from the printing device instructed by the user for the output data that is analyzed and returned.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, when the printing apparatus 104 determines that the print data from the user cannot be analyzed, some printing apparatuses on the network 102 can analyze the data. The case of inquiring whether the printer description language has been described has been described. The mechanism for determining the printer description language described in the printing apparatus 104 and the network 10
A rewritable table describing a printer description language that can be analyzed with the above-described printing device is prepared in NVRAM or the like, and the printing device to which the data is transferred is determined in the printing device 104.
It is also possible to transfer data.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment, when the printing apparatus 104 prints the print data described in the printer description language A, the data is analyzed by using the emulator 203 in the printing apparatus 104. I went to the printing device 10
4 has a large number of jobs queued, the “user is the host computer 10” of the first embodiment.
3 in case of printing the print data described in the printer description language D on the printer 3), the printer device capable of analyzing the printer description language A which is not overloaded on the other network (in this embodiment, the printer device). It is also possible to obtain a print result quickly by causing 107) to perform analysis. However, it goes without saying that a mechanism for judging the status of the printing apparatus must be provided in the received data judgment unit 202 when this function is added.

[Fourth Embodiment] It goes without saying that an embodiment combining the second embodiment and the third embodiment is also possible.

[Fifth Embodiment] In the above first embodiment, the emulator 203 converts the data into data that can be interpreted by the engine 205, but it is also possible to convert the data into an intermediate language that does not depend on the engine. However, in this case, it goes without saying that a mechanism for interpreting the intermediate language must be interposed before the data is transferred to the engine 205.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0045]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, the received data judging means for judging the type of the received data received from any one of the information processing devices through the network judges that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed. In this case, the transfer unit transfers the received data to another printing device on the network that can analyze the output data, and the receiving unit receives the output data generated by being analyzed by the other printing device via the network. Then, since the printing means performs the printing process based on the received output data, the linguistic analysis processing capability of the printing device is indirectly expanded, and even if the received data received from the user cannot be directly analyzed, it can be analyzed. The output data that is analyzed and returned by another printing device can be directly printed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the received data judging means for judging the type of the received data received from any of the information processing devices via the network is based on a predetermined printer description language which cannot analyze the received data. When it is determined that the received data is data, the transfer unit transfers the received data to another printing device on the network that can analyze the output data, and the receiving unit outputs the output data analyzed and generated by the other printing device. Once received over the network,
Since the printing unit performs the printing process based on the received output data, the linguistic analysis processing capability of the printing apparatus is indirectly expanded, and even if the received data received from the user cannot be directly analyzed, another analysis can be performed. The output data analyzed and returned by the printing device can be printed directly from the printing device designated by the user.

According to the third invention, when the received data judging means judges that the received data received through the network cannot be processed, the data transfer means responds to the predetermined inquiry information by another printing. The data return means stores the output data obtained by transferring the received data to which the predetermined identification information is added to the device and analyzing the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred from another printing device. The reply data printing means performs a printing process based on the returned output data, which is sent back to the other printing device according to the identification information stored in the printing unit. Even if it cannot be processed, the user does not need to be fully aware of the print resource processing capability on the network and issue a transfer instruction to another printing device.
An output result can be obtained from the printing device designated by the user for the output data that is analyzed and returned using the printer description language analysis resource of another printing device on the network.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when it is determined that the received data received via the network cannot be processed, the predetermined identification information is sent to the other printing apparatus which has responded to the predetermined inquiry information. The added reception data is transferred, the reception data with the predetermined identification information transferred from the other printing device is analyzed, and the output data obtained by the analysis is transferred to another printing device according to the identification information. Since a reply is made and the printing process is performed based on the returned output data, even if the user cannot process the data received by the printing device for which printing is instructed, the user must be fully aware of the printing resource processing capability on the network. Output data that is analyzed and returned using the printer description language analysis resource of another printing device on the network without giving a transfer instruction to another printing device. It is possible to automate the process of obtaining an output result from the printing apparatus by the user.

Therefore, even if the printer language analysis ability of each printing apparatus on the network is not familiar, each printing apparatus functions as a printing apparatus having all the different printer language analysis ability that can be analyzed on the network. It is possible to simply print a command to a neighboring printing device that wants to obtain an output, without being aware of what printer language can be analyzed by the printing device that gives the printing instruction and the printing device on the network. There is an effect that a desired output result can be obtained from the printing device that has instructed the output result.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus in the printing system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a print processing method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 network 103 host computer 104 printing device 105 printing device 106 printing device 107 printing device 108 printing device 109 host computer 201 printing device 202 received data determination unit 203 emulator 204 data reply unit 205 engine 206 storage area 207 storage area

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing device configured to communicate with a plurality of information processing devices via a network, the received data determining means for determining the type of received data received from any of the information processing devices via the network. And transfer means for transferring the received data to another printing device on the network that can analyze the received data when the received data determination means determines that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed. A receiving unit that receives output data analyzed and generated by the other printing apparatus via the network, and a printing unit that performs a printing process based on the output data received by the receiving unit. Characteristic printing device. 2. In a printing system in which a plurality of information processing devices and a plurality of printing devices are communicable via a network, the type of received data received from any one of the information processing devices via the network is set. Receiving data determining means for determining and another printing device on the network capable of analyzing the receiving data when the receiving data determining means determines that the received data is data based on a predetermined printer description language that cannot be analyzed. A transfer means for transferring to the printer, a receiving means for receiving output data analyzed and generated by the other printing device via the network, and a printing process for performing print processing based on the output data received by the receiving means. A printing system comprising means and means provided in each printing device. 3. A printer description language analysis means for analyzing output information based on a predetermined printer description language in a printing system configured to allow a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices to communicate via a network, When the received data judging means for judging whether the received data received via the network can be processed and the received data judging means judges that the received data cannot be processed,
A first data transfer unit that transfers the predetermined inquiry information to another printing device that remains in the printing device that has received the received data, and the predetermined inquiry information from the first data transfer unit. A second data transfer unit that adds predetermined identification information to the other printing device that responds to the received data and transfers the received data, a storage unit that stores the predetermined identification information, and the received data. Based on the data reply means for returning the output data obtained by the analysis by the printer description language analysis means to the printing device according to the identification information stored in the storage means, and the output data returned from the other printing device. A printing system characterized in that each printing device is provided with a reply data printing means for carrying out a printing process. 4. A printing method of a printing system configured to enable a plurality of printing devices and a plurality of information processing devices to communicate with each other via a network, and determine whether or not received data received via the network can be processed. Received data determination step, and data transfer for transferring the received data, to which the predetermined identification information is added, to another printing device that responds to the predetermined inquiry information when it is determined that the received data cannot be processed A step of analyzing the received data with the predetermined identification information transferred from the other printing apparatus, and output data obtained by the analysis, which is returned to the other printing apparatus according to the identification information. A printing system including a reply step and a reply data printing step for performing a printing process based on the returned output data. Printing method.