JP2000029651A - Printing controller, data processing method for printing controller and computer readable storage medium storing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To indirectly transmit and receive print information instead of a data processor and to transfer the print information to a printer even under a condition where the data processor and the other printer can not directly transmit or receive the print information. SOLUTION: A CPU 2 judges whether or not a transfer destination information for specifying a transfer destination printer for retransmitting the print information to the other printer P2 is included in the print information transmitted from a host computer H through a network NET. In the case of judging that the transfer destination information is included, the received print information is retransmitted through a connection device 3 and an input/output device 4 corresponding to the specification of the transfer destination information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a print control apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus and another printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, a data processing method of the print control apparatus, and a computer readable program. It relates to a storage medium that has been used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus equipped with this type of printing control apparatus has a structure in which, when a host computer is connected to another computer via a network, the printing apparatus can receive print information from the host computer via the network. It is provided with a means for network connection, and is configured such that any computer connected to the network can easily communicate with the printing apparatus as a host computer.

[0003]

However, unlike the case where the host computer and the printing apparatus are directly connected by a serial interface or a parallel interface, in the network connection, equipment malfunctions, connection restrictions by an operation manager, etc. In some cases, normal transmission and reception of information cannot be performed due to the reason described above, and the conventional printing apparatus as described above has a problem that it is not possible to flexibly cope with such a network failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to retransmit print information to another print apparatus from among print information transmitted from a data processing apparatus. It is determined whether or not transfer destination information for designating the transfer destination printing device is included. If it is determined that the transfer destination information is included, the print information received according to the specification of the transfer destination information is determined. By resending, even in a situation where the data processing device and another printing device cannot directly transmit and receive the print information, the print information is transmitted to the designated printing device indirectly on behalf of the data processing device by transmitting and receiving the print information. And a storage medium that stores a computer-readable program and a data processing method of the print control device that can transfer the data.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus and another printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. First determining means for determining whether or not transfer destination information specifying the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added to the received print information; and the transfer destination information is added by the first determination means. Transfer means for retransmitting the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information when it is determined that the transfer information has been transmitted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not retransmission has been normally completed by the transfer means to another printing apparatus to which print information received from the data processing apparatus has been designated. The data processing device includes a second determination unit and a transmission unit that transmits a result of the determination by the second determination unit to the data processing device.

[0007] A third invention according to the present invention is directed to the data processing apparatus when it is determined that retransmission to another printing apparatus specified by the second determination means has not been normally completed. And a print processing unit that causes the printing unit to substitute the printing information received from the other printing apparatus for printing.

[0010] A fourth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the data is received from the data processing device. A first determining step of determining whether or not transfer destination information specifying the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added to the print information; and the transfer destination information is added by the first determination step. And retransmitting the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information when it is determined that the print information is present.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the print information received from the data processing device in the transfer step has been normally retransmitted to another designated printing device. The method includes a second determining step and a transmitting step of transmitting a determination result of the second determining step to the data processing device.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is directed to the data processing device when it is determined that retransmission has not been normally completed to another printing device designated in the second determination step. And a print processing step in which the print information received from the printer is replaced by a printing unit instead of another printing apparatus.

A seventh invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus and another printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A first determining step of determining whether transfer destination information designating the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added to the print information received from the data processing apparatus; and Retransmitting the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information when it is determined that the transfer destination information is added by the computer. A readable program is stored in a storage medium.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the print information received from the data processing device in the transfer step has been normally retransmitted to another designated printing device. A computer-readable program having a second determination step and a transmission step of transmitting a determination result of the second determination step to the data processing device is stored in a storage medium.

[0013] A ninth invention according to the present invention is the data processing device, wherein it is determined that retransmission to another printing device designated in the second determining step has not been normally completed. A computer-readable program having a print processing step of causing the printing unit to substitute the printing information received from the other printing device for the printing unit is stored in a storage medium.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) applied to the present embodiment. This LBP is used to register a character pattern from a data source (not shown). And registration of fixed forms (form data).

In the figure, 1000 is the LBP body (LB
P), which inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer (H in FIG. 2), and responds according to the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on recording paper, which is a recording medium.

Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. 100
A printer control unit 1 controls the entire LBP 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from a host computer. The control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002. Laser driver 1
Reference numeral 002 denotes a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and the semiconductor laser 1003 is driven in accordance with an input video signal.
On / off switching of the laser light 1004 emitted from 03 is performed. The laser beam 1004 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan on an electrostatic drum 1006.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP 1000, taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1009 and transport rollers 1010 and 1011, and transferred to an electrostatic drum 1006. Supplied.

[First Embodiment] A preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

In the figure, P1 is a printer which is connected to a CSMA / CD type network NET to which a host computer H and another printer P1 are connected.
Printing unit 1 that interprets and prints printing information by a known technique
It has.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU (central control unit) functioning as a control unit, which executes a control program stored in the ROM 6 or a memory resource (not shown) to receive print information and send the received print information to another printing apparatus. Transfer processing, communication processing with another printer, and communication processing with the host computer H.

A connection device 3 connects the printer P1 to the network NET. Reference numeral 4 denotes an input / output device which inputs and outputs data between the CPU 2 and the connection device 3. An image generation device 5 generates an image to be printed from print information. 6 is R
In the OM, when the host computer H transmits print information including transfer destination information, a program for operating the host computer H to retransmit the print information to the transfer destination printing apparatus in accordance with the designation by the transfer destination information, and printing from the outside. Stores programs for interpreting and printing information and fonts used for printing characters.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a RAM, whose capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM or the like, which is used by the CPU 2 for temporary storage of data. An area for compressing and storing the analyzed drawing object is also provided.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

A data processing device (host computer H) and another printing device (printer P) via a predetermined communication medium (network NET) configured as described above.
A print control device communicable with 2), wherein it is determined whether or not transfer destination information for designating the other printing device as a transfer destination is added to print information received from the data processing device. (When the CPU 2 executes the control program stored in the ROM 6 or a memory resource (not shown) to perform the determination process) and when the first determination unit determines that the transfer destination information is added. Transfer means (C) for retransmitting the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information.
(Based on the input / output device 4 based on the instruction of the PU 2), even if the data processing device cannot directly communicate with another printing device designated by the data processing device due to a communication failure. In addition, a network print processing environment that can indirectly transfer print information to another printing device designated by the data processing device via a communicable print control device can be freely constructed.

A second determining means (CPU 2 determines whether or not the retransmission of the print information received from the data processing apparatus by the transfer means to another designated printing apparatus has been completed normally). A determination program is executed by executing a control program stored in the ROM 6 or a memory resource (not shown)); Device 4 transmits the print information, the result of the retransmission of the print information by the print control device to which the data processing device has requested the alternative transfer can be clearly indicated to the user of the data processing device, and the transferred print information is designated. Finally, it is possible to confirm whether or not printing has been performed by another printing apparatus.

Further, when it is determined by the second determination means that retransmission has not been normally completed to the other printing device designated, the print information received from the data processing device is transmitted to another printing device. A print processing unit (the CPU 2 executes a control program stored in the ROM 6 or a memory resource (not shown) and performs the print processing via the image generating apparatus 5) for performing the alternative printing in the printing unit 1 instead of the printing apparatus. If it is not possible to print with another specified printing device even by alternative transfer, the print information received by the print control device requesting the alternative transfer is subjected to alternative print processing, and the print information transferred by the data processing device is not printed It is possible to flexibly adapt to a quick print request by using a print resource on the network by avoiding a situation in which the print job is not performed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, in which transfer destination information for specifying a transfer destination printing apparatus is specified at the beginning of the print information. Corresponds to the processing procedure in the case of In addition, (1) to (12) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the CPU 2 waits for received data, that is, print information from the host computer H, and upon receiving print information from the host computer H, reads out the received data in step (2). In step (3), it is determined whether transfer information is included at the beginning of the received data. If it is determined that transfer information is not included at the beginning of the received data, the process proceeds to step (4). Considering that the received data is print information directed to the printer P1, the received data is analyzed, and in step (5), a drawing command capable of generating drawing data to be output to the printing unit 1 by the image generation device 5 is generated. Processing is performed, and in step (6), it is determined whether the received data is completed. If the data is completed, the process returns to step (1) to enter the next data waiting state.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that the received data is not completed, the process returns to step (4),
The analysis of the received data is continued.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the destination information is included, the network connection is made to the determined destination printer (hereinafter, referred to as printer P2 in the present embodiment). If it is determined in step (7) that the connection with the printer P2 cannot be normally made, the process proceeds to step (12), where transfer of the received data in accordance with the specification of the host computer H is impossible. And returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that the connection with the printer P2 has been normally established, the subsequent received data is regarded as print information directed to the printer P2, and in step (8), the print information is The data is received until it disappears, and in step (9), the data is retransmitted to the printer P2.

Next, in step (10), it is determined whether or not all the print information has been transmitted to the printer P2.
If it is determined that the transmission has not been completed, the process returns to step (8) and the data transmission is continued.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (10) that the data transmission has been completed, in step (11), the transfer is completed and the end processing is performed, and the process returns to step (1).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of step (11) shown in FIG. (1) indicates a step.

If it is determined in step (10) shown in FIG. 3 that the data is completed, the connection between the printer P1 and the printer P2 as the transfer destination is released in step (1) in FIG. finish.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of step (12) shown in FIG. (1) indicates a step.

If it is determined in step (7) shown in FIG. 3 that the connection to the transfer destination printer P2 has been established, the print information transmitted from the host computer H is lost in step (1) in FIG. The process is skipped until the process ends.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
A case has been described in which, when the print data received from the host computer H is transferred to another printer P2, no retransmission result state is transmitted to the host computer H. However, the transfer result of the print data transmitted by the printer P1 is transmitted to the host computer H. H may be configured to be transmitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of step (11) shown in FIG. Note that (1) and (2) indicate each step.

If it is determined in step (10) shown in FIG. 3 that the data is completed, the connection between the printer P1 and the printer P2 as the transfer destination is released in step (1) in FIG. In 2), the data "1" indicating that the transfer has been completed normally is transmitted to the host computer H, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of step (12) shown in FIG. Note that (1) and (2) indicate each step.

If it is determined in step (7) shown in FIG. 3 that connection to the transfer destination printer P2 has been established, the print information transmitted from the host computer H is deleted in step (1) in FIG. The data "0" indicating that the transfer has been abnormally terminated is skipped in step (2).
Is transmitted to the host computer H, and the process ends.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

A data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device (printer P2) via a predetermined communication medium (network NET) configured as described above, or A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus and another printing apparatus via the communication medium, and in print information received from the data processing apparatus, A first determination step (step (3) in FIG. 3) for determining whether transfer destination information for specifying the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added;
A transfer that retransmits the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information when the first determination step determines that the transfer destination information is added. Since there is a process (step (9) in FIG. 3), even if the data processing device cannot directly communicate with another printing device designated by the data processing device due to a communication failure, communication is not possible. It is possible to freely construct a network printing processing environment that can indirectly transfer print information to another printing apparatus (printer P2) designated by the data processing apparatus via a possible printing apparatus (printer P1).

A second determining step (FIG. 3) for determining whether or not the retransmission of the print information received from the data processing apparatus by the transfer to the designated printing apparatus has been completed normally. Step (7)) and a transmission step (Steps (12) and (11) in FIG. 3) for transmitting the determination result of the second determination step to the data processing apparatus. The user can clearly indicate to the user the result of retransmission of print information by the printing device for which the request has been made, and finally confirm whether the transferred print information has been printed by the specified other printing device. Can be.

Further, when it is determined in the second determination step that retransmission has not been normally completed to the other printing apparatus designated, the print information received from the data processing apparatus is replaced with another printing apparatus. Since a printing process (not shown) for performing alternative printing in the printing unit instead of the printing device is provided, if printing cannot be performed in another specified printing device even by alternative transfer, the printing device requesting the alternative transfer uses the printing device. Performs alternative print processing of received print information, avoids the situation where the print information transferred by the data processing device is not left unprinted, and flexibly adapts to quick print requests by utilizing print resources on the network it can.

In the above embodiment, FIG.
In the step (7), when it is determined that the connection to the transfer destination printer cannot be established, the case where the transfer failure end processing is executed in the step (12) has been described. The process may branch to (4), and the subsequent print information may be processed and printed by the printer P1.

In the above embodiment, the CSMA / CD system is used as the network NET connection system. However, other connection systems such as a token passing system and a circuit switching system may be used.

Further, the transfer destination information for specifying the transfer destination printing apparatus is specified at the beginning of the print information, but may be specified by other methods. Also, it is assumed that only one piece of transfer destination information that specifies a transfer destination printing apparatus appears for a single piece of print information. However, in the case where the first transfer destination printing apparatus cannot be used, the next best printing apparatus is specified. A plurality of transfer destination information may be specified for a single piece of print information so as to be specified.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the content of transmission to the host computer H in the printing apparatus is data "1" if retransmission can be performed normally, and
Although the case where data “0” is transmitted has been described, it is also possible to use an encoding method other than the present embodiment, such as transmitting different data to the host computer H depending on the reason of retransmission failure.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the host computer transmits print information not including the transfer destination information, the host computer transmits the print information including the transfer destination information while functioning as a conventional printing apparatus. In this case, the function is to retransmit the print information to the destination printer according to the specification of the destination information, and when the print information received from the host computer is retransmitted to another printer, the retransmission is completed normally. Function to transmit to the host computer whether or not, when further retransmitting the print information received from the host computer to another printing device,
If retransmission cannot be performed normally for some reason, retransmission is stopped, and the printing device functions instead to perform printing, so that the host computer and other printing devices cannot directly transmit and receive print information. Even below, it is possible to indirectly transmit and receive print information and improve the fault tolerance of the printing apparatus using the network.

[0063]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the other printing device is included in print information received from the data processing device. First determining means for determining whether or not transfer destination information specified as a transfer destination is added; and performing the data processing when the first determining means determines that the transfer destination information is added. A transfer unit that retransmits the print information received from the device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information, so that the data processing device and the other printing device specified by the data processing device are associated with the communication failure. A network printing process that can indirectly transfer print information to another printing device specified by the data processing device via a communicable print control device even when the device cannot directly communicate with the device. Environment can be constructed freely.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the retransmission of the print information received from the data processing device by the transfer means to another designated printing device has been completed normally. And the transmitting means for transmitting the result of the determination by the second determining means to the data processing apparatus. It is possible to clearly indicate to the data processing device to the user, and it is possible to finally confirm whether or not the transferred print information has been printed by another specified printing device.

According to the third aspect, when it is determined by the second determining means that retransmission to another designated printing apparatus has not been completed normally, the data is received from the data processing apparatus. Print processing means for causing the printing unit to substitute the print information in place of another print device, so that if the specified print device cannot be printed by the substitute transfer, the print control requesting the substitute transfer Performs alternative printing of print information received by the device, avoids the situation where the print information transferred by the data processing device is not unprinted, and uses the print resources on the network to flexibly respond to quick print requests Can be adapted to.

According to the fourth and seventh aspects of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that controls a printing device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device via
A first determining step of determining whether transfer destination information specifying the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added to the print information received from the data processing apparatus; and A transfer step of retransmitting the print information received from the data processing apparatus to another printing apparatus specified in the transfer destination information when it is determined that the transfer destination information is added, Accordingly, even if the data processing device and the other printing device designated by the data processing device cannot directly communicate with each other, the other data designated by the data processing device via the communicable printing device. It is possible to freely construct a network print processing environment in which print information can be indirectly transferred to a printing apparatus as an alternative.

According to the fifth and eighth aspects of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the print information received from the data processing device in the transfer step has been normally retransmitted to another designated printing device. And a transmission step of transmitting a result of the determination made by the second determination step to the data processing apparatus. Therefore, retransmission of print information by a printing apparatus for which an alternative transfer request has been issued from the data processing apparatus. The result can be clearly indicated to the user to the data processing device, and it can be finally confirmed whether or not the transferred print information has been printed by another designated printing device.

According to the sixth and ninth aspects of the present invention, when it is determined in the second determination step that retransmission has not been normally completed to another designated printing apparatus, the data processing is performed. Since the printer has a print processing step in which the print information received from the apparatus is replaced by the printing unit instead of another printing apparatus, if the printing cannot be performed by the specified other printing apparatus by the alternative transfer, the alternative transfer is requested. Print information received by a printing device that has received a substitute print process, avoiding the situation where the print information transferred by the data processing device is not left unprinted, and using the print resources on the network to promptly print requests. Can also be flexibly adapted.

Accordingly, even if a failure occurs in which direct communication between the data processing apparatus and another printing apparatus is not possible, the data processing apparatus specifies the data via the printing control apparatus which can communicate on the network. Print information that can be transferred indirectly to another printing device that is capable of printing due to a communication failure but that cannot directly transfer the print information. The information transfer environment can be freely prepared, and the effect of flexibly adapting to communication failure can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a laser beam printer applied to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a print control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 printing unit (printer engine) 2 CPU 3 connection device 4 input / output device 5 image generation device 6 R0M 7 RAM P1 printer P2 printer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Takayanagi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takeshi Utsunomiya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Takashi Okazawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichiro Akimoto 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Junichi Mori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Ken Onodera 3-30-2 Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Invention Person Kiyohiro Tsunekawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C061 AP01 HQ12 HV05 HV48 5B021 AA01 BB01 CC00 EE0 Two

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the other printing device is transferred in print information received from the data processing device. First determining means for determining whether or not the transfer destination information specified earlier is added; and the data processing device when the first determining means determines that the transfer destination information is added. And a transfer unit for retransmitting the print information received from the printer to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information. A second determining unit for determining whether or not the print information received from the data processing device by the transfer unit has been normally retransmitted to another designated printing device; 2. The print control device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit a result of the determination by the second determination unit to the data processing device. 3. When the second determination unit determines that retransmission has not been normally completed to another printing device specified, the printing information received from the data processing device is converted to another printing device. 3. The print control device according to claim 2, further comprising a print processing unit that performs a substitute print by a print unit instead of the print device. 4. A data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device and another printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the printing information received from the data processing device includes A first determining step of determining whether or not transfer destination information that specifies a printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added; and if the first determination step determines that the transfer destination information is added, Retransmitting the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information. 5. A second determining step of determining whether the print information received from the data processing apparatus in the transferring step has been normally retransmitted to another designated printing apparatus, 5. The data processing method for a print control device according to claim 4, further comprising a transmitting step of transmitting a determination result of the second determining step to the data processing device. 6. When it is determined in the second determination step that retransmission has not been normally completed to another printing apparatus designated, the print information received from the data processing apparatus is replaced with another printing apparatus. 6. The data processing method for a print control device according to claim 5, further comprising a print processing step of performing a substitute printing by a printing unit instead of the printing device. 7. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a data processing apparatus and another printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, the program being received from the data processing apparatus. A first determining step of determining whether or not transfer destination information designating the other printing apparatus as a transfer destination is added to the print information thus obtained; and the transfer destination information is added by the first determination step. Re-transmitting the print information received from the data processing device to another printing device specified in the transfer destination information when it is determined that the computer is readable by the computer. Storage medium storing various programs. 8. A second determining step of determining whether the print information received from the data processing apparatus in the transferring step has been normally retransmitted to another designated printing apparatus; 8. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 7, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting a determination result of the second determination step to the data processing device. 9. When it is determined in the second determining step that retransmission has not been normally completed to another designated printing device, the print information received from the data processing device is replaced by another printing device. 9. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 8, further comprising a print processing step of performing a substitute printing by a printing unit instead of the printing device.