JP2000353066A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To reduce the processing time of a job requiring authentication. A composite job processing unit 5-1 divides a PDL print job 5-13 into a PDL development job 5-14 and a print job 5-21. When the PDL print job 5-13 requires authentication, the PDL development job 5-14 is executed before the authentication processing is completed, and the execution of the print job 5-21 is suspended. Then, when the authentication processing is completed, the print job 5-2
1 is executed. Thus, the PDL development job 5-14 is executed before the authentication processing is completed. Therefore, if the execution of the PDL development job 5-14 has been completed when the authentication processing is completed, the print job 5-21 is immediately executed. Can be executed, and the processing time can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus for executing at least a job requiring an authentication process, and information applied to the information processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a processing method and a storage medium storing a program for executing the information processing method.

The information processing apparatus is, for example, a device such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a digital multifunction peripheral.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing system including peripheral devices such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a digital multifunction peripheral, a job (copy, print, scan, fax transmission, etc.) is performed by attaching a password to the peripheral device.
, The peripheral device first authenticates with a password, and executes the job when the authentication is completed.

[0004]

However, such a peripheral device of the conventional system has a problem in that it takes a long time to obtain a job processing result because the job is executed after the authentication is resolved. Was.

For example, in a PDL (page description language) print job, print data created by a user on a personal computer is transferred to a printer via a network. Here, if the print job has a password and is a job that prints a complicated image, the user first comes to a place where the operation unit of the printer is installed, and the password is input and authentication is performed. The process takes time, and even if this authentication is completed in a short time, the job processing starts from that point, so it takes a very long time to actually get the printed matter. was there. In particular, the PDL expansion process is generally a time-consuming process.
Since this process is performed, the operator has to wait for a long time before actually obtaining the printed matter.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium for reducing the processing time of a job requiring authentication. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for executing at least a job requiring an authentication process.
Dividing means for dividing the job into a first job and a second job; and a first means for executing the first job and suspending the execution of the second job before the authentication processing is completed. Executing means, when the authentication processing is completed,
And a second execution unit for executing the job.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in the information processing method applied to an information processing apparatus for executing at least a job requiring an authentication process, the job includes a first job and a second job. A first execution step of executing the first job before the authentication processing is completed and suspending the execution of the second job; and a step of executing the authentication processing when the authentication processing is completed. And a second execution step of executing the second job.

Further, according to the invention of claim 15,
A computer-readable storage medium storing, as a program, an information processing method applied to an information processing apparatus that executes at least a job requiring an authentication process, wherein the information processing method includes the first job and the first job. A dividing step of dividing the job into a second job, a first executing step of executing the first job before the completion of the authentication process, and suspending the execution of the second job;
A second execution step of executing the second job when the authentication processing is completed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3
Is a host computer that generates various jobs and sends them to peripheral devices. 1-4 are digital multifunction peripherals as peripheral devices, and include print jobs, scan jobs,
It executes and processes various jobs such as a fax job and a copy job, and performs printing, image reading, facsimile transmission / reception, copying, and the like. The host computers 1-1 and 1-2 and the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 are connected to a LAN (local area network) 1-5, respectively, and the host computer 1-3 is connected to the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 in parallel. Alternatively, they are connected via a serial interface 1-6.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2-1 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire digital multifunction peripheral 1-4, performs arithmetic processing, and the like. Reference numeral 2-2 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which stores a system startup program, a program for controlling the printer engine, character data, character code information, and the like. Reference numeral 2-3 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which provides a data storage area with no restrictions on use, in which font data additionally registered by downloading is stored, and programs and data are loaded for various processes. Reference numeral 2-4 denotes an external storage device such as a hard disk.
4 spools the received print job, stores programs and information files, and uses it as a work area. Reference numeral 2-5 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal or the like, which is used for displaying a setting state of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4, a current process in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4, an error state, and the like. An operation unit 2-6 is used to change or reset the settings of the digital MFP 1-4. Reference numeral 2-7 denotes an engine interface for exchanging commands and the like for actually controlling the printer engine. Reference numeral 2-8 denotes a network interface, and the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 is connected to the LAN 1-5 via the network interface 2-8. Reference numeral 2-9 denotes an external interface, which is a host computer 1-3 via the interface 1-6.
Connected to. Reference numeral 2-10 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the components described above.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of software used in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4.

In the figure, reference numeral 3-1 denotes a host computer, which is the host computer 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 described above.
Is equivalent to Reference numeral 3-2 denotes controller software which includes a protocol interpreter 3-3 and a job controller 3
-4, and a device section 3-5. The protocol interpreting unit 3-3 sends L to the host computer 3-1.
This is a part that interprets a command (protocol) transmitted via the AN 1-5 or the interface 1-6 and requests the job control unit 3-4 to execute a job. The job control unit 3-4 is a unit that actually processes the job requested by the protocol interpretation unit 3-3. further,
Devices used when the job control unit 3-4 executes a job are included in the device unit 3-5.

FIG. 4 shows the controller software 3-2.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each of a job control unit 3-4 and a device unit 3-5.

Host computers 1-1, 1-2, 1-
A series of operation requests sent in the form of commands (protocols) from the network interface 2-
8 or the protocol interpreting unit 3-3 via the external interface 2-9. The protocol interpreter 3-3 interprets the transmitted command and sends it to the job controller 3-4. At this point, the command has been converted into a form that the job control unit 3-4 can understand.

In the job control section 3-4, a job generation section 4-1 generates a job 4-10. This job 4-
Various items 10 can be considered, such as a copy job, a print job, a scan job, and a fax job. For example, in the case of a print job, the job includes setting information such as the name of the document to be printed, the number of copies to be printed, designation of an output destination discharge tray, and print data itself (PDL code).

The job 4-10 is sent to the job processing section 4-2, where the job is processed. In the job processing unit 4-2, settings relating to the entire job (for example, settings for printing and stapling a plurality of documents collectively) and processing are performed. Further, in the job processing unit 4-2, in addition to the settings and processing relating to the entire job, a processing of dividing the input document 4-11, which is a smaller unit of work, is performed.

The input document 4-11 is converted into an output document 4-14 by the document processing section 4-3. That is, for example, in the case of a scan job in which a bundle of documents is read by a scanner and converted into a plurality of image data, the input document 4-11 describes settings and operation procedures related to the bundle of documents. The output document 4-14 describes the setting and operation procedures for the image data. Then, the document processing unit 4-3 converts the bundle of originals into a plurality of image data. In addition, the document processing unit 4-3 performs only processing in units of documents, and generates an input page 4-12 which is a smaller unit of work. This is the same as the case where the job processing unit 4-2 concentrates on processing on a job basis and generates a document for more detailed work. The setting and operation in the document unit specifically relate to page order such as page rearrangement, double-sided printing setting, addition of a cover, OHP insertion, and the like.

The input page 4-12 is converted to an output page 4-15 by the page processing section 4-4. For example, in the case of the above-described scan job, the input page 4-12
Contains settings and procedures such as reading resolution and reading direction (landscape / portrait).
The output page 4-15 has a storage location (R
Settings and procedures such as the addresses and data names of the AM 2-3 and the external storage device 2-4 are described.

Up to this point, it has been described that the job unit is gradually reduced so that it can be handled in page units. By the way, if the system is an expensive system capable of providing a page memory for one page, it is only necessary to finally divide the job into page units.
However, in reality, it is necessary to meet the demand to keep the cost of memory low, and for example, because a low-speed printer such as an ink jet printer is used as a printer engine, a memory (band) having a capacity of several lines is required. Memory). In such a case, the page is divided into bands (strip-like data), which are smaller units. That is, the input band 4-13, the band processing unit 4-5, the output band 4-16
The role of. These operations are similar to those of the page.

The job processing unit 4-2, the document processing unit 4-3, the page processing unit 4-4, and the band processing unit 4-5
In each case, a device is used when proceeding. Of course,
If a plurality of processing units work simultaneously, a device conflict occurs, and the device allocation unit 4-6 arbitrates the conflict. Device (1) 4-7, device (2) 4-8,
The device (3) 4-9 is provided with a job processing unit 4-2 and a document processing unit 4-
3, a device to which one of the page processing unit 4-4 and the band processing unit 4-5 is assigned;
-7, device (2) 4-8, device (3) 4-9
For example, a page memory, a band memory, a document feeder, a marking engine, a scanner, and the like can be considered.

Next, referring to FIG.
No. 4 processes a PDL print job.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 when processing a PDL print job.

The PDL print job is sent to the job control unit 3-
4, the job is divided into two jobs (PDL development job and print job) and processed. Command (protocol) from host computer 1-1, 1-2, 1-3
Is sent to the protocol interpreting unit 3-3 via the network interface 2-8 or the external interface 2-9. The protocol interpreter 3-3 interprets the transmitted command,
The job is sent to the job control unit 3-4. At this point, the command has been converted into a form that the job control unit 3-4 can understand.

In the job control section 3-4, the job generation section 4-1 generates a PDL print job 5-13.
The PDL print job 5-13 is a composite job processing unit 5-
1 where a PDL development job 5-14 and a print job 5-21 are generated. PDL expansion job 5-
A job 14 interprets a so-called PDL (Page Description Language) and develops (draws) an image in a memory. The print job 5-21 is a job for printing the image developed in the memory by the printer. PDL Development Job 5-1
4 and the print job 5-21 are sent to the PDL development job processing unit 5-2 and the print job processing unit 5-6, respectively, at the same time as the generation.

Naturally, the printing operation cannot be started unless the development (drawing) of the image in the memory starts and the data to be output to the printer 5-12 is completed (or ready). . Therefore, the processing unit (5-2, 5-3, 5-
4, 5-5) and the processing section (5-6, 5-
7, 5-8, 5-9), the process proceeds while synchronizing via an intermediate document 5-18, an intermediate page 5-19, and an intermediate band 5-20, which mean intermediate data. In the PDL development job 5-14, the page memory 5-11 and the printer 5-12 are used as devices to be used.
Is mentioned.

FIG. 6 shows that each processing means (object)
It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process performed when waiting for a sent event and receiving an event.

In step S601, the process waits for an event sent from another processing means (object) or itself. At this time, instead of occupying the CPU 2-1, the control is transferred to another processing means (object). In step S602, when an event is transmitted, it is determined whether or not the event is addressed to itself. If the event is not addressed to yourself, step S
It returns to 601 and waits for an event again. If the event is addressed to itself, the process advances to step S603 to perform a predetermined process corresponding to the received event. After that, the process returns to step S601, and waits for an event again. According to the above procedure, the processing means (object) shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 executes processes such as copying, facsimile, and PDL printing.

Next, input of a job with a password will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing in the job generation section 4-1.

In step S701, the process starts, and in step S702, the job type interpreted by the protocol interpreting unit 3-3 is referred to. In step S703, it is determined whether the job is a copy job. If the job is a copy job, the process advances to step S704 to perform a copy job generation process. If the job is not a copy job, the process advances to step S706 to determine whether the job is a PDL print job. If the job is a PDL print job, the process advances to step S707 to perform PDL print job generation processing. If the job is not a PDL print job, exception processing is performed in step S708. The exception process is a process of notifying a job submitter that the submitted job is not accepted by the present system.

FIG. 8 shows the PD performed in step S707.
9 is a flowchart illustrating detailed contents of an L print job generation process. This PDL print job generation process corresponds to FIG.

In step S801, the process starts, and the PDL
A PDL development job, which is a single job (child job) required to realize a print job, is stored in step S802.
Then, a print job is generated in step S803. Next, in step S804, it is determined whether the PDL print job has a password. The information necessary for this determination is interpreted by the protocol interpreter 3-3, and then the PDL is interpreted.
Stored in print job 5-13. This PDL
The print job 5-13 also includes information such as the name of the user who submitted the job and the job ID for identifying the job itself. If it is determined in step S804 that the job is not a job with a password, step S808 is performed.
To instruct the PDL expansion job generated earlier to start execution. Then, the process proceeds to step S809 to instruct the print job to start execution, and ends a series of processes in step S807.

In this way, by instructing both the PDL development job and the print job to start execution, the PDL
The deployment job is an intermediate product (intermediate document 5-18,
The intermediate job 5-19, the intermediate band 5-20, which means expanded image data), and the print job immediately processes it. That is, the process in which the transmitted PDL data is printed on the paper via the intermediate product image data proceeds without stopping.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S804 that the job is a job with a password, the flow advances to step S805 to instruct the PDL expansion job to start execution. And
In step S806, execution execution is instructed for the print job. As a result, the print job is held without processing for the intermediate products (5-18, 5-19, 5-20) generated by the PDL development job.
The L data is developed as an image in the memory, but the printing on paper is suspended. Finally, the process proceeds to step S807, and the generation process ends.

Next, a process in which the printing process is performed after the user inputs the password and the authentication is completed will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the authentication processing performed by the composite job processing unit 5-1 and the release of the hold of the print job upon its completion. The password data is interpreted in advance by the protocol interpreting unit 3-3 and sent to the composite job processing unit 5-1.

When the processing is started in step S901,
Since the job ID and user name for specifying the job are sent together with the password data from the client computer or the operation unit, the composite job processing unit 5-1 determines the PDL based on the job ID in step S902.
The print job 5-13 is specified, and the stored user name and password are referred to. In step S903, an authentication process is performed by comparing the password with a password sent in advance.

If the authentication is successful, step S905
And issues an execution start instruction to the print job that has been put on hold. The print job converts an already completed intermediate product (5-18, 5-19, 5-20) into a print (paper) that is an output object (5-22, 5-23, 5-24). Processing is started, and as a result, printing is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S904 that authentication cannot be performed, the process proceeds to step S907, and an authentication failure process is performed. Here, the authentication failure process means notifying the user who has submitted the job that the authentication has failed. Finally, the authentication process ends in step S906.

As described above, the password-added PD
In an L print job, PDL expansion processing that takes a long time to process is executed in advance without having an authentication result, and execution of the subsequent print processing is suspended when the PDL expansion processing is completed. Then, the printing process is started when the authentication is completed. As a result, the time required after the completion of the authentication until the user actually obtains the printed matter can be reduced as compared with the related art, and the operator is less likely to wait. Further, only by providing a mode for suspending execution of a job, a complicated process of executing the job halfway can be realized.

When the print job is in the execution pending state, an intermediate product generated by the PDL expansion job 5-14 is created on the RAM 2-3, but is saved in the external storage device 2-4 in terms of memory efficiency. You may do so. Further, when the image data as an intermediate product is saved in the external storage device 2-4, the space used on the external storage device 2-4 is reduced by a method of decompressing the image data when returning the image data to the original RAM 2-3. You may do so.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to a device composed of a single device.

A storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus is stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention is also achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, 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, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or 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 or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing a part or all of the processing described above.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0051]

As described in detail above, claims 1 and 8
According to the present invention, a job requiring authentication is divided into a first job and a second job, and the first job is executed before the authentication process is completed. Hold the execution of the job. Then, when the authentication processing is completed, the second job is executed.

Thus, before the authentication process is completed, the first
Is executed, if the execution of the first job is completed when the authentication process is completed, the second job can be immediately executed, and the authentication process is completed as in the related art. Thus, the processing time can be reduced as compared with the case where the first job is executed. This effect is particularly significant when the execution of the first job requires time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of software used in the digital multi-function peripheral.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating internal configurations of a job control unit and a device unit of the controller software.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the digital multi-function peripheral when processing a PDL print job.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process performed by each processing unit (object) waiting for an event to be sent and receiving the event.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a job generation unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of a PDL print job generation process performed in step S707.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an authentication process performed by a composite job processing unit and a process of releasing a hold of a print job upon completion of the authentication process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 Host computer 1-2 Host computer 1-3 Host computer 1-4 Digital multifunction peripheral (peripheral device, information processing device) 1-5 LAN (local area network) 1-6 Interface 2-1 CPU 2-2 ROM 2-3 RAM 2-4 External storage device 2-5 Display unit 2-6 Operation unit 2-7 Engine interface 2-8 Network interface 2-9 External interface 2-10 System bus 3-1 Host computer 3-2 Controller software 3-3 Protocol interpreting section 3-4 Job control section 3-5 Device section 4-1 Job generating section 4-2 Job processing section 4-3 Document processing section 4-4 Page processing section 4-5 Band processing section 4-6 Device allocation unit 4-7 Device 1 4-8 Device 2 4-9 Device 3 4-10 Job 4-11 Input document 4-12 Input page 4-13 Input band 4-14 Output document 4-15 Output page 4-16 Output band 5-1 Composite job processing unit (division unit) 5-2 PDL rasterized job processing unit (first execution means) 5-3 PDL rasterized document processing unit 5-4 PDL rasterized page processing unit 5-5 PDL rasterized band processing unit 5-6 print job processing unit (secondary unit) 5-7 Print Document Processing Unit 5-8 Print Page Processing Unit 5-9 Print Band Processing Unit 5-10 Scanner 5-11 Page Memory 5-12 Printer 5-13 Copy Job 5-14 PDL Development Job ( 1st job) 5-15 Input document 5-16 Input page 5-17 Input band 5-18 Between documents 5-21 print job (second job)

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for executing at least a job requiring an authentication process, comprising: a dividing unit configured to divide the job into a first job and a second job; Run the first job,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a first execution unit that suspends execution of the second job; and a second execution unit that executes the second job when the authentication process is completed. apparatus. 2. The job is a PDL print job including print data expressed in a page description language, and the first job creates an image by interpreting the print data expressed in a page description language. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second job is a print job for printing an image created by the first job. 3. 3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising: a protocol interpreting means for interpreting the received series of operation requests; and a job generating means for generating the job in accordance with the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpreting means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. When the protocol interpreting means interprets the series of operation requests and finds that the series of operation requests is accompanied by a password, the authentication processing is started and the first execution means is executed. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising first control means for operating said second execution means. 5. When the protocol interpreting means interprets the series of operation requests and finds that the series of operation requests is not accompanied by a password, the first executing means and the second executing means are executed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second control unit configured to execute the first job and the second job without operating. 6. A job processing unit for processing the job, a document generation unit for dividing the job into smaller document units, a document processing unit for processing each document, and dividing each document into smaller page units. A page generation unit, a page processing unit that processes each page, a band generation unit that divides each page into smaller bands, a band processing unit that processes each band, the job processing unit, the document processing unit, 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a device arbitration unit that arbitrates a use request of a device sent from the page processing unit and the band processing unit. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, or a digital multifunction peripheral connected to a terminal device that transmits a series of operation requests via a network. Claims 1 to 6
An information processing device according to any one of the above. 8. An information processing method applied to an information processing apparatus that executes at least a job requiring authentication processing, wherein: a dividing step of dividing the job into a first job and a second job; Execute the first job before is completed,
An information processing method comprising: a first execution step of suspending execution of the second job; and a second execution step of executing the second job when the authentication processing is completed. Method. 9. The job is a PDL print job including print data expressed in a page description language, and the first job creates an image by interpreting the print data expressed in a page description language. 9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the second job is a print job for printing an image created by the first job. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: a protocol interpretation step of interpreting the received series of operation requests; and a job generation step of generating the job in accordance with the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpretation step. Claim 8
Alternatively, the information processing method according to claim 9. 11. As a result of the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpretation step, if the series of operation requests is accompanied by a password, the authentication processing is started and the first execution step is performed. 11. The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a first control step for executing the second execution step. 12. As a result of the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpretation step, if the series of operation requests does not include a password, the first
12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a second control step of executing the first job and the second job without executing the execution step and the second execution step. Information processing method. 13. A job processing step for processing the job, a document generation step for dividing the job into smaller document units, a document processing step for processing each document, and dividing each document into smaller page units. A page generation step, a page processing step of processing each page, a band generation step of dividing each page into smaller bands, a band processing step of processing each band, the job processing step, the document processing step, 13. The information processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a device arbitration step of arbitrating a device use request generated by executing the page processing step and the band processing step. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, or a digital multifunction peripheral connected to a terminal device that transmits a series of operation requests via a network. 14. The information processing method according to claim 8. 15. A computer-readable storage medium storing, as a program, an information processing method applied to an information processing apparatus that executes at least a job requiring an authentication process, the information processing method comprising: A dividing step of dividing the job into a first job and a second job; and executing the first job before the authentication process is completed.
A storage medium comprising: a first execution step of suspending execution of the second job; and a second execution step of executing the second job when the authentication processing is completed. . 16. The job is a PDL print job including print data expressed in a page description language, and the first job creates an image by interpreting the print data expressed in a page description language. 16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the second job is a print job for printing an image created by the first job. 17. The information processing method further includes: a protocol interpretation step of interpreting the received series of operation requests; and a job generation step of generating the job in accordance with the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpretation step. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The storage medium according to claim 5 or 16. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein, as a result of the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpretation step, when the series of operation requests is accompanied by a password, the authentication processing is started, 18. The storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising a first control step for executing said first execution step and said second execution step. 19. The information processing method, wherein as a result of the interpretation of the series of operation requests by the protocol interpretation step, if the series of operation requests is not accompanied by a password, the first execution step and the 19. The storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising a second control step of executing the first job and the second job without executing the second execution step. 20. The information processing method comprising: a job processing step of processing the job; a document generation step of dividing the job into smaller document units; a document processing step of processing each document; A page generation step of dividing each page into smaller pages, a page processing step of processing each page, a band generation step of dividing each page into smaller bands, a band processing step of processing each band, and the job processing step 20. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a device arbitration step of arbitrating a device use request generated by executing the document processing step, the page processing step, and the band processing step. Record Of the storage medium. 21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the information processing apparatus is a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, or a digital multifunction peripheral connected to a terminal device that transmits a series of operation requests via a network. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 20.