JP2004341910A - Printing system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system enabling a plurality of image forming apparatuses to perform reprinting of a sentence corresponding to the execution of a distributed printing processing by a host device by providing a reprinting function corresponding to the distributed printing processing within the image forming devices. <P>SOLUTION: In this printing system, at least one host device 1 having distributed printing function is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatus 2 through a network 3. The host device 1 comprises a means for transmitting a distributed printing job with distributed printing job information to each image forming device 2. The image forming apparatus 2 comprises a means 17 for retaining printing data in conformation to the distributed printing job information, an operation part 19 for receiving a reprinting instruction from a user, and a printing job management part 14 for instructing a reprinting to the other image forming apparatus in reference to the distributed printing job information. The image forming apparatus which receives the reprinting instruction prints printing data corresponding to itself, and makes the other image forming apparatus print printing data corresponding thereto. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system and an image forming apparatus that print a print job in a distributed manner to a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When printing a large amount of text in a printing device (image forming device or printer), the text is divided into copies or pages, and distributed printing is performed using a plurality of printers to reduce the printing time. be able to.
When the printer has a reprint function, when reprinting the distributed printed data, it is necessary to issue a reprint instruction by each printer, which is very troublesome.
[0003]
As a solution to such a problem, there has been proposed a printing system in which a print server manages a distributed printing printer (image forming apparatus) and print data (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-36159 A
[0005]
[Problem to be solved]
However, in the printing system of Patent Document 1, since the print server performs distributed printing / reprinting processing, it cannot be applied to an environment where a print server does not exist. There remains a problem that cannot be dealt with.
[0006]
Therefore, in the present invention, by providing a reprint function corresponding to the distributed printing process in the image forming apparatus (printer), the distributed printing processing is performed by the host PC in a network environment in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and an image forming apparatus that reprint a sentence corresponding to a case.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention includes a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses 1 having a distributed printing function and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are communicably connected via a network 3. The host apparatus 1 includes means for adding distributed print job information to the distributed print job and transmitting the information to each image forming apparatus 2. The image forming apparatus 2 associates the distributed print job information with the print data and The storage unit 17 includes a holding unit 17, an operation unit 19 that receives a reprint instruction from a user, and a print job management unit 14 that instructs another image forming apparatus to reprint by referring to the distributed print job information. The image forming apparatus that has received the print job information and has received the reprint instruction prints the corresponding print data and causes other image forming apparatuses to print the corresponding print data. And wherein the door.
[0008]
Further, in the printing system according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes an image forming apparatus state management unit 13, acquires the state of another image forming apparatus sharing distributed printing, and sets the image forming apparatus in a print disabled state. If there is, print data of the image forming apparatus is transferred to another shared image forming apparatus.
[0009]
Further, in the printing system according to the present invention, when there is an image forming apparatus that is in a print disabled state at the time when the printing of the print data in charge of the image forming apparatus is completed, the print data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the own apparatus. And print it.
[0010]
Further, the printing system of the present invention is characterized in that the transfer destination image forming apparatus is limited to the image forming apparatus which is in charge of the print data immediately before or immediately after the transferred print data based on the distributed print job information. And
[0011]
Further, in the printing system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus receiving the reprint instruction acquires at least the state of the image forming apparatus sharing the first print data, and if the image forming apparatus is in the printing disabled state, the printing of the image forming apparatus is performed. It is characterized in that the data is transferred to the image forming apparatus which shares the print data immediately thereafter.
[0012]
Further, in the printing system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus receiving the print instruction acquires at least the state of the image forming apparatus sharing the print data at the end, and when the image forming apparatus is in the print disabled state, the print data of the image forming apparatus is Is transferred to the image forming apparatus that shares the print data immediately thereafter.
[0013]
Further, in the printing system according to the present invention, in a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses 1 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are connected via a network 3, the host apparatus 1 stores the distributed print job information in the distributed print job. The image forming apparatus 2 further includes a unit 13 for dividing the print job received from the host apparatus, and adding the distributed print job information to the divided distributed print job. A unit for transmitting to another image forming apparatus, an operation unit 19 for receiving a reprint instruction from a user, and a print job management unit 16 for instructing another image forming apparatus to reprint by referring to the distributed print job information are provided. The image forming apparatus that receives the reprint instruction when the distributed print job information is selected by a user operation prints the corresponding print data by itself and supports the other image forming apparatuses. Characterized in that to print the print data that.
[0014]
The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus in a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses 1 having a distributed printing function and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are connected via a network 3. The apparatus 2 includes an input unit 11, a communication unit 12, an image forming apparatus state management unit 13, a job management unit 14, an output unit 18, an operation unit 19, and a print data processing unit 20, and the communication unit 12 The input unit 11 receives a print job from the communication unit 12, notifies the job management unit 14 that the print job has been received, and passes print data to the job management unit 14. The device status management unit 13 manages the status of the image forming apparatus, and the job management unit 14 controls the distributed printing job transmitted from the host device in addition to the distributed printing job. The operation unit 11 includes an input device and a display device, and the print data processing unit 20 processes the print data and stores it in the job management unit 14 with reference to the print information. The image forming apparatus that receives the reprint instruction when the distributed print job information is selected by a user operation prints the corresponding print data and prints the corresponding print data to another image forming apparatus. I do.
[0015]
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the job management unit 14 performs the print data passed from the input unit 11 and the distributed print job information management unit 15 for managing the information related to the distributed printing in the print data processing unit 20. A print job management unit 16 for expanding the data, causing the output unit 18 to perform printing, and storing the expanded data in a data storage unit 17 to be described later when the distributed print job is used for reprinting; And a storage unit 17.
[0016]
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the job management unit 14 is instructed from the operation unit to perform the reprinting process by distributed printing, the print data being stored is called from the data storage unit 17 and is determined in advance. A distributed print job information using the method, and a job dividing unit 21 for dividing print data based on the information. To be transmitted to
[0017]
Further, the image forming apparatus 2 in the printing system in which one or more host apparatuses 1 having the distributed printing function according to the present invention and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are connected via the network 3 is a print job received from the host apparatus 1. , A unit for adding distributed print job information to the divided distributed print job and transmitting it to another image forming apparatus, an operation unit 19 for receiving a reprint instruction from a user, and refer to the distributed print job information. A print job management unit 16 for instructing another image forming apparatus to perform reprinting, the distributed print job information is selected by a user operation, and the image forming apparatus that receives the reprint instruction prints the corresponding print data by itself. And printing print data corresponding to another image forming apparatus.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings based on examples.
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which the present invention has been applied.
As shown in the drawing, the printing system includes a host device (PC) 1 (one or more) that manages or instructs printing and a plurality of printers (image forming devices) 2 (2-1 to 2) that execute printing. -4) and a network 3 for communicatively connecting them, and the PC 1 has a distributed printing function of creating divided print data that can be transmitted directly to each printer 2, and performs distributed printing in a distributed print job. A means for adding job information and transmitting the job information to each printer is provided.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a format of distributed print data used in distributed printing (cluster printing).
As shown in the figure, the distributed print data includes a job ID, a type of the distributed print job (reprint request, data deletion, etc.), all printers used for printing, print data, and the like. Printer information used for printing is arranged in the order in which the print job is divided.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the format of job management data for distributed printing held in the printer.
The printer which has received the print job has the job ID, the printer used for distributed printing, the status of each printer, and the distributed print job information of the printer that is actually processing in the format shown in the figure.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data format used when transmitting the distributed print job information to the printer. The data format includes the job ID, the type of the distributed print job, the printer to be used, the status of each printer, the printer being processed, and the like. Contains information.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the printer 2 includes an input unit 11, a communication unit 12, a printer status management unit 13, a job management unit 14, an output unit 18, an operation unit 19, and a print data processing unit 20.
[0023]
The communication unit 12 is an interface for communicating information such as print data and printer status via the network 3.
The input unit 11 receives a print job from the communication unit 12, notifies the print job management unit 14 that the print job has been received, and passes the print data.
The printer status management unit 13 manages information on the status of the printer main body, for example, information on printing process, running out of toner, running out of paper, and the like.
Further, the printer status management unit 13 acquires the status of another image forming apparatus that is responsible for distributed printing, and if there is an image forming apparatus that is in a print disabled state, the print data of the image forming apparatus is used for another shared image formation. Transfer to device.
[0024]
The print job management unit 14 includes a distributed print job information management unit 15, a print job management unit 16, and a data storage unit 17, and refers to the distributed print job information to instruct another printer to reprint.
The distributed print job information management unit 15 manages information related to distributed printing, such as creating distributed print job information, updating distributed print job information, and transmitting distributed print job information to another printer used for distributed printing.
The print job management unit 16 expands the print data passed from the input unit 11 in a print data processing unit 20 described later, and prints the data in the output unit 18.
[0025]
When the distributed print job is used for reprinting, the data expanded by the print data processing unit 20 is stored in the data storage unit 17.
If the received data is a distributed print job, information on distributed printing is passed to the distributed print job information management unit 15.
[0026]
The operation unit 19 is mounted on the printer main body, and includes an input device and a display device.
The print data processing unit 20 performs processing such as bitmap development of print data into an actual print image. The processed data is stored in the data storage unit 17.
[0027]
Next, the printing process and the reprinting process when the user executes the distributed printing process will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of distributed printing.
As shown in the figure, when the user instructs the distributed printing by the PC 1, the divided print job is directly transmitted to each of the printers (2-1 to 2-4).
At this time, if it is specified that the job can be reprinted, each printer stores the print data in the data storage unit 17 inside the printer.
[0028]
7 to 10 are diagrams showing operation examples (1) to (4) when a reprint instruction is issued.
The reprint instruction can be issued in any of the printers used for distributed printing. For example, when a reprint instruction is issued to the printer 2-1, the status of the printer used for distributed printing is first checked. It is.
At this time, if all the printers are available, the distributed print job information is transmitted to each printer, and the distributed printed job is reprinted (see FIG. 7).
[0029]
If the printer (2-2) cannot be used (used) due to the lack of toner or paper (see FIG. 8), the distributed print job information is transmitted to the available printer, and the A reprint instruction is issued (see FIG. 9).
For the data stored in the unusable printer (2-2), the printer (2-3) that has finished printing receives print data from the unusable printer (2-2) and performs printing (see FIG. 10). .
[0030]
Next, the flow of each process in the printer when a reprint instruction is received will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 11, when a reprint instruction is issued from the operation unit 19, the distributed print job information management unit 15 determines whether all the printers used for distributed printing respond via the communication unit 12. Is confirmed (S11-1).
[0031]
As a result of the confirmation (S11-2), if all the printers respond, it is confirmed whether or not the print data (distributed print job) to be used for the distributed printing exists in each printer (S11-3).
If there is a printer that does not respond ("No" in S11-2) or a printer in which print data does not exist ("No" in S11-4) among the printers used for distributed printing, an error message is displayed. (S11-5), the process ends.
[0032]
If print data to be used for distributed printing exists in all printers to be used for distributed printing ("Yes" in S11-4), the state of each printer (state of availability) as shown in FIG. The confirmation is performed via the communication unit 12 (S12-1).
If there is a printer that cannot be used due to paper shortage or toner shortage ("No" in S12-2), the status of the corresponding printer in the distributed print job information is changed to printing disabled (S12-). 3), proceed to step S12-4.
[0033]
Next, in step S12-4, in order to start distributed printing with each available printer, the state of the distributed print job information is changed to a print request, and the printer to be processed is changed to a printer that performs print processing. The job is changed (S12-4), the distributed print job information is transmitted to an available printer as a reprint request job (S12-5), and the process ends.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 13, the printer receiving the job checks whether the job is a distributed print job (S13-1).
If the job is not a distributed print job, print processing is performed as usual (S13-6).
In the case of a distributed print job, it is determined whether the distributed print job is a print request (S13-2).
If the request is a print request, the print job is created after creating the distributed print job information (S13-3) (S13-6).
[0035]
Next, if it is not a print request, it is checked whether the distributed print job is a print data download request (S13-4).
If the request is a download request, the print data of the designated reprint job is transmitted to the requesting printer (S13-5).
If the request is not a download request, it is checked whether the request is a reprint request (S13-7). If the request is not a reprint request, the process ends.
[0036]
In the case of a reprint request, it is confirmed whether distributed printing is to be performed (S13-8). If not, the process ends.
When performing distributed printing, the status of the printer to be processed in the distributed print job information is changed to printing (S13-9), and the job information is transmitted to an available printer (S13-10).
When the transmitted data is updated, the printer in which the data of the distributed print job to be performed exists is checked (S13-12).
[0037]
If the data does not exist ("No" in S13-13), the print data is downloaded from the printer storing the print data (S13-14).
Next, when the above-mentioned download is performed and when the data exists in the printer, the printing process of the print data is performed (S13-15), and then the status of the printer is checked (S13-16). Is completed (S13-17).
[0038]
When the printing is completed, the status of the distributed print job information is changed (updated) to “print completed” (see 13-18), and the job information of the available printer is transmitted (S13-19). Whether the update is successful or not is monitored (S13-20), and the process proceeds to the next step.
[0039]
Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the distributed print job information is checked (S14-1), and if there is a printer in an unusable state ("Yes" in S14-2), the print state is updated during printing. Then, the update of the job information is notified to the available printer (S14-3). If the update is successful ("Yes" in S14-5), the process is terminated.
[0040]
In the above case, the job to be printed by the unavailable printer is printed by the printer that has finished printing the earliest. In this case, the order of the print result may be replaced with the order of the original data.
A process for performing printing without losing the order of the original data when there is an unusable printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 13, 15, and 16. FIG.
[0041]
As described above, when a reprint instruction is issued from the operation unit 19, the distributed print job information management unit 15 checks via the communication unit 12 whether all the printers used for distributed printing respond. (S11-1).
If all printers respond as a result of the confirmation, it is confirmed whether or not each printer has a distributed print job to be used for distributed printing (S11-3).
If there is a non-responding printer or a printer having no print data among the printers used for distributed printing, an error message is displayed (S11-5), and the process ends.
[0042]
Next, when the print data exists in all the printers ("Yes" in S11-4), it is checked whether or not the print data can be used for all the printers as shown in FIG. 15 (S15-1). If there is a printer that cannot be used ("No" in S15-2), it is checked whether a printer sharing the data of the first page (first page) is available (S15-3).
If not available, a printer including a page to be printed next to the job including the first page is searched (S15-4), and the distributed print job information is printed so that the first page (first page) is printed by the printer. Is set (S15-5).
[0043]
Next, the distributed print job information of the unusable printer is set to be unprintable (S15-6), and the setting is made to print the data held by the remaining available printers (S15-7). The job information of the unavailable printer is transmitted to an available printer (S15-8), and the process ends.
[0044]
As described above (see FIG. 13), the printer that has received the job checks whether the job is a distributed print job (S13-1).
If the job is not a distributed print job, print processing is performed as usual (S13-6).
In the case of a distributed print job, it is determined whether the distributed print job is a print request (S13-2).
If the request is a print request, the print job is created after creating the distributed print job information (S13-3) (S13-6).
[0045]
Next, if it is not a print request, it is checked whether or not the distributed print job is a print data download request (S13-4).
If the request is a download request, the print data of the designated reprint job is transmitted to the requesting printer (S13-5).
If the request is not a download request, it is checked whether the request is a reprint request (S13-7).
[0046]
If the request is not a reprint request, the process is terminated. If the request is a reprint request, it is confirmed whether or not it is distributed printing (S13-8).
When performing distributed printing, the status of the printer that processes distributed print job information is changed to printing (S13-9), and the job information is transmitted to an available printer (S13-10).
If the transmission (update) is successful, it is confirmed whether or not the data of the distributed print job to be performed exists in the printer (S13-12).
[0047]
If the data does not exist, the print data is downloaded from the printer storing the print data (S13-14).
Next, when the above-mentioned download is performed and when the data exists in the printer, the printing process of the print data is performed (S13-15), and then the printing status of the printer is checked (S13-16). It monitors completion of printing (S13-17).
[0048]
When printing is completed, the status of the distributed print job information is changed (updated) to "print completed" (S13-18), the job information of the available printer is updated (S13-19), and it is monitored whether or not the status has been updated. (S13-20) If it has been updated, go to the next step.
[0049]
Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the distributed print job information is checked (S16-1), and it is checked whether or not the status of the printer that prints the subsequent page is unavailable (S16-2).
If the printer cannot be used, the job information printed by the printer is changed during printing (S16-3), and the available printer is notified of the update of the job information (S16-4).
If the update is successful ("Yes" in S16-5) and if a printer that prints the subsequent page is available ("No" in S16-2), the process ends.
Although the above description has been made with respect to the print data of the first page in the case of face-down output, the same processing is performed in the case of the last page (last page) in the face-up output.
[0050]
(Example 2)
This embodiment is an example relating to redistribution printing without the intervention of a host device (PC).
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer according to the second embodiment.
As shown in the drawing, the printer 2 includes an input unit 11, a communication unit 12, a printer status management unit 13, a print job management unit 14, an output unit 18, an operation unit 19, and a print data processing unit 20.
The print job management unit 14 includes a distributed print job information management unit 15, a print job management unit 16, a data storage unit 17, and a print job division unit 21.
[0051]
The print job dividing unit 21 divides a designated print job by using a pre-designated division method (for example, for each page), and the functions of the other units are described in the first embodiment. It is as follows.
[0052]
Next, a description will be given of a process when reprinting a job held by the printer by distributed printing.
When the user designates that reprinting is possible on the PC 1 and gives a print instruction, the print job is stored in the data storage unit 17 of the printer (2-1).
When the operation unit 19 instructs the printer (2-1) to perform the reprinting process by distributed printing, the print job dividing unit 21 calls up the print data from the data storage unit 17, and uses a predetermined method. To create distributed print job information, and divide print data based on the created information.
[0053]
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of distributed printing according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the data divided by the print job dividing unit 21 is transmitted to each printer in the data format shown in FIG.
The distributed print job received by each printer is processed in each printer by the same processing method as in the first embodiment.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
(1) When performing reprinting of a print job, printing stored in each image forming apparatus is performed only by a print instruction in one of the image forming apparatuses without transmitting a distributed print job from the host apparatus again. Redistribution printing can be performed immediately using the data.
(2) Even when there is an image forming apparatus in a printing disabled state in the system, it is possible to output all data of a job by outputting print data of the image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus. Become.
(3) Even when print data of an image forming apparatus in a print disabled state is output from another image forming apparatus, delay can be minimized.
(4) Even when print data of an image forming apparatus in a print-disabled state is output from another image forming apparatus, it is possible to output the printed matter without impairing the page order or with minimum disturbance of the page order. Saves time when collecting.
(5) Even if the image forming apparatus sharing the first print data is in a print-disabled state, it is possible to output the print data without impairing the page order. ..In the case of face down
(6) Even if the image forming apparatus that shares the last print data is in a print-disabled state, it is possible to output without losing the page order. ..In the case of face-up
(7) Re-distributed printing can be performed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses only by a print instruction in the image forming apparatuses without intervention of the host apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a distributed printing system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating print data used for distributed printing.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating distributed print job management data held in a printer.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data format when transmitting print job management data to another printer.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data flow of distributed printing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data flow when a reprint instruction is issued.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a data flow when a reprint instruction is issued.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a data flow when a reprint instruction is issued.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data flow when a reprint instruction is issued.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a printer process when a reprint instruction is received.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a printer process when a reprint instruction is received.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a printer process when a reprint instruction is received.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a printer process when a reprint instruction is received.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a printer process when a reprint instruction is received.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a printer process when a reprint instruction is received.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of distributed printing according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Host device (PC)
2 Image forming device (printer)
3 network
11 Input section
12 Communication unit
13 Printer status management unit
14 Print job management unit
15 Distributed print job information management unit
16 Print job management unit
17 Data storage unit
18 Output section
19 Operation section
20 Print data processing unit
21 Print Job Division

Claims (11)

In a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses having a distributed printing function and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are communicably connected via a network,
The host device includes means for adding distributed print job information to the distributed print job and transmitting the information to each image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes means for holding the distributed print job information and print data in association with each other, an operation unit for receiving a reprint instruction from the user, and instructing another image forming apparatus to reprint by referring to the distributed print job information. A print job management unit that performs
The image forming apparatus that has received the reprint instruction when the distributed print job information is selected by the user operation prints the corresponding print data and causes other image forming apparatuses to print the corresponding print data.
A printing system characterized by the following. The image forming apparatus further includes an image forming apparatus state management unit, and acquires the state of another image forming apparatus that is responsible for distributed printing, and if there is an image forming apparatus that is in a print disabled state, prints the image forming apparatus. Transferring the data to another shared image forming apparatus,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: When the image forming apparatus completes the printing of the print data in charge, if there is an image forming apparatus in a print disabled state, the print data is transferred from the image forming apparatus to its own apparatus and printed.
3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein: Limiting the transfer destination image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus that is in charge of the print data immediately before or immediately after the transferred print data based on the distributed print job information;
3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein: The image forming apparatus that has received the reprint instruction acquires at least the state of the image forming apparatus that shares the first print data, and if the image forming apparatus is in the print disabled state, shares the print data of the image forming apparatus with the immediately following print data. To the image forming apparatus,
The printing system according to claim 4, wherein: The image forming apparatus that has received the print instruction acquires at least the status of the image forming apparatus that shares the last print data, and if the image forming apparatus is in the print disabled state, shares the print data of the image forming apparatus with the immediately following print data. Transferred to the image forming apparatus,
The printing system according to claim 4, wherein: In a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network,
The host device includes means for adding distributed print job information to the distributed print job and transmitting the information to each image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a unit that divides the print job received from the host device, a unit that adds the distributed print job information to the divided distributed print job and transmits the divided distributed print job to another image forming apparatus, and that issues a reprint instruction from the user. A receiving operation unit, and a print job management unit that instructs another image forming apparatus to perform reprinting with reference to the distributed print job information,
The image forming apparatus that receives the reprint instruction when the distributed print job information is selected by the user operation prints the corresponding print data and causes the other image forming apparatuses to print the corresponding print data.
A printing system, characterized in that: An image forming apparatus in a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses having a distributed printing function and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network,
The image forming apparatus includes an input unit, a communication unit, an image forming apparatus state management unit, a job management unit, an output unit, an operation unit, and a print data processing unit,
The communication unit is an interface for communicating via a network, and the input unit receives a print job from the communication unit, notifies the job management unit that the print job has been received, and transfers print data to the job management unit. The apparatus state management unit manages the state of the image forming apparatus, and the job management unit refers to the distributed print job information transmitted from the host apparatus in addition to the distributed print job, and instructs another image forming apparatus to reprint. The operation unit includes an input device and a display device, and the print data processing unit processes print data and stores the processed print data in a job management unit.
The image forming apparatus that receives the reprint instruction when the distributed print job information is selected by the user operation prints the corresponding print data and causes the other image forming apparatuses to print the corresponding print data.
An image forming apparatus comprising: The job management unit performs data expansion of the print data passed from the input unit and the distributed print job information management unit that manages information related to the distributed printing in the print data processing unit, performs printing in the output unit, and When a distributed print job is used for reprinting, the print job management unit stores the developed data in a data storage unit described below and the data storage unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: When the job management unit is instructed from the operation unit to perform the reprinting process by distributed printing, the stored print data is called from the data storage unit, and the distributed print job information is determined using a predetermined method. A job division unit for creating and dividing print data based on this information, adding distributed print job information to the divided distributed print job, and transmitting the divided distributed print job to another image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: An image forming apparatus in a printing system in which one or more host apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network,
The image forming apparatus includes a unit that divides the print job received from the host device, a unit that adds the distributed print job information to the divided distributed print job and transmits the divided distributed print job to another image forming apparatus, and that issues a reprint instruction from the user. A receiving operation unit, and a print job management unit that instructs another image forming apparatus to perform reprinting with reference to the distributed print job information,
The image forming apparatus that receives the reprint instruction when the distributed print job information is selected by the user operation prints the corresponding print data and causes the other image forming apparatuses to print the corresponding print data.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images