JP2006190032A - Distributed printing controller, distributed printing system, method for transmitting control command, and method for canceling printing job - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which, when a distributed printing controller determines a distribution destination printer, transmission of a control command to the distribution destination printer is very troublesome since a client cannot know the distribution destination printer. <P>SOLUTION: The distributed printing controller is provided with: a storing part for storing a printing job when receiving the printing job; a determining part for determining the distribution destination printer when receiving the printing job; a storing part for storing identification information of the determined distribution destination printer; a distribution part for reading the identification information from the storage part and distributing the printing job stored in the storage part to the distribution destination printer specified with the identification information; and a command transmission part which can transmit the control command to the distribution destination printer. When transmission of the control command to the distribution destination printer is requested from outside, the command transmission part reads the identification information from the storage part and transmits the control command to at least one distribution destination printer specified with the identification information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a distributed printing control apparatus and distributed printing system that distributes a print job to a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network, and in particular, specifies a distribution destination printing apparatus determined by the distributed printing control apparatus by a simple method. And a control command transmission technique.

  In recent years, printing systems in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected to the same network and a user can use the plurality of printing apparatuses properly are becoming widespread. In such a printing system, so-called distributed printing has also been proposed in which printing is completed in a short time by distributing print jobs to each printing apparatus in parallel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-215369 A

  The distributed printing system that performs the above-described distributed printing includes a plurality of printers connected to the network, a client that generates a print job, and a distributed print control device. The distributed print control device receives a print job from the client. Later, a system has been proposed in which a printer that satisfies a predetermined condition such as being online is selected as a distribution destination printer from a plurality of printers, and a print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printer.

In such a distributed printing system, since the distribution destination printer is determined after the print job is received by the distributed print control apparatus, the user can determine which of the plurality of printers is the distribution destination printer. And could not know if the print job was distributed.
As a result, for example, when canceling a print job, the user displays a window for confirming the processing status of the print job provided by the respective printer driver for each printer on the display provided in the client. It is very troublesome to check whether or not a print job to be canceled is distributed to the other printers and specify the distribution destination printer.

  After specifying the distribution destination printer, a command for canceling the print job (hereinafter referred to as “cancel command”) is transmitted to the specified distribution destination printer to cancel the print job. However, the above-described problem may occur not only when the cancel command is transmitted, but also when another control command for causing the distribution destination printer to execute a predetermined process is transmitted.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is a technique capable of specifying a distribution destination printing apparatus determined by a distributed printing control apparatus by a simple method and transmitting a control command. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problem, a first distributed printing control apparatus of the present invention is configured to send a print job transmitted via a network to a distribution destination among printing apparatuses connected to the network. A distributed printing control apparatus that can be distributed to a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses, and when the print job is received, a storage unit that stores the print job, and when the print job is received, A determination unit that determines the distribution destination printing device, a storage unit that stores identification information of the distribution destination printing device determined by the determination unit, and the identification information that is read from the storage unit and specified by the read identification information A distribution unit that distributes the print job stored in the storage unit to the distribution destination printing device, and a method for causing the distribution destination printing device to execute a predetermined process. A command transmission unit capable of transmitting a control command, and when requested to transmit the control command to the distribution destination printing apparatus from the outside, the command transmission unit receives the command from the storage unit. The gist is to read identification information and transmit the control command to at least one of the distribution destination printing devices specified by the read identification information.

  By adopting such a configuration, the first distributed printing control apparatus stores the determined identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in the storage unit, so that when a control command transmission is requested from the outside Further, this identification information can be read from the storage unit to specify the distribution destination printing apparatus. The first distributed printing control apparatus transmits a control command to at least one distribution destination printing apparatus of the specified distribution destination printing apparatus, so that any of the printing apparatuses connected to the network is selected. Even if it is not known whether it is a distribution destination printing apparatus, it is possible to send a control command to these distribution destination printing apparatuses by requesting the first distribution printing control apparatus to transmit a control command. Become.

  The second distributed printing control apparatus of the present invention can distribute a print job transmitted via a network to a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses serving as distribution destinations among the printing apparatuses connected to the network. When the print job is received, a storage unit that stores the print job, a determination unit that determines the distribution destination printing device, and the distribution destination printing determined by the determination unit A storage unit for storing the identification information of the device; and the print job stored in the storage unit for the distribution destination printing device specified by the read identification information is read from the storage unit. A distribution unit that distributes, and a command transmission unit that can transmit a cancel command for canceling the distributed print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus; The command transmission unit reads out the identification information from the storage unit, and is specified by the read out identification information when requested to send the cancel command to the distributed printing apparatus from the outside. The gist is to transmit the cancel command to one of the distribution destination printing apparatuses.

  By adopting such a configuration, the second distributed printing control apparatus stores the identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus in the storage unit, so that when a cancel command is requested from the outside, This identification information can be read from the storage unit to specify the distribution destination printing apparatus. The second distributed printing control apparatus transmits a cancel command to at least one distribution destination printing apparatus of the identified distribution destination printing apparatus, so that any of the printing apparatuses connected to the network is Even if it is not known whether it is a distribution destination printing device, by requesting the second distributed printing control device to transmit a cancel command, the cancel command is transmitted to these distribution destination printing devices, and the print job is transmitted. It becomes possible to cancel.

  The second distributed printing control apparatus includes a control unit capable of canceling the print job stored in the storage unit, and the distribution unit sends the print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus. In the middle of receiving the print job that is distributed and the distribution destination printing apparatus is distributed, when the cancel command is requested from the outside to the distributed print control apparatus, When the control unit cancels the print job stored in the storage unit, and the control unit cancels the print job, the command transmission unit reads the identification information from the storage unit, and It is preferable that the cancel command is transmitted to the distribution destination printing apparatus specified by the read identification information.

If a cancel command is transmitted from the second distributed printing control apparatus to the distribution destination printing apparatus while the print job is being distributed from the second distributed printing control apparatus to the distribution destination printing apparatus, the distribution destination The printing apparatus cancels a part of the print job distributed so far. However, since the remaining part of the print job is distributed from the second distributed printing control apparatus after canceling, the remaining part of the print job remains uncancelled in the distribution destination printing apparatus. It will end up.
Therefore, with the configuration as described above, the second distributed printing control apparatus first cancels the print job stored in the storage unit, so that the remaining print jobs that are not distributed to the distribution destination printing apparatus The part will be canceled. Therefore, after canceling a part of the print job distributed so far in the distribution destination printing apparatus, the remaining part of the print job is not distributed, so the part of the print job is canceled. It is possible to prevent it from being left behind.

  The second distributed printing control apparatus includes a transmission request unit capable of requesting the distribution destination printing apparatus to transmit processing status information regarding the processing status of the distributed print job. The transmission request unit reads the identification information from the storage unit when the transmission of the cancel command is requested from the outside, and the processing status for the distribution destination printing apparatus specified by the read identification information The command transmission unit requests transmission of information, and the command transmission unit transmits the cancel command based on the processing status information received from the distribution destination printing apparatus as a result of the request of the transmission request unit. The cancel command is transmitted only to the distribution destination printing device that has not completed processing of the distributed print job among the printing devices. Rukoto is preferable.

  With this configuration, when the cancel command is transmitted to the distribution destination printing apparatus, the print job processing has already been completed, and the distribution destination printing apparatus that does not need to transmit the cancel command is used. Can cancel the cancel command, and can prevent unnecessary data from flowing through the network.

  The distributed printing system of the present invention includes a client, a printing apparatus, and a distributed printing control apparatus that are connected to each other via a network, and the distributed printing control apparatus receives a print job transmitted via the network. A distributed printing system that can be distributed to a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses that are distribution destinations of the printing apparatuses, and when receiving the print job, the distributed printing control apparatus The identification information of the determined distribution destination printing device is stored, the print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printing device, and the client is requested to transmit the identification information The distributed printing control apparatus transmits the stored identification information to the client and receives the identification information from the distributed printing control apparatus. The case, the client, for at least one of said distribution destination printing device identified by the identification information received, to increase the transmission cancellation command for canceling the print job dispersed.

  With this configuration, the distributed printing control apparatus stores the identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus, so that when requested by the client, the identification information can be transmitted to the client. It becomes possible. Further, since the client receives this identification information from the distributed printing control apparatus, the distribution destination printing apparatus can be specified by the received identification information. Since the client transmits a cancel command to at least one of the identified distribution destination printing devices, any of the printing devices connected to the network can perform distribution destination printing. Even when the device is not known, it is possible to specify the distribution destination printing device and send a cancel command to cancel the print job.

  The first client of the present invention provides a distributed print control apparatus capable of determining a distribution destination printing apparatus that is a distribution destination of a print job and distributing the print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus. An input unit that is a client connected via a network and is capable of inputting an instruction to cancel the print job, and an instruction to cancel is input via the input unit. An identification information transmission request unit that requests the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit the identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus, and the result of the request by the identification information transmission request unit, the distributed printing When the identification information is received from the control device, the distribution destination printing device that should cancel the distributed print job among the distribution destination printing devices is designated. A user interface unit that provides a possible user interface based on the received identification information, and at least one of the distribution destination printing devices specified via the user interface, cancels the distributed print job. And a command transmission unit capable of transmitting a first cancel command for the purpose.

  With this configuration, a user interface capable of specifying a distribution destination printing apparatus that should cancel a distributed print job based on the identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus is provided. Even if it is not known which of the printing devices connected to the network is the distribution destination printing device, the first client can easily specify the distribution destination printing device. Further, the first client can transmit a first cancel command for canceling the distributed print job to at least one distribution destination printing apparatus designated via the user interface. Therefore, the user can designate a distribution destination printing apparatus and cancel the print job.

  In the first client, when the distributed printing apparatus is designated via the user interface, the command transmission unit is first stored in the storage unit with respect to the distributed printing control apparatus. When the second cancel command for canceling the print job being transmitted is transmitted and the second cancel command is transmitted, the first cancel is issued to at least one of the specified distribution destination printing apparatuses. It is preferable to send a command.

When the first cancel command is transmitted from the first client while the print job is being distributed from the distributed printing control apparatus to the distribution destination printing apparatus, the distribution destination printing apparatus has been distributed so far. Cancel part of a print job. However, since the remaining part of the print job is distributed from the distributed printing control apparatus after the cancellation, the remaining part of the print job remains without being canceled in the distribution destination printing apparatus. Become.
Therefore, with the above-described configuration, first, the distributed print control apparatus cancels the print job stored in the storage unit, so the remaining part of the print job not distributed to the distribution destination printing apparatus is canceled. Will be. Therefore, after canceling a part of the print job distributed so far in the distribution destination printing apparatus, the remaining part of the print job is not distributed, so the part of the print job is canceled. It is possible to prevent it from being left behind.

  In addition, the first client can request the distribution destination printing apparatus designated via the user interface to transmit processing status information regarding the processing status of the distributed print job. A request unit, and the command transmission unit receives the processing status information received from the distribution destination printing apparatus as a result of the request unit requesting transmission of the processing status information when transmitting the first cancel command. Based on the above, it is preferable that the first cancel command is transmitted only to the distribution destination printing device that has not completed processing of the distributed print job among the distribution destination printing devices.

  With this configuration, when the first cancel command is transmitted from the first client to the distribution destination printing apparatus, the print job processing has already been completed, and it is necessary to transmit the cancel command. The first cancel command can be prevented from being transmitted to a non-distributed destination printing apparatus, and unnecessary data can be prevented from flowing through the network.

  The second client of the present invention designates at least one or more printing devices when a certain print job is distributed to a plurality of printing devices connected to a network, and designates the designated printing devices. A client having a user interface for canceling the print job distributed to each printing device, wherein the user interface includes at least a list of information indicating the printing device and each printing device. The gist is to display a plurality of first instruction units corresponding to each other and instructing to cancel a print job distributed to the corresponding printing apparatus on one screen.

  With such a configuration, the second client displays a list of information indicating the printing apparatuses to which the print job is distributed, so that the user can distribute the print job to any printing apparatus. You can easily identify whether Further, since this list and the first instruction unit for instructing to cancel the print job corresponding to each printing apparatus are displayed on one screen, the user wants to cancel the print job. It is possible to easily select a printing device and instruct the selected printing device to cancel the print job.

  In the second client, the user interface batches distributed print jobs for all printing apparatuses in addition to the list of information indicating the printing apparatuses and the plurality of first instruction units. It is preferable to display the second instruction unit for instructing to cancel it on one screen.

  With this configuration, when the user wants to cancel the print jobs distributed to the respective distribution destination printing devices at once, the user can instruct all the printing devices to cancel the print job. It can be done easily.

  The third distributed printing control apparatus of the present invention determines a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses that are distribution destinations of a print job transmitted via the network from among the printing apparatuses connected to the network, and determines the determined A distributed printing control apparatus capable of distributing the print job to a distribution destination printing apparatus, the storage unit storing the determined identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus, and a client connected via a network A transmission unit capable of transmitting the identification information, and when the client requests the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit the identification information, the transmission unit is configured to store the storage unit. The gist is to read the identification information from and send the read identification information to the client.

With this configuration, the third distributed printing control apparatus stores the identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus, and therefore transmits this identification information to the client when requested by the client. It becomes possible to do. Therefore, even when the client does not know which printing apparatus is the distribution destination printing apparatus, the distribution destination printing apparatus can be specified by the received identification information.
As a result, if the client can transmit a control command such as a cancel command for canceling the print job, the control command can be transmitted to the specified distributed printing apparatus.

  The present invention can be configured as a printing apparatus incorporating the above-described distributed printing control apparatus in addition to the above-described configuration as the distributed printing control apparatus, client, and distributed printing system. Further, the present invention is not limited to these aspects of the device invention, and can be realized as a method invention such as a control command transmission method and a print job cancellation method. Further, aspects as a computer program for configuring those methods and apparatuses, aspects as a recording medium recording such a computer program, data signals embodied in a carrier wave including the computer program, etc. It can also be realized in various ways.

  When the present invention is configured as a computer program or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, the distributed program control apparatus or the entire program for controlling the client may be configured, or only the portion that performs the function of the present invention. It may be configured. In addition, as a recording medium, various media that can be read by a computer such as a ROM cartridge, a punched card, a printed matter printed with a code such as a bar code, an internal storage device of a computer (memory such as RAM or ROM), and an external storage device Can be used.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
A1. Overview of distributed printing system configuration and distributed printing process:
A2. Overview of printer configuration:
A3. Client overview configuration:
A4. Specific operation of the print job cancellation process:
A5. Effects of the embodiment:
B. Second embodiment:
B1. Specific operation of the print job cancellation process:
B2. Effects of the embodiment:
C. Variations:

A. First embodiment:
A1. Overview of distributed printing system configuration and distributed printing process:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a distributed printing system including a printer PRT1 as a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this distributed printing system includes a client PC (hereinafter abbreviated as a client) CL and a plurality of printers PRT1 to PRT3. The client CL and the printers PRT1 to PRT3 are connected to a local area network LAN1. Yes. Since communication between devices is based on the TCP / IP protocol, each device is assigned a fixed IP address in advance. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that addresses “IPc” are set in the client CL, and addresses “IP1” to “IP3” are set in the printers PRT1 to PRT3, respectively. Strictly speaking, these IP addresses are not set in the client CL and the printers PRT1 to PRT3 themselves, but are set in nodes (that is, network boards, etc.) when viewed from the IP network. .

  Among these printers, a custom network board CNB is attached to the printer PRT1. The custom network board CNB has a distributed printing control function for distributing received print jobs to other printers and executing distributed printing, and corresponds to the distributed printing control device in the claims. On the other hand, a standard network board (not shown) is attached to each of the other printers.

As an example, the case where the communication data DT0 including the print job is transmitted from the client CL to the printer PRT1 is illustrated in the drawing.
The communication data DT0 includes a header and print job data. In the header, the IP address “IP1” of the printer PRT1, which is the transmission destination of the communication data DT0, specifies the destination software in the printer PRT1 as the destination IP address. “19100” is described as the port number (transmission destination port number) to be performed. In the print job data, “30” is described as a QT value representing the number of copies, which is information on the number of copies to be printed, and a job ID “04” set to identify the print job at the client is described.

  In this embodiment, a non-procedural protocol is used as a printing protocol. In the non-procedural protocol, “9100” is normally assigned as the port number. In this embodiment, when a print job is transmitted from the client CL to the printer PRT1 having the distributed print control function, the normal “ “19100” is used instead of “9100”.

When receiving the communication data DT0, the custom network board CNB of the printer PRT1 passes the print job data to the software waiting at the port number “19100”. In this embodiment, distributed printing software for realizing the distributed printing control function is waiting at the port “19100”. Thereby, a functional unit realized by the CPU according to the distributed printing software first stores the print job data in a print job storage unit (not shown). Then, a printer that is online and is of the same model as the printer PRT1 is searched from printers connected to the local area network LAN1, and a distribution destination printer is determined. For example, if the printer PRT1 and the printer PRT1 as well as the printers PRT2 and PRT3 are determined as the distribution destination printers, the functional unit causes the three printers PRT1 to PRT3 to distribute and print the 30 units. Therefore, the QT value included in the print job data is changed to “10 copies”, the transmission destination port number is changed to “9100” instead of “19100”, and a job for each print job is changed. IDs “04-1” to “04-3” are newly set, and the communication data DT1 to DT3 are transmitted to the printers PRT1 to PRT3. The newly set job ID is set in association with the job ID (04) of the print job received from the client.
Therefore, for example, in the communication data DT2, “IP2” is described as the transmission destination IP address, “9100” as the transmission destination port number, “10” as the QT value, and “04-2” as the job ID. Has been.

  The functional unit is a diagram in which newly set job IDs “04-1” to “04-3” and IP addresses “IP1” to “IP3” of the respective distribution destination printers are described in association with each other. 1 is stored in a distribution destination list storage unit (not shown). This distribution destination list is used in a print job cancel process described later.

  On the other hand, when the standard network board of the printer PRT2 receives the communication data DT2, it passes the print job data to the software waiting at the port number “9100”. As described above, since the port number “9100” is a port number that is normally assigned to the non-procedural protocol that is the printing protocol, the print job data is transferred to the print control software in the printer PRT2, Printing according to the print job is executed.

  In the printer PRT1 having a distributed print control function as well as the other printers PRT3, similarly, printing according to the transmitted print job is executed.

  Accordingly, in each of the printers PRT1 to PRT3, each “10 copies” is printed, and a total of “30 copies” is distributed in the entire system.

A2. Overview of printer configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the printer PRT1 in FIG. The printer PRT1 includes a printer main body PRB and the custom network board CNB described above. Among these, the printer main body PRB mainly includes a printer engine 41, a printer controller 42, and a memory 43. The printer engine 41 is a mechanism portion that actually performs printing. The memory 43 includes a print job storage unit 43 a that temporarily stores print job data to be printed by the printer engine 41.
The printer controller 42 receives print job data from the custom network board CNB and controls the printer engine 41 according to the print job to execute printing. In addition, the printer controller 42 receives a cancel command transmitted from a cancel processing unit 24 described later, and cancels the print job.

On the other hand, the custom network board CNB mainly includes a CPU 20 and a memory 30. In addition, although a communication interface for actually performing network communication is also provided, it is omitted for convenience of explanation.
Among these, the memory 30 includes a print job storage unit 30a that temporarily stores print job data transmitted from the client CL, and a distribution destination list storage unit 30b that stores a distribution destination list.

  The CPU 20 reads out the above-described distributed printing software and software program for canceling the print job from the memory 30 and executes them, whereby the TCP / IP interpretation unit 21, the distribution processing unit 22, and the distribution destination determination unit 23, respectively. , Copy number determination unit 25 and cancel processing unit 24. Here, the arrows between the functional blocks indicate the flow of data. Each functional block may be constructed in hardware.

Among these functional blocks, the TCP / IP interpreter 21 interprets the TCP / IP protocol and communicates with the outside via the network. Specifically, a destination IP address and a destination port number included in the received communication data are detected, or a destination IP address and a destination port number are assigned to the communication data to be transmitted. The distribution destination determination unit 23 determines a distribution destination printer from printers on the local area network LAN1. The copy number determination unit 25 determines the number of distribution copies to be assigned to each distribution destination printer from the total number of print copies designated by the print job data received from the client CL. The distribution processing unit 22 stores the print job data received from the client CL in the print job storage unit 30a, rewrites the QT value indicating the number of print copies of the stored print job, and the job ID, Distribute print job data. The distribution processing unit 22 described above generates a distribution destination list and stores it in the distribution destination list storage unit 30b.
The cancel processing unit 24, which is a feature of the present invention, transmits a cancel command for instructing cancellation of the distributed print job to the distribution destination printer according to the cancel command received from the client CL, or stores the print job. Cancel the print job transmitted from the client CL stored in the section 30a.
The cancel processing unit 24 corresponds to a command transmission unit and a control unit in the claims.

  The printer PRT1 includes a non-procedural program interpretation unit that interprets a non-procedural program that is a printing protocol in addition to the functional blocks described above, but is omitted for convenience of explanation.

  On the other hand, the printers PRT2 and PRT3 shown in FIG. 1 have substantially the same functions and configurations as the printer main body PRB in the printer PRT1 described above. Specifically, in addition to a printer engine, a printer controller, and a memory (having a print storage unit), a TCP / IP protocol interpretation unit and a non-procedural protocol interpretation unit are provided as functional blocks.

A3. Client overview configuration:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the client in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The client CL includes a computer 100, a keyboard 111 and a mouse 112 as devices for inputting data to the computer 100, and a display 110 as a device for outputting data.
The computer 100 mainly includes a CPU 101, a memory 102, a hard disk 103, and an input / output interface unit 104, and each is connected to an internal bus 105. Here, the input / output interface unit 104 includes a group of interfaces for connecting the above-described keyboard 111, mouse 112, display 110, and local area network LAN 1 to the computer 100.

In the client CL, an application program for canceling a print job is executed under a predetermined operating system. Various drivers are incorporated in the operating system, and the keyboard 111, mouse 112, and display 110 are controlled.
When the above-described application program is activated and loaded into the memory 102, the CPU 101 functions as a print job cancel unit 101a and a screen generation unit 101b by executing the application program.

The client CL includes a non-procedural protocol interpretation unit, a TCP / IP interpretation unit, and a print job generation unit in addition to the above-described print job cancellation unit 101a and screen generation unit 101b as functional blocks. For convenience, it is omitted.
For example, when the user issues a print command to the client CL as the number of print copies “30”, the print job generation unit sets the QT value indicating the number of print copies to “30” and a job ID (for example, “ 04 ") is generated, and the print job data is transmitted to the printer PRT1 via the non-procedural protocol interpretation unit and the TCP / IP interpretation unit. At this time, since the TCP / IP interpreter designates “IP1” and “19100” as the destination IP address and destination port number, respectively, the communication data DT0 shown in FIG. 1 is transmitted.

  The above-described memory 102 stores a transmission job list 102a in advance. The transmission job list 102a is a list describing a job ID, a document name, the number of copies, and the like regarding a print job transmitted to the printer PRT1. Each time the print job generation unit described above generates a print job and transmits it to the printer PRT1, information such as the job ID, document name, and number of copies of the transmitted print job is added to the transmission job list 102a. And write.

A4. Specific operation of the print job cancellation process:
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication data DT0 is transmitted from the client CL to the printer PRT1, and the communication data DT1 to DT3 are distributed to the printers PRT1 to PRT3. In the printers PRT1 to PRT3, printing is executed according to the print jobs with job IDs “04-1” to “04-3”, respectively. Then, in order to cancel the print job with the job ID “04” transmitted from the client CL, the user activates an application program for canceling the print job in the client CL.

  When this application program is started, first, the screen generation unit 101b shown in FIG. 3 reads the transmission job list 102a from the memory 102, generates a distributed print list display window based on the read transmission job list 102a, It is displayed on the display 110.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a distributed print list display window generated by the screen generation unit 101b.
As shown in FIG. 4, the distributed print list display window W1 includes a list of job IDs, document names, number of copies, and user names instructing generation of print jobs, which are information described in the transmission job list 102a. It is displayed. The distributed print list display window W1 includes a print cancel button BT11 for instructing cancel of printing and a close button.

As described above, when the print job to be canceled is the print job having the job ID “04”, the user uses the keyboard 111 or the mouse 112 shown in FIG. 3 to print the distributed print list display window W1. A print job with a job ID “04” is designated from the job list and the print cancel button BT11 is pressed.
When the print cancel button BT11 is pressed, the print job cancel process is executed in the client CL and the printers PRT1 to PRT3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print job cancel process in the first embodiment.
In FIG. 5, the left side shows a flowchart in the client CL, the center shows a flowchart in the printer PRT1, and the right side shows a flowchart in the distribution destination printer. As described above, when the printers PRT1 to PRT3 are distribution destination printers, the printer PRT1 executes the processes described in the flowcharts at the center and the right side. The network board CNB executes the process described in the central flowchart, and the printer main body PRB executes the process described in the right flowchart.

  When the print job cancel process shown in FIG. 5 is started, first, in the client CL shown in FIG. 3, the print job cancel unit 101a sends a cancel command specifying the job ID “04” via the TCP / IP interpreter. To the printer PRT1 (step S202).

On the other hand, in the printer PRT1 shown in FIG. 2, the cancel processing unit 24 receives the cancel command transmitted from the client CL via the TCP / IP interpreting unit 21 (step S302). Next, the cancel processing unit 24 searches the distribution destination list storage unit 30b for the distribution destination list for the print job with the job ID “04” designated by the cancel command (step S304).
As described above, when the print job received from the client CL is distributed to the distribution destination printer, the distribution destination list for the print job is stored in the distribution destination list storage unit 30b. The job ID of the print job received from the print job and the job ID of the print job obtained by distributing this print job to each distribution destination printer are associated with each other.
Therefore, when the print job with the job ID “04” is distributed to the printers PRT1 to PRT3, the distribution destination list shown in FIG. 1 is stored in the distribution destination list storage unit 30b. This distribution destination list can be found based on the job ID “04”.

  When the distribution destination list is found, the cancel processing unit 24 transmits a cancel command specifying the job ID of the print job to be canceled to the distribution destination printer having the IP address described in the found distribution destination list. (Step S306). As described above, the IP addresses “IP1” to “IP3” of the destination printers are described in the destination list shown in FIG. 1, and the cancel processing unit 24 issues a cancel command to the printers PRT1 to PRT3. Send. In this case, the cancel processing unit 24 designates job IDs “04-2” and “04-3” to the printers PRT2 and 3 via the local area network LAN1, respectively, and issues cancel commands. The cancel command is transmitted to the printer main body PRB of the printer PRT1 by designating the job ID “04-1” via the internal bus (not shown) of the printer PRT1.

  On the other hand, in the distribution destination printer, the printer controller receives the cancel command transmitted from the cancel processing unit 24 of the printer PRT1 (step S402). Then, the printer controller cancels the print job specified by the cancel command (step S404).

  Specifically, for example, when the printer controller 42 shown in FIG. 2 receives a cancel command specifying the job ID “04-2” from the cancel processing unit 24, the job ID “0” stored in the print job storage unit 43a. 04-2 ”is deleted, and image data generated by developing the print job is deleted from the memory 43.

  If the distribution destination list for the print job specified by the cancel command is not found in the distribution destination list storage unit 30b in the process of step S304 described above, the print job received from the client CL is not yet distributed. Therefore, in this case, the cancel processing unit 24 deletes and cancels the print job data received from the client CL stored in the print job storage unit 30 (step S308).

  As a result of the above processing, the print job is canceled in each destination printer, or in the printer PRT1 if it is before distribution, so all print jobs with the job ID “04” are cancelled.

A5. Effects of the embodiment:
As described above, when the print job received from the client CL is distributed, the printer PRT1 stores a list including the IP address of the distribution destination printer and the job ID set by the printer PRT1 for the distributed print job. To do. Since the job ID set by the printer PRT1 is associated with the job ID set by the client CL, when the printer PRT1 receives a cancel command specifying the job ID from the client CL, the job ID is based on the above list. Thus, the destination printer can be specified, and a cancel command can be transmitted to each destination printer.

  Therefore, even if the client CL does not know to which printer the print job to be canceled is distributed, the job ID set by the client CL is specified for the print job to be canceled and this job ID is specified. By transmitting the canceled cancel command to the printer PRT1, the cancel command can be transmitted from the printer PRT1 to each distribution destination printer. As a result, a desired print job can be canceled.

B. Second embodiment:
In the first embodiment described above, the printer PRT1 transmits a cancel command to each distribution destination printer to cancel the print job. In this embodiment, each distribution destination is sent from the client CL. Send a cancel command to the printer.
The configuration of the distributed printing system and the configurations of the printers PRT1 to PRT3 and the client CL are the same as the configurations shown in FIGS.

B1. Specific operation of the print job cancellation process:
As in the first embodiment described above, the communication data DT0 is transmitted from the client CL to the printer PRT1, and the communication data DT1 to DT3 are distributed to the printers PRT1 to PRT3. In the printers PRT1 to PRT3, printing is executed according to the print jobs with job IDs “04-1” to “04-3”, respectively. Then, in order to cancel the print job with the job ID “04” transmitted from the client CL, the user activates an application program for canceling the print job in the client CL.

  When this application program is started, first, the screen generation unit 101b shown in FIG. 3 reads the transmission job list 102a from the memory 102, generates a distributed print list display window based on the read transmission job list 102a, and displays it. 110 is displayed.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a distributed print list display window generated by the screen generation unit 101b.
The distributed print list display window W2 shown in FIG. 6 is almost the same as the distributed print list display window W1 shown in FIG. However, the difference is that a detail display button BT12 is provided instead of the print cancel button BT11.

As described above, when the print job to be canceled is the print job with the job ID “04”, the user uses the keyboard 111 or the mouse 112 shown in FIG. 3 to print the distributed print list display window W2. A print job with a job ID “04” is designated from the job list and the detail display button BT12 is pressed.
When the detail display button BT12 is pressed, the print job cancel process is executed in the client CL and the printers PRT1 to PRT3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print job cancel process in the second embodiment.
In FIG. 7, the left side shows a flowchart of the client CL, the center shows the flowchart of the printer PRT1, and the right side shows the flowchart of the distribution destination printer. As in the first embodiment described above, in the printer PRT1, the custom network board CNB executes the process described in the central flowchart, and the printer main body PRB executes the process described in the right flowchart. .

  When the print job cancel process shown in FIG. 7 is started, first, in the client CL shown in FIG. 3, the print job cancel unit 101a designates the job ID “04” and sets the IP address and job ID of the distribution destination printer. The transmission request is transmitted to the printer PRT1 via the TCP / IP interpreter (step S502).

  On the other hand, in the printer PRT1 shown in FIG. 2, the cancel processing unit 24 receives the transmission request transmitted from the client CL via the TCP / IP interpretation unit 21 (step S602). Next, the cancel processing unit 24 searches the distribution destination list storage unit 30b for the distribution destination list for the print job with the job ID “04” specified by the cancel command (step S604).

  Next, when the distribution destination list is found, the cancel processing unit 24 specifies the IP address and job ID of the distribution destination printer described in the distribution destination list, and when the distribution destination list is not found. Transmits the IP address of the printer PRT1 and the job ID of the print job received from the client CL to the client CL (step S606).

For example, as described above, when print jobs are already distributed to the printers PRT1 to PRT3, the distribution destination list shown in FIG. 1 is stored in the distribution destination list storage unit 30b. Transmits the IP addresses “IP1” to “IP3” and the job IDs “04-1” to “04-3” described in the distribution destination list to the client CL while being associated with each other.
On the other hand, if the print job is not yet distributed, the distribution destination list is not found, so the IP address “IP1” of the printer PRT1 and the job ID “04” of the print job received from the client CL are transmitted to the client CL. .

  In the client CL, the print job cancel unit 101a receives the IP address and job ID transmitted from the printer PRT1 via the TCP / IP interpretation unit, and stores them in the memory 102 (step S504). Next, the screen generation unit 101b reads the IP address received from the printer PRT1 from the memory 102, generates a distributed printing detail display window, and displays it on the display 110 (step S506).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a distributed print detail display window generated by the screen generation unit 101b.
As described above, when print jobs are distributed to the printers PRT1 to PRT3, as shown in FIG. 8, the IP addresses “IP1” to “IP3” of the distribution destination printers are listed in the distributed print detail display window W3. Is displayed. The distributed print detail display window W3 cancels the print job for all the distribution destination printers at once and the print cancel button BT21 for instructing the cancellation of the print job corresponding to each distribution destination printer. An all print cancel button BT22 for instructing and a close button are provided.

  Since the user intends to cancel the entire print job with the job ID “04”, the user presses the all print cancel button BT22 using the mouse 112 shown in FIG. If it is desired to cancel only a print job distributed to a certain printer, the print cancel button BT21 corresponding to that printer may be pressed.

  When the all print cancel button BT22 is pressed, the print job cancel unit 101a designates all IP addresses (IP1 to IP3) displayed in the distributed print detail display window W3 as IP addresses of destination printers of the cancel command. As a result, the designated IP address is stored in the memory 102 (step S508). When the print cancel button BT21 is pressed, the IP address of the corresponding printer is stored in the memory 102.

  Next, the print job cancel unit 101 a reads from the memory 102 the IP address of the printer designated as the cancel command transmission destination printer. Here, as described above, since the IP address and the job ID transmitted from the printer PRT1 are stored in the memory 102, the print job cancel unit 101a uses the read IP address as a key to set the corresponding job ID. Read from the memory 102. Then, the print job cancel unit 101a transmits a cancel command specifying the read job ID to the printer having the specified IP address (step S510).

  For example, in the state where the IP addresses “IP1” to “IP3” and the job IDs “04-1” to “04-3” received from the printer PRT1 are stored in the memory 102 as described above, When IP addresses “IP1” to “IP3” are designated by pressing BT22, the print job cancel unit 101a applies job IDs “04-1” to “04-3” to the printers PRT1 to PRT3, respectively. Specify and send a cancel command.

  In the distribution destination printer, as in the first embodiment, the printer controller receives a cancel command transmitted from the client CL (step S702), and cancels the print job specified by the cancel command (step S704). ).

  If the print job is not yet distributed, the printer PRT1 receives the IP address “IP1” and the job ID “04” from the printer PRT1, as described above. Only “IP1” is displayed. When the print cancel button BT21 (or all print cancel button BT22) corresponding to “IP1” is pressed, a cancel command specifying the job ID “04” is transmitted to the printer PRT1. In this case, the cancel processing unit 24 deletes the print job with the job ID “04” stored in the print job storage unit 30b.

  As a result of the above processing, the print job is canceled in each destination printer, or in the printer PRT1 if it is before distribution, so all print jobs with the job ID “04” are cancelled.

B2. Effects of the embodiment:
As described above, when the print job received from the client CL is distributed, the printer PRT1 stores a list including the IP address of the distribution destination printer and the job ID set by the printer PRT1 for the distributed print job. To do. Since the job ID set by the printer PRT1 is associated with the job ID set by the client CL, the printer PRT1 designates the job ID from the client CL, and distributes the IP address of the distribution destination printer and the distributed printing. When the transmission of the job ID set for the job is requested, the IP address and the job ID can be transmitted to the client CL based on the above list.

  Accordingly, even when the client CL does not know to which printer the print job to be canceled is distributed, the IP address and job ID of the distribution destination printer can be acquired from the printer PRT1. As a result, a cancel command can be transmitted to each distribution destination printer, and a desired print job can be canceled.

  When the client CL receives the IP address and job ID of the distribution destination printer from the printer PRT1, the client CL corresponds to the IP address of the distribution destination printer received from the printer PRT1 and each distribution destination printer in the distributed printing details display window W3. The attached print cancel button and all print cancel buttons are displayed. Therefore, even when the user does not know to which printer the print job is distributed, the user can easily know the destination printer and specify some or all of the destination printers. Thus, it is possible to easily instruct the transmission of the cancel command.

C. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible. .

C1. Modification 1:
In the first and second embodiments described above, when a print job is distributed to the distribution destination printer, a cancel command is transmitted to each distribution destination printer. The cancel command may be transmitted to the printer PRT1 having the distributed printing control function. In this case, the cancel command may be transmitted to each distribution destination printer after the cancel command is transmitted to the printer PRT1.

When distribution of a print job to each distribution destination printer is started and print job data is transmitted from the printer PRT1 to each distribution destination printer, the above-described print job cancel process is started. When receiving the cancel command, the printer deletes a part of the print job data received from the printer PRT1 and stored in the print job storage unit. However, the remaining print job data transmitted from the printer PRT1 after deletion is stored in the print job storage unit and remains without being deleted.
Therefore, with the above-described configuration, first, the remaining print job data that has not been transmitted to the distribution destination printer is deleted in the printer PRT1, and then each distribution destination printer has received from the printer PRT1 so far. Since a part of the print job data is deleted, the remaining print job data is not transmitted from the printer PRT1 after a part of the print job data is deleted in each distribution destination printer. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a part of the print job data from remaining in the print job storage unit of each distribution destination printer.

C2. Modification 2:
In the first and second embodiments described above, the cancel processing unit 24 transmits a cancel command to all the destination printers specified in the destination list, but instead, first, Queries all the distribution destination printers specified in the distribution destination list about the processing status of the distributed print job, and according to the result, cancels only the printer that has not completed the processing of the print job. May be transmitted. In such a configuration, the cancel processing unit 24 corresponds to a transmission request unit in the claims.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a cancel command from being transmitted to a printer that has already processed a print job and does not need to transmit a cancel command. It is possible to prevent unnecessary data from flowing.

C3. Modification 3:
In the first and second embodiments described above, a cancel command for canceling a print job has been transmitted to each distribution destination printer. However, the present invention is not limited to the cancel command, and other control commands are transmitted. You may make it transmit.
Specifically, for example, when processing a distributed print job, a command for preventing other print jobs transmitted from clients or the like from being accepted (or vice versa) The present invention can also be applied to a case where a command for returning to an accepted state is transmitted to each distribution destination printer.

C4. Modification 4:
In the first and second embodiments described above, in the distribution destination list, the IP address is described as the identification information of the distribution destination printer. However, instead of the IP address, the printer name or MAC (Media Access Control) is used. Other information such as an address may be described. Also in the distributed printing details display window W3 in the second embodiment, the printer name or the like may be displayed instead of the IP address as information indicating each distribution destination printer.

C5. Modification 5:
In the first and second embodiments described above, the cancel command is transmitted by designating the job ID of the print job to be canceled. In each printer, printing that can be stored in the print job storage unit If the configuration is such that the number of jobs is one and the next print job can be received after the processing of the print job is completed, the cancel command may be transmitted without specifying the job ID. This is because in such a configuration, a print job to be canceled without specifying a job ID is uniquely specified in each printer. In this case, the distribution destination list only needs to describe the IP address of the distribution destination printer.

C6. Modification 6:
In the first and second embodiments described above, the client CL and the printers PRT1 to PRT3 transmit the cancel command via the TCP / IP interpreter, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a command specified by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is used as a cancel command, since UDP uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) as a protocol in the transport layer, UDP / IP interpreting the UDP protocol is used. What is necessary is just to transmit via this UDP / IP interpretation part by providing an interpretation part.
In addition, as a case where a command defined by SNMP is used as a cancel command, for example, management of whether or not a print job cancel instruction has been received in a management information base (MIB) indicating management information such as the status and failure of each printer is managed. In order to be a target, whether or not a cancel instruction is accepted is set in advance as a management attribute (object). Then, the client or the printer having the distributed printing control function transmits a SetRequest command for designating this object and setting a value indicating “cancel accepted” as a cancel command to the transmission destination printer. Then, the printer that has received this command sets a value indicating “cancel accepted” to the aforementioned object, and cancels the print job.

C7. Modification 7:
In the first and second embodiments described above, the distributed printing control apparatus is configured as a custom network board CNB built in the printer PRT1, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The distributed printing control device is separated from the printer PRT1 and is connected to the printer PRT1 through a wired connection such as USB connection, IEEE1394 connection, parallel connection, serial connection, or wireless connection such as Bluetooth connection, wireless LAN connection, or infrared connection. It does not matter if it is configured. Alternatively, a server connected to the local area network LAN1 may be configured as a distributed printing control apparatus separately from the printer PRT1.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a distributed printing system including a printer PRT1 as a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a printer PRT1 in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary structure of the client in 1st Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the distributed printing list display window produced | generated by the screen production | generation part 101b. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job cancellation processing according to the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the distributed printing list display window produced | generated by the screen production | generation part 101b. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job cancel processing according to the second embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the distributed printing detailed display window produced | generated by the screen production | generation part 101b.

Explanation of symbols

20, 101 ... CPU
21 ... TCP / IP interpreting unit 22 ... distributed processing unit 23 ... distributed destination determining unit 24 ... cancel processing unit 25 ... copy number determining unit 30,43,102 ... memory 30a, 43a ... print job storage unit 30b ... distribution destination list storage unit 41 ... printer engine 42 ... printer controller 100 ... computer 101a ... print job cancellation unit 101b ... screen generation unit 102a. ..Send Job List 103 ... Hard Disk 104 ... I / O Interface Unit 105 ... Internal Bus 110 ... Display 111 ... Keyboard 112 ... Mouse BT11, BT21 ... Print Cancel Button BT12. ..Detail display button BT22 ... All print cancel button CL ... Client CNB ... Custom network board DT0 to DT3 ... Communication data LAN1 ... Local area network PR ... printer body PRT1~PRT3 ... printer W1, W2 ... distributed printing list display window W3 ... distributed printing details display window

Claims (21)

A distributed print control apparatus capable of distributing a print job transmitted via a network to a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses serving as distribution destinations among the printing apparatuses connected to the network,
A storage unit for storing the print job when the print job is received;
A determination unit that determines the distribution destination printing device when the print job is received;
A storage unit for storing identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus determined by the determination unit;
A distribution unit that reads the identification information from the storage unit and distributes the print job stored in the storage unit to the distribution destination printing apparatus specified by the read identification information;
A command transmission unit capable of transmitting a control command for executing predetermined processing to the distribution destination printing apparatus;
With
When an external request is made to transmit the control command to the distribution destination printing apparatus, the command transmission unit reads the identification information from the storage unit, and at least one specified by the read identification information The distributed printing control apparatus, wherein the control command is transmitted to the distribution destination printing apparatus. A distributed print control apparatus capable of distributing a print job transmitted via a network to a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses serving as distribution destinations among the printing apparatuses connected to the network,
A storage unit for storing the print job when the print job is received;
A determination unit for determining the distribution destination printing apparatus;
A storage unit for storing identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus determined by the determination unit;
A distribution unit that reads the identification information from the storage unit and distributes the print job stored in the storage unit to the distribution destination printing apparatus specified by the read identification information;
A command transmission unit capable of transmitting a cancel command for canceling the distributed print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus;
With
When an external request for transmission of the cancel command to the distributed printing apparatus is made, the command transmission unit reads the identification information from the storage unit, and at least one of the at least one specified by the read identification information A distributed printing control apparatus, wherein the cancel command is transmitted to a distribution destination printing apparatus. The distributed printing control apparatus according to claim 2,
A control unit capable of canceling the print job stored in the storage unit;
While the distribution unit distributes the print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus, and the distribution destination printing apparatus is receiving the distributed print job, the distributed printing control apparatus from the outside When the control unit cancels the print job stored in the storage unit, and the control unit cancels the print job, the transmission of the cancel command is requested. The command transmission unit reads the identification information from the storage unit and transmits the cancel command to the distribution destination printing device specified by the read identification information. The distributed printing control apparatus according to claim 2,
A transmission request unit capable of requesting the distribution destination printing apparatus to transmit processing status information regarding the processing status of the distributed print job;
The transmission request unit reads the identification information from the storage unit when the transmission of the cancel command is requested from the outside, and the processing status for the distribution destination printing apparatus specified by the read identification information Requesting information to be sent,
In the case of transmitting the cancel command, the command transmission unit is distributed among the distribution destination printing devices based on the processing status information received from the distribution destination printing device as a result of the request of the transmission request unit. The distributed print control apparatus, wherein the cancel command is transmitted only to the distribution destination printing apparatus that has not completed processing of the print job.   A printing apparatus comprising the distributed printing control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A client, a printing apparatus, and a distributed printing control apparatus connected to each other via a network, wherein the distributed printing control apparatus transmits a print job transmitted via the network as a distribution destination of the printing apparatuses. A distributed printing system that can be distributed to a plurality of distribution destination printing devices,
When receiving the print job, the distributed printing control apparatus determines the distribution destination printing apparatus, stores identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus, and determines the determined distribution destination printing apparatus. To distribute the print job,
When the client is requested to transmit the identification information, the distributed printing control apparatus transmits the stored identification information to the client,
When receiving the identification information from the distributed printing control apparatus, the client causes the at least one distribution destination printing apparatus specified by the received identification information to cancel the distributed print job. A distributed printing system characterized by transmitting a cancel command. A client connected via a network to a distributed print control apparatus capable of determining a distribution destination printing apparatus that is a distribution destination of a print job and distributing the print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus Because
An input unit capable of inputting an instruction to cancel the print job;
An identification information transmission request unit that requests the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit the identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus when the instruction to cancel is input via the input unit. When,
When the identification information is received from the distributed printing control apparatus as a result of the request by the identification information transmission request unit, the distributed printing apparatus that should cancel the distributed print job among the distributed printing apparatuses A user interface unit that provides a user interface capable of designating based on the received identification information;
A command transmission unit capable of transmitting a first cancel command for canceling the distributed print job to at least one of the distribution destination printing apparatuses designated via the user interface;
With client. The client of claim 7, wherein
When the distributed printing apparatus is designated via the user interface, the command transmission unit first causes the distributed printing control apparatus to cancel the print job stored in the storage unit. When a second cancel command is transmitted and the second cancel command is transmitted, the first cancel command is transmitted to at least one of the specified distribution destination printing apparatuses. client. The client of claim 7, wherein
A request unit capable of requesting the distribution destination printing apparatus designated via the user interface to transmit processing status information regarding the processing status of the distributed print job;
When the command transmission unit transmits the first cancel command, the request unit requests the transmission of the processing status information, and as a result, the distribution unit receives the distribution status based on the processing status information received from the distribution destination printing device. The client, wherein the first cancel command is transmitted only to the distribution destination printing device that has not completed processing of the distributed print job among the destination printing devices. When a print job is distributed to a plurality of printing devices connected to the network, at least one of the printing devices is specified, and the print job distributed to the specified printing device is A client with a user interface for canceling each printing device,
The user interface includes at least a list of information indicating the printing apparatus and a plurality of first instructions for instructing to cancel a print job corresponding to each printing apparatus and distributed to the corresponding printing apparatus A client characterized by displaying a part on a single screen. The client of claim 10, comprising:
In addition to the list of information indicating the printing apparatus and the plurality of first instruction units, the user interface includes a first instruction for instructing all printing apparatuses to cancel distributed print jobs at once. A client characterized by displaying two instruction units on one screen. Among a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network, a plurality of distribution destination printing apparatuses that are distribution destinations of a print job transmitted via the network are determined, and the print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printing apparatuses. A distributed printing control apparatus capable of
A storage unit for storing identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus;
A transmission unit capable of transmitting the identification information to a client connected via a network;
With
When the client requests the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit the identification information, the transmission unit reads the identification information from the storage unit, and transmits the read identification information to the client. A distributed printing control device.   A printing apparatus comprising the distributed printing control apparatus according to claim 12. For a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined in a distributed printing control device, and the print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printing device And a control command transmission method for transmitting a control command for executing predetermined processing to the distribution destination printing apparatus,
(A) storing the identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in a storage unit included in the distributed printing control apparatus;
(B) requesting the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit the control command to the distribution destination printing apparatus;
(C) reading the identification information from the storage unit and transmitting the control command to at least one of the distribution destination printing devices specified by the read identification information;
A control command transmission method comprising: For a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined in a distributed printing control device, and the print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printing device A print job canceling method for canceling the distributed print job,
(A) storing the identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in a storage unit included in the distributed printing control apparatus;
(B) requesting the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit a cancel command for canceling the print job to the distribution destination printing apparatus;
(C) reading the identification information from the storage unit, and transmitting the cancel command to at least one of the distribution destination printing devices specified by the read identification information;
A print job canceling method comprising: For a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined in a distributed printing control device, and the print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printing device A print job canceling method for canceling the distributed print job,
(A) storing the identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in a storage unit included in the distributed printing control apparatus;
(B) requesting transmission of the identification information from the client to the distributed printing control apparatus;
(C) reading the identification information from the storage unit and transmitting it to the client;
(D) transmitting a cancel command for canceling the distributed print job to at least one of the distribution destination printing apparatuses specified by the received identification information in the client;
A print job canceling method comprising: For a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined, and the computer distributes the print job to the distribution destination printing device. A computer program for transmitting a control command for executing a predetermined process,
A function of storing identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in a storage unit included in the computer;
When the transmission of the control command to the distribution destination printing apparatus is requested, the identification information is read from the storage unit, and at least one of the distribution destination printing apparatuses specified by the read identification information A function of transmitting the control command;
A computer program for causing the computer to realize the above. With respect to a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined, and the distributed print job is canceled in a computer that distributes the print job to the distribution destination printing device. A computer program for transmitting a cancel command to the distribution destination printing apparatus,
A function of storing identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in a storage unit included in the computer;
When the transmission of the cancel command to the distribution destination printing apparatus is requested, the identification information is read from the storage unit, and at least one of the distribution destination printing apparatuses specified by the read identification information A function of transmitting the cancel command;
A program for causing the computer to realize the above. For a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined in a distributed printing control device, and the print job is distributed to the determined distribution destination printing device A computer program for causing the distribution destination printing apparatus to cancel the distributed print job by a computer,
A function for requesting the distributed printing control apparatus to transmit the identification information of the determined distribution destination printing apparatus when an instruction to cancel the print job is input to the computer;
When the identification information is received from the distributed printing control apparatus as a result of the request, it is possible to specify the distribution destination printing apparatus that should cancel the distributed print job among the distribution destination printing apparatuses. A function of providing a user interface based on the received identification information;
A function for transmitting a cancel command for canceling the distributed print job to at least one distribution destination printing apparatus designated via the user interface;
A program for causing the computer to realize the above. For a print job transmitted via a network, a distribution destination printing device that is a distribution destination of the print job is determined, and a computer that distributes the print job to the distribution destination printing device is connected to the computer via the network A computer program for transmitting identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus to a client that has been made,
A function of storing the determined identification information of the distribution destination printing apparatus in a storage unit included in the computer;
A function of reading the identification information from the storage unit and transmitting the read identification information to the client when the client requests transmission of the identification information;
A program for causing the computer to realize the above.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to any one of claims 17 to 20 is recorded.

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