JP3480113B2 - Job processing system and print control method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a job processing system and a print control method constructed in a distributed environment, and more particularly to control for collating or non-collating output of a received job request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a print process in a conventional printer processing system, a job request sent from a terminal device on a network is received by a job scheduling device, and after a predetermined scheduling operation, this job is sent to a job execution unit. Then, print processing and conversion processing are executed. In a job scheduling device, a set of print data and its attribute group (hereinafter, document) that make up a job request is converted into one operation unit (hereinafter,
Jobs) are sequentially stored in the queue, and scheduling is performed for each job.

[0003]

By the way, when a user wants to output a plurality of jobs having the same contents, the conventional job processing system had to issue the job requests for the number of jobs. Moreover, since those jobs are treated as separate jobs, the output result for that job request is mixed with the output results for the job requests of other users, and the user takes a lot of time to distinguish his / her own output result. Was needed.

Further, when a plurality of job requests are issued, print data is required for each job although the same print data is used. Therefore, when the data amount is large, a storage device such as a disk is required. The burden will also increase. Further, when a job includes a document that needs to be converted, the conversion process is also performed for each job, resulting in poor processing efficiency.

On the other hand, job processing methods include acceptance completion type sequential processing and non-acceptance completion type sequential processing. Receipt completion type sequential processing is one that does not issue processing requests for documents until all the documents that make up the job have been gathered, and non-receipt completion type sequential processing is one that issues processing requests in the order in which documents are received. . When using a high-speed printer, non-reception completion type sequential processing is suitable, but when controlling collate / uncollate jobs, reception completion type sequential processing is more suitable. ing. However, in the reception completion type sequential processing, the issuance of the processing request must be waited until all the documents are gathered, so that there is a drawback that the scheduling becomes slow and the overall processing time becomes long.

Note that collation (with collation) means that documents are arranged in page order and the designated number of sheets are output, and non-collation (without collation) is designated by dividing documents for each page. It means to output the same number of sheets.

An object of the present invention is to provide a job processing system and a print control method capable of improving the processing efficiency of jobs when outputting a plurality of jobs having the same contents.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, a job processing system according to the present invention queues a job based on a terminal device that issues a job request and a job request received from the terminal device through a network. In a job processing system having a job scheduling device that manages and issues a processing request for a document specified by the job to a job execution unit and sequentially processes the jobs, the terminal device provides information about the number of output copies and output results. The job scheduling apparatus acquires attribute information added by the attribute information adding means from the received job request, and adds the acquired attribute information to the job request. Attribute information setting procedure to be set in the specific information that identifies the document When the of the specific information, and stores those to start processing before a job in a first queue for receiving all of the documents identified by said identification information,
Queue management means for storing, in the second queue, a job that starts processing after all documents specified by the specific information are received, and the specific information stored in the second queue. Processing for storing the specific information in the first queue when all documents specified by are received, and collation processing for the attribute information of the specific information stored in the first queue as information regarding the output result. Is specified, the process of controlling the processing request to the job execution unit so as to collately output the number of output copies specified by the attribute information, and the specific information stored in the first queue. When the non-collating processing is designated as the information about the output result in the attribute information of, the job execution section is instructed to perform non-collating output by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information. Characterized by comprising an output control means for executing a process of controlling the management requests. The print control method according to the present invention manages a queue of jobs based on a job request received from a terminal device that issues a job request through a network, and issues a processing request for a document specified by the job to a job execution unit. In the print control method for sequentially processing jobs,
A step of adding information relating to the number of copies and an output result to the job request as attribute information in the terminal device; acquiring the attribute information from the job request, and storing the acquired attribute information in specific information for specifying a job and a document. The step of setting and the step of starting the processing before receiving all the documents specified by the specific information among the specific information are stored in the first queue as a job,
Among the specific information, the step of storing the one which starts processing after receiving all the documents specified by the specific information as a job in the second queue, and the specific information stored in the second queue. Storing the specified information in the first queue when all the received documents are received, and the collation process is specified as the information about the output result in the attribute information of the specified information stored in the first queue. If so, the step of controlling the processing request to the job execution unit so that the output copies are output in the number specified by the attribute information, and the attribute of the specific information stored in the first queue. When non-collating processing is designated as the information regarding the output result in the information, the job execution section is made to perform non-collating output by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information. Characterized in that it comprises the step of controlling the processing request.

[0009]

According to the above job processing system, when the terminal device issues a job request, the attribute information adding means adds information about the number of output copies of the job and information about the output result of the job to the job request as attribute information of the job. To do. Then, the attribute information setting means of the job scheduling device that receives the job request acquires the attribute information included in the received job and sets the attribute information in the job and the document in the specific information. The queue management means stores, in the first queue, a job that starts processing before receiving all the documents specified by the specific information, as a job, and stores all the documents specified by the specific information. A job that starts processing after reception is stored as a job in the second queue. The output result control means stores the specific information in the first queue when all the documents specified by the specific information stored in the second queue are received, and the specification stored in the first queue. When collation processing is specified in the attribute information of the information as the information regarding the output result, the processing request to the job execution unit is controlled so that the collation output is performed by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information. When the process and the attribute information of the specific information stored in the first queue specify the non-collating process as the information regarding the output result, the non-collating output is performed by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information. In this way, processing for controlling the processing request to the job execution unit is executed. According to the above print control method, the terminal device adds the information about the number of output copies of the job and the information about the output result of the job to the job as attribute information of the job and issues the job. Then, the attribute information included in the job is acquired, and this attribute information is set in the job and document in the specific information. Then, of the specific information, the one that starts the process before receiving all the documents specified by the specific information is stored as a job in the first queue, and after all the documents specified by the specific information are received. The job that starts processing is the second
Store in the queue. Also, a process of storing the specific information in the first queue when all documents specified by the specific information stored in the second queue are received, and attribute information of the specific information stored in the first queue. When collation processing is designated as information regarding the output result, processing for controlling the processing request to the job execution unit so that collation output is performed by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information; In the attribute information of the specific information stored in the queue of 1,
When the non-collating process is designated as the information regarding the output result, the process for controlling the processing request to the job executing unit is executed so that the non-collating output is performed by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information. To do.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a job processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of a job processing system according to the present invention. The job processing system 10 includes a terminal device 11, a job scheduling device 12, and a job executing unit 13.

The terminal device 11 is a user device connected to the job scheduling device 12 via a network (not shown). In this terminal device, one job is generated as a plurality of documents, and a job request including these documents and various control requests are issued to the job scheduling device 12.

Further, the terminal device 11 adds various attribute values including information regarding the number of output copies of the job and information regarding the output result of the job to the job request as the attribute information of the job in accordance with the instruction input from the user.

The job scheduling device 12 sequentially stores the job requests sent from the terminal device 11 in a queue, performs scheduling while considering the allocation and processing status of the job execution unit 13, and stores the jobs stored in the queue. Is a module for passing the job to the job execution unit 13 and requesting print processing and the like.

The job scheduling device 12 is
The request control unit 14, the job scheduling unit 15, the job execution unit control unit 16, and the queue management unit 17 are included.

Upon receiving the job request from the terminal device 11, the request control unit 14 creates a queue object corresponding to the job and also passes the queue object to the job scheduling unit 15 to request scheduling such as print processing. .

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a queue object created by the request control unit 14. Upon receiving the first job request, the request control unit 14 creates a queue object for the job (holds information common to all documents) and sets the job information unit. In the job information section, information for identifying the job (hereinafter, job information) is created based on the attribute information set in the first job request.

Job ID: Job identifier ... An ID for identifying a job.

Job Copy Count: Job copy number specifier ...
Indicates how many of this job to copy.

Copy Count: Copy counter ... Indicates how many copies are made. The initial value is 0.

Collate Flag: Collate identifier: Collate if TRUE (Collate), collate if FALSE (Uncolla
te).

Current Doc Num: Processing request document identifier ... Indicates the Doc Seq Num that issued the processing request. The initial value is 0.

On the other hand, when the first job request and the subsequent job request are received, a queue object (holds information for each document) of each document is created and a document information section is set. Information (hereinafter referred to as document information) for identifying the document is created in the document information section based on the attribute information set in the received document.

Job ID: Job identifier ... An ID for identifying a job.

Doc Seq Num: Document identifier ... A number for identifying a document Request Count: Processing request counter ... The number of times a processing request is issued to the job execution unit 13. As an initial value, Jo of the above job information
b Copy Count value is set. After that, each time a processing request is made, it is set to -1.

Complete Count: Processing end counter ... The number of times processing end is notified by the job execution unit 13. 0 is set when this document information is created.

Complete: Final document identifier: TRUE
Indicates that it is the last document.

These queue objects are stored in a predetermined queue according to the job status. That is, a queue object of the job is stored in the queue, and an actual document is stored in a memory (not shown) in a corresponding manner. In the following description, the queue object stored in the queue is simply referred to as a document.

The job scheduling unit 15 transfers the job delivered from the request control unit 14 to the queue management unit 17, and by using this queue management unit 17, the job execution unit 13
Manage queues corresponding to and queues required for scheduling. Then, scheduling is performed in consideration of the allocation and processing status of the job execution unit 13, and the job stored in the queue management unit 17 is passed to the job execution unit 13 to request print processing.

The queue object of the job passed from the request control unit 14 is to the printer queue 22 for the non-reception completion type sequential processing job, to the spool queue 18 for the reception completion type sequential processing job, and to the hold queue 19 for the non-scheduling job. Is stored. If there is a subsequent document in the job request, the job information of the job to which the same job identifier is added is referred to, information is set in the document information section of the subsequent document, and the queue management section 17 is used. Add to a queue object with the same job identifier.

Among the jobs stored in the queues other than the hold queue 19 and the terminate queue 23, the job execution unit 13 which performs the corresponding conversion process can accept the job including the document that needs the conversion process. When it becomes, the conversion process is performed.

The collation control means 15a includes a queue management section 17
When the job information and the document information of the job stored in the printer queue 22 are referred to, and when the collate identifier (Collate Flag) is set to TRUE (Collate), the job information and the document information are used to detect the job. Control the processing request to the job execution unit 13 so that the specified number of output copies will be output, and when the collate identifier is set to FALSE (Uncollate), the job information and document information are used. The processing request to the job execution unit 13 is controlled so that the specified number of output copies of this job are not collated.

When the job scheduling unit 15 receives a process acceptance notification from the job execution unit 13, the jobs are taken out in order from the head of the printer queue 22 and designated by the user using the collation control unit 15a. A document processing request is issued to the job execution unit 13 via the job execution unit control unit 16 so that collated or non-collated output is performed. Then, the status notification of the document that issued the processing request is received from the job execution unit 13 via the job execution unit control unit 16, and the scheduling of another job is performed.

The job execution section control section 16 passes the document processing request from the job scheduling section 15 to the job execution section 13 and requests the print processing. Further, the status notification regarding the job processing from the job execution unit 13 is passed to the job scheduling unit 15.

The queue management unit 17 creates various queues according to an instruction from the job scheduling unit 15, and stores a series of queue objects to which a common job identifier is added in association with each other as one job.

The spool queue 18 is a queue in which reception completion type sequential processing jobs are stored, and the jobs are managed in this queue until all documents are available.

The hold queue 19 is a queue for temporarily holding a document. When a job hold specifies a job hold, this hold queue 19 is used regardless of whether it is a reception completion type sequential processing job or a non-reception completion type sequential processing job. It is stored in the hold queue 19. The hold state of the job stored in the hold queue 19 is released by the user's instruction, and the job is moved to the spool queue 18 for the acceptance completion type sequential processing job and to the printer queue 22 for the non-acceptance completion type sequential processing job.

The wait queue 20 is a kind of waiting queue, and is moved from the printer queue 22 to this queue when a job waiting for a password input from the user times out. Then, when the user inputs a password, the printer queue 22
Return to.

The pause queue 21 is a queue in which jobs whose processing has been temporarily stopped enter. The pause queue 21 is moved from the printer queue 22 or returned to the printer queue 22 by a system administrator performing a predetermined operation through a server management unit (not shown).

The printer queues 22 (1 to N) are provided corresponding to a job output unit (not shown) of the job execution unit 13. Jobs waiting for print processing are stored in this queue.

The termination queues 23 (1 to N) are provided corresponding to the printer queues 22 (1 to N), and the job execution unit 13 stores jobs for which job processing has been completed for all documents. To be done.

The job execution unit 13 is composed of one or more job processing units or job output units (not shown). The job processing section is a converter that performs processing such as conversion of print formats, and the job output section is a printer that executes job output, that is, print output.
The job output unit and the printer queue 22 (1 to N) are 1
The jobs are provided in correspondence to each other, and the job is stored in the printer queue 22 corresponding to the job output unit selected by the job scheduling unit 15, and passed from the printer queue to the corresponding job output unit.

When the job execution unit 13 finishes processing one job, the job execution unit control unit 16 notifies the job scheduling unit 15 of the completion of the processing. When the processing of the document becomes possible, the job scheduling unit 15 is notified via the job execution unit control unit 16 that the processing can be accepted.

Next, the overall flow of job processing in the above-mentioned job processing system 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here we have multiple documents
A case where it is accepted as one job will be described.

First, when the request control unit 14 receives a job request (step 101), it judges whether or not a job identifier (ID) is set in the job request (step 102), and the job identifier must be set. For example, the job request is determined to be the first job. Then, a job identifier common to a plurality of job requests from the first job request to the last job request is set, a queue object for the job of the job request is created, and the job information section is set. At the same time, the attribute information included in the received job request is acquired and this attribute information is set as the job information (step 103). Next, a queue object for the job request document is created and the document information section is set. at the same time,
The attribute information included in the received job request is acquired, and this attribute information is set as document information (step 104).

On the other hand, when a job identifier is set in the received job request, it is determined that the job request is one of a series of already accepted job requests, and the job information is acquired based on the job identifier (step 105). Next, it is judged from the attribute information of the job request whether the document is the last document (step 106). If it is the last document, the number of documents is described in the job information of the job identifier (step 10).
7).

When the processing of step 104 is completed,
The newly assigned job identifier is returned to the terminal device 11 that sent the job request (step 10).
8).

Next, the job scheduling section 15
It is determined whether the received job request has a job hold designation (step 109). When the job hold is designated, the document of the job request is stored in the hold queue 19 (step 110), and the state is released when the user gives an instruction (step 1).
11). If the job hold is not designated in step 109, it is determined whether the job is the acceptance completion type sequential processing (step 112). In the case of the acceptance completion type sequential processing, the document of the job request is stored in the spool queue 18 (step 113) and held until all the documents are gathered (step 114).

Next, the job scheduling section 15
The job execution unit 13 selects a printer suitable for processing and stores the job in the corresponding printer queue 22 (step 115). Then, the processing request for the documents included in the job is issued to the job execution unit 13 via the job execution unit control unit 16 (step 116), and when the processing request is issued for all the documents (step 1
17), the corresponding termination queue 23 for that job
(Step 118).

Next, the procedure for issuing a processing request when the job with the job identifier XX is collated or non-collated in the job scheduling unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the job scheduling unit 15
The job identifier (Job I at the top of the printer queue 22
D) The job information of XX is acquired (step 201).
The collation control means 15a uses the collate identifier (Collate Fla
g) is TRUE (step 202), TRUE
If (there is collation), the document information of the processing request document identifier (Current Doc Num) +1 of the job identifier XX is acquired (step 203). Then, the processing request counter (Request Count) = processing request counter −1, and the job execution unit 1 through the job execution unit control unit 16.
A processing request is issued to 3 (step 204). Then the final document identifier (Complet
It is determined whether or not e) is TRUE (step 205). If it is not TRUE, the process returns to step 203. If TRUE, the processing request counter (Request Count) of the document information is 0.
It is determined whether or not (step 206). Here, if the processing request counter is not 0, the processing request document identifier is set to 0 (step 207) and the process returns to step 203.

If the processing request counter is 0 in step 206, the issuance of the processing request of the job identifier XX ends.

For example, if the number of copies of the job is 2,
Since the processing request counter is also set to 2, step 20
If the processing request counter is not 0 in step 6, the processing request document identifier is set to 0 and the processing request is issued again for all the documents in order to process the same job from the beginning. By repeating this process until the processing request counter reaches 0 and performing the specified number of copies, it is possible to arrange the documents in order and output the specified number of copies.

Now, in step 202, the collate identifier is
When it is not TRUE (no collation), the document information of the processing request document identifier (Current Doc Num) = 1 of the job identifier XX is acquired (step 208). Then, the processing request counter (Request Count) = processing request counter-1 is issued to the job execution unit 13 through the job execution unit control unit 16 (step 209). Next, the document request processing counter (Request Coun
It is determined whether t) is 0 (step 210). If it is not 0, the process returns to step 209 to issue a processing request for the same document. If the processing request counter is 0,
The final document identifier (Compl
ete) is TRUE (step 211), and TRUE
If not, the document information of the processing request document identifier +1 of the job identifier XX is acquired (step 21).
2) and returns to step 209.

If the final document identifier is TRUE in step 211, the issuance of the processing request for the job identifier XX ends.

For example, if the number of copies of the job is 2,
Since the processing request counter is also set to 2, step 21
If it is 0 and the processing request counter is not 0, the processing request is issued again for the same document. By repeating this processing for all the documents, the specified number of copies can be output separately for each document.

Next, the procedure for ending the processing when the job with the job identifier XX is collated or non-collated in the job scheduling unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the job scheduling unit 15 receives the notification of the processing end of the job identifier XX (Job ID) from the job execution unit 13 through the job execution unit control unit 16 (step 301), it acquires the job information of the job identifier XX. (Step 302) Further, the document information of the processed document is acquired (Step 30).
3). Then, the processing completion counter (Complete Count) is incremented by +1.
Then, it is determined whether the processing end counter is equal to the job copy number designator (Job Copy Count) (step 305). Here, if the two values are not equal, the process returns to step 301. If the two values are equal, the document is terminated (step 30).
6) Determine whether the final document identifier is TRUE (step 307). If it is not TRUE, the process returns to step 301, and if it is TRUE, the process of the job identifier XX ends.

Next, a specific example in the case of collating or non-collating output of a non-reception completion type sequential processing job will be described.

First, the case of collating and outputting the jobs of 1 job / 2 documents with the job copy number 2 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the queue objects stored in the printer queue and the information held therein. J1 is the job information of the target job, and d1 is the document of the document identifier (Doc Seq Num) 1. Information, d
Reference numeral 2 denotes the document information of the document identifier 2, respectively.

In the initial state, the copy counter of the job information j1 is 0, and the processing request counter of the document identifier (Doc Seq Num) 1 is (Request Coun).
The values of t) and the job copy count specifier (Job Copy Count) are equal, indicating that the processing request for the first round of the first document has not been issued.

Here, when the job execution unit 13 becomes ready to receive a process, the collation control means 15a of the job scheduling unit 15 issues a process request for the document having the document identifier 1 of the job (). Here, job information j1
The copy count (Copy Count) is 1, and the document information d
The processing request counter (Request Count) of 1 is 1.

Next, when the job execution unit 13 becomes ready for processing, the collation control means 15a issues a processing request for the document with the document identifier 2 (). The processing request counter for the document after the document identifier 2 is issued when the processing request counter for the document information of this document is larger than the processing request counter for the document identifier 1. In, the processing request counter of the document information d2 changes from 2 to 1, and the processing request document identifier
(Current Doc Num) = Document identifier (2 in this example).

Document with document identifier 1 (1
When the processing request counter of the last document (Complete Count = TRUE) is equal to the processing request counter of the document with the document identifier 2 (second document), Published in. That is, after that, when the job execution unit 13 becomes ready to accept the process, the collation control means 15a issues a process request for the second round of the document with the document identifier 1 (). Here, the copy counter of the document identifier 1 is 2, and the processing request counter is 0. However, if the last document of the target job is not in the printer queue, the processing request is not issued. Then, the processing of the first round of the document with the document identifier 1 ends, and the processing of the first round of the document with the document identifier 2 ends.

Next, after that, when the job execution unit 13 becomes ready to accept the process, the collation control means 15a issues a process request for the second round of the document having the document identifier d2 (). Here, the processing request counter of the document identifier 2 becomes 0. Then, the process of the second round of the document with the document identifier 1 ends, and then the process of the second round of the document with the document identifier 2 ends.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the document processing is completed at the timing of →→→. At this time, the copies of the first document and the second document are collated and output in the order of 1 → 2 → 1 → 2 as shown in FIG.

Next, a case where a job of 1 job / 2 documents is non-collated output with a job copy number of 2 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the queue objects stored in the printer queue and the information held therein. As in FIG. 6, j1 is the job information of the target job,
d1 indicates the document information of the document identifier (Doc Seq Num) 1, and d2 indicates the document information of the document identifier 2.

In the initial state of, the job execution unit 13
When the job can be processed, the job scheduling unit 1
The collation control means 15a of No. 5 issues a processing request for the document of the document identifier 1 of the job (). Here, the copy counter (Copy Count) of the job information j1 is 1, and the processing request counter (Request Count) of the document information d1 is 1.

Next, when the job execution unit 13 becomes ready for processing, the collation control means 15a subsequently issues a processing request for the document with the document identifier 1 (). As a result, the processing requests for the first and second rounds of the document of the document information d1 (first document) are issued. , The copy counter of the job information j1 is 2, and the processing request counter of the document information d1 is 0. On the other hand, the final document identifier (Complete) is
Since it is not TRUE, the collation control means 15a issues a processing request for the first round of the document (second document) of the document information d2 (). Here, the copy counter of the document identifier 2 is 1 and the processing request counter is 1. Then, the processing of the first round of the document with the document identifier 1 ends, and the processing of the second round of the document with the document identifier 1 also ends.

After that, when the job execution unit 13 is ready to accept the process, the collation control means 15a issues a process request for the second round of the document of the document information d2 (). Here, the processing request counter of the document information d2 becomes 0. Then, the processing of the first round of the document with the document identifier 2 ends, and the processing of the second round of the document with the document identifier 2 ends.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the document processing is completed at the timing of →→→. Then, at this time, the copies of the first document and the second document are non-collated in the order of 1 → 1 → 2 → 2 as shown in FIG.

In the reception completion type sequential processing job, since the job is moved to the printer queue after all the documents are prepared, the collating / non-collating output control described above can be applied as it is.

The print results may be collectively output to one sorter or may be separately output to bin / sorters.

[0076]

As described above, in the job processing system according to the present invention, information indicating the presence or absence of collation is added to the job request issued by the terminal device, and the job scheduling device collates the received job. When Yes is specified, the processing request to the job execution unit is controlled so that the specified number of output copies of this job are output, and when No received printing is specified for the received job. Controls the processing request to the job execution unit so that the specified number of output copies of this job are not collated, so a plurality of jobs having the same content can be output by one job request. .

According to this, the output results for a plurality of job requests are not mixed with the output results for the job requests of other users, and it is possible to reduce the labor and time required for the classification of the output results by the user.

Further, since print processing is performed using the print data included in the first job request, it is not necessary to send the print data for each job even when the jobs are divided and issued, so that storage of a disk or the like is not required. The burden on the device can also be reduced. Similarly, even if a job includes a document that needs to be converted, the conversion process is performed only once, so that efficient processing can be performed. Therefore, various resources in the system can be effectively used.

Furthermore, since collation / non-collation can be controlled even in the non-reception completion type sequential processing, the scheduling can be performed faster and the overall processing time can be shortened.

Therefore, according to the job processing system of the present invention, it is possible to improve the processing efficiency of jobs when a plurality of jobs having the same contents are output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a job processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a queue object created by a request control unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of job processing in the job processing system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for issuing a processing request when a job is collated or non-collated output.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for ending processing when a job is collated or non-collated output.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a queue object stored in a printer queue and information held inside (with collation).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an output result when collated output is performed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a queue object stored in a printer queue and information held therein (without collation).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an output result when non-collated output is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Terminal device, 12 ... Job scheduling device,
13 ... Job execution unit, 14 ... Request control unit, 15 ... Job scheduling unit, 15a ... Collation control means, 16 ... Job execution unit control unit, 17 ... Queue management unit, 22 (1 to
N) ... Printer queue, 23 (1 to N) ... Termination queue

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A terminal device that issues a job request, and queue management of the job based on the job request received from the terminal device through the network, and issues a processing request for a document specified by the job to a job execution unit. In the job processing system having a job scheduling device that sequentially processes jobs, the terminal device includes attribute information adding means for adding information regarding the number of output copies and output results to the job request as attribute information. Includes attribute information setting means for acquiring the attribute information added by the attribute information adding means from the received job request, and setting the acquired attribute information in the specific information for specifying the job and the document; Of which, all documents specified by the specified information are received The one that starts the processing is stored in the first queue as a job, and the one that starts the processing after receiving all the documents specified by the specific information among the specific information is stored in the second queue as the job. Queue management means for storing the specified information in the first queue when all documents specified by the specified information stored in the second queue are received, and storing in the first queue When collation processing is specified as the information about the output result in the attribute information of the specified information, the processing request to the job execution unit is output so as to collate the output copies designated by the attribute information. When non-collating processing is specified as the information regarding the output result in the processing for controlling and the attribute information of the specific information stored in the first queue, the information is specified in the attribute information. Job processing system characterized by comprising an output control means for executing and processing the performs the control of the processing request to the job execution section so that only the non-collated output of output copies. 2. A job is queue-managed based on a job request received from a terminal device that issues a job request through a network, and a processing request for a document specified by the job is issued to a job execution unit to sequentially process the jobs. In the print control method, the step of adding information on the number of copies and the output result to the job request as attribute information in the terminal device, acquiring the attribute information from the job request, and outputting the acquired attribute information to a job and a document. Setting in the specific information to be specified, of the specific information, the one that starts processing before receiving all the documents specified by the specific information is stored as a job in the first queue, and the specific information is stored. Of these, the process is started after all the documents specified by the specified information are received. Is stored as a job in the second queue, and when all documents specified by the specific information stored in the second queue are received, the specific information is stored in the first queue. , In the attribute information of the specific information stored in the first queue,
When collation processing is designated as the information related to the output result, a step of controlling a processing request to the job execution unit so that collation output is performed by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information; In the attribute information of the specific information stored in the queue of
When non-collating processing is designated as the information regarding the output result, a step of controlling a processing request to the job executing section so as to perform non-collating output by the number of output copies designated by the attribute information A printing control method characterized by the above.