JP6014073B2 - Print server, printer control method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to printer control.

  In recent years, with changes in business styles such as telecommuting, the use of thin client terminals to remotely operate company personal computers to carry out work and use forms that utilize smart devices in work has increased. ing. In some cases, a policy necessary for an individual smart device is set, and those terminals are used as work tools.

  There are various uses for using a thin client terminal and a smart device, such as creating a business document, transferring the created document to the smart device, and printing the created document. In particular, for printing from smart devices, there are many cases where there is no printing device such as a multifunction printer (MFP) around you. In such a case, it is common for a user to use a location-free printing service in which a print server is constructed in the cloud or the like. However, the MFPs that can be used are limited to a specific convenience store or the like in which the MFP is already installed, and at present, it cannot be used in any printing device installed in any convenience store.

  Here, as related technologies existing prior to the present application, there are, for example, the following patent documents.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system that can generate optimum spool data corresponding to each printer without depending on the manufacturer and model of the printer even when a plurality of types of printers are arranged. Yes.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a printing system that can efficiently print to a remote printing apparatus.

JP 2009-294889 A JP 2004-213370 A

  However, even if the techniques proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are used, the user waits in front of the printer after the user selects the printer and requests printing to actually execute printing. Is concerned. This is because user authentication is performed after a print request, file transmission to the print server, selection of a driver suitable for the printer, data conversion into a language that can be accepted by the printer, and the like are performed after the authentication.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a print server or the like that can reduce the waiting time from when printing is requested to when printing is completed in location-free printing from an external device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a print server according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the print server according to the present invention is
An authentication means for authenticating whether login to the own device is possible;
A condition designating unit that receives a file name of a file to be printed and a print processing notification date and time from an external device after authentication by the authentication unit;
Image conversion means for receiving the file from the external device and storing the received file;
Spooler means for managing the file for each printing device to be printed,
When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
The condition designating unit receives a printing device from which the file is to be printed and a printing condition from the external device,
The image conversion means converts the file stored in the image conversion means into a file in a format that the printing device can accept,
The spooler means creates a print job from the file of the format based on the printing conditions, manages the print job for each printing device, and sends the print job to the printing device according to a request from the printing device. It is provided to a printing device.

A printer control method according to the present invention that achieves the same object,
Authenticate whether you can log in to the print server from an external device,
After authentication, the file name of the file to be printed and the print processing notification date and time are transmitted from the external device to the print server.
The print server further receives the file from the external device, stores the received file,
When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
The print server receives a printing device for printing the file and the printing conditions from the external device, and converts the file stored in the device into a file that can be received by the printing device. Converting, creating a print job from the file of the format based on the printing condition, managing the print job for each printing device, and sending the printing job to the printing device in response to a request from the printing device It is characterized by providing to.

  Furthermore, this object is achieved by a computer program that realizes the print server having the above configuration by a computer, and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the computer program.

  According to the present invention, in the location-free printing from the external device, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the waiting time from the time when printing is requested to the printing device to the time when printing is completed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print server according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the print server which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of MFP based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process in a print server according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print preparation processing in a print server according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the print request format which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing an example of the inquiry format which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing an example of the job notification format which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating job provision processing in a control unit of an MFP according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print preparation processing in a print server according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the inquiry format which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The print server 10 according to the present embodiment can output to the printing device 30 in response to a request for printing a file from the external device 20.

  The print server 10 according to the present embodiment includes an authentication unit 12, a condition designation unit 13, an image conversion unit 14, and a spooler unit 15.

  The authentication unit 12 authenticates whether login to the print server 10 is possible.

  After the authentication by the authentication unit 12, the condition specifying unit 13 receives the file name of the file to be printed and the print processing notification date and time from the external device 20. The print processing notification date and time is a time for notifying the external device 20 in order to receive from the external device 20 designation of a printing device used for printing and detailed print settings.

  The image conversion unit 14 receives the file and stores the received file.

  The spooler unit 15 creates a print job and manages the print job for each printing device.

  When the print processing notification date and time has arrived, the condition designating unit 13 receives from the external device 20 the printing device 30 that should print the file and the printing conditions.

  The image conversion unit 14 converts the file stored in the image conversion unit 14 into a file in a format that can be received by the printing device 30.

  The spooler unit 15 creates a print job from a file in a format based on the printing conditions, manages the print job for each printing device 30, and provides the printing job to the printing device 30 in response to a request from the printing device 30. To do.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the location-free printing from the external device 20, it is possible to reduce the waiting time from the time when printing is requested to the printing device to the time when printing is completed. There is.

  This is because the print server 10 according to the present embodiment can specify the print processing notification date and time for specifying the printing device 30.

  If the user designates the print processing notification date and time in consideration of the travel time to the printing device 30, the possibility of waiting in front of the printing device 30 is reduced. In addition, since the file to be printed is transferred from the external device 20 to the print server 10 before the print processing notification date and time, the time required for printing can be shortened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the function of the print server 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of a computer (information processing apparatus) that is a hardware resource that has a computer program capable of realizing the function. This can also be achieved by executing. The same applies to the print print server 103 shown in FIG. 3 in the second and third embodiments described later.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment based on the print server 10 according to the first embodiment described above will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the present embodiment can perform a print request with a network compatible multifunction printer (hereinafter referred to as MFP) 101, a wireless compatible router 102, a print server 103 that provides a print service. And a smart device 104.

  The MFP 101, the print server 103, and the smart device 104 are communicably connected via a wired or wireless communication network (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “network”).

  For example, one MFP 101 is a device that also functions as a printer, a scanner, a copier, and a facsimile.

  It is assumed that the smart device 104 is permitted to connect to the router 102.

  If the smart device can be configured in the same network as the MFP, the smart device is configured as the smart device 105.

  The smart device (104, 105) is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The print server 103 includes a network interface unit 400, an API analysis unit 401, an image conversion unit 403, an image data storage unit 404, an authentication unit 405, a storage unit 406, a spooler unit 407, a spool memory 408, A printing condition designation unit 409.

  The network interface unit 400 provides HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and a mail protocol.

  The API analysis unit 401 analyzes a request from a client such as the smart device (104, 105) or the MFP 101 through the network interface unit 400.

  An authentication unit 405 performs user authentication when a user connects from a smart device (104, 105) or the like, and device authentication when a user connects from a printing device such as the MFP 101.

  The storage unit 406 stores user information and device information used for authentication determination. The storage unit 406 also saves information indicating which user can print to which printing device.

  The image data storage unit 404 temporarily stores print data sent from the smart device (104, 105).

  The image conversion unit 403 is a printer driver corresponding to the printing device. The image conversion unit 403 converts the print data into a PDL (Page Description Language) in a format that can be accepted by the printing device. The image conversion unit 403 stores data converted into PDL (hereinafter referred to as image data) in the image conversion unit 403.

  A printing condition designation unit 409 receives a printing device and printing conditions designated by the user.

  The spooler unit 407 creates a print job according to the instruction received by the print condition specifying unit 409.

  The spool memory 408 is a memory that stores a created print job for each target printing device used for printing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 101 includes an MFP controller 200, a printer engine 207, and a scanner 208.

  The printer engine 207 performs paper conveyance accompanying a printing operation or the like and image forming processing for placing toner or ink on the paper.

  A scanner 208 performs document conveyance, image reading processing, and the like.

  The MFP controller 200 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 203, a network unit 204, a display unit 205, and an operation unit 206.

  The network unit 204 is a wired or wireless communication network interface such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). The network unit 204 connects the MFP 101 to be communicable with the router 102 in FIG.

  A display unit 205 displays printing conditions and the like. The display unit 205 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel.

  The operation unit 206 is used when the user instructs printing. The operation unit 206 is, for example, a button or a touch panel.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP controller according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP controller 200 includes an external interface unit 300, a service API (Application Programming Interface) unit 301, a control unit 302, a rasterizing unit 304, a storage memory 305, a device driver unit 306, and a user interface unit 307. .

  The external interface unit 300 connects the MFP 101 to be able to communicate with the smart device (104, 105) or the print server 103 via a network.

  A service API unit 301 provides an interface for using a service provided by the print server 103. Services to be used include device authentication, inquiry about the existence of a job, reception of a print file, and the like.

  The rasterizing unit 304 converts the image data into a bitmap, and stores the bitmap obtained by the conversion in the storage memory 305.

  The device driver unit 306 drives the scanner 208 shown in FIG. 4 and reads an image. The device driver unit 306 drives the printer engine 207 shown in FIG. 4 to record an image on recording paper.

  The user interface unit 307 provides an interface for operations performed by the user with the operation unit 206 of FIG.

  The control unit 302 analyzes the content requested from the smart device (104, 105). Then, based on the content obtained by the analysis, the control unit 302 determines the service API unit 301, the external interface unit 300, the rasterizing unit 304, the device driver unit 306, the user interface unit 307, according to the content. To instruct the processing.

  Next, the processing flow of this embodiment will be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control process in the print server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The print server 103 receives a request for the print server 103 via the network interface unit 400. When receiving the request, the print server 103 instructs the API analysis unit 401 to analyze the content of the request. The print server 103 determines the analysis result (steps S101, S103, S105, and S110), instructs each unit of the print server 103, and performs processing corresponding to the requested content.

  The system administrator requests the print server 103 to register a printing device such as the MFP 101 (“Yes” in step S101). At this time, the information designated by the system administrator is, for example, the manufacturer name of the printing device, the model name, the device ID (that is, an ID that can uniquely identify the device), the device password, and the like. The print server 103 instructs the authentication unit 405 to store and manage the designated information. The authentication unit 405 stores the information in the storage unit 406 (step S102).

  The system administrator requests the print server 103 to register a user ID and a user password so that the user can use the print server 103 (“Yes” in step S103). At this time, the information designated by the system administrator is, for example, a user ID and a user password. The print server 103 instructs the authentication unit 405 to store and manage the designated information. The authentication unit 405 stores the information in the storage unit 406 (step S104). The system administrator can also specify printing devices that can be used by each user. In that case, the authentication unit 405 stores information indicating the relationship between the designated user and the printing device in the storage unit 406.

  The user requests to log in to the print server 103 from the smart device (104, 105) or the like in order to make a print request (“Yes” in step S105). At this time, the user designates a user ID and a user password. The print server 103 passes the specified information to the authentication unit 405 and requests confirmation of the registered user. The authentication unit 405 refers to the user ID and user password stored in the storage unit 406, and determines whether the designated information is registered (step S106). If registered ("Yes" in step S106), the user logs in to the print server 103 (step S107). The authentication unit 405 stores that the user is logged in the storage unit 406. If it is not registered (“No” in step S106), the user cannot log in to the print server 103. The user needs to log in after registering as a user.

  After logging in to the print server 103, the user describes information such as requests and responses to / from the print server 103 in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and transmits / receives the information via the browser.

  The print server 103 performs print preparation processing in response to the user using the smart device 104 logging in (step S108). FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing print preparation processing in the print server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The print server 103 creates a print request format in HTML using the print condition designating unit 409, and sends a URL indicating the HTML to the smart device 104 used by the user by mail (step S201). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print request format according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The print request format displays the user ID specified when the user logs in. By operating the smart device 104, the user designates a print target file in the print request format, inputs a print processing notification date and time, and notifies the print server 103 of the file. The print processing notification date and time is a scheduled date and time when the format used by the user to clarify the printing device and printing conditions is transmitted from the print server 103. The user may determine the print processing notification date and time in consideration of the travel time to the printing device.

  The user operates the smart device 104 to transfer a print target file (also referred to as print data) to the print server 103. The print server 103 stores the transferred print target file in the image data storage unit 404 by the image conversion unit 403. Here, the number of files to be printed is not particularly limited.

  The print server 103 receives the notification in the print request format (step S202), and the print condition specifying unit 409 stores the print processing notification date and time.

  When the print processing notification date and time has arrived (“Yes” in step S203), the print condition specifying unit 409 inquires the user of the details of the print request. For this purpose, the printing condition designating unit 409 describes the inquiry format in HTML, and sends a URL indicating the HTML to the smart device 104 used by the user by mail.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inquiry format according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The inquiry format shown in FIG. 9A notifies a list of printing devices that can be used by the user and the number of jobs stored in the spool memory 408 for each printing device (step S204). The user operates the smart device 104 to select a printing device to be used based on the notified content and notifies the print server 103 (step S205). The print server 103 generates print conditions that can be selected by the notified printing device in a format representing a user interface (UI) for inquiry shown in FIG. 9B, and the UI is stored in the smart device 104 used by the user. Transmit (step S204). The user operates the smart device 104 to specify print conditions in the format and notifies the print server 103 (step S205).

  Here, if the method of specifying the printing device and the printing conditions is HTML, there is no particular limitation on the selection method such as a radio button or a drop-down list.

  Next, the print server 103 selects an appropriate printer driver from the received designation of the printing device and the printing conditions, and sets the printing conditions. The user finally confirms the print job to the print server 103 by operating the smart device 104 (step S206).

  Then, the print server 103 converts the print data into a PDL corresponding to the printing device by the image conversion unit 403. The spooler unit 407 generates a job ID for uniquely identifying the data based on, for example, user information and the number of spooled jobs, and stores it in the spool memory 408 together with the data converted to PDL (step S207).

  The print server 103 notifies the smart device 104 used by the user that the job has been accepted using a job notification format (step S208). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job notification format according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The job notification format shown in FIG. 10 includes a user ID of a user who is the owner of the job, a job ID, a name of a designated printing device, and a printing condition selected by the user.

  When the print preparation process ends, the user logs out of the print server 103 by operating the smart device 104 (step S109 in FIG. 6).

  The MFP 101 requests to log in to the print server 103 in order to print the file to be printed (“Yes” in step S110 in FIG. 6). At this time, the MFP 101 designates a device ID and a device password. The print server 103 passes the designated information to the authentication unit 405 and requests confirmation of the registered printing device. The authentication unit 405 refers to the device ID and device password stored in the storage unit 406 and determines whether the specified information is registered (step S111). If registered (“Yes” in step S <b> 111), the MFP 101 logs in to the print server 103. The authentication unit 405 stores in the storage unit 406 that the MFP 101 is logged in. This login process is normally assumed to be performed immediately after the printing apparatus is turned on or immediately after returning from the sleep state.

  Then, the MFP 101 performs job providing processing (step S113).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing job provision processing in the control unit of the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 101 makes an inquiry to the print server 103 at predetermined time intervals in order to confirm whether there is a job to be printed by the own device (step S301). If there is a job (“Yes” in step S301), the MFP 101 requests the print server 103 for data to be printed with the job. The MFP 101 converts the data obtained from the print server 103 into a bitmap by the rasterizing unit 304 (step S302). Then, the rasterizing unit 304 stores the converted data in the storage memory 305. Thereafter, the MFP 101 uses the printer engine 207 to print the data on paper (step S303).

  Finally, the MFP 101 performs logout processing from the print server 103 (step S114 in FIG. 6). This logout process is normally assumed to be performed immediately before entering the sleep state or immediately before turning off the power.

  In the present embodiment, the external apparatus that issues a print request to the MFP 101 is described as a smart device (104, 105). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a thin client terminal or the like may be used.

  As described above, the second embodiment has an effect that it is possible to reduce the waiting time from the time when printing is requested to the printing device to the completion of printing in the location-free printing from the external device. is there.

  The reason is that the print server 103 according to the present embodiment can specify the print processing notification date and time for specifying the printing device.

  If the user designates the print processing notification date and time in consideration of the travel time to the printing device, the possibility of waiting in front of the printing device is reduced. In addition, since the file to be printed is transferred from the external device to the print server 103 before the print processing notification date and time is reached, the time required for printing can be shortened.

  Furthermore, since it is possible to select a printing device with reference to the print waiting status for available printing devices, it is possible to reduce the waiting time of the printing device.

<Third Embodiment>
In the second embodiment described above, first-in first-out scheduling is performed on the job of the printing device when the user confirms the print job to the print server 103. Therefore, the MFP 101 starts printing before the time desired by the user, and the printed paper may be left in the printing device for a long time. In addition, there is a possibility that the MFP 101 may not complete printing at a desired time due to overlapping requests from other jobs.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when inquiring about the printing conditions, the user specifies the desired print date and time in addition to the items specified in the second embodiment. The print server 103 adjusts the job execution order according to the desired print date and time. This solves the problem related to the printing time described above.

  The configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.

  The print server 103 of this embodiment will be described with respect to differences from the second embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing print preparation processing in the control unit of the print server according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 12, the processing from step S401 to S403 is the same as the processing from step S201 to S203 in FIG.

  When the print processing notification date and time has arrived (“Yes” in step S403), the print condition designating unit 409 inquires the user of details of the print request. For this purpose, the printing condition designating unit 409 describes the inquiry format in HTML, and sends a URL indicating the HTML to the smart device 104 used by the user by mail.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inquiry format according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The inquiry format shown in FIG. 13A notifies a list of printing devices available to the user and the number of jobs stored in the spool memory 408 for each printing device (step S404). The user operates the smart device 104 to select a printing device to be used based on the notified content and notifies the print server 103 (step S405). Further, the user operates the smart device 104 to notify the print server 103 of the desired print date and time (step S405). Here, designating the desired print date and time is different from the second embodiment. The print server 103 generates print conditions that can be selected by the notified printing device in an inquiry format shown in FIG. 9B, and transmits the print conditions to the smart device 104 used by the user (step S404). The user operates the smart device 104 to specify print conditions in the format and notifies the print server 103 (step S405).

  Here, if the method of specifying the printing device and the printing conditions is HTML, there is no particular limitation on the selection method such as a radio button or a drop-down list.

  Next, the print server 103 selects an appropriate printer driver from the received designation of the printing device and the printing conditions, and sets the printing conditions. The user finally confirms the print job to the print server 103 by operating the smart device 104 (step S406).

  Then, the print server 103 converts the print data into a PDL corresponding to the printing device by the image conversion unit 403. The spooler unit 407 generates a job ID for uniquely identifying the data based on, for example, user information and the number of spooled jobs, and stores it in the spool memory 408 together with the data converted to PDL (step S407). The spooler unit 407 rearranges the data stored in the spool memory 408 for each printing device in the order of the desired print date and time. As a result, each printing apparatus can perform printing in the order of the desired print date and time.

  The print server 103 notifies the smart device 104 used by the user that the job has been accepted (step S408). The content to be notified is the same as that in the second embodiment.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, there is an effect that printing can be performed on a printing device at a user's desired print date and time.

  The reason is that the print server 103 according to the present embodiment can specify the desired print date and time.

  By using the smart device 104 and specifying the desired print date and time, the user can preferentially print even if there is a job waiting for printing in the printing device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print server 12 Authentication part 13 Condition specification part 14 Image conversion part 15 Spooler part 20 External apparatus 30 Printing apparatus 101 MFP
102 router 103 print server 104 smart device 105 smart device 200 MFP controller 201 ROM
202 RAM
203 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 204 Network part 205 Display part 206 Operation part 207 Printer engine 208 Scanner 300 External interface part 301 Service API part 302 Control part 304 Rasterization part 305 Storage memory 306 Device driver part 307 User interface part 400 Network interface part 401 API analysis part 403 Image conversion Section 404 Image data storage section 405 Authentication section 406 Storage section 407 Spooler section 408 Spool memory 409 Print condition designation section

Claims (8)

An authentication means for authenticating whether login to the own device is possible;
A condition designating unit that receives a file name of a file to be printed and a print processing notification date and time from an external device after authentication by the authentication unit;
Image conversion means for receiving the file from the external device and storing the received file;
Spooler means for creating a print job from the file and managing the created print job for each printing device to be printed,
When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
The condition designating unit receives a printing device from which the file is to be printed and a printing condition from the external device,
The image conversion means converts the file stored in the image conversion means into a file in a format that the printing device can accept,
The spooler means creates a print job from the file of the format based on the printing conditions, manages the print job for each printing device, and sends the print job to the printing device according to a request from the printing device. A print server provided to a printing device.
The print server according to claim 1, wherein the spooler unit provides the print device to the print device in the order in which the print jobs are created for each of the print devices. When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
The condition specifying means further receives a desired print date and time from the external device;
The print server according to claim 1, wherein the spooler unit provides the print job to the printing device in the order of the desired print date and time for each printing device. The print server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the condition specifying unit performs transmission / reception with the external device after authentication in HTML and via a browser. Authenticate whether you can log in to the print server from an external device,
After authentication, the file name of the file to be printed and the print processing notification date and time are transmitted from the external device to the print server.
The print server further receives the file from the external device, stores the received file,
When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
The print server receives a printing device for printing the file and the printing conditions from the external device, and converts the file stored in the device into a file that can be received by the printing device. Converting, creating a print job from the file of the format based on the printing condition, managing the print job for each printing device, and sending the printing job to the printing device in response to a request from the printing device And a printer control method. 6. The printer control method according to claim 5, wherein the printing device is provided to the printing device in the order in which the print jobs are created for each printing device. When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
The print server further receives a desired print date and time from the external device;
6. The printer control method according to claim 5, wherein, for each printing device, the print job is provided to the printing device in order of the desired print date and time. Authenticate whether you can log in from an external device,
After the authentication, the file name of the file to be printed and the print processing notification date and time are received from the external device, and the file is received and stored.
When the print processing notification date and time has arrived,
A printing device that prints the file from the external device and printing conditions are received, the file stored in the device is converted into a file that can be accepted by the printing device, and the printing is performed. Based on the conditions, a print job is created from the file in the format, the print job is managed for each printing device, and the print job is provided to the printing device in response to a request from the printing device. A computer program for causing a computer to realize a control function.

Images