JPH11134119A - Information processing device and method, image output device and method and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burden of an image output device by using an information processor to partly execute the processing that is necessary for the management of execution of a printing job. SOLUTION: In a step S404, the time (estimated processing time) necessary for executing a relevant printing job is calculated based on the print job data and the performance information on an image output device. In a step S405, the print job data and the estimated processing time are transferred to the image output device. Then the printing end time of the print job is received from the image output device in a step S406 and then displayed in a step S407.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image output apparatus, and a memory medium, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, an image output apparatus, and a memory for controlling an image output apparatus connected to a network to form an image output system. Regarding the medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer system in which a plurality of computers and one or a plurality of printer servers or network printers are connected to a network, a print server or a network printer conventionally manages print jobs collectively. In the following, a device on the receiving side of print information, such as a printer server or a network printer, is also referred to as an image output device.

[0003]

The conventional printer system as described above has the following problems. First, in the conventional printer system, the execution time of each print job is predicted on the image output device side, and a plurality of print jobs are managed based on the predicted time. This has been a factor in delaying the execution of the print job. Further, in the conventional printer system, the user can check the time required for completing the print job only on the image output apparatus side. Further, in a conventional printer system, when an image output apparatus in which a large number of print jobs are already queued is instructed to execute a print job, it takes a long time until the execution of the print job is completed. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one object of the present invention is to allow an information processing apparatus to execute a part of a process for managing the execution of a print process, thereby enabling image processing. The object is to reduce the processing load on the output device.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the information processing apparatus to confirm the print end time.

[0006]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus which can be connected to an image output apparatus via a network, and which is transmitted to the image output apparatus to form an output image. Generating means for generating print information, predicting means for predicting a processing time required for the image output device to form an output image based on the generated print information, and transmitting the predicted processing time to the image output device And transmitting means for performing the transmission.

The above information processing apparatus receives from the image output device a print end time at which execution of a print process based on print information corresponding to the processing time is ended after transmission of the processing time by the transmission means. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means and a display means for displaying the received print end time.

In the above information processing apparatus, a plurality of image output apparatuses are connected to the network,
It is preferable to further include a switching unit that switches the transmission destination of the print information to another image output device when the printing end time received from the image output device of the transmission destination of the processing time is longer than a predetermined time.

In the above information processing apparatus, it is preferable that the switching means switches an image output device of a transmission destination based on an instruction from a user.

In the above information processing apparatus, it is preferable that the switching means switches the image output device of the transmission destination based on a predetermined rule.

It is preferable that the information processing apparatus further includes a message unit for displaying a message for specifying an image output apparatus to which the print information is to be transmitted.

In the above information processing apparatus, it is preferable that the prediction unit predicts a processing time based on the contents of the print information and the performance of an image output apparatus to which the print information is output.

In the above information processing apparatus, the image output device may be, for example, an image output device including a printer server and a printer.

In the above information processing apparatus, the image output device may be, for example, a network printer. .

[0015] An image output apparatus according to the present invention is an image output apparatus connectable to any of the above information processing apparatuses via a network, wherein: a means for receiving the processing time transmitted by the transmission means; Means for transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, a print end time at which execution of a print process based on print information corresponding to the process time is completed, based on the received process time and the current progress status of the print process. It is characterized by.

A method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A method for controlling an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, comprising: a generating step of generating print information for transmitting to the image output device to form an output image; And a transmitting step of transmitting a predicted processing time to the image output device based on the estimated time required for the image output device to form an output image.

The control method of the image output apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.
A method for controlling an image output device connectable to any of the above information processing devices via a network, comprising: receiving a processing time transmitted by the transmitting unit; And transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, a printing end time at which the execution of the printing process based on the printing information corresponding to the processing time is ended, based on the progress status of the processing.

A memory medium according to the present invention is a memory medium storing a control program for an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, and transmits the control program to the image output device. A generation step of generating print information for forming an output image, and a prediction step of predicting a processing time required for the image output apparatus to form an output image based on the print information generated in the generation step; Transmitting a processing time predicted in the prediction step to the image output device.

A memory medium according to the present invention is a memory medium storing a control program for an image output device connectable to any one of the above information processing devices via a network, and the control program includes the transmission means. Receiving the processing time transmitted according to the above, and, based on the received processing time and the current progress of the print processing, determine a print end time at which the execution of the print processing based on the print information corresponding to the processing time ends. Transmitting to the information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus connectable to an image output apparatus via a network, wherein the transmitting means transmits print information to the image output apparatus; The image processing apparatus further includes a receiving unit that receives, from the image output apparatus, a print end time at which the execution of the printing process based on the print process ends, and a display unit that displays the received print end time.

[0021] An image output apparatus according to the present invention is an image output apparatus connectable to an information processing apparatus via a network, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving print information from the information processing apparatus; The information processing apparatus includes a prediction unit that predicts a print end time at which the execution of the print process ends and a transmission unit that transmits the predicted print end time to the information processing apparatus.

A method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to the present invention
A method of controlling an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, the method comprising: transmitting a print information to the image output device; and performing printing in which execution of a print process based on the print information related to the transmission is completed. The method includes a receiving step of receiving an end time from the image output device, and a displaying step of displaying the received print end time.

The control method of the image output device according to the present invention is as follows.
A method of controlling an image output device connectable to an information processing device via a network, comprising: a receiving step of receiving print information from the information processing device; and a print end in which execution of a print process based on the received print information ends. The method includes a prediction step of predicting time and a transmission step of transmitting the predicted print end time to the information processing apparatus.

A memory medium according to the present invention is a memory medium storing a control program of an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, and the control program stores print information in the image output device. A transmitting step of transmitting, a receiving step of receiving from the image output device a print end time at which the execution of the printing process based on the print information related to the transmission is completed, and a displaying step of displaying the received print end time. Features.

A memory medium according to the present invention is a memory medium storing a control program for an image output apparatus connectable to an information processing apparatus via a network, and a receiving step of receiving print information from the information processing apparatus. And a transmission step of transmitting a predicted print end time to the information processing apparatus, the prediction step being a step of predicting a print end time at which the execution of the printing process based on the received print information is completed.

[0026]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a printer system according to this embodiment includes a computer (A) 1 and a computer (B) 2, an image output device (A) 6 including a printer 5 and a printer server 4, a network printer (A). An image output device (B) 6 is connected to the network 3. Note that the computers 1 and 2 are examples of a plurality of computers. The image output devices 6 and 8 are examples of one or more image output devices.

The computers 1 and 2 respectively edit documents and the like, generate print job data (print information) for outputting the edited documents and the like, estimate the processing time of the print job, and The data and the expected processing time (hereinafter, expected processing time) are transmitted to the designated image output device 6 or 7.

The printer server 4 receives print job data to be supplied to the printer 5 from the computer 1 or 2, and manages the received print job. The network printer (image output device) 7 receives print job data from the computer 1 or 2, and executes a print job related to the reception.

Further, the printer server 4 and the network printer 7 perform printing related to the reception based on the estimated processing time received together with the print job data from the computer 1 or 2 and the progress status of the currently queued print job. The end time of the job is obtained and transmitted to the computer that supplies the print job. The computer that has received the end time notifies the user by displaying a message indicating the end time on a display device (for example, a CRT).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the computers 1 and 2. The ROM 102 is a CPU 101
And a basic program such as a BIOS to be provided. The RAM 103 includes a work area of the CPU 101, a load area for loading various programs stored in the hard disk (HD) 104 or a floppy disk, an area for storing performance information indicating the processing capability of the image output devices 6 and 7, and the like. Have. The hard disk 104
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an application program 301, a utility program 302, a printer driver 303, an OS 304, and the like are stored. These programs are loaded into a load area in the RAM 103 and provided to the CPU 101.

The keyboard 105 is used by a user to issue an instruction for editing or printing a document or the like. CRT10
Reference numeral 6 denotes a display device for displaying a document or the like being edited or a message for the user.

The network interface 107 is
An interface for connecting to another computer or an image output device via the network 3. The floppy disk driver 108 is used, for example, to install a program stored on a floppy disk into a computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the computer 1 or 2 based on the printer driver 303. Processing shown in this flowchart (print control processing)
Is started when an instruction to print a document or the like created by the application program 301 is issued.

First, in step S 401, image information on a document or the like created by the application program 301 is obtained from, for example, the hard disk 104.
In step S402, print job data suitable for the format specified by the application program 301 and the output destination specified by the user or the like is created based on the image information.

In step S403, the RAM 103
With reference to the performance information table, the performance information of the image output apparatus at the output destination is obtained. Here, the performance information table is
For example, the performance information is acquired from each of the image output devices 6 and 7 immediately after the computer is started, and the performance information is tabulated. Further, the performance information is information for calculating the processing time of the printing process by the image output device (for example, information on the speed of the developing process, the time required to form an image on a recording paper, and the like).

In step S404, step S402
Of the print job data created in step S40
The processing time (estimated processing time) required when the output destination image output apparatus executes the print job is calculated based on the performance information acquired in step 3.

Here, an example of a method of calculating the processing time will be described. For example, first, the number of print objects (for example, characters, figures, and images) included in the print job data and the attributes of each print object (for example, the size and modification attributes of characters, the shape and size of a figure, and the size of an image) And resolution), calculate the total of time factors indicating the amount of calculation required for the expansion processing of the print job data,
Next, the processing time by the image output device can be calculated based on the time factor and the performance information of the corresponding image output device.

The time factor is, for example, “1” for drawing a normal character having a character size of up to 100, “2” for modifying a character, and “1” for drawing a circle up to a diameter of 20 cm. For example, “1” is added when a figure is drawn with a thick line, and “2” is added when the figure is painted out, and is stored in the ROM 102, for example. According to this example, a modifier character having a character size of 10,
For a print job that draws a thin line circle with a diameter of 10 cm, the sum of the time factors (total time factor) is (1
+2) + 1 = 4.

As in the above example, the time factor is determined by, for example, the size of the character and the character modification when drawing a character. It is determined by the thickness of the tip.

The performance information includes, for example, specifications of a CPU and a RAM mounted on the image output device, data transfer capability, a paper cassette, a built-in font, and an operation coefficient for converting a time factor into a processing time. included. For example, if the image output device requires a time of 20 seconds to process print job data with a total time factor of 5, the calculation coefficient is 4.

On the computer side, based on the calculated total time factor and the operation coefficient included in the performance information,
The processing time by the image output device is calculated. Specifically, when print job data having a total time factor of 4 is processed by an image output device having an operation coefficient of 4, the processing time is 4 ×
4 = 16 seconds.

In the above example, the final processing time is calculated on the computer side, but only the total time factor is calculated on the computer side and the total time factor is transmitted to the image output device. The side may convert the total time factor into a processing time.

In step S405, the print job data and the expected processing time are transferred to the output destination image output device.
In response to this transfer, the output destination image output apparatus transfers the time required to complete the execution of the print job (print end time).

In step S406, the print end time is received. In step S407, a message indicating the print end time is displayed on the CRT 106. A message indicating the time at which printing ends may be displayed together with the display of the printing end time or in place of the display of the printing end time.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of a process (print job management process) relating to print job management in the printer server 4 or the network printer 7. The processing shown in this flowchart is controlled by, for example, a CPU that operates based on a program stored in a memory medium. Here, it goes without saying that the memory medium storing the program itself constitutes the invention.

First, in step S501, print job data and an estimated processing time are received from the computer 1 or 2 (corresponding to step S405).

In step S502, by referring to a job management table stored in a RAM (not shown),
Calculate the print end time of the received print job. FIG.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the job management table. Print jobs are registered in the job management table in the order in which they are issued.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which print jobs (A) to (C) are registered. In FIG. 6, "expected processing time"
Is the estimated processing time received from the computer in step S501. Also, the “print end time”
This is the time until the execution (printing) of the print job is completed, and is updated as needed along with the execution of the printing process. For example, the print end time of the currently executed print job (A) is “20 seconds”, which indicates that the print is completed after about 20 seconds. The print end time of the print job (B) is “1 minute and 40 seconds”, which is “1 minute and 20 seconds” which is the estimated processing time of the print job (B) and the print end time of the print job (A). Is added to “20 seconds”.

In the state shown in FIG. 6, for example, when print job data having an expected processing time of "30 seconds" is received, the print job (C) registered at the end of the job management table is set to "30 seconds". ), The printing end time of “1 minute 5
The time obtained by adding “5 seconds” is calculated in step S502.

In step S 503, “print job”, “expected processing time”, and “print end time” are registered in the job management table with respect to the received print job data.

In step S504, the print end time of the received print job is transferred to the transfer source computer of the print job data (corresponding to step S406).

As described above, the load on the image output device can be reduced by calculating the expected processing time on the computer side and transferring it to the image output device. Also, the print end time is transferred from the image output device to the computer,
By displaying the information on the display device of the computer, the burden on the user in confirming the print end time is reduced.

[Second Embodiment] In this embodiment,
The print control process (FIG. 4) and the print job management process (FIG. 5) are improved. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a print control process of the computer according to this embodiment. In the following, it is assumed that the printer 5 and the network printer 7 operate according to the same command system.

Steps S701 to S704 correspond to FIG.
This is the same process as steps S401 to S404. In step S705, the estimated processing time is transferred to the designated output destination image output apparatus. Then, step S706
Then, the print end time is received from the image output device.

In step S707, it is determined whether or not the print end time for reception is shorter than the set time. If print end time <set time, the process proceeds to step S708. If print end time ≧ set time, the process proceeds to step S708. The process proceeds to step S710. It should be noted that the set time is determined by the user using the keyboard 105.
Or by operating a pointing device (not shown). In addition, the user sets the setting time as
It is possible to set a time at which printing is desired to end (upper limit of waiting time until printing is finished).

In step S708, print job data is transferred to the image output device to which the estimated processing time has been transferred (print job issuance). In step S709, the message received in step S706 and specifying the image output device of the output destination and the output destination are output to the CRT 106.
To be displayed.

In step S710, the output destination is switched to another image output device. This switching may be performed based on, for example, an instruction from the user, or may be automatically performed based on, for example, a predetermined priority order of the image output apparatuses. In the latter case, for example, an image output device that normally uses one image output device, that is, an image output device having a high priority, and an image output device that uses the other image output device 7 in an auxiliary manner, that is, a priority order It is preferable that the image output apparatus has a low image output.

In step S711, the print job data is transferred to the new image output device after the switching (print job issuance). Then, in step S712, a message specifying the output destination is displayed on CRT 106.

Since the above processing is an example in which the printer 6 and the network printer 7 operate according to the same command system as described above, even if the output destination image output device is switched, the print job Although there is no need to create data again, if both operate according to different command systems, it is necessary to create print job data again when switching the output destination.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of the print job management process in the printer server 4 or the network printer 7. First, in step S801,
The expected processing time is received from the computer 1 or 2 (corresponding to step S705). Then, in step S802, for example, by referring to a job management table as shown in FIG. 6, the print end time of the print job corresponding to the expected processing time for reception is calculated. Step S80
In step 3, the printing end time is transferred to the computer that has transmitted the expected processing time (corresponding to step S706).

Next, in step S804, it is determined whether or not the print job data corresponding to the expected processing time received in step S801 has been transferred within a predetermined time.
If the print job data has been transferred within the predetermined time, the print job is registered in the job management table in step S805. On the other hand, if the print job data has not been transferred within the predetermined time, it is considered that the print job is to be executed by another image output device, and a series of processing ends.

As described above, when a large number of print jobs are queued in the image output device selected as the output destination, the output destination is switched to another image output device to execute a new print job. The waiting time until the printing is completed can be shortened.

[Third Embodiment] In this embodiment,
This is a modification of the print control process (FIG. 7) according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing of the computer according to the present embodiment. The processes in steps S701 to S709 in FIG. 9 are the same as the processes in steps S701 to S709 in FIG.

In this embodiment, if it is determined in step S707 that the printing end time is longer than the set time, it is determined in step S713 whether or not to switch the output destination. This determination may be made, for example, based on an instruction from the user, or may be made based on a preset rule. To give an example of the latter, for example,
It is conceivable to determine by comparing the print end time with a second set time set in advance.

If it is determined in step S713 that the output destination is to be switched, the process proceeds to step S714.
The output destination is determined based on an instruction from the user or a predetermined rule (for example, priority). Then, if the command system of the output destination before switching and the output destination after switching are the same, the process proceeds to step S703. If the command systems are different, the process proceeds to step S702.

According to this embodiment, an image output device having a short print end time can be selected from a plurality of image output devices.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or to an apparatus including a single device.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0074]

According to the present invention, the processing load on the image output apparatus can be reduced by causing the information processing apparatus to execute a part of the processing for managing the execution of the print processing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus can confirm the print end time.

[0076]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a hard disk.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a computer based on a printer driver.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process (print job management process) related to print job management in a print server or a network printer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job management table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing of a computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a print job management process in a printer server or a network printer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing of a computer according to a third embodiment.

Claims (29)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus connectable to an image output apparatus via a network, comprising: a generation unit configured to generate print information to be transmitted to the image output apparatus to form an output image; Prediction means for predicting a processing time required for the image output device to form an output image based on information; and transmission means for transmitting the predicted processing time to the image output device. Processing equipment. 2. A receiving unit for receiving, from the image output device, a printing end time at which execution of a printing process based on print information corresponding to the processing time is completed after transmission of the processing time by the transmitting unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: display means for displaying a print end time. 3. When a plurality of image output apparatuses are connected to the network, and the print end time received from the image output apparatus to which the processing time is transmitted is longer than a predetermined time. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit configured to switch a transmission destination of the print information to another image output apparatus. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the switching unit switches an image output apparatus of a transmission destination based on an instruction from a user. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said switching means switches an image output apparatus of a transmission destination based on a predetermined rule. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a message unit for displaying a message for specifying an image output apparatus to which the print information is to be transmitted. apparatus. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predicting unit predicts a processing time based on a content of the print information and a performance of an image output apparatus to which the print information is output. The information processing device according to claim 1. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is an image output device including a printer server and a printer. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is a network printer. 10. An image output device connectable to the information processing device according to claim 1 via a network, wherein the image processing device receives the processing time transmitted by the transmission unit. Means for transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, a print end time at which execution of a print process based on print information corresponding to the process time ends based on the received process time and the current progress status of the print process; An image output device, comprising: 11. An image output system comprising: the information processing apparatus according to claim 1; and the image output apparatus according to claim 10. Description: 12. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus connectable to an image output apparatus via a network, comprising: a generation step of generating print information for transmitting to the image output apparatus to form an output image; A predicting step of predicting a processing time required for the image output device to form an output image based on the generated print information; and a transmitting step of transmitting the predicted processing time to the image output device. Control method for an information processing apparatus. 13. A receiving step of receiving, from the image output apparatus, a print end time at which execution of a print process based on print information corresponding to the processing time is transmitted after transmission of the processing time in the transmitting step. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: displaying a print end time. 14. When a plurality of image output devices are connected to the network, and the print end time received from the image output device to which the processing time is transmitted is longer than a predetermined time. 14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising a switching step of switching a transmission destination of the print information to another image output device. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein in the switching step, the destination image output device is switched based on an instruction from a user. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein in the switching step, the destination image output device is switched based on a predetermined rule. 17. The information processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a message step of displaying a message for specifying an image output device to which the print information is to be transmitted. How to control the device. 18. The processing method according to claim 12, wherein in the predicting step, the processing time is predicted based on the content of the print information and the performance of the image output apparatus to which the print information is output. A method for controlling an information processing device according to any one of the preceding claims. 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the image output device is an image output device including a printer server and a printer. 20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image output device is a network printer.
9. The control method for an information processing device according to any one of 8. 21. A method for controlling an image output device connectable to a data processing device according to claim 1 via a network, wherein the processing time transmitted by the transmission means is provided. And transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, a print end time at which the execution of the print process based on the print information corresponding to the process time ends, based on the received process time and the current progress status of the print process. A method for controlling an image output device, comprising: 22. A memory medium storing a control program of an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, wherein the control program is transmitted to the image output device to form an output image. A generation step of generating print information of the following; a prediction step of predicting a processing time required for the image output device to form an output image based on the print information generated in the generation step; and a process predicted in the prediction step Transmitting a time to the image output device. 23. A memory medium storing a control program for an image output device connectable via a network to the information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control program is Receiving the processing time transmitted by the transmitting unit; and performing the printing process based on the printing information corresponding to the processing time based on the received processing time and the current progress status of the printing process. Transmitting a printing end time to the information processing apparatus. 24. An information processing apparatus connectable to an image output apparatus via a network, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits print information to the image output apparatus; and execution of print processing based on the print information related to transmission ends. An information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving a print end time from the image output device; and display means for displaying the received print end time. 25. An image output device connectable to an information processing device via a network, wherein the receiving unit receives print information from the information processing device, and execution of a print process based on the received print information ends. An image output device comprising: a prediction unit that predicts a print end time; and a transmission unit that transmits the predicted print end time to the information processing device. 26. A method for controlling an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting print information to the image output device; and a print process based on the print information related to the transmission. A control method for an information processing apparatus, comprising: a receiving step of receiving, from the image output device, a print end time at which execution ends, and a display step of displaying the received print end time. 27. A method for controlling an image output device connectable to an information processing device via a network, the method comprising: receiving a print information from the information processing device; and executing a print process based on the received print information. And a transmitting step of transmitting the predicted print end time to the information processing apparatus. 28. A memory medium storing a control program of an information processing device connectable to an image output device via a network, the control program comprising: a transmission step of transmitting print information to the image output device; A memory medium, comprising: a receiving step of receiving, from the image output device, a print end time at which execution of a print process based on print information related to transmission ends; and a display step of displaying the received print end time. . 29. A memory medium storing a control program for an image output device connectable to an information processing device via a network, comprising: a receiving step of receiving print information from the information processing device; A memory medium, comprising: a prediction step of predicting a print end time at which execution of a print process based on the print end time is completed; and a transmission step of transmitting the predicted print end time to the information processing apparatus.