JPH09231027A - Information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, printing system, and data processing method of printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] When the print job size is large, the following print jobs are output with priority. A divided print job is stored in an external storage device 3 based on an instruction from an input device for selecting a divided transfer or a batch transfer for a print job from an application program. Before the transfer of the divided print job is started, when the CPU that determines the output request of the other print job of the printer server 18 determines that the output request of the other print job is present, the CPU continues the other print job. It is characterized in that the transfer between the divided print job and other print jobs is controlled so that the divided print job is interrupted and transferred to the printer 2 prior to the divided print job.

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 capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a data processing method of the printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bidirectional interface (bidirectional I
In a printing system in which an information processing device such as a host computer and a printing device such as a printer are communicatively connected via / F), the entire print job is treated as one unit and transmitted to the printer for printing. .

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional printing system, the printers connected to the plurality of host computers are unconditionally batch-processed when the user instructs the execution of printing. When a large number of print jobs are printed, the printer is occupied by one print job and the print job is sent to the printer.
There was a problem that other users had to wait for a long time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the first to fifth inventions of the present invention is to provide an instruction to divide and print a print job from an application program. When selected, determine the print request status of another print job in the print server before transferring each divided print job, and transfer the subsequent other print jobs by interrupt transfer for processing. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a data processing method for the printing system, which can freely construct a printing environment in which a print job of another subsequent user can be preferentially output.

[0005]

A first invention according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein division transfer or batch transfer of a print job from an application program is performed. Instructing means for selecting and instructing, storage means for storing divided print jobs divided based on the instruction of the instructing means, transfer means for transferring the print job or the divided print jobs to the printing apparatus, and the transfer means Determination unit that determines an output request of another print job of the printer server each time transfer of each divided print job is started by the above, and if the determination unit determines that there is an output request of the other print job, Transfer control for controlling the transfer means to interrupt transfer to the printing device prior to the divided print job continuing And has a means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, a print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and a divided division of the print job. It has a print control means for controlling interruption printing with a print job.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, an application program selects a divided transfer or a batch transfer for a print job. Instruction means, storage means for storing the divided print job divided based on the instruction of the instruction means, transfer means for transferring the print job or the divided print job to the printing device, and each of the transfer means. A determination unit that determines an output request for another print job of the print server each time transfer of a divided print job is started, and if the determination unit determines that there is an output request for the other print job, the other print job is output. A transfer control for controlling the transfer unit to interrupt the transfer to the printing apparatus prior to the divided print job for continuing the job. An information processing apparatus including a unit, and a printing apparatus including a print control unit that controls interrupt printing of a print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and a divided print job in which the print job is divided. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a data processing method of a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, division transfer or batch transfer of a print job from an application program is performed. An instruction step of selecting and instructing transfer, a transfer step of transferring each divided print job divided based on the instruction, and determining an output request of another print job of the printer server each time transfer of each divided print job is started. And a interrupt transfer step for interrupt-transferring to the printing apparatus prior to the divided print job that continues the other print job.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a data processing method of a printing system, in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, and a print job transferred from the information processing device. The print job includes an interrupt step of performing interrupt printing with the divided print job.

[0010]

In the first aspect of the invention, the divided print jobs are stored in the storage means based on the instruction of the instruction means for selecting the divided transfer or the batch transfer for the print job from the application program. Whenever the determination means for determining the output request of another print job of the printer server determines that there is an output request of the other print job every time the transfer means starts the transfer of each divided print job, the transfer control means Another transfer job is controlled by controlling the transfer unit to interrupt transfer to the printing device prior to the division print job continuing the other print job, interrupting the transfer of the division print job, and succeeding the division print job. Can be preferentially transferred to the printing apparatus.

In the second aspect of the invention, the print control means controls interrupt printing of the print job transferred from the information processing device and the divided print job obtained by dividing the print job, and the interrupt print is performed during the divided print job processing. It is possible to preferentially output other print jobs to be executed.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the divided print jobs are stored in the storage means based on the instruction of the instruction means for selecting the divided transfer or the batch transfer for the print job from the application program.
Each time the divided print jobs are transferred by the transfer unit,
When the determination means for determining the output request for the other print job of the printer server determines that the output request for the other print job is present, the transfer control means precedes the divided print job for continuing the other print job. And controlling the transfer unit to interrupt transfer to the printing apparatus, and the print control unit controls interrupt printing of a print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and a divided print job in which the print job is divided. Then, it is possible to preferentially transfer another subsequent print job to the printing apparatus during the divided print job transfer, and preferentially output the subsequent subsequent print job during the divided print job processing.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the application program instructs the print job to perform divided transfer or batch transfer, transfers each divided print job divided based on the instruction, and starts transfer of each divided print job. The output request of another print job in the printer server is determined every time before, and the interrupt print transfer is performed to the printing apparatus prior to the divided print job that continues the other print job, and the divided print job is being transferred. In addition, it is possible to preferentially transfer another subsequent print job to the printing apparatus.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, interrupt printing is performed between the print job transferred from the information processing device and the divided print job obtained by dividing the print job, and another print job that follows during the divided print job processing is executed. It is possible to output with priority.

[0015]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, the configurations of a laser beam printer and an inkjet printer suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Needless to say, the printer to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to the laser beam printer and the inkjet printer, and may be a printer of another printing method.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an output device to which the present invention can be applied. For example, the printing mechanism is a laser beam printer (LBP).

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character code, etc.) supplied from an externally connected host computer, form information, macro commands, and the like. A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created in accordance with the above, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.
Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which switches and LED indicators for operation are arranged, and 1000 denotes an LBP main body 15.
This is a printer control unit that controls the entire 00 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer.
The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502. The laser driver 1502 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, and switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal. The laser beam 1504 is oscillated in the horizontal direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1505 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 provided around the electrostatic drum 1506, and then transferred to a recording sheet. This recording paper uses a cut sheet, and the cut sheet recording paper is LBP15.
The paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on paper No. 00, is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1509, a conveyance roller 1510, and a conveyance roller 1511, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506. Further, the LBP main body 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown), and in addition to the built-in font, an optional font card,
Control cards with different languages (emulation cards)
It is configured to be able to connect.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, H1 to H3 are host computers (hosts) that transfer print information to the printer PR via the printer server PS.

The printer server PS includes a CPU,
A RAM and a ROM are provided, and a control program stored in the ROM or the like is loaded into the RAM and executed to receive print information and a printer PR for the received print information.
Control the transfer to. In addition, the host computer H
1 to H3 each include a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, a control unit including a ROM and the like, a display device, an input device, an external storage device, and the like, and load a control program stored in the ROM or the external storage device onto the RAM. By executing the program, various applications, system programs, and communication control with the printer server PS can be executed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system is roughly composed of a host computer 1 and a printer 2, and further, a host computer. 1, an external storage device 3 and a display device 4 are attached. In addition,
Although the present embodiment exemplifies the printing system shown in FIG. 2, it may be a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices as long as the functions of the present invention can be realized. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN.

In the host computer 1, reference numeral 5 denotes an application, which passes the generated print job to the application I / F 6. The application I / F 6 converts the print job delivered from the application 5 into a print command and delivers it to the print monitor 7.

The print monitor 7 is an application I / F.
The print command passed from 6 is passed to the spool file 16 of the external storage device 3. Further, the print monitor 7 returns the print command group in a predetermined unit passed to the spool file 16 to the print monitor 7 based on the job end signal output from the application I / F 6, and further passes it to the print driver 8.

The print driver 8 has a function of passing the print command passed from the print monitor 7 to the printer I / F 9, and acquires information from the printer I / F 9. The printer I / F 9 passes the print command passed from the print driver 8 to the printer command processing unit 13 of the printer 2 via the bidirectional cable 17. In addition, the printer I / F
9 acquires information of the printer command processing unit 13 of the printer 2 via the bidirectional printer I / F 9. In addition,
The spool file 16 of the external storage device 3 is an area for storing a print command group delivered from the print monitor 7 of the host computer 1.

In the printer 2, the printer command processing unit 13 uses the printer I / F 9 of the host computer 1.
The print command passed from the printer is passed to the print mechanism I / F 14. The print mechanism I / F 14 prints the print command passed from the printer command processing unit 13 to the print mechanism 15.
Pass to. The print mechanism 15 is passed from the print mechanism I / F 14 to execute the print command. Bidirectional cable 1
7 transmits a print command between the print I / F 9 of the host computer 1 and the printer command processing unit 13 of the printer 2. The printer server 18 connects the host computer 1 and the printer 2, and also connects a plurality of host computers 1 as shown in FIG. 2 to execute job transmission.

Next, the hardware configurations of the above-mentioned host computer 1 and printer 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the detailed arrangement of the printing system shown in FIG.

The host computer 1 includes a CPU 20 and an R
AM 21, ROM 22, external storage device 3, and display device 4
An input device 23 and a printing device I / F 24 are provided. The printer 2 has a CPU 30, a RAM 31, and a ROM 32.
And a printing device I / F 34, an input device 33, a printing mechanism I / F 14, and a printing mechanism 5.

The configuration of the host computer 1 will be described in detail. The CPU 20 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a program stored in the ROM 22, and the system is executed. Bus 25
Controls each device connected via the device. The RAM 21 is a main memory of the CPU 20 and functions as a work area or the like. The application 5 shown in FIG.
The application I / F 6 exists on the RAM 21.

The ROM 22 is a program memory,
It stores programs that control basic I / O.
The input device 23 controls key input from a keyboard or a pointing device (not shown). Printer I / F2
4 executes communication control processing with the printer 2 via a predetermined bidirectional cable 19. The external storage device 3 includes the spool file 16 shown in FIG. 3 as described above. The display device 4 controls display on a CRT display (not shown).

The configuration of the printer 2 will be described in detail. The CPU 3
0 performs communication processing with the host computer 1 via the printer I / F 34. The RAM 31 is a main memory of the CPU 30 and functions as a work area or the like. The ROM 32 is a program memory and stores the printer command processing unit 13 shown in FIG.

The input device 33 controls commands such as pressing a button attached to the printer 2. Printer I /
F34 is connected to the host computer 1 via a predetermined bidirectional cable 19 and executes communication control processing.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to third inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIG.

The first invention is a printing apparatus (printer 2) via a predetermined communication medium (a predetermined interface, an infrared wireless interface, a network interface, etc.).
In the information processing apparatus (host computer 1) capable of communicating with the computer, an instruction means (selecting the divided transfer or batch transfer for the print job from the application program (operating the input device 23, displayed on the display device 4,
Storage means (RAM 21 or external storage device 3) for storing divided print jobs divided based on the instruction of the instruction means)
And transfer means for transferring the print job or the divided print job to the printing device (the CPU 20 transfers based on a control program stored in the ROM 22 or a printer control program stored in the external storage device 3).
And a determination means (a CPU 20 stores a control program stored in the ROM 22 or the external storage device 3) for determining an output request of another print job of the printer server 18 each time the transfer means starts the transfer of each divided print job. Determination process based on the printer control program etc.
When the determination unit determines that there is an output request for the other print job, the transfer is performed so that the other print job is interrupted and transferred to the printing apparatus prior to the divided print job. And a transfer control unit (the CPU 20 controls transfer based on a control program stored in the ROM 22 or a printer control program stored in the external storage device 3) for dividing the print job from the application program. The divided print jobs that have been divided are stored in the external storage device 3 based on an instruction from the input device 23 that selects transfer or batch transfer. If the CPU 20 determines that there is an output request for the other print job, The PU 20 controls the transfer of the divided print job and the other print job so that the PU 2 interrupt-transfers to the printer 2 prior to the continued divided print job, and interrupts the transfer of the divided print job. hand,
It is possible to preferentially transfer another subsequent print job to the printing apparatus.

A second aspect of the present invention is a printing device (printer 2) capable of communicating with an information processing device (host computer 1) via a predetermined communication medium (a predetermined interface, an infrared wireless interface, a network interface, etc.) A print control unit (CPU 30 is a ROM that controls interrupt printing of a print job transferred from the computer 1 and a divided print job obtained by dividing the print job.
32 or a control program loaded into the RAM 31 from an external memory (not shown))
The PU 30 controls interrupt printing of a print job transferred from the host computer 1 and a divided print job into which the print job is divided, and preferentially outputs another subsequent print job during the divided print job processing. Is possible.

The third invention is a printing apparatus (printer 2) via a predetermined communication medium (a predetermined interface, an infrared wireless interface, a network interface, etc.).
In a printing system in which the information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus (host computer 1) can communicate with each other, an instruction means (an input device 23 is operated to display on the display device 4 an instruction means for selecting division transfer or batch transfer for a print job from an application program. (For example, a selection instruction is made on the printer setting screen), storage means (RAM 21 or external storage device 3) for storing a divided print job divided based on the instruction of the instruction means, the print job or the divided print Transfer means for transferring the job to the printing device (CPU 20
Is transferred based on a control program stored in the ROM 22 or a printer control program stored in the external storage device 3), and another printing of the printer server 18 is performed each time the divided print job is started to be transferred by the transfer unit. Judgment means for determining a job output request (CPU 20 is RO
Determination processing based on a control program stored in M22 or a printer control program stored in the external storage device 3), and if the determination unit determines that there is an output request for the other print job, Transfer control means (CPU 20 stores a control program stored in the ROM 22 or the external storage device 3 to control the transfer means so as to interrupt transfer to the printing device prior to a divided print job that continues another print job. A transfer control based on a stored printer control program or the like), and printing for controlling interrupt printing of a print job transferred from the host computer 1 and a divided print job in which the print job is divided. Control means (CPU 30
From the ROM 32 or an external memory (not shown) to the RAM 3
And a printing device having a control program loaded into the control unit 1), and based on an instruction from the input device 23 for selecting a divided transfer or a batch transfer for the print job from the application program, for example, an external storage device. If divided print jobs are stored in the apparatus 3 and the CPU 20 determines that there is an output request for another print job from the printer server 18 each time the CPU 20 starts transferring each divided print job, the CPU 20 determines The transfer of the divided print job and the other print job is controlled so that the other print job is interrupted and transferred to the printer 2 prior to the continuous divided print job, and the CPU 30 is transferred from the host computer 1. Controls interrupt printing of a print job and a divided print job in which the print job is divided, and divides the print job. By transferring the other print job which follows in the printing job transfer in preference to printing apparatus makes it possible to preferentially output the other print job which follows in the divided print job processing.

Next, the data processing of the printing system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 5 to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the management state of print jobs and divided jobs spooled in the external storage device 3 shown in FIG.

In the figure, N is a print job, which is output from the application 5 shown in FIG. J1 to J4 are print jobs divided into a plurality of lines.
Is added with start information STI and end information EDI, and job J4 is added with start information STI and job end signal EDS. The page of each job J1 may be configured such that the total number of pages of the print job N is determined by the set number of divisions, or the user may set the page from the input device 23.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the first embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system of the present invention. Note that (1) to (4) indicate each step.

First, the display device 4 of the host computer 1
Discriminates the transfer method input by the user using the selecting means on the print screen (1). Next, control means (CPU2
It is judged whether the printing method information in which 0) is input is “division printing” or “batch printing” (2). If it is judged that the printing method information is not division printing, the procedure proceeds to step (4) and thereafter, If it is determined that the printing is performed, the dividing process is executed, the job is divided into a predetermined number of pages, and the common job name and serial number are given to the first line and the last line of each job (3). A job end signal EDS is added to the job of the last divided line, and end information EDI is added to the jobs of the other divided lines.

Subsequently, the divided jobs are sequentially stored in the storage unit from the beginning (4), and the process is terminated.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a process relating to interrupt printing of another user when division printing is performed will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system of the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, the print job stored in the storage unit is discriminated or divided (1). Then, if this determination result is "division" in step (2), the process proceeds to step (3), and if the determination result is not "division", the process proceeds to step (5).

In step (3), the printer server 1
The free status in 8 is discriminated, and if the result is "free" (4), transfer processing is executed (5).

On the other hand, if it is determined in the step (3) that another print job exists, the steps (3) and (4) are repeated without transferring until the state becomes "vacant".

After the transfer process, the presence of a print job in the storage unit containing the print job is discriminated (6). As a result, whether or not the print job still exists (the storage unit is "empty")
(7), and if a print job exists, the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that there is no print job, the process ends.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and the respective steps of the fourth and fifth inventions and their operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a data processing method of a printing system in which a printing device (printer 2) and an information processing device (host computer 1) can communicate with each other via a printer server 18 via a predetermined communication medium. An instruction step (a step before step (1) in FIG. 7) for selectively instructing divided transfer or batch transfer for a print job from the application program, and a transfer step for transferring each divided print job divided based on the instruction ( A step before step (1) in FIG. 7) and a determination step for determining an output request of another print job of the printer server each time transfer of each divided print job is started (step (2) in FIG. 7), An interrupt transfer step of interrupt-transferring to the printing apparatus prior to a divided print job that continues another print job (step (2) in FIG. 7) (5) or step 7 (2)
~ (5)) is executed to transfer the divided print jobs,
It is possible to preferentially transfer another subsequent print job to the printing apparatus.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a data processing method for a printing system in which a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus can communicate with each other via a print server 18 via a predetermined communication medium, and the printing transferred from the information processing apparatus. An interrupt process (steps (2) to (4) in FIG. 7) for performing interrupt printing of a job and a divided print job obtained by dividing the print job is executed, and another print job subsequent to the divided print job is processed. It is possible to output with priority.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes 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, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and 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 an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes 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 instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0060]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, the divided divided print job is stored in the storage means based on the instruction of the instruction means for selecting divided transfer or batch transfer for the print job from the application program, and the transfer means is used. When the determination unit that determines the output request of the other print job of the print server each time the transfer of each divided print job is started determines that the output request of the other print job is present, the transfer control unit outputs the other print job. Since the transfer unit is controlled so that the job is interrupted and transferred to the printing apparatus prior to the continuous divided print job, the transfer of the divided print job is interrupted, and another succeeding print job is prioritized. It can be transferred to a printing device.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the print control means controls interruption printing of the print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and the divided print job into which the print job is divided. Other subsequent print jobs can be preferentially output.

According to the third invention, the divided print jobs are stored in the storage means based on the instruction of the instruction means for selecting the divided transfer or the batch transfer for the print job from the application program. , The transfer control means when the determining means for determining the output request of the other print job of the printer server each time the transfer means starts the transfer of each divided print job, determines the output request of the other print job. Controls the transfer means to interrupt transfer to the printing device prior to the divided print job for continuing the other print job,
Since the print control unit controls interrupt printing of the print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and the divided print job in which the print job is divided, the subsequent print jobs are preferentially printed during the divided print job transfer. By transferring the print job to the apparatus, other subsequent print jobs can be preferentially output during the divided print job processing.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the application program selects and instructs the divided transfer or the batch transfer for the print job, the divided print jobs divided based on the instruction are transferred, and the divided print jobs are transferred. At each start, the output request of the other print job of the printer server is determined, and the other print job is interrupt-transferred to the printing device prior to the divided print job to be continued.
During the transfer of the divided print job, other subsequent print jobs can be preferentially transferred to the printing apparatus.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the interrupt print of the print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and the divided print job in which the print job is divided is performed, another print that follows the divided print job during the divided print job processing is performed. Jobs can be output with priority.

Therefore, when the print job size is large, it is possible to freely construct a printing environment in which the subsequent print jobs having a small print job size can be preferentially output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the printing system illustrated in FIG.

5 is a diagram illustrating a management state of print jobs and divided jobs spooled in the external storage device illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a first data processing method of a printing system according to the present invention.
It is a flow chart which shows an example.

FIG. 7 is a second data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.
It is a flow chart which shows an example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer 2 Printer 3 External Storage Device 4 Display Device 5 Printer Mechanism 20 CPU 21 RAM 22 ROM 30 CPU 31 RAM 32 ROM

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, based on an instruction of an instruction means for selecting a divided transfer or a batch transfer for a print job from an application program, and an instruction of the instruction means. Storage means for storing divided print jobs divided by
A transfer unit that transfers the print job or the divided print job to the printing apparatus, a determination unit that determines an output request of a print job of another user in the print server, and the determination unit outputs the other print job. And a transfer control unit that controls the transfer unit to interrupt the transfer to the printing apparatus prior to the divided print job for continuing the print job of the other user when it is determined that there is a request. An information processing device characterized by the above. 2. A printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, controlling interrupt printing between a print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and a divided print job obtained by dividing the print job. A printing apparatus having a printing control unit for performing the printing. 3. In a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, an instructing means for selectively instructing divided transfer or batch transfer for a print job from an application program, and the instructing means. Storage means for storing the divided print jobs divided based on the instruction, transfer means for transferring the print job or the divided print jobs to the printing apparatus, and each time the divided print jobs are transferred by the transfer means. A determining unit that determines an output request for a print job of another user in the printer server; and a division unit that continues the other print job when the determining unit determines that there is an output request for the other print job. A transfer control unit that controls the transfer unit to interrupt the transfer to the printing apparatus prior to the print job. A printing system, comprising: an information processing apparatus; and a printing apparatus including a print control unit that controls interrupt printing of a print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and a divided print job in which the print job is divided. . 4. A data processing method of a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, and an instructing step of instructing selection of divided transfer or batch transfer for a print job from an application program. A transfer step of transferring each divided print job divided based on the instruction, a determination step of determining an output request of another print job in the printer server before starting the transfer of each divided print job, And a interrupt transfer step of interrupt-transferring the print job to the printing apparatus prior to continuing the divided print job. 5. A data processing method for a printing system in which a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, and a print job transferred from the information processing apparatus and a divided division of the print job. A data processing method for a printing system, comprising: an interruption step of performing interruption printing with a print job.