Information processing apparatus capable of transferring print job to another information processing apparatus, and its control method

• US 20020131069A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wanda, Koichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1261 by using alternate printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1274 Deleting of print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

There are disclosed an information processing apparatus and its control method, which can proceed to execute a process of an incomplete print job upon receiving an end process request while an incomplete print job is present. In an information processing apparatus according to this invention, if an incomplete print job is present upon receiving an end process instruction, another information processing apparatus which can alternately process this print job is searched for (S2203), and the incomplete print job is transferred to that information processing apparatus (S2207). Since the information processing apparatus, which received the incomplete print job, processes the received print job as a self spooled print job, the print job can be normally processed.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

incomplete job detection means for, when an operation end process is requested, detecting if an incomplete print job, a process of which is not completed yet, is present in said apparatus;

alternate apparatus determination means for, when the incomplete print job is detected, determining another information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job;

transfer means for transferring the incomplete print job to the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job; and

end means for executing the operation end process after completion of transfer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising database means for storing information that pertains to an information processing apparatus which can communicate with said information processing apparatus, and

wherein said alternate apparatus determination means determines the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process that incomplete print job, using said database means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alternate apparatus determination means determines the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process that incomplete print job, on the basis of information acquired from another information processing apparatus to which said information processing apparatus is connected to be able to communicate with each other.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of incomplete print jobs are present, said alternate apparatus determination means determines the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process the incomplete print job, for each of the plurality of incomplete print jobs.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising group job detection means for detecting if the incomplete print job is a group job associated with a print job of another information processing apparatus to which said information processing apparatus is connected to be able to communicate with each other, and

wherein said alternate apparatus determination means preferentially determines another information processing apparatus having a print job associated with that group job as the alternate apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means sends at least one of information indicating that the transfer process is in progress, information indicating that the transfer process is complete, and information that pertains to the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the incomplete print job, to another predetermined information processing apparatus which is connected to said information processing apparatus to be able to communicate with each other.

7. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:

the incomplete job detection step of detecting, when an operation end process is requested, if an incomplete print job, a process of which is not completed yet, is present in the apparatus;

the alternate apparatus determination step of determining, when the incomplete print job is detected, another information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job;

the transfer step of transferring the incomplete print job to the other detected information processing apparatus; and

the end step of executing the operation end process after completion of transfer.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises database means for storing information that pertains to an information processing apparatus which can communicate with the information processing apparatus, and

wherein the alternate apparatus determination step includes the step of determining the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process that incomplete print job, using the database means.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the alternate apparatus determination step includes the step of determining the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process that incomplete print job, on the basis of information acquired from another information processing apparatus to which the information processing apparatus is connected to be able to communicate with each other.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein when a plurality of incomplete print jobs are present, the alternate apparatus determination step includes the step of determining the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process the incomplete print job, for each of the plurality of incomplete print jobs.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the group job detection step of detecting if the incomplete print job is a group job associated with a print job of another information processing apparatus to which the information processing apparatus is connected to be able to communicate with each other, and

wherein the alternate apparatus determination step includes the step of preferentially determining another information processing apparatus having a print job associated with that group job as the alternate apparatus.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer step includes the step of sending at least one of information indicating that the transfer process is in progress, information indicating that the transfer process is complete, and information that pertains to the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the incomplete print job, to another predetermined information processing apparatus which is connected to the information processing apparatus to be able to communicate with each other.

13. A computer program product which implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

an incomplete job detection program module for, when an operation end process is requested, detecting if an incomplete print job, a process of which is not completed yet, is present in the apparatus;

an alternate apparatus determination program module for, when the incomplete print job is detected, determining another information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job;

a transfer program module for transferring the incomplete print job to the other detected information processing apparatus; and

an end program module for executing the operation end process after completion of transfer.

14. A computer readable storage medium which stores a computer program which implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus,

said computer program comprising:

an incomplete job detection program module for, when an operation end process is requested, detecting if an incomplete print job, a process of which is not completed yet, is present in the apparatus;

an alternate apparatus determination program module for, when the incomplete print job is detected, determining another information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job;

a transfer program module for transferring the incomplete print job to the other detected information processing apparatus; and

an end program module for executing the operation end process after completion of transfer.

15. An information processing apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a non-processed print job, which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, at a timing different from a print request;

order control means for controlling a print order of a print apparatus on the basis of the print request; and

processing means for sending the non-processed print job received at the timing different from the print request as a self spooled print job.

16. An information processing apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a non-processed print job which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other;

detection means for detecting reception of print permission information sent from an information apparatus different from the other information processing apparatus; and

processing means for sending the received non-processed print job as a self spooled print job in response to reception of the print permission information.

17. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:

the reception step of receiving a non-processed print job, which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, at a timing different from a print request;

the order control step of controlling a print order of a print apparatus on the basis of the print request; and

the processing step of sending the non-processed print job received at the timing different from the print request as a self spooled print job.

18. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:

the reception step of receiving a non-processed print job which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other;

the detection step of detecting reception of print permission information sent from an information apparatus different from the other information processing apparatus; and

the processing step of sending the received non-processed print job as a self spooled print job in response to reception of the print permission information.

19. A computer program product that implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

a reception program module for receiving a non-processed print job, which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, at a timing different from a print request;

an order control program module for controlling a print order of a print apparatus on the basis of the print request; and

a processing program module for sending the non-processed print job received at the timing different from the print request as a self spooled print job.

20. A computer program product that implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

a reception program module for receiving a non-processed print job which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other;

a detection program module for detecting reception of print permission information sent from an information apparatus different from the other information processing apparatus; and

a processing program module for sending the received non-processed print job as a self spooled print job in response to reception of the print permission information.

21. A computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program that implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

a reception program module for receiving a non-processed print job, which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, at a timing different from a print request;

an order control program module for controlling a print order of a print apparatus on the basis of the print request; and

a processing program module for sending the non-processed print job received at the timing different from the print request as a self spooled print job.

22. A computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program that implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

a reception program module for receiving a non-processed print job which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other;

a detection program module for detecting reception of print permission information sent from an information apparatus different from the other information processing apparatus; and

a processing program module for sending the received non-processed print job as a self spooled print job in response to reception of the print permission information.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising informing means for sending a completion message of the print job, the process of which is complete, to the request source on the basis of the management information of that print job.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein when the print job requests include group jobs which are associated with each other, said print job management means manages to successively execute print process of all associated group jobs.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising search means for determining another information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job on the basis of the management information of that print job in response to a search request from an information processing apparatus as a request source of a print job managed by said print job management means, and informing the information processing apparatus as the request source of the determined information processing apparatus that can alternately process the print job.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein when the print job is a group job associated with another print job, said search means preferentially determines an information processing apparatus as a request source of the print job associated with that print job as the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein when said search means cannot determine the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job, said search means determines said information processing apparatus where said search means is present as the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising informing means for sending a completion message of the print job, the process of which is complete, to the request source on the basis of the management information of that print job.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the print job management step includes the step of managing, when the print job requests include group jobs which are associated with each other, to successively execute print process of all associated group jobs.

32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the search step of determining another information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job on the basis of the management information of that print job in response to a search request from an information processing apparatus as a request source of a print job managed in the print job management step, and informing the information processing apparatus as the request source of the determined information processing apparatus that can alternately process the print job.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the search step includes the step of preferentially determining, when the print job is a group job associated with another print job, an information processing apparatus as a request source of the print job associated with that print job as the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the search step includes the step of determining, when the other information processing apparatus, which can alternately process the print job, cannot be determined in the search step, the information processing apparatus where the search step is present as the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process the print job.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising print job management means for managing print job requests from another information processing apparatus which is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, and processing print jobs in a predetermined order using a print apparatus which is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other,

wherein when a request source of the print job requests is changed, said print job management means changes management information of print jobs, the request source of which has been changed, to information corresponding to a new request source.

29. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, which comprises the print job management step of managing print job requests from another information processing apparatus which is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, and processing print jobs in a predetermined order using a print apparatus which is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other,

wherein the print job management step includes the step of changing, when a request source of the print job requests is changed, management information of print jobs, the request source of which has been changed, to information corresponding to a new request source.

35. A computer program product that implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

a print job management program module for managing print job requests from another information processing apparatus which is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, and processing print jobs in a predetermined order using a print apparatus which is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other,

wherein said print job management program module includes a program module for, when a request source of the print job requests is changed, changing management information of print jobs, the request source of which has been changed, to information corresponding to a new request source.

36. A computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program that implements a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, said computer program comprising:

a print job management program module for managing print job requests from another information processing apparatus which is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, and processing print jobs in a predetermined order using a print apparatus which is connected to the apparatus to be able to communicate with each other,

wherein said print job management program module includes a program module for, when a request source of the print job requests is changed, changing management information of print jobs, the request source of which has been changed, to information corresponding to a new request source.

37. A print system which is built by connecting first, second, and third information processing apparatuses to be able to communicate with each other,

said first information processing apparatus comprising:

incomplete job detection means for, when an operation end process is requested, detecting if an incomplete print job, a process of which is not completed yet, is present in said apparatus;

alternate apparatus determination means for, when the incomplete print job is detected, determining another information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job;

transfer means for transferring the incomplete print job to the other information processing apparatus which can alternately process that incomplete print job; and

end means for executing the operation end process after completion of transfer,

said second information processing apparatus comprising;

reception means for receiving a non-processed print job, which is transferred from another information processing apparatus that is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, at a timing different from a print request;

order control means for controlling a print order of a print apparatus on the basis of the print request; and

processing means for sending the non-processed print job received at the timing different from the print request as a self spooled print job, and

said third information processing apparatus comprising print job management means for managing print job requests from another information processing apparatus which is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other, and processing print jobs in a predetermined order using a print apparatus which is connected to said apparatus to be able to communicate with each other,

wherein when a request source of the print job requests is changed, said print job management means changes management information of print jobs, the request source of which has been changed, to information corresponding to a new request source.