INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINT CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120307293A1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Natori, Takuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,069,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1209 resulting in adapted or bridged legacy communication protocols, e.g. emulation, protocol extension
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/124 Parallel printing or parallel ripping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1267 Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A print relay server relays print data generated by a print server to an image forming device. The print relay server includes a relay virtual printer that instructs the corresponding image forming device to print out print data and a functional relay virtual printer that has a function for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print server. The functional relay virtual printer acquires print data from the print server which has generated print data in response to a print request from a client, and instructs an image forming device, which executes a process for realizing the specified print service, to print out print data via the relay virtual printer.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that acquires print data, which has been generated by a print data generation device in response to a request from a user device, from the print data generation device and relays the acquired print data to an image forming device, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a first print control unit that corresponds to the image forming device and instructs the corresponding image forming device to print out print data generated by the print data generation device; and

a second print control unit that has a function for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device and for responding to a print request from the user device,

wherein the second print control unit comprises;

a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data from the print data generation device which has generated the print data in response to a print request from the user device; and

a print instruction unit that executes a process for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device, and instructs the image forming device to print the print data via the first print control unit.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second print control units corresponds to a communication protocol which is open to the public to provide a print service by the print data generation device.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation device registers the first and the second print control units as printers running on the information processing apparatus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data acquisition unit communicates with a transmission unit which is provided in the print data generation device and transmits the print data, and

wherein the print instruction unit communicates with a unit that is provided in the first print control unit and instructs the image forming device to print the print data.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second print control unit has an integrated printing function that instructs the image forming device to print the print data acquired from the print data generation device when a one-time print request is made by the user device or has a temporarily stored printing function that stores the print data acquired from the print data generation device when a print request is made by the user device and instructs the image forming device to print the stored print data upon reception of a print instruction from the image forming device.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second print control unit has the integrated printing function,

wherein the print data generation device generates a print job in response to a one-time print request by the user device and notifies the print job to the second print control unit,

wherein the second print control unit acquires print data in response to the print job from the print data generation device and transmits the acquired print data to the first print control unit corresponding to each of image forming devices which execute a process for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device, and

wherein each of the first print control units, which has received print data from the second print control unit, instructs the corresponding image forming device to print the print data.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second print control unit has the temporarily stored printing function,

wherein the print data generation device generates a print job in response to a print request by the user device and notifies the print job to the second print control unit,

wherein the second print control unit acquires print data in response to the print job from the print data generation device and transmits the acquired print data to the first print control unit corresponding to each of image forming devices upon reception of a print instruction from the image forming devices which execute a process for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device, and

wherein each of the first print control units, which has received print data from the second print control unit, instructs the corresponding image forming device to print the print data.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second print control unit has the temporarily stored printing function, and notifies the completion of printing to the print data generation device upon acquisition of print data from the print data generation device before the print data is transmitted to the first print control unit corresponding to an image forming device which executes a process for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device.

9. A print control method performed by an information processing apparatus that acquires print data, which has been generated by a print data generation device in response to a request from a user device, from the print data generation device and relays the acquired print data to an image forming device,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises:

a first print control unit that corresponds to the image forming device and instructs the corresponding image forming device to print out print data generated by the print data generation device; and

a second print control unit that has a function for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device and for responding to a print request from the user device, and

wherein the method comprises;

acquiring in the second print control unit print data from the print data generation device which has generated the print data in response to a print request from the user device; and

instructing in the second print control unit the image forming device to print the print data via the first print control unit so as to execute a process for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device.

10. A non-transitory storage medium on which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute a print control method performed by an information processing apparatus that acquires print data, which has been generated by a print data generation device in response to a request from a user device, from the print data generation device and relays the acquired print data to an image forming device,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises:

a first print control unit that corresponds to the image forming device and instructs the corresponding image forming device to print out print data generated by the print data generation device; and

a second print control unit that has a function for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device and for responding to a print request from the user device, and

wherein the method comprises;

acquiring in the second print control unit print data from the print data generation device which has generated the print data in response to a print request from the user device; and

instructing in the second print control unit the image forming device to print the print data via the first print control unit so as to execute a process for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print data generation device.