Print control apparatus and print control method capable of interruption printing

• US 6,570,605 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kashiwazaki, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, HAI CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/573,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 347/262, 347/264, 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 399/84, 399/87, 399/405, 399/407, 399/82, 399/77, 399/81, 701/36, 270/58.02
• US Class Current: 347/264
• 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 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1263 based on job priority, e.g. re-arranging the order of jobs, e.g. the printing sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/005 only locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1809 relating to the printing process

Abstract

There is provided a print control method in which the user, in designating an interruption printing from the host computer, can change the sheet discharge method and the sheet discharge unit for a print job designated for interruption printing, so that the prints of the interruption print job are not mixed with the prints of other print jobs.

Claims

1. A print control system including an information processing apparatus and a print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job,

wherein said print control apparatus comprises storing means for storing a plurality of print jobs received by said print control apparatus,

wherein said information processing apparatus comprises;

selection means for selecting a print job for printing from among the plurality of print jobs stored in said storing means;

designation means for designating a sheet discharge destination of the stored print job selected by said selection means;

and wherein said print control apparatus further comprises;

first reception means for receiving, from said information processing apparatus, a command for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing means and designating the print job selected by said selection means;

second reception means for receiving, from said information processing apparatus, sheet discharge information designating the sheet discharge destination of the selected print job designated by said designation means; and

job control means for, according to the command received by said first reception means, executing a second print job designated by the command by interrupting a first print job, and changing a sheet discharge destination of the second print job to the sheet discharge destination designated by the sheet discharge information received by said second reception means.

2. A print control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmission means for transmitting list information indicating the received print jobs stored in said storing means to the information processing apparatus; and

third reception means for receiving identification information for identifying a print job selected by the user from among the print jobs indicated by the list information,

wherein the identification information received by third reception means is included in the command received by said first reception means and the second print job is a print job identified by the identification information.

3. A print control system according to claim 1, wherein the destination of sheet discharge includes a sorter unit.

4. A print control method of controlling a print control system including an information processing apparatus and a print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, said method comprising:

a storing step of storing, in the print control apparatus, a plurality of print jobs received by the print control apparatus;

a selecting step of selecting, in the information processing apparatus, a print job for printing from among the plurality of print jobs stored in said storing step;

a designating step of designating, in the information processing apparatus, a sheet discharge destination of the stored print job selected in said selecting step;

a first reception step of receiving, in the print control apparatus, from the information processing apparatus, a command for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and designating the print job selected in said selecting step;

a second reception step of receiving, in the print control apparatus, from the information processing apparatus, sheet discharge information designating the sheet discharge destination of the selected print job designed in said designating step; and

a job control step of, in the print control apparatus, according to the received command, executing a second print job designated by the command by interrupting a first print job, and changing a sheet discharge designation of the second print job to the sheet discharge destination designated by the sheet discharge information received in said second reception step.

5. A print control method according to claim 4, further comprising:

a transmission step of transmitting list information indicating the received print jobs stored in said storing step to the information processing apparatus; and

a third reception step of receiving identification information for identifying a print job selected by the user from among the print jobs indicated by the list information,

wherein the identification information received in said third reception step is included in the command received in said first reception step and the second print job is a print job identified by the identification information.

6. A print control method according to claim 4, wherein said method is adapted for a laser beam printer.

7. A print control method according to claim 4, wherein the print job is received from the information processing apparatus through a network.

8. A print control method according to claim 4, wherein the destination of sheet discharge includes a sorter unit.

9. A computer-readable memory medium storing a control program for controlling a print control system including an information processing apparatus, and a print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, the program comprising:

a storing step of storing, in the print control apparatus, a plurality of print jobs received by the print control apparatus;

a selection step of selecting, in the information processing apparatus, a print job for printing from among the plurality of print jobs stored in said storing step;

a designating step of designating, in the information processing apparatus, a sheet discharge destination of the stored print job selected in said selecting step;

a first reception step of receiving, in the print control apparatus, from the information processing apparatus, a command for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and designating the print job selected in said selection step;

a second reception step of receiving, in the print control apparatus, from the information processing apparatus, sheet discharge information designating the sheet discharge destination of the selected print job designated in said designation step; and

a job control step of, in the print control apparatus, according to the received command, to execute a second print job designated by the command by interrupting a first print job, and changing a sheet discharge destination of the second print job to the sheet discharge destination designated received in said second reception step.

10. A control program of controlling a print control system including an information processing apparatus and a print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising:

a storing step of storing, in the print control apparatus, a plurality of print jobs received by the print control apparatus;

a selection step of selecting, in the information processing apparatus, a print job for printing from among the plurality of print jobs stored in said storing step;

a designating step of designating, in the information processing apparatus, a sheet discharge destination of the stored print job selected in said selecting step;

a first reception step of receiving, in the print control apparatus, from the information processing apparatus, a command for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and designating the print job selected in said selecting step;

a second reception step of receiving, in the print control apparatus, from the information processing apparatus, sheet discharge information designating the sheet discharge destination of the selected print job designed in said designating step; and

a job control step of, in the print control apparatus, according to the received command, executing a second print job designated by the command by interrupting a first print job, and changing a sheet discharge destination of the second print job to the sheet discharge destination designated by the sheet discharge information received in said second reception step.

11. A print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discrimination means for discriminating whether an instruction for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing means and identification information for identifying an owner of a print job desired for printing are present; and

job control means for, according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job of an owner identical to the owner identified by the identification information by interrupting a first print job.

12. A print control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second print job is a print job of the owner identified by the identification information.

13. A print control apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising sheet discharge control means for changing a sheet discharge destination of the first print job and that of the second print job.

14. A print control system according to claim 13, wherein the sheet discharge destination includes a sorter unit.

15. A print control system according to claim 11, wherein the identification information is entered from a magnetic card reader.

16. A print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discrimination means for discriminating whether an instruction from a card reader connected to said print control apparatus for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing means and identification information from a card reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

job control means for, according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

17. A print control apparatus for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discrimination means for discriminating whether an instruction from a bar code reader connected to said print control apparatus for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing means and identification information from a bar code reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

job control means for, according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

18. A print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information for identifying an owner of a print job desired for printing are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job of an owner identical to the owner identified by the identification information by interrupting a first print job.

19. A print control method according to claim 18, wherein the second print job is a print job of the owner identified by the identification information.

20. A print control method according to claim 18, further comprising a sheet discharge control step of changing the sheet discharge destination of the first print job and that of the second print job.

21. A print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction from a card reader connected to a print control apparatus that is executing said method for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information from a card reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

22. A print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction from a bar code reader connected to the print control apparatus that is executing said method for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing means and identification information from a bar code reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

23. A computer-readable memory medium storing instructions for performing a print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information for identifying an owner of a print job desired for printing are present; and

according to the instruction, and the identification information, executing a second print job of an owner identical to the owner identified by the identification information by interrupting a first print job.

24. A computer-readable memory medium storing instructions for performing a print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction from a card reader connected to a print control apparatus that is executing said method for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information from a card reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

25. A computer-readable memory medium storing instructions for performing a print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction from a bar code reader connected to the print control apparatus that is executing said method for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing means and identification information from a bar code reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

26. A control program for performing a print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information for identifying an owner of a print job desired for printing are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job of an owner identical to the owner identified by the identification information by interrupting a first print job.

27. A control program according to claim 26, wherein the second print job is a print job of the owner identified by the identification information.

28. A control program according to claim 26, further comprising a sheet discharge control step of changing the sheet discharge destination of the first print job and that of the second print job.

29. A control program for performing a print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction from a card reader connected to a print control apparatus that is executing said method for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information from a card reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.

30. A control program for performing a print control method for receiving a print job and executing the received print job, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of received print jobs;

discriminating whether an instruction from a bar code reader connected to the print control apparatus that is executing said method for changing the output order of the print jobs stored in said storing step and identification information from a bar code reader connected to said print control apparatus are present; and

according to the instruction and the identification information, executing a second print job specified by the identification information entered together with the instruction by interrupting a first print job.