Print system, server, information processing apparatus, print control method, and recording medium

• US 6,654,137 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yagita, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHIMI, IRAJ A
• Application Number:
  US09/261,501
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.14, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1274 Deleting of print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/002 Interacting with the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1806 Receiving job control commands

Abstract

A print system is provided which is capable of selecting a client to which detailed print information is transmitted from among a plurality of clients when a user performs manual-feed printing in a network environment. In a network print system, for example, when a manual-feed-specified print is specified, a command for a manual-feed-specified print is added to the header part of print data of a print job. Then, when a server obtains an offline state of a printer, the server notifies the client of the offline status. The client receiving the notification displays a dialogue which notifies the user of the timing at which manual feeding is performed. It is also possible to provide an event request of a manual-feed timing to an application.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, which communicates with a print apparatus that has functions that include manual-feed printing, and which generates a print job to be printed in the print apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising:

accepting means for accepting a designation of manual-feed printing;

manual-feed printing designation command addition means for generating a print job to which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state, is added, in a case in which said accepting means accepts the designation of manual-feed printing; and

notification means for notifying a user that manual-feed printing may be performed, in a case in which the print apparatus has functions that include manual-feed printing.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said notification means notifies the user that manual-feed printing may be performed, in a case in which a notification that the print apparatus is in the off-line state is received.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual-feed printing designation command, which said manual-feed printing designation command addition means adds to the print job, includes name information of the print job.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said manual-feed printing designation command addition means adds information specifying said information processing apparatus to the manual-feed printing designation command.

5. A print apparatus, which performs functions that include manual-feed printing, and which performs printing based on a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus, said print apparatus comprising:

print job accepting means for accepting a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

print job analysis means for analyzing the accepted print job;

recording medium setting determination means for determining whether or not a recording medium is set in a manual-feed tray, in a case in which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes said print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state in accordance with a result of said print job analysis means, is received;

recording medium using determination means for determining whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray, in a case in which it is determined that the recording medium is set in the manual-feed tray; and

control means for causing said print apparatus to be placed in the off-line state, in a case in which it is determined that the recording medium is not set in the manual-feed tray or that the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray is not to be used.

6. A print apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means determines whether or not a user has resolved the off-line state, and executes printing in a case in which it is determined that the off-line state has been resolved.

7. A print apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the print job includes either a job name or an IP address as identification information, and

wherein said print apparatus further comprises display means for displaying the identification information in a display unit provided in said print apparatus, in a case in which the manual-feed printing designation command is received.

8. A print apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

job information entry means for entering print job information to a job information table provided in said print apparatus, in a case in which the print job corresponding to the received manual-feed printing designation command is accepted.

9. A print apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording medium using determination means makes a determination as to whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray based on information selected in advance.

10. A print apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording medium using determination means determines whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray based on a command, which is designated together with the manual-feed print designation command, instructing whether or not to use the recording medium for the print job.

11. A print system comprising:

a print apparatus, which performs functions that include manual-feed printing; and

an information processing apparatus, which performs functions that include communicating with said print apparatus and generating a print job for printing in said print apparatus,

wherein said information processing apparatus comprises;

accepting means for accepting a designation of manual-feed printing;

manual-feed printing designation command addition means for generating a print job to which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes said print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state, is added, in a case in which the accepting means has accepted the designation of manual-feed printing; and

notification means for notifying a user that said printing apparatus may perform manual-feed printing, in a case in which said print apparatus is in the off-line state, and

wherein said print apparatus comprises;

print job accepting means for accepting the print job transmitted from said information processing apparatus;

print job analysis means for analyzing the accepted print job; and

control means for causing said print apparatus to be placed in the off-line state, in a case in which the manual-feed printing designation command is received, based on an analysis result of the print job analysis means.

12. An information processing apparatus, which manages a status of a print apparatus, comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining status information of the print apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting a print job, which is communicated from an external apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, to the print apparatus;

determination means for determining whether or not the print apparatus, to which is transmitted the print job, is in an off-line state based on the status information, in a case in which the print job transmitted by said transmitting means includes data designating manual-feed printing; and

notification means for notifying the external apparatus that the print apparatus is in the off-line state, in a case in which said determination means determines that the print apparatus is in the off-line state.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said obtaining means obtains print job information, which is stored in the print apparatus, and an IP address of the external apparatus, from which is communicated the print job.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said notification means issues a notification to the external apparatus, which has an IP address obtained by said obtaining means.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein information notified by said notification means includes a job name.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising storage means for storing the print job information.

17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising deletion means for deleting the print job information stored in said storage means, when said obtaining means obtains information indicating that a print and an output of the print job have been completed.

18. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus, which communicates with a print apparatus that has functions that include manual-feed printing, and which generates a print job to be printed in the print apparatus, said information processing method comprising:

an acceptance step of accepting a designation of manual-feed printing;

a manual-feed printing designation command addition step of generating a print job to which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state, is added, in a case in which the designation of manual-feed printing is accepted in said acceptance step; and

a notification step of notifying a user that manual-feed printing may be performed, in a case in which the print apparatus has functions that include manual-feed printing.

19. An information processing method according to claim 18, wherein said notification step includes notifying the user that manual-feed printing may be performed, in a case in which a notification that the print apparatus is in the off-line state is received.

20. An information processing method according to claim 18, wherein the manual-feed printing designation command, which is added to the print job in said manual-feed printing designation command addition step, includes name information of the print job.

21. An information processing method according to claim 20, wherein said manual-feed printing designation command addition step includes adding information specifying the information processing apparatus to the manual-feed printing designation command.

22. A print method of a print apparatus, which performs functions that include manual-feed printing, and which performs printing based on a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus, said print method comprising:

a print job acceptance step of accepting a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

a print job analysis step of analyzing the accepted print job;

a recording medium setting determination step of determining whether or not a recording medium is set in a manual-feed tray, in a case in which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state in accordance with a result of said print job analysis step, is received;

a recording medium using determination step of determining whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray, in a case in which it is determined that the recording medium is set in the manual-feed tray; and

a control step of causing the print apparatus to be placed in the off-line state, in a case in which it is determined that the recording medium is not set in the manual-feed tray or that the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray is not to be used.

23. A print method according to claim 22, wherein said control step includes determining whether or not a user has resolved the off-line state, and executing printing in a case in which it is determined that the off-line state has been resolved.

24. A print method according to claim 22,

wherein the print job includes either a job name or an IP address as identification information, and

wherein said print method further comprises a display step of displaying the identification information in a display unit provided in the print apparatus, in a case in which the manual-feed printing designation command is received.

25. A print method according to claim 22, further comprising:

a job information entry step of entering print job information to a job information table provided in the print apparatus, in a case in which the print job corresponding to the received manual-feed printing designation command is accepted.

26. A print method according to claim 22, wherein said recording medium using determination step includes making a determination as to whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray based on information selected in advance.

27. A print method according to claim 22, wherein said recording medium using determination step includes determining whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray based on a command, which is designated together with the manual-feed print designation command, instructing whether or not to use the recording medium for the print job.

28. A print method of a print system that includes a print apparatus, which performs functions that include manual-feed printing, and an information processing apparatus, which performs functions that include communicating with the print apparatus and generating a print job for printing in the print apparatus,

wherein said method comprises, at the information processing apparatus:

an acceptance step of accepting a designation of manual-feed printing;

a manual-feed printing designation command addition step of generating a print job to which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state, is added, in a case in which the designation of manual-feed printing is accepted in said acceptance step; and

a notification step of notifying a user that the printing apparatus may perform manual-feed printing, in a case in which the print apparatus is in the off-line state, and

wherein said method comprises, at the print apparatus;

a print job acceptance step of accepting the print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

a print job analysis step of analyzing the accepted print job; and

a control step of causing the print apparatus to be placed in the off-line state, in a case in which the manual-feed printing designation command is received, based on an analysis result of said print job analysis step.

29. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus that manages a status of a print apparatus, comprising:

an obtaining step of obtaining status information of the print apparatus;

a transmission step of transmitting a print job, which is communicated from an external apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, to the print apparatus;

a determination step of determining whether or not the print apparatus, to which is transmitted the print job, is in an off-line state based on the status information, in a case in which the print job transmitted in said transmission step includes data designating manual-feed printing; and

a notification step of notifying the external apparatus that the print apparatus is in the off-line state, in a case in which it is determined in said determination step that the print apparatus is in the off-line state.

30. An information processing method according to claim 29, wherein said obtaining step includes obtaining print job information, which is stored in the print apparatus, and an IP address of the external apparatus, from which is communicated the print job.

31. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said notification step includes issuing a notification to the external apparatus, which has an IP address obtained in said obtaining step.

32. An information processing method according to claim 29, wherein information notified in said notification step includes a job name.

33. An information processing method according to claim 29, further comprising a storage step of storing the print job information.

34. An information processing method according to claim 33, further comprising a deletion step of deleting the print job information stored in said storage step, when information indicating that a print and an output of the print job have been completed is obtained in said obtaining step.

35. A program product embodying a computer program for implementing an information processing method of an information processing apparatus, which communicates with a print apparatus that has functions that include manual-feed printing, and which generates a print job to be printed in the print apparatus, wherein the information processing method comprises:

an acceptance step of accepting a designation of manual-feed printing;

a manual-feed printing designation command addition step of generating a print job to which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state, is added, in a case in which the designation of manual-feed printing is accepted in said acceptance step; and

a notification step of notifying a user that manual-feed printing may be performed, in a case in which the print apparatus has functions that include manual-feed printing.

36. A program product according to claim 35, wherein said notification step includes notifying the user that manual-feed printing may be performed, in a case in which a notification that the print apparatus is in the off-line state is received.

37. A program product according to claim 35, wherein the manual-feed printing designation command, which is added to the print job in said manual-feed printing designation command addition step, includes name information of the print job.

38. A program product according to claim 37, wherein said manual-feed printing designation command addition step includes adding information specifying the information processing apparatus to the manual-feed printing designation command.

39. A program product embodying a computer program for implementing a print method of a print apparatus, which performs functions that include manual-feed printing, and which performs printing based on a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus, wherein the print method comprises:

a print job acceptance step of accepting a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

a print job analysis step of analyzing the accepted print job;

a recording medium setting determination step of determining whether or not a recording medium is set in a manual-feed tray, in a case in which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state in accordance with a result of said print job analysis step, is received;

a recording medium using determination step of determining whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray, in a case in which it is determined that the recording medium is set in the manual-feed tray; and

a control step of causing the print apparatus to be placed in the off-line state, in a case in which it is determined that the recording medium is not set in the manual-feed tray or that the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray is not to be used.

40. A program product according to claim 39, wherein said control step includes determining whether or not a user has resolved the off-line state, and executing printing in a case in which it is determined that the off-line state has been resolved.

41. A program product according to claim 39,

wherein the print job includes either a job name or an IP address as identification information, and

wherein said print method further comprises a display step of displaying the identification information in a display unit provided in the print apparatus, in a case in which the manual-feed printing designation command is received.

42. A program product according to claim 39, further comprising:

a job information entry step of entering print job information to a job information table provided in the print apparatus, in a case in which the print job corresponding to the received manual-feed printing designation command is accepted.

43. A program product according to claim 39, wherein said recording medium using determination step includes making a determination as to whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray based on information selected in advance.

44. A program product according to claim 39, wherein said recording medium using determination step includes determining whether or not to use the recording medium set in the manual-feed tray based on a command, which is designated together with the manual-feed print designation command, instructing whether or not to use the recording medium for the print job.

45. A program product embodying a computer program for implementing a print method of a print system that includes a print apparatus, which performs functions that include manual-feed printing, and an information processing apparatus, which performs functions that include communicating with the print apparatus and generating a print job for printing in the print apparatus,

wherein the method comprises, at the information processing apparatus:

an acceptance step of accepting a designation of manual-feed printing;

a manual-feed printing designation command addition step of generating a print job to which a manual-feed printing designation command, which causes the print apparatus to be placed in an off-line state, is added, in a case in which the designation of manual-feed printing is accepted in said acceptance step; and

a notification step of notifying a user that the printing apparatus may perform manual-feed printing, in a case in which the print apparatus is in the off-line state, and

wherein the method comprises, at the print apparatus;

a print job acceptance step of accepting the print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus;

a print job analysis step of analyzing the accepted print job; and

a control step of causing the print apparatus to be placed in the off-line state, in a case in which the manual-feed printing designation command is received, based on an analysis result of said print job analysis step.

46. A program product embodying a computer program for implementing an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that manages a status of a print apparatus, wherein the method comprises:

an obtaining step of obtaining status information of the print apparatus;

a transmission step of transmitting a print job, which is communicated from an external apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, to the print apparatus;

a determination step of determining whether or not the print apparatus, to which is transmitted the print job, is in an off-line state based on the status information, in a case in which the print job transmitted in said transmission step includes data designating manual-feed printing; and

a notification step of notifying the external apparatus that the print apparatus is in the off-line state, in a case in which it is determined in said determination step that the print apparatus is in the off-line state.

47. A program product according to claim 46, wherein said obtaining step includes obtaining print job information, which is stored in the print apparatus, and an IP address of the external apparatus, from which is communicated the print job.

48. A program product according to claim 47, wherein said notification step includes issuing a notification to the external apparatus, which has an IP address obtained in said obtaining step.

49. A program product according to claim 48, wherein information notified in said notification step includes a job name.

50. A program product according to claim 48, further comprising a storage step of storing the print job information.

51. A program product according to claim 50, further comprising a deletion step of deleting the print job information stored in said storage step, when information indicating that a print and an output of the print job have been completed is obtained in said obtaining step.