Information processing apparatus for converting print jobs among a plurality of printing systems, print job conversion method, and program

• US 8,059,290 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuroshima, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu; Benny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chacko; Sunil
• Application Number:
  US11/559,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1214 at the submitting node
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1264 by assigning post-processing resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1268 Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1275 Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1282 High volume printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

To improve work efficiency and reduce work costs, automatic transmission/reception and conversion of a print job can be performed (without requiring manual work) among plural printing systems having different functions. An information processing apparatus, connected to plural printing systems, can create a job ticket for a second system based on a job ticket and content data for a first system and device function information for the second system.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus configured to communicate with a first printing system and a second printing system, comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive, from the first printing system, first work instruction data in which a plurality of works performed in the first printing system are described;

a acquiring unit configured to obtain device function information in the second printing system;

a changing unit configured to change processing order of a postpress described in the first work instruction data to an order such that the second printing system can output an ordered final printed material, when it is determined that the first work instruction data includes a work that cannot be performed by the second printing system based on the first work instruction data received from the first printing system and the device function information in the second printing system; and

a generation unit configured to create second work instruction data for the second printing system indicating that the second printing system performs the postpress described in the first work instruction data in the order changed by said changing unit.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes the order to perform stitch processing following cutting processing to the order to perform the cutting processing following the stitch processing when the stitch processing of the first printing system is different from the stitch processing of the second printing system.

3. A method for an information processing apparatus configured to communicate with a first printing system and a second printing system, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first printing system, first work instruction data in which a plurality of works performed in the first printing system are described;

obtaining device function information in the second printing system;

changing processing order of a postpress described in the first work instruction data to an order such that the second printing system can output an ordered final printed material, when it is determined that the first work instruction data includes a work that cannot be performed by the second printing system based on the first work instruction data received from the first printing system and the device function information in the second printing system; and

creating second work instruction data for the second printing system indicating that the second printing system performs the postpress described in the first work instruction data in the order changed.

4. A method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein changing the order to perform stitch processing following cutting processing to the order to perform the cutting processing following the stitch processing when the stitch processing of the first printing system is different from the stitch processing of the second printing system.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing instructions which, when executed by an apparatus configured to communicate with a first printing system and a second printing system, causes the apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from the first printing system, first work instruction data in which a plurality of works performed in the first printing system are described;

obtaining device function information in the second printing system;

changing processing order of a postpress described in the first work instruction data to an order such that the second printing system can output an ordered final printed material, when it is determined that the first work instruction data includes a work that cannot be performed by the second printing system based on the first work instruction data received from the first printing system and the device function information in the second printing system; and

creating second work instruction data for the second printing system indicating that the second printing system performs the postpress described in the first work instruction data in the order changed.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing instructions which causes the apparatus to perform operations according to claim 5, wherein changing the order to perform stitch processing following cutting processing to the order to perform the cutting processing following the stitch processing when the stitch processing of the first printing system is different from the stitch processing of the second printing system.