Apparatus and method for printing a plurality of jobs without being interrupted by printing from another job

• US 8,531,721 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Minagawa, Tomonori
• Primary Examiner(s): BRYAR, JEREMIAH A
• Application Number:
  US12/621,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/527
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• 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 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1262 by grouping or ganging jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling

Abstract

An apparatus allocates a value of page attribute to each page included in a job according to a job attribute set to the job in an intermediate code format that corresponds to data to be printed generated by an application. If a combining instruction is issued to combine a plurality of jobs whose specific job attributes in which only one attribute value can be allocated to one job are allocated different attribute values, the apparatus processes the intermediate code format data so that printing is performed according to the allocated page attribute values. The apparatus then generates a combined job and transmits the generated combined job as print data to the printing apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a storing unit configured to store a plurality of jobs which are converted to an intermediate code format based on data to be printed generated by an application, in association with a job attribute to be set for each of the plurality of jobs;

an allocation unit configured to allocate a value of page attribute to each page included in a job of the plurality of jobs according to a specific job attribute in which only one attribute value can be allocated to one job as the set job attribute;

an instruction unit configured to issue an instruction to combine the plurality of jobs stored in the storing unit into one combined job;

a generation unit configured to generate, when the instruction unit issues the instruction to combine into one job the plurality of jobs whose specific job attributes are allocated different attribute values, a combined job so that printing is performed according to the allocated value of page attribute; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit the generated combined job as print data to a printing apparatus,

wherein the specific job attribute is a color attribute,

wherein the allocation unit allocates, when a value of color attribute set to the job is monochrome, monochrome as a value of page color attribute to each page included in the job, and

wherein the allocation unit allocates, when a value of color attribute set to the job is color, color as a value of page color attribute to each page which includes a color object, and monochrome as a value of page color attribute to each page which does not include a color object.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the allocation unit allocates a value of page color attribute to each page of the job according to at least one of information about the application, a keyword included in the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus, and name of a job corresponding to the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to analyze, when combining jobs based on the instruction, output settings of the plurality of jobs and to determine whether the plurality of jobs can be combined,

wherein the generation unit generates a combined job if the determination unit determines the plurality of jobs can be combined.

4. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of jobs which are converted to an intermediate code format based on data to be printed generated by an application, in association with a job attribute to be set for each of the plurality of jobs;

allocating a value of page attribute to each page included in a job of the plurality of jobs according to a specific job attribute in which only one attribute value can be allocated to one job as the set job attribute;

issuing an instruction to combine the plurality of the stored jobs into one combined job;

generating, when the instruction is issued to combine into one job the plurality of jobs whose specific job attributes are allocated different attribute values, a combined job so that printing is performed according to the allocated value of page attribute; and

transmitting the generated combined job as print data to a printing apparatus,

wherein the specific job attribute is a color attribute,

wherein when a value of color attribute set to the job is monochrome, the allocating allocates monochrome as a value of page color attribute to each page included in the job, and

wherein when a value of color attribute set to the job is color, the allocating allocates color as a value of page color attribute to each page which includes a color object, and monochrome as a value of page color attribute to each page which does not include a color object.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising allocating a value of page color attribute to each page of the job according to at least one of information about the application, a keyword included in the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus, and name of a job corresponding to the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

analyzing, when combining jobs based on the combining instruction, output settings of the plurality of jobs and determining whether the plurality of jobs can be combined; and

generating a combined job if is determined that the plurality of jobs can be combined.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute a method comprising:

storing a plurality of jobs which are converted to an intermediate code format based on data to be printed generated by an application, in association with a job attribute to be set for each of the plurality of jobs;

allocating a value of page attribute to each page included in a job of the plurality of jobs according to a specific job attribute in which only one attribute value can be allocated to one job as the set job attribute;

issuing an instruction to combine the plurality of the stored jobs into one combined job;

generating, when the instruction is issued to combine into one job the plurality of jobs whose specific job attributes are allocated different attribute values, a combined job so that printing is performed according to the allocated value of page attribute; and

transmitting the generated combined job as print data to a printing apparatus,

wherein the specific job attribute is a color attribute,

wherein when a value of color attribute set to the job is monochrome, the allocating allocates monochrome as a value of page color attribute to each page included in the job, and

wherein when a value of color attribute set to the job is color, the allocating allocates color as a value of page color attribute to each page which includes a color object, and monochrome as a value of page color attribute to each page which does not include a color object.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises allocating a value of page color attribute to each page of the job according to at least one of information about the application, a keyword included in the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus, and name of a job corresponding to the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

analyzing, when combining jobs based on the combining instruction, output settings of the plurality of jobs and determining whether the plurality of jobs can be combined; and

generating a combined job if is determined that the plurality of jobs can be combined.