Print control method and printing apparatus

Abstract

A printing apparatus has: a storing unit which stores print data; a print unit which prints the print data onto a medium; a reply unit which returns a list regarding the print data stored in the storing unit to a host in response to an inquiry received from the host; and a print instructing unit which allows the print unit to print the print data stored in the storing unit in response to a print instruction from the host. A necessary print job can be easily selected from a plurality of print jobs. Only the print data of the selected print job can be printed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A print control method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving data transmitted by an external apparatus;    analyzing said received data;    storing said print data into a storing unit if said data is print data as a result of said analysis;    forming information regarding the print data stored in said storing unit and transmitting it to a sender of said inquiry data if said data is inquiry data as a result of said analysis; and    selecting said print data stored in said storing unit on the basis of said print instruction data and printing if said data is print instruction data as a result of said analysis.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step which collates whether the data whose printing has been instructed by said print instruction data has been stored in said storing unit or not, and 
 wherein the coincident print data is printed if the coincident data is searched by said collation.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 developing said print data and converting it into a format in which the data can be displayed by said external apparatus;    storing the data converted into said format in which the data can be displayed in an interlocking relation with said print data; and    transmitting the information regarding the print data stored in said storing unit and the data converted into said format in which the data can be displayed if said inquiry data is received.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein in said step which converts the data into the data in said format in which the data can be displayed, the data of only a first page is converted.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting that information of another external apparatus is included in said print instruction data; and    transferring the print data instructed by said print instruction data to said another external apparatus if the information of said another external apparatus is included.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting that information of another external apparatus is included in said print instruction data;    receiving a reply from said another external apparatus if the information of said another external apparatus is included; and    transferring the print data instructed by said print instruction data to said another external apparatus if said reply is received.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting that information of its own apparatus and information of another external apparatus are included in said print instruction data; and    transmitting a reply to said another external apparatus if the information of said another external apparatus and the information of said own apparatus are included.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting whether information of storage designation or print designation exists in the print data received from said external apparatus or not; and    printing said print data irrespective of said print instruction data if said information indicates the print designation.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving authentication data from said external apparatus and storing it;    comparing authentication data included in the data which is transmitted from said external apparatus with said stored authentication data; and    executing a process corresponding to said received data if said data coincide as a result of said comparison.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the data which is compared in the step which compares said authentication data is user data.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the data which is compared in the step which compares said authentication data is password data.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the step which analyzes said received data, a predetermined character train included in said received data is detected.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the step which transmits said inquiry data to the sender, the information is transmitted to said external apparatus by E-mail.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the step which receives the data transmitted by said external apparatus, E-mail transmitted by said external apparatus is received.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the step which forms the information regarding the print data stored in said storing unit, information which can identify each of said stored print data is formed.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the identification information in the step which forms the information regarding the print data stored in said storing unit is a job number.  
     
     
         17 . A printing apparatus comprising: 
 a receiving unit which receives data from a host;    a transmitting unit which transmits data to the host;    a print unit which prints print data onto a medium;    an analyzing unit which analyzes the data received from said host;    a storing unit which stores said print data if a result of said analysis indicates the print data;    a list forming unit which forms a list of the print data stored in said storing unit and outputs it to said transmitting unit if the result of said analysis indicates inquiry data; and    a print instructing unit which, if the result of said analysis indicates print instruction data, outputs said print data stored in said storing unit to said print unit on the basis of said print instruction data.