Print job management apparatus

Abstract

The technique of the present invention facilitates execution of proof printing, prior to main printing. In a printing system constructed via a network LAN, a printer PRT includes a job management apparatus that manages statuses of print jobs in conformity with International Standard ISO/IEC10175-1. The job management apparatus has a proofComplete control module 6 in addition to diverse functional blocks for processing the print jobs based on the International Standard. The proofComplete control module 6 functions to hold a print job with attribute information representing proof printing after conclusion of proof printing. Separate management of the print job with the proof printing attribute enables a single print job to be utilized for both proof printing and main printing. This arrangement effectively enhances the utility.

1 . A job management apparatus that manages statuses of print jobs in conformity with International Standard ISO/IEC10175-1, said job management apparatus comprising: 
 a job creation module that creates at least one daughter job from a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given, as copies of a mother job;    a proof printing module that selects one among the mother job and the at least one daughter job as a proof print job and shifts the proof print job to a printable status while holding a residual print job; and    a main printing module that shifts the residual print job to a printable status in response to input of a main printing instruction.    
   
   
       2 . A job management apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said job creation module attaches attribute information, which regards a mapping of the selected print job executed by said proof printing module to the residual print job, to at least either of the selected print job and the residual print job, and 
 said main printing module identifies the residual print job based on the attribute information.    
   
   
       3 . A job management apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , said job management apparatus further comprising: 
 a holding module that shifts the proof print job to either one of a ‘held’ status and a ‘retained’ status on completion of the proof print job.    
   
   
       4 . A job management apparatus that manages statuses of print jobs in conformity with International Standard ISO/IEC10175-1, said job management apparatus comprising: 
 a proof printing module that shifts a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given, to a printable status;    a job creation module that creates a daughter job from the print job as a copy of a mother job after conclusion of proof printing, where attribute information of the daughter job with regard to at least a number of copies to be printed has a predetermined relation to corresponding attribute information of the mother job; and    a main printing module that shifts the daughter job to a printable status in response to input of a main printing instruction.    
   
   
       5 . A job management apparatus that manages a status of a print job to be executed with a printing apparatus, said job management apparatus comprising: 
 a job creation module that creates at least one daughter job from a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given, as copies of a mother job;    a proof printing module that carries out proof printing with regard to one of the mother job and the at least one daughter job; and    a main printing module that carries out main printing with regard to a residual one of the mother job and the at least one daughter job.    
   
   
       6 . A job management apparatus that manages a status of a print job to be executed with a printing apparatus, said job management apparatus comprising: 
 a proof printing module that carries out a preset cycle of proof printing with regard to a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given; and    a main printing module that carries out main printing with a daughter job, which is created from the print job as a mother job, after conclusion of proof printing, where attribute information of the daughter job with regard to at least a number of copies to be printed has a predetermined relation to corresponding attribute information of the mother job.    
   
   
       7 . A job management method that manages a status of a print job to be executed with a printing apparatus, said job management method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) creating at least one daughter job from a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given, as copies of a mother job;    (b) carrying out proof printing with regard to one of the mother job and the at least one daughter job; and    (c) carrying out main printing with regard to a residual one of the mother job and the at least one daughter job.    
   
   
       8 . A job management method that manages a status of a print job to be executed with a printing apparatus, said job management method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) carrying out a preset cycle of proof printing with regard to a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given; and    (b) carrying out main printing with a daughter job, which is created from the print job as a copy of a mother job, after conclusion of proof printing, where attribute information of the daughter job with regard to at least a number of copies to be printed has a predetermined relation to corresponding attribute information of the mother job.    
   
   
       9 . A recording medium in which a program for managing a status of a print job to be executed with a printing apparatus is recorded in a computer readable manner, said program causing a computer to attain the functions of: 
 creating at least one daughter job from a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given, as copies of a mother job;    carrying out proof printing with regard to one of the mother job and the at least one daughter job; and    carrying out main printing with regard to a residual one of the mother job and the at least one daughter job.    
   
   
       10 . A recording medium in which a program for managing a status of a print job to be executed with a printing apparatus is recorded in a computer readable manner, said program causing a computer to attain the functions of: 
 carrying out a preset cycle of proof printing with regard to a print job, to which a proof printing instruction is given; and    carrying out main printing with a daughter job, which is created from the print job as a copy of a mother job, after conclusion of proof printing, where attribute information of the daughter job with regard to at least a number of copies to be printed has a predetermined relation to corresponding attribute information of the mother job.