Printing system, image forming apparatus, and printing method

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is connected a client terminal and a data processing apparatus via a network. The client terminal stores electronic data from which a printing target is selected. The data processing apparatus stores data pertaining to the printing target. The image forming apparatus includes a list reception unit receiving list data pertaining to a list including the one printing target from the data processing apparatus, a printing execution reception unit receiving an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list, a printing data transmission request unit transmitting a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target to the client terminal, a target printing data reception unit receiving the target printing data generated by the client terminal in response to the request from the image forming apparatus, and a printing unit executing printing of the target printing data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printing system connecting a client terminal, a data processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus via a network, the printing system comprising:
 the client terminal including
 a printing target reception unit configured to receive selection of a printing target selected from electronic data; 
   the data processing apparatus including
 a printing data reception unit configured to receive data pertaining to the printing target selected from the electronic data; and 
   the image forming apparatus including
 a list reception unit configured to receive list data pertaining to a list including the printing target from the data processing apparatus, 
 a printing execution reception unit configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list, and 
 a printing data transmission request unit configured to transmit a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target; 
   wherein the client terminal further includes
 a printing data transmission request reception unit configured to receive the request from the image forming apparatus, 
 a printing data generation unit configured to generate the target printing data corresponding to the printing target in response to the request from the image forming apparatus, and 
 a printing data transmission unit configured to transmit the target printing data, 
   wherein the image forming apparatus further includes
 a target printing data reception unit configured to receive the target printing data, and 
 a printing unit configured to execute printing of the target printing data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The printing system as claimed in claim  1 ,
 wherein the printing data reception unit is further configured to receive user identification data associated with the printing target from the client terminal,   wherein the list reception unit is further configured to receive list data including the printing target associated with the user identification data with respect to a particular user.   
     
     
         3 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the printing data generation unit is further configured to generate the target printing data in a PDL (Page Description Language) applicable to the printing unit of the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the printing data transmission request unit is further configured to designate a PDL (Page Description Language) together with the request for transmitting the target printing data;   wherein the printing data generation unit is further configured to generate the target printing data in the PDL (Page Description Language) designated by the printing data transmission request unit.   
     
     
         5 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a list display unit and a display unit,   wherein the data pertaining to the printing target includes a file name of an electronic data corresponding to the printing target,   wherein the list display unit is configured to display the list including the printing target that includes the file name of the electronic data in the display unit,   wherein the printing execution reception unit is further configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target selected from the list displayed in the display unit by a user.   
     
     
         6 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a determination unit configured to determine whether the generation of the target printing data is to be executed by the printing data generation unit of the client terminal,   wherein when the determination unit determines that the generation of the target printing data is to be executed, the printing data transmission request unit transmits the request for transmitting the target printing data corresponding to the printing target.   
     
     
         7 . An image forming apparatus connected a client terminal and a data processing apparatus via a network, the client terminal storing electronic data from which a printing target is selected, the data processing apparatus storing data pertaining to the printing target, the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a list reception unit configured to receive list data pertaining to a list including the one printing target from the data processing apparatus;   a printing execution reception unit configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list;   a printing data transmission request unit configured to transmit a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target to the client terminal;   a target printing data reception unit configured to receive the target printing data generated by the client terminal in response to the request from the image forming apparatus; and   a printing unit configured to execute printing of the target printing data.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the data processing apparatus is configured to receive user identification data associated with the printing target from the client terminal,   wherein the list reception unit is further configured to receive list data including the printing data associated with the user identification data with respect to a particular user.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the printing data transmission request unit is further configured to designate a PDL (Page Description Language) together with the request for transmitting the target printing data;   wherein the client terminal is configured to generate the target printing data in the PDL (Page Description Language) designated by the printing data transmission request unit.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a list display unit and a display unit;   wherein the data pertaining to the printing target includes a file name of an electronic data corresponding to the printing target,   wherein the list display unit is configured to display the list including the printing target including the file name of the electronic data in the display unit,   wherein the printing execution reception unit is further configured to receive an instruction to execute printing of the printing target selected from the list displayed in the display unit by a user.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a determination unit configured to determine whether the generation of the target printing data is to be executed by the printing data generation unit of the client terminal;   wherein when the determination unit determines that the generation of the target printing data is to be executed, the printing data transmission request unit transmits the request for transmitting the target printing data corresponding to the printing target.   
     
     
         12 . A printing method using a printing system connecting a client terminal, a data processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus via a network, the printing method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, by way of the client terminal, selection of a printing target selected from electronic data;   receiving, by way of the data processing apparatus, data pertaining to the printing target selected from the electronic data;   receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, list data pertaining to a list including the printing target from the data processing apparatus,   receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, an instruction to execute printing of the printing target included in the list;   transmitting, by way of the image forming apparatus, a request for transmitting a target printing data corresponding to the printing target;   receiving, by way of the client terminal, the request from the image forming apparatus;   generating, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data corresponding to the printing target in response to the request from the image forming apparatus;   transmitting, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data;   receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, the target printing data; and   executing, by way of the image forming apparatus, printing of the target printing data.   
     
     
         13 . The printing method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving, by way of the data processing apparatus, user identification data associated with the printing target from the client terminal; and   receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, list data including the printing data associated with the user identification data with respect to a particular user.   
     
     
         14 . The printing method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a step of generating, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data in a PDL (Page Description Language) applicable to the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The printing method as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 further comprising the steps of:   designating, by way of the image forming apparatus, a PDL (Page Description Language) together with the requesting of transmitting the target printing data; and   generating, by way of the client terminal, the target printing data in the PDL (Page Description Language) designated by the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The printing method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 displaying, by way of the image forming apparatus, the list including the printing target in a display unit including a file name of an electronic data corresponding to the printing target in a display unit of the image forming apparatus; and   receiving, by way of the image forming apparatus, an instruction to execute printing of the printing target selected from the list displayed in the display unit by a user.   
     
     
         17 . The printing method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining, by way of the image forming apparatus, whether the generation of the target printing data is to be executed by the client terminal;   transmitting, by way of the image forming apparatus, the request for transmitting the target printing data corresponding to the printing target when the generation of the target printing data is determined to be executed.