JPH09231028A - Print server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a print server which performs the control to surely complete a print output operation before a designated time. SOLUTION: A print server calculates the print output start time to transmit a print output request through a client terminal and the print output request transmission time when a print output request is transmitted through the client terminal based on the print end time sent from the client terminal and also the print reservation request including the job size information. When the print reservation request is acceptable, a reservation answer including the print output request transmission time is reported to the client terminal. At the print output request transmission time, a print output request is transmitted from the client terminal. A print server receives the print output request and starts a print output operation at the print output start time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print server, and more particularly to a print server which is connected to a network to which one or more client terminals are connected and which controls print processing based on a print output request from the client terminals. Regarding the server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a LAN (Lo
Cal Area Network) is known as a system (so-called client / server system) in which a print output request from one client terminal to a target printer is sent to a print server, and the printer prints out under the control of the print server. There is.

As a print output control method in the print server, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-250112, the print server calculates a print output completion time and requests the print output from the client. There has been proposed a technique of notifying a terminal, then calculating the print output completion time again when there is a change in the print output waiting state, and notifying the client terminal again.

[0004]

However, in the above technique, the print output completion time may fluctuate when there is a change in the print output waiting state.
The print output completion time was not determined until just before the actual print output was started, and it was not possible to specify the print output completion time from the client terminal and control the print output to be completed by the print output completion time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a print server which can be controlled so that the print output is surely completed by the print output completion time designated by the client terminal. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the print server according to claim 1 is connected to a network to which one or more client terminals are connected, and a print output request from the client terminal is made. A print server for controlling a print process based on the print request, which should be sent from the client terminal based on a print reservation request including the desired print completion time and the job size information from the client terminal. Calculating means for calculating the time; instruction means for instructing the client terminal to send the print output request from the client terminal at the print output request sending time; and print processing based on the received print output request. An execution control means for starting execution, And butterflies.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print server according to the first aspect, the instructing means sends out a print output request at the start of execution of a predetermined preparation process based on the print reservation request. Characterized by instructing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print server according to the first or second aspect, wherein the calculating means uses a print resource commonly usable in the print processing before the execution of the print processing. A print resource expansion start time at which the expansion of the print resource should be started in order to expand the print resource, and the execution control means starts the expansion of the print resource at the print resource expansion start time. To do.

The print resources mentioned above include, for example, a print format (form) and a font (logo).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the print server according to the third aspect, the execution control means releases the memory in which the print resource is expanded when the print output request is not received. It is characterized by doing.

In the print server according to claim 1,
When a print reservation request including desired print completion time and job size information is received from the client terminal,
Based on the job size information, the calculating unit receives, for example, a time (print output time T _P ) required for execution of the job (print processing) and a print output request (including print data, etc.) from the client terminal. Then, the time (print output request development time T _PRE ) to be expanded in the memory is _calculated , and from the desired print completion time (print output time T _P + print output so that the print output is completed by the desired print completion time, The print output request transmission time is calculated as a time traced back by the request development time T _PRE ).

Further, the instructing means instructs the client terminal to transmit the print output request from the client terminal when the calculated print output request transmission time comes.

Thereafter, when the client terminal sends a print output request at the print output request sending time based on the above instruction, the print server receives the print output request and expands the received print output request in the memory. To do. After that, the print output request development time T _PRE
The print output request is received and expanded, and after the expansion is completed (after the print output request expansion time T _{PRE has} elapsed), the execution control means starts execution of the print processing based on the received print output request.

As described above, the print output request transmission time is calculated from the print completion desired time (print output time T _P
+ Print output request development time T _PRE ), so when a print output request is sent from the client terminal at the print output request sending time, the print output is made by the desired print completion time specified on the client terminal side. Will be completed. That is, it is possible to perform control so that the print output is surely completed by the print output completion time designated by the client terminal.

In the print server according to the first aspect, the print output time T _P from the desired print completion time.
The print output start time as a time that is traced back by only the print output request development time T _PRE from the print output start time.
The print output request transmission time is calculated as the time traced back, and the client terminal is instructed to transmit the print output request at the print output request transmission time. The print processing based on the received print output request may be started.

By the way, the instructing means may notify the client terminal of the print output request sending time immediately after the print output request sending time is calculated, and may give an instruction to send the print output request. As in the invention described in Item 2, the client terminal may be instructed to output the print output request at the start of execution of a predetermined preparation process based on the print reservation request (for example, a print resource expansion process described later). .

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is not necessary for the client terminal side to monitor whether or not the time has reached the print output request sending time, and when the print server gives an instruction to send the print output request. Since it is sufficient to send the print output request to the client terminal, it is possible to reduce the processing load on the client terminal side.

By the way, when executing print output, in addition to the data to be printed (print data), print resources that can be commonly used in the above-mentioned print processing (for example, print format (form) and font (logo)) are available.
Etc.) needs to be expanded in the memory in the print server.

In the print server according to the third aspect,
The calculation means calculates a print resource expansion start time at which the expansion of the print resource should be started in order to expand the print resource before the execution of the print processing, and the execution control means prints when the print resource expansion start time comes. Start deploying resources. As a result, the print resources can be expanded before the print processing is started, so that the processing efficiency of the print processing can be improved as compared with the case of expanding the print resources during the execution of the print processing. Therefore, the execution time of the print process can be shortened.

In the print server according to the third aspect, the execution control means releases the memory in which the print resources are expanded when the print output request is not received as in the invention according to the fourth aspect. This allows the memory to be reused earlier for other processing.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a network to which the print server 30 and the client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment are connected.

The print server 30 is provided with a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 32, a printer 50, a magnetic disk device 44 as a non-volatile storage device, a display 46 and a keyboard 48. The microcomputer 32 includes a CPU 34, a ROM 36, a RAM 38, and an input / output port (hereinafter referred to as I / O) 40, which are connected to each other via a system bus 42. The I / O 40 includes the printer 50,
The magnetic disk device 44, the display 46, and the keyboard 48 are connected to each other. The print server 30 is also connected to the communication line 52 via the I / O 40.

On one of the client terminals 10, a microcomputer 12 and a magnetic disk device 2 as a non-volatile storage device are provided.
4, a display 26 and a keyboard 28 are provided. The microcomputer 12 includes a CPU 14, ROM 16, RA
It is configured to include an M18 and an I / O 20, which are connected to each other via a system bus 22. I
Each of the magnetic disk device 24, the display 26, and the keyboard 28 is connected to / O20. The client terminal 10 is connected to the communication line 52 via the I / O 20.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the print server 30 and the client terminal 10 having the above hardware configuration.

Here, in the client terminal 10, a print job generation unit 54 for generating a print job, a print reservation request unit 58 for requesting print reservation to the print server 30, and a print output request unit 60 for requesting print output to the print server 30. The communication control unit 62, which controls communication as an external communication interface, forms a main function of the microcomputer 12.

Of these, the print job generation unit 54 generates a print processing request (print job) 56 and transfers it to the print reservation request unit 58 at the reservation stage. The print reservation request unit 58 sends a print reservation request based on the print job 56 to the print server 3 via the communication control unit 62.
Request to 0.

When the predetermined print output request sending time comes, the print reservation requesting unit 58 instructs the print output requesting unit 60 to send out the print output request based on the print job 56, and the print output requesting unit 60 sends the print output requesting unit 60. Part 6
0 indicates a print output request based on the instruction to the communication control unit 6
2 to the print server 30.

On the other hand, in the print server 30, a print reservation table 66 secured in advance in a storage area in the magnetic disk device 44 is managed, and a print reservation section 66 for adding, changing, or deleting a new print reservation, and a print reservation. A print reservation monitoring unit 72 that monitors the time (such as resource expansion start time t ₁ and print output start time t ₃ described later) related to the print reservation recorded in the table 68, and executes the print output based on the content of the print reservation request. A print output time calculation unit 70 for calculating the required time (print output time) T _P , a print scheduling unit 74 for performing print output execution scheduling, and a communication control unit 62 for performing communication control as a communication interface with the outside.
Form a main function of the microcomputer 32.

Of these, when the print reservation unit 66 receives a print reservation request from the client terminal 10 via the communication control unit 64, the print output time T _P , the print output request expansion time T _PRE, and the resource expansion time T. _R
Based on the print output completion time t ₄ included in the print reservation request and the three times calculated above, the print output start time t ₃ and the print output request transmission time t ₂ are calculated. And the resource expansion start time t ₁ is calculated (details will be described later).

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
When a print request is made by the operator at the client terminal 10, the control routine shown in FIG.

In step 102 of FIG. 3, a print reservation request is generated based on the print request from the operator, and the print reservation request is sent to the print server 30. In the next step 104, the system waits for a reservation response from the print server 30.

The microcomputer 32 of one print server 30
In FIG. 4, the control routines shown in FIG. 4 (first half) and FIG. 5 (second half) are executed. When a print reservation request is received from the client terminal 10, the process waits for the print reservation request in step 202, and the next step 204
In, the print output time T _P , the print output request expansion time T _PRE, and the resource expansion time T _R are calculated by the print output time calculation unit 70 as follows.

A print reservation request is issued as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 90 denotes a print job name and print job size J.
_SIZE, Print output completion time t_Four, Paper size, page
Number N _PAGE, Resource name of the resource to use, print
Number N of data type A (character) included in the power data
_A, Number of data type B (image) N_BAnd data
Number N of type C (control code)_CContains various information of
ing. In addition, the ROM 36 in the microcomputer 32 stores in FIG.
Data type 1 in each data type as shown in 2
The print output time conversion table that records the processing time for each
Bull 92 is stored in advance.

The print output time T _P is calculated as follows. First, the numbers N _A , N _{B of} each data type notified by the print reservation request 90 of FIG.
By applying N _C , the number of pages N _PAGE, and the processing times T _CHAR , T _IMAGE , and T _CTRL recorded in the print output time conversion table 92 for each data type to the following formula (1), The average processing time T _AVE for one page of the print job is calculated. _{T AVE = (T CHAR × N} A + T IMAGE × N B + T CTRL × N C) / N PAGE ·· (1) Next, the average processing time T _AVE calculated above is a printer 5
Processing time per page at 0 T _PRT (= 60 seconds /
(PPM, PPM: number of prints per minute of printer 50)
Is greater than or equal to.

Here, the average processing time T _AVE is the processing time T
_If it is larger than _PRT (T _AVE > T _PRT ), the average processing time T _{AVE is set} to the actual output processing time T _PAGE of one page (that is, T _PAGE = T _AVE ).

On the other hand, the average processing time T _AVE is the processing time T
_When it is equal to or less than _PRT (T _AVE ≤T _PRT ), the processing time T _PRT is set as the actual output processing time T _PAGE of one page (that is, T _PAGE = T _PRT ).

Then, the actual 1 obtained as described above
By applying the page output processing time T _PAGE and the page number N _PAGE to the following equation (2), the print output time T _PAGE can be obtained.
Calculate _P. T _P = T _PAGE × N _PAGE (2) Next, the print output request development time T _PRE is the print job size J _SIZE (byte) notified by the print reservation request 90 in FIG. 7 and the client terminal 10. Calculated by applying the 1-byte communication time N _RATE between the print servers 30 to the following equation (3). T _PRE = J _SIZE / N _RATE (3) Further, the resource expansion time T _R is the size of the resource (resource size) R _SIZE (bytes) from the resource name notified by the print reservation request 90 in FIG. ),
The resource size R _SIZE and 1-byte transfer time T _TRANS
It is calculated by applying and to the following equation (4). T _R = R _SIZE / T _TRANS (4) At the next step 206, as shown in FIG. 11, the print output time T _{P is} traced back from the print output completion time t ₄ included in the print reservation request. The time is calculated as the print output start time t ₃ , and the print output start time t ₃ is calculated.
A time that is traced back from ₃ by the print output request development time T _PRE is calculated as the print output request transmission time t ₂ . Further, a time that is traced back by the resource expansion time T _R from the print output request transmission time t ₂ is calculated as the resource expansion start time t ₁ .

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As an example, the print output completion time t _FourTo "15:00"
And the print output start time t_ThreeAs "14:30"
At the print output request transmission time t_TwoAs "14: 2
5 ”is the resource deployment start time t₁As "14: 2
It is assumed that "0" is calculated for each.

In the next step 208, the print output time period, that is, the time period from the print output start time t ₃ to the print output completion time t ₄ (14:30 to 15: 0).
0) is already reserved in the print reservation table 68. Incidentally, the print reservation table 68 as shown in FIG. 8, are managed as already seen time zone reserved among the contents of the print reservation request described above, print job name, print output completion time t ₄ Information about paper size, number of pages, and resource name is recorded. Further, the print output start time t ₃ and the print output request transmission time t ₂ calculated in step 206
Also, information on the resource deployment start time t ₁ is recorded.

If the print reservation table 68 has already been reserved, the process proceeds to step 210, and a reservation response indicating that the reservation cannot be made because the reservation is already made is sent to the client terminal 10. Note that the reservation response at this time stores and sends information on the reservation status for one day as shown in FIG. 9B.

On the other hand, if no reservation is made in the print reservation table 68 in step 208, the flow advances to step 212 to register the contents of the received print reservation request in the print reservation table 68. In the next step 214, FIG.
As shown in (A), the print output request transmission time t ₂
A reservation response indicating that the reservation is OK is sent to the client terminal 10. Then, in the next step 216,
The process starts to monitor whether the resource expansion start time t ₁ has come.

On the other hand, the client terminal 10 executes the print server 30 in the above step 210 or step 214.
When the reservation response sent from the server is received, the process waits for the reservation response in step 104 of FIG.
Then, the process proceeds to and it is determined whether or not the content of the reservation response is reservation OK. If reservation is not OK here, step 1
08, display the reservation status for one day included in the message that the reservation could not be made and the reservation response.
To be displayed. As a result, the operator on the client terminal 10 side can search for a time zone in which no reservation is made and send the print reservation request again.

On the other hand, if the reservation is OK in step 106, the process proceeds to step 110, and the information of the print output request transmission time t ₂ included in the reservation response is read. In the next step 112, a print job is generated, and in the next step 114, it is started to monitor whether or not the print output request transmission time t ₂ has come.

After that, the time is the resource expansion start time t ₁
At (14:20), in the print server 30, the resource expansion start time t _{1 in} step 216 of FIG. 4 is started.
The process waits and the process proceeds to step 218 to expand the resource. Then, in the next step 220 shown in FIG. 5, it is started to monitor whether or not the print output request transmission time t ₂ has come.

After that, when the time reaches the print output request sending time t ₂ (14:25), the client terminal 10 exits from the print output request sending time t ₂ waiting in step 114 of FIG. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a print output cancel instruction through the keyboard 28. If there is a print output cancellation instruction here, the process proceeds to step 124 without sending a print output request, and waits for a cancellation notice from the print server 30.

On the other hand, if there is no print output cancellation instruction in step 116, the process proceeds to step 118, and the print job generated in step 112 is sent to the print server 30 as a print output request (see FIG. 6).
Then, in the next step 120, it waits for reception of the completion notice from the print server 30.

On the other hand, at the print server 30, when the print output request sending time t ₂ (14:25) comes, the print output request sending time t ₂ in step 220 of FIG.
If the print output request is received, it is judged whether the print output request is received or not.

As described above, when there is no print output cancel instruction in the client terminal 10 and a print output request is sent to the print server 30, the print server 30 prints before the print output start time (14:30). The output request is received, and an affirmative decision is made in step 222 and the operation proceeds to step 226. In step 226, the received print output request is expanded in the RAM 38, and the print job name, print output start time, print output completion time, paper size and number of pages among the information recorded in the print reservation table of FIG. Each information is displayed on the display 46. As a result, the operator on the print server 30 side is
Since the size and number of pages of the used paper can be recognized, the operator can prepare the required number of papers in advance, avoiding the situation where print output is interrupted in the middle due to paper exhaustion. can do. Then, in the next step 228, it is started to monitor whether or not the print output start time t ₃ has come.

After that, the print output start time t ₃ (1
4:30), the process proceeds to step 230, and print output based on the received print output request is started. As a result, the print output can be surely completed by the print output completion time t ₄ (15:00) designated by the client terminal 10. When the print output is completed (Yes in step 232), the process proceeds to step 234, and a completion notification indicating that the print output is normally completed is sent to the client terminal 10.

On the other hand, in the above step 222, as shown in FIG.
If the print output request from the client terminal 10 is not received before the print output start time (14:30) as shown in 0, an affirmative decision is made in step 223 and the operation proceeds to step 224 to cancel the print output. Free resources accordingly. Here, by releasing the resources, the RAM 38 in which the resources are expanded can be reused for other processing at an early stage. Further, in step 224, a cancellation notice indicating that the print output is canceled is sent to the client terminal 10.

On the other hand, when the client terminal 10 receives the completion notice sent in step 234, it exits from the waiting for the completion notice in step 120 and goes to step 1
In step 22, the display 26 indicates that the print output is normally completed. Thereby, the operator on the client terminal 10 side can recognize that the print output is normally completed.

When the cancel notification sent in step 234 is received, the client terminal 10 exits from the waiting for the cancel notification in step 124 and proceeds to step 126 to display on the display 26 that the print request has been canceled. indicate. As a result, the operator on the client terminal 10 side can recognize that the print request has been canceled and the print output has been canceled.

According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to control so that the print output is surely completed by the print output completion time t ₄ designated by the client terminal 10. Further, since the print output completion time t ₄ does not change even if the print output waiting state changes, it is possible to avoid the situation where the calculation of the print output completion time is repeated as in the conventional case.

Further, since the resources are expanded before the start of the print output, the processing efficiency of the print output can be improved as compared with the case where the resource expansion is performed during the execution of the print output. The output execution time can be shortened.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment will be described. The second embodiment corresponds to the invention described in claim 2, and the print output request transmission time t
_In this embodiment, when the print server 30 becomes ₂ , the print server 30 prompts the client terminal 10 to send a print output request, thereby giving an instruction to send the print output request. Note that the configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, so description will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. In the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 to 15, the same steps as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same step numbers, and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the client terminal 10 receives a reservation response indicating that reservation is OK (step 102) after sending the print reservation request (step 106), a print job is generated in step 112, and then step 1 is executed.
At 15, the print server 30 waits for a print output prompt from the print server 30.

On the other hand, the print server 30 determines that the print reservation request from the client terminal 10 is OK (affirmative determination in step 208), registers the contents of the print reservation request in the print reservation table in step 212, and then proceeds to step 215. Then, a reservation response indicating that the reservation is OK is sent to the client terminal 10. The reservation response at this time does not need to include the information of the print output request transmission time t ₂ .

In FIG. 16, the resource expansion start time t
_When it becomes ₁ (14:20) (affirmative determination in step 216), the process proceeds to step 217, resource expansion is started, and a print output reminder is sent to the client terminal 10. Then, step 222 shown in FIG.
Press to wait for print output request.

On the other hand, when the client terminal 10 receives the print output request, the step 115 in FIG.
The process exits from the print output reminder waiting state of No. 1 and proceeds to step 116, where it is confirmed that there is no print output cancellation instruction (step 116), and the print output request is sent to the print server 30 in step 118 as in the first embodiment. Here, since the processes of steps 116 and 118 can be executed in a very short time, the print output request transmission time t _{2 is the} latest.
A print output request is sent by (14:25).

When one of the print servers 30 receives the print output request from the client terminal 10, the process waits at step 222 and the process proceeds to step 226, where the received print output request is received as in the first embodiment. While being expanded in the RAM 38, the print job name, print output start time, print output completion time, paper size, and page number information are displayed on the display 46 to notify the operator. Further, when the print output start time t ₃ (14:30) is reached, the print output is started (step 230). As a result, the print output can be surely completed by the print output completion time t ₄ (15:00) designated by the client terminal 10.

According to the second embodiment described above, it is not necessary for the client terminal 10 side to monitor whether or not the time has reached the print output request transmission time t ₂ , and the print server 30 prompts for a print output request. Since it is only necessary to wait for, the processing load on the client terminal 10 side can be reduced.

In each of the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the print reservation request is first transmitted from the client terminal 10 has been described. However, the print output request is issued from the client terminal 10 without the print reservation request. When the print output is transmitted to the print server 30, the print server 30 executes the following print output control to notify the client terminal 10 of the reliable print output completion time t _4. it can.

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, when the print output request is received by the print server 30, the print output time T _P , the resource expansion time T _R, and the print output request expansion are the same as in the first and second embodiments. The time T _PRE is calculated, and the processing time T _OT of another print job in the waiting state is calculated. Then, the current time (print request notification time) t ₀ and the other to calculate the resource mapping start time t ₁ and a processing time T _OT of print jobs pending, the resource mapping start time t _1, the resource deployment time The print output start time t ₃ is calculated from T _R and the print output request development time T _PRE . Moreover, to calculate the print output completion time t ₄ from the print output start time t ₃ and the printed output time T _P, the print output completion time t ₄
Is notified to the client terminal 10. The print output completion time t ₄ is calculated in consideration of the processing time T _{OT of} another print job in a waiting state, and is a time at which the print output is surely completed.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to control so that the print output is surely completed by the print output completion time designated by the client terminal.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is not necessary for the client terminal side to monitor whether or not the time has reached the print output request sending time, and the print server is instructed to send the print output request. Since the print output request may be sent at any time, the processing load on the client terminal side can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the print resources can be expanded before the execution of the print processing, so that the expansion of the print resources is performed during the execution of the print processing. Also, it is possible to improve the processing efficiency of the print process and reduce the execution time of the print process.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to obtain the effect that the memory in which the print resources are expanded can be reused for other processing at an early point.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print system including a print server of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the print system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a control routine executed in the client terminal of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first half part of a control routine executed in the print server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a latter half of a control routine executed in the print server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an exchange of information between a client terminal and a print server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the content of a print reservation request.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of a print reservation table.

9A is a diagram showing the content of a reservation response transmitted when a reservation is possible, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing the content of a reservation response transmitted when a reservation is not possible.

FIG. 10 is a time chart when the print reservation is canceled in the print server.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a time relationship in print reservation.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of a print output time conversion table.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a control routine executed in the client terminal of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a first half part of a control routine executed in the print server according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a latter half of a control routine executed in the print server according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a time chart showing an exchange of information between a client terminal and a print server according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a time chart showing the exchange of information when a print output request is sent from a client terminal to a print server without a print reservation request.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Client Terminal 12 Microcomputer 30 Print Server 32 Microcomputer 38 RAM 50 Printer 52 Communication Line 58 Print Reservation Request Section 60 Print Output Request Section 66 Print Reservation Section 70 Print Output Time Calculation Section 72 Print Reservation Monitoring Section 74 Print Scheduling Section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print server, which is connected to a network to which one or more client terminals are connected, and controls print processing based on a print output request from the client terminals, the desired print completion time from the client terminals. And a calculation means for calculating a print output request sending time at which the print output request should be sent from the client terminal based on the print reservation request including the job size information, and the client terminal when the print output request sending time comes A print server having: instruction means for instructing the client terminal to send a print output request from the client terminal; and execution control means for starting execution of print processing based on the received print output request. 2. The print server according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit issues an instruction to output a print output request at the start of execution of a predetermined preparation process based on the print reservation request. 3. The calculation means calculates a print resource expansion start time at which expansion of the print resources that can be commonly used in the print processing should be started in order to expand the print resources before execution of the print processing, The print server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the execution control means starts the expansion of the print resource when the print resource expansion start time is reached. 4. The print server according to claim 3, wherein when the print output request is not received, the execution control unit releases the memory in which the print resource is expanded.