JP2005049949A - Print controller and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the number of copies which are sorted according to the recording speed of an image recording device when two or more copies of image data are printed by two or more image forming devices. <P>SOLUTION: When the number of copies of the image data is input, the image forming devices to be used for printing the image data are selected among the two or more connected image forming devices according to the input number of copies, each number of copies is decided according to the recording speed of each selected image forming device, and the image data is printed by each number of copies decided for each selected image forming device, so that the load of print processing is distributed and high-speed printing is realized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus, a control method therefor, a control program, and a computer-readable storage medium, and in particular, at high speed using a plurality of printers connected to a network for print jobs from a host computer or the like. It relates to technology for printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of computers and networking of information, a plurality of host computers and a plurality of printers are connected via a network. An application program and a printer driver are installed in the host computer, and when a print instruction is issued from the application program, a page description language (hereinafter abbreviated as PDL, which can be interpreted by the printer on the network from the printer driver. For example, PostScript, PCL, The data described in LIPS etc.) is transmitted to the printer.
[0003]
PDL is a language used to instruct a printer to print images when printing a document with a page printer. Characters and graphics are basically expressed as vector data as elements constituting a page. Even when printing is performed with printers having different resolutions, printing with the same image is possible. The printer that has received the PLD data operates to analyze the PLD data, develop it into a bitmap image, and then print the image on a recording medium such as paper.
[0004]
In addition, a technique for connecting a plurality of printers to a printer port and printing the same print job with a plurality of printers is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-163235 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional example has the following problems, and improvement has been demanded. That is, in the method described in JP-A-2000-163235, the number of copies to be printed to a printer copies how much from any printer because it is limited to the printer ports were unclear printed. For this reason, a print job having a plurality of print copies may be sent to the low-speed printer. In this case, however, there is a problem that processing may be completed earlier by the high-speed printer.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to connect image recording when a plurality of image data are printed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing control apparatus capable of controlling the number of printing copies distributed according to the recording speed of the apparatus and a control method therefor.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a print control apparatus that distributes a plurality of copies of image data to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, according to an input unit that inputs the number of print copies of the image data and the input number of print copies Selection means for selecting an image forming apparatus to be used for printing the image data among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the number of copies to be printed according to the recording speed of each image forming apparatus selected by the selection means. And a control unit that causes each image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit to print the image data by the number of print copies determined by the determination unit. To do.
[0007]
Here, for example, according to the number of copies of the image data, the use order of the image forming apparatuses to be used among the plurality of image forming apparatuses is set, and the set number of copies to be printed by the set image forming apparatus is set. It is preferable to further have a setting means.
[0008]
Here, for example, the image forming apparatus further includes an obtaining unit that obtains the printing speeds of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the initial number of the set copies set by the setting unit based on the printing speeds obtained by the obtaining unit. A value is preferably set.
[0009]
Here, for example, it is preferable that the determining unit compares the recording speeds of the image forming apparatuses selected by the selecting unit, and determines to increase the number of copies as the image forming apparatus has a higher recording speed.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a printing control method for printing a plurality of copies of image data to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, according to an input step of inputting the number of copies of the image data and the input number of copies A selection step of selecting an image forming device to be used for printing the image data among the plurality of image forming devices, and the number of print copies according to the recording speed of each image forming device selected in the selection step And a control step of causing each image forming apparatus selected in the selection step to print the image data by the number of print copies determined by the determination unit. To do.
[0011]
In order to achieve the above object, a control program for controlling a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a control program for controlling a print control apparatus that causes a plurality of image forming apparatuses to print a plurality of copies of image data, the program code of an input process for inputting the number of copies of the image data, and an input A program code of a selection step for selecting an image forming device to be used for printing the image data among the plurality of image forming devices according to the number of printed copies, and each image forming device selected by the selection step The program code of the determining step for determining the number of copies to be printed in accordance with the recording speed of the image data, and the number of print copies of the image data determined by the determining means are added to each image forming apparatus selected by the selection step. And a program code of a control process for performing printing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a print control apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
[Connection configuration of printer control system: Fig. 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printer control system including a plurality of print control apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses in the present embodiment.
[0013]
In the example shown in FIG. 1, a network 109 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as the printer 102, the printer 103, and the printer 104 shown in FIG. 6 and a host computer (print control apparatus described in detail in FIG. 7). (Hereinafter abbreviated as PC) 100 and PC 101 are connected.
[0014]
The PC 100, PC 101 and the printer 102, the printer 103, and the printer 104 are connected by a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, Network, AppleTalk. An application program such as a word processor is installed in the PC 100, and printer drivers corresponding to various printers such as the printer 102 are installed, and PLD data to be printed on the printer is created in the PC 100 or the like.
[0015]
Further, a network printing communication protocol such as LPR (remote printing protocol used for printer sharing by TCP / IP) is implemented on the PC 100 and the like, and an LPD which is a network printing server protocol is implemented on the printer 102 and the like. The PLD data created by the PC 100 or the like is transmitted to the printer 102 or the like. The printer 102 or the like that has received the PLD data from the PC 100 or the like forms an image from the PLD data and performs printing.
[0016]
[Printer: Fig. 6]
Next, a configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) will be described as an example of a printer used in the present invention with reference to FIG. Needless to say, the printer to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to the LBP, and may be a printer of another printing method.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a printer to which the present invention can be applied. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which receives and analyzes PDL data supplied from an externally connected host computer, develops a bitmap, converts it into video data, and records as a recording medium. Form an image on paper. A printer controller 1001 processes PDL data supplied from a host computer. The printer controller 1001 converts the input PDL data into a video signal having a corresponding pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1002, and notifies the host computer 3000 of various LBP statuses.
[0018]
The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on / off the laser light 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 in accordance with the input video signal. The laser beam 1004 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern or a graphic pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording sheet. This recording paper is cut sheet, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP 1000, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1009 and transport rollers 1010 and 1011 to obtain an electrostatic drum 1006. To be supplied.
[0019]
[Flow of host computer and print data: Fig. 7]
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the basic flow of print data from the host computer 100 to the printer 102 in the printer control system shown in FIG. The flow of print data from the host computer 100 to the printer 102 described in FIG. 7 is the same as in FIG. 1 in which a plurality of host computers and a plurality of printers are connected via a network.
[0020]
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 100 denotes a host computer. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU that executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on a document processing program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 3, and is connected to the system bus 4. Overall control of each connected device. In the ROM 3, the program ROM stores a control program of the CPU 1, the font ROM stores font data used for the document processing, and the data ROM stores various data used for the document processing. Remember. The control program also includes a control program (printer driver) that controls a plurality of printers when a plurality of copies of image data described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a memory controller (MC), which includes an external memory 11 including a hard disk (HD), a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) and the like for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like. Control access. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 102 via a predetermined bidirectional interface 21 and executes a communication control process with the printer 102.
[0022]
The CPU 1 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable so-called WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. Further, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.
[0023]
In the printer 102, reference numeral 22 denotes a printer CPU, which generally controls access to devices connected to the system bus 25 based on a control program stored in the ROM 24, and is connected via the printing unit interface 27. An image signal (video data) as output information is output to the printing unit (printer engine) 30. The CPU 22 can perform communication processing with the host computer via the input unit 26, and is configured to be able to communicate information in the printer and the like to the host computer 100.
[0024]
23 functions as a buffer memory for storing the PDL data received by the input unit 26 and a frame memory 203 for storing the bitmap data expanded by the expansion unit 202 (described later). RAM that functions as: Reference numeral 27 denotes a printing unit interface which receives bitmap data from the frame memory 203 formed by the RAM 23, converts it into video data, and sends it to the printing unit 30.
[0025]
[Display screen of printer driver: Fig. 2]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen 100D displayed on the display unit of the PC 100 when a printer driver installed in the PC 100, the PC 101, or the like is operated.
[0026]
In FIG. 2, the user can set a printer name 110, a paper size 111, an image printing direction 112, a recording medium feeding method 113, an image data printing number 114, and the like. The multi-print setting button 117 can be pressed to perform various processes.
[0027]
In the printer name 110 on the display screen 100D in FIG. 2, the name of the printer that performs printing (the first printer to be used) is displayed. The paper size 111 is a printing paper on which printing is performed, and currently A4 paper is set. The printing direction 112 indicates the direction of printing on the printing paper, and is currently set to print A4 paper in the vertical direction.
[0028]
The paper feeding method 113 indicates that printing paper can be fed from a designated cassette stage when there are a plurality of cassette stages in the printer. Currently, AUTO is selected and the designated paper size is selected. Is controlled so as to feed paper from a cassette stage that matches (for example, can supply A4 paper). The number of copies 114 is a function that can specify that image data (for example, the same text or chart) is printed from a plurality of copies of the printer, and currently indicates that 8 copies are set.
[0029]
The detail 115 button is a button for displaying a display screen (not shown) in which various functions can be specified. By pressing the detail 115 button, for example, double-sided printing, hue, enlargement / reduction, font setting, page layout, etc. Various functions such as (N-up) can be designated.
[0030]
The print button 116 is a button for use when transmitting data to the printer. When the print button 116 is pressed, PLD data is created under the print setting conditions specified in FIG. To send data to a printer or multiple printers).
[0031]
The multi-print setting button 117 is used to set a function for performing distributed processing of a plurality of copies simultaneously using a plurality of printers when it takes time to print a plurality of copies with a single printer. It is a button.
[0032]
When the multi-print setting button 117 is pressed, a window (display screen) shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, and the order of use of the printers used for printing a plurality of copies among a plurality of connected printers. And the number of copies to be printed by the printer to be used can be set.
[0033]
[Multi-print setting: Fig. 3]
FIG. 3 is an example of a display screen (window) for designating multi-print settings. In the display screen of FIG. 3, initial values are set in advance for the number of copies 120, the number 122 of copies, the printer name 121, and the printer name 123. Note that the user can also change these initial value settings.
[0034]
In the display screen shown as an example in FIG. 3, the use order of the printers used for printing a plurality of copies among the three connected printers 102, 103, 104 follows the printer 102 used for the first printing. Therefore, when the printer 103 and the printer 104 are set as the second and third printers, and two printers 102 and 103 are used at the same time, five sets are set as the number of copies (5 copies). When two or more printers 102, 103, and 104 are used at the same time, 10 copies are set (ten or more copies). 3 units are used at the same time when printing the number of copies.)
[0035]
Here, initial values (default values) of printers connected in advance are set in the set number of copies 120 and the set number of copies 122. The default value may be set in any way. For example, information on the printing speed is read from the connected printers (three printers 102, 103, 104), or a printer driver. Is read in advance, and the default values of the corresponding set number of copies 120 and set number of copies 122 are automatically set based on the print speed.
[0036]
For example, if the connected printer is capable of printing at high speed, a large numerical value is set in advance as the default value for the set number of copies 120 and the set number of copies 122. If the print speed of the connected printer is low, the setting is made. Small numerical values are automatically set in advance as default values for the number of copies 120 and the set number of copies 122. Also, when the printing speeds of the connected printers are different, different default values are automatically set in the setting number of copies 120 and the setting number of copies 122 according to the printing speed of the printer. Note that the setting number 120 and the setting number 122 can be changed by the user, and thus the default values can be changed.
[0037]
[Printing multiple copies of image data using multiple printers]
Hereinafter, printing processing of a plurality of sets of image data using a plurality of printers will be described in detail. First, the operation shown in FIG. 2 when the multi-print setting shown in FIG. 3 has already been performed, that is, the operation when printing 8 sets of image data will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the printing speeds of the printer 102 and the printer 103 are the same.
[0038]
When printing 8 copies (plural copies) of image data, the 8 copies are 5 copies or more, which is the set number of copies 120 using two printers, and 10 copies or less using 3 printers. Two printers 103 and 104 are used.
[0039]
In this case, when 8 copies are input in FIG. 2, the display screen 100D of the printer driver is automatically changed to the display screen 1000D shown in FIG. 4 as an example. A setting screen for name 103 is displayed at the same time.
[0040]
In FIG. 4, the display screen of the printer name 102 on the display screen 1000D is basically the same as the display screen 100D of FIG. 2, but the number of copies in the setting screen of the printer 102 shown in the left half of the display screen 1000D of FIG. In 129, the setting is automatically changed from 8 copies shown in the number of copies 114 shown in FIG. 2 to 4 copies.
[0041]
Here, the setting screen for the printer name 103 shown in the right half of the display screen 1000D in FIG. 4 is a screen for setting the printing conditions of the image to be output to the printer 103. The paper size 131, the printing orientation 132, and the paper feeding method 133 shows the same function as the paper size 111, the printing direction 112, and the paper feeding method 113 described in the setting screen for the printer name 102 in FIG. 2, but the display is shaded (as shown in FIG. It is controlled so that the setting cannot be changed. Similarly, the detail button 135, the print button 136, and the multi-print setting button 137 have the same functions as the detail button 115, the print button 116, and the multi-print setting button 117 described in the setting screen for the printer name 102 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the display is controlled so as to be in a shaded state (a state in which the user cannot perform various processes by pressing each button).
[0042]
Here, since the two printers 102 and 103 used have the same printing speed, the number of copies 129 and the number of copies 134 are automatically set to be as equal as possible. That is, when eight copies are printed by the printer 102 and the printer 103, four copies are set for the number of copies 129 and the number of copies 134 so that both have the same number of copies. Therefore, the number of printed copies (8 copies) including the number of printed copies 129 and the number of printed copies 134 is equal to the number of printed copies 114 (8 copies) in FIG. 2 and the printing speeds of the printer 102 and the printer 103 are the same. Printing can be controlled to end.
[0043]
The above control is an example in the case where the printing speeds of the printer 102 and the printer 103 are the same. For example, when the printing speeds of the printer 102 and the printer 103 are different, by increasing the number of printing copies of the printer that prints with the high-speed printer, Control may be performed so that printing ends almost at the same time.
[0044]
Note that FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen when two printers are used, but the same can be done when three or more printers are used. For example, although the display screen is not shown, if the number of copies set by the number of copies 114 of FIG. 2 is set to 12, for example, 12 copies are 10 copies or more set by the number of copies set 122 of FIG. The three printers 102, 103, and 104 are controlled to print simultaneously.
[0045]
[Process when printing multiple copies of image data: FIG. 5]
Next, processing when printing a plurality of copies of image data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the printing operation when the print button 116 is pressed in FIG.
[0046]
First, in step S200, when the print button 116 is pressed, the printing operation starts.
[0047]
Next, in step S201, PLD data corresponding to the printer to be transmitted is created.
[0048]
Next, in step S202, it is checked whether or not the multi-print setting is made. If the multi-print setting is not made, the process proceeds to step S203, PLD data is transmitted to the printer 102, and then the process proceeds to step S211. Exit.
[0049]
On the other hand, if the multi-print setting is set in step S202, the process proceeds to step S204 to compare whether or not the set number of prints 114 is larger than the first set number of copies 120 set in the multi-print setting. If the number of copies 114 set in FIG. 2 is smaller than the first set number of copies 120, the process proceeds to step S203, the PLD data is transmitted to the printer 102 (printed by one printer), and the series of operations is terminated. .
[0050]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that the set number of copies 114 is larger than the first set number of copies 120, the process proceeds to step S205, and the set number of printed copies 114 is the second set number of copies 122 set in the multi-print setting. Compare if greater than or not.
[0051]
If the number of copies 114 set in FIG. 2 is smaller than the second set number 122 (printing with two printers) in step S205, the PLD data is transmitted to the printer 102 in step S206, and the printer in step S207. After the PLD data is transmitted to 103, a series of operations is completed.
[0052]
On the other hand, if the set number of copies 114 is larger than the second set number 123 (printing with three printers) in step S205, the PLD data is sent to the printer 102 in step S208, and the printer 103 is sent in step S209. The PLD data is transmitted, and further, the PLD data is transmitted to the printer 104 in step S210, and then a series of operations is completed.
[0053]
In the above description, the number of copies of the PLD data to be transmitted to the printer 102 in step S203 is eight as indicated by the number of copies 114. However, the number of copies of PLD data to be transmitted to the printer 102 in step S206 is the number of copies 129. The number of copies of the PLD data to be transmitted to the printer 103 in step S207 is four copies indicated by the number of copies 134.
[0054]
In the above description, when PLD data is transmitted to a plurality of printers, the PLD data is transmitted to one printer and then transmitted to the next printer. The method for transmitting the PLD data may be a method other than that described above. For example, when transmitting PLD data to a plurality of printers, instead of transmitting the PLD data to one printer and then transmitting the PLD data to the next printer, the PLD data is subdivided and the subdivided data is It is also possible to change so that PLD data is transmitted to a plurality of printers almost simultaneously by transmitting them alternately to a plurality of printers.
[0055]
In the above description, the case where the same PLD data is transmitted to a plurality of printers has been described. However, the method for transmitting PLD data to a plurality of printers may be a method other than the above-described method. For example, when the types of PLDs differ for each printer for a plurality of printers, PLD data corresponding to each printer is created in advance, and the PLD data may be changed to be transmitted.
[0056]
[Other Embodiments]
The present invention can take the form of, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or storage medium. Specifically, the present invention records software program codes that implement the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by supplying the storage medium to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.
[0057]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0058]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0059]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0060]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0061]
When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowchart described above (shown in FIG. 5).
[0062]
According to the present invention, when a computer and a plurality of printers are connected via a network, PLD data is created from a printer driver installed on the computer, and printing is performed with the printer via the network, the printer driver exceeds a predetermined value. When the number of copies is designated, the PLD data is transmitted to a plurality of printers, whereby distributed processing can be performed by the plurality of printers, and the printing speed can be improved.
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when printing a plurality of copies of image data with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the number of printing copies distributed according to the recording speed of the connected image recording apparatus is controlled. As a result, it is possible to provide a print control apparatus and a control method thereof capable of distributing the load of print processing and enabling high-speed printing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus and a print control apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when setting a plurality of image data prints in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-print setting screen on which an image forming apparatus to be used and the number of copies are displayed when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are used in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen in which the number of copies is set when a plurality of image data is printed by two printers in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of printing processing of a plurality of image data sets in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data flow between the print control apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Host computer
101 Host computer
102 Printer
103 Printer
104 Printer
109 network

Claims (10)

A printing control apparatus that causes a plurality of image forming apparatuses to perform printing of a plurality of copies of image data,
Input means for inputting the number of copies of the image data;
A selection unit that selects an image forming apparatus to be used for printing the image data among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, according to the input number of print copies;
A determination unit that determines the number of copies to be printed according to the recording speed of each image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit;
And a control unit that causes each image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit to print the image data by the number of print copies determined by the determination unit. A setting unit configured to set a use order of the image forming apparatuses to be used among the plurality of image forming apparatuses according to the number of copies of the image data, and to set a set number of copies to be printed by the set image forming apparatus; The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The image forming apparatus further includes an obtaining unit that obtains each printing speed of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and an initial value of the set number of copies set by the setting unit is set based on each printing speed obtained by the obtaining unit. The print control apparatus according to claim 2. 2. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit compares the recording speeds of the image forming apparatuses selected by the selection unit, and determines to increase the number of copies as the image forming apparatus has a higher recording speed. Print control device. A printing control method for causing a plurality of image forming apparatuses to perform printing of a plurality of copies of image data,
An input step of inputting the number of copies of the image data;
A selection step of selecting an image forming apparatus to be used for printing the image data among the plurality of image forming apparatuses according to the input number of copies to be printed.
A determination step of determining the number of copies to be printed according to the recording speed of each image forming apparatus selected in the selection step;
And a control step of causing each image forming apparatus selected in the selection step to print the image data by the number of print copies determined by the determination means. A setting step of setting a use order of the image forming apparatuses to be used among the plurality of image forming apparatuses according to the number of copies of the image data, and setting a set number of copies to be printed by the set image forming apparatus; The printing control method according to claim 5, further comprising: The method further includes an obtaining step of obtaining the printing speeds of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and an initial value of the set number of copies set in the setting step is set based on each printing speed obtained in the obtaining step. The printing control method according to claim 6. 6. The determination step according to claim 5, wherein the recording speeds of the image forming apparatuses selected in the selection step are compared, and the image forming apparatus having a higher recording speed is determined to increase the number of copies. Print control method. A control program for controlling a print control apparatus that causes a plurality of image forming apparatuses to perform printing of a plurality of copies of image data,
A program code of an input process for inputting the number of copies of the image data;
A program code of a selection process for selecting an image forming apparatus to be used for printing the image data among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, according to the input number of copies to be printed.
A program code for a determination step for determining the number of copies to be printed according to the recording speed of each image forming apparatus selected in the selection step;
And a control code for causing the image forming apparatus selected by the selection process to print the image data by the number of print copies determined by the determining unit. Control program to control. A computer-readable storage medium storing the control program according to claim 9.

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