Patent ID: 7359081
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information processing apparatus for executing a distribution printing process, comprising: dividing means for dividing print data for one print job and generating a plurality of print jobs from the one print job to make a plurality of printers execute a distribution printing process in which each of the plurality of printers executes one of the generated plurality of print jobs constituting the one print job; first spooling means for spooling device-independent-format data converted from data provided by an application for the divided print data; second spooling means for spooling device-dependent-format data generated by a predetermined printer driver for the divided print data; determination means for determining whether each of the plurality of printers for executing the distribution printing process can interpret data in the same printer language; control means for selectively switching between executing a first distribution printing process and a second distribution printing process based on the determination made by the determination means, wherein the control means executes the first distribution printing process by using the device-independent-format data spooled by said first spooling means in a case where said determination means determines that the plurality of printers can not interpret data in the same printer language, and executes the second distribution printing process by using the device-dependent-format data spooled by said second spooling means in a case where said determination means determines that the plurality of printers can interpret data in the same printer language; first assignment means for generating, from the device-independent-format data spooled by said first spooling means, a plurality of pieces of divided process data for distribution printing, the divided process data being formed in a device-independent format; output means for outputting the plurality of pieces of divided process data generated by said first assignment means to respective corresponding printer drivers which generate device-dependent-format data; second assignment means for generating from the device-dependent-format data spooled by said second spooling means, a plurality of pieces of divided print data for distribution printing; and output control means for outputting a plurality of pieces of print data in the device-dependent format to the plurality of printers.