Patent ID: 7477412
Filing Date: 2009-01-13
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A network printing system for use with a network, the network printing system comprising: a plurality of printers connected to the network; a printing request unit to request printing to at least one of the plurality of printers, connected to the network, the printing request unit includes: a printing-data generating device to generate printing data which is divided so as to correspond to constituent parts constituting printing contents; and a printing-request transmitting device to transmit to the printers a printing request which includes structure information indicating the divided structure of the printing data generated by the printing-data generating device and identification information to identify partial data corresponding to the respective constituent parts, the printer including: a data storage device to store all or a part of the printing data in units of divided data; a stored-data retrieving device to retrieve the partial data from the data storage device in response to an acquisition request from another printer; a partial-data transmitting device to transmit the partial data detected by the stored-data retrieving device to the printer as a request source; a printing-request receiving device to receive the printing request; a data-storage determining device to analyze the printing request received by the printing-request receiving device and determining whether partial data necessary for constructing the printing data are stored in the data storage device; a partial-data acquiring device to acquire missing partial data to construct the printing data from the other printer on the basis of the determination result of the data-storage determining device; a printing-data constructing device to construct the printing data on the basis of the partial data acquired by the partial-data acquiring device and the partial data in the data storage device; a printing device to perform the printing on the basis of the printing data constructed by the printing-data constructing device; and a stored-data registering device to store the partial data acquired by the partial-data acquiring device in the data storage device, and the partial-data acquiring device acquiring the partial data from at least one of a printer for which time required for data transmission is shortest and a printer for which time required for data transmission is estimated to be shortest, among the plurality of printers.