Patent Publication Number: US-2007097423-A1

Title: Distributed printing controlling system, distributed printing controlling method, and program

Description:
CROSS-NOTING PARAGRAPH  
      This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a) on Patent Application No. 2005-312841 filed in Japan on Oct. 27, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a distributed printing controlling system, that is a system that distributes and executes printing using a plurality of printing apparatuses, and that makes settings for the printing and settings of printers that are destinations of distribution, and a distributed printing controlling method and a program therefor.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Conventionally, a distributed printing technique is known that divides pages or copies and executes printing using a plurality of printing apparatuses for a large number of pages or a large number of copies of one document. As to the distributed printing technique, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-194911 discloses a system (hereinafter, referred to as “printing server system”) that shares a high-performance printing apparatus connected with a server from an information processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as “terminal”) such as a personal computer through a LAN cable. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-194911 discloses that the time for outputting printing data taken by each printing apparatus is calculated based on printing performance data for each printing apparatus that is a candidate to be assigned a predefined distributed task to and, thereby, dividing of the printing data is optimized to make the completion of printing by each printing apparatus be at the same time, the divided printing data are assigned respectively to printing apparatuses and printing is instructed.  
      Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-149361 discloses a method of printing under excellent printing conditions even without specific knowledge concerning printers and printing processes by advising a user on the optimal printing conditions by detecting biases of the printing conditions based on past printing conditions such as color, monochrome, double-sided printing setting, N-up setting for one multi-functional apparatus in a printing process (more specifically, a process in a printer driver) in a printing data processing system.  
      However, to execute distributed printing using a plurality of printing apparatuses, according to the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-194911, though a large number of pages can be printed at a high speed, a problem has arisen that operations such as making printing settings are difficult and uniform printing results are difficult to obtain in distributed printing using a plurality of multi-functional apparatuses respectively having different functions such as integrated fonts and color/monochrome. According to the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-149361, though operativity is excellent because advice on printing settings is given, the technique can not be used in distributed printing for a plurality of multi-functional apparatuses respectively having different functions because the printing settings are for one multi-functional apparatus.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An object of the present invention is to provide a distributed printing controlling system and a distributed printing controlling method that can easily execute the optimal distributed printing based on history information on what type of distributed printing was executed in the past when distributed printing is executed using a plurality of printing apparatuses.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a distributed printing controlling system that is configured to connect a plurality of printing apparatuses through a network, receive data transmitted from an information processing apparatus of a client, and cause the plurality of printing apparatuses to print in a distributed manner, the system including a storage unit that stores history information on distributed printing and a controlling unit that extracts distributed printing information based on the history information and sets and controls the distributed printing using the extracted information.  
      The above history information can be, for example, history information on each document, history information on each user, or history information on printing settings. The above distributed printing information can be, for example, information on printers to be distribution destinations or information on printing settings. The extracted distributed printing information is displayed by a displaying apparatus and the distributed printing settings can be set automatically. The printing result for an image output apparatus is kept stored as history information for the future with history indicating success or failure inputted.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the configuration of a distributed printing controlling system according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an explanatory schematic block diagram of the configuration of a server terminal that executes distributed printing control of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is an explanatory schematic block diagram of the configuration of a client terminal that executes distributed printing control of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory view of an example of history information according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a user interface of a message presented to a user for the printing result of the distributed printing;  
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory view of an example of an execution flow of the distributed printing (history for the same document) according to the present invention;  
       FIGS. 7A  to  7 C show examples of the user interface of messages used in the execution flow of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory view of an example of the execution flow of the distributed printing (history for the same user) according to the present invention;  
       FIGS. 9A  to  9 C show examples of the user interface of messages used in the execution flow of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is an explanatory view of an example of the execution flow of the distributed printing (history for the same printing settings) according to the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 11A  to  11 C show examples of the user interface of messages used in the execution flow of  FIG. 10 . 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention lies in executing the optimal distributed printing referring to printing settings employed when distributed printing of a document was executed in the past such as, for example, information such as fonts, color/monochrome, and single-sided/double-sided and information such as information as to which printers were used when the distributed printing is executed using a plurality of printing apparatuses. In this case, various embodiments can be listed such as those concerning whether a document to be printed in the distributed manner is the same document as the document that was printed in the distributed manner in the past, which a user of the distributed printing (client terminal) is, or whether printing was executed with similar settings in the past when distributed printing settings are made.  
      In any of the above embodiments, proper advice is presented to a user based on the history information of the distributed printing, the optimal distributed printing is enabled and the distributed printing is enabled using the automatic printing settings in the history information. When distributed printing is executed, by adding the printing result as an additional piece of the history information or updating the history information using the printing result, further distributed printing is enabled to be executed in a more optimal form.  
      An embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the configuration of a distributed printing controlling system according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the configuration of an information processing apparatus (server terminal) that executes distributed printing control of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the configuration of an information processing apparatus (client terminal) that executes distributed printing control of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an explanatory view of an example of history information according to the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows an example of a user interface of a message presented to a user for the printing result of the distributed printing.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the distributed printing control system according to the present invention is configured to connect communicably a plurality of printing apparatuses (printers)  4  that are examples of image output apparatuses, a server terminal (personal computer: PC)  1  that is an example of an information processing apparatus, and a plurality of client terminals (PCs)  2  through a predetermined network  3  complying with, for example, IEEE 802.3.  
      In the distributed printing controlling system, for example, printing data is sent from the client PC  2  to the server PC  1  and a printing job is transmitted being distributed from the server PC  1  to the plurality of printers  4  through the network  3 . A document corresponding to the printing job is printed (outputted) on recording paper sheets by the plurality of printers  4  that have received the job. Otherwise, the printing job is directly created from an application of the client PC  2  and transmitted being distributed to the plurality of printers  4  through the network  3 , and the printing job is printed by the plurality of printers  4  that have received the printing job.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the configuration of the server PC  1  of the present invention and the distributed printing controlling system of the present invention will be schematically described referring to the block diagram.  
      As shown, the server PC  1  includes a CPU  10  that executes various types of calculation, a RAM  11   a  that stores a program developed therein that is executed by the CPU  10 , and a ROM  11   b  that stores programs that are executed by the CPU  10  such as BIOS. The server PC  1  also includes a communicating unit  12  that executes data communication through the network  3 , receives data created by an application of the plurality of client PCs  2 , and transmits a printing job to the plurality of printers  4 .  
      The distributed printing controlling system according to the present invention includes a storage unit  13  such as a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores the history information on the past in addition to storing various types of driver software, application programs, and various types of data and also includes a controlling unit  14  that sets and controls distributed printing by extracting the history information for the past from the storage unit  13 . The controlling unit  14  consists of, for example, a distribution destination setting unit  15  that sets the distribution destinations of printing, a printing setting unit  16  that sets single-sided/double-sided, N-up, color/monochrome, etc., a recorded contents analyzing unit  17  that analyzes the history information of the past distributed printing stored in the storage unit  13 , a data creating unit  18  that creates printing data from the data from the plurality of client PCs  2 , and a display data creating unit  19  that creates data to be displayed by the client PCs  2 .  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the configuration of the client PC  2  to execute distributed printing directly from the client PC  2  and not through the server PC  1 . The client PC  2  is configured to execute the same function as that of the server PC  1  described above. That is, similarly to the server PC  1 , the client PC  2  includes a CPU  20  that executes various types of calculation, a RAM  21   a  that stores a program developed therein that is executed by the CPU  20 , and a ROM  21   b  that stores programs that are executed by the CPU  20  such as BIOS. The client PC  2  also includes a communicating unit  22  that transmits printing data created from the application, a displaying unit  23  such as a liquid crystal panel, a CRT, etc., and an operating unit  24  such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc.  
      The client PC  2  of  FIG. 3  also includes a storage unit  25  such as a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores the history information for the past in addition to storing various types of driver software, application programs, and various types of data, and a controlling unit  26  that sets and controls distributed printing by extracting the history information on the past from the storage unit  25 . The controlling unit  26  consists of, for example, a distribution destination setting unit  27  that sets the distribution destinations of printing, a printing setting unit  28  that sets single-sided/double-sided, N-up, color/monochrome, etc., a recorded contents analyzing unit  29  that analyzes the history information of the past distributed printing stored in the storage unit  25 , and a data creating unit  30  that creates printing data from the application.  
      By including the configuration concerning the above distributed printing control, various types of history information on distributed printing can be stored in the storage unit  13  or  25  and, when distributed printing is executed newly, the distributed printing can be controlled referring to the history information by the controlling unit  14  or  26 . As a result, a user does not need to provide his/her labor for or pay attention to the settings of distributed printing when history information with which distributed printing was executed before is present, and the user can execute appropriate distributed printing without specific knowledge concerning distributed printing.  
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the history information stored in the storage unit  13  of the server PC  1  of  FIG. 2  and the storage unit  13  stores items such as “user name”  31 , “document name”  32 , “printing settings”  33 , “distribution destination printers”  34 , “success/failure”  35 , “comment”  36 , “frequency”  37 .  
      The user name  31  facilitates identification of past history information by searching names in the user name  31  or names in the document name  32  as to who used the printing (or used a client terminal). When the same user used, settings suitable for the taste of the user can be made such as the user&#39;s policy for fonts and colors and use of a nearby printer by having caused history information to be stored for each user name.  
      The document name  32  makes the user know the type of a document. When a same document is printed in a distributed manner, by storing the history information for each document name, specific printing settings such as double-sided/N-up/color can be easily set without paying much attention and without specific knowledge concerning the printer or a printing process.  
      The item, the printing settings  33  stores as to what settings a document was printed with in the past such as single-sided/double-sided, N-up, color/monochrome, with/without stapling. With the past settings remaining as history information, inquiry about the performance of a printer that is suitable for the setting, etc., by executing broadcasting is not necessary even when printing settings are newly made.  
      The item, distribution destination printer  34  shows which printers were used in the past distributed printing sessions. Though the printing performance differs by printer, settings of the distribution destination printers can be made without paying attention to the performance of the distribution destination printers, etc., when the distributed printing information remains as the history information.  
      In the present invention, among the pieces of history information, the pieces of information for the above printing settings  33  and the distribution destination printer  34  are collectively referred to as “distributed printing information” and, when distributed printing is executed, settings can be made without confusion even in changing the settings by referring to the history information.  
      The item, success/failure  35  of printing information shows whether the printing result of distributed printing in the past was satisfactory (success) or unsatisfactory (failure) and, when the result was failure, reference information of countermeasures against the failure is displayed as a comment in the comment  36 . As to “success/failure” and “comment” therefor, for example, unevenness of colors and difference in appearance of fonts, etc., are inputted using a message shown in  FIG. 5  based on visual judgment of the user. When any unsatisfactory distributed printing sessions are present in the past distributed printing sessions, unsatisfactory printing can be avoided in the next distributed printing session.  
      The item, frequency  37  shows how many times distributed printing for the same user and the same document was executed in the past.  
       FIG. 5  is a user interface that is displayed by the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  and inputted by the operating unit  24 , and is displayed when distributed printing has finished and is inputted by the user. Though the input is based on the user&#39;s visual judgment, the interface can be automatically inputted into by setting judgment criteria for success/failure.  
      As the example of  FIG. 3 , when printing is directly instructed from the client PC  2 , document name  32 , printing settings  33 , distribution destination printer  34 , success/failure  35 , comment  36 , and frequency  37  are stored excluding user name  31  from the history information shown in  FIG. 4  as the history information in the storage unit  25  of the above client PC  2 . In the case where the printing is directly instructed from the client PC  2  without passing through the server, distributed printing can be executed at a higher speed than that of the case where the server is passed through and, more excellent distributed printing can be executed in printing executed when the server PC  1  is congested.  
      A procedure will be described that is taken when the history information is stored for each document and printing data is created by searching whether distributed printing was executed in the past for the same document referring to an execution flow of distributed printing shown in  FIG. 6  and examples of user interfaces of messages to be displayed to give advice to the user of  FIGS. 7A  to  7 C. In the description of the flow of  FIG. 6 , S 101 , S 102 , . . . denote the serial numbers of the process steps (steps) and the reference numerals of the functional units described referring to FIGS.  1  to  5  will be used.  
      A printing data creating process employed when printing data is transmitted from the client PC  2  to the server PC  1  will be described.  
      When printing data creation is started, whether any history stored in the storage unit (HDD)  13  is present is judged (step S 101 ). When the history is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  17  judges whether the history of the same document as the document of the transmitted printing data is present (step S 102 ). When the history of the same document is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  17  judges whether any history of failure is present (step S 103 ). For example, for printing data creation concerning “a document  2  of a user B” shown in  FIG. 4 , history of failure is present and, therefore, the display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as shown in  FIG. 7A  and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message (step S 105 ).  
      Based on the information, a user makes printing settings (step S 106 ) and settings of distribution destination printers (step S 107 ). Thereafter, the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 110 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings (step S 111 ). The data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the printing result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 112 ). The process is ended.  
      As an example of the case where no history of failure is present at step S 103  (NO), for example, no history of failure is present for printing data creation concerning “a document  1  of a user A and the user B” shown in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as in  FIG. 7B , causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message, and makes printing settings and sets the distribution destination printers. In this case, the printing settings and the distribution destination printers can be initially set automatically to settings of respectively “double-sided/color” and “a, b, and c” using the distribution destination setting unit  15  and the printing setting unit  16  based on the history information. The display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as in  FIG. 7C  and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message (step S 104 ).  
      After such settings are made, the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 110 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings (step S 111 ). The data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  to update the history (step S 112 ). The process is ended.  
      When no history is present at steps S 101  (NO) and S 102  (NO), the user makes printing settings (step S 108 ) and makes settings of the distribution destination printers (step S 109 ) using the printing setting unit  28  and the distribution destination setting unit  27  of the client PC  2 . The data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 110 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  (step S 111 ) through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings. Similarly to the above, the data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  to reflect the result on the next printing (step S 112 ). The process is ended.  
      A printing data creating process will be described for the case where the distributed printing is directly executed according to an instruction from the client PC  2  without passing through the server PC  1 . The flowchart thereof itself is same as that for the case with the server PC  1  as above. However, the history shown in  FIG. 4  is information that lacks the history concerning the item, “user name” because the user executes the process for the history on the client PC  2 .  
      Similarly to the case using the server PC  1 , whether history stored in the storage unit (HDD)  25  of the client PC  2  is present is judged (step S 101 ). When the history is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  29  judges whether the history of the same document as the document of the printing data is present (step S 102 ). When the history of the same document is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  29  judges whether any history of failure is present (step S 103 ). For example, for printing data creation concerning “the document  2  of the user B” shown in  FIG. 4 , history of failure is present and, therefore, the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  is caused to display the message as shown in  FIG. 7A  (step S 105 ).  
      Based on the information, a user makes printing settings (step S 106 ) and settings of distribution destination printers (step S 107 ). Thereafter, the data creating unit  30  of the client PC  2  creates printing data (step S 110 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  22  based on the settings (step S 111 ). The data creating unit  30  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the printing result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 112 ). The process is ended.  
      As an example of the case where no history of failure is present at step S 103  (NO), for example, no history of failure is present for printing data creation concerning “the document  1  of the user A” shown in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  is caused to display a message as shown in  FIG. 7B , and printing settings are made and the distribution destination printers are set. In this case, the printing settings and the distribution destination printers can be automatically changed to settings of respectively “double-sided/color” and “a, b, and c” using the distribution destination setting unit  27  and the printing setting unit  28  based on the history information. The displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  is caused to display a message as shown in  FIG. 7C  (step S 104 ).  
      After such settings are made, the data creating unit  30  of the client PC  2  creates printing data (step S 110 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  22  based on the settings (step S 111 ). The data creating unit  30  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  to update the history (step S 112 ). The process is ended.  
      When no history is present at steps S 101  (NO) and S 102  (NO), the user makes printing settings (step S 108 ) and makes settings of the distribution destination printers (step S 109 ) using the printing setting unit  28  and the distribution destination setting unit  27  of the client PC  2 . The data creating unit  30  of the client PC  2  creates printing data (step S 110 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  (step S 111 ) through the communicating unit  22  based on the settings. Similar to the above, the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  is caused to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  to reflect the result on the next printing (step S 112 ). The process is ended.  
      A procedure will be described that is taken when the history information is stored for each user and printing data is created by searching whether distributed printing was executed in the past for the same user referring to an execution flow of distributed printing shown in  FIG. 8  and examples of user interfaces of messages to be displayed to give advice to the user of  FIGS. 9A  to  9 C. In the description of the flow of  FIG. 8 , S 201 , S 202 , . . . denote the serial numbers of the process steps (steps) and the reference numerals of the functional units described referring to FIGS.  1  to  5  will be used.  
      A printing data creating process employed when printing data is transmitted from the client PC  2  to the server PC  1  will be described.  
      Whether any history stored in the storage unit (HDD)  13  is present is judged (step S 201 ). When the history is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  17  judges whether the history of the same user as the user of the transmitted printing data is present (step S 202 ). When the history of the same user is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  17  judges whether any history of failure of the same user is present (step S 203 ). For example, when history of failure such as “a document  3  of a user C” shown in  FIG. 4  is present, the display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as shown in  FIG. 9A  and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message (step S 207 ).  
      Based on the information, a user makes printing settings (step S 208 ) and settings of distribution destination printers (step S 209 ). Thereafter, the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 210 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings (step S 211 ). The data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the printing result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 212 ). The process is ended.  
      For example, the history of “the user A” shown in  FIG. 4  is an example of the case where no history of failure is present at step S 203  (NO), and history information (printing settings for the document  1 ) of the most frequent settings (bias) is present for printing data creation concerning “the user A”. As to the history-information, the display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as in  FIG. 9B , causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message, and makes printing settings and sets the distribution destination printers. In this case, the printing settings and the distribution destination printers can be automatically changed to settings of respectively “double-sided/color” and “a, b, and c” using the distribution destination setting unit  27  and the printing setting unit  28  of the client PC  2  based on the history information. The display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as in  FIG. 9C  and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message (step S 204 ).  
      After such settings are made, the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 210 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings (step S 211 ). The data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  to update the history (step S 212 ). The process is ended.  
      When no history is present at steps S 201  (NO) and S 202  (NO), the user makes printing settings (step S 205 ) and makes settings of the distribution destination printers (step S 206 ) using the printing setting unit  28  and the distribution destination setting unit  27  of the client PC  2 . The data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 210 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  (step S 211 ) through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings. Similarly to the above, the data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  to reflect the result on the next printing (step S 212 ). The process is ended.  
      A procedure will be described that is taken when printing data is created by searching history information concerning printing settings as to whether distributed printing was executed in the past with the same printing settings referring to an execution flow of distributed printing shown in  FIG. 10  and examples of user interfaces of messages to be displayed to give advice to the user of  FIGS. 11A  to  11 C. In the description of the flow of  FIG. 10 , S 301 , S 302 , . . . denote the serial numbers of the process steps (steps) and the reference numerals of the functional units described referring to FIGS.  1  to  5  will be used.  
      A printing data creating process employed when printing data is transmitted from the client PC  2  to the server PC  1  will be described.  
      At the start, the printing setting unit  16  of the server PC  1  makes printing settings of, for example, “double-sided/2-up/monochrome” (step S 301 ). Whether any history indicating that the above printing settings are stored in the storage unit (HDD)  13  is judged (step S 302 ). When the history is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  17  judges whether the history of the same printing settings as the printing settings currently being set is present (step S 303 ). When the history of the same printing settings is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  17  judges whether any history of failure is present (step S 304 ).  
      When history of failure is present for settings of “single-sided/2-up/monochrome” as “the document  3  of the user C” shown in  FIG. 4 , the display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as shown in  FIG. 11A  and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message (step S 306 ). Based on the information, a user makes settings of distribution destination printers (step S 307 ) Thereafter, the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 308 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings (step S 309 ). The data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the printing result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 310 ) The process is ended.  
      As an example of the case where no history of failure is present at step S 304  (NO), settings of “double-sided/4-up/monochrome” are made at step S 301 . Because the settings are same as those of “a document  4  of the user A” of  FIG. 4 , the display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as in  FIG. 11B , causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message, and sets the distribution destination printers. In this case, the distribution destination printers can be automatically set to change the settings thereof to “b, d, and f” using the distribution destination setting unit  15  based on the history information. The display data creating unit  19  of the server PC  1  creates a message as in  FIG. 11C  and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display the message (step S 305 ).  
      After such settings are made, the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data (step S 308 ), transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings (step S 309 ), and causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 310 ). The process is ended.  
      When no history is present at steps S 302  (NO) and S 303  (NO), the data creating unit  18  of the server PC  1  creates printing data without any additional steps (step S 308 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  (step S 309 ) through the communicating unit  12  based on the settings. Similarly to the above, the data creating unit  18  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 310 ). The process is ended.  
      A printing data creating process will be described for the case where the distributed printing is directly executed according to an instruction from the client PC  2  not through the server PC  1 . The flowchart thereof itself is same as that for the case with the server PC  1  as above. However, the history shown in  FIG. 4  is information that lacks the history concerning the item, “user name” because the user executes the process for the history on the client PC  2 .  
      Similarly to the case with the server PC  1 , the printing setting unit  28  of the client PC  2  makes printing settings such as, for example, “double-sided/2-up/monochrome” (step S 301 ). Whether any history is present that indicates that the above printing settings are stored in the storage unit (HDD)  25  is judged (step S 302 ). When the history is present, the recorded contents analyzing unit  29  judges whether any history of printing settings that are same as the printing settings currently being set is present (step S 303 ). When history of failure is present in settings of “single-sided/2-up/monochrome” as “the document  3  of the user C” shown in  FIG. 4 , the displaying unit  23  is caused to display the message as shown in  FIG. 11A  (step S 306 ).  
      Based on the information, a user changes settings of the distribution destination printers (step S 307 ). Thereafter, the data creating unit  30  of the client PC  2  creates printing data (step S 308 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  22  based on the settings (step S 309 ). The data creating unit  30  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the printing result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 310 ). The process is ended.  
      As an example of the case where no history of failure is present at step S 304  (NO), settings are made as “double-sided/4-up/monochrome” at step S 301 . The settings are same as the settings for “the document  4  of the user A” shown in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  is caused to display a message as shown in  FIG. 11B  and the distribution destination printers are set. In this case, the distribution destination printer settings can be automatically changed to settings of “b, d, and f” using the distribution destination setting unit  27  based on the history information. The displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  is caused to display a message as shown in  FIG. 11C  (step S 305 ).  
      After such settings are made, the data creating unit  30  of the client PC  2  creates printing data (step S 308 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  through the communicating unit  22  based on the settings (step S 309 ). The data creating unit  30  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 310 ). The process is ended.  
      When no history is present at steps S 302  (NO) and S 303  (NO), the data creating unit  30  of the client PC  2  creates printing data without any additional steps (step S 308 ) and transmits the printing data to each of the printers  4  (step S 309 ) through the communicating unit  22  based on the settings. Similar to the above, the data creating unit  30  causes the displaying unit  23  of the client PC  2  to display a result input screen as in  FIG. 5  and the result is inputted from the operating unit  24  (step S 310 ). The process is ended.  
      As above, according to the present invention, when distributed printing is executed, with history information being present that indicates that the distributed printing was substantially executed in the past, advice is given based on information indicating failure or success of the printing settings made for the past printing and, therefore, a user does not need to provide his/her labor for or pay attention to the settings of distributed printing and the user can execute appropriate distributed printing without specific knowledge concerning distributed printing. When distributed printing was executed in the past for a same document, for a same user, or with the same settings as those for the current distributed printing, the distributed printing is automatically executed with the past settings as far as no problem is particularly arisen with the settings made for the past distributed printing.