| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply issue a distributed printing indication and moreover to shorten a printing time. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is equipped with the function of recognizing the number of connected machines of the same type or compatible machines usable on a network, and the function of allotting a printing job to each of the printers. How many machines of the same type as that of the master side printer or compatible machines are there, and how many of them can work are grasped from printer information acquired from the slave printer side. Thereafter, the number of distributed printing machines is calculated from the acquired number of job waiting printers, and distribution of printing pages (the number of printing sheets and a printing start page) for distributed printing is carried out to each slave printer. A printing command of m pages and n sets is received from a terminal apparatus 12 side. As a result of analysis at the master printer 16 side, if distributed printing is to be controlled to be carried out by p machines, one printer takes charge of printing of m/p pages and n/p sets. Thus the printing time is ideally shortened to 1/p. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
