Print data controlling method

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a print data controlling method for correctly performing, even when a print request regarding the same or similar print data is repeatedly issued, a print procedure desired by a user without decrease in printer operating efficiency and waste of resources such as paper. As a decision result produced by a print server on the basis of a comparison of data specifying information contained in print requesting data with data specifying information attached to each print data spooled in a print queue, a terminal device receives decision data which informs that there has already been spooled print data identical with or similar to print data regarding a current print request. Then, the terminal device will accept designation input for designating a print data processing procedure, thereafter sending to the print server processing data representative of contents of the designated print data processing procedure. The print server processes the print data according to contents of the received processing data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A print data controlling method in which print data regarding a print request which has been issued from a terminal device is temporarily spooled in a print queue and supplied from the print queue to a printer, comprising the steps of: 
 comparing print data regarding a current print request with print data which is previously spooled in the print queue;    transmitting a result of the comparison to the terminal device which has issued the current print request; and    generating a warning message in the terminal device when the result of the comparison indicates that print data identical with or similar to the print data regarding the current print request is previously spooled in the print queue.    
     
     
         2 . The print data controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein when the comparison result indicates that print data identical with or similar to the print data regarding the current print request is previously spooled in the print queue, an input operation for designating a print data processing procedure of how to process the print data regarding the current print request and the previously spooled print data is accepted by the terminal device to which the comparison result was transmitted and the print data is processed according to the designated print data processing procedure.  
     
     
         3 . The print data controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the print data regarding the current print request with the print data previously spooled in the print queue is carried out with respect to contents of print data.  
     
     
         4 . The print data controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the print data regarding the current print request with the print data previously spooled in the print queue is carried out based on data representative of characteristics of print data.  
     
     
         5 . The print data controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the print data regarding the current print request with the print data previously spooled in the print queue is carried out based on contents of print requesting data which is outputted earlier than print data.  
     
     
         6 . The print data controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the print data regarding the current print request with the print data previously spooled in the print queue is carried out with respect to only print data regarding a print request previously issued from a same terminal device or user as that from which the print request is currently issued.  
     
     
         7 . The print data controlling method of  claim 2 , wherein a print data processing procedure of how to process the print data regarding the current print request and the previously spooled print data can be designated from among a plurality of previously-set print data processing procedures.  
     
     
         8 . The print data controlling method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of print data processing procedures includes a print data processing procedure contents of which indicate an operation of canceling at least one of printing of the print data regarding the current print request and printing of the print data which is previously spooled in the print queue and is identical with or similar to the print data regarding the current print request.  
     
     
         9 . The print data controlling method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of print data processing procedures includes a print data processing procedure contents of which indicate an operation of making a change in print condition of print data which is previously spooled in the print queue and is identical with or similar to the print data regarding the current print request.  
     
     
         10 . The print data controlling method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of print data processing procedures includes a print data processing procedure contents of which indicate an operation of extracting a difference between the print data regarding the current print request and the print data previously spooled in the print queue so as to perform only the printing of the extracted difference.  
     
     
         11 . The print data controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without designating of any particular print data processing procedure for the print data regarding the current print request and the already-spooled print data, the print data is processed according to a default print data processing procedure.