Job Management Device and Program

Abstract

To allow an operator and the like not to search for a print system holding a job corresponding to a reprinting request of printed matter.SOLUTION: A job management device 14 includes a processor. The processor performs steps of: adding a requested identifier 40-1 linked with a production request to a job 56-1 produced in accordance with the production request of printed matter; transmitting it to one of a plurality of print systems 16-1, 16-2 in order to cause the system to process the job to which the requested identifier is added; inquiring, upon designation of one (40-1) of a plurality of requested identifiers, whether or not the designated requested identifier 40-1 holds the added job 56-1 on the plurality of print systems 16-1, 16-2 when receiving a reprinting request of the printed matter corresponding to the designated requested identifier 40-1; and detecting the print system 16-1 holding the job 56-1 corresponding to the reprinting request based on a response from each of the print systems for the inquiry.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a job management device and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In a printing company, orders are received from customers for the production of printed materials such as books, magazines, catalogs, and leaflets. Printed materials are created according to the order details and delivered to the customers. In recent years, in addition to offset printing presses, digital printing machines (electrophotographic printing devices, inkjet printing devices, etc.) are also used in the production of printed materials. Among digital printing machines, there are also printers with functions such as a cover insertion function and a paper processing function (punching (hole punching) processing, stapling processing, saddle stitching processing, folding processing, cutting processing, etc.). Hereinafter, a configuration including a digital printing machine (printing device) and a print control device that controls it is referred to as a printing system.

[0003] When receiving an order for the production of printed materials from a customer, the printing company issues order identification information (order identifier) such as a slip number for the order. The printing company receives, for example, production specifications (composition of printed materials per copy, number of copies to be produced, delivery destination, etc.) and document / image data (manuscripts) from the customer, and manages them by associating them with the order identifier. Note that the order identifier is also conveyed to the customer.

[0004] Then, the printing company creates a job as electronic data based on the manufacturing specifications, document and image data, etc. received from the customer. The job includes, for example, product information (paper size, type, number of sheets, image position, etc.) and process information (processing content, processing procedure, etc.) for each part constituting the printed matter (e.g., front cover, back cover, body, etc.), product information and process information for the entire printed matter, and image data used for printing. Then, the job is sent to the printing control device of the printing system. The printing control device interprets the job, performs data processing, and supplies commands, raster images, etc. to the printing device to output a printed matter from the printing device. Note that the job is often not immediately deleted from the printing control device of the printing system after its processing is completed, but is held in the printing control device for a certain period, for example, for subsequent processing.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which, regarding the process management of a job related to the creation of a printed matter, by managing and displaying the job history and the correspondence relationship of files related to the job in a tree structure, it becomes possible for the user to easily determine the job and file of interest.

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which, in a form where jobs are issued from a plurality of devices, by including the identification information of the device that issued the job, the date when the job was issued, etc. in the job name, it becomes easier for the user to identify the job.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] A printing company may receive requests for reprinting printed materials (e.g., requests for additional printing). For requests for reprinting printed materials, the manufacturing specifications, documents, image data, etc. are not passed from the customer to the printing company. Instead, only the request identifier associated with the previous manufacturing request is specified, for example. When there is a request for reprinting printed materials, an operator or the like of the printing company searches for the printing system that processed the job corresponding to the request last time, and performs the processing again using the previous job held in the printing control device of that printing system. However, there is a problem that it is not easy for an operator or the like to find the printing control device that holds the job corresponding to the reprinting request from among a plurality of printing systems.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to save the labor of an operator or the like from searching for a printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reprinting request when receiving a reprinting request for printed materials.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] The invention according to claim 1 includes a processor. The processor adds a request identifier associated with the manufacturing request to a job created according to a manufacturing request for printed materials, and transmits it to one of a plurality of printing systems in order to process the job with the request identifier added. When one of the plurality of request identifiers is specified and a reprinting request for a printed material corresponding to the specified request identifier is received, the processor inquires of the plurality of printing systems whether they hold the job with the specified request identifier added, and detects a printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reprinting request based on the responses from the respective printing systems to the inquiry. It is a job management device.

[0011] The invention according to claim 2 is the job management device according to claim 1, wherein when the processor detects a printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reprinting request, the processor instructs the printing system to process the job corresponding to the reprinting request. It is a job management device.

[0012] The invention according to claim 3 is a job management device according to claim 1, wherein when the printing system that holds the job corresponding to the remanufacturing request is in a state where it cannot process the job, the processor instructs the printing system to transfer the job to another printing system, and instructs the other printing system to which the job corresponding to the remanufacturing request has been transferred to process the job.

[0013] The invention according to claim 4 is a job management device according to claim 1, wherein when the printing system that holds the job corresponding to the remanufacturing request cannot be detected by the inquiry, a new job is created according to the remanufacturing request, and the processor assigns the printing setting information attached to the job corresponding to the remanufacturing request to the new job and transmits it to one of the plurality of printing systems to process the new job.

[0014] The invention according to claim 5 adds a request identifier associated with the manufacturing request to the job created according to the manufacturing request of the printed matter, and transmits it to one of the plurality of printing systems to process the job with the request identifier added. When one of the plurality of request identifiers is specified and a remanufacturing request for the printed matter corresponding to the specified request identifier is received, the plurality of printing systems are queried as to whether they hold the job with the specified request identifier added, and based on the responses from the respective printing systems to the query, the printing system that holds the job corresponding to the remanufacturing request is detected. It is a program that causes a computer to function as described above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the inventions according to claims 1 and 5, an operator or the like does not need to search for a printing system that holds a job corresponding to a remanufacturing request for a printed matter.

[0016] According to the invention according to claim 2, a printed matter corresponding to a reproduction request can be obtained.

[0017] According to the invention according to claim 3, compared with the case of waiting until the printing system holding the job becomes processable, a printed matter corresponding to a reproduction request can be obtained in a shorter time.

[0018] According to the invention according to claim 4, compared with the case of creating the printing setting information of a new job from the beginning, a printed matter corresponding to a reproduction request can be obtained in a shorter time.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, each embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail while referring to the accompanying drawings. The configurations described below are examples for explanation, and can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the system, device, etc. Also, when multiple embodiments, modification examples, etc. are included below, it is assumed from the beginning that their characteristic parts can be combined and used as appropriate. In all the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print production management system 10. The production management system 10 is used in a printing company. Of course, it may be used outside a printing company.

[0022] The production management system 10 includes an order receiving system 12, a plurality of process management devices 14-1 and 14-2, a plurality of printing systems 16-1, 16-2, and 16-3, and a user terminal 24, which are communicably connected to each other via a network 26. Note that the number of each system and each device shown in FIG. 1 is an example and can be appropriately changed. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the process management devices 14-1 and 14-2, they are referred to as the process management device 14, and when it is not necessary to distinguish between the printing systems 16-1, 16-2, and 16-3, they are referred to as the printing system 16. The network 26 is, for example, a LAN, an intranet, the Internet, or the like.

[0023] The order receiving system 12 is a computer that manages manufacturing requests and re-manufacturing requests for printed materials received from customers.

[0024] The project management device 14 is a computer that manages the progress status of manufacturing each printed matter, etc., and is also called a workflow management device. The project management device 14 functions as a job management device. The project management device 14-1 manages the manufacturing of, for example, magazines, catalogs, and flyers as printed matters, and the project management device 14-2 manages the manufacturing of, for example, books as printed matters. In this way, the project management device 14 is selectively used according to the type of printed matter. However, only one project management device 14 may be prepared, and it may manage the manufacturing of all printed matters.

[0025] The printing system 16 includes a print control device 18 and a printing device 20. When there is no need to distinguish the respective print control devices 18-1, 18-2, 18-3 of the printing systems 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, they are referred to as the print control device 18. Also, when there is no need to distinguish the respective printing devices 20-1, 20-2, 20-3 of the printing systems 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, they are referred to as the printing device 20.

[0026] The printing device 20 is a device that forms an image on a medium such as paper, and can also be called an image forming device. The printing device 20 is a digital printing machine such as an electrophotographic printing device or an inkjet printing device. The printing device 20 is, for example, a production printer that can print at high speed and with high precision. Some or all of the plurality of printing devices 20 may have a cover insertion function and a paper processing function (punching (hole punching) processing, stapling processing, saddle stitching processing, folding processing, cutting processing, etc.). According to such a printing device 20, it is possible to output a booklet-shaped printed matter, etc. Note that some or all of the plurality of printing devices 20 may have only a printing function.

[0027] The printing control device 18 is a computer that controls the printing device 20, and is also referred to as a print server or DFE (Digital Front End). The printing control device 18 generates a raster image by performing RIP (Raster Image Processer) processing on the image data included in the job, and transmits it to the printing device 20. In addition, the printing control device 18 has a function of reporting the processing status of each job it manages to the process management device 14.

[0028] The user terminal 24 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet, a smartphone, etc. The manufacturing management system 10 is configured such that a user (hereinafter also referred to as an operator) can remotely operate the order receiving system 12 and the process management device 14 using the user terminal 24, and display the information existing in the order receiving system 12 and the process management device 14 on the display of the user terminal 24.

[0029] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of each device and each system in the manufacturing management system 10. The order receiving system 12 includes a processor 30 and a storage device 32. The processor 30 includes a CPU and executes information processing according to the program 34 and control data installed in the order receiving system 12. Note that the processor 30 can also be defined as a computer in the narrow sense. The storage device 32 is a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, a hard disk, etc. The storage device 32 stores the program 34, control data (not shown), manufacturing request information 36-1, 36-2, ···, and remanufacturing request information 38-1, 38-2, ···, etc.

[0030] The project management device 14 includes a processor 50 and a storage device 52. The processor 50 includes a CPU and executes information processing according to a program 54 and control data installed in the project management device 14. Note that the processor 50 can also be defined as a computer in the narrow sense. The storage device 52 is a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, a hard disk, or the like. The storage device 52 stores a program 34, control data (not shown), progress information 55 of each job, and jobs 56-1, 56-2, ···. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the jobs 56-1, 56-2, ···, it is referred to as job 56.

[0031] The printing system 16 includes a print control device 18 and a printing device 20. The print control device 18 includes a processor 70 and a storage device 72. The processor 70 includes a CPU and executes information processing according to a program 74 and control data installed in the print control device 18. Note that the processor 70 can also be defined as a computer in the narrow sense. The storage device 72 is a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, a hard disk, or the like. The storage device 72 stores a program 74, control data (not shown), job 56, and a printer profile 78, etc.

[0032] The user terminal 24 includes a processor 90 and a storage device 92. The processor 90 includes a CPU and executes information processing according to a program 94 and control data 95 installed in the user terminal 24. Note that the processor 90 can also be defined as a computer in the narrow sense. The storage device 92 is a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, a hard disk, or the like. The storage device 92 stores a program 94, control data 95, etc.

[0033] Note that the programs executed by the processors of each system and each device can be provided via a network such as the Internet, and can also be provided by being stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical disk or a USB memory.

[0034] Next, the operation of the production management system 10 will be described. For example, a customer's computer terminal (such as a PC, not shown) is connected to the network 26 (see FIG. 1). Then, the order receiving system 12 receives an instruction for a printing order, a production specification (the composition of each printed matter, the number of produced copies, the delivery destination, etc.), and document / image data (manuscript) from the computer terminal. Here, it is referred to as "production specification and document / image data", but the data received from the customer is not limited to this as long as a job can be created.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the process from receiving a printing order to creating a job. When the order receiving system 12 receives an instruction for a printing order, it issues a slip number 40 as an order identifier. Then, the order receiving system 12 stores the data (such as production specifications and document / image data) received from the customer in its storage device in association with the slip number 40. Hereinafter, the data (such as production specifications and document / image data) received from the customer associated with the slip number 40 is referred to as production order information 36.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows an example in which slip numbers "001" (40-1), "002" (40-2), and "003" (40-3) are issued for three production order instructions, and three pieces of production order information 36-1, 36-2, and 36-3 are stored in the storage device of the order receiving system 12.

[0037] Next, based on the manufacturing request information 36, a job 56 is created. The job 56 is a manufacturing instruction for printed matter to be interpreted by the print control device 18 of the printing system 16, and has a form of an electronic file or a group of electronic files, for example, consisting of data for the printing target and data for instructing the printing form. When the printed matter is a booklet or the like, the job includes, for example, as shown in Jobs A and B (56-1, 56-2) in FIG. 3, product information (paper size, type, number of sheets, image position, etc.) and process information (processing content, processing procedure, etc.) for each part (for example, cover, back cover, inside cover, body, etc.) constituting the printed matter, product information and process information for the entire printed matter, and image data used for printing. In this case, the process information includes, in addition to information related to printing, information related to post-printing paper processing (for example, saddle stitching, folding, cutting, etc.). When the printed matter is a single-sheet print such as a leaflet, the job has a simple configuration without distinction between parts and the whole, as shown in Job C (56-3) in FIG. 3, and the process information includes, for example, only information related to printing.

[0038] The creation of such a job 56 is performed, for example, by an operator operating the process management device 14 or a computer (not shown) connected to the network 26 using the user terminal 24. Note that the creation of the job 56 may be automatically performed by the process management device 14 or a computer (not shown) connected to the network 26. Then, the job 56 is stored in the storage device of the process management device 14. FIG. 3 shows an example in which three jobs A, B, and C (56-1, 56-2, 56-3) are created for three pieces of manufacturing request information 36-1, 36-2, and 36-3.

[0039] Here, a slip number (request identifier) is added to the job 56 by the process management device 14. Specifically, the file name of the electronic file constituting the job 56, or the slip number is added to the electronic file. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, identification information (in the figure, "WF1001A", etc.) including the identifier of the process management device 14 (in the figure, "WF1") and the slip number 40 (in the figure, "001", etc.) is added to the file name of the electronic file constituting the job 56, or to the electronic file. Note that in FIG. 3 and the figures described later, the position of the slip number in the identification information is underlined.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an example in which identification information "WF1001A" is added to job A (56-1) created from the manufacturing request information 36-1 of the slip number "001", identification information "WF1002B" is added to job B (56-2) created from the manufacturing request information 36-2 of the slip number "002", and identification information "WF1003C" is added to job C (56-3) created from the manufacturing request information 36-3 of the slip number "003".

[0041] Next, the printing system 16 is assigned to the job 56. This is done by the operator operating the process management device 14 using the user terminal 24, or automatically by the process management device 14. Next, the process management device 14 transmits the job 56 to the assigned printing system 16. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the printing system α (16-1) is assigned to job A (56-1) and job B (56-2), and they are transmitted to the printing system α (16-1), and the printing system β (16-2) is assigned to job C (56-3), and it is transmitted to the printing system β (16-2).

[0042] In the example of FIG. 4, printer profiles α1, α2, β1 (78-1, 78-2, 78-3) are respectively added to jobs A, B, C (56-1, 56-2, 56-3), and then they are transmitted to printing system α (16-1) or β (16-2). The printer profile 78 is prepared according to the characteristics of the printer and the type of paper to be printed, and is information indicating characteristics such as the range of colors that the printer can reproduce, gradation, and color development. Note that the printer profile 78 may be added to the job 56 in the printing control device 18 of the printing system 16 after the job 56 is received by the printing control device 18.

[0043] Next, the printing control device 18 of the printing system 16 receives the job 56 from the process management device 14 and stores it in its own storage device. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the printing control device 18-1 of the printing system α (16-1) receives jobs A (56-1) and B (56-2) and stores them in its own storage device, and the printing control device 18-2 of the printing system β (16-2) receives job C (56-3) and stores it in its own storage device.

[0044] Then, the printing control device 18 performs RIP processing based on the job 56 to generate a raster image 82. At this time, the printing control device 18 generates the raster image 82 using the printing setting information 80. The printing setting information 80 is various setting information that affects the operation of the printing device 20, and includes setting information applied to the generation process of the raster image or the process at the previous stage thereof. The setting information applied to the generation process of the raster image or the process at the previous stage thereof is, for example, the type of RIP, the type of printer profile, color adjustment (correction) information, etc. Among the various information of the printing setting information 80, the information necessary for the processing that is not included in the job 56 received from the process management device 14 will be set by the operator of the printing control device 18. Also, some of the various information of the printing setting information 80 included in the job 56 received from the process management device 14 may be changed by the operator of the printing control device 18.

[0045] The printing control device 18 associates the generated raster image 82 with the job 56 and manages it in its own storage device. Then, the printing control device 18 transmits commands, the raster image 82, etc. to the printing device 20. The printing device 20 receives and processes them to output printed matter (output product).

[0046] Fig. 5 shows an example in which printing setting information 80-1 and a raster image 82-1 are associated with job A (56-1), and output product A is obtained by job A (56-1). The same applies to jobs B and C (56-2, 56-3), where output product B is obtained by job B (56-2) and output product C is obtained by job C (56-3). Note that in Fig. 5, it is depicted that jobs A and B (56-1, 56-2) are processed simultaneously in the printing device 20-1, but in fact, they are processed sequentially with a time shift.

[0047] When the job 56 includes commands for paper processing (post-processing: saddle-stitching, folding, cutting, etc.) like jobs A and B (56-1, 56-2), the paper processing is performed after printing the image on the paper, and then the printed matter is output from the printing device 20 (see output products A and B in Fig. 5). On the other hand, when the job 56 does not include commands for paper processing like job C (56-3), the printed matter (paper) is output from the printing device 20 after printing the image on the paper (see output product C in Fig. 5).

[0048] Instructions to execute RIP processing, printing instructions to the printing device 20, etc. are performed by the operator operating the printing control device 18. However, these may also be automatically performed by the printing control device 18. That is, after receiving the job 56 from the process management device 14, the printing control device 18 may perform necessary processing on the job 56 and issue a printing instruction to the printing device 20.

[0049] The printing control device 18 periodically reports the processing status of each job 56 in its own storage device to the process management device 14. The process management device 14 receives this and updates the progress information 55 in its own storage device.

[0050] Here, after the processing of job 56 is performed in the printing system 16, it is not immediately deleted from the storage device of the print control device 18, but is held in the storage device of the print control device 18 for a certain period, for example, for reprocessing. Note that when the process management device 14 transmits job 56 to the printing system 16, it manages the progress status of job 56, but does not manage job 56 itself (electronic file or group of electronic files).

[0051] Next, the case where a request for reprinting of printed matter is received from a customer will be described. FIG. 6 shows the operation of the production management system 10 when a request to reproduce the product A (see FIG. 5) is received from a customer. The order receiving system 12 receives, for example, from the customer's computer terminal, an instruction for a request for reprinting of printed matter and the invoice number 40-1 (shown as "001" in FIG. 6) associated with the previous production request for the printed matter to be reproduced. Thus, at the time of the reprinting request, instead of receiving production specifications, documents, image data, etc. from the customer, the invoice number 40-1 associated with the previous production request is received.

[0052] When the order receiving system 12 receives an instruction for a reprinting request, it issues a new invoice number 40-4 (shown as "004" in FIG. 6) for the reprinting request. Then, the order receiving system 12 stores in its storage device the invoice number 40-1 of the previous production request and information indicating that it is a reprint, in association with the issued invoice number 40-4. Hereinafter, these will be referred to as reprinting request information 38. Note that the reprinting request information 38 may include the number of copies of the printed matter to be reproduced. FIG. 6 shows an example in which reprinting request information 38-1 regarding the reprinting of the printed matter with the invoice number 40-1 ("001") is stored in the storage device of the order receiving system 12.

[0053] The order receiving system 12 transmits the information 38 of the remanufacturing request to the process management device 14. The process management device 14 receives this and stores it in its own storage device in the form of a temporary job 57. Then, the process management device 14 inquires of the print control devices 18-1 and 18-2 of the plurality of printing systems α and β (16-1 and 16-2) whether they are holding the job 56 to which the slip number 40-1 (「001」 in FIG. 6) of the previous manufacturing request defined in the temporary job 57 is added. Then, each of the print control devices 18-1 and 18-2 returns a response to the inquiry to the process management device 14.

[0054] The states of the printing systems α and β (16-1 and 16-2) in FIG. 6 are such that the output of the printed matter (products A, B, and C) in FIG. 5 is completed, the jobs A and B (56-1 and 56-2) are held in the print control device 18-1, and the job C (56-3) is held in the print control device 18-2. The identification information 「WF1001A」, 「WF1002B」, and 「WF1003C」 are respectively added to the jobs A, B, and C (56-1, 56-2, and 56-3). Among these identification information, 「001」, 「002」, and 「003」 are the slip numbers. Therefore, since the print control device 18-1 is holding the job (job A with the identification information 「WF1001A」) to which the slip number 「001」 related to the inquiry from the process management device 14 is added, it responds to the process management device 14 that it is holding the job related to the inquiry. On the other hand, since the print control device 18-2 is not holding the job to which the slip number 「001」 related to the inquiry from the process management device 14 is added, it responds to the process management device 14 that it is not holding the job related to the inquiry.

[0055] The project management device 14 detects a printing system 16 that holds a job 56 corresponding to a reproduction request based on responses from each of the printing control devices 18-1 and 18-2. In the example of FIG. 6, the project management device 14 detects a printing system α (16-1) that holds job A (56-1). The project management device 14 stores the identification information of the detected printing system 16-1 (in FIG. 6, "α") in its own storage device. The operator can access the project management device 14 using, for example, the user terminal 24 to confirm the detected printing system 16-1. Then, the operator operates the printing control device 18-1 of the detected printing system 16-1 (printing system α in FIG. 6), specifies the job 56 (job A (56-1) in FIG. 6) corresponding to the reproduction request, and issues a printing instruction, whereby a printed matter corresponding to the reproduction request can be obtained.

[0056] According to the embodiment described above, when receiving a reproduction request for a printed matter from a customer, the operator can be saved the trouble of searching for a printing system 16 that holds a job 56 corresponding to the reproduction request.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, the project management device 14 may instruct (re-output instruction) the printing control device 18-1 that holds job A (56-1) corresponding to the reproduction request to process that job A (56-1). In this case, upon receiving the instruction, the printing control device 18-1 transmits commands, raster images 82, etc. corresponding to job A (56-1) corresponding to the reproduction request to the printing device 20. As a result, a printed matter (product A) corresponding to the reproduction request is automatically output from the printing device 20-1. In this way, the operator can be saved the trouble of operating the printing control device 18-1 to issue a printing instruction.

[0058] Note that the printing control device 18-1 may notify the process management device 14 of the identification information of job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request (in FIG. 7, "WF1001A"), and the process management device 14 may manage the identification information in association with the temporary job 57. Further, the printing control device 18-1 may periodically report the processing status of job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request to the process management device 14, and the process management device 14 may update the progress information 55 of the temporary job 57 upon receiving it.

[0059] Note that in the printing control device 18-1, although job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request exists, the raster image 82-1 associated with it may have been deleted. In that case, the raster image 82-1 may be generated again according to job A(56-1), and then printing may be executed.

[0060] Also, job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request is held by the printing control device 18-1 of the printing system α(16-1), but there may be cases where the printing system α(16-1) cannot process the job A(56-1) immediately. For example, when another job is being processed in the printing device 20-1 of the printing system α(16-1), or when a failure such as paper jam occurs. To handle such cases, as shown in FIG. 8, the manufacturing management system 10 may be operated.

[0061] In FIG. 8, the process management device 14 inquires of the print control device 18-1 that holds job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request whether it can process the job A(56-1) immediately. The print control device 18-1 responds to the inquiry. If the response from the process management device 14 is "cannot be processed immediately", the process management device 14 issues an instruction to the print control device 18-1 to transfer the job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request to the print control device 18-2 of another printing system β(16-2). In response, the print control device 18-1 transfers the job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request to the print control device 18-2 of another printing system β(16-2). In FIG. 8, although the job A(56-1) is transferred via the process management device 14, the job A(56-1) may be transferred directly from the print control device 18-1 to another print control device 18-2.

[0062] Another print control device 18-2 stores the transferred job A(56-1) in its own storage device. Then, the process management device 14 instructs the other print control device 18-2 to process the job A(56-1). Alternatively, the operator operates the other print control device 18-2 to issue a print instruction for the job A(56-1). As a result, a printed matter (product A) corresponding to the remanufacturing request is output from the printing device 20-2 of another printing system β(16-2). In this way, compared with the case of waiting until the printing system α(16-1) that holds the job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request becomes capable of processing, a printed matter corresponding to the remanufacturing request can be obtained in a shorter time.

[0063] Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, when the printing device 20-1 of the source printing system α(16-1) and the printing device 20-2 of the destination printing system β(16-2) are different models, it is necessary to change a part (for example, a printer profile) of the print setting information 80-1 applied to the transferred job A(56-1). In such a case, in the destination print control device 18-2, the print setting information 80-1 applied to the job A(56-1) may be changed, the raster image 82-1 may be regenerated, and then printing may be executed.

[0064] Next, a case where the job 56 corresponding to the remanufacturing request is not held in any of the printing systems 16 will be described. This is a case where the job 56 corresponding to the remanufacturing request was previously held in the print control device 18 but was deleted by an operator or the like. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 9, in the order receiving system 12, the manufacturing request information 36-1 (manufacturing specification, document, image data, etc.) associated with the previous manufacturing request slip number 40-1 (in FIG. 9, "001") in the remanufacturing request information 38-1 is searched for. Then, based on the searched manufacturing request information 36-1, a new job D(56-4) is created and stored in the storage device of the process management device 14.

[0065] Here, although the printing control device 18-1 does not have the job A(56-1) itself corresponding to the remanufacturing request, the printing setting information 80-1 applied to the job A(56-1) may remain. In this case, the process management device 14 acquires the printing setting information 80-1 applied to the job A(56-1) corresponding to the remanufacturing request from the printing control device 18-1 and assigns it to the new job D(56-4). Then, one of the plurality of printing systems 16 is assigned to the job D(56-4), and the process management device 14 transmits the job D(56-4) to the assigned printing system 16. Then, by processing the job D(56-4) in the printing system 16, a printed matter corresponding to the remanufacturing request can be obtained. As described above, by assigning the previously applied printing setting information 80-1 to the new job D(56-4), a printed matter corresponding to the remanufacturing request can be obtained in a shorter time compared to the case of creating the printing setting information of the new job D(56-4) from scratch.

[0066] In each of the above embodiments, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense and includes a general-purpose processor (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and a dedicated processor (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0067] Also, the operation of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be achieved not only by one processor but also by a plurality of physically separated processors cooperating. Also, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0068] 10 Printing production management system (production management system), 12 Order receiving system, 14, 14-1, 14-2 Process management device (job management device), 16 Printing system, 16-1 Printing system α (printing system), 16-2 Printing system β (printing system), 16-3 Printing system, 18, 18-1, 18-2, 18-3 Printing control device, 20, 20-1, 20-2, 20-3 Printing device, 24 User terminal, 26 Network, 30 Processor, 32 Storage device, 34 Program, 36, 36-1, 36-2, 36-3 Manufacturing request information, 38, 38-1, 38-2 Remanufacturing request information, 40, 40-1, 40-2, 40-3, 40-4 Invoice number (request identifier), 50 Processor, 52 Storage device, 54 Program, 55 Progress information, 56 Job, 56-1 Job A (job), 56-2 Job B (job), 56-3 Job C (job), 57 Temporary job, 70 Processor, 72 Storage device, 74 Program, 78 Printer profile, 78-1 Printer profile α1, 78-2 Printer profile α2, 78-3 Printer profile β1, 80, 80-1, 80-2, 80-3 Printing setting information, 82, 82-1, 82-2, 82-3 Raster image, 90 Processor, 92 Storage device, 94 Program, 95 Control data.

Claims

1. A job management device comprising a processor, wherein the processor adds a request identifier associated with the production request to a job created according to the production request of a printed matter, transmits it to one of a plurality of printing systems in order to process the job to which the request identifier is added, when one of a plurality of the request identifiers is specified and a request for reproduction of a printed matter corresponding to the specified request identifier is received, queries a plurality of printing systems as to whether they hold the job to which the specified request identifier is added, detects a printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reproduction request based on the response from each printing system to the query.

2. The job management device according to claim 1, wherein the processor when detecting a printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reproduction request, instructs the printing system to process the job corresponding to the reproduction request.

3. The job management device according to claim 1, wherein the processor when the printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reproduction request is in a state where it cannot process the job, instructs the printing system to transfer the job to another printing system, and instructs the other printing system to which the job corresponding to the reproduction request is transferred to process the job.

4. The job management device according to claim 1, wherein when the printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reproduction request cannot be detected by the query, a new job is created according to the reproduction request, and the processor adds the print setting information given to the job corresponding to the reproduction request to the new job and transmits it to one of the plurality of printing systems in order to process the new job.

5. Adds a request identifier associated with the production request to a job created according to the production request of a printed matter, and transmits it to one of a plurality of printing systems in order to process the job to which the request identifier is added. ​ ​ ​ ​ When one of the plurality of request identifiers is specified and a reproduction request for a printed matter corresponding to the specified request identifier is received, inquire of a plurality of printing systems whether they hold the job with the specified request identifier added, Based on the response from each printing system to the inquiry, detect a printing system that holds the job corresponding to the reproduction request, A program that causes a computer to function as described above.

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