JP3492041B2 - Information processing apparatus and print control method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a print control method for analyzing print data transferred from an information processing apparatus such as a host computer and recording an image on the same recording medium by different printing processes. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus of this type, a so-called hybrid printer, has been combined with a laser beam printing section capable of printing black and white data at high speed and neatly and an ink jet printing section capable of printing color data. That is, it is configured such that images can be recorded on the same recording medium by different printing processes.

In this case, the recording device has a bitmap memory for temporarily storing the print data and the IJ for the IBP.
It was equipped separately for business use.

[0004]

This is because print data sent from an information processing device such as a host computer is
As color and black and white are mixed and the order is different,
This is because one page of bitmap memory is required for each printing unit. Therefore, the hybrid printer has a problem that it becomes an extremely expensive device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to carry out an electrophotographic recording section for performing monochrome printing by an electrophotographic process and an ink jet for performing color printing for ejecting ink. Query printer information for a printer that has a recording unit,
By determining the layout configuration of the recording unit by the printer and controlling the transfer order of the print data to each recording unit, the image recording resources of the printing apparatus are surely acquired and the optimum print information for each image recording resource is obtained. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a print control method capable of determining the transfer order.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image is formed by an electrophotographic process on the basis of means for inquiring printer information of a printer and information notified by the printer in response to the inquiry of printer information to the printer. An electrophotographic recording unit that performs recording first ejects ink to determine whether or not the inkjet recording unit that performs image recording has a later configuration, and the determination unit performs image recording by an electrophotographic process. When it is determined that the inkjet recording unit that ejects ink first to record an image in the electrophotographic recording unit has a later configuration, the black-and-white data is sent first, and after the recording in the electrophotographic recording unit is completed, the color is recorded. The electrophotographic recording unit, which transmits data and records an image by the electrophotographic process by the determination unit, first ejects ink to record an image. If it is determined not to be the ink jet recording unit configuration after performing, send color data first, after the recording of the ink jet recording unit is completed, and having a transmitting means for transmitting the monochrome data.

A second aspect of the present invention is an electrophotographic recording in which an image is recorded by an electrophotographic process on the basis of a step of inquiring printer information of a printer and information notified by the printer in response to the inquiry of the printer information of the printer. Section first ejects ink to determine whether or not the inkjet recording section for image recording has a later configuration, and the electrophotographic recording section for performing image recording by the electrophotographic process by the determination step first. When it is determined that the inkjet recording unit that ejects ink to record an image has a later configuration, the black and white data is sent first, and after the recording in the electrophotographic recording unit is completed, the color data is transmitted, and The electrophotographic recording unit, which records an image by the electrophotographic process according to the determination step, ejects ink first to record an image. If it is determined not to be the ink jet recording unit is later configured to perform, sending color data first, after the recording of the ink jet recording unit is completed, and having a transmission step of transmitting the monochrome data.

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【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. The printing system is different from an information processing apparatus serving as a data source. The recording apparatus includes an engine unit, a midway transport unit 104, and the like.

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 is a host computer, which is a display device (CRT) 10 and a data processing device 100.
0, etc., and creates text data based on a document processing program stored in a hard disk, a floppy disk, or the like (not shown), and writes the created text data via the predetermined I / F cable 205 to the recording device main body 10
Transfer to 1. A keyboard (KB) 9 is used to input various commands and character codes.

Recording apparatus main body (hybrid printer) 1
In 01, an LBP printing unit 102 exposes a laser beam modulated based on input image information by a known electrophotographic process to perform image recording. 103
Is an inkjet printing unit (IJ printing unit), which ejects ink based on image information onto the printing paper that has passed through the LBP printing unit 102 to perform image recording.

In the LBP printing unit 102, a printing paper 1021 is fed by a paper feed roller 1022 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. A laser 1023 emits a laser beam 1024 which is modulated based on the input image information 321. Reference numeral 1026 denotes a polygon mirror, which is rotationally driven by a scanner motor 1025 to generate a laser beam 1024.
The image is scanned on the rotating photosensitive drum 1027. 10
A developing device 28 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1027. 1029 is a transfer charger, which is a printing paper 1.
The developed toner image is transferred to 021. 10
A fixing roller 30 heat-presses and fixes the toner image transferred onto the printing paper 1021. Note that 105 is a controller unit.

In the IJ printing unit 103, 1031 is a paper feed roller, which feeds the printing paper 1021 conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 104 into the IJ printing unit 103. 10
Reference numeral 32 denotes an IJ head, which prints on the printing paper 1021, for example, M,
C, Y, and K inks are ejected to record a color image.
A paper discharge roller 1033 discharges the print paper 1021 for which the printing process is completed to the paper discharge tray 1034.

Next, the image recording process will be described.

After the printing paper 1021 is sent to the inside of the printer by the paper feed roller 1022, first, the LBP printing unit 102 performs printing by the LBP image process, and then the intermediate conveyance unit 104 performs the printing on the IJ printing unit 10.
It is sent to the entrance of 3.

Then, in the IJ printing unit 103, the paper is fed inside by the paper feed roller 1031, and Y,
After the color printing is performed by the IJ head 1032 having M, C, and K color nozzles, the paper discharge roller 1033 is printed.
Then, the sheet is sent to the sheet discharge tray 1034, and the printing is completed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the printing system shown in FIG. 1. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 is a host computer, which is provided with a CPU 1 for executing document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program recorded in the ROM 3. The CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system device 4.

The program ROM of this ROM 3
4 stores a control program of the CPU 1 as shown in a flowchart shown in FIG. 4 to be described later, and a font ROM of the ROM 3 stores font data used in the above document processing, The ROM stores various data used when performing the above document processing and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key inputs from a keyboard (KB) 9 and a pointing device (not shown). 6 is C
The RT controller (CRTC) controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (MC) 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy disk (FD) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files and the like.

Reference numeral 8 is an interface circuit (PRTC),
Another host or printer 10 via a predetermined I / F 205
1 and executes communication control processing with other devices such as the printer 101.

In the printer 101, 201 is a CPU
Then, the input unit 204 and the LBPI / F20 connected to the bus based on the control program stored in the ROM 203.
6, IJI / F207 and the like are controlled. 202 is RAM
Thus, the main memory functions as a work memory of the CPU 201. The RAM 202 is configured so that its capacity can be expanded. An operation display unit 221 is provided with keys for setting various modes for the printer 101 and a display device such as a status display.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to sixth inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIG.

A first aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus provided with a plurality of image recording resources (LBP printing unit 102, IJ printing unit 103) having different image recording processes, and a predetermined communication medium (predetermined I
/ F205) in an information processing apparatus that can communicate via the data generation unit (CPU1 executes a data generation program stored in ROM3 to generate) to generate print information, and the data. A shared memory (R that stores the print information generated by the generation unit)
AM2 development area) and an acquisition unit (PRTC8 is an input unit 20 for acquiring combination information regarding the image recording resources.
4) to separate the print information generated according to the combination information acquired by the acquisition unit for each image recording resource (the CPU 1 executes the separation processing program stored in the ROM 3 to perform the separation). ) And a determining unit (the CPU 1 executes the determination processing program stored in the ROM 3 to determine) the transfer order of the print information separated by the separating unit to the printing apparatus based on the combination information. , A control unit (PRT) for transferring each print information stored in the shared memory to the printing device according to the transfer order determined by the determination unit.
C8 transfers to the input unit 204), and PRTC8
When the CPU 1 separates the print information generated by the CPU 1 according to the combination information acquired from the printer 101 for each image recording resource, the transfer order of the separated print information to the printer 101 is determined based on the combination information, It is possible for the PRTC 8 to transfer each print information to the printer 101 according to the determined transfer order, and to transfer the generated print information to each image recording resource through a shared memory having a predetermined capacity at low cost. To do.

A second aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus which comprises a plurality of image recording resources (LBP printing section 102, IJ printing section 103) having different image recording processes, and is capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. , Transfer means for transferring combination information relating to the image recording resources in response to a data acquisition request from the information processing device (the input unit 204 is the CPU 2
The combination information stored in the ROM 203 or the like is transferred according to the instruction 01), and the input unit 204 transfers the combination information regarding the image recording resource in response to a data acquisition request from the host computer 1500, It is possible to reliably acquire the image recording resources and determine the optimum transfer order of the print information for each image recording resource.

A third aspect of the present invention is a printing system in which a printing apparatus having a plurality of image recording resources having different image recording processes and an information processing apparatus can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, and printing output to the printing apparatus. Data generating means for generating information (the CPU 1 executes the data generating program stored in the ROM 3 to generate it), a shared memory for storing the print information generated by the data generating means (expansion area of the RAM 2), An acquisition unit (which the PRTC 8 acquires from the input unit 204) that acquires combination information regarding the image recording resources, and a separation unit that separates the print information generated according to the combination information acquired by the acquisition unit for each image recording resource. (The CPU 1 executes the separation processing program stored in the ROM 3 for separation) and the separation means. Determining means (the CPU 1 executes the determining processing program stored in the ROM 3 to determine) the transfer order of the respective print information to the printing device based on the combination information, and the determining means. Control means (P) for transferring each print information stored in the shared memory to the printing device in accordance with the transfer order.
The RTC 8 transfers the input information to the input unit 204) and transfers the combination information regarding the image recording resource in response to a data acquisition request from the information processing device (the input unit 2).
04 transfers the combination information stored in the ROM 203 or the like according to an instruction from the CPU 201), and the PRTC 8 acquires the combination information transferred from the input unit 204, and the CPU 1 generates print information generated in accordance with the combination information for each image. When separated for each recording resource, the transfer order of the separated print information to the printing device is determined based on the combination information, and the PRTC 8 transfers the print information to the printer 101 according to the determined transfer order. The print information thus generated is transferred to each image recording resource through the shared memory of a predetermined capacity while surely acquiring the image recording resource of the printing apparatus and determining the optimum transfer order of the print information to each image recording resource. It is possible to transfer at low cost.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, line-by-line print information for an image recording resource (IJ printing unit 103) having a printer engine for color printing is transferred to a printing apparatus via a shared memory that also stores page-by-page print information. It is possible to transfer.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is an image recording resource (L) having a printer engine for printing print information in black and white page by page.
Print information in page units for the BP printing unit 102)
It is possible to transfer the print information for each line to the printing apparatus via the shared memory that also stores the print information.

A sixth aspect of the present invention obtains combination information including image recording process order information of each image recording resource, and transfers the separated print information to the printer 101 according to the image recording process order of each image recording resource. It is possible to determine

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of print data transferred from the host computer 1500 shown in FIG.

In the figure, 401 is color character data, which corresponds to the case of "X'mas" created by an application program of the host computer 1500, for example. Reference numeral 402 is color graphic data, which is created by an application program of the host computer 1500. Reference numeral 403 is graph data, which is created by an application program of the host computer 1500, the character portion is composed of black character data, and the other is composed of color graphic data. Reference numeral 404 is black character data, which is created by an application program of the host computer 1500. Color bit image data 405 is created by an application program of the host computer 1500.

The print control operation of the print system shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the print control procedure of the printing system shown in FIG. In addition,
(1) to (11) show each step.

While using the keyboard 9 and the CRT 10 on the host computer 1500, the data is stored in the RAM 2 as shown in FIG.
When the print data shown in 1 is created based on the application program, the CPU 1 activates the print program on the RAM 2 according to an instruction from the operator using the keyboard 9 or the like.

First, the CP of the host computer 1500
U1 inquires the printer 101 about the printer information through the I / F 205 (1). At this time, the printer 101 responds to the inquiry from the host computer 1500 by the CPU 201 in the controller unit 105.
Notifies the host computer 1500 of information indicating that the printer is a hybrid type printer and that the printing order is such that the LBP printing unit 102 is first and the IJ printing unit 103 is second (2 ).

On the other hand, in step (2), the printer 101
If it is determined that the printer is not a hybrid printer, the printer is an ordinary printer, and the print data is transferred in a data format that can be printed by the printer as usual (4).

On the other hand, in step (2), the printer 101
If it is determined that the printer is a hybrid printer, the print data is divided into color data and monochrome data (3).

For example, in the case of the print data shown in FIG. 3, data 401, data 402, data 405 and data 403.
Since color data other than the character part of the data is color data, it is created as IJ data.
Since the character portion is black data, it is created as LBP data.

Next, it is judged whether the printing order of the LBP printing unit 102 and the IJ printing unit 103 is LBP first and IJ second (5). In this embodiment, the LBP performs the printing process first. If the determination is YES, the CPU 1 of the host computer 1500 determines black and white data, for example, data 40
4, the character data of the data 403 is first transferred to the printer 101 (6).

Next, the controller section 105 of the hybrid printer 101 receives the black-and-white data sent from the host computer 1500 at the input section 204 and then stores it in the RAM 202, and the data stored in the RAM 202 is ROM by CPU201
The character font pattern in 203 is converted into dot pattern data, etc., and black and white data is printed by the LBP printing unit 102 through the LBP I / F 206.

Next, it is judged whether or not the printing by the LBP printing unit 102 is completed (7). When it is judged that the printing is completed, the hybrid printer 101 instructs the host computer 1500 to print the LBP unit. The I / F 205 notifies that the process has been completed.

Next, C of the host computer 1500
PU1 then sends color data, namely data 401,
The graphic data 402 and the data 403 and the data 405 are transferred to the hybrid printer 101 (8).

Then, the controller section 105 similarly receives the data through the input section 204, stores it in the RAM 202 once, and then develops it into a dot pattern and outputs it to the IJI / F2.
The IJ printing unit 103 is caused to print through 07, and the printing by the hybrid printer 101 is completed.

On the other hand, in the case of NO in step (5), the CPU 1 of the host computer 1500 sets the color data,
For example, the graphic data of the data 401, 402, and the data 403, and the data 405 are transferred to the printer 101 first (9). Next, it is determined whether the printing of the IJ printing unit 103 is completed (10), and when the color printing of the IJ printing unit 103 is completed, the CPU of the host computer 1500
Reference numeral 1 transfers monochrome data, for example, character data of data 404 and data 403 to the printer 101 (11), performs monochrome printing, and ends the printing process. When the printing order of the IJ printing unit 103 and the LBP printing unit 102 is earlier than that of the IJ printing unit 103, after the printing by the IJ printing unit 103 is completed, the LBP printing unit 102 is in a dry ink state.
Needless to say, it will be transported to.

The color data in this embodiment is
Since it is a combination of four colors of Y, M, C, and K, it basically requires four times as much bitmap memory capacity as black and white data, but LBP requires bitmap memory in page units. On the other hand, since the IJ that prints color data is stopped on a line-by-line basis, a bit map memory for at least one line for each color is sufficient. That is,
Since the bit map memory for the IJ section can be smaller than the capacity of the bit map memory for the LBP, the RAM 202
The memory capacity of is the same as the memory capacity in the case of only black and white LBP.

As a result, the hybrid printer 101
Can perform monochrome printing by the LBP process and color printing by the IJ process with the minimum required RAM capacity.

In the above embodiment, the LBP printing unit 102 and I
The case where the printing process with the J printing unit 103 is performed at a low cost with the minimum RAM capacity has been described. However, in the hybrid printer, when toner and ink as printing materials are consumed, the consumption amount is a print request. The print request may be effectively processed by performing alternative printing by the printable print unit when either one of them is consumed and printing is impossible. . Hereinafter, the example will be described.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of an alternative print message screen of a printing system showing a second embodiment of the present invention, which is displayed on the CRT 10 of the host computer shown in FIG. It

In the figure, (a) shows the LBP printing unit 102.
IJ displayed on the CRT 10 when the toner of the
Corresponding to the alternative printing instruction message screen by the printing unit 103, when a print request is made (when the toner of the LBP printing unit 102 is out of the status of the printer 101 when the power is turned on, that fact is notified to the host computer 1500.
Has been notified).

(B) corresponds to the alternative print instruction message screen by the IJ printing unit 103 displayed on the CRT 10 when the ink in the IJ printing unit 103 runs out, and at the time of a print request (when the power is turned on as the status of the printer 101). IJ
If the ink in the printing unit 103 has run out,
The fact is notified to the host computer 1500). The ink out of the IJ printing unit 103 is notified for each color.

The alternative printing control operation of the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows a first printing system according to the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing an example of the alternative printing control procedure of No. 2, which corresponds to the case where the toner of the LBP section has run out in the hybrid printer. In addition, (1) ~
(7) shows each step.

First, the hybrid printer 101 is L
If the toner of the BP portion has run out, the host computer 1500 that sends the information to the host computer before printing will send the CRT 10 based on the information.
Display the message shown in (a) of FIG. 5 above (1),
Wait for operator selection (2).

Then, when the operator selects NO with the keyboard 9 in response to the message, printing is not performed until the printer 101 sends the status that the toner of the LBP printing unit 102 has been replenished (6). . When the toner is replenished, the normal black-and-white printing operation is performed (7), and the process ends.

On the other hand, in step (2), when the operator selects YES for the message with the keyboard 9, the host computer regards all the print data shown in FIG. F
It is transferred to the printer 101 through 205 (3). Next, the printer 101 allows only the paper to pass through the LBP unit 102 without printing (4), performs color printing with the IJ printing unit 103 (5), and ends the process.

FIG. 7 shows a second printing system according to the present invention.
9 is a flowchart showing an example of an alternative printing control procedure of the IJ printing unit 10 in the hybrid printer.
It corresponds to the case where the ink of 3 has run out. In addition,
(1) to (8) show each step.

First, when the ink in the IJ printing unit 103 has run out, the fact that the ink in the IJ printing unit 103 in the printer 101 has run out is sent to the host computer 1500 as information before printing, and the host computer 1500 The 1500 displays on the CRT 10 based on that information.
The message shown in (b) is displayed and the operator waits for selection (1). Here, when the operator selects NO with the keyboard 9 in response to the above message, IJ
Printing is not performed until the printer 101 sends the stator that the ink of the printing unit 103 is replenished (7), and when it is determined that the ink (determined for each color) is replenished, normal color printing is performed. Do the action (8),
The process ends.

On the other hand, in step (2), when the operator selects YES to the above message with the keyboard 9, the host computer regards all the print data shown in FIG. 3 as black and white data and organizes them into black and white data. Repeat (3). That is, black-and-white halftone is used as a substitute according to the color density of the color.

Next, when the black-and-white data organization is completed, the organized black-and-white data is sent to the printer 101 through the I / F 205 (4), and the printer 101 performs black-and-white printing by the LBP printing section 102 (5). IJ
The print unit 102 is passed through and output (6), and the process ends.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the seventh and eighth inventions and their operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, the printing device (printer 101) and the information processing device (host computer 1500) provided with a plurality of image recording resources (LBP printing unit 102, IJ printing unit 103) having different image recording processes are predetermined. In the alternative printing method of the printing system capable of communicating via the communication medium, the first determination step (step (1) in FIGS. 6 and 7) of determining whether or not the recording material of each image recording resource has run out, and the determination An inquiry step (step (2) in FIGS. 6 and 7) that inquires whether to execute the alternative printing by any image recording resource based on the result, and an instruction step (step (2) in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) for instructing the inquiry whether or not to execute 6 and 7 (step (2)), and a knitting process (steps of FIGS. 6 and 7) for reorganizing the print information based on the instruction state according to the image recording resource to be substituted and printed. )) And a transfer step (step (3) in FIG. 6 and step (4) in FIG. 7) for transferring the organized alternative print information to the printing apparatus, and the generated print information is stored in a predetermined capacity. It is possible to automate the process of inexpensive transfer to each image recording resource via the shared memory of.

The eighth aspect of the present invention allows the user to easily select an alternative printing candidate by instructing by an image recording resource name (see FIG. 8) to perform alternative printing.

In the first embodiment, the case where the information for determining the order of sending the print data is acquired from the printer 101 and the transfer order of the monochrome data and the color data in the print data is controlled has been described. CRT 1 before
8 displays the message shown in FIG. 8 and prompts the operator to select a printer based on a direct instruction from the keyboard 9 by the operator. When the hybrid printer is selected, the operator can ask the printing order up to the printing order. Since it is difficult, for example, the printer model name may be displayed on the screen and selected.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the printing means selection screen displayed on the CRT 10 shown in FIG. 1. For example, as the printer model name, one of a color printer, a monochrome printer and a hybrid printer is inquired. Corresponds to the message.

In this state, the operator can select the printing means by inputting a number with the keyboard 9.

According to the above-described embodiment, before the printing by the host computer, the information regarding the configuration of the hybrid printer (that is, the LBP printing unit is first and the IJ printing unit is second, for example) is sent, and the information on the host computer side is sent. At the printer driver stage, the order of the print data to be sent to the printer is determined. That is, when the LBP printing unit is first and the IJ printing unit is second, first, the monochrome data is sent to complete the printing in the LBP printing unit. By sending color data so that the IJ printing unit can print, the bitmap memory in the printer can be shared by the LBP printing unit and the IJ printing unit, and the bitmap memory capacity can be made much larger than before. Can be reduced.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or device, the system or device can enjoy the effects of the present invention. Becomes

Further, by downloading and reading the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention from the database on the network by the communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to reliably acquire the image recording resources of the printing apparatus and determine the optimum transfer order of the print information for each image recording resource.

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[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printing system illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of print data transferred from the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a print control procedure of the printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an alternative print message screen of the printing system showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a first alternative printing control procedure of the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a second alternative printing control procedure of the printing system according to the present invention.

8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printing unit selection screen displayed on the CRT shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 3 ROM 101 printer 102 LBP printing section 103 IJ Printing Department 201 CPU 203 ROM 205 I / F

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A means for inquiring printer information to a printer, and an electrophotographic recording section for performing image recording by an electrophotographic process first ejects ink based on information notified by the printer in response to the inquiry for printer information to the printer. And an electrophotographic recording unit that performs image recording by the electrophotographic process by the determination unit first ejects ink to perform image recording. If it is determined that the inkjet recording unit that performs the following is a later configuration, the black-and-white data is sent first, after the recording of the electrophotographic recording unit is completed, the color data is transmitted, and the determination unit performs the image by the electrophotographic process. The electrophotographic recording unit that performs recording ejects ink first and the inkjet recording unit that performs image recording is configured later. If the Most is determined, sending color data first, after the recording of the ink jet recording unit is completed, the information processing apparatus characterized by comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting the monochrome data. 2. A step of inquiring printer information of a printer, and an electrophotographic recording unit for performing image recording by an electrophotographic process ejects ink first based on information notified by the printer in response to the inquiry of printer information to the printer. A determination step for determining whether or not the inkjet recording section for performing image recording has a later configuration, and the electrophotographic recording section for performing image recording by the electrophotographic process in the determination step discharges ink first to perform image recording. If it is determined that the inkjet recording unit that performs the following is a later configuration, the black-and-white data is sent first, the color data is transmitted after the recording of the electrophotographic recording unit is completed, and the image is processed by the electrophotographic process by the determination step. Inkjet recording in which the electrophotographic recording unit that performs recording ejects ink first to perform image recording If the part is not determined to be the structure of the post, sending color data first, after the recording of the ink jet recording unit is completed, the printing control method characterized by comprising a transmission step of transmitting the monochrome data.